Great Philanthropist

"Today, I'll arrange for you to take the stage. Be ready."

In front of the many Martial Arts Team members, Huang Hai directly told Gao Wu about today's arrangement, making the faces of several members who had always been substitutes turn a little ugly.

The coach held absolute authority within the Martial Arts Team. No one dared resist even corporal punishment or scolding, much less question his lineup arrangements.

But Gao Wu, who had always been a substitute, was actually getting a chance to take the stage. Several substitutes could not hide their jealousy.

"I'll definitely give it everything I have. I won't disgrace the school or the coach." Gao Wu had long guessed that he would have a chance to take the stage today, so he was not surprised.

"Very good." Huang Hai could tell that Gao Wu could hardly wait to prove himself, but he did not care.

After Gao Wu and the others went out to warm up, Huang Long asked Huang Hai with some concern, "Third Uncle, are you really letting him take the stage?"

"The school leaders are watching, and so are all those students. It would be hard to justify not letting him compete now."

Huang Hai glanced at his nephew. This fool really was a little slow in the head. If he were not his own nephew, Huang Hai would have wanted to send him flying with one kick.

Patiently, he explained to Huang Long, "Bai Xiang from Sixth Middle School is ranked thirty-second in points. He's two meters ten tall, and his weight has recently risen to one hundred and fifty kilograms. His punching force can reach a thousand kilograms too, though it isn't stable enough. He's training this desperately because he wants to break into the top ten in points.

"You can't beat Bai Xiang. That kid strikes viciously. Don't try to go head-on against him, or getting your body injured will be nothing but trouble.

"Let Gao Wu go up there, suffer a little, and lose face in public. The blow from that setback will make him improve his strength at all costs."

Huang Hai said calmly, "Then he'll be the one begging me to buy Blood Dragon Agent."

Huang Long scratched his head with his thick, sturdy hand. "What if Gao Wu beats Bai Xiang?"

"Bai Xiang is practically an Advanced Martial Artist. He's built like that and is skilled at wrestling too. What does Gao Wu have to beat him with?" Huang Hai explained impatiently, then waved his nephew away.

At two forty-five, the host took the stage to warm up the crowd. A group of girls in beautiful skirts danced enthusiastically around the ring. Amid deafening music, the atmosphere in the Martial Arts Arena quickly became heated.

The Sixth Middle School Martial Arts Team sat in the southern seats reserved for the visiting side. The boys all watched the cheerleading girls with great interest.

These cheerleading squads introduced from the Alliance of Gods had become a standard performance at all kinds of sporting events. They always worked extremely well.

The coach leading Sixth Middle School did not stop them. Energetic teenage boys liking pretty girls was perfectly normal. Sixth Middle School was certain to defeat No. 9 Middle School in strength, so there was no need for him to be too harsh on his team members.

The dancing girls were all students from No. 9 Middle School, and normally they would pull a few little tricks to tease the visiting team. But among the visitors sat an extraordinarily huge fellow. Even his broad red, front-fastened martial arts uniform could not conceal his bulging muscles.

Just sitting there, he was nearly as tall as they were. A pair of narrow eyes grew on his broad face, giving him an air of murderous menace.

Whenever any of the cheerleaders met his gaze, their hearts trembled. Their dance movements became distorted from nervousness...

Meanwhile, Song Mingyue was watching the match online through a tablet.

The Middle School Martial Arts League was very mature. During online broadcasts, it even provided simple data cards for the competitors taking the stage, making it convenient for viewers to look them up.

Song Mingyue had no interest in Bai Xiang. Her gaze settled on Gao Wu in the corner of the screen.

Gao Wu wore a grayish-white martial arts uniform, his figure straight and lean. He was not the tallest, but his posture was the most relaxed and natural.

Even through the screen, Song Mingyue could faintly sense the harmony between Gao Wu's inner and outer being.

Song Mingyue possessed powerful spiritual strength and keen perception. In this regard, she was even stronger than her father, who was a Warrior.

In her view, Gao Wu had already grasped a trace of the spirit of the Nine Dragon Forms. At Gao Wu's age, his body was in its golden growth period. His strength, agility, and reactions could all grow rapidly.

Only the cultivation of martial arts methods required time to settle and could not be rushed.

The Martial Artist realm remained at the level of controlling one's physical strength. Thus, most Martial Artists sought quick results and liked using agents to stimulate their bodies.

That Bai Xiang was exactly like that. Tall and powerful, he exerted an immense pressure.

Gao Wu's physical strength should be far inferior, but he had grasped a trace of the true essence of the Nine Dragon Forms. In terms of martial arts realm, he had already surpassed every young Martial Artist present.

Not to mention that Gao Wu could withstand the chill of Bailin Lake. His constitution was extremely unusual.

That was what interested her most. Today, she hoped Gao Wu would reveal more...

A professional Martial Artist referee from the Tianwu Association stepped onto the stage, and the competition officially began.

Each league match had five competitors. According to their order of appearance, they were the vanguard, deputy, main fighter, powerhouse, and captain.

Each battle was divided into three rounds, with each round lasting three minutes.

According to the rules, the home team's competitor took the stage first, while the visiting team could arrange its competitor based on the situation. The winner could continue fighting, while the loser's side could freely choose its next competitor.

Following the tactics Huang Hai had arranged beforehand, No. 9 Middle School sent out Houzi first. He specialized in White Ape Fist, was nimble and agile, and was also skilled in joint-locking techniques.

As the vanguard, even if he could not defeat the opponent, he could still fight while retreating and wear down the opponent's stamina.

Sixth Middle School's first fighter was Bai Xiang. At two meters ten tall, his exaggerated muscles made his body look almost square.

Houzi was only one meter seventy, and weighed barely more than one-third of Bai Xiang's weight. Standing across from Bai Xiang, he looked like a child.

The enormous difference in size between the two made the spectators cry out in surprise.

Bai Xiang, Sixth Middle School's strongest captain, had actually taken the role of vanguard and come out first. This was even more unexpected to everyone.

Clearly, Bai Xiang wanted to claim the points for all five victories by himself—a one-man sweep of five!

On the ring, Houzi's dark little face turned pale. Helplessly, he looked toward coach Huang Hai at the corner of the ring, hoping the coach would offer a few pointers.

Facing Bai Xiang in the very first match was far too different from Huang Hai's tactical plan.

Huang Hai's expression darkened. Sixth Middle School's greed was utterly ugly. He said coldly to Houzi, "Fight while retreating. Wear down his stamina as much as possible."

A heavy body was certainly an advantage, but its consumption was equally great. Even if Bai Xiang had injected agents, he might not be able to endure five matches.

The referee swept both hands down, signaling the start of the match.

Houzi immediately retreated, trying to open the distance. Bai Xiang lunged at him with a huge stride. Houzi hurriedly sidestepped to evade, but Bai Xiang suddenly changed direction and swept out a leg, smashing it into Houzi's thigh as he dodged sideways.

The heavy, powerful sweep sent Houzi staggering and falling away. Before Houzi even hit the ground, Bai Xiang had turned around. After taking a small preparatory step, he calmly adjusted his posture, gathered force, and kicked—using an exceptionally vicious soccer kick. His leg exploded into Houzi's chest.

With a muffled bang, Houzi's sideways body was kicked several meters away. He slammed hard into the tempered-glass wall, rolled his eyes back, and instantly passed out.

Huang Long and the other Martial Arts Team members all went pale. That kick had been too vicious. No one knew how many of Houzi's ribs had been broken, and even his internal organs might have been injured. Such severe injuries could even ruin Houzi's martial arts future.

With such a huge advantage, Bai Xiang could have won easily, yet he had struck so ruthlessly. He was clearly showing off his might.

The thousands of No. 9 Middle School students in the Martial Arts Arena were unusually quiet. Even though they often watched matches, this scene was deeply shocking.

Only a group of Sixth Middle School students who had come to watch cheered and shouted loudly. In the vast Martial Arts Arena, the cries of a few dozen students were not loud, yet they echoed throughout the venue, making every No. 9 Middle School student feel the noise was exceptionally grating.

Bai Xiang paid no attention to the unconscious Houzi. He pointed at the No. 9 Middle School Martial Arts Team and shouted, "Who's next to come die!"

Huang Long, who had always considered himself the big brother, had wanted to step forward. But when Bai Xiang's reddened eyes swept over him, the anger in his heart immediately dissolved, and the fear buried deep within him showed in his gaze...

The others were the same. No one dared meet Bai Xiang's eyes.

Gao Wu ignored the swaggering Bai Xiang. He was helping the staff carry Houzi off the ring.

He did not like the sly, frivolous Houzi, but Houzi was already in this state, so of course he had to help. This was also a good chance to gain Merit. He could not waste it.

Houzi's eyes were tightly shut, and blood seeped from his seven orifices. He looked utterly miserable. Gao Wu spoke softly by Houzi's ear with a face full of sympathy. "Are you all right? Why aren't you saying anything? Don't feel like talking? Oh, you passed out..."

The unconscious Houzi did not make a sound.

"Poor child..." Gao Wu silently recited the Azure Dragon Divine Qi Incantation, then touched Houzi's forehead and bestowed a Divine Mantra upon him.

No matter how useful it is, I still have to give myself a thumbs-up. Putting aside old grudges and caring for a companion—I really am a great philanthropist!