32: Chapter 32 You can't stop me this time, can you?

The numbers on the big screen started flashing once again, finally stopping at 4 and 32.

"Sigh, just my bad luck."

An Ascetic Martial Artist from the Second High School shook his head; he had hoped that with a bit of luck, he might make it into the final four.

But now it seemed his journey in the Joint Exam would likely end right here.

Things went just as he had expected; less than two minutes after stepping onto the stage, he was easily defeated by Wang Jun.

The third match was an internal fight for Experimental Martial Arts High School, pitting their strongest First-Grade Ascetic Martial Artist against the Rule-based Talent user, Su Qingyue.

When the participants for this match were confirmed, Principal Liu Zhifeng let out a long sigh of relief.

"Thank goodness, thank goodness. No matter what, we'll at least have someone make it into the final four."

"I just hope we don't end up with an internal fight in the end; that wouldn't be too pleasant..."

Principal Liu Zhifeng was beaming with joy. This was the best result in the history of Third High School—or, to be precise, the best result since he took over Third High School.

"What's not pleasant about it?"

Chen Mo, watching Su Qingyue toy with her opponent on the stage, glanced at Principal Liu Zhifeng with some confusion.

"So what if it's an internal fight? Someone is bound to make it to the finals."

"Do you think I can't beat Su Qingyue, Wang Jun, or that Cheng Men?"

Principal Liu Zhifeng opened his mouth but didn't speak. He really wanted to say that those two were strong and he should be careful, but once he remembered that Chen Mo could kill an Abyssal Armored Dragon with his bare hands, he stayed silent.

"However..."

The person who makes it to the finals will definitely be me.

Chen Mo didn't say this part out loud; after all, Wang Jun was his classmate.

Some things are better kept to oneself.

That Ascetic Martial Artist from Experimental Martial Arts High School was indeed the strongest First-Grade Ascetic Martial Artist in all of Luo City.

Even when facing Su Qingyue's True Sight Eye, he used an extremely formidable combat strategy to hold out for a full six minutes.

If his Qi and blood hadn't been completely exhausted, Su Qingyue might not have been able to take him down.

The True Sight Eye was certainly strong, but Su Qingyue's own lethality was lacking, as she mostly used non-lethal methods, which was quite troublesome.

"Go easy on him. It's not easy for an Ascetic Martial Artist to make it this far, so don't actually hurt him badly."

Seeing Chen Mo stand up and stretch his muscles, Principal Liu Zhifeng hurriedly warned him.

"I know. I'll just throw him out of the ring."

Chen Mo stretched his joints and walked onto the stage step by step.

Seeing Chen Mo go on stage, Zhou Sanlang followed closely behind.

"The final match of the day will be presented to you by student Chen Mo and Tang Qingran from the Second High School!"

After a whole morning of matches, the audience was more or less tired, and some had even started leaving one after another.

Because they knew that with Chen Mo, a Talent-based Martial Artist, facing an Ascetic Martial Artist, his victory was a foregone conclusion.

There was no need to waste any more time; they should hurry back to rest and prepare for tomorrow's semi-finals.

Chen Mo looked at the young man opposite him, who had delicate features but a sinister look in his eyes, and felt an inexplicable sense of discomfort.

But Zhou Sanlang didn't notice anything different about Tang Qingran; his attention was entirely on Chen Mo.

He had to keep a close eye on Chen Mo's every move, otherwise, if this kid got carried away, he could easily beat someone to death.

"Are both contestants ready?"

"Ready."

Chen Mo nodded, his gaze locked firmly on Tang Qingran opposite him.

"Ready."

A somewhat hoarse voice, with a trace of something resembling a beast's roar, came from Tang Qingran's throat, making Zhou Sanlang frown.

"Contestants, take your positions!"

"Ready!"

"Begin!"

As the words fell, Chen Mo took heavy steps toward Tang Qingran.

"Are you Talent-based Martial Artists all this arrogant?"

Tang Qingran's expression became somewhat ferocious, his eyes filled with dense red bloodshot veins.

"Huh?"

Chen Mo paused for a moment, not knowing why Tang Qingran was suddenly acting crazy.

"I am not arrogant; I respect every hardworking martial artist."

"I will also respect every opponent, including you, of course..."

But before Chen Mo could finish his sentence, a blade of light soared into the sky!

"Arrogant! You are too arrogant!"

Chen Mo looked startled and stumbled back two steps.

Drip...

A drop of blood fell to the ground. Chen Mo looked down and found a wound on his chest that was almost deep enough to see bone.

"This... how is this possible!?"

Principal Liu Zhifeng stood up abruptly. He had witnessed Chen Mo's physical durability!

That muscular body of his was harder than tank armor; how could it be injured by a First-Grade Martial Artist!

"Cheating! He is definitely cheating!"

Zhou Sanlang also noticed that something was wrong at this moment and immediately prepared to step forward to stop the match.

"Let them continue."

But just then, a voice rang in Zhou Sanlang's ears.

Zhou Sanlang was all too familiar with this voice; it was the Garrison Commander from the Henan Province Military Department!

A Rank 7 Grandmaster!

But why, why would a small City-level Joint Exam attract a Garrison Commander?

"If something goes wrong, I will personally intervene. Do not interrupt them now."

"Don't you see that Chen Mo has no intention of having you stop the match either?"

Zhou Sanlang turned his head abruptly and found that things were indeed as the Garrison Commander had said...

Not only was Chen Mo not terrified, but he was actually touching the wound on his chest and revealing a smile even more ferocious than Tang Qingran's.

Zhou Sanlang's first reaction was simple.

It was that the ferocity in this kid Chen Mo's bones had been activated.

"Did you... cheat?"

Chen Mo slowly raised his head and asked Tang Qingran, who had tufts of gray hair growing on his face.

"And so what!"

"Aren't you Talent-based Martial Artists cheating by relying on your talents?"

To this, Chen Mo did not refute, but nodded in agreement.

"So, do you think it's fair now?"

Chen Mo raised an eyebrow, and the concrete stage beneath his feet began to crack inch by inch.

Creak!!!!

A piercing sound of metal being crushed rang out, and Chen Mo's body shrank significantly right before everyone's eyes.

His wound was tightly compressed by his muscles, stopping the bleeding perfectly.

"Kill you!"

Tang Qingran's eyes were blood-red as he lunged toward Chen Mo's neck with his hands, which had transformed into sharp claws.

"Director Zhou, you shouldn't stop me now that I'm taking action, right?"

Before making his move, Chen Mo turned his head to look at Zhou Sanlang.

Zhou Sanlang nodded without even thinking; after all, with a big shot backing him up, he didn't need to think too much.

"Very good."

Chen Mo was very satisfied with Zhou Sanlang's attitude, and his legs suddenly emitted a muffled thud.