Chapter Fifteen: Showing Off and Facing Reversal in the Name of Duty

After his expression shifted through a storm of emotions, Luo Gang gritted his teeth. There was no way he would be intimidated! Just any random person, and they thought themselves worthy to be compared with him? Even if this boy was sent by the higher-ups—so what? Someone of his age, winning against him? Impossible!

“You brat, don’t put on airs in front of me,” Luo Gang sneered coldly. “You’re ready, aren’t you? Let’s begin right now.”

He was desperate to prove he was better than this newcomer, regardless of his background or his purpose. None of that mattered. As long as he won, that was enough.

“One moment,” Xia Yan said with a smile. “May I choose a system-simulated firearm?”

At those words, everyone present exchanged strange looks. Was this not blatant provocation? Was he not openly belittling his opponent? To face off against the institution’s top rank and still request a simulated gun—wasn’t this like an adult toying with a child, or a gifted individual bullying an ordinary person?

“You—” Luo Gang was livid. “What did you say? You’re looking down on me, aren’t you?!”

“I’m just being practical,” Xia Yan replied calmly. He selected a simulated handgun from the system menu, gave it a gentle shake, and found its balance satisfactory.

“Let’s begin,” he declared once he was sure.

“Hmph!” Luo Gang’s eyes blazed with anger. He stepped back, forcing himself into composure. He wouldn’t rush the attack; he didn’t want others to say he was bullying an ordinary person.

Meanwhile, the news spread quickly. More and more people gathered in the spectator seats, curiosity burning to know who this mysterious youth was and just how strong he truly might be.

Could he really defeat the institution’s number one?

At the moment, most thought Xia Yan was simply arrogant.

“Wind.”

Luo Gang sneered, thrusting his right hand forward. Instantly, countless wind elements gathered into a mass, exploding outward like a violent gale bent on tearing apart everything in its path.

The whirlwind swept towards Xia Yan.

“This…”

“Has Luo Gang lost his mind?”

“He’s opening with such a powerful attack—what if the black-haired boy really is just an ordinary person?”

“He could be killed instantly!”

“Even if he isn’t ordinary, most gifted wouldn’t survive this! At best, severe injury; at worst, death!”

“Someone stop him—though it might be too late!”

Many in the audience covered their eyes, unable to watch. They may not have liked Luo Gang, but Xia Yan’s arrogance had provoked him, leading to this dire situation.

But Xia Yan paid no mind to their concerns. He stood poised and tranquil, and as the storm neared, he drew his blade and struck.

This was Xia Yan’s signature technique: the Charging Slash.

With one swing, it seemed he could cut through rivers and slice the very stars themselves—nothing could stand in his way.

The slash shattered the whirlwind effortlessly—the raging winds didn’t even brush the hem of Xia Yan’s clothes.

Many could see that Xia Yan hadn’t used his full strength; it was as if he was merely warming up—if this could even be called a warm-up.

Instantly, the entire arena erupted in commotion. Luo Gang’s fans stared in disbelief, as if they’d seen a ghost, their eyes locked on Xia Yan.

Everyone else cheered wildly. They had found their one hope—finally, someone who might defeat Luo Gang.

Let someone finally strike a blow to the top-ranked Luo Gang!

Their conviction had never been so strong—their eyes blazed with desire.

Then Xia Yan’s body flashed—like a streak of light, he charged toward Luo Gang.

“That boy is making his move!”

A voice cried out, and everyone turned their gaze.

Xia Yan’s figure was a blur—barely four or five meters from Luo Gang.

“He’s so fast!”

“I can’t even see him!”

“My god, what kind of physical development does he have to move like that?”

Not only the crowd—even Luo Gang was astounded. He could scarcely believe anyone could move at such speed!

How could this be countered? How could he possibly fight back?

“Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!” Luo Gang’s face twisted in desperation. He couldn’t lose—he was the strongest, the institution’s number one, a genius unrivaled even in the Ninth District.

How could he possibly lose to someone who seemed even younger than himself?

He refused to accept it!

Desperate, he reached out, freezing the ground beneath him, spreading a sheet of ice outward. Most people would find such footing treacherous, their movement hampered.

The audience watched, wide-eyed, not daring to miss a moment.

But how could such an obstacle hinder Xia Yan?

He was heir to a thousand schools of martial arts; his mastery of movement and technique far exceeded the norm. He’d trained tirelessly on shifting log arrays, gliding and leaping as though on solid ground.

How could mere ice trouble him?

His movements didn’t slow in the least; if anything, the ice seemed to make him swifter.

The spectators rubbed their eyes in disbelief, but the scene remained unchanged.

This ice would cripple most, halving their speed at best. Some wouldn’t even be able to walk.

But this youth was unaffected!

“What level is his strength?”

“Is it just speed? He seems almost inhuman!”

“Graduating from the institution means reaching the pinnacle of strength, right?”

“Isn’t he the former top graduate? The number one of his year?”

“He’s holding his own against Luo Gang, even forcing him back!”

“Luo Gang isn’t even a close-combat specialist. If you let someone like this get close, it’s over.”

“I can’t wait—what happens when they finally clash?”

“They’re within two meters of each other now. Has anyone ever gotten that close to Luo Gang?”

Gritting his teeth, Luo Gang quickly formed a shield from water elements—countless chunks of ice forming a wall before him.

But nothing could stop Xia Yan—his physical prowess was simply overwhelming.

“Charging Slash!”

Another mighty blow shattered the ice shield.

Nothing could withstand this strike—anything in its path was destroyed!

“Impossible!” Luo Gang shrieked. He reached out, summoning a howling vortex laced with icy blades.

“Charging Slash!”

Xia Yan’s blade fell again—everything before him splintered.

It was futile—even Luo Gang’s trump cards were useless.

He felt utterly hunted, left only with the option to retreat—waiting for the inevitable.

“Retreat! Retreat!” Luo Gang panicked, scrambling backwards. A flash of green light enhanced his agility—wind elements propelling him at astonishing speed.

But no matter how fast he moved, Xia Yan was faster. It was not a matter of degree, but of an entirely different magnitude.

Xia Yan surged forward like a hurricane, blade flashing—no fancy technique, just pure, overwhelming speed.

“Damn!” Luo Gang cried, hastily erecting another ice wall.

The longer they fought, the harder it was for the crowd to believe their eyes.

“The top-ranked Luo Gang is being utterly suppressed!”

“In fact, he could be defeated at any moment. I wouldn’t be surprised.”

“This gap in strength is unbelievable.”

“Even Luo Gang is being dominated—who is this boy?”

“Isn’t his strength a bit too much?”

“He’s terrifying!”

With one swing, Xia Yan shattered Luo Gang’s ice wall. The force slammed Luo Gang to the ground—he couldn’t withstand it at all.

Now, Xia Yan dominated the battlefield. He took his time, approaching like a king.

His gaze was resolute and cold—nothing could withstand his blade.

He seemed to rule the arena, advancing slowly, step by step.

Luo Gang’s face, first incredulous, turned to fear. This was a boy, younger than himself, yet the battle was hopelessly one-sided.

Could he win? Was there any hope? Could he survive the next strike?

Even Luo Gang himself began to doubt.

He no longer believed he could do it.

The crowd’s faces grew feverish—this fight was already decided.

All waited, hearts pounding, for the moment it would end, ready to erupt in endless cheers.

They could wait—they were not impatient.

Luo Gang was helpless now. The legend of the undefeated number one was about to be shattered.

Even several instructors had come to see for themselves. Even they felt fear—the kind of power on display could slaughter them with a mere flick of the hand.

“Luo Gang, I was asked to go easy on you, so I chose the system-simulated handgun,” Xia Yan announced, raising the gun and firing at Luo Gang.

Luo Gang’s health bar dropped.

Another shot.

“No!” Luo Gang shrieked, throwing up another ice wall.

But Xia Yan was faster—a wave of his hand reduced the wall to dust.

The bullet struck true—his health fell again.

And so the battle stalemated.

Luo Gang raged, screamed, and howled—but it was useless.

His health ebbed away, shot by shot.

Everyone stared in shock.

Xia Yan pulled the trigger—one final time.

Luo Gang’s health was finally depleted.

The crowd was thunderstruck. Was that really Luo Gang lying on the ground? He couldn’t even move, couldn’t resist, just lay there as Xia Yan fired again and again with a simulated gun.

That arrogant, conceited, self-important Luo Gang—beaten so utterly, humiliated like never before.

When the battle ended, the stands erupted in wave after wave of wild cheers, like a roaring tide that refused to subside.

A boy who had previously lost to Luo Gang was so excited he could barely hold back a shout. He wanted nothing more than to point at Luo Gang and scream: Now you know how it feels! Now you see what it’s like to be utterly outclassed. Where is that arrogant face of yours now?

Long after, the cheers did not fade.

At last, Luo Gang came to his senses. Tears streamed down his face as he wailed, “No, I don’t believe it! I, Luo Gang, can’t lose! Who are you? What is your ability? You can’t be my age—you’re disguised!”

The more he shouted, the faster his tears fell, the more pitiful he became.

He needed an answer.

He wanted Xia Yan to tell him.

It had to be a trick, a deception—how could someone his age defeat him?

It must be a conspiracy. This boy, who looked so young, must be forty, even older!

He needed to wash away this humiliation.

He needed to prove to everyone it was just a sham.

“My name is Xia Yan. Born in the Ninth District. My ability is fire element. Sixteen years old. Member of the Guardian Squad.” Xia Yan spoke each word clearly, and at the last, Luo Gang’s tears stopped abruptly.

Sixteen!

Born in the Ninth District!

Fire element ability!

Luo Gang saw it—Xia Yan’s right hand suddenly burst into flames.

Which meant, Xia Yan had just defeated him without even using his ability!

He wept bitterly, and laughter and mockery broke out across the arena.

Who would believe it? The once-invincible number one, the pride of the institution, reduced to sobbing, wailing so piteously.

“The higher-ups asked me to give you a message: When you can last one minute against me, then you can go back to your games and amusements,” Xia Yan added.

“The higher-ups…” Luo Gang gritted his teeth. “You mean those big shots in the First District?”

“Something like that,” Xia Yan replied. “And, transfer two hundred thousand credits to my account. My business here is done; I’ll be leaving soon.”

With no choice, Luo Gang transferred the credits. He couldn’t deny his loss.

Xia Yan turned and left—no one dared to stop him, or pester him with questions. Nearly every member of the institution looked at him with awe and fear.

Who could forget? He’d thrashed Luo Gang so thoroughly, left him powerless and bawling like a child.

Luo Gang watched Xia Yan’s retreating back, fists clenched tight, a powerful urge to train welling up inside him. He vowed—he would surpass that boy.

I, Luo Gang, cannot lose! I will work hard, I will train, I will become stronger—one day, I will win. I will be stronger than him!

He got to his feet, abandoning all thoughts of leisure and dates. He refused to waste even a minute more.

This day would forever be remembered by every member of the district’s institutions. They had witnessed someone not only surpassing the institution’s top rank, but doing so at an even younger age than most present.

Now, being number one was no longer enough. Perhaps, to surpass the number one, to reach the level of this black-haired youth, was what everyone aspired to.

This day would never be forgotten.

It was, without question, an extraordinary day.