Chapter 55: Winning Big (Please keep reading)

The martial arts exchange competition continued.

The momentum on both sides had undergone a subtle shift. Prompted by the intelligent female voice, the second match officially began.

At Songbai High School, Liang Kai stepped onto the arena. His hands were sweating, and his heart beat uncontrollably fast.

*Even Lin Qi, the last person in Tianhai No. 2 High School, is this strong. If that's the case, how powerful must the ninth place be? Can I even win?*

On the side of No. 2 High School, the ninth-place competitor was a large boy named Yu Peng.

He was exceptionally excited; Lin Qi's victory seemed to have filled him with confidence.

Songbai High School's strength was not particularly high. Since Lin Qi could defeat his opponent, as the ninth-ranked student, he believed he could do the same.

【3, 2, 1...】

【The second match officially begins!】

With the announcement of the intelligent female voice, the competition commenced.

Two figures brandished their weapons and vanished from their original positions. Fierce winds howled amidst flashes of blade and sword light as longswords and battle sabers collided violently.

Two minutes later.

*Clang, clang!*

With a strange expression, Liang Kai swung his longsword. A cold light flashed, instantly piercing through Yu Peng's chest.

"Why is he so weak?"

This opponent was much weaker than he had imagined. How could this be?

*Is it because Lin Qi is too strong?!*

This thought suddenly popped into Liang Kai's mind.

Yu Peng, who had been killed and sent back to the spectator stands, was also stunned. *How is this opponent so strong?*

The competition continued.

The two sides quickly moved into the third match. Both competitors were the eighth-ranked students of their respective schools.

A few minutes later.

The eighth-place student from Tianhai No. 2 High School, a slightly chubby boy, was sent back with a grim expression.

"She's too strong, I can't beat her!" he said, bowing his head in guilt.

Others were puzzled by his words, and the elite class outside the screen was dumbfounded.

"What's going on? How did they lose again?"

"That's two losses in a row, and they lost miserably."

Where exactly did things go wrong?

Li Zhou and the others also noticed this. The opponent's overall strength was not weak; on the contrary, it was terrifyingly strong.

Could the reason they won the first match be simply because Lin Qi was too powerful?

In the Songbai High School spectator stands

"Easy, so easy!"

"I thought Tianhai No. 2 would be strong, but it seems they're nothing special!" someone said with a laugh, stretching their limbs.

"Only that Lin Qi is strong. The others represent the true level of No. 2 High School," Liang Kai spoke up, having the right to say so.

"Then it's my turn to crush the noobs!"

A girl flashed a smile and stepped onto the arena, eager to try!

【Please, the fourth contestant, enter the stage!】

"Brother Qi, I'm going in!" Jiang Tao was also rubbing his hands in anticipation.

"Go, Taozi. The second victory depends on you."

Lin Qi nodded. Watching Jiang Tao enter the arena, he felt confident; Jiang Tao was a true genius.

A few minutes later.

【Fourth match: Tianhai No. 2 High School, Jiang Tao wins!】

"My title of 'Blade Ape' isn't just for show."

Jiang Tao swaggered back to the spectator stands, fist-bumping Lin Qi. After advancing into the top ten, he had gained a new nickname—Blade Ape.

Seeing Jiang Tao's victory, the members of the elite class breathed a sigh of relief. The gap had been so large earlier that they thought they were doomed.

Only Zhang Cheng's expression remained heavy.

The exchange competition was entirely controlled by the system and would not stop. The subsequent matches proceeded in an orderly fashion.

Fifth match: Songbai High School wins!

Sixth match: Songbai High School wins!

Seventh match: A draw!

After seven matches, the expressions of those in the Songbai High School stands were relaxed; victory was within sight.

On the side of No. 2 High School, the expressions were solemn. The people in the virtual room were silent, as quiet as a library.

"Songbai High School has won four matches in a row. If they win one more, we lose completely," Jiang Tao sighed.

Lin Qi also frowned. *Is No. 2 High School going to lose? For the next three matches, they must win all three for us to win. It's too hard!*

At Songbai High School, Cao Bin looked at Zhang Cheng with a mocking smile.

"Go. Finish off the remaining three in one go and take the victory and the prize money."

"Alright!" the crowd shouted excitedly!

At Tianhai No. 2 High School.

Zhang Cheng exhaled and said to Qi Yuelin, "It's up to you!"

Qi Yuelin nodded and vanished from the spot.

The eighth match officially began!

【Eighth match: Tianhai No. 2 High School, Qi Yuelin wins!】

A few minutes later, Qi Yuelin returned with a smile.

【Ninth match: Tianhai No. 2 High School, Yu Jing wins!】

After Yu Jing shook his head and left the stage, he muttered, "Is that it?"

【Tenth match: Tianhai No. 2 High School, Li Zhou wins!】

After returning, Li Zhou grinned. "A bit of skill, but not much."

Zhang Cheng broke into a smile. Three consecutive wins—No. 2 High School had turned it around.

【Martial Arts Exchange Competition, final result: Songbai: Tianhai = 4:5】

【Tianhai No. 2 High School claims final victory!】

The intelligent female voice announced the final result through the air.

The people from Songbai High School were stunned. Cao Bin's face turned ugly; they had actually lost, losing the exchange competition after being overtaken by three consecutive wins from Tianhai No. 2 High School. It was too embarrassing.

The others nearby also looked grim; no one had expected this outcome.

Everyone was in a hurry to log off.

...

"We won!" Jiang Tao laughed.

Lin Qi also showed a rare smile. Li Zhou and the other two were quite reliable; this exchange competition had been a rollercoaster.

Li Zhou and the other two were clearly on a different level compared to the others.

At the very least, his prize money was secured.

Logging off and exiting the virtual pods, the entire virtual room was filled with excited voices.

"As expected of the top three in the grade, terrifyingly stable."

"In the end, it still came down to those three."

"And Jiang Tao and Lin Qi—they were dark horses too."

"I bet the top five in our grade will be them from now on," someone predicted, gaining widespread agreement.

Zhang Cheng smiled and summarized

"Alright, everyone else return to your classrooms first. Li Zhou, you ten stay behind."

After the bystanders had all left, Zhang Cheng looked around at the ten students and offered a rare, complimentary smile.

"Everyone performed well this time. I didn't expect us to win in the end. You've brought great honor to our school."

"Don't worry, 2 million Xia Guo yuan. Everyone will have a share this time."

"Those who participated will receive 100,000 Xia yuan each. Those who drew will receive 200,000 Xia yuan."

"And those who won the victory will receive 280,000 Xia yuan."

"This prize money will be deposited into your accounts tomorrow or the day after."

The others remained calm upon hearing this; they weren't as overjoyed as those who had won the victory, as they weren't lacking money.

Only Lin Qi and Jiang Tao exchanged a glance, feeling a surge of joy.

To them, 280,000 yuan was a massive sum.

"Alright, everyone disperse and go to your respective training!" Zhang Cheng said before dismissing them.

"Lin Qi, let's add each other on Weixin. Contact me if you need anything later," Li Zhou suddenly spoke up.

"Me too!" Qi Yuelin added.

"Me as well!" Zhu Yuqi, the fourth-ranked student, smiled.

A few others also asked to add him on Weixin. Lin Qi did not refuse and added them one by one.

Each of them showed a friendly, enthusiastic smile.

Only Yu Jing remained indifferent, turning and walking away.

...

A few minutes later.

Lin Qi returned to his martial arts room, closing his eyes to recall the recent battles, especially the matches involving Li Zhou and the others.

*The others are one thing, but the skills and blood-qi levels of Li Zhou, Yu Jing, and Qi Yuelin are far superior to mine. The gap is obvious; I am currently no match for them.*

*As for the others, winning isn't impossible.*

Lin Qi exhaled and began taking energy potions.

*My expenses have been increasing lately. I've almost phased out blood-qi potions. I've started taking energy potions every day, doing four training sessions a day, which consumes four bottles of energy potions.*

*The energy potions I bought last time are all gone. I bought another batch, which cost about 150,000 yuan.*

Lin Qi calculated silently. To ensure the rapid improvement of his blood-qi, no matter how expensive the energy potions were, he had to use them every day.

Between the previous "First-Class Genius Loan" and the Star Rank activity prize money, he now had less than 500,000 yuan left. He had spent over 300,000 yuan in just half a month.

The remaining money likely wouldn't last more than a month. With the 280,000 yuan prize, he could hold out for a while longer.

*I'm still short on money!*

Lin Qi sighed inwardly. The activity prize money was just pocket change; the real money came from signing with a martial arts gym.

...

At the same time, in the Principal's Office.

"I really didn't expect us to win."

"Old Zhang, this is all thanks to you."

Jiang Zhiguang walked excitedly around the office, occasionally watering the flowerpots as green sprouts poked through the soil.

"I can't take all the credit. I didn't mentor many of the top ten. Li Zhou and the others are simply strong on their own."

"However, Lin Qi and Jiang Tao were indeed taught by me," Zhang Cheng said while eating a popsicle.

"Lin Qi and Jiang Tao—especially Lin Qi. Who could have imagined he would rise so quickly? Our school's luck has arrived!" Jiang Zhiguang couldn't stop his praise.

*Buzz!*

At that moment, Zhang Cheng's phone vibrated. He pulled it out to look, and a smile immediately spread across his face.

...

(End of Chapter)