Establishing the Elite Class had been a decision he'd made after careful consideration.
The main reason was that Muyang Third Middle School had been in a slump for far too long.
To put it nicely, they were in a slump. To put it bluntly, they weren't strong enough.
Muyang Third Middle School had gone five consecutive years without winning a championship in the Muyang City High School League.
Whether it was the first, second, or third year of senior high, the championship had always gone to another school.
Even neighboring Muyang Fourth Middle School had won the city league at least once. Their own school, meanwhile, had disgraced itself beyond measure.
If things stayed this way, he had no doubt the authorities would cut Muyang Third Middle School's resources.
So reform was both urgent and absolutely necessary.
Another key reason was that this year's students at Muyang Third Middle School really did include several promising talents. Their arrival had also played a part in his decision.
As far as he knew, Jiang Ruohan of Class One had the highest Star Energy Aptitude among this year's students in Muyang City.
In fact, if Muyang First Middle School hadn't produced Chen Qing last year, no high school student anywhere in Muyang City would have had a higher Star Energy Aptitude than her.
This was the most promising class Muyang Third Middle School had ever had for winning the championship, so naturally, he had to give them the best training possible.
Ten minutes later, a voice rang out across the venue over the loudspeakers.
"The competition is about to enter the warm-up stage. Anyone not involved, please leave the arena floor and take a seat in the stands!"
As soon as the announcement ended, the crowd began to disperse, until only the competing students and the staff responsible for support and logistics remained.
Then the same voice rang out again.
"I'll now announce the rules for this competition!"
"The competition has two rounds! The first round is a group free-for-all, and the second is an elimination round!"
"There are sixteen Battle Platforms in the arena, representing sixteen groups! You'll be randomly assigned to a group and compete in a free-for-all!"
"If you're knocked off the Battle Platform, you're eliminated!"
"The last two people standing on each platform will advance to the top thirty-two and earn a place in the Elite Class!"
"After that, the top thirty-two will compete in elimination matches to determine their rankings!"
"Attention! The resources you receive will depend on your ranking, so don't assume that making it into the top thirty-two and securing a place in the Elite Class means you can rest easy!"
"How many resources you earn in the end is up to you!"
"That's all you need to know. Random group assignments will begin in one minute!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the arena erupted in chatter, and countless students' eyes lit up.
They'd thought they were just here to make up the numbers, but it seemed there was a chance they could get into the Elite Class?
If the matches were decided purely by strength, many of the lower-ranked students wouldn't stand much of a chance.
But luck mattered just as much as strength.
This first-round group free-for-all was practically a chance for them to turn the tables.
They could team up to eliminate the stronger opponents first, then settle things among themselves at the end.
That way, even students of average ability could make it into the Elite Class.
Though they could only use this strategy in this Ranking Battle, and it wouldn't work later, when the Elite Class rankings changed through challenges, that was still fine!
Enjoying the Elite Class's training resources for a month would already be a great deal!
Besides, a fast start could get you ahead for good. Some students were already hovering right at the threshold, and with the Elite Class resources, they might be able to hold on to their positions afterward.
In no time, students were forming groups and agreeing to team up if they ended up in the same one.
Soon, a minute had passed, and the Star Rings on all the students' wrists let out the same long beep.
Qin Chen looked at the Star Ring in his hand. A small screen appeared above it, displaying a number in the center.
"Group Nine?"
Qin Chen murmured, dismissed the screen, and headed toward Battle Platform Number Nine.
Before long, Qin Chen reached Battle Platform Number Nine, and a familiar figure appeared across from him.
The moment the figure spotted Qin Chen, he froze. Then he burst into excitement and immediately ran over, shouting:
"Big bro!! You're in Group Nine too?"
Qin Chen glanced at him and replied coolly:
"I don't remember ever becoming your big bro!"
It was Li Meng. His eyes were full of ingratiation, along with deep respect.
The man before him was a real golden thigh!
Just a few days ago, even Chen Qing—the most gifted person Muyang City had seen in nearly a decade—had said that at Qin Chen's age, he'd been nowhere near as good as Qin Chen.
What more did Li Meng need to hear?
He might have looked like he was made of nothing but muscle, but he was sharp as a tack!
Clinging to a golden thigh was his specialty!
"I told you, I'm not your big bro!"
Qin Chen frowned slightly. He didn't want to get too close to this guy, who went around calling himself Mighty Man all the time.
It was too embarrassing!
Sensing that Qin Chen wasn't exactly welcoming, Li Meng said nothing.
Instead, he summoned a virtual panel with his Star Ring and tapped through a few options.
The next second, a notification sounded from Qin Chen's Star Ring.
[Account received a transfer—100,000 Star Coins!]
"Hm?!"
For a second, Qin Chen looked utterly bewildered.
The next second—
"Hahaha!"
"Isn't this my bro Mengzi? Hey, you're in Group Nine too?"
Qin Chen clapped Li Meng on the shoulder and laughed heartily, his smile utterly genuine.
Anyone could see it came straight from the heart.
"Big bro! It's me!!"
Li Meng answered at once, a smile spreading across his face too.
It worked!!
Just as he'd suspected.
Qin Chen was a poor... ahem, a man who valued spiritual pursuits!
So a little material generosity was the easiest way to win him over.
He hadn't expected a hundred thousand Star Coins to make Qin Chen feel too indebted to him. He only needed to earn a few points in Qin Chen's favor.
"Mengzi, since we're in the same group, I think the two of us would make perfect candidates to advance!"
"What do you think?"
"Your little brother thinks so too. With your strength, big bro, even everyone in this group together wouldn't be able to beat you!"
Li Meng immediately grinned and flattered him.
And he really did believe it.
A few days ago at the Myriad Blades Arena, Qin Chen had already possessed strength that made him practically invincible among those at the Body Tempering Sixth Layer.
Even with the strength Qin Chen had back then, he could've beaten the crap out of all twenty-odd people on the platform.
Qin Chen was still way too overpowered.
Besides, with Qin Chen's ridiculous rate of growth, there was no way he hadn't gotten stronger over the past few days.
Not even man's most loyal friend would believe that!
Just then, the others on the platform began gathering into groups of their own...
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