Instructor Lin actually chuckled internally.
'Kuo is getting entirely too arrogant since his breakthrough,' Lin thought, his eyes shifting back to the perfectly stoic Yoriichi.
'He needs to be checked and put back in line. And Xiao Ning... this boy's combat limits are a complete mystery to me. Having a little play with this new student and the senior might be the perfect opportunity to test them both.'
A few minutes later, the rigorous Q&A session officially concluded. Kuo, despite his anger, was genuinely surprised that this freshman had correctly answered all the advanced theories without a single stutter.
Instructor Lin closed his ledger, looking highly impressed. "Flawless theory, Xiao Ning. However, theory must be paired with application. We will now proceed to the auxiliary arena. I need to test your combat progression."
"Understood," Yoriichi replied calmly, standing up from his chair.
The instructor led the way out of the classroom, with Yoriichi following silently.
Kuo immediately stood up and trailed closely behind them. As they walked through the open-air corridors, the senior's mind raced. He was desperate to see what this 'puny' genius could actually do in a real fight.
More than that, an overwhelming urge gripped him—he wanted to step into the ring, teach this junior a harsh lesson himself, and forcefully remind the boy of his proper place in the academy's food chain.
Seizing the moment, Kuo quickened his pace to walk beside the instructor.
"Teacher Lin," Kuo began, pitching his voice to sound incredibly helpful and considerate. "I know you have been conducting previous classes and overseeing heavy drills all morning. You must be slightly tired. If I may be so bold, then can I do something instead of your place? Let me conduct the combat evaluation."
Instructor Lin paused, crafting a perfect expression of contemplation on his face. He looked at Kuo, then stroked his chin for a few seconds in theatrical silence.
Finally, Instructor Lin shrugged his shoulders. "Hmm... it's true that my Dou Qi is slightly depleted. Okay, you may go and try it."
Lin then turned to the red-haired youth. "It wouldn't be a problem for you to spar with a senior, right, Xiao Ning?"
Yoriichi raised his eyebrows infinitesimally. Through his Transparent World vision, he could clearly see the chaotic, jealous spikes in the senior's blood flow and the erratic pulsing of his liquid Dou Qi. He felt something cooking up between the instructor and the senior, but he didn't care.
"No problem," Yoriichi told them calmly.
They reached the auxiliary arena shortly after. The large, circular stone platform was currently occupied by a dozen freshmen and few other Dou Zhes practicing their forms. Generally, once a student reached the Dou Shi realm, they took on more dangerous mercenary missions, explored the outside world, or cultivated solely in the inner towers, so seeing a Dou Shi here was rare.
Noticing the arrival of Instructor Lin and Senior Kuo, the practicing students immediately cleared the arena. Dozens of youths gathered around the edges of the ring, whispering excitedly as they realized a dramatic cross-rank spar was about to unfold.
Initially, Instructor Lin merely wanted to test Yoriichi's strength minimally and normally. But seeing the large crowd gathering and the situation leading up to a spectacle, he simply gave himself out to the flow of events, stepping back to the edge of the ring to observe.
Standing in the center of the arena, Kuo realized he had the perfect stage. A bright idea formed in his hot-blooded brain. He laughed a little, a slightly condescending sound, and drew a standard, razor-sharp steel broadsword from his spatial ring.
"Alright, Junior, let's do this spar," Kuo announced loudly, ensuring the entire audience could hear his supposed benevolence. "Don't fear. I will stabilize my realm down to that of a Dou Zhe to match you. It's just for experience, and you are incredibly lucky that this opportunity came to you."
Yoriichi stood perfectly relaxed, his hands resting by his sides. He didn't even bother to draw his Katana, leaving it secured in his dark sash. He still remained as stoic as ever, glancing at the instructor before turning his crimson eyes back to Kuo.
"Hmm... yes," Yoriichi said, his tone utterly flat and devoid of any actual emotion. "I am grateful for this senior."
The deadpan, almost bored delivery caused a few students in the crowd to stifle nervous laughter. Kuo's confident smile twitched violently.
Before the match began, Instructor Lin stepped up to the edge of the ring, his expression turning serious.
"Xiao Ning, this one is different from fighting a freshman," Instructor Lin warned. "Even with his Dou Qi suppressed, his physical tempering is higher. If you want, you can quit now without penalty."