Reversing the Heavenly Dipper

"Are you texting that Sea King Campus Belle again?"

Liu Wang returned to his seat and saw Shi Yan holding his phone, fury rising in his heart.

Shi Yan's family was already struggling, yet he kept simping for that Sea King Campus Belle, ignoring advice repeated countless times.

Especially after the campus belle awakened an A-class special ability, the gap between them had only widened—they were people from two completely different worlds.

Still chasing after her now was nothing short of obstinate stupidity!

"No, I deleted her." Shi Yan smiled faintly and put away his phone.

"Good riddance... Wait, you actually deleted her?"

Liu Wang was stunned, eyeing Shi Yan in disbelief.

But when he noticed Shi Yan's gaze fixed on the college entrance exam countdown on the blackboard, his expression shifted slightly.

Shi Yan might be having dark thoughts!

Today was the last day to register for the Martial Arts Examination.

After today, people would be sorted into different classes.

Shi Yan hadn't registered for the Martial Arts Examination.

After all, with that paltry flame of his, he could at most burn some ghost money for his ex-girlfriend.

Becoming a powerful martial artist was the dream of countless people, and Shi Yan had cut himself off from that path—he must be feeling utterly miserable.

Especially thinking about how he could never be with the campus belle now; his world must have collapsed.

"Shi Yan, think about the bright side. You can still make a name for yourself in the Liberal Arts Exam. With your grades, getting into a university shouldn't be hard. If not, a junior college is fine, or even a technical school—someone will take you."

Liu Wang tried to console him. The closer the Martial Arts Examination got, the more twisted and tense people's minds became. He was genuinely afraid Shi Yan might do something drastic.

Though the comfort didn't exactly sound reassuring.

"Liu Wang, do I look unhappy to you?"

Shi Yan was speechless.

He made it sound like Shi Yan was about to off himself.

"Yes."

Liu Wang nodded earnestly, searching for nicer words to comfort Shi Yan.

But Shi Yan ignored him, got up, and headed for the restroom.

"Don't worry, I'm fine."

Once in the restroom, he dialed a number:

"Uncle, I want to register for the Martial Arts Examination."

There was a pause on the other end, then a voice tinged with joy replied, "Good, your uncle supports you."

After a few more words, the call ended quickly.

When Shi Yan walked out of the restroom, a notification of 20,000 Huaxia currency arriving in his account popped up on his phone.

Registering for the Martial Arts Examination cost 20,000 Huaxia currency.

His predecessor's uncle was a welder, and he could scrape together that much.

In a world ravaged by demonic beasts, defensive structures were crucial, and every welder was a hot commodity.

His predecessor's parents had been devoured by demonic beasts years ago, and his uncle Gu Guoping had taken care of him ever since.

With his pockets empty, he had no choice but to ask his closest relative for money.

Back in the classroom, his classmates had already returned to their seats, sitting upright, looking as obedient as could be.

Class was about to start, and the person coming was the homeroom teacher, Qin Feng.

"Close call—I thought you were going to skip Monkey Qin's class."

Fatty Liu Wang breathed a slight sigh of relief, glad Shi Yan had made it back in time.

Shi Yan smiled nonchalantly, neither confirming nor denying.

After sitting down, a middle-aged man barely 1.68 meters tall soon walked into the classroom.

This was Qin Feng, slightly hunched and lean, but brimming with energy.

Monkey Qin, his special ability was a transformation type—he could turn into a Six-armed Spirit Ape, already reaching the Fifth Tier.

He was one of the school's only two Special Grade Teachers, originally a major asset of the Monster Suppression Bureau, but forced to retire after an injury and return to teach at his alma mater.

Even so, his strength had been recovering over the years, and his combat power remained high. With his sharp methods, the students both feared and respected him.

"I'll keep it brief."

Qin Feng's voice was thin but as hard as steel.

"There are only three days left until the College Entrance Examination. Don't get too nervous—face it with a normal mindset, whether it's the Liberal Arts Exam or the Martial Arts Examination."

"Let me focus on the Martial Arts Examination. Based on past exam patterns, this time it should still involve killing demonic beasts."

"Killing demon beasts means enormous danger. Even with rescue forces in place, accidents can still happen—every year during the Martial Arts Examination, students die."

"Think it over carefully. If you feel you can't make it, you can still withdraw from the exam today."

He went on at length, and the whole class listened attentively.

Shi Yan was no exception, and he summarized the key points Qin Feng had made: the Martial Arts Examination was dangerous; today was the last day to reconsider; try to form teams inside the exam grounds, don't fight alone; the characteristics of the demon beasts that had appeared in past exams...

As class neared its end, Qin Feng stood at the podium holding a form, waiting.

No one gave up on the Martial Arts Examination, but five students who hadn't signed up before chose to participate.

All five had awakened D-class special abilities.

Sometimes, you had to take a gamble in life.

Shi Yan was among them.

He'd thought Qin Feng might try to dissuade them, but the teacher maintained his usual calm and cold demeanor, offering only a few brief remarks.

Fate was one's own choice. Whatever came after—calamity was one's own, and fortune was one's own too...

"Huaxia Bank... Balance: 996"

After school, Shi Yan stared at the notification on his phone, sinking into silence.

Not bad. He wouldn't starve to death before the College Entrance Examination.

Just as he was feeling helpless, Liu Wang came looking for him, holding several sheets of A4 paper.

"Shi Yan, you'd better thank me. I got the intel."

With that, he shoved the papers into Shi Yan's hands.

This was information on the students from Baiyun No. 1 High School participating in the Martial Arts Examination. The school hadn't released it to protect privacy.

But students communicated among themselves, so a little gathering effort could still get the job done.

Everyone would be in the same exam grounds during the test. If they wanted to form teams, knowing others was essential.

Even if they didn't team up, it was good to be wary of others.

"Cao Dahua, C-class shapeshifting ability, can transform into a Golden Claw Tiger."

"Ying Yurou, C-class special ability, can partially harden her body."

"Jiang Bude, B-class silent ability, can conceal his aura."

"Lu Jiaojiao, charm ability, A-class."

When he saw the last name, Shi Yan frowned slightly.

This was the school beauty his previous self had simped for. No wonder she could bewitch so many people—she had a charm ability backing her up.

Liu Wang noticed his expression and couldn't help teasing him: "A-class, huh? Regretting it? Want to go back to simping for her?"

"Heh, I'd rather simp for you than her."

Shi Yan chuckled lightly, startling Liu Wang into a shriek as goosebumps rose all over his skin.

Truth be told, Liu Wang had long known the school beauty was a player and had warned him many times, but his previous self hadn't listened.

"Here's your chance to simp. Follow big bro into the exam grounds, and I'll guarantee you get into a special ability university."

Liu Wang's expression turned serious as he pressed a hand on Shi Yan's shoulder.

With Shi Yan's Biological Ignite that couldn't even burn a single hair, who would willingly team up with him?

Showing him this info was just to make sure he didn't provoke the wrong people.

"Oh? Not afraid I'll hold you back?" Shi Yan was a bit surprised. Did this fatty really consider him one of his own?

"One more of you won't make a difference."

Liu Wang smiled confidently, then his exposed arm turned into gray keratin.

Skin keratinization—that was Liu Wang's ability, reaching C-class level.

A solid meat shield, the kind everyone wanted on their team.

"Hehe, don't worry. A few skilled guys have already contacted me. Adding you in will be no problem at all."

"Fatty, with that kind of sentiment, if we meet in the exam grounds, I'll give you a ride."

He was about to refuse, but in the end, Shi Yan changed his words.

He felt he should be able to get a good score.

With a thought, a data panel appeared that only he could see:

[Name: Shi Yan]

[Realm: First-Order Warrior]

[Ability: Southern Bright Blazing Fire (SSS-Class)]

[Qi and Blood: 11 cal]

[Spirit: 11 Hz]

[Martial Arts: Thrusting Punch (Beginner)]

[Martial Virtue Points: 1000 (Obtainable by performing deeds that promote martial virtue. Used to enhance basic attributes and improve martial arts proficiency.)]

An ordinary adult's Qi and Blood value is roughly one calorie. Crossing the threshold of ten marks a true martial artist.

Currently, the vast majority of students haven't reached ten calories.

Shi Yan himself hadn't even reached two calories before; it was only after awakening his SSS-Class ability that he improved.

Eleven calories—while not enough to sweep the examination grounds—was still sufficient to rank in the top few dozen.

As for Spiritual Power, it's extremely difficult to raise. Eleven Hz is already the standard of most Second Tier Martial Artists.

With strength like this, it was still possible to carry Liu Wang along.

But Liu Wang didn't know that. He just waved his hand and shouted:

"You can carry me? That's practically Reversing the Heavenly Dipper!"