[Shield value: -280000] [Shield value: -350000] [Current shield remaining: 370000/1000000]
That was a full million shield points!
Even a level-100 powerhouse's killing blow had ultimately failed to pierce that wall of sighs a million points thick.
One second later.
The light faded.
Although the barrier shattered and dissipated, Lu Fang still stood firmly in place, not a single hair out of place.
He slowly lowered his hand, his eyes cold as he looked at the effeminate assassin in midair, who was still holding his attacking pose, his eyes practically bulging out of their sockets.
The entire venue fell deathly silent.
If Lu Fang's attack power had shocked them earlier, then the defense that let him survive a level-100 powerhouse's killing blow head-on now left everyone's scalp tingling and shattered their understanding.
"He... he's not dead?!"
The effeminate assassin's mouth hung open. He could not comprehend what had happened.
His strike, powerful enough to instantly kill a fragile opponent of the same level, had not even scratched this kid's skin?
What the fuck kind of monster was he?!
Lu Fang snorted coldly, giving his enemy no chance to keep questioning his life.
He knew perfectly well that now, while his opponent had used all his skills and his psychological defenses had completely collapsed, was the best moment to counterattack.
"Principal! Vice principal!"
"Don't hold back anymore! Keep them pinned down!"
"I'll finish them off!"
Coming back to their senses, the wild joy in the principal's and vice principal's eyes had now turned into boundless fighting spirit.
Lu Fang was alive!
Not only was he alive, he was completely unharmed!
It was nothing short of a miracle!
"Good!!!"
The principal laughed heartily. Although he was severely wounded, he felt filled with strength at that moment.
"Old Li! Don't let these scumbags get away!"
"Don't worry! They're not going anywhere!"
The two unleashed their power again, keeping the thoroughly shaken effeminate assassin and curse witch locked down.
The battle that followed became a completely one-sided slaughter.
Under the relentless bombardment of Lu Fang's absurd cash-powered might, the so-called level gap and defensive resistances all became a joke.
"Spend a Thousand Gold in One Throw!"
Boom!
The effeminate assassin screamed as a gold coin smashed half his body apart.
"Again!"
Boom!
The curse witch's shield was like paper, smashed straight into nothingness.
The enormous true damage unleashed by every attack was like a heavy hammer, not only smashing the enemies' bodies but also pounding against the hearts of everyone present.
One minute later.
As the last curse witch dissolved into motes of light with a piercing wail.
This sudden crisis was completely resolved.
The entire gymnasium fell quiet once more.
Only the lingering energy fluctuations in the air bore witness to the breathtaking battle that had just taken place.
Lu Fang stood in the center of the arena and slowly lowered his hand, his expression as calm as ever.
And around him.
The thousands of teachers and students present, including the blood-soaked principal and vice principal supporting each other.
Everyone stared blankly at the boy's back as though looking at a god.
They were not merely shocked that Lu Fang had saved them all.
They were even more shocked by...
This terrifying ability that completely defied common sense and overturned their understanding.
The smoke of battle finally cleared.
"Huff... huff..."
The principal planted his staff against the ground, supporting his swaying body.
His robes were already stained red with blood from the wound where the effeminate assassin had pierced his shoulder, but he could not spare a thought for treating it now.
He took a deep breath, pushed aside the vice principal who was trying to support him, and hurried over to Lu Fang with heavy, somewhat stumbling steps.
Looking at the unscathed, calm-faced boy before him, an immensely complicated emotion flashed through the principal's eyes. There was shock and gratitude, but above all, profound shame.
"Lu Fang..."
The principal's voice was hoarse, with a hint of a tremor.
He slowly lowered his head and even tried to bend at the waist and bow.
"I'm sorry."
"As the principal of this school, I failed to protect my students. Instead, in the end... a student saved my life."
"This was a failure of my duty, and an even greater disgrace."
The sight stunned the teachers and students around them.
In their memories, the principal had always been stern and imposing. When had they ever seen him apologize so humbly to a student?
Lu Fang's expression shifted slightly at the sight.
He had seen how the principal and vice principal had fought desperately to buy him time, even preparing to sacrifice themselves.
Lu Fang reached out and firmly supported the principal's arm, stopping him from bowing.
"Principal, you're being too hard on yourself."
Lu Fang shook his head, his tone calm and sincere.
"You don't need to apologize, much less blame yourself."
Lu Fang glanced at the injured teachers and frightened students around him, his gaze darkening slightly.
"Those three were after Wang Yixing and me from the very beginning. Our parents' old feud brought the Blood Wolf Association here. The school was dragged into this because of us."
"This was an undeserved disaster."
Lu Fang's voice was not loud, but it carried clearly throughout the venue.
"I acted both to protect myself and because I didn't want to see everyone hurt because of me. That was my responsibility, not a failure of your duty."
His words were reasonable and well-founded, neither servile nor overbearing.
The principal raised his head and looked into Lu Fang's clear, deep eyes. The shame in his heart eased somewhat, replaced by even greater admiration and gratification.
This boy possessed not only heaven-defying talent and strength, but also an exceptionally rare character and self-discipline.
"No matter what... thank you."
The principal patted the back of Lu Fang's hand heavily. In the end, all the words he wanted to say became those two words.
And beside the two of them.
Wang Yixing had kept his head lowered, listening silently like an outsider.
He looked at Lu Fang, who was speaking to the principal as an equal and even faintly taking the lead, then lowered his head to look at the Thunder Sword in his hand, which he had taken such pride in, yet now seemed somewhat dull.
An unprecedented bitterness welled up in his heart.
If Lu Fang's earlier "15-floor clear" and "SSS-rank rating" had merely shocked him and stirred a hint of competitive desire to catch up and surpass him.
Then just now.
Those gold coins falling from the sky, each striking for 1.5 million true damage.
That effortlessly summoned golden shield, which had withstood a level-100 powerhouse's killing blow head-on without breaking.
That world-destroying offense and defense were like two mountains, utterly crushing all the pride and competitive spirit in his heart.
The gap... is too big.
Wang Yixing laughed bitterly inwardly.
This was no longer a competition on the same track.
They were simply beings from two different dimensions.
While he was feeling smug about dealing a few thousand points of damage, Lu Fang was already slaughtering gods with damage in the millions.
How can I possibly compare to him?
Wang Yixing lowered his head, his clenched fists slowly relaxing.
At that moment, the defiance in his eyes vanished completely, replaced by profound helplessness and submission.