You're Not Kidding, Are You?

Jiang Yuan's face appeared on the giant screen, sharing the display equally with Liang Cheng.

Below them were his name and the logo of Chongming Martial Arts Hall.

This confirmed that he was indeed Liang Cheng's opponent.

"He's the disciple from Chongming Martial Arts Hall? He's so handsome!"

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

"He looks way too young, is he a high schooler?"

"Is he a transferred martial artist too?"

"He looks a bit weak."

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

"Small martial arts halls really are trash; they don't even have a decent disciple..."

"I hope it doesn't end in ten seconds; that would be too boring."

The crowd of onlookers discussed the match, none of them holding out much hope.

Chen Hao grabbed his hair in frustration, "We're doomed, we're totally doomed."

"What on earth was Yuan thinking, choosing to fight an opponent like that?!"

Zeng Hang stared intently at Jiang Yuan on the stage.

He hadn't seen him since the awakening ceremony, where he had defeated Huang Yi.

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

Yang Yuwei, sitting in the front row with Luo Xi, couldn't suppress her surprise at the sight. She excitedly shook Luo Xi, who was sitting beside her, "It's that handsome guy from earlier! Look, Xixi! So his name is Jiang Yuan."

Luo Xi watched Jiang Yuan on the stage, her purple eyes flickering behind her glasses.

The classmate named Liang Cheng wasn't worth noting.

But him, on the other hand...

"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 on her hand. "As much as I want the handsome guy to win, that Liang Cheng guy really looks strong. Sigh... after all, a pretty face doesn't count as strength."

In the front row.

Luo Yi held a bucket of popcorn and said, "Little Yuanzi's opponent seems pretty strong too."

Lan Xue's voice was delicate and soft, "It's just a pity he ran into Jiang Yuan."

Lei Na was surprised, "Is he really that amazing?"

Luo Yi, Lan Xue, and Xu Yihan exchanged glances, remembering they hadn't told her about Jiang Yuan dealing 40,000 damage at LV2, and smiled mysteriously.

"Just watch and you'll see."

Ji Feiyue's gaze never left Jiang Yuan, a mysterious smile playing on her lips.

Even the darkest night cannot block the brilliance of the sun.

The dark horse I've set my sights on—let the world see your true strength...

On the vast combat arena.

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

Liang Cheng twisted his neck, the joints popping loudly.

"Cut the crap."

Jiang Yuan yawned, "Let's just get this over with; I'm in a rush to get back and train."

Hearing his words and feeling slighted, veins bulged on Liang Cheng's forehead as he bared a fierce, cruel grin.

"That won't be necessary. Because I'm going to break your bones and make sure you can't even take the college entrance exam."

Jiang Yuan remained noncommittal, his eyes slightly closed, not bothering to respond.

This attitude only made Liang Cheng more furious.

Elder Huo spoke up, "Are you both ready? You may go all out in this match without holding back. It ends when one side is knocked off the stage or loses the ability to fight. If either side is in mortal danger, I will intervene to call it off."

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

As his words fell, Liang Cheng, who could no longer contain himself, erupted into motion, rushing toward Jiang Yuan at high speed.

The entire audience erupted in deafening cheers, eager to see a spectacular match.

Liang Cheng rushed in front of Jiang Yuan, his right fist wreathed in black-red blood energy as he struck toward his face.

Jiang Yuan showed no reaction.

Can't even react in time? What trash, he thought with disdain.

"I'm wearing an accessory that blocks mental attacks. Even if you wanted to use a mental-type ability now, it's too late."

"It's over."

"Too slow." Jiang Yuan sighed, raising his hand to block the punch that Liang Cheng saw as a guaranteed victory.

Before he could even react.

Jiang Yuan lifted his leg and kicked him in the abdomen.

Liang Cheng felt a terrifying force surge into his gut, shifting his internal organs and forcing bile up his throat. His entire body flew backward uncontrollably!

"Whoosh!"

"Bang!!"

In the eyes of the spectators, less than three seconds had passed since the fight began when a figure flew out of the arena like a cannonball, slamming heavily into the wall amidst a cloud of dust.

Looking at Liang Cheng lying in the rubble.

The entire venue fell into a deathly silence, as quiet as a library at night.

"Is it... already over?"

"What exactly happened?"

"I don't know..."

"This is way too fast..."

"Isn't he a prodigy from the Thunder Martial Arts Hall? How could he..."

Chen Hao's mouth hung wide open, stunned into a stupor.

Zeng Hang was equally shocked.

Liang Cheng, who had already become a First-Order martial artist, had just... lost?!

"I believe I've won, haven't I?" Jiang Yuan asked Elder Huo.

Elder Huo snapped back to reality, looking at the handsome youth standing in the center of the arena with astonishment.

He hadn't expected a young person today to be able to cultivate martial arts to such a level; that instantaneous burst from slow to fast was truly astonishing.

"This match is..."

"It doesn't count! This time doesn't count!" Wang Xinlong couldn't help but shout.

Liang Cheng also crawled out of the rubble, flushed with shame and anger. "I wasn't ready yet! You ambushed me! You despicable villain!"

Jiang Yuan laughed. "You were the one who attacked me first, so how is it an ambush? Who is the truly despicable one here?!"

"I..."

Liang Cheng was left speechless.

"Exactly, exactly! You were the one who ambushed him!!"

Having recovered, Yang Yuwei stood up excitedly and shouted, "Is your Thunder Martial Arts Hall incapable of accepting a loss?"

Wang Xinlong glared at her fiercely. "Outsiders, shut your mouths!"

The gaze of a Third-Order martial artist carried significant pressure. Yang Yuwei was startled, but Luo Xi, who was shielding her from the side, narrowed her eyes, radiating a dangerous aura.

Thunder Martial Arts Hall, is it? You've got some nerve.

Wang Xinlong had yet to realize that his casual remark had invited massive trouble for the Thunder Martial Arts Hall.

He turned to Elder Huo on the stage. "Elder Huo, this kid must have used some underhanded trick. I request a rematch!"

The crowd, not yet satisfied, also began to jeer and shout.

"Rematch, rematch, rematch..."

Elder Huo looked at Wang Xinlong sternly. "A martial arts duel is a matter of life and death, victory or defeat. You bear the consequences of your own life; there is no such thing as a do-over. If this were on the battlefield, he would already be dead."

"By asking for a do-over now, are you asking me to discard the dignity of a martial artist and my own reputation just to openly favor your Thunder Martial Arts Hall?"

Wang Xinlong: "I..."

A woman's voice rang out from below. "Elder Huo is right. However, if both parties agree, there shouldn't be a problem, right?"

Wang Xinlong brightened at the words and looked toward the cold, beautiful red-haired woman who had spoken.

"This young lady is absolutely correct."

Ji Feiyue said to Xu Yihan beside her, "But why would Hall Master Xu agree to another match? Hall Master Wang, you should at least show some sincerity."

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

"Then I'll add to the wager. If he wins the rematch, I will accept the loss wholeheartedly, and I will also give your Chongming Martial Arts Hall a piece of rare equipment and a skill book. Will that suffice?"

Xu Yihan glanced at Ji Feiyue, and seeing her nod, she spoke up, "That's acceptable."

Elder Huo on the stage looked toward Jiang Yuan, "Young friend, what is your opinion?"

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

Joy appeared in Wang Xinlong's eyes, and he shouted to Liang Cheng, "Liang Cheng, go all out from the start this time! If you lose again, I won't let you off!"

"I was just careless before; there's no way I'll lose this time!" Liang Cheng gritted his teeth.

As Liang Cheng returned to the stage, the surrounding crowd erupted in cheers.

Yang Yuwei rested her chin in her hands and pouted, "This is just cheating."

Chen Hao also sighed while clutching his forehead, "That idiot Yuan, he should have run away while he was lucky enough to win. Why keep fighting? Didn't he see that Liang Cheng didn't even use his skills or talent? Now that he's serious, how could he possibly win?"

Zeng Hang said, "Calm down. If my judgment is correct, Jiang Yuan should already be a First-Order martial artist as well."

Chen Hao was stunned upon hearing this, then his mouth fell open, "Who did you say? Yuan? A First-Order martial artist?!"

He stared blankly at Jiang Yuan on the stage.

"You aren't joking with me, are you?"