The Muggle Who Was Chosen

Name: Zhou Zhe

Talent: Absolute Comprehension; Self-Configuration.

Skills: "Wind Element Body Tempering Technique" (4/4); Wind Riding Blade Technique (3/3)

Extraordinary Organ: Heart of Heavenly Tribulation (Qianfeng Tribulation Lightning), from the low-magic immortal martial world, Cangxin Continent. Development level: 2%.

Title: Blademaster, Brand Killer.

Apprentices: ① Dugu Xiu ② Jinuo (updated) ③ Chang Hanshan. --The three apprentices currently provided attribute bonuses: Majesty +3.

During this period, aside from working hard to crack "Elementary Planar Cryptography," Zhou Zhe's Heart of Heavenly Tribulation development level had risen by 1%, and his maximum mana had increased somewhat.

Besides that, there were the newly appeared apprentice-list attributes.

Dao's exclusive mission had tasked Zhou Zhe with training three apprentices rated Black Iron Three-Star within two months.

Unexpectedly, after his first public lesson, apprentice-related information had also appeared in the mysterious notebook.

The only apprentices it acknowledged were these three.

The method of judgment was extremely strange, and Zhou Zhe had never found the standard behind it.

Talent?

What a joke!

That muggle Chang Hanshan's talent was not even as good as Zhang Miaoran's!

If she were used as the benchmark, the thirty-eight trainees from the Supernatural Affairs Department could have stuffed this list full!

The amount of effort invested?

Impossible!

Other than spending more effort on Zhang Miaoran, Zhou Zhe had treated all the other apprentices equally. He had absolutely never favored one over another!

Interestingly, whenever Zhou Zhe opened the detailed information in the apprentice list, he could only see information on two people.

Apprentice Dugu Xiu: Holder of top-tier fire-element talent (This person is so strong! Why is he so strong? Never mind! In any case, I, Dugu Xiu, acknowledge him!)

Apprentice Chang Hanshan: ??? (Your Highness Zhe is the best! His temperament is amazing! He and my Ranan are such a perfect match! I must protect the greatest CP in the world!)

Jinuo's detailed information contained only three question marks, without even the additional content in parentheses.

This time, Jinuo's detailed information showed an update, immediately piquing Zhou Zhe's interest.

Apprentice Jinuo: Bound user of the "Game of Life" APP (I need to graduate as soon as possible! I'm going to become the third master of Swift Wind Pavilion!)

At this point...

The truth was laid bare!

No wonder Jinuo was always glued to his phone, looking as though he wanted to bring it into the shower with him—the behavior of a hardcore mobile-game addict.

"A typical Child of Destiny..."

A trace of amusement surfaced on Zhou Zhe's face.

Now, only Chang Hanshan remained as a mystery.

What secret did that girl, whose train of thought was somewhat different from ordinary people's, have on her?

Shaking his head, Zhou Zhe could not be bothered to waste energy thinking deeply about it.

Knowing that Chang Hanshan bore no ill intent was enough.

He could not even finish dealing with the troubles on his own body. Where would he find the time to dig into everyone else's roots and trace their origins?

Imparting knowledge, teaching skills, and resolving doubts was not a waste of time.

There was no need to mention the benefits of the exclusive mission. Over these two weeks, Zhou Zhe had also gained many insights and realizations while teaching extraordinary knowledge to the apprentices.

The Absolute Comprehension talent was truly amazing!

With "Elementary Planar Cryptography" plus his research into Dugu Xiu's special physique, Zhou Zhe had almost completed the basic outline for the "Flame Body Tempering Technique."

If not for his insufficient accumulation of extraordinary knowledge and lacking foundation, Swift Wind Pavilion would probably have gained another secret art to anchor the pavilion by now.

The only thing that left Zhou Zhe somewhat regretful was the goddamn exchange list from the Black Iron Brand.

For an entire half month, he had failed to find a single exchange option suitable for himself!

"Feels like I wasted a third of my effort."

Zhou Zhe sighed.

Just as he was preparing to continue his daily routine, two bangs rang out.

Someone suddenly knocked on the door.

"Miaoran, I told you before."

"If it's you, there's no need to knock." Zhou Zhe spoke.

The girl entered, and a green dress came into view.

A faint fragrance clung to her, like the scent after rain cleared in early spring—fresh and sweet. Her fair, translucent little face no longer held its usual shyness; she looked somewhat flustered and hurried.

"Shanshan... was chosen to become a Cosmic Gladiator!"

"Sister Zhuang told me that, according to incomplete statistics, at least five hundred Earthlings were chosen this time!"

Zhou Zhe's gaze sharpened. "Understood."

That muggle Chang Hanshan was the weakest of all the apprentices he had taught.

From a rational analysis based on hard strength, Zhou Zhe felt that her chance of surviving did not exceed one percent.

For the sake of Chang Hanshan being Zhang Miaoran's best friend, Zhou Zhe chewed up the three Huatuo lines that had reached his lips and swallowed them.

Zhou Zhe patted the fragrant shoulder of the girl in green, his tone steady. "Don't worry too much. I've got everything under control."

"Where is she now?"

"The trainee apartments."

"Shall we go take a look together?"

"Mm!"

After Zhou Zhe had designated Zu'an City as his headquarters, sixty percent of the office buildings in the city center's prime district had come under Swift Wind Pavilion's ownership. Every trainee could live in nearby apartments for free.

Being rich and overbearing was only one reason. More importantly, the original owners of those properties had been willing to show him respect. They wanted to build a good relationship with Zhou Zhe and forge a good bond in advance.

The news that Zhou Zhe was now a Black Iron Five Stars gladiator had spread through the mouths of the Supernatural Affairs Department trainees, and nearly everyone knew of it.

On the Myriad Heavens Forum, no one used the word "genius" to describe Zhou Zhe.

Those two words were reserved for Jinuo and Dugu Xiu.

But across Earth, Zhou Zhe had already become an overlord of one region. He could fully be called a "strongman."

Location: Swift Wind Pavilion, trainee apartments, Room 208.

Person: Chang Hanshan.

Posture: Ge You slouch.

Activity: Browsing Taobao.

"My face masks are almost used up. I need to buy a few!"

"Holiland half-baked cheesecake! (Starry eyes) So delicious! One original flavor, one mango flavor, and one durian flavor!"

"Spicy pork kidneys, hand-shredded cold rabbit, crystal cherries..."

"Dragon Palace little lychees, durian mille-feuille, Sufu honey red bean buns, cheese sticks!"

"A hundred million of each!"

"Hehehe..."

"Training with the blade is tiring, but being unable to gain weight feels so damn good!"

"Huh? SK-II released a new product! Buy, buy, buy!"

Obviously, Chang Hanshan, the student chosen to become a Cosmic Gladiator, was not panicking in the slightest right now. She even had the leisure to browse Taobao.

When Zhou Zhe and Zhang Miaoran arrived, this muggle was still drooling at her phone screen.

Seeing the gladiator brand on her muggle best friend's hand, Zhang Miaoran felt her teeth itch. She said in exasperation, "At a time like this, you still have the mood to browse Taobao!"

Without even raising her head, Chang Hanshan continued scrolling through Taobao. "Ranan, you're back! Did you bring me anything tasty?"

"No tasty food, but I brought A Zhe." Zhang Miaoran stared at her expressionlessly.

The muggle best friend's body trembled. She jolted, then raised her head in disbelief. "Holy shit! Your Highness Zhe, get out first! Let me put on makeup!"

"Ahhh! I've Split Open!"

Zhang Miaoran narrowed her beautiful eyes and looked at her muggle best friend, who had stuffed herself into the blanket and transformed into a caterpillar spirit.

Blankets always seemed to give people a mysterious sense of security.

Curled up inside, Chang Hanshan quickly adjusted her emotions and spoke in a muffled voice. "Ranan, you scheming woman!"

"I hate you!"

After a moment of silence, the muggle best friend continued muttering softly, "What's wrong with browsing Taobao? I've always been a consumerist!"

"Consumption is for happiness. You know, only people lacking happiness chase after happiness!"

"You're a full girl who doesn't understand a hungry girl's hunger!"

"People like me rely on the dog food you and Your Highness Zhe produce every day just to stay alive. Just being alive already takes every ounce of my strength!"

"So...

"Don't! Poke! My! Sore! Spot!"

Zhou Zhe gave Zhang Miaoran a look, then turned his face slightly, his gaze falling on the blanket spirit. His tone was grave. "Your first gladiator battle begins in seven days."

"If you don't want to have contributed nothing to this world by the day you die..."

"Don't speak lightly of giving up."

After a long while.

Chang Hanshan's calm response came from beneath the covers...