https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-71-Don-t-Miss-the-Launch-Event-Benefits/13686487/
Chapter 72: Suppression
Having defeated her opponent, Bai Zhenzhen glanced around the arena’s perimeter, expecting her victory over Hongta High School’s top student to have stunned the crowd.
But when she looked up, she realized with a jolt that no one was paying attention to her corner.
The vast majority of spectators were fixated on Song Hailong, Le Mulan, and the 300-point Zhang Yu.
“Damn it!” Bai Zhenzhen seethed inwardly. “You fools, blinded by scores—can’t you open your eyes to the real championship contender?”
Still, she remained confident. She knew that as time passed, her performance would inevitably draw more attention.
Meanwhile, the other two students in her group had watched the entire fight between Bai Zhenzhen and Hu Yuntao with full focus.
Originally, their goal had been to study Hu Yuntao—after all, Bai Zhenzhen’s performance in the Evaluation Match had been lackluster, and Hu Yuntao was the one they considered the real threat.
But then, inexplicably, Hu Yuntao had wandered to the edge of the arena—and in one careless moment, was suddenly shoved out of bounds.
From the two students’ perspective, there had been no sudden disappearance of Bai Zhenzhen. No trickery. Just a clumsy mistake by Hu Yuntao.
Then it struck them: Zhang Yu, the one who’d scored 300 points earlier, had used a nearly identical tactic to eject the Huangjin Warrior from the battlefield.
Their eyes widened.
Could this be Songyang High School’s new strategy?
Using underhanded tactics to push opponents out—achieving victory through deception, not strength?
The low-scoring students from other schools really are that weak.
They both felt a sense of grim satisfaction, as if the long-held truism among the top three schools had just been reaffirmed: low-scoring students simply lacked quality.
Yet despite their smugness, they both tightened their guard, silently warning themselves: If I ever face Bai Zhenzhen, I mustn’t let my guard down—no one wants to lose in a ditch.
At that moment, Bai Zhenzhen noticed Zhao Tianxing waving at her from the audience stand, giving her a thumbs-up.
“Hmph, Old Zhao,” she muttered, waving back. Still, these low-scoring kids really know how to deliver emotional payoff.
---
Audience Stand.
Zhao Tianxing grinned, thumb raised. “Ah, Zhenzhen saw us!”
“I didn’t expect her to win so easily against Hu Yuntao from Hongta High.”
“For a second there, I was genuinely worried he’d devour her.”
Beside him, He Dayou remained cold. “Just luck. That tiger demon was a high-score, low-capability type—anyone could’ve taken him down.”
He’d seen Bai Zhenzhen struggle against the Huangjin Warrior earlier, but now, watching her triumphant smirk after defeating Hu Yuntao, it only made him feel worse.
Qian Shen frowned. “It’s… not that simple.”
Why did that tiger suddenly move to the edge?
Just then, Zhao Tianxing pointed toward the arena. “Zhang Yu’s up next.”
Zhao Tianxing exhaled. “Good thing Yu and Zhenzhen are in opposite halves of the bracket—no early inner conflict.”
He Dayou murmured, “Maybe Zhang Pianpian tampered with the draw.”
He thought: As the son of Songyang High’s board chairman, I can subtly influence the lottery in real exams. And Zhang Pianpian—her wealth exceeds 2.5 billion—surely could pull strings for her subordinates.
Suddenly, Qian Shen gasped. “Dayou, look—Zhang Yu’s opponent is your old middle school classmate, isn’t he?”
He Dayou stiffened. He immediately turned toward the arena.
When he saw Zhang Yu and Chu Qiuhé step onto the battlefield together, his brow knitted instantly.
Zhang Yu… the poor kid who’d once humiliated him—He Dayou definitely didn’t want him to win.
But Chu Qiuhé… that arrogant classmate who’d always looked down on him? He didn’t care much about his performance—unless Chu Qiuhé beat a Songyang High student. Then, the thought grated on him.
Damn it… both hands are in the same bowl. Why can’t they both get eliminated at once?
---
Arena.
Chu Qiuhé stepped first into the center of the arena, making sure not to get too close to the edge—just in case his opponent tried to drag him out.
As he walked, he felt his blood surge through his veins. His heart pounded. His temples throbbed, the tiny acupuncture points swelling beneath his skin.
He was on drugs.
A voice echoed in his mind—his competition coach’s words:
“This is the latest Combat Supplement. It amplifies your muscle strength and stamina, temporarily boosting your Physical Strength Level to 2.2.”
Chu Qiuhé hesitated. “Is this really necessary?”
The coach replied, “Zhang Yu may have lower stats, but he’s skilled in martial arts, and he studies tactics. And don’t forget—do you really think students from other schools would play fair to beat us?”
Now, feeling the drug’s power course through his body, inflaming every muscle and blood vessel, Chu Qiuhé felt stronger than ever.
This new drug really does pack a punch!
No matter your technique, your strategy—today, I’ll crush you with raw power.
3… 2… 1… Begin!
With a roar, Chu Qiuhé charged like a wild beast, leaving only a blurred afterimage behind.
Boom!
His fist struck forward, radiating a violent aura—like a freight train barreling toward Zhang Yu.
Expert-Level Martial Art: Truck Charge Fist — Level 2 Push!
Ancient martial masters once studied birds in flight, rivers in motion, and the sun’s path to create techniques. Today’s masters observe highways, skyscrapers, and the chaos of traffic to forge new arts.
Truck Charge Fist was said to have been created by a martial sage who spent three months watching trucks rush past on a highway, absorbing the essence of a 100-ton semi’s unstoppable charge. He infused the raw momentum of a freight train into his fists.
As a power-focused body cultivator, Chu Qiuhé had chosen this technique to maximize his strength.
Now, unleashing Level 2 Truck Charge Fist at full power, he truly became a 100-ton truck—shaking the arena with every step, charging headlong at Zhang Yu.
Zhang Yu has only one choice, Chu Qiuhé thought. He’ll have to dodge.
But Truck Charge Fist had a counter to evasion.
Once he dodges, I’ll switch to ‘Truck Sharp Turn’—adding the rotational force of a high-speed pivot to the punch’s momentum, increasing its power by 5 points.
One punch—then he’s out!
But then—his eyes widened.
Zhang Yu didn’t dodge.
Instead, he raised one hand, and a surge of white spiritual energy erupted from his palm, meeting Chu Qiuhé’s fist head-on.
Boom!
The impact sent shockwaves through the air.
Zhang Yu felt Chu Qiuhé’s force like a stampede of wild boars—rushing through the spiritual barrier, tearing at the energy, trying to shatter it, trying to hurl him off his feet.
Tianwu Heart Scripture — Level 10 Effect: Full Concentration State!
Suddenly, the world slowed.
Every motion became deliberate, every detail sharp.
Zhang Yu watched Chu Qiuhé’s fist sink inch by inch into the spiritual barrier. He analyzed the trajectory of the force—then twisted the energy, redirecting it.
Crack!
Chu Qiuhé’s punch, instead of hitting its mark, slid off like it struck a greased ball.
His fist veered wildly to the side—missing Zhang Yu entirely.
But then, with a roar, Chu Qiuhé stopped the momentum with sheer strength—his second fist lashing out.
Boom!
Again, the punch was deflected—this time, forcing Chu Qiuhé’s guard open.
In that instant, Zhang Yu slipped inside his reach.
Crack! Crack! Crack!
Three rapid strikes landed—chest, ribs, abdomen.
Roar!
The Combat Supplement dulled the pain. Instead, blood surged through Chu Qiuhé’s veins. His arms clenched, ready to crush Zhang Yu in a bear hug.
With my strength, I can snap him in half—just grab him and crush him!
But Zhang Yu seemed to anticipate the move—dodging at the very last moment, just out of reach.
Chu Qiuhé swung again—only to have the force deflected once more.
Then another two punches struck his chest.
Damn it… just one hit!
If my Truck Charge Fist can break through that spiritual barrier—just one solid strike to his body—and I’ll finish him!
He knew he only needed one clean hit.
Yet despite his relentless storm of attacks, he felt… suppressed.
Zhang Yu danced through his onslaught like a feathered ball—evading every grab, redirecting every punch with that white spiritual energy.
He’s been hitting me the whole time…
No… it’s me… I’m being dominated?
He’s using pure skill to overpower me—me, who’s stronger, faster, and more powerful?
Chu Qiuhé stared in disbelief.
Then—CRACK!—his abdomen took another devastating hit from the spiritual barrier.
He felt no pain—but his stamina flickered. For a split second, his body froze.
No… my internal organs… bleeding?
That one moment of hesitation was all Zhang Yu needed.
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
Zhang Yu struck—upper abdomen, chest, shoulder, waist.
Each blow struck precisely where Chu Qiuhé tried to activate his strength—shattering his momentum, breaking his rhythm.
He felt like a giant sandbag—being tossed, pounded, and finally collapsing to the ground.
“I… I lost?”
Lost… to a student from outside the top three schools?
In that moment, Chu Qiuhé felt nothing but shame. He could already picture the mockery from his classmates at Bailong High, the loss of status, the humiliation—his dreams of respect and power crumbling into dust.
He almost wished he could leap from the 30th floor of Bailong High’s building right then and there…
Then—his mind snapped back to reality.
The image of that dark future frightened him into unconsciousness.
Zhang Yu wins this round!
(End of Chapter)
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