Xu Ke's words were dripping with ridicule. To have his own words thrown back at him made his earlier loftiness seem like a joke. Some people couldn't help but laugh as they watched Xu Ke imitate Qian Jun.

Xu Ke's tone was worlds apart from Qian Jun's. Just moments ago, Qian Jun had sounded so domineering, yet here was Xu Ke, speaking with such childish frivolity. In this context, however, no one dared to underestimate Xu Ke. What good was Qian Jun's domineering air now? He was the one being mocked. His commanding presence had merely served as a foil, making him look like a complete clown.

Hearing Xu Ke's banter, Qian Jun clenched his fists tightly. His murderous aura reached a boiling point just as Chen Xiong interjected. I have to kill Xu Ke! I have to rip that mouth of his apart!

But Jin Hankang shot him a sharp glare. Make a move in this situation? Is he trying to get himself killed?

Seeing their silent exchange, Xu Ke raised an eyebrow. Only then did Qian Jun take a deep breath, realizing he needed to calm down. If he acted impulsively, Xu Ke would be the only one to benefit. Besides, if he messed this up, Wong Ting wouldn't let him off the hook.

…

After a long silence, just when everyone expected Qian Jun to attack, he broke the stillness of the hall. "Alright," he said, his face devoid of expression. "Let's begin."

After speaking, Qian Jun sat down, his expression grim. Beside him, Zhao Xiangping and Su Ximing scrambled to make room, their faces etched with fear, terrified of setting him off. They had never seen their boss, a man of consecutive victories abroad, suffer such a humiliating defeat.

Witnessing Qian Jun actually relent and drop the issue, the crowd couldn't help but gasp. They had assumed that with Wong Ting's overwhelming power, Qian Jun would surely make a move. But he had backed down, swallowing his pride and suffering a silent loss. On the stage, Jin Hankang, who had been poised to fiercely criticize Xu Ke, was now completely silent.

The various leaders of the Tianhai Martial Alliance were stunned. They had anticipated a satisfying scene where Xu Ke would be suppressed, forced to bow his head and admit his wrongdoing. Now, it was clear that from the moment Xu Ke appeared, the event was destined to be a one-sided slaughter that left Qian Jun and Jin Hankang sick with rage.

…

With Qian Jun now silent, Xu Ke walked over to the contestants' area to take a seat. The moment the other contestants saw him approach, they scrambled away as if he were the plague god incarnate. A few of them stared daggers at him, their eyes filled with a hatred so intense it seemed they hoped to kill him with their glares alone.

Xu Ke was indifferent, though he felt a pang of regret. He hadn't said all that just to win a battle of words. His real goal was to provoke Qian Jun into losing his mind and lashing out recklessly. If that had happened, he could have sent him packing back overseas ahead of schedule. Unfortunately, Chen Xiong's interruption gave Qian Jun a chance to regain his senses.

…

"Alright, let's move on to the draw," Chen Xiong announced once everyone had settled down. He gestured to a member of the alliance dressed in black below the stage. "Wu Gang, go get the lottery box."

Wu Gang nodded and turned to leave, but just as he was about to move, Jin Hankang suddenly spoke up. "There's no need for all that trouble."

"Why not?" Chen Xiong froze, his expression shifting as a premonition of dread washed over him. Jin Hankang stopping him from getting the lottery box could only mean one thing.

"Even an old fossil like me knows to keep up with the times," Jin Hankang said with a sneer. "Tianhai is such an advanced city, yet you still use a physical lottery box to decide the order? How archaic. Over in Long Capital, they use a computer program for the drawing. I've brought it with me to help your Tianhai Martial Alliance broaden its horizons."

He added, "You don't need to thank me!"

As he spoke, grouping information and a lottery program suddenly appeared on the large screen in the Martial Alliance hall. Seeing this, Chen Xiong was furious. Jin Hankang had gone too far. Who couldn't see that this was a blatant attempt to cheat using the program? To cheat so openly was to show complete and utter contempt for the Tianhai Martial Alliance.

Seeing this, however, Xu Ke simply smiled. Looks like Huang Sheng wasn't lying to me after all!

"Just use this to draw!" With a grand wave of his hand, Jin Hankang ordered his people to start the lottery.

But Yuan Shang shouted, "Wait!"

"On what grounds do you say 'wait'?" Jin Hankang glared at him coldly. "What gives you the right to give orders here?"

"This program has not been verified by our Tianhai Martial Alliance's technical department, nor has it been approved by Judge Shi, Judge Mo, or anyone else present. It cannot be used without authorization," Yuan Shang said, unbowed.

Behind him, Shi Junneng and Mo Yunchang exchanged a look and shook their heads. They didn't want to get involved in this mess, but Yuan Shang had just dragged them into it.

Jin Hankang turned to Chen Xiong and spat, "Is this the Vice Alliance Hierarch you chose? He has no respect for his elders! Doesn't he know how to use honorifics when speaking to me?"

"Elder Jin, there's no need to fixate on such trivial matters," Chen Xiong said, his face dark. "This program absolutely violates the rules!"

Jin Hankang snorted with thick disdain. "You're accusing me of violating the rules? Then tell me, how can we use it in compliance? The Long Capital Grand Alliance already uses this. Does Tianhai dare to disagree? It seems you don't even hold the Long Capital Grand Alliance in high regard!"

His words were sharp, his threat clear. But this wasn't the first time Yuan Shang had dealt with someone like him. He sneered, "Elder Jin, whether or not we hold the Long Capital Grand Alliance in high regard is not for you to decide. The issue at hand is whether this lottery program can be used. Fairness, integrity, and transparency are the foremost requirements for the draw! This program's questionable origin already violates that core requirement!"

Just then, Peng Hetong suddenly shouted, "Who says?! Last night, Elder Jin gave me the program, and I had our technical department verify it. There are no issues. Here is their report!"

With that, Peng Hetong produced a document.

Seeing this, Yuan Shang and Chen Xiong stared in disbelief and fury. That traitor…

Peng Hetong ignored their enraged gazes and walked straight over to hand the report to Jin Hankang. Siding with Jin Hankang is the same as siding with Wong Ting. If I do this, not only me, but even Peng Jiashu might be able to return to the Martial Alliance. I'd have to be an idiot not to seize this chance to stand with Jin Hankang!

"See? It was issued by your own technical department. What more is there to say?" Jin Hankang took the report, looking at them triumphantly. Then, he threw the report on the ground.

SLAP!

The vast hall fell silent, the only sound being the report hitting the floor. That sound was filled with Jin Hankang's provocation. You want to see the report? Go pick it up yourselves!

At that moment, Qian Jun and the other contestants all looked at Xu Ke with disdain. Su Ximing and Zhao Xiangping were especially smug, their noses held high in the air.

So the Tianhai Martial Alliance thinks it's so great, huh? Well, we'll come right here to your headquarters and humiliate you. Still think you can oppose Brother Ting? Wishful thinking!

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