170: Chapter 170 You can't take a joke, huh? You resort to cheating when you can't win?

"Zzzzt—!"

Outside, the audience, who had been chatting away, suddenly felt a bright light overhead.

The massive screen in the very center was forcibly cut off from its previous feed without any warning.

Immediately after, two giant busts, accompanied by stirring battle music, slammed into everyone's line of sight!

[Red Team]: Class A, Class Monitor Zhao Feilong (Freshman)

[Blood Qi Value]: 12 (Tier 3 Early Stage)

[Record]: 6 Wins, 2 Losses

[Blue Team]: Class F, Jiang You

[Blood Qi Value]: 7.9 (Tier 2 Mid Stage)

[Record]: 0 Wins, 0 Losses

"Whoa!!!"

The entire arena instantly erupted, the soundwave exploding like a tsunami.

"No way! They actually matched up? This is too coincidental!"

"What incredible luck! Class Monitor Zhao Feilong is currently 6 wins and 2 losses! If he wins, he promotes directly, but if he loses... hehe, he'll have to pack his bags and roll back to Seed Pool No. 5 for remedial training!"

"This is a promotion/relegation match! The most exciting kind!"

"Jiang You is in trouble this round! Although Class Monitor Zhao Feilong's character isn't great, his strength is legit Tier 3! Plus, this is a life-or-death match for him, so he's definitely going to give it his all!"

"Place your bets! I'm betting on Class Monitor Zhao Feilong's comeback!"

"Pfft, I'm betting on Jiang You! This kid is weirdly formidable; he specializes in curing all kinds of arrogance!"

As the countdown on the central screen hit zero, this highly anticipated "promotion/relegation life-or-death battle" officially kicked off in the virtual arena.

The map randomly selected this time was very simple: a standard alloy arena.

No terrain obstructions, no environmental factors—it was a gladiator arena for a direct clash.

"Match start!"

As the system notification sounded, Class A's Class Monitor Zhao Feilong made the first move.

"Jiang You! Go to hell!"

Class Monitor Zhao Feilong roared, his Tier 3 Early Stage Blood Qi exploding throughout his body.

His originally fair Skin instantly turned gray, rough, and coarse, as a thick layer of Rock Armor, resembling granite, rapidly covered his entire body.

Even his face was covered by a stone mask, revealing only a pair of eyes filled with murderous intent.

This was the A-rank defensive Supernatural Ability, Rock Armor, which the Zhao family had spent a massive fortune buying countless Earth-element spiritual items to forcefully help him awaken, all so he could make a stunning debut in this selection tournament!

"Boom!"

The alloy floor beneath Class Monitor Zhao Feilong's feet was stomped into a deep crater, and he charged toward Jiang You like a heavy tank, carrying a suffocating sense of oppression!

"So fast!"

The audience outside exclaimed.

Although it was a defensive Supernatural Ability, Class Monitor Zhao Feilong was, after all, a genuine Tier 3 martial artist; his raw physical explosive power far exceeded that of an ordinary person.

However, facing this fierce charge, Jiang You still looked like he hadn't woken up yet.

His hands were tucked in his pockets, and he even had the leisure to yawn.

In the deep blue vision of the Eye of Tianshu, Class Monitor Zhao Feilong's seemingly unstoppable charge looked like a movie in slow motion.

"Left leg exerting too much force, center of gravity leaning forward..."

"Right shoulder defense is empty..."

"Full of openings."

Jiang You shook his head slightly and lightly shifted his feet.

With just a slight sidestep, Class Monitor Zhao Feilong's powerful punch grazed the tip of his nose and hit thin air, the wind from the punch blowing Jiang You's bangs into disarray.

"Chance!"

A sharp glint flashed in Jiang You's eyes.

He saw a spiritual energy node under Class Monitor Zhao Feilong's armpit, the weakest point in the Rock Armor's connection!

"Same old rule: poke a hole in it!"

Jiang You's right hand shot out like lightning, mobilizing his 7.9 Blood Qi value to the limit; his fingertip even produced a faint sonic boom from high-speed friction with the air.

"Pop!"

His fingertip poked precisely onto that red dot.

However, the scene he anticipated—of Class Monitor Zhao Feilong's spiritual energy backfiring and him flying backward—did not happen.

"Clang!!!"

A crisp sound of metal clashing rang throughout the arena.

Jiang You only felt as if his finger had poked a steel plate, the vibration making his finger bones ache.

The Rock Armor under Class Monitor Zhao Feilong's armpit only had a small piece of stone crack off; although the spiritual energy inside was slightly chaotic, in the face of that heavy defensive power, this minor disturbance was instantly suppressed.

"Hiss—"

Shaking his aching fingers and retreating three steps, Jiang You had an expression like he'd seen a ghost:

"Holy crap? It's this hard?"

"Is he a turtle or something?"

This was the awkward part.

Although Jiang You's eyes were SSS-rank and could see through all weaknesses.

His body, under the organ disguise, was only at Tier 2 Mid Stage!

It was like giving a Level 1 noob the scope of a max-level sniper rifle, but they were holding a water gun.

No matter how accurate the aim was, hitting tank armor would only make a sound!

"Hahahaha!"

Class Monitor Zhao Feilong steadied himself, brushed the dust off his armpit, and let out a smug, wild laugh:

"Jiang You! Stunned, aren't you?"

"Do you think this is still a low-tier fish pond match?"

"This [Rock Armor] of mine was awakened with a massive fortune spent by my family! Even Tier 3 martial artists of the same rank can't break my defense, let alone your pathetic Tier 2 Blood Qi?"

"It's basically just scratching an itch!"

Over the next few minutes, the situation fell into an extremely bizarre stalemate.

Relying on his invincible defense, Class Monitor Zhao Feilong chased after Jiang You like a mad dog.

Relying on the Eye of Tianshu's predictions, Jiang You slid around the arena like a loach, and Class Monitor Zhao Feilong couldn't even touch the hem of his clothes.

However, whenever Jiang You tried to counterattack, whether hitting joints or tripping him, the effect was negligible.

Class Monitor Zhao Feilong was like a lump of iron; he simply couldn't be damaged!

"This is really annoying..."

Jiang You muttered to himself while dodging:

"Can't break through the defense, so it's turned into a war of attrition?"

"My little body doesn't seem like it can outlast this pay-to-win warrior."

On the other side, Class Monitor Zhao Feilong, though seemingly holding the initiative, was actually more anxious than Jiang You!

"Damn it! Is this kid a reincarnated loach? How can I not land a single hit?"

"Maintaining my Rock Armor requires consuming a massive amount of spiritual energy! If we keep dragging this out, I'll definitely be the one to collapse first!"

Class Monitor Zhao Feilong glanced at the time; five minutes had already passed.

He couldn't lose!

This was his life-or-death match! If he lost to this enemy, Jiang You, how would he, Class Monitor Zhao Feilong, ever show his face in Magic City Martial Arts University again?

"Must end this quickly!"

A flash of ruthlessness crossed Class Monitor Zhao Feilong's eyes.

He hadn't wanted to reveal this trump card so early in the selection tournament; it was his ace in the hole, reserved for breaking into the school's top twenty or even challenging the Seed Pool No. 1!

But now... being pushed to this point by a Tier 2 Jiang You, he had no choice but to go all out!

"Jiang You! You like to dodge, huh?"

Class Monitor Zhao Feilong suddenly stopped moving and ceased his pursuit.

He stood in the center of the arena, took a deep breath, his eyes turning blood-red as if enduring immense pain.

"Since you like dodging so much..."

"Then I'll let you see what absolute speed and power are!"

"Spirit Skill, Blood-Burning Burst Force!!!"

Boom!!!

Before his voice even faded, the aura on Class Monitor Zhao Feilong suddenly changed!

A stream of scarlet blood-mist steam suddenly erupted from the cracks in his originally gray-white Rock Armor!

That was the explosive power he had gained by forcibly burning his own Life Value within his spiritual space!

Although doing this in reality would cause severe injury, in the virtual battlefield, the damage caused by using this Spirit Skill would only be fed back as mental energy consumption, having no effect on his real body!

This was the confidence he had to use this forbidden Spirit Skill recklessly in virtual combat!

The scarlet blood mist, like boiling magma, crazily overflowed along every crack in the Rock Armor; the originally thick, gray-white stone armor was now stained with an eerie dark red, as if soaked in blood.

"Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle—"

As the blood mist steamed, Class Monitor Zhao Feilong's Blood Qi value began to soar crazily under everyone's gaze!

12.8... 15.0... 19.5...

Finally stopping at the terrifying Tier 3 Peak!

"Roar!"

Class Monitor Zhao Feilong let out a roar that didn't sound human, his entire body expanding in size, and the originally cumbersome Rock Armor now seemed as light as a feather.

"Now..."

Class Monitor Zhao Feilong flashed, actually leaving an afterimage in place!

His speed was more than twice as fast as before!

"Let's see where you can dodge to now!!!"

In an instant, a massive fist, wrapped in rock and entwined with blood-colored steam, appeared above Jiang You's head, sealing off all his escape routes!

Outside, all the audience members were stunned.

"Holy crap! Class Monitor Zhao Feilong is this ruthless? He even used a Blood-Burning technique?"

"Just how much hate is this? Is it worth it just to win against a Tier 2?"

"It's over! Tier 3 Peak speed and power! Plus Rock Armor defense! This is a heavy tank that can teleport! Jiang You's small frame will die if it gets hit!"

Even Jiang You, who had been calm all along, finally changed his expression as he felt the terrifying wind pressure bearing down on his head.

"Can't play fair, huh?"

"Cheating because you can't win?"