Chapter 57: Sudden Change, Seigaku vs. Ice Emperor

Jiecheng Wu's arm unfolded, his sleeves pulling back.

His well‑trained, muscular body displayed itself without reservation at that moment, the visible area only perfect, finely‑carved muscles.

Watching the spinning tennis ball, a flash of brilliance flickered in his eyes.

Thunder Triple Concerto – Second Movement – Arc Flash!

Zila—

In the silence a faint electric hum sounded.

The instant Jiecheng Wu swung his racket, Qianshi Qingchun seemed nailed to the ground, unable to move.

It is

A dazzling blue electric arc flashed and exploded, and he, like a trembling bird in the sky, faced the stormy thunderclouds.

Puff!

The tennis ball, after flashing with electric light upon the ground, left a small char.

Game, Budongfeng Middle School Jiecheng Wu, 6‑0!

Budongfeng Middle School wins, total score 2‑1!

Huff... huff, what is this.

Qianshi Qingchun gasped heavily, eyes flickering, with a face full of startled doubt.

It was a Z‑shaped trembling thunderbolt; his excellent dynamic vision captured three balls in an instant.

But when he looked down, there was nothing else on the ground, only a yellow tennis ball lying quietly.

Qianshi Qingchun stared in shock at the opposing Jiecheng Wu radiating a terrifying aura, feeling his heart tremble.

The spectators outside were equally shocked, eyes wide, as the flashing electric light seemed etched into their hearts.

"Indeed, they've already entered that realm."

Ban Lao's expression changed slightly; this move fully confirmed Jiecheng Wu's level of strength.

"This is Senior Jiecheng's true strength."

Shenwei Ming's eyes flashed with admiration and yearning.

Seeing Jiecheng Wu's invincible silhouette, the Budongfeng crowd felt honored, now only boundless pride.

"So strong!"

The ballpoint pen slipped out of his hand, and Gan Zhen Zhi bent over, his hand trembling slightly, to pick it up from the ground.

Jiecheng Wu's final displayed power completely surpassed the level shown in the regional preliminaries.

The scene just now kept replaying in his mind, his hand frantic on the notebook, trying to devise a way to counter that move.

After a long while, the pen tip finally slowed to a stop on the paper, completely still.

"Beyond the limit."

Even if he found a way to counter Jiecheng Wu's move, the biggest problem before him was—

He simply couldn't see the tennis ball.

All he saw was a flash of electric light; the move had completely exceeded his capacity to respond.

"Coach Ban Tian, I'm sorry, I lost."

His gaze dim, Qianshi Qingchun lowered his head, standing before Ban Lao.

His pride began to crumble from the moment his tiger cannon was countered, and until just now, he had already started to lose understanding of tennis.

"Qianshi, I think in terms of tennis feel, you won't lose to anyone."

Ban Lao took the racket from Qianshi Qingchun's hand, feeling the fine strings on the face.

"But.

Relying solely on talent to play tennis is insufficient; if you wish to continue, you must first see yourself clearly.

Qianshi Qingchun murmured pensively, a bit dazed.

"Talent... not enough to recognize oneself"

Then, as if grasping something, a hint of blood color appeared on his pale face, and a glimmer of light shone in his bewildered eyes.

"Exactly, relying only on talent cannot reach the pinnacle."

Ban Lao nodded, but silently added a sentence in his mind.

Of course, except for certain monsters.

A few minutes later.

On the tennis court, the singles No. 2 match had already begun, with Yiwu Shen Si facing third‑year Yan Ye Chongci Lang.

Although he claimed to be the second best singles player of Shan Chui Zhongxue, he was still repeatedly beaten by Yiwu Shen Si's exquisite technique.

His unexpected side‑spin serve, temporarily paralyzing with hidden killing intent and a detached expression, made Yiwu Shen Si like a cold‑blooded assassin, each ball striking the opponent's weak point.

"Yiwu Shen Si of Budongfeng cannot be underestimated," Gan Zhen Zhi silently recorded the data.

"Ah Gan, the Budongfeng captain is coming over."

He Cun Long's sudden reminder made him stop his pen.

He looked up.

Jiecheng Wu, wearing Budongfeng's pure black uniform, stood in front of him, separated only by a green chain‑link fence.

"Hello, Seigaku's Gan classmate."

"Hello."

Gan Zhen Zhi was startled, then calmly adjusted his glasses, easing his embarrassment; being caught by the subject while collecting data felt rather unpleasant.

Jiecheng Wu saw through his little thought, without stating it, after all he also had his own purpose.

"I hope Gan can deliver a message to Shouzu for me."

「Shouzu? 」

The moment he heard that name, Gan Zhen Zhi instantly broke free from his constriction; any information related to Shouzu always draws his special attention.

What connection could there be between Budongfeng's department head and Shouzu?

In a brief instant, Gan Zhen Zhi's thoughts raced, his glasses on the bridge of his nose flashed, and the notebook on researching the two's relationship was already prepared in his mind.

「Do you need me to bring any message? 」

Jiecheng Wu smiled faintly, then said seriously, 「Finals, Single Match No. 3, I'll wait for you on the court. 」

Upon hearing that, Gan Zhen Zhi and He Cun Long were both stunned, momentarily speechless; just as he wanted to ask more clearly, Jiecheng Wu's figure had already walked away.

Suddenly.

A burst of exclamations came from the neighboring court, and the intense clamor instantly drew the attention of the spectators here.

Soon, someone could be heard shouting.

「Big news, Bu Er Zhou Zhu defeated Ren Zu You Shi, Seigaku has won two consecutive matches, and now the Single Match No. 2 has begun. 」

「Ice Emperor's Ji Bu Jingwu is up against Seigaku's Tezuka Kunimitsu!!! 」

「You mean those two super famous middle schoolers are going to compete?! 」

「Exactly! 」

The news spread rapidly through the venue.

Soon, most of the audience began moving toward the adjacent venue.

Ji Bu Jingwu VS Tezuka Kunimitsu!

Even at the National Competition, such a level of match is hard to see.

Big news! Excellent big news!

The reporters instantly turned into sharks that smell blood, eyes sharp, weaving freely through the sea of people, their target fixed on the neighboring arena.

Gan Zhen Zhi was shocked instantly, exclaiming in his mind, "Impossible!"

Ice Emperor has never taken the Du Da Sai seriously; for them it's merely a second‑team training ground, at most they'd send only one starter.

How could they let department head Ji Bu Jingwu appear?!

「Aron, we need to get back quickly. 」 Gan Zhen Zhi's expression immediately turned tense; the current situation had already exceeded his expectations.

Ji Bu Jingwu of Ice Emperor is a truly terrifying figure.

Last year, at the Kanto Competition, he easily defeated Daihe Senior, and led Ice Emperor all the way into the National Competition, gaining huge fame throughout Japan's middle school circuit.

Someone like that can never be overvalued.

What did I underestimate?

Gan Zhen Zhi could not figure it out after endless pondering; he had already simulated all of Ice Emperor's lineups, and the probability of Ji Bu Jingwu appearing was only 0.1%, effectively zero.

Where exactly did the problem arise?

Anxious at heart, Gan Zhen Zhi quickened his steps, moving with a wind‑like stride.

Thanks to Caesar Wang Alexander for the 100‑point coin tip.

(End of chapter)