Keep It Up

Not long after Lin Feng and the other two appeared outside the martial arts hall, they were spotted by many people.

"Is that the high school student?"

"Yeah, the high school student who wants to beat up martial artists."

"He actually came. I thought he'd avoid the fight. I heard many First-Rank Martial Artists came today specifically to teach him a lesson."

"A Body Cultivation Seventh Stage challenger taking on a martial artist directly? Never heard of that. At least Body Cultivation Ninth Stage would be somewhat plausible."

"Body Cultivation Ninth Stage wouldn't work either. Martial artists can cultivate techniques, and their strength is several times that of those in the Body Cultivation Realm. They're two entire levels apart—how could he possibly challenge someone above his level so easily?"

As everyone discussed the matter, Gao Hai and Yang Fan exchanged looks, both seeing the surprise in the other's eyes.

Yang Fan asked Lin Feng doubtfully, "Brother Feng, they can't all be here to watch your match, can they?"

"Brother Feng, your popularity is already comparable to a member of Thunder Team's second squad."

Gao Hai sighed as well, then discreetly adjusted his collar and hair.

He had noticed that quite a few reporters had appeared, with their cameras aimed in their direction.

Stay calm. I have to stay calm. Keep smiling, Gao Hai told himself.

It was their first time being watched by so many people. Gao Hai and Yang Fan were clearly unused to it, even though they were not the center of attention.

"They're mainly here to watch the show," Lin Feng said flatly.

After all, Martial Artist Forum was the world's largest forum by registered users. Posts about him had already reached first place on River City's daily rankings. Even ordinary people who did not follow the forum had heard the news from others.

Nine out of ten of these spectators had come to watch him get humiliated. The remaining one had probably only come to watch a good show out of boredom.

There were probably very few who were genuinely his fans.

That was why, despite so many people paying attention to him, not a single person came forward to cheer him on.

Lin Feng knew there was a saying on Martial Artist Forum: "Ye Qiu in the south, Lin Feng in the north."

Yang Fan had come up with that title.

But Lin Feng knew his own limits. If he truly believed it, he would be overestimating himself and would be slapped hard in the face.

His popularity had all been manufactured through hype. Perhaps it could not even be called popularity—only news buzz.

Once this wave of attention passed, he would soon be forgotten, and no one would pay attention to him anymore.

In terms of popularity, he was not even one ten-thousandth of Ye Qiu's.

If Ye Qiu had appeared at the martial arts hall entrance right now, the crowd would have already gone wild. A large number of security guards would have to be deployed to maintain order, terrified that something might happen. That was the gap between them.

"Student Lin Feng, do you feel confident about this match?"

At that moment, a female reporter walked over and began interviewing Lin Feng.

When they saw the reporter, Yang Fan and Gao Hai took a step back in unspoken agreement, avoiding the camera and leaving Lin Feng alone.

"If I wasn't confident, why would I come?" Lin Feng said.

His expression was natural, his tone calm, and his manner confident, though to outsiders, he seemed somewhat arrogant.

"Then, Student Lin Feng, there are claims on the forum that you've been hiding your talent. Is that true?" the reporter asked again.

"What do you think?"

Lin Feng glanced at the reporter and countered indifferently.

Faced with such an uncooperative interviewee, even the experienced reporter was somewhat at a loss. She took a deep breath, adjusted her mood, and asked again, "What do you think of what netizens are saying now—'Ye Qiu in the south, Lin Feng in the north'?"

"What do I think? I look with my eyes."

Lin Feng waved his hand. Gao Hai and Yang Fan hurriedly followed behind him as the three entered the martial arts hall, leaving the female reporter standing there in utter disarray.

They entered the lobby and took the elevator to the third floor, moving through the place as if they knew it by heart.

"Lin Feng."

Chen Xiaoke recognized him at first glance. Thanks to Lin Feng, she had earned an extra ten thousand yuan.

Lin Feng did not know why the cute girl behind the counter was so surprised. He handed over a Combat Card and said, "Challenge a First-Rank Martial Artist above my level. Bet ten thousand yuan!"

"Certainly, sir. Please undergo a strength test first," Chen Xiaoke said.

Testing one's strength in the Body Cultivation Realm was simple. One only had to stand inside a hemispherical instrument. As the machine performed a cyclical scan, the strengthened meridians would be revealed.

"Eight-one meridians reddened? Body Cultivation Eighth Stage?"

The human meridian diagram displayed on the computer left Chen Xiaoke somewhat astonished. He had broken through to Body Cultivation Eighth Stage in just one night?

"What's wrong?"

Lin Feng asked. He felt that the cute counter girl before him was acting rather mysterious.

"Nothing."

Chen Xiaoke shook her head, glanced around, then whispered, "A lot of First-Rank Martial Artists with excellent records registered today. You should be careful."

"Thank you!" Lin Feng nodded in gratitude.

"Keep it up! I believe in you!" Chen Xiaoke clenched her little fist and encouraged him.

"Mm!"

Lin Feng nodded. After he left, Chen Xiaoke hurriedly took out her phone, logged into her Martial Artist Forum account, and posted: "According to reliable sources, the strongest high school student in history has broken through to Body Cultivation Eighth Stage."

"He's here! He's here!"

Inside the martial arts hall, when the words "High School Student Beats Up Martial Artist" appeared on the big screen, the spectators, who had grown impatient from waiting, immediately became excited.

"The most arrogant high school student in history has arrived! Where are your cheers, everyone?"

At that moment, a grand and impassioned voice suddenly rang out through the martial arts hall, instantly igniting the crowd's enthusiasm.

"Damn, Thunder Martial Arts Hall is making this such a big deal? They actually hired a commentator!"

"They hired a commentator for a high school student. Lin Feng is probably the first."

The audience discussed it loudly.

Their surprise was understandable. Thunder Martial Arts Hall normally did not provide commentators for its arena challenge matches. Only important competitions or team battles received specially assigned commentators.

They had never expected Lin Feng to receive such treatment.

At the same time, the giant screen above the central arena caught the figure of a young man.

Under the gaze of more than two hundred thousand people, Lin Feng had already changed clothes and was slowly walking forward. His expression was cold. A white T-shirt, black pants—an extremely simple outfit. Yet no one was unfamiliar with that white battle shirt.

Then the camera gave a close-up, and the four large words "Recruiting Sponsor Slot" drew a burst of laughter.

Although they had already seen pictures on the forum, they still could not hold back their laughter when seeing it in person.

It was truly their first time seeing such a fresh and refined way of seeking sponsors.

"Heh, I'm dying of laughter. This kid really is something."

"He's just grandstanding. I'm curious how he plans to wrap this up if he loses."

Nearly all of the two hundred thousand spectators looked at him mockingly, as though they were watching a clown. Their words were mostly filled with ridicule and disdain.

But before long, the laughter died down considerably.

Because even in the face of such mockery, the young man remained calm and composed. Even the rhythm of his footsteps did not change in the slightest.

That serene, unruffled bearing did not seem fake!

Could a high school student really possess the ability to remain expressionless even with Mount Tai pressing down on his head?

Many people began to restrain their laughter. No matter how little faith they had in him, they had to admit that at this moment, the kid was indeed a little cool!

"Go, Lin Feng!!!"

Suddenly, a wave of cheering rose from the crowd, and the camera instantly caught the direction it came from.

It was a group of thirteen- or fourteen-year-old boys and girls, clearly middle school students. They shouted excitedly. When they saw the camera turn toward them, they hurriedly raised a poster high above their heads with both hands.

On the poster, a handsome young man stood quietly in the arena, his expression cold but carrying a trace of domineering presence.