Of course, Gao Neng wasn’t too worried.

Because panicking wouldn’t help!

The worst that could happen was a fight with Shen Ning’Er. He figured that with his current strength, he would probably lose. Still, he should at least be able to get a few touches in on her.

’Totally worth it!’

Just as he was thinking this, the results for the lower limb bones came out.

"Shaximo, lower limb bone density: 8.01."

"..."

"It’s over 8!"

The sect disciples were all delighted.

Finally, a score over 8!

Although they had lost on the sternum and upper limb bones, winning this round on the lower limb bones meant it was a draw overall.

After all, Shaximo had the advantage when it came to the skull.

Even if it was only by 0.01.

Just then, however, Gao Neng’s score for his lower limb bones appeared.

"Gao Neng, lower limb bone density: 8.45."

"..."

"8.45?!"

The sect disciples, who had just been feeling delighted, instantly turned pale.

That was a swift slap in the face!

Shaximo had barely managed to break 8.0, but Gao Neng’s score was a straight 8.45, a full 0.44 points higher.

That was an absolutely absurd score.

"Hahaha... I knew Gao Neng would win!" Fang Tangtang burst out laughing.

"Meow." Gao Xiaomeng tilted her head up proudly.

When Gao Neng saw the result, he started to understand why he’d lost to Shaximo by 0.01 on the skull.

’It’s because I’m only at the Tier Five Late Stage.’

’In my cultivation, I’ve always prioritized my lower limb bones first.’

’After all, speed is king.’

’So, my lower limb bones were the first to be fully magnetized, followed by my sternum and upper limb bones. I only start magnetizing my skull last.’

’That means my lower limb bone density is definitely the highest.’

’In fact, I haven’t even finished magnetizing my skull yet.’

’So of course my skull’s density couldn’t possibly surpass that of Shaximo, who has already reached the Tier Six Late Stage.’

It all made sense to Gao Neng.

Shaximo, on the other hand, was about to lose his mind.

’Crushed on my sternum, my upper limbs, and my lower limbs?! He beat me on all of them?!’

"This is impossible!" Shaximo couldn’t believe it. How could he only have a 0.01 advantage in skull density, while getting completely dominated by Gao Neng in every other category?

’I’m a Tier Six Late Stage expert!’

’My bone magnetization is fully complete.’

’What’s more, I’m a candidate to be the next Sect Leader of the Esoteric Sect! I practice the sect’s ultimate Bone Refining Technique! My bones are far stronger than others at my tier—they’re already at the level of a Tier Seven Late Stage expert!’

’And yet, I lost?!’

"Cheating! Gao Neng is cheating! I refuse to accept this!" No matter how good Shaximo’s composure usually was, he couldn’t hold back after witnessing something so impossible.

’Something must be wrong!’

Although he didn’t think Zhang Hongying would cheat for Gao Neng, he refused to believe there was nothing wrong with the bone density test.

Shaximo stepped away from the testing machine.

He was determined to stand up for himself. He would expose this injustice to the public. The Alliance was supposed to be fair; it couldn’t allow such underhanded dealings to exist.

When the disciples from the various sects and clans heard Shaximo’s outburst, they too were swayed.

"Cheating?"

"Did Gao Neng really cheat?"

"Could there really be something wrong with the machine? But... that seems unlikely, doesn’t it?"

The disciples from the sects and clans also found it hard to believe that Gao Neng’s bone density could be higher than Shaximo’s. But as for actual cheating, they didn’t quite believe that either.

’Zhang Hongying, cheat for Gao Neng?’

’That’s ridiculous!’

’It was obvious Zhang Hongying was deliberately giving Gao Neng a hard time. Otherwise, why would she have put him in the same group as Shaximo? Surely she didn’t intend for Gao Neng to use Shaximo as a stepping stone to climb higher, right?’

’But now that I think about it...’

’...maybe it is possible?’

’If Gao Neng used Shaximo as a stepping stone, then once they got to the Underground City, the resources he’d be allocated would surely be more than anyone else’s, right?’

"Then check the machine!" Zhang Hongying’s expression turned grim. ’Being accused of cheating... Are they saying Gao Neng and I are in cahoots?’

But even she found the results before her hard to believe.

Checking the machine was the best way to prove her innocence and get to the bottom of things.

"Yes, ma’am!" Two researchers immediately stepped forward. They carefully inspected every part of the machine, looking extremely thorough.

「Five minutes later.」

The two researchers looked up.

"No problems with Machine A."

"No problems with Machine B."

"..."

"No problems?!"

Everyone present fell silent.

"No, that’s not right! I demand a re-test!" Shaximo clenched his jaw. It was a clever move. By simply demanding a re-test, he avoided making a direct accusation against Zhang Hongying before he had any proof of her cheating.

However, by demanding a re-test, he was also implying that the researchers’ inspection was faulty—that they might have fixed the problematic machine and returned it to normal.

"..." Zhang Hongying’s fists tightened.

’So they’re actually suspecting me?’

After hearing Shaximo, the disciples from the sects and clans all had strange expressions on their faces, but some still stepped forward to support him.

"Yes, a re-test would be better!"

"Right, maybe the machine had an issue before, and now it’s been fixed?"

"Yes, yes, that’s definitely possible!"

Others immediately chimed in to agree.

"Instructor Zhang, there’s really nothing wrong with these two machines." The two researchers exchanged a glance before turning to look at Zhang Hongying.

"Fine. Re-test it," Zhang Hongying said with a wave of her hand.

"Alright. Gao Neng and Shaximo, begin the re-test!" The researcher said nothing more.