Wong Qiang landed with a thud.

The crowd was deathly silent.

The opening match was a completely one-sided affair. Yet, far from being disappointed, the crowd grew even more excited… because there was still a good show to watch.

All eyes were focused on Jin Hankang and Xu Ke. The rules of the Martial Alliance were crystal clear. Jin Hankang had told him to stop, so how did Xu Ke still dare to make a move? That's a blatant violation! And if he violated the rules, Xu Ke is going to suffer!

At this moment, Jin Hankang stared at Xu Ke with gritted teeth. "Xu Ke, I clearly told you to stop. Why didn't you?"

Xu Ke looked at Jin Hankang. "He hadn't lost his ability to fight."

"You had already caught him!"

"And being caught means he can't fight? Did you know he was digging his nails into my hand?"

Xu Ke held up the hand that had just seized Wong Qiang's fist, and it indeed bore the marks of being gouged by fingernails.

Wong Qiang had used every trick in the book, but unfortunately, he couldn't break free from Xu Ke's iron grip.

Seeing Xu Ke raise his hand, the crowd burst into laughter.

"Wong Qiang is really something else."

"A grown man scratching with his nails? How shameful!"

"If you ask me, he should have just admitted defeat gracefully."

The air filled with whispers, all of them mocking.

Hearing this, Qian Jun's face turned green. He wished he could go up there and kill Wong Qiang himself. If you can't beat Xu Ke, just admit defeat, right? Why resort to scratching with your fingernails?

Seeing this, Jin Hankang's face turned ashen. He then proceeded to brazenly twist the truth, clamoring, "This is proof that he lost his ability to fight!"

"Otherwise, why would he resort to such tactics?"

"You violated the rules! I'm disqualifying you from the match! Your Tianhai has lost!"

As soon as he said this, the expressions of Chen Xiong and Yuan Shang, who were below the stage, changed instantly. Is this Jin Hankang planning to play the scoundrel?

They immediately prepared to get on stage and argue with Jin Hankang.

From the Wang Family's section, sneers could be heard.

Wang Qiya was indignant. "This man is too shameless!"

Wong Qifu's gaze turned icy.

Seeing this, Huang Zhendong also prepared to stand up and help Jin Hankang twist the truth. Getting Xu Ke disqualified right now would be an acceptable outcome!

At this rate, the scene was about to devolve into a war of words again.

But Ye Yunfeng didn't stand up. A hint of satisfaction played on his lips…

Qian Jun was the same. His expression was grim, but given the circumstances, he felt he had no other choice!

Just as everyone was about to start arguing, Wong Qiang's voice suddenly rang out, seething with immense murderous intent. "Xu Ke, do you think you've won?"

"You're fucking dreaming!"

As his voice fell, the audience, who had been ready for a good show, was stunned.

What was going on?

Wong Qiang had been sent flying so far. Was he alright?!

All eyes focused on Wong Qiang on the ring, and they were suddenly struck with a horrifying realization—

Wong Qiang, whose aura had been weak after the kick, was now surging with incredibly potent power, an aura almost comparable to the Innate Great Perfection realm.

How could this be possible?!

Seeing this, the anger on Jin Hankang's face vanished, replaced by sheer ecstasy.

The next moment, he backed away, no longer thinking about disqualifying Xu Ke. Why would he bother dealing with Xu Ke now? He just wanted to watch Xu Ke get a brutal beating!

Chen Xiong and Yuan Shang were equally astounded by this scene.

The next moment, they exchanged a look, and a single term came to both their minds—

Banned substances!

That was right.

As Wong Qiang was kicked away, he had bitten through a capsule he had hidden in his mouth. It was a enhancement drug provided by the Ye Family, developed by concentrating the essence of modern medical technology and the Martial Path. It could instantly activate all of the body's latent potential, forcibly elevating one's strength.

The greater one's potential, the more their strength could be enhanced!

Thus, Wong Qiang, who already had great potential, instantly leaped to the Innate Great Perfection realm!

The essence of an Innate Martial Artist is the training and strengthening of the body, so achieving a jump in realm through the stimulation of drugs was entirely possible.

Wong Qiang hadn't wanted to take this drug, because his cultivation would regress by at least one major realm afterward, and it would severely overdraw the potential of his meridians and bones. He might never even be able to reach the Innate realm in the future…

But right now, he couldn't care less!

If he couldn't wash away his shame here and now, he would be kicked off the team by the Wong Ting when he returned overseas anyway. For Wong Qiang, who saw his position on the team as his greatest honor, that would be a fate worse than death.

Now, he felt invincible!

Xu Ke was nothing but a worthless insect.

Seeing this unfold, Ye Yunfeng smiled. Xu Ke, let's see how smug you can be now with the Ye Family's help. As a spent force, you managed one kick. You really think you can manage a second?

...

Xu Ke looked at the now-standing Wong Qiang and smiled. "Was it worth exhausting your potential just to beat me?"

"What nonsense are you talking about? I just had a sudden burst of power at a critical moment," Wong Qiang retorted with a cold laugh, slowly straightening his posture.

He would never admit to taking any drugs; that was against the rules of the Martial Alliance.

Thanks to the drug, he couldn't even feel the pain from the kick to his lower abdomen anymore!

"A burst of power?"

Xu Ke replied with a half-smile, "Well then, you're really amazing!"

Hearing this, the people in the stands had a sudden realization.

No wonder he had suddenly jumped a realm; it turned out Wong Qiang had taken a banned substance.

But then, their expressions shifted to ones of keen interest.

They wanted to see how Xu Ke would handle such a powerful Wong Qiang.

In the Wang Family's section, Wang Qiya's face instantly turned pale. "Will my brother-in-law be alright?"

Seeing Wong Qiang in this state, Wang Qiya, who had never seen Xu Ke fight before, was genuinely worried.

But Wong Qifu, who knew the whole story, simply smiled. "Don't worry. Have a little more faith in him."

...

Just then, Chen Xiong rushed to the referee's table, bellowing, "I demand Wong Qiang be disqualified! He took a banned substance!"

If Xu Ke weren't injured, he wouldn't be worried. But he knew that Xu Ke had only been able to cripple Wong Qiang with that kick because he himself had used medicine to delay the effects of the Ghost Poison Elders' toxin, allowing him to maintain his strength.

Now, facing a Wong Qiang at Innate Great Perfection, it was debatable whether Xu Ke could even win.

If the direct confrontation caused the toxin to flare up ahead of schedule, Xu Ke would be in grave danger!

Jin Hankang looked down on him with a contemptuous smile. "Drugs? Who saw it? Is there any proof?"

"Are you saying we should stop the match just because of your baseless suspicion?"

At this moment, he was certain of victory and had no desire to stop the fight.

Chen Xiong's face flushed with anger at Jin Hankang's shamelessness. "Without drugs, who can suddenly jump two whole realms?!"

Jin Hankang scoffed, "You don't understand. Wong Qiang is a genius!"

Yuan Shang roared, "You're so fucking shameless!"

Jin Hankang was incredibly smug. "So what if I am?"

Watching the two of them hopping mad but utterly helpless, Jin Hankang felt absolutely thrilled.

"You…"

Chen Xiong was overcome with indignant grief.

But there was nothing he could do. He could only turn a pleading gaze toward Shi Junneng and Mo Yunchang.

The two of them actually avoided his eyes.

Chen Xiong's heart went cold. He whipped his head around and shouted at Xu Ke, "Xu Ke, you can forfeit! Save yourself!"

Xu Ke looked momentarily surprised, then smiled. "Thank you, Alliance Leader Chen."

Qian Jun, Ye Yunfeng, and Huang Zhendong smirked at the display. You can still smile? In a moment, you'll be lying on the ground like a dead dog!

At that very moment—

"Xu Ke, you dare get distracted while fighting me? You're courting death!" Wong Qiang's roar tore through the air as he charged forward at a terrifying speed.

After taking a moment to adapt to his newfound power, he had launched a ferocious attack directly at Xu Ke.

This time, he wanted Xu Ke dead!

Seeing this, everyone held their breath, their faces alight with excitement.

This time, Xu Ke is surely doomed, right? This is Innate Great Perfection! Not just some mid-level Innate…

BANG—

The familiar sound, like a gunshot, once again erupted through the loudspeakers.

Everyone's thoughts came to a screeching halt, their excited expressions freezing on their faces.

Ye Yunfeng's satisfaction, Jin Hankang's contempt, and the sneers of Qian Jun and Huang Zhendong all stiffened.

They watched as Wong Qiang was sent flying backward, even faster than he had charged in, spewing blood. All of them were utterly dumbfounded.

Why… why does this scene feel so damn familiar?!

THUD.

Wong Qiang crashed onto the edge of the ring, his body as limp as a sack of mud.

In that instant, the entire venue fell into a dead silence.

Only Xu Ke's mocking voice echoed in the air…

"Elder Jin, you saw it clearly this time."

"He hasn't lost his ability to fight!"