Chapter Sixty-One: A Mere Elimination Match—Nothing More!

“What?”
Caught off guard, her entire body yanked forward by Cheng Feng, Xiao Xue’s eyes widened in shocked disbelief.
What was wrong with this man?
Wasn’t he supposed to be under my control?!
Cheng Feng’s fist, clenched at his waist, veins bulging, gathered strength and unleashed a savage blow.
So fast and so powerful was the punch that a milky ripple of impact shimmered through the air.
“Bang!”
“Ugh!”
The heavy punch landed squarely in Xiao Xue’s abdomen. She let out a muffled groan, doubled up like a shrimp, and was blasted back like a cannonball, flying right out of the ring.
The match ended so abruptly that the referee stared, wide-eyed. Already over?
Noticing Cheng Feng’s gaze, the referee quickly announced, “The winner: Contestant number twenty-two, Cheng Feng!”
“To strike a woman so decisively—truly the model for our generation.”
“Incredible! Who is this guy? Another instant knockout!”
“A real tough guy. He doesn’t hold back at all.”
“Of course! It’s a competition, not a tea party. Are you stupid?”
“Who are you calling stupid? Come fight me in real life!”
“Bring it on!”
The audience inside the hall erupted into noisy debate.
“Why?”
Below the ring, Xiao Xue clutched her stomach, her tone indignant. “Why weren’t you affected by my charm? My whip clearly struck you! This ability has never failed before!”
Cheng Feng walked to the edge of the ring and looked down at her. “Your ability is indeed troublesome. If it were anyone else, they’d likely have no way out. Unfortunately for you, it doesn’t work on me.”
“Hmph!”
Xiao Xue rubbed her aching stomach and shot Cheng Feng a glare. “Didn’t you promise to show mercy? Hitting a woman so hard, you’ll never find a girlfriend like that!”
Watching her storm off in a huff, Cheng Feng remained unbothered. In fact, he had shown restraint—if he hadn’t, that punch would have done more than just send her flying; it would have blasted her through the ring.
Cheng Feng knew full well that he had indeed been affected by the charm.
However, his passive skill, Mental Sanctuary, could resist any mental ability, rendering Xiao Xue’s charm powerless.
Normally, unless an opponent’s power was vastly superior, no mental ability could affect him.
Frankly, without Mental Sanctuary’s protection, this fight could have been dangerous.
Cheng Feng left the ring and returned to Liu Shiyu’s side.
Liu Shiyu, puzzled, asked, “How did you manage to counter that kind of ability? Even a vampire’s constitution probably couldn’t handle it.”
Cheng Feng scratched his ear and replied casually, “I’m gifted—got through it on sheer willpower.”
He wasn’t keen on revealing his abilities. Though Liu Shiyu was trustworthy, the fewer who knew, the better.
After all, if all his powers were exposed, it would only make it easier for enemies to gather intelligence on him in the future—not a good thing.

“I see.” Liu Shiyu, half-convinced, noticed Cheng Feng’s reluctance to elaborate and didn’t press further.
Before long, the third round of eliminations began.
On the giant screen, the five rings once again displayed their matchups.
Seeing his own name on the fourth ring, Cheng Feng rose and headed for the stage.
Ring Four.
His opponent, not waiting long, grinned confidently as Cheng Feng stepped up. “You’ve won two matches in a row—impressive. But your luck runs out with me.”
Another braggart, Cheng Feng replied calmly, “Let’s hope your strength matches your boasting.”
Electricity crackled as the Soul Blade, Thunder Rend, appeared in his hand.
His opponent summoned his own Soul Blade as well.
The referee, seeing both ready, coordinated smoothly: “Since you’re both prepared, I announce—the match begins!”
“Take this!”
His opponent aimed his Soul Blade at Cheng Feng, and the blade suddenly gleamed with light.
With a flash, Cheng Feng’s vision went black, as if the entire world’s lights had gone out.
Where everything had just been clear, now all was darkness—yet after a second, his sight returned.
Seeing Cheng Feng momentarily stunned, his opponent, assuming his ability had worked, said triumphantly, “Well? Can’t see a thing, can you? That’s my ability—Vision Steal!”
Cheng Feng understood: yet another mental ability, and once again rendered ineffective by Mental Sanctuary.
“With your sight gone, you have no chance!”
With that, the opponent laughed and charged.
The fight was over in an instant.
Cheng Feng cleanly disarmed him with a flick of his blade and sent him flying with a kick.
The referee’s voice rang out: “The winner: Contestant number twenty-two, Cheng Feng!”
Among the more than two hundred competitors, many had the strength to win five matches and advance to the official tournament the next day.
But the initial elimination rounds were a mixed bag, with many weak contestants.
Cheng Feng wasn’t sure if luck was on his side—he’d fought three matches and encountered three newcomers in a row.
Advancing to the second day seemed all but certain.
These elimination rounds were nothing to worry about!
Meanwhile, in the seats above, the chief examiner, eyes narrowing, took notice of Cheng Feng on the stage.
The tournament’s computer system matched contestants of similar strength against each other.
Yet Cheng Feng, a newcomer, had defeated three ‘equal-level’ opponents in seconds, drawing the official’s attention.

At that very moment, elsewhere.
Aoba First High School.
In an office, the director for Class Two was reviewing lesson plans at his desk.
“Knock, knock, knock!”

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.
“Come in,” the director said, not looking up.
It wasn’t until he heard the footsteps inside that he glanced up, seeing a girl with long hair down to her waist.
“Xia Qingyao?”
The director asked in surprise, “The whole school’s on break for three days. Why aren’t you at the sports center watching the tournament? What brings you to school?”
Xia Qingyao replied earnestly, “Sir, I saw in the class group’s announcement that you’re planning to expel Cheng Feng. Is it true?”
“So that’s what this is about.”
The director picked up his mug and took a sip of tea. “Cheng Feng has been skipping classes and is out of contact. I am indeed planning to report him for expulsion.”
“Sir, I’ll find a way to reach Cheng Feng.”
Xia Qingyao pleaded without hesitation, “Please don’t expel him—just give me some time.”
“You came all the way to school just to plead for him?”
The director frowned. “He’s always been a troublemaker and a drag on the class. Why waste your energy? You’d be better off focusing on your studies.”
Xia Qingyao fell silent, racking her brains for something to say in Cheng Feng’s defense.
Seeing her quiet, the director continued, “I know you’re a responsible class monitor, but if he doesn’t care about his own future, repeatedly skips class, and cuts off contact, why should the school keep him?”
Xia Qingyao insisted, “I’ll go find him—just give him one more chance.”
“He’s immature, but why are you acting the same?”
He hadn’t expected a model student like Xia Qingyao to plead on behalf of a delinquent.
Annoyed, the director waved her off. “Fine. Do as you please. If you can get him to return to school, I’ll reconsider.”
“Thank you!”
Xia Qingyao didn’t want Cheng Feng to drop out. Only after entering society does one realize how crucial education is.
In this world teeming with monsters, those at the bottom not only have no status but also face greater dangers, with little protection, often becoming the monsters’ first targets.
But that wasn’t what Xia Qingyao was thinking. What she truly hoped for was that Cheng Feng could get into a good university and have a better future.
She knew he was a troublemaker in class and had no idea what he’d been doing lately—she just hoped he wouldn’t go astray.
She would never forget those childhood memories.
You once told me not to be a crybaby…
Now it’s my turn to look out for your future…
Whenever you need me…
In Xia Qingyao’s girlish room at home, on the bedside table sat a framed photo: in the sunlight, a little boy and girl stood side by side, their faces bright with innocent smiles.

P.S. Thank you to Metroid and Silent Words for the monthly votes.