Chapter 69: Group Assignment
This year’s Martial Arts Competition allowed each school to send up to ten participants. When Zhang Yu arrived at the venue, he noticed there were only about forty competitors in total—thirty of them from the three top-tier high schools. The remaining dozen or so were from ordinary and key high schools across the region.
These students likely hadn’t fully grasped the true nature of the Martial Arts Competition. They probably lacked access to reliable information, and were probably here simply to see the spectacle, hoping for a stroke of luck.
But as the elite fighters from the three elite schools took turns stepping onto the arena and demonstrated their prowess, the confidence of the other schools’ students began to crumble. One by one, they quietly withdrew from the competition.
Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen, however, remained undeterred.
Recalling the rules, Zhang Yu knew the competitors would be ranked by their scores into different tiers. Then, after a random draw, those in the same tier would be grouped into eight separate brackets for the Group Elimination Matches.
This system was designed to ensure that each group contained a balanced mix of high, medium, and low-ranked fighters—preventing multiple top-tier competitors from being eliminated too early in the same bracket.
Zhang Yu thought to himself: To avoid being grouped with the strongest students, I need to score as high as possible. That way, I won’t face formidable opponents in the group stage—and I’ll guarantee myself a spot in the top eight.
As he watched the Huangjin Warrior on stage, Zhang Yu began formulating his strategy.
Moments later, it was finally his turn to step onto the arena.
---
Audience Stand
Zhao Tianxing, Qian Shen, and He Dayou sat together.
While He Dayou wore an expression of disdain, Qian Shen watched the arena intently. Zhao Tianxing, however, couldn’t shake the feeling that the students from the three elite schools kept glancing his way. He felt awkward—like a local from Songyang High School didn’t belong here among the giants.
He also felt self-conscious about his Songyang High School uniform. In the grand hall of Bailong High School, it looked so out of place, so rare. He couldn’t help but imagine people staring at his clothes with subtle judgment.
But in truth, he was overthinking it. Most students from the top schools didn’t even know what Songyang High School was.
Songyang? they’d think. They’re just a bunch of kids. Do they even know about cultivation? Why are we here? This is a martial arts competition, not a field trip.
Just then, a student in a Bailong High School uniform approached them—Chu Qiuhé, from Bailong.
He looked at He Dayou and smirked. “Big You, you actually came to watch my match?”
He Dayou sighed inwardly. Even with my sunglasses and mask, this guy still sees me.
“Yeah,” He Dayou replied, nodding. “I wanted to see how strong the three top schools really are this year.”
Chu Qiuhé chuckled. “I saw your Songyang High School sent someone too. What’s the plan? Thinking of bankrupting yourselves?”
He knew Songyang and the top three schools were far apart in strength. But as the son of a school board director, hearing such a remark stung.
How dare you insult Songyang in front of me? You’re already asking for trouble.
Still, he couldn’t deny the gap. Even though he and Chu Qiuhé had been classmates in middle school, their friendship had changed ever since he enrolled at Songyang and Chu Qiuhé at Bailong.
Now, in Chu Qiuhé’s presence, He Dayou always felt inferior.
And now, Chu Qiuhé barely glanced at Qian Shen or Zhao Tianxing—just looked at He Dayou like he was some forgotten classmate.
Songyang High School? He didn’t even register.
He Dayou replied coolly, “Who knows? The guy did fourth in the last Mana Competition. Maybe he’s just trying his luck again.”
Hearing fourth place in the Mana Competition made Chu Qiuhé pause. He blinked, then forced a smile. “But martial combat isn’t the same as Mana Competition. This is raw, all-around strength. The gap between Bailong, Ziyun, Hongta, and the others is going to be massive.”
He turned toward the arena. “Your school’s up now. Let me see how good he really is.”
---
At that moment, Zhang Yu stepped onto the arena.
The crowd expected a tough battle—another underdog from a lesser school facing a top-tier warrior.
But then came the clash.
One moment, Zhang Yu stood firm. The next, he lunged forward with a simple straight punch—then crack!—Huangjin Warrior was sent flying over the boundary line.
Zhang Yu: 300 points.
The entire arena erupted in shock.
No one expected a student from Songyang High School to pull off such a feat.
Chu Qiuhé froze, mouth half-open. “Three hundred points? You’re telling me Songyang actually produced someone like this?”
His tone was like someone who’d just found a flower growing from a pile of dung.
Though he disliked Zhang Yu, He Dayou couldn’t help but feel a flicker of satisfaction as he watched Chu Qiuhé’s stunned expression. He gave a small, controlled nod. “Our batch is stronger than you think.”
Qian Shen added, “Zhang Yu scored 653 in the last exam. He’s no ordinary student.”
Zhao Tianxing, watching the stunned crowd, straightened his spine. For the first time, his Songyang uniform didn’t feel like a symbol of shame.
---
Later, when Chu Qiuhé returned to the Song Hailong group, he found the coaching staff analyzing a slow-motion replay with several students.
The coach explained, “Zhang Yu started at the edge of the arena—deliberately positioning himself to force Huangjin Warrior to advance.”
“Then he used a basic straight punch. But here’s the key—”
On screen, Zhang Yu anticipated Huangjin Warrior’s move before it even happened.
“Right at that moment, he read the opponent’s intent, interrupted the attack, then used Wuji Yunshou to redirect Huangjin Warrior’s momentum—pulling him off balance.”
“Because of his positioning, that final push sent Huangjin Warrior straight over the boundary.”
“Every move was calculated. Perfect timing. No wasted motion.”
The coach finished: “He’s not just strong. He’s smart.”
Song Hailong, the team’s golden boy and top-ranked student, listened with a bored expression. After a moment, he turned away, voice flat. “I thought he’d be another dark horse like last time—someone with real potential.”
“Turns out he just relies on tricks. Boring.”
The coach didn’t argue. After all, Song Hailong was the school’s number one—both academically and financially. As long as he didn’t insult the teachers, he could say whatever he wanted.
And the coach knew his star pupil didn’t need to worry about someone like Zhang Yu.
Still, the coach turned to the others. “Don’t underestimate him. Even if he used tactics, the fact that he can read an opponent’s move that fast means either his reaction time and focus are exceptional—”
“Or he studied Huangjin Warrior’s patterns beforehand.”
“He might not have higher stats than you, but he’s the kind who can beat you through cunning. If any of you lose to a non-top-school competitor today, you’ll pay a fine of ten thousand and attend class on your knees for the rest of the month.”
The students snapped to attention. “Yes, sir!”
Listening to the analysis, Chu Qiuhé finally understood.
At first, he’d thought Zhang Yu was another elite-level warrior—like Song Hailong.
But now he realized… he could do the same thing. With preparation, he could pull off that kind of performance too.
---
On the other side, in the Ziyun High School preparation area, Lian Tianji laughed. “Zhang Yu’s really good.”
Le Mulan glanced at the screen, then said coolly, “Can’t even afford the basic Combat Spirit Root. Poor people really are pitiful.”
“And yet, even after being broke, they still risk everything to compete. I just don’t get it.”
She turned to Lian Tianji. “You’re even poorer than me. Can you really understand them?”
Lian Tianji laughed nervously, at a loss for words. Just be calm, he told himself. She’s just blunt, not trying to insult me. Don’t take it personally.
---
Not long after Zhang Yu left the arena, it was Bai Zhenzhen’s turn.
On the audience stand, Qian Shen and Zhao Tianxing had been excited—until they saw what happened next.
Bai Zhenzhen struggled on stage, desperately dodging Huangjin Warrior’s attacks, barely managing to touch his sensing chip in fleeting openings.
“Bai Zhenzhen’s fighting so hard?” He Dayou watched, his face darkening.
He remembered how she’d once beaten him with ease. Now, she was barely holding her own—frantically weaving, exhausted, out of her depth.
And strangely… he felt no joy.
Instead, a bitter taste filled his mouth.
It wasn’t about Bai Zhenzhen.
It was about himself—about being the one she’d once humiliated.
Qian Shen frowned. “Her fighting style doesn’t suit Huangjin Warrior at all.”
Zhao Tianxing worried. “If she keeps this up, she’ll get a high score. That means she’ll be grouped with strong opponents. She might get eliminated in the group stage.”
---
As Bai Zhenzhen struggled, the audience lost interest.
Song Hailong had already closed his eyes, bored out of his mind.
Lian Tianji, watching, murmured, “The girl who came with Zhang Yu… wasn’t she with him in the last Mana Competition too?”
“She’s clearly weak. Why does she keep coming? Is she… Zhang Yu’s servant? Has Songyang really started playing that game?”
Lei Jun, however, watched silently, then said thoughtfully, “She’s realizing her style doesn’t work against Huangjin Warrior. So she’s holding back.”
As her private tutor for two weeks, he knew Bai Zhenzhen was far stronger than what she showed on stage.
Zhang Yu, arms crossed, watched the arena.
Huangjin Warrior was only using 1.98 Physical Strength Level—but his body remained unbreakable, impervious to damage.
Bai Zhenzhen’s strength lay in exploiting openings—her style worked best against vulnerable, predictable opponents.
But against someone who couldn’t be broken, who had to be overpowered, her method failed.
Zhang Yu realized: My goal is to avoid top-tier opponents in the group stage. I need to guarantee at least top eight.
And Zhenzhen… she knows she can’t get a high score. So she’s hiding her strength—saving her true power for when she faces a strong opponent in the group stage. A surprise attack.
In the end, Bai Zhenzhen scored 89.
(End of Chapter)
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