"Your Holiness, I have lost."
On the high platform, Ju Douluo sighed helplessly.
Wang Zhong's physical condition was far beyond what someone of his age should possess, a factor he hadn't anticipated in his prior analysis.
Bi Dong chuckled and remained silent.
"How can this guy be so strong!"
Among the crowd, Zhao Shi from Class C stared at Wang Zhong, who stood proudly in the center of the arena, his expression frighteningly grim.
He had personally experienced the immense power and stamina of Feng Yuansheng from Class B, a strength so formidable it was akin to a ferocious tiger-like soul beast.
Two punches, he had only endured two punches! The challenger, Feng Yuansheng, could no longer rise.
He had thought that after obtaining his first soul ring, the gap between him and Feng Yuansheng would shrink. However, the battle between Feng Yuansheng and Wang Zhong just now had utterly shattered this notion.
Not only had the gap not shrunk, it had widened.
"Damn it, how can the difference be so huge!"
"Am I destined to remain in a trash class like Class C forever!"
Zhao Shi gritted his teeth, his eyes reddened by this unbearable resentment.
His gaze shifted from Wang Zhong, sweeping across the members of Class A: Xie Yue, Yan, Hu Liena, Yin Can, Feng Bailing, Zhao Ying. Suddenly, Zhao Shi's eyes gleamed with sharp insight.
Class A wasn't just Wang Zhong. He could still advance by defeating the others!
This sudden idea became like a spell, lingering in Zhao Shi's mind, refusing to dissipate.
"Yin Can, Feng Bailing, and Zhao Ying are all support-type soul masters. Their level advancements and declines have a separate set of assessment standards; they cannot be determined by challenges."
"Xie Yue, Hu Liena, and Yan's innate soul power levels are nine, nine, and eight respectively. In half a year, they must have all acquired their first soul rings."
"Xie Yue's martial soul is Moonblade, an extremely fearsome offensive artifact martial soul. I might not be his match. Yan's martial soul is the Flame Lord, a top-tier dual-attribute fire and earth beast martial soul. In terms of martial soul attributes, it has a natural counter to my Extreme Cold Ice Lion. Engaging him would put me at a disadvantage from the start."
"Hu Liena's martial soul is the Enchantress Fox. This type of martial soul primarily relies on mental power skills such as charm and illusion, following the path of a control-type soul master."
"My martial soul, precisely, has a natural resistance to these skills. If she were my opponent, I might not necessarily lose!"
He clenched his fists tightly and gritted his teeth. Zhao Shi's gaze was resolute, and under the astonished eyes of the crowd, he slowly walked onto the arena.
"Hey, hey, what is that guy trying to do!"
"Is he trying to challenge a monster like Wang Zhong?"
"Isn't that Zhao Shi from Class C? Who gave him the courage! The guy who was knocked down by Feng Yuansheng in two punches dares to get on stage!"
"Isn't this pure suicide!"
"Did something happen to his brain? Can someone from Class C explain?"
"Could it be that he's not challenging Wang Zhong?"
Regardless of the commotion below, Zhao Shi's expression remained unchanged, and he walked with firm steps to stand opposite Wang Zhong.
"Oh, you actually came up. I have to say, I really admire your courage and your willingness to keep your word."
Wang Zhong grinned, looking at Zhao Shi with a smile.
He had also heard about Zhao Shi's previous challenge to Feng Yuansheng and his defeat in two punches.
Now that Feng Yuansheng had been crushed by him, the difference in their strength was obvious. Under such circumstances, Zhao Shi could still muster the courage to step onto the stage, which was enough to earn Wang Zhong's respect.
Weak innate soul power, inferior martial soul, these were not important.
As long as one possessed a heart unwilling to settle for mediocrity, and a desire to constantly become stronger, even if the opponent far surpassed oneself, losing once was acceptable, losing twice was fine, and what if one lost three times?
Recognizing the gap, experiencing the gap, and then continuously bridging the gap.
On the path of pursuing strength, those who strive, struggle, work hard, and persevere to the end, Wang Zhong did not dislike them.
"Wang Zhong, you think I came up here to challenge you."
"No, no, no. I'm not even a match for Feng Yuansheng, how could I possibly challenge you, who is even stronger than him."
"I don't have masochistic tendencies."
Zhao Shi looked at Wang Zhong calmly, his voice as placid as still water.
The smile on Wang Zhong's face froze abruptly. Zhao Shi's words gave him a bad premonition.
"I said, my martial soul, the Extreme Cold Ice Lion, will not be weaker than anyone else!"
"And I will not be confined to Class C forever. The position in Class A, I will take it today!"
"Zhao Shi from Class C, challenges Hu Liena from Class A!"
Wang Zhong's pupils contracted sharply, and the crowd erupted in a predictable uproar.
"See, see, I told you. Given Feng Yuansheng's precedent, where would Zhao Shi get the guts to challenge Wang Zhong."
"Damn it, I had a slightly better impression of him before, but I didn't expect him to be the same old bully who picks on the weak!"
"Throwing his weight around in his own class, but cowering like a dog when encountering strong individuals like Feng Yuansheng or Wang Zhong outside. Disgusting."
"What, Zhao Shi is that kind of person?"
"Of course. What kind of 'Number One of Class C' is he? Just a petty person."
"If you say that, isn't Hu Liena from Class A in danger? If he didn't have some confidence, he wouldn't dare to challenge someone else, right?"
"Hu Liena is from Class A, she definitely won't lose to such a scoundrel!"
"Wait, is that Hu Liena from Class A! What a beautiful girl!"
Wang Zhong surveyed Zhao Shi with a deep gaze, then walked down the stage with a frown. He whispered to Hu Liena, who was walking towards him, "Nana, be careful. This guy looks confident, he must have some trump card for victory."
As they passed each other, Hu Liena wrinkled her nose and said impatiently, "Don't underestimate me, my talent is no worse than yours!"
"Although my strength isn't as good as yours, not everyone can just bully me."