Feng Shaotang, who was supervising, grew furious and even threatened to make them draw lots on the spot. The watching students had no choice but to fight in the order they had arrived, and only then did the arena begin to bustle...
Three days passed in the blink of an eye. The selection tournament proceeded smoothly. Every day, some contestants rejoiced in victory while others hung their heads in defeat. The instructors supervising and recording the matches had grown accustomed to such scenes, mechanically calling names and announcing results.
"Hyah!"
Zhuge Guagua stood in the arena, shouting as he circulated energy through his dan foundation and settled into a fighting stance.
The student opposite him, Shen Hai, refused to be outdone. With a swish, he tore off his shirt, baring a torso full of ribs, clenched his fists, and charged.
"Stop!"
Zhuge Guagua raised a palm in a halting gesture, stepped back, and narrowed his crossed eyes. "Do you know who I am?"
"Huh? I... I don't care who you are!" Shen Hai said, stiffening his neck.
"I'm He An..." Zhuge Guagua wore an intoxicated smile of solitary self-admiration.
"Oh?" Shen Hai froze.
He An's name carried tremendous weight. He was the man who had nearly beaten Li Bie to pieces, the most celebrated of the newly admitted students. Even the arrogant Cui Family scions had failed to defeat him after inviting a formidable fighter to challenge him.
"No! You're not He An. Your name's something like Pig... Melon... isn't it?"
Remembering the supervising instructor announcing both their names before the match, Shen Hai suddenly caught on and challenged him.
"I'm He An's... friend!"
Zhuge Guagua's smile grew even more mysterious. With an air of solemn importance, he said, "He An and I... are extremely close. Just yesterday, we were