Chu Ming's Hostility

Host: Jiang Yan

Realm: Late Body Tempering Stage

Talent: Thick-Skinned Physique

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

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

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

"I've awakened!"

Jiang Yan shouted excitedly. Nine times! A full nine times!

Adding the fifty deaths in the Combat Space, Jiang Yan had experienced a total of fifty-nine brushes with death. Who could understand the sense of salvation when the words "awakened" appeared?

He hurriedly checked his physical condition and discovered that his Status Panel had gained a new talent: Thick-Skinned Physique.

Moreover, his realm had broken through to the Late Body Tempering Stage.

"Thick-Skinned Physique should be related to constitution."

Jiang Yan picked up the Alloy Long Blade and, without hesitation, slashed it at his finger.

Clang—

His finger did not split open as expected. When the blade touched his skin, it was as though it had struck hard steel, unable to pierce it in the slightest.

"Not bad."

Jiang Yan nodded in satisfaction. With his current defense, the College Entrance Exam a month from now should not be a problem.

At that moment, two options appeared before Jiang Yan again.

"You killed the Sharp Ruler Tiger. Continue the challenge?"

"Yes" "No."

Jiang Yan: "No."

He exited the Combat Space. Just as he wondered how to leave the Divine Martial Space, another prompt appeared before him.

"Leave the Divine Martial Space?"

Jiang Yan: "Oh, pretty smart."

He decisively chose yes. After all, he had been in here too long. Uncle Wang would start worrying about him soon.

The moment he opened his eyes, Jiang Yan found himself surrounded by darkness. By the faint moonlight filtering in from outside, he realized he was still in the classroom.

"Looks like only my consciousness entered the Divine Martial Space. Otherwise, if I'd vanished into thin air, it would definitely have caused a stir in class."

He stood up and stretched lazily when he suddenly heard someone calling outside. A beam from a flashlight shone in.

"Little Jiang?"

"Uncle Wang."

"It's so late. Why haven't you gone home yet?"

Wang Zhong walked into the classroom and asked with some reproach.

Jiang Yan scratched his head and made up an excuse. "I was too sleepy this afternoon and accidentally fell asleep."

"Alright, come back with me."

As Wang Zhong spoke, he turned and left.

Jiang Yan was somewhat puzzled. There seemed to be something in Uncle Wang's tone... something he was hiding from him?

He caught up, slung an arm over Uncle Wang's shoulder, and walked beside him. The two were about the same height.

"Uncle Wang, what happened? Tell me."

Wang Zhong opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, but he shook his head conflictedly instead. "Nothing. Just focus on cultivating."

Suddenly, his body stiffened, one foot frozen in midair. Jiang Yan's arm around his shoulder had locked him firmly in place.

This kid... why is he so strong? Wang Zhong thought in surprise.

"Uncle Wang, just tell me. I can take it."

The youth's quiet voice drifted over, his tone sounding utterly relaxed.

He knew Uncle Wang too well. The man had a sharp tongue but a soft heart—he grumbled over small matters, but swallowed major ones whole.

Jiang Yan had a feeling this was definitely related to him.

Wang Zhong still could not withstand his persistent coaxing. With a sigh, he finally explained the matter.

"You can't go to the Martial Arts Field anymore."

Jiang Yan's brows furrowed slightly. "Why?"

"You know the First High School Principal, right? That Old Immortal has strictly forbidden you from going to the Martial Arts Field again, all to keep an accident from happening at the school."

"Heh, he's got quite the scheme."

Jiang Yan sneered. The Martial Arts Field was a right every student should have enjoyed, yet that old bastard had stripped him of that right with a single sentence.

There were countless ordinary people like Jiang Yan across all of Blue Star. If they were all treated like this by the Principal of Linjiang First High School, then ordinary people could forget about becoming martial artists. They might as well stay home and raise pigs.

Jiang Yan thought for a moment, then looked solemnly at Wang Zhong. "Uncle Wang, I'm dropping out."

"You're not taking the College Entrance Exam?" Wang Zhong looked at him in confusion.

"Of course I am. But I don't want to take it in the name of a Linjiang First High School student. I heard the children of those great families mostly skip school and take the College Entrance Exam directly, right?"

"They have their families specially training them. What do you have?"

"Uncle Wang, I've awakened."

"Hm?" Wang Zhong paused, then cried out in delight. "You've awakened! When?"

Jiang Yan said, "This afternoon. I took a nap and awakened. I'm already at the Late Body Tempering Stage now."

Jiang Yan was not lying. He really had awakened after taking a nap. As for what exactly he had awakened, that was none of their business.

"Good! Good, good!"

Wang Zhong said "good" three times in a row, pacing excitedly on the spot. He looked even more thrilled than Jiang Yan.

After a long while, he calmed down and looked at Jiang Yan solemnly. "Since you don't want to attend school, I'll bring you to handle the withdrawal procedures tomorrow. You can still take the College Entrance Exam in a month."

"Alright."

Jiang Yan smiled brightly.

The next day.

Jiang Yan arrived at school, planning to leave as soon as he finished the withdrawal procedures.

Uncle Wang had presumably gone to gather the necessary paperwork. Jiang Yan had not seen him all morning.

Jiang Yan returned to the classroom.

From time to time, eyes turned toward him throughout the class—some curious, some mocking. Who knew what these people were thinking?

Jiang Yan took his deskmate's mirror and looked himself over. Mm, he had indeed become quite a bit more handsome.

At that moment, his deskmate kindly reminded him, "Jiang Yan, Chu Ming has awakened."

Jiang Yan said, "Oh, that's impressive."

His deskmate: ...

"Aren't you worried? Don't you remember what happened last time?"

"Last time?"

At his deskmate's reminder, he recalled that there had indeed been some conflict between himself and Chu Ming.

He remembered that half a month ago, his deskmate had been cornered and bullied in the restroom by a group led by Chu Ming. Jiang Yan happened to see it, but he was no fool—he had not gone head-to-head with Chu Ming's group. Instead, he had gone to find their homeroom teacher, Uncle Wang.

He had heard that Chu Ming was punished severely that time and had even been forced to apologize to his deskmate in public.

"Looks like that guy has held a grudge against me."

Jiang Yan muttered, a fierce glint flashing through his eyes.

The greater the ability, the greater the temper.

Sure enough, Uncle Wang never showed up during morning self-study. Chu Ming's group, on the other hand, began entertaining ideas, their gazes flicking toward Jiang Yan from time to time.

Jiang Yan was not the sort who only fought back after being bullied. Since he was leaving school anyway, why not make a big scene before he left?

Campus bullies were the kind of scum he despised most.

He shot to his feet, his gaze meeting the ill-intentioned stares of Chu Ming and the others head-on.

"What are you looking at? Your dad, you dumbass?"

Bang!

Chu Ming slammed the desk and stood, glaring furiously. "Jiang Yan, say that again if you've got the guts!"

"Dumbass, dumbass, dumbass! Enjoy hearing it? Trash."

"Ahhh! Jiang Yan, don't think I'm afraid of you! I've awakened now—I can beat you like slaughtering a chicken!"

The argument drew the attention of every student in the class. Several of Chu Ming's lackeys immediately rushed to show loyalty to their master.

"Get him, Brother Chu. Show him what you've got."

"That's right. Young Master Chu is a genius who's awakened. He can casually beat Jiang Yan until he can't tell north from south."

"Heh, Jiang Yan failed to awaken nine times in a row, while Brother Chu succeeded in one go. Does Jiang Yan still not see the gap between them? What a joke."

But not everyone was so malicious. Jiang Yan usually got along well with others, and quite a few people were willing to speak up for him.

"Jiang Yan, hurry and find Teacher Wang! Chu Ming awakened successfully yesterday—you can't beat him!"

"Quick, apologize. If you get injured and can't take the College Entrance Exam, it'll be over!"

"Chu Ming, don't even think about fighting in class. Even if you've awakened, the school will punish you!"

Meanwhile, Jiang Yan's deskmate had quietly slipped out through the back door and rushed straight toward the teachers' office.