Chapter 173: Entering the Quarterfinals, Bijiaga Middle School's Targeted Lineup

Tap tap tap!

Footsteps shift across the court; with each step, Ju Juping's speed suddenly spikes by a fraction, like a lion leaping over a ravine, a tiger descending a mountain.

As the fierce rally continues, his aura grows ever denser, the lion's breath seeming to halt the court's air, making it viscous, which hinders Gao Cang Jingfu, who is preparing to meet the attack, from returning quickly.

Yet even so, he still strives to keep his image pristine; only by winning a splendid victory can he deserve the honor of Lion Music Middle School!

The racket handle spins, the racket slashes forcefully, its frame aiming at a spot of air on the court for a full draw.

Bang!

A tennis ball dents sharply downward; Ju Juping lifts his right foot, extends his arm, and the lion's breath wraps the ball along the racket.

Exploding ball chaos!

Whoosh whoosh whoosh.

Countless fierce, violent tennis afterimages burst outward from all around Gao Cang Jingfu in an instant; since injuring Qian Sui, Ju Juping no longer scores by attacking opponents' bodies.

Swish swish swish!

Gao Cang Jingfu swings the racket swiftly three times, but each swing misses.

If one cannot see where the real ball is, relying only on random hits, the chance of successfully countering the exploding ball chaos is almost zero.

With a roar in his heart, Gao Cang Jingfu draws the racket sharply, his expression solemn and calm, yet a hint of ferocity and panic lurks deep in his eyes.

"The match is over, Budongfeng Middle School wins, total score 3-0!"

Hum~

Ju Juping's lion eyes narrow, his black collar moves without wind, the lion's breath operating at full power reaches its limit, his eyebrows lift slightly, and a subtle shift of qi on the right side is keenly captured by Wildness.

However, before the polite words could finish, a question interrupted.

However.

"game, Budongfeng Middle School Ju Juping, 6-3!"

Swish! Swish!

On the court, the tennis ball flickers twice rapidly, a ball shadow appears on the ground with a hissing scrape, then vanishes in an instant.

Gao Cang Jingfu's gaze fixes on Ju Juping, his voice cold as he says, though it sounds like congratulations, there is no hint of genuine praise.

Before he can swing the racket, a crisp thud of the tennis ball hitting the ground signals the match's end.

The referee announces the final score, and the taut string in Gao Cang Jingfu's heart finally snaps.

"Afterimage Ball·Phase Three!"

Swoosh.

His feet plant on the ground, his body lunges swiftly, a top predator's aura from the forest locks onto Gao Cang Jingfu.

"Why?"

"Senior's tennis is also impressive; that Afterimage Ball technique is truly hard to handle."

At the net, the two shake hands.

Arm muscles stretch, Ju Juping aligns the racket edge with that line of qi on the court and strikes fiercely.

Bang!

Staring at the countless chaotic ball trajectories, Gao Cang Jingfu walks with heavy steps, trying to locate the single tennis ball.

"game, Budongfeng Middle School Ju Juping, 5-3!"

Exploding ball chaos!

"Ju, congratulations, Budongfeng advances smoothly to the next round."

Hearing senior Gao Cang Jingfu's congratulations, Ju Juping extends his right hand, laughing brightly, ready to shake.

"What..." Ju Juping blinks.

"Why would I lose? Carrying Lion Music's honor, why would I lose?"

Gao Cang Jingfu's face turns fierce, his hysterical question: "How can Kyushu overlord, national powerhouse Lion Music, lose to your obscure Budongfeng?!"

Ju Juping looks at the Gao Cang Jingfu before him, lips slightly open, unsure how to respond.

He hadn't expected the usually proud, cold‑posed Gao Cang Jingfu to show such a face.

But Gao Cang Jingfu doesn't stay unhinged long; soon he reins in the hysterical demeanor, his expression returning to calm.

"Congratulations."

After leaving that congratulation, he turns and leaves.

The shift is so swift, as if the previous scene never occurred.

Gao Cang Jingfu, back turned to Ju Juping, takes a deep breath, straightens his posture again, and walks down the court step by step with solemnity.

In the sunset's afterglow, his shadow stretches long, very long.

Yet no matter how long, when he returns to Lion Music's team, the shadow ultimately disappears on the court.

Watching Gao Cang Jingfu's forlorn, stiff‑backed silhouette, Ju Juping's expression becomes slightly complex; at the moment the other steps off the court, he has already thought of how to answer.

"Actually, there was never any so‑called glory; Lion Music was originally just an ordinary school, its tennis seniors united like lions, training hard and diligently.

To win, even when facing strong foes they become like beasts, fighting to the death to tear a piece of the opponent's flesh; with this spirit they earned Lion Music Middle School's status through relentless battles, gaining the honor people now speak of."

"And today's Lion Music.

has long lost the spirit of rising to resist even when drenched in mud and dust."

Budongfeng swept all three matches, securing a spot in the next round.

However, because the National Competition's opening round requires five matches, subsequent double‑A and single‑A matches continued.

Sure enough, Lion Music still holds a backup.

The final single‑A opponent against Jiecheng Wu is the current vice‑minister of Lion Music Middle School, also possessing a national‑entry level, whose strength rivals Shen Si.

Two national‑level singles, one Kansai‑top single, paired with two ordinary Kansai‑level doubles.

With that level of strength, as long as they don't face those few schools, it's almost impossible to lose; no wonder Lion Music Middle School could make the national top four in the original timeline.

Unfortunately.

When they ran into Budongfeng led by Jiecheng Wu, Lion Music, which could have continued to bask in its former glory, finally woke from its dream.

"The era belonging to Lion Music has ended."

Watching the two teams shake hands on the field, Bu Er on the high platform was filled with emotion.

There was neither the hot‑blooded twists imagined nor a final desperate push; not even a ripple was stirred, and Lion Music Middle School thus ended its national competition campaign.

And their loss seemed to officially herald the end of the previous era.

At the same moment, Ice Emperor also concluded the match.

Game, Bing Di Xue Yuan, Ji Bu Jingwu, 6‑0!

Match over, Bing Di Xue Yuan wins, score 5‑0!

Whoosh~

The gray‑white hem of his clothes fluttered gently in the wind; Ji Bu stood at the net, a faint icy sneer at the corner of his mouth, his outfit neat and unruffled, looking as if he had won the match with utter ease.

Meanwhile, Gong Lai Zhi of Liuliqiu Middle School knelt on the ground, his knees giving out, head lifted toward Ji Bu, his face filled with terror.

Ice Emperor, how could... so strong!!

As the sun set, the first round of the National Competition was completely finished.