Free Web NovelChapter 316: Chapter 263: Charge! Take on the Man! (Part 2)
Of course, no one paid attention to the blood trickling from the corner of Gao Neng’s mouth. It did nothing to diminish the power of the slash that had just sent Qu Ran tumbling down.
"Not Tier Five Early Stage?!" The two Elders exchanged a look, their faces paling in shock.
Seven days ago, Gao Neng’s battle at the gates of the Eastern Capital Military Academy had gone viral. Naturally, they had all seen the video.
At the time, Gao Neng had certainly been strong.
But in terms of raw power, they still believed there was a gap between him and Qu Ran. In their minds, as long as Qu Ran exercised a little restraint, victory was assured.
But now?
The Gao Neng of today was completely different from the Gao Neng of seven days ago.
At the very least, his power was on another level entirely.
"Mm... I had a little breakthrough this morning, completely by accident!" Gao Neng nodded.
"A breakthrough? To Tier Five Mid Stage? But that’s impossible! Even if you broke through to Tier Five Mid Stage, you couldn’t have taken down Qu Ran with a single slash. Absolutely impossible!" one of the Elders exclaimed in disbelief.
"Not Tier Five Mid Stage. Tier Five Late Stage." Gao Neng tilted his head back slightly, then spat a mouthful of blood onto the ground. The heaving of his chest finally began to subside. ƒгeewebnovёl.com
But the chests of the two Huashan Ancient Sect Elders, Sect Leader Hua, the surrounding reporters, and the tens of millions of viewers watching the live broadcast across the Federation had all begun to heave.
"Tier Five Late Stage?!"
"In just seven days, he went from Tier Five Early Stage to Tier Five Late Stage?!"
"Gao Neng has reached Tier Five Late Stage!!!"
No one could believe it. ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com
Who could possibly do such a thing? In the entire history of the Federation, there probably wasn’t a second person who had, unless they’d had some kind of fortuitous encounter!
But everyone knew that Gao Neng had spent the last seven days cooped up in the Eastern Capital Military Academy, never setting foot outside.
No fortuitous encounter...
Advancing two minor stages in seven days!
Not even a monster could do that!
The two Elders didn’t believe it. The surrounding reporters didn’t believe it.
But the fact was, Gao Neng had truly shattered Qu Ran’s Life-taking Linked Three Immortal Swords with a single slash, and with that same slash, knocked him off the arena platform, unconscious.
They had no choice but to believe it.
"Gao Neng, can you tell us how you cultivate? Why is your progress so fast? Did you have some other fortuitous encounter on the battlefield last time?" a reporter burst out.
Seeing this, the other reporters snapped to their senses. No one cared about Gao Neng’s rank anymore. They were all far more interested in how he had progressed so astonishingly fast.
"No fortuitous encounters. I rely on hard work. If you all work hard, you can do it too!" Gao Neng said with a sincere smile.
"..." The reporters were speechless.
’Yeah, right!’
’This kid’s a real piece of work!’
Of course, Gao Neng wasn’t willing to reveal his secrets in public, and the reporters, deep down, knew better. Only a fool would have answered their question seriously.
Gao Neng wasn’t talking.
So they could only move on and steer the topic back to the Dragon List.
"Gao Neng, according to your agreement with Team Leader Zhang Hongying, by successfully breaking into the top sixty of the Dragon List, you’ll likely be rated S-rank! Can you share your thoughts on that now?"
"Yeah, tell us what you’re thinking!"
"..."
A crowd of reporters shouted.
"I don’t really have any thoughts on it. After all, I relied on my own strength. If you really want to know who has some thoughts, I bet Team Leader Zhang does right now, don’t you think? Team Leader Zhang, behind the camera, what’s on your mind?" Gao Neng flashed a brilliant smile at the camera.
...
CRASH!
Inside the Federation Government Office Building.
An exquisite glass cup had been smashed on the floor.
Zhang Hongying’s face was a mixture of pale and flushed. She had watched the entire battle between Gao Neng and Qu Ran, from Gao Neng’s initial setup to the final slash that took down his opponent.
Right from the beginning.
She knew she was probably going to lose their bet.
However, even knowing she would lose, she hadn’t given it much thought. She was certain that Gao Neng would win through trickery, an inglorious victory.
That way, even if she lost the bet, no one would question her judgment.
But now?
Gao Neng had used brute force, shattering Qu Ran’s killing blow head-on. It felt like a resounding slap across her face.
It stung, hot and sharp.
"Damn it! Seven days... In just seven short days, he could improve to this extent?! How... how... how... how did he do it? I don’t believe it!" Zhang Hongying’s lips trembled.
The other members of the Dragon List special task force all stood silently to the side.
Zhang Hongying’s fury held little interest for them, because not one of them had believed Gao Neng would win the challenge in such a manner either.
It was too overwhelming!
So overwhelming that it left no room for rebuttal.
What did this prove?
It proved that what Gao Neng had said seven days ago at the Eastern Capital Military Academy when he questioned Zhang Hongying was true. Zhang Hongying really was an "all-talk" judge of character with no real insight.
"Sigh... Update the Dragon List. Gao Neng, Dragon List rank 57, rating: S-rank!" A middle-aged man walked over at that moment, letting out a long sigh.
"Yes, sir!" Although the other members of the Dragon List team still found it hard to believe, the live broadcast didn’t lie. They had no choice but to make that rating.
’No... why did he challenge Qu Ran, who’s ranked 57th? There must be another reason. What is his real goal?’ Zhang Hongying didn’t stop her team members from making the update, but instead clenched her fists and murmured to herself.
"Sect Leader Hua said Gao Neng was testing his blade. Is it because Qu Ran’s swordsmanship is particularly sharp?" a team member piped up cautiously, peeking from the side.
"Testing his blade? He challenged Qu Ran because his swordsmanship is sharp?" Zhang Hongying’s brow furrowed, but she immediately shook her head. "No, it’s not that simple. If he wanted to test his blade, there are plenty of other ways. He definitely has another objective!"
"Team Leader Zhang, look! Shen Ning’Er and Cheng Cai’s battle is starting!"
"Hm?!" Zhang Hongying finally unclenched her fists. Gao Neng being given an S-rank rating was now a done deal.
No matter how unwilling she was to accept it.
She couldn’t find a single flaw in his battle performance.
This slap in the face...
She just had to take it!
’Shen Ning’Er’s battle? Is Gao Neng’s goal related to Shen Ning’Er somehow?’ Zhang Hongying’s gaze quickly focused on the screen.
Onscreen, Cheng Cai and Shen Ning’Er had already begun to fight.
The Huashan Ancient Sect’s *Thirteen Forms of the Gentle Breeze* and *Life-taking Linked Three Immortal Swords* were two completely different types of Swordsmanship. Although both were known for their sharpness, their styles were worlds apart.
The *Life-taking Linked Three Immortal Swords* had only three forms, all offensive moves. It was a style of fighting speed with speed, using offense as the best defense—an extremely aggressive form of Swordsmanship.
But the *Thirteen Forms of the Gentle Breeze* had, as its name implied, thirteen sword forms.
Not only did it have more forms.
Most importantly, the essence of the *Thirteen Forms of the Gentle Breeze* lay in two principles: ’elusive’ and ’subtle’.
It emphasized being seemingly present yet absent, real yet illusory, changing yet unchanged.
It could be described as an incredibly unpredictable style of Swordsmanship.
Thus, once Cheng Cai unleashed the *Thirteen Forms of the Gentle Breeze* in the arena, his entire body vanished from sight, leaving only a streak of rosy light weaving through a cloud of mist.
Fast, agile, and adaptable!
These three qualities, combined with the principles of ’elusive’ and ’subtle,’ created a truly unrestrained and fluid style.
"It seems Cheng Cai hasn’t been idle this past month. His comprehension of the *Thirteen Forms of the Gentle Breeze* must have reached a state of perfection!" one team member commented.
"The mist creates the elusiveness and subtlety, while the rosy light represents the adaptability. And the attacks are sharp enough. I wonder how Shen Ning’Er will respond?" another added.
"Shen Ning’Er is charging forward! Is she trying to meet him head-on, just like Gao Neng? But Cheng Cai probably won’t clash with her directly, will he?"
"Wait, something’s wrong with Shen Ning’Er!"
*(I have to get up early today to drive six hours back to my hometown in Hunan for ancestral worship! It’s 2 AM and I’m still writing... Please vote with a monthly ticket!!! Love you all!)*
