After Cui Tianfeng left, Zhong Lun from Yanjing Martial Arts Academy naturally took control of the conversation.
He was aware of Zheng Sikai's family background. So, upon seeing Zheng Yu also present, Zhong Lun said to Zheng Sikai, "Young Master Zheng, last time you could argue it was a fourth-year student who fought. This time, you can't possibly lose again, can you?"
"Brother Zhong, are you suggesting I go on stage?" Zheng Sikai felt a little diffident.
In fact, even a level 8 Martial Artist who had broken through using medicine possessed more than enough strength to face second or third-year students from the Military Martial Arts Academy. The incident with Zhou Yi last time was purely an accident.
However, Zheng Sikai hadn't stepped onto the stage for another match in two days.
"Your father is over there. Even if you entered Yanjing Martial Arts Academy through connections, you should still try to earn some respect by defeating the students from Chu State Military Martial Arts Academy," Zhong Lun remarked lightly. "Seize this opportunity."
Hearing this, Zheng Sikai's eyes brightened slightly.
After being defeated the day before yesterday, when he returned home, his father wouldn't even look him in the eye.
That was a punishment even more severe than a scolding. Zheng Sikai would rather be berated by his father than be ignored.
After all, the former meant there was still hope, while the latter implied complete abandonment.
"Thank you, Brother Zhong. I will not bring shame to Yanjing Martial Arts Academy today," Zheng Sikai replied solemnly, then immediately stepped onto the arena without hesitation.
As for avenging himself on Wang Zhan, he had pushed that thought to the back of his mind ever since he was kicked out of the arena the day before yesterday.
But strangely, while there had been continuous challenges over the past two days, when Zheng Sikai stepped onto the arena today, no one came forward, even though the surrounding stands were filled with Military Martial Arts Academy students. The scene became somewhat awkward for a moment.
Zheng Sikai glanced at Zheng Yu beside him, growing anxious internally. He couldn't help but shout, "What, is the Chu State Military Martial Arts Academy only left with a bunch of cowards? Doesn't anyone dare to step onto the arena?" Still, no one responded.
Since it was a general taunt, the numerous Military Martial Arts Academy students collectively shared the insult, and no one felt particularly angry.
They were all waiting for President Wang to come out and show off.
Zheng Sikai shouted a couple more times, but the nearly one thousand Military Martial Arts Academy students present remained silent, each feigning indifference.
Seeing this, Zhong Lun frowned slightly and said directly, "So the Military Martial Arts Academy is just a bunch of losers! Never mind whether you can fight or not, have you lost even the courage to issue a challenge? How pathetic!"
Just then, a voice suddenly spoke up from not far behind Zhong Lun.
"What's the rush? Every single one of you, don't even think about running away today," Wang Zhan said, leisurely entering the Training Ground from the entrance, casually retorting.
Zhong Lun's expression faltered. He had said similar things many times in the past few days, but he had never encountered a Military Martial Arts Academy student with such audacity.
He turned around and saw a student who looked to be about eighteen or nineteen, two years younger than himself.
"Kid, aren't you a bit too arrogant?" Zhong Lun said coldly. "Is Yanjing Martial Arts Academy something you can disparage? And 'every single one of you'? Are you even qualified to say that?"
Wang Zhan continued walking towards the arena. As he passed Zhong Lun, he paused briefly.
"You damn fool, just you wait."
Zhong Lun's eyes widened instantly; he could hardly believe his ears.
Wang Zhan's voice wasn't soft. It even seemed he had intentionally used a bit of his Essence Energy, causing his voice to resonate clearly throughout the entire field.
Cheng Shu, who was walking beside Wang Zhan, was almost bursting with laughter. However, because they were so close, he forcefully suppressed it, his face flushing red.
However, the many spectating Military Martial Arts Academy students didn't care about that; they were all roaring with laughter, some even doubling over.
For the past two days, they had been so oppressed by Yanjing Martial Arts Academy they could barely breathe. Who would have dared to curse their opponents so openly and fearlessly like this?
"This Wang Zhan... my god, he's too outrageous."
"Now I believe him! When he said to watch him show off, he really meant it."
"Brother Zhan, forget about studying! Come be our President!"
"Hooray for President Wang!"
Hearing the surrounding students cheer and jeer, Zhong Lun's expression darkened further.
"So you're Wang Zhan... Stop right there!" As soon as the words left his mouth, Zhong Lun realized Wang Zhan had already walked past him and was heading for the arena.
"What's the rush? There are only eight of you in total. It won't take long for it to be your turn. We'll go one by one," Wang Zhan responded casually, then lightly leaped onto the arena.
Only then did Wang Zhan realize his opponent on the arena was Zheng Sikai.
"Why is it you again? Haven't you embarrassed yourself enough already?" Wang Zhan asked casually.
Zheng Sikai's expression turned extremely sour. He had never imagined Wang Zhan would be the one to come out and challenge them.
Even though Wang Zhan was supposedly only a 'level 6' Martial Artist, his actual combat power was at least around level 9. As a Resource Martial Artist, Zheng Sikai knew he was no match for Wang Zhan.
Wang Zhan had no intention of wasting time on Zheng Sikai.
"Are you ready?" Wang Zhan asked.
Zheng Sikai hastily said, "Wang Zhan, let's discuss this..."
Wang Zhan had no patience for Zheng Sikai's nonsense and waved his hand dismissively. "Cut the crap. I'll make my move in ten seconds. Get ready, and don't fall off the arena and then complain you were wronged like you did the day before yesterday!"
"Ten... nine..."
Wang Zhan began the countdown directly.
This was practically rubbing salt in Zheng Sikai's wounds, reopening old scars. It was clear Wang Zhan held him in utter contempt.
Zheng Sikai subconsciously glanced towards Zheng Yu, who wasn't far off. Seeing Zheng Yu's face turn ashen, he dared not hesitate any longer.
"How dare a mere level 6 Martial Artist like you be so arrogant! Take this!" Zheng Sikai roared, seizing the initiative and lunging at Wang Zhan with his full strength.
Wang Zhan stood languidly in place, too lazy to even bother moving, yet he still spoke glibly.
"Everyone saw that, right? He attacked first! I didn't launch a sneak attack!"
Just as his words faded, Zheng Sikai charged right in front of Wang Zhan.
A mischievous grin spread across Wang Zhan's face. He lifted his leg and planted a precise kick squarely on Zheng Sikai's chest.
Zheng Sikai was sent flying backward even faster than he had charged in, landing outside the arena, defeated in a single move yet again.
At this moment, Zheng Sikai collapsed onto the grass outside the arena. The pain in his chest was negligible, but all color had drained from his face.
From the very beginning, the people from Yanjing Martial Arts Academy had been stirring up trouble behind his back upon their arrival at the Military Martial Arts Academy.
The sole reason was that he had been defeated and humiliated by Wang Zhan in the Black Market, causing him to lose face! The Zheng Family could afford to lose anything but face.
That was why he had maneuvered among his classmates at Yanjing Martial Arts Academy, ultimately instigating the whole drama of them coming to challenge the Military Martial Arts Academy.
However, at this very moment, Zheng Sikai knew the outcome of this challenge no longer mattered. He had been so utterly humiliated by Wang Zhan in front of so many people. Regardless of the result, Zheng Yu would abandon him.
The Zheng Family had no need for losers!
"It's over... everything is over..." Zheng Sikai muttered.
He had already seen Zheng Yu's retreating back as he turned and left.
Wang Zhan, however, couldn't be bothered with Zheng Sikai. From start to finish, this kid had never even registered in his eyes.
After defeating Zheng Sikai, Wang Zhan turned his gaze to the few remaining students from Yanjing Martial Arts Academy.
"Well? Send someone up! What are you waiting for?" Wang Zhan extended his hand, crooked his finger, and sneered. "Or are you planning to attack together? I don't care either way. To me, there's no difference between one loser and a group of losers."
He was essentially throwing Zhong Lun's earlier words right back at him.
"Just because you defeated one Zheng Sikai, you think you're all that and a bag of chips?" Zhong Lun frowned deeply, then glanced at another person beside him and ordered, "You go! Slap him hard for me!"
"Don't worry, Brother Zhong. I'm not a loser like Zheng Sikai!"
「While Wang Zhan was sparring with the students from Yanjing Martial Arts Academy...」
Zheng Yu, who had left first, was already outside the Military Martial Arts Academy.
Outside the gates of the Military Martial Arts Academy, Zheng Yu sat in the back seat of a black luxury car, massaging his temples.
"Revoke all of Zheng Sikai's privileges within the Family. He doesn't need to go to Yanjing Martial Arts Academy anymore. Let him stay put in Chu State City and live as the loser he is."
"Patriarch, Young Master is still your son, after all," the driver, who also served as his confidant, advised.
"I have more than just this one son. It annoys me just to look at such a loser!" Zheng Yu took a deep breath, suppressing his anger, and then continued, "It seems the means I prepared earlier will have to be employed."
Hearing this, the driver quickly retrieved a folder and handed it to Zheng Yu.
Zheng Yu took the folder, opened it, glanced through it, and nodded slightly. "At the Zheng Family's current standing, face is more important than anything! If we don't regain the face we've lost this time, the Zheng Family's influence will be severely diminished, especially since the other party is just a wet-behind-the-ears brat!
"I still intend to advance further, so there are some matters on which we cannot yield, even if it means offending the Military Martial Arts Academy!"
「In the Training Ground, on the arena...」
Wang Zhan, bare-handed, moved about the arena, effortlessly dodging the relentless attacks.
His opponent, the student from Yanjing Martial Arts Academy, wielded a big saber, repeatedly hacking at Wang Zhan, yet couldn't land a single blow.
"So, this is the elite of Yanjing Martial Arts Academy? Where's your pride? Is it all just talk?" Wang Zhan said languidly. "A fight at this level is too dull. I'm afraid I might fall asleep mid-battle."
"You're courting death!" The opponent gritted his teeth, but his depleted stamina made it difficult to even swing the big saber, let alone pose any threat to Wang Zhan.
The fight had lasted a mere ten minutes or so. Wang Zhan hadn't even made a single offensive move; he had exhausted all his opponent's stamina simply by continuously dodging.
One should know that these Yanjing Martial Arts Academy students, just two days prior, had remained unfazed even after dozens of fights in a single day.
Seeing his opponent was truly spent, Wang Zhan stopped taunting him. He simply raised his leg and kicked the student in the face, sending him flying off the arena.
Then, Wang Zhan once again turned to look at Zhong Lun.
"I delivered that slap for you. No need to thank me."
At this moment, Zhong Lun's heart sank to the depths.
He subconsciously glanced at Cui Tianfeng, only to find that Cui Tianfeng also wore an ugly expression, clearly having realized something significant.
This Wang Zhan is the Military Martial Arts Academy's trump card! No wonder the Military Martial Arts Academy dared to make a bet with us regarding the Martial Arts Academy tournament. So this is where their confidence stemmed from!
The Yanjing Martial Arts Academy student who just fought wasn't weak! Although he was only a second-year level 5 Martial Artist, he had broken past his Limit and his stat was close to 20, enough to contend with a level 7 Martial Artist!
Yet, such a genius looked utterly pathetic before Wang Zhan. He used all his strength but couldn't even touch him once.
Wang Zhan's true strength clearly far exceeded this level!
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