Chapter 239: Cleaving Open

"Clang!"

With a metallic clash that jarred the eardrums, the shield-shaped instrument for measuring force in front of Li Mochen was instantly split in two, sending sparks flying everywhere.

Everyone around the force-measuring device was stunned, only snapping back to reality when the severed half of the shield fell to the ground. They then looked at Li Mochen with incredulous eyes.

The latter was also in a daze; he himself hadn't expected that infusing Titan bloodline power into a warrior skill would make his sword strike so formidable and sharp.

The key point was that since advancing to level seven, he had never had the chance to fully use a warrior skill like 'Mortal Strike'—he simply hadn't encountered a suitable opponent to test it on.

"Sorry, it seems I overdid it."

Facing the numerous gazes in the physical testing room that looked at him as if he were a monster, even Li Mochen felt a slight sense of unease.

But just as he finished speaking, applause broke out in the testing room, and almost everyone's face showed a hint of admiration.

"By the Light God."

In the observation room, a reporter with graying hair couldn't help but exclaim: "This device's maximum load capacity is four hundred and fifty tons, right?"

"It's not that the force couldn't be withstood; I estimate the sword force he delivered was at most two hundred tons."

Another person shook his head: "The key is his sword speed—at least seven hundred kilometers per hour! And his source energy, it's very peculiar, making his sword exceptionally sharp! Mr. Ekerson, have you calculated the detailed data?"

"We're calculating, EMM—it's out!"

Hillary Ekerson stared intently at a nearby computer screen: "The sword force at that moment couldn't be measured; it maxed out, meaning at least one hundred and eighty tons. The sword speed was measured, though: initial speed reached 580 kilometers per hour, and final speed as high as 720 kilometers per hour. Interestingly, our computer's prediction indicates that this lucky Mr. Andre didn't use his full strength."

"Tell us, Mr. Ekerson, you look very shocked?"

The gray-haired reporter asked with curiosity: "These numbers are quite surprising, aren't they?"

Ekerson smiled wryly: "This gentleman's cutting force should be between three hundred and sixty to four hundred tons, and his sword speed between nine hundred to twelve hundred kilometers per hour. These figures make me doubt the reliability of our laboratory's research results."

"Wow!"

Several people in the observation room exclaimed in unison.

"From the physical test data alone, he has already surpassed Cadio Rhode."

"The predicted values from this instrument are indeed hard to believe, but even the measured ones are already astonishing."

"What can I say? Those betting companies are really black-hearted, and so is the Nathan Sports Group."

"Damn it! During the round of thirty-two, I was fooled by those so-called experts on TV and lost a full three thousand gold shields! Those guys really have black hearts. I think his strength can already rival, or even surpass, monsters like Felton Williams and Glenn Adams!"

"Ha! If those experts' words were credible, pigs could lay eggs."

"The reason he's been doubted is that his opponents were too weak to let him show his true strength?"

"The confidentiality agreement we signed only prohibits leaking specific test data, not using this information for profit. So these guys have given us some benefits?"

As they were discussing, Hillary Ekerson spoke into the microphone: "Cadel, bring over our backup instrument and have him test again—this time without weapons or skills."

"I don't think that's necessary, Mr. Ekerson."

A black-clad man with glasses spoke solemnly: "This is enough. The outcome is clear. I don't believe Cadio Rhode can be a match for Mr. Andre Lee Wielenstein. Today's match reflects the gap in their abilities, don't you all agree?"

Ekerson glanced at the man, then shrugged and abandoned his earlier plan.

He could roughly guess that this person was a pawn placed by the betting companies in the investigation team. And ultimately, the NHSAA event committee's investigation was dominated by the will of those capitalists.

Just then, someone hurried in from outside: "There's a problem, gentlemen. For Cadio Rhode, who was tested in Hall C, we found seven 'Cretan Black Blood Stones' in his body."

The people in the room exchanged glances, looking surprised. So the one suspected of violations was actually Cadio Rhode, who had suffered a crushing defeat today.

"Ha, this is quite a big news story."

The gray-haired reporter couldn't help but laugh: "Looks like we have something to write about, gentlemen."

...

Twenty minutes later, Li Mochen left Storm Stadium under the escort of numerous security personnel.

At the stadium's main entrance, nearly a hundred reporters were waiting, but under the tight security cordon, none of them could get close to Li Mochen.

What puzzled Li Mochen was that these media people didn't seem intent on pursuing him. After he clearly refused an interview, they let him board the Otto I armored off-road vehicle dispatched by the Nathan Sports Group without further harassment.

"What's going on?"

Li Mochen looked through the car window, somewhat surprised at the reporters returning to wait at the entrance: "Have they changed their ways?"

In the past, wouldn't these reporters have persistently chased the off-road vehicle, even blocking the road ahead?

"They've received inside information that there's a bigger news story coming."

Carl chuckled: "You'll know when you get home. There'll probably be a live news broadcast."

"Big news? Is that why you told me to refuse interviews at this stage?"

Li Mochen said thoughtfully: "Could it be that Cadio Rhode has been found to have problems?"

"Wow, A-Mo, being too smart takes away a lot of fun."

Carl beamed, speaking with a tone of schadenfreude: "Didn't I mention those 'Cretan Black Blood Stones'? They've been detected."

Li Mochen was even more bewildered. He thought that since Arcadis Sports Company had Cadio Rhode use 'Cretan Black Blood Stones,' they should have had a way to evade the event committee's inspection.

Could it be because of him? Was it because he took that item from Cadio's body, or because of his suppression of the Minotaur's spirit, that led to the exposure of the 'Cretan Black Blood Stones'?

Li Mochen soon gave up trying to get to the bottom of it. No matter how Cadio Rhode was exposed, it had nothing to do with him. His gaze shifted to a gemstone in his right hand, emitting a multicolored spiritual light.

But this spiritual light seemed visible only to him; if one set aside these radiances, it was just an ordinary-looking blue sapphire.