Shaximo’s face was ashen.

But he still stepped back in front of machine A.

After a moment’s thought, he felt something was wrong.

"I demand to switch machines! I’ll use Gao Neng’s!" Shaximo pointed at Gao Neng, who was about to walk over to machine B.

"Shaximo, you’re being unreasonable now, aren’t you? You use yours, I use mine. Why should I have to switch with you?" Gao Neng was immediately displeased.

"Are you afraid to switch?" Shaximo’s eyes narrowed. The more Gao Neng refused, the more convinced he was that something was fishy.

"What’s there to be afraid of? I’m just worried that you’ll offend Instructor Zhang by doing this. Are you sure you want to risk her making things difficult for you in the future over something so trivial?" A corner of Gao Neng’s mouth lifted into a slight smile.

"Instructor Zhang is impartial and selfless. I don’t believe she would make things difficult for me over this. Besides, I, Shaximo, earned my number one spot on the Dragon List with my own strength, not by relying on outside help. On that point, you and I are different!" Though Shaximo’s words were quick, they carried a pointed implication.

"Sigh. If I were you, I wouldn’t do this. Once you offend Instructor Zhang and we get to the Underground City, she’ll definitely make things difficult for you, right, Instructor Zhang?" Gao Neng said with a chuckle.

"!!!" A fire of rage blazed in Zhang Hongying’s chest.

This was another blatant attempt to frame her.

And this time, it was Shaximo who had provoked it.

She was furious.

She had specifically requested to be the instructor for this group to take Gao Neng’s arrogance down a notch. But as it turned out, the more she watched, the more things seemed to be going wrong.

Gao Neng’s arrogance wasn’t diminishing; on the contrary, it was growing ever more flagrant.

Shaximo’s state of mind was also in turmoil. Gao Neng’s words were clearly meant to sow discord, and worse, he had just walked right into the trap Gao Neng had set.

"Gao Neng, if you truly have nothing to hide, then what’s the big deal about switching machines with me for the test?" Shaximo spoke again.

"Switching isn’t a problem, but why should I switch just because you say so?"

"You’re just scared!"

"Why would I be scared?"

"Because you cheated!"

"Cheated with who?"

"With Instructor Zhang, of course..." The words reached Shaximo’s lips, but he swallowed them back down. His fists, however, were clenched extremely tight.

"Fine, fine. Since you’re so determined to slander Instructor Zhang and insist we cheated, I’ll switch with you. Let’s see what else you have to say!" Gao Neng magnanimously walked over to machine A.

"..." Shaximo’s expression changed again, but ultimately, he said no more. He simply moved to the front of machine B and began the test.

Meanwhile, Zhang Hongying’s face was as dark as storm clouds.

...

「In an office in the Federation Government Building.」

The goat-bearded Speaker and several council members watched the scene on the screen, all of them shaking their heads.

"That Gao Neng... he’s truly devious!"

"Elder Zhang, I’m afraid your young daughter is going to be at a disadvantage here."

"But seriously... for Gao Neng’s average bone strength to reach over 8... if that’s true, it’s a bit outrageous."

"This kid is a real treasure! To be able to run circles around Hong Ying and Shaximo in such an adverse situation... his future prospects are limitless!"

"Elder Wang, you mentioned earlier that someone has their eye on Gao Neng. Who is it?"

"Heh heh..." A council member shook his head. "I can’t say. I really can’t, because it hasn’t been finalized yet."

"Does that mean I can try to snatch him up?"

"Hahaha, you’re welcome to try! See if you can actually get him!"

"Heh, I don’t believe it! I heard the kid loves money. The Tang Family has nothing but money. I refuse to believe there’s anyone I can’t win over by throwing cash at them!" a council member said, eager to try.

"Hahaha..."

Everyone chuckled lightly.

But soon, their expressions all turned somewhat grave.

Because on the screen, the test results for Gao Neng and Shaximo had appeared once again.

"Shaximo, skull density: 7.96."

This was the first value, identical to the previous test result.

And then came the second value.

"Gao Neng, skull density: 7.95."

Again, there was no change whatsoever.

The Speaker and the council members narrowed their eyes, then exchanged glances. Finally, they all sighed in unison, "This kid... he’s a real monster!"

"There’s no need to watch anymore. The test results are fine. This time, Hong Ying and Shaximo have truly been slapped in the face by Gao Neng so hard they’re speechless!"

...

「In the research lab.」

Everyone was staring at the numbers on the screen.

No change!

They were the same as before.

Seeing this, everyone understood. There was nothing wrong with the machines. Gao Neng’s bone density was truly higher than Shaximo’s.

Then, the values for the sternum and upper limb bones appeared.

"Still no change!"

"..."

"Shaximo lost..."

There was no need to see the lower limb bones; the result was already obvious.

Shaximo had lost completely.

And indeed, the values for his lower limb bones were also identical to before.

The re-test was complete.

Facts were facts!

Indisputable!

Shaximo’s head hung low, his teeth grinding audibly. He could feel a burning sting on his face.

Those invisible slaps really hurt!

If he had just lost, that would have been one thing.

But now, not only had he lost, he had resentfully demanded a re-test. In the end, after Gao Neng slapped his face once, he had slapped it himself a second time.

’Gao Neng, you liar!’ Shaximo’s spirit was crushed. He felt wronged, indignant, furious, and helpless.

But there was absolutely nothing he could do.

If he could, he would have loved to shout a challenge at Gao Neng. ’Come on, let’s compete on strength! Come on, let’s compete on speed! Come on, let’s see whose head is harder!’

The problem was, this was a physical examination, not a test of combat ability.

There were no events for strength or speed.

No matter how displeased or indignant he felt, he could only force himself to swallow this bitter pill. It was truly the feeling of a mute eating a bitter herb—suffering in silence.

"Whoa, whoa, Gao Neng is amazing!" Fang Tangtang cheered.

The other members of the Military Department around them also smiled. Gao Neng’s aptitude was just too monstrous; Shaximo was no match for him at all.

"I told you Instructor Zhang isn’t the type to cheat. But no, Shaximo just had to have a re-test, and even insisted on switching machines with me. Sigh... so pitiful," Gao Neng said as he walked back from the machine.

"..." The disciples from the sects.

"..." The disciples from the noble families.

Shaximo also stepped away from his machine at that moment, his expression dim. Compared to his earlier spirited demeanor, he seemed like a different person.

He had lost again.

Moreover, he had lost in his strongest area. Most importantly, he still had no idea why he had lost to Gao Neng.

"Brother Sha, don’t get discouraged so quickly. You’re a Tier Six Late Stage, number one on the Dragon List. There are still three events left!" Gao Neng walked over.

"Go away. I don’t want to talk to you." Shaximo was truly feeling wronged.

"Don’t be like that. We’re all classmates now, right? Think about it, in the next three events, don’t you have a chance to surpass me?" Gao Neng said again.

"Nonsense, of course I do!" Shaximo gritted his teeth again.

"Right? So what are you afraid of? You just need to aim for me as your target. Think about it. You can’t surpass my Spiritual Power, but there is one event where you can."

"You mean cellular tissue activity?" Shaximo’s eyes narrowed.

"Yes, that’s the one! You’re a Golden Body Arhat; your self-healing ability must be super strong, right? Plus, you’re a Tier Six Late Stage. There’s no way you’re weaker than me in that area," Gao Neng said with a serious nod.

"Of course I’m not weaker than you! No, it’s not that I’m not weaker—I’ll far surpass you!" Shaximo’s last shred of confidence reignited.

Cellular tissue activity.

This was a test targeting self-healing ability, primarily through a blood test.

To put it simply, the higher the cellular tissue activity, the stronger one’s recovery and self-healing abilities. As a Tier Six Late Stage, there was no reason he should lose to Gao Neng again.

After all, even an idiot knew that the higher one’s tier, the stronger their recovery ability!