Starforce Warriors

Chapter 53: Blatant Challenge

In recent years, Jipeng’s national strength had grown exponentially, so it had shifted from its previous submissive stance and was starting to eye Great Xia Republic's territory and resources covetously. Numerous frictions had occurred between the two countries, especially in the southeastern coastal regions where several wars had broken out.

Although the two countries had since signed a peace treaty and the situation was temporarily stable, public hostility was inevitable. In this context, the Education Department of Liuhe Base City making such a decision caused an uproar among netizens, who had initially mocked Red Flag High School. They quickly flooded the Education Department's website, launching a barrage of criticisms.

Soon, Luo Changhe, the Deputy Director of the Education Department responsible for the opening ceremony, accepted an interview with tv reporters.

"It's Red Flag High School's own fault for not being competent enough," Deputy Director Luo said with a pained expression as he faced the camera. "They failed to secure their own seats."

This statement left viewers of the live broadcast bewildered.

How was this suddenly Red Flag High School's fault? Weren't they the victims?

Deputy Director Luo Changhe explained helplessly, "There were two high school students in the Jiepeng delegation who wanted to attend the opening ceremony at the last minute. They followed the Great Xia’s martial lineage tradition and challenged the Red Flag High School representatives. However, Yan Chiyu from Red Flag High School did not dare to accept the challenge, thus failing to secure their seats. We at the Education Department are deeply saddened by this, but we were powerless."

This explanation sparked an uproar among all parties. So, that was the hidden truth behind the incident. It seemed the Education Department couldn't be blamed. The fault lay with Red Flag High School for being so incompetent.

If they couldn't even secure their own seats, what right did such a useless school have to exist? They were a disgrace to the martial artists of Great Xia.

Enraged netizens swarmed Red Flag High School's website, spewing insults. The flood of criticism quickly overwhelmed Red Flag High School. The students were dumbfounded, since they had never imagined such an outcome.

Chen Fei and Yan Chiyu became the primary targets of the online vitriol in the light network world. Even though Red Flag High School's students tried their best to defend them, their voices were quickly drowned out in the overwhelming tide of public opinion.

At this point, an official announcement from the Education Department caught many people's attention. The two Jiepeng high school students had obtained exchange student status, allowing them to participate in the High School War God League, and they had already been granted their super accounts.

The news did not provoke much anger. Such situations had precedents, since exchange students and visiting scholars occasionally participated in various domestic competitions.

Soon, the names of the super accounts for these two Jiepeng high school students were uncovered. Their names were Tsukiha Yaiba and Mizutani Hikaru.

They're currently in the trials, accumulating points.

Their speed is incredible.

They've reached 4000 points in just an hour?

Damn, and they both got Transcendent Ratings?

Is the system broken?

Their points are still climbing, and both have already entered the top twenty on the leaderboard.

Three hours in, and they're both in the top ten.

They've cleared the level 5 trial.

This is bad, they're both in the top five now.

Oh no, they're already in the top three...

The forum was buzzing with real-time updates on the two Jiepeng high school students' progress. At first, people were just watching for entertainment. But they gradually fell silent. The two Jiepeng high school students were accumulating points at an unbelievable speed.

In just six short hours, they had entered the top three of the ranking points leaderboard. The previous geniuses of Liuhe Base City, including Yunong Feelings, One Thought Supergod, and Rain Pavilion Resident, were all surpassed by these two Jiepeng high school students.

Only the mysterious prodigy Your Grandpa remained at the top of the leaderboard. The outcome was unacceptable to many. Two outsiders had come and stolen the show?

If it weren't for the sudden emergence of Your Grandpa, it would have meant that the entire high school population of Liuhe Base City would have been trampled underfoot by these two foreigners.

Everyone, don't panic. High points don't necessarily mean strong capabilities.

That's right, maybe they have some secret technique for quickly killing star beasts.

They've already cleared the level 5 trial and can now activate Challenge Mode.

Someone has already issued a challenge.

Dragonheart, ranked sixteenth on the leaderboard, has issued a public challenge to Mizutani Hikaru.

Dragonheart was the twelfth place finisher in last year's High School War God League's individual competition and is very powerful. It's said he's made even more progress this year.

It's a public challenge, broadcast live to the entire network.

Everyone, hurry and watch.

The news spread, and people rushed into the livestream room. Netizens hoped that the high school students from Liuhe Base City could use Challenge Mode to fiercely suppress the arrogance of the Jiepeng students and regain some face.

However, they were disappointed. Jiepeng high school student Mizutani Hikaru defeated Dragonheart with a single move. In the live broadcast room, the audience's hearts sank as Dragonheart's body disintegrated into blue data streams.

The victorious Mizutani Hikaru shook her head in disappointment.

"Great Xia martial lineage, you have no successors," she sighed.

Mizutani Hikaru was a girl—a beautiful young woman with a stern demeanor and a tall, slender figure.

"I’d like to challenge all high school students in Liuhe Base City," Mizutani Hikaru declared arrogantly. "Come on, show me your courage. Be the warrior who dares to challenge the demon king and let me trample each of you Great Xia weaklings under my feet."

Her words ignited the anger of the livestream viewers. This was a blatant challenge to the dignity of the people of the Great Xia Republic.

"I'll defeat you."

A bald-headed teenager appeared in the live stream. He had a robust physique, a youthful face, but incredibly developed muscles. Standing at nearly two meters tall, he resembled a powerful bronze tower, exuding an overwhelming presence.

It's Bronze Arhat Zhang Chao.

He’s a genius from Hongye High School, known for cultivating the true legacy of the martial art Golden Bell Shield. His body can withstand sword and knife strikes. He ranked eighth in last year's High School War God League individual competition.

Zhang Chao is renowned for his super strong defense and is one of the top three tanks.

But that Jiepeng girl is ranked third on the leaderboard.

You don't understand. The points from the trials don't necessarily reflect actual combat ability. In a one-on-one fight, combat experience matters more. Humans possess greater combat intelligence than star beasts.

So, Zhang Chao has a chance?

Absolutely.

The livestream chat was flooded with comments. In the end, the chat was flooded with a single phrase.

Defend our nation's honor.

The scene was incredibly grand but this grandeur lasted only thirty seconds. Bronze Arhat Zhang Chao’s defense was broken through by Mizutani Hikaru in three moves and was instantly defeated, disintegrating into a stream of blue data and disappearing from the live stream.

Next, several renowned high school geniuses from Liuhe Base City stepped up to challenge her. But all were defeated within ten moves.

"I didn't expect Great Xia martial arts to be so weak," Mizutani Hikaru sneered in the livestream. "Are there any decent martial artists among Liuhe Base City's high schoolers? Or are you all just a bunch of weaklings and invalids?"

She continued to mock them relentlessly.