Infinite Star - Chapter 32

“He didn’t lose yet? Did you really watch the fight at all?” Zayn was surprised at Flint’s Uncle statement.

Zayn wasn’t the only one confused by the statement. Every teacher and many students noticed that Zayn was only toying with Flint. He didn’t regard him as an opponent at all.

“The truth is Flint’s combat prowess was weakened. You see the powerful attack that he displayed two times wasn’t exactly the Fire Fist. Flint is able to display the Fire Fist with 3 flames but to use that in the Body Refinement Realm is impossible. Thanks to our cultivation technique, we are constantly surrounded by fire particles. One of our ancestors used this to create, what we call it, the Zero Fire Fist. The Zero Fire Fist is only useful in the Body Refinement Realm, as one doesn’t need to control qi to use it. One only has to attract the fire particles and use the Fire Fist. It’s simple as that. But, this attack has a high energy consumption and weakens the combat prowess for a few hours. That’s why he hasn’t lost yet.”

After this explanation, many in the audience understood how Flint was able to use a Martial Skill in the Body Refinement Realm.

And many in the audience started to think about Zayn and Flint’s fight. Was Flint really weakened after his attacks? This that meant that he was stronger than Zayn? Or maybe his true strength would be still weaker than Zayn. The audience wanted to see who the stronger one was.

The principal was aware of the Zero Fire Fist, but he never heard about the weakening of the combat prowess. Maybe the Burning Heart Family kept it in secret, in order to show no kind of weakness. It also could be that Flint’s Uncle was bluffing. But if that was the case what was he after? What could the explanation give him?

“So, what do you propose?”

“Ah principal, I knew you were a smart one! I only want to take a break. It only needs to be an hour, not any longer. Flint would need a private room where he could rest and gain his strength back, I will assist him with that and give him some pills. Then Flint would be able to fight.”

The principal wasn’t getting smarter through this proposal. It seemed like the Zero Fire Fist really had a grave weakness.

“All right! That is possible.”

“Great! And Zayn, the wager still stands, right?” Flint’s Uncle gazed over to Zayn.

“Wager? Ah right… Nope!”

“What?!? Are you afraid?”

Zayn smirked at that remark.

“No. The thing is, I don’t think that 50 Qi Pills is enough for the Fire Fist. With the Fire Fist, I have one more Martial Skill in my arsenal. And from what I’ve heard it’s quite a powerful one too. The 50 Qi Pills aren’t exactly tempting if I compare it to the Fire Fist.” Zayn was obviously gambling right now. He had no use for the Fire Fist anymore, as he already mastered the True Fire Fist. But he knew that the Burning Heart Family really wanted their Fire Fist back, so he tried to gain as much as possible out of it. If he lost against Flint in the following fight, he wouldn’t really lose anything, as the Fire Fist didn’t have any value more for Zayn.

“I understand where you’re going at. How about 200 Qi Pills? Is that a deal?”

“Yes, that’s a deal!” Zayn was overjoyed by this deal.

In all honesty, Zayn had to fight, even if there was no offer on the table. The quest from the Daily System rendered him dependent on the fight. If he gambled too high, there would be the chance that no fight was happening then and Zayn would automatically lose his quest and receive a punishment. But he was confident that Flint and his uncle really needed the Fire Fist scroll back, and his gamble easily went through.

“Perfect! Principal, can you bring us to a private room now?”

“Sure.”

The principal started walking ahead of Flint and his uncle when he was suddenly interrupted.

“Principal! I also want a private room.” Zayn demanded. He wanted to do something useful in the time of the break, and with the crowd trying to swarm over Zayn, he needed a private room.

“All right.”

Zayn was brought inside the training grounds buildings. He was already in the buildings before, when Vown tested him.

The training ground was a complex of buildings, where an arena was situated in the middle of it.

Inside the building, Zayn was brought to a private cultivation room. After leaving Zayn there, the principal walked with Flint and his uncle to a room on the opposite end of the building.

“Kid, what are you planning to do?”

“Well, I still got some Qi Pills remaining. I’ll cultivate a bit, and then I want to look at the book, which the principal gifted me.”

“All right! I’ll wake you up after your Qi Pills ran out. Otherwise, you will keep cultivating…”

.

“Uncle, are you sure about the side effects of the Zero Fire Fist? I don’t feel any weaker than before.”

“You idiot! Of course, that was a lie!”

Inside Flint’s and his uncle’s private room, they began to talk about their current situation.

“Listen, Flint. Your grandpa really came. He’s visiting us, and he wants to see you. So, I traveled from our family’s residence to the academy to pick you up. When I saw that the tournament already started, I wanted to wait until you finished up. Never would I have expected to encounter such a freak like Zayn. I already wanted to interfere in your fight against Zayn and use up the excuse there, but then the principal came swooping in. You really had to push him, didn’t you? What the hell did you expect after crippling a fellow student?!?”

“I… uhm-”

“ENOUGH! It already happened. Originally your grandpa gifted you with a Vermilion’s tear, but as a result of your mess, I have to gift it to the academy. Don’t you dare tell that your grandpa! Now the important thing to do is to beat Zayn. We really need the Fire Fist Scroll back. Your grandpa wants to write in your Fire Fist Scroll his experiences not only with the Fire Fist but also with the Fire Qi, as a guidance. He insisted to write it only on your scroll. Do you understand the gravity of the situation?”

“I… I understand, but Zayn is too strong! I- I- I can’t beat him…” After telling his inability to defeat Zayn, frustration came over him. This was the first time he couldn’t defeat an opponent at his grade. He lost countless times before, but that was only to older family members. Not once did he lose to someone at his age or younger than him.

“I know! He’s a freak! But I may have a solution on hand for that problem. I only need to be sure, do you really want to defeat him?”

“I really want to defeat him!!! No matter what!”

“Great! You didn’t have any other choice, anyway. You HAVE TO win this fight, or else your grandpa will unleash his rage at us.”

.

“Thank you, everyone, for patiently waiting for an hour! But right now the new round will begin! I hope you are excited to see this fight!”

“Kid, are you sure you don’t want to test it?” Infinite Star asked Zayn.

“No, I don’t think it’s necessary. You already told me that Flint’s Uncle was only bluffing with the weakening of Flint.” Zayn was currently right in front of the arena. After the announcement from Teacher Leaf, he started walking towards the arena.

“Yes, and I also told you that he has some kind of plan. And that you should be careful because of it!”

“You are only exaggerating. Look at Flint. He looks like a scared cat.”