16: Chapter 16: Public Enemy of the Entire Map? No, Prey of the Entire Map

No. 1 Lin Yuan (Jianghai No. 3 High School) — Score: 1250

"Cheating! This is absolutely cheating!"

The principal of Jianghai No. 1 High School stood up abruptly, his face flushed red, spittle flying everywhere:

"Fellow colleagues, judge for yourselves! How could a student who awakened an F-rank talent and has always had mediocre grades manage to get over a thousand points in just one hour?"

"This data is completely illogical! I suspect he used some sort of forbidden device to interfere with the wristband and farm points! I request that Lin Yuan's exam qualifications be frozen immediately for a thorough investigation!"

The principal of No. 1 High School was anxious.

For this joint exam, their No. 1 High School was aiming to sweep the top ten, but the first place was snatched by some unknown loser from Jianghai No. 3 High School. How could he save face?

Although the principals of the other schools didn't speak, their eyes were full of suspicion. An F-rank suppressing an S-rank? That was indeed too outrageous.

"A thorough investigation?"

Captain Qin Hu, sitting in the main seat, slowly turned around with a cigar in his mouth, his eyes looking coldly at the No. 1 High School principal:

"Principal Zhang, are you questioning the military's drone surveillance technology, or are you questioning my, Captain Qin Hu's, impartiality?"

"The backend data shows that every point Lin Yuan earned is legitimate, whether it's from killing monsters, or... ahem, looting. It is all within the rules."

"What? Only your No. 1 High School is allowed to produce dragons, while Jianghai No. 3 High School isn't allowed to produce a tiger?"

"But..." the No. 1 High School principal still wanted to argue.

"No 'buts'."

"Instead of throwing a useless tantrum here, you'd better pray that the 'geniuses' from your school don't run into this little monster."

Following the first global refresh of the leaderboard, in the central area, on top of a collapsed clock tower.

Lei Potian was bathed in purple lightning, his feet resting on the charred corpse of a Level 1 high-tier beast.

He tapped his wristband and looked at the rankings; his originally arrogant face instantly darkened.

"Lin Yuan? 1250 points?"

Lei Potian clenched his fists, and electric arcs crackled between his fingers.

"To think he could suppress me... Interesting. It seems this ant is stronger than I imagined."

Boom!

He slammed a fist into the stone pillar beside him, and the bucket-thick stone pillar shattered instantly.

"However, an ant is an ant after all. I will let you know what kind of chasm lies between an F-rank and an S-rank."

Murderous intent flared in Lei Potian's eyes, and his figure transformed into a bolt of lightning, heading straight for the area on the map where the red dots were densest.

At this moment, Lin Yuan was walking on a cross-river bridge leading to the central area.

The bridge deck was broken, and the wind was howling.

"Strange, why does it feel like everyone's eyes are weird?"

Lin Yuan noticed that some students he encountered along the way looked at him as if they had seen a ghost, taking a wide detour to run away from him.

"Boring, there isn't even anyone who dares to come up and deliver points."

Lin Yuan sighed and was just about to speed up.

Swoosh!

A cyan figure suddenly slid down from the bridge's steel cables and landed steadily in front of Lin Yuan.

He had long hair, and his eyes were as sharp as a hawk's.

"You are Lin Yuan?"

The boy looked Lin Yuan up and down, a flash of greed in his eyes:

"I am Zhou Kai from No. 2 High School, eighth on the leaderboard. Although I don't know what luck or methods you used to reach first place, a person should know their limits."

Zhou Kai reached out his hand, his tone arrogant and matter-of-fact:

"Transfer half of your points to me, and I can let you pass. Otherwise, once I make a move, you might end up looking very ugly."

Zhou Kai?

Lin Yuan thought about it; he seemed to have indeed seen this name in the top ten of the leaderboard. It was said that he had awakened a wind-element agility talent and was known for his speed.

Lin Yuan activated 【Gods Insight】 to scan him.

【Target: Zhou Kai (First Rank Initial Stage)】

【Talent: Gale (C-rank, slightly increases movement speed and leg explosive power).】

【Evaluation: Flashy, unstable footing, movement technique grade too low, no analysis needed.】

After reading the evaluation, the interest in Lin Yuan's eyes vanished instantly.

"Sigh."

Lin Yuan sighed helplessly, as if looking at a mentally challenged child: "Why do you all have to be so confident about delivering goods to my door? Isn't it better to stay alive?"

"You're courting death!"

Zhou Kai's face turned cold.

"Since you refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit, don't blame me for making you leave lying down!"

Zhou Kai's body was surrounded by surging air currents as his C-rank talent 【Gale】 was instantly activated. His whole person seemed to transform into a gale, his speed so fast that in the eyes of an ordinary person, only an afterimage remained.

"So fast!"

"Zhou Kai's speed is definitely top-tier among First Rank martial artists!"

In Zhou Kai's view, Lin Yuan was standing there motionless like a fool, not even unsheathing his blade.

"Too slow! Your reaction is too slow!"

Zhou Kai sneered inwardly, his body instantly circling to Lin Yuan's rear flank, a whip kick carrying a whistling wind aimed straight at the back of Lin Yuan's head.

If this kick landed, it would definitely cause a concussion!

However, in Lin Yuan's eyes.

Zhou Kai's so-called "extreme speed" was just like a turtle struggling to flap its limbs.

Just as Zhou Kai's whip kick was about to sweep him, Lin Yuan just very casually, and even somewhat lazily... extended his left foot.

He tripped him lightly.

That was the exact moment when Zhou Kai's old force was exhausted, his new force had not yet arisen, and he was in the middle of a full-speed sprint unable to change direction.

Thud!

The massive momentum caused him to complete the transition from "vertical standing" to "horizontal flying" in that instant.

"No—!!!"

Zhou Kai's eyes widened in terror, watching helplessly as the rough concrete bridge deck rapidly magnified in his vision.

Boom— screech—!

He landed face-first, sliding more than ten meters across the rough bridge deck, leaving a long trail of blood, finally coming to a stop right at Lin Yuan's feet.

Then he lay on the ground, his body twitching, completely dazed.

Who am I?

Where am I?

What just happened?

Lin Yuan slowly raised his foot and stepped on Zhou Kai's head to prevent him from moving around.

"Not bad speed."

After saying that, Lin Yuan skillfully squatted down.

"Beep! Plunder successful! Points +300."

Then his gaze fell on the blue and white combat suit on Zhou Kai.

"Yo, B-rank protective suit? The material feels quite comfortable, 50% defense bonus?"

Lin Yuan's eyes lit up, "It just so happens that the C-rank one I snatched earlier is a bit tight, yours looks like the right size."

"Take it off."

Zhou Kai: "..."

He wanted to die, really.

Being tripped by a kick was embarrassing enough, and now he had to be stripped of his clothes in public?

"A scholar can be killed but not humiliated..." Zhou Kai gritted his teeth, wanting to be tough for once.

"Hmm?" The black moon battle blade in Lin Yuan's hand slightly unsheathed by half an inch, the cold light blinding.

"I'll take it off! Brother! I'm taking it off right now! Don't do anything!"

Three minutes later, only Zhou Kai remained on the bridge, wearing thermal underwear and covering his face while crying bitterly.

"Is... is this luck? Tripping him with a foot and instantly defeating a top ten expert?"

"Luck my ass! That was prediction! Absolute prediction! Look at the timing, a second earlier or a second later wouldn't have worked!"

The principal of No. 1 High School sat dejectedly in his chair, his face pale; he knew that this time, he had truly misjudged.

Meanwhile, Zhao Tianba stared fixedly at everything happening on the distant bridge, the communicator in his hand almost crushed.

"Zhou Kai... was actually instantly defeated?"

Zhao Tianba swallowed his saliva, and the little notion he had of wanting to have a one-on-one revenge match instantly vanished into thin air.

Although he was arrogant, he wasn't stupid.

Zhou Kai's strength was on par with his; if even Zhou Kai was dealt with like a monkey being played, he would just be serving himself up on a platter if he went up!

A flash of viciousness crossed Zhao Tianba's eyes.

"Hello? This is Zhao Tianba."

"Stop fighting alone! This brat Lin Yuan is extremely weird, Zhou Kai has already fallen!"

"Everyone, gather at the central square immediately! We must join forces! Kick him out of the game first, and then we'll divide the remaining rankings!"

"Two fists are no match for four hands; let's see how many you can take!"