Why Should Li Juefeng Get First Pick?

The conference hall fell silent in an instant. Everyone's gaze turned to Wu Shan, standing alone in the center of the front row. Most of the students and teachers were struck speechless with astonishment, as though they had seen a tiger roar and a lion bare its fangs.

Jiang Qiu's heart gave two sudden thumps. He raised his head and stared blankly at Wu Shan's broad back.

"Wu Shan, what do you mean by this?" Li Ang's voice was low and grinding, like a blade being sharpened. The black scar slanting across his nose from left to right twitched viciously with his breath. "You disagree with the result Director Zhao and I discussed? Do you have a better proposal, then?"

Not a sound came from below the stage. Zhao Gongzheng said nothing, as though the sky itself had collapsed and silenced everyone beneath its weight. Only Wu Shan stood firm against it, utterly fearless. "Heh. Director Li, every year's Practical Training Hunt has been ranked by martial strength. Why should Li Juefeng get first pick this year?"

At those words, every teacher and the students in the rear rows frowned.

Wouldn't Li Juefeng still get first pick that way?

What was Wu Shan trying to do? They had never heard of such a serious conflict between him and Director Li. Was he openly picking a fight during the meeting?

"Does ranking by martial strength mean Li Juefeng would no longer get first pick?" Li Ang narrowed his eyes and restrained his aura, though a mighty threat lay hidden in his voice. "Wu Shan, don't deliberately disrupt the order of this meeting!"

"Director Li, what makes you think that ranking by martial strength means Li Juefeng gets first pick? I think Field No. 8's top Outstanding Student, Jiang Qiu, should get first pick!"

His voice was like a boulder crashing into a deep pool, instantly stirring massive waves in everyone's hearts. The other six students in the fourth row all turned at once to look for Jiang Qiu, their expressions varying.

That bold?

He was coming right out and challenging Li Juefeng head-on!

Wu Shan was backing him up so openly. Damn, just how highly did he regard him?

Thump. Thump. Thump.

Jiang Qiu's heart hammered against his chest. With his lips pressed tight, he swept his gaze over the front and saw several teachers from the Resource Department, the Martial Inspection Department, and the field staff turn around. Their unfamiliar gazes felt like arrows piercing him for no reason at all.

Why was I suddenly being made to compete with Li Juefeng for first pick?

Had Wu Shan taken the wrong medicine?

"No one in the Field No. 8 you oversee can defeat Li Juefeng." Li Ang's mouth had already sunk into a grim line, but before he could finish, Wu Shan slammed his palm against the table and cut him off. "Is that for you to decide? Li Juefeng didn't even come to the meeting, yet he gets first pick? Today, I recommend Field No. 8's top Outstanding Student, Jiang Qiu, for first pick. If any other Outstanding Student refuses to accept it, come onstage and challenge him!"

Below the stage, Wu Shan stood alone in the center of the front row, one large hand pressed against the table. His rolling right eye stared out sharply, while the stitches over his left eye twitched hideously. The dark hollow beneath them seemed as though something terrifying might crawl out at any moment. His imposing aura was like Mount Tai holding up the heavens.

Facing that gaze, Li Ang's sharply defined cheeks twitched. His hands resting on the table clenched into fists, and the sound of his heavy breathing spread through the entire conference hall via the microphone. "What does Director Zhao think?"

"Since Teacher Wu Shan has recommended someone for first pick, then his nominee will receive first pick. Li Juefeng had matters to attend to and did not participate in the meeting, so he will be moved to second. If any student refuses to accept this, they may issue a challenge."

Zhao Gongzheng casually adjusted the glasses on his nose. His voice was like stones laid over a sea of cotton. "All right, Teacher Wu Shan, take your seat."

As his words fell, hearts began racing.

Jiang Qiu clenched his fists as the teachers' whispers drifted around him. "Why did Brother Shan suddenly go head-to-head with Director Li? What about his future resources at the school..."

"The last time Director Zhao spoke with Brother Shan, he clearly said this would be his final batch of students. Once these two-plus months are over, what connection will he have left with No.8 Middle School?"

"So he plans to give it everything he has before resigning?"

"But this is giving it too much. In our year, aside from the principal's grandson, what student can compete with Li Juefeng? What Brother Shan is doing is completely pointless. The one who'll suffer is that top Outstanding Student from his field..."

"Who knows? I just heard that the student who got Brother Shan summoned for a talk with Director Zhao back then was that very student. His name seems to be Jiang Qiu, and his momentum is fierce."

When the meeting ended, teachers and students rose and left one after another. From time to time, someone would turn back to glance at Jiang Qiu as he silently exited from the last row, clicking their tongues and sighing as they continued their conversations.

Li Ang and Zhao Gongzheng each gave Wu Shan a deep look before striding out through the doorway.

In the tiled corridor, Wu Shan remained silent. Jiang Qiu followed behind him with clenched fists, his emotions quietly climbing out of their low point.

He had already secured first pick. A large area around Qingmu Town Center Street would serve as the initial activity zone for Field No. 8's students. It was close to the center of the secret realm's distortion, where Demon Beasts gathered in great numbers. It was very dangerous.

But that was also an opportunity to make money. One thrust of his spear might bring in thousands.

There was even the faintest trace of an urge to covet the reward for "Best Performance"...

As that thought arose, Jiang Qiu's eyes gleamed brightly.

That's right. Why couldn't "Best Performance" be me?

Afraid of Li Juefeng, the top genius of the eight fields? Afraid of Li Ang, the Resource Department director?

Wu Shan had spoken up at the meeting, so naturally he would bear the greatest pressure. All I need to do is kill Demon Beasts according to the Practical Training Hunt's requirements!

When my performance surpasses Li Juefeng's—when I kill the Demon Beasts he can't kill, take down the Demon Plants he can't take down, and far exceed his kill count—will the school's higher-ups value me, or him?

No.8 Middle School had more than one director, and the eight fields shouldn't have only one Li Juefeng!

At Field No. 8, one sparring session after another came to a halt. The clamor of weapons ceased, sweat was shaken away in droplets, and discussions rose all around.

"I hope the Practical Training Hunt lets us pick a good location. Don't stick us in some remote corner that looks like ruins, where we can't even find a building to block the wind at night, and there might not even be enough Demon Beasts to make us feel involved," one student muttered softly, only to be interrupted by a resentful voice. "What are you afraid of? With Brother Xie here, who can compare to us besides Field No. 1? Second pick is already guaranteed. Why worry about not getting a good place?"

The interrupted student looked up and saw Li Si, who had just finished sparring with Xie Kuang, walking slowly with one hand braced against his waist. He said nothing more.

"Besides, none of us can get extra rewards from the Practical Training Hunt anyway. Only the top Outstanding Student gets a portion of Martial Spirit Incense just for participating. Why bother fighting over a good location?"

Li Si sat down on a bench with a twitch of his mouth. Bruise-like marks from a staff had spread across his arms in patches of blue and purple, and he could not help venting, "When the time comes, we'll just find a house or a cave to stay in, kill a few Demon Beasts casually, and come back once the secret realm closes and vanishes. What's there to fight over?

Every year, the Practical Training Hunt is nothing more than killing Demon Beasts. You won't run into high-rank Demon Beasts, and as long as you don't foolishly challenge mid-rank ones, you won't lose any limbs. It doesn't matter whether we get a good location or not."

Just as he finished speaking—

"Beep—"

"Verification passed."

Wu Shan strode into the field with Jiang Qiu, his expression solemn. "This year's Practical Training Hunt will be held in Qingmu Town. The area has already been surveyed, and there is a fruit-bearing Demon Plant there."

The calm voice struck like a boulder crashing into a lake. Li Si froze, the students' eyes flickering. Xie Kuang, who had stood there grim-faced and silent, suddenly widened his eyes, bloodshot veins blazing.

There was actually something this good in this year's Practical Training Hunt?!

But on second thought, Li Juefeng should have taken this opportunity first. After all, he had chosen the Initial Land first, and Demon Plants wouldn't come running over on their own.

Even if some Demon Plants really could run, they still couldn't compete with Li Juefeng. How were they supposed to claim it?

Gradually, everyone's expressions turned regretful as they sighed inwardly in helplessness.

Just then, Wu Shan suddenly raised his voice. "Field No. 8 of the Practical Training Hunt has made its first selection. The Initial Land is Qingmu Town Center Street, and your lead student—Jiang Qiu!"

"First selection???"