Fang Yu cheated.

Fang Yu ignored the glances from around and walked to the front desk with Tang Si. They paid two million, and then Fang Yu took the fifth - order monster inner core in hand and left the auction hall.

Wu Xiong snorted coldly and followed them out.

"Let's go watch the show!" Many nosy people, eager for some excitement, also trailed after Wu Xiong.

As they walked out behind Fang Yu, a layer of cold sweat broke out on Tang Si's forehead. After some thought, he took out his phone, intending to call Tang Mingde.

"No need to make the call," Fang Yu stopped Tang Si.

Tang Si's face showed a mix of expressions, but finally, he put down the phone. By then, the two had reached the open area where the cars were parked.

"You two, stop right there!" Wu Xiong's deep voice came from behind.

Fang Yu halted, turned around, and looked at Wu Xiong with a smile. "What's up?" he asked.

Wu Xiong wore a cruel smile. "Kid, you've got some guts. Considering you're so young, I'll give you two choices."

"First, give me two million, and I'll let you off."

"Second, I'll cripple you and then take the monster inner core."

Fang Yu shook his head. "This is blatant robbery. I won't choose either."

"Then you're asking for death!" Wu Xiong's eyes widened in anger.

"Brother Wu, I'm Tang Si from the Tang family in Jiangnan. This is a friend of mine. Please..." Tang Si pleaded.

"The Tang family in Jiangnan?" Wu Xiong was startled, and then his eyes glinted with greed.

"The Tang family? Then you must be rich. Your friend has angered me. Unless you offer a price that satisfies me, I won't let him go easily," Wu Xiong said.

"I'm willing to offer two..." Tang Si was about to speak.

But Fang Yu stepped forward. "You won't get a single cent," he said.

Wu Xiong laughed three times, looking up at the sky. Then, he glared at Fang Yu with blood - red eyes. "If I let you, you little brat, go today, I'll eat my words!"

"This young man is really courting death! Who does he think Wu Xiong is? How dare he provoke like this!" a martial artist who came out to watch said.

Tang Si's face turned pale, and he was drenched in cold sweat. He kind of regretted bringing Fang Yu to this auction. He never expected that Fang Yu, who seemed so mature, would act so imprudently. He had warned Fang Yu not to provoke Wu Xiong, but Fang Yu did it anyway and even enraged him.

"Hold the box with the monster inner core for me," Fang Yu handed the box to Tang Si.

At that moment, Wu Xiong moved. He rushed towards Fang Yu at an extremely fast speed, his muscles taut.

Fang Yu took a step forward and stood still, waiting for Wu Xiong.

"Die!" Wu Xiong raised a fist and punched at Fang Yu. This was a full - force blow from a tenth - stage Xiantian martial artist, and its power was formidable.

Many people closed their eyes, not wanting to see Fang Yu's brains splattered by the punch.

"Bang!"

A loud explosion occurred, and a cloud of dust rose from where Fang Yu stood. Tang Si, who was closest to Fang Yu, was pushed back several steps by the fierce punch wind.

Just one punch had such power. Wu Xiong was incredibly strong! Tang Si's face was deathly pale, and he couldn't imagine what Fang Yu's fate would be if he took this punch.

The dust dispersed quickly, and exclamations rang out. Tang Si took a closer look and was shocked to find that Fang Yu had blocked the punch with just one palm.

Veins popped out on Wu Xiong's forehead, and he swung his left fist. Fang Yu stretched out his other palm and effortlessly blocked this punch too. Fang Yu remained in place, not having moved an inch.

"Is that all you've got? Then I'm sorry," Fang Yu smiled slightly, grabbed Wu Xiong's fist, and gave it a hard twist.

"CRACK!" A sound of bones breaking came from both of Wu Xiong's wrists simultaneously.

Wu Xiong let out a shrill scream, his body spun in the air, and he fell heavily to the ground. Fang Yu stepped forward and stepped on Wu Xiong's chest.

"PU!"

Wu Xiong spat out a large mouthful of blood, his face turning ashen. The onlookers stared, their eyes wide with disbelief. Was this the same arrogant Wu Xiong? How could he be defeated so easily?

Wu Xiong looked at Fang Yu in horror. "How is this possible!? You're clearly only at the fifth - stage Xiantian... PU!"

Fang Yu applied more pressure with his foot, and Wu Xiong spat out another mouthful of blood.

"You thought I was only at the fifth - stage Xiantian because I wanted you to think so," Fang Yu said calmly.

After that, he lifted his foot again and stomped on Wu Xiong's dantian.

"Don't..." Wu Xiong shouted.

"Bang!"

Fang Yu's foot landed heavily on Wu Xiong's dantian. Wu Xiong spat out another large mouthful of blood, his face turning gray. His dantian was shattered, and decades of cultivation went to waste. From then on, he was a useless man.

So ruthless! A chill ran down the spines of those watching. Wu Xiong had really run into someone he couldn't handle.

"Who on earth is this young man? Wu Xiong didn't even have the strength to fight back against him..."

"My god, I feel like he's even more terrifying than that prodigy surnamed Yang who's been making waves in Jiangnan recently..."

"Are you talking about Yang Jian from the Yang family? I still think Yang Jian is more powerful. After all, he's already a half - step grandmaster!"

The onlookers whispered among themselves. At this point, Fang Yu and Tang Si had gotten back in the car.

"Mr. Fang, I'm just curious..." Tang Si looked at Fang Yu, hesitant.

"Hmm?" Fang Yu looked back at him.

"What stage of the Xiantian realm are you actually at?" Tang Si wiped the sweat from his forehead and asked.

Fang Yu thought for a moment and replied truthfully, "I'm currently at the 9,834th stage of the Xiantian realm and will soon break through to the 9,836th stage."

Tang Si was left speechless.

...

After returning home, Fang Yu couldn't wait to take out the monster inner core. It was so large that Fang Yu had to swallow it in four parts.

A pure stream of spiritual energy rushed into his dantian, making Fang Yu feel extremely comfortable. This energy directly helped him break through two levels, reaching the 9,836th level of the Qi - refining stage.

"If I can find another hundred high - level monster inner cores like this, breaking through the 10,000th level will be within reach!" Hope sparkled in Fang Yu's eyes.

...

The next morning, as soon as Fang Yu entered the classroom, he noticed Tang Xiaorou smiling at him in a strange way.

"If you're not feeling well, you can take a leave. Why are you disturbing me?" Fang Yu said.

"You're the one who's not feeling well! Just thinking about you being at my beck and call in the future... I can't help but laugh," Tang Xiaorou said.

The results of the mock exam would come out soon, probably in the afternoon. Fang Yu wasn't in a hurry to argue with Tang Xiaorou. He decided to wait until the results were announced.

Soon it was afternoon, and the first class was the counselor Huang Hai's. As expected, he would announce the results. Tang Xiaorou was beaming, looking confident of winning.

The class bell rang, and Huang Hai entered the classroom, holding a score sheet. As soon as he came in, he gave Fang Yu a meaningful look.

"Classmates, the results of yesterday's mock exam are out. I'll now read out the scores," Huang Hai said.

Then, Huang Hai started talking about some statistics, like how many students had scores above the undergraduate line and how many above the key line... Finally, it was time to announce the top ten scores in the class, which Tang Xiaorou was most concerned about.

"10th place, He Dongrong, with a total score of 623 points. There's progress compared to last time. Keep it up," Huang Hai said.

"9th place..."

"8th place..."

...

"3rd place, Xu Xiaona, with a total score of 649 points. Good performance, but it could be better," Huang Hai said.

Xu Xiaona didn't look happy. She usually ranked first in the class and rarely made mistakes. But this time, although her total score was similar, her rank had dropped to third.

The class was surprised, but then they remembered that Tang Xiaorou had transferred to Class 2. As a top student from the key class, it was normal for her to score higher than Xu Xiaona.

"2nd place, Tang Xiaorou, with a total score of 707 points, ranking 4th in the whole grade. Excellent result..." Huang Hai praised.

But the students in the class were stunned. 707 points, ranking 4th in the whole grade, yet not first in the class? Did Huang Hai get the score sheet wrong?

Tang Xiaorou bit her lip, her brows furrowed. She never thought such a score wouldn't be enough for first place in the class. Could it be...

Tang Xiaorou suddenly thought of something and turned to look at Fang Yu. He was focused on reading a novel.

"It shouldn't be him..." Tang Xiaorou comforted herself.

"I know you're all wondering who the first - place student in our class is this time, and why even Tang Xiaorou's 707 points didn't rank first..."

"Actually, I was also shocked. After seeing this student's score, I thought there was a mistake. I checked with each subject counselor and verified every score."

"Finally, I confirmed that the score is correct." Huang Hai finished and looked at Fang Yu.

The students in the class all turned to look in Fang Yu's direction.

"1st place, Fang Yu, with a total score of 723 points. This score is not only first in the class but also first in the whole grade!" Huang Hai announced.

"Wow..."

The class erupted in an uproar. No one expected Fang Yu to be first, and with such a high score, ranking first in the grade!

Tang Xiaorou looked at Fang Yu, who seemed so calm, and felt like crying. She had studied so hard, yet she scored 16 points less than Fang Yu, who had been sleeping during the exam.

Who was Fang Yu? How could he be so amazing? Tang Xiaorou felt a mix of emotions. She was unwilling, yet at the same time, she was completely convinced by Fang Yu.

"Remember to bring me breakfast starting tomorrow. The variety can't be repeated," Fang Yu patted Tang Xiaorou on the shoulder and reminded her.

"Got it..." Tang Xiaorou was completely dejected, her voice barely audible.

"Teacher! Fang Yu must have cheated!" At this moment, Xu Xiaona suddenly stood up and shouted.