Chapter 64: The Fierce Beauty Mentor, Xiao Yuqi

The irritable female voice was loud and clear. For a moment, all the students present were stunned—after all, only the swordsmanship instructor could command all the students to assemble in such a fashion.

Naturally, the students had no choice but to obey the instructor’s words, and fortunately, even as new recruits, their overall discipline was quite good. Without any direct supervision, the students—including Sikong Xu—quickly gathered together, forming two horizontal lines.

At this point, everyone finally caught their first glimpse of the instructor. Yet, the figure before them was far removed from the image Sikong Xu had imagined. In his mind, a swordsmanship teacher ought to be, if not a suave swordsman in elegant robes, at least someone passionately devoted to the sword, like Zoro. If not, then perhaps someone mysterious, dressed in a way that suggested hidden depths.

But the instructor before them—what on earth was this? Never mind the fact that she was a woman teaching swordsmanship; her fiery figure alone was enough to distract the students from learning! Had it not been for her explosive temper, there would have been no doubt that this swordsmanship instructor was extremely alluring. She wore a tight-fitting outfit of red and white, the curves of her body perfectly accentuated, causing more than a few male students to stare, their eyes glazed and throats swallowing hard.

“If you don’t want to get a beating from me and then fail this course, keep your dog eyes in check,” the woman declared with formidable presence. Her commanding aura and sharp gaze compelled the students to avert their eyes, unable to withstand her forceful demeanor.

“My name is Xiao Yuqi. I am your swordsmanship instructor. Let me remind you: my personality is nothing like my gentle-sounding name. If you anger me… you’ll have to bear the consequences.” Her temper was as fiery as her attire, as anyone could tell from the brash command she’d just issued.

No sooner had Xiao Yuqi finished speaking than her gaze swept over all the students in Training Hall No. 4. There were around fifty new students present, and none could withstand the ferocity of her stare for long.

Almost everyone broke eye contact the instant they met her gaze.

“What, not a single one of you has the courage to meet my eyes?” As her words fell, the very air in the hall seemed to grow heavier, as if an invisible hand was squeezing the hearts of every student, leaving many breathless and oppressed.

Sikong Xu, too, felt that suffocating pressure—a clear demonstration of how aura could be wielded. A powerful aura could oppress targets mentally, and if one’s strength were great enough, the pressure alone could kill an opponent.

Yet, this oppressive force had little effect on Sikong Xu. Ultimately, aura was a mental assault, and of all things, this was what Sikong Xu, with his “Infinite Martial Tempering,” feared the least.

Of course, Sikong Xu also knew how to wield his own aura, though he could not yet match Xiao Yuqi’s terrifying intensity.

Soon, over half the students groaned in pain, some even collapsing to their knees, drenched in cold sweat.

There was no helping it; the gap between Xiao Yuqi’s strength and that of the students was simply too vast. Still, among the fifty students, there were a few who stood out.

Because Xiao Yuqi’s aura had no effect on Sikong Xu, he had plenty of leisure to observe the others. Most of the students had already collapsed to the ground, gasping for air, and Xiao Yuqi had released the pressure on them. Only a handful remained standing, and Sikong Xu recognized nearly all of them.

Among them, Sikong Xu was most impressed by a burly student at the center of the formation. The young man was tall and robust—taller even than Sikong Xu, who stood nearly one meter eighty—and his musculature, evident even beneath the school uniform, radiated explosive power.

But it was not just his build that made him memorable. Most of all, it was the person himself: Cao Dongcheng. That was his name.

There were three standouts in the first year of Dawn Academy. The first was Mu Qing, chosen as grade belle and one of the academy’s top five beauties for her exceptional looks. The second was none other than Sikong Xu himself, who, somewhat awkwardly, earned his fame as the infamous “King of the Disabled.” And the last was Cao Dongcheng. Though his popularity did not match the other two across the entire school, within the first year he was widely recognized.

For he was acknowledged as the strongest first-year student in the entire academy.

Watching this hulking figure, already drenched in sweat yet forcing himself upright through sheer will, Sikong Xu recalled what he knew of him. Though only sixteen, Cao Dongcheng possessed extraordinary physical strength—already far surpassing the average adult even before his awakening. After awakening, his potential propelled his strength into the mid-Ebon rank.

Like Mu Qing, he was one of the few students to awaken an A-grade talent. However, while Mu Qing’s “Heavenly Fire Physique” was a constitution-based talent, Cao Dongcheng’s was called “Rage”—a power-type talent that could double his strength for a limited time.

It was thanks to this talent that Cao Dongcheng managed to complete two mainline missions in the fantasy world training, earning a B+ evaluation.

Aside from Cao Dongcheng and Sikong Xu, two other students still stood, though they trembled as if a gentle breeze would send them tumbling to the floor. Sikong Xu didn’t recognize them, but their ability to endure Xiao Yuqi’s aura for so long suggested they were far from ordinary.

“Weak… so weak. This year’s freshmen truly disappoint me.” Xiao Yuqi shook her head as she looked at the four remaining students, muttering to herself, “In previous years, at least seven or eight could last more than two minutes. But this year…”

She shook her head as she spoke. Although there were a few with potential among this year’s students, overall they fell far short of previous cohorts. Of the four still standing, only the burly student and the delicate-featured youth caught her eye—the other two were barely holding on.

Wait a minute!

Suddenly, Xiao Yuqi noticed something odd. Her gaze locked onto Sikong Xu.

There was something seriously wrong with this delicate-featured youth!

Initially, Xiao Yuqi had overlooked Sikong Xu out of disappointment, but now that she looked more closely, she spotted the anomaly.

She was certain that the pressure she exerted should have left these students gasping, immobilized, or even suffocating to death—not out of arrogance, but because the difference in strength was absolute.

Yet this student before her acted as if nothing had happened—not a drop of sweat on his brow, his demeanor calm, without the slightest sign of discomfort. Xiao Yuqi simply couldn’t believe he had the strength to withstand her aura.

“What’s your name, boy?” Xiao Yuqi asked with keen interest.

“Sikong, given name Xu,” he replied, thinking to himself that trouble had arrived.

He had long anticipated that his abnormal response would attract her attention and was already prepared for this moment.

“Well then, are you willing to spar with me?”