It was not until Ye Li stepped down from the battle stage that the referee's voice, which had been long - awaited, finally rang out.
The audience finally snapped out of their stunned state and then burst into amazed cheers.
"Damn it! What the hell is going on?!"
"This is ridiculous! The school - team member was instantly defeated!!"
"Damn, I'm blown away. That spear thrust was insanely fast!"
"An ordinary student? Is he really an ordinary student?"
"This guy is awesome! He's been keeping a low profile! Who said an ordinary student can't beat a school - team member?!"
At this moment, the students were extremely excited.
No one could have imagined that an internal - school Guidance Competition would produce such an upset!
Shen Lian, who was in the audience, was completely beside herself.
She sat there as if her buttocks were rooted to the seat, staring blankly at the scene on the stage.
People's joys and sorrows are not interconnected. At this moment, she just found the people
around her extremely noisy.
Wang Ren lost?!
How could this be possible!!
She had leaked all of Ye Li's information to Wang Ren, hoping that the latter could win easily...
You know, even as an official member of the school team herself, it would be very difficult to defeat Wang Ren so easily!
Shen Lian clenched her fists tightly, bit her lips, and her eyes flickered with confusion.
How on earth did Ye Li do it?!
On the high platform at the back of the audience.
All the teachers looked at each other in astonishment, and it was obvious from their faces that they were shocked.
The school - team members are the best among the students. Even the substitutes are much stronger than ordinary martial - arts students.
This is almost common knowledge.
When one is inferior to the opponent in terms of martial arts, rank, and talent, it is simply impossible to defeat the stronger with the weaker.
The current situation can only be explained by the fact that Ye Li had been hiding his strength before.
"Principal Li, this student named Ye Li... is really a promising talent!"
The homeroom teacher of Class One pushed his glasses up and said to the vice - principal, his tone unable to hide his astonishment.
Principal Li smiled and said, "Indeed. His qi and blood intensity is comparable to Wang Ren's. They should both be at the first rank, fifth level."
"But he's amazing in terms of martial arts. Although the two martial arts he displayed are not of high rank, they both exude a sense of perfection."
"At his age, being able to master two low - rank martial arts to perfection... shows quite remarkable aptitude."
"This kid must have trained extremely hard in private!"
Principal Li's tone was filled with obvious approval.
"Little Yang." He then turned to look at a young woman behind him, who also had a surprised look on her face, and asked casually:"This is a promising student from your Class Nine. I think he's fully qualified to join the school team! Why didn't I see you report him?"
Upon hearing this, Yang Shan, the homeroom teacher of Class Nine, broke into a sweat.
"Principal Li, in the qi and blood test two weeks ago, Ye Li was still at the first rank, third level. I really didn't expect him to progress so quickly," she hurriedly explained.
She knew very well that the other party suspected that she had, out of personal grudges, deliberately buried a talent.
This Vice - Principal Li of Linhai No.1 Middle School was well - known for his love of talent.
Once, in front of all the teachers and students of the school, he beat a teacher who was maliciously targeting students until the teacher begged for mercy on his knees. He didn't stop until the people from the Anomaly Bureau came. It was really terrifying.
To be honest, Yang Shan quite liked Ye Li.
His parents passed away early, and he lived alone. He usually trained quite hard. Other than being too honest in character and having rather ordinary aptitude, there was nothing wrong with him.
So, heaven knows, Yang Shan really never thought that Ye Li, who used to be as taciturn as a gourd, was actually hiding such strength!
This is simply ridiculous, isn't it?
"Is that so? I'll check it out when I get back."
Li Haohan gave Yang Shan a deep look, then turned his gaze back to the slender figure walking back to the high platform.
The young man was dressed in white, his back straight, his steps steady, and he exuded an air of confidence.
He casually handed the long spear to the referee, who was shocked, nodded politely, and then turned and walked into the passageway.
"Not bad. Really not bad." Watching Ye Li's performance, Li Haohan nodded with a smile.
"Principal Li," a teacher said, tentatively suggesting:"Since this Ye Li has defeated Wang Ren, why don't we give Ye Li Wang Ren's spot as a school - team substitute?
"In half a month, it will be the provincial - level high - school exchange competition. The more outstanding students we send, the better our ranking in Linhai No.1 Middle School will be!"
Hearing this, Li Haohan turned to look at the homeroom teacher of Class One.
The homeroom teacher of Class One immediately nodded and said, "I have no objections."
Wang Ren was a student in his class.
Seeing that he had no objections, the other teachers also nodded in agreement.
Li Haohan smiled and said, "Then it's settled."
"Little Yang, later you go and help him apply for the school - team's exclusive cultivation room, and also inform him about some of the school - team's exclusive benefits."
"I understand," Yang Shan immediately agreed.
"However, Principal Li, in another month, it will be the provincial - level competition. Letting Ye Li join the school team at this time..."
Yang Shan immediately showed a worried expression and asked:"Will it cause dissatisfaction among the other members of the school team?"
The official members of Linhai No.1 Middle School's school team all have a minimum strength of the first rank, seventh level.
Ye Li's current strength is still far from theirs.
If they are dissatisfied with the school's last - minute substitution, they may ostracize Ye Li in the future, which could affect his state of mind.
This is exactly what Yang Shan is worried about.
"Let him learn to be patient. It can also be considered a form of training," Li Haohan replied with a smile.
"...Alright," Yang Shan was silent for a moment, and finally agreed with the other party's opinion.
On the other side, Ye Li naturally had no idea about the change in the school's senior management's attitude towards him.
After receiving his share of the spiritual medicine subsidy, he left the school directly and took a taxi home.
When he got home, Ye Li locked himself in his room and started to study his cheat - like system.
[ Infamy LV1: Your infamy is hardly known to anyone ]
[ Note: Upgrading infamy will bring abundant rewards ]
[ Current villainy value: 1800 ]
Looking at the villainy value, which was nearly double that before his all - in bet, Ye Li felt quite pleased.
Sure enough, going all - in is a kind of wisdom.
Relying on the accumulation of his predecessor, he only spent 900 points of villainy value to upgrade two martial arts to perfection.
Not only did he feel no discomfort at all, but he could use them as smoothly as using his own arms and fingers.
Moreover, it also incidentally raised his martial arts rank by two levels.
The capabilities of the system are already evident.
"That is to say, as long as I do actions recognized as villainous by the system, I can use the obtained villainy value to upgrade my martial arts and raise my rank."
"Beating Wang Ren added nearly two thousand points of villainy value. Does this thing thrive on others' pain..."
Ye Li placed his finger on his chin, deep in thought.
He then remembered that after defeating Wang Ren, the system seemed to have added a new function.
[ Cultivation rank - adding path has been unlocked ]
[ Current rank: First rank, fifth level (2%) ]
[ Upgradeable ]
As his eyes swept over the information, Ye Li's mind was filled with thoughts.
Previously, when he upgraded the two martial arts to perfection, his cultivation naturally rose to the first rank, fifth level.
This was just a by - product of upgrading the martial arts.
Now that he could specifically add points to his cultivation, he thought the effect would surely be even better than before.
"System, add points!"
Ye Li waved his hand, planning to use 100 points of villainy value first to test the waters of this new function.
[ Ding! 100 points of villainy value consumed! ]
[ Starting to upgrade cultivation ]
[ No external assistance detected. Your cultivation speed is the same as usual, as slow as a snail. Please be patient ]
[ Cultivating... ]
[ Cultivation complete ]
[ Current rank: First rank, fifth level (50%) ]
[ Comment: Due to the lack of any cultivation boosts, this gain is only equivalent to half a year's hard cultivation on your part ]
[ Note: For the same number of points consumed, the gains will vary due to external factors ]
"The gains can change due to external factors? Why didn't you tell me this earlier?"
Ye Li felt a bit frustrated. This was like gacha - pulling in a game, only to find out that he had pulled in the wrong pool.
Fortunately, he didn't go all - in like the first time, otherwise he would really have been in a tough spot.
There's still hope.
"Boosts, huh? No problem."
Ye Li opened the exquisite iron box containing the spiritual medicine and took out a small white porcelain bottle from it.
Inside the small bottle was a body - refining spiritual medicine that was beneficial for cultivation.
For a body - refining martial artist of the first rank, the qi and blood increased by this bottle of spiritual medicine was equivalent to two months of hard cultivation. It was quite precious.
Right now, it was very suitable as a cultivation boost.
Unscrewing the cap, a rich and fragrant aroma immediately wafted out, making him feel refreshed.
Without hesitation, Ye Li downed the entire bottle of spiritual medicine in one gulp. The cool liquid flowed down his throat, and he began his new round of adding points.