Chapter 648: Painful Cost! Catherine

The first match ended, and the second match began soon after.

Feng Ying from Lei Ting Martial Arts Pavilion stepped onto the stage, while Saint Spirit Martial Arts Pavilion sent up a yellow-haired youth named Jack.

"Only two matches left—if we win them all, Saint Spirit Martial Arts Pavilion still wins!"

Jack's gaze was utterly resolute.

Even if Teacher George fell, he firmly believed he was stronger than anyone from Lei Ting Martial Arts Pavilion!

Yet, the moment Jack stepped onto the arena, he immediately felt an uncomfortable sensation.

It felt as if he were prey, being watched by a top-tier predator.

"Psychological pressure before a big fight? That can't be right—my opponent isn't some freak like Xu Jingming.

He's just like me, only at the sixth stage."

Jack had never experienced this before.

Though puzzled, he closed his eyes, took several deep breaths, and tried to shake off the feeling.

But no matter how deeply he breathed, the sensation grew stronger, even causing his skin to break out in goosebumps uncontrollably.

This was the natural reaction of a weakling facing a top-tier powerhouse.

"No! Something's wrong!"

Jack suddenly opened his eyes, scanned the crowd, and quickly located the source of this strange feeling!

It was Xu Jingming!

He sat on the Lei Ting Martial Arts Pavilion side, merely glancing over—and Jack felt immense pressure.

He knew this was the result of Xu Jingming locking his spiritual energy onto him.

"Damn it! That's not fair!"

Jack groaned inwardly and quickly shouted to Ling Shuang:

"Referee! I report that Xu Jingming is locking his spiritual energy onto me!"

Before Ling Shuang could speak, Xu Jingming smirked:

"Young man from Saint Spirit Martial Arts Pavilion, you'd better have proof when you speak.

What evidence do you have that I affected you?"

"Evidence?" Jack's face darkened at once.

He wasn't a spiritual ability user—how could he produce evidence?

"So you can't produce evidence? Then that settles it."

Xu Jingming replied coolly, leaning back comfortably in his chair.

The strongest among Saint Spirit Martial Arts Pavilion's delegation was only George.

With George severely injured, Saint Spirit had no one left to speak for them—how could they compete with him?

Besides, this was still Lei Ting Martial Arts Pavilion's home turf.

"Young man Jack, do you have any further objections?" Ling Shuang looked at Jack.

"No… no more." Jack, unable to produce evidence, could only mutter weakly.

The second match began soon after. Though he knew Xu Jingming was targeting him, Jack had no choice but to push forward.

As expected, Jack lost.

The third match, likewise, ended in defeat for Saint Spirit Martial Arts Pavilion.

Thus, all three matches were lost by Saint Spirit Martial Arts Pavilion.

"What?!"

Under the healing of a seventh-stage master specializing in healing, George's charred body finally stirred back to consciousness.

Upon hearing this news, he nearly slipped back into unconsciousness.

Three losses in a row!

This was sheer humiliation!

At least win one match!

With so many media present today, if this spreads, Saint Spirit Martial Arts Pavilion's reputation will be ruined!

"It's Xu Jingming! He's been suppressing our performance!" Jack gritted his teeth.

"Xu Jingming!!!" George glared at Xu Jingming with eyes blazing with fury.

But paired with his charred body, it looked absurd.

"Don't make baseless accusations without proof—I have the right to sue you for defamation."

Xu Jingming grinned at George:

"A bet is a bet. You must publicly admit that your Saint Spirit Martial Arts Pavilion training camp is inferior to ours."

At these words, George fell into deep silence.

He never imagined things would end up like this.

Not only had he failed to crush Xu Jingming—he'd dragged Saint Spirit Martial Arts Pavilion's prestige down with him!

"You're not thinking of backing out, are you?"

Xu Jingming smiled sardonically:

"With so many media here today, if you back out, it'll only make people think worse of your Saint Spirit Martial Arts Pavilion."

George took a deep breath, then spoke in a low voice:

"I understand. Within three days, I will issue a public statement."

After saying this, he gave Xu Jingming one final long look.

Then he had Saint Spirit's group carry his motionless body away.

"Disgusting white pig! Finally gone!"

"Came here to challenge our Lei Ting Martial Arts Pavilion? Now you've kicked a steel plate!"

Lei Ting Martial Arts Pavilion's crowd erupted in cheers. Ling Shuang walked up to Xu Jingming and smiled:

"You did well. Actually, we should thank George.

If he hadn't invited so many media, this wouldn't have had such a big impact."

"All thanks to Teacher Ling's guidance," Xu Jingming chuckled.

After hosting the match, Ling Shuang didn't linger. With a spatial flash, she vanished.

Without the eighth-stage grandmaster present, the remaining media members all grew lively, surrounding Xu Jingming and bombarding him with questions.

The questions were bizarre and varied; Xu Jingming only answered a few simple ones.

"Mr. Xu, how do you view Saint Spirit Martial Arts Pavilion's actions today?

If they do this again, how will you respond?"

At this moment, someone else spoke up.

All the media members clearly cared deeply about this question, staring curiously at Xu Jingming.

"For normal sparring and exchanges, our Lei Ting Martial Arts Pavilion always welcomes them.

But if a martial arts pavilion comes with ill intent, like Saint Spirit, I won't mind making them pay a small price."

Xu Jingming replied with a smile.

A small price?

The media members all sighed inwardly.

After this incident, Saint Spirit Martial Arts Pavilion would lose countless potential clients.

For the next two or three years, every mention of Lei Ting Martial Arts Pavilion would drag Saint Spirit out for public shaming.

This cost was truly devastating!

Even George himself was critically injured and near death—he wouldn't recover for at least one or two months.

Of course, he brought it on himself.

He was too confident.

"But I must emphasize one thing: those who challenge our Lei Ting Martial Arts Pavilion elite training camp should be under thirty.

After all, I'm only twenty, right? Anyone older risks appearing to bully the young."

Xu Jingming added slowly.

In truth, George, at twenty-nine, was already bullying the young.

Those around him froze at this, suddenly remembering—Xu Jingming was only twenty!

It was just that Xu Jingming acted so mature and was already the chief instructor that everyone had unconsciously forgotten his age.

After asking several more questions, the media, satisfied, packed up their equipment and left.

It was predictable that, with today's footage broadcast,

Xu Jingming and Lei Ting Martial Arts Pavilion would become the center of discussion in Mocheng.

"Impressive. Said he'd crush them with one hand—and didn't even use one."

After the media left, Catherine strode forward with her long legs, her emerald eyes fixed on him, eagerly asking:

"Are you free tomorrow? I'd like to invite you to our Holy Church's celebration."