"Participant C-18, thirty-one lock-lifts. Final assessment: Middle C-class." The proctor announced Xu Yang's final score.
Everyone who had thought he was just grandstanding fell silent, their gazes turning in unison to Lu Ren.
Was Xu Yang just that talented, or was Lu Ren's reputation undeserved, a product of excessive hype?
Despite having the Gu Family's full backing, his performance was only on par with Xu Yang's.
"Damn it!"
Lu Ren's face was livid. 'That bastard Xu Yang performed on my level yet again! Now everyone will think I'm a good-for-nothing. After all those resources, I still couldn't pull ahead of him.'
"Damn it!" Gu Fang cursed under her breath.
'Because,' she thought, 'I already saw my older brother, Gu Haoming, give me an approving look. He thinks I've already won Xu Yang over and secured a powerful new ally for us.'
'If I have to tell him I have no connection to Xu Yang whatsoever—that I've actually mocked him on occasion...'
