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When Fang Li's voice rang out in the space, everyone seemed to wake from a dream, realizing what had just happened.
Amagiri Ayato looked at Fang Li in front of him, his eyes shifting for a moment before he smiled weakly and lowered the black Demon Sword in his hand.
"I lost," Amagiri Ayato admitted candidly. "I completely bow down to you; there's not a shred of unwillingness in my heart."
This also indirectly highlighted just how shocking Fang Li's performance had been. The gap in their abilities was simply too vast.
"Have you really become this terrifying in less than a year?" Amagiri Ayato smiled bitterly. "Compared to the Phoenix Festa, you're practically a different person."
Anyone who had seen that match would know. In terms of pure strength, Fang Li back then was still far from matching Amagiri Ayato. After his seal was lifted, Amagiri Ayato's strength was at least on par with Wu Xiaofei.
At that time, Fang Li, without using the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception, could at most compete at the same rank as Cecily and Zhao Hufeng, still having a significant gap compared to Amagiri Ayato and Wu Xiaofei.
The only reason he was able to defeat Amagiri Ayato back then was that he had pushed himself despite being severely injured, destroying Amagiri Ayato's emblem, thereby winning the match.
Yes. It was merely a victory in a match. If it hadn't been a match, Fang Li definitely would not have been able to defeat Amagiri Ayato at that time.
But now, it was completely different.
"Your strength is probably the most terrifying I've seen to date," Amagiri Ayato said sincerely. "Honestly, I can't think of anyone in this water city who can compare to you."
This statement immediately drew a response.
"There are still some," Came the voice of Claudia, who walked up slowly. Beside her were Julis and Toudou Kirin. However, both Julis and Toudou Kirin wore unusually serious expressions.
It was easy to imagine how astonishing Fang Li's performance had been. Only Claudia, as if nothing had happened, still wore her perfectly charming smile as she said, "In this Rikka, there are also two individuals recognized as being on an exceptional level, as everyone here probably knows."
Claudia's words made Fang Li raise his brows slightly. This was indeed something that Fang Li, familiar with the original story, couldn't possibly be unaware of. In fact, anyone living in this water city would know this. In the Academy City, two students were universally acknowledged as the strongest.
One was Fan Xinglou, who inherited the name of Banyuu Tenra and became the third-generation master of the Yellow Dragon Temple. At just nine years old, she had already claimed first place in the Seventh Academy of Jie Long, with all of his disciples being exceptionally powerful.
Among the eleven most outstanding ones, they occupied all positions except his own in the Jie Long Page One, making him a miraculous expert.
The other was a student from the Rewolf Black Academy. She also held first place. She had only participated in the Lindwurm Festa, which was a single-player competition.
However, this individual was the second person in history to consecutively dominate two Lindwurm Festas and was even considered to be on the verge of achieving an unprecedented three consecutive victories in the Lindwurm Festa.
This was due to her ability to manipulate poisonous miasma, capable of using a miasma that could corrode the human body just by touch, as well as colorless and odorless toxic gases with various properties. People in the Academy City referred to her with a mix of awe and fear.
———— "Ereshkigal."
"'Banyuu Tenra' and 'Ereshkigal' are the two students universally acknowledged as the strongest in this city." Claudia looked at Fang Li and said this.
"However, before long, there might be a third one."
As the Student Council President of Seidoukan Academy, and with a mother who is the highest leader of the Integrated Enterprise Foundation, Claudia came from a prestigious background, well-informed and aware of the current situation. Her evaluation of Fang Li would likely not be contested by anyone who had just witnessed his performance.
"Although I haven't fought against either Banyuu Tenra or Ereshkigal, so my statement doesn't carry much weight," she continued, looking at Sylvia with a somewhat teasing expression. "If it were you, you would probably give the same evaluation, right?"
"You, who became the runner-up after losing to Ereshkigal in the Lindwurm Festa final."
Everyone's gaze immediately converged on Sylvia.
In response, Sylvia simply smiled bitterly, much like Amagiri Ayato, and then glared at Fang Li.
"...When did you become this strong?"
Sylvia puffed out her cheeks like a sulking child, appearing quite dissatisfied.
Seeing Sylvia like this, all angry and indignant, Fang Li couldn't help but chuckle and say, "If I'm not stronger than you, how can I protect you?"
Although to be honest, Fang Li was more adept at eliminating threats than protecting anyone.
Of course, Sylvia was quite pleased with Fang Li's words.
"I really don't know what you experienced this past year that made you suddenly this strong."
Sylvia naturally wrapped her arm around Fang Li's, and after pondering for a moment, she gave her evaluation.
"If it's Fang Li, then he certainly has the means to be compared to Ereshkigal."
This evaluation left everyone from Seidoukan silent, except for Claudia. Julis looked at Fang Li with a complex expression. Toudou Kirin regarded Fang Li with admiration. Amagiri Ayato was the most composed of them all.
Only Fang Li looked at Sylvia.
"Is that Strega (Witch) really strong enough to be compared to my Master?" Fang Li asked. "I haven't seen your final match against her in the Lindwurm Festa, but there shouldn't be too much of a gap, right?"
After all, Sylvia was theoretically the second-strongest student. In Fang Li's view, in terms of strength, she definitely wasn't weaker than Amagiri Ayato or Wu Xiaofei.
Moreover, considering Sylvia's ability was extremely versatile and special, although Fang Li knew that Ereshkigal was strong, he didn't think she could be compared to Fan Xinglou, who was known as Banyuu Tenra.
But Sylvia somewhat self-deprecatingly replied, "While it's not that I had no chance of fighting back, she is indeed very strong. When facing her, I had no feeling of being able to win at all."
Everyone fell silent again. Even Fang Li remained quiet.
However, after a while, Fang Li suddenly spoke up.
"Sylvia, have you thought about our plans for this afternoon?"
"If not, let's go visit Rewolf Black."
(End Of The Chapter)