One Punch

The remaining students waiting in line stood frozen, exchanging bewildered glances.

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

"Did Zhang Qingsi and the others really pass?"

"Can we even pass?"

The group wore grim expressions. Having seen just one move, they couldn't see any path to victory.

Off to the side, one of the teachers observing the battle spoke up:

"Yu Zhiwen and the other two were tested last Friday as top students under our witness. We can stake our own reputations on the fact that there was absolutely no unfairness."

As the teacher's voice faded, the waiting students looked at each other, their expressions filled with bitterness.

Had the gap between them and Yu Zhiwen's trio already grown this vast?

"Next," Xia Tong said indifferently.

He scanned Chen Yan and the others, his face calm, though he was sighing inwardly.

Why had he chosen to personally train Zhang Qingsi and the others?

It was simply because there was no need to do so for the others.

Soon, other students began their tests.

"Fail. Next."

"You're alright. Although you couldn't win, you were better than the last one. But, fail."

"Fail."

Chen Yan watched quietly. Xia Tong was indeed formidable. While his raw power wasn't fully apparent, his techniques were far too versatile. For students like them, who had barely learned any real combat moves, it was essentially a dimensional strike.

The training they did in school on a daily basis was merely for physical fitness.

Before long, three students from Class One finished their tests, and not a single one had passed.

"Sigh."

Not far away, the homeroom teacher of Class One sighed with an unsightly expression.

Seven students from his class had passed the punch strength test. He knew full well that none of them would be a match for Yu Zhiwen, but he hadn't expected that she would be the only one capable of passing Xia Tong's test.

"Director Xia, please go easy on them. At least try not to make the selection for the Town Martial Bonus so monotonous."

Wang Yang, the homeroom teacher of Class Three, spoke up quietly.

If no one other than the top students could pass Xia Tong's test, then this year's Martial Selection might as well have been decided internally from the start.

Xia Tong glanced at Wang Yang and chuckled softly:

"It's no problem for me to go easy, but what's the point?"

The three homeroom teachers gave bitter smiles, all falling silent.

Although Xia Tong said this, he still eased up during the subsequent tests. Soon, one of the three remaining students from Class One passed the test and ran out of the training room.

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

"Yu Zhiwen of Class One has successfully defended her spot."

The Principal's voice echoed through the training room via the broadcast system.

A faint smile appeared on the corner of Xia Tong's mouth. The Class One student who had just passed the test had already been eliminated by Yu Zhiwen.

Was there any point in him relaxing the testing standards?

They would just get eliminated anyway.

He had hand-picked the three most outstanding students in the school for private training; these three would only keep growing stronger than the rest.

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

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

"Oh?"

Xia Tong kicked Gao Yuan away, surprised:

"What was your punch force test result?"

"One hundred and seventy-one." The student named Gao Yuan scratched his head and laughed:

"I even asked you to teach me last time, Teacher, but you didn't agree."

Xia Tong waved his hand, changing the subject: "Your punch force just now must have been at least two hundred and fifty. You definitely held back during your previous punch force test."

"Hahaha..." Gao Yuan laughed foolishly, offering no answer.

This time, Xia Tong attacked again. After several moves, although the student named Gao Yuan failed to block them, he relied on his own raw strength and was not knocked back.

The homeroom teacher of Class Two, whose expression had been grim, began to look better and gave Gao Yuan a thumbs-up.

"You pass." Xia Tong announced.

"Thank you, Teacher." Gao Yuan smiled and ran out of the training room.

Gao Yuan was certainly no match for Xia Tong, but as a selection judge, Xia Tong was merely there to determine whether the students were qualified to participate in the selection process.

"Teacher Liu, your student Gao Yuan is quite good."

By the window, Wang Yang, the homeroom teacher of Class 3, spoke up, though his gaze was fixed on the final person up for evaluation.

Chen Yan.

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

Just last Friday, Zhang Qingsi had sparred against Wang Yu from Class 2 and had actually defeated him.

Wang Yu, after all, had not awakened his Blood Qi, while Zhang Qingsi possessed the enhancement of Blood Qi, making him very strong.

"The last one, from Class 3."

Xia Tong finally looked toward the silent Chen Yan and gave a faint wave of his hand.

A slender figure in a white T-shirt walked over slowly. Although his attire was simple, it was clean, and coupled with his handsome face, he caught the eyes of all the teachers present, even if his strength was lacking.

"Chen Yan from Class 3. He spent all of last year in a hospital bed; being able to make it here is already quite impressive."

A teacher commented with appreciation. No teacher disliked a diligent student.

Wang Yang nodded in approval.

"Begin." Xia Tong looked at the young man before him, vaguely remembering that he had scolded him for being late this morning.

"Director Xia," Chen Yan spoke up, causing Xia Tong to raise an eyebrow.

A smile appeared on the corners of Chen Yan's mouth, and he then pointed toward the playground outside the window:

"May I ask, do you know who that bronze statue is?"

Xia Tong frowned and glanced at Chen Yan.

He vaguely remembered the other party asking him this question before.

At that very moment, a wave of shocking cheers suddenly erupted from the playground.

The teachers inside the training room were all startled.

"Wang Yu from Class 2 defending the ring... defeated!"

Over the broadcast system, the Principal's voice carried a hint of excitement. He hadn't managed to turn off the microphone, and his next question rang out clearly over the speakers:

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

Beside Chen Yan, Xia Tong, who had previously held a lukewarm attitude, suddenly constricted his pupils. His mouth fell open, and he prepared to rush out of the training room, his face filled with disbelief.

Wang Yu had been following him since the start of this year. After learning for so long, he had ended up being defeated by an unknown nobody named Gao Yuan.

What was even more critical was that Gao Yuan had actually awakened his Blood Qi and hadn't reported it to the school.

Xia Tong's heart hammered violently. Why hadn't Gao Yuan reported it to the school? If he had, he could have personally trained Gao Yuan!

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

Xia Tong felt even more anxious. He could no longer be bothered with the current test and prepared to leave immediately.

"Director Xia, there is still Chen Yan. At least wait until the test is over before leaving!"

By the window, Wang Yang, whose eyes were filled with astonishment, shouted immediately. Xia Tong froze in place. He looked at Chen Yan and frowned, the anxiety in his eyes deepening.

"You, hurry up and start."

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

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

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Before him, the student named Chen Yan was already charging toward him. A trace of helplessness appeared in Xia Tong's eyes.

Charging straight at him?

How did he even attend school normally?

Exposing all of his openings like that—how could he be so stupid?

In just a split second of thought, Xia Tong kicked toward Chen Yan. But at that very instant, a flash of lightning seemed to streak through Xia Tong's mind.

No, this speed is wrong!

The moment Xia Tong's kick was about to strike Chen Yan's chest, he saw the thin, tall youth's fist thrust out violently, slamming into the sole of his foot.

The instant the fist made contact with the sole of his foot, Xia Tong's eyes widened. He felt a massive force bombard the bottom of his foot.

Accompanied by a surge of pain, this immense power surged up his right leg and into his body. Xia Tong couldn't stop his body from being lifted off the ground. He flew backward four or five meters, crashing heavily onto the floor and kicking up a cloud of dust.

Hum...

A buzzing sound echoed in his mind. Xia Tong lay on the ground, staring up at the ceiling.

What had just happened?