Chapter 35: Acting Genius!
Chapter 35: Acting Genius!
“Very well, the testing is complete. Unrelated personnel may withdraw. Tang Jinbiao, take your position for the draw and prepare for the matches!”
Though his expression remained grim, the Third Elder still had to proceed with the competition. He spoke clearly to Tang Hu and the others.
“Ah Hu, you all can go down now. I’ll be fine!”
Tang Jinbiao was internally overjoyed, thrilled he’d genuinely reached the First Rank of Body Refining.
“Brother Biao, we…”
“Brother Biao!”
Tang Hu and the other youths looked at Tang Jinbiao, their faces downcast as if their parents had just died.
“It’s alright! Your Brother Biao will handle this! Don’t worry!”
Tang Jinbiao patted his chest confidently.
“Brother Biao!”
Seeing his insistence, Tang Hu and the others had no choice but to descend from the Platform Stage with sorrowful expressions, standing below to watch silently.
Heh heh, never imagined I’d advance to the First Rank of Body Refining so fast. Hmm, seems I really am a genius! Other protagonists in novels take three to five years just to cultivate, but me? All it took was running, and here I am at the first rank! Hah! I’m a damn genius!
Tang Jinbiao stepped behind the Cultivators at the Qi Condensation Fourth Layer, taking the last spot in line as he quietly waited for the draw, his heart surging with excitement.
“Alright! The draw begins now!”
Watching Tang Jinbiao standing there grinning stupidly made the Third Elder grit his teeth in silent fury. He fought the urge to rush over and viciously beat Tang Jinbiao into confessing his secrets immediately.
As Tang Jinbiao smirked, those in the opposing row exchanged faint smiles, their eyes lingering on him subtly. Each seemed to harbor thoughts of hoping to draw him as an opponent, likely wanting an easy victory.
Heh heh!
Tang Jinbiao naturally smiled back at them, assuming they were congratulating him.
Ha! And here you are, still smirking at a time like this?
While Tang Jinbiao chuckled inwardly, the voice of Huang Biaozi abruptly echoed in his mind.
Why shouldn’t I smile? I’m officially a First Rank of Body Refining Body Refiner now! How could I not celebrate such a joyous occasion?
Following the slowly advancing line, Tang Jinbiao responded to Huang Biaozi mentally with utter disdain.
I… fine. Honestly can’t tell if you’re truly foolish or just pretending. But let me be clear: I won’t lift a finger for any problem you can solve yourself. Overcome it. Only when it’s truly beyond you… Well, we’ll see then. Tck…
Huang Biaozi, who had assumed he could decipher Tang Jinbiao’s thoughts, found himself mistaken yet again, sighing inwardly in exasperation.
Heh heh!
Tang Jinbiao completely ignored Huang Biaozi. Still riding the euphoric thrill of his breakthrough, he vividly imagined himself becoming an earth-shaking powerhouse with mere gestures.
Hah! I finally reached the first rank! Finally! First Rank!
Tang Jinbiao continued his silent, giddy amusement.
Number Three!
It was finally his turn to draw. Instinctively, he thrust his hand into the container, carelessly grabbed a token, and walked aside for a quick glance. Number Three.
Once the draw concluded, all members of both teams, except those designated as Number One who remained on stage, filed down from the Platform Stage. Tang Jinbiao followed suit, still utterly absorbed in the exhilaration of attaining the First Rank of Body Refining.
When Tang Hu and the others saw Tang Jinbiao approaching, their faces fell, each looking utterly miserable, as if death itself seemed preferable.
“Heheh, Ah Hu, I’m at the First Rank of Body Refining now! Hah, got another pinghu (a draw in mahjong)… who can understand my loneliness?”
Tang Jinbiao chuckled foolishly as he walked towards Tang Hu and the others, striking a pose of unparalleled solitude tinged with boredom. He even recalled his time in that other world, playing cards with his buddies and constantly winning by self-draw.
“Brother Biao!”
The more Tang Jinbiao acted like this, the more Tang Hu and the others felt they must have been utterly blind to believe his words yesterday. Thankfully, Tang Hu himself possessed the strength of Body Refining Second Rank (Advanced), which gave them a bit of backbone. Otherwise, they would have left without a second thought.
Bang bang bang!
Boom boom boom!
Swoosh swoosh swoosh!
Above the Platform Stage, the two who drew lot number one were fighting with passionate intensity, locked in a fierce struggle. Tang Jinbiao paid them absolutely no mind.
“Heheh, this should be interesting!”
Tang Huaxi and the others watched Tang Jinbiao, smirking mockingly. They seemed to anticipate the scene of Tang Jinbiao being pummeled the moment he stepped onto the stage.
“Ah!”
A cry of pain echoed out as a disciple at Qi Condensation Fourth Layer was blasted off the Platform Stage.
“First match, Tang Chao wins! Second match contestants, step onto the stage!”
The Third Elder kept glancing at Tang Jinbiao, his eyes practically murderous. Yet, with everyone watching, he couldn’t lose his temper and could only wait silently.
Swoosh swoosh swoosh!
As soon as the Third Elder finished speaking, the two cultivators who drew lot number two immediately leaped onto the stage. Without a word, they started fighting fiercely.
The disciples participating today were mostly from the Tang Family’s main line. Even those who weren’t had parents who held positions of influence. Consequently, whether it was the cultivation techniques they practiced, the Spirit Artifacts they wielded, or their combat methods, they were naturally far superior to those eliminated disciples from yesterday.
This second match lasted a full quarter of an hour before it finally ended.
At last, it was time for Tang Jinbiao’s first match.
“Third match contestants, come up for the fight!”
The Third Elder, his gaze filled with malice, looked directly at Tang Jinbiao, though he still announced the start of the third match.
Swoosh!
The moment the Third Elder finished speaking, a cultivator in gray robes shot up onto the Platform Stage.
This cultivator was none other than Tang Ao, the very one from yesterday who had cried out in surrender but then managed to snatch victory!
Tang Ao now stood upon the Platform Stage, a smug smile curling on his lips. Clearly, he considered victory in this match a foregone conclusion. The other cultivators, however, wore expressions of reluctant disappointment, likely cursing inwardly why they hadn’t been the ones matched against Tang Jinbiao.
“Hehehe!”
But Tang Jinbiao remained where he was, chuckling foolishly as if lost in some happy memory. He hadn’t heard the Third Elder’s announcement at all.
“Brother Biao!”
Tang Hu, realizing Tang Jinbiao hadn’t reacted yet, tugged on his sleeve and whispered a prompt.
“Huh? What’s up?”
Pulled by Tang Hu, Tang Jinbiao snapped out of it, looking bewildered.
“Brother Biao, it’s your turn for the match!”
Tang Hu signaled him to look at the Platform Stage and urged him to join the competition. At this moment, he could see the Third Elder wearing a gloomy expression, and Tang Ao gazing at Tang Jinbiao with a mocking smile.
“Oh oh oh! It’s my turn now!”
Tang Jinbiao reacted, quickly stuffing the draw slip into his pocket, patted Tang Hu on the shoulder, and earnestly said, “Ah Hu, Brother Biao is going first; you need to put in effort!”
“I…”
Tang Hu had a speechless look.
“Pfft! What a fool!”
“Brother Biao, you must be mighty!”
“Brother Biao, you’re invincible! Charge forward and finish him off!”
“Brother Biao!”
“Haha!”
Those in the arena saw that Tang Jinbiao was still slow to react at such a critical moment. One after another responded, and an unknown person instigated the cheers. Suddenly, the voices rose and fell like waves, growing louder and louder as if Tang Jinbiao were truly unbeatable.
“Haha, thank you, thank you!”
Tang Jinbiao seemed to relish the cheers and nodded repeatedly in agreement.
Swish!
Tang Jinbiao leaped in a few swift steps directly onto the Platform Stage, standing face to face with Tang Ao.
“Brother Biao!”
“Brother Biao, you can do it!”
The spectators below continued cheering tirelessly, but Tang Hu and the others didn’t find it amusing; their faces all turned grim.
“Hehe, little brother Tang Ao, please go easy on me!”
Tang Jinbiao still wore a silly grin as he cupped his hands toward Tang Ao, chuckling foolishly. It seemed he was still basking in the joy of his entry into the First Rank of Body Refining.
“Hehe, then Brother Jinbiao should watch out!”
Tang Ao wore a mocking smirk as he also cupped his hands to reply.
Ding-dong!
After hearing the words “Brother Jinbiao,” Tang Jinbiao jolted instinctively, appearing to become slightly more alert.
“Brother Jinbiao, here I come!”
Tang Ao noticed Tang Jinbiao’s momentary distraction and a fierce glint flashed in his eyes. With one hand, he slapped his Storage Pouch, and a Yellow Tiny Sword immediately spiraled out, emitting a faint hum before transforming into a streak of yellow light that shot toward Tang Jinbiao.
“Shit!”
The still-grinning Tang Jinbiao instantly sobered upon sensing the sharp killing aura from the Tiny Sword. He cursed under his breath but no longer dared to underestimate the situation.
Thud!
Tang Jinbiao violently stomped his feet against the ground and launched himself with explosive force. His entire body rocketed like a cannonball toward Tang Ao while simultaneously dodging sideways to evade the Tiny Sword’s attack.
“Huh? Not good!”
Tang Ao, who had been complacent, now saw Tang Jinbiao’s remarkable speed and was immediately rattled. His initial condescension vanished, and his expression changed faintly. He swiftly manipulated the Flying Sword to strike back and hastily retreated at high speed.
He had no idea Tang Jinbiao excelled at speed—after all, all that long-distance running wasn’t for nothing. Tang Jinbiao had once asked Huang Biaozi why they needed to run, and Huang Biaozi naturally went on about running being the best form of exercise and how only running truly approached the great path of Body Refining. But Tang Jinbiao didn’t buy it; deep down, he believed Huang Biaozi spent his days deceiving others and likely only advised running to help people escape faster if beaten. Of course, if Huang Biaozi ever learned Tang Jinbiao harbored such thoughts, he might have dashed his head against a wall in frustration.
That said, this training had indeed brought Tang Jinbiao tangible benefits.
“So fast!”
With his usual weight training ingrained, the absence of any extra burden on his body made Tang Jinbiao’s leg movements startling—even he was briefly alarmed by his own velocity.
“Not good!”
Tang Ao continued his rapid retreat, but his pace was no match for Tang Jinbiao’s. He managed only a few steps back before Tang Jinbiao closed in on him instantly.
“Hehe, little brother, sorry about this!”
After catching up to Tang Ao, Tang Jinbiao flashed a mocking smile, formed his right hand into a fist, and immediately threw a punch that landed solidly on Tang Ao’s stomach.
Bang!
“Ah!”
“Ah!”
Following that forceful strike, two agonized cries rang out abruptly…