23: Chapter 23 I really didn't use any effort

With a loud boom, the entire 15x15 arena sank by at least five millimeters, and the dust kicked up instantly covered the entire ring.

"I announce! The winner of this match! Chen Mo!"

As Zhou Sanlang's voice rang out, the dust cloud covering the arena gradually settled.

It could be seen that Zhou Sanlang was blocking Chen Mo's punch with one arm, both his feet sunk deep into the concrete arena.

And what about Han Qing?

His clothes had been shredded into rags by the wind pressure of that punch, and only the hilt remained of the broadsword in his hand; he lay on the ground with his eyes rolled back.

The originally noisy auditorium instantly fell silent; no one understood what had just happened.

The total time the two had exchanged blows didn't even exceed five seconds, so how did this match end just like that?

And it looked like Zhou Sanlang had helped Han Qing block that punch; what on earth had just happened!?

Only a few people in the arena did not feel surprised; these few had all witnessed the power of that punch from Chen Mo before.

"Good kid, I told you to hold back some strength."

Zhou Sanlang pulled his feet out of the concrete and shook his arm vigorously.

"If I hadn't already tempered my Steel Skin and Steel Bones, that punch of yours just now could have snapped my arm directly."

"Director Zhou, I really didn't use too much strength just now."

Chen Mo spread his hands; he really hadn't used his full strength just now.

He hadn't even used compression, let alone the super-compressed state of his Compression Punch.

"I didn't even use my blood energy; do you think I wasn't being merciful enough?"

Zhou Sanlang opened his mouth, realizing that what Chen Mo said was indeed correct.

"Alright, hurry down; someone still needs to repair this arena."

"Good grief, if it weren't for the need to ensure fairness and justice, you should have been scheduled to go on last!"

Zhou Sanlang sighed and somewhat helplessly shooed Chen Mo off the arena.

In the examinee rest area, the students who had just been watching the spectacle with a casual mindset all turned grim-faced.

Skin and flesh that even a broadsword couldn't cut, combined with that immense strength capable of making the arena sink...

"What, do you find it strange?"

Zhuo Jida glanced at Zhao Zihao and Xie Jing beside him, asking with a hint of superiority.

"Did you not read Chen Mo's profile carefully, and just put it aside after glancing at his talent called Great Strength?"

"That kid's combat power has reached 99999; isn't it normal for him to take down Han Qing with one punch?"

"Besides, you haven't even seen what Chen Mo looks like when he goes all out."

"Tsk tsk tsk..."

Zhuo Jida sighed and shook his head, looking completely punchable.

"You all know what an Abyssal Armored Dragon is, right?"

"Chen Mo can beat a Rank 2 Abyssal Armored Dragon to death with his bare hands; do you think either of you can take more hits than an Abyssal Armored Dragon?"

This statement left Zhao Zihao and Xie Jing stunned on the spot, looking at Zhuo Jida with disbelief.

"Don't look at me like that; if you don't believe me, you can ask Teacher Wu and Su Qingyue."

"They have both seen what Chen Mo's full-power punch is like; that guy is like a siege hammer."

The two cast their gaze toward Teacher Wu and Su Qingyue not far away, and both nodded in unison.

You have to know, an ordinary Rank 3 Martial Artist would have to think twice when encountering a Rank 2 Abyssal Armored Dragon, let alone a First-Grade Martial Artist like them.

"In my opinion, only I, Su Qingyue, and that Cheng Men of yours could spar with Chen Mo."

Zhuo Jida didn't forget to include himself while bragging, making the two roll their eyes.

"Don't disbelieve me."

"Even though every one of Chen Mo's punches is enough to finish me off, his weakness is that his speed is too slow."

"I just need to make sure I don't get touched by him."

"Su Qingyue's True Sight Eye can predict Chen Mo's next move, and Cheng Men's energy absorption can absorb the kinetic energy of every punch Chen Mo throws."

"How's that? My analysis is correct, right?"

After listening, both fell into complete silence, because they knew Zhuo Jida was right.

"But don't worry, given our strength, breaking into the Provincial Joint Examination is absolutely no problem."

"At most, you just can't beat Chen Mo, but that doesn't mean you can't beat others."

Zhuo Jida's smug demeanor made people's teeth itch; they wanted nothing more than to beat him up right now.

"Alright, alright, it's my turn to go on stage next."

Zhuo Jida glanced at the number five on the big screen, knowing it was his turn to go up.

"Zhuo Jida, don't be careless; your opponent is not weak, and it would be embarrassing to capsize in the gutter."

Teacher Wu knew Zhuo Jida's nature well; this kid had strong martial arts talent and innate talent, but this personality was his greatest shortcoming.

"Alright, Teacher Wu, I know."

Zhuo Jida patted the two flashy golden daggers at his waist and gave Teacher Wu a wink.

Returning to the rest area, Chen Mo lay on the sofa, and Xueni very sensibly handed him some water.

"Brother Mo, you've worked hard~"

Xueni stared at Chen Mo with a smile, her eyes full of pride.

"It's nothing, it only took one punch."

Chen Mo took the water from Xueni and took a big gulp.

"Your next match will be around, the first round of sixteen matches will take quite some time."

Principal Liu Zhifeng stood beside Chen Mo analyzing the situation on the field, but Chen Mo wasn't listening at all.

"You only need to pass the second round, which is the round of sixteen to eight, and you can challenge the Provincial Joint Examination."

"There's no need for too much pressure."

Principal Liu Zhifeng rubbed his hands; he was actually very excited too, but as an adult, he couldn't show it.

"Principal Liu, can't you have some dreams?"

Chen Mo raised an eyebrow and turned to look at Principal Liu Zhifeng.

"What dream?"

Principal Liu Zhifeng was stunned, not knowing what Chen Mo meant by this.

"Don't you want to see our Third High School win first place in the City-level Joint Exam?"

"Do you think it's difficult for me to win first place with my strength?"

Chen Mo was a bit puzzled; was this old guy looking down on him too much?

He was actually satisfied with just reaching the round of sixteen to eight.

"It's difficult."

Unexpectedly, Principal Liu Zhifeng nodded decisively.

"It's not that the principal looks down on you, it's just that Cheng Men and Su Qingyue's talents counter you too much."

"I had been ignoring one point before, which is that while your punch speed is extremely fast, your reaction speed and agility are no different from an ordinary Ascetic Martial Artist."

"Su Qingyue can predict all your attack methods and routes, and Cheng Men can absorb all the kinetic energy generated by your attacks."

"And there's Zhao Zihao, whose talent is Super Acceleration; once he gets his speed up, you won't even have a chance to touch him."

Principal Liu Zhifeng's words made Chen Mo fall into deep thought; these people were indeed not easy to deal with.

But... this is an arena battle!

"Principal Liu, you are overthinking it."

Chen Mo waved his hand, a confident smile appearing on his face.

"If this were a battle without arena restrictions, I might indeed be kited."

"But this is an arena battle; the field is firmly locked to a 15-meter by 15-meter arena."

"I just need to make the area where they can move smaller."

Principal Liu Zhifeng didn't realize what Chen Mo meant at first.

But when he followed Chen Mo's gaze toward the concrete arena, a chilling thought appeared in his mind.

"You..."

"Shh!"

Chen Mo shook his head, signaling Principal Liu Zhifeng not to speak.

"Just be prepared to pay for the arena, I don't have the money to compensate."

"Besides, a concrete arena isn't that expensive."

"Am I right?"

"Principal Liu?"