C50 One Move to Defeat the Enemy!

Although her name was Zhongli Yilan, Lu Lixing insisted on calling her "donkey." It was an obvious attempt to belittle her and provoke a reaction. And provoke he did—he managed to infuriate Qin Jia.

"Lu Lixing, you may have some skills, but being overly arrogant isn't a good look," Qin Jia said, stepping forward with an icy expression. His dark eyes bore into Lu Lixing as he warned, "Yilan isn't someone you can disrespect at your whim!"

Zhongli Yilan, however, remained unmoved by Qin Jia's protective stance. Clearly, she was less concerned with his chivalry and more interested in whether he could actually stand up to Lu Lixing.

Ou Luhuan had failed to gauge Lu Lixing's true capabilities—perhaps Qin Jia would fare better.

Unapologetic, Lu Lixing eyed Qin Jia and offhandedly remarked, "That combat suit you're wearing must have cost a pretty penny, right?"

Caught off guard, Qin Jia glanced down at his attire and scoffed, "You're after it?"

"I have no interest in hand-me-downs," Lu Lixing retorted with a smirk. "But feel free to challenge me. In addition to the cultivation resources, throw in a little extra. If I win, you'll provide me with advanced cultivation resources equivalent to the value of your suit. If I lose, I'll personally apologize to Zhongli Yilan and have no issue addressing her as Mrs. Qin from here on out. How does that sound?"

At Lu Lixing's proposition, Zhongli Yilan's expression turned stormy, and she snapped, "Lu Lixing, you're crossing the line!"

Zhongli Yilan was no naive child; she saw right through Lu Lixing's ploy. He was blatantly exploiting Qin Jia's affection for her to sweeten the pot. His audacity knew no bounds!

But Zhongli Yilan's outrage was water off a duck's back to Lu Lixing. He gave her a nonchalant look and coolly remarked, "You demanded my attention the second you walked in, and I didn't accuse you of overstepping. Yet now, you feel aggrieved?"

Lu Lixing was eager for Zhongli Yilan to step up and challenge him. By doing so, he'd gain an extra share of cultivation resources. The potential souring of their relationship didn't concern him; after the special training camp, everyone would part ways anyway. With that in mind, he saw no need for caution.

"Lu Lixing, stop causing trouble!" Wen Shanmei couldn't contain herself any longer and reprimanded him from the podium. Zhongli Yilan was not like the others; it would be wise not to rile her up. She feared that Lu Lixing's reckless behavior might truly anger Zhongli Yilan and ignite the wrath of her supporters, leading to a difficult situation.

Lu Lixing took the hint. After receiving Wen Shanmei's subtle warning, he realized that Zhongli Yilan was not someone to mess with. So, he turned his attention back to Qin Jia and proposed, "If you win, you take over as leader, and I'll apologize to Zhongli Yilan. Do we have a deal?"

Driven by the prospect of more cultivation resources, he shamelessly schemed. As these thoughts crossed his mind, he shot Wen Shanmei a look of silent reproach. This was all Zhang Tu's fault!

"I accept!" Qin Jia inhaled deeply and addressed Lu Lixing, "If I lose, I'll hand over not just this month's cultivation resources from the training camp, but I'll also compensate you with advanced resources at the original price of my combat suit. My word is my bond; I won't back down."

"Let's do this."

With an agreement in place, Lu Lixing's demeanor turned earnest. Qin Jia's standing at the Aristocratic Academy was a clear indicator of his formidable abilities. Caution was paramount.

Matching Lu Lixing's seriousness, Qin Jia's gaze was intense as he faced his opponent. He didn't attack right away but instead focused on channeling the Rune. He was preparing to unleash the power of the Rune!

As a Rune materialized before Qin Jia, Lu Lixing made his move, surging forward to close the distance rapidly. He threw a punch with swift precision, his actions decisive and sharp.

Lu Lixing's punch was inches away from connecting with Qin Jia's chest when, with an eerily swift motion, Qin Jia vanished and reappeared two meters to Lu Lixing's side. Simultaneously, Qin Jia had fully summoned the Rune, solidifying it before him—a Profound level, low-grade Wind Rune!

The Wind Rune, a primary component in crafting the Wind Rune Array, was also a treasured legacy Rune of the He Family. It's no overstatement to say that in Skyhaven City, nearly 90% of the enchanted items on the market, etched with a level two Wind Rune Array, originated from the He Family.

Given Qin Jia's current prowess, he could only manage to manifest the Wind Rune for a fleeting ten seconds. After that, he'd be too drained to continue the fight. Yet, he was confident that with his wind-like speed, he could take down Lu Lixing before time ran out.

The crowd watched with bated breath. Qin Jia had unleashed the Wind Rune, while Lu Lixing was barred from using his Talent Rune or any arrays. What could Lu Lixing possibly do in response?

Amidst the tense anticipation, Lu Lixing suddenly turned tail and bolted, clearly aiming to outlast his opponent.

Qin Jia let out a derisive chuckle at the sight. Lu Lixing was fast, but Qin Jia, bolstered by the Wind Rune, was faster.

Qin Jia pursued Lu Lixing like a gust of wind, rapidly closing the distance. In a heartbeat, he was right behind Lu Lixing, his hand shooting out in a fierce slap to the back.

But in that critical moment, Lu Lixing whirled around and struck back, his face a mask of icy determination.

"It's over."

Wen Shanmei exhaled deeply. As soon as Lu Lixing had made his escape and Qin Jia had given chase, she knew the duel was drawing to a close. While others may have seen Lu Lixing's retreat as a delay tactic, she recognized it for what it was—a cunning ploy to draw the enemy in.

True to her insight, the moment Wen Shanmei's words fell, Qin Jia's once-blurred figure snapped into sharp focus. He collapsed to the ground, his face etched with astonishment.

"How is this possible!"

Qin Jia let out an incredulous cry. In that fleeting moment, Lu Lixing had managed to shatter the Wind Rune that Qin Jia had painstakingly meditated into existence. How on earth did Lu Lixing accomplish that?

Amidst Qin Jia's astonishment, Lu Lixing remained the picture of composure, offering Qin Jia a knowing smile.

The details of Lu Lixing's victory over Qin Jia might have eluded the crowd, yet their inability to grasp the specifics did nothing to diminish their recognition of Lu Lixing's formidable power. In that instant, any doubts about his capabilities were silenced. Lu Lixing had earned the admiration and respect of all present through his undeniable strength.

"Just over two weeks ago, he was nothing more than a common boy from the slums."

Wen Shanmei's eyes were filled with a complex mix of emotions as she watched Lu Lixing, who now seemed like an undiscovered gem, his potential lying in wait for the discerning eye. She felt lucky, having been the first to recognize the treasure before her.