Congratulations, You Successfully Opened Your Aperture

Wang Zhong was summoned to the principal's office.

The principal was named Liu Hair-Ren, a middle-aged man. Rumor had it that he had been transferred from a big city and would return there in a few years.

At that moment, Liu Hair-Ren lounged carelessly in a leather chair. "I heard someone in your class successfully opened their aperture?"

Wang Zhong stood to one side and answered, "That did happen. It was Chu Ming from the Chu Family."

Liu Hair-Ren nodded without surprise. "Then it's no wonder. The Chu Family has a little money. Opening an aperture merely takes some effort for them."

His tone shifted as he fixed his eyes on Wang Zhong. "I heard that Jiang Yan from your class caused trouble again?"

Looking awkward, Wang Zhong explained, "Principal Liu, my student simply wants too badly to open his aperture. He just failed to control his strength."

Liu Hair-Ren's tone remained flat as he casually issued an order. "From now on, he doesn't need to go to the Martial Arts Field."

Wang Zhong did not understand. "Why? If he doesn't go to the Martial Arts Field, how will he have a chance to open his aperture?"

Liu Hair-Ren said, "As an outstanding teacher of Linjiang First High School, you can't even figure out such a simple matter?"

"If that Jiang Yan in your class gets someone killed, how will outsiders view Linjiang First High School? How will those media outlets report it?"

"Linjiang First High School's reputation cannot be buried because of a student's reckless nonsense!"

Liu Hair-Ren frowned as he finished speaking, and a trace of impatience had already entered his voice.

Wang Zhong still wanted to fight for him. "But for students without a background like that, risking everything to open their aperture is their only chance."

Smack!

Liu Hair-Ren slammed his palm against the desk and glared at Wang Zhong. "He can die at home, die in the wilderness, die at a martial arts school—but he absolutely cannot die at school!"

"Don't think I don't know about that brat's relationship with you. If you dare cover for him again, forget about being evaluated for this year's Outstanding Teacher bonus."

After driving Wang Zhong from the office, Liu Hair-Ren sprawled lazily in his chair and muttered:

"Heh, so what if he opens his aperture? Won't he still just be a toy for those Talent Users? I have no need to gamble on whether a piece of trash can successfully open his aperture."

The Blue Star government stipulated that every student had the right to use the Martial Arts Field's equipment, but every year, several hardheaded students would forcefully try to open their apertures at the risk of their lives.

This led to a phenomenon where nearly every high school had an alarmingly high injury and disability rate. Every now and then, news would break of a student from some high school dying after failing to open their aperture.

Yet in the past two years, not a single death had occurred at Linjiang First High School, and even its injury and disability rate had remained extremely low. The reason was that he had secretly lowered the settings of the Martial Arts Field's training equipment, drastically weakening the training results. Naturally, the injury and disability rate fell as well.

Low-setting equipment could not help students reach the threshold of breaking their limits. Thus, Jiang Yan's nine attempts to open his aperture had merely inflicted chronic damage on his bodily functions. Perhaps one day, he would simply drop dead while walking down the street.

But surviving nine aperture-opening attempts was far too abnormal. Liu Hair-Ren feared that someone observant would take notice, which was why he was so eager to stop Jiang Yan from continuing.

He had secretly embezzled public funds to specially recruit students who had opened their apertures into Linjiang First High School. That way, he could maintain a high number of students advancing to higher education while also lowering the injury and disability rate.

Next year, more teaching resources would be directed toward Linjiang First High School, and half of them would end up in his own pocket. Why wouldn't he do it?

As for someone like Jiang Yan, what right did he have to block Liu Hair-Ren's path upward?

Why should he gamble on the possibility that Jiang Yan might open his aperture and give up such immense wealth and glory?

System Log updated

"You slashed at the Sharp Ruler Tiger. Heaven Rewards Diligence activated, dealing minor damage. 'Basic Saber Technique' proficiency slightly increased. Physique slightly increased."

"You were slapped to death by the Sharp Ruler Tiger."

Jiang Yan instantly revived at full health.

"You slashed at the Sharp Ruler Tiger. Heaven Rewards Diligence activated, dealing minor damage. 'Basic Saber Technique' proficiency slightly increased. Physique slightly increased."

"You were bitten to death by the Sharp Ruler Tiger."

"You were crushed to death by the Sharp Ruler Tiger."

"You were rammed through the abdomen by the Sharp Ruler Tiger."

"You were roared to death by the Sharp Ruler Tiger."

"You..."

"You slashed at the Sharp Ruler Tiger. Heaven Rewards Diligence activated, dealing minor damage. 'Basic Saber Technique' proficiency slightly increased. Physique slightly increased."

"You slashed at the Sharp Ruler Tiger. Heaven Rewards Diligence activated, dealing minor damage. 'Basic Saber Technique' proficiency slightly increased. Physique slightly increased."

"Congratulations, 'Basic Saber Technique' proficiency has reached Great Accomplishment."

The moment Jiang Yan revived, he saw that his Status Panel had changed.

"This is a breakthrough?"

He was overjoyed. Martial skill proficiency was divided into Proficient, Mastery, Subtlety, Great Accomplishment, and Perfection.

Martial skill quality was divided into Yellow, Mystic, Earth, Heaven, Meteor Star, Waning Moon, and Eternal Spear grades.

He had practiced the tiny, unranked Basic Saber Technique since childhood, yet had only barely reached the realm of Subtlety by now. He had never expected that in less than an hour, the proficiency he had been stuck on for over a year would actually break through.

"Then can opening an aperture also..."

Excitement appeared on Jiang Yan's face as he looked at the Sharp Ruler Tiger as though it were a gold mountain waiting to be mined.

"Sure enough, choosing Heaven Rewards Diligence was the right choice."

He pushed off with his feet and shot forward like an arrow leaving the bowstring. The Great Accomplishment Basic Saber Technique swept out with a fierce gust, and the Alloy Long Blade let out a piercing howl through the air.

Bang!

"You were slapped to death by the Sharp Ruler Tiger."

Jiang Yan: ...

By now, the Sharp Ruler Tiger no longer possessed its former majesty. Its simple mind could not understand why this human's attacks were clearly so weak, yet could hurt it again and again.

Why exactly was that?

Jiang Yan revived once more and charged forward with his saber.

The Sharp Ruler Tiger fled in panic.

It was hard to imagine that a Body Tempering Mid-Stage martial artist was actually chasing a Second-Order Ferocious Beast around and hacking at it wildly. If this scene happened outside, it would surely make countless people's jaws hit the floor.

"Damn it, I can't touch it."

The Sharp Ruler Tiger was simply too fast. Jiang Yan could not even touch its ass.

"You diligently pursued the Sharp Ruler Tiger. Heaven Rewards Diligence activated. Speed slightly increased."

Feeling the change in his own speed, Jiang Yan could not help letting out a loud shout as he hacked at the Sharp Ruler Tiger's ass like a madman.

Squelch!

"You injured the Sharp Ruler Tiger's ass, dealing heavy damage. Heaven Rewards Diligence activated. Your talent for finding prey's weaknesses slightly increased. 'Basic Saber Technique' proficiency slightly increased."

Awoo!

The Sharp Ruler Tiger let out a pained, mournful cry.

This was not how it was supposed to work! A fight was a fight—what kind of move was stabbing a tiger in the ass?

Bang!

"You were slapped to death by the Sharp Ruler Tiger."

"Because your number of deaths has exceeded fifty, Heaven Rewards Diligence activated. Congratulations, you have comprehended the Blue Entry: Desperate Truth."

Desperate Truth: You possess an exceptionally sharp sense for death. It may help you turn danger into safety.

Status Panel updated.

Host: Jiang Yan

Realm: Body Tempering Mid-Stage

Martial Skills: (Unranked) "Basic Saber Technique" Great Accomplishment

(Yellow Grade Low Rank) "Fierce Bull Strength" Mastery

Traits: Heaven Rewards Diligence (Innate) Desperate Truth (Blue)

Roar!

The Sharp Ruler Tiger swung a paw at him.

Jiang Yan dodged almost instinctively. Before he could even clearly see the Sharp Ruler Tiger's movement, he had already avoided the fatal blow.

"So strong!"

With Desperate Truth, Jiang Yan could avoid most life-threatening dangers. It was practically a weakened version of Observation Haki.

"And if I die a few more times? Could I comprehend an even more badass death Trait?"

Jiang Yan felt even more fortunate that he had chosen the god-tier Trait, Heaven Rewards Diligence.

Heaven Rewards Diligence was practically a bug. As long as one worked hard enough, one could eventually have everything. It suited Jiang Yan's personality perfectly.

Fuck it, I'll grind every last one of you into the ground.

Jiang Yan threw down his saber and unleashed his strongest martial skill, Fierce Bull Strength, charging toward the Sharp Ruler Tiger like a locomotive.

"You launched a charge at the Sharp Ruler Tiger..."

"You died."

An hour later, the Sharp Ruler Tiger lay on the ground, barely clinging to life. Its body was covered in shattered wounds, blood continuously flowing out and staining the ground red.

"Your 'Fierce Bull Strength' proficiency has increased to Subtlety."

Jiang Yan revived once again and threw a punch, Fierce Bull Strength whipping up a storm with every movement.

Boom!

"You killed the Sharp Ruler Tiger. Unfortunately, you failed to obtain a Trait."

"Heaven Rewards Diligence activated. You triggered the pity mechanism. Congratulations, you obtained the Blue Trait: Swiftness."

"You fought diligently and repeatedly experienced life-and-death crises. Heaven Rewards Diligence activated. Congratulations, your body's potential has been stimulated. You successfully opened your aperture."