Chapter 38: Chapter 38: Invincible?
Su Hao requested that the short-haired boy take him to the strongest person among the second-year students. The group of beaten up Students exchanged glances, and an eerie silence ensued.
Su Hao, thinking they were unwilling, said coldly, "What, you don't want to?"
The Leader of the group quickly waved his hand. "It's not that we don't want to, but... are you sure?"
"Of course!"
"Alright then, follow us. But let me tell you, among us second-year students, there is someone invincible on the same level. If you lose, don't take it out on us."
"Just lead the way."
The group immediately relaxed.
Although they ranked in the top fifty among second-year students, they had always been overshadowed by the super-genius Xiao Yushu since the day they enrolled.
Xiao Yushu had captured all the attention among the second-year students, and everyone dimmed in his brilliance. Since the beginning, he had never lost a fight, even when facing third-year students.
The Group of Students acknowledged Xiao Yushu's genius. But recently, there had been rumors comparing Wu Xiangwu to Xiao Yushu, which they found insulting. It was an affront not only to the second-year students but also to the very idea of genius, and to Xiao Yushu himself. Thus, today's confrontation was inevitable.
They wanted to use this opportunity to crush this newly rising so-called "genius," and let Wu Xiangwu know that there's always someone stronger, and the heavens extend far beyond what one can see.
But then, they were defeated. They couldn't even last a single round.
Even though they admitted that Wu Xiangwu was indeed deserving of the title "genius," comparing him to Xiao Yushu was still impossible. No one in their age group could defeat Xiao Yushu.
The Group could already foresee Su Hao's defeat. They just hoped he wouldn't take his frustration out on them afterward.
The Short-haired boy led Su Hao to another training area. It was similar to the training grounds, but equipped with more training apparatuses—this was where second-year students trained regularly.
Soon, the news that the first-year prodigy Wu Xiangwu was challenging the second-year super-genius Xiao Yushu spread like wildfire, and a large crowd of spectators quickly gathered, following behind Su Hao and his group.
It wasn't uncommon for higher-level students to challenge Xiao Yushu, but a first-year student doing so? This was the first time.
The onlookers came expecting to laugh at Wu Xiangwu. They were already planning the mocking remarks they'd use when he lost and left in defeat.
....
Meanwhile, at the second-year training grounds...
"Xiao Yushu, this past month, the three of us have each mastered a new ultimate skill. Today, we're going to break your undefeated streak and claim the title of the strongest second-year!" Three youths with roguish expressions blocked Xiao Yushu's path.
"You three..." Xiao Yushu scanned them with half-lidded eyes. "Come at me together."
Xiao Yushu was a tall, clean-faced youth, at least a head taller than Su Hao, likely about 1.7 meters. He wore his mid-length hair draped over his shoulders, his sharp features and piercing eyes exuding an air of cold nobility.
The three youths exchanged glances, sneering. "Xiao Yushu, you're still as arrogant as ever. Don't forget, the three of us are ranked in the top ten among the second-years. Do you really think you can handle all of us at once?"
Xiao Yushu said nothing, merely beckoning them with a hand. "Come!"
One of the boys, thick eyebrows furrowed, snorted, "You asked for this. Don't say we ganged up on you when you lose!"
"Enough talk. Let's go! The title of the strongest second-year is ours!"
The three looked at each other and let out a roar, attacking Xiao Yushu with their strongest moves.
«Impact Fist!»
«Triple Step Kick!»
«Circle Force Slash!»
Xiao Yushu didn't bother dodging. He faced all three attacks head-on.
With a raised hand, he shattered the «Impact Fist», following through with a punch to his opponent's chest, sending him tumbling to the ground.
He countered the «Triple Step Kick» with a kick of his own, causing his opponent to clutch his leg in pain and fall to the ground.
Finally, he caught the «Circle Force Slash» with his left hand, glanced at his opponent, and delivered a swift hand chop to his shoulder, forcing him to his knees.
Fist against fist, kick against kick, hand chop against hand chop.
Xiao Yushu emerged victorious.
The speed of the battle left the onlookers gasping.
"So strong!"
Xiao Yushu's undefeated image was further cemented in everyone's minds.
....
Soon, Su Hao arrived at the second-year training field and saw Xiao Yushu.
The moment Su Hao laid eyes on him, he knew that Xiao Yushu was the type who pursued a singular goal with extreme focus.
Su Hao raised his head slightly, looking up at the much taller Xiao Yushu. "So, you're the strongest among the second-years?"
Second- or third-years were, after all, just eleven- or twelve-year-old kids. No matter how skilled their techniques were, they were still Common Warriors, and technique alone couldn't compensate for the vast difference in physical strength.
With Su Hao's strength as a high-tier elite warrior, facing Xiao Yushu was nothing more than playing with a child.
Xiao Yushu was about to leave when Su Hao blocked his path, causing him to frown in irritation. "What do you want?"
Su Hao pointed at the flat-headed group. "You see, these second-year students offended me, so I've decided to take them all down. That way, no one will bother me again. I'll start with the strongest among you. I hear that's you, so let's begin."
The crowd was stunned by Su Hao's arrogance.
They had seen many challengers before, but never someone so brazen. Was this first-year kid crazy?
Xiao Yushu had faced many challengers, but none quite like Su Hao. Today, he was truly in for something different.
Xiao Yushu rarely refused a challenge, as he believed he grew stronger with each battle.
However, he began to wonder if accepting this challenge from a shorter first-year student was simply a waste of time.
Still, he decided to end this quickly and move on.
Xiao Yushu beckoned again. "Come!"
Su Hao didn't say a word, stepping forward to face Xiao Yushu.
The crowd instinctively cleared a large space for the duel.
More and more spectators gathered to watch.
A gentle breeze blew, and beams of sunlight pierced through the clouds. The atmosphere grew tense.
Su Hao began to walk forward, gradually accelerating until he was sprinting toward Xiao Yushu, fist ready to strike.
As he closed the distance to within a meter, Su Hao's lips curled into a smile.
«Shadow Step»
The punch aimed at Xiao Yushu vanished, and so did Su Hao.
Xiao Yushu's pupils contracted in shock. For the first time, he felt a sense of danger unlike anything any previous challenger had ever given him.
He quickly spun around, crossing his arms in front of his face.
"Bang∼!"
A powerful force hit his arms, almost breaking them. The impact sent shockwaves through his body, his arms flung back and hit his head, making his head spin. He was lifted off the ground and sent flying backward.
He crashed to the ground, sliding two meters back.
Silence.
No one could believe what they had just witnessed.
What had they just seen? The second-year super-genius, their undefeated champion, had been knocked down. And not just knocked down—flat on his back.
Su Hao raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Oh∼? Not bad. You actually managed to block that."
The crowd's gaze toward Su Hao grew more and more peculiar.
Xiao Yushu slowly stood up, his aura becoming fierce, his eyes sharp like a predator ready to attack.
Through clenched teeth, Xiao Yushu growled, "Again!"
He charged at Su Hao with full force.
Seeing that Xiao Yushu still wasn't giving up, Su Hao decided to finish it quickly. He gathered the elite blood Qi within him, suddenly surged forward, and threw a punch at Xiao Yushu.
«Mountain Breaking Fist!» Xiao Yushu roared, his fist carrying unstoppable momentum as it rushed toward Su Hao.
Su Hao withdrew his punch and deftly deflected Xiao Yushu's full-powered strike. In an instant, he closed the gap between them.
"How is this possible?!" Xiao Yushu's mental defenses shattered, the moment his strongest attack was effortlessly parried.
«Iron Punch» Su Hao's fist shot upward, aiming directly for Xiao Yushu's chin.
Xiao Yushu could only watch as Su Hao's punch connected. He had no time to dodge or block.
"Bang∼!" "Crack∼!"
With the sound of bones cracking, Xiao Yushu was launched two meters into the air, blood spraying from his mouth. He crashed heavily to the ground, unconscious, his face filled with unwillingness.
As Xiao Yushu collapsed, the myth built up over the past year crumbled.
The legend of Xiao Yushu's invincibility shattered today. For many, their belief in his unshakable dominance was destroyed.
No one could believe what had just happened, but it was undeniable. The field was silent; not a single person spoke.
The Second-year students stood frozen, their mouths agape.
Su Hao glanced around, then shouted, "Next, all of you come at me together! I said it before, I'm going to make you all lie down. Whoever stands is provoking me!"
However, no one moved.
Su Hao revealed a strange smile: "Since you're not coming, then I'll make the first move."