The arena.
Liang Cheng glared at Jiang Yuan, his teeth grinding audibly.
"This time, I won't let my guard down. I'll make you pay!"
With that, he took a battle stance, his expression grave and focused.
"Berserk!"
Under everyone's watchful eyes, black-red flames of blood energy streamed from Liang Cheng. His muscles bulged, and his whole body grew a size larger, radiating a powerful aura.
"That's the Berserker's Berserk skill!" someone exclaimed.
"It boosts all his attributes by 20%, but it only lasts three minutes. He's going all out this time."
"As expected of a hidden class. It really is much stronger than a Warrior!"
And that wasn't all.
Liang Cheng, now in his berserk state, took a greatsword from his backpack. He swung it, and the sound of wind and thunder rang out as its sharp edge sliced through the air, leaving a blur of overlapping blade shadows.
"A rare weapon, too. He's really willing to spend," Ji Feiyue remarked, raising an eyebrow.
Seeing Liang Cheng berserk and armed with a rare weapon, Chen Hao couldn't help swallowing.
"Using a rare weapon against someone who's fighting barehanded is way too unfair. Yuanzi won't die, will he...?"
He hadn't even finished speaking.
Liang Cheng stomped hard, lightning arcing beneath his feet as he flashed in front of Jiang Yuan. The greatsword in his hands came slashing down! Wind howled, and lightning crackled!
Jiang Yuan turned slightly aside. The blade struck the ground, leaving a straight crack more than ten meters long as lightning-charged blade energy tore through it!
In Moyu's livestream, a flurry of comments appeared as viewers saw what had happened.
"66666"
"What incredible power!"
"That's the Thunder Martial Arts Hall's signature technique, Wind-Thunder Blade!"
"The blade rings like a thousand birds chirping when he swings it. He must have reached the minor mastery stage. This Liang Cheng really isn't simple."
"With such a fierce blade technique, I wonder how his opponent will respond."
Jiang Yuan leaned aside, then back, dodging two strikes in a row.
"You think dodging will help?" Liang Cheng sneered. "Nether Thunder!"
A mass of shadow stirred beneath Jiang Yuan's feet. The moment he lowered his head, black lightning shot out from the darkness like a treacherous serpent and coiled around him.
Liang Cheng clenched his free hand.
"Nether Thunder Blast!"
"Boom!"
A deafening blast erupted. The explosion covered an area more than ten meters wide, lightning crackling as dust billowed everywhere.
"What incredible power. As expected of an A-rank talent," a spectator exclaimed.
"It's fast and weird, too. It's almost impossible to dodge."
"If a squishy Assassin took that hit, their health bar would probably be nearly empty."
"Did it hit?"
"How did it turn out?"
"What else? He's definitely covered in wounds."
As the spectators eagerly waited, the dust cleared.
Jiang Yuan reappeared, both hands still in his jacket pockets. To everyone's surprise, he wasn't hurt at all—not even his clothes were torn.
"Not a scratch!"
"How could that be?"
"What did he do?"
Liang Cheng clicked his tongue, his expression dark.
With his hands still in his jacket pockets, Jiang Yuan began walking toward Liang Cheng.
"That was your full strength, right?"
"Even with a rare weapon's blessing, you're still too weak."
"You're so weak you can't even see the gap between us."
His voice was calm and matter-of-fact, as if he were stating an undeniable truth.
But to Liang Cheng, it was nothing less than an outright taunt.
"Ah!!"
His emotions ran wild in his berserk state. He let out a beastlike roar, his eyes red. "Shut up!!"
"Nether Thunder!"
Three bolts of Nether Thunder snaked toward Jiang Yuan in strange paths from the ground.
Liang Cheng flashed to his side, his greatsword wrapped in intense blood energy as he drew it back, then brought it down with all his strength!
Four attacks came at once!
Jiang Yuan still didn't take his hands out of his pockets. He simply stamped his right foot forward.
"Boom!"
It was as if an ancient giant elephant had stomped its foot. The ground shook under the tremendous force and sank inward, countless cracks spreading in every direction. The terrifying, domineering shock wave tore through the incoming lightning.
Liang Cheng was thrown back by the oncoming shock wave, his face frozen in shock. He hit the ground hard.
As soon as he lifted his head,
he saw a pair of fiery golden eyes in the distance.
A terrifying pressure of will descended on his shoulders. His body sank uncontrollably, his knees slamming into the ground as he faced Jiang Yuan, as though kneeling in worship.
The sight stunned everyone present.
Chen Hao and Zeng Hang gaped.
Yang Yuwei covered her mouth, while Luo Xi's eyes shone with excitement.
Moyu looked astonished, and even the livestream chat fell briefly silent.
Wang Xinlong stood up and roared, "Liang Cheng, what are you doing?! Get up right now!!"
"Ah!!!"
Liang Cheng roared with all his might, struggling to stand.
Jiang Yuan's gaze flashed again. A mental shock crashed over Liang Cheng like a wave. Though most of it was blocked by the defensive accessory he carried, Liang Cheng still felt as if his brain were burning with pain.
His eyes bleeding, he braced himself on his sword and staggered upright through the agony.
Jiang Yuan shook his head with a sigh. "You even brought a mental-defense accessory. You really came prepared."
"You could have suffered a lot less."
"Too bad..."
"Sh-shut up! I'm the genius! A piece of trash like you... you're no match for me!"
"Ahhh!!!"
With his berserk state about to end, Liang Cheng swayed as he raised his long blade. Blood covered his face as he used his trump card.
"Bloodbath Fury!"
"Boom!"
His blood energy blazed hot. Liang Cheng stamped his foot and leaped high, gripping the hilt in both hands as he unleashed the third form of Wind-Thunder Blade.
"Falling Blade Summons Wind and Thunder!"
Crack! Crack!
It was as if a bolt of lightning had truly wrapped around the blade overhead. Its astonishing aura left many spectators who had bet on Liang Cheng watching intently, faces full of anticipation.
But before the Thunder Blade in his hands could come down,
Jiang Yuan flashed forward, suddenly appearing in front of Liang Cheng.
"Wha..."
Liang Cheng's eyes widened. Before he could react,
a leg came sweeping through the air with a howl, carrying unstoppable force as it struck his face. His features twisted out of shape.
"Bang!"
With an explosive burst of air, Jiang Yuan kicked Liang Cheng out of the sky like a soccer ball!
"Whoosh!"
Liang Cheng's body hurtled down at an angle like a meteor and smashed into the ground!
"Boom!!!"
A huge crater two meters deep was blasted into the arena floor.
"..."
The whole arena fell silent again.
Not a sound could be heard.
Almost everyone stood gaping at the sight.
The smiles on the Thunder Martial Arts Hall disciples' faces had frozen. They had no idea how to react.
"Um..."
Elder Huo stepped forward to examine Liang Cheng. Seeing him lying in the crater with his eyes rolled back and his body in a sorry state, Elder Huo made his judgment.
"He's lost consciousness and can no longer fight."
"Chongming Martial Arts Hall wins this match!"
The arena still gave no response.
Elder Huo smiled warmly at Jiang Yuan. "Young friend, you've really been hiding your strength. It seems a dark horse is about to emerge in this year's college entrance exam."
"You flatter me, Elder Huo."
Jiang Yuan smiled, turned, and left, hands still in his pockets, wearing the same sleepy, lazy expression as before.
The arena remained silent.
"How can this be! How can this be?!"
Liang Cheng had unleashed power that amazed everyone, only to be instantly defeated in return.
It had all happened in the span of two seconds.
Watching it all unfold, Wang Xinlong's emotions had plummeted from elation to despair. He was on the verge of coughing up blood in fury.
Xu Yihan didn't forget their bet. She smiled at him and said,
"Director Wang, don't forget to send the rare equipment and skill book to Chongming Martial Arts Hall."
That final jab completely shattered Wang Xinlong's mental defenses. He had thought Liang Cheng breaking through to Tier-One Martial Artist would make this a sure win. He had invested heavily to build up the hype and grab traffic, the martial arts hall, the beauty, the martial technique, and new students. He hadn't expected this outcome at all. He'd taken such a loss that even his grandmother wouldn't recognize him. Not only had all those plans fallen through, but the hall's reputation had taken a hit, and he still had to hand over a fortune in rare equipment and a skill book...
Thinking of how much he had lost this time,
"You... I... Ahhh!!!"
Wang Xinlong was so enraged that his whole body trembled. He pointed at Xu Yihan, rolled his eyes, and toppled backward, fainting in front of everyone.
The Thunder Martial Arts Hall disciples were alarmed. "Director! Director!!"
Only after Jiang Yuan, Xu Yihan, and the others had left did someone in the hall finally come to their senses. Shocked whispers filled the air.
"Who could have expected this?"
"Another instant kill... The Thunder Martial Arts Hall's disciples couldn't even fight back."
"The difference is just too great. That disciple from Chongming Martial Arts Hall is incredible..."
"To think such a genius had no reputation at all before this. Unbelievable, unbelievable."
"Did you see how he made his opponent kneel with just a look? I guarantee his awakened talent is A-rank or higher. It might even be S-rank."
"Could he already be Tier Two?"
"What kind of place is this Chongming Martial Arts Hall?"
Chen Hao stood with his mouth open, completely dazed. A splitting sensation pulsed at his temples, making his scalp tingle.
"Is this really the Yuanzi I know? He's way too strong."
"What on earth happened to him?"
Zeng Hang was also somewhat dazed, staring blankly as Jiang Yuan left the martial arts hall.
Without realizing it, Jiang Yuan had already reached such heights...
"Wow... just wow..."
Yang Yuwei clasped her hands to her chest, her eyes shining with little hearts. "He's so handsome!!!"
"He's handsome and strong. I want to date him so badly!!!"
Ignoring her lovestruck friend, Luo Xi took off her glasses and watched Jiang Yuan's retreating figure, her gaze tinged with curiosity.
"So he really is of the Psychic Class..."
"I wonder how his mental talent compares with mine. Which of us is stronger?"
Before you continue