Free Web NovelChapter 340: Chapter 282: Confrontation: Dragon List No. 1 Shaximo (2)
"Ah, to be young!"
"Yes, they are all top geniuses from the sects, the prominent families, and the Military Department. It’s only natural for them to have their own sharp edges."
"Mm, that’s good. Conflict creates pressure."
"Look at those two, Gao Neng and Shaximo. They stirred up trouble and then ran to the sidelines to watch the show... It seems neither of them is just your average schemer!"
"Especially that kid Gao Neng. He went off to provoke Yi Qinglian again. Is he really not afraid Shaximo will make a move?"
"Hahaha, how interesting."
"I still think Shen Changsheng’s granddaughter is quite impressive. She’s patient, composed, and has a commanding presence. The overall situation may very well be in her hands in the future!"
Several old men were chatting.
There was a knock on the door.
The door opened.
A middle-aged man in a black uniform walked in. A four-colored insignia was printed on his chest.
"Speaker, all three hundred have arrived!" the middle-aged man said respectfully.
"Mm, then let’s begin as planned. Oh, and there’s no need to test for Fang Tangtang’s hidden talent. As for Gao Neng... arrange for his to be done privately," said an old man with a goatee.
"..." The middle-aged man’s expression flickered. He neither answered nor left.
"What is it? Do my words no longer carry any weight?" The old man with the goatee frowned slightly.
"No, it’s just..."
"Just what?"
"Yes, I’ll go arrange it at once!" The middle-aged man gritted his teeth and quickly withdrew.
The other old men watched this unfold and shook their heads.
One of the old men hesitated before speaking up. "Speaker, will this be a problem? This is a critical period, and those few people are..."
"Are what? If they want to make the decisions, they’ll have to wait until they’re actually in a position to do so!" The old man with the goatee waved his hand dismissively, cutting him off.
"Mm, the Speaker is right!"
"That’s true, but the Federation Council isn’t just a council of the few of us. Ultimately, their motivation is still for the sake of the Alliance’s victory a year and a half from now..."
...
「In the research lab」
The two factions were still arguing.
Meanwhile, Gao Neng, Shen Ning’Er, and the others found a place to sit down and even poured themselves some water. After all, arguing is thirsty work.
In the midst of the argument, the inner door of the research lab opened.
A woman walked out.
She didn’t say a word, simply watching the two arguing factions.
But the two factions, who had been arguing nonstop, instantly fell silent. In a flash, everyone’s gaze was fixed on the woman who had just emerged.
Gao Neng, of course, looked over as well. And then, the mouthful of water he’d just taken came spraying back out.
"PFFT!!!"
Right onto Yi Qinglian.
She... was soaked!
"Gao Neng, you... Are you blind?!" This time, Yi Qinglian was truly enraged. She had already swallowed her anger and yielded her spot to him, only to suffer his vile attack anyway.
’That animal!’
’She would not let him get away with this!’
However, Gao Neng was now completely ignoring Yi Qinglian.
Because he had seen someone he knew.
Someone he knew very... very well.
Zhang Hongying!
The former leader of Team Two of the Federation Government’s Dragon List Special Task Force.
Today’s Zhang Hongying was different from the professionally dressed Zhang Hongying he’d seen last time. Today, she was wearing a form-fitting instructor’s uniform. It was pure black, with tall boots and a wide belt cinched at her waist.
Though she was nearly forty, this outfit made her look no older than thirty.
More importantly, she was holding a small leather whip in her right hand, tapping it constantly against her left palm, making a TAP, TAP, TAP... sound.
’This is too much!’
Gao Neng really felt like cursing. ’The world can’t be *this* small for enemies, can it?’
’What is Zhang Hongying doing here?!’
"Allow me to introduce myself. I am Zhang Hongying." Zhang Hongying’s gaze swept across the room, finally landing on Gao Neng. "I am the one in charge of this comprehensive assessment. Hmm... and also your future evaluator. As the sects and prominent families would say, I am your introductory master. As the Military Department would say, I am the company commander of this new recruit platoon!"
An uproar erupted.
Her words sent the disciples from the sects and prominent families into a frenzy.
Who was Zhang Hongying?
How could they not know?
The deal between Gao Neng and Zhang Hongying had spread across the web long ago. Now, for this "lady" to be appointed their introductory master—what did that imply?
It implied she was here to use her public position to settle a private score!
How utterly cruel!
After hearing Zhang Hongying’s words, even Shaximo, who had been watching from the sidelines, turned his gaze back to Gao Neng. As the saying goes: retribution is not a matter of if, but when.
"I protest!" Gao Neng immediately shot to his feet.
Zhang Hongying was his platoon commander? How the hell was he supposed to survive this? Or rather, it wasn’t a question of survival anymore; it was a matter of choosing how to die.
"Overruled!" Zhang Hongying didn’t even bother asking for his reasons, shutting him down directly. At the same time, she pulled a paper document from her chest pocket. "This is an appointment from the Federation Supreme Council. Protests are not an option. From this moment on, you will all address me as Instructor Zhang!"
"Yes!"
"Instructor Zhang!"
"Instructor Zhang!"
The disciples from the sects and prominent families stood up one after another.
Wang Jun and the others from the Military Department exchanged a look, then also took a step forward.
"Instructor Zhang!"
This was a decision by the Federation Supreme Council. Even the Military Department couldn’t possibly protest to the Federation Council over a single person like Gao Neng.
Besides, the issue between Zhang Hongying and Gao Neng was a personal grudge.
And since it was a personal grudge...
’She probably wouldn’t retaliate so brazenly, right?’
"Alright, we will now begin the testing in groups!" Zhang Hongying gave Gao Neng no further chance to speak and continued, "The purpose of these groups isn’t to have you fight each other, but to have you feel the pressure from your peers, which will better stimulate your body’s potential. Therefore, the principle for grouping this time is based on the Dragon List rankings. To put it simply, two people of similar strength will form a group. Understood?"
"Understood!"
"Very good. Group one, Shaximo!" Zhang Hongying announced.
"Here!" Shaximo responded.
Then, another person stood up. It was the man ranked second on the Dragon List, Wei Ya, a strapping young man standing one-point-nine meters tall, a Tier Six Late Stage powerhouse, aged thirty.
Some said Wei Ya’s strength was no less than Shaximo’s.
He had been stuck at the Tier Six Late Stage for five years, making him the person on the Dragon List who had remained at that level the longest.
Zhang Hongying had just said that people of similar strength would be grouped together, so Wei Ya naturally stood up.
However, Zhang Hongying’s gaze didn’t fall on the standing Wei Ya. Instead, she continued to stare at the indignant Gao Neng in the distance.
"Gao Neng." The corner of Zhang Hongying’s mouth lifted.
"What?" Gao Neng was confused. ’She’s calling me? Why?’
"I said, group one is Shaximo and Gao Neng!" Zhang Hongying said, an involuntary smile spreading across her face as she watched Gao Neng’s bewildered expression.
She was truly enjoying this!
It was an unconcealed, cathartic pleasure. She didn’t even try to hide the smile on her face, simply watching Gao Neng and laughing with abandon.
Hearing this, the geniuses from the sects, prominent families, and the Military Department were all momentarily stunned.
’Group one, Shaximo and Gao Neng?’
’Didn’t she just say the rule was that they had to be of similar strength?’
’Does that mean...’
’...that Shaximo and Gao Neng are of similar strength?’
’No!’
’This is revenge.’
’And it’s blatant, undisguised revenge at that.’
Everyone knew Zhang Hongying would likely find a chance to make things difficult for Gao Neng, but no one expected her "difficulty" to arrive so quickly.
It was too direct!
It was completely and utterly flagrant!
"I protest! Zhang Hongying, you’re abusing your power to settle a personal grudge!" Though Gao Neng didn’t know what was coming next, he knew one thing for sure: whatever Zhang Hongying had arranged, it couldn’t be good.
"Abusing my power to settle a grudge? No, no, you should say I’m using my position for personal gain! Because I’m looking out for you, see? Have you already forgotten you wanted to challenge Shaximo? I’m using my authority right now to give you that opportunity. Gao Neng, you’re not scared, are you?"
