...

「Fifteen minutes later.」

As Gui Zian watched, dumbfounded, Fang Tangtang sold the exclusive print media rights for one million and the online media rights for five million.

Adding the previous eight million...

The media rights for the three major outlets alone had sold for fourteen million.

And that was just for one day!

Gui Zian felt like he’d discovered a new continent. Most importantly, this money-making method was truly impossible for anyone else to copy.

Because right now, only Gao Neng was this popular.

A Tier Four Mid Stage fighter who had battled his way into the Dragon List’s top 300—how could he not draw a massive amount of attention?

What happened next was simple.

The media outlets that lost the bid could only watch forlornly as the three small teams entered the Eastern Capital Military Academy, while they themselves were stopped at the gates.

Of course, besides the three media companies, there was also the challenger, Fatty.

"Fame brings trouble." Gao Neng sighed and walked over to Fatty. Then, he offered a polite greeting. "Hello, Fatty!"

"My name is Meihua Kai! My current rank on the Dragon List is 437, but it’ll be in the top 300 soon enough!" Fatty tilted his head up, seemingly dissatisfied with his current rank.

"Ah, so it’s Brother Meihua... My apologies for the lack of respect." Gao Neng didn’t mock Fatty’s rank. After all, Fatty’s courage was commendable.

"What? You look like you’re looking down on me. Let me tell you, I just broke through to Tier Five Late Stage yesterday! My strength now is nothing like that Wang Nanlin from Beihai Military Academy," Fatty stressed again.

"Not at all, not at all, why would I? Since Brother Meihua wants to issue a challenge, I have no choice but to fight with all I have. However, you’ll have to pay up first," Gao Neng continued.

"Pay first? What kind of rule is that? I’m not guaranteed to lose!"

"Can’t be helped. Settle the unpleasantries before the pleasantries. We each pay ten million to Fang Tangtang, and then whoever wins takes the money. As for the referees, the media reporters can serve as a collective panel. Perfectly fair, right?"

"Give the money to Fang Tangtang?"

"That’s right. The granddaughter of Fang Yuan, the chairman of the Celestial King Group. She’s not short on cash."

"Fine. I’ll trust you this once. With so many reporters here, I doubt you’d dare to back out!" Fatty gritted his teeth and finally agreed.

The two of them transferred the money on the spot.

Then, with a dark expression, Gui Zian led the two of them to the training grounds of the Eastern Capital Military Academy.

The television and online media outlets immediately started their live streams.

Meanwhile, the print media had a two-minute exclusive interview. Once everything was set, the two fighters took their positions in the middle of the training grounds.

Fatty was only ranked 437th on the Dragon List.

Gao Neng and Fang Tangtang exchanged a look. He asked for her opinion, but Fang Tangtang showed little interest. She felt that even if she won a challenge against someone of this rank, it would be a bit embarrassing.

So, they would just wait for a stronger opponent to come along.

"Begin!" With that command...

Gao Neng and Fatty clashed.

The battle was incredibly intense.

The two went back and forth, a punch for a punch, a kick for a kick... they were evenly matched.

The reporters all began to show off their live commentary skills.

"Ladies and gentlemen, look! Gao Neng has drawn his saber! His blade is so fast... like the Xiaoli Flying Saber! Oh, no, it’s like a shooting star... Unfortunately, Meihua Kai managed to dodge it!"

"Meihua Kai’s twin axes are incredible! One on the left, one on the right, like two whirlwinds! They’re forcing Gao Neng back! Oh no, Gao Neng is about to be hit... Thankfully, at the last second, Gao Neng dodged Meihua Kai’s fatal blow! The two seem to be perfectly matched in strength!"

"It seems Student Gao Neng’s entry into the Dragon List’s top 300 really did involve some luck. After all, Meihua Kai is only ranked 437th right now."

"They’ve been fighting for almost twenty minutes!"

The reporters’ commentary was passionate.

But Gui Zian, watching from the side, had lines of exasperation all over his face.

’What the hell?!’

’This Fatty’s strength is clearly average, definitely not on par with Wang Nanlin from Beihai Military Academy. But from the looks of it, Gao Neng is being completely suppressed by him.’

’And most importantly, Gao Neng has revealed all his trump cards.’

’Energy manifestation.’

’Domain...’

’He’s showing everything.’

’Yet he just can’t beat this Fatty.’

"Gao Neng, what on earth are you doing?!" Gui Zian couldn’t take it anymore. This was clearly a staged fight. The Gao Neng of today was like a completely different person from the one yesterday.

"I’m injured... I suffered internal injuries in yesterday’s battle with Wang Nanlin! I can’t beat him, I can only try to last..." Gao Neng was covered in sweat.

"..." Gui Zian was speechless.

’Injured?’

’Was Gao Neng injured yesterday?’

’Why couldn’t he remember that?’

Of course, he couldn’t ask that question out loud. As Gao Neng was talking to him, he was once again forced to scramble away from Fatty’s attacks, looking utterly pathetic.

In the end, the two fought for over thirty minutes.

Fatty was truly exhausted.

For more than thirty minutes, he had been fighting at his peak... but Gao Neng was like an unkillable cockroach, always managing to narrowly avoid the fatal blow at the most critical moment.

Finally, Fatty’s energy was completely depleted.

"I... I’m a Tier Five Late Stage fighter, and I’m almost... almost out of energy! You... you still have energy?!" Fatty was clearly in disbelief.

But whether he believed it or not...

Gao Neng had indeed demonstrated his tenacity.

With one punch, he smashed Fatty in the face.

In the end, he scraped by with a narrow victory.

"Brilliant!"

"Student Gao Neng is the final victor!"

The media reporters immediately applauded.

In their eyes, this had been a high-level duel. Most importantly, it was long! It lasted for a full thirty-plus minutes!

The TV station’s ratings had gone through the roof.

They’d set a new record!

The online media outlet’s data was also exploding. The number of concurrent viewers had broken ten million, which was more than even some A-list celebrities could draw.

After all, ever since it was announced, the battle for the Dragon List had become the hottest topic of the day.

"You lost!" Gao Neng tilted his head up and wiped the sweat from his brow.

"Hmph! I refuse to accept this... I clearly had the advantage! You just dragged it out into a battle of attrition! I don’t accept it!" Fatty was extremely unwilling to concede.

But it was no use.

Because Gui Zian couldn’t stand it any longer.

He really couldn’t bear to watch anymore. In the end, he personally stepped in, grabbed Fatty, and dragged him out of the Eastern Capital Military Academy’s gates. Out of sight, out of mind.

With that, Gao Neng had made a net profit of twenty-four million.

And so, dragging his "exhausted" body, he slowly walked back to his dorm to rest under the watchful eyes of the media’s cameras.

...

This battle caused Gao Neng’s popularity to skyrocket once again.

Originally, many had been skeptical of the strength Gao Neng had displayed. But today, he had once again defeated a Tier Five Late Stage Fatty. Who would dare to doubt him now?

Of course, some people still did!

But they were in the minority...

In the Alliance, most people were ordinary citizens. They naturally couldn’t tell that Gao Neng was throwing the match. All they saw was a spectacular, magnificent battle.

A Tier Four Mid Stage fighter defeating a Tier Five Late Stage fighter once again.

It was too brilliant!

Of course, amidst the roar of cheers, there were also some voices of doubt.

These doubts mostly came from spectators ranked in the Dragon List’s top 300, as well as from the major sects and prominent families of the Alliance.

Because Gao Neng had not demonstrated the ability to crush Meihua Kai.

Since that was the case...

Gao Neng didn’t have the right to remain in the Dragon List’s top 300.

And so, they began to plan.

They immediately sent messages to the disciples from the sects and families who were gathered at the gates of the Eastern Capital Military Academy, telling them to seize this opportunity and knock Gao Neng out of the top 300 before anyone else could.

After all, once a person made it into the Dragon List’s top 300...

They could actually refuse challenges.

Although doing so would seem rather shameless, it was an excellent option for those who didn’t quite have the strength to break into the top 300 on their own.

You get into the top 300, and then you refuse to fight no matter what.

One month later...

You’re officially selected!

...

「Afternoon came.」

Because of Gao Neng’s performance against Fatty Meihua Kai in the morning, the bidding for the afternoon challenger’s spot reached a fever pitch. The price jumped from the morning’s ten million to twenty-seven million.

A quantum leap!

The moment the twenty-seven-million-dollar bet was announced...

The whole crowd gasped in astonishment.

And Gao Neng, looking pale and holding his saber, continued to accept challenges.

Without a doubt.

This was another fierce battle.

It lasted even longer than the morning’s fight.

After a full hour of fighting, Gao Neng barely managed to win.

The popularity on television and online media soared to even more astonishing heights. The TV station broke its all-time record, while the number of concurrent online viewers reached an unprecedented twenty million.

After all, it was an exclusive!

Besides the Eastern District TV Station and this one online media company, it couldn’t be seen anywhere else.

"He earned another twenty-seven million. In a single day... that guy Gao Neng has made a full fifty-one million!" Gui Zian’s feelings were complicated.

He was jealous, yet also furious.

He had never once thought money could be made like this.

Fifty-one million in a single day!

What about a month?

It was an astronomical figure...

’But can Gao Neng really maintain this level of popularity?’

’It’s doubtful!’

"Definitely not!" Gui Zian was confident in his judgment. Gao Neng had made a killing today, but would there be this many challengers tomorrow?

’No way.’

’Gao Neng has already won two matches in a row.’

’There aren’t that many fools in this world lining up to give away their money!’

’Absolutely not!’

...

「The next morning.」

Time: 8:00 AM sharp.

The gates of the Eastern Capital Military Academy witnessed the most terrifyingly spectacular scene in their history.

A full seventy percent of the fighters ranked from 301 to 500 on the Dragon List had shown up. In addition, there were countless challengers from outside the Dragon List.

Total number of challengers: 489!

Moreover, these 489 people were all very well-mannered. Not a single one was blocking the gate and shouting curses. Instead, they were holding up signs and bidding.

"I bid thirty-one million!"

"Thirty-two million!"

"Thirty-five million!"

"Forty million! Who dares to compete with me?!"

"..."

"Forty million going once! Forty million going twice! Forty million going three times... Congratulations to Ji Pan of the Kuishan Daoist Sect for winning the morning’s challenge rights!" Fang Tangtang slammed down a large gavel. BANG! "Sold for forty million."

Gui Zian, watching from the side, was completely stunned.