Concealing His Realm

Seeing the match list,

Sun Xiaochuan's name was prominently listed.

Quite a few people were taken aback.

They had heard early on that Sun Xiaochuan had received a bye in the first round.

Yet what surprised them even more

was when Second High School had produced an Opening Meridian Double Layer student named Chu Sheng.

After all, Baian City was only so big. The Opening Meridian Double Layer martial artists were just those few people.

Everyone knew one another to some extent.

Then, out of nowhere, someone they had never even heard of appeared.

Everyone was extremely curious about this Chu Sheng.

"Never heard of him. Did he just break through to the second layer?"

"But isn't he too unlucky? He ran into Sun Xiaochuan in the first round. He's done for right away."

"I just noticed—Second High School only has him? Why isn't Shu Li competing?"

Beside Chu Sheng, a girl with twin ponytails studied him carefully for several seconds.

Then she cried out in delight.

"Chu Sheng? Oh my god, it really is you!?"

"Who are you?"

"I'm Li Yuxuan! Have you forgotten? We even shared a desk in elementary school!"

After thinking back, Chu Sheng indeed had some impression of her.

Li Yuxuan continued, "I really didn't expect that, with your family circumstances, you could still break through to the Meridian Opening Realm Second Level. It must not have been easy, right?"

The reason her impression of Chu Sheng had been so deep

was that at every elementary school parent-teacher conference, Chu Sheng had been the only one sitting all alone at his desk.

She still clearly remembered her mother telling her that the child was pitiful and that she should not bully him.

In Li Yuxuan's eyes, someone with a background like Chu Sheng's, even if his talent was high, should have found it difficult to reach the Meridian Opening Realm Second Level in their final year of high school.

After all, on the path of martial arts, talent was merely the foundation. Without resources, even the greatest talent was no more than a castle in the air.

Chu Sheng rubbed his chin.

"It was alright. I thought it was pretty easy."

"...Uh." Everything Li Yuxuan had wanted to say was instantly choked back.

"When did you break through to the second layer? How come no one had heard of you before?"

"Four days ago."

"Then you really got lucky. By the way, where's Shu Li from your school? Why isn't she competing?"

"She was injured. She was howling and vomiting blood, so she couldn't compete."

Li Yuxuan wanted to ask more, but then she heard an Education Department official hosting the league shout.

"First-round match: Sun Xiaochuan versus Chu Sheng."

"Both contestants, report to the martial arts stage immediately."

Only then did Li Yuxuan remember that Chu Sheng's opponent was the top seed for first place this time.

"You need to be careful. If you can't beat him, surrender as soon as possible. Sun Xiaochuan is ruthless—don't get hurt too badly and end up affecting your martial arts exam."

"I think you may have misunderstood something."

Under Li Yuxuan's astonished gaze, the corners of Chu Sheng's mouth slowly curled up.

"Because I'm even more ruthless."

On the martial arts stage.

Sun Xiaochuan squinted as he sized up his opponent.

"What bad luck. I'd just started a game of King of Glory. If Shu Li from your school hadn't failed to show up, I'd at least have gotten six straight wins."

Chu Sheng said nothing, merely raising his hand in silence.

Sun Xiaochuan laughed. "Oh? You know what's good for you. Yeah, hurry up and surrender so I can go back and keep playing."

The competing students below the stage thought the same as Sun Xiaochuan when they saw this.

Since he could not win anyway, he might as well surrender outright.

The host asked in confusion, "What is it!?"

"My information is wrong. Uh... I can't exactly say it's wrong. It's just that this is my information from four days ago. It's outdated."

"...Huh?"

The host froze. The match was about to begin, and he was still fussing over his information?

What kind of person was this...

"Does it make any difference?"

"Yes. Because it would be unfair in this match."

Up in the stands, Huang Wei picked up a microphone.

"What fairness? Hurry up and compete. If there's any problem, talk about it after the match!"

It was nothing but some trivial nonsense.

Why waste everyone's time?

On the martial arts stage, Sun Xiaochuan spoke.

"Hurry it up. Since you aren't surrendering, there's no need to waste any more time."

"What fairness? There was never any fairness on the path of martial arts. I'm talented—do I have to stand still and wait for you to break through to the third layer!?"

The host did not delay any longer.

"You heard him. This really isn't important. Finish the match first, then talk."

With that, he stepped directly off the martial arts stage.

The instant the whistle sounded, the match officially began.

Sun Xiaochuan decided to end this quickly.

Right from the start, he unleashed his minor mastery movement martial skill, Clear Wind Steps.

His body became like a wisp of clear wind, crossing nearly half the martial arts stage in the blink of an eye.

Everyone below the stage felt their vision blur.

Too fast.

This one move alone made everyone understand the gap between them.

Worthy of Sun Xiaochuan, worthy of the Opening Meridian Triple Layer!

The leaders from the various schools in the stands were also startled.

This movement technique alone was enough to let Sun Xiaochuan remain invincible.

First place in this league had already been decided.

Yet in the next second,

Sun Xiaochuan appeared—

in Chu Sheng's hand!

Chu Sheng gripped him by the throat and held him aloft.

Thanks to the incredibly powerful dynamic vision granted by the combat instinct trait of the Blade's Ultimate Intent,

Sun Xiaochuan's so-called Clear Wind Steps looked as clumsy as a toddler running to him.

If he wanted to, he could even stick out a leg and trip him.

At that moment, the students below the stage and the leaders in the stands were all dumbfounded.

Was this even reasonable!?

Yet even if they rubbed their eyes raw,

Sun Xiaochuan was indeed being held by the throat by Chu Sheng.

"Why are you in such a hurry? You wouldn't even let me finish talking."

"The unfairness I was talking about was aimed at you."

As he spoke, Chu Sheng finally stopped concealing his aura.

Everyone seemed as though their throats had been seized. Their mouths hung open, yet not a sound came out.

Meridian Opening Fifth Layer!?

How could he be at the Meridian Opening Fifth Layer!?

How could Baian City possibly have a genius like this!

Li Yuxuan's breathing also turned incredibly rapid as she recalled what Chu Sheng had just said.

He had reached the Opening Meridian Double Layer four days ago.

That meant he had risen three layers in four days!?

On the martial arts stage, Sun Xiaochuan struggled desperately, but with his feet off the ground, he could not even use half of his full strength.

"I heard you beat your grandmother with nunchucks. That's very bad."

"Ready to taste my righteous iron fist?"

He raised his hand and threw a punch. Sun Xiaochuan's back instantly arched.

Then the Rippling Wave Fist poured forth.

When wielded at the Opening Meridian Fifth Layer, its force was incomparably greater than it had been in the Body Tempering Realm.

At last, the sixth layer of Rippling Wave Force erupted.

Sun Xiaochuan shot straight into the stands, his chest caved in and every one of his ribs shattered.

Punishing an evil man who had committed every kind of misdeed

Justice Points +400

"Punishing evil really is the way..."

Even if he spent half a day working in the Earth Abyss, he might not necessarily earn 400 Justice Points.

Now, one person was enough.

Yet amid the deathly silence, the principal of No. 1 High School suddenly stood up.

"This match cannot count."

"He concealed his realm!!!"