Having vanquished a formidable foe, Bai Zhenzhen cast a glance around the arena. She’d imagined her triumph over the prodigy of Red Tower High would stun the audience.

But upon looking up, she realized that her corner of the stage had garnered little attention.

Most spectators were glued to the matches of Song Hailong, Le Mulan, and the 300-point Zhang Yu.

“Despicable!” Bai Zhenzhen inwardly fumed. “A bunch of fools blinded by mere scores, incapable of seeing the true contender for the championship.”

Nevertheless, she was confident that as time passed, her victories would eventually attract the recognition they deserved.

Meanwhile, the other two students in Bai Zhenzhen’s group had meticulously observed her battle against Hu Yuntao from beginning to end.

Their initial intention was to scrutinize Hu Yuntao, as Bai Zhenzhen’s performance in the preliminary round was too weak, and Hu Yuntao was their main rival.

However, to their surprise, Hu Yuntao inexplicably wandered to the edge of the stage and was inadvertently maneuvered off the platform.

From their perspective, Bai Zhenzhen had not vanished, and they did not know about the disappearance.

Suddenly, they recalled Zhang Yu, who had similarly employed a technique to force the Yellow Turban Warrior out of bounds.

A thought crossed their minds: “Is this a new tactic developed by Songyang High?”

“Relying on underhanded methods to edge opponents out and achieve victory against stronger foes?”

“The students from these other high schools are just lacking in quality.”

The two reaffirmed the long-held consensus among the top three high schools: those with lower scores simply lack quality.

Although they held these contemptuous views, they also grew wary, inwardly cautioning themselves against carelessness should they face Bai Zhenzhen.

Just then, Bai Zhenzhen noticed Zhao Tianxing in the audience waving and giving her a thumbs-up.

“Hmph, that old Zhao,” Bai Zhenzhen chuckled to herself, waving back. “As expected, these low-scoring students provide more emotional validation.”

In the audience,

Zhao Tianxing was elated, giving a thumbs-up and saying, “Ah Zhen saw us!”

“I can’t believe she beat that Hu Yuntao from Red Tower High so easily.”

“At first, I was really worried Hu Yuntao would devour her.”

He Dayou nonchalantly remarked, “Just luck. That tiger demon is a typical case of high scores, low ability. He was tripped off the stage. I could probably win against him.”

While he had felt worried watching Bai Zhenzhen struggle against the Yellow Turban Warrior, seeing her triumphant and smug after defeating Hu Yuntao made him even more uneasy.

Qian Shen interjected, “It doesn’t feel that simple…”

“Why did that tiger suddenly run to the edge of the stage?”

At that moment, Zhao Tianxing pointed towards Zhang Yu, saying, “Zhang Yu is about to compete.”

Zhao Tianxing sighed with relief, “Thankfully, Yu Zi and Ah Zhen are in separate halves of the bracket. They won’t meet in an internal battle so early.”

He Dayou muttered, “Maybe Zhang Pianpian had something to do with it.”

As the son of a Songyang High board member, he could manipulate the draw for the practical exam.

Zhang Pianpian, a super-rich individual with over 2.5 billion in savings, could easily do the same for her subordinates.

Suddenly, Qian Shen exclaimed, “Dayou, isn’t Zhang Yu’s opponent your middle school classmate?”

He Dayou’s body stiffened, and he swiftly turned towards the stage.

When he saw Zhang Yu and Chu Qiuhe walking onto the platform, He Dayou frowned.

He certainly didn’t want Zhang Yu, the commoner who had once humiliated him, to win.

But Chu Qiuhe, his middle school classmate who had always looked down on him… He wouldn’t have cared about Chu Qiuhe’s performance normally, but if Chu Qiuhe defeated a Songyang High student, he would feel uncomfortable.

Damn it… Both the palm and back of my hand sting. Can both of them be eliminated together?

On the stage,

Chu Qiuhe immediately positioned himself at the center, ensuring he wouldn’t be too close to the edge and accidentally dragged off.

As he moved, he could feel his blood surging, his heart pounding, and the needle marks on his temples protruding – all signs that Chu Qiuhe had taken performance-enhancing drugs.

Chu Qiuhe recalled the words of his competition coach, “This is the latest combat supplement. It will enhance your muscle strength and stamina, temporarily boosting your physical intensity to level 2.2.”

Chu Qiuhe hesitated, “Is that necessary?”

The competition coach replied, “Although Zhang Yu’s stats are inferior to yours in every aspect, his martial arts are commendable, and he’s skilled in researching tactics. Besides… do you think students from schools like his wouldn’t use every advantage they could to beat us?”

Now, feeling the drug taking effect and coursing through his veins, invigorating every muscle, Chu Qiuhe felt better than ever.

“This new drug is potent!”

“I don’t care about techniques or tactics. Today, I will crush you with brute force.”

As the countdown of 3, 2, 1 commenced,

Chu Qiuhe, like a wild beast, became a blur as he lunged toward Zhang Yu.

He unleashed a punch, his entire being exuding a savage aura, like a massive truck slamming into Zhang Yu.

Expert-level Technique – Truck Charge Fist! Level 2 Boost!

In ancient times, martial artists observed birds and beasts, mountains and rivers to create their techniques.

Today, martial artists observe traffic and towering buildings to develop the techniques of this era.

The Truck Charge Fist was supposedly created by a martial arts expert who spent three months observing trucks by the highway, comprehending the essence of a truck collision, and infusing the momentum of a massive, multi-ton truck into his fist.

Chu Qiuhe, a strength-based body refinement fighter, chose to cultivate this technique to fully exploit his power advantage.

Now, with the Level 2 Truck Charge Fist unleashed at full power, he truly resembled a terrifying, hundred-ton truck, making the stage shudder as he rammed towards Zhang Yu.

“Faced with my attack, Zhang Yu has only one option…”

Chu Qiuhe was confident that Zhang Yu couldn’t withstand his power head-on and would have to dodge.

But the Truck Charge Fist had a counter for dodging.

“Once he dodges, I’ll use the ‘Truck Spin Maneuver’ to pursue, adding the power of this punch into a high-speed, sharp-angle shift, increasing the momentum by another 50%.”

“I’ll blast you off the stage with one punch!”

But in the next moment, Chu Qiuhe was shocked to see Zhang Yu meeting his fist head-on with a palm covered in white qi, choosing to face his attack directly?

As Chu Qiuhe’s fist collided with the Unmoving Cloud Guard, Zhang Yu felt like a horde of wild boars were rushing at him, tearing through the qi, trying to send him flying.

Heavenly Martial Heart Refinement Art Level 10 – Full Concentration!

Everything around him instantly slowed to an extraordinary degree.

Watching Chu Qiuhe’s fist inch into the qi, Zhang Yu could precisely identify the direction of the incoming force, then subtly manipulate the Unmoving Cloud Guard, guiding and deflecting the power…

Chu Qiuhe felt his punch collide with the Unmoving Cloud Guard like it was hitting a slippery, rubbery ball. His fist was diverted to the side, missing Zhang Yu completely…

But the next moment, with a roar, Chu Qiuhe used his physical strength to stop his momentum and unleash another punch towards Zhang Yu.

This punch was again deflected, leaving Chu Qiuhe’s defenses wide open, watching Zhang Yu slip into his embrace.

Crackling sounds filled the air as Zhang Yu landed three consecutive punches on Chu Qiuhe’s chest, ribs, and abdomen.

The combat supplement prevented Chu Qiuhe from feeling any pain, instead filling him with adrenaline. He exerted his strength to grab and hug Zhang Yu.

“With my strength, I can crush him if I just grab him…”

But Zhang Yu seemed to anticipate his move, dodging his grasp by the barest margin.

Chu Qiuhe attacked again, only for his fist to be deflected, and he received two more punches to the chest.

“Damn it… Just one punch!”

“With his physique, if I can just land my Truck Charge Fist past his qi, if I can just hit his body once! I can definitely defeat him!”

He felt like he could win if he could just land one solid blow.

Chu Qiuhe roared, unleashing a furious barrage of attacks.

But he felt like he was the one being suppressed.

Zhang Yu was like a winged ball, dancing around Chu Qiuhe’s attacks, either avoiding his grasp by a hair’s breadth or deflecting his punches with the Unmoving Cloud Guard.

“I keep getting hit…”

“Am I… being suppressed?”

“He’s using pure skill to suppress my superior strength, speed, and stamina?”

Chu Qiuhe couldn’t believe it. Then his abdomen was struck by the Unmoving Cloud Guard.

He still felt no pain, but his seemingly inexhaustible stamina was interrupted, leaving him momentarily frozen.

“Not good… My internal organs are bleeding.”

Zhang Yu seized that moment.

Upper abdomen… chest… shoulder… waist…

Chu Qiuhe’s body was struck repeatedly, each strike interrupting the flow of power in the body part he was trying to use.

He felt like a huge punching bag, Zhang Yu unleashing his power, until he collapsed softly on the ground.

“I… I lost?”

“Lost to a student outside the top three high schools?”

Chu Qiuhe felt like he could no longer face his classmates at White Dragon High.

He envisioned his status plummeting, becoming an object of ridicule, a slave to countless classmates. He wished he could jump from the 30th floor of White Dragon High…

Then the terrifying vision caused him to lose consciousness.

Zhang Yu wins this battle!

(End of Chapter)