Chapter 5

Seeing her excited to take on the challenge, Xu Bohan frowned, a sense of foreboding washing over him. However, since the challenge had been issued, he decided he should at least try. Huang Binhan was always pleased to see his students competing with one another. He nodded in agreement, saying, "Very well. But remember what I said: keep the sparring controlled. You are classmates; do not be too ruthless."

As he spoke, Huang Binhan glanced pointedly at Xu Jintang. The memory of her beating Xu Bohan into the ground during the class representative selection was still fresh in everyone’s minds, and this warning was clearly meant for her.

Xu Jintang cleared her throat. "Understood!"

Xu Bohan’s face darkened; he shot her a resentful look and muttered, "Understood!"

Minutes later, the group arrived at the academy’s arena. Private duels were forbidden on campus, so any personal grievances between students were typically settled in the ring. As Xu Jintang and Xu Bohan stepped onto the platform, the students watching from below began to murmur.

"Rare sight, isn't it? The class monitor's position is finally being challenged."
"Today it’s for the practical training representative spot; tomorrow, he might just challenge her for the monitor position."
"Who do you think will win?"
"Hard to say. The monitor only awakened a support ability, right? Compared to Xu Bohan's ability, there’s bound to be a gap."

On the stage, Xu Jintang and Xu Bohan stood facing each other. Huang Binhan, acting as the referee, took his place in the center.

"The rules of the arena: the first to fall off the stage or the first to lose the ability to fight is the loser. Begin!"

As he spoke, a transparent protective barrier slowly rose around the edges of the ring. Its purpose was to contain the combat energy within the arena so it wouldn't leak out and harm the spectators, though it would not prevent someone from falling off. As the barrier rose, Xu Jintang clearly sensed a faint energy field enveloping the surroundings. She raised her eyes to scan her opponent, quietly channeling her ability. The arena had a radius of ten meters, and her ability’s range was just enough to cover half that area.

Xu Bohan’s expression grew stern. Driven by a desire for revenge, he clenched his fists, and instantly, his hands were covered in hardened steel, reflecting a cold, metallic light.

—Hardened Iron Fists.

"Amazing, they really turned into iron fists," the students below exclaimed. Xu Jintang, too, took a moment to study his iron fists.

In the blink of an eye, Xu Bohan charged at her. Xu Jintang remained calm, a smile playing on her lips as she raised her hands and pressed them downward. The slowing effect of her Domain ability descended instantly. As Xu Bohan rushed into the area of her domain, his forward momentum was suddenly halted and sluggish. He felt his body slowing down uncontrollably, and his heart skipped a beat. *Is this Xu Jintang's support ability?*

As Xu Bohan’s movements slowed, Xu Jintang moved as well. She realized that the most formidable part of her ability wasn't just the slowing effect; it was the ability to observe every change within the domain. It was like a satellite map; every move Xu Bohan made within her controlled range was clearly projected into her mind. Because he was also under the influence of the slowing effect, his reactions were a beat behind. To Xu Jintang’s eyes, he was full of openings.

"The monitor’s support ability seems quite powerful," one student remarked.
"It’s hilarious, Xu Bohan looks like he has dementia; all his movements are frozen and delayed by half a beat."
"How exactly is one supposed to break the monitor’s slowing ability?"

Xu Bohan was grappling with that very question. He narrowed his eyes, his body trembling as he resisted the control imposed by the domain. This slowing effect was indeed powerful, but it couldn't possibly be invincible. If it were truly that formidable, the orientation teacher wouldn't have been so calm yesterday. Xu Bohan realized something; he narrowed his eyes and immediately gathered a massive amount of spiritual energy, intending to use brute force to break through the constraints of the domain.

On the stage, the muscles in Xu Bohan’s body erupted with power. A surge of spiritual energy gathered in his hands, releasing an intensity that seemed capable of destroying everything in its path. Sensing the danger, Xu Jintang quickly retreated. Half a second later, the sheer volume of spiritual energy allowed Xu Bohan to forcibly break through the domain. His lips curled upward, his speed restored to normal. With a loud shout, he charged at Xu Jintang again.

Xu Jintang was surprised. *So, my domain isn't invincible. If the enemy uses spiritual energy or an ability stronger than mine, they can forcibly break the control. If I want to continue restricting them, I need to use more spiritual energy than they do.*

"Hardened Iron Fists!" Having reached her, Xu Bohan leaped into the air, raising his fists to strike at her. Just as he was about to land the blow, Xu Jintang showed no panic; instead, she gave him a smiling look.

—Domain Slow.

The powerful domain control descended once more. This time, the slowing effect was even stronger than before. Furthermore, within the domain, Xu Bohan inexplicably felt a chill; a cold wind crept into his collar, making him shiver. A vast amount of spiritual energy was rapidly gathering within Xu Jintang, making the domain even more stable. The consumption of mental energy for this activation was twice as high as before, and the effect was doubled as well. If Xu Bohan wanted to break through again, he would have to expend even more energy.

Xu Jintang didn't wait. Her gaze darkened, a flicker of brightness passing through her calm eyes, and then she leaped lightly. The cleansing effects of dragon bone and blood essence had made her muscle strength significantly more powerful; when she exerted herself, her speed and power were several times what they used to be. With a light tap of her foot, she vaulted gracefully into the air.

In the next second, her body tensed. She kicked out, tracing an arc in the air, and suddenly pivoted to land behind Xu Bohan, raising her hand to lock onto his vulnerable neck. With just a slight twist, his neck would snap instantly. She had already won the duel.

Xu Jintang lifted her chin slightly, looking at Xu Bohan with a hint of playfulness. "Is that all? And you dared to challenge me?"

"Xu Jintang wins! The duel is over," declared Huang Binhan, acting as the referee. The students below hadn't even realized what had happened before Xu Jintang had already won.

"Damn! The monitor is still incredibly strong."
"Even a support ability is being used so skillfully by her; Xu Bohan kicked a steel plate again."
"It’s so exaggerated; an ability with such high damage couldn't even beat the monitor's support ability."

Huang Binhan looked at Xu Jintang with newfound admiration. "Not bad. Today’s battle has shown everyone that even a support ability, if used flexibly, can erupt with astonishing combat power. This is the purpose of our practical training class. In the coming days, I will teach you how to apply your abilities to real combat. Remember, only by truly understanding and mastering your own ability can you bring out its perfect effect."

Xu Bohan gritted his teeth, clearly unconvinced. "Teacher, that’s unfair! Xu Jintang’s ability is a domain type, but mine is a close-combat ability. I couldn't even get close to her; how could I possibly beat her?"

Xu Jintang didn't even look him in the eye, just gave him a sidelong glance. "What do you call 'fair'? You, a close-combat user, coming to fight me, a support user—is that your definition of fair?"

Huang Binhan sided with Xu Jintang this time. "Exactly. Everyone knows Xu Jintang’s ability is support-oriented. She won this match based on her combat techniques." He looked at Xu Bohan. "In the middle of the fight, you actually discovered how to break through her slowing control. But after you broke it, you were careless, thinking only of taking her down, which is why you fell into her second slowing trap. If you had been more cautious, the match wouldn't have ended so quickly."

Xu Bohan was left speechless. Once his emotions cooled, he realized that Huang Binhan was right. His second lapse into her slowing effect was indeed due to his own lack of caution.

"Alright, that’s enough of that." For the second half of the class, Huang Binhan used his own ability as an example to teach the students techniques for applying their powers in combat. "After class today, go home and think about how your abilities can actually function in a fight. Next lesson, we will continue to discuss practical application." With that, he dismissed the class.

Xu Jintang turned and walked toward the dormitories. Xu Bohan watched her retreating figure, his hands clenched tightly, his fighting spirit burning even brighter.

Half an hour later, inside the women’s dormitory building—

"Hello, are you Ms. 'Eat Harder, Soul of a Foodie'?" the female courier asked with a smile, standing outside the door.

"Eat Harder, Soul of a Foodie" was Xu Jintang’s StarNet ID. She nodded with a smile. "Yes, that's me."

Back inside, Xu Jintang retrieved four first-tier defensive inscriptions and four first-tier healing inscriptions to hand over. "These are the inscriptions I want to sell."

The courier smiled politely. "Understood. The 'Did You Profit' second-hand platform is happy to serve you."

After class, Xu Jintang had booked a pick-up service from the platform, intending to sell the inscriptions she had made last night for money. Two hours after the courier left, 1,600 star coins were transferred directly into her account.

"I didn't realize inscriptionists made so much money," Xu Jintang remarked while looking at her balance. She had only spent 150 star coins on a second-hand inscription pen and raw stones. Yet, in just half a day, she had inscribed eight first-tier items and sold them to the platform for 1,600.

Xu Jintang stroked her chin, deep in thought. It seemed she should seriously develop her career as an inscriptionist.

That afternoon, she returned to the second-hand market and found the same stall as before. The owner was reclining on a lounge chair, scrolling through popular short videos on his communicator, legs crossed, looking quite relaxed.

Xu Jintang walked up. "Boss, how many non-attribute raw stones do you have left on your stall? I’ll take them all."

The owner was stunned, but realizing it was a big order, he quickly put on a smile and stood up. "I still have..." Recognizing her as the girl who had sold the inscription pen last time, his tone shifted, and he asked curiously, "You want to buy all the non-attribute raw stones at my stall?"

"Yes, I went back and tried to inscribe them, but I failed every time and ruined the stones. I’m not satisfied, so I plan to buy more to try again. Boss, since I’m buying a lot this time, give me a discount."

The owner let out a sigh of relief, smiling. *He had startled me; I thought this girl had actually become an inscriptionist.*

"Alright, alright, let me count how many I have left for you."

Xu Jintang had no intention of revealing that she could already successfully inscribe them. Otherwise, the fact that she possessed a second, Star-type ability would also be exposed. She had too many secrets as it was; until she had the strength to protect herself, she had to keep a low profile.