Genius Class's Attention

The morning mist had yet to fully dissipate, but the public training grounds of Jiangnan Martial Arts Academy were already bustling with figures.

Lin Fan, clad in a faded training uniform, was practicing his mandatory daily lesson—Basic Fist Technique—in a corner of the field.

One punch, two punches, three punches...

His movements were textbook perfect, each punch whistling through the air, yet controlled with just the right amount of force to avoid excessive fatigue. This was a habit he'd cultivated since awakening his system: accumulating proficiency whenever possible.

[Basic Fist Technique Proficiency +1]

[Basic Fist Technique Proficiency +1]

[Basic Fist Technique Proficiency +1]

The numbers constantly updating on his Panel were his greatest motivation.

Not far away, several other early-rising freshmen training nearby occasionally glanced toward Lin Fan, their expressions complex.

"Is that Lin Fan? The one who snatched the bounty from the Mad Wolf squad yesterday?"

"Yeah, that's him. I heard Zhang Kuang broke his right hand and will be out for at least a month."

"He's a real ruthless one... A freshman beating up a second-year student like that."

"They say he only used Basic Fist Technique? That's unbelievable."

The whispers were quiet, but they carried clearly in the early morning training grounds. Lin Fan ignored them, continuing his practice. He knew that starting yesterday, his situation in the academy had quietly changed.

He was no longer an unnoticed freshman, but someone who needed attention, evaluation, and either recruitment or suppression.

"Brother Fan!"

A gruff voice called out. Chen Dahu walked over, carrying a long saber, sweat beading on his forehead, clearly having trained for a while.

"Finished?" Lin Fan retracted his fist, his breathing steady.

"Yeah, feeling good today, my saber technique improved again." Chen Dahu grinned, then lowered his voice, "Did you hear? What happened yesterday spread like wildfire. The entire Regular Class is talking about us now."

"As expected." Lin Fan wiped his sweat with a towel. "Zhang Kuang and his crew lost so much face, they couldn't keep it quiet. It's good this way, saves us from dealing with any more idiots bothering us later."

"But..." Chen Dahu hesitated. "I heard Zhang Kuang has a cousin in the Genius Class."

Lin Fan paused. "Genius Class?"

"Yeah, his name is Zhang Kuanghu. He's a Rank 2, 9th Stage, rumored to be half a step into Rank 3." Chen Dahu's expression grew serious. "Their Zhang family is considered a third-rate family in Jiangnan City, but they've produced a few Martial Artists and have some influence in the academy. I'm worried..."

"We'll face them when they come." Lin Fan said calmly. "As long as our strength is sufficient, we don't need to fear any influence."

Chen Dahu looked at Lin Fan's composed expression, and some of his unease dissipated. He nodded. "You're right, Brother Fan. Strength is the only thing that matters."

As they were talking, a commotion suddenly arose from the entrance of the training grounds.

A group of young men and women in dark blue training uniforms walked in. They carried themselves with exceptional presence and steady steps, each exuding an aura far beyond that of ordinary students.

Genius Class students.

The public training grounds and the exclusive training grounds for the Genius Class were separate, but occasionally Genius Class students would come here—sometimes to "inspect" the Regular Class, sometimes to find specific people, but most often, to showcase the difference in their abilities.

"Why are people from the Genius Class here?"

"Look, that's Wang Chao! Number one in the Genius Class!"

"Lin Xue'er is here too! My goodness, she's even more beautiful than the rumors..."

"And that fatty Zhao Ritian, how did he get into the Genius Class?"

The focus of the whispers immediately shifted.

Lin Fan also looked up.

Leading the group was a young man with sharp eyebrows and clear eyes, about eighteen years old. He stood tall and straight like a pine tree, his gaze sharp as a sword. As he walked, he naturally became the center of attention, his classmates subconsciously keeping a distance from him.

Wang Chao, number one in the Genius Class, eldest son of the Wang Family, Rank 2, 9th Stage, rumored to be on the verge of breaking through to a Rank 3 Martial Master at any moment.

Half a step behind him and to his side was a young woman with silver hair and blue eyes. She wore the same dark blue training uniform, but it perfectly accentuated her curves. Her skin was as fair as snow, and her features were as exquisite as a work of art. Most striking were her eyes, as deep blue as the ocean, yet devoid of any emotional fluctuation, like an eternally frozen iceberg.

Lin Xue'er, second in the Genius Class, of mixed European and Chinese descent, her strength unfathomably deep.

Further back was a chubby young man, always sporting a smile, his eyes narrowed into slits, looking harmless. But no one who could enter the Genius Class was simple.

Zhao Ritian, son of a nouveau riche, who relied on resources to get into the Genius Class, but rumored to have extraordinary capabilities.

"Tsk tsk, what wind blew the big shots from the Genius Class here today?" a sarcastic voice rang out.

Everyone looked to see Wang Hao approaching from the other side with a few followers. His expression was not good, and a flicker of gloom crossed his eyes when he saw Lin Fan.

After the news of Lin Fan snatching Zhang Kuang's bounty spread yesterday, Wang Hao's prestige in the Regular Class had taken a significant hit. After all, he had always considered himself the best in the Regular Class, only for Lin Fan to steal all the spotlight.

"Wang Hao, shut up." Wang Chao glanced at him indifferently. "You have no place speaking here."

Wang Hao's face stiffened, but he dared not retort. Within the family, Wang Chao was the eldest son, exceptionally talented, and highly valued by his elders. Wang Hao, however, was from a collateral branch, with mediocre aptitude, and their status was worlds apart.

"Brother, I was just..."

"Call me by my name." Wang Chao interrupted him. "In the academy, there are only classmates, no brothers."

Wang Hao gritted his teeth and lowered his head. "Yes, Senior Wang Chao."

This scene, witnessed by everyone, made the atmosphere suddenly subtle. Many knew the relationship between Wang Hao and Wang Chao, but Wang Chao's utter lack of mercy clearly showed he didn't value his cousin much.

Lin Fan watched quietly, lost in thought.

It seemed the Wang Family wasn't a united front. The relationship between these two brothers could be a point of entry.

Just then, Wang Chao's gaze swept across the training grounds, finally landing on Lin Fan.

Their eyes met in mid-air.

In an instant, Lin Fan felt an invisible pressure descend upon him. It wasn't a suppression of aura, but a pure mental pressure, like a drawn sword, its edge fully revealed.

Is this the strength of the top student in the Genius Class?

Lin Fan inwardly tensed, but his expression remained calm. He circulated his Basic Breathing Technique, Origin Energy flowing through his body, quietly dissolving the pressure.

A flicker of surprise flashed in Wang Chao's eyes.

His glance, though seemingly casual, had contained a sliver of sword intent. An ordinary 1st Grade Martial Trainee would have at least felt their mind shake and their breath falter under that gaze. But this Lin Fan... was completely unharmed?

Interesting.

"You're Lin Fan?" Wang Chao spoke, his voice plain, yet carrying an undeniable authority.

"I am," Lin Fan nodded.

"I heard about what happened yesterday," Wang Chao said. "Defeating a 2nd Grade, 3rd Tier, with only 1st Grade cultivation, using Basic Fist Technique. Not bad."

It was a compliment, but his tone carried no hint of praise, sounding more like a statement of fact.

"Senior is too kind," Lin Fan replied, neither subservient nor arrogant.

"However," Wang Chao's tone shifted, "Zhang Kuang is trash, but he's still a Zhang. You broke his arm; the Zhang Family won't let this go."

"So what is your meaning, Senior?" Lin Fan asked.

"Join my Sword Pavilion," Wang Chao stated directly. "As long as you join, I can block the Zhang Family for you."

The training grounds fell silent.

Everyone looked at Lin Fan, their expressions complex.

Wang Chao's Sword Pavilion was one of the three major powers in the Genius Class, its members all sword prodigies, with abundant resources and vast influence. To be personally invited to join was an immense honor.

Many students from the Regular Class showed looks of envy and jealousy.

But Lin Fan remained silent.

He needed to think.

Wang Chao's invitation seemed like an olive branch, but it clearly had calculations behind it. On one hand, it was indeed protection, allowing him to temporarily avoid the Zhang Family's retaliation. On the other hand, it was also a move to win him over and control him—once he joined, he would be under Wang Chao's command, likely to be used by him in the future.

More importantly, Lin Fan disliked being controlled.

"Thank you for your kind offer, Senior," Lin Fan said slowly. "But I prefer to work alone and have no plans to join any faction for now."

Whoosh—

A commotion erupted.

He refused?

Wang Chao personally invited him, and Lin Fan actually refused?

A hint of schadenfreude flashed in Wang Hao's eyes. His cousin detested being defied; Lin Fan was finished.

As expected, Wang Chao's eyes turned cold.

"Do you know the consequences of refusing me?"

"I do," Lin Fan said calmly. "But I still want to walk my own path."

The air seemed to freeze.

Everyone held their breath, watching the two confront each other.

One, the top student of the Genius Class, 2nd Grade, 9th Tier, the eldest son of the Wang Family, leader of the Sword Pavilion.

The other, a freshman from the Regular Class, 1st Grade cultivation, from a poor background, just beginning to make a name for himself.

By all appearances, this was an unequal confrontation.

But Lin Fan stood straight, his gaze unwavering.

A few seconds later, Wang Chao suddenly laughed.

It wasn't a happy laugh, but a cold, mocking one.

"Interesting," he said. "It's been a long time since anyone dared to speak to me like this."

He turned around, no longer looking at Lin Fan.

"I hope you can remain this defiant."

With that, he left the training grounds with the members of the Sword Pavilion, as if nothing had happened.

But everyone knew this was far from over.

Wang Chao's parting words were both a warning and a prophecy.

"Brother Fan, you..." Chen Dahu started, then stopped.

"It's fine," Lin Fan shook his head. "What's coming will come; it can't be avoided."

He had long understood that in this world, if he wanted to become stronger, if he wanted to protect the people he cherished, he couldn't always hide behind others. Some paths had to be walked alone; some trials had to be overcome by himself.

"But Wang Chao, he..."

"He's strong," Lin Fan admitted. "But I'm not weak either."

This wasn't arrogance, but confidence.

With the Martial Arts Panel, as long as he was given time, he could become infinitely stronger. Wang Chao was stronger than him now, but what about the future? Three months later? Six months later?

At this moment, Lin Fan suddenly felt a gaze upon him.

He turned his head and met a pair of deep blue eyes.

Lin Xue'er.

She hadn't left yet, but was standing at the edge of the training ground, quietly watching him. She had seen everything that had just happened, but hadn't said a word or shown any emotion.

At this moment, their gazes met in the air.

It was the first time Lin Fan had seen those eyes up close. They were truly beautiful, like the purest sapphires, yet so cold they held no warmth. It wasn't indifference, but a kind of... emptiness.

It was as if the owner of those eyes had lost all expectation for this world.

They stared at each other for three seconds.

Then, Lin Xue'er turned and left, her silver hair arcing in the morning light.

She hadn't spoken a single word from beginning to end.

"So that's Lin Xue'er..." Chen Dahu murmured. "I heard she's mixed-race, her Mother is a noble from the European Alliance, and her Father is a businessman from Huaxia. But both her parents died in a Demonic Beast attack, and she was adopted by the Lin family and raised as a tool for marriage alliances."

"Marriage alliance tool?" Lin Fan frowned.

"Yeah, the Lin family wants to use her to curry favor with a more powerful family," Chen Dahu lowered his voice. "So she cultivates desperately, wanting to earn the right to choose her own freedom through her strength. When she first enrolled last year, she was only Rank 1, but now she's Rank 2, Stage 8. Her progress speed is terrifying."

Lin Fan looked at Lin Xue'er's retreating figure, a sudden wave of emotion washing over him.

So even the second-ranked student in the Genius Class had her own struggles.

In this world, everyone had their own hurdles to face. Some worried about resources, some were trapped by their families, some struggled against fate.

And himself, wasn't he in the same boat?

"Brother Fan, what do we do next?" Chen Dahu asked.

"Continue cultivating," Lin Fan withdrew his gaze. "The monthly competition is coming soon, and we need to be better prepared."

"But about Wang Chao..."

"He won't make a public move within the academy," Lin Fan analyzed. "He's the top student in the Genius Class and needs to maintain his image. The most likely scenario is that he'll use the competition as a stage to deal with me."

"You mean..."

"To defeat me openly in the competition, humiliate me, and at the same time, display his authority," Lin Fan said. "This is the most fitting course of action for someone of his status."

Chen Dahu's expression turned serious. "Then we need to be careful. Wang Chao has quite a few experts under him. If they target us during the competition..."

"Meet force with force," Lin Fan repeated the phrase. "As long as we are strong enough, we won't fear any challenge."

He looked at the Strength Testing Monument in the center of the training ground, a resolute glint in his eyes.

"Dahu, I'm going to start special training. Five times the speed of cultivation. It might be tough, do you want to join?"

"Of course!" Chen Dahu said without hesitation. "If Brother Fan says we train, then we train!"

For the next few days, Lin Fan completely entered "hardcore grinding mode."

He attended classes during the day, studying martial arts theory; in the afternoon, he went to the Mission Hall to accept missions, earning Academic Credits while accumulating practical combat experience; at night, he activated five times the speed of cultivation, frantically increasing his proficiency.

[Basic Fist Technique: Minor Accomplishment (2547/5000)]

[Basic Footwork: Proficient (3821/5000)]

[Basic Breathing Technique: Proficient (2987/5000)]

[Iron Body Skill: Skilled (412/500)]

[Gale Sword Technique: Beginner (87/100)]

The numbers on the Panel changed daily, and his strength steadily improved.

Meanwhile, rumors about him spread wider and wider throughout the academy.

"Did you hear? Lin Fan took on a mission to hunt three Wind Wolves by himself yesterday and finished it in less than two hours!"

"Really? Those are three peak Rank 1 Demonic Beasts!"

"Absolutely true! The staff at the Mission Hall saw him drag back three wolf corpses with their own eyes."

"That's too fierce... He's only been enrolled for a month!"

"There's something even fiercer. Some people saw him practicing punches in the training ground from morning till night, with only a ten-minute break in between!"

"A lunatic, truly a cultivation lunatic..."

These rumors naturally also reached the Genius Class.

"Interesting." Wang Chao tapped his fingers on the tabletop after hearing the report from his subordinate. "Cultivating this desperately means either he has some secret, or he's truly gone mad."

"Boss, should I go test him?" a tall, thin young man asked.

"No need." Wang Chao shook his head. "The monthly mini-competition is about to start, and someone will test him then. We just need to... fan the flames."

A cold glint flashed in his eyes.

"Contact Zhang Kuanghu and tell him I can help with his brother's matter. But the condition is that he must 'take good care' of Lin Fan during the mini-competition."

"Yes!"

At the same time, in another training room.

Lin Xue'er sat cross-legged, a faint chill surrounding her. A short, ice-blue sword floated before her, its blade crystal clear and emanating a cold aura.

Suddenly, she opened her eyes, a flicker of emotion in her sapphire pupils.

"Lin Fan..."

She softly uttered his name, the scene from the training grounds that day flashing in her mind.

The young man stood before Wang Chao, neither servile nor overbearing, his eyes resolute. In that moment, she saw something familiar in him—

It was the will to break free from the shackles of fate.

Just like her.

"What will you do?" she murmured to herself, "in the upcoming mini-competition..."

Outside the window, the sun set, painting the sky a golden red.

And on the public training grounds, Lin Fan was still drenched in sweat.

Punch after punch.

Each punch condensed his entire Strength, each punch accumulated proficiency.

He knew his days of peace were numbered. The monthly mini-competition would be his first true test.

He would not only face the experts from the Regular Class but also the pressure and schemes from the Genius Class.

But he wasn't afraid.

Because he believed that as long as he trained enough, and trained hard enough, there was no hurdle he couldn't overcome.

"I'll train one more round."

This was Lin Fan's catchphrase, and also his belief.

As night deepened, he was the only figure left on the training grounds.

Moonlight spilled down, casting his shadow long.

And in the distant shadows, a silver figure stood silently, watching the tireless young man, a hint of emotion appearing in his eyes for the first time.