In the blink of an eye, several more days passed. Leon Huang had been unstoppable lately, climbing steadily up the Qi-Refining Ranking and now reaching rank 458.
Meanwhile, countless students were studying his Drifting Dragon Steps and Phantom Bird Shadow.
Both of these techniques came from the divine ring’s legacy, and though they didn’t have official grade labels, they had already far surpassed traditional ninth-grade arts.
On this particular day, Leon had just finished another ranking duel.
A senior female student drifted over gracefully.
"Junior Huang, please come with me. The vice dean wants to see you."
"Yes!"
A vice dean was a Martial Saint-level big shot. Other than glimpsing one from afar at the enrollment ceremony, Leon had never interacted with such a top-tier master up close. He wondered which of the five vice deans he was about to meet.
He wanted to ask the senior student for more information, but she kept a frosty, 'do not approach' expression. Leon guessed that even if he asked, she wouldn’t tell him anyway, and since he’d meet the vice dean soon enough, he dropped the idea.
Half a quarter hour later, he followed the senior female student into an elegant pavilion.
"Greetings, Vice Dean Melody!"
Leon bowed respectfully to the middle-aged woman inside the pavilion. Of the five vice deans, only one was female—Melody Empress.
"No need for formalities. Stand up!" Melody Empress gestured with her hand.
Although she looked like a middle-aged woman, Melody Empress was actually over a hundred years old, and her voice carried a faint trace of age.
"Thank you, Vice Dean," Leon said again.
"I called you here today to ask if you’re willing to donate your movement and body techniques to the academy," Melody Empress said, getting straight to the point.
Leon was momentarily taken aback by her words.
Melody Empress continued, "Your movement and body techniques are truly exceptional—perfect for battlefield use. As you know, our Human Race has always been at a disadvantage against the Devil Race. If our experts had your techniques, the number of casualties would be greatly reduced.
At the same time, the academy won’t let you donate them for nothing. You’ll receive five hundred thousand contribution points for each technique!
Hearing this, Leon lowered his head in thought. Contribution points were extremely valuable in the academy—they could buy manuals, weapons, pills, or even expert guidance.
A million contribution points was an astronomical fortune—worth ten million taels of silver. If he really wanted to sell, even at twelve million, nobody would bat an eye.
Besides, the divine ring held far more techniques than just these few, so Leon wasn’t overly attached to them.
More importantly, his third system mission was to lead the Human Race to defeat the Devil Race. If Human experts could reduce casualties thanks to Drifting Dragon Steps and Phantom Bird Shadow, he’d gain plenty of support when he eventually aimed to become leader.
If you’re after fame, then don’t chase profit.
With that in mind, Leon said, "I’m willing to donate both techniques to the academy for free—but I have one condition!"
Both Melody Empress and the senior female student were stunned that Leon was willing to donate them for free, refusing a million contribution points.
"What’s your condition?"
"I hope the academy will vigorously promote Drifting Dragon Steps and Phantom Bird Shadow, instead of keeping them locked away as exclusive secrets!"
Hearing Leon’s condition, Melody Empress was even more surprised and a little puzzled. "That’s really your only condition? Nothing else?"
"Nothing else!" Leon shook his head decisively.
Melody Empress smiled approvingly. "You’re a hard one to figure out, kid. All right—I promise to promote both arts as widely as I can!"
"Thank you!"
"It’s me who should thank you—or rather, the entire Human Race owes you thanks!"
The next day.
Complete manuals for Drifting Dragon Steps and Phantom Bird Shadow appeared on the first floor of the Scripture Pavilion, each clearly marked as donated free of charge by Leon Huang.
News of this spread quickly. Not only low-level students, but also middle- and high-level students flocked to the Scripture Pavilion to study the two arts.
The Scripture Pavilion was busier than ever before.
Meanwhile, some people secretly gossiped that Leon was an idiot for donating such profound techniques.
But as more and more students practiced Drifting Dragon Steps and Phantom Bird Shadow, they realized just how powerful these arts were. The mockers fell silent—because if they’d gotten their hands on these techniques, they’d never have shared them with everyone.
Because of this, many people came to genuinely admire Leon.
The following afternoon, Leon stepped onto the arena again, this time facing an upperclassman ranked 454th on the Qi-Refining Ranking.
Seeing Leon empty-handed, the student sneered, "Junior Huang, your victories all come down to Drifting Dragon Steps and Phantom Bird Shadow. Now that I’ve learned both, you have no advantage over me. You’d better use your sword techniques!"
Hearing this, many in the audience felt uncomfortable. If Leon hadn’t selflessly shared those arts, would this guy dare boast like that?
"Not necessarily!"
Leon chuckled and shook his head.
"Hmph, then please enlighten me, Junior Huang!"
As soon as he finished speaking, his figure blurred—he launched an attack, using Drifting Dragon Steps.
To be fair, this student was quite talented with Drifting Dragon Steps; in just a day or two, he’d already trained it to a very high level.
Unfortunately, he was still worlds apart from Leon.
"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"
Suddenly, three identical Leons appeared beside him.
Three phantom bodies and Leon’s true self charged at once—two used palm strikes, two used punches, all moving with Drifting Dragon Steps, surrounding their opponent.
"Whoa! Junior Huang’s Phantom Bird Shadow is at this level—he can create three phantom bodies!"
Spectators couldn’t help but marvel. Anyone who’d trained Phantom Bird Shadow knew how hard it was to create even one phantom body, let alone three.
"Not just that—look closely!"
A senior student who’d studied Phantom Bird Shadow pointed at the stage, "See how he controls all three phantom bodies with perfect precision—they’re practically indistinguishable from his real self! Even top students would struggle to match that level of control."
Hearing this, everyone stared at Leon’s three phantom bodies. Sure enough, just as the senior student said, and instantly, admiration welled up in their hearts.
"Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Under the combined assault of three phantom bodies and Leon himself, the boastful student didn’t last three moves before being knocked off the stage.
Cheers erupted below the stage, from both upperclassmen and newcomers alike.