"Just a waste," someone nearby chimed in gleefully, leaving Bian Heng almost spitting blood in frustration.
Xu Wei clenched her fists, her eyes shining brightly, "Good brother, stirring up big news again!"
She resolved to conduct an exclusive interview later; this was certainly worth a special report.
Securing third place was already quite impressive when the first and second places were unattainable.
"Silence!" a voice barked from the loudspeaker, and the noise gradually subsided.
Sain furrowed his brows, his gaze fixed on Li Ming, as if trying to see through him.
Dean Chen glanced at Sain, "What do you say, Your Excellency Sain? Do you suspect Li Ming of cheating? If so, we can pause the competition."
"No need, I believe in Blue Star, and I trust Your Excellency," Sain managed a smile.
He had realized that the one who knocked out Youke last time was probably Li Ming, not someone else from the lab.
However, the extent of his speed was puzzling.
Even if following the gene evolutionary path that enhances speed, integrating gene seeds for speed at F, E, D levels.
And developing them beyond 90% to awaken core abilities, he might barely compare, and perhaps still fall short.
"Not giving up?" Li Ming looked at Youke, his brow slightly furrowed.
Youke hesitated, seemingly reluctant, as the spectators struggled to accept the turn of events, let alone him.
But eventually, he resignedly said, "I concede."
Li Ming withdrew his finger, his expression remaining indifferent as Youke managed a resigned smile, "The day you knocked me out in the lab, that was you, wasn’t it?"
"Don’t know," Li Ming shook his head, and Youke couldn’t help asking, "How can your speed be so fast, when Thunder Flame Fighting Apes are not known for their speed?"
"Just a natural talent, like your naturally green hair, I was born fast," Li Ming replied dismissively, leaving Youke speechless.
After Youke stepped down, the referee came forward again, beaming, "In half an hour, if there are challengers, they can come forward."
"I don’t need to rest, anyone who wants to challenge, come on up," Li Ming said similarly.
The tables had turned, and Roth smiled knowingly after a moment, then opened his smart terminal and sent a message to the other absent guys.
At Sela Royal Academy, there was commotion, many spectators glaring angrily after a round of discussion, and yet again it was Youke who stepped forward.
"I claim a spot for a rematch against Li Ming, may I?" he inquired.
There was no rule against it, but the referee instinctively wanted to refuse, yet after thinking, he turned to look at Li Ming, the middle-aged man’s face inquisitive.
"Allowed," Li Ming nodded, having no objections.
Youke jumped back onto the platform, his previous defeat had been too swift, he hadn’t even had time to react, but he didn’t believe the gap between them was that wide.
"Slow, too slow," Li Ming’s figure flickered, while Youke kept attacking relentlessly, his gaze determined, punching, smashing, elbows and knees crossing, chill pervading.
Yet Li Ming’s figure was always perfectly timed, vanishing right before an attack landed and reappearing on the other side, his voice ringing in Youke’s ears.
"So close, just a bit more."
Effortlessly, as if toying with a child, yet seeming more like schooling an apprentice.
Youke’s mental fortitude was undoubtedly strong, having received elite training from a young age.
But this helplessness, along with Li Ming’s whispers, turned into sharp daggers assaulting his psyche.
Youke’s eyes gradually bloodshot, his attacks uncoordinated, and his throat released a beast-like roar.
"Enough, I concede for him!" Sain suddenly stood up in the spectators’ stand, his expression grim.
The next moment, the Energy Barrier disappeared, and Sain grabbed Youke, who seemed still not to have recovered, blindly punching.
It took quite a while before he stopped attacking, his expression blank.
"Are you trying to destroy him?" Sain said angrily. Youke was still young, and had been subjected to elite training since childhood.
It wasn’t that he couldn’t humble himself before someone stronger, but deep down, he believed that if roles were reversed, he would not be inferior.
But facing Li Ming, this feeling of powerlessness akin to an abyss, plus Li Ming’s deliberate torment, could very well ruin him if prolonged.
"Since he returned to the stage a second time, he should have been prepared," Li Ming said indifferently from the platform, "Is there anyone else?"
At Sela Royal Academy, everyone was gritting their teeth, yet helpless.
"You’ve won," Sain said coldly, this edition, no one could beat Li Ming anymore.
"Alright," Li Ming nodded, not stepping down but instead continuing, "Then I challenge the second place."
The commotion below gradually grew louder.
"The second?" Sain instantly understood Li Ming’s intention, his expression growing even uglier.
He aimed to challenge not only the second but potentially even the third. With his speed, even if he couldn’t win, it was hard to lose.
"There’s no such rule," Sain refused outright, truly if Li Ming succeeded, the long-prepared media campaign would be ruined.
Even more troubling was the potential chain reaction, this rebound from rock bottom to prestige and momentum, could reach his teacher, Wu Yanqing!
"Nor is it prohibited, I didn’t refuse when Youke returned to the platform a second time," Li Ming spoke methodically, Sain took a deep breath.
The referee standing beside Li Ming was incredulous, realizing now what he had been waiting for.
Dean Chen revealed a slight smile.
Sain hurriedly thought, as multiple media, including those from Sela Civilization, broadcast live.