Chapter 210
“Huh? What nonsense are you spouting?” The Yellow-Haired Boy laughed in anger. “How am I like that sanctimonious guy?”
They knew each other. We got it. The Ability world was small, and with both from prominent families, how could their heirs not cross paths? Too bad Si Zhaohua and Ai Baozhu weren’t here for a showdown—that’d be fun.
The Yellow-Haired Boy calmed himself quickly. Rules banned private fights, so acting now was pointless, just making a spectacle.
He snorted: “Whatever. You’re in his class—what taste could you have? We’ll settle it on the arena.”
Leaving already? No way! I frowned—I wanted to gauge his strength. But private fights risked disqualification.
Thinking, I whispered loud enough for him to hear, asking Wu Mingbai: “What’s his Ability?”
I hadn’t researched opponents—that was the teachers’ job. Before matches, we’d get ten minutes to learn about opponents’ Abilities and strategize.
If scared, unconfident, or cautious, you could ask teachers early for details and plan.
I wasn’t those types. I genuinely didn’t care. My [Destiny Gear] worked regardless of opponents’ Abilities. I trusted my on-the-spot reactions—knowing their Ability before fighting was enough.My question and Wu Mingbai’s headshake made the Yellow-Haired Boy realize we didn’t care about him. That hit his sore spot, his face darkening: “You don’t even know my Ability?”
Then, as if realizing something, his expression twisted: “You don’t know who I am either?”
We exchanged glances, offering awkward but polite smiles.
Our colorful lives and non-Ability world origins meant we lacked connections for gossip and didn’t follow other factions. Even classmates like Si Zhaohua and Feng Lan, from powerful families, we only knew after explanations—let alone outsiders.
Flaunting his status was like winking at the blind.
Seeing our reaction, he understood, his face ashen: “Si Zhaohua never mentioned me?”
A teammate couldn’t stand it: “Our Captain Huangfu is the Huangfu Family’s eldest son! They’ve got shares in all three Academies!”
Now we got the Huangfu Family’s weight. Shares in all three Academies—an elder-level influence. As novels say, one stomp could shake the Ability world.
I didn’t know what Si Zhaohua and Ai Baozhu’s families did, only that they were established Ability clans. In my mind, Huangfu Mingzhe’s status felt grander.
With such a figure, the Tri-School Competition wouldn’t be calm. My gaze lingered briefly on Huangfu Mingzhe, then shifted to his fawning teammates.
Skydome’s competitors were so deferential, clearly showing Huangfu Mingzhe outclassed them in status and strength.
So, aside from him, Skydome’s team would get crushed by us. The competition wasn’t just for Huangfu Mingzhe’s spotlight—he alone couldn’t rival Endless.
If Skydome was like this, Houde, their equal, likely had uneven strength too.
The author’s plan was clear to me: “Black Flash” would disrupt the Tri-School Competition, likely during the entertainment match.
Realizing this, my interest in probing faded, and I stood bored, waiting for them to finish.
Huangfu Mingzhe, after his lackey salvaged his pride, relaxed: “I won’t blame your ignorance. Tomorrow, Huangfu Mingzhe’s name will stick with you, a mountain in your hearts.”
No hotheads among us, or a fight might’ve sparked.
But while we lacked hotheads, we had a fool. Mo Xiaotian, missing the mockery, asked earnestly: “Why make us remember you?”
Huangfu Mingzhe choked. Wu Mingbai seized the chance, playing dumb: “Cause he likes us. Only liking makes you want to be remembered, right?”
“Got it!” Mo Xiaotian, genuinely naive, beamed: “I’ll remember you, Huangfu Mingzhe!”
Huangfu Mingzhe: “…”
He looked ready to puke. Twisting his words to such a nauseating degree was a skill. But against Mo Xiaotian, he couldn’t mock—a pang of guilt for bullying a fool: “You…”
His face flashed green and white, then he ignored Mo Xiaotian, throwing a challenge to the rest: “What’s the point of sharp tongues? The Ability world values strength. Wait for my one-versus-five tomorrow!”
He stormed off with his team, his back tinged with embarrassment.
“Hahahahaha!” Wu Mingbai burst out laughing once they left. Huangfu Mingzhe’s color-changing face was too fun, soothing his mocked ego.
Others couldn’t help laughing too—usually restrained, unless it was too much. Fools trumped all. Even Si Zhaohua had been tripped up by Mo Xiaotian before.
“Should we keep exploring?” Lan Subing asked after the laughs. She didn’t want to—Zhao Hanwen outing us drew eyes, unlikely to fade soon. She felt uneasy, wanting to bolt.
Seeing her reluctance, Jiang Tianming said: “Let’s head back. Seeing one opponent team was worth it. We can ask Ai Baozhu about Huangfu Mingzhe’s Ability.”
Dropping Lan Subing off, we piled into her room. Ai Baozhu asked, puzzled: “Back so soon?”
Lan Subing cut in: “Know Huangfu Mingzhe? We just ran into him.”
“Ah, that guy,” Ai Baozhu’s face was hard to describe. “He didn’t hassle you, did he? No, he’s too proud for that.”
Her words fanned Lan Subing’s gossip flames: “What’s the deal? He’s our opponent tomorrow! Spill, Baozhu!”
Not much to say. Ai Baozhu thought: “You know novels with arrogant rich heirs? Humble, polite rich kids like me and Zhaohua are rare. Huangfu Mingzhe’s the classic novel-type rich brat.”
You and Si Zhaohua are pretty classic too… I thought, glancing at Jiang Tianming and Wu Mingbai, who clearly agreed.
But Ai Baozhu’s point was clear: Huangfu Mingzhe was a bigger “brat” than Si Zhaohua. Ignoring our silent jabs, she continued: “We went to the same schools—kindergarten, elementary, junior high. Top schools are few. But he never hung out with us—he loves being flattered. Our families are equal, so we don’t indulge him.”
“What’s his Ability?” Jiang Tianming asked, the real concern. His confidence suggested a strong Ability.
As expected, Ai Baozhu pursed her lips: “[Five-Clawed Golden Dragon], a bloodline Ability with dragon traits—shape-shifting, cloud-riding, and such. His body’s tough, immune to fire and water. Physical attacks barely dent him. But I hear he can’t transform into a true dragon yet—that’s post-adulthood.”
True dragon or not, the gap was vast. As a true dragon, he’d wield all dragon powers with less Mental Energy cost.
Even without that Ascension, his strength was formidable. Fire-water immunity and flight were headache-inducing enough.
“If I’m right, tomorrow’s first match is Skydome. Who’ll they send against Si Zhaohua?” Wu Mingbai asked eagerly.
“Definitely Huangfu,” Ai Baozhu replied without hesitation. Everyone agreed—his demeanor screamed he wouldn’t let anyone else lead.
Skydome’s team looked like Huangfu’s entourage.
Lan Subing mused: “He’s not planning to one-versus-five, is he?”
“Definitely,” Ai Baozhu affirmed.
That irked everyone. Aiming for a one-versus-five showed he didn’t take opponents seriously. Strong or not, it was infuriating.
My words cheered them up: “Then it’s up to Si Zhaohua’s skill.”
Right—our opener was Si Zhaohua. Only his loss would give others a shot. If he lost, and we beat Huangfu later, Si Zhaohua would take the mockery, not Huangfu.
Classmates were for teasing.
As for Huangfu actually pulling off a one-versus-five, we weren’t that lacking in confidence.
Meng Huai’s relaxed demeanor showed our strength was top-tier this year. If Huangfu were that strong, they’d have us studying his Ability already.
Next morning, we set out. The hotel was beside the venue—a five-minute walk. We left at 7 a.m. for prep.
As Wu Mingbai predicted, spectators knew our schedule and gathered to watch. The crowd in the lobby and along the route overwhelmed Lan Subing, who wanted to vanish.
In the venue’s top-floor rest rooms—one per school, no crowding or conflicts—the rest room had a one-way glass wall, offering a clear view out but none in.
Zhao Xiaoyu stood on the host platform in a green Greek gown, elegantly made-up, stunning. Beside her was a handsome 16-17-year-old in a suit, both delivering lively hosting.
“Didn’t see Xiaoyu yesterday. When’d she get here?” Ai Baozhu asked Qi Huang from the glass window. They shared a room, so she’d know.
Qi Huang, facing the window, said: “An hour earlier—had to get ready.”
“That dress suits her. My friend’s got great taste,” Ai Baozhu nodded, satisfied, looking at Zhao Xiaoyu.
“Wasn’t her dress Academy-provided?” Qi Huang said uncertainly, then glanced aside, laughing: “Better critique our peacock Si Zhaohua.”
Everyone turned to Si Zhaohua, who indeed looked like a preening peacock.
His low ponytail was now a sharp high one, his clothes freshly ironed. He was spraying perfume—why for a fight? To smell out opponents?
Even Ai Baozhu’s lips twitched: “What are you doing?”
“I’m the opener, representing our school. Gotta look sharp,” Si Zhaohua said confidently. “If I go out while looking sloppy, it shames the Academy.”
Jiang Tianming roasted: “This is beyond sharp.”
Amid banter, Meng Huai returned, cutting to the chase: “Skydome’s sending Huangfu Mingzhe, [Five-Clawed Golden Dragon]. Si Zhaohua, how much do you know about him?”
“More than the Academy,” Si Zhaohua said bluntly. As rival family heirs, their abilities were hard to hide under scrutiny.
Meng Huai nodded, unfazed: “Then I won’t repeat. Their team’s odd—one Attack Track, four Support Tracks, betting everything on Huangfu.”
We were shocked—a four-to-one protection setup, banking everything on him. My earlier observation was right—his teammates were lackeys.
Digesting this, Meng Huai sneered at Si Zhaohua: “If they’re that confident in Huangfu, let’s see what he's got. Take him down first, even for a tie, and we’re set for the individual battles.”
Si Zhaohua nodded firmly: “I’ll win the first match.”
Ten minutes later, both stood on the arena. Both high-charisma—silver-haired Si Zhaohua versus golden-haired Huangfu Mingzhe—looked like fated rivals, visually striking and compelling.
The individual battle arena had random stage settings, testing luck. A map suited to one’s Ability gave a huge edge.
The map was chosen by both throwing dice, their points summed for the map number—2 to 11.
Originally, referees picked, but after a map overly favored one Ability user, causing bias accusations, competitors now chose together. No blaming others for your pick.
They rolled—Map 8, High Wall. Walls of varying sizes rose, offering cover or obstructing vision. Good for tactics, but useless for Si Zhaohua and Huangfu Mingzhe, who both flew. Most terrains didn’t affect fliers, so they weren’t surprised.
“Si Zhaohua, ready to be my stepping stone?” Huangfu Mingzhe taunted grandly.
Si Zhaohua replied calmly: “When will you ditch your daydreaming habit?”
They glared, both snorting, feeling words were pointless—knocking the other down suited them better.
The match began, and both activated their Abilities. [Angel] and [Five-Clawed Golden Dragon] were visually striking. Si Zhaohua, now with two pairs of four white wings, floated off the ground, holy and noble.
[Five-Clawed Golden Dragon] bathed Huangfu Mingzhe in golden light, dragon horns sprouting, golden scales faintly visible. A cloud appeared underfoot, lifting him level with Si Zhaohua.
It looked less like a student duel and more like a clash of cultures.
I couldn’t help thinking: “Doesn’t that make Si Zhaohua the villain?”