In the hall.
Hundreds of teachers and students gathered here, yet the atmosphere was extremely quiet, so silent that you could hear a pin drop.
Everyone, including the teachers, was stunned by the scene in front of them.
Xu Zhou defeated Huang Hao with a single strike.
One strike?!
The crowd erupted into an uproar.
Even members of the top hundred ranking from various grades began to show signs of shock.
Huang Hao's strength was one of the top in the first year, yet he was taken down by Xu Zhou with just one strike.
So how terrifying is Xu Zhou's strength?
Not to mention other classes, even Class Eight was dumbfounded, each person as if seeing Xu Zhou for the first time.
"Oh my heavens..." Even Wen Yuehui was dumbfounded, rubbing his cheeks hard.
"Ah~"
Huang Hao fell to the ground, screaming in immense pain.
Seeing this, everyone gradually came to their senses.
Medical staff immediately stepped forward to check Huang Hao's injuries.
"Right forearm severed, right upper arm... also a comminuted fracture!" The medic's voice carried a hint of disbelief.
Just now, Xu Zhou merely lightly swung his blade, causing such severe injuries?
The other students couldn't believe it.
"So strong!"
"To sever an arm with one strike and still cause a comminuted fracture, is this really the strength a first-year student can possess?"
"Too ruthless, this person must not be provoked!"
First-year students were all in great shock.
Many people looked at Xu Zhou with fear in their eyes!
In Class One of the first-year, several girls' faces turned pale, shouting angrily, "Xu Zhou, you went too far!"
In their eyes, it was just a sparring match, and yet Xu Zhou severed Huang Hao's forearm.
Even the upper arm was a comminuted fracture!
And crucially, it was his right hand.
This almost cut off any chance of Huang Hao recovering, leaving him with only one hand in the future!
At this moment, not just Class One, but many from other first-year classes also voiced their condemnation.
Yet the second and third-year students remained unusually silent.
"Silence!"
The principal suddenly yelled, then said in a deep voice, "Blades have no eyes. If you choose to challenge in reality, you must be prepared to get hurt!"
"If your skills aren't as good as others', even if you get cut down, you can't blame anyone else!"
Buzz!
When the principal finished speaking, all the first-year students fell into deathly silence.
They hadn't expected that the principal would not blame Xu Zhou but instead condone such actions?
Even... even if they were cut down, they couldn't blame anyone?
Looking at the second and third-year seniors, they all had calm expressions, as if they had expected all of this.
At this moment, all the first-year students were silent.
Is this the cruelty of martial arts education? Or is this the cruelty of the Martial Artist?
Even Xu Zhou was a bit surprised; he had been prepared to be punished, yet he didn't expect the principal to support his actions.
He was surprised, but the teachers on site were even more surprised than him.
"This kid has indeed broken through to the second level of swordsmanship." Cao Yong showed a gratified smile.
He had guessed this when he came before.
And now, Xu Zhou didn't disappoint him.
In fact, Xu Zhou's performance was even more impressive than he had anticipated.
Cao Yong looked at Xu Zhou and thought to himself, "Not only that, this kid's Qi-Blood fluctuations have also improved significantly from before."
Other teachers were also looking at Xu Zhou with deep eyes.
This little guy has brought them too many surprises today.
First, he made it to the top hundred ranking, then he accepted a real-life challenge, and now he's taken down Huang Hao with one strike, showcasing extremely formidable strength.
"Is his talent really beast-like?"
At this moment, many teachers had doubts in their hearts. They had heard this news from others.
But now, they were unwilling to believe it. With such formidable talent and combat prowess, are you telling me this is beast-like talent?
Are you kidding!
...
"Teachers, fellow students."
At this moment, Xu Zhou suddenly spoke out loudly.
In an instant, all eyes gathered on him.
Xu Zhou said loudly, "Because of my talent, I've caused such a big uproar in the school, and I am deeply sorry."
"But this matter was not instigated by me, nor was it because of my teacher!"
"You've all seen my talent, it's definitely not as the outside world claims, slow to cultivate, or even unable to cultivate!"
"Half a month ago, I couldn't even touch the tail end of the top hundred ranking, and now, I have the confidence to challenge the top ten!"
"This is my talent, the Undying Dragon Body!"
Xu Zhou said deeply, "As for those who spread rumors of 'Transform into a Dragon' or 'Beast-like talent,' they are the real culprits of this situation!"
Upon saying this, Xu Zhou turned to look at the principal.
"Principal, with the huge uproar this matter has caused, shouldn't the main culprit give everyone an explanation? Give my teacher an explanation?"
The scene immediately fell silent.
Many people looked towards the direction of Class Two of the third-year.
And the principal was also silent for a moment, then nodded and said, "Huang Yunxuan, come out and apologize."
Among the ranks of Class Two, third-year, Huang Yunxuan's face instantly turned extremely sullen.
Actually, it was Liu Kaiqi who told him about this matter.
But evidently, the principal could not, in front of so many students, have a teacher apologize. Even if Liu Kaiqi were to be punished, it would be done privately.
And Huang Hao was seriously injured and unconscious, so he couldn't be dragged up to apologize.
So, the responsibility fell on Huang Yunxuan.
But... to have him, Huang Yunxuan, apologize in front of everyone to a little first-year kid, and moreover, one he considered to have worthless talent?
He couldn't do it!
"Huang Yunxuan, aren't you going to come out and apologize?" At this moment, Liu Kaiqi shouted.
"Teacher..." Huang Yunxuan clenched his fist suddenly.
However, Liu Kaiqi just gave him a cold look.
Huang Yunxuan's heart sank, and the next moment, he gritted his teeth, stepped out, and walked to Xu Zhou.
"Sorry... It's my fault for this matter! Is that enough?"
Huang Yunxuan said word by word.
Xu Zhou stood with one hand behind his back, seemingly unmoved, and said, "The person you need to apologize to is not me, it's my teacher."
Huang Yunxuan's face slightly changed.
As a member of the top ten in the third-year hundred ranking, wherever he went, wasn't he always treated with respect?
And today, a first-year newcomer, with a beast-like talent, dared to embarrass him in front of everyone.
Yet, he had no choice but to swallow this emotion.
Huang Yunxuan's eyes flashed with a hint of gloom, he took a deep breath, turned, and walked towards Cao Yong.
"Teacher Cao, I was wrong."
Cao Yong said lightly, "It's good to correct a mistake once you realize it. Next time you hear some baseless rumors, don't rush to spread them, or you might end up hurting your brother like this."
Huang Yunxuan's face subtly darkened, hoarsely saying, "Yes, teacher."
Seeing this, the crowd buzzed slightly.
A member of the top ten in the third-year hundred ranking, apologizing to a first-year student and even being forced to apologize to the student's teacher, was unprecedented at Linjiang First High School.
For a moment, everyone turned their gaze towards Xu Zhou, showing a look of admiration.
In the crowd, Li Ruoxi looked at Xu Zhou standing with his hands behind his back in front, feeling slightly dazed.
She hadn't expected that the once weak brother who was bullied by others had become so assertive now.
Li Ruoxi's lips curled slightly, a faint smile appearing on her pretty face.
Not far away, sensing something, Xu Zhou turned his head to look her way.
Li Ruoxi looked elsewhere, her smile fading, still maintaining a cold demeanor.
Beside her, Lin Shishi rolled her eyes slightly at her, thinking to herself, "Would it kill you to smile at your brother? Always putting on a cold facade, isn't it exhausting?"
Then, she also glanced at Xu Zhou, her beautiful eyes flickering with light.
"I must say, Ruoxi's brother is quite handsome..." Lin Shishi couldn't help but marvel in her mind.
Being handsome is one thing, but the way he handled this matter was truly impressive.
After all, if Xu Zhou hadn't stood up just now, there's no way Huang Yunxuan would have apologized publicly.
By this point, not only was Xu Zhou's talent acknowledged, but the original instigator had also apologized, which could be considered a very perfect resolution.
But Lin Shishi didn't know that Xu Zhou's goal extended beyond this.
At this time, after apologizing, Huang Yunxuan planned to leave with a sullen expression.
But just then, Xu Zhou suddenly said, "Principal, with such a huge uproar over this matter, is a simple apology really going to suffice?"
Upon these words, Huang Yunxuan's figure froze instantly.
Not far away, Liu Kaiqi also frowned and said, "Xu Zhou, the matter has come to such extent, what more do you want?"
Xu Zhou ignored him and continued speaking to the principal, "If this matter were to be really spread out of school, Linjiang First High School would become a laughingstock of Jiangzhou!"
"The impact is so egregious, it concerns not just me, not just my teacher, but the ten thousand teachers and students of Linjiang First High School!"
"They are all waiting for a result!"
The crowd in the hall looked at each other, whether first-year or third-year students, nodding slightly at this moment.
Many of them had come to watch the excitement, but it's indeed as Xu Zhou said.
At this moment, they were all waiting for a result!
But Huang Yunxuan's face grew increasingly sullen.
"My younger brother was seriously injured by you, I apologized to you publicly, to your teacher, isn't that enough?" he said, suppressing his anger.
"Not enough!"
Xu Zhou said calmly, "If this ends hastily, doesn't it mean anyone can spread rumors, and anyone can become a rumor-monger?"
"After all, the cost of spreading rumors is just a small apology!"
With these words, the crowd buzzed slightly.
Everyone understood that if the original instigator didn't pay a heavy price for this, Xu Zhou probably wouldn't let it go easily!
Huang Yunxuan coldly stared at Xu Zhou, saying in a low voice, "Xu Zhou, don't go too far!"
"Am I going too far?" Xu Zhou said calmly, "Then ask the principal if my words are too much!"
The principal looked at Xu Zhou with a deep gaze.
How could he not understand Xu Zhou's meaning?
It was simple.
Xu Zhou wanted Huang Yunxuan and Huang Hao to receive due punishment, and it had to be done publicly!
Only by letting everyone see the punishment of the rumor-mongers, witnessing their painful lesson, could the rumor-spreading mindset be eliminated among others.
But initially, the principal didn't plan to punish Huang Yunxuan publicly.
After all, no matter what, Huang Yunxuan was still in the top ten of the hundred ranking, a seed of the school!
Punishment could be given, but public punishment seemed too heartless.
But now, with Xu Zhou's words, it seemed this matter couldn't end easily.
As he said, if this was left unchecked, would it mean anyone could spread rumors in the future?
"What a power play." The principal sighed inwardly, "Today's young generation is truly becoming more formidable."
He sighed softly and said, "I'll discuss privately with the teachers and later, hold a school-wide assembly to announce the result."
Huang Yunxuan's face subtly changed.
Will he really be punished publicly?
"Principal..." he hastily said.
"Enough!" The principal sternly looked at him, "Once you choose to speak out, you must pay the price for your words. This matter is settled!"
After saying that, the principal swept his sleeve and left first.
The other teachers also followed the principal out, apparently to discuss how to handle this issue.
Once all the teachers left the hall.
The students present buzzed again.
No one expected this matter to develop to this stage, to the point where a top ten student in the hundred ranking would be punished publicly!
The third-year hundred ranking is also known as the Dragon and Tiger Ranking!
Each member on the Dragon and Tiger List is the foundation of the school, a seed for top universities!
Not to mention those top geniuses in the top ten.
And now, it's such a top ten genius on the Dragon and Tiger List, due to a few words from Xu Zhou, who is about to face public punishment!
And moreover, being punished in front of all the teachers and students!
At this moment, everyone showed a curious look.
How will the principal punish Huang Yunxuan? Physical punishment, or... what kind of punishment?