New students at Martial University.
This time, a total of four people had failed to return from the secret realm.
Compared to previous years, this class of Martial University freshmen had already achieved a very good survival rate...
And among the four who had not returned was Qian Fugui!
After learning from Lu Yong that Qian Fugui had not returned, Chen Ye fell silent for a moment.
This outcome...
Was not actually unexpected...
Chen Ye remembered that when they entered the secret realm, Qian Fugui had been alone. No one had wanted to team up with him.
After all, entering a secret realm meant risking one's life, not simply helping classmates out.
Given Qian Fugui's circumstances, being alone in the secret realm had indeed been extremely dangerous.
Qian Fugui was not King. He did not have an invincible summoned beast like the Bald Demon King.
Although Chen Ye had inherited the Bald Demon King's physique talent.
Still.
His personality.
Was completely different from the Bald Demon King's.
"Alas!"
Chen Ye sighed but said nothing.
Zhao Zheng and Lu Yong had also lost the mood to chat. They lay on their beds, preparing to rest.
Qian Fugui had been their roommate.
After more than a month together, they had gotten along quite well.
Now that Qian Fugui had not returned, they all felt a little sorrowful.
They had already experienced the dangers of the secret realm.
Perhaps!
Next time, it might be their turn...
Perhaps because they were too exhausted.
Zhao Zheng and Lu Yong soon began breathing evenly, falling into a deep sleep.
Chen Ye, however, could not quite fall asleep.
Lying in bed, he took out his phone and went online.
Tang Zichen and he had received extra rewards in front of so many freshmen. The news must have already spread online by now, right?
When Chen Ye opened a news site, it was exactly as he had expected. News about him and Tang Zichen receiving extra rewards from the secret realm had already surged into the top ten trending searches.
Moreover, its popularity was rising rapidly. It would probably soon take the number one spot.
Congratulations to our nation's students, Chen Ye and Tang Zichen, for receiving the extra reward for killing the most monsters in the secret realm and bringing glory to the country!
That was the headline used by one news outlet.
A little exaggerated!
But self-media outlets were always like that. For traffic, they made things as exaggerated as possible.
Chen Ye opened the article and merely scanned through it before frowning...
"...We have just learned that two of our nation's new students, Tang Zichen and Chen Ye, received extra rewards in Secret Realm 1!"
"Here, the editor would like to congratulate them both. This can also be considered bringing glory to the country."
"Everyone is surely familiar with Tang Zichen. She is the genius who successfully bonded with an S2 hero talent during the New Student Compatibility Ceremony two months ago, as well as the second person in our country to successfully bond with an S2 hero talent. It was only natural that she received an extra reward this time, because S2 talents are extremely powerful! Ms. Qin also received extra rewards from secret realms back in her day. This young lady Tang Zichen will surely have limitless achievements in the future as well. The editor is increasingly looking forward to seeing her become the next Ms. Qin."
"However, the editor has many questions regarding the student Chen Ye."
"When the editor first heard the name Chen Ye, it sounded somewhat familiar, so I searched for him online. As it turned out, I really did find him."
"Come to think of it, he is also quite famous. He is the brave warrior who chose to bond with a C-class hero talent during this year's New Student Compatibility Ceremony. The editor remembers that he caused quite a few jokes at the time and brought extremely serious negative publicity to his former school."
"What surprised the editor was that someone who bonded with a C-class hero talent could actually enter Martial University and become one of this year's freshmen there!"
"As far as the editor knows, Martial University is one of the country's foremost esper academies, and its admission standards have always been extremely strict. At the very least, applicants must have bonded with a high-ranking A-class hero talent to qualify."
"Here, the editor cannot help but ask Martial University's leadership: what conditions did this student named Chen Ye meet in order to enter Martial University?"
"What the editor finds even more unbelievable is that this student named Chen Ye not only entered Martial University, but was even able to team up with the heaven-favored daughter Tang Zichen!!"
"A student with the worst talent teaming up with a student with the best talent? It is utterly absurd, a complete joke! If it had not already happened, the editor would never have believed it."
"The editor finally understands why this student, who clearly has a C-class hero talent, was able to receive an extra reward. With someone as outstanding as Tang Zichen carrying him, even a pig could fly. In the secret realm, this student named Chen Ye probably only needed to hide behind Tang Zichen."
"Later, after investigating through multiple channels, the editor discovered that this student named Chen Ye has quite an impressive background!"
"His father is Chairman Chen of the Qing'an Province branch of the Esper Association. Not only does Chairman Chen hold great authority, he was also classmates with Principal Lu of Martial University!!"
"Is this the truth? The editor would like to ask Martial University's leadership whether they can provide a reasonable explanation. Martial University has always claimed to be fair and just. Have you already forgotten your original principles?"
Upon seeing this sponsored article.
Chen Ye's first reaction.
Was that someone was deliberately steering the narrative!
And the main targets were not him, but his father and Martial University's principal.
Although the contents of the sponsored article were basically true, choosing to reveal them at this moment and deliberately guide public opinion clearly showed malicious intent.
Chen Ye frowned, silently memorizing the name of the self-media outlet that had published the article. Then, through a corporate search, he found the legal representative and owner of the company...
Retaliation?
No, no...
He merely wanted to have a good talk with the company's owner when he had time and ask who was behind it all.
Of course, if there were a few bumps and bruises during the conversation, that would be perfectly normal, right?
Self-media companies like this worked for money.
Without enormous benefits, they would never dare offend a prestigious school like Martial University.
This news article.
Was also the one with the most comments from netizens.
"Holy shit! Everything this editor said is actually true!!"
"That's right. When this guy named Chen Ye bonded with a C-class hero talent, I happened to be watching the live broadcast from their provincial station."
"Awesome! A C-class hero talent actually got into Martial University and even teamed up with a genius like Tang Zichen to enter a secret realm? Impressive, impressive. I'm convinced!"
"Damn! There is obviously some shady business here! His dad, Chairman Chen, must have used his connections to send the kid into Martial University."
"Martial University, which claims to be fair and just? Heh heh..."
"Sigh! When has this world ever been fair?"
"Waiting for Martial University to make excuses and whitewash this!"
"You should all say less. Chairman Chen is a heroic figure. He saved an entire city back then, and now he is fighting monsters on the front lines in the Magic City. What's wrong with securing a few benefits for his son?"
"Exactly. Didn't a drone capture Chairman Chen a few days ago, risking his life to fight two Level 4 Monsters alone on the Magic City front lines? I remember the comments back then were full of praise. Have you already forgotten?"
"Oh? Chairman Chen's online trolls are moving quickly. You're already here to whitewash things?"
"Fuck off! Chairman Chen is risking his life killing monsters on the Magic City front lines right now. What right does a moronic editor like you have to make these snide remarks? If you've got the guts, go to the front lines too."
"One thing is one thing. I admit Chairman Chen is a heroic figure, but using the back door for his son like this is still somewhat inappropriate... Though I can accept it. After all, Chairman Chen has contributed enough to the country."
"So what exactly are you trying to say, person above?"
"Heh heh, this sponsored article is far too manipulative and clearly malicious! The country has regulations allowing heroes' children to receive certain preferential treatment. Chairman Chen was recognized as a combat hero long ago. His son being admitted to Martial University may be a bit exaggerated, but there is no need to make such a huge issue out of it."
"Don't fall for it, everyone. Exposing this matter at such a time is clearly malicious. Is this editor trying to make Chairman Chen defect? Investigate whether he is a lackey of the Fanatics!"
Just as Chen Ye had expected.
Quite a few of the comments beneath the sponsored article were negative.
Chen Ye had nothing to say about that.
A straight body casts no crooked shadow.
Someone like him, who had gotten in through the back door, had never truly deserved his place!
When his father had used connections to get him into Martial University, it had created a hidden danger. Now that someone had dug it up and people were criticizing him, that was only natural.
The netizens were merely making snide remarks instead of swearing at him. That was already showing Chairman Chen plenty of respect.
What surprised Chen Ye was.
Quite a few netizens were supporting his father.
Chen Ye had not expected Chairman Chen to carry such weight in the hearts of netizens.
However.
What Chen Ye cared about more at the moment was that one netizen had claimed his father was also on the Magic City front lines and had once fought two Level 4 Monsters alone?
He immediately began searching for related videos...
Before you continue