Chapter Thirty-Five: Shattered with a Single Punch

A voice, as sudden and thunderous as a lightning strike, resounded from beyond the grand competition stage.

Every teacher and student felt their hearts tremble, as if that furious shout had snatched away their very souls, weakening their collective spirit. All at once, they turned to see who dared to challenge the moment. Did that person not sense the tension in the air?

But when the crowd finally recognized the figure approaching, a commotion of shocked exclamations erupted.

"It's Su Ye—"

"Why is he here? Wasn't he expelled from the school? What is he doing challenging anyone?"

"Exactly! Is he dissatisfied and here to cause trouble? Does he not realize where he is? If he stirs up trouble again, he'll just be thrown out once more!"

Amidst the many startled gazes, Yu Zhisha was the first to leap to her feet. Her eyes were fixed intently on Su Ye. Perhaps it was because she knew him too well, but she sensed that his appearance today was far from ordinary.

Song Chenxin, Chen He, Jiang Chengzhi, and Song Dahai all frowned, muttering curses under their breath.

Unable to contain himself, Yu Wenhuan stood up and shouted, "Su Ye, you worthless wretch, what are you doing here?"

Many people looked back in astonishment. They had all witnessed Su Ye’s expulsion the previous day. Now he had returned—what could his purpose be?

Cai Weisong was just about to announce the rankings when, unexpectedly, Su Ye interrupted him. Grabbing the microphone, Cai roared with fury, his voice screeching through the speakers in a harsh, distorted echo, making his rage all the more palpable.

"Su Ye—what are you, an outsider, doing here at No. 1 High? This is not a place for you! You are no longer our student and have no right to step foot in this school! Where are the guards? Patrol team? Throw this troublemaker out for me!"

Strangely, however, the security guards and patrolmen nearby did not move.

Cai Weisong was about to shout again when, all of a sudden, he noticed the rarely-seen Principal Luo walking onto the stage, accompanied by a graceful and dignified woman. What was going on? The principal, who almost never involved himself in such matters, had shown up in person. And that striking woman—why did she look so familiar? Wasn't she Deputy Director Ning Shuang from the Aura School Administration?

Seeing Principal Luo step forward himself, Cai Weisong hurriedly put on a sycophantic smile and said, "Principal, you’ve come at just the right time! This good-for-nothing, Su Ye, relying on his status as the Jiang family’s charity case, has shown no respect for our school’s dignity! Now he’s here causing trouble, even though I already expelled him! I don’t know which fool let him in!"

At these words, Ning Shuang’s expression suddenly turned cold. With a wave of her hand, she slapped him across the face.

Smack—

Cai Weisong was stunned on the spot!

Every pair of eyes was riveted, eager to understand what had just transpired.

Ning Shuang barked, "And who do you think you are? You dare insult even me? I was the one who let Su Ye in. Do you have a problem with that?"

Seeing Ning Shuang enraged, Principal Luo’s own temper flared as well. He snapped at Cai Weisong, "Shut up! As a mentor, you dare be insolent before Deputy Director Ning? Get out of my sight!"

Deputy Director Ning?

Cai Weisong’s face paled and flushed by turns. Could it be… she really was that Ning Shuang of the Aura School Administration?

With more and more aura schools being established across the nation, the central authorities had created a special governing body—the Aura School Administration! This administration wielded tremendous power: whether a school could continue to operate, how many aura students it could enroll, and even which cultivation methods could be taught—all were under its jurisdiction. Otherwise, these aura schools would not be places of learning, but breeding grounds for future criminals!

Cai Weisong immediately wilted. Trembling, he stammered, "I was wrong, Deputy Director Ning. You are right to correct me… This… This Su Ye is… is?"

By now, Su Ye had made his way through the ranks of students and stepped onto the stage. He cast a cold glance at Cai Weisong and said in a deep voice, "I am here, naturally, to issue a challenge."

Cai Weisong’s face was a mask of terror. Was Deputy Director Ning really going to help Su Ye return to school?

Ning Shuang said solemnly, "Student Su Ye has already been admitted by me into Nansha High School. They happen to be missing a challenger, so Su Ye will take that place."

"What? How can this be?" Cai Weisong’s expression changed again. He had gone to great lengths to expel Su Ye precisely to prevent him from issuing any challenges. Yet now, Su Ye had returned just like that?

Ning Shuang gave a soft "Oh?" and turned to Principal Luo, her voice icy: "Principal Luo, from what your mentor says, do I need your school’s permission to do anything?"

"Ah, no, of course not! Student Su Ye has every right to challenge! Ha ha, Deputy Director Ning, why don’t we step aside and observe? Please, this way!" Principal Luo bowed and scraped as he spoke.

Ning Shuang glanced at Su Ye and smiled, then followed the principal offstage.

Su Ye nodded gratefully at her. With a few simple words, she had decided his fate.

Such is the strength of power.

He clenched his fists in secret, swearing silently: I too will win my place at the summit, so that all those who have looked down on me will prostrate themselves at my feet!

"Cai," Su Ye said coldly, fixing him with an icy gaze, "I am here to challenge. Do you still have any objections?"

Cai Weisong trembled with rage, his whole body shaking. He shook his head, "If you are not afraid to die, then go ahead and challenge!"

The whole hall erupted in uproar.

No one had expected that Su Ye would actually come back.

On the contestant’s platform, the so-called "Heaven's Pride Organization" of self-proclaimed geniuses were filled with indignation. They had used their influence to force Su Ye out, pushing the Jiang family into retreat, but unexpectedly, Su Ye had used his own connections to return.

"Hmph, just a fox relying on the might of the tiger. So what if you’re back? Who do you dare challenge?" Yu Wenhuan sneered, his gaze venomous.

Song Dahai and Jiang Chengzhi’s faces grew uneasy. They couldn’t afford to offend the Yu family, nor Su Ye. All they could do was hope Su Ye would overlook them this time.

Yu Zhisha, meanwhile, watched Su Ye stride toward Jiang Liuying, her lips curling in a cold, proud smile.

"Liuying—I’m back!"

Su Ye saw the tears welling in Jiang Liuying’s shocked eyes, and his heart ached inexplicably. Though they bickered endlessly on ordinary days, in critical moments, they always stood together.

Jiang Liuying’s nose reddened, tears threatening to spill. She had held on for so long, and now, in her darkest moment, Su Ye had appeared.

Trying to sound nonchalant, she said, "Even if you hadn’t come, I’d have handled it myself. But since you’re here, give that mad dog a good lesson for me!"

Su Ye glanced at the bandages stained red around her wrist, his voice deep and steady: "Don’t worry—"

With that, he turned abruptly, fixing Jin Canjie with a chilling stare.

"It seems I was far too merciful before. You dare target Jiang Liuying again? You won’t shed tears until you see your own coffin! I challenge you!"

Jin Canjie had long been waiting for this moment, watching everything unfold. After the humiliation he suffered in the martial hall yesterday, today was his chance for revenge.

Jin Canjie snapped into a ready stance, raising his hand in challenge. "Very well! Do you think the great Jin family fears you? Today I will fight you openly and settle things once and for all!"

"I’ll settle you, you bastard—"

With a furious roar, the thunder within Su Ye’s body erupted, his blood boiling as the power of the thunder vein surged forth.

Sparks of lightning crackled over his fists and forearms.

Bang!

Su Ye stamped onto the stage, leaving a deep footprint in the luxurious floor. He leapt into the air, arm arcing wide, and hammered a fist down toward Jin Canjie.

"Blood Battle in All Directions!"

Boom—

His punch landed squarely on Jin Canjie’s face, sending him flying off the edge of the massive platform.

Jin Canjie spat out a mouthful of blood, spraying out several teeth. The world spun around him, pain tearing through every nerve, and every blood vessel seemed paralyzed by electric shock.

Su Ye sprang forward, a murderous aura swirling about him. "Trash like you dares act wild before me?"

Crack—

With a twist, Su Ye snapped Jin Canjie’s arm, drawing another howl of agony.

"You still think you’re so tough now?"

Grabbing Jin Canjie by the collar, Su Ye drove his fists into his face, shattering his once-proud nose in a spray of blood.

Every eye in the crowd was fixed on Su Ye, silently watching as he beat Jin Canjie senseless.

At last, Su Ye kicked the unconscious Jin Canjie off the stage, then swept a proud, imperious glance over the audience. Instinctively, all eyes turned away.

In every heart, a tremor began to stir: the prodigy of old had returned!

Su Ye’s gaze swept to the contestants’ seats. Suddenly, he gritted his teeth and shouted:

"Yu Zhisha—get down here!"