Damage Reflection Ability

Jiang Yuan remained standing where he was, even as the fist closed in on his chest.

The Nine Yang Inner Force stored in his abdomen surged rapidly through his meridians, passing over his waist and back before gathering entirely at his chest.

The warm currents scattered through his flesh layered over one another, tightening the point of impact. Beneath his skin, it felt as though a layer of heated heavy armor had been padded in.

The instant they closed in, Song Xi's right fist struck Jiang Yuan squarely in the chest.

A punch force of five hundred and three kilograms, combined with a sprinting speed of over twenty-two meters per second—the exoskeleton's power and her own blood and qi were all poured into this blow.

By the standards of the Body Tempering Stage, his ribs simply could not withstand such an impact. His internal organs would be injured as well, and even with a full set of protective gear, he would most likely end up in the infirmary.

The rubber flooring beneath Jiang Yuan's feet dented under the pressure. His training uniform clung tightly to his chest, while the fabric around her fist compressed into several deep folds.

Yet he did not retreat even half a step.

At the moment of impact, the Nine Yang Inner Force gathered at his chest surged outward in retaliation. The mechanical power and inertia from her charge were both redirected, pouring back through Song Xi's fist.

The rebound was not stopped by the armor around her fist.

Scorching inner force passed through the armor and raced up the exoskeleton's load-bearing frame toward her shoulder. Several energy lines simultaneously bore forces from within and without, twisting and snapping in an instant as sparks burst from the connectors.

Song Xi's feet left the ground, and she flew backward three meters.

Her back slammed into the arena with a dull thud that traveled across the rubber flooring. The exoskeleton on her right arm immediately broke into several pieces, damaged components bouncing and rolling toward the boundary.

Her out-of-control blood and qi surged into her shoulder, chest, and abdomen, throwing the meridians within her body into complete chaos.

Song Xi propped herself up with her left arm, trying to stand again, but the entire right side of her body was powerless. The moment her shoulder left the ground, her arm gave out.

Bang.

She fell back down.

Jiang Yuan lowered his eyes to inspect his chest. The inner force gathered at the impact point had already dispersed, flowing back into the meridians throughout his body.

The creases left by the punch were still visible on his clothes, but his ribs and internal organs were unharmed, and even his breathing remained as steady as usual.

The protective effect of the Nine Yang Divine Skill far exceeded his expectations.

After smoothing out his training uniform, Jiang Yuan remained where he was and looked toward Song Xi, who lay on the ground.

The area around the arena was so quiet that only the hum of equipment remained. Several communication terminals were still held in the air, their screens repeatedly showing Song Xi charging forward, landing her blow, and then being sent flying backward.

Li Qingshan crossed the forced-stop zone and reached Song Xi's side in just a few steps.

With one palm pressed against her shoulder and the other gripping her wrist, Li Qingshan sent his own blood and qi into her meridians, examining her injuries inch by inch.

Her bones were not broken, and her flesh was intact, but the blood and qi within Song Xi's body had been thrown into complete disarray. Scorching force still lingered in the meridians of her right arm. She would not be fighting again anytime soon.

After finishing his examination, Li Qingshan raised his head, his gaze fixed firmly on Jiang Yuan.

"What martial skill did you use just now?"

"I didn't use any martial skill."

Jiang Yuan answered crisply.

"I merely concentrated my strength in my chest to block her punch."

Li Qingshan glanced at the exoskeleton fragments scattered across the floor.

That explanation could barely account for the defense, but it could not explain the outcome before him.

Jiang Yuan had taken a heavy punch in the five-hundred-kilogram range head-on without moving an inch. He had not attacked even once, yet Song Xi and her exoskeleton had both suffered severe damage.

The Tyrant Blade he had just taught him certainly did not possess such an ability.

On the second-floor viewing platform, the principal brought up surveillance footage from three angles and replayed the exchange frame by frame.

From beginning to end, Jiang Yuan's arms had hung at his sides. There was no equipment hidden beneath his clothes, and his feet had never made any counterattacking movement.

The dean of academic affairs reached out and tapped the frame where the fist made contact with Jiang Yuan's chest.

In the image, the armor around Song Xi's fist dented inward first. Immediately after, the shoulder brace twisted, and the energy lines went dark one after another from front to back.

"This force came from inside Jiang Yuan's body, and it even penetrated the exoskeleton."

The principal slowed the playback further, his attention settling on Jiang Yuan's feet, which had not moved from start to finish.

"A Damage Reflection Ability."

The dean of academic affairs turned around immediately.

"Such abilities are rare even among New Stars. As long as he can trigger it reliably, he can bypass the regular admissions screening when he submits his advancement application."

"Seal all footage from today. The material recorded by students at the scene must be handled uniformly as well."

The principal closed the replay interface.

"List Jiang Yuan as this year's number one seed. Until the official test results are out, no one is to leak the assessment of his ability."

Medical personnel carried a stretcher into the arena. Li Qingshan helped Song Xi straighten out her blood and qi, supported her shoulders and back, and placed her on the stretcher.

Song Xi turned her face, her gaze passing over the scattered metal fragments before landing on Jiang Yuan.

Her lips moved twice before she managed to force out a sentence.

"You stood there from the beginning, waiting for me to hit you?"

"You were too fast. I didn't have time to dodge."

Jiang Yuan spoke with exceptional sincerity.

Song Xi closed her eyes and turned her face directly to the other side.

Li Qingshan returned to the center of the arena. After confirming that the medical personnel had taken over, he raised his right arm.

"Song Xi has lost her ability to fight. This practical match is over."

"The winner is Jiang Yuan!"

The breaths held throughout the arena all rushed out at once.

Some people lowered their heads to search through the footage they had just recorded, while others squeezed toward the arena to question the referee. The remaining students preparing to continue their assessments withdrew their challenge applications on the spot.

The rankings page refreshed quickly.

Jiang Yuan's name shot past those at the top and finally stopped in first place for the grade.

Song Xi dropped to second place. Along with the rankings, her blood and qi potion quota and gravity room access time were adjusted as well.

The moment Jiang Yuan stepped down from the arena, Guo Hongtao shoved through the students crowding around him and grabbed his arm.

"Brother Yuan, was that Iron Cloth Shirt you used just now?"

"She punched you once and got sent flying three meters. Even her exoskeleton shattered. That's not Iron Cloth Shirt—that's whoever touches you gets cursed."

"During recent special training, I figured out a technique for exerting force."

Jiang Yuan leaned closer and spoke in a voice only the two of them could hear.

"For now, it can only be used defensively, and it isn't stable."

Guo Hongtao circled around him halfway, then reached out and pressed the spot where the fist had landed.

"Does your chest hurt?"

"No."

"Then can I still ask you to spar with me in the future?"

"Do you know Iron Cloth Shirt?"

Guo Hongtao immediately withdrew his hand and took two quick steps back. Even the training uniform over his belly wobbled a few times.

Just as the surrounding students were about to press for answers, the crowd at the entrance to the assessment arena suddenly retreated to both sides.

The dean of academic affairs, holding a freshly printed notice, crossed the security line and stopped directly in front of Jiang Yuan.

"Jiang Yuan, your results for this practical assessment are void."

Guo Hongtao's expression changed instantly. His lips had only just parted when the dean of academic affairs turned, raised a hand, and pointed toward the second-floor corridor.

"Come with me to the principal's office now for a special interview."