Making a Name

After hanging up, Gu Feng strode over to Qin Yan, clapped him hard on the shoulder, and broke into an uncontrollable grin. "Good kid! Qin Yan! You really... really gave me a tremendous surprise!!"

Seeing Gu Feng's reaction, Qin Yan understood. It seemed the Martial Arts Bureau had immediately informed his coach of his results.

"It's all thanks to your excellent guidance, Class Monitor Gu," Qin Yan said humbly.

"Cut it out! Do you think I don't know how much I taught you?" Gu Feng laughed and scolded him, the admiration in his eyes nearly overflowing. "Ninety-nine percent of your achievement today came from your own hard work! Good! Excellent! You're neither arrogant nor impatient—you'll surely amount to something great in the future!"

Zhou Yuan and Lin Yang, standing nearby and listening to the two speak in riddles, were even more bewildered and had no idea what was going on.

"Class Monitor Gu, what is this...?" Lin Yang could not help asking.

"How come? Didn't Qin Yan tell you his Martial Arts Skill test score?" Gu Feng glanced at Qin Yan before looking at the two baffled boys.

"He did... but we..." Zhou Yuan scratched his head, too embarrassed to admit that they had not dared believe him at all.

"Haha, that's normal!" Gu Feng was in an excellent mood and laughed loudly. "Honestly, if the Martial Arts Bureau hadn't called me directly to confirm it, I wouldn't have dared believe it was real either!

After all, it was simply too..." He shook his head, unable to find the right words to describe it.

In one month, he had surged from First Stage High Rank to nearly Second Stage Mid Rank. Such talent and such a rate of progress were practically comparable to the Core Disciples of those legendary Martial Families!

Listening to Gu Feng, Lin Yang and Zhou Yuan finally understood completely—everything Qin Yan had said was actually true!

The two looked at each other, seeing overwhelming shock and a hint of daze in the other's eyes. For a long while, neither could speak.

Moreover, the few of them had not deliberately kept their voices down.

Very quickly, keywords like "Qin Yan," "86 points," and "74 rounds" spread through the students waiting to assemble as though they had grown wings.

At first, everyone's immediate reaction was disbelief.

"Are you kidding? 86 points? That has to be fake!"

"Seventy-four rounds? The Puppet got so monstrous in the later stages—how did he hold on?"

But before long, the news was confirmed: Coach Gu Feng had personally verified it, and it was an official score from the Martial Arts Bureau!

The doubts were swiftly replaced by even greater shock and uproar.

The way everyone looked at Qin Yan changed completely, their eyes filled with shock, envy, disbelief, and even a trace of awe.

The name Qin Yan, along with his astonishing score of 86 points, swept through all the students who had completed their tests like a whirlwind.

The news also reached Linhai No.1 High School at the fastest possible speed and made its way to Principal Wu Ming's ears.

Wu Ming had been handling official business in his office. Upon receiving the call and hearing the news, he froze for a moment before shooting up from his chair with a "Hah!" His face was instantly flooded with wild joy!

"How much?! Eighty-six points?! Are you sure it's 86 points?! Qin Yan from our school's Ordinary Class?!!"

He repeatedly asked for confirmation in an excited voice. After receiving an affirmative answer, he was so thrilled he nearly jumped on the spot!

"Wonderful! Heaven blesses First High School! Heaven blesses First High School!" Wu Ming paced back and forth through his office in excitement.

How many years had it been since Linhai City had produced a student with Martial Arts Skill this high?!

This was definitely the biggest dark horse in this year's college entrance examination!

Then, he suddenly recalled Director Wan Xueping's gloomy expression that morning, as well as his immense expectations.

"That's right! Director Wan! This is what he's been waiting for! He's been waiting for a dark horse capable of creating miracles!"

Wu Ming immediately picked up his phone, found Wan Xueping's number, and impatiently dialed it.

The call was answered almost instantly.

"Director Wan! Good news! Incredibly good news!" Wu Ming's voice trembled slightly with excitement. "Our school! Yes, our First High School! A student just scored 86 points in the Martial Arts Skill test at the Martial Arts Bureau! His name is Qin Yan! He's from the Ordinary Class! It's absolutely true! The score was directly confirmed by the Martial Arts Bureau!"

There was a brief silence on the other end, as though Wan Xueping had been rendered speechless by the news.

Then Wan Xueping's voice suddenly rose sharply from the receiver, even cracking slightly from excessive excitement. "What?! Eighty-six points? Are you sure?

Good! Good! Good! Excellent! Wait there, Wu Ming! Stay at the school and wait for me! I'll be there immediately!!"

Before he had even finished speaking, the call was abruptly disconnected.

One could imagine just how excited and impatient Wan Xueping was on the other end. He was likely already racing toward Linhai No.1 High School as fast as he could!

Along the way, students from both the Elite Class and Class (1) occasionally glanced in their direction.

Qin Yan had initially felt somewhat uncomfortable, but eventually he was able to take it in stride.

Once they arrived at school, Qin Yan left the group and headed toward the principal's office.

On the way, Coach Gu Feng had told him that the principal wanted to see him. He had also told Qin Yan to perform well, as there might be an unexpected surprise waiting for him.

An unexpected surprise?

Could the principal be planning to reward me? Qin Yan wondered.

Before long, he arrived at the principal's office. Before Qin Yan could knock, a vigorous voice came from inside, faintly carrying a trace of excitement.

"Come in directly!"

This voice... did not seem to belong to Principal Wu?

Qin Yan paused slightly. Without hesitation, he pushed open the door and entered.

Inside the office, Principal Wu Ming was speaking with a stern-looking middle-aged man who carried an extraordinary presence.

The moment he saw Qin Yan enter, Principal Wu immediately came forward warmly, his face wreathed in smiles.

"Student Qin Yan, you're here! Good! This is truly wonderful! I never expected First High School to cultivate such an outstanding talent as you!"

He patted Qin Yan forcefully on the shoulder, his tone full of gratification. "A Martial Arts Skill score of 86 points, vitality of 72 Cal, and such an enormous leap in just one month—remarkable! Truly remarkable!"

Before Qin Yan could respond, Principal Wu put an arm around his shoulders and brought him before the middle-aged man, formally introducing him. "Qin Yan, this is Director Wan Xueping of the Linhai City Education Bureau.

Director Wan was extremely pleased to learn that your Martial Arts Skill had reached 86 points. He came personally to First High School specifically because he wanted to meet such a promising talent as you!"

The Director of Education Bureau?!

Qin Yan's heart jolted.

In this era where martial prowess reigned supreme, the Director of Education Bureau, who oversaw a city's education and resource allocation, wielded authority and influence far beyond ordinary people's imagination. Qin Yan had never expected such an important figure to come personally for him.

"Hello, Director Wan." Qin Yan suppressed the turmoil in his heart and greeted him respectfully, neither servile nor overbearing.