Number Eleven High School.
The moment news of Wang Hao's victory over Lin Tingbai spread, the entire school erupted in an uproar. Even though Wang Hao had only broken through to Level 6 Martial Apprentice, Lin Tingbai was a Level 8 Martial Apprentice—how on earth had he lost?
But when the students learned the full details of the match, every single one of them was left stunned, with only one thought in their minds: Wang Hao was an unadulterated, irredeemable scumbag.
Not only had he used the despicable trick of dosing Lin Tingbai with Passion Burst to secure his victory, he'd also stolen the man's Electromagnetic Ring, and gone so far as to auction Lin Tingbai off to Gao Damei for a million credits in a fit of unbridled depravity. No one but a total degenerate could ever pull off something so utterly appalling.
"What the hell? Where did Wang Hao even get his hands on Passion Burst!?"
"Right! I've heard that stuff is insanely potent, and it's nearly impossible to get your hands on. A single vial sells for a hundred thousand credits these days!"
"I'd bet good money that Passion Burst was mixed by this scumbag Wang Hao himself."
"Damn right. Only a degenerate like him would ever brew something like that."
"Just thinking about what's happening to Lin Tingbai after Gao Damei dragged him off… the girls in this school are probably all crying their eyes out right now."
"To think this is how our once-famed campus heartthrob ends up… it's freaking glorious!"
"Hell yeah. Seeing a rich, pretty boy like him get his comeuppance? It's the best thing that's happened all year."
"Shame about the Electromagnetic Ring, though. Wang Hao made off with it."
"That thing's a ten million credit tech weapon! There's no way Lin Tingbai's just gonna let this slide."
"That's only if he ever comes back!"
"What do you mean by that?"
"The Lin family's money and influence don't hold a candle to the Gao family. Now that he's with Gao Damei, do you really think the Gao family's ever gonna let him go?"
"Damn straight. I heard Gao Damei's dad has gone gray with worry over his daughter. Now that he's got a perfect son-in-law like Lin Tingbai dropped in his lap? He's probably laughing in his sleep. There's no way he's letting him go."
"Wang Hao's such a bastard!"
"He didn't just sell Lin Tingbai's body—he ruined his entire life."
Meanwhile, Wang Hao was examining his new prize: the Electromagnetic Ring.
"And here I thought I'd gotten my hands on some treasure. It's just a second-rate defective Tier 2 tech weapon." Wang Hao looked thoroughly disappointed.
Within the Interstellar Federation, weapons were divided into three core categories: tech weapons, firearm weapons, and alloy weapons. Tech weapons were armaments derived from cutting-edge high technology, the most famous examples being mechs and laser weaponry. Firearm weapons referred to firearms and ammunition, all enhanced to deliver devastating, overwhelming firepower. Alloy weapons were cold weapons, forged from ultra-tough alloys that made them not only nigh-unbreakable, but also razor-sharp.
Regardless of their category, every weapon in the Interstellar Federation was ranked into six tiers based on its destructive power and defensive capabilities, with Tier 1 being the weakest and Tier 6 the most powerful. This Electromagnetic Ring couldn't even deliver full Tier 2 damage, only marginally more powerful than a Tier 1 weapon. At most, it could inflict a minor paralyzing effect on a Martial Master, with virtually no real killing power to speak of.
"Oh well. It'll do for now, I guess."
Wang Hao slipped the Electromagnetic Ring onto his finger and strode back toward the sports field, his mind already racing, wondering if his next opponent would be another Lin Tingbai he could fleece for all he was worth. After all, a single match had earned him cold hard cash, a powerful piece of equipment, and a mountain of Villain Points. He could barely wait to face his next opponent.
When Wang Hao stepped back onto the arena stage once more, a hulking, muscle-bound man stared daggers at him from across the platform, his face like thunder. The students below the arena were screaming at the tops of their lungs, their blood boiling with excitement.
"Zhao Xunwen! Beat this scumbag to a pulp!"
"Scumbag? He's a degenerate bastard!"
"Zhao Xunwen! Kill this bastard! Avenge our prince charming Lin Tingbai!"
"This man is a stain on Number Eleven High School's reputation! Zhao Xunwen, end him!"
"He ruined Lin Tingbai's entire life! He's a monster! Zhao Xunwen, rid the world of this evil!"
"Beat the bastard Wang Hao! Purge this plague from Number Eleven High School!!"
"Beat the bastard Wang Hao! Purge this plague from Number Eleven High School!!"
In the VIP viewing area, Su Mu rubbed his forehead, at a complete loss for words to describe what he was feeling. While he saw Wang Hao's antics as nothing more than childish mischief, the boy's talent for stirring up trouble was truly unparalleled. He was the polar opposite of his father, Wang Tianyi, in every single way.
Principal Zhongli sat fidgeting nervously beside Su Mu, acutely aware of the other high school principals behind him, pointing and whispering, their eyes filled with contempt. If Wang Hao kept going down this path, he'd never be showered with flowers and applause. He'd only ever be met with blame and condemnation.
"What on earth happened to you, boy Wang Hao?" Principal Zhongli let out a bitter laugh. The Wang Hao of the past had never been like this.
On the arena stage.
Wang Hao sized up Zhao Xunwen. If his memories served him right, this man had once threatened the previous owner of his body into mixing elixirs for him, and had never paid a single credit for them.
Debts must be repaid—it was the way of the world. Today, he would punish evil and uphold justice. Wang Hao smirked coldly to himself. But Zhao Xunwen was a Level 8 Martial Apprentice, after all. There was no way he could win in a straight fight. But for the sake of justice, he had no choice but to play dirty again.
"Are both of you ready!?" The referee's face was thunderous, and it turned even darker when his gaze landed on Wang Hao.
"Wait!" Wang Hao held up a hand to stop him, pointing at Zhao Xunwen and shouting, "Referee, look at the scowl on his face! He clearly has a personal grudge against me! I'm worried he'll use this match to get his revenge!"
The referee's face turned icy. "I am the referee. My only job is to declare the winner and loser. This is none of my business."
Wang Hao let out a sigh. "In that case, let the match begin."
The referee felt a surge of smug satisfaction. That little bastard Wang Hao had thrown his own words back in his face earlier. Now he was getting a taste of his own medicine!
"What an idiot." Zhao Xunwen curled his lip in disdain, not sparing Wang Hao a single serious glance. He couldn't believe that this alchemy nerd, who'd once not even dared to breathe too loudly in his presence, could ever amount to anything.
"Then let the matc—"
"Wait! Look! There's a naked woman over there!!" Wang Hao cut the referee off mid-sentence, pointing wildly over Zhao Xunwen's shoulder and screaming at the top of his lungs.
"A naked woman? Where!?"
In an instant, the students below the arena instinctively turned to stare in the direction Wang Hao was pointing. But just then, a bloodcurdling, pig-like scream of agony rang out in their ears.
AHHHHH!
When the students snapped their gaze back to the arena, they saw Zhao Xunwen collapsed on the floor, his face deathly pale, curled into a ball, clutching his crotch with both hands, his face twisted in unbearable agony. Wang Hao stood right beside him, pulling his foot back from between Zhao Xunwen's legs.
He then walked over to the referee, clapped him on the shoulder, and said gravely, "You said your only job is to declare the winner and loser, Referee. I'm guessing this is none of your business either."
None of your business my ass! This was a cheap shot! How the hell was this none of the referee's business!?
Ten thousand stampeding horses raged through the referee's mind. He swore he would never speak to Wang Hao ever again. This bastard was utterly shameless. Not only had he left him speechless with his own words, he'd twisted them to find a loophole to exploit.
In the end, the referee had no idea how to call the match, and could only send a message to Principal Zhongli, begging him to make the final ruling…