55: Can trophies get so hot at award ceremonies?

Tianqiong War God Academy, Grand Auditorium.

Three days ago, a mobilization rally was held here.

Three days later, an award ceremony is being held here.

However, compared to the boiling blood of three days ago, today's atmosphere seems a bit eerie.

The so-called "favored children of heaven" sitting in the front row are all dejected; some are wrapped in bandages, some have band-aids on their faces, and some are simply in wheelchairs (like Zhao Gang, who was just fished out of the lake and is still shivering).

Their eyes looking towards the podium were filled with fear, resentment, and a deep sense of powerlessness.

Under the gaze of the crowd, Gu Fan, dressed in loose casual wear with his hands in his pockets, was slowly walking onto the stage.

Behind him followed Lin Xue with a fake smile, and Xiao Fan, who still hadn't recovered from the fact that "I am actually a member of the first-place team."

"Next, we invite the Chairman of the Student Union's Disciplinary Department, Senior Zhao Zhengyi, to present the trophy to the champion of this competition!"

The host's voice was high-pitched and passionate.

At the side of the stage, Zhao Zhengyi took a deep breath and adjusted his suit tie.

A standard, hypocritical smile was plastered on his face, but behind his glasses, his eyes revealed a sinister malice.

"Gu Fan... you ruined my cousin, ruined my plan, and made me lose a thousand academic credits."

Zhao Zhengyi gritted his teeth in his heart, "Today, I'll make you a complete laughingstock in front of all the teachers and students!"

From the tray held by the usherette, he picked up the gold trophy symbolizing the champion's honor.

This trophy was specially made by him.

On the surface, it looked glittering and golden, but in reality, a miniature high-voltage electric shock device was implanted inside.

The switch was on the base; with a gentle press of his finger, it could instantly release a pulse current of up to fifty thousand volts.

Although the current was adjusted so it wouldn't be lethal, it could definitely cause someone to lose muscle control instantly, foaming at the mouth, twitching all over, and losing control of their bowels in public.

Imagine the newly crowned champion twitching like a dead fish on the podium—what a wonderful sight that would be.

"When the time comes, I'll say it was static electricity or that the trophy leaked power. Anyway, I'm wearing insulated gloves; they won't be able to trace it back to me."

Zhao Zhengyi glanced at the seemingly ordinary white gloves on his hands—which were actually made of high-tech insulating material—and sneered inwardly.

Holding the trophy, he strode up to Gu Fan.

"Congratulations, Junior Gu Fan."

Zhao Zhengyi said with a smile, "I really didn't expect you to win with such an amazing score. As your senior, I'm proud of you."

Gu Fan looked at the guy in front of him smiling like a weasel, and the System radar in his mind instantly went off.

[Ding! Detected 'Zhao Zhengyi's' extremely sinister intent to plot against you.]

[Source of Malice: Specially made high-voltage electric shock trophy.]

[Malice Level: B-Rank (Enough to cause social death in public).]

[Backlash triggered! Multiplier: Fifty times!]

[Randomizing backlash effect...]

[Congratulations to the host! Triggered Physical Law Distortion: Charge Transfer · Conductor Physique.]

[Description: For the next ten seconds, you will become an absolute insulator, while the opponent's body resistance will instantly drop to zero, making them the strongest charge attraction source within a hundred-meter radius. Simply put, he is a living lightning rod.]

The smile on Gu Fan's face grew even brighter.

"Thank you, Senior. I also didn't expect you to be so polite as to personally present the award to me. I will definitely accept this 'heavy' honor properly."

He emphasized the word "heavy."

Zhao Zhengyi didn't catch the underlying meaning; seeing Gu Fan reach out his hand, he was ecstatic.

"Now!"

At the very moment their hands were about to touch the trophy together, Zhao Zhengyi slammed down the hidden switch on the base.

"Zzzt—"

Current activated!

However...

The expected scene of Gu Fan screaming and twitching did not occur.

Instead, a blue electric arc that defied all Laws of electricity actually penetrated the trophy's casing, ignored the expensive insulated gloves on Zhao Zhengyi's hands, and like a hungry dog spotting a bone, frantically bored into Zhao Zhengyi's body.

Not only that.

Several high-power spotlights on the auditorium ceiling suddenly exploded.

The residual current within them actually formed several small bolts of lightning in mid-air, accurately striking Zhao Zhengyi's head.

"AAAAAAHHHHH—!!!"

A shrill scream echoed through the Grand Auditorium.

Under the horrified gaze of thousands of teachers and students, Zhao Zhengyi performed an extremely wild, postmodern-style breakdance on stage.

His hair instantly stood on end, exploding into a perfect afro while emitting black smoke.

His limbs flailed uncontrollably, his left hand drawing circles and his right hand drawing squares, while his legs stomped frantically like they were powered by a motor, even grinding sparks out of his leather soles.

Most ridiculously, as his body vibrated at high frequency, he even blew out rhythmic rings of black smoke from his mouth.

"Untz untz! Untz untz!"

The nearby speakers seemed to be interfered with as well, actually emitting rhythmic electrical noises in accompaniment.

Gu Fan stood to the side, arms crossed, watching the scene with an "appreciative" expression, even nodding along to the beat.

"Nice! Great dancing!"

Gu Fan cheered loudly, "I didn't expect Senior Zhao to not only have strong management skills but also such superb dancing skills! This must be the legendary 'Electric Light Dance,' right? So shocking! So touching!"

The students below the stage were all dumbfounded.

"Is... is this a special performance for the award ceremony?"

"Senior Zhao is going all out, isn't he? To celebrate Gu Fan's victory, he's actually sacrificing his image to perform such a high-difficulty dance?"

"Is this the level of commitment of a Student Union officer? I love it, I love it!"

About ten full seconds passed.

The current inside Zhao Zhengyi's body finally finished discharging.

He was charred black all over, his clothes were in tatters, his glasses were shattered on the floor, and he fell straight backward.

"Thud."

Even while unconscious, his right leg still twitched a couple of times as if still savoring the rhythm from earlier.

Meanwhile, the golden trophy stood steadily on the podium, without a single trace of static on it.

Gu Fan walked over, picked up the trophy, and blew off non-existent dust.

"Thanks for the wonderful performance, Senior Zhao. I will treasure this trophy."

He turned around and held the trophy high.

The lights focused on him.

Thunderous applause erupted from below.

Although no one knew exactly what had happened, that dance just now was indeed quite good.

In a corner, the Dean Dean clutched his forehead, feeling his blood pressure rising again.

"This batch of students... why is every single one of them abnormal?"

He sighed and waved his hand to signal the school doctors to carry Zhao Zhengyi away, then walked onto the stage and took the microphone.

"Ahem, well... that little interlude is over."

Dean's majestic gaze swept across the room, "According to the competition rules, the top ten will receive the qualification to enter the academy Forbidden Ground—the 'Spiritual Origin Secret Realm'—to Cultivate for three days!"

"There, the Spiritual Qi is a hundred times more concentrated than in the outside world, and there are ancient Daoist rhymes. How much you can comprehend depends entirely on your own luck."

At the mention of the "Spiritual Origin Secret Realm," the students who were still watching the spectacle instantly became red-eyed with envy.

That was a cultivation Holy Land!

Soaking in there for three days was worth three years of hard cultivation outside!

"Furthermore," Dean looked at Gu Fan with a complex expression, "as the champion, you have the right to bring two attendants into the Secret Realm to assist you in your cultivation."

"Bring attendants?"

Gu Fan's eyes lit up.

He turned to look at Student Lin, who had been trying to shrink herself into a crack in the floor.

"Student Lin, did you hear that? You're in luck."

Lin Xue shuddered, having an ominous premonition.

"Pre... President, what do you want to do?"

"I want to take you to see the world."

Gu Fan said with a smile, "After all, cultivation is physical labor. I need someone to serve tea, pour water, and massage my back and legs. I think you're very suitable; your onion-slicing technique has become increasingly proficient these past few days."

Lin Xue bit her lip, screaming inwardly: I am a secret agent!

I'm going to the Secret Realm to steal intelligence!

Not to be your maid!

But on the surface, she could only squeeze out a smile that looked worse than crying.

"Tha... thank you for the cultivation, President."

"You're welcome."

Gu Fan turned to the Dean, "Dean, I also want to bring some personal items in. That's not a problem, right?"

Dean frowned.

"As long as it's not a prohibited weapon, personal clothing and Medicinal Pills are allowed."

"Don't worry, it's definitely not a weapon."

Gu Fan patted his bulging Storage Pouch (exchanged from the System mall), "Just some... daily necessities to help relax the body and mind."

Dean didn't think much of it and simply nodded.

But if he knew that the Storage Pouch contained a rubber duck, a bathrobe, a loofah, and that lethal 'foot soak powder,' he would probably expel Gu Fan from the academy on the spot.

"Alright, top ten, step forward! Open the Secret Realm!"

As an ancient stone door slowly opened at the back of the auditorium, Spiritual Qi so dense it was almost liquefied rushed out.

Everyone rushed in impatiently.

Gu Fan walked at the very back, looking at the deep entrance and smiling.

"Spiritual Origin Secret Realm? Sounds like a pretty good public bathhouse."

"I happen to be tired from monster hunting these past few days. I'll go take a bath and, while I'm at it... cause some trouble."