CHAPTER 49: CHAPTER 43: A JOKE

Nearly two hundred thousand spectators were left speechless, staring at the figure lying limp on the ground. Apart from a collective gasp, the large martial arts dojo was eerily silent.

Everyone exchanged glances, faces full of disbelief.

A high school student really beat a martial artist?

Is this some kind of movie?

Even the professional commentator hired by Thunder Martial Arts Dojo was stunned. He had commented on hundreds of matches, but none had been as shocking as today.

"Wow!"

Even Lin Feng’s young fans gasped, their mouths agape in surprise.

They had come together from different schools, from different places, skipping classes and braving the scorching sun to cheer for Lin Feng at Thunder Martial Arts Dojo!

But in their hearts, they never really expected Lin Feng to win this overwhelmingly lopsided match; they merely wanted to meet their idol and give him encouragement.

If even his fans were this surprised, it’s needless to say how shocked those who doubted Lin Feng were.

Some gamblers looked at the glaring "ten wins out of ten matches" on the big screen with despair on their faces.

Yesterday, many of these gamblers had bet on Lin Feng losing, only to lose nine consecutive times. Even though today’s odds were pathetically low, many adhered to the principle of safe profits and placed bets again, never imagining reality could be so harsh.

"Damn it, useless, truly useless."

"Why don’t you just die, getting beaten by a high school student."

"Get off quickly, why are you still lying there, cleaning the floor?"

Many gamblers couldn’t contain their emotions and shouted curses, even throwing water bottles, causing chaos for a while.

And Chen Xu, who lay limp on the ground, looked ashen, at this moment only wishing to dig a hole and bury himself...

"Actually won!"

In the VIP seats, Zhang Ling’s face was full of surprise and solemnity.

In her heart, she had a high opinion of Lin Feng, but not so high that it could compare to Ye Qiu.

Ye Qiu, a ninth-rank body cultivator, who refined the Thorny Demon Dragon from the Earth Chart, was recognized as a peerless genius, seen once in a decade.

Even a top-tier club like Thunder Club was willing to risk team disruption and even training suspension to sign with him.

’South Yeqiu, North Linfeng!’

To her, that phrase was actually a joke.

It was just hype from forums and the media; it was some quirky netizens that gave Lin Feng such buzz.

As a member of the martial arts forum, Zhang Ling naturally had seen the posts on the forum.

On the martial arts forum, someone had published Lin Feng’s report card from his third year of high school, with a sheet just from half a month ago.

That report card showed Lin Feng’s physical and cultural scores were nothing special, but his practical combat score was only 150 points.

For a high school senior, 150 points in practical combat is actually quite high, but for Lin Feng, that score was absolutely low.

Knowing that Lin Feng could challenge higher ranks and directly beat ninth-rank body cultivators, his practical combat score was at least 195 points, even a perfect score wouldn’t surprise Zhang Ling.

This means Lin Feng indeed hid his practical combat score.

And it was this report card that made her believe Lin Feng, to attend the same university as Song of Solomon, deliberately hid his strength as the main reason.

Although such a story is quite clichéd and extremely adolescent, it’s not impossible for young people, growing up together and in deep love, to do anything absurd for love.

However, in Zhang Ling’s view, this was limited to martial arts talent!

As for the forum’s claim that Lin Feng could have refined the ninth-grade Purple Qilin but gave it up to refine a demon spirit from the Earth Chart, she didn’t quite believe it.

For a martial artist, refining demon spirits isn’t unchangeable. Many martial artists, after becoming powerful, if they encounter a better level and more suitable demon spirit, can replace the first demon spirit, that is, the lifebound demon spirit, or refine it to make it the second demon spirit.

Most people will choose the first option, which is to expel the initial demon spirit from their body and refine a new demon spirit.

Choosing the second option is rare, because cultivating one demon spirit is extremely difficult, and a martial artist’s soul power is limited. Simultaneously nurturing two is not worth the loss.

The expelled demon spirit can’t be refined by others again and will soon dissipate into nothing.

And refining a demon spirit consumes a large amount of soul power from the dantian, and recovering this soul power typically takes about a year, which means after refining a demon spirit, even replacing it requires at least a year’s buffer period, not to mention the risks and side effects.

Encountering a demon spirit you don’t want on Awakening Day and choosing to give it up, this situation isn’t rare, and she’s heard of many.

But those people are from the Glory Race or heirs of large financial groups with demon spirits prepared by elders, their purpose in attending Awakening Day is to have an extra option.

They aim to refine rare ninth-grade or even Earth Chart demon spirits, and if they’re unlucky in finding one that’s suitable, they won’t settle for less, they’d rather give up outright.

Refining a demon spirit consumes massive soul power, taking up to a year to recover; they can’t afford to waste.

They have the demon spirits carefully prepared by elders as backups, but Lin Feng does not.

Lin Feng lives in Shore District. How could someone living in Shore District have the confidence to forgo a ninth-grade demon spirit?

Especially one as advanced as the Purple Qilin among ninth grades.

Could it really be for love?

Would he truly disregard his future for love?

Zhang Ling couldn’t believe that there were truly such foolish people in the world.

It was for this very reason that she suspected Lin Feng had the talent to become a Demon Spirit Master.

His purpose might very well be to attract sponsors and make some money.

At this moment, Zhang Ling was still doubtful, but facing Lin Feng, who possessed such combat talent, this doubt was deeply buried.

The young man now had her full attention.

If he has the talent to become a Demon Spirit Master and can refine a Ninth Grade or higher Demon Spirit, Lin Feng’s value might indeed rival that of Ye Qiu.

"Have you investigated it clearly? Hurry up and go!"

"Quickly confirm it, and if he truly has Soul Cultivator talent, sign with him immediately, whatever A-level contract, S-level..."

The whispered discussions nearby caught Zhang Ling’s attention, and she turned to look.

Many people were discussing softly, one of whom was a middle-aged man with a slim build, the head of the Wind-Grabbing Club’s Jiang City branch. As a peer responsible for an S-level club in Jiang City, she was naturally not unfamiliar with him.

In the VIP seats, it was apparent that she was not the only one with such thoughts; many people started making phone calls, and some hurriedly left the hall.

"Elder Jiang, where are you going?"

Even Elder Jiang from the Thunder Club, who was sitting next to her, got up to leave.

"Hehe, I just drank too much water, need to go to the bathroom."

Elder Jiang paused and turned around with a slight smile.

Although he was smiling, Elder Jiang was quite anxious inside. He naturally wanted to go confirm whether Lin Feng had the talent to become a Demon Spirit Master, fearing that he might be snatched up if he delayed.

Not securing Ye Qiu yesterday was extremely regrettable, and because of the promises and conditions the club made to Ye Qiu, the team members, upon learning of them, had become quite emotional, nearly refusing to train, bringing a bad influence on the team.

Now, with another talent like Lin Feng appearing, who could rival Ye Qiu, he didn’t want to miss out again.

Although anxious, upon hearing Zhang Ling’s question, Elder Jiang couldn’t leave immediately and had to maintain a facade of calm.

After all, among the many clubs, Ju Xing was the most threatening.

"You’re full of it!"

Zhang Ling cursed silently in her heart, then smiled and said, "Coincidentally, let’s go together, I was about to go to the bathroom too."

She didn’t want Lin Feng to first contact Thunder; the decisiveness and boldness Thunder displayed yesterday had left a deep impression on her, and she had to be on guard!

"Then let’s go together."

Elder Jiang laughed, also cursing inside.

....

Meanwhile, in the audience, Chen Hao’s parents were also full of shock.

Yesterday’s family gathering had thoroughly embarrassed their family. As a successful individual in the eyes of relatives, Father Chen had always held high status in the family, never having been so disgraced before.

The phrase, "Normally, we eat too bland, not used to greasy food," would probably be a laughingstock in relatives’ chats for a long time.

And it was all because of Lin Kerou’s brother.

And that young man stood in the VIP box, facing everyone’s doubt and disdain, with a calm yet extremely arrogant manner: "Just rely on the name Lin Feng, Senior Class 7, Jiangxin First Middle School." While it embarrassed them, it also made them very curious.

What qualifications did a high school student living in the Shore District have to say such arrogant words?

With a sense of disdain, they searched online for "Lin Feng, Senior Class 7, Jiangxin First Middle School."

Naturally, posts from the Martial Artist Forum appeared in front of the couple first, and even many relatives called to inform them about the things on the Martial Artist Forum.

With a complex feeling, they came to Thunder Martial Arts Dojo.

At this moment, they finally understood why the young man had the courage to say, "Too high for Chen Hao’s family to reach."

The talent he displayed proved to everyone that even if the young man came from a humble background, even if his strength was not strong, absolutely no one could underestimate him.

"At that time, you shouldn’t have said that to Kerou!" Father Chen sighed, feeling regretful.

"You didn’t agree with them being together either, why didn’t you say anything then, and now you’re complaining."

Mom Chen’s face was very unpleasant, she was also very regretful but unwilling to admit it, only to snort, "So what if his combat talent is great, without the ability to refine a Demon Spirit, there’s no future."

Father Chen was speechless for a moment, he didn’t explain, nor did he want to explain to his naive wife.

Such combat talent, even if he couldn’t refine a Demon Spirit, couldn’t gain the favor of the Glory Club, many martial arts dojos would still be willing to cultivate Lin Feng.

Demon Spirit Masters might surpass martial artists, but powerful martial artists are not something we businessmen can compare to.

His annual income of millions, might not even compare to a single Otherworld hunt by some advanced martial artists.

Not only in income, but martial artists also have a much higher social status than them.

If Lin Feng truly grows up, he might even have many privileges that can target them.

If Lin Feng truly becomes a Demon Spirit Master, yesterday’s arrogant words will come true entirely.

Their family indeed would be beyond reach.

His confidence, his annual income of millions, in front of professional Glory Players, was just a joke.