"You're a Third Heaven disciple asking a Second Heaven for guidance? That seems inappropriate, don't you think?"
Qin Zi said calmly.
He emphasized the word "guidance."
"Hmph, if it were an ordinary disciple, it would indeed be inappropriate. But asking a personal disciple like you is perfectly fine. I respectfully call you Senior Brother and ask for some guidance—surely that's not too much to ask?"
Lu Cheng's voice suddenly rose:
"Or do you think being a personal disciple is just for show? That it's only about enjoying the perks without doing anything?"
"As a personal disciple, it's your duty and responsibility to guide the junior disciples when needed!"
His tone was righteous and logical.
Personal disciples do indeed have this responsibility.
Qin Zi's lower cultivation was no excuse to shirk it—after all, when enjoying the benefits, did he ever complain about his lower cultivation, saying he didn't deserve them? To wear the crown, one must bear its weight! With power comes responsibility.
Qin Zi was momentarily stunned by his words, and then he realized that he really had no valid reason to refuse.
So, he took a deep breath, squinting his eyes as he said: "Since Junior Brother is so eager for guidance, as a Senior Brother, I suppose I should oblige."
Boom! A powerful aura erupted from him—this was the cultivation of a Second Heaven Saint. However, due to his divine physique and the amplification from two emperor-level techniques, his aura rivaled that of a Third Heaven Saint!
"This…!"
Lu Cheng's pupils contracted slightly.
Second Heaven? Wasn't Qin Zi only at the First Heaven when he went to challenge the gates? In just three months, he had already advanced to the Second Heaven?!
Moreover, this aura far exceeded that of an ordinary Second Heaven, almost capable of sweeping through all others at the same level!
It was on par with the Third Heaven.
"This place is too narrow for a proper fight. Why don't we move to the plaza? I'll give you a proper lesson there."
Qin Zi said coolly.
Lu Cheng hesitated for a moment, then coldly replied, "Fine. Let everyone see the brilliance of a personal disciple!"
He sneered inwardly.
Qin Zi must have become delusional after his gate-challenging success, thinking that being invincible within the same realm meant he could disregard those at higher realms?
Even if Qin Zi could match an ordinary Third Heaven Saint, that was all it meant—he could compete with average Third Heaven cultivators.
But what about a Third Heaven prodigy? They were both prodigies. While Qin Zi might be strong for his realm, thinking he could challenge someone above his level was a fool's dream!
Soon, the two of them arrived at the plaza, both radiating intense auras like twin suns suspended above the ground.
"Look, what's that?!"
"It's Senior Brother Qin Zi!"
"And the other one... isn't his name Lu Song? Lu Yun? I can't remember, but he's also supposed to be a genius."
"Is this Lu-whatever trying to challenge Senior Brother Qin Zi? Isn't that unfair? His cultivation is higher."
"Exactly! This guy is shameless, using his higher realm to try and step on Senior Brother Qin Zi for fame?"
"Disgusting! If he's so great, why doesn't he go challenge the gates of Starshatter Academy? He'd probably get beaten so badly even his mother wouldn't recognize him!"
"Yeah, this kind of person only dares to act tough at home. Out in the real world, he wouldn't dare make a peep… Brother Zi, teach him a lesson!"
The disciples of Ziyun Academy unanimously sided with Qin Zi, looking down on Lu Cheng.
After all, Qin Zi had saved their reputation when they were humiliated, preserving the honor of Ziyun Academy.
He was their hero! Hearing the murmurs around him, Lu Cheng's expression turned a bit grim. He hadn't expected Qin Zi to be so popular.
But most of the onlookers were First Heaven Saints.
These weaklings might not have much strength, but they were plentiful, always eager to watch the excitement and gossip.
"Hmph, once I publicly crush him, he'll fall from his pedestal. After that, the support for him will fade."
"No matter how legendary you are, once you've lost, regardless of the reason, people will remember you as weak…"
He sneered inwardly.
This was his goal in challenging Qin Zi—humiliate him publicly and tarnish his image.
"Senior Brother Qin Zi, please guide me!"
With a cold smile, Lu Cheng flashed forward, his right hand forming a claw as he reached for Qin Zi's shoulder.
Whoosh! Qin Zi reacted swiftly, grabbing Lu Cheng's wrist and throwing him over his shoulder.
In midair, Lu Cheng twisted like a diver, transforming into a massive black kun (a mythical fish). The giant kun thrashed its body, its tail sweeping across the plaza with the force of a vast ocean.
"Boom!"
The sweeping tail brought with it a tidal wave, creating a storm-like illusion.
However, Qin Zi clenched his fist and punched forward with raw, primal force, shattering everything in its path!
"Boom—"
The tidal wave illusion exploded, and the kun's tail disintegrated as well. Lu Cheng, now in his kun form, was forced back, returning to his human shape.
"Ten Thousand Swords Tribulation!"
Qin Zi roared, his body becoming a streak of light as he flashed past Lu Cheng.
Buzz! For a moment, time seemed to freeze, and then countless sword blades materialized, slashing at Lu Cheng's body.
"Slash, slash, slash!"
Lu Cheng hovered in the air, enduring a barrage of sword strikes before spitting blood and stumbling backward, landing unsteadily on the ground.
He clutched at his left arm, then his stomach, then his chest, but found that no matter where he pressed, it couldn't stop the bleeding. Dozens of wounds covered his body, each one gushing blood.
"Flames of the Scorching Sun!"
Lu Cheng bellowed, and a radiant sun seemed to rise from within his body. Flames engulfed him, and the intense heat seared his wounds shut, leaving behind scorched black scars.
The flames continued to expand, forming a sea of fire that spread across most of the plaza.
"Extinction Fire Serpent!!"
With a wave of his hands, massive serpents of flame burst from the fire, lunging toward Qin Zi.
"Fish Dragon Overturning the Seas!"
Qin Zi swung his arms, summoning the power of the water element. A towering wave surged up, with golden fish leaping into the air, transforming into dragons that coiled around the fire serpents.
"Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle!"
Water and fire collided, both forces extinguishing each other, releasing a cloud of thick white smoke that sent the spectators retreating.
At that moment, Qin Zi raised his right hand, as if lifting a golden sun. The sun quickly stretched into a long, golden sword that reached toward the heavens.
"Slash!!"
The sword descended, parting the sea of smoke as Lu Cheng raised his hands, summoning three layers of Law shields to defend himself.
"Crack, crack, crack!"
The fiery sword clashed with the shields, causing both the shields and the sword to shatter. Lu Cheng was sent flying.
Qin Zi spun and hurled the remaining half of the golden sword!
The sword whistled through the air, piercing Lu Cheng mid-flight, carrying him all the way to the edge of the plaza and pinning him to a pillar.
Whoosh! In the blink of an eye, Qin Zi appeared before the barely conscious Lu Cheng and asked calmly, "Are you satisfied with this lesson?"
"You… you!"
Lu Cheng's face contorted, filled with shame and rage that twisted into a vicious, hateful glare.
"Scoundrel!!"
At that moment, a thunderous voice echoed, filled with wrathful authority. A terrifying emperor's pressure descended, suppressing everything.
The Lu family elder hurriedly arrived on the scene.
He glared at Qin Zi and righteously shouted, "How dare you injure a fellow disciple in the academy? What crime do you deserve?!"