Chapter Twelve: What Makes You Worthy?

The entire hall fell silent in an instant! Yu Zhisha paused at the sound of Su Ye’s furious shout, and suddenly, an oppressive atmosphere settled over the martial arts hall.

Yu Zhisha’s accomplishments today had placed her far above everyone else. In all of Yang City, there could not be found a second person like her, bearing the Thunder Meridian. Over the past three years, the Yu family had grown ever more powerful. Who now would dare to show Yu Zhisha any disrespect?

Yet, at the same time, Su Ye had been able to remain at the school for three years, even with the label of “wastrel,” only because the Jiang family shielded him. Even the school dared not do anything to Su Ye.

Most importantly, the truth could not be hidden forever! Many present had heard something, however vague, about the grudge between Yu Zhisha and Su Ye. Once, they had been a pair of shining Blue Phoenixes, but then Su Ye had suddenly met with trouble in the Yu household.

Back then, Su Ye was the most dazzling prodigy of all!

“Insolence—!”

Before Yu Zhisha could answer, Zhou Jinghao, the mentor standing at her side, shouted angrily.

He glared fiercely at Su Ye, rebuking, “What are you? By what right do you challenge Zhisha? Hmph! If you dare to shout again, you’ll be expelled on the spot. People like you must not be tolerated!”

Su Ye clenched his teeth, his eyes locked unwaveringly on Yu Zhisha as he shouted, “Do you dare accept my challenge? Life and death shall be our own burden!”

At these words, the school leaders’ expressions changed, and one of them cried out, “Su Ye, stop this nonsense! Today is a day of great celebration—Zhisha’s triumphant return! Don’t cause trouble! A duel to the death is no child’s play!”

The arrogant young man following behind also swept his gaze over Su Ye and said loudly, “You’re obviously a nobody, yet you want to challenge Zhisha! If you lose, people will accuse her of bullying the weak. And if you win… ha! That’s impossible! You just want to show off, don’t you? If you’re so eager for a fight, why not challenge me instead?”

At this moment, many students began to whisper, pointing at Su Ye. “This Su Ye has only just broken through one meridian, and he dares challenge Senior Sister Zhisha? Where does he get that confidence?”

“What confidence? He just doesn’t know his place. They were both once Blue Phoenixes, but now that she soars ever higher, he’s just envious! He’s always slandering Senior Sister Zhisha behind her back, hmph.”

Su Ye seemed deaf to it all. His eyes remained fixed on Yu Zhisha, and he gritted out, “You once said I was destined to be a worthless nobody for life! Now, I have broken through—”

All eyes in the room flickered between Su Ye and Yu Zhisha.

This was almost too dramatic to be real: the very last-ranked student challenging the very first!

Yu Zhisha slowly turned to face him. Her beautiful face was still filled with proud contempt. She glanced at Su Ye with disdain and said in a low, steady voice, “Congratulations on your breakthrough at last. But you are nowhere near my equal! The gap between us is too great!”

Su Ye stepped forward, stopping right in front of Yu Zhisha, and said solemnly, “You know as well as I do: only one of us can walk this path alone!”

Yu Zhisha’s face flickered with a trace of emotion—she recognized those words. Once, she had told Su Ye: ‘Beasts walk alone; only cattle and sheep move in herds.’

But her expression soon turned cold, her voice icy as she ground out, “I have now opened sixty-seven meridians, possess the Thunder Meridian, have trained at the Provincial Spirit Martial Hall, and have been specially admitted to Magic City University! The moment I set foot in the university, a Guide will personally direct my cultivation! And you—by what right do you challenge me?”

As these titles rang out, the entire hall erupted.

Heavens! Sixty-seven meridians? What a terrifying achievement!

At Yang City First High, anyone who broke through eighteen meridians was already among the top thousand! Even some assistant instructors hadn’t reached sixty-seven!

Magic City University, a Guide… that was something they could hardly dream of.

“Three months from now is the annual graduation challenge for seniors! I will challenge you then!” Su Ye said in a steely voice.

At that time, any senior would have the right to challenge another. This was a tradition at Yang City First High—everyone had to participate. Yu Zhisha would have no way to refuse!

Yu Zhisha’s lips curved slightly, and she replied crisply, “Three years a wastrel, and you think you can make up for it in three months? Fine! Very well! In three months, I’ll show you the difference between three years of genius and three years of mediocrity!”

With that, Yu Zhisha whirled around and strode out of the hall. The school leaders and those two arrogant young men followed.

In that moment, the martial arts hall seemed to lose its oppressive air. Many people looked at Su Ye with expressions reserved for fools.

“Is Su Ye crazy for fame? He actually challenged Yu Zhisha!”

“In three months… well, that’ll be a show worth seeing! Su Ye won’t last a single round. Sixty-seven meridians, after all!”

Su Ye paid no attention to their words. He knew time was running out for him.

The battle in three months—he had to win it.

Beside him, Jian Muqian was still shaken, and said worriedly, “Su Ye, you were too impulsive! You finally broke through—you should focus on training now. What if she’d accepted your challenge right then and there?”

Su Ye shook his head with calm certainty. “She wouldn’t. I know her very well. There was nothing for her to gain by fighting me now. On the contrary, win or lose, her reputation would suffer, and people might drag up the things she most wants to keep hidden.”

“Still, even so, how could you possibly defeat her in three months?” Jian Muqian’s eyes were filled with sorrow.

Su Ye gestured for her not to worry—three months was a long time.

At that moment, Jiu Yaying approached. She seemed a little unsure how to greet Su Ye, nodding several times before saying, “Um, Su Ye, thank you for saving me. If you need any training techniques, my family has some I can give you to practice.”

Su Ye looked at her steadily, causing her to blush and avert her eyes. Family training techniques were precious—many families used them to win over others.

Yet Jiu Yaying offered hers to him!

“Thank you, but that won’t be necessary. I have my own techniques.”

Su Ye spoke the truth—his method had been learned from the Heaven-Shaking Stele in the midst of a thunderstorm. Though he had only observed its form and momentum, just the characters “Yanhuang” were enough to surpass any technique he had ever seen.

What he wanted most now was for the thunder to continue, so he could keep listening and training.

Jiu Yaying added, “If you don’t want to train, that’s fine. You saved me, so I must thank you somehow. Tomorrow is Saturday—will you come to my house for a gathering? My father heard what happened and wants to meet you to thank you in person.”

“No… I’m not really interested in gatherings…” Su Ye reflexively shook his head.

But Jian Muqian interrupted before he could finish, answering for him, “Haha, Su Ye, don’t be so modest! It’s an honor to attend a gathering at Jiu Yaying’s home. All right, I’ll accept for him. You should go to class!”

“Alright then… Goodbye, Mentor. Goodbye, Su Ye.” Jiu Yaying smiled radiantly—she was surprisingly beautiful—then hurried off with the other girls.

Watching her go, Su Ye said, “Mentor, I really don’t have time to attend a gathering. I’ll find a way to decline.”

“Why would you refuse such an invitation? Don’t you know the status of Jiu Yaying’s family? I heard this time, their guest of honor is a Guide!”

Jian Muqian gave Su Ye a reproachful look and continued, “A Guide! Even a one-star Guide is incredibly powerful! If you go, maybe they’ll even help you refine your technique—that could save you countless detours. In three months, you might at least last ten seconds in a match!”

Hearing that a Guide would be there, Su Ye was somewhat moved.

But he showed no sign of excitement, for his technique would likely be beyond even a Guide’s understanding, let alone their advice.

“Very well—let’s see if this legendary Guide is truly able to guide me.”