You've Got to Be Kidding, Right?

Jiang Yuan's face appeared on the big screen, with him and Liang Cheng each occupying half.

Their names and the Chongming Martial Arts Hall's emblem were displayed below.

That confirmed he really was Liang Cheng's opponent.

"Is he a disciple of the Chongming Martial Arts Hall? He's so handsome!"

"Jiang Yuan... never heard of him."

"He looks so young. Is he a high school student?"

"Is he a Class-Transferred Warrior too?"

"He looks kind of weak."

"With skin that delicate, how could he possibly win? I'd bet he can't last three minutes."

"What a joke. Small martial arts halls really are trash. They can't even produce one decent disciple..."

"I hope it doesn't end in ten seconds. That'd be so boring."

The spectators chattered among themselves, none of them expecting him to win.

Chen Hao grabbed his head. "This is bad, this is really bad."

"What was Yuan thinking? Why would he want to fight an opponent like that?!"

Zeng Hang stared intently at Jiang Yuan on the stage.

He hadn't seen Jiang Yuan since the awakening ceremony, when he defeated Huang Yi.

He'd changed quite a bit in the time they'd been apart.

Sitting in the front row with Luo Xi, Yang Yuwei saw what was happening and could barely contain her delight. She excitedly shook Luo Xi beside her. "It's that handsome guy from earlier! Xi Xi, look! His name is Jiang Yuan."

Luo Xi watched Jiang Yuan onstage, her purple eyes glinting behind her glasses.

Their classmate Liang Cheng wasn't worth worrying about.

But Jiang Yuan...

"Who do you think will win?" Yang Yuwei asked.

Luo Xi replied, "I don't know."

"Even a genius like you can't tell?" Yang Yuwei rested her chin in her hands. "I really want the handsome guy to win, but that Liang Cheng looks pretty strong. Sigh... a handsome face doesn't count as strength, after all."

In the front row.

Luo Yi held a tub of popcorn. "Yuan's opponent seems pretty strong too."

Lan Xue's voice was soft and gentle. "Too bad he's up against Jiang Yuan."

Lei Na looked surprised. "Is he really that good?"

Luo Yi, Lan Xue, and Xu Yihan exchanged glances. They remembered they hadn't told Lei Na that Jiang Yuan had dealt forty thousand damage at LV2, and smiled mysteriously.

"You'll see."

Ji Feiyue hadn't taken her eyes off Jiang Yuan. A mysterious smile touched her lips.

Even the darkest night can't block the sun's radiance.

The dark horse I've taken an interest in... let the world see what you can do.

On the spacious battlefield.

"You're Jiang Yuan? I heard you go to No. 1 Martial Arts High School too."

Liang Cheng rolled his neck, making it crack.

"Cut the crap."

Jiang Yuan yawned. "Let's hurry up. I need to get back to training."

Feeling slighted by his words, Liang Cheng's forehead veins bulged, and a vicious smile spread across his face.

"That won't be necessary. I'll break your bones so you can't even take the college entrance exam."

Jiang Yuan didn't respond. His eyes half-closed, he couldn't be bothered to entertain him.

That attitude made Liang Cheng even angrier.

Elder Huo said, "Are you both ready? You can give this match everything you've got. There's no need to hold back. The match will end when one of you is knocked off the stage or loses the ability to fight. If either of you is in mortal danger, I'll step in and stop the match."

"Thunder Martial Arts Hall versus Chongming Martial Arts Hall—begin!"

At his words, Liang Cheng, who could barely contain himself, instantly sprang into action and rushed toward Jiang Yuan at incredible speed.

The audience erupted in deafening cheers, eager to see an exciting match.

Liang Cheng charged up to Jiang Yuan, his right fist wreathed in black and red blood energy as he swung for Jiang Yuan's face.

Jiang Yuan didn't react at all.

He didn't even see that coming? What a loser.

I'm wearing an accessory that blocks psychic attacks. Even if you wanted to use a Psychic Class ability now, it's too late.

It's over.

"Too slow." Jiang Yuan sighed and raised a hand, blocking the punch Liang Cheng had thought would guarantee his victory.

Before Liang Cheng could react,

Jiang Yuan raised a leg and kicked him in the stomach,

Liang Cheng felt a terrifying force slam into his abdomen, shifting his internal organs. His stomach lurched, and he shot backward uncontrollably!

"Whoosh!"

"Boom!!"

To the audience, it looked as if the match had barely begun when a figure flew out of the arena like a cannonball and crashed into the wall, filling the air with dust.

They stared at Liang Cheng, sprawled among the rubble.

For a moment, the entire venue fell silent. It was as quiet as a library at night.

"That's... it?"

"What just happened?"

"No idea..."

"That was way too fast..."

"Wasn't he Thunder Martial Arts Hall's prodigy? How did he..."

Chen Hao gaped, dumbstruck.

Zeng Hang was also utterly shocked.

Liang Cheng, who had already become a Tier-One Martial Artist, had just... lost?!

"I guess I win?" Jiang Yuan asked Elder Huo.

Elder Huo came back to his senses and looked in astonishment at the handsome young man standing in the arena.

He hadn't expected that a young man today could hone a martial technique to such a level. The way Jiang Yuan had gone from slow to explosive in an instant had been astonishing.

"This match..."

"It doesn't count! This one doesn't count!" Wang Xinlong shouted.

Liang Cheng climbed out of the rubble, furious and humiliated. "I wasn't ready! You caught me by surprise! You underhanded bastard!"

Jiang Yuan smiled. "You were the one who attacked me first. How was that a surprise attack? Who's the underhanded one here?!"

"I..."

Liang Cheng had no answer.

"Exactly! You caught him by surprise!"

Yang Yuwei, who had come to her senses, jumped to her feet and shouted, "Can't your Thunder Martial Arts Hall take a loss?"

Wang Xinlong glared at her. "Outsiders should shut up!"

The gaze of a Tier-Three Martial Artist was intimidating. Yang Yuwei jumped in fright, while Luo Xi, standing protectively beside her, narrowed her eyes and radiated a dangerous aura.

So it's the Thunder Martial Arts Hall. They've got some nerve.

Wang Xinlong had no idea that his careless remark had just brought a huge heap of trouble down on the Thunder Martial Arts Hall.

He called up to Elder Huo onstage. "Elder Huo, that kid must have used some underhanded trick. I'm requesting a rematch!"

The crowd, who hadn't had enough, joined in, shouting,

"Rematch! Rematch! Rematch..."

Elder Huo looked sternly at Wang Xinlong. "In a martial artist's match, you either lose or die, win or lose. You're responsible for your own life. There's no such thing as starting over. If this had happened on the battlefield, he'd already be dead."

"Now you're asking for a do-over. Are you asking me to throw away a martial artist's dignity—and what little dignity I have left—and openly favor your Thunder Martial Arts Hall?"

Wang Xinlong said, "I..."

A woman's voice rang out from the audience. "Elder Huo is right. But if both sides agree, there shouldn't be a problem, should there?"

Wang Xinlong perked up at that and looked toward the red-haired beauty with a cool, striking face who'd spoken from the audience.

"Exactly. This lady is right."

Ji Feiyue turned to Xu Yihan beside her. "But why should Director Xu agree to another match? Director Wang, you'll have to offer something worthwhile."

Wang Xinlong froze for a moment, then gritted his teeth.

"Fine. I'll add to the stakes. If he wins the rematch too, I'll concede without a complaint, and give the Chongming Martial Arts Hall a rare piece of equipment and a skill book as well. Will that do?"

Xu Yihan glanced at Ji Feiyue. When she saw her nod, she replied, "All right."

Elder Huo looked at Jiang Yuan onstage. "What do you think, young man?"

Jiang Yuan shrugged. "I don't mind. Let's have another round, then. The result won't change anyway."

Wang Xinlong's eyes lit up. He shouted to Liang Cheng, "Liang Cheng, give it everything you've got from the start this time! If you lose again, I won't let you off!"

"I was careless just now. There's no way I'll lose this time!" Liang Cheng gritted out.

As Liang Cheng returned to the arena, the spectators erupted in cheers.

Yang Yuwei rested her chin in her hands and pouted. "They're just being sore losers."

Chen Hao sighed, holding his forehead. "Yuan's such an idiot. He should've run as soon as he won by a fluke. Why bother fighting again? Didn't he see that Liang Cheng hadn't even used his skills or talent? Now that he's serious, how can Yuan possibly beat him?"

"Calm down," Zeng Hang said. "If my judgment is right, Jiang Yuan should be a Tier-One Martial Artist too."

Chen Hao froze at that, then gaped. "Who did you say? Yuan? A Tier-One Martial Artist?!"

He stared blankly at Jiang Yuan in the arena.

"You're not joking, right?"