Chapter 76 - 75: This Classmate is Very Strong

October 1st! Weather: Clear. 8:00 a.m. Occasional gentle breezes. Shengjing Sports Stadium! The crowd surged, and the stands were packed without an empty seat in sight. "Mom, look, Jiang Shu is over there!" Jiang Yanyue was excited. Ever since she arrived in Shengjing, that exhilaration had never left her. She naturally woke up after just a few hours of sleep each day, and everything she saw felt novel. "I see him, I see him." Xu Lizhi’s eyes were much sharper than her daughter’s. Even after not seeing him for a month, she could spot her son in a crowd at first glance. Moreover, among a group of boys, her son, who had let his hair grow long, was exceptionally noticeable. She just wondered how her son would place in this College Martial Arts Genius Competition. It didn’t matter if he ranked a bit lower; the main thing was that he shouldn’t get injured and should remain safe and sound. Xu Lizhi indulged in this pleasant thought as she found her seat and sat down. 「Below.」 The two hundred and twenty-one contestants had finished drawing lots. The top-ranked contestants were climbing onto the stages one after another, beginning their battles. Although one could become an Explicit Strength Martial Artist with the 36-form Guiding Skill, how many of those who actually stepped onto the stage to compete didn’t know some practical martial skills? BANG! BANG! BANG! For a time, the stages echoed with clashing figures. Between punches and kicks, the force of their power burst forth. Cameras, installed earlier, captured the action from various angles. 「Online, in the live streaming room.」 Amidst widespread promotional activity, nearly a million viewers were watching the live stream corresponding to each stage. "Over two hundred contestants, all from academies. It seems the gap between academies and key universities is still significant." "Give it a couple more months, and there will certainly be university students competing. It’s only been four months since the college entrance examination ended. How many people could have progressed from Qi Blood Transport to releasing Explicit Strength and becoming a Martial Artist that quickly?" "With that kind of Talent, they would have gone to academies long ago. That’s why it’s called a genius competition. Those who can compete are all geniuses." "Yeah, as long as you get a decent ranking in the competition, you can get at least a few million in endorsement fees. Your value skyrockets! It’s a pity I’m too old. Even if I became a Martial Artist, I couldn’t participate in such events." In the live streaming room, the barrage of comments scrolled rapidly, almost filling the entire screen. Everyone was discussing how life had changed since Xia Country began promoting Martial Arts. Former high-priced stars saw their appearance fees drastically reduced. Merchants were more willing to have up-and-coming Martial Artists from the rookie list endorse their products. The era of entertainment supremacy had passed. Now, it was the age of Martial Arts supremacy! On the stage, Jiang Shu effortlessly defeated his opponent, claiming victory.NovelFire After another month of training, he was beginning to grasp the interplay of movement and stillness, hardness and softness. He was gaining a deeper understanding of this state—heavy as lead yet fluid as mercury. He was transitioning from initial ignorance to a state where it seemed only a thin membrane stood in his way. He felt he was just a hair’s breadth from breaking through. Against a normal Explicit Strength Martial Artist in a one-on-one fight, there was simply no pressure to challenge him. To advance even further, the only way is to fight to the very end, against Shang Jibei! Having finished his fight, Jiang Shu meditated with his eyes closed beneath the stage. On the stages, countless geniuses had emerged in just the course of one morning. Especially Shang Jibei. Before the competition began, he was ranked first on the rookie list. He became more famous by the day, surpassing the popularity of some stars who had been in the entertainment field for a decade! And now, after three bouts, his figure was deeply imprinted in the eyes of all viewers in the live broadcast. A figure in white. An invincible punch. Even the genius ranked twenty-seventh on the rookie list was blasted off the stage by his punch. What is genius! What is invincibility! Shang Jibei didn’t say a word, but with just three moves, he defined these two terms. Countless viewers were, at that moment, searching for the name "Shang Jibei" online. Even the official broadcast set up a special live stream room. Taking advantage of the popularity, they began a live interview with Shang Jibei, who was off-stage. A sweet-voiced host took two deep breaths, sat in front of Shang Jibei with grace, and said, "Hello, Student Shang. Netizens are saying that you defeated your opponents with a single punch, proving the true worth of your rank as first on the rookie list." "Among the more than two hundred geniuses, which ones do you take seriously?" Shang Jibei shifted slightly, his feet firmly rooted, clearly still practicing a stance technique. "I take them all seriously," he replied. "Those who can participate in the competition all have sufficient Talent in Martial Arts. Even if they don’t achieve a good ranking now, it’s just temporary. We’re all just starting college and have plenty of time to learn." "Keep working hard, stay disciplined, and persist. The journey of Martial Arts is like the marathons of old. Reaching the end is what matters, not who’s ahead or behind at any given point." This answer was certainly unexpected by everyone. The live chat was full of praise. Invincible on the stage. Humble off it. Not just the viewers in the live stream, but even the hostess, at that moment, felt like becoming a fan of Shang Jibei. Seizing the moment, she said, "Although our Xia Country has been promoting Martial Arts for a long time, many viewers have never practiced them. Therefore, even though the competition on stage is fierce, most of us are simply laymen enjoying the spectacle." "Student Shang, do you have time now to explain some of the fights on stage for us?" "Sure." Seeing that it would be a while before his next match, Shang Jibei readily agreed. He followed the host from stage number one to stage number ten. At each stage, he would stand for a while, organizing his thoughts before providing commentary. "Zhu Qingyun’s Explicit Strength has reached her fingertips; she’s very strong. Her opponent has probably just entered the realm of Explicit Strength. This battle should be decided within three rounds." "Wu Zhiming’s boxing might appear weak and ineffective to some, but it’s actually powerful and expansive. He’s holding back in the competition, which is why it might seem that way. Each of his punches is precisely aimed to repel his opponent. His strength is comparable to Zhu Qingyun’s. On stage number three, he should be able to become the champion directly." "These two competitors seem evenly matched. However, the attacking Martial Artist, who appears to be gaining the upper hand, is actually nearing exhaustion. In contrast, the one who keeps dodging has steady legs and a poised stance, looking ready to strike. Barring any surprises, the roles of offense and defense are about to be reversed." Shang Jibei walked to stage number ten and then back again. Along the way, his observations were objective and on point. The number of live viewers at that moment surged past ten million. The hostess smiled, thinking about whether she should interview some of the popular contestants next. Shang Jibei, who was walking ahead, suddenly stopped. He stood before stage number three, watching Jiang Shu, who had just stepped onto the stage and was now simply standing quietly, without saying a word. It wasn’t until after Jiang Shu effortlessly defeated his opponent, got off the stage, and started practicing his stances and breathing, that Shang Jibei withdrew his gaze. He looked at the hostess and said solemnly, "That student is very strong."