73: Chapter 73

73

With a flash of sword light, Zhang Zixin charged forward with his sword drawn, pressing directly toward his opponent.

Jiang Haojie, standing by the sidelines, nodded slightly.

Zhang Zixin's tactical intent was clear—suppressing the advantage of a long weapon through close-quarters combat was indeed the most direct choice.

Liu Ziqiang, however, reacted extremely quickly. As he stepped back, the long spear in his hand darted out like a spiritual snake.

What drew even more attention was his unique physique: his arms actually extended abruptly with his offensive, as if they were infinitely elastic gelatin, keeping Zhang Zixin several paces away at all times.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The sound of clashing metal echoed incessantly on the arena stage.

Jiang Haojie's gaze gradually became focused.

At first, he was more inclined toward Zhang Zixin's decisiveness, but now he had to re-examine Liu Ziqiang—this person might not be considered absolutely powerful, but he utilized his own traits to the extreme.

Under the same rank and talent level, very few people could likely maintain such a dense and bizarre defense.

Especially that ability to extend his limbs at will; for Psionics who relied on distance to cast spells, he was practically a natural nemesis.

Not only did Jiang Haojie notice this, but the spectators around also began to whisper.

The scales of victory had already tilted.

Zhang Zixin's sword tip was unable to advance even half an inch further; every thrust was forced back by that freely retracting long spear.

To win, one would either need overwhelming strength or extreme speed to break through the defensive line—unfortunately, Zhang Zixin possessed neither.

Finally, with a muffled thud, Zhang Zixin was shaken back several steps and landed stumblingly.

***

"Next match: Jiang Haojie from Longcheng University versus Ma Bin from Nanyu Academy."

The afternoon sun was somewhat lazy. Jiang Haojie had been leaning back in his seat, thinking it would be a long time before his turn.

Hearing the announcement, he stretched his shoulders and back, then stood up and walked toward the arena.

On the other side, Ma Bin was first taken aback, and then an uncontrollable joy welled up in his eyes.

He hadn't expected to encounter Jiang Haojie in the promotion matches, but who knew the opportunity would be delivered right to him like this.

"Jiang Haojie's path will likely end here."

"Breaking into the promotion matches is already no easy feat. Unfortunately, his opponent this time is not only from Nanyu Academy but also a Second-Order Awakener."

"There's glory even in defeat."

The discussions in the livestream chat shifted toward Jiang Haojie's battle, filled mostly with sighs and assessments.

Jiang Haojie seemed not to hear them, stepping steadily onto the stage and looking calmly at the opposite side.

As the first contestant from an ordinary institution to break into the academy competition and successfully reach the promotion stage, Jiang Haojie had long become the focus of everyone's attention.

The voices of cold mockery and sarcasm had gradually quieted down after his previous duel, and many people had quietly changed their views—though still no one believed he could go any further.

In Longcheng University's rest area, the atmosphere tightened once again.

Seeing Jiang Haojie step onto the arena again, the team members' feelings were complex and hard to describe.

His entry into the promotion matches had already exceeded everyone's expectations, and now standing opposite him was a Second-Order Awakener.

Hope was like a candle in the wind; almost no one believed Jiang Haojie could continue moving forward.

Zou Wenlin let out a soft sigh.

Jiang Haojie had already created a miracle; reaching this point was already a magnificent feat.

He no longer wished for victory or defeat, only secretly praying that Jiang Haojie could return safely.

On the other side, Ma Bin's followers were whispering to one another.

"Guess how many moves it'll take Brother Ma to deal with that kid?"

"Two moves at most, guaranteed to beat him into a daze."

"I don't think so. Brother Ma plans to take good 'care' of him. How could it end so quickly?"

On the arena, Jiang Haojie and Ma Bin stood facing each other.

Jiang Haojie frowned slightly; the undisguised hostility in the other's eyes made him a bit confused.

At this moment, Ma Bin's voice came over coldly:

"Jiang Haojie, we originally had no grievances.

Unfortunately, you provoked Su Qingxue—I will never let you off."

His words were very quiet, such that only Jiang Haojie could hear them clearly.

"Just wait. I'll beat you beyond recognition on this arena.

I want Su Qingxue to see with her own eyes how pathetic the man she chose is."

Jiang Haojie realized that this hostility originated from there.

He found it somewhat laughable, not knowing where the other's confidence came from.

Jiang Haojie didn't respond, only shaking his head faintly.

This silence was interpreted as cowardice in Ma Bin's eyes.

He sneered in his heart: Su Qingxue, look closely. This is the person you chose, who doesn't even dare to make a sound.

"Begin."

As soon as the referee's signal fell, light surged around Ma Bin's body, and his form expanded rapidly. In an instant, he transformed into a land turtle the size of a car, slowly moving toward Jiang Haojie.

Although Variant-type Talented individuals have the ability to transform into animals, they inevitably inherit the characteristics of the corresponding species.

The land turtle Ma Bin transformed into possessed astonishing defensive power, but the price was an extremely sluggish movement speed.

The veins on his neck bulged as he struggled forward, yet his movement was still agonizingly slow.

"This speed... by the time he reaches Jiang Haojie, it'll be dark, won't it?"

"An SS-level talent is just this? Turning into a land turtle? This is practically a joke."

"Truly an eye-opener..."

The bullet comments in the livestream chat swept past like a tide.

Whispers also broke out in the spectator stands. No one expected this highly anticipated duel to unfold in such a dumbfounding manner.

Ma Bin had previously taken the stage twice. His opponents were both First-Order Awakened, and seeing that he had already reached the Second-Order, they conceded directly without fighting.

Consequently, no one knew the true depth of his strength.

Now that everyone saw his form after transformation for the first time, the teachers and students of Nanyu Academy looked embarrassed, feeling their reputation was at stake.

If not for relying on that astonishing defense, Ma Bin would not have been qualified to represent the academy in this inter-school duel.

The current situation was truly awkward.

Looking at that appearance on the stage, the corner of Jiang Haojie's mouth couldn't help but twitch.

This was it? He even claimed he'd teach me a lesson? He shook his head and, no longer waiting, walked straight toward Ma Bin.

Ma Bin had only moved an inch after a long while, but Jiang Haojie reached him in just two steps.

Seeing this action, the spectators immediately began to discuss fervently.

"What is Jiang Haojie doing? Instead of keeping his distance, he's getting closer. Isn't that seeking death?"

"Yeah, at a time like this, he should just wear him down and let him get anxious."

"In the end, he's just inexperienced..."

Seeing Jiang Haojie approach of his own accord, Ma Bin's eyes flashed with joy, and he immediately opened his mouth to bite.

Although turtle-like creatures are slow-moving and have hard shells, they have one special skill—their biting speed is as fast as lightning.

Ma Bin was no exception. Despite his slow movement, the speed of this bite was so fast it left an afterimage.

But while he was fast, Jiang Haojie was even faster.

Before those sharp teeth could touch his skin, Jiang Haojie's backhand slap had already struck out fiercely.

Slap!

The clear, crisp sound exploded in the venue, leaving everyone stunned.

Ma Bin was also dazed.

Jiang Haojie had actually slapped him in front of everyone.

Coming back to his senses, Ma Bin bit out again and again in a frenzy, but his most prideful rapid bites missed every time.

What made his blood boil even more was that from beginning to end, Jiang Haojie's slaps never stopped.

Most hateful of all was that no matter how he dodged, that palm always landed precisely on his face, as if he were actively offering his cheek.

Slap! Slap! Slap!

The slapping sounds were continuous, crisp, and ear-piercing.

Ma Bin's group of followers looked at each other; the scene before them was entirely different from what they had anticipated.

"Jiang Haojie, I'll kill you!"

Ma Bin roared, his four limbs suddenly exerting force as he lowered his head and charged toward Jiang Haojie.

Jiang Haojie, however, had already lost interest. His body shifted slightly, and he nimbly moved to the side.

"Don't hide if you have the guts!"

Ma Bin gnashed his teeth.

"The thing that stays perfectly still is a turtle."

The corner of Jiang Haojie's mouth curled up slightly.

"You—"

Ma Bin was choked with rage but helpless, only able to twist his body and bite again.

Jiang Haojie didn't want to entangle further and suddenly swept out a whip kick, heavily kicking that greenish-gray shell.

Before Ma Bin could react, his entire body was sent flying, spinning like a top.

Thud!

With a muffled sound, he landed heavily on the ground, four limbs facing the sky.

"A Second-Order lost to a First-Order. Moreover, this Second-Order was a genius from one of the Five Great Academies."

"Nanyu Academy's reputation is really going to take a hit now."

Inside and outside the venue, the bullet comments in the livestream froze for a moment, and then various discussions surged like a tide.

No one had expected the ending to be like this.

Not to mention the bystanders, even Ma Bin himself couldn't immediately accept the reality.

He lay by the edge of the stage, his beast-like body struggling to prop itself up. After several failed attempts, he finally had to shed the mutation and return to human form.

Only then did he see that he had long since fallen out of the arena's boundaries.

His face instantly turned so dark it could drip water.

The referee's announcement sounded at the right time: "In this match, Jiang Haojie from Longcheng University wins."

Within Longcheng University, the students gathered before the screens stared blankly at the picture, almost doubting their hearing—Jiang Haojie won again, and this time he defeated an opponent from Nanyu Academy.

After a brief silence, an uproar suddenly exploded.

Defeating a student from Nanyu Academy was no different from a loud slap to the other's face.

Longcheng University's name would likely truly spread after this battle.

Zou Wenlin also stood dazed on the spot, his face full of disbelief.

Jiang Haojie really did it; this result far exceeded his expectations.

In that unknown rest area in the gymnasium, the crisp sound of porcelain shattering suddenly came through.

"Hey, Old Chen, it's just one match. Why get so worked up?"

"Victory and defeat are common occurrences. It's not worth ruining your health over."

"Calm down, calm down."

The other deans were advising him with their words, but their eyes held an uncontainable smile.

Chen Minan's face was ice-cold as he snorted: "Who can't say sarcastic words? This Jiang Haojie is clearly aiming for a face-slapping. Wait until it's your students' turn to lose to him, then let's see if you can still laugh."

The Dean of Yongye Academy tried to smooth things over from the side: "Old Chen, everyone's just joking. Don't take it to heart. The promotion matches have just begun; there's still a long way to go."

Chen Minan turned his face away, no longer paying attention to them.

These guys, each and every one of them only knows how to gloat. Wait until your people take the stage, and see how I pay you back.

Jiang Haojie had already returned to his seat and continued to watch the matches.

The subsequent matches, however, appeared much more mundane: although the weaker ones gave their all, there were ultimately limited highlights; while the strong ones held back, unwilling to expose their trump cards too early, and inevitably felt constrained when fighting, unless they truly encountered an evenly matched opponent—unfortunately, such a situation did not occur in the first round.

The matches continued until seven in the evening before the first round of promotion matches concluded.

Jiang Haojie and Su Qingxue returned to their residence together.

Since their relationship had become a tacit understanding, they lived together.

...

Inside Ma Bin's residence, the atmosphere was heavy.

He sat on the sofa, his expression terrifyingly dark.

Several followers beside him hung their heads, not daring to breathe.

No one expected such a situation—originally they thought Ma Bin could easily teach that Jiang Haojie a lesson, but in the end, it was their own boss who took a solid beating.

If the previous three matches were lost because the opponents underestimated him, then this time, Ma Bin could be said to have been fully focused, without any oversight.

And Jiang Haojie had not used any tricky methods from beginning to end.

What did this mean? It meant that Jiang Haojie's strength was clearly above Ma Bin's.

They had all underestimated this person before.

Someone lowered their voice and said, "Brother Ma, this matter absolutely cannot end like this!"

"Naturally it can't."

Ma Bin pulled the corner of his mouth, revealing a cold smile.

But in the next second, his entire face suddenly contorted. He raised his hand to cover his cheek, drawing in a cold breath from the pain.

That damn guy had actually slapped him so many times on the arena that his cheeks were still swollen and painful.

Nanyu Academy originally had a medical cultivation team, but as soon as he thought of Su Qingxue's expression at that time, he was filled with rage and stubbornly refused treatment.

As a result, as long as his expression was slightly large now, a burst of piercing pain would come from his face.

Tan Zhi leaned in and asked, "Brother Ma, what do you say we should do next?"

Ma Bin narrowed his eyes and instructed in a low voice: "You few, go and find out which room he lives in first. Then do this..."

"Understood!"

...

After Jiang Haojie and Su Qingxue finished dinner, Su Qingxue went into the bathroom.

In the past, when she heard people talk about matters between men and women, she only felt shy and confused—besides continuing the bloodline, what interest was there in such entanglements?

Until she personally tasted that flavor, only then did she know what it meant to be bone-deep.

Between the numbness and trembling, it was as if she were stepping on clouds to reach the heavens, floating and losing herself.

No wonder the people of the world were greedy for this path.

It was fine if one hadn't experienced it, but once tainted, it would be difficult to give up.

She was like this now.