When he returned to school, the 100,000 yuan that Zhou Hao had stolen was gone. However, Zhou Hao was in a good mood. He was certain that he would be able to earn more once the tournament ended.

Just as he reached the school building, he heard intense discussion and argument.

As expected, something happened to Wang Ming, Li Ji, and the other contestants who had potential in making the top ten!

“D*mn, what’s going on?”

“Out of all the times it could’ve happened, why did it have to happen now, at the start of the tournament?”

“Who knows? I heard that he sprained his waist from training.”

“Pfft, one sprain is acceptable, but more than ten sprains together. Only a fool would believe that it was an accident!”

The news spread very quickly. Not only did all the students know about it, even the school’s leaders and teachers heard about it.

In the principal’s office.

The head of the grade, the dean, and many teachers gathered together.

“Principal, let’s cancel the tournament. Many students can barely even move. There’s no way they are able to participate in the competition!”

“The top five students, including Wang Ming and Li Ji, are all suffering from congestion. It’s too much of a coincidence. If we don’t investigate this matter thoroughly, the tournament will be meaningless.”

“It’s not appropriate to cancel the tournament. I think we should postpone it for a few days.”

Several teachers spoke up, and the principal’s office was filled with noise.

Principal Zheng did not say anything. Instead, he looked at the year three director. “Department Director Hong, what do you think?”

Department Director Hong was a retired martial artist. There was a long scar on his face, and it looked exceptionally hideous.

When he heard the principal’s question, he snorted heavily. “A tournament is like a war. All kinds of unexpected situations can happen. Can a war be canceled so easily?”

“Hmph! How trash must you be to be able to sprain yourself during training. Whether it was an accident or not, he should be considered weak for not having prevented it.”

“It’s simply a waste of the school’s resources to have such students participate in the competition!”

Department Director Hong’s words made many teachers’ expressions change.

But no one dared to make a sound.

This was a martial artist who had participated in the bloody meat grinder battle.

Principal Zheng slammed the table. “Good, well said! Teachers, go back immediately and stabilize the students. The Strength Tournament will continue in half an hour!”

The year three teachers nodded and left the office.

Department Director Hong didn’t leave. He narrowed his eyes and stared at Principal Zheng. “Old Zheng, be honest with me. Did you send someone to do it?”

Principal Zheng shook his head. “The purpose of the tournament is to find that peerless genius in our school. If I send people to take action, wouldn’t it make the whole thing meaningless?”

“Old Zheng, do you mean that the peerless genius was the one who did it?” Department Director Hong was puzzled.

The dean at the side laughed. “Other than that person, who else could so easily injure more than ten students who have the potential to make it to the top ten?”

“But I don’t understand why he would do that. If he wanted the reward, couldn’t he have just signed up himself?” Department Director Hong still did not understand.

Principal Zheng explained, “This genius from our school probably doesn’t want others to know his identity, but he wants to get the reward, so he can only use other methods secretly.”

Department Director Hong was not stupid. He soon came to a realization. “You’re saying that he made his friend participate?”

“Haha…” Principal Zheng and the dean laughed.

“What a sly fellow.” Department Director Hong also smiled, making the scar on his face look even more hideous.

Principal Zheng praised, “It’s good to be sly. The foreign races are eyeing us covetously, so it’s not entirely a good thing for our school to have a peerless genius.”

“My original intention was to find him and send him to a global training base. But since he doesn’t want to be exposed, we’ll let him be.”

Department Director Hong immediately snorted and said, “Elder Zheng, you did the right thing this time. The global training base seems to be impenetrable on the surface with so many human experts protecting it. However, over the years, how many young geniuses have been assassinated by the foreign races?”

The dean hesitated. “It’s still too risky. Our school doesn’t have the ability to protect geniuses, and we don’t have many resources. I’m afraid we’ll only be a hindrance to the genius in our school.”

Principal Zheng looked at Department Director Hong.

How could Department Director Hong not understand the meaning behind his gaze? He started yelling, “Old Zheng, Old Cao, you two are in cahoots with each other, and you’re even scheming against me. I knew that nothing good would happen the moment you guys invited me over.”

“Forget it. I haven’t contacted the old leader in years anyway. It’s rare for a seedling to appear in the school, and I won’t let it waste away in my hands.”

…

The Strength Tournament was held as scheduled, which surprised a lot of the students. Many students who had good relationships with Wang Ming, Li Ji, and other injured students began protesting against the injustice.

But under the comfort and pressure of the teacher, these voices soon disappeared.

2: 30 p.m.

All the year three students sat in the audience seats beside the training hall.

There were also some of the outstanding students from year two and year one.

Zhou Hao and Zhang Yi stood at the side.

Zhang Yi looked at Zhou Hao and asked suspiciously, “Zhou Hao, did you do this?”

Zhou Hao smiled bitterly. “Zhang Yi, I haven’t even reached the first level of blood essence. Do you think I am capable of something like this?”

The suspicion in Zhang Yi’s eyes faded a little, but he was still conflicted. “But…”

“No buts,” Zhou Hao interrupted. “Think about your sister. Are you willing to let her end up like you, not having enough food to eat or resources to cultivate?”

Zhang Yi’s expression changed as he clenched his fists tightly.

Zhou Hao patted Zhang Yi on the shoulder. “This is your chance. Seize it. All the best!”

“Thank you!” Zhang Yi said firmly.

“The elimination round begins!” At this moment, the teacher in charge of the tournament shouted, “All participants, get ready.”