Request to Challenge Class Eight's Top Student, Wang Guanjia

"Third place: Qian Cheng!"

The moment the words fell, the students whose names had not been called all shuddered, instinctively looking at Qian Cheng, who had stepped behind Wang Guanjia and was smiling in relief.

In terms of strength, he had been born thin and small, a head shorter than Wang Guanjia. His Ancient Martial Arts Spear Technique was not among the five boys and two girls; among those remaining, he could only be considered above average.

In terms of background, although he lived in the Commoner District, even emptying out his family's savings might not yield more than a hundred thousand. Among the dozen-odd students present, he was nearly at the very bottom.

In terms of talent, he was completely unqualified to stand alongside Hu Yeye, who had been selected before him.

Yes, he had indeed worked hard. Over the past three days, every time he fell, he had gritted his teeth and held on until he was the last one outside the five boys and two girls. He had never slacked off in his previous basic training either, often drenched in sweat. But which of the students who had endured until now had not been tempered in pools of sweat?

Why should Qian Cheng get the last slot?!

Even the students who usually got along well with Qian Cheng had twitching faces now, the creaking of clenched fists held back but not released.

They had spent nearly three years together. How could they not know what Qian Cheng was capable of?

Leaving themselves aside, could Qian Cheng compare to Jiang Qiu, whose momentum had been so astonishing just now?

What did he have to deserve this?!

Li Xueming and the others pressed their lips tightly together, a breath trapped in their chests, their gums trembling faintly. In their eyes, Qian Cheng, standing tall and smiling behind the towering Wang Guanjia, looked even smaller, like a rat trailing behind a Fierce Tiger!

"The list of Class Eight students who may Receive Spearheads has been read. Rest easy and wait for Director Zhao and the Inspection Team's assessment." Wu Shan's delighted right eye swept gently over every student present as he said mildly, "You were all chosen by me. Later, show yourselves openly and generously to Director Zhao."

As his words fell, Wang Guanjia and the other two stood out from the crowd, each with head held high and chest thrust out, sharpness flashing in their eyes. The students serving as foils swallowed hard when they met Wu Shan's gaze, loosened their fists, and lowered their heads.

Bang, bang, bang!

Jiang Qiu's heart slammed violently against his chest again and again. His deep, still eyes trembled blankly as the spear shaft in his right palm slowly twisted with a creak.

I've already entered the Ancient Martial Spear Technique, yet the last slot isn't mine?

Qian Cheng—what does he have that I don't?!

I only wanted to rely on my own ability to fight for the resources within my reach, Receive a Spearhead, become an Outstanding Student, and take the college entrance examination!

Was that wrong?

If I was born poorly and had no resources to pave the way for me, then I would carve out a road myself. Today, I must seize one of those Receive Spearhead slots!

Borrow momentum to make my name known!

With that thought, the butt of the Wooden Spear crashed against the ground with a thunk. The dull, heavy sound rang through the entire Training Hall like a stone plunging into a still pool, drawing every gaze at once. Jiang Qiu took a step forward, faced Director Zhao, and held his spear in salute. "Director Zhao, I believe my spear technique is passable. May I request a trial against the first name on Class Eight's qualification list—Class Monitor Wang Guanjia!"

"W-what?"

Li Xueming's eyes widened. The breath that had settled in his chest somehow rose again. The other students' eyes shone brightly as well, and even the short-haired girl standing alone outside the crowd tightened her grip on her spear shaft and looked toward Jiang Qiu.

After that display just now, no one doubted the skill of Jiang Qiu, the silent, solitary boy from the back row. No matter how he had cultivated such fierce Spear Momentum, beneath Wang Guanjia, no one dared fight him!

But now, right in front of Zhao Gongzheng, director of the school's Martial Inspection Department, Jiang Qiu was questioning the qualification list of Wu Shan, Class Eight's homeroom teacher and a martial artist. And the one he wanted to challenge was Wang Guanjia, Class Eight's strongest student!

Even if he had chosen either of the other two, it would not have been so nerve-racking.

At that thought, Li Xueming instinctively glanced at Wu Shan, who stood like a mountain range. His stitched left eye swelled and contracted with a hum, while his sole right eye was cold as a frozen pearl, his expression unchanged.

Gulp~

The sounds of swallowing rose and fell, pressing down on the students' chests. Zhao Gongzheng carefully examined the spear-wielding youth who stood out like a crane among chickens, his nose twitching almost imperceptibly. He smiled with his lips closed. "Student, what is your name?"

"Jiang Qiu."

Cold light condensed in Jiang Qiu's eyes, as though his long spear were about to thrust forth—charging ahead without hesitation, never to return!

Counting his previous life, he had lived for several decades already. How many days had he ever truly stood tall as a man?

Fuck, even delivering takeout, I ran into shit customers who gave bad reviews before the order was even late. And I still had to smile politely and beg them to show mercy, to pity me because making a living was not easy!

And in this life, I was fucking born at the very bottom, living in the Slum Area. I finally had a chance to seize an opportunity and walk the road to turning my life around, yet some filthy deal had cut off My Dao!

Even if I can scrape by for the rest of my life through martial arts practice, I refuse to accept this list!

I must prove my name through battle!

"Good. I approve this request for a match. If you can defeat Wang Guanjia, one of the slots to Receive a Spearhead will be yours!"

Feeling the unyielding youthful spirit in Jiang Qiu's gaze, Zhao Gongzheng felt something ring within his heart like a bronze bell. He immediately waved grandly, his voice shaking the entire hall. "Who is Wang Guanjia? Step out and spar with this student Jiang Qiu!"

The unquestionable order crashed down upon Wang Guanjia's head. His brows furrowed as he pressed his spear tip against the concrete floor and strode out amid a shrill scraping sound, like a Fierce Tiger descending the mountain.

"Director Zhao, I am Class Eight's class monitor, Wang Guanjia."

By the time he finished speaking, Wang Guanjia was already standing opposite Jiang Qiu. His raised chin had never dipped in the slightest, and three parts anger leaked from the slits of his eyes.

Back then, because of a conflict with a Class One student, not only had his father's application for his Outstanding Student qualification been rejected by the higher-ups, but he had also been forced to come to Class Eight, the class with the most Slum Area students, to study martial arts.

If not for that damned bastard, how could I have ended up in Class Eight? You, a bottom-tier student from the Slum Area, are you worthy of being in the same class as me?

And you dare talk of challenging me!

Wang Guanjia sank into a horse stance. With a whoosh, his wooden spear tip trembled wildly, locking onto Jiang Qiu five steps away like a rattlesnake. His bearing was whole and overwhelming, like a Fierce Tiger looking down upon a rat!

Seeing how fierce and proud he was, Zhao Gongzheng could not help raising a brow. There was actually a student in an ordinary class who had managed to enter the Ancient Martial Arts Spear Technique at this stage?

Jiang Qiu wanted to challenge him?

After a brief hesitation, the two had already squared off. Every student present clenched their fists and gathered around to watch, their fighting spirit like blazing fire meeting a powerful wind—impossible to turn back.

Compared to Wang Guanjia's tyrannical presence, Jiang Qiu instead calmed his mind and slowly sank into a horse stance. His Wooden Spear lay steadily across his waist, all his might gathered at the spear tip. At first glance, it seemed like a simply dressed youth was fighting a fanged Fierce Tiger alone, the outcome already decided.

The students, who had felt a breath rise in their hearts when they heard him call out the five words "Class Monitor Wang Guanjia," felt their hairs stand on end at the disparity in their momentum and clicked their tongues inwardly.

Why had they suddenly thought that Jiang Qiu, an orphan from the Slum Area, might have a chance against Wang Guanjia, who had secretly used Medicinal Bath Resources to temper his body and learned the Ancient Martial Arts Spear Technique from an early age?

Wu Shan, also watching from the side, wore a cold expression. His half-lidded eye pressed over his right eyeball, squeezing out threads of sharpness.

Wang Guanjia's talent was decent enough. If he had entered the ranks of Outstanding Students early, enjoyed better resources, and received my teaching, he might have already fully grasped the use of Ming Jin in the Ancient Martial Arts Spear Technique—Spear Tip Pierces Armor!

Jiang Qiu had probably only entered the technique a few days ago. He could not possibly surpass Wang Guanjia as he was now.