Xiao Han had only just arrived, so naturally he knew nothing of all the ins and outs. He assumed some dumbass was trying to get attention and didn't even lift an eyelid.
Several of Lei Ming's lackeys immediately chimed in.
"Exactly, Brother Lei's right! Some people have no idea what kind of dogshit luck they stumbled into. They're not even that strong, but they still managed to get into Imperial Capital Academy."
"I heard he's only at the Sixth Level of the Warrior Realm. Tsk, tsk. With that cultivation, he wouldn't even rank in our Class Seven. I bet he's some connections hire from a backwater, right?"
"Probably. Otherwise, why would he have been assigned to our 'Retirement Class'?"
They weren't speaking loudly, but with Xiao Han's hearing, he caught every word. Only then did he realize that his cultivation at the "Sixth Level of the Warrior Realm," combined with his status as a "Class Seven student," had made him a "connections hire" in everyone else's eyes.
Interesting. The corners of Xiao Han's mouth curved upward almost imperceptibly.
He intended to keep a low profile and develop, but if someone insisted on coming over to make trouble for themselves, he didn't mind stretching his muscles.
Their homeroom teacher, Zhou Kai, seemed accustomed to such minor friction, or perhaps he couldn't be bothered to intervene. He simply launched the theory test program.
Hum!
A virtual light screen appeared on each student's desk, and a succession of tricky, peculiar questions began flashing across it: martial arts history, exotic beast guides, cultivation technique principles, martial skill analysis, and more.
The classroom fell silent at once, save for the sounds of fingers tapping rapidly on the screens and a few students murmuring in discussion, brows tightly furrowed.
Questions that might have left others racking their brains were barely harder than one plus one equals two for Xiao Han.
After all, he had come here with the title of "the best theory student in Beihai No. 1 High School's history." Add to that the advantage of a transmigrator's soul, and he knew this basic knowledge inside out.
His fingers tapped casually at the screen, moving so fast they almost left afterimages.
In less than five minutes, while most of the others were still struggling over the questions on the first page, Xiao Han had already submitted his answers. Then... he yawned and gazed out the window, bored out of his mind.
Naturally, quite a few observant people noticed.
"Putting on an act!" Seeing how relaxed Xiao Han looked, Lei Ming's eyes flashed with disdain, and he spat the words under his breath.
He found the questions somewhat difficult himself and was struggling with them. Seeing Xiao Han act like that made him even more annoyed.
Zhou Kai also noticed Xiao Han submitting his answers early. His brows furrowed almost imperceptibly, but he said nothing.
In his view, anyone who submitted their answers that quickly was either a genius or a fool, and the latter was clearly more likely.
Ten minutes later, the theory test ended. The results were immediately displayed on the large screen at the front of the classroom.
The name in first place was none other than Xiao Han!
Score: full marks!
The entire classroom fell silent for an instant.
Everyone's eyes turned as one to the young man sitting by the window, still gazing outside as if lost in thought.
Full marks?!
Imperial Capital Academy's theory test question bank was notoriously vast and full of tricky questions. A score of seventy or eighty was considered excellent, but full marks? That was simply inconceivable!
The disdain froze on Lei Ming's face, and his eyes filled with disbelief.
Even relying on his family's long-standing expertise, he had only scored in the eighties. Yet this kid had gotten full marks? Could he really be a bookworm who did nothing but study by rote?
Zhou Kai was also taken aback. He gave Xiao Han a couple more glances, and a trace of seriousness finally appeared in his eyes.
Full marks on the theory test at least showed that the student's learning ability and grasp of fundamental knowledge were top-notch. Perhaps... he wasn't a connections hire?
"Your theory score is good." Zhou Kai's tone softened slightly. "But on the path of martial arts, strength has the final say. Next is the practical combat test. Follow me."
Everyone followed Zhou Kai to an open-air training ground behind the teaching building, each with different thoughts in mind.
At the center of the training ground stood several combat arenas made of a special alloy.
"The rules are simple. You'll be assigned opponents at random and fight in the arena, stopping before anyone is seriously hurt," Zhou Kai announced. "I'll give you a preliminary rating based on your performance."
The draw results came out soon afterward.
Lei Ming was lucky. His opponent was a somewhat scrawny-looking student at the seventh level of the Warrior Realm.
"Go, Brother Lei!"
"Show that kid what you can do!"
Amid the cheers, Lei Ming walked into the arena with a proud smile.
The fight began.
"Roar!" Lei Ming let out a low shout, and the phantom of his B+ grade Earth-Splitting Savage Bear Martial Soul appeared behind him, radiating a violent, heavy aura. He stomped down, making the arena tremble slightly, and shot toward his opponent like a cannonball.
The seventh-level Warrior Realm student was clearly intimidated by Lei Ming's imposing presence. He hurriedly summoned his own Martial Soul—a D-grade Wind Sparrow that didn't look very threatening—and tried to put some distance between them.
But Lei Ming was far faster than he had imagined. A huge hand, broad as a palm-leaf fan, seized the Wind Sparrow's phantom and squeezed hard!
"Bang!" The Wind Sparrow phantom let out a mournful cry and immediately dispersed!
Lei Ming followed up with a heavy punch wreathed in earthy yellow light, driving it straight at his opponent's chest.
The student only had time to cross his arms in a desperate block.
"Crack!" A sharp snap rang out, accompanied by a cry of pain. The student flew backward like a kite with its string cut and landed at the edge of the arena, his arm twisted at a strange angle, clearly broken.
An instant victory!
Clean and decisive!
The Peak Ninth Level of the Warrior Realm against the seventh level was a complete crushing!
"Good!"
"Brother Lei is mighty!"
Lei Ming's lackeys immediately burst into enthusiastic cheers. The other students also turned to look, awe in their eyes.
That strength really was top-notch in Class Seven.
Lei Ming basked in everyone's attention and swept a smug gaze over the crowd. Finally, his eyes settled on Xiao Han, and his lips curled into a provocative smile.
"Next, Xiao Han," Zhou Kai called out the name, his face expressionless.
Xiao Han rose calmly and prepared to walk toward the arena.
Just then, Lei Ming, who had only just stepped down from the arena, suddenly spoke up. "Teacher!"
Zhou Kai looked at him. "What is it?"
"Teacher, I'm very interested in this classmate who scored full marks on the theory test." Lei Ming pointed at Xiao Han, a playful smile on his face. "How about letting me be his opponent? I can personally weigh up our 'theory genius's' practical combat ability. What do you say?"
Whoa!
The moment he said that, an uproar broke out.
What was Lei Ming doing? Issuing a challenge?
And calling out Xiao Han by name, the same Xiao Han who had just scored full marks on the theory test?
He was plainly trying to humiliate Xiao Han in public!
Everyone's eyes settled on Xiao Han. Some were sympathetic, some gloated over his misfortune, and some were curious.
Zhou Kai frowned and looked at Xiao Han. "What do you say?"
Without breaking stride, Xiao Han walked straight toward the arena. His voice was flat and calm, as though he hadn't heard the provocation in Lei Ming's words. "Fine."
I was just wondering where I'd find someone to practice on.
Since you insist on delivering yourself to my door as a punching bag, it would be rude to refuse.
Xiao Han sneered inwardly. Deep in his eyes, a cold glint flashed and vanished.
Seeing Xiao Han accept the challenge so readily, Lei Ming's eyes flashed with surprise, which quickly turned into even deeper contempt.
He believed Xiao Han was merely desperate to save face and had no idea what he was about to face.
The two stood facing each other in the center of the arena.
One radiated an unrestrained aura, making no attempt to conceal the imposing presence of the Peak Ninth Level of the Warrior Realm, with the heaviness and ferocity of the Earth-Splitting Savage Bear.
The other kept his aura contained, as calm as a pool of deep water, seemingly no more than an ordinary cultivator at the Sixth Level of the Warrior Realm.
The stark contrast made the atmosphere beneath the arena tense at once.
Watching the two face off, Zhou Kai felt a rare trace of interest himself.
He wanted to see whether the kid who had scored full marks on the theory test truly had something to back him up, or was simply too ignorant to know the immensity of heaven and earth.
"Ready?" Zhou Kai asked.
Both nodded at the same time.
"Test, begin!"