Galactic Overlord #1-50
Author: Unknown
Date: 2025-10-25T19:49:12+00:00

Chapter 1: The Great Battle in the Sky

In the head teacher’s office of the Special Training Class at Anhuang City No. 1 High School, on Water Source Planet.

“Xia Mang, how do you think you did on the exam this time?”

A middle-aged man with gold-rimmed glasses had his legs crossed.

In front of him sat a boy of about sixteen or seventeen.

The boy lowered his head and answered in a low voice, “Teacher Ye, I’m not really sure.”

“Hmph! See for yourself.”

Ye Zhongliang forcefully tossed a grade report onto the desk.

Xia Mang hesitated for a moment before picking up the sheet of paper. His eyes scanned it from top to bottom, finally stopping on a spot in the lower half of the middle section.

It read, “Xia Mang, Comprehensive Cultural Score 92.1, Comprehensive Physical Fitness Score 88, Gene Evolution Index 1.3.”

At first glance, his cultural score was quite high, and his physical fitness score wasn’t bad either. So why was his rank in the bottom half of the class?

Xia Mang knew the answer perfectly well. It was the Gene Evolution Index that had severely dragged him down.

“See it now?” Ye Zhongliang glanced at him contemptuously, tapping his fingers on the desk. “Do you think you can stay in the Special Training Class like this?” he asked nonchalantly.

At this point, his tone shifted, becoming earnest and thoughtful.

“Think about it. Your classmates are all outstanding. Being in such an environment for a long time isn’t good for building your confidence. I, too, cherish talent and can’t bear to see a promising sapling like you ruined by a loss of confidence…”

“So, don’t blame me for being blunt. You should complete the transfer paperwork and move to a regular class as soon as possible. Our class really isn’t for you. You know, all roads lead to Rome, and taking a roundabout path to success isn’t a bad idea. There’s no point in hanging yourself from one tree, is there?”

Listening to this, Xia Mang knew exactly what the middle-aged man was up to. In fact, ever since this new head teacher had taken over, he had sought Xia Mang out more than once, trying to force him out of the Special Training Class.

A strong sense of humiliation sent flames of anger roaring through his chest. But fearing the teacher would complain to his parents, he restrained himself and said, “Teacher Ye, even though my rank is in the lower half, there are still plenty of students ranked below me…”

The middle-aged man sneered dismissively, cutting him off. “Take a look for yourself. The students behind you may have slightly lower cultural and physical scores, but their Gene Evolution Indexes are high—an average of over 1.5. It’s only a matter of time before they surpass you.”

“Xia Mang, it’s not that I’m picking on you, but your family’s financial situation isn’t suited for special training. You can’t keep up with the resources and supplies. Why suffer in a class full of elites like ours? In the future, the gap between you and the other students will only grow wider.”

“You were able to get into our class in the first place because you had good natural aptitude—that is, a high innate Gene Evolution Index. But now, that one advantage you had is gone.”

The man in the gold-rimmed glasses wagged his finger. “Everyone is born different. Why must you force yourself to do something you’re not cut out for?”

Hearing this, Xia Mang could no longer hold back. He gritted his teeth and shot to his feet, his sharp gaze fixed on his head teacher. “Teacher Ye!”

“The ancients said, ‘Are kings and nobles born to their station?!’ So you have no right! No right to dictate anyone’s future! The reason I, Xia Mang, am here is because of my own ability, not because I rely on anyone else!”

With that, he turned and left decisively, his lean figure striding away and disappearing through the doorway.

In his office chair, Ye Zhongliang shrugged with a cold smile and calmly closed his eyes. Using the information stored in his identity chip, he found the contact information for Xia Mang’s family. “Is this Xia Mang’s mother? Yes, I’m his head teacher. There’s something I’d like to talk to you about…”

After he finished, he opened his eyes again and muttered to himself with a grin, “A country bumpkin, still daydreaming about joining the honored class…”

—

Cuihu Avenue, Anhuang City.

In an extremely foul mood, Xia Mang mingled with the crowd. It was the first time in his life he had ever left school during class hours.

But this period was a physical arts class, so missing one session wasn’t a huge problem.

He wandered aimlessly. Whenever he saw the few private cars weaving between the public buses on the road, he couldn’t help but feel a pang of envy.

This was because the ability to purchase a private vehicle and drive it on public roads were social rights enjoyed only by Honored Citizens.

Ordinary people could only rely on public transport to get around.

“When will I ever be able to own a car of my own?”

Xia Mang’s eyes were filled with yearning.

He had fought with all his might to get into the elite Special Training Class precisely to have the best chance of joining the honored class, of changing his and his family’s destiny, and of earning the respect of others.

In the current society, everyone was trying their best to acquire Honor Points through various channels.

The number of Honor Points was the sole standard for measuring a citizen’s status. Honored Citizens enjoyed more social rights than ordinary people, and the higher their honor rank, the more privileges they had.

However, nine out of ten people could only ever muddle along as ordinary citizens for their entire lives, finding it nearly impossible to achieve honored status.

For low-wage laborers at the bottom of society like Xia Mang’s parents, working from dawn till dusk all year would earn them a mere one Honor Point. This meant that just to be promoted to a Prospective Honored Citizen, they would have to perform high-intensity labor continuously for a hundred years.

What a joke. How long could an ordinary person even live? It was something they could never achieve, even if they worked themselves to death.

As he was lost in thought, he suddenly heard the bustling crowd around him stop in its tracks and gaze up at the sky, erupting in a clamor.

“Look, look! Up in the sky! Is that a cosmic chariot?”

“I think it is! Wow, that’s so flashy it could blind a man!”

“I don’t think it’s a cosmic chariot, it’s a starship!”

“Oh my god! A starship? I wonder which big shot has graced our Water Source Planet. Look at that streamlined design, that shimmering super-alloy hull! It’s so cool! If I could have a ride like that in my lifetime, I’d be willing to be reborn as a cow or a horse in my next life!”

“Keep dreaming. The person in that starship has to be at least a five-star Honored big shot! We couldn’t accumulate that many Honor Points in ten lifetimes.”

“You bet. Do you know what kind of ship that is? It’s a Sagittarius X! A Class-A starship built by BMW, with a limited release of only 880 units in the entire Earth Federation…”

“Quick, quick, take a picture! Post it on social media to show off!”

Everyone’s face was flushed, their eyes practically popping out of their sockets.

Xia Mang was no exception. He stared blankly at the exquisite, streamlined starship in the sky. It was a translucent azure blue, crafted from a special crystalline alloy. He swallowed hard again and again, muttering, “So beautiful.”

He’d never dreamed that the first time he ever skipped class, he would see a work of art he had only ever seen on media platforms, a once-in-a-lifetime sight.

“Huh? Wait a minute, look behind it…”

The zealous crowd soon discovered that trailing closely behind the starship was a V-shaped aircraft, its cool factor in no way inferior to the BMW Sagittarius X.

If the latter possessed a magnificent beauty, the one following it exuded an aura of extreme, cutting-edge ferocity.

“Oh, my heavens, what day is it today? That’s the Thor’s Fury, made by Aston Martin! In terms of rarity and price, it’s even scarcer and more high-end than the Sagittarius X!”

People were on the verge of fainting.

Normally, even seeing a single private hover-car on the road was enough to turn heads.

But now, two luxury items that were exceedingly rare in the entire Federation had appeared at the same time. This kind of luck was beyond insane.

Soon, however, they noticed something was wrong.

The speed and flight paths of the two starships were too strange.

The more they watched, the more it looked like the Sagittarius X was dodging the pursuit of the Thor’s Fury, weaving and circling high above the city.

“What’s going on? Aren’t they important figures here for an inspection?” a citizen muttered in confusion.

Just as he finished speaking, someone with quicker wits realized what was happening and shouted, “Everyone, run! If it were an official inspection, there’s no way a big shot would come in a lone starship! There’d be an escort fleet! Look, do you see any other aircraft?!”

“This is clearly two big shots with a beef, and they’re fighting it out!”

It had to be said, the person who spoke up had a sharp mind.

The two flying machines that symbolized honor in the sky soon made a move that terrified the onlookers.

The Thor’s Fury was suddenly cloaked in crackling purple-black lightning. Its speed skyrocketed, and it shot toward the Sagittarius X like a streak of light.

In the process, it fired a dense barrage of light projectiles, completely cutting off the Sagittarius’s escape route.

“Run! Don’t get hit by stray fire!”

The crowd forgot all about admiring the spectacle and scattered in a panic.

Xia Mang was also badly frightened and turned to run with the rest of the mob…

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Missiles containing terrifying energy slammed into the crystalline surface of the Sagittarius X, bursting into blossoms of fire.

The violent explosions made Xia Mang, who was running at full speed, glance back. He couldn’t help but exclaim in awe, “Holy cow, what a scene.”

With that, he did a quick mental calculation. “If this follows the usual script, the police department’s air defense division should be arriving any moment now.”

Even as he thought this, his pace didn’t slow in the slightest. Compared to his life, nothing else mattered.

Xia Mang sprinted with all his might into a narrow alley wedged between two buildings. Here, he could use the buildings for cover while escaping and avoid the dense crowds. It was a good strategic position. However, just as he entered, something strange happened.

He heard a deafening explosion behind him, followed by countless fragments and pieces of debris flying down. The powerful shockwave, mixed with a blast of wind, ripped tiles from the surrounding walls, and even the ground beneath his feet seemed to tremble.

The commotion made Xia Mang jump in fright, and he picked up his pace again, shaking his head vigorously to dislodge the dust from his hair.

At the same time, he saw a dark, unidentified object trace a parabola through the sky and land with a few thuds right in front of him. At first, he thought it was a piece of wreckage, but when he got closer, he saw it was a dusty bottle.

“What is this?!”

He bent down and picked it up. After examining it for a moment, he glanced back up at the two hunks of metal still tangled in combat high above. Thoughtfully, he slipped the bottle into his pocket and, without another moment’s hesitation, left the troubled area.

Xia Mang knew that what he had seen and heard today would undoubtedly become the top headline on every major media platform.

About twenty minutes after he left, a squad of soldiers in anti-radiation combat suits appeared at the very spot where he had been standing.

“According to the energy wave detection, this is the last known location of the object,” one of them said, frowning as he held an instrument.

“Hmph. Once an Origin Soul gets close to a human body, its energy signature is masked by the body’s own. It must have been picked up by someone! Use the Time-Reversal Technology immediately and search with everything you’ve got!”

A middle-aged man standing at the center of the team looked slightly anxious and angry, his voice booming like thunder.

“But the problem is, we don’t have that high a level of clearance,” another person said with difficulty.

“No matter the cost! Find it for me!” The middle-aged man’s tone was as sharp as steel, leaving no room for argument.

“Yes, sir!”

Chapter 2: The Mysterious Bottle

To avoid being labeled a truant, Xia Mang still returned to school.

However, the once-calm campus was already in chaos. The high-powered speakers were blaring frantically, telling teachers to quickly organize the students for evacuation.

Clearly, the school had already received news of the battle taking place on Cuihu Avenue.

And so, a large group of fifteen- and sixteen-year-olds were gathered on the playground in an “orderly” fashion, lined up in formation, staring blankly at the school leaders on the high platform who were in the midst of a heated, spit-flying discussion.

Xia Mang had always found this method of handling things rather idiotic.

If they had scattered and fled, they might have been fine. But by gathering everyone together, a single bomb would wipe out a huge swath of them. In the end, they would all just croak.

Fortunately, no bombs fell. Instead, the leaders came to a very conscientious conclusion: all classes would be temporarily suspended, and all students were to be dismissed immediately. They were to go straight home, not loiter outside, and await further notice on when classes would resume.

This announcement drew a thunderous cheer from the adolescents, who lacked any real sense of crisis.

They weren’t the least bit worried about the potentially life-threatening conflict raging outside. They had only one thought in their minds: I’ll do my thing, they can have their fight. To sum it up in four words: “None of my business.”

Regardless, an unexpected day off was always a rare opportunity to rest.

Xia Mang was also happy for the leisure time. At least for a while, he wouldn’t have to see Ye Zhongliang’s disgusting face.

He returned to his home in the single-story housing area on Cuihu Avenue.

Sitting on his bed, he looked out the window.

The smoke seemed to have dissipated, and he could no longer hear the sound of any artillery. He figured that given the combat intensity of the two Starships, the battle was unlikely to affect his parents’ workplaces, but he still couldn’t suppress the thick worry in his heart.

After some thought, he calmed his mind and entered his Identity Chip system.

The Identity Chip was a major technological product born after humanity entered the Galactic Era. Every registered citizen was implanted with a personal Identity Chip at birth. It was a vital, lifelong item that combined many practical functions like sending emails, making real-time calls, and recording personal information. In terms of the pre-spacefaring National Era, it was a combination of a cell phone and an ID card.

Of course, these were just the most basic functions of the Identity Chip; it had numerous other ingenious uses.

Xia Mang’s consciousness converted into brainwave signals, entering a system interface built on biomimetic technology. He navigated to the communication module with practiced ease, found his parents’ contact information, and made the call…

“Hey, son, what’s up?”

A booming male voice was the first to answer.

“Dad, are you guys okay over there?” Xia Mang asked. “Two Starships are fighting it out on Cuihu Avenue. Did you hear?”

“What? Starships? Is it an alien invasion?”

Xia Yuntian sounded quite shocked. He worked as a security guard at Hengying Group, a famous large corporation in Anhuang City. His workplace was over fifty kilometers from Cuihu Avenue, so the news probably hadn’t reached a place that far away so soon after the incident.

“So you didn’t know. Anyway, you have to be careful.”

“It’s fine, what could happen here? You just focus on your classes.”

Apparently, his dad still thought he was at school. About ten seconds after they ended the call, his mom, Du Dongyan, finally picked up.

“Little Mang, what’s the matter? Your Teacher Ye just called me.” Before Xia Mang could even speak, his mother hit him with that opening line.

“Ye Zhongliang? What did he say?” Xia Mang’s brow twitched. The last thing he wanted was for his parents to know about his current situation at school.

“You child, how can you address your teacher like that?” Du Dongyan chided. “Did you make Teacher Ye angry? He wants me to persuade you to leave the Special Training Class. He said your grades and physical condition aren’t keeping up anymore, and you’re seriously dragging the rest of the class down.”

“That’s a load of fucking bullshit!” Xia Mang suddenly burst out, then softened his voice. “Mom, don’t listen to that Old Dog Ye. I’m doing just fine!”

“Sigh, no matter what, you need to respect your teachers at school. Okay, that’s all, I’m still at work. I’m busy.”

Du Dongyan spoke earnestly and was about to cut the connection when Xia Mang quickly stopped her. “Wait, wait, Mom, did you hear about the battle on Cuihu Avenue?”

“Oh, I haven’t even finished my work yet. Where would I find the time to worry about that? You child, just focus on your classes.”

Du Dongyan said this hurriedly and then the line went dead.

As an assembly line worker, her job was extremely demanding, leaving her very little time for phone calls.

Xia Mang sighed helplessly and exited the Identity Chip system. His parents supported the family and his school fees with the most primitive manual labor, working from dawn to dusk.

Every time he pictured his parents sweating profusely at their jobs, a sour feeling welled up inside him.

“Ye Zhongliang!”

Xia Mang clenched his fists, his entire body filling with fighting spirit fueled by a burning rage.

“Right, let’s take a look at this thing.”

He suddenly remembered the bottle he had picked up under the hail of fire. He immediately took it out of his pocket and placed it before him, observing it quietly.

The bottle was opaque, so he couldn’t see what was inside. The opening was sealed with a wooden cork. It was quite cold to the touch and fit perfectly in his palm.

His first thought had been that the bottle’s material was unusual. Furthermore, it had fallen from high up in the sky. Estimating the altitude, it was likely related to the two Starships.

Coming from two such wealthy factions, the item had to be worth something, right?

Xia Mang thought for a moment, then pulled the cork out with his hand. Just as he was about to peer into the bottle to see what was inside, a wisp of pale blue gas shot out, making him jump.

“Holy crap, what the hell is that?”

He leaped back two meters, straight into a corner of the room. His gaze locked onto the small cloud of gas floating nearby, and his eyes slowly widened.

The gas swirled and billowed strangely in the air, gradually coalescing into the shape of an old man standing before Xia Mang.

No, that wasn’t the right way to describe it. The old man’s feet weren’t touching the ground; he was floating motionlessly in the air.

“You…”

He wanted to speak but found that his throat was constricted by an overwhelming sense of shock, unable to make the slightest sound.

Everything happening before him was far beyond his imagination.

“Hehe…”

A moment later, the old man made of smoke actually let out a pair of helpless chuckles. His voice was magnetic, weathered by the vicissitudes of time.

His gaze suddenly locked onto Xia Mang, who instantly felt a sense of insignificance that came from the depths of his soul. The hair on his body stood on end, and a cold sweat involuntarily seeped from his skin, covering his forehead in an instant.

An inexplicable palpitation washed over him, and all the muscles in his body tensed.

The old man sighed emotionally. “Do not be afraid. I am now merely a mass of nutrients that possesses the last wisp of my remaining consciousness…”

“Even the greatest of lives will eventually perish… To have someone carry on the legacy is not so bad. Since this is the choice of fate, I shall say no more. Boy, close your eyes and welcome the sublimation of your soul. From this day forward, your life shall begin a new chapter.”

The moment his voice fell, Xia Mang saw the old man instantly disintegrate, turning back into drifting smoke. It swirled in the air a few times before abruptly coalescing into a sharp arrow. With the speed of a thunderclap that left no time to cover one’s ears, it shot toward him, plunged into his flesh, and vanished. In the next moment, Xia Mang felt his meridians being forcibly filled with… something, making him feel uncomfortably bloated. The feeling grew more and more intense, as if he was about to be stretched until he burst.

Finally, his vision went black, and he fainted…

Chapter 3: Change

When he woke up again, it was already evening.

Xia Mang opened his drowsy eyes and sat up weakly, staring into space.

Though he had long since regained consciousness, his mind was still flooded with the images he saw before he fainted.

He was certain he had never encountered anything stranger in his entire life.

What was that wizened old man formed from smoke?

Xia Mang wracked his brain until his head ached, but he couldn’t come up with an answer.

A soul?

That was too damned fantastical. It was utterly impossible. With the current level of scientific development, it had long been proven that the so-called soul was nothing more than brainwaves.

Besides, he had never heard of anyone whose brainwaves were powerful enough to manifest directly in the physical world.

At this thought, Xia Mang shook his head with a wry smile, concluding that he had merely had an exceptionally vivid dream.

He glanced up at the old-fashioned clock on the wall. It was already eight in the evening, yet Du Dongyan and Xia Yuntian still hadn’t returned. For his parents, however, such a schedule was already the norm.

Xia Mang rubbed his temples, walked into the kitchen, and with practiced ease, prepared a few simple dishes and set them on the table. He sat quietly, waiting for his parents to come home. Pushing the strange incident from his mind, he reached over to the bedside table, picked up a thick, dog-eared book on mechs, and began to study intently.

Becoming a mech specialist had always been his ambition and dream. Since Ye Zhongliang said he wasn’t cut out for it, he would just have to put in superhuman effort to prove him wrong.

There were many respectable professions in this world.

For example, composers who could write songs that shook the soul, or soul singers who could sing with a voice that cleansed the spirit.

Or the powerful Star Warriors who roamed space in their physical bodies, fighting across the cosmos for humanity…

These professions were surrounded by a halo of a thousand glories, contributed greatly to society, and earned honor points relatively quickly. They were admired and revered by countless people.

But behind the endless glory was an exceedingly high barrier to entry, which made many shy away.

Xia Mang was self-aware about his own talents. He didn’t have the artistic cells to become a soul composer or singer, nor did he have the resources to be cultivated into a Star Warrior with extraordinary individual abilities…

As for the other top-tier professions, the difficulty was much the same. In short, none of them were suitable for him.

Since he couldn’t enter the top echelons of human society, he could only settle for the next best thing.

And being a mech specialist was precisely the profession that interested Xia Mang the most and offered a relatively bright future.

Ever since humanity entered the space age, conflict with powerful alien races was inevitable in the pursuit of resources to accelerate the entire species’ development.

However, the cost of training powerful Star Warriors was too high, and the requirements for individual talent were too demanding, meaning they could never be mass-produced. Therefore, mechs, which could be piloted by ordinary soldiers, gradually became an indispensable tool of war.

The birth of the mech compensated for the inherent gap in talent between humans and alien races, and it also filled the fatal gap in humanity’s inability to conduct large-scale interstellar warfare…

To this day, mechs have been applied to various fields and can be called one of the greatest technological revolutions of the space age.

Mech specialists were people who studied the discipline of mechs, dedicated to creating powerful machines.

It could be said that the social status of a top-tier mech specialist was no less than that of a Star Warrior.

But becoming a top-tier specialist was incredibly difficult. It required an immense reserve of specialized knowledge and a powerful ability to combine theory with practice. Xia Mang knew he still had a long way to go.

Time flew by as he read.

The sound of the door opening brought Xia Mang’s study session to an end.

He looked toward the entrance. His mother was home.

“Why aren’t you asleep yet?” Du Dongyan asked as she changed her shoes.

“Just reading,” Xia Mang said, holding up the book in his hand.

“Mech books again?” Du Dongyan frowned, her displeasure evident as she spoke the last two words. “Your Teacher Ye called me today.”

“I know, you already told me this morning,” Xia Mang muttered under his breath.

Du Dongyan tilted her head back, drank a mouthful of water, and said, “Getting impatient after a few words of criticism? You spend all day reading these extracurricular books that do nothing to help your grades. What’s the use? You’d be better off…”

Before she could finish, Xia Mang cut her off decisively, “Mom, my overall grade this time ranked me around the middle of the class.”

“There are so many people behind me. Why is Ye Zhongliang singling me out?”

“I got into the Special Training Class on my own merit, not through some backhanded means. Why is he targeting me at every turn?”

At this point, Xia Mang grew agitated. “Is it just because my gene evolution level can’t keep up with the other students? As a teacher, he can’t even show basic respect!”

Du Dongyan didn’t speak. She waited quietly for her son to vent his emotions before sighing. “Son, your father and I know you’ve been wronged in many ways, but what can we do? We know you want to be a mech specialist, but you’re still a student. Your priority right now is to focus on what you’re learning in class.”

Here, she suddenly sighed again. “In the end, it’s all our fault for not being more capable…”

Xia Mang interrupted her once more. “Mom, this has nothing to do with you.”

His tone was firm and powerful, imbued with an unshakeable conviction. “I was born ordinary, but that doesn’t mean I’ll stay ordinary!”

“Becoming a mech specialist is the path I’ve chosen, and I’m certain it’s the right choice.”

Xia Mang had been holding these words in for a long time. He knew his mother was somewhat averse to the term “mech specialist,” but at this moment, his feelings of grievance and agitation combined, compelling him to speak his mind.

“Alright,” Du Dongyan nodded. “Then Mom won’t say any more. In any case, you still need to get along with your teacher. After all, we’re just common folk.”

Xia Mang said, “I know, Mom. As long as Ye Zhongliang doesn’t deliberately cause trouble for me, I’ll still treat him as my teacher.”

But if he doesn’t, I’ll have no choice but to give him an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.

Naturally, he didn’t say this last part out loud.

…

The night passed without a word. His father, Xia Yuntian, didn’t come home due to being on duty all night. The next day, just as dawn was breaking, Du Dongyan left for work again.

Xia Mang also got up early and began reading his books on mechs.

If he could obtain his Junior Mech Specialist certification in high school, it would surely shock the entire school. Then, Ye Zhongliang would have nothing left to say.

One could pass a day diligently, or one could pass it by sleeping in. Everyone had their own choice in how they spent their lives.

Xia Mang’s choice was to dive into a mountain of books and a sea of words, striving forward for the goal in his heart.

For his well-off classmates, the unexpected holiday might be a chance to let loose, but for him, it was the perfect opportunity for high-intensity cramming.

The day passed in the blink of an eye. For lunch and dinner, he simply had a cup of instant noodles.

Xia Mang rubbed his temples, went over the notes he had taken, and then closed his eyes to recall everything he had learned that day.

Biting off more than one could chew was a fool’s errand, and haste made waste. Review was an indispensable part of learning.

But soon, his eyes shot wide open, filled with utter disbelief.

Xia Mang discovered to his astonishment that every page he had just read was now a crystal-clear image in his mind. Every word, every sentence, was perfectly distinct.

“This—?”

He quickly picked up the book and carefully compared it with the images in his head.

“It’s exactly the same, without a single discrepancy.”

Xia Mang was dumbfounded. He stared blankly for a long time before he finally processed it. After sensing this change, he was excited for only a moment before calming down. He then naturally connected it to that mysterious bottle.

Everything had a cause and effect. His memory had never been this freakishly good before.

There must have been a prerequisite that caused such a change.

Biologically speaking, besides targeted daily training, an enhancement of the human body’s abilities could only be achieved through gene evolution.

But his family’s financial situation couldn’t possibly afford the resources needed for gene evolution, which was why his genetic level lagged behind most of his classmates.

And he hadn’t done any specific memory training either.

Therefore, this sudden, drastic improvement could only be attributed to that mysterious bottle.

It was simply too bizarre. Xia Mang shook his head vigorously. He suddenly felt a strong desire to know the origin of this object he had acquired by chance.

But his family’s means were limited; they had no tools to get online. He couldn’t access the Interstellar Network to look up related information. He would have to wait until the holiday ended and try his luck at the school library.

In any case, a stronger memory wasn’t a bad thing.

Having thought it through, Xia Mang couldn’t be bothered to dwell on it any longer. Since his memory had improved by leaps and bounds, he ought to make good use of it and increase the intensity of his studies.

With that thought, he picked up his book again and began to read tirelessly.

Chapter 4: The Desk-mate’s Request

Life returned to its placid rhythm. The fierce conflict didn’t seem to have had any major impact on the daily lives of Anhuang City’s residents.

Only when passing through the central area of the battle zone could one still see some lingering wreckage. However, thanks to the construction crews working through the night, the buildings and roads had basically been restored…

As for how heated the discussions about the conflict were on the Interstellar Network, that was not Xia Mang’s concern.

The unexpected incident had resulted in a five-day break. During this time, he had been engrossed in his studies, imprinting one mech specialization book after another—bought by scrimping and saving—into his mind with his photographic memory.

For the first time, he found learning to be so easy and enjoyable. At this rate, it was only a matter of time before he could pass the exam to become a Junior Mech Specialist.

The intense and fulfilling pace of his studies even made him somewhat forget the major event that had happened just days before…

School was finally back in session, inside Anhuang No. 1 High School’s Special Training Class.

Ye Zhongliang stood loftily on the podium, his gaze sweeping over the students sitting upright below.

Just then, the sound of hurried footsteps came from outside the door, and a boy in sky-blue designer casual wear appeared at the entrance, panting.

Ye Zhongliang turned his head and nodded at him. “Why are you so late? You need to refocus after the break. There are still seven minutes until class starts. Hurry up and get inside.”

“Got it, you nag,” the boy muttered, jogging to his seat.

Not long after—a minute at most—another set of footsteps sounded. This time, it was Xia Mang.

His attire was a conspicuous mark in the entire Special Training Class.

Every eye in the classroom fell on him in unison.

“Hmph, you think you can just do whatever you want? Look at the time! If you don’t want to be in class, then get out! The Special Training Class has no room for a student like you who has no respect for discipline!”

In stark contrast to a moment ago, Ye Zhongliang’s expression had changed completely. He glowered at the student who wasn’t even late yet and reprimanded him harshly.

Xia Mang was taken aback by the shouting. He hadn’t expected Ye Zhongliang to pick a fight over this. He sneered inwardly, shrugged nonchalantly, and asked in a calm, even voice, “Teacher Ye, there are still five minutes until class starts. I’m not aware of any school rules I’ve broken.”

“You!”

Seeing that the boy wasn’t giving him any face at all, Ye Zhongliang’s anger flared. But the words caught in his throat, as he truly couldn’t find a reason to refute him.

That’s right, Xia Mang wasn’t late, nor had he violated any regulations. On what grounds could he be punished?

Ye Zhongliang took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his emotions, and waved his hand impatiently. “Get in!”

Ignoring the teacher’s obviously explosive tone, Xia Mang walked into the classroom, took out his stationery and other items needed for class, and calmly settled into his seat.

On the podium, Ye Zhongliang’s anger was hard to quell. He had no intention of letting it go and began to ramble on in a snide, passive-aggressive tone. “Some students in our class need to correct their attitude.”

“If your gene evolution level can’t keep up with the rest of the class, you should be more diligent in your studies. Your parents work hard to send you to school, not for you to waste time. If you really can’t keep up, you should transfer to a regular class early on. Don’t drag our class down.”

“The Special Training Class is for the elite, the best students in the entire school. I will not allow a single rat’s dropping to spoil the whole pot of soup!”

Seeing Xia Mang with his head down in silence, he continued aggressively, “When your family’s means are limited, you should recognize the gap. It’s a virtue to know your own limitations.”

The entire class’s gaze locked onto the target of Ye Zhongliang’s thinly veiled remarks.

Xia Mang’s face burned as if on fire, but he still managed to restrain his temper, afraid that if he did something impulsive, his parents would find out. That was his biggest concern.

“Endure…”

Xia Mang kept telling himself.

However, no matter how thick-skinned or tolerant he was, under Ye Zhongliang’s unbridled verbal abuse, he finally snapped, just as he had in the office last time.

Xia Mang slammed his hands on the desk and shot to his feet, staring coldly at the teacher. His teeth were clenched so tightly they audibly ground together, the tendons in his jaw flexing, a clear sign of his inner fury.

Seeing this, the teacher let out a careless “heh” and feigned ignorance. “Xia Mang, what do you think you’re doing? Having a sudden fit? Do you have any respect for classroom discipline?”

“Teacher Ye, you yourself said that everyone here is an elite student with no problems with their intelligence. So, I’m afraid there’s no one here who didn’t understand who you were talking about just now.”

Xia Mang could feel the eyes on him, and an intense sense of humiliation washed over his heart, making his voice tremble slightly as he spoke.

“Heh heh, perhaps you’ve misunderstood? I was just talking to everyone about some recent problems in the class and the attitude a student should have. You’re too sensitive. I wasn’t targeting anyone,” Ye Zhongliang replied with a half-smile.

“Damn it, you old fox.”

Frustrated, Xia Mang cursed inwardly and replied, “Is that so? I hope I was just overthinking it.”

With that, he sat back down. Since Ye Zhongliang had said as much, if he were to press the issue, he would just seem petty. He had to admit, the old man was a good actor with an incredibly thick skin.

“Look, Xia Mang’s behavior just now is enough to prove my point. This small glimpse reveals the whole picture. It shows that the atmosphere in our class is too impetuous, too impulsive. As students of the Special Training Class, you must cultivate self-discipline. If you can’t even do that, what’s the difference between you and those in the regular classes?”

Unfortunately, Xia Mang’s outburst had given Ye Zhongliang an excuse to call him out by name.

But Xia Mang chose to automatically tune him out.

When it came to verbal sparring, his skills were still shallow. Proving himself through action was more convincing than anything else. Having come to this realization, he simply took out his textbook and began to memorize its contents at a rapid pace.

Since heaven had granted him such an extraordinary ability, there was no reason to let it go to waste.

An unknown amount of time passed before Ye Zhongliang finally stopped talking. Xia Mang felt nothing; he was completely immersed in the world of his book.

But just then, a sweet, pleasant voice drifted over from his side. “Xia Mang, can we go to the teacher and switch seats next period?”

The speaker was Yu Wanyin, the Arts Committee Member of the Special Training Class and a widely acknowledged beauty.

However, she found that her desk-mate had absolutely no reaction to her words. She raised her voice slightly and repeated herself, but the result was the same…

What a phony. Putting on airs after being scolded by the teacher. An inexplicable feeling of disgust rose in Yu Wanyin’s heart, and she couldn’t help but push Xia Mang forcefully. “Hey! Did you hear what I said?”

“Huh? What?”

The latter, who had been in a state of deep concentration, was clearly displeased at being disturbed. But when he turned his head and saw his beautiful desk-mate, Xia Mang’s expression softened. He smiled and said, “Is something the matter?”

“Hmph.” Yu Wanyin found his smiling face utterly disgusting. She turned her head away and said in a harsh tone, “I said, let’s go to the teacher next period and change seats. I really find it embarrassing to sit next to you.”

Xia Mang was stunned by her words. “Why?”

Yu Wanyin frowned. “Every time the teacher scolds you, you stand up and talk back. Didn’t your parents ever teach you the meaning of the word ‘politeness’? Do you think that kind of classless behavior is a good way to get attention? You’re not even embarrassed, but sitting next to you, I can’t help but feel ashamed when I feel the whole class’s eyes focused here.”

Her words were merciless. Xia Mang froze for a moment, feeling as though a gash had been cut across his heart. No blood flowed, but the pain was immense.

Chapter 5: New Deskmate

If you had to ask who Xia Mang had the most complicated feelings for in class, it would undoubtedly be his beautiful deskmate.

In truth, he had always harbored feelings for her but had never expressed them.

In his heart, Yu Wanyin was a goddess, someone to be admired from a distance, never to be sullied.

He never imagined that this seemingly perfect girl, who looked as if she floated above the mortal world, would slander him like this at this very moment.

“I…”

For a moment, Xia Mang fell silent.

He didn’t know what to say. For the first time in his life, his mind was filled with such complex emotions that he couldn’t think straight.

As the saying goes, a first love is always beautiful, and you remember the object of that love for the rest of your life. And this girl, Yu Wanyin, had indeed etched herself deep into Xia Mang’s mind—no, his heart—in a very special way.

Although they had never been together, it didn’t change the nature of one-sided affection.

“Okay.”

After a long pause, he nodded bitterly.

Seeing that Xia Mang had agreed, Yu Wanyin turned her head away and said no more, leaving him with his thoughts in a tangled mess…

During the break, in the Special Training Class head teacher’s office.

Ye Zhongliang calmly looked at the two people before him. One was the favored daughter of heaven, surrounded by admirers; the other was the dead weight he considered a thorn in his side.

“Teacher, that’s basically what happened. I feel that sitting with him is seriously affecting my studies.”

Yu Wanyin stated her request with a cold expression.

Ye Zhongliang nodded and turned to Xia Mang, who was looking at the floor, with a mocking gaze. “What do you have to say?”

The latter replied, “I have no objections.”

Ye Zhongliang looked at Yu Wanyin and waved a hand at her. “I understand. You can go back to the classroom first.”

“Okay, Teacher Ye.”

After she left, Ye Zhongliang’s gaze returned to Xia Mang. “Just look at how disliked you are. I really pity you.”

“You affect your classmates’ studies and drag down the class’s average. Tell me, what are you still doing in the Special Training Class?”

Ye Zhongliang nonchalantly took a sip of tea, crossed his legs, and said leisurely, “If I were you, I’d be too ashamed to stay.”

Unexpectedly, before he could finish, Xia Mang, who had been in low spirits, suddenly looked up and threw a sentence at him. “That’s because you’re a coward…”

“You!”

The smile on Ye Zhongliang’s face froze instantly. He nodded repeatedly, seething. “I’ve given you fair warning. If you transfer to the Regular Class now, I can still let bygones be bygones and ask their teacher to look after you.”

“Otherwise, when you can’t keep up and get demoted to the Regular Class automatically… life won’t be so easy for you then.”

Hearing this, Xia Mang said lightly, “Don’t trouble yourself.”

“If there’s nothing else, I need to go back and read.”

“Fine, fine! Xia Mang, since you’re so stubborn, we’ll just have to wait and see,” Ye Zhongliang sneered.

“Sometimes, I really wonder if you’re in the wrong profession. The way you talk, you sound just like a street thug. Teacher Ye, I think all signs point to you having a great chance at success if you were to develop in that direction…”

Ye Zhongliang replied coldly, “Save your clever remarks. For now, I’m going with you to the classroom to get this done. I can’t let you continue to be a negative influence on the top students.”

“Whatever,” Xia Mang shrugged, unconcerned.

And so, the two of them, full of emotion, returned to the classroom. Of course, Ye Zhongliang wasn’t going to pass up a golden opportunity like announcing a seat change. He took the chance to publicly humiliate Xia Mang once more, with remarks like “even your classmates don’t want to sit near you, you should really reflect on yourself.”

However, the latter had long since become immune to such things and simply chose to tune him out completely.

After a while, seeing that no one was talking back, Ye Zhongliang felt bored. He then announced with great interest, “So, does any student in this class want to be Xia Mang’s new deskmate?”

The moment he asked, the classroom, which had been buzzing with quiet discussion, fell deathly silent, as still as stagnant water. He was very pleased with this reaction.

Being so openly ostracized was undoubtedly a devastating blow to a student’s psyche.

As a teacher with over a decade of experience, he understood this better than anyone.

So Ye Zhongliang was thrilled. As long as Xia Mang’s mental defenses crumbled, it was only a matter of time before he quit the Special Training Class. That way, he would have helped both himself and a certain someone achieve their goal.

At this thought, he casually glanced at a handsome boy among the students, dressed in a sky-blue designer tracksuit with an Elvis-style haircut.

This was the same person who had arrived at the classroom at almost the same time as Xia Mang that morning but had not been reprimanded.

His name was Yun Hai. He was a top student in the Special Training Class, third place in Anhuang City’s high school competitive fencing division, and second place in the mech combat tournament. He was a prominent figure throughout the entire grade, a standout among the many elites in the Special Training Class.

Normally, someone like him and Xia Mang would never cross paths. But a month ago, a random seat assignment had made Xia Mang and Yu Wanyin deskmates. Since Yun Hai happened to be one of Yu Wanyin’s most ardent pursuers, he naturally grew jealous and asked Ye Zhongliang to force Xia Mang out of the Special Training Class.

This perfectly suited Ye Zhongliang’s own agenda. It was common knowledge that Xia Mang’s family was not well-off, which meant his resources would never keep up. His life evolution level was destined to fall further and further behind the main group. When he eventually failed in all aspects, the teacher’s own performance bonus would be docked. It was no joke. He had worked hard to become the head teacher of the Special Training Class, and countless eyes were on him. He could not afford any mistakes.

Thus, at Yun Hai’s request, Ye Zhongliang launched his targeted plan. He could both curry favor with the young master of Hengying Group and eliminate a time bomb that threatened his position. Killing two birds with one stone—why wouldn’t he do it?

At that moment, Yun Hai was quite calm. He had never considered Xia Mang a real issue. Getting rid of this poor classmate was so easy it was effortless; he didn’t even have to lift a finger himself. Who told him to be so unlucky as to sit next to Yu Wanyin? Every time he saw those clothes, so faded from washing, sitting shoulder-to-shoulder with the princess of his dreams, he felt disgusted.

“Is no one willing to sit with Xia Mang?”

After a long silence, Ye Zhongliang deliberately raised his voice and asked again, intentionally glancing in a certain direction. But he saw that the person was still looking down at his book, seemingly oblivious to his surroundings.

“Hmph, what an act.”

He snorted coldly and was about to continue his harassment when an untimely voice spoke up.

“Teacher Ye, I’m willing to sit with Xia Mang.”

Swish!

In an instant, everyone froze, then turned their heads in unison. They saw a boy in the corner with a stern face and very thin lips, leaning back in his chair with his hand raised expressionlessly. His posture was rather lazy, and his eyes held a hint of a devil-may-care attitude.

“Long Junxuan!”

Xia Mang’s brow twitched as well. If you had to say who was the one person in class you couldn’t afford to provoke, it wasn’t Yun Hai, nor was it any of the so-called top students. It was this very classmate who was now saving him from his predicament.

It wasn’t just him. Everyone present, including Ye Zhongliang, was dumbfounded. Yun Hai’s face turned grimly cold; he pursed his lips and said nothing, but his slightly trembling shoulders revealed the fury he was suppressing.

“I’ve stated my opinion, Teacher Ye. As you can see, no one else in the class is fighting me for it… right?” Long Junxuan said lazily, his eyes conveying a four-word message: You figure it out.

His current deskmate, Ye Fei, frowned. “Boss, you…”

He didn’t finish his sentence, but his meaning was clear.

Long Junxuan replied softly, his expression unchanging, “No reason. I just can’t stand watching this bunch bully the weak.”

“So I’m sitting next to Yu Wanyin?” Ye Fei asked.

“What? Feeling the pressure? Afraid that guy Yun Hai will come looking for trouble?” A slight, playful smile touched the corner of Long Junxuan’s mouth.

“That’s not it…” Ye Fei chuckled dryly. “I just feel awkward sitting next to a girl.”

“Oh, come on. Stop pretending to be disgusted when you’re clearly over the moon.” Long Junxuan waved a hand. “Don’t worry. As long as I’m here, Yun Hai won’t dare to trouble you.”

Chapter 6: No Quarter

The group was confused, while Ye Zhongliang and Yun Hai were displeased.

In any case, Long Junxuan’s decision had taken many by surprise, but since he had requested it, Ye Zhongliang had no choice but to nod. “Alright then, Long Junxuan. Sit next to Xia Mang, but don’t let him affect your studies. You’re one of our class’s elite students.”

“Don’t worry, Teacher Ye. That’s my business. You seem a bit too concerned.”

As Long Junxuan spoke, he had already switched seats with Yu Wanyin. He sat down next to Xia Mang and listlessly crossed his legs.

“Good. I trust you’ll be responsible.”

Ye Zhongliang nodded at him and picked up his textbook. This happened to be his class, so everyone quickly settled down and quieted themselves for the lesson…

“Thank you,” Xia Mang said, not behaving like the others. He leaned over on his desk and thanked Long Junxuan in a low voice.

The latter glanced over with a playful look. “The homeroom teacher told you not to distract me. If you keep talking to me, I’ll have to report you.”

“Haha, if you were that kind of person, you wouldn’t have helped me,” Xia Mang said with a blink. For the first time, he found this typically cold and aloof rich kid to be quite amusing.

“It was nothing,” Long Junxuan sneered, then waved his hand dismissively. “I just can’t stand seeing them gang up on you. But speaking of which, do you know why Ye Zhongliang is targeting you?”

“I have an idea. It’s because my genetic level can’t keep up, so I might be a threat to Teacher Ye’s interests,” Xia Mang said, voicing his thoughts.

“Affecting his bonus?” Long Junxuan nodded thoughtfully. “That’s one reason, but not the main one. Also, stop with the ‘Teacher Ye’ this, ‘Teacher Ye’ that. I’m sure that’s not what you’re calling him in your head, haha.”

He chuckled lightly. “The most important reason, I’m guessing, is because you were sitting next to Yu Wanyin, which pissed someone off.”

“Who?”

“Haha, who else could it be but Yun Hai.”

“No way. Just for that?”

“Of course. Haven’t you noticed that Ye Zhongliang only started targeting you after you were moved to sit next to Yu Wanyin?”

“So, it’s highly likely that those two reached some sort of understanding.” Long Junxuan snorted coldly. “Heh, in our circle, Yun Hai is known for being petty and playing dirty. He’s been chasing Yu Wanyin for a long time and has long since come to see her as his personal prize. You’d better be careful. I’m sure I pissed Yun Hai off just now. Knowing his personality, he’ll probably come looking for trouble with you sooner or later. Watch yourself after school.”

“I will. Thanks.”

“Don’t be so polite. You need to be more arrogant, like me.”

If I acted like you, I’d get beaten to a pulp, Xia Mang thought, though he naturally didn’t say it out loud.

—

As night fell, the long day of classes came to an end.

The students packed their things, preparing to drag their weary bodies home. Those who were on good terms left in groups of three or five.

In the end, only six people remained in the Special Training Class classroom.

Aside from a solitary Xia Mang, there was Long Junxuan, who was slowly packing his things, and his four close friends waiting for him.

“Remember what I said. On your way home, keep your eyes peeled and your ears open. This is something I can’t really help you with,” the latter reminded him as he finished packing, stood up, and started walking out of the classroom.

“I know. Thanks,” Xia Mang replied with a nod.

“Good luck. Hope to see you tomorrow.” Long Junxuan waved and disappeared through the classroom door with his friends.

Not long after he left, Xia Mang also set out on his way home.

Anhuang City remained bustling at night. Multicolored lights shone brilliantly, illuminating the pitch-black sky. On the streets, some pedestrians strolled leisurely, others were energized and ready for an exciting nightlife, and still others browsed the shops for things they liked.

It was a scene of thriving prosperity.

It seemed the fierce battle from a few days ago hadn’t had much of an effect on the lives of the people on this peaceful planet.

Xia Mang had no time to admire the splendid nightscape around him. He walked briskly toward home, keeping Long Junxuan’s warning firmly in mind. He figured Yun Hai was unlikely to try anything in such a crowded downtown area, but it was always better to be safe than sorry. He focused his attention, his senses fully alert.

Xia Mang’s home was in the single-story housing district on Cuihu Road, on the outskirts of the city. After passing through the bustling downtown, he faced the dimly lit suburban paths.

Although one could still see people from time to time here, it was practically dead compared to the city center.

The chilly atmosphere and the cool breeze on his face made Xia Mang’s nerves stretch to their limit. His pace quickened unconsciously, but not long after, he came to a sudden halt.

“Something’s wrong.”

He snapped his head around, his gaze locking onto a public restroom by the side of the road. He thought he had heard a rustling sound coming from it.

But after staring intently for a good while, he saw nothing out of the ordinary. He shook his head, thinking he was just being overly nervous, and prepared to turn and continue on his way.

At that same moment, a sinister cackle came from behind him. “Not bad, not bad. Quite alert.”

The unfamiliar voice sent a chill through Xia Mang, making the hair on his body stand on end. He spun around quickly, only to see a dozen or so strong young men standing before him, all with vicious smiles plastered on their faces.

“You guys…”

As he’d feared, Long Junxuan’s guess had come true.

“Haha.”

The leader of the group laughed loudly and clapped his hands a few times. A flurry of messy footsteps followed, and by the time Xia Mang came to his senses, he realized he had been completely surrounded by thirty to forty people.

The sight filled him with despair, but his mind became preternaturally calm. “Heh, I didn’t think Yun Hai would think so highly of me, sending nearly a full platoon.”

“Heh? You dare ‘heh’ at me?”

The leader, a young man with an azure dragon tattoo on his arm, wore a fierce expression. He spat on the ground and charged at Xia Mang like a starved wolf, his speed fast and his momentum ferocious.

Xia Mang reacted instantly. Even facing so many, he hadn’t lost the will to fight back. Instead of retreating, he was spurred on by his anger and met the charge head-on. Mid-run, he leaped into the air, his leg shooting out in a flying kick that landed squarely on the thug’s chest. With a sharp crack, the man was sent flying backward like a kite with its string cut, skidding a long way across the ground.

“Ah!”

The man with the azure dragon tattoo shrieked and writhed in agony. His pained expression made his companions flinch. They all stared at Xia Mang with a trace of horror, temporarily forgetting to even check on their injured friend.

But that crisp sound had clearly been a bone breaking. To think this unassuming kid had taken out one of their toughest fighters in a single exchange—he was not to be underestimated.

To be honest, Xia Mang felt no different from them at that moment. After his successful counterattack, he stood frozen in place, staring incredulously at the man with the azure dragon tattoo. He knew very well that with his own strength, it should have been difficult to inflict this level of damage. Yet it had happened right before his eyes. This was no dream.

“What are you… what are you all standing around for? Cripple him for me!” the tattooed man on the ground roared in fury, pointing at Xia Mang as he howled.

His shout snapped the others back to their senses. Their attention refocused on Xia Mang. One by one, they pulled out primitive weapons like steel pipes and machetes from their clothes. A few of them even brandished glowing-hot, high-temperature particle rods as they closed in.

This equipment was more than enough to subdue a trained but unarmed soldier, let alone a mere student.

“So ruthless.”

Xia Mang clenched his fists, grinding his teeth so hard they audibly clicked. A raging fire burned in his eyes. He didn’t know what heinous crime he had possibly committed to make Yun Hai come at him with such a vengeance.

He was caught between enemies, with no way to advance or retreat.

In an instant, he decided how to respond.

Chapter 7: The Origin of the Bottle’s Contents

Where there is oppression, there is resistance. Deep down, Xia Mang had never been one to bow his head and accept his fate…

He quickly ducked to dodge the incoming machete, then surged forward, grabbing another man and forcefully throwing him. The man crashed into three others.

“Damn it, get him together! Take this kid out!”

Seeing things were going badly, the others swarmed in even faster.

At this very moment, Xia Mang was in an unprecedentedly good state. His concentration was razor-sharp, and he keenly perceived the shift in the battle’s rhythm. He snatched a steel pipe from one of the men on the ground and, without looking back, swung it behind him with all his might.

“Aaaargh!”

Accompanied by the crisp crack of breaking bones, agonizing screams echoed through the air.

The knee joints of the four men who had rushed him from behind were brutally shattered. The shocking angles of their twisted limbs created an extremely horrific sight, instantly scaring all the other thugs who were about to attack to a dead stop.

“This…”

Xia Mang gripped the steel pipe, staring blankly at his own arm. He felt an unprecedented strength coursing through his entire body, leaving him momentarily bewildered.

The scene suddenly became awkward.

Both sides, for their own reasons, hesitated to move, resulting in a stalemate.

On the ground, the man with the azure dragon tattoo was also scared witless, repeatedly yelling, “Kill him! Kill him!”

Unfortunately, his words seemed to hold little sway at this moment; no one listened.

After a moment, someone muttered, “This kid’s too weird, too tough. It’s not worth risking our lives for thirty thousand. Let’s go back and tell the Boss to come get even.”

This sentiment won everyone’s support. In an instant, the dozens of men reached a consensus, quickly shouldered their injured companions, and fled in a flash.

A few more minutes passed before Xia Mang snapped out of his tense state.

“What… what in the world happened to me?”

He looked at his hands, which had just displayed such incredible might, and mumbled to himself.

His body had undergone a series of changes recently. Not only had his memory improved drastically, but even his physical strength had become this terrifying.

Escaping unscathed from an attack by dozens of people? That was something he would never have dared to even imagine before.

“It must be because of that bottle! It has to be!”

Xia Mang thought with absolute certainty. Recalling his recent, terrifying photographic memory, he realized, My God, this thing is more incredible than I could have ever imagined.

“I have to figure out where this thing came from, and fast.”

Xia Mang realized the gravity of the situation.

He looked down at his clothes. Since no one had managed to get close to him throughout the fight, they weren’t too messy. He straightened them out a bit and hurried home.

When he got home, he found both his parents there and greeted them with a smile.

“You’re back?” his dad asked with a friendly smile. “How was school today?”

“It was good,” Xia Mang nodded. He certainly wasn’t going to say, I’m miserable at school, and people take turns walking all over me every day.

“That’s good.” Xia Yuntian glanced at his wife. “I heard from your mom that you haven’t been getting along with your teachers lately.”

Xia Mang waved his hand dismissively. “Not at all, it’s all a misunderstanding.”

Before his parents could say anything else, he changed the subject, “Mom, Dad, do you know about what happened on Cuihu Road a few days ago?”

Hearing this, Xia Yuntian nodded. “Of course. Everyone’s been talking about it lately.”

“What happened? Can you tell me about it?” Xia Mang asked quickly.

“Huh? You were the one who called your old man to tell me about it in the first place. How come you’re the one out of the loop now? Haven’t you and your classmates been talking about it?” Xia Yuntian looked at him strangely.

“Dad, I’ve just been busy with my studies. Please, just tell me.”

What Xia Mang said was true, but it wasn’t the whole truth.

The main reasons he was behind on the news were, one, he had been engrossed in books on Mech specialization during the short holiday, and two, he had been clashing with Ye Zhongliang and the others ever since he got back to school, leaving him no time to even think about the bottle’s origin.

But he could only keep these things to himself; he couldn’t be too honest. Xia Mang absolutely did not want his already overworked parents to worry about his school life as well.

Xia Yuntian accepted his son’s reason and began to recount what he knew…

From his father’s account, Xia Mang learned that the two sides in the battle were the Yuelai Group from Tianying Star and Caesar City from Bobang Star.

The names of these two planets weren’t completely unfamiliar. Both Tianying Star and Bobang Star were territories of the Earth Federation. However, unlike Water Source Planet, both of them were Tier-2 planets. They completely outclassed Water Source Planet in every aspect, from their planetary environment and administrative level to their material resources and mineral deposits.

Xia Mang found this perfectly understandable. Such powerful factions could hardly have originated from a mere Tier-3 planet. On top of that, he also learned that after the incident, both major powers had issued a bounty.

The rewards offered were incredibly generous. The Yuelai Group’s reward was permanent residency on a Tier-2 planet and a management position with a million-a-year salary.

As for Caesar City, their reward was permanent residency on a Tier-2 planet, a job with a million-a-year salary, plus a personal smart robot for the family.

The permanent residency on a Tier-2 planet alone was enough to make countless people green with envy.

The ridiculously generous rewards left Xia Mang stunned, and he became intensely curious about the object of the bounty.

He couldn’t help but ask, “Dad, what’s the bounty for?”

Xia Yuntian answered, “It’s just a bottle. It looks all gray and dingy, like a piece of junk. I really don’t know what could be inside it that’s so valuable.”

“A bottle!”

Hearing that word, Xia Mang was almost certain that the precious bottle these two major powers were looking for was the very one he had picked up.

At this thought, he suppressed his surging emotions, quickly closed his eyes, and sent his consciousness into his Identity Chip’s communication module to connect with one of his contacts.

“Hello, young Xia Mang, what can I do for you?”

A hoarse voice sounded in his mind.

The owner of the voice was named Qin Minghua, the school’s librarian. The old man was already in his sixties and had a lifelong love for reading. It was no exaggeration to say he was vastly knowledgeable. Xia Mang often spent his time in the library, and Qin Minghua had taken a liking to this hardworking and studious young man. Over time, the two became well acquainted. So, with no internet access at home, Xia Mang’s first thought was to contact this elder.

“Teacher Qin, I wanted to ask, do you know of anything that can enhance both a person’s memory and their physical strength at the same time?”

“Of course,” Qin Minghua replied without much thought. “But there are too many to list, it’s a long story. How about this, I’ll make a list and send it directly to your mailbox. You can look at it yourself.”

“Great! Thank you, Teacher Qin.”

Chapter 8: The Hall of Honor

Xia Mang opened the file Qin Minghua had sent. Inside was information on many qualifying items, complete with related images. He immediately settled in and began to read carefully:

One, Nine Star Grass: Grows on Sky Blue Planet, a planet belonging to the Yanhuang Administrative Region. Its entire body is warm and translucent. The conditions for its maturation are extremely harsh, making it very rare. It is one of the main ingredients of the Fengmen Potion. It gets its name from Sky Blue Planet’s location within the Nine Star System.

Two, Fengmen Potion: Developed by the Fengmen Workshop located at the Mars Base. Although it possesses the miraculous effect of simultaneously enhancing both the Life Core and the Brain Core, it also has quite a few side effects. However, this does not diminish its immense value.

…

Nineteen: Origin Soul: Also known as Ma’s Crystal. An Origin Soul is a substance created after a powerful, intelligent life form dies. Through biological technology, its gene chain is analyzed, and its entire Life Core and Brain Core are separated and then recombined. It takes two forms: a solid crystal or a gaseous mist. It has the marvelous function of being absorbed and inherited by other life forms. The inheritor will randomly obtain a portion of the Origin Soul’s essence and memories based on their own physical condition and luck.

It is impossible to absorb it completely in one go. The unabsorbed essence and memories of the Origin Soul are stored separately in special areas of the Life Core and Brain Core, which can be converted and activated in the future through special drugs.

Reading this, Xia Mang’s brow twitched. He quickly skipped the rest of the text and scrolled directly to the accompanying picture. His heart pounded violently. This was almost identical to the smoky old man in his memory; the features were a perfect match.

He scrolled back to read the description again.

It went on to say that Origin Souls were extremely precious. Powerful, intelligent life forms were rarely willing to have their Life Cores and Brain Cores disassembled after death, so every single Origin Soul was priceless. Its value could no longer be measured in money alone and could only be exchanged for a massive amount of citizen Honor Points at the Hall of Honor. But even so, the Hall of Honor’s stock was extremely scarce, far from enough to satisfy the huge demand from the upper class.

At this, his eyes nearly popped out of his head.

It was a known fact that since humanity had occupied so many planets and controlled such abundant resources, almost anything in the world could be bought with money.

But there were always some rare treasures that were too scarce and too significant to be measured by currency. They could only be obtained by redeeming an enormous number of Honor Points.

For an ordinary person, managing to get one hundred Honor Points in their lifetime to become a Prospective Honored Citizen was already a blessing from the heavens. Thus, obtaining these items required an incredibly high citizen honor level.

Moreover, people nowadays, including high-level Honored Citizens, valued their Honor Points more than their own lives. They were even willing to spend large sums of money in exchange for small amounts of Honor Points.

As for a treasure that required a massive amount of Honor Points to redeem? It was enough to make most low and mid-tier Honored Citizens sigh in awe, knowing it was beyond their reach.

Only a very few top figures would dare to be so extravagant, and even then, only on rare occasions.

Realization dawned on Xia Mang. No wonder those two behemoth-like factions were willing to offer such a huge price for the bounty.

Now it seemed that the reward was nothing compared to the terrifying value of an Origin Soul!

This thing was so exceedingly rare that most people would never encounter it in their entire lives, so their knowledge of it was also quite limited.

Presumably, those two major powers had counted on this, figuring that Water Source Planet was a low-level planet and its people were short-sighted, so they hoped to take advantage of the situation.

After figuring this out, Xia Mang felt a sense of joy mixed with bewilderment.

His body’s sudden surge in strength and memory could now be explained by the fact that he had absorbed such a powerful item.

But this great opportunity had come so suddenly that his heart pounded wildly, and his breathing grew erratic.

It took a long while for his heartbeat to gradually return to normal.

Then, a new thought appeared in his mind: the ability of an Origin Soul to potentially open a special brain domain.

“A special brain domain…”

Xia Mang closed his laptop, his eyes glinting…

“Son, what are you doing?”

Xia Yuntian leaned over, looking strangely at Xia Mang, who had a mysterious smile plastered on his face.

The latter quickly snapped out of it, coughed, and said, “Nothing, nothing, Dad. I need to go out for a bit.”

“Where are you going so late?” His mom, who was engrossed in the TV, turned her head.

“Ah, something urgent came up. Don’t you two worry.” Xia Mang grinned playfully, sticking his tongue out at his parents before excitedly pulling open the door and leaving.

Xia Yuntian and Du Dongyan looked at each other, speechless. After a moment, the former spoke. “Honestly, where is he going so late at night? So secretive.”

The latter shook her head. “I don’t know. Judging by his expression, it must be something happy.”

“Happy or not, it’s not right. It’s so late, it’s not safe outside. And he has school tomorrow, and his homework isn’t done yet,” Xia Yuntian said with a frown.

“He’s a big boy now, why are you controlling him so much?” Du Dongyan said dismissively.

“But…”

Xia Yuntian was about to say more but was cut off by his wife. “Alright, alright, you didn’t stop him when he was leaving, and now you’re here nagging me? Why don’t you go out and find him?”

“I’ve been working for days on end…”

“Then shut up.”

“But…”

“Shut up!”

“However…”

“Get lost!”

“Fine, I’ll shut up…”

——

The traffic in Anhuang City was still heavy at night. Xia Mang took a public bus to the city center, where a ten-story building shimmering with colorful lights now stood majestically before him.

On its exterior wall, brilliant light components spelled out the words “Water Source Planet, Anhuang City, Hall of Honor Branch Office.” The font was grand and dignified, and one could feel its magnificent and powerful aura from a great distance.

“As expected of the Hall of Honor. Even a city branch office is this impressive.”

Xia Mang marveled to himself.

The Hall of Honor had branches on every planet under the jurisdiction of the Earth Federation.

This organization’s status was exceptionally transcendent, placing it above almost all other administrative departments, though the Hall of Honor generally didn’t bother to meddle in other trivial affairs.

Everything here was exclusively for Honored Citizens, and only Honored Citizens were qualified to set foot inside.

Dozens of neatly dressed, heavily armed guards stood watch at the entrance to the branch office. About a dozen private cars were parked sporadically in the plaza.

In Anhuang City, aside from a few high-end clubs, it was rare to see so many private cars in one place, especially now that it was late and less crowded than during the day. This alone was enough to show the caliber of the clientele the Hall of Honor served.

After hesitating for a moment, Xia Mang walked toward the entrance with an anxious heart. Just as he came within ten meters, he was stopped by a sharp shout. “What are you doing?!”

The two outermost soldiers approached, rifles raised, and looked coldly at the shabbily dressed intruder before them.

“Huh?” Xia Mang was already nervous, and the thunderous shout made his mind go blank. He couldn’t react for a moment.

“Unauthorized personnel are to leave immediately. This is the Hall of Honor, a sacred and inviolable place.”

One of the soldiers spoke sternly. On their shift, they had seen all sorts of people and had a keen eye. The greenhorn in front of them could be intimidated by just the sound of their voice, and his shabby attire made it clear he was a poor student who had never seen the world.

How could such a person be allowed into the sacred building behind them?

“Oh, sorry, sirs. I’m here for a special brain domain examination.”

Ignoring their tone, Xia Mang scratched his head in embarrassment and stated his purpose.

Unexpectedly, upon hearing this, both soldiers showed undisguised contempt.

“You? A special brain domain? You think you can open a special brain domain?”

“Listen, kid, you only get one free chance at the special brain domain test in your entire life. After that, it costs a fortune. I suggest you don’t be so reckless… Don’t waste this rare opportunity just out of curiosity.”

A flame of anger ignited in Xia Mang’s heart. He retorted stiffly, “Is there a rule at the Hall of Honor that forbids people from coming in to use their free test?”

“Well…” The two soldiers glanced at each other.

In fact, every person did have the right to one free special brain domain examination in their lifetime.

This rule was no secret. It was originally established to support talented individuals who had awakened a special brain domain but couldn’t afford the high examination fees for various reasons.

It was said that the rule was created by a high-ranking official in the Hall of Honor who had come from a humble background.

Seeing the two guards were stumped, Xia Mang pressed on, “So there isn’t one? Then why won’t you let me in?”

“A rule… there really isn’t a rule about that.” The shorter soldier paused before squeezing out an excuse, “But there is a rule that those with improper attire are not permitted entry, so…”

“Ha, so you think my attire is improper?” Xia Mang sneered.

“That’s enough. Leave, quickly. We define what’s improper. What we say goes. This isn’t a place you can just come to.”

The taller soldier waved his arm impatiently. When he saw the kid in front of him still hadn’t moved an inch, his brow furrowed, and he threatened harshly, “I’ll count to three. If you’re still within the restricted area, don’t blame us for sounding the alarm and using special measures to deal with you! You’ll be legally punished for trespassing in the Hall of Honor!”

“Hmph! I am a legal citizen of the Yanhuang Administrative Region, protected by law!” Xia Mang’s attitude remained firm.

Thump, thump, thump, thump.

A flurry of dense footsteps rang out as all the guards at the main entrance saw the situation and swarmed over. Sharp gazes and the dark muzzles of guns all focused on the young man in the center.

“Heh, you’re really something. Twenty or thirty men, armed to the teeth, just to deal with a poor student like me.”

Facing so many dark gun barrels, Xia Mang was surprisingly calm. He just felt that reality was far too cruel.

However, just as the two sides were locked in a tense standoff, a tremendous noise suddenly came from the sky above. A deep rumbling grew closer and closer. A massive, glowing metal behemoth emerged from the clouds and began to descend toward the ground.

Chapter 9: The Big Shot

The steel monster was a space battleship. About ten fully-armed escort ships, their signal lights flashing, surrounded it in an immense and visually stunning formation.

On the ground, everyone’s attention was captivated by the sudden development. A man who looked like an officer jogged out from the Hall of Honor and shouted, “Welcome Director-General Qian Kun for his inspection!”

“Director-General! Qian Kun!”

At this, not only were the soldiers on duty stunned, but even Xia Mang’s jaw dropped in disbelief.

Good heavens, my first time ever at the Hall of Honor and I run into Qian Kun?

That name was known by virtually everyone on the entire Water Source Planet—the famous Director-General of the Hall of Honor, who oversaw the management of all the city branches on the planet. In terms of prestige and status, he was second to none on Water Source Planet. Not even the Planetary Lord could compare, making him the undisputed number one figure of authority on the planet.

As he was thinking, a group of men in sharp suits walked briskly out of the Hall of Honor’s entrance. A moment later, several hovercars sped to the scene.

“That license plate… could it be Wang Yiyuan, the director of the Anhuang City branch?”

Xia Mang immediately spotted the license plate of one of the expensive-looking hovercars. The last digit was a “1”—a number unique in the entire city. Rumor had it that the owner of this plate was none other than the director of the Anhuang City Hall of Honor branch.

Such a powerful lineup was a sight to behold. It wasn’t just Xia Mang; the group of guards who had been “impartially enforcing the law” moments before all fell silent, standing respectfully behind the branch office leadership to welcome the space battleship as it slowly descended from the sky…

“Well now, what’s everyone doing here?”

After the space battleship and its escort fleet landed, a long ramp slowly lowered. A ruddy-faced man in his sixties walked toward the crowd with a smile.

Seeing him, Qian Kun, who stood in the center of the Anhuang City branch leadership, hurried forward to greet him. “Director-General, we just received the news of your inspection. The notice was too short, so please forgive our inadequate arrangements.”

“Haha, I came precisely because I didn’t want you to know. See? Why are you all here welcoming me? It’s holding up your normal work.” Wang Yiyuan waved his hand, not minding in the slightest. “Everyone, disperse. Except for Little Qian, the rest of you can get back to what you were doing.”

“This…” Qian Kun looked troubled.

“What? Are you afraid an old man like me will trip and fall?” Wang Yiyuan teased him.

Qian Kun chuckled, then waved his hand and announced to the assembled group, “Those on the night shift, return to your duties. Those whose shifts are over, you are dismissed. Department heads, please ensure office order is maintained.”

At his command, the group of leaders, though quite reluctant, could only turn and leave with regret.

It was rare to see such a big shot in person. Having had the honor of seeing him today, they had all hoped to seize the opportunity to make an impression and broaden their horizons, but he hadn’t given them the chance.

“I said, get going.”

At the same time, the guard next to Xia Mang gave him a look, whispering urgently. But Xia Mang didn’t budge.

“He’s a big shot! If you make him unhappy, it’ll be a disaster for your entire family!”

Seeing the poor kid pretending not to hear, the soldier continued his threats.

“Hmph. I am a citizen of Water Source Planet. I abide by the law and have never broken any rules. I should be entitled to the treatment I deserve. Why won’t you let me in?”

Xia Mang frowned and looked at the group of soldiers. He made no effort to lower his voice; in fact, he raised it deliberately.

“Oh? What’s this?”

As expected, the sudden commotion immediately caught Wang Yiyuan’s attention.

He walked over curiously, his gaze falling on the young man surrounded by soldiers. He asked kindly, “What’s going on here?”

Xia Mang’s muscles tensed instantly. Although the old man before him was smiling warmly, his eyes seemed to possess a magical power that could pierce right through him. Just being looked at made him break out in a cold sweat, and he didn’t dare to meet his gaze.

“Why are you all surrounding a young man? This child doesn’t look like a bad person.”

Wang Yiyuan waved his hand, seeming to have guessed the situation. He dismissed the guards and turned to Xia Mang. “Child, what are you here for?”

Hearing his words, Xia Mang finally composed himself. Forcing down the terror in his heart, he looked up at the old man who held the highest seat of power on the entire planet and said in as calm a voice as he could manage, “Grandpa, I’m here for a Special Brain Domain test, but they won’t let me in.”

Wang Yiyuan’s eyebrows raised slightly. “Oh? Is that so? Headquarters has clear regulations that every legal citizen of the Star Nation has the opportunity for one free Special Brain Domain test. Is this your first time?”

“Grandpa, I wouldn’t dare to come a second time,” Xia Mang said with a wry smile.

“Haha.” Wang Yiyuan laughed. “That’s true.”

He then looked at Qian Kun, who had been silent by his side. “The young ones these days are sharp as a tack, more familiar with the rules than us old-timers. How about this? Since I happened to be here, I’ll make a decision. Arrange for someone to take this young man in for the test. Even if it’s not his first time, put the fee on my tab.”

Qian Kun quickly waved his hands. “How could I do that, Director-General? I’ll arrange it right away.”

With that, he immediately beckoned to a soldier. “You, come and take this little brother inside to handle the procedures.”

“Yes, sir!”

The chosen soldier was the short, stocky man who had mocked Xia Mang the most. Though he felt awkward, he couldn’t disobey a direct order. He walked over to the person he had just been ridiculing and put on a smile. “Little brother, this way, please.”

“Thank you, Grandpa.”

Xia Mang ignored the soldier and instead bowed happily to Wang Yiyuan.

The old man laughed heartily. “No need, no need, it’s nothing. Go on and give it a try. I wish you the best of luck.”

“Then I’ll be on my way, Grandpa.” Xia Mang thanked him again and followed the short soldier into the Hall of Honor.

Back where they were, Qian Kun said with a smile, “It was thanks to the Director-General’s magnanimity that he was allowed in.”

Wang Yiyuan gave him a meaningful smile. “I wouldn’t say magnanimous. An old man like me isn’t that noble. It’s just that this world is far too colorful; everything has its own shade, including the rules… Wouldn’t you agree?”

Qian Kun gave a dry laugh and nodded repeatedly.

—

Stepping through the magnificent gates of the Hall of Honor, Xia Mang did not find the splendid opulence he expected. Instead, the decor was simple, elegant, and understated.

However, Xia Mang could see that behind this simplicity lay something different. For instance, the light blue wallpaper was clearly an expensive, high-tech, temperature-regulating material. The gemstone-like transparent floor tiles were also a natural, temperature-regulating mineral. This ensured the interior was warm in the winter and cool in the summer, always maintaining the most comfortable temperature.

This alone was enough; this small glimpse reveals the whole picture.

“Please follow me.”

With Wang Yiyuan’s order, the short soldier was no longer as aggressive. He simply led the way, his tone now polite.

Xia Mang just nodded, not bothering to speak, his eyes curiously taking in everything around him.

Different office areas were scattered methodically across the ground floor lobby, the layout neat and orderly, very much in the style of a Virgo designer.

The soldier led him to one of the areas where over ten desks were arranged in a fan shape. Staff members were busy processing their respective tasks.

“This is where you handle the paperwork,” the soldier said.

“Alright.”

Xia Mang scanned the area and targeted a middle-aged woman who looked the kindest from the side. He walked straight up to her with a smile. “Hello, I’d like to complete the procedure for a Special Brain Domain test.”

The middle-aged woman looked up at him and nodded. “Scan your Identity Chip.”

She took out a pistol-shaped scanner. Xia Mang cooperated, leaning in. With a crisp beep, a detailed personal information sheet slid out of the printer.

The woman stamped it with an official seal and handed it to Xia Mang. “Take this to the fourth floor.”

“Okay, thank you.”

With the paperwork done, the short soldier continued to carry out the task his superior had given him, leading the shabbily dressed young master upstairs.

Outside the brain domain testing area, about thirty people were already waiting in line. Xia Mang quietly joined the back of the queue. Just then, the soldier turned back to him and said, “You’re taking the Special Brain Domain test, which uses different equipment from them. You can go straight in to complete the procedure. No one is using the equipment in the special zone right now.”

“Oh, okay.”

Xia Mang was happy to save the waiting time and strode into the office under everyone’s watchful eyes.

He was unaware that after hearing what the soldier said, the strangers waiting in line for the regular brain domain test had burst into a heated discussion.

“Special Brain Domain? That kid doesn’t look like a rich guy.”

“What if it’s his first time getting tested?”

“Haha, another one here to waste his chance. I was ignorant back then and foolishly wasted my free attempt. Now I suspect I’ve awakened a Special Brain Domain but can’t afford the testing fee.”

“Tch.” This comment drew a wave of scornful noises.

“Keep bragging. You, awaken a Special Brain Domain? Haha.”

“I just suspect it, is that a problem…” the man retorted, his face flushing red.

“In that case, we all have our suspicions, hahaha.” The crowd roared with laughter.

Xia Mang, of course, was oblivious to what was happening outside. After completing the relevant procedures in the office, he was led directly through a door inside the room, upon which hung a nameplate that read: “Special Zone.”

The short soldier watched his back with a placid expression, showing no emotion, but his heart was filled with scorn. In his eyes, this poor student was just like the countless cautionary tales before him—merely going through the motions…

Chapter 10: The Awakened

In the conference room of the Hall of Honor’s Anhuang branch.

Many high-ranking officials were gathered. Wang Yiyuan took the main seat. “I’ve come this time mainly to understand what happened a few days ago.”

“As you all know, Yuelai Group and Caesar City are both powers from Tier-2 Planets. Our Water Source Planet has had the misfortune of being caught up in this, so we certainly can’t handle it casually. Recently, Director-General Zhang from Jiuyuan Star has been paying close attention to this matter.”

After he spoke, the expressions on everyone’s faces changed.

According to the administrative system of the Earth Federation, Earth, the mother planet, governed all the planets within human territory. Subordinate planets were then managed by higher-tiered planets based on their rank and designated jurisdictions.

As a Tier-3 habitable planet, Water Source Planet fell under the jurisdiction of the Tier-2 Planet, Jiuyuan Star.

For the head of the Hall of Honor on their directly superior planet to take notice of this matter meant that the implications were indeed significant. The pressure cast a shadow of worry over everyone present.

“There’s no need to be so tense,” Wang Yiyuan said, trying to reassure them when he saw their faces. “Director-General Zhang has only instructed us to have the relevant departments properly handle the detained individuals from both sides of the conflict and manage the aftermath for the affected public. So, don’t feel too pressured.”

The room was silent for a long while before a leader finally spoke up. “In my opinion, let’s just pass this hot potato back to the Tier-2 Planets. We can do a prisoner handover.”

“That could work.” “I second that.” “I agree as well.”

The proposal immediately gained the support of the majority.

They knew perfectly well that the most difficult part of this affair was dealing with the detained individuals. Being too lenient would be hard to justify to the public, yet being too strict would incur the dissatisfaction of the Hall of Honor on the two Tier-2 planets, Tianying Star and Bobang Star.

Of course, powerful as Caesar City and Yuelai Group were, they would never dare to challenge the Hall of Honor. Even if the Water Source Planet’s Hall of Honor was of a low tier, it was still an official branch of the Earth Hall of Honor headquarters. The nameplate on its door was a symbol of the highest authority, and no one was permitted to profane it.

However, the crux of the matter was that both of these factions likely had people holding important positions within the Tier-2 Planet’s Hall of Honor. If they were to let their personal feelings influence their actions… it would be all too easy for them to pressure a lower-tier Hall of Honor in the name of a higher-tier one.

“Little Qian, what about you?”

Wang Yiyuan listened to his subordinates’ opinions with a blank expression before turning to Qian Kun, who had remained silent the entire time.

The latter was taken aback. “Director-General, I’m conflicted.”

“How so?”

“From a legal standpoint in the Star Nation, a case should be handled by the judicial department of the place where it occurred. This law was enacted to prevent geographical favoritism, ensure the fairness, impartiality, and supreme authority of the law, and stop people from abusing their connections and authority to find loopholes and evade justice.”

“But speaking realistically, we are a Tier-3 planet… so…” Qian Kun glanced at the others and shrugged. “Everyone understands the situation.”

Hearing his words, Wang Yiyuan nodded. “Your concerns are not without reason. However, I don’t think we need to worry too much about third-party factors from the Tier-2 planets. We will act strictly according to the law. If anyone attempts to use improper means to interfere with our star’s normal exercise of judicial power, I will immediately report it to headquarters for handling. There will be no tolerance.”

“But…”

His words made everyone hesitate. Wang Yongkang, the Deputy Director of the Anhuang branch, expressed his concern, “But Director-General, if we do that, we’ll offend the Tier-2 Planet’s Hall of Honor.”

Wang Yiyuan huffed. “I’ll take full responsibility, no matter how serious it gets. Any more questions?”

“Uh… no.” Although Wang Yongkang said this, he thought to himself, Easy for you to say. When the blame comes down, we’ll be implicated too.

Wang Yiyuan nodded. “I hear there were some special individuals involved in the conflict who are difficult to handle?”

Qian Kun replied, “That’s true. As the Director-General said, everything must be done by the book. However, there were indeed a few special individuals involved in the conflict who are difficult to deal with. Among them are the Vice Presidents of Caesar City and Yuelai Group, and also… officials from the Hall of Honor on Tianying Star and Bobang Star…”

“Mm, I understand,” Wang Yiyuan said grimly. “Later, have all these people escorted onto my warship. I will handle them personally.”

“Understood.” Though reluctant, Qian Kun had no choice but to agree, as the order had come from his direct superior.

Wang Yiyuan took a sip of tea. “Alright, one last question. Have you investigated the object that both factions were offering a reward for?”

Qian Kun replied, “We sent people to look into it, but we were unable to determine what it is. I’ve heard that Caesar City and Yuelai Group are trying to pull strings to use Time-Reversal Technology.”

“Time-Reversal… It must be of immense value…”

Wang Yiyuan fell into deep thought. But just then, there was a knock on the conference room door. After permission was granted, a beautiful woman in uniform walked in from outside, respectfully leaned in, and whispered something into Qian Kun’s ear.

He immediately slammed his hand on the table and shot to his feet, exclaiming in shock, “What?”

His intense reaction shattered the quiet atmosphere of the room. All eyes were drawn to him. Wang Yiyuan, too, snapped out of his thoughts and asked, “What’s wrong?”

Qian Kun steadied his breathing and said, trying to remain as calm as possible, “It’s the Special Brain Domain. Someone has awakened a Special Brain Domain…”

His words sent shockwaves through the room. All the officials, who had seen their fair share of major events, stared with their mouths agape, their breathing growing rapid.

It was common knowledge that the human brain was divided into conventional regions like the frontal lobe, parietal lobe, temporal lobe, insular lobe, occipital lobe, and limbic system, which governed standard cognitive functions such as memory and imagination.

However, with the rapid technological advancements of the Galactic Era, many special parts of the brain, distinct from the conventional regions, had been discovered. These parts harbored all sorts of incredible, extraordinary abilities, such as controlling bio-currents and releasing psionic fields.

As humanity acquired more and more resources from alien planets, the human genome itself was evolving at an unprecedented rate. Among the population, a small number of lucky individuals had managed to unlock a Special Brain Domain, gaining enviable superpowers.

But even with the evolution of the species up to the present day, across the vast human population of trillions on countless habitable planets throughout Earth’s territory, those who awakened a Special Brain Domain were still exceedingly rare.

Therefore, every Awakened was considered a favored child of heaven. The appearance of one would trigger a mad scramble among various powers. Such a genius was worth investing all their resources to cultivate.

“I never thought an Awakened would appear on our Water Source Planet. Let’s go, everyone, let’s go take a look.”

Wang Yiyuan laughed heartily as he stood up and walked toward the door. For some reason, an image of a person appeared in his mind, but he quickly dismissed the thought as unbelievable.

Chapter 11: Attention from the Top

Fourth floor, Brain Domain Testing Area.

Even though it was late and the queue had dwindled, the area was exceptionally lively.

The reason was simple: they had all seen on the massive display screen in the hall that someone had awakened a Special Brain Domain.

The scrolling data stream refreshed quickly, but for this crowd of people who were constantly watching others’ test results, the awakening of a Special Brain Domain was impossible to miss with their sharp eyes.

This explosive news made it impossible for them to suppress their shock, and they began discussing it animatedly.

“You didn’t see it wrong, did you?”

“Hah, I wasn’t the only one who saw it. Ask them—they’re all witnesses.”

“This is too exciting! Could it be that shabbily dressed kid who just went in?”

“Who else could it be? Have you seen anyone else go into the Special Zone tonight?”

“Holy crap, this is definitely big news that’ll shock the entire Water Source Planet! No, it might shock the whole Jiuyuan Star region.”

“Ridiculous. Do you think we’ll be able to leave normally? The identity of one of The Awakened is a critical matter and must be kept absolutely secret to prevent targeted assassinations by extraterrestrial races. Since we’ve witnessed such a huge event, the Hall of Honor will definitely make all witnesses sign non-disclosure agreements.”

“No way, that’s too… a violation of human rights…”

“Come on, being able to witness the appearance of one of The Awakened in our lifetime is already incredible luck. Just keep it to yourself.”

“I can’t believe I’d encounter something like this today. Could it be a sign of good luck? I suddenly have more confidence in my own brain domain test later.”

“Now that you mention it, I feel more confident too!”

As the group chatted animatedly, their faces brimming with excitement, Wang Yiyuan and his entourage arrived at their destination.

Hearing the sudden sound of numerous footsteps, the waiting crowd turned around in unison. Then, they all froze as if petrified.

By the time they came to their senses, they realized with regret that the group of VIPs had already disappeared through an office door, which was now closed.

“What the hell did I just see!” someone roared as if they had gone mad.

“What the hell did I just miss!” someone else screamed a matching line.

“Qian Kun! Wang Yiyuan! Holy hell, those are big shots you only see in the media! I just missed them! I didn’t even get to ask for an autograph! Aaaah!”

The waiting crowd was a mess of tears, wailing and beating their chests in despair.

“A bunch of idiots. They went in through here, and there’s no back door. It’s not too late to get their autographs when they come out later.”

Finally, a sensible person who wasn’t swayed by the surrounding emotions managed to keep a clear head.

“Right, right, right! They’ll come out again! There’s still a chance, still a chance!”

———

Inside the office, Wang Yiyuan heard the commotion outside and shook his head with a chuckle. Looking at the respectful and nervous staff member standing before him, he gently gestured with his hand, signaling for them to relax.

However, the staffer still didn’t dare to breathe, looking at the important figure before them with trepidation.

“Let me see the Awakened’s personal information,” Wang Yiyuan said with a calm, gentle smile.

The staff member in charge of the brain domain test procedures immediately printed out a form and handed it over.

Wang Yiyuan took it and read it carefully for a moment, then burst into hearty laughter. He passed it to Qian Kun beside him and said with a chuckle, “Little Qian, take a look at this document and tell me what you think.”

The latter took it with some confusion and scanned it from top to bottom. His jaw dropped. “Director-General, this… is this that student kid from outside?”

“Who else?” Wang Yiyuan winked and teased, “Such a genius was nearly turned away by your soldier.”

“I… hehe… hehe.” Qian Kun was at a loss for words and could only chuckle awkwardly.

In a corner, the short soldier wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, trying his best not to make a sound. He even subconsciously controlled his breathing. He knew he had truly misjudged this time.

He wondered if he would be disciplined afterward. The value of someone who had awakened a Special Brain Domain was immeasurable.

“How many special abilities has the test detected so far?” Wang Yiyuan didn’t dwell on the matter and turned to ask the office staffer.

The staffer thought for a moment, then pulled up the computer data and looked at it for a while before answering cautiously, “Reporting to the Director-General, because the data stream is scrolling too fast and hasn’t settled yet, I can’t be certain.”

“Alright, then we’ll wait here for a bit. Let’s see what kind of prodigy our Water Source Planet has produced this time when the kid comes out.”

Full of interest, Wang Yiyuan pulled over a stool, sat down, and began to rest with his eyes closed.

Seeing him do this, the other leaders also found places to sit and wait. It couldn’t be helped; they all wanted to see the test results too…

Time passed, second by second. The closed door to the Special Zone was finally pushed open. Xia Mang walked out, feeling a bit groggy. He rubbed his temples and shuffled forward with his eyes closed.

But the moment he opened his eyes, he was stunned by the scene before him.

“Old sir, Chief Qian, you… you…”

The first thought that popped into his head was that he must be dreaming. It was late, his usual bedtime, so having a fantasy wasn’t strange.

So, he pinched his face hard.

“Ow.”

The sharp pain told him that this group of big shots staring eagerly at him were real, living people, not illusory images constructed by his brain.

“Haha, son, do you have any idea how remarkable you are?”

Wang Yiyuan walked up to Xia Mang with a smile, looking kindly at the clueless young man who clearly hadn’t grasped the situation. “I can tell you this first: you’ve been found to have awakened a Special Brain Domain…”

“Huh?” Xia Mang pointed at himself in astonishment. “Me? A Special Brain Domain?”

He suddenly recalled his surroundings. Hell, wasn’t this why he came to the Hall of Honor in the first place?

Xia Mang was now fully awake, but upon hearing this explosive news, it still felt dreamlike and unreal.

The thing he had dreamed of countless times… had it come true so easily? Was this really a dream or not?

He quickly pinched himself again, this time extra hard, afraid it was a dream within a real dream.

However, an exceptionally intense pain shot to his brain, stimulating his mind and making him even more clear-headed.

“This is all real. It’s not a dream,” Xia Mang muttered to himself.

“Hahaha.”

All the leaders started laughing, perhaps touched by the boy’s innocence, or perhaps amused by his comical actions.

But all in all, their laughter was mostly filled with goodwill, without a hint of mockery or ridicule.

“Is the report out?”

“Oh, yes, it’s out.”

Wang Yiyuan took the printed report from the staff member and began to read it seriously. The further down he read, the more pronounced the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes became. Why? Because he was getting happier and happier.

But gradually, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes smoothed out. His eyes widened, and an undisguised look of astonishment emerged.

His expression made the other leaders look at each other, their hearts itching with unbearable curiosity…

Chapter 12: Strictly Confidential

Wang Yiyuan put away the examination report. His gaze swept over the expectant crowd as he calmly summoned his assistant. He leaned in and whispered a few words. The assistant nodded repeatedly, then turned and left through the door.

“Please, everyone, be patient and have a seat. Student Xia Mang, you wait here as well.”

He finished speaking and sat back down in his chair, leisurely crossing his legs. He appeared to have already regained his composure.

A group of leaders exchanged glances, none of them knowing what trick the Boss of Water Source Planet had up his sleeve.

A moment later, the sound of dense, rustling footsteps came from the hallway outside. A few leaders frowned, but Wang Yiyuan waved his hand dismissively. “Those are the guards I called up. Don’t be alarmed. There’s an urgent matter that needs to be handled.”

As he spoke, the assistant who had just left hurried back in, now holding a thick stack of papers.

“Director-General, everything is here.”

“Very good.” Wang Yiyuan nodded. “Distribute these to everyone present. Have them sign.”

At the same time, ten fully-armed soldiers carrying live ammunition walked in. They exuded a chilling killing intent, their gazes like cold daggers, daring anyone to meet their eyes.

The scene even stunned Qian Kun. But he quickly composed himself and couldn’t help but ask, “Old Wang, what is the meaning of this?”

“Exactly. The matter is of grave importance. I must ask you all to seriously sign this confidentiality agreement. Afterward, you will also need to cooperate with our work and have a confidentiality mechanism implanted into your Identity Chips.”

Wang Yiyuan signed his own copy with a few quick strokes as he spoke, then handed it to his assistant.

Seeing him lead by example, the others realized the gravity of the situation and crisply signed their names.

“Very good. Have the people outside signed theirs?”

Wang Yiyuan nodded in satisfaction, then glanced toward the door.

The assistant beside him replied respectfully, “Director-General, everyone, including the soldiers and myself, has signed.”

“Let me see.”

“Of course. Please have a look.”

A moment later, Wang Yiyuan finished flipping through all the confidentiality agreements in his hand. He quickly collected them and passed them to his assistant, then looked around and announced, “Now, I’ll ask all my colleagues to cooperate with the implantation of the confidentiality mechanism into your Identity Chips.”

“Little Li, go call everyone outside in. I will supervise this personally.”

“Understood.”

And so, under the watchful gaze of the powerful old man, the entire group received the confidentiality mechanism implanted by professionals. In the end, even Wang Yiyuan himself requested the same treatment as everyone else.

Implanting such mechanisms into Identity Chips was a vital guarantee for upholding the spirit of contracts in modern human society.

The mechanisms were diverse, each with a different purpose. A confidentiality mechanism, for instance, involved inputting a corresponding code into the Identity Chip’s quasi-biological system. This string of code would automatically generate a special frequency to monitor the user’s brainwave information. If it detected that the user had any intention of leaking a secret, it would stimulate the Identity Chip to issue a warning. If the warning was ignored and the secret was revealed, the confidentiality mechanism would be triggered, punishing the leaker according to a preset penalty.

For instance, the penalty this time was set to release a strong interfering bio-current that would disrupt brainwaves. Simply put, it would turn the person into an imbecile.

Only after ensuring everything was foolproof did Wang Yiyuan wave his hand. “Alright, that’s all. Everyone may leave.”

His assistant then escorted all无关紧要的 personnel out of the office. With that, the only people left in the room aside from Wang Yiyuan and Xia Mang were Qian Kun and the absolute top brass of the Anhuang City branch.

“Although the confidentiality mechanism has been implanted, secrets are hard to keep with so many people. This matter is of grave importance. Everyone here is a veteran member of our Water Source Planet’s Hall of Honor and possesses impeccable integrity. Therefore, I will now announce something regarding Student Xia Mang’s examination results…” Wang Yiyuan said solemnly. “Xia Mang has awakened a total of three Special Brain Domains. The corresponding abilities are absolute memory, lightning attraction and control, and absolute coordination.”

As soon as he spoke, the atmosphere in the room erupted.

The high-level officials, who usually maintained a dignified composure, started discussing excitedly. “Three abilities?! My heavens, Water Source Planet has produced an extraordinary genius this time.”

“I’ve lived for most of my life, and the only time I was lucky enough to see one of The Awakened was back when I was studying on a Tier-2 Planet. To this day, the memory is unforgettable.”

“Haha, incredible, incredible! I’m afraid that once young Student Xia Mang’s file is entered into the Special Talent Database, he’ll become a hot commodity for every major power.”

“Old Yang, are you getting senile? We just had the confidentiality mechanism implanted. Even if young Student Xia Mang is entered into the Special Talent Database, his key information won’t be recorded. The Director-General would never allow that.”

Listening to their discussion, Wang Yiyuan nodded with a smile. “That’s right. The reason I had you all subjected to the confidentiality mechanism is that an Awakened with three abilities is far too significant. He must be protected with the utmost secrecy. Therefore, regarding Student Xia Mang’s status, I personally intend to apply to my superiors to admit him into the special roster of our Hall of Honor through an exceptional procedure.”

“What?!”

Everyone gasped in unison.

Even the taciturn Qian Kun couldn’t help but speak up. “Director-General, doesn’t that go against the rules? I just looked at Student Xia’s file, and he doesn’t meet the standards for a Prospective Honored Citizen…”

Wang Yiyuan cut him off. “That’s why it’s an exceptional admission.”

Qian Kun’s eyes widened. “You mean… invoking the special talent policy?”

“Correct,” Wang Yiyuan replied with a serious nod.

“But that has to be reported up through every level for approval from a Tier-1 Planet.” Qian Kun couldn’t help but frown. “An Awakened with three talents is indeed rare, but aren’t we going to great lengths by doing this?”

Wang Yiyuan waved his hand and laughed heartily. “Haha, Little Qian, you’re overthinking it. You’ve been stationed in Anhuang City for a long time, so you don’t fully appreciate the significance of The Awakened. I can guarantee that with the talent and potential Student Xia Mang has shown, there’s an eighty percent chance it will be approved by the Special Talent Recruitment Office.”

As the person in question, Xia Mang watched this group of leaders debate heatedly, completely bewildered. He still didn’t understand the specifics of the situation.

But he had understood one thing: his examination results.

Opening up three Special Brain Domains far exceeded his expectations. Although he didn’t know how that ranked among all of The Awakened, Xia Mang was certain that his life had now embarked on a new, wide-open road to a bright future.

And judging by the conversation between these important figures, his results seemed more than just “okay.”

They were even going to use some special talent policy to get him into the Hall of Honor?

But it was probably an unofficial position on the external roster, he guessed. After all, members of the Hall of Honor were all genuine Honored Citizens, and he was still a million miles away from that level.

Still, being able to join the Hall of Honor’s external roster was more than enough to satisfy him. At this thought, Xia Mang’s mood soared, and a slight smile involuntarily touched his lips.

At this moment, Wang Yiyuan’s attention returned to the main subject. He looked gently at the green young man before him and smiled. “Student Xia Mang, congratulations. Your results are excellent.”

“Thank you, honored elder, for giving me this opportunity to be tested.” Xia Mang bowed sincerely.

His words made the facial muscles of Qian Kun and a few other leaders stiffen. When they’d first seen the situation, they hadn’t taken it seriously. If the Boss of Water Source Planet hadn’t intervened, a stunningly brilliant Awakened would have been turned away at the door by soldiers.

Water Source Planet was just a Tier-3 Planet, poor in resources and scarce in talent. To have missed out on a talent who had opened up Special Brain Domains would have been a massive loss.

Thinking of this, they all secretly decided to handle the matter with strictness afterward.

As for the soldier who had guided Xia Mang earlier, he had long since been dismissed by Wang Yiyuan’s assistant. His rank was not high enough to remain here.

“Haha, I was just following the rules. This was mainly your own effort.” Wang Yiyuan patted the young man’s shoulder happily. “Because you’ve awakened three special abilities, we are preparing to apply to our superiors to admit you into our Hall of Honor’s talent team under the special talent recruitment policy. I’ve just reviewed your personal file; your background is clean and meets the policy’s requirements.”

At this point, he looked at Xia Mang seriously. “So, I would like to ask your opinion. Are you willing to join the Hall of Honor and become a member of our internal talent team?”

“I am, I am! I’m more than willing!”

Upon hearing this, he didn’t even have to think, nodding in hasty agreement.

“That’s wonderful.” Wang Yiyuan clapped his hands. “I will submit this matter to my superiors right now. Your potential rating and training plan will likely be ready in a few days. During this time, please wait patiently at home. We will contact you through your Identity Chip.”

“Okay, okay, no problem.”

Xia Mang’s mood was as bright as spring blossoms. He had daydreamed about his future before coming here, but he never expected the reality to far surpass his imagination. Life was indeed full of variables; you never knew what the next moment would bring.

“Alright. Although you are the subject of this matter, for security and your own privacy, you will still need to sign a confidentiality agreement. A corresponding confidentiality mechanism also needs to be implanted into your Identity Chip system.”

Wang Yiyuan beckoned over a professional. While the technician was processing Xia Mang’s Identity Chip, he continued, “Until you reach a certain level, you are not to disclose the fact that you have joined the Hall of Honor to anyone, including your parents.”

“Your public identity will remain that of an ordinary student. Do you understand?”

“Understood.”

With the professional’s assistance, Xia Mang quickly completed all the procedures.

“Very good. It’s getting late. Little Tian, drive our young student home.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Thank you, honored elder, but I can get back on my own,” Xia Mang said, waving his hands in refusal.

“Haha, special talents naturally receive special treatment. Go ahead, Little Tian,” Wang Yiyuan said, tipping his chin at his young assistant.

The assistant understood, walked up to Xia Mang, and made a slight bow with an outstretched hand. “This way, please.”

“Well then, thank you, honored elder.” Seeing that he couldn’t refuse, Xia Mang accepted gracefully. He offered his thanks cheerfully and then left the place where miracles were made.

Not long after he left, Wang Yiyuan’s smile vanished. He turned to Qian Kun with a solemn expression. “Prepare an application report at once, add security measures, and send it to me. Set the encryption level so that it’s only accessible to the director of the Tier-1 Planet’s Special Talent Recruitment Office. Anyone who handles it in transit must agree to activate the confidentiality mechanism to view it. There can be absolutely no mistakes with this matter!”

“Understood.”

Qian Kun agreed. By now, he understood Xia Mang’s importance from Wang Yiyuan’s demeanor.

Adding a confidentiality mechanism to the file meant that anyone who opened it had to agree to keep its contents absolutely secret. The moment they opened the file to view it, the corresponding mechanism would be implanted in their Identity Chip, making any leak impossible.

Chapter 13: The Astonished Long Junxuan

The commoner’s district of Cuihu Road, Anhuang City.

A hovercar with a bright blue coating sped over, accompanied by the sound of it slicing through the air at high speed.

In the large courtyard, a middle-aged woman knitting a worn-out sweater was startled by the sudden spectacle before her and quickly stood up.

“Good heavens, where did this big shot come from? That’s a private car, isn’t it?”

In her amazement, she stared intently at the stopped vehicle.

However, the person who got out of the car next almost made her eyes pop out of her head.

“Is… isn’t that the Xia family’s kid? Did I get cataracts or something? Am I seeing things?”

She muttered to herself, rubbing her eyes. She widened them again, but it proved to be no illusion…

“Brother Tian, thank you.”

Xia Mang got out and waved politely to Wang Yiyuan’s assistant, who was still in the car. The assistant nodded with a smile. “Xia Mang, this is my contact information. If you have any trouble in the future, feel free to contact me.”

Although Tian Feiying was young, he had met countless people while working for Wang Yiyuan, so he naturally understood the value this currently-shabby high school student possessed.

Furthermore, after talking with him during the ride, he had taken a liking to this straightforward and honest young man. He took the initiative to hand over a personal business card, expressing his desire to be friends. The card had his Identity Chip ID, which Xia Mang could use to add him to his contacts.

“Okay, thank you, Brother Tian.” Xia Mang accepted the card with a grin and carefully tucked it into his pocket.

Tian Feiying waved, then piloted the hovercar and sped away.

As soon as he left, the middle-aged woman came over, grinning at Xia Mang who was still standing there. “Little Mang.”

Startled by the sudden voice, Xia Mang quickly turned around. Seeing who it was, he breathed a sigh of relief and said with a smile, “Auntie Wang, you scared me to death.”

This woman’s name was Wang Mei, and she lived downstairs from Xia Mang’s family. She’d had a hard life; a few years ago, her husband had abandoned her and their young child to run off with a rich lady.

For years, she had struggled to raise her child on a meager salary, pinching every penny she could. Her financial situation was among the worst in the entire commoner’s district. However, she was an incredibly warm person and was very good to her neighbors. During festivals, she would always give Xia Mang’s family some of her carefully made handicrafts. Her only flaw was that she was a notorious gossip.

So, the moment he saw her, Xia Mang had a bad feeling.

“Little Mang, you’ve really made it big, coming home in such a beautiful car!” Wang Mei praised him sincerely.

“Uh… haha, you’re up late, aren’t you?”

Xia Mang scratched his head, laughing awkwardly. He hadn’t expected Auntie Wang to still be outside knitting at this hour.

Indeed, for people living in the commoner’s district, a private car was an unheard-of sight. Today was truly a first.

Being caught like this, it would be difficult to explain the car.

But although Wang Mei had a talent for spreading news, she was also tactful. She could see Xia Mang didn’t want to talk about it, so despite her burning questions, she didn’t press him. She just went along with the change of subject, “You too, right? Just getting home this late.”

“Studying is hard work. Make sure to get some rest.”

“Mhm, I will, Auntie Wang.”

Xia Mang nodded. “I’m going to head home then. It’s getting late, you should go get some rest too.”

With that, he waved and beat a hasty retreat.

He knew he probably couldn’t keep this under wraps. In a few days, at most, his parents would know.

His mind raced, trying to come up with a plausible excuse…

Back home, his parents were already getting ready for bed. They only glanced at their son who had rushed in, said nothing, and closed their eyes again, willing sleep to come.

Seeing this, Xia Mang quietly washed up and got into bed.

Lying in bed, he stared up at the patchy ceiling, replaying the dreamlike day in his mind as he slowly drifted off to sleep…

The next day, Xia Mang was up at the crack of dawn. His first move wasn’t to get ready for school, but to rub his eyes, take out his Mech major textbooks, and begin studying.

Excellence is forged by diligence and undone by idleness; success comes from forethought and is destroyed by carelessness. When his memory was average, he had to put in a hundred times the effort. Now, after the Origin Soul cleansing had caused his abilities to skyrocket, he absolutely could not afford to slack off.

In his eyes, learning was like rowing a boat upstream; if you didn’t advance, you would fall behind. Knowledge was built from squeezed-out fragments of time, gradually forming a fortress.

Time always flies when one is engrossed in studying something.

It wasn’t until his alarm went off that Xia Mang reluctantly got up, gathered his things, and rushed to school.

When he appeared at his desk, the expressions on two people’s faces were off: Yun Hai and Long Junxuan.

The former’s change was so subtle it was almost unnoticeable. Only in the instant their eyes met did Xia Mang detect an extremely faint flicker deep within Yun Hai’s gaze.

Long Junxuan, on the other hand, widened his eyes and asked in disbelief, “Holy crap, you didn’t end up in the hospital?”

Hearing this, Xia Mang grinned at him. “Why would I go to the hospital?”

“Didn’t Yun Hai come after you?” Long Junxuan looked bewildered. “This doesn’t make sense. I clearly got word yesterday that he hired a team of thugs to ambush you.”

Then, he muttered to himself, “Maybe he’s making his move today. You’d better be careful, that guy is ruthless.”

Xia Mang shook his head. “He made his move. But I won.”

“You won?”

Long Junxuan was stunned. He stared seriously at his new deskmate. “You look completely unscathed. Don’t tell me they beat you so bad your brain got scrambled?”

“You’re the one with scrambled brains,” Xia Mang rolled his eyes. “Do I look that helpless?”

At these words, Long Junxuan studied him with a deadpan expression for a moment, then nodded gravely. “You do.”

“Alright then. Looks like I’ll just have to prove to you with my actions that my brain is fine.”

Xia Mang rubbed his aching forehead. He then took out his e-reader, inserted the course chip, and pulled up the lesson to start reading, ignoring his astonished rich-kid deskmate.

But he didn’t know that a storm was already raging in Long Junxuan’s mind. In truth, Long Junxuan already believed him. Knowing how those thugs operated, there was no way they would have been so merciful.

He just couldn’t figure out how Xia Mang, all by himself, could possibly defeat a team of hooligans who were used to fighting.

In his memory, Xia Mang had never been a particularly strong fighter. If he were, he wouldn’t have been bullied so much.

“Heh, now this is getting interesting.”

Long Junxuan glanced with great interest at the figure beside him, who was buried in his studies. He then picked up his own e-reader, crossed his legs, and started to read as well.

While the two were talking animatedly, Yun Hai’s gaze was filled with murderous intent. He knew, of course, what had gone wrong yesterday. The gang he had hired had even demanded substantial compensation from him for their casualties.

The outcome of the matter had spiraled far beyond his control.

This left him both infuriated and deeply wary. Never mind how Xia Mang had managed to fight off the people he’d hired—Yun Hai knew that team of thugs had absolutely no reason to go easy on him. And yet, under those circumstances, his target had still won.

The facts were plain to see. Faced with such combat prowess, he was already secretly thinking of backing down. But was he just going to let it go? He couldn’t accept that either.

With his mind so heavily preoccupied, Yun Hai couldn’t focus on his studies. He nudged his best friend, Guo Bingyang, with his elbow. “After class, contact the boss of the Black Tiger Gang for me. I want to speak with him personally.”

“Are you thinking of…?” Guo Bingyang asked, turning his head.

Yun Hai nodded, his face dark. “That’s right. Your guess is correct.”

Guo Bingyang couldn’t help but frown. “Isn’t that making a mountain out of a molehill? Besides, if this isn’t handled well, things could really blow up.”

“Heh,” Yun Hai let out a cold laugh. “Don’t worry, I know where to draw the line. I’ll just have someone sever the tendons in his hands and feet and gouge out his eyes. It won’t be murder.”

Guo Bingyang thought for a moment. “Do you have that kind of money? Hiring the Black Tiger Gang’s ace won’t be cheap.”

Yun Hai replied, “My dad just wired some money to my account. If you lend me a little more, it should be enough, right?”

Guo Bingyang mulled it over for a moment before sighing. “Alright. But I still advise you to think it over.”

“That poor bastard has crossed me time and time again. He no longer deserves to live a happy, carefree life in this world,” Yun Hai growled.

Chapter 14: Cafeteria Conflict

Noon. The sun hung high in the sky.

The students of the Special Training Class breathed a collective sigh of relief. After the intense lessons ended, it was finally time for the long-awaited lunch break. Friends made plans with one another and hurried toward the cafeteria in groups, afraid of being even a second too late.

Long Junxuan and Xia Mang, however, were exceptions. The former gathered his things unhurriedly, while the latter showed no intention of eating at all, still engrossed in his book like a monk in deep meditation.

Ye Fei stood beside Long Junxuan and said blankly, “Boss, don’t you think he’s studied himself stupid?”

Long Junxuan just shrugged. “Who knows? He’s been like this all day. I haven’t seen him rest at all.”

“He’s so hardworking,” Ye Fei couldn’t help but remark. “I don’t get why Teacher Ye is so insistent on kicking him out of our class.”

“Haha, there’s a lot more to it than that.”

As he spoke, Long Junxuan stood up. He and Ye Fei had taken a few steps toward the classroom door when he suddenly stopped. After a moment’s hesitation, he turned, walked over to Xia Mang, and clapped him on the shoulder. Raising his voice, he said, “Hey, let’s go. It’s time for lunch. Wanna come with us?”

“Huh?! Here!”

Startled by his voice, Xia Mang shot up like a frightened bird and yelled out subconsciously.

“Holy crap, you were really in the zone. It’s lunchtime. Did you think you were still in class?” Long Junxuan slapped his forehead, speechless.

“Oh, oh, so it’s time to eat.”

Xia Mang finally came back to his senses, scratching his head in embarrassment.

“Yeah. Coming? Let’s go together,” Ye Fei offered kindly.

“Ah, okay.”

A smile bloomed on Xia Mang’s face, and he didn’t refuse. A rare warmth spread through his heart. It seemed that in all the time he had been in this class, this was the first time someone had asked him to lunch.

The three of them arrived at the cafeteria, and just as expected, the place was already overflowing. It was so crowded that even on tiptoes, they couldn’t see the food windows. As far as the eye could see, there was only a sea of bobbing heads. The explosive scene was no less packed than a Soul Singer concert.

“What should we do, Boss?” Ye Fei said with a frown. “Why don’t we just cut in line?”

Long Junxuan retorted nonchalantly, “Have you never eaten before?”

“Er… it’s not that. I just want to eat quickly so I can get back to studying. The sages say an inch of time is an inch of gold, but an inch of gold can’t buy an inch of time. We can’t waste precious time on this pointless waiting,” Ye Fei said, sticking out his tongue and sounding self-righteous.

“Get lost. Stop putting on airs with me,” Long Junxuan flicked him on the forehead and cursed with a laugh.

“Hahaha, can’t you just let me be?” Ye Fei laughed too. “When a man is bragging, you shouldn’t expose him. Just wait patiently, and he’ll surely tell an even bigger whopper.”

“Scram! I’m worried you’ll boast so much you’ll tear a hole in the sky,” Long Junxuan said, rolling his eyes.

Watching the two of them banter, Xia Mang smiled, feeling happy along with them.

But at that moment, a dissonant voice cut in.

“Well, if it isn’t Young Master Long?”

Hearing the voice, Long Junxuan and his friends all turned their heads. A young man with a cockscomb hairstyle, a well-proportioned build, and unusually defined muscles was walking toward them with a malicious smile.

“Heh, Gao Yang. How come I only see you? Where’s Yun Hai?”

Long Junxuan had a smile on his face, but the corners of his upturned mouth were exceptionally cold.

“Haha, Young Master Yun is up ahead. What’s this, Young Master Long? Got yourself a new lackey?”

The young man named Gao Yang fixed his gaze on Xia Mang.

Seeing this, Long Junxuan took a step forward and retorted, “Gao Yang, don’t assume everyone’s relationship in this world is like yours and Yun Hai’s.”

With that, he waved his hand dismissively. “Go on, find your master before he decides not to give you any food.”

“You…” Gao Yang’s expression suddenly changed. “Long Junxuan, you better watch that poisonous mouth of yours, or someone will deal with you sooner or later.”

“Haha.” Long Junxuan held back Ye Fei, who was about to step forward, and threw his head back with a few laughs. He replied mockingly, “Deal with me? I look forward to that day. But at your level, you’re not qualified to challenge me.”

“Is that so?”

Gao Yang’s facial muscles suddenly contorted, and he threw a punch straight at Long Junxuan’s face.

The tense atmosphere on their side had already attracted the attention of other students nearby. Fearing they’d get caught in the crossfire, they all backed far away.

Long Junxuan swiftly dodged Gao Yang’s fast punch. At the same time, his hand shot out, reaching under the latter’s armpit to accurately grab his shoulder joint. With a hard tug, he pulled Gao Yang off balance.

When it came to hand-to-hand combat skills, few in Anhuang City No. 1 High School dared to challenge the elites of the Special Training Class.

But Gao Yang was an exception. He used to be a member of the Special Training Class himself. Later, due to his poor character and academic performance, coupled with his constant troublemaking, the previous homeroom teacher, Huang Chengguang, ran out of patience and submitted a request to the school to have him transferred to a Regular Class.

However, this didn’t hide his considerable talent.

Supported by his wealthy family, his gene evolution level had reached 1.7, not too far behind the others.

Having been bested by Long Junxuan, Gao Yang struggled to regain his balance. He looked at the twenty-odd people he had brought with him and roared, “Get them!”

At his command, all his followers moved at once. In an instant, a crowd of people had surrounded Xia Mang and his friends, packed tight.

Long Junxuan looked at the scene before him and suddenly sneered, “Gao Yang, Yun Hai is pushing you into a pit of fire by making you do this. You were transferred out last time for fighting for him.”

“If you get into trouble again, the consequences might be more severe than just leaving the Special Training Class. As a member of the Regular Class, the only thing left is expulsion.”

“Use your brain. Don’t let yourself get screwed over time and again.”

Gao Yang stepped forward from behind the crowd. Buoyed by his numbers, his voice was exceptionally arrogant. “I think you’re scared. Don’t try that trick to sow discord.”

“It’s in your best interest to consider the consequences,” Long Junxuan said, pointing at his nose and speaking word by word.

“Fine. I can let you go today, but you have to leave this kid behind,” Gao Yang said after a moment of thought, pointing at Xia Mang.

Hearing this, Long Junxuan was stunned. He looked at Gao Yang with a strange expression. “Have you lost your mind? Demanding someone from me, in front of me? What gives you the right?”

“Hmph! Get him! If anything happens, I’ll take the blame!”

Gao Yang couldn’t be bothered to talk anymore and led his men in a charge.

A burning flame had long since ignited in Xia Mang’s chest. He had a rough idea of what had caused this incident.

But with the mindset of “less trouble is better than more,” he had thought Long Junxuan’s reputation would be enough to smooth things over for the time being. Who knew that things would go against his wishes, and the other side was determined to force the issue.

He hadn’t wanted to act too shocking in school, but the current situation was clearly pushing him to the brink.

“The worst that can happen is a demerit!”

Xia Mang wasn’t afraid. The Hall of Honor had given him the green light, which gave him an intangible boost of confidence.

With his mind made up, he burst forward with all his speed. Facing a person lunging at him, he didn’t dodge but yanked the person straight toward him.

He then slammed a heavy punch into the man’s chest, followed by the crisp crack of breaking bones. Without a second glance, Xia Mang threw the person to the ground like a piece of trash, letting him wail and howl as he rushed toward his next target.

“Holy crap! A Yang!”

Seeing this, Gao Yang’s eyes widened involuntarily. He immediately led five or six people to flank Xia Mang.

These people were holding weapons, but they were things like bricks, not particularly deadly.

“Xia Mang, be careful!”

Long Junxuan was tied up with a few people and couldn’t break free, so he yelled out.

“I know. They can’t do anything to me.”

Xia Mang was brimming with confidence and fighting spirit. He raised his arm to block a brick strike, then quickly dropped into a low stance and swept his leg out. The immense force cut through the air in an arc, so fast it was just a blur.

Gao Yang and his men lost their balance one after another, falling to the ground like leaves in an autumn wind.

“Nice one!”

Watching his skills, Long Junxuan and Ye Fei couldn’t help but click their tongues in admiration.

However, just as Xia Mang was about to make his next move, the familiar voice of the Dean of Teaching finally arrived, fashionably late.

“What do you think you’re doing? What’s going on here? Is there no law and order?”

Upon receiving news of the brawl, Chen Yun had rushed over from the staff dining area in a frantic hurry, not even having had time to wipe the grease from his mouth.

“What is all this?!”

The chaotic scene before him truly exceeded his imagination.

A few strong teachers were the first to rush in and pull the two sides apart. Only then did Chen Yun walk over, hands clasped behind his back, stroking his potbelly.

When he saw the student on the ground with a visibly caved-in chest screaming惨叫, even he couldn’t help but feel his scalp tingle.

This was too vicious. In all his years as a teacher, he had never seen students fight so ruthlessly.

“Who did this?!”

His eyes bulging, he roared.

“Dean, it was me.” Xia Mang raised his hand without hesitation. A real man takes responsibility for his actions. He had already thought this through when he made his move.

As for how big this incident would become, he already had a plan. No matter what, he couldn’t let it upset his parents.

“You?!”

Chen Yun was taken aback. He looked the seemingly frail student before him up and down, then shook his head. “Xia Mang? Impossible. If you had this kind of strength, Ye Zhongliang wouldn’t have come to me time and again trying to get you transferred.”

Indeed, an ordinary person, unless specially trained, couldn’t possibly inflict such terrifying damage.

Not to mention a mere student from a commoner family, and a student who was notoriously lagging behind in his class’s gene evolution level.

It made no sense.

Although Chen Yun’s first impression was to dismiss Xia Mang’s claim, Gao Yang, who was squatting on the ground clutching his ankle and grimacing in pain, served as a witness for Xia Mang.

“Dean, it was him! This kid started a fight for no reason!”

The moment he finished speaking, before Chen Yun could react, Long Junxuan pointed at him and cursed, “Gao Yang, are you even a man? You don’t have the guts to admit what you did, so you’re making the first accusation?”

“Hmph!”

Gao Yang wanted to retort, but the waves of piercing pain shooting up from his foot allowed him only to let out a cold snort through clenched teeth.

“That’s enough! All of you, shut up! Everyone, follow me to the Dean’s Office to be dealt with!”

Chen Yun didn’t dare to be careless. He recognized Long Junxuan and knew a little about the rich young master’s background. So, with a cautious approach, he dismissed the gawking crowd of onlookers and had the teachers lead the group of troublemakers to his office.

As for the injured student, he had already arranged for someone to rush him to the infirmary…

In a corner, Yun Hai watched the situation with a grim expression.

“Young Master Yun, it seems this guy is a tough nut to crack.”

Guo Bingyang was also quite frightened by Xia Mang’s performance.

“I’ve already negotiated terms with the Black Tiger Gang. They’ve decided to help me make another move. And…” Yun Hai’s gaze turned chillingly cold. “I found out about his parents.”

“You’re not planning to go after his parents, are you?” Guo Bingyang asked.

“Haha.” Yun Hai laughed twice. “His dad is a security guard at Hengying… You get what I mean, right?”

Guo Bingyang’s eyes widened upon hearing this, and then a gloating smile spread across his face.

Chapter 15: Shared Adversity

In the Dean’s Office.

Chen Yun had a basic understanding of what had happened.

Although the two groups each told a different story, it didn’t affect his judgment.

“Gao Yang, I find it unlikely that Long Junxuan’s group of three would have started trouble with you.”

Having been a teacher for so many years and having handled numerous fights, Chen Yun knew very well that when one side outnumbered the other, it was almost always the larger group that threw the first punch.

So, no matter how Gao Yang twisted the facts, he didn’t believe a word of it.

Gao Yang sat in his chair, pointing at his foot and wailing, “Dean, you can see for yourself! We may have had more people, but look at how badly we’re injured! Your insight is keen, you have to stand up for us!”

“Hmph. So you start playing the victim now that you’ve messed with the wrong person,” Ye Fei retorted, glancing back.

“All of you, shut up.”

Seeing an argument about to erupt again, Chen Yun immediately cut it short. “It doesn’t matter who started it—fighting is wrong! Moreover, this incident has resulted in serious injuries. Its nature is extremely vile, and the circumstances are extremely severe!”

Using the word “extremely” twice was enough to show his anger.

“I’ve already notified the principal. None of you will get off scot-free for this!”

After speaking, Chen Yun took out a stack of documents and began writing furiously. Xia Mang could see clearly that it was a disciplinary action form, and Chen Yun was filling in the section for the Dean’s Office’s official recommendation.

“Dean, I’d like to make a point.”

Just then, Long Junxuan suddenly spoke up.

Chen Yun stopped writing, looked up, and watched him quietly. “What else do you have to say?”

Long Junxuan shrugged. “I just want to say that you can’t put all the blame on Xia Mang. After all, he was acting in self-defense.”

“I hope the Dean can take the circumstances into account and be lenient.”

Hearing him still speaking up for him, Xia Mang was touched. At the same time, he was slowly starting to accept this new friend.

Chen Yun nodded. “You don’t need to tell me that. I’ve already said that everyone present is responsible, including the one who went to the Infirmary.”

“However, Xia Mang’s actions caused severe consequences and escalated the situation. That is an indisputable fact, so he must bear the primary responsibility!”

Listening to this, Gao Yang massaged his ankle from the side, a twisted smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

It wasn’t just him; everyone in Yun Hai’s group hoped Xia Mang would be expelled on the spot to satisfy their hatred.

“Alright, you can all go back to your classroom for now. Wait for the official notice regarding your punishment. And remember, no more trouble, or you’ll be expelled immediately!”

With his permission, the students turned and left the tense room.

After walking out of the office building, Long Junxuan watched Gao Yang being helped away by others, then turned to Xia Mang. “Don’t worry, I’ll help you with this.”

“Thank you.”

The latter expressed his sincere gratitude.

“Haha, don’t be so formal.” Long Junxuan waved his hand casually. “After all this, we can be considered brothers in adversity. If you don’t mind, let’s be friends from now on.”

“I wouldn’t dare. To be on equal footing with Young Master Long… I am truly overwhelmed and humbled.”

Xia Mang made a deeply respectful bow.

The gesture made Long Junxuan freeze for a moment. Then, under Ye Fei’s gaze, who was struggling to hold back a laugh, he cursed, “Damn it, you’ve been corrupted! Are you trying to pull that formal act on me, just like Ye Fei does?!”

“I wouldn’t dare, I wouldn’t dare…”

“You’re still at it!”

After a brief chase, the three of them entered the classroom building, panting.

Long Junxuan’s tone turned serious as he said to Xia Mang, “Seriously, your skills are truly surprising.”

“Originally… I just couldn’t stand watching that group gang up on you. But now I realize if you got serious, it’s hard to say who would be bullying whom.”

Ye Fei nodded in deep agreement. “Yeah, even I was shocked.”

Xia Mang just smiled and shook his head, not answering directly. Only he knew what had happened to him, and only he could ever know. The matter was too sensational, and it involved two powers that were formidable even on a Tier-2 Planet. The slightest leak would surely bring about a cataclysmic disaster.

“But this incident really has gotten a bit out of hand.”

Long Junxuan pondered for a moment. “So… I’m not entirely confident I can get the punishment wiped from your record. But I can guarantee you won’t be kicked out of the Special Training Class because of it.”

“Haha, thanks, Young Master Long,” Xia Mang replied sincerely.

“Don’t be so polite. We’re brothers now. That’s too formal,” Long Junxuan said, slapping him heartily on the shoulder.

When they finally got back to the classroom, their lunch break had been completely eaten up by Chen Yun’s lecture. It was almost time for the second afternoon class.

The moment the three of them walked in, dozens of eyes turned toward them in unison. Everyone had heard about what happened in the Cafeteria, and many had even witnessed the bloody scene created by Xia Mang’s incredible display of power.

In an instant, those who used to look at him with contempt had shed their arrogant expressions. Even Yun Hai was no exception.

Only Yu Wanyin’s beautiful eyes held a flicker of a subtle, different emotion, but no one noticed it.

Xia Mang saw the change in the attitude of the Special Training Class students clearly, and it was like a bright lamp lighting up in his heart.

It’s the same in every era: good people get bullied, and gentle horses get ridden. He figured that after this, the discrimination he faced from the rich kids in his class would probably lessen.

He calmly sat down at his seat, took out his e-reader, and quickly immersed himself in his studies, showing no signs of anxiety over what had just transpired.

Long Junxuan observed all of this, surprised and a little impressed. If the same thing had happened to him, he could have remained composed as well, but his composure would have stemmed from his family’s power. Xia Mang, on the other hand, had nothing to rely on.

This was a friend worth making.

He silently resolved to help.

And so, the time passed peacefully until the second afternoon class.

Ye Zhongliang, who hadn’t shown his face until now, entered the classroom with a dark expression. He stepped onto the platform and pointed directly at Xia Mang, shouting, “Get on your feet!”

Hearing the angry roar, Xia Mang unhurriedly raised his head, paused for a moment, and then stood up straight.

“Hmph! What did you do in the Cafeteria at noon today?!” Ye Zhongliang was panting heavily, clearly incensed.

“Don’t you already know? Why are you asking me?” Xia Mang replied nonchalantly.

“Hmph! You… you… you’re simply a lost cause!” Ye Zhongliang’s wide eyes were bloodshot, and he spoke hysterically.

Compared to his agitation, Xia Mang was perfectly calm. “As I recall, Teacher Ye, you never intended to teach me from the moment you came to this class. So how can you call me a lost cause?”

His implication was perfectly clear.

“Hmph! Very good. Very good! I will submit an application to the school immediately. Scum like you in the Special Training Class is an absolute menace!”

Ye Zhongliang was so angry he was spitting as he spoke, the flesh of his face trembling.

However, just as he finished speaking, Long Junxuan stood up. “Teacher Ye, I also participated in the fight at noon. You can add my name to that application.”

“Me too.”

Ye Fei also stood up.

The situation changed abruptly. The furious expression on Ye Zhongliang’s face and his hand, which was pointing at Xia Mang, froze in mid-air.

Since when did these two get involved with him? For a moment, he felt a massive headache coming on.

If it were just Xia Mang, he could punish him without any reservations. But now Long Junxuan and Ye Fei had appeared out of nowhere.

The backgrounds of these two were anything but ordinary. Long Junxuan, in particular, was someone he absolutely could not afford to offend.

After some thought, Ye Zhongliang reined in his anger. “Given that you two usually have outstanding performance and top grades, you can just wait for the Dean’s Office’s decision on this matter. I won’t interfere.”

“Teacher Ye, that’s not right. I have a very clear understanding of myself.” Who would have thought that Long Junxuan wouldn’t take the easy way out he was offered? He argued eloquently, “I’m nowhere near as good as you say.”

“What’s more, this incident was so serious and caused physical harm to the student who went to the hospital. I realize the gravity of my mistake. So I must ask Teacher Ye to treat us all equally and add my name to the application. Otherwise, it just wouldn’t be right.”

After he finished, Ye Fei chimed in, “That’s right. Long Junxuan is absolutely right.”

“You… you two.”

Ye Zhongliang was furious. He, the esteemed Head Instructor of the Special Training Class, was being brazenly pressured by two students. “Fine, fine! If that’s how you want it, I’ll add both of your names to the application!”

They say impulse is the devil. In a fit of anger to protect his authority as the head teacher, Ye Zhongliang had spoken rashly, but he had also thought it through rationally.

If it came back to bite him, he would just say that these two young masters had insisted on it, and that despite his repeated attempts to dissuade them, he had no choice but to comply. He had dozens of witnesses to back him up. Playing the victim? Anyone could do that.

“So, can we sit down now?”

It was Xia Mang who said this.

“Hmph!”

Ye Zhongliang wanted to say, You made a mistake and you want to sit? All of you, remain standing.

But the words died in his throat. Writing Ye Fei and Long Junxuan’s names on the application was one thing, but if he also gave these two young masters corporal punishment, he would be slapped with a serious accusation that he’d have no way to defend himself against.

So he had to drop it and let the three of them sit down for the class…

In the blink of an eye, the evening self-study session was over, and the disciplinary decision had still not been announced.

It seemed the school administration was taking this matter very seriously.

When school let out, Long Junxuan packed his things and looked at Xia Mang. “Be careful on your way home today. The look in Yun Hai’s eyes was off, and both he and Guo Bingyang left in a hurry. That probably doesn’t mean anything good. Just be careful.”

“My old man keeps a tight leash on me, so there’s a limit to what I can do to help.”

“It’s fine, I understand,” Xia Mang said, getting the message.

He had actually figured it out from the way Long Junxuan went home. This rich young master always walked, a stark contrast to Yun Hai, who had a private car picking him up every day.

It was clear that Long Junxuan’s family had strict expectations for him.

Besides, they had only just become friends. For Long Junxuan to go this far for him was already more than enough.

Xia Mang was well aware of this.

“See you tomorrow, then,” Long Junxuan and Ye Fei said, waving goodbye.

“Alright, see you tomorrow.”

Chapter 16: The Black Tiger Gang, Pang Yong!

After school, Xia Mang didn’t rush home. Instead, he sat in the classroom, closed his eyes, and entered the Identity Chip’s communication system.

Beep, beep, beep. After three rings, the call connected.

“Hahaha, student Xia, I didn’t expect you to contact me so soon. What can I do for you?”

Tian Feiying laughed heartily.

“Brother Tian, there is something.” Xia Mang sounded slightly embarrassed. Calling for help right after being given his contact information—wasn’t that a bit shameless?

“What is it? As long as it’s within my power, it’s no problem,” Tian Feiying said generously.

“Well, it’s like this…”

Xia Mang explained in detail what had happened today and the difficulties the school had been facing recently.

He also felt it was inappropriate to bother him with such a trivial matter, but he really had no one else to turn to.

Besides, his intuition told him that Wang Yiyuan held him in high regard. As his secretary, Tian Feiying probably wouldn’t refuse.

Sure enough, after a moment of contemplation, Tian Feiying replied, “No problem. It’s a small matter. I’ll come and handle it tomorrow.”

“Huh? Tomorrow? You’re coming yourself?” Xia Mang asked, stunned.

“That’s right. There’s no need to bother the Director-General himself with such a trivial matter.” Tian Feiying sounded unconcerned. “Besides, Yinye isn’t far from Anhuang. Passing it down the chain of command would be too troublesome. It’s easier if I go myself.”

“Uh… won’t that be too high-profile?” Xia Mang felt a bead of sweat. “The old man did say to maintain secrecy.”

“That’s not a problem. In official circles, many things don’t need to be spelled out,” Tian Feiying said. “Haha, is there anything else?”

“Oh, no, that’s all.”

“Then I’ll come find you at school tomorrow, probably in the afternoon.”

“Okay.”

—

After finishing his conversation with Tian Feiying, Xia Mang started on his way home.

The remote suburban path was as familiar as ever, and the chilly night wind carried not a single trace of warmth.

An undercurrent of manic energy seemed to pervade the air. On high alert, Xia Mang headed home at an unhurried pace.

In the shadows, a group of men lay in wait behind various roadside barriers, their gazes fixed on the pedestrian path in the center.

“It’s so late. Why hasn’t he shown up yet?”

“Be patient. The Boss gave us an order. We have to get this done. We’ve already studied this kid’s habits. There’s no way he’d go anywhere else at night.”

They all had identical black tiger tattoos and conversed in low voices, many of them showing signs of impatience.

It wasn’t until Xia Mang’s figure appeared in the middle of the road that the men suddenly perked up.

“Here he comes, here he comes.”

Someone’s face lit up with excitement.

But someone else frowned. “This skinny little brat? He can take on dozens of guys and cripple Guizi?”

“Bullshit.”

Listening to his underlings’ chatter, Pang Yong kept a cigarette dangling from his lips without saying a word. His gaze was sharp and bright, locked on Xia Mang. But after observing him for a long time, he couldn’t help but shake his head. “No killing intent at all. The way he walks doesn’t look like he’s been trained, either.”

“This piece of work is worth a damn seventy thousand?”

Pang Yong could swear that ever since he started out, he had never seen a target who looked weaker than the one before him.

For a moment, he was confused, wondering if he had the wrong person. But the photo provided by the client was an exact match for the solitary teenager walking toward them.

Once he cleared his head, he decided to act immediately.

With a wave of his hand, over thirty men moved out at once. The attack plan they had made earlier was thrown to the wind by the Black Tiger Gang members, given the overwhelming disparity in numbers.

At almost the same instant, Xia Mang, who had appeared to be walking casually, reacted immediately. There was no trace of panic in his eyes.

Pang Yong acutely caught the high schooler’s expression. A sense of foreboding rose in his heart, and he immediately shouted for his team to stop. “Everyone, halt! Regroup.”

At his command, everyone abruptly halted their advance.

“Boss, what’s going on?”

“Let me at him! I can take on a hundred guys like that by myself.”

The men complained to Pang Yong, confused.

“Hmph, what the hell do you know?”

Pang Yong barked at them, cursing inwardly that he had almost misjudged the situation.

Just based on the composure this student was showing right now, he was clearly no ordinary person.

Perhaps he had discovered them long ago.

“Young brother, are you Xia Mang?”

After calming his men’s tempers, Pang Yong turned and called out to Xia Mang.

The latter didn’t deny it. “Yes, I am. You must be the ones Yun Hai sent.”

“Yun Hai?” Pang Yong’s eyes widened. He suddenly remembered that this seemed to be the client’s name and nodded. “Right, I think his name is Yun Hai. But you should change that word ‘sent.’ We’re the Black Tiger Gang. A rich boy like him isn’t qualified to order us around.”

“So, what did he tell you to do to me?” Xia Mang shrugged nonchalantly.

This expression immediately provoked the dissatisfaction of the thugs across from him, and they started cursing loudly.

“Who the hell do you think you are? Boss, let me go sever his tendons!”

“Damn it, acting all tough in front of us? You got a death wish?!”

Pang Yong stretched out a hand to block a few of his eager men and looked at Xia Mang with a slight smile. “Young brother, our client asked us to take care of your hands and feet. The commission is seventy thousand.”

“Is that so?” Hearing the final number, Xia Mang showed a surprised expression and said self-deprecatingly, “Looks like I’m worth quite a bit.”

He was genuinely astounded by the large sum Yun Hai had spent to get rid of him. Seriously, seventy thousand was enough to buy a low-end private car, provided one’s honor ranking met the criteria.

For now, although he didn’t know what this burly man was up to, since the other party wasn’t making a move, he decided to play it by ear.

“So…” Pang Yong shrugged as if in a difficult position, but his gaze, sharp as a knife, shot out and pierced straight into Xia Mang’s eyes.

Yet, the latter simply met his gaze calmly, his presence not losing out in the slightest.

Pang Yong nodded inwardly, a sliver of desire to befriend him rising in his heart. But he had taken the man’s money to solve his problem, and seventy thousand was indeed no small sum.

He could only say with a hint of regret, “I hope you can cooperate with us to complete the mission, young brother. It’ll be quick and painless for you, and easy for us. A win-win, right?”

Hearing his words, Xia Mang was stunned for a moment, then sneered, “What’s your name?”

“Insolent! Is the Boss’s name something you’re qualified to ask?” a lackey stepped forward and shouted.

“Hey, Xiao Qi, get back.” Pang Yong pulled him back and replied, “I am Pang Yong of the Black Tiger Gang.”

“Oh, Brother Pang Yong, are you so sure you can take me down?”

“About that… we don’t want to bully you with our numbers, but taking someone’s money and not doing the job goes against the rules.” Pang Yong frowned. “So, I hope it’s best if you give up resisting, young brother. We’ll definitely make it quick for you.”

“Haha.” Xia Mang’s gaze finally turned cold. “I imagine having one’s hands and feet taken care of would only be painful, not quick.”

Pang Yong’s face darkened as well. “So you’re saying you’re unwilling, young brother?”

“Obviously,” Xia Mang replied bluntly.

“Fine!” At this point, Pang Yong was getting angry too. He clapped a bare-chested young man wearing a tight black tank top on the shoulder. “San Ya, you go and test this young brother.”

“Me?” The man who was called pointed at himself, astonished. “Just me?”

“Yes.” Pang Yong leaned in and lowered his voice. “Go test his depth. Remember, if anything feels off, retreat immediately.”

“Got it.” San Ya understood. He stepped forward with a menacing grin, cleaver in hand, and stood before Xia Mang.

The latter was quite surprised by this. “Brother Pang, are you saying you want someone to fight me one-on-one?”

Pang Yong crossed his arms, just smiling without a word.

“Alright. In that case, bring it on.” Xia Mang lowered his center of gravity, extended his hands, and assumed a combat stance.

However, he had just gotten into his stance when the ice-cold glint of a blade came slashing down through the air.

“Cut the fucking crap!” the thug named San Ya cursed viciously as he poured all his body’s strength into the cleaver in his hand.

The blow was powerful and heavy. Given that Xia Mang obviously had little time to react, San Ya was fully confident he could take him down in a single strike.

But just in the nick of time, Xia Mang managed to dodge it with a contorted, yoga-like posture, then used his core strength to retreat rapidly, instantly creating distance between them.

“Good moves!” Pang Yong couldn’t help but clap and cheer. He asked himself, if he had been the one to face that attack, he probably would have been in a sorry state as well.

He never expected a mere student to possess such incredible physical flexibility.

San Ya’s thunderous strike hit nothing but air. The feeling of misapplied force made him lose his balance and stumble forward several steps.

“You!” After steadying himself, he stared with disbelief at the thin teenager in the distance, who was grinning at him.

“Dammit!” San Ya cursed under his breath, spat on the ground, and charged forward again.

This time, however, Xia Mang darted forward like a flash of lightning. While ducking under the blade, he kicked out at San Ya’s ankle.

“Aiyo~!”

With a pained cry, San Ya fell headfirst.

“I’m no match for him.”

The pain rushed to his head, making San Ya soberly aware of the gap between him and the teenager before him. He decided to follow Pang Yong’s earlier instructions, scrambled to his feet, and fled back to his group in a panic. “Sorry, Boss. I’ve disappointed you.”

The latter patted his shoulder nonchalantly. “It’s not your fault. I already expected this. Your task is complete. You don’t need to join the fight anymore. Go rest in the back.”

“Okay, thank you, Boss.” San Ya retreated to the very back, filled with gratitude.

Pang Yong turned back to the composed Xia Mang, a smile returning to his face. “Your skills are truly astounding, young brother. It seems this seventy thousand won’t be easy money after all.”

As he spoke, he slowly pulled his hand from his pocket and raised it, aiming it at Xia Mang.

The latter focused his gaze, and a chill instantly ran down his spine. To his horror, he saw that Pang Yong was holding a handgun!

Chapter 17: A Critical Situation

Pang Yong was very satisfied. He finally saw the look of panic in the other’s eyes.

That’s more like it. This is how a student should react.

“How about it, little classmate Xia Mang? Are you considering my suggestion carefully?”

Beads of cold sweat formed on Xia Mang’s forehead. All he wanted was for someone to appear, even a passerby too weak to truss a chicken. At the very least, they could distract his opponent for a moment.

But this damn suburban path was usually deserted, let alone this late at night. It was so quiet he could only hear the wind. There wasn’t a shadow of a person, not even a ghost.

Of all the things he had considered, he had never imagined the other party would have a gun.

Unauthorized possession of a firearm was a violation of the laws of the Yanhuang Administrative Region. The Black Tiger Gang was just an ordinary underworld organization on a third-class planet; they were definitely not at a level where they could legally possess firearms.

But regardless, the dark, gaping muzzle was pointed right at his forehead.

“Brother Pang, we can talk this out. After all, Yun Hai sent you to take my limbs, not my life, right?”

After weighing his options, Xia Mang chose to feign submission and play for time.

“Haha, little brother, who said I pulled a gun to kill you? A mere seventy thousand isn’t worth me risking jail time over a human life.” Pang Yong shook his head. “Since you won’t cooperate, I can only make you unable to resist. Taking a few limbs will be easy then, won’t it?”

“Haha,” Xia Mang let out a dry laugh and said placatingly, “Let’s talk, let’s talk.”

Pang Yong looked at him, considering for a moment. “Alright, then. I, Pang, appreciate talent. I’ll give you two options.”

“One, don’t resist. Cooperate with us.”

“Two, offer a price higher than seventy thousand, and we’ll let you go.”

“You have one minute to think. Otherwise, I’m done wasting my breath.”

With that, he temporarily lowered the gun and took a step back, watching Xia Mang coldly, wary of a sudden attack.

“This…”

Xia Mang was caught between a rock and a hard place.

He didn’t want to choose either of the conditions Pang Yong proposed.

But facing a powerful firearm, what could he do?

At this thought, he forced himself to calm his frayed nerves. He let out a long breath and put on a smile. “Brother Pang, I was wondering, is your gang in need of a Mech Specialist?”

“What do you mean?”

Pang Yong frowned in suspicion.

“Haha, I’ll be taking the Junior Mech Specialist exam soon. If Brother Pang doesn’t mind, I would be so bold as to recommend myself to join the Black Tiger Gang and contribute my humble efforts,” Xia Mang said slowly.

Pang Yong understood. He thought for a moment. “I did consider recruiting you, but the situation now is simple: Take a man’s money, solve his problems. We can’t go back on our word.”

“Why not?” After the extreme tension, Xia Mang gradually calmed down, his thoughts clearing up. “Brother Pang, you gave me two options. One was that if I offered more than seventy thousand—more than what Yun Hai paid you—you would let me go.”

“If I had really offered that much money and you let me go, wouldn’t that also be a breach of faith?”

“What’s more, the value I could create for the Black Tiger Gang would surely be worth more than seventy thousand.”

After speaking, Xia Mang smiled at the thug leader before him, desperately hoping he would accept his proposal.

Just as he’d hoped, Pang Yong fell into deep thought upon hearing his words.

After a long moment, he finally raised his head and looked seriously at the young, still somewhat naive face before him, then suddenly smiled. “If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I would never have believed a mere high school student could be not only skilled but also so silver-tongued.”

“I admit, you’ve tempted me. But I’m sorry, our client has a formidable background. Before we see any tangible benefits, we are not willing to offend such a prominent young master in Anhuang City.”

“Alright, any more delays, and things could get complicated.”

Pang Yong’s smile vanished. He swiftly drew his silenced pistol and, without another word, pulled the trigger at Xia Mang.

The latter’s expression changed drastically, but he had been expecting it.

His constantly tensed muscles exploded into action, and he rolled to the side just as the shot was fired.

A bullet struck the ground where he had been standing, sending up a brilliant shower of sparks. One could only imagine that if he had been a fraction of a second slower, those sparks would have been blood.

“Shit!”

His life under serious threat, Xia Mang completely abandoned the idea of negotiating and scrambled to his feet, charging toward Pang Yong in an S-pattern.

He wanted to seize the pistol before Pang Yong could readjust his aim.

However, the other Black Tiger Gang members saw this and swarmed him. Fortunately, they were armed with High-temperature particle rods. Though these melee weapons were quite deadly, they were far less of a threat than a pistol.

“Good, now’s my chance.”

Seeing the crowd block his path, Xia Mang showed no desire to fight. Instead, he turned and ran.

This was the moment he had been waiting for. With so many people between him and Pang Yong’s gun, he now had more than enough time to make his escape.

“Get him!”

Pang Yong roared furiously.

His line of sight was completely blocked by his own men. He could only holster his pistol and lead the group in pursuit.

Relying on his familiarity with the terrain, Xia Mang took to his heels and, after several twists and turns, managed to shake off Pang Yong and his men, hiding in a secluded ditch.

Listening to the rustling footsteps not far away, Xia Mang felt as if his heart would leap out of his chest.

He did his best to stifle his ragged breathing, pricking up his ears to catch the slightest sound.

With his senses on high alert, he could faintly hear people talking.

“Dammit, the kid got away.”

“What damn bad luck!”

It was the gang members grumbling.

“Find him! You have to find him for me, and I’ll break his arms and legs! If you can’t find him, go to his house. I refuse to believe the little bastard will just sit back and hide like a coward if we grab his parents.”

That sentence was clearly spoken by an enraged Pang Yong.

A chill ran down Xia Mang’s spine. These people were planning to use his parents?

In that instant, he lost his composure, so enraged that he nearly leaped out to fight the group then and there.

With great difficulty, he reined in his fury and used his Identity Chip to connect to the city police’s emergency line, giving a detailed report of his situation.

Threatening one’s parents was a line that should never be crossed.

Xia Mang’s mentality had shifted the moment the gun came out, but now, he wanted nothing more than to see the so-called Black Tiger Gang utterly destroyed.

He thought for a moment and decided to notify his parents about the situation.

The portability and discretion of the Identity Chip were on full display in this crisis.

“Hey, Mom, are you home right now?”

In his haste, the brainwave-simulated voice signal that came from Xia Mang was also quite rushed.

Du Dongyan heard him and replied strangely, “I am. What’s wrong?”

“It’s like this.”

Xia Mang briefly explained the whole story. After understanding, Du Dongyan thought for a moment. “Okay, your dad isn’t home yet. I’ll find a place to hide.”

Xia Mang nodded. “Right, good. Let Dad know too, just in case he comes home without knowing what’s going on.”

Du Dongyan was very worried. “You have to be careful. Stay safe.”

“I will, Mom.”

Xia Mang’s consciousness returned to reality, and he stealthily climbed out of the ditch.

He had to admit, the modifications from his Origin Soul were truly remarkable. Among the three awakened talents, absolute coordination gave him a level of control over his muscle groups and motor nerves that was unattainable for ordinary people, allowing him to maintain a swift pace while minimizing the sound of his footsteps.

After walking for a while in the direction of the commoner’s district, he still hadn’t seen any sign of the Black Tiger Gang.

This surprised Xia Mang. Given their speed of advance, it was impossible for them to have gotten that far.

But since there was only one road, there could only be one possibility: they had beaten a retreat.

Upon reflection, it wasn’t hard to figure out. It was at least a ten-minute walk to the commoner’s district from here—about the same amount of time it would take for the police to arrive by vehicle.

Pang Yong must have guessed that he would report them after escaping, so he’d taken his men back to their base. But what’s done is done. At this point, there was no escape for them.

When they were eventually confronted in court, it would bring no benefit to an organization that had long operated in the shadows—by all that’s right and proper, whether publicly or privately.

Having figured this out, Xia Mang felt a sense of relief wash over him, and he relaxed as he walked home.

Sure enough, just as he reached the commoner’s district, the wail of police sirens echoed from behind him.

The piercing sound blasted everyone out of their homes.

“Oh my, what’s going on here?”

Wang Mei lived on the ground floor. Seeing the commotion, she was the first to open her door and step into the open space.

When she saw Xia Mang standing with the police, she had a thoughtful look on her face, though it was unclear what she was thinking.

But as more and more people gathered, whispering amongst themselves, Wang Mei’s gossipy heart began to thump with excitement.

Just then, someone happened to come over and ask her what was going on.

Wang Mei immediately lowered her voice. “Oh, I don’t know the specifics, but I have a little bit of an idea.”

“Quick, tell us.”

Seeing her act this way, the onlookers’ interest was immediately piqued.

“A few days ago, you wouldn’t believe it, that Xia Mang kid came back in a small car,” Wang Mei said mysteriously. “That car, I reckon it’s not cheap. Must be worth hundreds of thousands, maybe even a million.”

“When have we ever had something so luxurious around here?”

At this, everyone nodded their heads in solemn agreement.

“That’s right, isn’t Xia Yuntian’s son just in high school? How could he have that kind of ability?”

“It’s just unbelievable. Auntie Wang, are you telling the truth?”

Wang Mei nodded earnestly. “If a single word I’ve said is a lie, may I get hit by a car the moment I step outside.”

“Then keep going. What else is there?” the others quickly asked.

Wang Mei then pointed at the police and whispered, “Look, now the police are here. Who knows what kind of trouble Little Mang has gotten into…”

Chapter 18: Layers of Conspiracy

It had to be said, Wang Mei’s analysis did sound logical.

In everyone’s eyes, there was no way Xia Mang, a high school student, could afford to ride in such a high-end car through normal means.

But if he had gone astray and taken some crooked path, that was a different story.

Like drug dealing, for example. Or smuggling. Or even selling his body…

A… GIGOLO!

In an instant, this explosive news spread through the crowd of onlookers, and everyone’s gaze toward Xia Mang turned strange.

Du Dongyan was also among them. When she heard the so-called inside story from Wang Mei, her expression became utterly mortified.

No matter how the people around her pressed her for details, she just shook her head with a forced smile, refusing to say a word.

In her heart, she didn’t believe her son could do such a thing, but at the same time, a sliver of doubt remained. How else could her son have come home in such an expensive car?

When Xia Mang had told her to hide earlier, he only mentioned that a group of hooligans might be coming to cause trouble. But she never saw any hooligans, just a group of police officers.

The more she thought about it, the more her head spun. What on earth was going on?

In contrast, Xia Mang, who was giving his statement to the police, was quite calm. After saying what he needed to, he simply started walking home. He just smiled at his neighbors without a word.

He knew that after this incident, there would be no shortage of gossip behind his back.

But so what?

Life had to go on.

Opening the door and walking into the living room, he saw Du Dongyan sitting on the sofa.

“Mom, you’re back.”

Xia Mang greeted her with a smile as he took off his shoes.

Du Dongyan crossed her arms, her legs crossed, and said flatly, “Get over here.”

“Okay.”

Xia Mang knew an interrogation was inevitable, so he obediently moved a stool over and sat down in front of his mother.

“Stand up,” Du Dongyan ordered, her tone exceptionally stern.

Her voice sent a chill down Xia Mang’s spine. He shot up from the stool and stood bolt upright.

“Let me ask you, what was with that car a few days ago?” Du Dongyan asked with a stony face.

“Oh, you mean that.” Xia Mang had anticipated this day would come and had already prepared a script in his mind. He deliberately put on a mysterious air and said, “Mom, I signed a confidentiality agreement about that. I can’t talk about it.”

“What confidentiality agreement?!”

Du Dongyan’s eyes widened. To her, this was clearly just an excuse from her son.

What a joke. Did she not know what her own flesh and blood was capable of?

“I…” Xia Mang pretended to be in a difficult position, stammering, “I really can’t say.”

Du Dongyan sighed. “Little Mang, since you were young, I’ve told you that we may be poor, but we must have integrity. You must always live an upright life… Our family might not have much money, but your father and I have both…”

Before she could finish, Xia Mang couldn’t help but interrupt, breaking out in a sweat. “Mom, do you really think I’m the type to mess around like that?”

Du Dongyan thought carefully for a moment, then shook her head. “Not likely, but…”

“Mom, you can relax,” Xia Mang said with a grin, then deliberately lowered his voice. “The truth is, I was scouted by a special unit. I signed a confidentiality agreement, so there are a lot of things I can’t tell you.”

After hearing this, Du Dongyan said thoughtfully, “What kind of unit? How come I’ve never heard of it?”

Xia Mang blinked. “In any case, your son would never do anything illegal!”

“Alright. Just remember, you must always live an upright life,” Du Dongyan reiterated.

“Absolutely,” Xia Mang said, patting his chest firmly to show his resolve.

Seeing this, Du Dongyan didn’t press the issue further and shifted the focus to today’s incident.

Xia Mang then selectively recounted the situation in his class and the grudges between him, Yun Hai, and Ye Zhongliang.

“Sigh.”

Du Dongyan let out a long sigh and couldn’t help but stroke her son’s head, comforting him softly, “Little Mang, this world is full of all kinds of injustices. It’s all your parents’ fault for not being capable enough.”

“Haha, Mom, don’t worry. I’ve already joined the unit. My future is bright,” Xia Mang laughed heartily.

Infected by his mood, Du Dongyan’s expression softened…

Meanwhile, in the West Mountain Elegant Villas of Anhuang City, Yun Hai held a mobile phone, his face cold as he fiddled with the screen.

In this era, mobile phones had become a luxury item for the wealthy. Aside from accessing the Interstellar Network, most of their functions had been replaced by the Identity Chip.

However, the Identity Chip, which required closing one’s eyes and communicating via brainwaves, also lacked many of the functions a mobile phone possessed.

For instance, cursing someone out while reading messages, as Yun Hai was doing.

He had already learned that the Black Tiger Gang’s operation had failed again, and half of the seventy thousand commission was gone.

Why half? Because the initial base fee agreed upon was thirty-five thousand, which was not a small sum for him.

“Useless! Absolutely useless! They call themselves the number one underground organization in Anhuang City? I say they’re just a bunch of useless gluttons.”

Yun Hai ground his teeth so hard they audibly clicked. Suffering repeated setbacks at the hands of a poor bastard gave him a strong sense of defeat.

For a golden child who had lived a life of privilege and smooth sailing, rarely losing out even when competing with peers of his own level, this was nothing short of a great humiliation.

“Hmph, Xia Mang.”

He muttered the name, then picked up his phone and dialed a few numbers. “Hello, Uncle Chen? How’s that investigation I asked you to do coming along?”

“Ah, Young Master, it’s basically been confirmed. That Xia Yuntian does indeed live in the commoner’s district in the suburbs, and his son is named Xia Mang.”

“Good, I understand.” Yun Hai hung up the phone and sneered, “Xia Mang, oh Xia Mang, this young master isn’t just going to have your father fired…”

“The story is developing in such an interesting direction. Wouldn’t it be a shame not to add some fuel to the fire? Haha.”

The quiet mansion echoed with a demonic, wild laughter…

The next day, as soon as Xia Mang arrived at school, Ye Zhongliang told him to go to the Dean’s Office. He immediately realized the verdict must be out.

Sure enough, when he arrived, he saw Long Junxuan, Ye Fei, Gao Yang, and the others already standing in front of the desk.

“You’re here,” Long Junxuan said, glancing at him.

“Yeah. What’s the situation now?” Xia Mang glanced at the desk. The chair behind it was empty; it seemed Chen Yun hadn’t arrived yet.

“Don’t know yet,” Long Junxuan whispered. “I had someone take care of things yesterday. It shouldn’t be a big problem.”

“Thanks.”

Xia Mang nodded slightly, expressing his gratitude with just two words.

Long Junxuan waved his hand and leaned in closer. “I heard Yun Hai sent the Black Tiger Gang after you again yesterday.”

“Yes, just as you expected.” Hearing this, Xia Mang’s face suddenly darkened.

“Hmph, he’s gone too far. I’ll talk to my old man later and tell him to reconsider cooperating with the Hengying Group,” Long Junxuan said coldly. It seemed he didn’t know about the handgun.

“Hengying Group?” Xia Mang quickly asked, “What does this have to do with the Hengying Group?”

Long Junxuan gave him a surprised look. “You don’t know? That’s Yun Hai’s father’s company.”

“Yun Hai’s father?”

The words struck him like a lightning bolt. The key phrase was like a bomb that detonated in Xia Mang’s heart. In an instant, he thought of a terrifying possibility, and a chill crept up his spine.

“This is bad. I just remembered something,” he said, looking at Long Junxuan.

The latter asked in confusion, “What is it? Chen Yun will be here any second.”

“I’ll be quick.” Xia Mang waved and trotted out of the office.

“How strange,” Long Junxuan muttered under his breath.

Seeing that Xia Mang had left, Ye Fei, who was standing nearby, spoke up. “He’s amazing. That scumbag Pang Yong even had a handgun, yet he managed to escape completely unscathed. I know I couldn’t have done that.”

“Hehe,” Long Junxuan chuckled. “The more outstanding he is, the more it proves that our investment in this friendship was the right move. It wasn’t a waste for me to stir up trouble with him, even at the risk of getting a beating from my old man.”

“The Boss is wise,” Ye Fei said, giving a thumbs-up in praise.

“Of course. Compared to that kid Yun Hai, I am indeed wise,” Long Junxuan said, quite proud of himself.

Unexpectedly, his last sentence was a little too loud and was overheard by Gao Yang, who was not far away.

The latter immediately started speaking sarcastically. “Well, well, look at Young Master Long, being narcissistic. Doesn’t sound very confident, though, speaking so quietly.”

“You!” Ye Fei immediately turned around and glared at him.

“What are you looking at? You think Long Junxuan will give you an extra dollar for every glance?” Gao Yang spouted trash talk. “If that’s the case, I’ll be merciful and let you stare your fill, until your master goes bankrupt from paying you.”

Ye Fei’s face turned ashen with rage, his breathing quickening. He bent his knees, about to charge forward, but Long Junxuan grabbed him firmly. “Don’t argue with a dog when it’s going crazy,” Long Junxuan said nonchalantly. “The more you do, the cockier it gets.”

He deliberately glanced at Gao Yang, then turned his head away, the final look he gave him filled with contempt.

At the main entrance of the administrative building, Xia Mang was on the phone with his father. “Dad, did you understand what I said?”

Xia Yuntian on the other end replied dismissively, “Ah, it’s no big deal. How can squabbles between you kids be so complicated? I’m doing a fine job here. They can’t find a reason to fire me.”

After saying that, he even cracked a joke. “You need to have faith in your old man’s work ethic.”

“But Dad,” Xia Mang said anxiously, “I have faith in your work ethic, but…”

“Alright, alright, you just focus on your studies,” Xia Yuntian interrupted before his son could finish. “Get along with your classmates. Forgive and forget when possible. Don’t worry about adult matters.”

“I have to get back to work. That’s all for now. Hanging up.”

With that, he cut off the signal, ignoring Xia Mang who was still trying to persuade him…

Chapter 19: The Disciplinary Decision

“Sigh.”

Xia Mang sighed, his heart heavy with worry.

Things had reached this point, and he knew that no matter how eloquently he argued, he probably wouldn’t be able to get his father to take this seriously.

That being the case, he could only secretly pray that his worries were unnecessary.

At this thought, Xia Mang couldn’t help but slap his forehead in annoyance. Why hadn’t he looked into Yun Hai’s background back then? If he had known earlier, perhaps he wouldn’t have chosen such a confrontational approach.

It was true what they said: know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated. Xia Mang committed this lesson to memory.

Back in the office, Chen Yun still hadn’t arrived. The group of high school students awaiting their judgment grew more anxious by the minute, unable to sit still.

“What’s taking that old man Chen so long? Class started more than half an hour ago and he’s still not here! I’m gonna report him for being late!”

Gao Yang shouted loudly, trying to show off his fearless attitude.

“Who was it that wanted to report me?”

Just then, Chen Yun’s voice drifted in from outside the door.

In an instant, Gao Yang’s expression transformed from that of a world-conquering hero to a timid little mouse.

The stark contrast made Long Junxuan and the others burst out laughing.

“What are you laughing at?” Chen Yun sat down in his office chair and barked coldly.

The moment he spoke, everyone in the office fell silent.

“Gao Yang, was it you who said you wanted to report me just now?” Chen Yun tapped his desk nonchalantly with a fountain pen, looking with great interest at one of the main instigators of the fight.

“No! I swear!” Gao Yang immediately held up three fingers, showing he was telling the absolute truth.

“Alright, I can’t be bothered with you.” Chen Yun shot him a glare and got to the point. “I just came from the Principal’s office with the disciplinary report.”

As he spoke, he waved a stack of documents in his hand, deliberately making them rustle loudly, as if to remind everyone that the school leadership was very angry and the consequences would be severe.

“Next, I will announce the decision made after careful deliberation by the school leadership.”

Seeing that no one was speaking, he picked up the documents. “I’ll skip the time and place and announce the results directly.”

“Gao Yang initiated the provocation that led to this brawl. He therefore bears primary responsibility and will be placed on probation!”

“Qian Dongqiang, Wu Haiyuan… and the others who participated in the brawl will all receive a school-level major demerit.”

“Long Junxuan and Ye Fei, as this is your first offense and you were retaliating in self-defense, you will receive a school-level demerit.”

At this point, he suddenly paused. His gaze shifted to Xia Mang, and he looked at him with profound meaning. “Student Xia Mang, this is also your first offense, and you were also retaliating in self-defense. However, your actions caused serious injury, making you primarily responsible for escalating the situation. Furthermore, considering that your homeroom teacher has repeatedly reported that you cannot keep up with the academic pace of the Special Training Class, the school leadership has conferred…”

“And decided to place you on probation and transfer your student record to a Regular Class.”

As his last word fell, Xia Mang’s eyes widened. The news struck him like a bolt from the blue.

Seeing this, Long Junxuan grew anxious and shouted, “Dean, that’s not fair!”

Chen Yun looked at him calmly. “If you object to the decision, go talk to the Principal yourself. I am only responsible for relaying the results; I have no authority to change a disciplinary decision made by the entire leadership.”

“Alright, that’s all. Everyone except Xia Mang, return to class and resume your lessons.” Chen Yun waved his hand, then turned to Xia Mang. “Your new class is Class Three. Your homeroom teacher is Bai Ke. Go report to him directly.”

“Oh.”

Xia Mang had already composed himself. He wasn’t really that worried; after all, Tian Feiying had promised to handle this for him before noon.

He figured there would be some room for a reversal then.

Long Junxuan still wanted to argue on his behalf, but Chen Yun simply ignored him.

“Let’s go, Young Master Long.”

Xia Mang tugged on Long Junxuan’s sleeve and walked out of the office on his own.

“Sigh.” The latter sighed and followed him out with Ye Fei.

“I’m sorry. I wasn’t able to help you with this,” Long Junxuan said apologetically after they were outside.

Xia Mang smiled. “This matter didn’t have anything to do with you in the first place, did it? I’m already very grateful that you’ve helped me so much.”

Unexpectedly, upon hearing this, Long Junxuan’s face turned serious, and he stated earnestly, word by word, “Xia Mang, I think I know why you have so few friends.”

“Huh? Why?” Xia Mang asked subconsciously, not understanding why the topic had suddenly changed.

“Because you’re too polite. Just now, you said this had nothing to do with me. That shows you don’t really consider me a friend,” Long Junxuan said, not joking in the slightest.

Xia Mang was taken aback and quickly waved his hands. “That’s not what I meant. I really didn’t mean that.”

“Then isn’t it settled?” Long Junxuan’s brow relaxed slightly. “Since we’re friends, how can you say it has nothing to do with me? We went to the Cafeteria together and went through this together. Wouldn’t you agree?”

Xia Mang thought for a moment, then proactively extended his hand. “You’re right. I apologize.”

“Apologize?” Long Junxuan waved his hand dismissively. “What’s there to apologize for? It’s no big deal. Don’t worry. No matter what, I’ll get you back into the Special Training Class this time.”

“Your talent shouldn’t be wasted like this.”

Looking at his solemn eyes, Xia Mang’s heart filled with gratitude and introspection…

Meanwhile, in the Dean of Student Affairs’ office.

Just as Chen Yun was signing the relevant paperwork, there was a knock on the door.

“Come in.”

He put down his pen and called out.

Creak~ The ajar door was pushed open, and a handsome young man in a white shirt and tight jeans walked in.

“Ah, Little Hai, you’re here.” A smile appeared on Chen Yun’s face. “It’s done, just as you asked. The school has already transferred Xia Mang to a Regular Class.”

“Excellent. Thank you, Uncle Chen.” Yun Hai beamed, his expression completely devoid of the arrogance he displayed in front of others.

“Don’t mention it. It wasn’t a big deal anyway. Your Teacher Ye has also brought up that Xia Mang fellow many times. His Gene evolution level is completely unable to keep up. Having someone like that in the Special Training Class is indeed a waste of resources,” Chen Yun said, smiling at him amiably.

Hearing this, Yun Hai chuckled. “Actually, I came here because I have one more thing to trouble Uncle Chen with.”

Chen Yun grunted in acknowledgement. “Just say what’s on your mind.”

At these words, Yun Hai immediately pumped his fist in the air joyfully. “Yes! I knew Uncle Chen dotes on me the most!”

“Haha.” Chen Yun’s eyes were full of affection as he reached out to pat his head. “You little rascal, your mouth is as sweet as honey. Alright, as long as it’s within my power and doesn’t involve a matter of principle, I’ll do it for you.”

“Then I’ll say it.” Yun Hai blinked. “Actually, this is also about Xia Mang.”

“What’s wrong?” Chen Yun raised his eyebrows. “Hasn’t that kid already been transferred to a Regular Class, just as you wished?”

Yun Hai put on a troubled expression and said, “Uncle Chen, look at him. A kid from the commoner’s district finally gets a chance to enter our Special Training Class, but he doesn’t cherish it one bit. What a terrible influence that is! If the other students from the commoner’s district see this, it’s so negative, so demoralizing, don’t you think?”

“Haha.” Chen Yun threw his head back and laughed. “You little rascal, stop beating around the bush with me. Just spit it out. Did this Xia Mang fellow offend you somehow?”

Hearing this, Yun Hai feigned a surprised look, then shook his head with a sigh. “Sigh, I knew it. My little tricks could never fool my wise Uncle Chen.”

“Alright, enough with the smooth talk, you brat. Spit it out if you have something to say. I’m busy here,” Chen Yun chided with a laugh.

Yun Hai cleared his throat. “Uncle Chen, do you think the trouble Xia Mang caused this time could be escalated to the point of expulsion?”

“What? You want me to expel him?” Chen Yun’s eyes widened.

“Uh… yes.” Yun Hai nodded like a well-behaved child.

“Just what kind of deep-seated hatred do you have for him?” Chen Yun shook his head, a headache coming on.

Seeing this, Yun Hai pouted in a cute, coquettish way, looking pitifully at his elder. He asked cautiously, “Uncle Chen, is this request beyond the bounds of principle?”

He quickly added, “If it is, then forget it. Just consider me immature. I’ll be on my way.”

With that, he turned as if to leave.

Chen Yun waved his hand, stopping him. “It’s not exactly a matter that crosses a line of principle, but it is a bit troublesome.”

“What’s the background of this Xia Mang? Why do you want to target him, while that kid from the Long family wants to help him?”

Yun Hai turned back, his face filled with indignation. “That’s what I’m saying. With his background, trying to wedge himself into the conflict between Long Junxuan and me is, in itself, a sign that he isn’t focusing on what’s important.”

Chen Yun nodded in understanding. He often interacted with the upper echelons of Anhuang City and knew about the constant overt and covert struggles among these young masters who were born with silver spoons. This kind of competition was driven by personal factors but also carried strong commercial undertones.

For them, such struggles were reasonable, a consequence of their family backgrounds. They had no choice but to engage in them.

However, for a student from a poor family to do the same thing, it really did seem like he was trying to use the situation to curry favor with the powerful and climb the social ladder.

Chen Yun already doted on the young man before him. Connecting this to the situation, he couldn’t help but feel a dislike for Xia Mang, a student he had only met a few times. After some thought, he said, “What he did is indeed very serious. It wouldn’t be impossible to escalate it to the level of expulsion.”

“But it won’t be easy to handle things on Long Junxuan’s end.”

Hearing this, Yun Hai knew there was a chance. He patted his chest confidently. “Don’t worry, Uncle Chen. Long Junxuan’s dad treats him like a stepson. He won’t even arrange a car for him.”

“He has no connections he can use at all. As long as it doesn’t directly involve Long Junxuan himself, his father won’t get involved.”

“So you don’t need to worry about him at all.”

Chen Yun considered this for a moment and nodded. “Alright then. I’ll submit the proposal. Getting an expulsion order approved shouldn’t be a problem. But the prerequisite is that you need to have your… accomplice, no, classmate, who’s lying in the hospital, come forward and file a complaint. That way, I’ll have a legitimate reason to bring this matter back to the agenda, and the leadership will meet again to discuss changing the disciplinary verdict.”

“Understood, Uncle Chen. I get it,” Yun Hai guaranteed.

“Remember to have your classmate play up the misery when he comes to complain. That’s the only way to make the situation seem even more severe. If you can, it would be best to get someone to issue a medical certificate. Make it sound very serious,” Chen Yun instructed again.

“No problem. Thank you, Uncle Chen. I’ll be going now.” Yun Hai broke into a happy smile…

Chapter 20: Demoted to a New Class

At the entrance of Year Two, Class Three of Anhuang No. 1 High School, Long Junxuan and Ye Fei arrived, helping Xia Mang carry his things.

“Don’t worry, I’ll definitely get you back as soon as possible.”

Long Junxuan said resolutely.

“Haha, actually, being in a Regular Class might be pretty good,” Xia Mang shrugged. “When I was leaving, seeing everyone’s scornful looks and the expression on Ye Zhongliang’s face that said he wished he could kick me in the ass, I already knew that place probably wasn’t for me.”

Ye Fei and Long Junxuan exchanged an awkward glance. The former coughed and said, “We have a lot of friends in Class Three. Boss just spoke to them. You’ll definitely be better off here than in the Special Training Class.”

But despite saying that, Long Junxuan still added, “Just put up with it here for a while. I’ll deal with Chen Yun.”

“Haha, then I’m counting on you, Old Long,” Xia Mang joked with a laugh.

Old Long was a new nickname he’d come up with on the spot after Long Junxuan strongly insisted he use a different form of address.

“Old Long, Old Long… it sounds so weird,” Long Junxuan grumbled.

Xia Mang said, “You don’t want me to call you Young Master Long, and you think ‘Brother Long’ sounds too old. Now ‘Old Long’ sounds weird too. What should I call you then? Long-long? Little Long-long? Or should I call you Boss like Ye Fei does?”

Long Junxuan waved his hand. “Please don’t. Just call me Old Long. Ye Fei calls me Boss because we grew up together and it’s a habit. I’m really not used to anyone else calling me that.”

“Haha, alright.”

The three of them said their goodbyes.

Xia Mang walked to the classroom door of Class Three alone and called out, “Permission to enter.”

The homeroom teacher, Bai Ke, who was supervising the students’ self-study, looked over at the sound. “Oh, you must be student Xia Mang. Please, come in.”

“Okay.” Xia Mang walked up to the teacher’s platform and stood beside Bai Ke.

Below, a sea of eyes stared up at him. Unlike in the Special Training Class, Xia Mang could feel curiosity, friendliness, and a bit of fear in their gazes.

“This is our new student, Xia Mang. Student Xia Mang previously studied in the Special Training Class. Now that he’s in our class, we’ll need him to fully display his leadership and let everyone appreciate the caliber of an elite student from the Special Training Class.”

Bai Ke smiled as he looked at this fresh blood sent down from the Special Training Class.

He knew a little about Xia Mang and why he had been assigned here.

But Bai Ke didn’t think it was a big deal. A student who could rank around the middle in the Special Training Class was an absolute elite for any Regular Class.

“I don’t deserve such praise. I’m new here and will need everyone’s help.”

Xia Mang humbly touched his nose and bowed to his new homeroom teacher and classmates. This gesture immediately earned him the goodwill of many.

Bai Ke nodded, thinking to himself that it was a good thing he wasn’t a troublemaker. In his impression, the young geniuses from the Special Training Class were all arrogant and looked down on everyone.

Besides, he’d heard this newcomer was transferred for fighting and had sent a student from Class Five to the hospital with a shattered sternum.

He had originally thought the boy would be difficult to manage, but his first impression seemed quite good.

“Alright, student Xia Mang, there’s an empty seat over by Zhou Chengjun. You can sit there for now.” Bai Ke pointed to the middle of the left side of the classroom, where there was indeed an empty spot.

Xia Mang said his thanks and went to the designated spot to sit down, unaware that the other students were now looking at him with slightly strange expressions.

“Hello, I’m Xia Mang. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

As he sat down, he subconsciously glanced at his new deskmate.

It was an exceptionally quiet-looking boy with thin lips and fair skin. The sunlight illuminated his lean facial contours. He sat there staring at his book, perfectly still.

Though their eyes didn’t meet, his long, girl-like eyelashes and pearl-black eyes could not conceal his intelligent aura.

Hearing his voice, Zhou Chengjun looked up, his eyes meeting those of his new classmate.

In that instant, Xia Mang felt that those eyes shone with a light of intellect that belied his age.

“I hope you’re not noisy, or I’ll get angry.”

Zhou Chengjun dropped the words as calmly as still water before lowering his head to continue writing. From a distance, one could see it was a series of musical staves and notes.

Xia Mang took a deep breath. He had a feeling his new deskmate was a bit… special.

He sat down uneasily, taking out his e-reader, course chip, and various materials and placing them on the desk. In the process, he inevitably made some rattling and bumping sounds.

But Zhou Chengjun suddenly looked up and stared at him coldly. “Do you have ADHD?”

“Uh…”

Xia Mang was momentarily speechless, his muscles tensing up. It took him a moment to recover. He shook his head and took out a thick book of Mech materials to start poring over.

The Junior Mech Specialist unified exam was in just over ten days. Time was tight, and there was no room for relaxation…

Meanwhile.

In the Special Training Class classroom, Yun Hai had his eyes closed, leisurely chatting with a friend via his Identity Chip.

Just then, someone sent him a voice message. “Young Master Yun, that kid ended up in our class. He was seated next to Zhou Chengjun.”

“Zhou Chengjun? That weirdo?”

Yun Hai immediately said goodbye to his friend. After a moment of thought, he dialed a number from his contact list.

Soon, a magnetic male voice came from the other side. “Yun Hai, what is it? I’m still in class!”

“Brother Zhou, your little brother Chengjun is being bullied.”

“What?! Who would dare bully him?”

“Some punk who doesn’t know his place. It’s that kid who seriously injured someone in the cafeteria the other day. After he was sent down to Class Three, he was seated next to Chengjun and mocked him, calling him a sissy and a fake girl. My guys told me Chengjun was so angry he was about to cry.” As Yun Hai spoke, he added some dramatic embellishments to the story.

It was all something he’d imagined.

Zhou Chengyun’s voice suddenly rose. “Dammit, I’m going to go tear that little bastard apart later!”

“Haha, Brother Zhou, you’re so busy with your third-year courses. Do you have time to go beat someone up?” Yun Hai teased. “Why don’t you leave this to me? Let me vent your anger for you!”

“You?” Zhou Chengyun’s tone was filled with distrust. “I heard you’ve tried to make a move more than once recently, and failed.”

“Uh, how did you know?” Exposed, Yun Hai was rather embarrassed.

“Haha.” Zhou Chengyun laughed a few times. “Our circle is only so big. Who doesn’t know when someone makes a slightly big move?”

“Uh… that’s true.” Yun Hai coughed unnaturally. “Then it’s better if you handle it yourself, Brother Zhou.”

“Hmph! That’s what I was planning to do anyway. Someone who doesn’t know his place dares to offend my brother? Watch me cripple him!” Zhou Chengyun cursed loudly.

Yun Hai said flatteringly, “Then let me congratulate you in advance, Brother Zhou, for ridding the world of a menace.”

His consciousness withdrawing from the Identity Chip, Yun Hai stared straight ahead, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly.

“What’s up?” Guo Bingyang couldn’t help but ask when he saw his expression.

Yun Hai chuckled. “Haha, I successfully provoked Zhou Chengyun’s anger. That kid was arrogant enough to provoke Zhou Chengjun after getting sent to a Regular Class. What do you think will happen now?”

He then told Guo Bingyang what he had said to Zhou Chengyun.

After hearing it, the latter gave him a thumbs-up. “Then he’s dead meat. Zhou Chengjun is a weirdo who basically doesn’t talk to anyone. Even if Zhou Chengyun asks him what really happened, he definitely won’t get anything out of him. Haha, Brother Hai, that move of yours—framing him—was absolutely brilliant.”

“Haha, I have countless ways to mess with a poor bastard like him. He’s absolutely done for this time,” Yun Hai said viciously.

Guo Bingyang deeply agreed. “Exactly. Zhou Chengyun is the only freak in the entire school whose Gene Evolution Index has broken 2.5. With him making a move, we won’t have to go looking for the Black Tiger Gang again.”

He paused, then asked, “So, should we still proceed with the plan against his old man?”

“Hmph, of course. I want him to experience what a dark world feels like,” Yun Hai said with a sinister, quiet laugh.

Expulsion, getting taught a lesson by Zhou Chengyun, and his father being seriously injured—these three things combined would surely shatter that damn kid’s will to pieces.

————

Ring ring ring.

The bell for the last class of the morning rang.

Zhou Chengjun, sitting near the window, put down his notebook and stood up. He was about to leave when he noticed his new deskmate was still engrossed in his studies, blocking his way out.

He raised his hand to tap him awake, but it froze in mid-air. He seemed to think of something and quietly drew it back.

In the end, Zhou Chengjun didn’t wake Xia Mang. Instead, he pushed back the two empty desks behind him, carefully shuffled through the gap, and headed to the Cafeteria alone…

Not long after, Long Junxuan and Ye Fei also arrived at the Class Three classroom.

“This guy is still poring over his Mech materials,” Long Junxuan said. “I’ve never seen anyone more serious than him.”

Ye Fei nodded. “The Mech Specialist exam is in just over ten days. He isn’t planning on taking it, is he?”

Long Junxuan was stunned. “How is that possible? The Mech Specialist exam is so difficult. The annual pass rate is only two or three per thousand. The ones who pass are basically seasoned veterans like professional researchers. How could Xia Mang possibly pass? Impossible.”

As they spoke, they swaggered in as if they owned the place.

As soon as they entered, a few boys who hadn’t gone to lunch yet came over to greet them. “Young Master Long, Brother Ye.”

Ye Fei nodded. “Mo-zi, you guys haven’t eaten yet?”

“Not yet. Young Master Long told us to look after our new classmate, so we have to do our job properly. He’s not going to eat. What if Yun Hai’s people try to pull something shady on him?”

“Haha, if Yun Hai’s people could actually pull a shady move on him, that would be truly impressive. Alright, you guys go eat,” Long Junxuan said with a smile and a wave.

“Hey, alright.”

You Mo and his companions left, but as they reached the classroom door, they glanced back curiously at Xia Mang, all wondering what was so special about this person to make Long Junxuan treat him differently.

Chapter 21: The Expulsion Decision

In the Cafeteria, Xia Mang and his two friends were eating, chatting about lighthearted and carefree topics.

“Xia Mang, I see you’re so serious all the time. Are you planning to take the Mech Specialist exam?” Ye Fei asked.

Xia Mang nodded. “Yeah, becoming a Mech Specialist has been my dream since I was a kid.”

Long Junxuan swallowed his food and cheered him on. “No problemo, you’ve totally got this.”

“Haha, I’ll take that as a good omen. But there are only about ten days left, so I’m a little nervous.”

The moment Xia Mang said this, Long Junxuan and Ye Fei, who had just stuffed their mouths with another bite of rice, couldn’t help but spray it all out. Two pairs of eyes stared straight at him as they asked in unison, “What did you just say?!”

“Huh?”

Faced with their intense reaction, a confused Xia Mang repeated himself. “I said I’m planning to take the Mech Specialist exam.”

“No, no, that’s not it. How soon did you say you were planning to take it?” Long Junxuan pressed.

Xia Mang answered seriously, “In about ten days. Is there a problem?”

“And you think you can pass?” Long Junxuan asked.

“I’m about eighty to ninety percent sure,” Xia Mang said with a nod.

“Alright then.” Ye Fei and Long Junxuan were both speechless. After a moment, the latter couldn’t help but shake his head. “I’m ashamed. I’m not as good as you.”

Xia Mang was taken aback. “Why would you say that?”

“A profession like a Mech Specialist relies on genuine skill. The stuff we do, like competitive fencing and combat fighting, is all built up by family resources…” Long Junxuan sighed.

Xia Mang shook his head. “You can’t put it like that. Family resources are a part of one’s strength, too. Powerful Star Warriors, for example, are the kind of people I respect the most.”

“Unfortunately, the requirements to be a Star Warrior are too strict. I just want to be a Mech Warrior in the future,” Ye Fei said with a sigh.

Long Junxuan added, “Me too. I’d be content just to become an outstanding Mech Warrior and get enlisted into the Star Nation’s mech corps.”

“Haha, alright then! In that case, I’ll be in charge of building you guys the strongest combat mechs!” Xia Mang laughed heartily.

“You’d better! You can’t go back on your word!” His words managed to cheer up the two, who had been feeling a bit down.

After their meal, the three of them walked out of the Cafeteria together, only to find a dark figure blocking their path.

“Zhou Chengyun!” Long Junxuan couldn’t help but exclaim when he saw the 1.9-meter-tall iron tower of a man. He greeted him from a distance, “Brother Zhou, haven’t you eaten yet?”

“Who’s this?” Xia Mang quietly asked Ye Fei.

“The class president of the Senior Year Special Training Class. The only monster in the whole school whose gene evolution index has broken 2.5,” Ye Fei whispered, desperately trying not to be overheard by Zhou Chengyun.

“Looks like he’s not here to be friendly.”

Xia Mang recalled the name Long Junxuan had just called out and couldn’t help but wonder. This person’s name is so similar to Zhou Chengjun’s. Are they related?

However, the chilling, fierce glint shooting from the other’s eyes immediately forced him to focus on the present.

In response to Long Junxuan’s friendly gesture, Zhou Chengyun ruthlessly threw out a cold sentence, “That kid is Xia Mang, right? Tell him to get over here and talk to me.”

“Huh? Brother Zhou, what do you want with Xia Mang?” Long Junxuan wasn’t angered by his attitude and instead asked with a smile.

Zhou Chengyun sneered, “None of your damn business. Get the hell out of my way.”

With that, he strode towards Xia Mang.

“You lunatic! If you don’t make yourself clear, I don’t mind causing another bloody incident on campus!” Long Junxuan shot his hand out to block him, not showing any weakness.

“Get lost! Don’t touch me!” Zhou Chengyun forcefully swatted away the hand on his body and took a huge step, appearing before Xia Mang in the blink of an eye.

He glared fiercely at him. “So you’re the one who was too arrogant to know his place and provoked my little brother?”

“Your little brother?” Xia Mang was completely bewildered. “You mean Zhou Chengjun?”

“Hmph, so you fucking knew and still provoked him!” Zhou Chengyun’s eyes widened like lanterns. “Tired of living and looking to die, are you?”

“Zhou Chengyun, watch your mouth! Why are you going crazy in broad daylight!”

At the same time, Long Junxuan had already come up behind him. The three of them stood united against the strongest human in Anhuang No. 1 High School.

The tense atmosphere immediately attracted a large crowd of students who stopped to watch.

Zhou Chengyun’s physique was too iconic; on the school’s turf, he was an absolute prominent figure no matter where he went.

And Long Junxuan, Ye Fei, and Xia Mang had even more recently become famous throughout the school because of the previous incident.

A confrontation between these two newsworthy parties was exceptionally eye-catching.

“That’s right! I’m telling you, kid, don’t mess with Zhou Chengjun, or I’ll destroy you!” Zhou Chengyun threatened menacingly, jabbing his index finger hard against Xia Mang’s nose.

The latter was instantly enraged.

Regardless of the situation, Xia Mang had hated it when people pointed at his nose since he was a child, let alone now when Zhou Chengyun’s finger was actually touching his face.

In that instant, he exploded into action, throwing a punch.

It had to be said, Zhou Chengyun’s gene evolution level was indeed high. His reaction was incredibly fast. Faced with Xia Mang’s sudden, unexpected attack, he managed to take two steps back, but he was still a little too slow and took the hit to his abdomen.

“Argh!”

Zhou Chengyun roared in pain. The loud sound drew an even larger crowd of onlookers.

Long Junxuan and Ye Fei also snapped back to their senses. They exchanged a look and joined the fight without hesitation, flanking Zhou Chengyun from both sides.

“Good, very good! Long Junxuan, you’re getting bolder and bolder, daring to oppose me. Do you really think that just because of your old man, no one dares to touch you?”

“And you, Ye Fei! Do you believe I can have Long Junxuan’s father fire your old man tomorrow!”

Zhou Chengyun shouted his vicious threats, but was caught off guard by a sharp kick whistling towards his face. He subconsciously raised a hand to block it and immediately cried out in pain, stumbling several steps to the side.

This blow gave him quite a scare.

A gene evolution level of 2.5 meant that his overall physical capabilities were more than 2.5 times that of a normal person. Logically speaking, almost no one in the school should have been a threat to him.

But now, in just a few short minutes, he had suffered two consecutive losses at the hands of an inconspicuous junior.

This was far beyond Zhou Chengyun’s expectations, and for the first time, he began to take Xia Mang, a character he had never paid any attention to, seriously.

“Good kid, you’ve got some skills. No wonder you dared to touch my brother!”

He spat on the ground and then charged forward with a burst of speed…

Zhou Chengjun walked out of the cafeteria after finishing his meal, muttering to himself the entire time. He didn’t even notice the massive crowd of onlookers, completely lost in his own world as he slowly walked back to his classroom.

Bang!

Xia Mang failed to dodge in time and took a heavy punch to his shoulder blade from Zhou Chengyun, immediately feeling a pain like a dislocation.

However, he gritted his teeth and endured it, kicking back in retaliation and landing a solid blow on Zhou Chengyun’s chest.

Both of them staggered back in pain. Their first exchange had ended in a draw.

This scene not only shocked Long Junxuan and Ye Fei so much that they forgot to act, but it also left the crowd of onlookers stunned. The same thought appeared in everyone’s mind: When did our school get such a fierce character?

“Damn, you’re fucking strong,” Zhou Chengyun cursed under his breath. “Who are you?”

His question left Xia Mang dumbfounded. Seriously, big bro? You started a fight without even knowing who I am?

He slapped his forehead, feeling rather speechless as he replied, “My name is Xia Mang.”

“Why did you call my little brother a sissy?” Zhou Chengyun secretly committed the name to memory before asking another question.

“Huh? I didn’t call your brother anything,” Xia Mang said, now even more baffled. He would swear to the heavens that he had never mocked anyone. It was a joke—people had always made fun of him; how could he possibly turn around and ridicule someone else?

As he thought of this, just as he was about to say that there must have been some misunderstanding, a group of school administrators who had received the news pushed through the crowd and appeared in the center of the circle.

Chen Yun, the Dean of Teaching, looked at Long Junxuan and the others with a massive headache and shouted, “Why is it you three troublemakers again?”

“I’m telling you, can’t you just settle down for a bit and give people a break?”

Long Junxuan spread his hands. “You shouldn’t be saying that to us. We’re the victims every time, the poor souls forced to fight back.”

Chen Yun couldn’t help but raise his voice. “Last time your opponents outnumbered you, so you were the victims. This time, it’s just Zhou Chengyun by himself, and you’re still the victims?”

He had been worried about not having an excuse to change the disciplinary action decision and expel Xia Mang, so it was safe to say this incident was exactly what he’d been hoping for. With a wave of his hand, he said, “Forget it, I can’t be bothered to waste my breath on you. All of you, to the Dean’s office!”

After they arrived at the Dean’s office, Chen Yun first reported the situation to the Principal, then scrutinized the four students standing there properly.

“Zhou Chengyun, as an elite student in your senior year, your focus should be on your studies. We all have high hopes that you’ll get into Yuancheng University. What you did today was really irrational.”

He reprimanded Zhou Chengyun with a tone of disappointment.

The latter lowered his head and said, “Dean, I know I was wrong.”

“Good. Considering the heavy workload of your senior year, you can go first. Go back and wait for the results of our decision,” Chen Yun said with a wave of his hand.

“Understood, Dean.”

Zhou Chengyun replied with his head hung low and turned to leave. Before he left, however, he couldn’t resist shooting a complicated glare at Xia Mang.

As for this small gesture, Chen Yun simply turned a blind eye. After he left, Chen Yun looked at Long Junxuan’s group of three. “Sigh, causing two fighting incidents in such a short period of time. You three are really troublemakers!”

“Alright, Long Junxuan and Ye Fei, both of you go back and write a ten-thousand-word self-criticism essay and hand it to me. As for Xia Mang, this incident is directly related to you. You stay.”

“What? Xia Mang has to stay?” Long Junxuan couldn’t help but shout. “Why are you targeting him again?”

“Old Long, let’s go. Don’t worry about me,” Xia Mang said to Long Junxuan, after glancing at Chen Yun.

He and Ye Fei both shook their heads. “How could we? How could we just abandon you?”

“Heh heh,” Chen Yun sneered. “Putting on a show of brotherly loyalty in front of me now? Long Junxuan, if you obstruct my work again, I’ll have your father come to the school immediately.”

“Let him come,” Long Junxuan retorted, meeting his gaze without a hint of weakness.

“That’s enough, Old Long. You should go. I can handle this,” Xia Mang urged.

“But…” Long Junxuan was about to say more, but he saw the calm and composed look in Xia Mang’s eyes. He paused for a moment, then said in a low voice, “Ye Fei and I will wait for you outside.”

The two finally left.

Chen Yun breathed a sigh of relief. “Xia Mang, first you seriously injure a classmate, and today you start a fight with Zhou Chengyun.”

“For a stubborn and unruly student like you to remain at Anhuang No. 1 High School… it really isn’t conducive to the orderly development of our educational work.”

After hearing him out, Xia Mang smiled. “Dean, what you mean is, you’re going to expel me, right?”

“Don’t put it like that,” Chen Yun said with a wave of his hand. “The school’s administration treats all students equally and wants to educate all of you to become successful. But you refuse to mend your ways, which has a terrible effect on the overall environment and seriously violates the educational philosophy proposed by our Principal Fan to create a harmonious and knowledge-seeking campus.”

“So…”

Chen Yun trailed off, his eyes clearly spelling out the words “you know what I mean.”

Xia Mang nodded. “I understand, Dean Chen. I just hope you don’t ask me to stay later.”

With that, he walked out of the office without a single look back.

Chapter 22: Tian Feiying Arrives

As soon as he left the Office Building, Long Junxuan and Ye Fei, who had been squatting by the corner smoking, quickly tossed their cigarettes and rushed over. “How did it go?” they asked impatiently.

“Chen Yun wants to expel me,” Xia Mang said.

“What?! That old geezer! I’m going to go find him and settle the score!” Long Junxuan’s eyes widened, and he made to charge into the Office Building.

Just then, a chuckling voice drifted over. “Young Xia Mang, am I late?”

“Haha,” Xia Mang’s face lit up at the sound of the voice. He immediately went to greet the man. “You’re not late at all, Brother Tian.”

The newcomer was none other than Tian Feiying, who had traveled from afar.

“And you are?” Long Junxuan and Ye Fei walked over. Looking at the impeccably dressed Tian Feiying, they couldn’t help but feel he was no ordinary person.

Having been exposed to many things through their parents, they were quite adept at judging people. Often, they could gauge a stranger’s worth by feeling alone.

“Oh, this is Brother Tian, a…”

Xia Mang trailed off, pondering what sort of identity he should give him.

However, Tian Feiying beat him to it. “I’m a friend of Xia Mang’s. You must be his classmates.”

“A friend?” Long Junxuan was secretly puzzled, but he smiled and nodded. “Yes, we’re his classmates.”

“Good,” Tian Feiying nodded. “In that case, could you take me to see your principal?”

“The principal?” At these words, the hearts of both Long Junxuan and Ye Fei skipped a beat.

The principal of Anhuang City No. 1 High School was named Fan Xuegeng. A graduate of Yuancheng University and a renowned physics expert on the Water Source Planet, he was a genuine heavyweight in the field of education.

This wasn’t a self-proclaimed title, but one acknowledged by the entire education community of Anhuang City. Under his leadership, the No. 1 High School had gone from being in the top ten of Anhuang City’s high schools to its current, stable number one position. This was directly related to Fan Xuegeng’s capabilities.

However, Long Junxuan knew that Fan Xuegeng had another background—he was the former Deputy Director of the Anhuang City Hall of Honor branch, with immense connections and authority.

“Um, we…” Thinking of this, he hesitated.

This middle-aged man who claimed to be Xia Mang’s friend seemed anything but ordinary. If he recklessly agreed without understanding his intentions for seeing the principal, the consequences could be disastrous. If they ended up offending Fan Xuegeng, wouldn’t his old man skin him alive?

No, even the family business would probably be affected.

Long Junxuan hesitated.

“Haha, don’t worry, I don’t have any ill intentions. I’m here to help Xia Mang with a small matter,” Tian Feiying said with a cheerful laugh. Seeing the contemplative looks on the two youths’ faces, he knew exactly what was on their minds.

Hearing his words, a million wild horses stampeded through the minds of Ye Fei and Long Junxuan.

Helping Xia Mang with a small matter wasn’t ill-intentioned? Was he taking them for complete idiots?

“Um, Brother Tian, we… we really are… really a bit scared of the principal. He’s terrifying,” Long Junxuan said, scratching his head in embarrassment.

This man was a friend of his friend and seemed to have some status, so he couldn’t be too rude. He resorted to playing pitiful as a tactful way of refusing.

Tian Feiying burst out laughing. “I didn’t realize Old Fan’s reputation was so formidable. In that case, I’ll just go up and see him myself.”

With that, he strode confidently into the Office Building.

“Uh…” Long Junxuan and Ye Fei stared blankly at his back for a long while before turning to Xia Mang. “What’s the deal with this friend of yours?”

“What deal? He’s just an ordinary friend, isn’t he?” Xia Mang replied.

“Tch, keep playing dumb with me.” Long Junxuan laughed but didn’t press the matter further. He understood that everyone had their secrets.

However, he now had a new appreciation for the capabilities of this new friend.

He just wondered how capable this “Brother Tian,” who casually referred to Fan Xuegeng as “Old Fan,” really was.

Meanwhile, on the top floor of the Office Building.

Fan Xuegeng sat comfortably in his leather swivel chair. Although he was over sixty, he remained hale and hearty, full of vigor, with not a trace of elderliness about him.

Sitting before him was the Dean of Teaching Affairs, Chen Yun.

“Hmm… If the situation is as reported, giving him an expulsion isn’t excessive,” Fan Xuegeng said, tapping his fingers lightly on the desk as he carefully considered Chen Yun’s report.

“Yes, the impact of this is just too negative,” Chen Yun said grimly.

Fan Xuegeng nodded seriously. “Alright, you go take a break first. I’ll convene a leadership meeting in a little while.”

“Understood.” Chen Yun prepared to leave.

But just as he stood up, the doorbell rang.

“Come in.” Fan Xuegeng pressed a button on his desk, and the smart security door unlocked.

“Haha, Old Fan, long time no see! You’ve been well?” Tian Feiying walked in, laughing heartily.

Hearing his voice, Fan Xuegeng instinctively looked over, then immediately stood up with a warm, welcoming smile. “My goodness, Secretary Tian! What brings an important person like you to my humble little school?”

“What is it? An inspection tour?”

Tian Feiying waved his hand. “Nothing like that. It’s just that a friend of mine ran into a little trouble, so I came to you, Old Fan, to see if you could help sort it out.”

“Oh, is that all? How could I possibly refuse a request from you, Secretary Tian? Go ahead and say it. As long as it’s within my power, I’ll do it without a second thought,” Fan Xuegeng said magnanimously.

Chen Yun, standing to the side, stared wide-eyed at this very unfamiliar young man—of course, to him, Tian Feiying was certainly young.

When had he ever seen the perpetually stern Principal Fan be so polite to anyone? In that instant, he carefully re-examined the young man’s bearing, and recalling how Fan Xuegeng had addressed him, he immediately made an assessment. He stood aside, neither leaving nor speaking.

If there was a chance, he naturally wanted to make the acquaintance of such a high-status individual.

“Little Chen, you can go for now. I’ll call you when things are arranged,” Fan Xuegeng said, noticing his subtle intentions.

“Oh, okay.” Chen Yun knew better than to stick around, so he nodded and prepared to leave.

However, Tian Feiying stopped him. “Old Fan, who is this?” he asked.

Hearing this, Fan Xuegeng wondered what medicine this top writer from the Director-General’s secretariat was selling from his gourd today. He didn’t hide anything. “Oh, this is Comrade Chen Yun, the Dean of Teaching Affairs at our school.”

“Secretary Tian, a pleasure to meet you.” Chen Yun, feeling rather overwhelmed by the favor, extended both hands.

Tian Feiying shook his hand with a smile. “It seems my eyes and my luck are pretty good. I just happened to see Comrade Chen Yun’s position on the bulletin board downstairs. As it happens, I’ll need to trouble you with this matter as well.”

“Not at all, not at all. It’s my honor to be of help to Secretary Tian.” Although Chen Yun didn’t know the young man’s background, he could tell from Fan Xuegeng’s attitude how he should respond.

“It’s like this. I have a friend who happens to be studying at your school, and he’s run into some trouble recently…”

Tian Feiying then briefly recounted to the two of them what Xia Mang had told him.

After listening, Chen Yun’s heart leaped into his throat. He asked carefully, “May I ask the name of this student?”

But before Tian Feiying could answer, Fan Xuegeng cut in. “Haha, this person Secretary Tian is talking about is Xia Mang, isn’t he?”

“Hm? Yes, that’s him.” Tian Feiying nodded. “It seems my friend has caused you quite a bit of trouble.”

Fan Xuegeng waved his hand. “No trouble, no trouble at all. To be honest with you, Secretary Tian, we had made a disciplinary action decision based on the situation, but just now, Old Chen and I were discussing it and felt that the initial handling was a bit hasty. So, we decided to reinvestigate the matter.”

“In short, this matter is my responsibility. Please forgive my lack of consideration, Secretary Tian.”

His words were utterly flawless. As for why Tian Feiying would be friends with someone so young, he had no interest. The mere fact that this chief secretary would travel from so far away to his school to worry about such a trivial matter was enough to show how important this Xia Mang was to him.

“Haha, Old Fan, listen to you. You’re the expert in the field of education. I, Little Tian, have always admired you greatly. Seeing you today, it’s clear your reputation is well-deserved,” Tian Feiying said, playing along. “It got me thinking, when my kids start school, I should send them here to be molded by you.”

“Of course! I’d welcome them with open arms!” Fan Xuegeng laughed as well.

Seeing that the matter was settled, Tian Feiying took his leave. “Alright, I won’t disturb your work any longer. I’ll come back another day to have a good drink with you.”

“What? It’s rare for you to visit, Secretary Tian. You must let me fulfill my duties as a host. It’s not too late to leave after a simple meal,” Fan Xuegeng urged him to stay.

Tian Feiying smiled. “Another day, I’ll definitely join you for a proper drink!”

“Haha, then it’s a deal.”

Fan Xuegeng personally saw the great man to the door before closing the smart security door. He immediately turned to Chen Yun and said, “Handle the procedures at once. Get that Xia Mang back into the Special Training Class. And tell Ye Zhongliang that if he can’t treat everyone equally, there are plenty of others who can take his position.”

“What?!” Chen Yun blinked in astonishment. “But the procedures are already completed.”

Fan Xuegeng sat back down in his office chair. “So, have them done again.”

“But Xia Mang caused such a huge mess. He should be punished. Besides, the notice has already been posted. If we bring him back now, it’s bound to cause gossip among the teachers and students,” Chen Yun said, frowning with worry.

Fan Xuegeng stared at him intently and said, word by word, “Old Chen, I just saved you.”

“Huh? What do you mean?” The moment Chen Yun asked, he suddenly recalled the principal’s fabricated story about canceling the disciplinary action. It was clearly a shield for him.

Realizing this, he immediately understood. He couldn’t help but ask, “Principal, that Secretary Tian just now… who is he?”

“Hmph, you don’t need to concern yourself with that. In short, just come up with a reason and get Xia Mang back,” Fan Xuegeng said with a stern face, resuming his usual authoritative manner. “You may go.”

“Yes, alright.” At this point, Chen Yun knew the matter was beyond his control and could only nod in agreement.

He had just turned to leave when he heard Fan Xuegeng’s voice from behind him again. “Also, I’m well aware of your relationship with that kid from the Yun family. Don’t complicate matters any further. The man who was just here is not someone you or the Hengying Group can afford to provoke.”

“Oh, I understand. Thank you, Principal.”

With things laid so bare, Chen Yun finally understood what a huge favor Fan Xuegeng had just done for him. With a heart full of gratitude and lingering fear, he returned to his office. After a moment’s thought, he dialed Yun Hai’s number.

“Uncle Chen, what’s up?”

“Little Hai, something’s come up,” Chen Yun said, roughly explaining the situation with Tian Feiying.

Yun Hai on the other end thought for a moment before replying, “I understand, Uncle Chen. Thank you for the warning.”

After cutting the connection, Yun Hai pondered for a moment, completely unconcerned. “If this kid had such incredible connections, would he be in this kind of state? Besides, I probably would have been dealt with long ago.”

“Principal Fan is a master in the art of managing subordinates. He probably just fabricated some non-existent person to make Chen Yun feel indebted to him.”

“Yes… that would explain it.” At this thought, a contemptuous smile crept onto Yun Hai’s lips.

On the tree-lined path below the Office Building.

“It’s all taken care of. No problem,” Tian Feiying said, making an OK gesture.

Seeing him resolve the issue so effortlessly, Long Junxuan and Ye Fei were utterly astounded, their curiosity about his background growing even stronger.

But Xia Mang hesitated. “Brother Tian, I… don’t really want to go back to the Special Training Class.”

“Huh?” Now it was Tian Feiying’s turn to be confused. “What’s wrong? With your abilities, you should be receiving the best education.”

“It’s like this, Brother Tian.”

“I’m in Class Three now, and I like the atmosphere. No one bothers me anymore. I just want to quietly study for the Mech Specialist exam first and think about other things later.”

“Mech Specialist?” Tian Feiying blinked, slightly surprised. “Not bad. With your ability, that shouldn’t be too difficult.”

“As for whether you go back to the Special Training Class or not, that’s up to you.”

Xia Mang nodded seriously. “Don’t worry, Brother Tian, I’ll work hard.”

“Mm, good that you know.” Tian Feiying patted his shoulder and said, “Actually, I have another matter to discuss this time.”

With that, he glanced at Long Junxuan and Ye Fei, then leaned in to whisper in Xia Mang’s ear, “I’ve sent all the details to your email. This is a matter of great importance. Be sure to read it when you get back.”

Chapter 23: The Wilderness Survival Competition

“Why aren’t you going back to the Special Training Class?”

Long Junxuan was baffled by Xia Mang’s decision.

The latter replied, “The Mech Specialist exam is in about ten days. I don’t want to go back and get caught up in any more of that nonsense.”

Long Junxuan let out a sound of understanding. “I think your Brother Tian has already sorted things out for you. You shouldn’t have so much trouble from now on, right?”

Xia Mang shook his head. “Even if Ye Zhongliang lets me off the hook, Yun Hai won’t let it go. I’ve figured that much out. I’m guessing Yun Hai was the one who put Zhou Chengyun up to causing trouble today.”

“Huh?” Long Junxuan’s eyes widened. “What do you mean?”

“He said I insulted his younger brother, Zhou Chengjun. Zhou Chengjun became my deskmate after I joined the Special Training Class, and we’ve never had any conflicts. So where did this ‘I insulted his brother’ story come from?” Xia Mang sneered. “That being the case, someone must be pulling strings behind the scenes. Plenty of people in this school look down on me, but I can’t think of anyone other than Yun Hai who would go this far to mess with me.”

“That bastard’s courting death!” Ye Fei cursed furiously. “I’m gonna go flip his desk when I get back!”

“Da Fei, let’s not complicate matters. I’m doing just fine in Class Three,” Xia Mang said, waving his hand dismissively.

Long Junxuan hesitated for a moment, then nodded. “Alright, since you’ve made up your mind, I’ll respect your choice. But, if you count the days, the Wilderness Survival Competition is in a month. It’s split into two groups, the Mech Division and the Regular Division. I was wondering if you’d be interested in showing off your skills?”

Xia Mang turned his head, asking in confusion, “What does that have to do with me?”

Long Junxuan laughed heartily. “It has everything to do with you! Judging by your performance these past few days, your personal combat ability is one of the best in the entire school, rivaling even Zhou Chengyun.”

“You should know, Anhuang City No. 1 High School hasn’t done too well in the wilderness survival event in recent years. Ever since Zhou Chengyun won the championship two years ago, the students from No. 4 High have snatched first place from us twice in a row.”

“Then why doesn’t he compete again?” Xia Mang was puzzled. “And what’s this competition mainly about?”

Long Junxuan explained, “The participants have to be under twenty years old, and each person can only compete once. Zhou Chengyun is no longer eligible.”

“I see,” Xia Mang nodded. “So what does this competition have to do with me?”

This time, Ye Fei jumped in first. “Haha, you’re so out of the loop. It’s one of the most followed competitions in all of Anhuang City, and even on the entire Water Source Planet. You tell me what it has to do with you.”

Hearing this, Xia Mang flushed with embarrassment. He usually focused on his Mech research and really didn’t pay much attention to such major events.

Ye Fei continued, “The entire city watches this competition. The final champion gets a certificate, a gold medal, and thirty citizen Honor Points. Now do you see what it has to do with you?”

“What the—thirty Honor Points?”

At this, Xia Mang’s jaw dropped.

His parents toiled for an entire year just to earn a single Honor Point. If he participated in a competition, he could get an amount equivalent to thirty years of their relentless labor.

The threshold for a Prospective Honored Citizen was one hundred points. This reward was nearly a third of that.

It was too generous.

Seeing his expression, Ye Fei continued, “And that’s not all. If you can win the city championship, you’ll advance to the Water Source Planet finals.”

“The rewards there are even better. I heard they not only include precious items like Mechs and gene potions, but you can also be directly promoted to a Prospective Honored Citizen.”

The shocking statement left Xia Mang in a daze.

He had to admit, the rewards and the attention this competition garnered had deeply captivated him.

He could imagine that if he achieved a great result, or even helped No. 1 High reclaim its crown, he would surely become a prominent figure throughout the school.

Most importantly, there were Honor Points.

That was what he cared about most.

“I’m in,” Xia Mang said, his mind made up. “Where can I sign up?”

Long Junxuan clapped his hands together. “That’s more like it. I’ll send you the link later. You just have to go to the official website and fill out the registration form.”

“Are you guys participating too?” Xia Mang asked.

“Ah.” At this, both Long Junxuan and Ye Fei looked awkward. “To be honest, we both competed last year, but our results weren’t that great.”

“Okay,” Xia Mang said, feeling a bit sheepish. “Then what makes you think I’ll get a good result?”

“Because you’re amazing! Zhou Chengyun was able to win the championship back then, and you can fight him to a standstill two years later. We even think you could get a good result in the Water Source Planet finals.”

“Alright, I’ll go look into it first.”

Xia Mang accepted their reasoning, his heart filling with boundless energy.

When he returned to his classroom, he once again became the center of attention.

He had arrived with a fearsome reputation, and not long after, he had fought with the school’s strongest human, Zhou Chengyun. Xia Mang didn’t know it, but his classmates in Class Three had secretly given him the nickname “Yama.”

“I heard them talking. You fought with Zhou Chengyun at noon?”

Surprisingly, as he sat down this time, Zhou Chengjun took the initiative to look up at him, not even complaining about the clattering noise his chair made.

“It was just a misunderstanding, really,” Xia Mang explained. He didn’t want a fabricated issue to affect his relationship with his new deskmate.

“Hmph, I think he was born in the wrong body. He’s got the brain of a bear.” Zhou Chengjun didn’t seem to like his older brother.

“Uh… alright.” Xia Mang didn’t know what to say.

“You should fight Zhou Chengyun more in the future. It’d be best if you beat him stupid,” Zhou Chengjun said with a completely serious face.

Hearing this, Xia Mang turned his head. “Huh? What did you say?”

Zhou Chengjun shook his head. “I don’t have a habit of repeating myself, and I’m sure you heard me. That’s right, Zhou Chengyun is already stupid enough. Maybe if you beat him even stupider, the two negatives will make a positive.”

“This…” Xia Mang was rendered speechless.

Zhou Chengjun ignored his reaction and suddenly said something startling, “Alright, don’t disturb my studies.”

“Uh… my dear deskmate, who started talking to whom? No, who’s disturbing whom here?” Xia Mang felt a tearless grief at his new deskmate’s scattered train of thought.

He chuckled to himself, closed his eyes, and logged into his private email.

Sure enough, there were two unread messages. One was from Tian Feiying, and the other was from Long Junxuan.

He opened Tian Feiying’s first.

“Student Xia Mang, you must come to the Chief’s office on the top floor of the Hall of Honor after school tonight. Your training plan has been approved.”

The message was short, just a single sentence, but it contained extremely important information.

Although he didn’t know what the training plan specifically entailed, judging by Wang Yiyuan and the others’ reactions at the time, it must be something of great significance.

He made a mental note of it and opened Long Junxuan’s email. It contained a URL, which was probably the official website for the Youth Wilderness Survival Competition. Unfortunately, he had no way to access the internet now, so he would have to wait until he could go to the library…

The day passed quickly.

During a break between classes, Xia Mang went to the library, accessed the internet, and submitted his registration for the Wilderness Survival Competition. Afterward, he dedicated himself to studying his Mech textbooks.

His time with his deskmate, Zhou Chengjun, was peaceful enough. To others, Zhou Chengjun’s personality was nothing more than an unbearable quirk—he couldn’t stand the slightest sound from those around him. Fortunately, Xia Mang was also a weirdo who could sit perfectly still for long periods. Thus, when the two weirdos were put together, a rare sense of peace and harmony emerged…

Outside the Anhuang City Hall of Honor branch.

Xia Mang had come here once more, but his mood was completely different. He was much more relaxed than during his tense and frantic first visit.

“Who goes there?”

The guards at the gate were as dutiful as ever. Seeing an unauthorized person approach, two of them immediately moved to block the way. But when they got a clear look at Xia Mang’s face, they all froze. “It’s you.”

The one who spoke was a stranger, not the one who had led the way last time, but Xia Mang had a faint impression of him.

He simply nodded. “I’m here on business.”

“Oh, okay, you can go in.”

The soldier quickly let him pass. He clearly remembered that his own superior had been demoted and put under review because of this young master.

Although he didn’t know the specific reason, the official notice from above was very clear: all visitors were to be treated equally, without prejudice.

That being the case, they didn’t dare complicate matters.

He ascended straight to the top floor.

This floor was different from all the others. Both the elevator and the stairwell exits were guarded by dedicated soldiers, and their equipment and uniforms were a tier above those at the main entrance.

After stating his purpose, Xia Mang’s identity was verified, and only then was he allowed to enter.

Arriving outside the Chief’s office, he knocked lightly.

“Come in,” a voice from inside called out. It was Qian Kun.

Upon entering, Xia Mang saw three or four middle-aged men in suits already seated inside. Tian Feiying was among them.

The spacious office was not lavishly decorated, but it was bright and clean, giving off a very comfortable feeling.

“Young Xia Mang, we’ve been waiting for quite some time, haha.” Qian Kun stood up with a warm laugh and greeted him.

Xia Mang smiled apologetically. “I’m very sorry, school let out late.”

As he spoke, he followed Qian Kun’s gesture and sat down on an empty sofa.

“Haha, school is what’s important, especially for a promising young man like Student Xia. It’s no trouble for us to wait a little,” Tian Feiying said with a hearty laugh.

“That’s right, school can’t be delayed,” the others chimed in.

“Uh… you’re all too kind, leaders,” Xia Mang said, scratching his head a little awkwardly.

To be honest, he wasn’t accustomed to them being so enthusiastic.

Tian Feiying noticed his discomfort and steered the conversation back to the main topic. “We asked Student Xia to come here today for an important matter.”

As he spoke, he took out a thick stack of documents.

“This is the Special Talent Training Plan, approved and issued by the higher-ups. It is specifically designed for special talents and has the legal force of a contract. Take a look.”

With that, he handed the stack of documents over.

Chapter 24: The Seed Training Plan

“Silver-tier Seed Training Plan Agreement…”

As he read through the contents, bit by bit, Xia Mang felt as if he were sinking deeper and deeper into a dream.

“Student Xia Mang, what do you think? Do you have any objections to the terms of the contract?”

It was Tian Feiying’s question that finally brought him back to his senses.

“Is everything in here for me?”

Xia Mang asked, still in disbelief.

“Of course,” Qian Kun said, standing up. “The contract stipulates that you are to receive a training fund of five thousand star coins every month, as well as one vial of Fengmen Potion every six months. All of this belongs to you.”

“But don’t overlook this—the demands of this training plan are also extremely strict.”

“A Silver-tier Seed enjoys such high-level treatment, so naturally, they must put in the corresponding effort to be worthy of it.”

“Therefore, completing two difficult-level missions each year is mandatory.”

“Of course, for these difficult-level missions, you can choose multi-person missions executed by a team, or you can choose solo missions that you undertake alone.”

“If you choose a multi-person mission, the system will not consider your individual strength, and you might encounter opponents much stronger than you. For solo missions, however, the system will fully take your current strength into account when generating a list of options.”

“Think it over. Will you sign?” After explaining, Qian Kun took a leisurely sip of his tea.

However, just as he set down his teacup, he saw that Xia Mang had already finished signing.

“So quickly? You didn’t even consider it?” Qian Kun asked, surprised.

Tian Feiying, on the other hand, began to applaud. “Excellent. Student Xia may be young, but his spirit is extraordinary.”

Qian Kun, however, said with concern, “Xia Mang, you still have a chance to reconsider. Although you’ve signed your name, the agreement hasn’t been submitted yet. Do you have any idea how difficult these missions are?”

Xia Mang shook his head. “I don’t. But judging by your and Secretary-General Tian’s reactions, they seem quite difficult.”

“Quite difficult? For you, they’re basically impossible to complete,” Qian Kun said, shaking his head.

“The Hall of Honor’s missions are primarily divided into three categories: commercial, combat, and construction.”

“With your current abilities, you can probably only just manage combat missions. Unfortunately, difficult-level combat missions are no joke. You would be in great danger.”

After speaking, Qian Kun sighed. “To be honest, we’ve never had a Silver-tier Seed on Water Source Planet before. We didn’t know what the higher-ups required of such special talents. But when we saw the terms of the training plan, we were all taken aback.”

After hearing him out, Xia Mang looked at Tian Feiying. “Secretary-General, do you believe so as well?”

The latter nodded. “Indeed. It is quite difficult to complete.”

“Water Source Planet is, after all, only a Tier-3 Planet. Our resources and equipment can’t compare to those of higher-tier planets. The standards for a Silver-tier Seed were likely designed for geniuses from those higher-tier planets. It’s just too difficult.”

Tian Feiying took a deep breath. “As much as we’d love for a Silver-tier elite to emerge from our world, this is ultimately your personal decision. Chief Qian is right—one should always act within their capabilities. Take your time to think it over.”

Their words truly made Xia Mang pause and reconsider.

It was undeniable that the Fengmen Potion was renowned and incredibly valuable. The five thousand star coins a month were also quite tempting to Xia Mang.

But the conditions for obtaining them were exceptionally difficult.

He thought for a long while before suddenly looking up and saying with determination, “Secretary-General Tian, Chief Qian, I’ve made my decision. I won’t go back on it.”

“Since the higher-ups have offered these terms, it must mean that while the chances are slim, they’re not non-existent. Besides, doesn’t the agreement state that I’ll have access to the gravity room, freestyle fencing, competitive fencing, the reaction training room, and the gymnasium?”

“These are all facilities that can help improve my personal abilities.”

“That’s true, but…” Qian Kun frowned. “That’s all we can provide for you on Water Source Planet. Even if you have the money, you probably won’t be able to buy anything more precious than the Fengmen Potion. In fact, the potion provided to you is specially allocated from a higher-tier planet via spatial teleportation technology. After all, a place like ours has no stock of such a rare commodity.”

“In other words, the help we can offer you is very limited.”

Xia Mang remained resolute. “I want to give it a try. If you don’t push yourself, you’ll never know your limits. Besides, I firmly believe that greater challenges often conceal greater opportunities.”

“Besides, Chief Qian, although Water Source Planet doesn’t have a supply of many things, once I have the means, I can pay the extra spatial teleportation and import fees to buy them from a higher-tier planet.”

Looking at his bright smile, Qian Kun was filled with helplessness. “I have to say, I admire your ambition, Student Xia. But you should know that items purchased from higher-tier planets cost at least three times the original price. Alas, it’s a fine idea, but reality is harsh.”

As he finished speaking, the other leaders present couldn’t help but sigh, their eyes filled with regret.

Their planet had finally produced such an outstanding talent, and the higher-ups had even sent down a Silver-tier training plan, yet this soil couldn’t provide rich enough nutrients.

It was like having a mountain of gold right in front of them, but without any tools, they could only look at it, unable to take it away.

The feeling was truly agonizing.

“It’s no problem. I’ve signed,” Xia Mang said, nodding again.

“Good!” Tian Feiying exclaimed. “Heroes have always emerged from the young! In that case, I’ll congratulate you in advance, Student Xia, and hope that you go further and further, spurred on by the Seed Plan.”

“Welcome to the ranks of the Hall of Honor’s talents.”

Qian Kun also extended his hand and shook Xia Mang’s.

“The information on your Identity Chip has been entered into our database. Your current status in the Hall of Honor is a member of the Fifteenth Elite Division. You’re the only one on Water Source Planet, so work hard and strive to join the ranks of the Honored Citizens soon.”

“I will,” Xia Mang replied with a serious nod.

Tian Feiying stood up. “Alright, then. These are for you.”

He handed over a blue briefcase and said slowly, “Inside is your first issue of the Fengmen Potion, as well as methods for improving your special abilities.”

“You can look through these when you get back.”

Upon hearing this, Xia Mang was instantly overjoyed. The value of the Fengmen Potion was self-evident; this renowned technological product had been on the list of treasures Qin Minghua had given him, treasures that could simultaneously enhance the strength of both the Brain Core and the Life Core.

And for him, methods to improve his special abilities were akin to martial arts manuals—exactly what he needed most right now.

Tian Feiying continued, “Of course, these methods for improving special abilities are all introductory versions. If you want to obtain the advanced and even higher-level versions, you’ll need to meet the corresponding requirements to exchange for them.”

“Understood.”

“Very good. Then I have nothing else for you,” Tian Feiying said, sitting back down. “You may go back for now. The items from the training plan will be delivered to you periodically. As for how you grow, that will depend on your own development. During this time, we at the Hall of Honor will not intervene in any way. However, if you fail to meet the agreement’s requirements by the deadline, your Seed status will be downgraded or revoked.”

Hearing this, Xia Mang bowed and took his leave.

After he left, Qian Kun looked at Tian Feiying. “Secretary-General, our world has finally produced a Silver-tier Seed. I think we should be more proactive and secure this talent. Otherwise, it would be a real shame.”

The latter nodded. “I agree. In principle, we are not allowed to intervene. However, ‘the heavens are high, and the emperor is far away.’ You can handle it as you see fit.”

“Providing some appropriate help to assist him in achieving the agreement’s goals is also the Director-General’s intention.”

“Yes. Let’s hope he has good luck.”

————

Back at home.

Xia Mang eagerly opened the case. A vial of gray liquid, shimmering with specks of starlight, lay quietly in a custom-fitted recess. In the top-right corner were several black chips.

“Fengmen Potion,” Xia Mang murmured, licking his lips.

This was an advanced nutrient solution developed by the Fengmen Workshop on Mars Base. It could simultaneously increase the strength of the Life Core and Brain Core, but it also had many side effects. The biggest one was that it had to be diluted with pure water before consumption, and the ratio had to be precise. A little too much, and the overly potent medicine would damage one’s cells; a little too little, and its efficacy would drop exponentially.

Furthermore, some people experienced dizziness and vomiting after taking the Fengmen Potion.

Therefore, a precision measuring instrument was necessary to consume it.

Of course, these weren’t Xia Mang’s primary concerns. Right now, he had only one goal: to become a qualified Mech Specialist.

He didn’t have a suitable measuring instrument at home, so he could only carefully place the Fengmen Potion back into its recess to be used later. Then, he took out the chips and inserted them into his e-reader to browse their contents.

As expected, the information recorded on them was all about training methods for strengthening his special abilities.

Regarding his three special abilities, his absolute memory had already been proven in his daily life.

As for what was called absolute coordination, it referred to the ability to mobilize all the body’s muscle groups and functional nerves to their fullest extent to participate in a reaction.

This was reflected in his explosive strength and much nimbler speed.

Only the final ability, lightning attraction and control, had yet to manifest.

According to the descriptions on the chips, the training methods for absolute memory and absolute coordination were relatively straightforward, requiring only training with the corresponding scientific equipment. Only the lightning attraction and control ability involved a special field he had almost never encountered before.

That was the use and stimulation of bio-current.

Bio-current referred to the very weak electrical currents and potential changes that accompany human neural activity and muscle movement, which in turn generate a bio-current. To put it simply, it was the energy the human body naturally carried.

This energy exists in every living cell. In the past, it was considered very weak, but in reality, powerful interstellar warriors had long since trained the intensity of their bio-current to terrifying levels.

Under the right activation conditions, bio-current could be converted and manifested in various forms.

For example, by using bio-current to attract the electrons orbiting water molecules or to gather micro-particles like hydrogen and oxygen ions in the air, one could control or generate water currents.

“In other words, everyone has bio-current in their body, and mobilizing these currents requires brainwaves to drive them.”

Xia Mang muttered to himself, coming to an understanding. If he hadn’t awakened the ability of lightning attraction and control, his brainwaves wouldn’t contain this special frequency band. Consequently, he wouldn’t be able to activate the bio-current for this purpose.

This meant the starting point was his brainwaves.

But how could he use his brainwaves to control the electrical charges present in every cell?

His gaze then locked onto a set of special symbols at the bottom of the e-reader’s screen…

Chapter 25: The Gendaya Atlas

It was a string of mysterious characters that Xia Mang had never seen before.

Following it was a corresponding annotation.

“So this is called Gendaya script,” Xia Mang realized.

It was a type of wondrous symbol discovered by humanity during its development.

Before humans on Earth left the solar system, they had gone through the development of five Solar Ages. According to Mayan records, Gendaya was the civilization that appeared in the first Solar Age.

Legend had it that the intelligent beings of that era were about one meter tall. The men possessed a jade-green third eye, which contained powerful supernatural abilities with various functions like precognition and dealing lethal damage. The women, however, did not have this, which made them somewhat fearful of the men. But the women’s wombs had the ability to communicate with gods. Before pregnancy, they would contact the gods who wished to be reincarnated and then decide whether to have a child.

In short, the Gendaya civilization was a civilization of superpowers.

At first, humanity on Earth had limited knowledge and considered this just a baseless legend fabricated by the Mayans, lacking any scientific basis. However, as the civilization of the fifth Solar Age—the one modern humans belonged to—grew increasingly powerful, their understanding and exploration of their home planet, Earth, became ever more profound and comprehensive.

Several hundred years ago, a team of scientists discovered a carving imprinted with mysterious script in the Himalayas.

After a long period of deciphering and drawing on alien civilizations, it was learned that this mysterious script was a remnant of the Gendaya civilization from the first Solar Age.

Over time, as more and more stone tablets were discovered, humanity’s understanding of the Gendaya script deepened. Eventually, they found that atlases formed by arranging this script in a specific way possessed miraculous effects. By meditating and silently reciting them, the human brain could guide brainwaves to communicate with the various energies of the material world, activating the third eye hidden deep within the genes.

At this moment, the Gendaya Atlas displayed before Xia Mang recorded an entry-level lightning control technique.

After he finished looking at it, he relied on his formidable memory to easily commit the entire diagram’s layout and characters to mind. Then, he slowly closed his eyes and calmed his mind to meditate.

Soon, Xia Mang clearly sensed his brainwaves being stimulated by some mysterious power, becoming surging and active. His temples also felt a faint tingling numbness. The more he focused, the stronger this sensation became.

He couldn’t spare a moment for surprise, nor could he meticulously experience what this miraculous power felt like. He only felt that, all of a sudden, his brainwaves seemed to have a rope attached to them, which he could grasp and control at will.

Perhaps because the entry-level lightning control technique was too simple, Xia Mang quickly followed the sensation and successfully triggered the electrical charges contained within his cells, slowly condensing a crackling ball of electricity in his palm.

He opened his eyes and stared at it in a daze. Although it wasn’t large, he could still clearly feel the energy contained within.

“There’s still room for improvement.”

Succeeding in condensing it on the first try was already enough to be delighted about.

He believed that with practice and the strengthening of his Gene evolution level, his ability to manipulate his bio-current would also improve significantly.

Severing the connection between his brainwaves and bio-current, the small electric ball immediately dissipated. Xia Mang continued to read the information. Below the Gendaya Atlas were introductions to other uses of the lightning control technique.

After memorizing all of this, Xia Mang turned off his e-reader.

Indeed, an entry-level supernatural technique wasn’t hard to master; diligent practice was all it took to become proficient. Thinking of this, he couldn’t help but feel a little anxious to obtain higher-level content.

Calming himself down, he took out the Mech materials and continued on his journey of arduous study.

Meanwhile, at Hengying Group in Anhuang City.

Xia Yuntian, as the security guard on duty, stood meticulously in the guard booth, observing his surroundings.

His work hadn’t been going smoothly recently. For various reasons, people were always finding fault with him, and he encountered an unusually high number of eccentric individuals. What particularly infuriated him was that last time, he was fined half a month’s salary just for slightly relaxing his back while standing. He had never encountered such a peculiar situation before.

Xia Yuntian felt as if someone was deliberately targeting him, but he had no idea who he had offended.

He considered himself to be sufficiently low-key in his daily conduct and hadn’t made enemies with anyone. He was completely baffled as to why he was being targeted for no reason.

But thoughts were just thoughts. Without any proof, Xia Yuntian didn’t dwell on it too much. He just clung to the idea that “flies don’t bite a seamless egg” and improved the quality of his work to prevent others from finding fault with him.

The evenings were rather quiet.

Those who were supposed to leave work had already left. There was practically no one around.

At his usual pace, he only had to stand for another ten minutes or so before he could switch shifts with a colleague and return to the duty room to rest for a while.

However, just then, Xia Yuntian suddenly heard a strange noise. He followed the sound and saw four or five men with black stockings over their heads, carrying large machetes, walking quickly toward the gatehouse.

Judging by their appearance, he was certain they were up to no good. He immediately picked up his walkie-talkie to notify the others in the duty room.

Just as he finished speaking, the group had already arrived.

“Damn it, you dare to make a call!”

Without another word, one of them came up, grabbed Xia Yuntian by his clothes, and forcefully dragged him close before spitting in his face. “Just a lackey.”

“Get him!”

He kicked Xia Yuntian hard in the abdomen, completely ignoring the dull thud as the latter fell heavily to the ground. The others swarmed forward with their blades, striking him forcefully with the blunt side of their machetes. Some even used the sharp edge to slash at less vital areas. Before long, Xia Yuntian collapsed in a pool of blood, losing consciousness.

Seeing this, the black-clad men quickly fled the scene.

Another five or six minutes passed before the other security guards arrived late. Seeing the scene, they hurriedly dialed the emergency number…

Cuihu Road, commoner’s district.

Xia Mang was engrossed in a book when he suddenly heard his Identity Chip ringing.

Seeing it was his mom, he immediately answered, “Hello, Mom? What’s wrong?”

Du Dongyan said anxiously, “Come to the hospital, quickly! Something’s happened to your dad!”

“What?” Xia Mang felt as if he had been struck by lightning. After getting the address, he immediately bolted out the door.

Anhuang City Second People’s Hospital.

Du Dongyan was waiting outside the emergency room, sobbing softly. There was no one beside her, making her look particularly desolate and lonely.

The sound of hurried footsteps approached from a distance. Xia Mang arrived, panting for breath. The first thing he asked was, “Mom, what happened?”

“I don’t know,” Du Dongyan choked out. “I was about to leave work and head home when I got a call from your dad’s workplace. They said something had happened to him… that he was attacked and slashed by a group of thugs, and he was covered in blood.”

Seeing his mother’s heartbroken expression, Xia Mang clenched his fists so tightly his teeth ground together, and the veins on his wrists bulged.

“If I find out who did this, I’ll make them pay in blood!”

His voice, hoarse and low, seemed to be squeezed from the depths of his throat.

The long, empty corridor of the emergency room felt oppressive and grim.

Thirty minutes later, a doctor in a white coat finally opened the doors to the operating room. The moment he stepped out, he was surrounded by Xia Mang and Du Dongyan.

“It’s alright. The patient just lost too much blood. We’ve already transferred blood from the blood bank. With a few days of good rest, his life shouldn’t be in danger.”

“As for the medical expenses, you can go to the billing office to pay.”

He gave a slight nod and walked away wearily.

Hearing this news, the mother and son finally breathed a small sigh of relief and thanked him repeatedly. But soon, Du Dongyan began to worry again. The surgery costs were definitely not low. Where was she going to get the money?

“Mom, let’s go check first.”

Xia Mang took his mother’s hand and went to the billing office. “Excuse me, I’m here to pay the bill.”

The staff member in charge of billing was a young woman in her early twenties. She glanced up at them, her tone inexplicably arrogant. “Your total fee is two thousand, seven hundred and twenty-five star coins.”

Before Xia Mang and his mother could reply, she added, “You probably don’t need a hospital room, do you?”

This attitude, on top of his already foul mood, infuriated Xia Mang even more. “How do you know we don’t need a room?”

The young woman said dismissively, “The rooms are a bit expensive. A standard room is seventy a day.”

“What about a premium room?” Xia Mang asked.

The young woman shot him a look. “A premium room? Those are very expensive.”

She fiddled with her fingernails, not answering Xia Mang’s question.

He slammed his hand on the marble counter at the window and growled, “I asked you how much.”

“What’s with the attitude? Even if I told you, could you afford it?” The young woman got angry, no longer hiding her contempt as she sneered, “Look at you. You clearly don’t have the money but still have to pretend you’re rich. Oh, all for the sake of that pitiful pride of yours~”

“That’s enough, Little Mang. Let’s go. We’ll take your dad home.”

Du Dongyan whispered, tugging at her son who was on the verge of exploding.

Hearing this, Xia Mang turned his head and said softly, “Mom, how can we be at ease taking Dad home? With such serious injuries, it’s better for him to stay in the hospital.”

After saying this, he calmed himself down and, changing his expression, said to the receptionist, “Miss, could you please arrange a standard room for my dad?”

“Hmph!” Who knew the young woman had such a temper. She turned her head away. “Oh? Weren’t you just boasting about wanting a premium room? Why the change of heart so quickly? Tsk, what a pity. There are no standard rooms left either.”

“How can there be none left?” Xia Mang’s eyes widened.

“I said there are none, so there are none. Someone just booked the last one online,” the receptionist retorted loudly, not backing down.

Xia Mang snorted coldly. “What do you think this is, a hotel?! Booking rooms in advance?!”

The receptionist turned her head to the side and said no more.

Her behavior made Xia Mang want to smash the whole place to pieces, but in the end, his reason won out over impulse.

He suppressed his anger and apologized nicely, “Miss, I was in the wrong just now. I was worried and didn’t control my emotions. Please, could you arrange a room for us? My dad’s injuries are too serious to be delayed.”

The receptionist sneered dismissively. “That’s more like it. You should act according to your station. If you had been like this from the start, I wouldn’t have bothered wasting my breath on you.”

“Pay up!”

She held out her hand, palm up.

“Can you deduct it directly from my citizen’s personal identity account?” Xia Mang suddenly realized he had no cash on him.

However, his personal citizen account did have the five thousand star coins transferred from the Hall of Honor.

He had just finished speaking when a voice drifted to his ear, “Are you Xia Yuntian’s family?”

Chapter 26: To Do Right By the Past!

A man in a suit and leather shoes, wearing black-rimmed glasses, approached them. His features were particularly refined, exuding a scholarly air.

“Hello, we’re Xia Yuntian’s family.”

Du Dongyan nodded.

“Oh, hello. My name is Zhu Bingyi. I’m with the Hengying Group.”

“Oh, hello, hello.” Du Dongyan hurriedly greeted him with enthusiasm.

Zhu Bingyi was also quite polite. He took an envelope from his coat pocket. “Our chairman just learned about this matter and sent me to deliver one thousand five hundred star coins to pay… um… Xia Yuntian’s full salary for this month.”

“Ah, thank you, thank you.” Du Dongyan quickly accepted it with both hands.

However, Xia Mang heard an underlying meaning. He took a step forward, looked Zhu Bingyi straight in the eye, and asked, “What do you mean by that?”

The man was caught off guard for a moment and stammered, “Ah, well, about that…”

“Hmph, you’re trying to fire my dad, aren’t you?” Xia Mang answered for him with a cold smile.

Hearing his words, Du Dongyan’s eyes widened. “What? Sir, are you trying to fire our Old Xia?”

By now, Zhu Bingyi had composed himself and said with an air of self-justification, “To be honest, Xia Yuntian’s effective attendance this month was only four days. However, based on humanitarian principles, we are paying his full salary and performance bonus for the month…”

“And so, after Old Xia recovers, his body will certainly not be able to handle the intensity of the work…”

“That’s enough, don’t say another word.” Xia Mang cut him off without ceremony. He then took the envelope of money from his mother’s hands, threw it at Zhu Bingyi, and said with a dismissive wave, “Take your stinking money and get lost.”

“You… How can you be so rude? I try to be nice, and this is the thanks I get!” Zhu Bingyi picked up the envelope, muttering in frustration.

Xia Mang couldn’t be bothered with him. He was thoroughly disappointed with the Hengying Group’s conduct and silently resolved to investigate who was really behind this attack…

Zhu Bingyi left the hospital and reported the situation to Yun Hai.

The latter was lying in bed, aimlessly scrolling through his phone. When he saw the call, he answered immediately.

After hearing Zhu Bingyi’s report, he grinned. “My old man really knows how to get things done, much better than I do.”

Zhu Bingyi couldn’t help but say, “But I feel like this isn’t right.”

“Alright, you can keep your opinions on this matter to yourself.”

Yun Hai hung up and dialed another number. “Sister Li, how are things? Have they arrived at the hospital yet?”

“They have, hehe. That kid wanted a regular ward, but I really gave him a hard time for it,” a woman’s bell-like laughter came from the other side.

“Haha, thanks a lot, Sister Li. I’ll treat you to dinner some other day,” Yun Hai said, very pleased.

“Hee hee, I don’t just want you to treat me to dinner, I want to eat you~” a coquettish voice purred from the other end of the line.

“Haha, no problem. I’ll be sure to dote on you properly next time.” Yun Hai blew a kiss happily and hung up the phone.

While he was in high spirits, Xia Mang, after much trouble, finally managed to get Xia Yuntian into a regular ward. As for the money, Xia Mang explained to his mother that it was his allowance from the military.

The reason was half-true at best. Although Du Dongyan was suspicious, she had no choice but to believe him.

After getting his father settled, Xia Mang said goodbye to his mother and left the ward. After some thought, he took a bus to the Hall of Honor.

He had apparently become a familiar face there; the soldiers barely bothered to question him and just let him pass.

Xia Mang found the intelligence office and went inside. He said to a staff member, “Hello, I’d like to purchase some intelligence.”

“Certainly. What level of intelligence do you require?”

“The stabbing case that happened outside the Hengying Group today.”

“Oh, one moment. A search confirms we do have a file on that. The fee is twenty-five star coins.”

“Alright.”

With a stack of papers in hand, Xia Mang found a chair in the lobby of the Hall of Honor, sat down, and began to read.

The report was quite detailed, with the time and place recorded precisely. However, the column for the perpetrators’ origins still had the single word “Unknown” written in large characters.

After reading it, he hadn’t found the answers he was looking for. Xia Mang stared blankly for a while, then contacted Long Junxuan.

“Hey, Old Long.”

“Hello? Xia Mang, what’s wrong? You don’t sound right.”

“My dad’s in trouble. I suspect Yun Hai is behind it. I’d like you to help me look into it.”

“What?! Something happened to Uncle?”

“Yes, at the Hengying Group.”

“Alright, I’ll investigate this thoroughly. I’ll contact you as soon as I have news.”

“Thank you so much.”

“There you go again. We’re brothers. Of course I’ll help you.”

After ending the call, Xia Mang stood up, feeling lost, and began to walk toward the main entrance.

But then he ran into an unexpected acquaintance.

“Yu Wanyin? What is she doing here?”

Just as Xia Mang stepped out the main doors, he saw the graceful silhouette of a woman four or five meters ahead, holding the arm of a man in white. They were acting intimately, talking and laughing.

Her laughter, carried by the wind, was still as ethereal as a fairy’s tune. But in Xia Mang’s heart, it was no longer beautiful, only a reminder of old scars.

The sight truly filled his heart with an indescribable bitterness.

He suddenly recalled a famous saying: for every goddess in a loser’s heart, there’s a man who’s already tired of playing with her.

Although he didn’t know the relationship between that man and Yu Wanyin, that was indeed his first impression.

In this plaza, the Hall of Honor was the only building.

So they must have just come from there as well. Logically, given Yu Wanyin’s current status, she couldn’t be an Honored Citizen and naturally wouldn’t have the right to enter the Hall of Honor.

After all, not everyone could have special circumstances like his.

Thinking along those lines, the man must be someone decorated with honor.

“So young and already an Honored Citizen. He really is outstanding.”

Though his spirits were low after the double blow, Xia Mang had to admit this fact.

Honor points could not be inherited or transferred. Someone like Yun Hai, despite his privileged family background, was still not an Honored Citizen, because the iron laws of the Hall of Honor could not be broken.

Lost in thought, he subconsciously started walking along the wall. Perhaps if he stuck to the corner, Yu Wanyin wouldn’t notice him.

But as fate would have it, it seemed God had no intention of letting him retreat and hide.

He heard the two, who had been harmonious just moments before, suddenly break into an argument. The man’s voice boomed, “Impossible! I’ve already said it twice, absolutely impossible.”

“But, my mom and dad both want to meet you,” Yu Wanyin’s voice sounded like she was pleading.

“I’ll tell you one more time, if you ever mention meeting my parents in front of me again, I’ll leave for Jiuyuan Star immediately!” The man was furious, his voice carrying far.

Jiuyuan Star? So he’s from a Tier-2 Planet? No wonder he became an Honored Citizen at such a young age, Xia Mang thought to himself.

He had no intention of getting involved. From their conversation, it was clear they were a couple, so their private matters had nothing to do with him. There was really no need for him to butt in.

So he quickened his pace, wanting to leave this troublesome place.

He was already annoyed enough, and seeing the girl he once had a crush on tangled up with someone else was just adding fuel to the fire.

But the plaza was simply too large. As he moved, he could still hear the dispute behind him.

“But you promised me. You said you’d meet my parents to talk about our engagement as soon as I was yours,” Yu Wanyin’s voice was filled with grievance.

The man suddenly let out a few cold laughs and cursed, “You’re so fucking naive. Do you really think I, the heir to the Nangong Group, would marry some low-class woman from a third-class planet?”

“To me, you were just a game.”

Hearing this, Yu Wanyin couldn’t help but burst into tears.

“Hmph, get off me. I was willing to play with you a little longer, but I didn’t expect you to be so clueless. How annoying. Get lost!”

Immediately after, there was the sound of someone falling, accompanied by a girl’s sobs. “Nangong Jin, come back! Nangong Jin~”

Xia Mang felt something was off about her voice. He couldn’t help but glance back, only to see Yu Wanyin had been thrown to the ground by the man, her face tear-streaked like a rain-soaked blossom.

The man, meanwhile, walked forward with a blank expression, cursing as he went, “Tch, what a piece of work.”

This scene sent a pain like a twisting knife through Xia Mang’s heart.

In a fit of rage, he cast aside all his psychological barriers, spun around, and charged toward the man named Nangong Jin with great strides.

The latter was just about to open the door of his luxury car when he saw an unexpected fist flying at him from the side.

He instinctively leaned back at the waist, dodging the thunderous blow.

“Who are you?” Nangong Jin frowned, staring at Xia Mang.

The latter didn’t bother to speak, once again leaping into the air with a flying kick.

“Damn it, some piece of trash dares to show off in front of me!”

Nangong Jin spat on the ground. With lightning speed that left no time to react, he took a quick step forward. As he fluidly twisted his body to evade Xia Mang’s attack, he used the momentum to drive an elbow into the latter’s face.

In an instant, Xia Mang felt his nose fill with the thick scent of blood before he was thrown backward, landing flat on his back.

This was the first time he had been defeated in a direct confrontation since receiving the baptism of the Origin Soul.

And it was a complete, undeniable defeat.

“Hmph, psycho.” Nangong Jin dusted off his clothes, got into his car, and instantly shot into the sky, disappearing over the horizon.

Not far away, Yu Wanyin stared blankly at the scene, muttering to herself, “Xia Mang, how could it be you?”

“Heh, and why couldn’t it be me?” Xia Mang lay on the ground, staring up at the deep, dark clouds with a dazed expression.

Yu Wanyin dried her tears, but she couldn’t stop the quiet sobs. “What are you doing here?”

Xia Mang replied, “I just happened to have some business of my own.”

“What business could you have?” Yu Wanyin stood up and began to fix her makeup. “This is the Hall of Honor, a place that has nothing to do with you. Don’t tell me you’ve been following me.”

Xia Mang also got to his feet. He turned his back to her and forced a sneer. “Ha, Yu Wanyin, I admit I used to like you. But think whatever you want, I really did come here for my own business.”

“I never wanted to interfere with what’s between you and that man.”

At this, his emotions suddenly flared, and he roared, “But I just fucking can’t stand seeing the woman I used to like get bullied and humiliated like this by someone else!”

“You… you said you like me?” Yu Wanyin stared at him blankly. “But… but do you know who he is?”

Xia Mang hung his head and shook it gently. Being hit with one blow after another in a single day would exhaust even a man of steel. His voice was a little weak. “I didn’t think that far.”

He suddenly turned around to face the girl who had once captivated his heart, the girl who had appeared countless times even in his dreams, and said earnestly, “Yu Wanyin, I like you. This is the first time I’ve ever said that to you so seriously, but it will also be the last. What I did today… it’s given closure to that secret crush I once had…”

After speaking, he turned and left decisively, without a single look back, leaving only the girl standing alone, stunned, in the night wind…

Chapter 27: Bai Ke’s Request

A week passed in the blink of an eye.

Xia Yuntian had regained consciousness, and his injuries were gradually improving.

During this time, Long Junxuan and Ye Fei had visited several times, bringing fruits and other nourishing gifts.

These past few days, the two of them had used every connection they had to investigate, but they still couldn’t identify the group that had attacked Xia Yuntian. Although they strongly suspected Yun Hai had a motive, they had no proof and couldn’t be certain.

Besides, Xia Yuntian himself couldn’t provide any details. The group had appeared too suddenly and acted too swiftly, their faces covered the entire time. He’d had no time to react.

The police had come a few times to take his statement, but that hadn’t resolved anything either.

With the Mech exam drawing closer, Xia Mang had no choice but to quiet his mind and focus on his final preparations.

Life in Class Three was relatively peaceful. Zhou Chengyun hadn’t come looking for trouble again, and Bai Ke wasn’t like Ye Zhongliang, who constantly made things difficult for him. Compared to the Special Training Class, this place was practically a paradise. If there was one small issue, it was his interactions with Zhou Chengjun.

The slightest noise would often earn him a stern threat from his deskmate, but thankfully, it was well within the range of his tolerance.

Besides, Xia Mang had discovered that Zhou Chengjun was actually a very talented young man.

He often composed his own music and wrote his own lyrics. In any case, his attention was certainly not on his studies. Ahem, getting off-topic.

But occasionally, when Xia Mang heard him humming, the melodies were truly beautiful.

Xia Mang himself lacked any artistic talent and, in turn, held a special admiration for an artistic genius like him.

This day, as usual, he returned to the classroom after lunch. Just as he sat down, he heard Zhou Chengjun’s soft humming next to him again.

It was as beautiful as before, but as Xia Mang listened, he found himself involuntarily drawn into the mood of the song. His very soul began to resonate with it. A vast panorama seemed to unfold before his eyes—a high, clear sky, with wild geese flying south toward the horizon—expansive, melodious, and pure.

“That’s beautiful.”

He couldn’t help but praise it aloud. “Whose song is that?”

Zhou Chengjun’s humming stopped abruptly. He turned his head to look at him. “What did you say?”

“Ah?” Xia Mang was startled and smiled awkwardly. “I’m sorry. You were singing so beautifully just now, I couldn’t help but say something. I’ll be quiet now, I promise I won’t say another word.”

He took out a textbook as he spoke.

Zhou Chengjun continued to watch him, only speaking again after a long moment. “Do you truly mean that?”

“Huh?” Hearing his question, Xia Mang subconsciously looked up.

“I said, were you being serious when you said my song was beautiful?” Zhou Chengjun repeated, a rare occurrence.

“Of course,” Xia Mang nodded emphatically. “For a moment, I felt like I was running freely across a vast grassland. Above me was an azure sky, and beneath my feet were vibrant green fields, an endless, open prairie filled with flowers of every color… It was just so beautiful.”

“Alright,” Zhou Chengjun replied calmly, then turned his head away again.

Seeing this, Xia Mang settled into his own studies, unaware that his deskmate, staring at his notebook, had tears quietly welling up in his eyes…

Just then, Bai Ke suddenly appeared in the classroom and walked straight over to Xia Mang. “Come with me for a moment.”

“Huh?” The latter, who had just managed to focus on his work, looked up in confusion.

“A few police officers would like to ask you some questions,” Bai Ke said softly.

“Oh, okay.” Xia Mang immediately stood up and followed him to the faculty office.

Unlike Ye Zhongliang, the homeroom teachers of the Regular Classes shared a single office. It was quite spacious, however. The room, several hundred square meters, contained only a dozen or so desks, making it look rather empty. A few police officers in uniform were gathered around Bai Ke’s desk, talking in low voices.

The other teachers looked on with curiosity.

Just as Bai Ke led Xia Mang through the door, all eyes fell on him, wondering if this recently infamous problem student had caused some new trouble.

“Officers, Xia Mang is here,” Bai Ke announced, unfazed. He simply offered a greeting and stood to one side with a smile.

A middle-aged male officer extended his hand. “Hello, Xia Mang. I’m Li Song from the Cuihu Road Public Security Bureau.”

He showed his badge.

“Hello, Officer.”

Xia Mang shook his hand. Hearing himself being addressed so formally, Li Song smiled before his expression turned serious again. “We’re here mainly to ask you about the incident that occurred at Hengying Group a few days ago. According to the previous statement, the injured party is your father, correct?”

“Yes.” Xia Mang nodded. He was fine not thinking about it, but the mere mention of it made him fume.

Even that simple “yes” was filled with immense frustration.

“Don’t get upset. We understand how you feel, but there’s been a new breakthrough in the case. We’re here to get some more information from you,” said a female officer holding an electronic notebook.

Hearing this, Xia Mang nodded repeatedly. “Officers, please, ask me anything. I’ll tell you everything I know.”

“Good,” said Li Song. “A few days ago, did you have a conflict with the Black Tiger Gang?”

“The Black Tiger Gang?” Xia Mang was stunned for a moment, then said angrily, “Don’t tell me they were the ones who did it?”

“Please, calm down.”

Seeing the boy’s emotions spin out of control so easily, Li Song quickly tried to soothe him.

“Oh, right. Sorry.” Xia Mang took a few deep breaths and relaxed slightly.

“We came here mainly to ask you what caused the conflict between you and the Black Tiger Gang,” Li Song asked again.

Xia Mang then recounted everything, from Yun Hai targeting him to all the subsequent events. He drew on his memory and language skills, truly holding nothing back.

The pretty female officer taking notes beside him quickly recorded everything on her electronic notebook.

“So, you’re saying the conflict between you and the Black Tiger Gang was mainly because Yun Hai paid them to target you, is that right?”

Li Song had a general understanding now.

Xia Mang nodded. “Yes, Officer. Can you give me just a small hint now? Was the Black Tiger Gang involved in this incident?”

Li Song listened, then replied solemnly, “Xia Mang, we have a responsibility to the case. We can’t jump to any conclusions without conclusive evidence. Please, just wait a little longer. Give us some time, okay?”

“Okay, okay. Thank you, Officer,” Xia Mang agreed readily.

“My Identity Chip ID is ahs990xxxxxx. Write it down. You can report any new developments to me at any time.”

After finishing his work, Li Song left with his accompanying officers. After seeing them off, Bai Ke returned and said to Xia Mang, “Xia Mang, I had no idea your family had gone through something like that. As your homeroom teacher, it’s my failure that I wasn’t aware of the situation and couldn’t offer my condolences in a timely manner. I sincerely apologize.”

His courteous demeanor was a sharp contrast to the harsh and biting Ye Zhongliang. Xia Mang was quite moved and quickly waved his hands. “Mr. Bai, you’re being too…”

For a moment, he was at a loss for words.

Bai Ke sighed. “Xia Mang, I’m actually aware of your situation from the Special Training Class, and Mr. Ye has spoken to me about it. But my view is a little different from his. I believe every student has their own unique talents, and I’ve discovered that your special talent is probably mechs.”

“Uh.” Xia Mang was taken aback. He hadn’t expected this homeroom teacher, whom he had known for only a short time, to already understand his strengths.

“Haha, you’re surprised, aren’t you?” Bai Ke smiled. “It’s actually very simple. I’ve been paying close attention to you since you joined our class, and I’ve noticed you’re always reading materials related to mech specialization. Your dream is to become a Mech Specialist, isn’t it?”

“Yes, my dream is to become a Mech Specialist,” Xia Mang replied seriously.

“Well, to be honest with you, my goal before I became a teacher was also to be a Mech Specialist. Unfortunately, I wasn’t qualified enough and failed the exam.” Bai Ke gave a self-deprecating smile, then looked at the student before him with a serious expression. “But if I could mentor a student who becomes a Mech Specialist, that would be wonderful. Xia Mang, I was wondering, have you registered for the Junior Mech Specialist exam that’s in a few days?”

Hearing this, Xia Mang was truly shocked.

It was the first time anyone had proactively asked him about taking the Mech Specialist exam.

Even Long Junxuan and Ye Fei had been quite scared when they learned he was planning to take it this time, which showed they subconsciously didn’t believe he could do it.

No one would think a student, especially a high school student, could pass an exam that stumped so many adults.

But for Bai Ke to ask directly meant that he believed there was hope.

This trust gave Xia Mang a feeling of being recognized. He immediately nodded. “Mr. Bai, I have indeed registered.”

“Haha, good! In that case, I wish you a resounding success!” Bai Ke was very pleased, then added, “But I do have a rather presumptuous favor to ask.”

Xia Mang said, “Please, Mr. Bai, go ahead.”

Bai Ke looked troubled. “I know this request might be unreasonable, but the Dean of Teaching actually called me earlier to inform you that you’re to return to the Special Training Class.”

Xia Mang nodded. “I know, but I think the atmosphere in Class Three is better, so I want to study here quietly for a while.”

Bai Ke nodded in agreement. “Right. So the favor I want to ask is, when you go back, could you put in a few good words for me to go to the Special Training Class?”

“Huh?” Xia Mang was utterly confused. “What do you mean?”

Bai Ke coughed awkwardly. “What I mean is, I want to be the homeroom teacher of the Special Training Class.”

“Homeroom teacher of the Special Training Class?” Though inwardly shocked, Xia Mang managed to keep his voice steady. “Mr. Bai, I don’t have the power to decide on the school’s appointments.”

“You do. I believe that a high school student who is a Junior Mech Specialist will be enough to make the school change its decision.” Now that the topic was out in the open, Bai Ke no longer hid his feelings.

“But… that doesn’t seem right,” Xia Mang said, still not understanding.

Bai Ke said, “Actually, I want to go back to the Special Training Class because I want to get justice for a teacher.”

“Justice?”

Hearing this, Xia Mang was even more bewildered.

Chapter 28: The Mech Specialist Interview

As Bai Ke explained, Xia Mang slowly began to understand.

It turned out that Bai Ke was a student of the Special Training Class’s former homeroom teacher, Huang Chengguang. After the latter retired, he had originally planned to recommend Bai Ke to take over his post.

But unexpectedly, Ye Zhongliang had connections and a backer, and he snatched the position right away.

If he had managed the Special Training Class well, that would have been one thing. But his actions over the years had filled the entire class with a toxic atmosphere. Bai Ke had seen it all and was furious that his old teacher’s hard work was being squandered.

Xia Mang felt this deeply as well.

When his group first entered the school, Huang Chengguang was the homeroom teacher. Back then, he treated all students equally. The atmosphere in the Special Training Class was harmonious, and even rich kids like Yun Hai didn’t dare to act out of line. The thoughts between classmates were far less complicated than they became later, and the class discrimination wasn’t nearly as severe.

Unfortunately, all of that changed after Ye Zhongliang arrived.

The Special Training Class now would be more aptly renamed the Class of Heirs.

Why?

Because the homeroom teacher was a second-generation heir, and so were the students.

Even formerly good students like Long Junxuan had slowly transformed into rich young masters. If you didn’t put on an act, you’d get pushed around.

But Bai Ke’s request was far too difficult, and Xia Mang truly had no confidence he could pull it off. He couldn’t just keep asking Tian Feiying for favors, could he? That would be pushing his luck.

Bai Ke understood his concerns and said, “When the time comes, the school certainly won’t let you stay in the Regular Class. You just need to drop a hint about wanting to change the homeroom teacher.”

“Of course, it’s fine if it doesn’t work out. Just trying is enough.”

Xia Mang pondered for a moment. “Alright, Mr. Bai. I can only do my best on this matter.”

“Good.”

After the two reached a gentleman’s agreement, time flew by, and the day of the Mech Professional Exam arrived.

That day, Xia Mang woke up early. After washing up, he arrived at the examination site—the Anhuang City Mech Specialist Association office building.

Although it was just dawn, the lobby was already packed to the brim.

The Mech Specialist exam was just that popular. Even though everyone knew the pass rate was abysmal, they were still willing to strive for it.

The pathetic thing was, Xia Mang squeezed for a long time without finding a proper place to stand. He really didn’t understand why this crowd was so aggressive, pushing like they were boxing out in a basketball game. Everyone was assigned a number anyway; pushing to the front wouldn’t get you in any earlier.

Thus, he had no choice but to retreat to the men’s restroom. After waiting for quite a while, a stall door finally opened. He saw it as a sanctuary and, fearing he would be a step too slow, rushed in at full speed. He then closed the door, leaned against the corner, and breathed a sigh of relief. Thankfully, the restrooms here used an advanced air circulation system, so there wasn’t the slightest hint of a foul smell.

Compared to the world outside, this was a quiet personal space. It had a door, walls, and… a turd!

That’s right, the only bad thing was that the person before him had been utterly classless. He hadn’t even flushed after using the toilet. Didn’t he know this toilet bowl lacked an automatic flushing sensor?

Suppressing his nausea, Xia Mang pinched his nose and stepped on the flush valve. Instantly, the world felt clean again…

And so, with a clean heart and a clean soul, he entered the clean world of studying, until… a series of fierce, urgent knocks echoed on the door.

The person outside roared in frustration, “You’ve been constipated for so long, did you fall into the hole?”

Fortunately, the stall door was from a good brand and high-quality; no amount of knocking could break it.

Xia Mang remained unperturbed and continued to stay inside. Walk your own path—no, squat on your own toilet—and let others say what they will.

After a while, messages from Long Junxuan and the others came in.

They were all wishing him good luck on the exam. Xia Mang accepted them all, hoping these blessings would envelop him and form the legendary protagonist’s aura, allowing him to crush all obstacles and be invincible.

He opened the queuing system on the official exam website.

Today was mainly the interview portion, so you could check online to see which candidate the examiners were currently seeing.

Seeing that his turn was still a while away, Xia Mang once again began to read with a clear conscience.

If you were to say that someone could stand in a public restroom and read for several hours, you would probably call them a lunatic.

But right now, Xia Mang was willing to be that lunatic.

Why?

Because you couldn’t even stand steadily outside. A person must know how to be content with what they have, right?

Finally, with only ten people left before his turn, Xia Mang pushed open the door and walked out. Under the murderous gazes of his fellow men, his face was thick-skinned enough to reflect them all, and he paid them no mind.

Walking into the lobby, some people who had finished their interviews were talking with those who hadn’t. One side asked what questions the examiners had posed, while the other recounted their experience with great excitement.

Xia Mang had always found this sort of thing pointless.

If the examiners’ questions never changed, would they even let you communicate like this? Truly, they weren’t using their brains where it counted, wasting it all on this useless bragging and bull.

No wonder they couldn’t pass, he thought smugly.

Strangely, Xia Mang found a sense of superiority from these people. He felt that his time hadn’t been wasted. At the very least, he had been in a bathroom stall, overcoming all sorts of unfavorable conditions, and had read for a solid few hours!

What a commendable spirit! Even if it couldn’t compare to the legend of Kuang Heng, who bored through a wall to borrow light, it was at least on par with studying by the light of fireflies and snow.

Perhaps many years from now, when he became famous, a new anecdote would be added to history, called—Toilet Stall Reading!

As he thought this, he strenuously squeezed his way to the waiting area outside his designated interview hall, number ten, and quietly awaited the moment he would enter the battlefield.

“Sigh.”

One by one, candidates walked out with their heads hung low. Those who followed were affected by the mood and walked in with heavy hearts, only to end their own interviews with the same dejected air.

Xia Mang did well on this point. No matter how much others sighed and lamented, he just stood there chewing his gum.

This chewing gum was a wonderful thing, a secret weapon he had specifically bought before the exam. Chewing a piece could both eliminate distractions and freshen his breath. Maybe the examiner would smell it during the interview and happily say, “Fresh breath brings us closer.”

Then, he would cheerfully put a checkmark in the “pass” column of his application.

How great, what a wise decision.

And so, filled with admiration for his own intellect, Xia Mang spat out his gum and walked uneasily through the doors of the interview hall…

Behind the interviewers’ desk, Mech experts Wang Xianlin, Zhang Hantao, and Huang Da sat in a row, their expressions serious.

Huang Da chuckled. “It seems like no one is in top form today. Out of three questions, only a few could even answer one.”

Wang Xianlin was holding a file. “Interesting. This one is a seventeen-year-old kid. His file says he’s still in high school. It seems our Mech Specialist exam is attracting younger and younger applicants.”

“Haha, he’s here. Let’s get ready,” Zhang Hantao said with a laugh, reminding his colleagues…

Xia Mang sat primly on the chair, his rapidly rising and falling chest betraying his extreme nervousness.

Right after he came in, he discovered that his Identity Chip’s connection to the outside world had been severed, which meant any possibility of cheating had been eliminated.

“Haha, don’t be nervous, little guy. You’re the one thousand seven hundredth candidate today. So far, only eleven people have been able to answer even a single question. So this will be quick, it’ll be over soon.”

It was hard to say whether Huang Da’s opening words were meant to calm the interviewee down or make him even more nervous.

However, Xia Mang felt a sense of rebellious defiance rise within him. He was a person who loved a challenge, so he was eager to face the upcoming questions.

Wang Xianlin, who had been reviewing the previous questions, finally spoke: “First question: What is the mainstream power system used in modern mechs, and what is its principle?”

As soon as this question was asked, the examiners smiled to themselves.

For a professional Mech Specialist, this was basic knowledge. But for this group of candidates who only had theoretical knowledge and no practical experience, it wasn’t that simple.

Because it involved the internal structure of a mech and the principles of energy conversion, the explanations in the books were extremely scattered. If one didn’t have a particularly deep understanding of the material, it would be difficult to react quickly and organize one’s thoughts to answer.

Not to mention this was just a greenhorn high schooler.

But contrary to their expectations, Xia Mang only thought for a moment before blurting out, “The primary power system currently used in mechs is the self-circulating power system. As the name suggests, the self-circulating power system utilizes a series of interlocked mechanisms—a filter web, reaction chamber, and generator—to allow consumed power to undergo an autonomous chemical cycle within the mech’s frame. The reaction principles have different analytical formulas based on different power source crystals. The main power sources are oxygen, hydrogen…”

“In summary, the benefit of a self-circulating system is that it minimizes energy loss to the greatest extent and significantly enhances operational endurance.”

After hearing his answer, the experts exchanged glances, each seeing a trace of surprise in the others’ eyes.

However, none of them let their expressions show. Wang Xianlin continued with the next question, “Summarize the inevitability of the first-generation mech’s birth in one sentence.”

This question was even trickier than the first. It could be said that many professional Mech Specialists rarely paid attention to it.

This was because the sentence was only mentioned in a very obscure corner of a few mech textbooks. You would have to have read the books with extreme care.

Unexpectedly, even such an obscure piece of knowledge couldn’t stump Xia Mang.

He didn’t think for long before successfully retrieving the memory and answering confidently, “The sentence is: the efficiency of artificial muscles surpassed that of mechanical engines.”

“This…”

Finally, looks of astonishment appeared on the faces of Huang Da, Wang Xianlin, and Zhang Hantao.

Never mind the fact that this kid, only seventeen years old, was the first candidate today to pass two rounds. What was even more insane was that he was just a high school student.

How powerful must his memory be? How thoroughly must he have devoured those professional textbooks to achieve this?

Seeing the expressions on the examiners’ faces, Xia Mang grew pleased. He knew he had answered correctly again. But there was still one question left. Only after answering that would it be a true success…

Chapter 29: Making a Name in Anhuang City

Outside the interview hall.

Some people were already getting antsy.

Xia Mang had been inside for far too long, and this group of people wasn’t used to it.

Couldn’t he just get it over with? Why did he have to drag things out? Wasn’t a quick and decisive finish better?

Inside the interview hall.

The examiners were all stunned.

They stared blankly at Xia Mang for a long time before Wang Xianlin was the first to react, praising him, “The younger generation is truly formidable. The difficulty of my final question was quite high, yet I didn’t expect that it still couldn’t stump you. Very good. You may leave. Next.”

He waved his hand, and Xia Mang knew it was a done deal. With a face wreathed in smiles, he pushed open the door and walked out.

When the crowd saw his expression, they were all astonished.

My word, has the sun risen in the west? Or have the hens started to crow?

This had to be the first time today they’d seen someone not with a long, mournful face, but grinning like a happy fool.

“Brother, did you do really well on the exam?”

“Brother, share some tips.”

As he walked, Xia Mang was surrounded by questions popping up from all sides.

He relished the feeling. From beginning to end, he held his head high and strode forward with purpose, thinking to himself, Don’t worship me. I’m too cool and aloof to be merciful enough to answer you just because you’re sincere.

With his heart pounding like this, Xia Mang skipped away, his next destination—school.

Arriving at Class Three, he once again became the center of attention.

This class was an introduction to mechanics. The teacher was an old man with glasses and a scholarly appearance. He didn’t say anything upon seeing Xia Mang, merely nodding before letting him in…

It was an ordinary day, and everything proceeded as usual.

Aside from Long Junxuan and Bai Ke coming to ask him about his exam results, nothing particularly special happened.

That evening, Xia Mang went to the hospital to visit his father.

Xia Yuntian’s bandages had already been removed, and the wound seemed to be healing well. However, the medical expenses had essentially wiped out Xia Mang’s five thousand star coins.

Feeling the profound lack of money, Xia Mang became even more determined in his resolve to earn more.

He didn’t tell his parents about his attempt to become a Mech Specialist. Firstly, his mother was practically allergic to those three words. Secondly, he planned to share the good news with them only after he had the certificate in hand.

The next day, the massive written exam began.

The army of test-takers swarmed into the examination hall like a plague of locusts. Xia Mang was jostled about in the crowd, and only after much effort did he find his examination room and take his seat.

The test papers were distributed. Six proctors and a dozen pairs of smart surveillance cameras locked down the entire classroom from every angle, eliminating any possibility of cheating.

Although there were inevitably some warriors among the candidates who were willing to try their luck and challenge the technology, most were well-behaved.

The moment Xia Mang got the test paper, he began to write furiously. For him, the written exam was much simpler than the interview. Drawing on the knowledge in his memory, he finished the three-hour test in just one hour.

And so, for the remaining ninety minutes, he was sound asleep. From time to time, he would crack open his eyes to peer out, watching with detached amusement as the others buried their heads in their work, beads of sweat rolling down their faces, enjoying the thrill of being a spectator.

The proctors also noticed this anomaly in the examination hall. They all shook their heads and sighed, thinking what a pity it was that this poor child had already given up before he had even begun…

At this point, some might be ready to flame the author for failing math. Why does three hours minus one hour equal ninety minutes? You’re probably thinking the author must have skipped math for P.E. class. But that’s not the case, because you can turn in the exam thirty minutes early.

Hahaha. As the protagonist, Xia Mang swaggered up under the瞪圆的双眼注视下, 大摇大摆地交了试卷, 然后一摇一晃地走出了考场, 嘴里还哼着小曲: Tra-la-la~

The teachers collected the paper, preparing to sigh over the child’s blank sheet. But the moment their eyes landed on it, all their contempt and disappointment transformed into identical O-shaped mouths, their eyeballs hanging in mid-air, swaying from side to side. My goodness, what a scare!

The test paper was densely filled with neat and beautiful handwriting. The formulas for the long-answer questions at the end were tidy and the logic was clear.

This wasn’t the work of someone who had given up in despair after an hour; he was clearly a bona fide academic whiz!

The teachers, and even the smart surveillance monitors, were instantly astounded.

Unfortunately, Xia Mang was already oblivious to this series of reactions. It happened to be a holiday, so after finishing the exam, he made his way to the hospital, feeling relaxed and carefree.

Seeing his father getting better day by day, he grew happier and happier, but he still hoped in his heart that the culprit would be found soon…

A few more days passed, and the time came for the results of the Mech Specialist exam to be announced.

This was an event that many people on Water Source Planet followed with great interest. Whether they were test-takers or unrelated onlookers, everyone was paying close attention.

In the Principal’s office at Anhuang City No. 1 High School, Fan Xuegeng was handling his daily duties when the Office Dean, Liu Neng, suddenly paid him a visit.

“Old Liu, what’s the matter?” Fan Xuegeng looked up, puzzled.

Usually, if there was anything to report, it was one of the secretaries or assistants who delivered the news. It was rare for their boss to come in person.

Liu Neng’s face was beaming with ecstasy. “Principal, great news! This isn’t just great news for a senior, but for all of Anhuang City!”

“What good news has you so worked up?” Fan Xuegeng also broke into a smile.

Liu Neng slapped his forehead. “Look at me, I got so excited I lost my head. Our school produced a Mech Specialist, did you know?”

“What? A Mech Specialist?” Fan Xuegeng repeated softly, not quite processing it.

But a moment later, his eyes widened. “Are you serious?”

“Of course, it’s true! He’s a student from our very own school! The media is already in a frenzy covering it. He’s the first high school student in the history of Anhuang City to pass the Junior Mech Specialist exam!” Liu Neng’s voice trembled with unrestrained joy as he spoke.

“Haha.” Fan Xuegeng shot up from his chair. “This is one of the greatest things to happen to No. 1 High since its founding!”

Liu Neng nodded eagerly. “Principal, I can already see the surge in our enrollment numbers for next year!”

Meanwhile, similar scenes were playing out in many other places…

In the Special Training Class office at No. 1 High, Ye Zhongliang was idly browsing the news online when a headline caught his eye—Anhuang City Sees its First High School Mech Specialist!

“A high school Mech Specialist?” he muttered to himself and clicked to read more.

But before he’d even read a few words, he heard a series of urgent knocks on his office door.

He opened the door with a frown, only to see several other homeroom teachers with whom he was on good terms standing outside, all congratulating him. “Old Ye, congratulations! You have to treat us to a meal for this, you can’t get out of it!”

“What’s going on with all of you?”

Ye Zhongliang was completely baffled.

“Haha, don’t you know? Anhuang City has its first high school student Mech Specialist! This is only the second time this has happened on the entire Water Source Planet. You’ve really hit the jackpot this time!”

The teachers’ excitement was palpable.

“Who are you talking about?” Ye Zhongliang was still in a fog.

“Haha, isn’t it that student from your class who got kicked out, Xia Mang? After a performance like this, he’s sure to be welcomed back into the Special Training Class. We would all kill for a genius like him.” a teacher said with a loud laugh. “Anyway, Old Ye, you must treat us to a meal! We won’t take no for an answer.”

However, Ye Zhongliang could only force a smile and nod in response. The moment he heard the name ‘Xia Mang’, he was so completely floored that he couldn’t say a word…

In the Special Training Class classroom.

The news that Xia Mang had become a Mech Specialist had already spread throughout Anhuang. Long Junxuan and Ye Fei acted as storytellers, enthusiastically embellishing the glorious tale of Xia Mang’s hard work and fabricating amusing anecdotes about their time with him. Gradually, this poor classmate, who used to be an outcast in the entire class, transformed into a god-like figure in everyone’s eyes, someone to be looked up to with awe. They were all filled with amazement and showered him with praise.

At this moment, Yun Hai, hearing Xia Mang’s name everywhere, wore a look of utter gloom, his thoughts unreadable.

Yu Wanyin, on the other hand, was biting her lip, her heart a whirlwind of complicated emotions. The slender fingers of her hands were intertwined, and a shimmer rippled in her eyes…

The name Xia Mang of Anhuang No. 1 High School swept across all of Anhuang, and even the entire Water Source Planet, with the force of a sandstorm.

Compared to the shock and admiration of others, Tian Feiying, Wang Yiyuan, and their group were much calmer. They knew that for a genius who had awakened his absolute memory, this was not some insurmountable peak…

If there was anyone who still didn’t know about this, it would probably be Mr. and Mrs. Xia Yuntian in the hospital.

The couple paid almost no attention to the news, concerning themselves only with the basic necessities of daily life. They turned a deaf ear to everything happening in the outside world.

At this very moment, the protagonist of this whole affair, Xia Mang, had just collected his certificate and walked out of the Mech Specialist Association building.

In the blink of an eye, he was surrounded by a swarm of reporters.

“Student Xia Mang, as the first high school student in this city’s history to become a Junior Mech Specialist, do you have any secret techniques?”

“Student Xia Mang…”

An avalanche of questions rained down on him.

Xia Mang pressed his hand to his forehead with a headache. “One at a time, one at a time. I can barely keep up. Let me answer the first question. To be honest, I don’t have any secrets. I was just born with good genes, I happen to be interested in the subject, and I’m willing to put in a certain amount of effort.”

“Then, Student Xia Mang, we hear you’re a student of the Special Training Class at Anhuang No. 1 High School. Is your success also inseparable from the class’s special training model?”

Another question was tossed his way. Xia Mang’s lips curled into a smile. “That’s a good question. As for the class I used to attend, there were indeed many motivating factors~”

His words instantly piqued the interest of all the reporters.

Chapter 30: Reactions from All Sides

For this focused interview with Xia Mang, Anhuang City’s most prominent news portal decided to broadcast the latest developments to the public via a live stream.

For a city to produce someone who could set such a record truly represented a breakthrough of its limits.

Moreover, looking across the entire Water Source Planet, Xia Mang was only the second genius to achieve this feat, which filled many people in Anhuang City with a profound sense of civic pride…

“So, Student Xia Mang, what are your thoughts on the special cultivation system of the Special Training Class?”

Fan Xuegeng and the others were also watching the live stream after receiving the news. They couldn’t help but feel nervous when they heard this question, eager to hear how Xia Mang would respond.

Ye Zhongliang, however, wasn’t watching. Although he knew what was happening, it didn’t seem like good news for him.

So he just lay on his desk, anxious and uneasy, unable to stop himself from silently regretting his decision to help Yun Hai.

But it seems that whenever people blame others, they often overlook their own faults.

His initial reason for helping Yun Hai was a consensus reached out of mutual interest. Yet at this moment, the homeroom teacher of the Special Training Class had conveniently forgotten his own past discrimination, shifting all the blame onto the young master of the Hengying Group…

Xia Mang smiled faintly. “I used to study in the best class at Number One High. All my classmates were elites. Spurred on by them, I had to constantly strive and work hard just to keep up.”

As he spoke, the reporters below held their microphones and voice recorders high, afraid to miss a single word.

“Of course, the most important factor was my homeroom teacher.”

“His encouragement, I would say, was the best medicine to push me past my limits.”

“Take the exams a while back, for example. I ranked among the top in all subjects. However, holding to a teaching philosophy of strict demands and constant criticism, my homeroom teacher, Mr. Ye, pointed out my shortcoming of having a low gene evolution level. He believed I was dragging the entire class down, so he used the threat of expulsion from the Special Training Class as a motivational tool, hoping to squeeze out my final bits of potential.”

“And that’s not all. In order to develop his students’ potential, Mr. Ye would also use some verbal encouragement.”

“For instance, he said that I came from a poor background and wasn’t suited to be in a class of elites. He also advised me not to spend all day daydreaming, and so on.”

“These are all excellent ways to motivate someone~”

“What a wonderful teacher. Without him, I think even if I could have become a Mech Specialist, it wouldn’t have happened so quickly.”

After speaking, Xia Mang took a deep bow. He faced the camera and said solemnly, “Here, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to Mr. Ye. If it weren’t for your comprehensive and strict demands on your student, if it weren’t for your painstaking verbal encouragement, I’m afraid I would never have overcome myself.”

The crowd of reporters below was stunned. They couldn’t help but ponder his words, and the more they thought about it, the stranger it sounded.

The faces of Fan Xuegeng and the other school leaders watching the live stream turned ashen—no, Fan Xuegeng was still relatively calm.

Though he too showed a hint of indignation, it wasn’t obvious.

“That’s too much! This kid doesn’t know what’s good for him!” someone said indignantly.

“Exactly! No matter what, the school nurtured him. How could he smear us like this in front of so much media? He’s truly an ungrateful wretch!” a leader chimed in with deep conviction.

Chen Yun was among them, but he didn’t offer any opinion.

Ever since that last incident, this kid had given him a feeling of being anything but simple. He no longer dared to meddle casually.

Fan Xuegeng remained silent for a long time before suddenly speaking. “Ye Zhongliang. Replace him tomorrow.”

“What?” The others were astonished.

“I said, replace Ye Zhongliang tomorrow. Choose someone else to take his position.” Fan Xuegeng repeated himself. Seeing their still-disbelieving faces, he couldn’t help but raise his voice. “Did you not understand me?”

“Understood,” the group of school leaders hurriedly replied.

Meanwhile, in the Special Training Class homeroom teacher’s office.

Ye Zhongliang had also just received the news. He felt the world spin, his knees went weak, and he collapsed limply onto his desk, unable to recover for a long time.

“There’s still a chance. I’m not done for, I’m not done for~”

After finally regaining a bit of strength, he muttered to himself as he fumbled to his feet and hastily dialed a contact.

“Uncle Dong—”

However, Ye Zhongliang had barely gotten two words out before he was abruptly cut off by the person on the other end.

“Ah, Little Ye, you don’t need to say anything, I already know about it. Sigh, how could you be so foolish? Why would you go and provoke a little brat like that?”

“Now look. The matter has turned into a city-wide scandal. There’s nothing Uncle Dong can do to help you.”

Beep, beep, beep, beep.

With that, the call was decisively cut, not giving Ye Zhongliang even a second of opportunity to speak.

The result of this call was a stark contrast to the past, completely on a different level.

Ye Zhongliang immediately slumped into his chair in despair, until there was a knock on the door.

Without waiting for his permission, several leaders pushed open the ajar door and walked in.

One of them, who was on better terms with Ye Zhongliang, spoke first. “Old Ye, you’re really in deep trouble this time.”

“The Principal has already issued the dismissal order. You will no longer serve as the homeroom teacher for this class. Your new position will be decided at a later date.”

He patted Ye Zhongliang’s shoulder helplessly, signaling that he had already tried his best to help.

“I know, Old Zhu. I just want to know who the new homeroom teacher is.” Although Ye Zhongliang was miserable, he forced a stiff smile onto his face.

Zhu Kunhou shook his head. “The new candidate hasn’t been decided yet. I’m guessing they’ll wait for that kid to come back and ask for his opinion.”

“Alright, I understand.”

After the group of leaders left, Ye Zhongliang gradually recovered from the initial shock of the incident.

The ambition in his eyes flared once more as he stared ahead, a gaze filled with intense indignation and deep resentment…

After finally getting through the interview, Xia Mang found his chance to escape. He fled at top speed, making his way back onto school grounds.

Being a celebrity didn’t feel particularly great; even his basic personal freedom wasn’t guaranteed. He was beginning to understand how those Soul Singers must feel, getting their pictures secretly taken even when they went to the bathroom.

He thought he would be safe once he reached the school. However, the quiet didn’t last long. He heard someone shout his name from a short distance away, followed by the shrieks of girls and exclamations from boys. This caused Xia Mang’s stomach to clench. He tensed his legs and fled for his life back to the Class Three classroom.

Unfortunately, the celebrity effect was too powerful.

The moment he was back in the classroom, he was immediately surrounded by his classmates. Even the hallway outside was packed with people.

“I don’t wanna be a star! Let me go! Let me… let me go…”

Xia Mang was squeezed so tightly by the crowd that he could barely breathe, and two crimson patches from lack of oxygen flushed his cheeks.

He didn’t understand why his normally reserved female classmates were acting like they were possessed. Was it because he was so handsome it could shake heaven and earth?

This isn’t scientific! This violates the laws of nature!!

“If I’m this handsome, why has no one ever confessed to me!!” Xia Mang screamed internally.

Unexpectedly, as he kept screaming it in his head, it produced a magical, self-hypnotic effect. For a moment, he truly believed he had become the most handsome man in the universe.

Don’t fall for me; my other half is the true legend…

But where is my other half?

His leaping thoughts suddenly hit upon this heartbreaking problem, shattering the narcissistic fantasy he had so painstakingly built.

After struggling for more than ten minutes, the sound of rescue finally arrived late.

Accompanied by Bai Ke and a group of school leaders, Fan Xuegeng walked up to the podium. He said a single sentence, and the frenzied riot was quelled.

In an instant, everyone returned to their seats with lightning speed, sitting in solemn silence. There was no trace of their earlier fervor.

Only Xia Mang was left standing there, his hair a mess, looking utterly frazzled.

No, there was one other person who remained calm throughout: his deskmate, Zhou Chengjun.

This Student Zhou had extraordinary composure, though it was a bit hard to understand. Normally, the slightest disturbance from Xia Mang next to him could provoke his short temper, but today, faced with the bombardment from such a large crowd, he had managed to remain perfectly calm and as still as a mountain, writing his own music and humming his own little tune.

He possessed a transcendent and carefree air, as if living in a bustling world without being disturbed by its clamor, his heart distant and his mind at peace.

“Fellow students, I have some joyous news to announce. I’m sure you all know it already. Student Xia Mang has successfully passed the Junior Mech Specialist exam, becoming the first high school student in the history of our Anhuang City and the second in the history of Water Source Planet to do so.”

“Let us give him a heartfelt round of applause to congratulate him.”

As his voice fell, the classroom erupted in thunderous applause, the sound waves so powerful they seemed ready to blow the roof off.

Xia Mang accepted it all with composure, savoring a joy he had never experienced before.

This feels pretty good…

Fan Xuegeng gestured with his hand, and the roaring atmosphere immediately quieted. He then turned to Xia Mang with a smile. “Student Xia Mang, congratulations.”

The latter, who had been squinting his eyes and enjoying the applause like a cat basking in the sun, immediately stood up when he heard the school’s number one figure speak to him. He nodded eagerly, “Thank you, Principal. Thank you, Principal.”

Fan Xuegeng nodded and took a metal-framed certificate and a red booklet from Bai Ke beside him. “Student Xia Mang, this is the school’s commendation for you.”

“A collector’s edition framed certificate, plus twenty thousand star coins,” Bai Ke explained with a grin.

Upon hearing this, all the students gasped.

They weren’t the nouveau riche from the Special Training Class. They had never seen so much money in their lives. Like little money-grubbers, their eyes sparkled with envy.

Xia Mang, however, quickly waved his hands. “Principal, I can’t. This is too much, I…”

On the surface, he was refusing earnestly, but in his heart, he had already opened his wallet. “Money, so much money, get in my pouch.”

Chapter 31: Fan Xuegeng’s Decision

Twenty thousand star coins was more than enough for Xia Mang to solve the financial crisis his family faced after his father’s injury.

The appeal of this was considerable.

After claiming his reward, Xia Mang noticed that a sum of money had already been deposited into the personal account linked to his Identity Chip.

In addition to this personal honor, Class Three was awarded the title “Class of Honor” and a certificate.

For a class that wasn’t even considered one of the better ones among the Regular Classes, this was an unprecedented honor.

“Come with me for a moment.”

Fan Xuegeng patted Xia Mang on the shoulder.

The two of them went to the back garden. The area had been cleared of people and was quiet; the other teachers had also tactfully made themselves scarce.

“Xia Mang, to be honest, you should be back in the Special Training Class. Staying in Class Three won’t provide you with the best training,” Fan Xuegeng said, making no attempt to hide his intentions. He got straight to the point.

Xia Mang simply pursed his lips and said nothing.

Fan Xuegeng continued, “I’ve already replaced Ye Zhongliang. I’m aware of some of his actions in the Special Training Class. That should ease your concerns about returning, shouldn’t it?”

“The Special Training Class has courses that other classes don’t, specially arranged training equipment, and specially written textbook content. These are all things you won’t get in a Regular Class.”

Xia Mang nodded. “Principal, thank you for personally inviting me, but the atmosphere in that class isn’t good.”

“Why do you say that?” Fan Xuegeng asked, puzzled. “As far as I know, don’t you have good friends there like Long Junxuan and Ye Fei?”

Hearing this, Xia Mang thought to himself that this Big Shot of Anhuang City’s education circle had certainly done his homework, even finding out who he was close with.

He didn’t deny it. “That’s true, but Principal, did you know?”

“I’m afraid that going to the Special Training Class will needlessly stir up trouble. It’s not like it hasn’t happened before.”

“Rather than risk my life, I’d rather stay in the Regular Class. At least I can find some peace.”

At these words, Fan Xuegeng’s brows shot up in anger. “What did you say?! There are students who would resort to such malicious behavior?”

A man of his experience couldn’t possibly misunderstand what the boy was implying. He was instantly shocked and furious.

Being in a high position, he was truly out of touch with such matters. In his eyes, this kind of behavior was absolute chaos.

What did they think the school was? A gang? This was outrageous! Fan Xuegeng’s temper flared.

Xia Mang sighed and said, “I won’t hide it from you, Principal. His name is Yun Hai.”

“Yun Hai?!”

The name was not unfamiliar to Fan Xuegeng. The Special Training Class was the elite class of the entire school, with only one per grade level. Every student was a precious seedling, and he knew a fair bit about each one of them, especially a young master like Yun Hai, who came from a powerful family.

“What did he do to you?” Fan Xuegeng asked.

Xia Mang didn’t hold back. He had already planned to air out this dirty laundry.

If Yun Hai didn’t leave, the conflict would never be resolved. Returning would just mean constant fighting and endless trouble.

After hearing the description, Fan Xuegeng roared with anger, “This Yun Hai!”

He was so furious his back trembled, his eyebrows shot up and his eyes widened. “Fine, I’ll have this Yun Hai transferred out!”

“In that case, thank you so much for your kindness, Principal Fan,” Xia Mang said gratefully. He wasn’t one to push his luck. To be honest, Fan Xuegeng’s unhesitating decision had far exceeded his expectations.

He originally thought that with Yun Hai’s formidable family background, no one would dare to touch him so easily. But it now seemed that this old principal’s decisiveness was truly worthy of his reputation.

“Good, Xia Mang. What you need to do now is study hard. If you need anything, you can ask the school directly. As long as we can provide it, we will do our best to.” Fan Xuegeng waved his hand grandly. Having made such a major decision, he had completely let go of any reservations.

“Thank you, thank you so much.” Xia Mang’s excitement was beyond words. All he could do was nod repeatedly.

“By the way, the homeroom teacher position in the Special Training Class is now vacant. As a student, you’re familiar with the teaching styles of the various teachers. Do you have any suitable candidates to recommend?”

Fan Xuegeng asked another question.

Upon hearing this, Xia Mang didn’t answer immediately. He thought for a while before saying, “Principal, if it’s just a recommendation, based on my time with her, I think my homeroom teacher, Teacher Bai, would be a great choice. She treats everyone equally and is deeply loved by the students.”

“Alright, I understand.”

Afterward, the two of them chatted about some trivial matters as they walked out of the back garden.

Xia Mang returned to the Class Three classroom and began to pack his things.

Although he hadn’t been there long, he had a good impression of most of his classmates, especially the boy next to him, Zhou Chengjun, who others saw as a bit eccentric.

“I’m off.”

Xia Mang took the initiative to say goodbye.

However, Zhou Chengjun seemed to be lost in his own world, unable to pull himself out.

Seeing this, Xia Mang knew he didn’t want to talk. With Zhou Chengjun’s hearing, which was sharper than a dog’s, there was no way he hadn’t heard him say goodbye.

He thought for a moment and decided not to disturb him further. He just said softly, “I’m leaving now. It was great being your deskmate. Your songs are beautiful. I hope I’ll have the chance to hear your work again.”

After speaking, he wrote down his Identity Chip number on a piece of paper and placed it on the empty desk next to Zhou Chengjun. He hesitated for another moment, then left the classroom where he had briefly stayed.

Long after his figure had disappeared, Zhou Chengjun finally turned his head to look at the slip of paper. After a long silence, he finally reached out, picked it up, and put it in his bag…

Walking up the stairs, Xia Mang was filled with a sense of exhilaration.

He felt like shouting to the world, “I’m back!”

But considering it was class time, he suppressed his excitement and arrived at the door of the long-missed Special Training Class.

The moment he appeared, every eye in the room, including the teacher Qin Tao who was in the middle of a lesson, shot toward him.

“Welcome back, Xia Mang!”

Qin Tao led the greeting.

His words had a ripple effect. Everyone, except for Yun Hai, expressed a heartfelt welcome.

This time, no one looked down on this classmate from a humble background. No one felt that Xia Mang was dragging the class down anymore.

Why? Because he had accomplished something none of them had.

Yu Wanyin’s beautiful eyes remained locked on the boy she had once despised, her red lips bitten as she remained silent for a long time.

Ye Fei and Long Junxuan were the first to jump up. They rushed to Xia Mang’s side and gave their friend a huge bear hug.

“Well done! I knew you could do it!” Long Junxuan said with a powerful voice.

Ye Fei was no less excited. “From now on, I’ll have so much face when I go out. I’ll tell everyone that Xia Mang is my bro! Haha, my mom won’t have to worry about me not finding a girlfriend anymore.”

Hearing this, Long Junxuan shot him a glare and said irritably, “So you mean you felt ashamed hanging out with me? You’re saying it’s my fault you’re single and alone?”

The three jesters made no effort to lower their voices. In their joy, they had forgotten that class was still in session.

Long Junxuan’s words were like a lit fuse, causing the other students to burst into laughter, unable to hold back any longer.

The laughter was full of goodwill, with not a trace of discrimination.

“Alright, alright, you can be happy later. I still have a class to teach here,” Qin Tao said with a smile, waving at the three of them.

And so, in a joyous mood, Xia Mang returned to his seat, still next to Long Junxuan. The spot had been left empty ever since he left.

The Mech Specialist exam was over, and he was returning to a normal state of study.

Xia Mang decided to take a short break, then join a team to earn some money and gain experience. After a few years, he would aim for Intermediate Mech Specialist.

—

The boisterous day came to an end.

In the quiet of the hospital, Xia Mang handed his certificate to his mother.

Du Dongyan was stunned. She stared at her son in disbelief and asked, “This… is this certificate real?”

Although she didn’t approve of her son getting involved with mechs in his spare time and hadn’t pursued the profession herself, it didn’t stop her from understanding the prestige of a Mech Specialist and the difficulty of the exam.

After all, Xia Mang had been quiet about everything from registration to taking the test.

For it to happen so suddenly now, it all felt a little unreal.

“Of course it’s real, Mom.” Xia Mang was happy to see his mother’s reaction. “The news is all over the place. Just grab anyone outside and ask, you’ll see.”

“Haha, that’s wonderful, that’s wonderful! Old Xia, your son has made something of himself!”

Although she usually opposed Xia Mang’s involvement in what she considered frivolous pursuits, upon seeing his actual achievement, Du Dongyan shed tears of joy and excitement.

Her previous opposition was actually a form of love, a fear that her child would go astray. Her current joy was a form of relief that was impossible to put into words.

What parent doesn’t hope for their child to succeed?

Xia Yuntian also revealed the happiest smile he had shown since his injury.

His wounds hadn’t fully healed, so he didn’t dare exert himself too much, but his eyes, curved into crescent moons, said it all…

Time flowed by like water, moving forward steadily.

Xia Mang received congratulations from many people, such as Tian Feiying, Qian Kun, and even the perpetually busy Wang Yiyuan.

After the initial elation and excitement, his mood gradually settled…

He silently told himself that this was far from the end; on the contrary, it was just an ordinary beginning. He absolutely could not become arrogant because of it.

Four days later, Xia Yuntian finally recovered and was discharged from the hospital. The family set off to return to their home on the outskirts of Cuihu Road. However, the moment they stepped into the complex, they immediately set the usually quiet commoner’s district abuzz.

The news spread like wildfire. Almost everyone who was home came out to see the golden child who had recently taken the entire Anhuang City by storm. For this impoverished part of the city, it was as if a golden phoenix had taken flight from their midst!

However, the hidden dark hand was still stirring restlessly.

Chapter 32: The Investigation’s Results

In the affluent district of West Mountain Elegant Villas.

Yun Hai stood with his head hanging low, obediently facing a middle-aged man with an extraordinary presence and the fierce, commanding eyes of a tiger.

This man was his father, Yun Shan, the master of Hengying Group and a renowned financial magnate in Anhuang City.

“Explain yourself. What is this notice from the school about?”

Yun Shan brandished an officially stamped document, interrogating his son. “I’m so busy I’m at my wit’s end, and you can’t even keep things quiet at home for me, is that it?”

“How did you get kicked out of the Special Training Class? Tell me, right now.”

His chest heaved, a clear sign of his immense anger.

“I… It was all because of some worthless bastard,” Yun Hai said suddenly, his teeth gritted.

“What worthless bastard?” Yun Shan had a feeling something wasn’t right.

As his son described the events, he began to understand, and a sense of shock grew within him. “Are you saying the student you offended is that genius Mech Specialist who’s been causing such a stir recently?”

“Yes! If he hadn’t bad-mouthed me to Fan Xuegeng, how could I have been expelled from the Special Training Class?”

“And look at him now. He and that Bai Ke are in cahoots, and he’s completely turned his life around.”

Yun Hai’s face was a mask of grievance.

But then, with a sharp smack, his father’s hand struck him across the face.

The pain was so intense it left him completely stunned.

It took him a long moment to recover. He stared with wide, teary eyes and yelled, “What are you doing, Dad?!”

“You good-for-nothing screw-up!” Yun Shan shouted, pointing a finger at his son’s nose. “Do you have any idea how terrifying that person’s future will be?”

“I guarantee you, a Mech Specialist this young will absolutely be recruited by the military and given special training the moment he enters university.”

“Ten years from now, he’ll be a decorated Mech expert!”

The more he spoke, the angrier he became, and he struck Yun Hai again, this time on the back. “Trouble, trouble! All you ever learn to do is cause trouble!”

His son’s temper flared as well. Crying, he screamed, “Why are you yelling at me?! Do you even know that his dad is the security guard who got slashed at your company the other day? You fired him right after it happened! Even if I hadn’t offended him, you already did!”

These words made Yun Shan freeze. “What did you say?”

Yun Hai sobbed, “I said, the security guard from your company who was seriously injured a few days ago is his dad!”

After a long silence, Yun Shan sighed heavily. “It seems… we’ve made a true enemy of him.”

“In that case, we might as well get rid of him sooner rather than later!” A ruthless, tyrannical glint appeared in his eyes.

—

Anhuang City Central Police Department.

Li Song, the officer in charge of the Hengying Group assault case, was with the famous detective Mei Jianbo.

The two were conducting the final comprehensive analysis of the case based on the materials they had gathered.

“Old Mei, based on the Black Tiger Gang’s recent movements, the conflict between Yun Hai and the victim’s son, and the latest evidence we’ve collected, we can basically confirm the identity of the mastermind behind this, can’t we?”

Mei Jianbo nodded. “If there are no other issues, we can make the arrest.”

Li Song agreed. “But let’s hold off on Hengying Group’s young master for now. We’ll go after him once the interrogations are complete and we have a full set of witness testimonies and physical evidence.”

The police mobilized quietly.

No one knew their objective until the Black Tiger Gang’s lair was raided, an event that sent shockwaves through the city’s media circles.

“What? The Black Tiger Gang was taken down?”

“Yeah, it just happened. It was so sudden.”

“Good! Catching this bunch of vermin brings us peace and quiet.”

Among the rumors spreading through the city streets, almost all were expressions of praise and relief.

The next day, Xia Mang, who was in class at school, received a summons from the police. Upon hearing the news, he anxiously explained the situation to Bai Ke. After getting permission, he went straight to the Central Police Department to find Li Song. The officer told him, “Student Xia Mang, we interrogated them all night. We can now confirm that the ones who injured your father were from the Black Tiger Gang. They confessed that they were indeed acting on Yun Hai’s instructions.”

“Yun Hai!” Flames of fury erupted in Xia Mang’s eyes.

Seeing his intense reaction, Li Song spoke in a soothing tone, “Rest assured, in this society, no one can defy the authority of the law.”

“We will never wrongly accuse an innocent person, nor will we let any culprit go free. You can be at ease on this point.”

It wasn’t hard to grasp the underlying meaning of his mild words: we will take action, but you need to control your emotions and refrain from doing anything that challenges the law.

Hearing this, Xia Mang calmed down and nodded in understanding. “Then I’ll leave it in your hands.”

Li Song smiled. “It’s our job. How about this? Since you’re here already and we’re just about to dispatch officers, why don’t you lead us to the school?”

“It would be my duty,” Xia Mang immediately agreed.

The police cars roared out of the station’s parking lot, speeding all the way to the gates of First High School.

The school’s leaders, notified by security, all put down their work to greet them. But when they saw Xia Mang standing beside Li Song, they glanced at each other, completely baffled as to what was happening.

This student had recently become the school’s most prominent and talked-about figure. Fan Xuegeng had shown immense interest in him, so they naturally couldn’t let anything happen to him.

After a quick consultation, the great Principal Fan himself was called to the scene.

As the case manager, Li Song saw that a low-key approach was no longer possible and patiently explained his purpose to Fan Xuegeng.

When he heard that their target was Yun Hai, the principal showed no surprise, merely nodding. “We will certainly cooperate with the police. In the face of school violence and on-campus organized crime, we must be resolute in eradicating them!”

The Dean of Teaching, Chen Yun, who stood to the side, felt the exact opposite. He was aghast and his first instinct was to find an excuse to slip away and relay the news to Yun Shan so he could quickly take countermeasures.

But under Fan Xuegeng’s watchful eye, his relationship with the Yun family was an open secret, making it impossible for him to get away.

The large contingent of armed police officers arrived at the Year Two, Class Two classroom.

Since his expulsion from the Special Training Class, this had become Yun Hai’s new home.

After a brief discussion, Li Song and Mei Jianbo decided not to disturb the students and teacher during class. They simply asked a teacher to go in and ask Yun Hai to come out.

The moment he appeared, two special police officers lunged forward, violently forcing him to the ground and twisting his arms behind his back.

“What are you doing?! Let me go!”

Faced with this situation, the great young master of the Yun family struggled wildly and roared hysterically.

“Young Master Yun, you have been identified as having an inextricable link to a criminal case. I’m afraid you’ll have to come with us,” Li Song said, walking up to him, his voice as calm as still water.

“What case? What’s it got to do with me!”

Hearing his words, Yun Hai understood why the police were here. He roared with a mix of shock and rage, “Let me go, you bastards! Do you know who I am?”

“We don’t care who you are. You must cooperate with our work,” Mei Jianbo said mildly. “Take him away!”

“My dad is Yun Shan! Let me go! Let me go! He won’t let you power-abusing bastards get away with this!”

Yun Hai screamed erratically, but his futile resistance was nothing against the well-trained special police.

Xia Mang waited quietly by a police car. Li Song, worried he might lose control and interfere with the operation, had not allowed him to participate in the arrest.

In truth, Xia Mang had already calmed himself down. But when he saw Yun Hai being escorted out of the Classroom Building, he couldn’t help but clench his fists.

“Pah! You worthless bastard, you poor loser! What the hell are you looking at?!”

To everyone’s surprise, it wasn’t Xia Mang who made a move, but Yun Hai. Upon seeing him, Yun Hai’s face twisted in a sneer as he spat several times and cursed wildly.

“You’re already a prisoner. Maybe it’s time to tone down the young master attitude.”

Xia Mang suppressed the urge to kill him, wiped the spit from his face, and sneered back.

“Screw you! You piece of trash! Garbage!”

Yun Hai tried to crane his neck to spit again but was met with a swift, hard kick to the rear from a special police officer, sending him tumbling into the car.

“We’ll be going then,” Li Song and Mei Jianbo said, bidding farewell to Fan Xuegeng and Xia Mang.

“Alright. Thank you, officers.”

Watching the police cars drive away, Fan Xuegeng turned his head and said, “What goes around comes around. Anyone who breaks the law will ultimately face justice.”

But Xia Mang was filled with worry. “With Yun Hai’s father’s resources, getting him out won’t be that difficult, will it?”

Fan Xuegeng looked at him with a solemn expression. “You think of this world as too dark a place.”

“Principal, I think it’s a reasonable concern. Because I’m already scared.” As Xia Mang spoke, a chill ran down his spine. “You never know what kind of thoughts the rich and unscrupulous are hiding, or what kinds of methods they have at their disposal.”

Fan Xuegeng let out a heavy sigh, his own thoughts unclear.

After returning to the classroom, Xia Mang told Long Junxuan and Ye Fei about Yun Hai’s arrest. Both of them erupted in fury. “So it really was him!”

Long Junxuan’s reaction was particularly intense. “He’s nothing but an animal!”

He said this in a true rage. Every circle has its own rules of conduct. Even though their circle often used their parents’ influence to fight and show off, they all adhered to the principle of keeping things between themselves and never going after an enemy’s family.

Yun Hai’s actions had undoubtedly smeared the reputation of their entire circle.

Xia Mang stared at him blankly. “Why do I feel like you’re even angrier than I am?”

Only then did Long Junxuan realize he had lost his composure. Suppressing his anger, he cleared his throat a few times. “Not at all. So, what’s your plan now?”

Xia Mang said, “To prevent Yun Hai’s father from pulling strings behind the scenes, I’ve decided to contact the media and blow this thing wide open.”

Hearing his plan, Long Junxuan and Ye Fei couldn’t help but applaud. “That’s a brilliant idea! Once public opinion is on your side, no matter how powerful Yun Shan is, he won’t be able to get that little bastard out.”

Within a day, the news of Yun Hai’s arrest had spread throughout the entire school, and every student at First High was discussing it.

Two days later, the topic’s popularity surged. With various media outlets scrambling to report on the story, Xia Mang, the mech genius who had recently been the talk of the town, once again became the focus of the city’s news…

Chapter 33: Gene Enhancement

“Bang!”

Shards of glass flew everywhere as Yun Shan roared furiously at his subordinate, “What did you say?”

Standing before him was a man with glasses. If Xia Mang had been there, he would have definitely recognized him as Zhu Bingyi, the man who had delivered the money to the hospital that day.

At this moment, Zhu Bingyi was drenched in sweat, his head bowed in silence as he endured his boss’s wrath.

As the president’s personal secretary, he certainly appeared impressive in front of his colleagues, but in truth, his job was all dirty and tiring work. He had to meticulously carry out any task his boss assigned, and learning to take a scolding was a necessary part of the job.

As the saying goes, the greater the grievances one can endure, the greater the deeds one can accomplish.

Zhu Bingyi had always held this belief.

In fact, it was precisely because of this, combined with his truly exceptional professional skills, that he had earned more and more of Yun Shan’s trust. That was how he had landed this position just three years after graduating from university, leaving most of his former classmates far behind.

After venting for a while, Yun Shan finally calmed down a little. “What was he arrested for?”

Only then did Zhu Bingyi explain the situation as he understood it. The reason he hadn’t spoken sooner was that his boss hadn’t asked.

Answer what the boss asks, and never speak out of turn to curry favor or for any other reason. This was the second principle of his professional code.

“So Yun Hai has been up to this kind of mischief.” Yun Shan’s eyes widened.

Although he knew his son often made some small moves behind the scenes, he had no idea it had escalated to the level of hiring gangsters to commit violence.

Could it be that my influence on the boy has been too profound? he couldn’t help but shake his head and wonder.

After learning the truth, not only did Yun Shan not blame Yun Hai, but he even felt a hint of gratification. A great man, after all, must know how to play both sides, using violence as a deterrent when necessary.

Only with such a personality could he become his successor.

This tiger of a father was suddenly filled with the joy of having a worthy heir. His anger vanished, and he said in a resonant voice, “Go pull some strings and get him out of there quietly.”

But Zhu Bingyi was in a difficult position. He couldn’t help but say, “Chairman, this matter has already caused a huge public uproar. The backlash is too strong. I’m afraid it won’t be easy.”

“Easy?” Yun Shan glared. “If it were easy, what use would I have for you?”

“Go! If you can’t get him out, you can start clearing out your desk.”

Under immense pressure, Zhu Bingyi had no choice but to bite the bullet and agree.

He walked down the street, fraught with worry. To be honest, he had handled many difficult matters in his long career, but this was the first time he had encountered a problem this thorny.

He had always been confident, but for the first time ever, a sliver of self-doubt crept in.

Under the assault of such a massive wave of public opinion, could he really bring the Young Master back safely?

The more he thought about it, the bleaker his hopes seemed. “Sigh, life is so unpredictable. It seems I’m really going to fall out of favor this time.”

Zhu Bingyi knew his boss’s personality well. On other matters, there might be room for maneuver. But when it involved his son, if things weren’t handled properly, the lightest consequence would be dismissal and demotion; the heaviest could very well be getting sacked entirely.

He could only do his best.

Arriving at the police station, he meticulously straightened his appearance and strode inside with his head held high.

A young male police officer walked toward him. Zhu Bingyi quickly smiled and asked, “Excuse me, is Director Meng in?”

“He is. Inside. And you are?”

“Oh, I’m from Hengying Group. I’m here to see Director Meng about something.”

“Hengying Group? That’s a big company. Director Meng is in the first office on the right, just around the corner inside. Go on in.”

“Alright, thank you.”

Zhu Bingyi followed the officer’s directions and reached his destination.

After hesitating for a moment, he finally made up his mind and knocked softly on the door.

“Come in.” At the same time, a deep male voice came from inside.

“Oh, it’s Little Zhu.” Meng Jialiang broke into a smile upon seeing Zhu Bingyi.

Zhu Bingyi bowed politely. “Hello, Director Meng.”

“Please, have a seat, Little Zhu. What brings you here today?” Meng Jialiang asked.

Zhu Bingyi didn’t stand on ceremony and sat right down. After a moment’s hesitation, he explained his purpose in a soft voice, “It’s like this, Director. Our Young Master has gotten into a bit of trouble recently, so our Chairman sent me to see if you, sir, could help us arrange for bail.”

“Bail?”

Meng Jialiang took his hand off the computer and rested his chin on it. “This business with your Young Master is the talk of the town. This is truly a difficult situation.”

“But the court hasn’t passed sentence yet, has it? As long as it’s before then, there shouldn’t be any problem with bail, right?” Right now, Zhu Bingyi just wanted to get the man out first. As for everything else, that was for Yun Shan to worry about. For him, the primary mission was to keep his current position.

Meng Jialiang nodded. “That’s true, but I don’t dare do it.”

He stood up and paced back and forth with his hands behind his back. “This case is currently in the eye of the storm. If I make an arbitrary decision, I could very well lose my post.”

Hearing this, Zhu Bingyi frowned. “Couldn’t you just substitute another prisoner for him?”

“Rest assured, once we get the Young Master out, we’ll keep him under tight control. We absolutely won’t let him leave the house, and no one will ever find out.”

After speaking, he stood up and respectfully presented a gold-plated card.

It was an Earth Bank VIP card with several hundred thousand star coins on it, which Yun Shan had given him before he left.

To a police director, this huge sum was equivalent to many years’ salary. The temptation was undeniable.

“Sigh, you should take it back.”

This time, however, Meng Jialiang didn’t dare to accept it. Instead, he waved his hand away cautiously. “Your Chairman and I go way back, but I can’t joke around with my career.”

“This money… I can’t accept it.”

As he spoke, he sat back down in his chair, adopting an arrogant posture. “Little Zhu, there’s no need to say any more. I can’t help you with this. You’ll have to find someone more capable.”

Zhu Bingyi grew anxious at his words and pleaded, “Director Meng, please help me. My future is riding on this. If you help me, I’ll slave away for you for the rest of my life.”

“Hah, I’m afraid by then I will have been disciplined, and I won’t be around to enjoy your servitude,” Meng Jialiang said, waving his hand dismissively. He then called out loudly, “Show Mr. Zhu out.”

A few seconds later, several police officers entered from outside and, without another word, dragged Zhu Bingyi out.

No matter how he shouted, they remained unmoved.

After he had left, Mei Jianbo and Li Song walked in.

“What’s the matter? Old Meng, they really came looking for you?”

Meng Jialiang had a long face. “Yes, sigh… I’m telling you, you two esteemed gentlemen, can’t you stop watching me all day? Why not go back to the Central Police Station and enjoy the good life?”

“Chase girls, drink tea, live a little. Things are so tense right now, even if you gave me ten times the courage, I wouldn’t dare grant bail!”

Mei Jianbo smiled. “You never know. To prevent Yun Shan from pulling any tricks, I can only act according to regulations.”

Li Song agreed. “Yun Shan has many tricks up his sleeve. His influence in Anhuang City is deep-rooted and pervasive. We can only rest easy by staying here. These are the orders from our superiors as well.”

Meng Jialiang heaved a long sigh. “Why are the higher-ups so concerned about this matter?”

Mei Jianbo replied, “You’re asking me? I don’t know either. I heard the order came from even higher up.”

As he spoke, he pointed a finger upward, indicating that a very, very important figure was paying attention to this matter from behind the scenes.

As for how important, that was for Meng Jialiang to figure out for himself.

The latter was already overwhelmed; he had no energy to speculate on the decisions of those above.

Hengying Group, President’s Office.

Zhu Bingyi stood before Yun Shan with his head bowed and briefly recounted what had happened at the police station.

The latter’s face was grim for a long time before he finally spoke. “Hmph. The impact of this matter has exceeded my expectations. I know Old Meng all too well; he’s the type whose eyes light up at the sight of money. For him to act so out of character this time, there must be pressure from above.”

“This matter is indeed beyond your capabilities. I don’t blame you. Go and contact Section Chief Sun Qiang of the branch’s Public Security Section for me.”

Yun Shan waved his hand.

His words brought a sigh of immense relief from the anxious Zhu Bingyi. Incredibly grateful for his boss’s rational decision, he suddenly felt reinvigorated, promptly acknowledged the order, and withdrew.

“Hmph.”

The office fell silent once more. Yun Shan let out another cold snort and muttered to himself, “I’d like to test the waters and see just how high-ranking the official interfering in this matter is.”

At this thought, he suddenly remembered something else and picked up the secure office phone to call the company’s publicity department. “Hello, get someone to contact the technology department immediately. I want you all to work together and take down all the comments fueling the public outcry on every forum and media platform.”

“What? You’re asking me which comments?!”

“Hmph, a bunch of stupid pigs.”

Yun Shan was about to fly into a rage when the person on the other end finally understood. Only then did he slam the phone down…

Xia Mang was unaware of the turmoil within Hengying Group. He had recently been inundated with one invitation after another from local Anhuang City Mech manufacturing units.

He had no idea where they had all gotten the ID number for his Identity Chip; they were just incredibly well-informed.

In any case, he had already made up his mind. The upcoming Wilderness Survival Competition was far more significant to him than temporarily joining one of these local Mech manufacturing units, whose production standards weren’t even that high.

With the twenty thousand star coins from the school’s reward, he wasn’t short on money. There was no need to rush into a job that would tie him down and restrict his progress in raising his gene evolution level.

Youth was an asset, but precisely because he was young, he needed to understand his priorities and choose the right path.

He had been taking the Fengmen Potion in precise, small doses. During this time, Xia Mang had also dropped by the Hall of Honor to test his gene evolution progress.

After receiving the Origin Soul’s baptism, his Life Core intensity had reached a staggering 3.2, and his brainwave intensity had reached 3.0. Combined, this was equivalent to a gene evolution level of 3.1, surpassing everyone in the school, including Zhou Chengyun.

He was truly an anomaly among anomalies.

Of course, he couldn’t go around announcing this shocking result. After all, this improvement wasn’t exactly obtained honorably; it was better to keep a low profile.

However, Xia Mang was not satisfied with his current achievements. The path of gene evolution was long and arduous.

Therefore, he squeezed out almost all his free time and spent it in three places within the Hall of Honor: the Gravity Room, the Reaction Training Room, and the gym. Combined with the precious Fengmen Potion, his evolution level was slowly but surely increasing.

The approaching Wilderness Survival Competition put a great deal of pressure on him.

That evening, he came to the Hall of Honor again, but this time his destination was a place he had never been before: the Free Fencing Room…

Chapter 34: Free Fencing

Free fencing was an athletic competition that had become particularly popular in the Earth Federation in recent years.

After entering an era of interstellar civilization, humanity needed to compete with numerous powerful alien races for resources, so individuals with outstanding personal combat abilities were held in especially high regard.

Free fencing was different from competitive fencing. Competitive fencing was confined to a fixed venue and had very strict rules.

Free fencing, on the other hand, had a wide range of venues and very few rules, championing only four words: the victor is king.

Free fencing could not only hone a person’s physical techniques, combat prowess, and other practical fighting skills, but it could also improve one’s reaction time, speed, and stamina through confrontation.

Of course, for an Awakened like Xia Mang, who possessed absolute coordination, his nervous system’s ability to mobilize his muscle groups was always at the absolute limit of his gene evolution level. Therefore, things like speed, stamina, and reaction time were not an issue for him at all.

He came to the Free Fencing Room mainly to sharpen his practical combat skills.

After passing an iris scan and paying a fee of 500 star coins, the iron door slowly opened.

Xia Mang stepped inside and found himself in a spacious room of about 200 square meters. Apart from a cabinet holding fencing equipment placed at the very edge, it seemed to be empty.

But upon closer inspection, the walls, which were made of a super-alloy, were evenly lined with door-like compartments.

There was one every two or three meters, all roughly the same size. Above each was a rectangular nameplate with numbers like 1, 2, and 3 written on them.

Xia Mang had already familiarized himself with the rules before coming in. These doors held corresponding fencing robots. The numbers 1, 2, and 3 represented the robots’ combat levels, which corresponded to human gene evolution levels.

Xia Mang thought for a moment, put on his fencing suit, picked up a sword, and walked over to the door labeled with the number three. He placed his palm on the sensor to the right of the doorframe.

“Identity verification successful. Level three robot is preparing. Please put on your gloves, helmet, and other protective gear.”

A deep, synthesized mechanical voice echoed throughout the room.

Xia Mang put on his gloves and retreated to the center of the room, waiting quietly for the robot to emerge.

About four or five minutes later, the large metal door slowly opened, and a robot warrior, gleaming with a hard metallic luster and holding a flexible sword, walked out.

Seeing this, Xia Mang immediately prepared for battle.

He knew that the moment the robot warrior appeared, its attack mode was activated. He had to strike the robot’s effective zones with his sword to score points, and only when his score reached the required value could he win. Conversely, if he was struck by the robot warrior, the sensory elements on his fencing suit would immediately make a judgment. If he was hit in the effective zones enough times to reach the required score, he would be defeated.

Both sides used specialized flexible swords, which eliminated the possibility of being stabbed and injured.

Swoosh~

It happened in a flash.

Driven by its propulsion units, the robot warrior shot forward like a bolt of lightning.

Its longsword cut through the air with a hiss.

Xia Mang quickly rolled on the ground to dodge. As he got up, he swung his sword in a backhand motion, clashing squarely with the robot’s flexible sword.

It gave him no chance to catch his breath.

The tireless robot charged again, its momentum as fierce as before, showing no signs of letting up.

Xia Mang, who had been adjusting his center of gravity, felt a jolt run through him at the sight, and his concentration instantly sharpened to its peak.

He realized he was facing a mechanical creation; concepts like fatigue and stamina simply didn’t exist in its vocabulary.

They were built to act according to their programming, fighting tirelessly until their energy ran out.

No wonder it was so difficult for humans to match combat robots of the same level…

Xia Mang was getting a real taste of it now. In the ensuing fight, he could initially trade blows with the robot, but as his stamina dwindled, he could barely cope and was reduced to desperately dodging and fleeing.

“Damn, even a single combat robot is this terrifying. I can’t imagine how much of a freak of nature those high-end intelligent life forms are.”

Xia Mang cursed inwardly as he scrambled up from the ground again.

But this time, he was too slow.

The flexible sword in the robot’s hand accurately struck the effective zone in the center of Xia Mang’s back.

Beep, beep, beep~

That familiar metallic, synthesized voice sounded again: “Robot victorious. Challenge failed.”

As the voice faded, the combat robot finally ceased its movements, turned, and returned inside the open number three door.

Xia Mang panted heavily. He had thought that with his absolute coordination, he would be unmatched at his level.

But this battle made him see himself clearly.

He lost not only due to stamina but also because of his lack of fighting technique, his inexperience, and his insufficient control over the weapon in his hand, among many other reasons.

In other words, if he faced a human opponent of the same level, he would have just as much trouble winning if he was at a disadvantage in any of these areas.

“If only I could be a bit more accurate with the sword in my hand. If only every evasive maneuver and every attack choice were a bit more rational.”

He muttered to himself and activated the number three door once more.

Today, he was going to see this through with this robot warrior!

This rhythm continued for several days. Xia Mang tirelessly challenged the combat robot, and his experience and control improved bit by bit.

As the Wilderness Survival Competition drew closer, the atmosphere surrounding the event grew more intense.

Sitting in the classroom, everyone was discussing it.

One day, Bai Ke walked in holding a stack of materials and scanned the students below. “As you all know, the annual Wilderness Survival Competition has begun.”

“This year’s competition is a bit special. It happens to be the final one in the quadrennial Grand Competition. The winning team will be able to advance to the Water Source Planet Grand Competition and even higher-level finals.”

“First High School has prepared a total of fifteen slots for the Special Training Classes of all grade levels. I hope everyone will sign up enthusiastically. However, students who have participated in the past will not have the opportunity this time.”

“According to the information I have on hand, one student from our class has already signed up in advance.”

As he said this, everyone began exchanging glances, guessing which guy or girl was so eager and confident.

Long Junxuan and Ye Fei, however, were not surprised at all.

Bai Ke paused deliberately, his gaze falling on Xia Mang, and said with a smile, “This student is Xia Mang. Everyone should learn from him. Not only has he achieved something in his own area of interest, but he also strives to improve his overall abilities. Very good.”

While Bai Ke was offering praise, some of the students who were friends started whispering to each other.

“Xia Mang is participating too?”

“Doesn’t that mean there’ll be a dead weight on the fifteen-person team?”

“Yeah, Xia Mang’s really awesome when it comes to Mechs, but his gene evolution level isn’t that great. He’ll just drag the team down!”

“I, for one, wouldn’t want to be his teammate. At this rate, it won’t be us stealing points from others, but others stealing points from us.”

“The first place in Anhuang City this time must come from our First High team.”

“Right, let’s talk to the teacher after class. Having someone dragging us down is a huge disadvantage.”

But just as the group of students was grumbling, Bai Ke got to the main point. “Because Xia Mang registered directly through the official website, he is not taking up one of the slots allocated to our school. He is competing as an individual and will not be joining our school’s team.”

“Oh?”

Hearing this, the students who had been frowning all relaxed. Smiles appeared on their faces as they eagerly crowded around the podium to sign up.

Seeing this reaction, Xia Mang and Long Junxuan glanced at each other, and the former gave a helpless smile.

Long Junxuan scoffed, “A bunch of blind fools. They’ll find out just how wrong they are when the competition starts, haha.”

Xia Mang shrugged. “You can’t really say that. I’m just one person, all alone and weak, and I lack combat experience. Sigh.”

“Cut the act, you’re not a newbie. You weren’t even scared of Zhou Chengyun, the champion of the last two competitions, and now you’re playing cute? Have you no shame?” Long Junxuan’s eyes were full of contempt.

Hearing this, Xia Mang chuckled twice, then put on a profound expression and said, “Posing is just for a moment, but shamelessness is eternal.”

Long Junxuan stared at him blankly for a long time. “I’ve discovered a very serious problem.”

Xia Mang was puzzled. “What?”

Long Junxuan thought for a moment, then said seriously, “You’ve changed. You’re not as simple as you used to be.”

Stunned, Xia Mang looked at him strangely and said, “Are you talking about homework?”

“Huh?” Long Junxuan didn’t react immediately, but when he understood, he quickly shook his head. “I’m talking about you.”

“No, you’re talking about homework. Only homework gets less and less simple.”

“I’m talking about you.”

“No, you’re talking about homework.”

“Hey, how can you be so shameless?”

“I already told you, posing is just for a moment, but shamelessness is eternal.”

“Fine~ You’re shameless. I—I’m going to read.” A dark mood fell over Long Junxuan’s face. He was completely speechless and picked up an e-reader, pretending to read.

Xia Mang watched him with a smile in his eyes. “That’s right, you should read more. Maybe if you read more and work harder on your studies, your homework will become as simple as it used to be.”

Pfft!

Hearing this, Long Junxuan couldn’t help but spit out a mouthful of virtual blood, which burst in the air.

“What are you doing?! You spat all over my face,” Xia Mang said with disgust, raising a hand to wipe his cheek forcefully.

Long Junxuan suddenly burst out laughing. “Didn’t you say it? Posing is just for a moment, shamelessness is eternal. I’m helping you, polishing your face until it’s like a diamond—everlasting and thick to the extreme.”

“Haha, get lost,” Xia Mang said with a laugh and a curse.

Hengying Group.

Yun Shan was closely monitoring his son’s recent situation.

He had already contacted Sun Qiang, the Section Chief of the Public Security Section at the Hall of Honor, but the latter had clearly told him that he couldn’t help.

Yun Shan immediately realized that the level of attention this matter was receiving from above probably exceeded the scope of his influence.

At this thought, his resentment towards that Xia Mang deepened.

Just then, Zhu Bingyi walked in with a stack of documents and respectfully placed them before him. “Chairman, here is what you asked for.”

Yun Shan took the documents and scanned them, then asked in a low voice, “Are you certain that Xia Mang is participating?”

Zhu Bingyi didn’t dare to meet his aggressive gaze and simply lowered his head to answer, “Yes. I bought this roster of participants from the Intelligence Department of the Hall of Honor. It’s completely reliable.”

“Xia Mang registered to compete as an individual. The documents show he doesn’t have a team.”

“Haha, very good.” Yun Shan’s smile was sinister. “Go and contact these participating teams and individuals. Tell them that whoever can cripple this Xia Mang for me during the competition will be rewarded with two hundred thousand star coins. Whoever can kill him will be rewarded with five hundred thousand star coins. If they face legal repercussions, I, Hengying Group, will cover all of their families’ living expenses.”

“But, what if the news leaks?” Zhu Bingyi asked cautiously.

Unexpectedly, this earned him a harsh rebuke from Yun Shan. “You waste! You still have to ask me that? What do I need you for? Can’t you use money to shut their mouths first? Can’t you do a background check on these people before meeting them? Just filter out anyone on good terms with that little bastard, right? Besides, with him, how many friends could he possibly have? How could the news possibly leak? Get out!”

After hearing this, Zhu Bingyi nodded hastily and withdrew.

Chapter 35: The Eve of the Competition (Part 1)

Yuecheng Group, Anhuang City.

Long Yongkang stood with his hands behind his back, gazing down at the kaleidoscope of colors that was the city below through a glass wall.

Behind him stood an old man in a black suit. “Boss, you wanted to see me?”

Long Yongkang turned around. “Uncle Da, I heard you mention last time that Long Junxuan has been getting along quite well with a student named Xia Mang, is that right?”

The old man, called Uncle Da, nodded. “Yes, the Young Master has been quite close to him lately. But I’ve looked into this kid; his background is clean. And he recently became Anhuang City’s first high school Mech Specialist. He has a lot of potential.”

Long Yongkang said, “I know all that. This kid, Xia Mang, is quite impressive. I heard that Yun Shan’s precious son ending up in prison was his doing.”

Uncle Da smiled. “Yes, that old fool Yun Shan has been moping around with a long face these days. It’s truly gratifying.”

At this, he paused abruptly as if he had just remembered something. He thought for a moment before continuing, “Also, boss, our people discovered something rather puzzling.”

“Oh? What is it?” Long Yongkang raised an eyebrow slightly.

Uncle Da frowned. “We found that Xia Mang seems to be a frequent visitor to the Anhuang City branch of the Hall of Honor. This doesn’t make any sense. Could he be an Honored Citizen? That’s impossible. Even if he became the city’s only high school Mech Specialist, he couldn’t have received an Honor Point reward.”

“He goes there very often, not just once or twice.”

Hearing this, Long Yongkang immediately sank into thought.

This matter was too peculiar. Even with all his experience, he couldn’t make heads or tails of it.

After a long while, he emerged from his thoughts and looked at Uncle Da. “I understand. The main reason I asked you here this time is because I know Yun Shan’s character all too well. I suspect that since this Xia Mang caused his son so much misery and has shown such strong potential…”

“Coupled with the fact that Yun Shan hasn’t made a move yet, I suspect he’s going to use this Wilderness Survival Competition to pull some tricks.”

Understanding dawned on Uncle Da. “So, Boss, you mean… you plan to protect this kid?”

A smile appeared on Long Yongkang’s face. “What if I told you I’ve taken a liking to this boy’s potential and plan to recruit him to our company after this competition ends? What do you think, Uncle Da?”

Uncle Da’s eyes widened. “Boss, are you saying…?”

Long Yongkang did not deny it. “That’s right. I want to recruit him as a springboard for our company to break into the Mech market.”

“Boss, isn’t this a bit too rash? He’s only a Junior Mech Specialist, after all. And judging by his participation in this Wilderness Survival Competition, it seems his mind isn’t entirely focused on studying mechs,” Uncle Da voiced his concerns.

Hearing this, Long Yongkang waved it off. “Don’t worry, Uncle Da. I’ve already had someone check this kid’s gene evolution level. It was only an index of 1.3 at their Special Training Class physical. Participating in that Wilderness Survival Competition, he’ll probably be eliminated before a single day is over. He’s all by himself, what can he possibly do?”

“Once he realizes his own shortcomings, he will naturally and obediently return to the path of Mech research.”

Realization struck Uncle Da, and he couldn’t help but give a thumbs-up. “Boss, your foresight is truly profound.”

“However, are you really that confident in this boy, Xia Mang?”

Long Yongkang took a deep breath. “In life, you can’t always focus on immediate benefits; you have to be good at taking gambles. If I put all my effort into cultivating him now, and his potential is converted into strength, the payoff will be enormous.”

“If we wait until he’s actually achieved something, it will likely be too late for us to make a move.”

Uncle Da found this very reasonable and asked, “So what do you need me to do, Boss?”

Long Yongkang smiled. “You just need to organize a team to participate in the Wilderness Survival Competition and ensure Xia Mang’s personal safety. Don’t let that old fox Yun Shan succeed with any of his dirty tricks.”

“Understood.”

Uncle Da nodded, accepted his orders, and withdrew.

Long Yongkang turned his back again, overlooking the brilliantly lit city below.

The Wilderness Survival Competition was drawing near.

Contestants from all sides were actively preparing, with the ultimate goal of seizing the championship and advancing to the quadrennial finals held in Yuancheng during the summer vacation a few months later.

If they were lucky, they might even earn the qualification to participate in the Tier-2 Planet regional finals on Jiuyuan Star.

Anhuang No. 1 High School basketball court.

Long Junxuan, Ye Fei, and Xia Mang sat side-by-side on the edge of the court, all somewhat tired after their workout.

“I’m telling you, Mech Xia, you’re going into the competition alone. Haven’t you considered teaming up with some other solo participants?” Ye Fei asked, turning his head.

“Mech Xia” was a nickname he and Long Junxuan had recently come up with for Xia Mang. Because the title of “Youngest Mech Specialist” was so famous, they started calling him Mech Xia.

Xia Mang had protested many times but was ultimately forced to accept the moniker. There was a limit to one person’s power; it was said you can’t change other people’s habits.

Anyone who didn’t know better might think it was some knock-off mech brand.

Hearing Ye Fei’s words now, Mech Xia—no, Xia Mang shook his head. “What’s the point? Going solo is free and easy, with no strings attached. It’s great.”

“By the way, since you guys knew all along that there were fifteen spots in the class, why didn’t you tell me to wait and register then?”

This question earned him two simultaneous eye-rolls.

Long Junxuan tutted and clicked his tongue, sighing, “Someone’s senility is acting up again.”

Ye Fei also feigned surprise, speaking in a snide tone, “My, what a forgetful person. I wonder who it was that said he wasn’t coming back to the Special Training Class.”

“Uhh…”

Watching the two of them play off each other, beads of sweat formed on Xia Mang’s forehead. He felt as if someone had just slapped him across the face. It really hurt…

Afterward, the three of them went to the school’s Gym to train for a while. Ye Fei proposed a one-on-one fight with Xia Mang and was, naturally, completely crushed.

Long Junxuan laughed at him, “Can’t you just have a peaceful day? You just had to go and let someone boost his confidence.”

Ye Fei, however, held his head high with pride. “I’m pursuing progress, trying to learn from the best.”

And so, he requested to be crushed once more.

Finally, Long Junxuan stopped joking and stared at Xia Mang strangely. “With fighting skills like yours, is your evolution index really only 1.3?”

“For some reason, that just doesn’t sound right.”

Faced with his question, Xia Mang didn’t answer directly, just played dumb. “I don’t know either. Anyway, my score on the last physical test was 1.3.”

In fact, he had nearly used up the entire first batch of Fengmen Potion. His current Gene Evolution Index had already reached 3.4.

He was afraid that if he told them, his two friends’ self-confidence would be crushed, and they would surround him with knives.

Even though he was very strong now, hitting people was still wrong, wasn’t it?

—

Soon, another day of classes was over. After school, Xia Mang packed his things and left with Long Junxuan and Ye Fei.

He took the familiar shortcut through the suburbs and returned home.

His dad was still recovering from his injuries and hadn’t looked for a job yet. His mom had come home early as well, and the two of them were sitting on chairs watching TV.

Xia Yuntian and Du Dongyan had already accepted the fact that their son had been recruited by the military. Considering the payment of the medical bills and the recent support with living expenses, there really was no other explanation.

As for their feelings, they were a mix of relief, slight confusion, and apprehension.

“Mom, Dad, I have something to tell you.”

Xia Mang said cheerfully as soon as he changed his shoes.

“What is it?” Du Dongyan and Xia Yuntian looked over in unison.

It is said that the economic base determines the superstructure. Their son was now becoming a major source of income for the family, so both adults paid more attention to what he had to say.

“It’s like this,” Xia Mang said with a grin. “There’s a wilderness survival competition coming up, and I’m planning to participate.”

Xia Yuntian understood at once. “Great! No problem at all! I love watching the live broadcast of that competition. But son, with your skill level, won’t you get crushed if you participate?”

“What the heck.”

Xia Mang nearly stumbled and fell. Is this really my biological father?

However, Xia Yuntian realized his words had been a bit too blunt, so he coughed and rephrased, “I mean, those contestants are all so strong. Are you confident you can last for even one day?”

Xia Mang wanted to cry but had no tears. He thought to himself, Dad, in your eyes, am I just a little pushover everyone can bully?

In your heart, isn’t your son the least bit mighty and imposing?

But while he was wailing internally, he said aloud, “Hey, don’t you worry. I’m definitely not going in there just for show.”

Xia Yuntian nodded. “Then what for?”

Du Dongyan shot her husband a glare and changed the subject. “Son, how long will this competition last? Is it dangerous?”

Xia Mang waved his hand dismissively. “Hah, what’s so dangerous about it? It’s just an athletic competition in a jungle. You can have Dad watch the live broadcast with you.”

Compared to his father, his mother was purely a production line worker. She worked from dawn till dusk, knowing nothing but the assembly line. She knew very little about the outside world, so her thinking was relatively simple.

Xia Yuntian nodded emphatically. “That’s right, I’ll provide you with commentary.”

Du Dongyan shot him another glare, then hurried to the inner room and brought out a suitcase. “Let me pack some clothes for you. It gets cold in the forest at night.”

“Mom, you don’t have to. They’ll issue special high-tech competition uniforms.”

Deeply moved, Xia Mang stopped his mother’s actions and declared with absolute confidence, “Don’t you worry. Just like I shocked the entire city a while ago, I will astound everyone in this competition, too.”

Du Dongyan nodded excitedly, indicating her belief in him.

Xia Yuntian also said seriously, “We’re not asking you to get a good result. I’ve heard that competition is quite dangerous, and you have to sign some kind of injury and death liability waiver. Just be careful and stay safe.”

“What injury and death liability waiver?” Du Dongyan grew agitated upon hearing this term and turned to her son. “Didn’t you say it was quite safe?”

Xia Mang smiled nonchalantly. “Hey, Mom, you do have to sign that thing, but there haven’t been any serious incidents for many years. The competition is very safe.”

“Really?” Du Dongyan muttered, still a little doubtful.

Xia Yuntian nodded. “That’s true. Every competition is broadcast live. I’ve watched it, and there really haven’t been any particularly serious casualties.”

“That’s good, then.”

Hearing her husband’s words, Du Dongyan finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Chapter 36: The Eve of the Competition (Part 2)

The day before the Wilderness Survival Competition.

A solemn atmosphere seemed to hang over all the schools in Anhuang City.

The competition itself had a high profile, so it was crucial for the schools’ reputations.

First High School’s conference room.

Fan Xuegeng and all the school’s senior staff were gathered to discuss the competition.

“Everyone,” Fan Xuegeng began, “this competition is linked to the Yuancheng City Finals held every four years. Our school has sent fifteen contestants, all of them members of the Special Training Class. It’s also worth mentioning that our school’s genius Mech Specialist, Xia Mang, has also signed up for the competition in his own name. Let’s discuss what kind of rewards we should offer to encourage our athletes to perform at their best.”

Fan Xuegeng raised his question.

The leaders then spoke freely, expressing their opinions, and after much debate, they finally reached a decision.

The winning team would each receive three thousand star coins and a bottle of Rex Oral Solution. The second and third place teams would receive one thousand star coins less, respectively, and the fourth place team would get nothing.

The individual awards were even more generous. The first place individual in terms of points would receive a fifty terabyte virtual reality data conversion system plus twenty thousand star coins, the second place would receive a Wagner Crystal plus ten thousand star coins, the third place would receive a bottle of Rex Oral Solution plus five thousand star coins, and then one thousand star coins less for each subsequent place.

It had to be said that the reward of opening up the virtual reality data conversion system was a super prize.

Since Zhou Chengyun, First High School hadn’t had anyone take first place in individual points for two years, and it had been five or six years since they had a winning team.

This time, the school was really investing heavily for the sake of results.

The so-called virtual reality data conversion system was one of the greatest inventions of humanity’s entry into the Galactic Era.

Combining quantum technology, spatial technology, computer programming technology, and other complex disciplines, it could convert objectively existing matter into corresponding quantum data codes stored in a precise chip. When needed, the conversion program could be activated by brainwaves to convert the data back into the original form of the matter.

In layman’s terms, it was similar to the Buddhist concept of “Mustard Seed Containing Mount Sumeru.”

However, different chips had different capacities. On a Tier-3 Planet like Water Source Planet, the maximum capacity was probably just over one hundred terabytes. Although it might not be able to store many items, it could provide great convenience.

Moreover, let alone one hundred terabytes, even the fifty terabyte virtual reality system being offered as a reward by Anhuang City No. 1 High School would probably cost hundreds of thousands of star coins, and there were honor ranking purchase restrictions.

It was truly not something that ordinary people could afford.

This was enough to show how much the school leaders valued this competition.

So, as soon as the news was announced, it immediately caused an uproar. Students were excited, teachers were dumbfounded, and competitors felt immense pressure.

With a heavy reward, there would surely be brave men.

Perhaps inspired by the unparalleled attraction of the virtual reality system, the contestants could unleash one hundred and twenty percent of their potential.

This was terrifying, so schools raised their reward levels one after another. Even Fourth High School, which had produced individual points champions for the past two years in a row, threw out a virtual reality system as a bombshell.

The capacity was the same as First High School: fifty terabytes of data storage.

“Damn, are these schools crazy?”

On the forums, the onlookers were excited after learning about this series of explosive news, and the frequency of their replies surged.

The popularity soared geometrically, instantly overshadowing all the hot news on the local popularity index.

“That’s awesome. Is Anhuang City going to award a champion of the Yuancheng City Finals with these moves?”

“Virtual identity system! It even makes me want to participate in this competition, but I don’t have the ability.”

“What do you guys know? This is a competition between schools to grab future students.”

“Between First High School and Fourth High School, Fourth High School should still have a better chance of winning this year, right? After all, some well-known seedlings have emerged from Fourth High School, but recently I haven’t heard of any particularly outstanding people from First High School.”

“Not outstanding? Did you forget about Xia Mang from a few days ago?” Someone angrily retorted.

“Come on, Xia Mang is just a Mech genius; it’s useless to put him in the competition.”

“I heard that Xia Mang is participating in this competition; maybe he can bring some surprises.”

“What surprises? He’s just had some smooth sailing recently and his confidence is inflated. It’s normal for children from the commoner’s district to have this kind of mentality.”

“Yes, yes, yes, I think it’s just a flash in the pan, shining for a while. I guess he’ll only be a Junior Mech Specialist in this lifetime.”

“A bunch of trolls. Have you ever had a moment of glory? Probably not.”

In short, as the discussion continued, it turned to Xia Mang. It was as if there was some kind of hatred or resentment, and he was being targeted for no reason.

The comments were mixed, with more people downplaying him, but these things had no impact on Xia Mang, who was focusing on preparing for the battle.

He didn’t pay any attention at all. Walking his own path and letting others talk was always his life motto.

Through day and night of special training and the powerful stimulation of Fengmen Potion, which caused his body cells to split and regenerate, Xia Mang’s physical condition had reached an unprecedented peak.

His Gene evolution level had reached 3.5, which could be said to be far beyond Zhou Chengyun, the strongest human at the school before.

If he were to fight the latter again now, he could probably defeat him within three moves.

But even so, he still hadn’t been able to defeat the Free Fencing Robot once.

That kind of tireless fighting machine was truly an anomaly to the extreme. Not only did it have no limits on physical strength, but its grasp of combat opportunities was accurate to the millisecond.

The speed of computer calculation still far exceeded the limit of Xia Mang’s evolved brain.

But this didn’t affect anything. He was now full of confidence in his strength, and he was also looking forward to the upcoming Wilderness Survival Competition.

The next day, he got up before dawn. After his parents’ repeated reminders and instructions, he said goodbye to them and arrived early at the designated meeting place at school.

In any case, although Xia Mang hadn’t joined First High School’s team, the First High School leadership still decided to let all the students who signed up individually go to the competition venue—Moonlight Forest—with the team.

Arriving at the large sports field.

He found that about fifty people had already gathered here. Removing the fifteen-man team selected and organized by the three grades of the Special Training Class, the number of people who signed up individually accounted for most of the total.

Many people noticed the appearance of this prominent figure, but other than discussing it and saying hello with a smile, not many people expressed their goodwill too enthusiastically.

It seemed that the news that his Gene evolution level wasn’t good had long since not been a secret.

After dealing with a few younger students, Xia Mang found a vacant spot and sat down quietly, waiting for the First High School army to depart.

Looking at the situation.

Almost everyone was traveling empty-handed, with only a few carrying luggage.

Xia Mang also didn’t bring anything.

Because before entering the venue before the competition, there would be a strict scan and inspection, and it was absolutely forbidden to bring any convenient items to participate in the competition.

Those who brought luggage couldn’t possibly not know the rules, so most of them were forced by their parents, and their items would be temporarily handed over to a dedicated person for safekeeping, otherwise they would not be eligible to participate in the competition.

As he watched, he suddenly saw Bai Ke leading a dozen people outside the wall of a Classroom Building, a hundred meters away from him. He was the leader teacher of the First High School special training team for this trip, so these dozen people should be the fifteen elites selected by First High School.

Among them were familiar faces from the second-year Special Training Class, including Yu Wanyin and Guo Bingyang.

Of course, the vast majority of the team was drawn from the third-year Special Training Class. After all, these people were one year older, and their Gene evolution level and overall ability were generally higher.

Although they had to deal with the upcoming graduation exam, they had no choice but to obey the call in the face of such important school honor.

Of course, getting good grades could get them corresponding extra points, so they were also highly motivated.

Xia Mang was indifferent to this. As a lone wolf, he only needed to care about his own results. What happened to this team had little to do with him.

After waiting for about half an hour, three hovercrafts finally arrived.

These were transportation vehicles commissioned by the armed forces department of the Hall of Honor on Water Source Planet from the Anhuang City branch, and they were high-end goods that were rarely seen normally.

A group of people rushed up the stairs frantically to grab seats.

Xia Mang wasn’t in a hurry. After the sports field was completely empty, he casually chose one of them and slowly walked up the steps.

As soon as he went up, he attracted the attention of many people.

Everyone recognized this rising prominent figure, the genius Mech Specialist.

Xia Mang was used to this kind of spotlight. He casually chose a seat in the few vacant spaces. Unexpectedly, he found a cold girl sitting next to him.

The girl’s profile outlined a heart-stirring beauty. Her smooth and beautiful long hair was scattered over her shoulders, and in the sunlight, her delicate skin reflected a color like solidified fat.

The contours of her face looked natural and delicate, like a carefully crafted work of art.

Although she didn’t face him directly, her long eyelashes and black pearl-like eyes couldn’t hide her heart-stirring aura.

She felt Xia Mang’s gaze and immediately took off her earphones and turned her head.

And so, the two faced each other.

The girl’s eyes were as clear and cold as frost and ice, without any warmth, but they made Xia Mang’s breathing and heartbeat involuntarily quicken. He then awkwardly shifted his gaze away.

“Hmph.”

The girl snorted softly, not knowing what she meant, and turned her head back without saying another word.

They were silent all the way.

It wasn’t until he got off the bus that Xia Mang saw that this girl had joined the Special Training Class team. She seemed very lonely, standing alone at the back of the team, saying nothing and keeping a certain distance from the others.

“Haha, Xia Mang, she’s good-looking, isn’t she.” At this time, a male voice suddenly came from his ear.

Turning his head to look, he saw a boy with glasses and a very round face.

He was about one meter seventy-five tall, with a plump body. When he smiled, the flesh on his face squeezed together into a ball, which was very festive.

“Hello, my name is Du Kang. Yes, it’s the Du Kang from ‘What can dispel sorrow? Only Du Kang’,” he said with a smile, extending his chubby hand. “Nice to meet you, genius Mech Specialist.”

“Oh, hello, my name is–”

Seeing that the other party was friendly, Xia Mang also smiled and shook his hand, ready to introduce himself, but he was interrupted by Du Kang.

“I know your name is Xia Mang, haha, our First High School’s genius Mech Specialist. Do you think this girl is especially beautiful?” Du Kang blinked his eyes.

“Uh…” Xia Mang was instantly embarrassed and didn’t know what to say.

Du Kang smiled: “Her name is Liu Xueqing, a famous genius girl from the first-year Special Training Class. How about it? This information is valuable, right?”

Xia Mang was extremely embarrassed and said nothing.

Du Kang continued to say with a cheeky smile: “Senior, I’m so shameless as to provide you with information. I’m not actually hoping that you can infect the ice beauty’s heart, which rejects people thousands of miles away. I just have a request.”

“What is it?” Xia Mang took advantage of the situation to avoid dwelling on being caught staring.

Du Kang said: “I’ve long heard of Senior’s name. For this competition, I’m also alone. I heard that Senior Xia Mang also signed up to participate in the competition on his own, so I hope to team up with Senior so that we can survive a few more days inside…”

Chapter 37: A Hit Right from the Start

It turned out that Du Kang was a student from the first-year Special Training Class.

He hadn’t originally planned on participating in this competition, but under the intense stimulation of the virtual reality system, he had gotten carried away and submitted his application two days before the deadline.

According to the rules, he now had to participate whether he wanted to or not.

Once an application was submitted, it was considered as having used up one’s only chance to enter the competition.

With no other choice, he could only brace himself and come along.

However, due to his strength and other factors, he hadn’t been selected for the school’s fifteen-person elite team. In fact, many of the solo competitors from First High School this time were students from the first and third-year Special Training Classes who hadn’t made the cut.

It was just that most of these people had one or two friends who had also signed up for the competition.

Du Kang, as it happened, did not.

Only four students from the first-year Special Training Class were participating this time. Liu Xueqing was on the elite team, and he wasn’t on good terms with the other two.

Thus, upon seeing the solitary figure of Xia Mang, he felt as if he had found his place.

“But, my skills are pretty average too. See? I didn’t make the elite team either,” Xia Mang said, spreading his hands.

Du Kang didn’t care in the slightest. “Even if your Gene Evolution Level isn’t that high, senior, as the only high school Mech Specialist in the history of our Anhuang City, you’ve definitely got a good head on your shoulders. In a competition like this, brains are sometimes more important than personal strength.”

At this point, his face suddenly fell into a woeful expression as he grabbed Xia Mang’s arm and shook it. “Senior, please take this little brother under your wing! I may not have any great skills, but I can definitely fetch you tea and water, run errands, and all that. Besides, if we travel together, we can watch out for each other.”

“To be honest with you, I can’t sleep a wink at night without my mom around. I get scared just thinking about it.”

“Senior, can you bear to see a lively and enthusiastic junior like me suffer a nervous breakdown from insomnia at such a young age? As the Buddhists say, saving a life is more meritorious than building a seven-story pagoda!”

Listening to his almost-screeching plea, Xia Mang helplessly agreed to the goofball’s request. All he could say was, “Alright. But I can’t guarantee your absolute safety. If I get you into trouble, I won’t be responsible.”

“Alright!” Du Kang cheered. “Don’t worry, senior! If you get me into trouble, I definitely won’t be surprised!”

“Huh?” Xia Mang was completely taken aback. Why did that sound wrong? It sounded a lot like an insult.

Du Kang realized it too and quickly corrected himself, “No, no, I mean I definitely won’t blame you, senior.”

“Fine.” Xia Mang nodded helplessly, suddenly feeling that this junior of his was a bit dense.

The waiting area was a small plaza outside Moonlight Forest.

This was the intersection of Anhuang City and Yinye City, with Moonlight Forest serving as the dividing line.

Before long, several hundred people had gathered, among them some of the formidable opponents Xia Mang had seen in the information packets.

For example, those few rather famous young geniuses from the Fourth High School.

“Senior, I hear we have to sign some kind of injury and death waiver later. Is the competition really dangerous?” Du Kang couldn’t help but ask, seeing such a large crowd.

“Signing this waiver is mostly to prevent accidents,” Xia Mang explained patiently. “In fact, there haven’t been any major accidents in the past three competitions. During the event, there will be patrol vehicles in the sky to ensure safety, and the competition suits we’re wearing can transmit video signals at any time. As soon as an accident is detected, the organizers will launch an immediate rescue response.”

“So as long as we’re careful to avoid the beasts in the forest, nothing should go wrong unless it’s a very unusual situation.”

Just as he was speaking, a disc-shaped aircraft flew over their heads, and a deep male voice broadcast from it.

“Hello, everyone. Welcome, contestants, to this year’s Wilderness Survival Competition. The rules are the same as in previous years. You will need to survive in the forest for thirty days. During this time, the organizers will airdrop special talismans into the forest. Your mission is to collect as many of these talismans as possible while maintaining a normal life in the forest.”

“This is what the talisman looks like.”

As his voice fell, a massive projection appeared in mid-air.

The projection was of an ordinary-looking round orb, with nothing particularly special about it.

Everyone tilted their heads back, memorizing the object’s appearance. The round aircraft continued, “The talismans are about ten centimeters in diameter and come in gold, silver, bronze, and a very small number of purple. A gold orb is worth 10 points, a silver orb is worth 5 points, a bronze orb is worth 1 point, and a purple orb is worth 50 points.”

“The higher the grade of the orb, the fewer of them will be deployed. You need to remember this.”

“There are no special restrictions on how you obtain the orbs. As long as it’s within the rules, you can use any means to acquire them.”

At this, the contestants’ faces lit up with eager anticipation.

The voice from the round aircraft added, “Alright everyone, the injury and death liability waiver has been sent to your personal mailboxes. After reading it, click confirm to enter Moonlight Forest!”

The moment he finished speaking, hundreds of people received a document almost simultaneously. Many didn’t even bother to read it before tapping “confirm” and scrambling towards the entrance. Dozens of soldiers stood guard there, with two rows of alloy railings forming a gap leading into the forest. On either side of the gap were foreign object scanners. Everyone had to receive their competition suit and pass through the scanner to confirm they weren’t carrying any unauthorized items before entering.

Xia Mang unhurriedly read the waiver, clicked confirm, and then, along with Du Kang, put on the special competition suit he had received and entered Moonlight Forest.

In addition, each person was given a piece of cloth about two square meters in size, specifically for carrying the competition talismans.

The two had just stepped past the gap in the railings when a notification sounded from their Identity Chip system. Accessing it with their brainwaves, they found that apart from their personal identification information, which was accessible as usual, all other functions were locked and unusable.

This was to be expected.

Since the competition was being broadcast live, it would be too easy for contestants to cheat if the organizers didn’t completely cut off their contact with the outside world.

“Let’s go. Time to find some orbs.”

Xia Mang glanced at the emergency button on his competition suit and started walking deeper into the forest, side-by-side with Du Kang.

They hadn’t walked more than a few steps before they saw a great waterfall hanging in mid-air, its water cascading straight down. The air here was exceptionally cool, saturated with dense water molecules. A deep breath filled their nostrils with the fresh fragrance of wildflowers and new leaves.

Overall, Moonlight Forest was quite ancient, with complex terrain, numerous ravines, and abundant vegetation. Peculiar karst rock formations, carved by the supernatural craftsmanship of nature, could be seen everywhere, each one presenting a unique shape.

By this point, the two, who had been busy admiring the scenery, had already been left far behind by the main pack. Looking around, there wasn’t another soul in sight, and even the sounds of movement were extremely distant.

“Senior, if we don’t get a move on, all the orbs will be snatched up!” Du Kang, who had been lost in the beauty of the landscape, suddenly snapped back to reality.

Xia Mang, however, just chuckled and shook his head. “The competition is thirty days long. What’s the rush? The good stuff is always at the end.”

As he spoke, he leisurely strolled along with his hands behind his back, admiring the scenery.

But Du Kang was quite anxious. “But senior, we’re not that strong to begin with. How will we get a turn at the good stuff later on?”

“Exactly,” Xia Mang said, smiling at him. “The competition has just started, so the fight for resources is at its most intense. Since we’re so weak, how could we possibly compete? We might as well take this opportunity to properly appreciate the magnificence of this karst topography. At least we can write a travelogue when we get back. It’ll be a trip worth taking.”

Du Kang seemed to have been convinced and nodded in deep agreement. “That seems to be right.”

He couldn’t help but give a thumbs-up in praise. “Senior is as clear-minded and high-minded as I expected. This attitude of refusing to follow the crowd has the feel of a floral hermit. Mmm, yes, it has the feel of a chrysanthemum—fair, yet it vies not for spring, only to announce its coming. When the mountain flowers are in full bloom, it smiles amidst them. How noble and transcendent.”

Hearing his nonsensical rambling delivered with a perfectly straight face, Xia Mang, who was walking ahead, felt his knees buckle and nearly fell to the ground.

A chrysanthemum… what kind of bizarre metaphor was that? And what the hell did it have to do with that poem?

He couldn’t help but turn around and say to his clueless junior in a sincere and earnest tone, “Du Kang, I’m starting to wonder how you even got into our school’s Special Training Class. Was the poem ‘fair, yet it vies not for spring, only to announce its coming’ written about a chrysanthemum?”

After hearing this, Du Kang actually thought for a long while with a serious expression before muttering, “I guess not… Ah, who cares? That’s the general idea, anyway. As long as the meaning gets across, I’m satisfied.”

He then adopted a look of blissful intoxication, mimicking Xia Mang by clasping his hands behind his back and goose-stepping as he slowly admired the scenery.

Watching his retreating figure, Xia Mang’s face was covered in dark lines. How had he ever agreed to the request of a teammate who was so surprisingly, shockingly absurd?

Truly, even the wisest man makes a mistake once in a while.

At this thought, he couldn’t help but let out a long sigh. A single phrase drifted through his mind over and over: If only I had known it would come to this, I wouldn’t have done it in the first place.

What the two of them didn’t know was that their performance had been caught by the broadcast station. Inside the main hall of the disc-shaped aircraft were hundreds of screens, each displaying the feed of an individual contestant.

Dozens of broadcasting staff were intently screening the footage, looking for interesting or exciting clips to upload to the live broadcast.

As it happened, Xia Mang and Du Kang became the “lucky ones” selected right at the start of the competition.

“Pfft, hahaha, these two clowns are hilarious.”

Bursts of laughter like this erupted in many corners of the city.

Du Kang’s image was seen by many viewers who were following the competition.

In front of a television.

Xia Mang’s father stared at the screen, stunned. He muttered to himself, “Is my son there to perform a comedy sketch or to compete?”

In the main conference room of Anhuang City No. 1 High School, the leaders were speechless and choked with exasperation.

The competition had just begun, and these two clowns from First High had already become a hit.

Fan Xuegeng shook his head with a wry smile. “These two kids… really. Instead of grabbing orbs, they have the time to bicker and admire flowers.”

Chapter 38: The First Battle

“Sigh, Senior, it’s been three days. We’ve seen enough scenery and I’ve even written three poems. It’s turned me, a genius from the Special Training Class, into some kind of high-brow literary man. I have very mixed feelings about this.”

Du Kang grumbled, “Besides, we’ve only found six Bronze Orbs. According to the rules, that’s just six points. Based on my nightly stargazing and some quick calculations these past few days, I’m afraid our score puts us in last place.”

Xia Mang continued to stroll along nonchalantly. “What’s there to panic about? Searching for orbs is exhausting. Didn’t you follow me just to survive a few more days? You’ve been eating and drinking well with me these last few days. I haven’t let you down, have I?”

At the mention of this, Du Kang’s eyes suddenly lit up, his earlier dejection vanishing. “Senior Chef, I want roasted goose for lunch today!”

“The roasted goose you make is too delicious.”

Xia Mang abruptly gave him a rap on the head. “Eat, eat, eat, that’s all you know. What do you think geese are? You think they just appear whenever you want one?”

Du Kang scratched his head and chuckled. “Some wild vegetables would be great too. Senior, I think even if you don’t become a Mech Specialist, you’d definitely be this as a chef.”

As he spoke, he gave a thumbs-up.

“Oh, stop it. By the way, we haven’t seen anyone else these past few days,” Xia Mang said, finding it a bit strange. “How can several hundred people enter this forest and just disappear without a trace, like a stone sinking into the sea?”

“It’s because we’ve fallen too far behind,” Du Kang said, his face clouding over again.

“No rush. It’s still early,” Xia Mang said with considerable calm.

Meanwhile, in the outside world, the official website for the Wilderness Survival Competition displayed rankings for individual and team points.

These were tallied in real time by a professional team based on the live broadcast.

In the team rankings, Fourth High’s elite squad was currently in first place, while First High’s elite squad had fallen to fourth. Their initial performance was not looking optimistic.

As for individual points, not a single student from First High could be seen in the top ten.

This put the school leaders in a bad mood, who then took it out on the teachers. The teachers, in turn, assigned more homework to the innocent students.

Anhuang City branch, Armed Division.

As the authorized organizer on behalf of the Water Source Planet Hall of Honor’s Armed Forces Department, Section Chief Yan Wenhua was closely monitoring the competition’s progress.

“What’s the status of the Talisman drops?”

Yan Wenhua looked at the communications officer responsible for processing real-time data.

The officer glanced at his computer and reported, “Section Chief, a small number of Gold Talismans have been deployed, but the Purple Talismans have not yet been released.”

“Good, everything according to plan. Pay attention to controlling the proportion of high-quality Talismans. Also, you can start dropping some melee weapons now,” Yan Wenhua instructed.

The communications officer heard this and asked, “Section Chief, isn’t it too early for that?”

Yan Wenhua shook his head. “The monitoring center just sent a message. They said the Snarling Hounds in the Moonlight Forest have been unusually active, and they suspect their mating season has arrived early. So we must provide these kids with some weapons, give them the ability to handle unexpected situations. Remember, follow the regulations, and notify the on-site aerial rescue team to keep the situation under control and be ready for rescue at a moment’s notice.”

“Yes, Section Chief.” The communications officer quickly relayed the orders to the on-site control room and the aerial rescue team.

In the forest.

Xia Mang and Du Kang sat on the ground, roasting a wild chicken they had caught. Relying on his superb skills, Xia Mang had managed to roast it to a perfect crisp on the outside and tender on the inside, incredibly fragrant even without any seasoning.

“Eat slower, you’ll choke. Look at how fat you are, and you still don’t watch your weight.”

Xia Mang poked the firewood with a branch as he said this with a laugh.

Du Kang tore into the meat with large bites, his eyes filled with satisfaction. He mumbled indistinctly, “Following you, Senior, losing weight is an impossible task.”

“Oh? So you’re blaming me now, are you?” Xia Mang was quite pleased to hear it.

Du Kang shook his head like a rattle drum. “No, no, no, it’s my fault, my fault. I can’t help it. This all-natural stuff is just too delicious, completely different from the food I’ve had before, made with MSG and salt.”

“Right. You won’t feel that way after eating it for a while,” Xia Mang said dismissively.

“Huh, they’re dropping things again.”

As he said this, he suddenly looked up at the sky, where an aircraft with its lights on was dropping crates.

“Seems a bit close to us. Let’s go, let’s check it out.”

Xia Mang stood up and, based on his prediction, started walking toward the supply drop location.

From its appearance, he knew that this drop contained large items, not just orbs.

He moved so quickly that Du Kang had to hastily tear off a huge bite of chicken before scrambling to follow.

Sure enough, after arriving at the location and searching for a bit, they found a shattered wooden crate. Two long alloy staves lay scattered on either side, glinting coldly in the moonlight.

“Are these… weapons?”

Xia Mang stared, dumbfounded, as he picked one up and handed the other to Du Kang.

Du Kang examined it closely as well, saying in confusion, “According to the rules, aren’t they not supposed to drop weapons this early?”

Xia Mang nodded gravely. “Something unusual might be happening.”

Hearing this, the usually carefree chubby kid reacted instantly. “I understand.”

“It seems we’re thinking the same thing.” Xia Mang looked at him with a serious expression.

Du Kang nodded. “The rules can’t be changed arbitrarily. The only possibility is that something beyond the organizers’ control has happened in the Moonlight Forest.”

“Correct. I’m guessing these weapons were dropped for our protection. Since we saw it, anyone else nearby must have seen it too. We shouldn’t stay here. Let’s go.”

With that, the two of them grabbed the long staves and quickly departed.

As expected, a quarter of an hour after they left, a group of seven or eight people arrived. Looking at the shattered crate, one of them said, “Someone beat us to it.”

“There are footprints. After them! We have to get those weapons. Having weapons will give us a huge advantage in snatching orbs.”

At the same time, identical alloy staves were being dropped in multiple locations throughout the Moonlight Forest, allowing a small number of people to graduate from being unarmed.

However, this drove those who didn’t get weapons into a frenzy. They began searching everywhere for people who had them, and soon, scenes of forceful seizure began to erupt.

The competition was gradually entering its first wave of high-stakes eliminations.

Xia Mang and Du Kang moved rapidly through the woods, listening for any sounds around them while searching for a hiding place.

To his credit, Du Kang’s round body was surprisingly agile, which made Xia Mang see him in a new light.

“We should be able to rest now, right?”

The two stopped in a hollow between the hills.

Xia Mang perked up his ears and listened for a moment, then cautiously lowered his voice. “Would you believe me if I said someone is approaching us?”

“Huh?” Du Kang jumped in fright. “No way! Who would be following us?”

“Hmph, if I’m not mistaken, it’s people who want these weapons,” Xia Mang said with a smirk.

“What do we do, Senior?” Du Kang panicked. “I’m not very good at fighting. My evolutionary level is only 1.3, and I don’t know how to use this Dog-Beating Staff!”

“Damn, your evolutionary level is the same as mine was,” Xia Mang thought to himself, speechless. He patiently explained, “Didn’t you read the rules? They always drop this kind of staff in the competition. Because long staves are blunt weapons, they’re less likely to cause fatal injuries in a fight. Plus, they’re good for both offense and defense, perfect for a competition.”

“Okay,” Du Kang said, nodding in understanding.

Xia Mang was quite relaxed about the impending situation. In this competition, there were only a few opponents who could pose a threat to him. It was unlikely he would run into them by such a coincidence.

At this thought, he suddenly stopped. “Let’s wait here. If someone wants these weapons, let them try and take them.”

“Huh?!” Du Kang’s jaw dropped in surprise.

Xia Mang chuckled. “They’re already coming to bully us. How long can we keep hiding?”

Not long after he spoke, the sound of footsteps reached them from nearby.

“One, two, three, four… eight people in total.”

Du Kang quickly counted the number of newcomers and couldn’t help but close his eyes and wail, “Looks like I’m going to be eliminated.”

“This is tragic! It’s only been a few days, and I’m already done for. I’ve let down my parents, my teachers, my friends, and all my doting relatives who had such high hopes and put so much effort into raising me.”

Xia Mang shot him a glare. “What are you wailing about? You’re not dead yet.”

“It’s pretty much the same as being dead,” Du Kang said plaintively.

While he was complaining, the other group had already arrived in front of them.

“Heh, so it’s the genius Mech Specialist,” one of them sneered. “What a coincidence. Our first fight since entering the Moonlight Forest is against the man of the hour.”

“Worth it, totally worth it, haha.” The others roared with laughter.

Their expressions showed they didn’t take Xia Mang seriously at all.

Xia Mang ignored them and asked calmly, “I’m just curious, how did you manage to follow us?”

The speaker pointed to a trail of footprints leading right to Du Kang. “You didn’t even notice such obvious footprints? Your friend here is too heavy, hahaha.”

The remark was full of mockery, causing Du Kang’s face to turn beet red with shame.

“Alright, I know the reason now. You can make your move,” Xia Mang said, taking a step forward and beckoning to the group.

“Uh…”

Seeing his attitude, the bald student who had spoken first became hesitant. “Xia Mang, I know you’re a genius Mech Specialist, but that doesn’t mean you’re a genius fighter. You’ve really brought honor to our Anhuang City lately. How about this? Just put the staves on the ground and you can leave.”

“We won’t eliminate you.”

After he spoke, his companions chimed in, “Yeah, just put the staves down. We won’t eliminate you.”

Hearing this, Xia Mang didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. They had arrived so aggressively, so why were they being so friendly now?

But no matter what, the nature of this robbery hadn’t changed.

At this thought, he shook his head. “These staves are very important to us. If you gentlemen wish to take them, please, make your move.”

“Uh, in that case, don’t blame us for being impolite. Let’s go, guys.”

The bald student shouted and was the first to charge at Xia Mang.

Seeing this, Xia Mang hesitated for a breath, then, instead of using his weapon, he dropped the staff and met the attack bare-handed.

Du Kang stood behind, trembling with fear. His legs felt as if they were filled with lead, too heavy to move, as if they weighed a thousand pounds.

Chapter 39: The Purple Talisman Appears!

The reason he didn’t use the alloy staff was that Xia Mang was afraid of injuring them.

With lightning speed, he grabbed the arm of the bald man lunging at him. His right hand shot up and accurately clamped down on the man’s armpit while his left hand moved to the elbow. With a gentle lift in the opposite direction, he heard the bald man let out a blood-curdling scream.

This was a joint lock technique Xia Mang had developed himself while sparring with the Free Fencing Robot. Although it was useless against that hunk of metal, it was remarkably effective when used on a person.

The bald man’s elbow was dislocated. He rolled back and forth on the ground, wailing in pain, clearly having lost all ability to fight.

This group was just students, not hardened criminals who lived on the edge. Struck by this thunderous blow, they were all a little stunned.

Xia Mang’s performance had completely exceeded their imagination.

“You should go. I’m not going to eliminate you.”

Xia Mang stood up, bent down to pick up his staff, and led the still-shocked Du Kang unhurriedly into the depths of the forest.

The fight had been brief. The bald man’s group didn’t give chase. Instead, the bald student on the ground cried out painfully to his companions, “What are you staring at? Help me put it back in place! It hurts, ah—!”

In the forest, the two of them rustled through the undergrowth.

Having come to his senses, Du Kang was utterly astounded by his senior’s incredible performance. He asked curiously, “Senior, why didn’t you take the orbs from those guys?”

“Their attitude was decent enough, so just chasing them off was fine,” Xia Mang said nonchalantly.

“But we’re here to compete, not to promote martial virtue,” Du Kang said, confused. “If we had forced them to hand over their Talismans just now, our score would have definitely shot up.”

Xia Mang looked at him. “That’s right, we’re here to compete, but we’re not here to make enemies.”

“Even if we had finished off that group, we’d have only gained a trivial amount. But by letting them go, we might gain a friendly force in this competition. What’s not to like about that?”

Hearing this, Du Kang thought for a long while before giving a thumbs-up. “You’re right, Senior. I was thinking too simply.”

He also realized that this genius Mech Specialist probably possessed a hidden strength that no one could have imagined.

He couldn’t help but feel deeply fortunate for his shameless decision to cling to this powerful ally from the very beginning.

The corners of Xia Mang’s mouth lifted. “Our next mission is to hunt for prey everywhere and seize any opportunity to score points!”

This once again confused Du Kang, who had just grasped the key point. “Boss, didn’t you say we were here to form alliances and make friends? To openly rob people… that contradicts what you just said.”

Xia Mang blinked strangely and retorted, “Is it a contradiction? No, it’s not. I said seize the opportunity to rob people, not rob everyone we meet.”

Du Kang asked again, “Then what does ‘seize the opportunity’ mean?”

“To put it simply, we rob anyone who rubs us the wrong way,” Xia Mang explained patiently.

“Rubs us the wrong way.” Du Kang repeated the key phrase, his spirits immediately lifting and his eyebrows dancing. “Then what if everyone rubs me the wrong way?”

Hearing this, Xia Mang shot him a harsh glare and said irritably, “Then you can go do it yourself!”

“Oh, okay then. It’s probably better for me to maintain a kind heart and devote myself to Buddha.” Du Kang quickly made his decision, putting his palms together in a prayer-like gesture.

Paired with his chubby face and large ears, he looked somewhat like a Maitreya Buddha.

Outside, the fight from just now had been broadcast to the public in a timely manner by the official live-streaming platform.

Ever since the weapon drops began, such clashes had become commonplace, a normal part of the competition in the jungle. But what Xia Mang and Du Kang had just experienced still stood out among the many teams.

Neither side had wanted to eliminate the other. It was truly a bizarre sight, like the sun rising in the west.

Of course, the strength Xia Mang had unleashed also shocked countless people.

They had long heard that this mech genius had a very low gene evolution level at school, but his domineering and sharp performance just now was completely different from the rumors.

It seemed his participation in the competition wasn’t just a case of inflated self-confidence.

For a time, Xia Mang’s name once again became a hot topic on all the major forums.

“Is the Genius Mech Specialist Really a Pushover? One Fight Says It All!”

“Who Said His Gene Evolution Level Is Low? He Defeated Enemies Bare-Handed Without a Weapon.”

Headlines like these filled the discussion boards of major forums.

“So cool, he didn’t even use a weapon.” Infatuated viewers were already captivated by Xia Mang’s dominant aura.

Long Junxuan and Ye Fei happened to be on vacation. The two had invited a few friends over to watch the live broadcast of the Wilderness Survival Competition at home using four-dimensional somatosensory viewing equipment.

For them, everything that had just happened felt incredibly real, as if they were watching from the sidelines.

“Brother Junxuan, is this that new friend you made?” a cute girl in a purple gauze dress asked.

“Whoa, Xiaoyi, you don’t even know such a famous genius?” Ye Fei looked at her as if he’d seen a ghost. “This is the first high school student Mech Specialist in the history of Anhuang City.”

“Oh. I don’t know him,” the girl called Xiaoyi replied, shaking her head.

“Alright, you win.” Ye Fei gave her a helpless thumbs-up, then turned to the ever-smiling Long Junxuan. “Boss, Xia Mang’s skill is on another level, isn’t it? Haha.”

The latter shook his head. “Aren’t you used to it by now? He managed to fight Zhou Chengyun to a draw last time. Do you think he wouldn’t have improved since then? A small group like that is hardly a challenge for him.”

Ye Fei nodded. “True. That guy seems like he was born to create miracles.”

Long Junxuan’s smile grew wider. “It’s like I’ve always said, the stronger he is, the better it is for us.”

“And the more it proves that my, Long Junxuan’s, judgment is spot on.”

Hearing this, Xiaoyi, who had been silent on the side, let out a snort. “Keep telling yourself that.”

Long Junxuan turned his head to her dotingly and stroked her head. “Haha, little sis, your Yamekian language course has been intense lately, so I brought you to watch this competition to relax. But I feel like you’re not very excited.”

“Aiya, big brother, you know I’m not interested in this stuff. I just want that Yamekian Concord Piano. I’ve been bored with you for so long, you have to buy it for me as compensation,” Long Xiaoyi said, shaking Long Junxuan’s arm coaxingly.

He shrugged helplessly. “Where would I get that much money? Go ask Dad for it.”

“Hmph.” Long Xiaoyi pouted. “You’re all a bunch of tightfisted skinflints!”

After saying that, she walked off in a huff.

Watching her leave, Ye Fei sighed. “Xiaoyi is too willful.”

Long Junxuan shook his head with a wry smile. “I just wanted to help her relax, but I couldn’t distract her after all. What can I do? She’s only interested in performing. That Yamekian Concord Piano she mentioned is imported from off-world and costs over two million. How could my family possibly agree to that?”

“That said, don’t all those musicians who can shake people’s souls get to where they are by having money thrown at them?” Ye Fei said.

“Never mind her. Let’s keep watching.”

Ye Fei smiled as well. Neither of them had a good way of dealing with the headstrong girl…

Five days later, within the Moonlight Forest, there was a place called Wolf’s Tooth Ridge.

It was a dangerous area frequented by Snarling Hounds. At this very moment, a purple orb quietly landed there.

First High School’s elite squad happened to be camped nearby. As the team captain, Guo Bingyang saw it and immediately stood up. “Everyone get ready. A Purple Talisman has been spotted.”

With that, he took the lead, alloy staff in hand, and charged toward the Talisman’s landing spot.

The rest of the group quickly followed. Liu Xueqing watched them go, let out a cold snort, and stayed put.

Snarling Hounds were extremely ferocious animals. They were swift and always hunted in packs of ten or more. Their aggression was quite high, so encountering them in the wild was incredibly dangerous.

However, it was currently a safe period, and the Snarling Hounds were not as active.

Since the start of the competition, Guo Bingyang had led the team to the vicinity of this dangerous area. They hadn’t encountered anything particularly unusual. He had simply sent people out to search for Talismans and, during the weapon drop a few days ago, led the team to rob a few small squads formed by solo participants until the entire team was armed.

But there was one exception: Liu Xueqing did not receive a weapon.

One crate only contained two alloy staffs. They had gone to great lengths to find seven teams that had picked up weapons. With a total of fifteen people on their team, someone was bound to be left out. According to a public vote, that person was naturally Liu Xueqing, who was quiet and kept others at arm’s length.

“Everyone, be careful of the Snarling Hounds. Don’t startle them.”

Guo Bingyang whispered cautionary words, moving through the forest in a crouch, trying his best to muffle his footsteps.

Behind him, Yu Wanyin bit her lip, her heart pounding with unease, her jade-like fingers gripping her staff even tighter.

At the Sky Rescue Team’s control center, the Guard Team promptly noticed the squad’s movement and initiated the Level Two Emergency Protocol. They slightly lowered their flight altitude, ready to respond to any unforeseen circumstances at a moment’s notice.

Meanwhile.

Fourth High’s elite squad had also arrived nearby.

“Captain, according to the alert, this is the spot.”

The person speaking pointed to an indicator dial on the sleeve of his Competition Suit.

This indicator dial displayed the location of the Purple Talisman, which was known to all teams.

“Very good.” A boy with salt-and-pepper hair and a stern expression nodded slightly. He then took out a map, carefully compared it, and said, “This place is Wolf’s Tooth Ridge. The Snarling Hounds are quite active here. Don’t startle them. Everyone, prepare for battle. We might encounter some very strong opponents.”

…

At almost the same instant, teams and individuals not far from the area were all rushing toward the direction shown on their dials.

Among them were Xia Mang and Du Kang.

“Senior, are we really going to fight for this purple orb?”

Ever since that last battle, the two had not had any similar encounters. Their days passed peacefully. Roasting some wild game and admiring the scenery along the way seemed to have become their sole purpose for being there.

They never expected that the appearance of the Purple Talisman would provoke an immediate reaction from Xia Mang.

This caught Du Kang, who had grown accustomed to their relaxed pace, completely off guard.

“Did you honestly think we’d just lose like this?” Xia Mang looked at him. “We held back before to rest and build our strength. This time, many teams will surely arrive. There’s bound to be a chaotic battle. We just need to find a place to hide and wait to pick up the spoils.”

“You have to understand, a single purple orb is worth a full fifty points. After these elites have exhausted themselves, we’re bound to gain something.”

Xia Mang grinned, finally baring his fangs…

Chapter 40: Yu Wanyin’s Choice

Near Wolf’s Tooth Ridge, the various groups had already spotted one another.

Among them, independents and teams of independents who were on good terms formed temporary alliances.

“Captain, it looks like First High’s elite team is in there.”

“First High? Elite? Elite my ass! If we all attack together, taking down these so-called elites will be a piece of cake…”

As they talked, they quickly reached a consensus.

On a high slope somewhere, Xia Mang was perched in a large tree, surveying the situation in the distance.

Visibility was limited at night, but the luminous components on the Competition Suits were extremely conspicuous in the dark. Many people had even enabled the night mode on their indicator dials. Furthermore, with his current level of evolution, his hearing far surpassed that of a normal person, so none of this hindered his grasp of the overall situation.

Unable to climb the tree, Du Kang was pacing restlessly below like an ant on a hot pan, whining, “Boss, Senior, I want to come up! I want to see, too.”

“Shut your mouth.”

Xia Mang shot him an unforgiving glare. “If you make another sound, I’ll leave you here.”

Du Kang immediately fell silent, craning his neck and looking up pitifully as if to say, Give me a pair of wings, I want to fly higher.

The First High elite team.

They had already become aware of their surroundings. Guo Bingyang spoke in a low voice as he walked, “Listen up, we’ve become everyone’s target. The Purple Orb is tempting, but we can’t lose the forest for the trees. Our combined points are already around two to three hundred. It’s not worth losing our existing achievements for just fifty points.”

“Then what do we do?” a member of the third-year Special Training Class asked, unwilling to give up. “Just abandon it like this?”

Although he and a few other students were confused, Guo Bingyang had been personally appointed as captain by their supervising teacher, Bai Ke. His leadership so far had been decent enough, and his own genetic evolution was not bad. So, while they had their doubts, no one voiced any strong objections.

“No.” Guo Bingyang shook his head. “Listen to me now. Everyone, give your orbs to Yu Wanyin. She’ll take them out of here. Just remember how many you each have.”

“The rest of you, with me. We’re going for the Purple Orb.”

His proposal was, in some respects, quite reasonable, but it seemed to overlook the issue of a female comrade’s physical strength.

Yu Wanyin shook her head. “All these orbs are too heavy. I won’t be able to get away.”

“Then I’ll assign two more people to you. Jiang Hu, Niu Dajin, you two will retreat with Yu Wanyin first. The rest of you, follow me.”

Guo Bingyang left behind two members from the third-year Special Training Class.

“Let’s go, Wanyin.” Jiang Hu had a smile on his face. Escorting a beauty was the kind of pleasant task he enjoyed most. Ever since joining the team, he had been particularly interested in the two female members, Liu Xueqing and Yu Wanyin. The former, however, was too cold and impossible to get close to, while the latter was far more approachable.

At this moment, he was even fantasizing that this escort mission might make Yu Wanyin develop feelings for him.

“I’ll be counting on you two seniors, then.”

Tasked with the heavy responsibility of transferring the entire team’s assets, Yu Wanyin felt immense pressure.

“Don’t mention it! With us here, no one will lay a finger on you!”

And so, with the two male seniors pounding their chests in assurance, the trio quietly began their retreat.

Not far away.

Wan Changrui, the captain of Fourth High, was assigning tasks when the scout he had sent ahead ran back. “Captain, three people from First High have broken off and are running.”

Hearing this, Wan Changrui sneered. “Interesting. So Guo Bingyang is trying to move his points. A pity, but I don’t permit such devious tricks. Since you’ve fallen into the net, don’t even think about leaving.”

“Dongzi, take a few men and go after those three. We’re going to take everything they’ve got!”

He waved his hand, and several team members carrying long rods immediately crouched down and hurried in the direction the scout had indicated.

Watching his teammates’ backs disappear into the distance, someone asked worriedly, “Captain, you sent Dongzi and the others out. Are we going to be okay with the few people we have left?”

Wan Changrui chuckled. “Of course. The one leading First High this time is that coward Guo Bingyang. If it were Yun Hai, I really wouldn’t have the guts to try and swallow First High with just the men I have left.”

“Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing,” he replied, brimming with confidence.

Up in the tree, Xia Mang had seen the situation below clearly and had vaguely overheard Guo Bingyang’s arrangements. He slid silently down the trunk back to the ground.

“Boss, what’s going on?”

Du Kang immediately hurried over to ask.

“Guo Bingyang sent a few people to retreat down another path with the orbs they’ve collected. I’m changing our target,” Xia Mang said quickly. “I took a look. There are about nine teams coming to fight for that Purple Orb, not to mention all the independents hiding somewhere. The competition is too fierce. We’ll stay out of this mess for now and go collect the points from that team that ran off from First High.”

Hearing this, Du Kang immediately shook his head like a rattle-drum. “Senior, that’s not a good idea. This competition is being broadcast live. If the Principal sees us robbing our own people, he’ll chew us out for sure.”

“Then you can stay here. I’ll go by myself.”

Xia Mang couldn’t help but snap at him before striding off on his own.

“Hey, hey, hey, Senior, wait for me! I’ll go, I’ll go!” Seeing this, Du Kang scrambled to catch up.

“Tell me, how can you be so unprincipled?” Xia Mang said, a hint of a smile in his eyes. “Didn’t you just say you wouldn’t rob our own people?”

Du Kang stuck out his tongue. “I thought about it. The point rewards for the individual competition are more generous.”

“You’re just a scheming fatty full of bad ideas.” As they hurried along, Xia Mang reached out and gave him a smack on the head.

Du Kang ducked his head. “I learned it all from you, Senior. The old me was as pure as a sheet of white paper, as righteous as… as… what was it again?”

“Shit, an uncultured moron trying to act smart.” Xia Mang cursed. “So it’s all my fault, right? Fine. All the orbs we get later are mine. You’re not getting any.”

“No, no, no, Senior, you can’t do this to me!” Du Kang’s face was a mask of misery. “I’ve been with you this whole time, bragging and shooting the breeze. Even if I haven’t done much, I’ve put in the effort! Otherwise, the night is long and the wind is cold. It’d be so lonely and empty.”

Xia Mang felt a chill run down his spine. “Alright, alright, stop, stop! I have zero interest in your fat.”

Du Kang was displeased. “What’s wrong with my fat? It may not be toned, but it provides good insulation.”

He deliberately leaned closer and enunciated each word, “Senior, you know why you haven’t caught a cold in this chilly weather? It’s because I not only keep myself warm, but I also warm others.”

“So much positive energy! Where else could you find such a great teammate?”

Xia Mang glared at him. “Fine, you win. Just stop talking. How come everyone I meet is such a slick talker?”

Du Kang grinned. “It’s what they call ‘birds of a feather flock together.’”

“Flock, my ass.”

As they bickered, they didn’t slow their pace in the slightest.

It wasn’t long before they heard sounds coming from up ahead.

“Cheng Hedong, are you really going to block our way?” Jiang Hu shouted, puffing out his chest.

Niu Dajin stood shoulder to shoulder with him, his eyes also filled with anger.

Cheng Hedong was the leader of the intercepting team sent by Wan Changrui.

Yu Wanyin hid behind her two seniors, clutching the bag of orbs.

Cheng Hedong spoke calmly, “Come on, I can handle the two of you by myself. What’s the point of acting tough?”

“Our captain’s orders are that if you hand over your points, we won’t eliminate you. Think it over carefully. I’ll give you one minute. If you’re not willing, we’ll just take them by force.”

After speaking, he crossed his arms and sat down on the ground, as did his four companions. The gesture made it clear they didn’t see the three of them as a threat.

Yu Wanyin bit her lip, trying to think of a solution. She suddenly made up her mind, turned in a different direction, and forced her way into a thicket of bushes where there was no path.

“Don’t, it’s dangerous!” Niu Dajin and Jiang Hu shouted when they saw what she was doing.

But Yu Wanyin’s figure had already vanished from sight.

Cheng Hedong also stood up and said, “Damn, she actually dared to run into that thicket. Isn’t she afraid of running into Snarling Hounds?”

Another member chimed in, “Truly a woman who is as good as any man. To fight so hard for points… I’m starting to admire that girl.”

Cheng Hedong nodded, his gaze shifting to Niu Dajin and Jiang Hu, who wanted to rescue her but were held back by fear. “Look at you two. Weren’t you acting all mighty when you were trying to show off in front of the girl earlier? What’s wrong now? Scared? What cowards.”

He burst into laughter, then waved his hand. “Let’s go, brothers. No need to waste time here for such a small score.”

And with that, the group from Fourth High swaggered off.

Back at the same spot, Niu Dajin yelled for a while but received no response.

He frowned. “Brother Jiang, what do we do now?”

Jiang Hu had a massive headache. “How was I supposed to know she’d take such a desperate risk?”

Niu Dajin slapped his forehead. “My god, there have to be Snarling Hounds and some poisonous creatures in there. How can a girl with such delicate skin handle that?”

“Our only hope is the Aerial Rescue Team.”

The two of them sat on the ground, sighing in distress.

They didn’t dare take the risk. Snarling Hounds were too ferocious for ordinary people to deal with.

At that moment, Xia Mang and Du Kang arrived.

“Xia Mang?” Jiang Hu stood up, his face full of surprise. “What, do you want our points too?”

Niu Dajin shrugged helplessly. “The points aren’t on us.”

“What happened?”

Seeing the situation, Xia Mang also felt that something was wrong.

After hearing Niu Dajin describe what had happened and learning that the person who had run into the thicket was Yu Wanyin, he was suddenly alarmed. “Why didn’t you go save her? There are definitely Snarling Hounds in that kind of thicket.”

Without another word, he raised his metal rod, pushed aside the overgrown branches with all his might, and dove in headfirst.

“Hey, Boss!” Du Kang arrived at the opening Xia Mang had made. After a moment’s hesitation, he squeezed through and followed.

Inside the dense thicket.

The area was full of thorns and vines, severely hampering movement. It was nothing like the sparse forest paths outside.

Xia Mang cleared a path as he searched for any signs of her.

He was actually quite surprised that Du Kang beside him had this much courage.

“Watch out for Snarling Hounds,” Xia Mang said. “Wolf’s Tooth Ridge is a place where they are extremely active. There are bound to be some in a thicket like this.”

Hearing his words, Du Kang held his breath and nodded gravely.

Chapter 41: Great Ups and Downs

Yu Wanyin trembled as she struggled forward through the space overgrown with vines.

Her nerves were stretched to the breaking point, so much so that her steps and movements were shaky and uncontrolled.

As she pushed through the vines, their friction created a rustling sound, which naturally alerted some of the creatures living nearby.

Among them were the ferocious beasts that struck fear into the hearts of all who heard of them—the Snarling Hounds.

The Snarling Hounds were small, perhaps only slightly larger than a house cat. Their bodies were covered in sharp bristles like steel needles, and their incredibly tough hides allowed them to move freely through the gaps in bushes and vines.

Much like dogs, Snarling Hounds were extremely fast and agile, and their mouths, full of sharp teeth, could easily pierce the defenses of any prey.

Four Snarling Hounds surrounded Yu Wanyin, their eyes brimming with vicious, murderous intent.

They crouched, motionless, as if still asleep.

Faced with this intruder who had disturbed their rest, the pack of Snarling Hounds prepared to launch a thunderous strike the moment they saw an opening.

Yu Wanyin hadn’t noticed any of this. She was still fumbling her way forward.

Finally, one of her legs broke free from the tangle of vines, and she stepped onto a relatively clear patch of ground.

All four Snarling Hounds let out a collective roar and shot forward with a whoosh.

“Ah!” Yu Wanyin saw them coming and screamed, swinging her alloy staff. She accurately smashed one of the Snarling Hounds on the head, sending it flying.

At the same time.

In the Aerial Rescue Center, the staff noticed the dangerous situation in time and immediately reported it to the command console.

However, the directive from the console was to avoid interfering with the competition as much as possible. The rescue team was put on standby, ready to intervene the moment a contestant’s life was truly in danger.

“Ah!”

Yu Wanyin was carrying the pack filled with orbs, which already hindered her movements significantly. Now, attacked from front and rear, she was quickly overwhelmed. A pouncing Snarling Hound bit her shoulder, and blood immediately began to flow.

When faced with a desperate situation, a person’s potential can often explode.

She endured the pain, raised her arm, and grabbed the Snarling Hound by its fur, yanking with all her might. The ferocity of the action completely ignored the excruciating pain from her wound.

Unfortunately, she wasn’t facing just one Snarling Hound, but four.

In the blink of an eye, the other three swarmed her. Their sharp teeth easily pierced the young woman’s delicate skin, and they began to tear and bite, shaking their heads violently.

“Ah!”

Despair washed over Yu Wanyin. In this thicket, surrounded by a dense wall of vines, she feared even the rescue team couldn’t reach her in time.

Sky Control Console.

The staff at the rescue center stared intently at the monitor as a high-precision computer rapidly analyzed the data.

“The target is in extreme danger. Prepare for rescue,” someone said.

Just then, a message came from the command console. The fully prepared rescue team members stopped in their tracks. The lead captain for the shift announced, “Command says two contestants are rapidly approaching the target in crisis. The chance of a successful rescue is as high as sixty percent, so we are to remain on standby.”

“Understood.”

And so, the aerial vehicle remained hovering in its original position…

Outside.

In the upscale Tianlan Yayuan residential district on Phoenix West Road in Anhuang City.

Yu Chunhou stared nervously at the water-screen television in front of him, his fists clenched and trembling.

The screen showed his precious daughter being besieged by Snarling Hounds. The situation was dire, her life hanging by a thread.

“Damn it, why aren’t they rescuing her? Where’s the rescue team?!” he couldn’t help but roar.

Beside him, Yu Wanyin’s mother, Yin Min, had already closed her eyes, clutching her husband’s shoulder, unable to watch…

At Fan Xuegeng’s home, the titan of the education world was also watching the screen with extreme tension.

He recognized the young woman as one of the members of his school’s elite team.

Please be okay, he chanted silently in his heart.

At that moment, on televisions in thousands of homes across Anhuang City, every viewer tuned into the live broadcast of the Wilderness Survival Competition was watching the very same scene.

Normally, the scramble for the Purple Orbs among the many teams should have been the main event. But now, those scenes were only available on the multi-channel broadcast on the official website. The main television broadcast was entirely focused on Yu Wanyin’s perilous situation.

Many people were praying for the beautiful girl, but the situation was growing more dire and urgent by the second.

Hah… hah… hah…

Xia Mang’s breathing was heavy and ragged. He brandished his alloy staff, violently clearing a path, while his eyes scanned the surroundings.

He was unaware that on the other side of the bushes, a ghostly figure was moving as swiftly as if on flat ground. The tough vines were easily sliced apart by her bare hands, posing no obstacle at all.

Yu Wanyin struggled with all her might, but a Snarling Hound had already climbed onto her pale neck. Its greedy eyes were fixed on her tender flesh. It licked its crimson tongue over its lips, then opened its mouth to bite down.

This made many viewers shriek and shut their eyes.

They knew that this one bite would likely shatter the Wilderness Survival Competition’s years-long safety record of zero fatalities.

Yu Chunhou completely abandoned his usual composure. He shot to his feet, roaring, “Ah! Bastards! Why aren’t you saving my daughter!”

There is nothing more despairing than watching your own child in mortal danger, nothing more tragic than an old parent burying their young.

At that moment, tears glittered in the eyes of this man who had navigated the cutthroat world of business.

A man doesn’t shed tears easily, but only because he has not yet been hurt to his core…

However, just as everyone who had fallen into despair opened their eyes again, they were stunned by what they saw.

Another young woman had appeared on the screen. She had a cool gaze and a delicate figure, looking quite frail, but in reality, she was exceptionally agile, weaving effortlessly between the attacks of the four Snarling Hounds.

Yu Wanyin, meanwhile, had slumped weakly into a corner. She had torn off a piece of vine and tied it around her arm to stanch the bleeding.

“Liu Xueqing, be careful!”

She couldn’t help but cry out. In her heart, besides the lingering panic of her near-death experience, there was also the worry that they were not yet out of danger.

She truly hadn’t expected her savior at this critical moment to be this junior female student, the one who never spoke in the team and always kept others at arm’s length.

For a moment, her heart was a swirl of complex emotions.

Liu Xueqing didn’t answer, merely doing her best to fend off the Snarling Hounds and keep them away from Yu Wanyin.

She held no weapon, yet every one of her strikes made the ferocious beasts howl and screech in pain.

It was a strange sight.

What was even stranger to Yu Wanyin was that she began to see bloody gashes appearing on the Snarling Hounds’ tough hides.

It was too bizarre. How on earth was she doing it?

As she marveled at Liu Xueqing’s terrifying strength, Yu Wanyin’s heart filled with questions.

“Awooo~”

The Snarling Hounds continued their relentless assault, but they were repeatedly swatted to the ground by Liu Xueqing, letting out pathetic whimpers.

Their fur was already soaked with blood, and their stamina was plummeting under the severe blows.

Hah… hah…

Meanwhile, although Liu Xueqing seemed to have the upper hand, she was still just one person. After fighting for so long, she was also growing tired.

She took the opportunity, while the beasts paused their attack, to stand and catch her breath.

But just then, the four injured Snarling Hounds let out a strange howl. Hearing this sound, Liu Xueqing’s icy face finally changed drastically. She quickly turned, pulled Yu Wanyin up, and started to run.

At the same time, Xia Mang, who was already nearby, heard the commotion from the fight and immediately brandished his staff, heading toward the source of the sound.

Within minutes, he arrived at the spot where Yu Wanyin had been ambushed. But looking around, he saw nothing but bloodstains on the ground.

However, the bloodstains were enough to tell the story.

“I hope they’re okay,” Xia Mang prayed silently. Just as he was wondering which way to go, he suddenly heard a scream from up ahead.

“There.”

He reacted instantly. His muscles tensed, and he forced his way forward with all his might.

Through his relentless effort, he finally saw Yu Wanyin and Liu Xueqing, who was biting her lip as she was surrounded by ten Snarling Hounds.

The appearance of this intruder attracted the attention of the beasts and the two young women.

“Xia Mang,” Yu Wanyin called out softly. “How did you get in here?”

Liu Xueqing, on the other hand, simply turned her head away, ignoring him completely. She remained vigilant from start to finish.

“Come on, fresh meat over here.”

Xia Mang knew this wasn’t the time for talk. He gestured with his chin toward a few of the Snarling Hounds, then cut open a Luokan giant rat he had killed along the way. He dangled it in his hand deliberately before flinging it with all his might into the vines a few meters away.

He had learned before coming that this species of rodent, which was much larger than a common rat, was the Snarling Hounds’ favorite food.

“Roar~”

Sure enough, the delicious meal that had fallen into their laps instantly attracted the six uninjured Snarling Hounds. They completely ignored Xia Mang and pounced madly on the giant rat’s carcass. The remaining four were injured and had reduced fighting capacity, posing little threat.

“Go!”

This move made Liu Xueqing’s eyes light up. She immediately retreated with Yu Wanyin.

Xia Mang, meanwhile, wielded his alloy staff, blocking the four small, persistent creatures.

As for the six lively Snarling Hounds, they were greedily feasting on the delicious rat meat. Who had time for a fight?

For these animals, nothing was more attractive than food.

In front of the television.

Yu Chunhou let out a long sigh of relief and collapsed, drained of all strength, onto the sofa.

Yin Min also clasped her hands together, repeatedly murmuring her thanks to the heavens.

When Liu Xueqing had been slaughtering the four Snarling Hounds with a great advantage, they had thought the danger was over. They never expected her to attract six more.

The great ups and downs were truly a test of one’s heart.

Just as hope was rekindled, they were plunged back into despair. Thankfully, another boy appeared and used an incredibly clever method to drive off the beasts. After a few more twists and turns, the three of them finally escaped the confines of the vast thicket and made it out alive.

At that moment, only four words filled the couple’s hearts: “Thank God, thank heavens.”

Chapter 42: The New Team

Huff… huff…

The three of them sat on the ground, panting heavily.

The whole ordeal had been too intense—so intense that they never wanted to experience it a second time, never wanted to see those terrifying creatures again.

Thankfully, Snarling Hounds were pack animals, and it wasn’t their mass-mating season, so they generally wouldn’t venture out of their territory.

So, once they were out of the thicket, they were basically safe. The four hounds Liu Xueqing had injured indeed didn’t pursue them.

“Boss, Boss, why didn’t you wait for me? Those Snarling Hounds scared me to death! Luckily, they were too busy eating the rat meat you threw, so I barely managed to get out.”

Du Kang’s hefty frame squeezed out from the thicket.

Just as he got free, he even swung his club back, hitting one of the injured Snarling Hounds that was nipping at his heels.

Seeing him, Xia Mang breathed a sigh of relief. He’d been so focused on saving the girls that he had completely forgotten the fatty was still with him.

Still, as long as he was okay.

He laughed. “You’ve got some real guts.”

Du Kang glanced at the two stunning beauties and instinctively puffed out his chest. “Of course. A man’s got to be brave.”

Listening to their conversation, Yu Wanyin, who had been applying pressure to her arm, suddenly spoke. Her voice was extremely weak. “Xueqing, Xia Mang, thank you.”

“It’s nothing,” Liu Xueqing said, still as sparing with her words as gold, having rarely uttered even two.

Xia Mang also waved his hand. “Don’t thank me for this. I was actually coming to steal your points. I didn’t expect things to turn out like this.”

“Steal points?” Hearing those words, Yu Wanyin endured her pain and clutched the cloth pouch in her arms.

“Alright, alright, I won’t do it. I really can’t bring myself to take these orbs you risked your life for.” Xia Mang raised his arms, his gaze falling on the multiple wounds on Yu Wanyin’s body, stained red with blood.

“You need to treat these immediately.”

He quickly knelt down to examine them.

Liu Xueqing watched his actions coldly and suddenly said, “Move.”

Her voice was clean and pleasant, as ethereal as a drop of water falling into a quiet mountain spring.

“Huh?”

But Xia Mang didn’t register it at first and looked up in confusion.

Liu Xueqing didn’t want to say any more. She simply knelt down, pushed him aside, and took Yu Wanyin’s arm. Her slender, delicate fingers pressed on some specific points.

Soon, the incessant bleeding gradually stopped.

Xia Mang grumbled ‘violent woman’ to himself, but he was truly stunned by her skill. He couldn’t help but ask, “Is that acupressure medicine from our Yanhuang people?”

Liu Xueqing ignored him, only looking at Yu Wanyin to ask, “How do you feel?”

The latter nodded. “Much better.”

Liu Xueqing stood up, tidied her slightly messy hair, and said, “But you need to be disinfected now, or you won’t be able to continue the competition.”

“But where can we find anything to disinfect it with?” Xia Mang frowned.

Liu Xueqing shook her head without speaking. It wasn’t hard to see from her expression that she was also at a loss.

No one noticed Du Kang’s eyes darting around. After thinking for a long time, he suddenly clapped his hands and asked Liu Xueqing with a grin, “Doctor, how long do we have to disinfect it?”

“Doctor?”

Seemingly amused by the little fatty’s title, Liu Xueqing turned her head to answer, “Within half an hour is fine.”

“Alrighty.” Du Kang clapped his hands sharply, then pulled Xia Mang up. “Senior, come with me.”

“What for?” the latter asked, completely bewildered.

Du Kang said with a grin, “I saw a type of flower in the thicket just now. If I’m not mistaken, it should be cogon grass. If you crush it and apply it to the wound, its sap has antiseptic and anti-infection properties.”

“Really?” Xia Mang blinked, half-believing, half-doubting.

Du Kang nodded confidently. “Senior, you’ve been taking care of me this whole time. It’s time for me to show you what I can do.”

“Alright. Liu Xueqing, I’ll trouble you to watch over things here. I’m going to get the cogon grass.”

Xia Mang nodded to the ice queen and then followed Du Kang back into the perilous thicket.

Yu Wanyin pursed her lips, her gaze following the man who was venturing back into danger for her sake, her mind in turmoil.

Liu Xueqing knelt beside her, unexpectedly dropping her icy expression. The corners of her mouth lifted. “Wanyin, that guy is really good to you.”

“Huh?” Hearing this, Yu Wanyin looked at her in astonishment, as if she were seeing this usually cold girl for the first time.

Liu Xueqing paused for a moment, then smiled. “I never put on airs with other girls. That front is just for the men to see, hehe.”

“I feel that this Mech Specialist, Xia Mang, genuinely cares about you,” she said seriously. “Although I don’t have a good impression of men, I think this kid is alright. He doesn’t seem to have too many ulterior motives.”

Yu Wanyin immediately blushed and lowered her voice. “This might be getting broadcast live.”

“So what if it’s live?” Liu Xueqing didn’t care at all.

Yu Wanyin didn’t want to discuss the matter further. Her emotions were in a considerable tangle, so she changed the subject. “Thank you. If it weren’t for you, I might have already…”

She trailed off, her face filled with lingering fear.

Hearing this, Liu Xueqing suddenly sneered. “I knew Guo Bingyang’s plan was unreliable from the start. I did a rough count, and there were at least eight or nine teams getting ready to ambush us. And he still dared to go after a Purple Talisman. I don’t know where he got that confidence.”

“Sigh…” Yu Wanyin just sighed and didn’t reply.

Liu Xueqing continued, “Then I saw him dump the entire responsibility of moving the points onto you, and I knew it was a bad sign.”

“At that time, Wan Changrui from Fourth High School was right behind us, eyeing us like a predator. Could you have escaped? That’s why I followed you.”

“Thank you so much.” Yu Wanyin didn’t know what to say to express her feelings.

Liu Xueqing went on, “I have an idea. Let’s leave that team and operate on our own. Following Guo Bingyang, we’ll be eliminated sooner or later.”

“Huh?” Yu Wanyin’s mouth fell open. “Isn’t that… a bit wrong? After all, these orbs are the result of the whole team’s effort.”

Liu Xueqing laughed. “It’s only been about ten days. The competition is still in its early stages. Gold Talismans are rare, and the Purple Talisman has only just appeared for the first time. But I bet that later on, Gold Talismans will be everywhere, and the number of Purple Talismans released will also gradually increase. There’s no need to go all out like Guo Bingyang, risking the entire team’s elimination just for the vain glory of being the first to get a Purple Talisman.”

“To put it bluntly, low-point and heavy items like Bronze and Silver Orbs are the most inefficient. We just need to aim for high-grade talismans and ditch all the low-level ones to save our limited carrying space.”

“So…” Liu Xueqing said, “what does it matter if I return this bundle to Guo Bingyang later?”

“But…” Yu Wanyin hesitated.

She had to admit, what this remarkably skilled underclasswoman said made a lot of sense, but she still couldn’t bring herself to decide to leave the team. After all, the Elite team had been formed before the competition even started and had trained together for a long time. They couldn’t just quit on a whim.

Besides, she didn’t know if leaving the team without permission would displease the school.

“Don’t worry, the competition rules clearly state that at the final settlement, individual wishes will be respected first.” Liu Xueqing seemed to have read her mind. “Hasn’t Guo Bingyang caused you enough trouble? I’d bet that First High School’s team has become a public target by now, probably robbed by everyone in turn.”

After hearing her words, Yu Wanyin thought for a long time before abruptly making up her mind. “Alright.”

“Okay then. I think those two guys aren’t bad. The fatty knows some unorthodox tricks, and this so-called genius Mech Specialist doesn’t seem simple either. In a bit, I’ll need you to talk to them and win them over,” Liu Xueqing said. “After all, you’re injured now. More people means more strength.”

Yu Wanyin thought for a moment and then nodded in agreement.

After waiting a while longer, Xia Mang and Du Kang finally returned safely. Although their hair was disheveled and they looked a mess, they had indeed brought back what was needed.

“This is the cogon grass.” Du Kang brought the plant over, glancing at Liu Xueqing with some trepidation. “Don’t worry, it’ll definitely work.”

The latter snatched it from him without any courtesy. “Give it here.”

“Madwoman,” Du Kang muttered to himself, retreating aggrievedly to Xia Mang’s side.

The latter shook his head with a wry smile, truly not knowing where this first-year underclasswoman got so much resentment from.

Liu Xueqing bent down, skillfully ground the cogon grass into a paste, and applied it to Yu Wanyin’s wound. She said softly, “Don’t worry, this stuff really does have an antiseptic effect.”

“Mm, I believe you,” Yu Wanyin nodded with a smile.

After the treatment was finished, she looked up at Xia Mang. “Can… can you stay?”

“Huh?” The latter, who had been idly kicking at clumps of dirt, was suddenly stunned. “What do you mean?”

So Yu Wanyin explained what she and Liu Xueqing had discussed earlier, adding a few of her own thoughts.

Only then did Xia Mang understand. He thought for a moment before looking at Du Kang. “What do you think?”

The latter nodded without hesitation. “Sounds great, Senior! I have no objections at all.”

Looking at his infatuated expression, Xia Mang knew the guy’s mind was clouded by lust again.

Xia Mang turned his head helplessly and looked seriously at Liu Xueqing. “Is this your idea too?”

“Hmph.”

The latter turned her head away, ignoring him completely.

“Er…”

Seeing her reaction, Xia Mang understood. He thought it over for another moment and then agreed, “Since that’s the case, alright then. I hope we can work together and achieve good results.”

But just as he finished speaking, Liu Xueqing suddenly turned around. “Let’s get one thing straight. You get what you earn. Whoever gets the orbs, they belong to them. Don’t think about splitting things equally and freeloading.”

“No problem.”

Xia Mang also felt that things were often difficult with just the two of them, so he made his decision and agreed.

Chapter 43: A Foodie’s Motto

Wolf’s Tooth Ridge.

The area had descended into utter chaos. Shouts of battle filled the air, shattering the silence and serenity of the jungle. The tremendous commotion had frightened many of the wild animals and birds into hiding.

The Purple Talisman that First High School had worked so hard to get had been snatched by Fourth High School.

And Fourth High School, in turn, was now encircled by other independent teams and school elite teams. But Wan Changrui’s strength was truly formidable; he and his teammates managed to fight off several waves of assailants.

So everyone just surrounded them, not daring to be the first to make a rash move, yet unwilling to let Fourth High School leave with the Purple Talisman just like that.

They failed to notice a ghost-like shadow moving rapidly through the darkness of the night. It appeared silently behind the First High School team and tossed a bundle, which landed beside the crestfallen Guo Bingyang.

He turned his head, looking around in bewilderment. Niu Dajin and Jiang Hu picked up the bundle and shouted excitedly, “Is that you, Yu Wanyin?” But there was no reply.

They called out a few more times, but it was met with complete silence, like a stone sinking into the ocean.

Guo Bingyang sighed. “Where’s Liu Xueqing?”

“Liu Xueqing?” Hearing the name, the team members suddenly remembered she was supposed to be with them.

But after looking around and not seeing her, someone said, “She probably fell behind. Don’t worry about her. It doesn’t make much difference whether she’s here or not.”

Guo Bingyang’s face was etched with deep thought. He picked up the bundle and checked it. “Nothing’s missing. This should be the bag Yu Wanyin was carrying. Put it away. We’re rejoining the hunt. Let’s use the chaos to take back the Purple Talisman!”

——

Meanwhile, Yu Wanyin, Liu Xueqing, Xia Mang, and Du Kang had found an empty spot and lit a bonfire.

“Here, this is for you,” Xia Mang said, handing a piece of limestone to Yu Wanyin. She took it, puzzled. “What’s this?”

“It’s been disinfected with high heat. Place it on your wound; it’ll help with recovery.”

With a neutral expression, Xia Mang tore off a piece of the cloth he had received at the beginning and wrapped the limestone in it. “I’ve let it sit for a while, so it should have cooled down to the right temperature.”

“Oh, thank you.” Yu Wanyin took it gently, then pressed it carefully against her wound as Xia Mang and Du Kang had instructed.

“Hiss.” As the cloth-wrapped limestone touched her wound, she hissed, drawing a sharp breath in pain.

“Just bear with it. This is normal,” Xia Mang said. He handed a bundle of Cogon grass from his trouser pocket to Liu Xueqing. “After ten minutes, help her apply this.” She shot him a sidelong glance but said nothing and made no move to take it.

Seeing this, Du Kang felt a bit awkward and said, “There’s a river up ahead. Let me take the Cogon grass and wash it.”

Xia Mang nodded. “Good idea. It’ll be cleaner that way. I’ll go with you.” The two of them then set off together.

At the same time, the struggle at Wolf’s Tooth Ridge was nearing its end.

Under Wan Changrui’s leadership, Fourth High School had successfully protected the Purple Orb and broken through the encirclement.

Guo Bingyang and the other members of First High School could only feel chagrined; there was nothing they could do.

They just hadn’t expected Fourth High School to be so strong this year—strong enough to completely overwhelm the other teams.

They weren’t the only ones who felt this way.

In a dark corner, three elite teams from other schools had gathered together strangely.

They were in the middle of a heated discussion.

“The orb has already been taken by Fourth High School. With the strength of Wan Changrui and his people, I’m afraid it’ll be difficult to deal with them even if we team up. The competition is already a third of the way through. Shouldn’t we implement the plan Boss Yun arranged?”

“We have to act now. There isn’t much time left, but we still don’t know the whereabouts of that kid.”

“Hmph, the genius Mech Specialist, so famous. As long as he’s in the Moonlight Forest, we’ll find him if we just ask around enough.”

“Right. Fourth High School is so strong, and First High School and the other teams aren’t weak either. It’s too hard to get a good result squeezed between them. We might as well take out that genius Mech Specialist. We’ll even get a huge reward afterward.”

The subject of their discussion was, of course, Xia Mang.

But he knew nothing of this. After he and Du Kang finished washing the Cogon grass, they returned to the bonfire.

“Here, junior Xueqing, could I trouble you to apply the medicine?” Xia Mang said with a pained look on his face. While he and Du Kang were washing the grass, they had already discussed how to get along with Liu Xueqing.

Be as friendly as possible, and take a humble approach.

Sure enough, this time Liu Xueqing took the clean Cogon grass and turned to ask Yu Wanyin, “How are you feeling?”

The latter nodded. “Much better.”

“Take it off. I’ll rub it in for you.”

Liu Xueqing knelt down and carefully crushed the Cogon grass bit by bit. Watching her meticulous technique and concerned gaze, Xia Mang fell into thought.

Du Kang noticed his expression and asked curiously, “Senior, what are you thinking about?”

“Huh?” Xia Mang was startled for a moment, then shook his head. “Nothing.”

“Oh.” Du Kang didn’t press further. “Where are we heading next?”

Xia Mang said, “Once Yu Wanyin’s wound is a little better, we’ll go collect points. Tomorrow, we’ll find a scenic spot for her to rest and recover.”

Hearing this, Yu Wanyin, who was receiving treatment, looked up at him, her beautiful eyes filled with a profound meaning. Xia Mang felt her gaze and looked back, but the girl instantly averted her eyes, avoiding his.

Xia Mang also looked away. Yu Wanyin’s recent reactions toward him were completely different from before, and he understood where this change came from. But he knew very well in his heart that there was no longer any possibility between them.

Not since he had witnessed what happened that night.

What he was doing now was nothing more than the concern a classmate would show for another. Nothing more.

The night passed without a word. The next morning.

The others had just opened their eyes to find Xia Mang roasting a chicken. The rich aroma wafted through the air, and the sizzling fat was exceptionally tempting.

Liu Xueqing and Yu Wanyin had been with the elite team for so long, but they had never eaten anything this good. Every day under Guo Bingyang’s lead, they had foraged for wild fruits and vegetables to fill their stomachs. Now, seeing the golden-brown wild chicken, both girls’ eyes were fixed on it.

“Come and eat. It’s pretty much ready,” Xia Mang called out with a smile.

The two girls glanced at each other, controlling their appetites and not moving. Girls, after all, had to be a bit more reserved in many ways.

“My dear ladies, do I have to serve it to you? Haha, once Fatty wakes up, there won’t be any left for you,” Xia Mang teased as he watched the color of the roasting chicken.

He wanted to use this to improve the team’s relationship, especially with Liu Xueqing.

As the saying goes, the way to a woman’s heart is through her stomach.

Although Xia Mang was a novice when it came to romance, he had heard Long Junxuan and the others talk about this more than once. He might as well try it today and see if the two old hands had been lying to him.

“Well, I won’t be polite then.” Yu Wanyin was less one to put on airs than Liu Xueqing.

She walked over shyly and accepted a chicken leg from Xia Mang.

“Here, eat slowly, it’s a bit hot,” he reminded her.

Yu Wanyin then carefully took a small bite of the chicken. After savoring it, she couldn’t help but give him a thumbs-up. “This is delicious, Xia Mang. I never knew you had this skill.”

“Haha, you flatter me. If you like it, eat more. Here, have another.” As he spoke, he passed her a wing.

Watching Yu Wanyin eat with such relish, Liu Xueqing decided to turn her head away. Out of sight, out of mind.

But the image of the golden-brown roasted chicken was impossible to banish from her mind, and it made her mouth water.

“Have one.”

Just then, a fragrant chicken leg, skewered, was held out in front of her. Liu Xueqing looked up to see Xia Mang’s smiling face.

She instinctively shot back a cold glare.

“Take it. We’re teammates,” Xia Mang said softly. “We need to eat our fill so we can support each other, go further, and get better results, right?”

His eyes were sincere, with no trace of any other motive.

Liu Xueqing hesitated for a moment before reluctantly accepting it. Before eating, she uncharacteristically added, “Don’t think a little food can buy me over.”

Hearing this, Xia Mang was struck speechless and couldn’t help but laugh. It took him a long while to say, “Has anyone ever told you that you’re quite cute when you’re all tensed up?”

After saying that, he turned and sat back down by the fire.

He didn’t notice Liu Xueqing cast a subtle glance his way…

After a long while, Du Kang finally woke up. The moment the fatty opened his eyes, he smelled the roasted chicken and pounced on it like a ravenous wolf. Without any ceremony, he grabbed the remaining half of the chicken and began to wolf it down.

He paid no mind to the presence of two female comrades nearby.

“Fatty, mind your table manners,” Xia Mang couldn’t help but remind him, seeing Yu Wanyin’s somewhat stunned expression.

Du Kang took a huge bite, his mouth full of meat, and mumbled, “Senior, do you know my motto in life?”

“What is it?”

“If you don’t put effort into eating and drinking today, you’ll spend tomorrow putting effort into finding something to eat and drink. So… I’ve got to try even harder.” Du Kang had just swallowed what was in his mouth and, without pausing, took another massive bite.

Looking at him, he was indeed trying harder than before.

At this terrifying speed, a wild chicken stood no chance of surviving for long. Soon, only a skeleton was left under the fatty’s voracious mouth.

The three of them, including Liu Xueqing, watched, dumbfounded, as he contentedly tossed aside the last bone in his hand and wiped the grease from his mouth. They didn’t know what words could possibly express their current feelings.

Xia Mang was slightly better off, having witnessed it before, but the same thought arose in both girls’ minds: so this was the bloody battlefield of a foodie…

Eating was one thing, but after they were full, it was time to set off on their journey.

For this newly formed team, many more trials awaited them in the remaining twenty-odd days of the competition.

Chapter 44: Peril by the Lake

Moonlight Forest, Mirror Lake.

This place was dozens of kilometers away from the urban center of Anhuang City.

After a two-day trek, Xia Mang’s team finally chose to make camp and rest in this beautiful and tranquil spot.

It had to be said, Yu Wanyin’s gene evolution level was quite impressive. Her wound had mostly scabbed over, and the pain had subsided by more than half compared to the beginning. All in all, her combat and movement abilities were no longer significantly affected.

Over the past few days, they hadn’t encountered any other elite teams along the way, so their gains were meager—they had only picked up one Gold Orb and two Silver Orbs.

Of course, no one was panicking. The competition still had a long way to go, and their current results were within expectations.

In the woods beside Mirror Lake, a fifteen-person team was gradually closing in.

“Captain, we’ve been searching for so long, and everyone says they haven’t seen Xia Mang.”

“What’s the rush? There’s still plenty of time. I refuse to believe he can just crawl into some corner and hide.”

“It’s strange, though. Everyone we’ve met on the road said they haven’t seen Xia Mang. Did the guy just evaporate from Moonlight Forest?”

“So naive. Even if those people knew, they wouldn’t tell you. Didn’t you recognize that many of them were hired by Boss Yun, just like us? If they found Xia Mang, they’d want to take him down themselves. Who would be kind enough to share the bounty with us?”

“That’s true.”

The team members discussed as they walked.

They were one of the teams bribed by Yun Hai to target Xia Mang—the elite team from Anhuang No. 5 High School.

“Hey… stop.”

Suddenly, the captain, Yan Aiqing, raised his hand.

His gaze pierced through a narrow gap in the trees ahead, spotting four people sitting on the shore of Mirror Lake. The face of one of them was the very prey they had been hunting for days.

“Haha, to think we’d find him here after searching for so long. It was almost too easy.”

A wide smile spread across Yan Aiqing’s face, sweeping away the gloom of the past few days. He turned to his teammates. “Everyone, get ready. Follow my orders. Zhang Dong, Meng Xiaokuan, you two block the northeast opening. Wang Ke, Haibo, you two take the northwest opening… Ke Zhongda, Chen Yongming, Zhang Qin, you three will be on lookout and provide reinforcements wherever needed.”

“Yunya, you stay by my side and act as a liaison. Jingfan, you’ll be the liaison below the lookout point.”

In a flash, he had assigned everyone their tasks.

After receiving their orders, the team members excitedly crouched down, moving stealthily to their designated positions. They waited quietly for Yan Aiqing’s signal to attack from the lookouts.

Meanwhile.

By the shore of Mirror Lake, Liu Xueqing, who had been staring at the clear water, lost in thought, suddenly lifted her head. She scanned her surroundings warily and said in a low, serious voice, “Be careful. Someone is watching us.”

“What?” asked Xia Mang, who was tending to the campfire.

This time, Liu Xueqing didn’t put on airs. She answered crisply, “At your one o’clock and eleven o’clock positions, there are about six people.”

“On the large tree directly in front, at the six o’clock position, there are probably two or three people on lookout. I haven’t spotted any others, but I’m certain something is wrong.”

After hearing Liu Xueqing’s report, Xia Mang also sensed that something was amiss.

His gene evolution level was as high as 3.4, placing him among the top tier of all competitors, so his strength and hearing were also quite good.

Following the directions Liu Xueqing had given, he too was able to detect the enemy hidden in the shadows.

“How did you spot them?”

Xia Mang was a little baffled. Could it be that a first-year underclasswoman possessed vision and hearing far superior to his own? Didn’t that make her an even bigger anomaly than Zhou Chengyun?

It seemed too unscientific.

After all, on Water Source Planet, not everyone had access to Fengmen Potions. Even heirs of powerful families like Long Junxuan and Yun Hai had difficulty obtaining them.

In the past, he couldn’t compete with his classmates in terms of resources, but now, with a supply of one Fengmen Potion every six months, the tables had completely turned. In terms of evolutionary resources, a single Fengmen Potion was enough to make most local financial groups balk.

“Hmph.”

Liu Xueqing didn’t answer. She turned her head away coldly, holding no weapon, but simply picked up a stone and began toying with it.

This rotten temper, Xia Mang grumbled to himself before starting to think of a counter-plan.

He estimated that the enemy had about twenty people, putting his side at an absolute numerical disadvantage.

Under such conditions, they couldn’t afford a head-on clash if they wanted to break out.

Suddenly, his gaze fell upon his alloy staff, and he grew thoughtful…

“I’ve got it.”

An idea sparked in Xia Mang’s mind, and the corners of his mouth turned up involuntarily.

Seeing this, Du Kang leaned over and asked, “Boss, do you have a plan?”

“Heh, when do I not have a plan?” Xia Mang replied mysteriously.

“What is it?” Du Kang was very curious.

“It’s a secret.”

Of course, it had to be a secret. Was an electricity control ability something an ordinary person could have? It would scare people to death if he told them. The news would surely leak after the competition was over. Someone like Caesar Cheng or people from the Yuelai Group might take an interest, and they would naturally connect it to their lost bottle. Then he would be finished.

The world was vast, but not as vast as a person’s imagination.

He had to be careful. There’s no such thing as a truly impenetrable wall in this world.

So how could he not keep his mouth shut? The slightest slip-up could lead to disaster.

But besides his personal abilities, he also needed to lay out a plan for the whole team.

“Let’s not make any rash moves. They have people positioned high up for surveillance, but it will probably take them some time to relay messages and assemble for an attack. We can’t let them know we’ve spotted their flawed setup.”

After Xia Mang said this, Yu Wanyin asked, “But what should we do?”

Without realizing it, she had come to see the boy she once looked down upon as one of the team’s pillars. For some reason, just having him stand there gave her a sense of profound reassurance.

“I need to think. The numerical disadvantage is too great.”

Xia Mang was certain the enemy couldn’t launch an immediate attack, so he quickly calmed down.

After five or six minutes of thought, inspiration struck. He looked up again to reassess the enemy’s general positions and said with a calm and steady voice, “I’ve got it. We can use the principle of Tian Ji’s horse race.”

“What do you mean?”

Du Kang was confused. Liu Xueqing also turned her head.

“Based on my observation, there are about four people at the one o’clock and eleven o’clock positions each.” He paused, then pointed toward the eleven o’clock direction. “I suggest we suddenly charge and break through from here. We’ll use a lightning assault to overwhelm them, and on the other side is Mushroom Bay. The terrain there is complicated, which will make it easier for us to escape.”

“I agree,” Liu Xueqing nodded. “The probability of success for this plan is over seventy percent.”

“Alright, is everyone ready?” Xia Mang asked.

The others nodded. “We don’t have much stuff, so there’s nothing to prepare.”

“Okay.” Xia Mang nonchalantly walked over to the campfire, bundled some unburnt branches together, and lit them to create a torch. He then walked over to Du Kang and the others and whispered, “I’ll count to three. We all charge together.”

“Got it.”

“Three! Two! One!”

The order was given and instantly obeyed. The four of them burst forward, rushing towards the opening.

The lookouts from the Anhuang No. 5 High School team spotted this development immediately. They reacted at once, jumping down from the tree and telling the liaison waiting below to report to their captain, Yan Aiqing. Meanwhile, the lookout himself headed toward the target’s escape route to provide support, just as planned.

Mirror Lake was quite large, so it would take some time to relay the message.

But Yan Aiqing saw the unusual movement himself. He quickly issued an order to a messenger by his side, “Immediately notify everyone to reinforce Wang Ke and Haibo’s position at the northwest opening.”

He couldn’t figure out how his carefully planned operation had been discovered in advance.

Thinking back on Xia Mang’s strange behavior, like lighting a torch, left him completely baffled.

“Yu Wanyin, can you keep up?” Xia Mang asked with concern.

“No problem.” Yu Wanyin wasn’t in peak condition, but she did her best to keep pace with the other three. Both Liu Xueqing and Xia Mang had also deliberately slowed down.

In an instant, four boys in competition suits charged out from the woods ahead.

Without a doubt, these were the members the unknown enemy had stationed there.

“Hmph, get out of my way.” Xia Mang charged forward ferociously, smashing the torch in his hand down on their heads. At the same time, he meditated on the Gendaya Atlas, and an electric current slowly formed in his hand.

However, it would take some time for the current to reach its maximum intensity, so it couldn’t pose an immediate threat to the enemy.

His torch, however, had already done some damage.

The four attackers were inevitably hit, crying out in pain from the burns. Even their formation fell into disarray.

At the same time, a figure moved with unimaginable speed.

She held no weapon in her hands, but with a flash of her arms, the competition suits of the four boys were torn open, along with the muscle underneath.

Such destructive power was utterly incisive.

As blood flowed and pain shot through them, the four elites from Anhuang No. 5 High School immediately reacted. But just as they were about to do something, a heavy staff came crashing down on them.

“Ah! Crack!”

A scream, accompanied by the sound of breaking bone, rang out. One of them failed to dodge in time, and his scapula was shattered by the alloy staff, instantly robbing him of his ability to fight.

At the same time, Liu Xueqing had also dispatched an opponent.

Du Kang and Yu Wanyin teamed up against the remaining two and quickly gained the upper hand.

After disengaging, Xia Mang took over for Du Kang and Yu Wanyin, shouting, “Don’t get bogged down in a fight! Run!”

At his call, Liu Xueqing led the other two in a rapid retreat toward Mushroom Bay.

Just like that, only Xia Mang remained.

“Hehehe, interesting. If I don’t take a few points before I leave, how could I possibly repay the kindness you’ve shown by painstakingly delivering yourselves to my doorstep?”

He grinned. The electric current coursing through his alloy staff had reached the absolute maximum he could currently generate.

Chapter 45: Elimination!

The remaining two watched Xia Mang warily.

He didn’t make a move, so they didn’t dare to act rashly.

The strength displayed by this supposedly weak and feeble genius Mech Specialist had already deeply intimidated them.

But just because they stood still didn’t mean Xia Mang would adhere to the military maxim of “If the enemy doesn’t move, I don’t move; if the enemy moves, I move chaotically.”

Pah, that’s not right. The maxim is just “If the enemy doesn’t move, I don’t move.”

What was the second part again? Definitely not “If the enemy moves, I move chaotically…”

In any case, Xia Mang wasn’t in a hurry to attack. Instead, he spoke with a broad smile, “My two friends, may I ask where you’re from?”

“Hmph, we’re from Fifth High School. I’m telling you, our captain and the others will be here any minute. None of you will escape!” one of them blustered, trying to sound tough.

“Haha, so you’re from Fifth High. A pleasure, a pleasure. In that case, I assume the points for your team are on your captain?”

Xia Mang ignored his provocation, still beaming. He looked as harmless and kind as could be.

But the moment he finished speaking, before they could react, he suddenly swung his long staff.

The two from Fifth High were prepared and raised their own staffs to block.

Unexpectedly, an invisible, intangible electric current silently traveled to their palms and shot directly into their bodies. In an instant, their muscles were paralyzed, and their limbs went rigid.

Seizing the opportunity, Xia Mang quickly retracted his staff, took a large stride forward, and drove his elbow hard into his opponent’s head. Suffering a concussion, the two students from Fifth High lost consciousness and collapsed.

In truth, he had controlled the force of the blow. If he had used his full strength, he could have easily shattered their skulls, killing them.

That wasn’t an outcome he wanted to see, nor were the consequences something he was willing to bear.

Although everyone had signed a casualty waiver before entering, that didn’t mean you could kill someone without facing any repercussions…

After dealing with the two, Xia Mang quickly hid behind a large, remote tree, carefully observing the situation.

Before long, a man carrying a cloth bag over his shoulder appeared with a group of people.

When he saw his incapacitated teammates on the ground, he couldn’t help but curse, “A bunch of trash! Idiots! You couldn’t even stall them! Dammit!”

Seeing that no one was looking in his direction, Xia Mang quietly crouched down and crept closer to the group.

His footsteps were light, almost imperceptible.

But as he got closer, he was inevitably heard.

“Who is it?!”

Everyone from Fifth High whipped their heads around.

Xia Mang moved, lunging toward Yan Aiqing with the force of a thunderbolt.

A powerful gust of wind rushed at him, and Yan Aiqing subconsciously closed his eyes.

He heard a series of screams and shudders from beside him, then felt the bag on his shoulder being ripped away. When he opened his eyes again, all he saw was a dark figure swiftly disappearing at the edge of the woods.

“It’s Mushroom Bay! Go after them!”

Yan Aiqing was about to explode with rage. As the team captain, having all the points his team had painstakingly collected snatched from him was a massive slap in the face. If he didn’t get them back, how could he face his teammates? How could he continue to be their captain?

Ignoring the condition of the others around him, he furiously gave the order.

There were fifteen of them in total. Excluding the four who had already lost their ability to fight, and the three closest to Yan Aiqing who were now paralyzed by Xia Mang’s electric staff and couldn’t move, seven of them were now out of commission.

That meant Yan Aiqing had only two choices.

Either abandon his injured teammates and chase Xia Mang with the remaining members, or give up the pursuit and stay behind to wait for his teammates to recover.

There was no third option.

And even if he chose the first option, he would still have to leave a few people behind to look after the injured, meaning he could take five or six people at most.

But in his fury, Yan Aiqing couldn’t be bothered with such details. He assigned two people to stay behind and led the rest in pursuit.

The terrain of Mushroom Bay was complex. It was named “Mushroom” because of its frequent mushroom-stem-like depressions that suddenly curved into steep slopes. Coupled with the cover of bushes and hidden caves, it formed a natural barrier perfect for hiding.

Finding someone here was incredibly difficult.

However, Xia Mang had a special method: Du Kang’s footprints.

The latter’s weight served as a beacon in this situation.

Xia Mang ran, erasing the footprints of varying clarity as he went. This severely affected his speed, and he soon heard the sound of his pursuers from behind.

“They really won’t give up until they’re faced with their own doom, huh? Looks like I’ll have to eliminate a few of them. I think… eliminating people gives you points, right?”

With this thought, he glanced at his surroundings and immediately made a decision. He walked to the edge of the path, below which was a nearly vertical cliff. A reasonably thick tree grew horizontally from its face. A quick visual check told him it should be able to support his weight.

So, risking a fall, Xia Mang climbed down, gripping the horizontal tree firmly with both hands while planting his feet on a protruding rock to distribute some of his weight.

This way, unless someone walked to the very edge of the path and looked down, they wouldn’t be able to spot him.

He figured that since they were chasing him so frantically, they likely wouldn’t have the patience to search so meticulously.

By exploiting this psychological weakness, Xia Mang once again gained the upper hand.

He pricked up his ears. A few minutes later, he heard footsteps directly above him. Yan Aiqing was roaring angrily, “Hurry up! Are you dawdling because you don’t want points?”

“Perfect,” Xia Mang thought. He waited until the footsteps had passed just ahead of his hiding spot, then immediately vaulted back up onto the path. Raising his long staff, he moved with lightning-fast steps, launching a swift assault on the rear of the Fifth High team.

Yan Aiqing and his men were so focused on the chase that they had completely neglected what was behind them.

The poor soul running at the very back suffered a heavy blow. Losing his balance, he tumbled down the slope, crashing into the legs of his companion in front, who also toppled over. Both of them slammed into a large rock at the bottom of the slope, getting the wind knocked out of them, leaving them utterly disoriented and seeing stars.

Just like that, only one lucky companion remained beside Yan Aiqing.

Even so, the two of them were charging downhill too quickly to turn and respond in time. Instead, they were struck squarely by Xia Mang, who had caught up to them in a flash.

Yan Aiqing cried out in pain and followed in his companion’s footsteps, and the last survivor didn’t escape his fate either.

And so, without even a proper confrontation, the six-man pursuit squad was completely wiped out.

“Hmph, are you looking for me?”

Wiping away Du Kang’s remaining footprints, Xia Mang casually walked up to Yan Aiqing, who was clutching his chest, trying to get up but wracked with excruciating pain.

Coughing, the latter’s eyes were filled with undisguised resentment. “What do you want?”

Xia Mang chuckled. “If I remember correctly, eliminating one person is worth twenty points, and eliminating an Elite team captain is worth thirty. How could I refuse? Let me count… one, two…”

“Five regular team members and one Elite team captain. That adds up to one hundred thirty points. That’s more than two Purple Talismans.”

Hearing this, Yan Aiqing’s eyes widened as he roared, “Let me go! If you let me go, I promise I won’t come after you again.”

Xia Mang crouched down, placing a hand on the sensor patch on the chest of his Competition Suit. “Sorry, a person’s eyes can’t lie. The way you’re looking at me… I just can’t bring myself to believe you.”

With that, he pressed down hard. The patch immediately activated, causing the Competition Suit to emit a faint red glow, signifying that he had been eliminated.

Seeing this, Yan Aiqing let out a long sigh and closed his eyes in despair.

Following that, Xia Mang pressed the sensor patches of everyone in the group, eliminating them all.

Before long, a circular aircraft descended from the sky. A red light scanned the scene, and a low, metallic, synthesized voice announced: “Contestant XC-90 eliminated. Real-time fingerprint and iris scan confirm sensor patch was pressed by contestant AN-17… Contestant XC-72 eliminated, sensor patch pressed by contestant AN-17.”

“Contestant AN-17, one hundred thirty personal points validated!”

“Goodbye.”

Hearing the confirmation, Xia Mang beamed and waved at Yan Aiqing and the others. He then followed the footprints to continue searching for Yu Wanyin’s group, cleaning up their tracks along the way.

As for the people he had taken down back at Mirror Lake, he no longer had any interest in collecting their points.

As the saying goes, human greed is like a snake trying to swallow an elephant. Being too greedy often leads to disaster. Quitting while you’re ahead is the wisest course of action.

Yan Aiqing and his team lay by the rock for a while before staff members came down to carry them away from the scene.

As the aircraft slowly ascended, it signified that their time in the competition had come to an end…

On the official website’s leaderboard, some viewers who were following the real-time rankings made a surprising discovery.

The team rankings hadn’t changed much, with Fourth High School’s team still far in the lead. But on the individual leaderboard, a name had quietly leaped into the top ten, settling in ninth place.

“Look, it’s Xia Mang!”

“It’s Xia Mang!”

“Xia Mang’s in the top ten!”

In an instant, the forums exploded.

Many people had no idea what had happened. This moment hadn’t been shown on the live television broadcast, and with so many contestant videos on the official website, most viewers had been captivated by the sheer power of Fourth High’s Elite team, so very few had been paying specific attention to Xia Mang.

But there was no shortage of die-hard fans who posted the recording of the event.

“Damn, he’s so strong! He took down the Fifth High Elite team all by himself.”

While the fans of the wilderness survival competition were marveling at his feat, back in the offices of Fifth High School, Principal Guo Ping was thundering with rage. All the school leaders and teachers stood with their heads bowed, not daring to speak.

“Eliminated this early! What kind of special training did you put them through? And in such a disgraceful manner?!”

He panted heavily.

To be used as a stepping stone like this would surely make Fifth High the laughingstock of the entire Anhuang education community. With such negative publicity, next year’s enrollment rates were certain to take a major hit.

Losing wasn’t the terrible part; it was the way they lost that was so ugly, so humiliating.

Their Elite team was basically taken out by a single person. How many parents would feel confident sending their child to a school like this for special training?

In stark contrast was the reaction of the leadership at First High School.

Fan Xuegeng and the others watched the recording of Xia Mang’s heroic breakout and takedown of his opponents, laughing heartily. Since the start of the competition, the Elite team’s performance had been lackluster, hovering in the middle of the top ten without improvement. But now, a dark horse had unexpectedly emerged in the individual competition. It was a huge surprise.

Moreover, judging by the strength he displayed, he had a good chance of achieving a high rank.

Fan Xuegeng was so delighted he couldn’t help but praise, “Excellent! This Xia Mang is a lucky star! What a miracle worker!”

As the saying goes, some rejoiced while others grieved.

First High’s Special Training Class was in an uproar, Xia Mang’s parents were overjoyed, and the commoner’s district was celebrating the rise of a golden phoenix from their midst. Online, a horde of hype men began to praise him to the skies without restraint.

But besides Fifth High, there was someone else who was unhappy about this turn of events. Yun Shan was one of them…

Chapter 46: Leadership Qualities

In the President’s office of Hengying Group.

Yun Shan stared at a pile of documents, utterly devoid of the will to review or approve any of them.

After watching the recording of that match, he had felt an overwhelming urge to barge onto the competition grounds and start killing people.

“Knock, knock, knock.”

A sudden knock came from the door.

“Come in,” Yun Shan said, his voice gloomy.

Zhu Bingyi walked in cautiously, approaching his desk and saying respectfully, “Boss, you were looking for me.”

“Yes. How is the assassin I had you arrange last time?” Yun Shan asked.

Zhu Bingyi replied in a hurry, “Boss, I’ve placed him on Mangtai High School’s Elite team. Everything is proceeding as normal.”

“Is there any way to contact him? Tell him to make his move as soon as possible.” Yun Shan’s face was dark, his aggressive gaze sending shivers down one’s spine.

Zhu Bingyi found himself in a difficult position. “Boss, as you know, all signals are blocked for this competition. Plus, every entrance is heavily guarded. I’m afraid it’s impossible to get in.”

He nervously glanced at his volatile superior, terrified of being forced into the impossible. He quickly added, “But rest assured, Boss. The man I found is an escaped death row inmate, and he was very satisfied with the terms we offered. I believe he should be very reliable and trustworthy.”

“Hmph, if anything goes wrong this time, I’ll hold you responsible.”

Fortunately, Yun Shan was being somewhat reasonable this time and didn’t force the issue. Instead, he said, “Go talk to the organizers. See if you can pull some strings and get an insider to pass a message for us.”

“This…” Zhu Bingyi felt his temples throb.

A recent flood of thorny problems like this had made him begin to seriously doubt his own abilities.

Hengying Group was influential in Anhuang City, but they didn’t own the place. A competition like this was run with extreme strictness and was under the watchful eye of higher authorities. Sabotaging it from within was easier said than done.

The slightest misstep would ruin his future. If a scandal was exposed, he wouldn’t just fall out of favor with Yun Shan; there would be no place left for him in all of Anhuang City. Of course, if that day ever came, Hengying Group’s public image would also take a massive hit.

Fortunately, Yun Shan hadn’t been completely blinded by rage. He understood this point well, so he didn’t give a direct order. Instead, he said, “Just do your best. Exercise proper judgment. If it’s really not possible, then forget it.”

“Understood, Boss.”

Zhu Bingyi breathed a small sigh of relief, accepted his orders, and withdrew.

Mushroom Bay, Moonlight Forest.

Shouting as he went, Xia Mang followed the footprints and finally found Liu Xueqing and the others hiding in a cave.

“How was it? Are you okay?” Yu Wanyin asked with concern.

Xia Mang shrugged. “What could happen? I took care of them all.”

He chuckled, then dropped the several alloy staffs he was carrying onto the ground. He turned to Liu Xueqing and said, “Here, pick one. We can sell the rest.”

She glanced at them and said indifferently, “Don’t need it.”

“Oh, alright. I guess you don’t.” Xia Mang wasn’t too surprised. From her behavior over the past few days and the earlier battle, he had long since realized that this underclasswoman was far from simple. Her hands, in particular, seemed to hold some hidden power; every swing was lethally sharp.

Though he was curious, he didn’t press the matter. It was a joke—even an idiot could tell it was her secret.

The ice beauty already had a bad temper. Why would he go looking for trouble?

“Whoa, senior, you took care of all those guys?” Du Kang’s face was full of admiration.

“Obviously. Where else would these have come from?” Xia Mang nodded.

Yu Wanyin’s lips parted slightly in surprise, a new light of respect in her eyes as she looked at him.

As for Liu Xueqing, she shot him a casual glance before turning away, a hint of unexpected surprise hidden deep in her eyes.

Yu Wanyin thought for a moment and asked, “You just said you want to sell these? What do you mean? We can’t bring currency in here.”

Xia Mang shook his head. “We won’t be trading for currency. Right now, points are worth a lot more than money.”

With that, he began to elaborate, describing the idea in his mind in detail. “There are still a lot of people without weapons. We can trade these staffs with them for Talismans.”

“Here’s what I’m thinking: people without weapons are usually not that strong, and they’re most likely independents or pickup teams. So we can’t expect them to have Purple-grade Talismans. Therefore, I’ve tentatively set the price of one staff at two Gold Orbs. What do you guys think?”

Hearing his plan, Yu Wanyin’s beautiful eyes sparkled. She praised him sincerely, “That’s a great idea! How come I never noticed you had such a head for business?”

“Haha.” Xia Mang rubbed his nose, looking slightly embarrassed. “Have you ever noticed me before…?”

“…” Upon hearing this, two rosy blushes bloomed on Yu Wanyin’s cheeks. She lowered her head and said no more.

Du Kang, however, shot him an excited thumbs-up. “Senior, you’re a genius! No, from now on, you’re my ‘Boss.’ Whatever you say, goes. If you tell me to stand, I won’t dare sit. If you tell me to take a crap, I won’t dare take a leak. If you say…”

“Okay, okay, that’s enough. I can’t afford to keep a little brother who eats so much,” Xia Mang said with a laugh.

“Pfft.” The two clowns made Yu Wanyin burst into laughter.

Seeing both of them looking at her, she composed herself and said seriously, “But I really think your method is viable. Where are we going to find these weaponless people, though?”

Xia Mang pointed at Du Kang. “We’ll search for them in the forest. Du Kang and I can each carry a few. No problem.”

And so, the plan to earn points was set.

For the next few days, the team scoured the forest for independents or pickup teams who were empty-handed. And believe it or not, they sold every last staff.

At one point, a pickup team tried to rob them, but after being thoroughly dealt with, they could only obediently trade their orbs for the weapons.

Just like that, twelve Gold Orbs fell into their pockets, which translated to one hundred and twenty points.

After a group discussion, they decided to give six orbs to Xia Mang, who had come up with the plan, and two orbs to everyone else.

With that, Xia Mang’s point total temporarily rose to one hundred and ninety.

He didn’t know how others were doing, but he figured this score was probably about average.

In truth, they could have accumulated points much faster if they were willing to collect the lesser ones. However, the team’s initial plan was to conserve space and weight by only collecting Talismans of gold quality or higher.

They preferred quality over quantity. Besides, there was still plenty of time left in the competition, so no one was in a rush.

That night, in the cave.

Xia Mang stood by the campfire, announcing the team’s new objective. “I think the competition is about halfway through now. We should adjust our strategy.”

“By now, probably half of the teams and individuals have been eliminated. The ones left are the elites.”

“Of course, that includes us.”

He let out a smirk.

Yu Wanyin and Du Kang laughed along with him.

Only Liu Xueqing rolled her eyes in disgust and said coldly, “Have you no shame?”

After spending so much time together, she had started speaking just a tiny bit more to her two male teammates.

Hearing her, Xia Mang looked over and said in a heartfelt tone, “Student Liu, why must you be so self-deprecating? In my heart, everyone on this team is an elite. Except for me, of course.”

“Tch~” Du Kang couldn’t help but scoff. “I was thinking you had a point, but after hearing that last part, I have to say it too: shameless bastard.”

“Du Kang,” Xia Mang said, looking at him with a straight face. “Don’t interrupt. The beautiful Ms. Liu Xueqing asked if I had no shame. It was a question, meaning she was unsure about the matter. You, on the other hand, directly called me a shameless bastard. That borders on defamation and damaging my personal reputation. Believe it or not, I’ll kick you into Bright Moon Lake for a bath.”

Du Kang had a long face. “Boss, that’s gender discrimination! And a threat, to boot!”

“Haha.”

Beside them, Yu Wanyin was laughing so hard she swayed.

She was certain that ever since she joined this team, her spirits had been exceptionally high. These two clowns often made it impossible for her not to laugh.

“Alright, let me continue with my idea. We’ve been keeping our tails between our legs in the early stages to avoid making enemies. But things are different now. If we don’t start robbing, we’re going to lose. And are we willing to lose? Of course not. So, from now on, we’re going to hunt people down and plunder their spoils of war.”

After Xia Mang finished speaking seriously, the others fell into deep thought. Unconsciously, they had all come to see him as the team’s backbone.

After a long moment, they all nodded in agreement.

“Good. Then tomorrow, we set out to find other teams.” Xia Mang carefully laid out his strategic plan. “But the forest is huge, and we can’t just run around like headless chickens. So, we need to go straight for an Elite team. We’ll get our hands on a Purple Orb and make the other teams come to us.”

As he spoke, he flashed the indicator dial on his wrist, where several points of light were blinking at the edge.

“We just need to follow the directions on this, and we’ll be able to find a team with a Purple Talisman with ease.”

Hearing this, Du Kang couldn’t help but slam his hand down in admiration. “Boss, how does your brain work? How are you so smart?”

Yu Wanyin also nodded. “I agree.”

A complex look appeared in Liu Xueqing’s icy eyes. After a moment, she said, “I have no objections either.”

“Alright then. Since no one has any objections, we will embark on a new journey starting tomorrow.”

Full of ambition, Xia Mang sat back down by the fire.

Beside him, Yu Wanyin suddenly spoke in a soft voice, “Xia Mang, you’re really different from before.”

“Oh? How so?” Xia Mang turned his head.

Yu Wanyin smiled. “It’s not just that you’ve gotten much stronger. You also have great leadership qualities, and you’re more confident.”

Xia Mang gave a relaxed shrug. “If I said you were a part of these changes, would you believe me?”

Hearing this, Yu Wanyin’s expression suddenly dimmed. She immediately turned her head away, avoiding his gaze.

Seeing her reaction, Xia Mang realized he had misspoken. “I was just kidding, don’t mind me. We’re still good friends, right?”

But Yu Wanyin, lost in her own thoughts, remained silent…

Chapter 47: Negotiating a Partnership

“We’re only about a kilometer away from the target point.”

Xia Mang looked at the indicator on his wrist. A green dot had long since moved from the edge of the dial and was now near the center.

They had randomly selected an opponent holding a Purple Talisman, one that was relatively close.

As the competition progressed, the Purple Talisman was no longer a one-of-a-kind item, but it was still scarce.

One was worth five Gold Orbs in points and didn’t take up much space. It was unlikely anyone failed to understand its value.

Therefore, even with an increased number of them released, the fervor of the chase had not diminished.

“I’d really like to know who this unlucky soul is,” Xia Mang said as he and his teammates closed in on the green dot.

The target’s position was stationary, not moving at all, which likely meant they had set up camp. A one-kilometer distance would only take them a few minutes.

To make their move easier, Xia Mang had deliberately chosen to act at night.

“Liu Xueqing, are you confident?”

They could already see their target. Not far away, a bright bonfire blazed, its flames soaring into the sky, making it extremely conspicuous.

Xia Mang climbed to a high vantage point and saw several team members standing guard around the perimeter.

Evidently, these people also knew that possessing a Purple Orb was like painting a target on their backs for every other team to see.

Beside Xia Mang, Liu Xueqing observed coldly for a moment, as if making calculations. She soon whispered, “It’s difficult. They’re very focused, and their personnel layout is logical. It won’t be easy for me to make a move.”

Xia Mang nodded as well. “This is tricky. The team has fifteen people, and it looks like the captain is…”

He trailed off, trying hard to recall the information on key opponents he had read before the competition began. He soon retrieved the relevant memory.

“This is the Elite team from Experimental High School. The captain is Zhang Ying, and his Gene evolution level is rumored to be 2.1. Many of the other members have also broken the level 2 barrier.”

“Their overall strength is very high.”

Xia Mang frowned.

This opponent was far tougher than he had imagined.

Although he was strong, his evolutionary level of 3.4 was probably not enough to crush a well-trained and coordinated elite team in a head-on confrontation.

He immediately discarded the idea of a direct snatch-and-grab.

That being the case, he said to Liu Xueqing, “Let’s lure the tiger from the mountain and strike in the east while making a sound in the west.”

She glanced at him. “What do you mean?”

Xia Mang explained, “It’s simple. I’ll need you to make a move for this.”

“I’ve noticed your movement skills are excellent. So, in a bit, you’ll be responsible for trying to draw a portion of their forces away. Then I’ll make my move.”

Liu Xueqing thought for a moment. “How many people can you handle at once?”

“In a drawn-out fight, probably five. But if I need to guarantee I can grab the item in a short amount of time, three at most,” Xia Mang replied after a rough estimate.

“That means I need to lead twelve people away,” Liu Xueqing said.

Xia Mang asked, “Well, can you do it? If not, we’ll think of another way.”

“I’m afraid not. That’s too many people,” Liu Xueqing said, shaking her head.

Xia Mang wasn’t surprised by her answer. He fell into deep thought, and after a short while, he said, “Let’s just wait here. I refuse to believe none of them will ever wander off alone or go to the bathroom.”

“You’re saying we wait until someone is isolated, then we divide and conquer?”

Liu Xueqing immediately understood.

Xia Mang nodded.

“I think that could work.”

Liu Xueqing also agreed.

As the two most powerful members of this four-person squad, they naturally held the decision-making power.

With that, the initial plan was set. All they had to do was wait for their prey to emerge.

Liu Xueqing’s surveillance skills were better than Xia Mang’s, so she took on the responsibility of monitoring the other team’s every move.

Fortunately, an opportunity presented itself quickly.

In the early hours of the morning, Xia Mang suddenly received word that three people from the other team had left the group and headed upwind.

His spirits immediately lifted. He told Liu Xueqing to keep watch while he quickly moved toward the direction she had indicated.

Sure enough, the intelligence was accurate. Before he had gone far, he spotted three boys walking together.

Xia Mang quietly trailed behind them, planning to launch a surprise attack once they were far enough from the Experimental High School’s camp.

“Hey, Brother Xun, Zhang Ying has us hiding here and there every day. My feet are about to break,” one of the three complained as they walked.

“Damn it, I was just thinking the same thing. Is a 50-point orb really worth all this? Not only do we not get a single day of peace, but we even have to have five people on night watch. I feel like I’m going to have a nervous breakdown by the time this competition is over.”

“Yeah, collecting five Gold Orbs would have the same effect. Why did he have to expose us to everyone like this?”

“You don’t get it. Five Gold Orbs would have to be split, but a single Purple Orb is guaranteed to be his, Zhang Ying’s. We won’t even get the scraps.”

“Now that you put it that way, it seems to make sense. Man, this is frustrating.”

“What can we do? We can only play it by ear and look for a chance to kick him out of his captain position.”

The more they talked, the angrier they got, while Xia Mang was secretly delighted.

The more negative emotions the other side had, the bigger their weakness. An idea suddenly struck him.

Once they were a sufficient distance from the Experimental High School’s camp, he shot out from a dark corner and jumped in front of the three.

His sudden appearance startled the trio, who were just about to relieve themselves, so much that they physically held their pee back.

“Who are you?!” one of them asked rudely.

“Me? I’m someone who’s come to save you brothers,” Xia Mang said unhurriedly.

He deliberately kept his head down, using the darkness to obscure his facial features to prevent them from identifying him.

“What do you mean?” the tallest of the three asked in a cold voice.

“Nothing much. I’ve heard you brothers are full of complaints serving under Zhang Ying, and I agree. That guy Zhang Ying is obstinate and extremely selfish. I feel it’s an injustice for you all,” Xia Mang recited the lines he had been brewing along the way in a calm and orderly manner. “So, I’ve thought of an idea, a win-win idea, that can both save you brothers from this misery and allow you to show your true potential, while also letting me gain a small benefit.”

Hearing his words, the tall guy exchanged a look with his two companions and said warily, “We don’t even know who you are. Why should we trust you?”

Xia Mang smiled. “Who I am isn’t important. What’s important is that I can make everyone happy, isn’t it?”

He continued, “In this competition, there are only common interests, not common enemies. I’m sure you all understand this principle. As long as our cooperation benefits us, what do you three have to worry about?”

“This…”

The three were clearly hesitant. The tall young man was obviously their spokesperson, and he asked again, “What do we get?”

“Hmm… that’s a good question. According to the rules, you were all registered as part of the same team, so I’m afraid the points from your teammates will have to go to me. In return, all the Talismans on Zhang Ying will be yours.”

“How about it?”

Xia Mang laid his cards on the table.

“All the Talismans on Zhang Ying… The points from those are probably worth far less than those of our teammates.” The tall young man couldn’t help but mock, “You’ve really thought this through, haven’t you? Do you take us for fools?”

Xia Mang’s composure wasn’t rattled by his tone. “Brother, you’re mistaken. Do you dare to press your teammates’ elimination patches? If you do, you lose points.”

“So you can only give them to me. And with such a huge incentive, you all can be more confident in our partnership.”

“I remember a famous person once said that the most solid relationship in this world is one built on mutual interest. Nothing is more reliable. I think I’ve made myself very clear. Right now, the three of you and I happen to share a common interest. Why wouldn’t we go for it?”

He finished speaking.

The three immediately fell silent.

After thinking for a long time, the tall young man discussed it with his two companions, then looked up and said, “No, we only want to get rid of Zhang Ying.”

“We’re on good terms with the other brothers. We can’t screw them over.”

“But you can have the Purple Orb on Zhang Ying.”

Hearing this, Xia Mang pretended to mull it over with difficulty for a while before nodding. “Alright, that works too.”

The tall young man continued, “But there’s a problem now. Why should we cooperate with you? If we want to get rid of Zhang Ying, we can just team up with the brothers inside our team.”

Xia Mang wagged his finger, his aura calm and steady. “Brother, you’re mistaken again. If you could really rally everyone internally, you would have done so already, wouldn’t you?”

“Why endure until now?”

“What’s more, I’m very strong. With me on your side, it’s one hundred percent certain you can get rid of Zhang Ying. My strength is my bargaining chip.”

His words hit the nail on the head for the three. The tall young man continued, “Empty words are no proof. You have to show us your strength, and then we can talk about cooperating.”

“Yeah, how can we be sure otherwise,” the other two chimed in.

Xia Mang didn’t refuse. He simply dropped his alloy staff and beckoned to the three with his fingers. “No problem. Come at me together. I’ll let you see that I have my reasons for taking your points.”

As he spoke, his other hand, hidden behind his back, was already gathering a full charge of electricity.

Of course, he didn’t condense the electricity into a ball. A high-density gathering of electrical charges would emit a strange glow, and it wouldn’t be worth it if they spotted the anomaly.

Hearing his words, the three exchanged a glance and immediately rushed him all at once.

Xia Mang didn’t move. He waited until they were right in front of him, then suddenly shot out the hand that was behind his back, grabbing one of their arms. An intense electric current shot directly into the man’s body, paralyzing him.

Dispersing the energy, Xia Mang swung the man through the air, using him like a large club to smash into the two who were lunging right behind.

The impact from their companion threw the tall young man off balance and sent him stumbling to the side. The last one was still stunned when Xia Mang sent him flying with a single kick.

One round, and the fight was over!

Chapter 48: Setting a Trap

“So? Have my skills earned the approval of you brothers?”

Xia Mang didn’t press his advantage, just speaking with a smile.

The tall youth and his two companions took a long time to struggle back to their feet. He held back his companions’ anger and looked at Xia Mang seriously. “But how can we cooperate with you? These Competition Suits have monitoring functions. If we sabotage the entire team and the school finds out, we’ll definitely be punished!”

Hearing this, Xia Mang replied unhurriedly, “You don’t need to worry about that.”

“My plan doesn’t require you to make a move. I just need you to follow my design and lead a portion of the team away. It would be best if Zhang Ying is left all alone. That way, we can create the illusion of an accident and you can plausibly deny any involvement, right?”

The tall, thin youth was still worried. “But our current conversation is being broadcast live to the official website.”

Before he could finish, Xia Mang cut him off. “You really don’t need to worry about that. It’s the middle of the night; hardly anyone is watching the live broadcast. Plus, with so many contestants, the official website has a dense grid of live feeds. Who can watch them all? What are the odds that someone happens to see the three of us having this conversation?”

“And even in the absolute worst-case scenario, even if someone does see it, how would your school’s leaders find out?”

“Besides, afterward, as long as you follow my plan, no one will suspect you.”

“Think about it. What average viewer would even know which school you’re from?”

“Brother, nothing ventured, nothing gained. Without a little bit of a risk-taking spirit, how can you get everything you want?”

After this highly tempting persuasion and a clear breakdown of the pros and cons, the three of them exchanged a few words and finally made up their minds. “Alright, we agree to cooperate with you. Tell us, what do you need us to do?”

So, Xia Mang explained his plan. The main idea was for them to tell Zhang Ying, under some pretext, that they had discovered two teams fighting each other, and to suggest that Zhang Ying dispatch a squad to reap the rewards of their conflict.

“But how do we convince our teammates to believe us?”

The three weren’t stupid and raised their concerns.

If they were going to do this, they had to do it right, leaving as few holes as possible.

“I can be your prisoner.” A smile played on Xia Mang’s lips. “I’ll pretend to be captured by you, and then, in the process, I’ll suddenly make a move on Zhang Ying. That way, it’ll be basically foolproof.”

With those words, the three of them understood completely. But when they got a clear look at Xia Mang’s face, they suddenly cried out in shock, “You… you’re Xia Mang!”

“Yes, it’s me. I’m a lone wolf with no ties, which is why I sought you three out to discuss this cooperation. I’m just trying to get a slightly better score in the individual rankings.”

His gaze was sincere and earnest, and his words were frank and spoken with a clear conscience.

In his heart, however, there was a key factor he hadn’t mentioned to these three men he had bamboozled.

This factor was that if the school team’s leader was eliminated, the school authorities would definitely review Zhang Ying’s competition footage, and would naturally capture Xia Mang’s face.

From there, following the trail of clues, it wouldn’t be hard to uncover this “secret plot” they were discussing right now.

It could be said that if even one of these three had kept a perfectly clear head, he wouldn’t have fallen into this trap.

Unfortunately, they seemed to have completely bought into the “flawless” plan Xia Mang had just spent so much effort describing, so they hadn’t considered this crucial point at all.

In truth, very few people could maintain a comprehensive train of thought when faced with such a torrent of eloquent persuasion.

“Then we’ll have to ask you to cooperate with us.”

The tall youth stepped forward and grabbed one of Xia Mang’s shoulder blades, while another pinned his other side.

And so, the group of four headed towards the Experimental High School’s camp.

In the shadows.

Liu Xueqing was closely monitoring the group’s every move. However, when she saw the image of Xia Mang being escorted back by the three who had just gone to relieve themselves, she froze.

Through their contact over the past few days, she knew all too well what astonishing strength this supposedly genetically-handicapped genius Mech Specialist possessed.

How could he have been captured?

She was utterly baffled and, for a moment, felt completely at a loss.

“Something’s not right.”

Liu Xueqing quickly turned back to tell Yu Wanyin and Du Kang the news.

They felt as if they had been struck by a bolt from the blue, not knowing what to do.

“We have two options now: one, retreat; two, rescue him. Pick one,” Liu Xueqing said.

Hearing this, Du Kang made his decision without hesitation. “Of course we rescue him! Without the Boss, we’ve lost our backbone.”

Yu Wanyin thought for a moment and nodded. “Rescuing him is better.”

“Alright then. You two provide cover from here. I’ll go find an opportunity to save him.” After speaking, Liu Xueqing, light as a swallow, melted back into the night.

In the distance, Du Kang frowned. He felt that something wasn’t quite right. He turned to Yu Wanyin and said, “Senior, you rest here. I’m going to take a look.”

“What are you going to do?” Yu Wanyin was a little worried about him.

“I just don’t think Senior would get caught like this,” Du Kang said, growing more certain the more he thought about it. “I feel like there’s something fishy about this whole thing. I’m going to check it out, just in case Liu Xueqing has misjudged the situation.”

“Alright then, you have to be careful,” Yu Wanyin nodded.

“Don’t worry.” Du Kang waved and followed in the direction Liu Xueqing had disappeared.

Behind a haystack about fifty meters from the Experimental High School camp, Liu Xueqing suddenly popped her head up and said in a low voice, “What are you doing here?”

Du Kang, who had been searching everywhere, finally breathed a sigh of relief. “Liu Xueqing, I finally found you. Listen to me, let’s not be impulsive. I think our senior is most likely doing this on purpose.”

“Huh? What do you mean?” His words coincided with Liu Xueqing’s own earlier doubts, but she couldn’t for the life of her figure out what game Xia Mang was playing. He hadn’t given them any heads-up.

Du Kang said, “I’ve spent more time with our senior. Although I don’t know what he’s planning, I’m one hundred percent sure that these people alone couldn’t possibly capture him.”

Hearing this, Liu Xueqing also began to have her doubts. “Then what on earth is going on?”

She then said, “I’ll go take a look first. You stay here and don’t move.”

Du Kang nodded and warned her once more, “Whatever you do, don’t be rash.”

At the Experimental High School camp.

Xia Mang was forced down beside the campfire. Zhang Ying and a group of elites from Experimental High School, awakened by the commotion, surrounded him. “Speak,” Zhang Ying asked coldly. “The famous Mech Specialist Xia Mang, why were you spying on us?”

“Don’t, don’t hit me! I’ll tell you everything!” Xia Mang pretended to be terrified. “I’m an independent, I don’t have a team. Everyone knows that.”

“Plus, I’m weak, so if I wanted to last longer in here, I had no choice but to join a team.”

“I was with them for many days. A while back, that team merged with three other teams, forming a new organization called the Quartet Alliance.”

Xia Mang gave his imagination free rein, speaking fluently. “And as the weakest person in this organization, my only jobs are surveillance and being cannon fodder.”

Hearing this, Zhang Ying began to understand. “So, you were sent by this Quartet Alliance?”

Xia Mang nodded frantically. “Yes, yes, that’s them! Brother Ying, I’ve long heard of your great name. Please don’t eliminate me.”

He spoke with a sob in his voice, making the tall guy and his two toilet-break companions marvel at his Oscar-worthy performance.

Zhang Ying stared straight into his eyes. After a moment, seeing nothing amiss, he said, “Where are they?”

“This way, and that way, and over there, and there.” Following their agreed-upon plan, Xia Mang pointed in the four cardinal directions: east, west, south, and north.

This made Zhang Ying frown. “So you’re saying we’re being attacked from front and rear?”

“Brother Ying, you don’t need to worry,” Xia Mang said. “This Quartet Alliance isn’t very strong, so they have to make up for it in numbers. They’ve robbed a lot of independents and pickup teams along the way, so they’ve got quite a bit of loot. I think if you, Brother Ying, just dispatch a small team in each direction to launch a preemptive strike, you can catch them completely off guard.”

“You’re saying this team has collected a lot of points?” Zhang Ying asked again.

Xia Mang nodded vigorously. “That’s right! They have so many beads that the weight is becoming a problem, and their appetite has grown. The reason they’re targeting your team this time, Brother Ying, is because they want to steal your Purple Talisman.”

“Hmph. A bunch of grasshoppers who don’t know their place.” Zhang Ying turned away, his hands clasped behind his back.

He felt no suspicion toward this weak Mech Specialist, whose personal data labeled him a dead weight in terms of genetic evolution. He immediately arranged for some men to head menacingly in the directions Xia Mang had pointed.

By the campfire, only he remained, watching over the beads.

The development of the situation was proceeding exactly according to his design. Even Xia Mang was a little impressed with his own ability to control the situation.

After the “expeditionary force” was a good distance away, Zhang Ying suddenly walked over, grabbed him by the collar, and forcefully hauled him to his feet. “Your points are mine.”

Hearing this, Xia Mang smiled. “Brother Ying, no wonder you sent them all out and stayed behind yourself. You were afraid they’d steal your points, weren’t you?”

“Cut the crap.” Zhang Ying was blunt. He finished speaking and raised his hand, preparing to press the elimination patch over Xia Mang’s heart.

But at that very moment, the Mech Specialist in his grasp suddenly erupted with immense power. In an instant, he broke free from Zhang Ying’s hold, took two steps back to create a distance of over two meters, and looked at him with a grin. “Brother Ying, that’s not a very good way to be a team leader.”

“You!”

Zhang Ying was filled with shock and uncertainty.

From the burst of power Xia Mang had just displayed, he sensed that something was terribly wrong.

“Brother Ying, there was actually one more thing I forgot to tell you.”

“What?!”

“And that is, there’s no such thing as a Quartet Alliance. I made it all up. Hahaha.”

Chapter 49: Expanding the Team

“Xia Mang, don’t tell me you think you can defeat me?”

By now, Zhang Ying had figured things out.

“Why don’t we find out?” Xia Mang replied, looking like a wolf on the prowl as he closed in on the captain of Experimental High School’s Elite team, step by step.

“Hmph, I’ll be taking those twenty points of yours.” Zhang Ying, accustomed to being a prodigy at school, was quite arrogant. He immediately took the offensive, charging forward with his staff raised.

“Quite proactive. Good, saves me the trouble of being impolite.” Xia Mang swiftly sidestepped, dodging the overhead blow.

Fifty meters away.

Liu Xueqing’s beautiful eyes widened as she watched the sudden turn of events. She had no idea how things had escalated to this point.

“How on earth did he do it?”

Her lips parted slightly, and with no one watching, she made no effort to hide the astonishment in her heart.

Although she had come to deeply appreciate the Mech Specialist’s intellect during their time together, the scene unfolding before her was simply too incredible.

“How does his brain work?”

For the very first time, perhaps without even realizing it herself, Liu Xueqing felt a flicker of interest in a member of the opposite sex.

At the Experimental High School gathering point.

Xia Mang had already gained the complete upper hand. An evolution level of 3.4 against an opponent just over 2.0 was a decisive victory.

This held true even with his opponent wielding a weapon.

“Ah!”

Xia Mang’s palm became a knife, chopping down swiftly and accurately on Zhang Ying’s wrist. He snatched the alloy staff away, and Zhang Ying immediately turned to flee. But before he could take more than a few steps, Xia Mang kicked him to the ground.

“Don’t eliminate me, don’t eliminate me.”

No matter how much of a genius Zhang Ying was, he was still just a kid. In such a desperate situation, his composure shattered, and he begged in a low, submissive voice.

“Too bad. This has always been a competition where the strong prey on the weak. If I had begged you like this just now, would you have let me go?” Xia Mang crouched down and unceremoniously slapped the sensor film on the Experimental High School captain’s chest.

Thirty points were easily added to his tally, bringing his personal score to 220.

Xia Mang paid him no mind, nor did he care when the enforcement team would arrive. The moment the sensor film was slapped, the smart module automatically connected to the information on his own chest sensor and recorded the event.

The enforcement team’s computers would be able to scan it later.

“You dare!”

Amidst Zhang Ying’s frenzied roars, Xia Mang easily tore open the bundle containing all of Experimental High School’s wealth. Under Zhang Ying’s hateful gaze, he took the only Purple Orb from inside and then sauntered off.

When he returned with practiced ease to where the four-person squad had been waiting, he found Liu Xueqing, Yu Wanyin, and Du Kang staring at him as if they were looking at a monster.

“What’s wrong with you guys?”

Their stares made Xia Mang’s skin crawl, and he couldn’t help but ask.

“Spill it, senior. What trick did you have up your sleeve? How did those people just leave for no reason? And how did you succeed so easily?”

The two girls were more reserved, so Du Kang acted as their representative.

“Hey, let’s talk on the move. I’m afraid those three won’t handle their internal relations well and come back to kill me.” Xia Mang pointed at the Purple Orb in his hand, a hint of urgency in his voice.

He had actually considered taking the entire bundle.

But then he remembered that the Purple Orb had a self-revealing function, and they definitely couldn’t get far in a short amount of time. He didn’t want to provoke the hatred of over a dozen people for a little extra profit.

He hoped the three would honor their previous agreement and manage their team relations well.

However, if they decided to track him down to reclaim the Purple Talisman, he was certain he had a hundred ways to deal with them.

Although Xia Mang hadn’t thought of a specific plan, he had complete confidence in his intelligence. His successive victories in battles of wits had already given him a mysterious sense of calm.

Later, under the trio’s interrogation, he had no choice but to recount his process of meticulous planning and quick thinking.

This chain of intricate schemes left Du Kang astounded, and Yu Wanyin was secretly filled with admiration. Similarly, although Liu Xueqing’s face remained frosty, she was truly impressed in her heart.

She was equally confident in herself, but she knew she couldn’t have achieved the same result as Xia Mang with such efficiency and ease.

“Boss, what’s our plan now?”

Du Kang habitually asked Xia Mang for the next steps.

The latter had clearly become the leader of their team, a position earned through the trust gained from numerous successes.

“Right now, we need people,” Xia Mang said. “My original plan was to get the Purple Orb and just wait for others to deliver themselves to our doorstep. But now it seems we still don’t have enough manpower. It’ll be difficult if we run into a strong team. We can’t rely on outsmarting our way out of trouble every single time.”

“There’s always a chance that a plan could fail.”

His worry was shared by the others.

Liu Xueqing, quite unexpectedly, offered her opinion. “That’s easier said than done. Where are we supposed to find these people?”

She didn’t even notice that she had subconsciously used a questioning tone.

“Haha, my current targets are mainly lone wolves and some pickup teams,” Xia Mang said. “Some of these people don’t have very high ambitions. We can recruit them at a very low cost.”

“But are people like that strong enough?” Liu Xueqing asked again.

Xia Mang looked at her teasingly. “My dear junior, I just need people to help me hold off the minions during a fight.”

“Just hold them off, not defeat them. How much strength does that really require?”

Hearing his words, Liu Xueqing understood. She said no more, indicating her tacit approval.

Yu Wanyin and Du Kang naturally had no objections either.

And so, over the next few days, following Xia Mang’s strategy, they successfully recruited twelve lone wolves. With that, the four-person squad expanded to a team of sixteen. In terms of numbers alone, they were no longer at a disadvantage compared to the Elite teams.

And through several consecutive major victories, Xia Mang established his authority as a leader in the eyes of his new companions.

As their activities increased and news of their victories spread, the reputation of Xia Mang’s team, passed on by their defeated opponents, gradually began to circulate among the contestants in the Moonlight Forest.

The teams from First High School and Fourth High School had both heard the rumors.

Some teams with less-than-pure intentions also began to subconsciously seek out Xia Mang’s group after hearing the news.

“Hmph, it seems Boss Yun’s money isn’t that easy to earn.”

A team was walking along a cliff path in an area with distinct Karst topography.

“It’d be a miracle if it were. Do you think the head of a major corporation like that would let you win money from him so easily?”

“Hey, let’s step it up. We have to try, no matter what. According to the directions we gathered, Xia Mang’s team should be in this quadrant.”

Their identity was, without a doubt, the second team hired by Yun Shan to take down Xia Mang.

At the same time, in the Moonlight Forest’s Wolf’s Tooth Ridge, another team was marching at high speed.

These people were friendly forces dispatched by Long Junxuan’s father, Long Yongkang. Their main mission was to protect Xia Mang during the competition.

However, from the looks of it, this person didn’t seem to be in particular need of their protection.

“Captain, why do you think this Mech Specialist is so formidable?”

“And why would the Yuecheng Group have us protect them? If this Xia Mang can lead a team that’s thriving like this, he must be pretty strong.”

“Don’t ask me. All I know is that we’ve taken Yuecheng Group’s money, so we have to do the job.”

Xia Mang’s sudden rise was not only causing a stir among the many contestants on the competition grounds.

He was also quickly gaining fame on media forums and among the audience.

If the previous rumors circulating about him were mostly related to his goofy antics with Du Kang, and his appearance on the individual leaderboard was considered a stroke of luck…

Then now, a considerable number of people truly acknowledged his strength, placing him on the list of strong contenders.

Xia Mang’s personal score was also temporarily ranked seventh on the official website’s leaderboard.

Of course, this ranking was temporary. The points from Talismans could only be accurately calculated after the competition, so the final results would likely see significant changes.

Still, the leaderboard at least reflected a player’s record of eliminating opponents, which was a fair indicator of individual strength.

Without a doubt, Xia Mang, this dark horse who had emerged from nowhere, had captured everyone’s attention.

So, when the official television broadcast wasn’t showing Xia Mang, some people would choose to go to the official website and watch his personal stream.

As the competition progressed, they found themselves increasingly in awe of Xia Mang’s intelligence. A common thought crossed their minds: how on earth did this high school student’s brain work?

One day, Long Junxuan was at home, leisurely painting.

Suddenly, Long Xiaoyi burst into his room.

This made Long Junxuan look up in surprise, putting down his brush. “Sis, what brings you here today?”

Long Xiaoyi pouted. “Brother, forget about not buying me the piano. You have to help me with this.”

The moment Long Junxuan heard the word “help,” he felt a familiar sense of foreboding. The “favors” his sister asked of him were never small. The slightest misstep could cost him an arm and a leg.

“Brother, can you not make that face? Can we even have a normal conversation anymore?” Long Xiaoyi huffed, planting her hands on her slender waist.

Long Junxuan smiled helplessly. “Alright, alright. Tell me first, what wonderful an errand is it this time?”

Long Xiaoyi’s expression immediately went from cloudy to sunny. She came over and hugged his arm, cooing, “Brother, you and that Xia Mang are good friends, right?”

“Ah, yeah, we are. What’s up? You want to date him?” Long Junxuan asked teasingly.

Long Xiaoyi’s face turned beet red. “Brother, why is your mind always filled with such messy, romantic nonsense?” she chided.

Long Junxuan was bewildered. “What’s so messy about dating?”

Long Xiaoyi ignored him and cut straight to the chase. “Brother, it’s like this. You know my best friend, Ouyang Qinglian, right?”

“Lately, she’s become a fan of that Xia Mang. So I told her that Xia Mang is one of my brother’s best buddies, and she immediately asked me to get his autograph for her.”

“So, brother, you have to help me with this! Otherwise, a rift will form between me and my bestie! Brother!”

The repeated calls of “Brother” melted Long Junxuan’s resolve. He nodded awkwardly, “Fine, fine. After Xia Mang’s competition is over, I’ll get you an autograph.”

“Hee hee, I knew you were the best brother!” Long Xiaoyi said, overjoyed.

Chapter 50: The Assassin Appears

In the Moonlight Forest.

Xia Mang was completely unaware of his situation in the outside world.

He had only one goal now: the final championship.

Only the champion could go to Yuancheng to participate in the Water Source Planet finals and obtain the coveted thirty honor points.

As for the other bonus rewards, they were all disposable to him.

The most convenient shortcut to winning the championship was, naturally, to defeat the opponents who might pose a threat to him.

So his gaze gradually fell upon all the green dots displayed on his watch. These were the holders of the Purple Talismans, and likewise, they were powerful opponents with the strength to vie for the championship.

“Everyone, quiet down.”

Having made up his mind, Xia Mang decided to make the most of the remaining time and conduct a grand search for the other teams holding Purple Talismans.

This included the team from his own school, First High School. He wouldn’t spare them either.

For the sake of the championship, he had to race against time.

The twelve people he had recruited were of mediocre strength, but they were absolutely convinced of Xia Mang’s decisions. Many of them lamented that if they hadn’t joined Xia Mang’s team, they might have already been eliminated.

This trust was earned through solid results.

As the saying goes, if you don’t give people a taste of victory, how can you expect them to willingly work for you?

“Here’s the situation. The competition is more than halfway over. For the remaining days, I plan to launch a great sweeping campaign. The targets will be the light dots displayed on our watches—that is, all the strongest participating teams,” Xia Mang announced in a clear voice.

As soon as he said this, the crowd erupted in an uproar.

It was true that they had won battle after battle since following Xia Mang, defeating many opponents and repelling numerous attackers.

But they had never once encountered a strong team capable of holding a Purple Talisman and remaining unscathed.

Xia Mang understood what these people were thinking. After all, they were used to being trampled on here, and a few victories couldn’t completely rebuild their confidence. So he said just one thing: “Everyone must remember, we are also a strong team holding a Purple Talisman. So in here, there are no teams we cannot defeat.”

“Although we weren’t registered as the same team before the competition started, now that fate has brought us together, I should shoulder the responsibility of helping everyone achieve better results!”

Xia Mang’s speech was passionate and inspiring, carrying the domineering air of one commanding an empire.

This couldn’t help but make Yu Wanyin and Liu Xueqing look at him in a new light.

“Well said.” Du Kang was the first to applaud.

Ever since the team had grown, he had displayed a special talent. This talent was hard to describe, but for example…

He was like the personal shill standing next to the boss of a pyramid scheme, exceptionally skilled at hyping up the atmosphere.

Sure enough, under his lead, everyone started applauding, as if they had suddenly found their confidence.

In reality, it was all a textbook brainwashing routine…

Day twenty-two of the competition.

Anhuang City’s Thirteenth High School was robbed, their points plundered, and all their members were eliminated. Instigator: Xia Mang’s team.

Day twenty-three of the competition.

Anhuang City’s Fifty-sixth High School’s Elite team was robbed, their Purple Talisman was seized, and all their members were eliminated. Instigator: Xia Mang’s team.

Day twenty-four of the competition.

Encountering another team attempting a robbery, Xia Mang led his group to defeat them all. During the interrogation, he unintentionally learned that they had been dispatched by Yun Shan. He also found out that it wasn’t just them; there was another team. From the description, Xia Mang was almost certain that the other team was the one he had defeated at Mirror Lake and Mushroom Bay.

After this battle, both elite teams hired by Yun Shan had fallen.

Day twenty-five of the competition.

The elite team hired by Long Yongkang finally arrived late and joined the ranks of Xia Mang’s team as escorts, further expanding their numbers.

…

The subsequent developments seemed to perfectly validate Xia Mang’s use of the term “great sweep.”

No team they encountered could escape their fate. At this moment, the goofy Mech Specialist who had been busy boasting and goofing off with Du Kang at the start of the competition seemed to have transformed into an ambitious great demon king. He plundered from everyone he met, and wherever he passed, his path was cleared like autumn winds sweeping away fallen leaves, with no resistance whatsoever.

In the outside world, the storm stirred up by this dark horse team, now numbering thirty-one members, had long become a popular topic of discussion.

Until day twenty-seven of the competition.

Surrounded by his followers, Xia Mang looked at the only three remaining light dots on his watch.

Without a doubt, two of them were First High School and Fourth High School. But who was the remaining one?

This left him completely baffled.

However, time was running out, leaving him little room to dwell on his opponent’s identity. By now, he no longer feared any obstacle.

Xia Mang’s sights were set on a higher stage, not confined to the small region of Anhuang City.

He felt that through battle after battle, the muscles throughout his body had been fully released and trained. The last bit of unmelted Fengmen Potion stored in his tissues had completely dissolved. His evolution level should have strengthened a bit more; he estimated it was now around 3.5.

In an unnamed mountain hollow.

Mangtai High School’s Elite team was camped here. At this point, they no longer had any particular ambitions.

Everyone was chatting with each other, quietly enjoying the final moments of the competition.

In a corner sat a young man with a stern expression. His eyes seemed to hide countless sharp knives, and his entire body involuntarily exuded a murderous aura.

He kept his head down, seemingly lost in thought.

It had been over twenty days since he had accepted the mission from Yun Shan.

As a member of Mangtai High School’s Elite team, he figured that since he couldn’t leave midway through the competition anyway, he might as well follow the team to rack up points while looking for Xia Mang. That way, he could aim for a top-ranking reward while completing his mission—truly killing two birds with one stone.

But in the blink of an eye, the competition was in its final days. In these twenty-plus days of running around with this team, he had yet to encounter his target. At this thought, Wu Kaijun could no longer sit still. He looked up at the teammates he had fought alongside for over twenty days, then suddenly stood up on his own and walked away.

“Wu Kaijun, where are you going?”

The captain, Chen Lei, noticed his movement in time.

The boy named Wu Kaijun replied expressionlessly, “To find someone.”

“Who are you looking for? The competition is almost over.”

Chen Lei was very surprised. He didn’t want Wu Kaijun to leave for no reason. From the very first day of the competition, it was thanks to the powerful performance of this transfer student, who had been suddenly inserted into their team before the competition, that the Mangtai Elite team had made it this far.

“I have my own business,” Wu Kaijun replied coldly, then quickly and deftly climbed over the obstacles and vanished without a trace.

Watching his retreating back, everyone wore a look of bewilderment.

“Perhaps he’s not satisfied with these results and wants to challenge for the top spot on the individual scoreboard,” someone said.

“That’s possible. He’s too strong. I don’t even know where he transferred from. I don’t remember there being anyone like him in Anhuang before.”

The members of the Mangtai Elite team discussed among themselves.

Chen Lei considered this thoughtfully for a moment, then suddenly said, “With Wu Kaijun gone, our combat effectiveness is greatly reduced. Starting today, we’ll assign three people to stand watch each day, rotating through four shifts. We must hold out until the competition ends.”

Hearing this, the team members all looked reluctant.

Having grown accustomed to peaceful days, no one was particularly willing to suddenly start guard duty.

But everyone understood the pros and cons, so no one raised any objections…

Not far from this mountain hollow.

Xia Mang’s team was approaching.

Walking through the mountain forest, Wu Kaijun soon discovered their presence.

Like a monkey, he quickly scrambled up a tree to monitor their every move. At this moment, only one thought was in his mind: to wear out iron shoes in a fruitless search, only to find it by chance.

He never expected to run into his target so soon after setting out, without even having to search.

Unexpectedly, from the crowd walking below, an ice-cold gaze shot up.

This caused the hair on Wu Kaijun’s entire body to stand on end.

“Who could have discovered my tracks so easily?”

However, no sooner had this thought appeared than he found a girl as cold as ice right beside him. Her fingernails were already gripping his neck, ready to pierce his flesh at any moment.

“Who are you?” Liu Xueqing asked coldly.

Cold sweat beaded on Wu Kaijun’s forehead. After so many years in the world of assassins, he had really met his match today.

He never thought there would be such an expert among this group of students.

It was the first time someone had discovered his tracks so easily, the first time someone had restrained him in the instant the thought had crossed his mind.

“I… I am.”

After his initial panic, Wu Kaijun quickly calmed down. As an outstanding assassin, he had another identity: a retired private first class from the Anhuang City garrison. His stealth skills might not be the best among assassins, but when it came to direct combat, he wasn’t afraid of anyone he had ever met.

Liu Xueqing keenly sensed the ferocious glint in his eyes and tightened her grip on his neck.

Wu Kaijun said, “Miss, I was sent by someone. Please, be merciful and let me go.”

“Speak, who sent you?!”

Liu Xueqing dragged him by the neck back down to the ground.

There, Xia Mang and the twenty-odd other members were waiting. It was obvious that Liu Xueqing had already informed them of her discovery before taking action.

“I… Miss, you’re choking me, I can’t… can’t speak,” Wu Kaijun said with difficulty, pointing to his own throat.

Hearing this, Liu Xueqing looked at Xia Mang, who nodded for her to release him.

Liu Xueqing then sent a kick into Wu Kaijun’s back, sending him stumbling.

At the same time, Xia Mang suddenly realized something was wrong. After stumbling a few steps, the man strangely regained his center of gravity, coming to a dead stop. The fawning look on his face was replaced by an undisguised, murderous intent.

“Xia Mang, someone wants me to take your life. Blame your bad luck.”

After speaking, Wu Kaijun pulled a sharp stone dagger from his waist—a weapon he had painstakingly polished for over twenty days—and lunged straight at Xia Mang.

Liu Xueqing and the other team members reacted quickly.

But Wu Kaijun was too fast. Just as he was about to succeed, Xia Mang leaned backward, his waist bending at nearly a right angle, dodging the blow aimed straight for his head.

“So fast.”

Xia Mang was covered in cold sweat.

He was certain that this was the most powerful opponent he had encountered since the competition began, bar none.

That last move was so fast he had barely reacted in time.

At this moment, the other team members also arrived, but Wu Kaijun slashed left and right, creating blossoms of blood.

His whip kicks were like they were cast from steel and iron; each kick could send a person flying far away, and many even suffered broken bones.

Such casualties were simply unbearable.

Seeing this, Xia Mang hastily called out to his teammates, “Everyone, stop! Let me handle him.”

UNTITLED

1. Chapter 1: The Great Battle in the Sky
2. Chapter 2: The Mysterious Bottle
3. Chapter 3: Change
4. Chapter 4: The Desk-mate’s Request
5. Chapter 5: New Deskmate
6. Chapter 6: No Quarter

7. Chapter 7: The Origin of the Bottle’s Contents

8. Chapter 8: The Hall of Honor
9. Chapter 9: The Big Shot
10. Chapter 10: The Awakened
11. Chapter 11: Attention from the Top
12. Chapter 12: Strictly Confidential
13. Chapter 13: The Astonished Long Junxuan
14. Chapter 14: Cafeteria Conflict
15. Chapter 15: Shared Adversity

16. Chapter 16: The Black Tiger Gang, Pang Yong!

17. Chapter 17: A Critical Situation
18. Chapter 18: Layers of Conspiracy
19. Chapter 19: The Disciplinary Decision
20. Chapter 20: Demoted to a New Class
21. Chapter 21: The Expulsion Decision
22. Chapter 22: Tian Feiying Arrives

23. Chapter 23: The Wilderness Survival Competition

24. Chapter 24: The Seed Training Plan
25. Chapter 25: The Gendaya Atlas
26. Chapter 26: To Do Right By the Past!
27. Chapter 27: Bai Ke’s Request
28. Chapter 28: The Mech Specialist Interview
29. Chapter 29: Making a Name in Anhuang City
30. Chapter 30: Reactions from All Sides
31. Chapter 31: Fan Xuegeng’s Decision
32. Chapter 32: The Investigation’s Results
33. Chapter 33: Gene Enhancement
34. Chapter 34: Free Fencing

35. Chapter 35: The Eve of the Competition (Part 1)

36. Chapter 36: The Eve of the Competition (Part 2)

37. Chapter 37: A Hit Right from the Start
38. Chapter 38: The First Battle
39. Chapter 39: The Purple Talisman Appears!
40. Chapter 40: Yu Wanyin’s Choice
41. Chapter 41: Great Ups and Downs
42. Chapter 42: The New Team
43. Chapter 43: A Foodie’s Motto
44. Chapter 44: Peril by the Lake
45. Chapter 45: Elimination!
46. Chapter 46: Leadership Qualities
47. Chapter 47: Negotiating a Partnership
48. Chapter 48: Setting a Trap
49. Chapter 49: Expanding the Team
50. Chapter 50: The Assassin Appears