Su Ye said goodbye to Xia Zhiqiu, who had suddenly become such a formidable fighter that even Liu Shanzhen fled at the sight of him.
He walked slowly along the edge of the challenge platforms.
42.
36.
28.
Finally, he stopped before Platform 22.
Its defender was Zhang Xuan.
Su Ye smiled faintly.
You'll do.
With a light leap, Su Ye landed on the platform.
No one else was waiting to challenge Zhang Xuan. He stood on the platform with his arms folded and his eyes half-closed.
Hearing someone land, he spoke.
"Challenging me? You've got guts... Su Ye?!"
Zhang Xuan's eyes flew open.
"Hello."
Su Ye nodded politely.
"Good to see you again. How are your legs?"
Zhang Xuan instinctively took two steps back. Both legs were already starting to ache.
How many of my legs is Su Ye planning to break?!
He remembered that Su Ye had killed a martial arts school coach at the Ninth Level of Kaiyuan.
Granted... there might have been an element of surprise.
But it was still proof of Su Ye's strength.
Without another thought, Zhang Xuan cupped his hands.
"So it's you, Student Su Ye. I'm no match for you. I concede."
With that, Zhang Xuan jumped off the platform himself.
No way was he going to fight.
If he waited another second, he might not be able to jump at all.
Even after leaving the platform, Zhang Xuan didn't dare linger. He retreated several more steps.
"Student Su, you've won the challenge and are now the defender. I wish you smooth sailing and a bright future."
Su Ye, who had been about to chase him off the platform: ...
He had nearly forgotten.
Each person had only one chance to challenge someone in this platform tournament.
Win, and they became the defender, obliged to face three more challenges.
If he chased Zhang Xuan off the platform, he would forfeit his position and lose his chance to enter the Elite Class.
This Zhang Xuan... he's something else.
Only when Su Ye stopped pursuing him did Zhang Xuan breathe a little easier.
Then...
Thud!
Zhang Xuan backed into someone.
Liu Shanzhen.
Liu Shanzhen was already fuming after being beaten so badly that he had fled on sight. When someone bumped into him, he turned angrily...
And saw Zhang Xuan... and Su Ye on the platform behind him.
Liu Shanzhen: ...???
Liu Shanzhen turned and walked away!
Damn it!
Why had he run into Su Ye again?!!!
Liu Shanzhen was beginning to question his life choices.
Should he just give up on entering the Elite Class?
Otherwise, wouldn't he have to see Su Ye every day?!
Liu Shanzhen had gone only a short distance when—
"Student Liu, wait! Please wait!"
Zhang Xuan hurried after Liu Shanzhen.
Liu Shanzhen looked impatient.
"What?"
Zhang Xuan ignored his attitude and asked quietly,
"Student Liu, you seem to know Student Su Ye?"
Liu Shanzhen frowned.
What was that supposed to mean?
Was he here to mock him?
Zhang Xuan quickly added,
"I was defending that platform, and then... well, you saw what happened."
So Su Ye had beaten him up too.
Liu Shanzhen's mood instantly improved.
"Ah, bad luck getting picked by him. I ran into him this morning, and he beat me so badly I started questioning my life choices... You took that platform without using your challenge, right? Then you still have one chance left. Make sure you use it carefully."
Su Ye had beaten Liu Shanzhen head-on?!
Zhang Xuan froze.
"I never imagined Student Su Ye was that strong."
Liu Shanzhen sighed too.
"Right? I'd never even heard his name before. Who knew he'd suddenly rise like this... But he's a Supernatural Ability Awakener, so I guess it's no surprise."
Zhang Xuan stared. "What? A Supernatural Ability Awakener?"
"You didn't know?"
Liu Shanzhen paused, then understood.
"Right, you only just met him. After I lost to Su Ye this morning, I asked a teacher about him. Turns out he awakened his Supernatural Ability only a few days ago and immediately broke through four levels in a row. It has to be a high-grade ability. There's no shame in losing to him."
Su Ye's awakening was no secret. All the teachers knew.
So Liu Shanzhen spoke freely.
After giving Zhang Xuan, his fellow sufferer, a pat on the shoulder, he sauntered off.
He still needed to find a defender to challenge as soon as possible.
Zhang Xuan remained where he was, deep in thought.
Su Ye was a Supernatural Ability Awakener?!
And he had awakened only a few days ago.
Yet it was also a few days ago that Young Master Su Yang of Yujing had asked him to "look after" Su Ye.
Was Su Ye's ability extraordinary?
Or was there another reason?
Whatever the reason, he clearly couldn't afford to offend Su Ye.
Zhang Xuan lowered his head and thought for a moment. An idea gradually took shape.
Platform 22.
Not long after Zhang Xuan and Liu Shanzhen left, someone else arrived.
The newcomer's eyes lit up when he saw Su Ye standing on the platform with his eyes closed.
He didn't recognize this guy.
He definitely wasn't in the martial arts year group's top fifty.
He hadn't even seen him in the top hundred.
He must have slipped into the afternoon's platform tournament by sheer luck.
"I knew it. Someone was bound to sneak in and grab a high-ranked platform early, thinking no one would challenge them and they'd stroll right into the Elite Class."
The newcomer chuckled, pleased to have seen through the scheme.
He immediately jumped onto the platform, as though afraid someone else would beat him to it.
"Heh, finally found myself an easy win."
Su Ye opened his eyes slightly.
"Congratulations."
Boom—
Su Ye knocked him off the platform with a single punch.
His one and only chance to challenge someone—
Gone.
Without even giving his name, the newcomer had lost his chance to enter the Elite Class.
Several other students had followed him over, hoping for the same easy win, but had arrived a step too late. When they saw the brutal punch, they counted themselves lucky.
If they'd been first, they would have been the ones sent flying.
The defender on Platform 22 was a bit of a monster.
Nope.
Better find another one!
In an instant, the area before Su Ye's platform emptied.
No one challenged Su Ye for the rest of the round.
Ah, how lonely it was at the top.
The second round of challenges ended.
The fifty places in the Elite Class were officially decided.
Those who had failed left the Gymnasium.
The third round, the ranking matches, began.
Each defender had one chance to challenge someone ranked above them.
A victory would let them swap ranks with their opponent.
The school hadn't said what benefits came with a higher rank, but... it certainly looked good.
Quite a few people did issue challenges.
Su Ye, however, wasn't interested.
After the challenges, the top fifty rankings shifted slightly.
With that, the Elite Class selection finally came to an end.
"Ahem."
Principal Zhang picked up the microphone again.
"Congratulations, everyone, on earning a place in the Elite Class."
"Over the three months leading up to the Gaokao, the school will give Elite Class students priority access to resources to help you improve your Cultivation Level and strength as quickly as possible... But entering the Elite Class is only the beginning. Whether you receive more resources from here on will depend on your efforts..."
The speech went on for another half hour.
Su Ye remembered only three things.
Elite Class students received five free bottles of Primary Nutrient Solution every month!
The school provided Elite Class students with a dedicated Stellar Energy Training Room free of charge.
Every Elite Class student could learn one additional combat Martial Skill for free!
Joining the Elite Class was worth it after all.
Before you continue