76: Chapter 76

76

"Jiang Haojie is probably done for this time; his opponent is a Third-Order Awakened with an SSS-rank talent."

"What a pity. I thought I'd get to see a dark horse make it to the finals."

"Getting this far as an Ancient Martial Artist is already a miracle."

Even Zou Wenlin, high up in the stands, let out a soft sigh.

Jiang Haojie reaching this point had already far exceeded his expectations.

Even if he stopped here, he had already earned plenty of face for Longcheng University.

He thought to himself that once Jiang Haojie returned, he must give him a reward worthy of this performance.

Dan Bei leapt onto the stage, and the fine rain immediately dampened his hair and shoulders.

He looked at Jiang Haojie, who had long been standing quietly opposite him, and a playful smile appeared on his face.

"Should I say you're unlucky?"

Dan Bei's voice sounded exceptionally clear amidst the sound of the rain. "If you had run into the other few Second-Orders, you might have actually managed to scrape your way into the finals."

But unfortunately, at this critical juncture, you ran into me."

Jiang Haojie listened quietly, the drizzle falling on his calm brow.

He suddenly smiled and looked up at his opponent.

"Is that so?"

His voice wasn't loud, but it clearly pierced through the curtain of rain. "I think the unlucky one might be you."

The corner of Jiang Haojie's mouth curled up: "Because you've run into me."

Dan Bei's face suddenly turned cold.

Fine, keep being arrogant; I'll show you what's what in a moment.

The referee's whistle blew at that moment.

Without the slightest hesitation, Dan Bei raised his hand, and several sharp spikes condensed from ice appeared in front of him.

With a light tap of his finger, those ice spikes shot toward the figure opposite him like arrows from a bow.

"Old Sun, want to bet again?"

Inside the gymnasium's observation room.

Shen Tianming, the dean of Yongye Academy, turned his head to look at Sun Wanyu, the dean of Beichen Academy, beside him.

"Oh? What do you want to bet?"

Sun Wanyu raised an eyebrow with interest.

He naturally knew that Shen Tianming was still brooding over losing that A-rank weapon yesterday and was looking for a chance to win it back.

However, Sun Wanyu didn't think the other man would get his wish.

A look of certainty appeared on Shen Tianming's face: "Let's use that A-rank weapon from yesterday as the stake again. I bet that in this match, Jiang Haojie will lose."

"Alright, then I'll bet that Jiang Haojie will win."

Sun Wanyu agreed readily.

Gu Qian, the dean of Qingshan Academy standing nearby, looked at Sun Wanyu with some surprise: "You're really going to bet with him?"

To any observer, this bet seemed to have no suspense; Jiang Haojie's defeat was almost certain.

Sun Wanyu just shrugged nonchalantly: "Since Dean Shen is in the mood, I'll accompany him."

"Even if I lose, I don't lose much; if I win, I get another A-rank weapon. Why not?"

Hearing this, the surrounding deans all shook their heads dismissively.

Win? How could Jiang Haojie possibly win?

With his ability as an Ancient Martial Artist, which was called "useless"—

—reaching this step was already his limit, and there was no way he could break into the finals.

If Jiang Haojie really managed to advance, it would be like delivering a resounding slap to all their faces in front of everyone.

"Then let's wait and see."

Shen Tianming smiled calmly.

Although Dan Bei's character wasn't great, his strength was truly outstanding. Moreover, he possessed an SSS-rank talent and was a seedling that Yongye Academy planned to focus on cultivating in the future.

On the stage.

Jiang Haojie moved rapidly, trying to avoid the sharp ice cones, but the speed of the cones was startlingly fast, making it somewhat difficult for him to keep up.

Seeing that he couldn't dodge in time, Jiang Haojie's mind shifted slightly, and he quietly triggered his "Critical Hit"

talent.

This talent wasn't a martial art; even if he used it, outsiders would find it difficult to notice.

Moreover, the outside world only knew he possessed an SSS-rank talent, but no one knew its true nature.

Who would associate "Critical Hit"

with that mysterious identity?

"Bang!"

The moment the Critical Hit took effect, Jiang Haojie's speed suddenly exploded, pulling out blurred afterimages on the stage.

"What's going on? How did Jiang Haojie's speed suddenly become so terrifying?"

"This speed... I'm afraid even a Fourth-Order Awakened might not be able to reach it, right?"

"What just happened? How could his speed increase so much?"

Bursts of suspicious discussion rang out from the audience.

The live stream's bullet chat was similarly filled with shock, as countless question marks instantly drifted across the screen.

Not to mention the audience, even Dan Bei himself was so startled by this sudden change that his pupils constricted.

Seeing his attacks all miss, Dan Bei suddenly took a step forward.

In an instant, the temperature on the stage plummeted. The drizzle in the air seemed to freeze, and a layer of thin ice rapidly spread out with him as the center.

The rain condensed into dense ice spikes mid-fall, pouring down toward Jiang Haojie with a chilling aura.

The corner of Dan Bei's mouth curled up silently—no matter how fast one was, how could they be faster than ice cones falling from the sky?

But before that bit of pride could fully form, a low whisper suddenly sounded in his ear:

"Are you very proud of yourself?"

Dan Bei's spine stiffened.

When?

Before he could even turn around, a dark shadow had already loomed in front of him.

A dull thud exploded in the air.

Dan Bei didn't even see whether it was a punch or a palm before a tearing pain came from his left eye.

He let out a short cry, and his other eye was immediately followed by a heavy blow.

His vision blurred instantly. The intense pain made him stagger back, and the energy gathered around him dissipated. The ice cones shattered into crystalline powder in mid-air.

The audience fell silent for a moment, followed by a surge of suppressed clamor.

A Third-Order Awakened with an SSS-rank talent was actually being completely suppressed in front of everyone.

Was Dan Bei too weak, or was the young man named Jiang Haojie too abnormal? When did Ancient Martial Artists... ever possess such strength?

In the spectator stands, Zou Wenlin stared at the live broadcast screen, his fingers unconsciously tightening.

This was irrational.

The deans of the various schools also cast their gazes from the windows; some were shocked, while others were silent.

Sun Wanyu turned to the pale-faced Shen Tianming beside him, his smile carrying undisguised satisfaction: "I have to thank your academy for making this possible this time."

Shen Tianming didn't respond, but a layer of frost had formed in the depths of his eyes.

Yongye Academy's reputation had truly been lost here today.

He stared at the figure on the stage, silently gritting his teeth.

On the stage, Jiang Haojie was not in a hurry to end the match.

Punches fell like raindrops on Dan Bei's face, each dull thud accompanied by a painful gasp.

Dan Bei initially tried to struggle, but soon even the strength to block vanished, leaving only intermittent wails echoing on the stage.

Jiang Haojie fought with focus, even feeling a bit of regret—he had thought that such humiliation would provoke the other party into a desperate counterattack, which would give him the chance to strike a heavy blow.

An SSS-rank talent crystal was, after all, an enticing trophy. Even if he didn't use it himself, it would be good to keep.

Unfortunately, Dan Bei hoarsely cried out his surrender after another round of beating.

Jiang Haojie pulled back his fist and looked at the other's limp body, giving a soft "tsk."

He wasn't satisfied yet.

The referee's voice fell; the winner had been decided.

Jiang Haojie was about to leave the stage when a figure suddenly stood up in the audience.

"Wait."

Xu Qing's voice was clear and sharp, piercing through the noise that had yet to subside.

Facing the judges' panel, she said loudly: "I question whether Jiang Haojie used prohibited drugs in the match. I suggest disqualifying him."

Before her voice had even faded, Bai Yang also stood up to support her: "This battle is unfair. If he relied on the power of drugs, it is an unearned victory."

Immediately after, Ma Bin and Chen Wenjun also spoke out one after another, their voices joining together.

The arena first went silent, then whispers spread like a tide.

"No wonder... there's already one as amazing as 'X' among the Ancient Martial Artists; how could another Jiang Haojie just appear out of thin air?"

"Although the competition rules are broad, banning drugs is an ironclad rule! Please, judges, investigate thoroughly!"

"The results should be voided!"

The discussion grew louder and louder, gradually converging into a unified questioning.

On the judges' panel, Ma Chenyu and several colleagues exchanged opinions in low voices.

Jiang Haojie looked up toward the high seats.

Xu Qing was tilting her chin up, her mouth holding an undisguised look of satisfaction, as if victory was already in her grasp.

That gaze didn't make her back down; instead, it made her expression even more arrogant.

—Jiang Haojie, did you really think your shady methods could be hidden from everyone?

A cold laugh flashed through Jiang Haojie's heart.

To pull him down, some people really would make up any reason.

Su Qingxue frowned and glanced at Xu Qing, her eyes full of loathing.

Outside the live broadcast, viewers were divided: some called for a thorough investigation, while others were certain that Jiang Haojie must have taken drugs; otherwise, it was impossible for an Ancient Martial Artist to be this strong—it was illogical.

Amidst the chaotic speculation, most were still convinced he had used drugs.

After all, for an Ancient Martial Artist who was once considered mediocre to suddenly show such strength, there seemed to be no more reasonable explanation other than cheating.

Deeper down, there might have been another unspoken thought: among Ancient Martial Artists, having one mysterious "X"

was enough; why should there be another Jiang Haojie?

In just an instant, Jiang Haojie had been pushed to the center of the vortex.

Ma Chenyu's gaze fell back on the young man on the stage. "Jiang Haojie,"

he asked in a deep voice, "do you have anything to say?"

Although the judges had doubts, they valued evidence more.

Before starting an investigation, they wanted to hear the response of the person involved.

Jiang Haojie's expression didn't change, and he only gave a faint smile: "I am willing to accept any testing."

Whether he had taken drugs, no one knew better than him.

He was actually looking forward to it—once the investigation results proved his innocence, how would those who questioned him so loudly deal with themselves?

Actually, as long as he revealed his identity as "X"

the current predicament would be easily solved.

But he didn't plan to do that.

He wanted to use the judges' hands to let the facts speak for themselves.

Ma Chenyu pondered for a moment before finally announcing: "Take Jiang Haojie to the infirmary for testing.

The rest of the matches will proceed as usual."

Two staff members who looked like teachers quickly stepped forward and led Jiang Haojie away from the scene.

He was taken to the infirmary, completed a urine test according to the procedure, and then underwent a full-body scan with precision instruments.

After nearly five hours of detailed verification, the final report confirmed that no prohibited substances were detected in Jiang Haojie's body.

When Jiang Haojie returned to the gymnasium with the teacher, the tournament had been paused.

The report was handed to Ma Chenyu.

Ma Chenyu scanned the pages and, taking advantage of the break after a match had just ended, signaled for the whole venue to be quiet.

Everyone's eyes focused on Ma Chenyu; they understood the meaning of this signal.

The question of whether Jiang Haojie had cheated was about to be revealed.

"The test results confirm that contestant Jiang Haojie did not take any prohibited drugs, and his competition results are real and valid."

Ma Chenyu announced, while simultaneously signaling the staff to project the electronic version of the test report onto the large screen above the judges' panel.

Those voices that had previously criticized Jiang Haojie instantly vanished.

Xu Qing's face turned pale; she had thought victory was in her grasp, but she hadn't expected this result.

Jiang Haojie took the microphone from the referee.

"Xu Qing, Bai Yang, I can understand that you're unwilling to accept losing to me."

His voice spread clearly through the venue via the loudspeakers, "But please watch your words and actions. My patience is not without limits."

---

Jiang Haojie's words stung Xu Qing like fine needles, making her jaw tighten, but she was powerless.

The evidence was conclusive; Jiang Haojie's innocence was irrefutable. Continuing to make a scene now would only lead to self-humiliation.

Jiang Haojie gave a cold laugh, handed the microphone back to the referee, and turned to walk toward his seat.

As he passed by Su Qingxue, she secretly gave him a thumbs-up, her eyes full of smiles.

The matches continued.

Jiang Haojie had missed several duels because he was undergoing testing, but he didn't care.

The real contest would be tomorrow.

The tournament continued until seven o'clock in the evening before finally ending.

After the crowd dispersed, Jiang Haojie and Su Qingxue had dinner together and returned to their residence.

Unexpectedly, Xu Qing was waiting outside the door.

"Jiang Haojie, I don't know what methods you used to pass the test."

Her voice was cold and her gaze sharp, "But tomorrow is the final, and you're destined to lose."

After saying that, without waiting for a response, she turned and went into her own room, leaving Jiang Haojie and Su Qingxue looking at each other.

"Is there something wrong with her head?"

Su Qingxue came to her senses and pointed to her temple.

Jiang Haojie shrugged helplessly: "Who knows."

Opening the door and entering the room, Su Qingxue was still puzzled. She looked at Jiang Haojie: "Seriously, what did you even see in Xu Qing back then? I've been curious for a long time."

"I guess my head wasn't very clear at the time."

Jiang Haojie laughed at himself.

"I think so too."