X-Dragon Era

Unfortunately, even though Ming Xuan had finally mastered the correct way to train, it was too late. At the start of the school year, Ming Xuan still lost the challenge without any suspense.

However, it's worth mentioning that even though Ming Xuan lost, it wasn't a crushing defeat. Especially noteworthy was Ming Xuan's indomitable spirit, his willingness to fight as if his life depended on it, which won him the respect of everyone, including his opponent.

By the time the match was over, Ming Xuan's dragon was indeed on the brink of death and even Ming Xuan himself was covered in wounds and blood. However, despite this, the fire in Ming Xuan's eyes and his thirst for victory never once wavered.

In the past, after suffering intense blows and sustaining severe physical damage, Ming Xuan would have conceded the match. After all, what was the point of continuing to fight when there was no chance of victory?

But after coming into contact with Xin Yun and the other two the day before yesterday, Ming Xuan had changed. If they could disregard their lives during regular training and fight with everything they had, why couldn't he, a proud man, do the same? He may fall behind Xin Yun, but how could he allow himself to fall behind Yi Luo Xiang and Yan Qingying, two girls!

Never retreat, even in death! That was the greatest impact Xin Yun had on him over the past two days. As long as the referee hadn't announced the end of the match, as long as he could still move, he would persevere, even with no hope of victory.

In the end, although Ming Xuan was nearly shattered, his opponent was also close to collapsing. Looking at the bloodied Peacock Dragon opposite him, at Ming Xuan's wounds, at his ferocious eyes, reminiscent of a dreadful beast, and at his determination and lingering possibility of victory, he really wanted to surrender.

Had it been an inconsequential match, Ming Xuan's opponent might have conceded long ago. But he knew well that losing would mean forfeiting his right to continue studying in the main academy and being relegated to a branch school. Therefore... no matter how terrifying the opponent, he had to keep fighting.

Until now, the Peacock Dragon's attack methods had been limited to clawing with its talons or pecking with its beak. Yet the Peacock Dragon was an Energy Series dragon, specialized in long-range attacks, a terrible choice for close-quarters combat. It was attacking the enemy's strength with its own weakness.

Knowing that his attacks couldn't inflict a fatal blow on his opponent, Ming Xuan nonetheless refused to back down. Piloting the Peacock Dragon with skills honed through hard training, he continued to tear at his opponent's dragon, so that when Ming Xuan was defeated, his adversary was also left covered in wounds.
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None of Ming Xuan's attacks had been fatal, but looking over, the opponent's dragon was riddled with claw marks, the dragon's skin was filled with wounds where flesh had been turned inside out, and there were numerous blood holes pecked out. These injuries might not have been fatal, but the pain endured by the riders when their dragons were attacked was beyond ordinary imagination.

Although Ming Xuan is currently weak, the majority of the audience was confident they could beat him. However... faced with the terrifying, persistent Ming Xuan, they couldn't help but respect him.

After the battle ended, Ming Xuan had to be carried out. He was well aware that the battle was far from over, as losing the title of the top student meant he would inevitably be reassigned to Red Class One, where he would face challenges from all the students of Red Two Class.

Challenges were inevitable, as positions within the class needed to be ranked. According to the rules, at the end of each year, the ten students with the lowest rankings in Red Two Class would be relegated to Orange Class, and the top ten from Orange Class would move up to Red Class.

Upon entering Red Class, as a former top student of the elite class, his ranking would naturally be above that of the original top student of Red Two Class. Thus, if the former top student of Red Two Class wanted to maintain their position, they would have to issue a challenge.

Similarly, after Ming Xuan lost to the top student of Red Two Class, he would become the second-ranking student, and the former second-ranking student would have to challenge him to maintain their status and rank. The challenges would continue in this manner, the battles never ending...

Ming Xuan slowly closed his eyes. Although he was going to face many challenges, there was not a trace of fear in his heart. After today's battle, although he knew he was bound to lose, his heart was still filled with desire. Combat... was where a man could show his worth, and likewise... it was the fastest way to improve!

"Creak..." Gripping his fists tightly, despite being in pain, Ming Xuan still managed a slight smile. Just as Xin Yun had said, let a sequence of life-and-death challenges refine his skills. One day, he would defeat all challengers. One day, he would repay Xin Yun's kindness with his formidable strength. "A man dies for those he holds dear," nothing more than that...

In the following three to four months, Ming Xuan fought fiercely but was continuously defeated ultimately. It wasn't that his skills were lacking—his skills were definitely top-notch. But even the best skills were in vain when there were inherent deficiencies in ability, preventing him from defeating any challenger.

Perhaps some might not understand. In fact, Ming Xuan was like a magician without spells, forced to fight against spellcasting magicians and samurai. Even if his skills were exceptional, he could only rush up and bash them a few times, at most delaying the outcome slightly, but it had no real effect on the outcome of the battle.

By the time half a year had passed and summer vacation had arrived, Ming Xuan had been demoted all the way to White Ten Class and swept out. At the start of the second half of the year, he was no longer able to study at the main academy but was relegated to the first branch school.

The constant defeats over the past half year had left Ming Xuan utterly disappointed and even in despair... Although he fought fiercely in every match, in the end, it was defeat, defeat, defeat!

Looking at Ming Xuan's dispirited state, Xin Yun could only sigh. Such was his destiny, unchangeable by anyone. Not only would he lose in the first half of the year, but he would also continue to lose over the next five or six years, endlessly. (To be continued... If you want to know what happens next, please visit www.qidian.com.

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