A Punch!

The few students still waiting froze, staring at one another.

"How are we supposed to fight him? Director Xia Tong is way too strong. There's no way we can pass."

"Can Zhang Qingsi and the others really pass?"

"Can we?"

Everyone looked troubled. Just watching him make one move, they couldn't see any chance of winning.

One of the teachers watching from the sidelines spoke up.

"Yu Zhiwen and the other two were the top students. They took the test last Friday in front of us. We can stake our reputations on it: there was absolutely no favoritism."

When the teacher finished speaking, the students still waiting exchanged glances, their faces bitter.

Had the gap between them and Yu Zhiwen's group really grown this wide?

"Next," Xia Tong said flatly.

He glanced over Chen Yan and the others, his expression calm, though he couldn't help sighing inwardly.

Why had he chosen Zhang Qingsi and the other two for private training?

Because the rest simply didn't need it.

Soon, the other students began their tests.

"Failed. Next."

"You're not bad. You can't beat me, but you're better than the last one. Still, you failed."

"Failed."

Chen Yan watched quietly. Xia Tong really was formidable. He couldn't tell how strong the man was, but his movements were far too unpredictable. Against students like them, who had barely learned any techniques, it was a complete mismatch.

The drills they did at school were only meant to keep them fit.

Soon, the three students from Class One finished their tests first. Not one of them passed.

"Haah."

Nearby, the Head Teacher of Class One sighed, his expression dark.

Seven students in his class had passed the Punching Strength Test. He knew none of them could match Yu Zhiwen, but surely she couldn't be the only one who could pass Director Xia Tong's test.

"Director Xia, please go a little easier on them. At least don't make the Town Martial Bonus selection so dull."

Wang Yang, the Head Teacher of Class Three, spoke quietly.

If no one but the top students could pass Xia Tong's test, they might as well decide the Town Martial selection in advance.

Xia Tong glanced at Wang Yang and chuckled.

"I can go easier on them, sure. But will it make any difference?"

The three Head Teachers gave a bitter laugh and fell silent.

Though Xia Tong had said that, he did ease up during the tests. Soon, one of the remaining three students from Class One passed and ran out of the training room.

Xia Tong continued testing. When it was Class Two's turn, two students were eliminated in a row.

"Yu Zhiwen of Class One successfully defended her title."

The Principal's voice came through the speakers into the training room.

A hint of a smile tugged at Xia Tong's lips. The Class One student who had just passed had been eliminated by Yu Zhiwen again so quickly.

Did lowering the testing standards even help?

They'd still be eliminated.

He had picked the three best students in the school for private training. They would only grow stronger and stronger, leaving everyone else behind.

"Next." Xia Tong looked at the last student from Class Two.

The honest-looking boy suddenly threw a punch at Xia Tong.

"Hm?"

Xia Tong kicked Gao Yuan away, then asked in surprise, "What was your Punching Strength Test score?"

"One hundred and seventy-one." The student named Gao Yuan scratched his head and grinned. "I even asked a teacher to teach me last time, but he wouldn't."

Xia Tong waved a hand and changed the subject. "Your punch just now must've been around two hundred and fifty. You definitely held back during your Punching Strength Test."

"Hahaha..." Gao Yuan chuckled sheepishly without answering.

Xia Tong attacked again. After several moves, the student named Gao Yuan failed to block any of them, but thanks to his own strength, he still didn't get knocked out of the ring.

The Head Teacher of Class Two, who had been looking glum, brightened and gave Gao Yuan a thumbs-up.

"You passed," Xia Tong said.

"Thanks, teacher." Gao Yuan grinned and ran out of the training room.

Gao Yuan was definitely no match for Xia Tong, but Xia Tong was one of the judges. His job was simply to decide whether a student qualified to take part in the selection.

"Teacher Liu, Gao Yuan from your class is pretty good."

By the window, Wang Yang, the Head Teacher of Class Three, spoke up, though his gaze was fixed on the last student in the selection.

Chen Yan.

He sighed inwardly. Chen Yan had talent too, but Zhang Qingsi had not only awakened Qi and Blood, he'd also received private training from Xia Tong. Over the past few days, his Qi and Blood had stabilized, and his strength had soared.

In fact, last Friday, Zhang Qingsi had fought Wang Yu from Class Two and actually beaten him.

Wang Yu had never awakened Qi and Blood. Zhang Qingsi had that advantage in their fight, making him formidable.

"Last one. Class Three."

Xia Tong finally looked at the silent Chen Yan and gestured casually.

The slender figure in a white T-shirt walked over slowly. His clothes were plain but clean, and his handsome face caught the eyes of all the teachers, even if his strength was lacking.

"Chen Yan from Class Three. He spent all of last year bedridden. Making it this far is already impressive."

A teacher praised him. No teacher disliked a hardworking student.

Wang Yang nodded in approval.

"Begin." Xia Tong looked at the young man before him. He vaguely remembered reprimanding him for being late that morning.

"Director Xia," Chen Yan said, making Xia Tong raise his brows.

A smile appeared on Chen Yan's lips. Then he pointed toward the Sports Field outside the window.

"May I ask, do you know who that Bronze Statue is of?"

Xia Tong frowned and glanced at Chen Yan.

He vaguely remembered the young man asking him this before.

At that very moment, a thunderous cheer suddenly erupted from the Sports Field.

All the teachers in the training room were startled.

"Wang Yu of Class Two failed to defend his title!"

The Principal's voice rang out over the speakers, tinged with excitement. He hadn't had time to turn off the microphone, and his next question came through the speakers as well.

"Gao Yuan, when did you awaken your Qi and Blood?"

Beside Chen Yan, Xia Tong's previously indifferent eyes suddenly narrowed. His mouth fell open in disbelief as he prepared to leave the training room at once.

Wang Yu had been training under him since the start of the year. After all that training, he'd still been beaten by an unknown student like Gao Yuan.

More importantly, Gao Yuan had awakened his Qi and Blood without reporting it to the school.

Xia Tong's heart pounded. Why hadn't Gao Yuan reported it to the school? If he had, Xia Tong could've trained him privately too.

Not only had his disciple lost, he'd also lost a golden opportunity to befriend a future martial artist.

Xia Tong grew even more anxious. He couldn't care less about the test anymore and prepared to leave.

"Director Xia, and Chen Yan too—you have to wait until the test is over before you leave!"

By the window, Wang Yang, his eyes wide with surprise, immediately called out. Xia Tong stopped in his tracks and turned to Chen Yan, frowning. The anxiety in his eyes only deepened.

"You. Hurry up and start."

Hurry up and start, hurry up and finish. Xia Tong only wanted to know how Wang Yu had lost.

And Gao Yuan—why hadn't he reported awakening his Qi and Blood to the school?

Thud, thud, thud!

But the student named Chen Yan was already charging toward him. A trace of helplessness crossed Xia Tong's eyes.

Charging straight at him?

How had he gotten to school every day?

He'd exposed every weakness he had. How could he be so stupid?

Xia Tong thought this in an instant and kicked toward Chen Yan. But just then, a flash of lightning seemed to streak through his mind.

No, that speed was wrong!

The instant Xia Tong's kick was about to strike Chen Yan's chest, the old, thin, tall young man thrust out his fist and slammed it into the sole of Xia Tong's foot.

The instant fist met sole, Xia Tong's eyes flew wide. He felt a colossal force crash into the bottom of his foot.

Pain followed as that tremendous force surged up his right leg and into his body. Xia Tong's body lurched upward, and he flew four or five meters before crashing heavily to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.

A buzz...

A series of buzzing sounds rang through Xia Tong's mind. He lay on the floor, staring up at the ceiling.

What had happened?