Student's Request and a Three-Month Promise

When the words "refuse" were clearly and calmly spoken by Lin Xiao, the entire world seemed to hit the mute button.

The fervent, jealous, and envious expressions on the faces of the tens of thousands of onlookers outside the dormitory area instantly froze, turning into a silent stone forest.

Outside the door, Shi Lei's heart, which was beating so fast it felt like it would leap out of his chest, suddenly stopped. He opened his mouth wide, as if he had heard the most unbelievable tall tale in the world.

Su Yue's beautiful eyes, which had been shining like stars with joy, were instantly filled with bewilderment. She couldn't understand why Lin Xiao would refuse this heaven-sent opportunity that could change his entire life.

And standing before Lin Xiao, the esteemed Vice Dean of the Outer Court, Chu Tianxing, who held the fate of countless people in his hands, his kind and amiable smile, like a chrysanthemum, slowly, little by little, retracted.

An invisible, mountain-like pressure slowly emanated from his seemingly ordinary body, enveloping the entire dormitory. The air seemed to turn into a viscous swamp, making it difficult to breathe.

His cloudy old eyes narrowed slightly, and a terrifying glint flashed across them.

He wasn't angry, but merely looked at the young man who had repeatedly surprised him with a scrutinizing gaze full of pressure.

"Can you give this old man a reason?"

His voice was no longer gentle but had become flat, devoid of any emotion. Yet, everyone knew that beneath this calmness hid a thunderous rage capable of stirring up monstrous waves!

Under Chu Tianxing's terrifying pressure, Shi Lei and Su Yue's faces had already turned pale, their legs trembling uncontrollably.

However, Lin Xiao, at the center of the pressure, remained standing tall, his expression unchanged.

He knew this was Chu Tianxing testing him, and also warning him. If he couldn't provide a convincing reason, not only would he lose all his privileges today, but he might even be labeled "arrogant and ungrateful" by the academy's higher-ups, making his journey in the academy difficult from then on!

This was a gamble.

A high-stakes gamble where his future and destiny were on the line!

But Lin Xiao showed no fear.

He met Chu Tianxing's scrutinizing gaze, bowed deeply again, and spoke neither humbly nor arrogantly, "Vice Dean, this student is not ungrateful, nor is he arrogant. The reason this student refuses is because he has three requests he wishes to make to the academy, and to you. If these three requests can be met, this student believes it will be a better choice for the academy and for myself than entering Heaven Class One."

"Oh?" Chu Tianxing's eyebrows rose slightly, the coldness in his eyes diminishing, replaced by a hint of genuine curiosity. "Let's hear it. This old man wants to see what kind of requests could be better than entering Heaven Class and enjoying the top resources of the entire Outer Court."

Lin Xiao straightened up, his eyes clear and firm.

"My first request is about my companions."

He pointed to Shi Lei and Su Yue behind him, who were already stunned, and said calmly, "They are companions who went through life-and-death trials with me in the Myriad Beast Mountain Range. I, Lin Xiao, never abandon my comrades. Therefore, I request that the academy also give them the attention they deserve. Their talent may not be as great as mine, but their effort and loyalty are equally rare and precious qualities. I hope to fight alongside them no matter where I am."

These words were powerful!

Shi Lei and Su Yue outside the door heard this and their minds went blank with a "buzz"!

They never dreamed that the reason Lin Xiao refused such a sky-high opportunity was for them!

An indescribable warmth instantly surged through their bodies, washing over their limbs, causing their eyes to uncontrollably redden.

A scholar dies for his confidant!

At this moment, they truly understood the meaning of this saying.

A hint of imperceptible emotion flickered in Chu Tianxing's eyes. He took a deep look at Shi Lei and Su Yue, their faces full of emotion, then looked at the composed Lin Xiao, and slowly nodded.

"Loyal and righteous, well done. This old man can agree to increase their resource treatment to the standard of Profound Class. State your second request."

"My second request is about myself." Lin Xiao's gaze became sharp. "Although this student's aptitude is dull, he has a heart that yearns for martial arts and refuses to be inferior. This student does not wish for his achievements to be built on the academy's 'charity.' This student wants to earn all his glory with his own hands, fair and square!"

He paused, then his voice suddenly rose, filled with unparalleled confidence and pride!

"Therefore, I request to remain in Yellow Class Nine! I, Lin Xiao, want to prove one thing to the entire academy – what determines a student's future is never the class they are in, but whether they themselves are strong enough! I want to lead Yellow Class Nine to become the strongest class in the Outer Court!"

Boom!

This sentence exploded like a thunderclap from the heavens in everyone's ears!

Lead the worst class, Yellow Class, to become the strongest class?!

How arrogant! How domineering! How... inspiring!

The students outside who had initially looked down on Lin Xiao as "ungrateful" were now filled with passion after hearing these bold words. Their gaze towards Lin Xiao had completely shifted from awe to fervent worship!

This was the heart of a true powerhouse! Not relying on external factors, not accepting charity, but believing only in the sword in his own hand!

"Haha... Hahaha!"

After a moment of shock, Chu Tianxing finally couldn't help but laugh heartily!

He laughed heartily, laughed with great satisfaction, and the oppressive aura that had enveloped everyone's hearts dissipated with his laughter.

"Good! Well said, 'What determines the future is not the class, but the student themselves'! Such courage! Such spirit!"

Looking at Lin Xiao, the admiration in his eyes had become extremely intense.

He had initially thought Lin Xiao was merely a cultivation prodigy with extraordinary talent. Only now did he realize he had misjudged!

This young man before him not only possessed unparalleled talent but also a truly unyielding, kingly heart! This was ten thousand times more precious than talent itself!

"I appreciate you more and more." Chu Tianxing sighed with emotion, then changed the subject, "However, your request is a bit far-fetched. The overall resources and teaching staff of Yellow Class are worlds apart from Heaven Class, you..."

"So, this is my third and final request."

Lin Xiao interrupted Chu Tianxing, his eyes shining astonishingly.

"I request that the academy provide me and my team with a 'platform' for fair competition!"

"Platform?"

"That's right!" Lin Xiao's voice was filled with power. "I don't need the academy to give us preferential treatment with resources. I just need one opportunity! An opportunity to obtain resources through our own efforts! For example, opening up higher-level missions; for example, allowing us to challenge higher-level students; and for example, allowing us to... set custom wagers!"

He looked at Chu Tianxing and said word for word, "I request that the academy allow me, as the chief disciple of Yellow Class Nine, to challenge any disciple in the Heaven Class! The stakes will be our respective cultivation resources! If they win, my Heavenly Class treatment will be theirs! If I win, their resources will be mine! This way, resources will only flow to the truly strong, and that is the fairest rule!"

He's crazy.

This Lin Xiao is truly crazy!

When Lin Xiao made his third request, the crowd outside the door had completely lost it!

Challenging the Heaven Class as a member of a Yellow Class! And betting all their cultivation resources!

This wasn't just challenging a person; it was challenging the academy's unshakeable hierarchical system! It was a blatant declaration of war against all the arrogant geniuses!

Chu Tianxing's breathing also became somewhat rapid.

He stared intently at Lin Xiao, as if trying to see through the young man's very soul.

He saw it.

He saw the boundless ambition and confidence hidden beneath those calm eyes!

This was a true gambler! A madman who dared to bet his fate on the table against the entire world!

And what Cloud Creek Academy lacked least were rule-abiding geniuses; what it lacked most were these kinds of ambitious figures who dared to break all the rules!

"Interesting... truly interesting..."

Chu Tianxing muttered to himself, his heart, which had long been as still as a deep well, suddenly beat violently after a long time.

He knew that if he agreed to Lin Xiao's request, the entire outer court would never know peace again! A massive storm, stirred up by this young man, would soon engulf everyone!

But that... seemed to be exactly what he was looking forward to!

A stagnant pool needed a catfish to stir up the waves!

"Alright! I will gamble with you on this one!"

A sharp light flashed in Chu Tianxing's eyes, and a surge of heroism rose within him!

"I agree to all three of your requests! You can remain in Yellow Class Nine, and your two companions' treatment will be elevated to the Black Class! As for the challenge rules you mentioned, I will personally pressure the Disciplinary Hall to make an exception for you!"

He looked at Lin Xiao with a solemn expression.

"But I also have one condition."

"Please state it, Vice Principal."

"Words are not enough; I need to see your true value. Three months from now is the academy's triennial 'Bloody Trial.' At that time, all classes in the outer courtyard will enter the 'Bloody Secret Realm' for a ten-day life-or-death competition. I want you and your team to rank within the top ten overall in that trial!"

"If you can achieve this, I will personally apply to the Dean to establish a separate class for you and your unruly team, and I will personally mentor you!"

"If you fail..." Chu Tianxing paused, his gaze becoming extremely stern, "then it will prove that everything you said today was just arrogant empty talk! At that time, you must put away all your unrealistic fantasies and honestly get into Heaven Class One to cultivate!"

"How about it? Do you dare to accept this agreement?"

Facing Chu Tianxing's final test, a smile finally appeared on Lin Xiao's face.

He bowed deeply to Chu Tianxing once more, and for the last time.

"This student accepts your command!"

As Chu Tianxing's beast carriage slowly departed amidst a chorus of gasps, the content of the conversation between Lin Xiao and the Vice Principal regarding the "three requests" and the "three-month agreement" spread like wings, reaching every corner of the academy at a speed more terrifying than ever before!

The entire outer courtyard was in an uproar!

And Lin Xiao, at the center of the storm, turned to face Shi Lei and Su Yue, who were already tearful and too emotional to speak, after seeing off the Vice Principal.

"Why are you crying?"

He smiled, wiping away the tears from their eyes, his voice gentle yet filled with undeniable power.

"I said we are a team."

"Starting today, prepare yourselves for hellish training."

"In three months, we will make the entire outer courtyard remember the name of our 'Yellow Class Nine'!"