"You're acting strange..."
Bai Youxia blinked, sensing that things weren't as simple as they seemed. Since arriving at Haicheng University, this junior had been nothing but trouble; everyone privately called him a "degenerate." That was precisely why the school had sent him off to the Border Wilderness to suppress Demon Beasts—they just wanted him out of sight.
Why, just moments ago, he had been strutting around with that arrogant air, acting as if he were the king of the world and everyone else was beneath him. How had he suddenly become so well-behaved?
"Oh, come on, I'm just afraid of holding the school back," Ling Chen replied with a casual, dismissive laugh.
Bai Youxia’s expression turned odd. *I don't believe a word of it,* she thought. *He’s only been at this school for three months, and he’s already caused so many disasters.*
Just as she was about to make a sarcastic remark, a girl ran over. "Junior Ling Chen, the Dean of Students wants you to go to the activity room. She has something to tell you."
Ling Chen nodded. After saying goodbye to Bai Youxia, he headed toward the activity room. The path was unusually quiet, with only a scattering of students visible. With the provincial competition coming up next month, everyone was busy training.
Ten minutes later, Ling Chen arrived at his destination. Peering through the window, he saw the room was packed. Not only were the various head teachers present, but several top-performing student representatives were standing there as well.
"What's all this? So many people—what is this, a pyramid scheme?"
Before Ling Chen had even stepped into the room, his voice rang out. The faces of those inside darkened instantly. They wondered how such a degenerate person could exist; talk about a dog’s mouth failing to sprout ivory!
[Anger points +30. Please keep up the good work, Host!]
Hearing the system prompt, Ling Chen felt a surge of joy. It only solidified his resolve to pull off something big tomorrow!
"Huh? Why is there a doggy door here? Trying to keep a gentleman like me out?"
As he prepared to walk in, Ling Chen noticed a glowing circular gate at the entrance that hadn't been there before. He looked at the crowd with an air of wide-eyed innocence and asked, "Did you guys crawl through this doggy door to get in?"
[Anger points +50]
"Don't hold me back! Let me go hack him to pieces!"
"That god-forsaken, brain-damaged idiot—can't we just expel him? He’s going to be the death of me!"
The top-performing students standing in the row couldn't take it anymore. They had never been subjected to such humiliation. Their auras surged as they prepared to charge at him.
"Don't be impulsive! Don't let a moment of anger ruin tomorrow's grand plan..." the teachers nearby hurriedly held them back. Even so, the teachers were gritting their teeth, their own inner rage no less than that of the students.
"Quiet."
At this, the Dean of Students, Qin Muwan, who still managed to look "composed," waved her hand. She wore a professional outfit, her skin as fair as mutton-fat jade, and her oval face and delicate features were flawless. Standing at 170cm, she had a striking figure, and her long, shapely legs were particularly eye-catching.
"That is not a doggy door. It is a talent-testing machine. Only geniuses with an A-grade rating or higher can pass through it," Qin Muwan explained, her face dark.
Ling Chen chuckled, his mouth curling upward. "Well, look at that. You set a trap here just to see me make a fool of myself?"
If he hadn't activated his system, he would have truly been trapped inside and made to look like a monkey on display.
"Ahem... that is roughly the idea. So, how exactly did you walk through it?" a head teacher asked with a dry cough, showing no concern for his feelings and sparing him no face.
"That’s right, Ling Chen. You’re supposed to be a B-grade talent, aren't you?" Qin Muwan asked, taking a deep breath to suppress her anger.
"He must have cheated!" a senior student chimed in.
"Or perhaps the machine is broken," another senior suggested.
"Could it be... that this wretched kid is using hacks?" a third person wondered, eyes full of surprise.
Seeing this group of elites getting more and more ridiculous, Ling Chen stepped forward and reprimanded them righteously. "Bullshit! I, Lord Lu, would never use hacks!"
[Anger points +5]
The expressions of those present turned sour. As the acknowledged geniuses of Haicheng University, they were used to being chased by admiring students wherever they went, yet Ling Chen didn't give them an ounce of respect.
"Alright, alright, the machine must be broken," Qin Muwan said, stepping in to prevent a further argument. She then looked at Ling Chen and said solemnly, "Your senior, Youxia, already told you, didn't she? About apologizing to the media tomorrow..."
"She did," Ling Chen nodded.
"And what do you think? You won't resist, will you...?" A glimmer of anticipation shone in Qin Muwan's beautiful eyes. She had done her research; Ling Chen had never apologized or yielded to anyone in his life, and she was truly worried he wouldn't agree. After all, this apology conference was vital to the reputation of Haicheng University, and there was no room for error.
"I'll apologize. It's no big deal—it's not like I've never apologized before!" Ling Chen said.
Qin Muwan offered an awkward smile. Although his tone was firm and he appeared ready to take responsibility, she couldn't help but feel he was unreliable. But at this point, aside from trusting him, there didn't seem to be any other choice.
"The Dean believes in you."
"Do your best. I'll add your name to the list for the provincial competition later as a reward."
Ling Chen nodded. "If there’s nothing else, I’ll be heading out."
Once he had completely vanished from sight, the activity room grew noisy once again. A young man stepped forward, asking in confusion, "Dean, the provincial competition is of critical importance."
"That degenerate's talent and cultivation level aren't even up to standard. Why are we sending him?"
Qin Muwan sighed, explaining slowly, "It’s because I’m afraid he’ll stir up trouble if he’s left behind. We have to keep him pacified."
"It's fine. Just consider that we've forfeited one spot. We weren't going to beat the other universities anyway."
After she finished speaking, a flash of disappointment and helplessness crossed her eyes. The provincial competition took place every three years. The top performers would be cultivated as seeds by the authorities to compete against the geniuses of other nations. Moreover, the university of the participants would receive generous resources and support. But Haicheng University had finished at the bottom for several consecutive years, and slowly, she had just gotten used to it.
...
Back outside, Ling Chen opened his system panel.
Name: Ling Chen
Age: 18
Realm: Awakening Realm, 3rd Stage
Weapons: None
Martial Arts: None
Treasure Chest Progress: Black Iron Treasure Chest (85/200)
"Sigh, what's the difference between this and a blank slate? Looks like I need to work harder and try to open that treasure chest soon."
Because he was always stirring up trouble, he had never been eligible to be assigned any martial arts since coming to university. Even that broken sword he’d used to hack at Demon Beasts in the Border Wilderness had been confiscated by the school after he stabbed a "saintly" student.
Citizens of Blue Star could initiate the Awakening Ceremony during their college entrance exams, and only after a successful awakening could they begin to practice cultivation. The cultivation realms were divided into:
Awakening, Boulder Breaking, Wind Chasing, Void Breaking, Matchless, Mountain Moving, Sea Filling, Heavenly Change, Demi-God, and God...
Each realm was further divided into nine stages.