Without a hint of panic, Xu Ziming focused every part of himself on the battle.
His opponent's spear technique had changed. When he'd been deliberately controlling his qi and blood output, his attacks had been somewhat restrained.
Now, however, his spear technique had grown incredibly fierce. Every move brimmed with murderous intent.
Xu Ziming silently endured the opponent's attacks, which came like a raging storm.
He didn't activate Qilin Body as well. He wanted to see whether he could fight back while his opponent was taking drugs.
Even now, he wasn't giving it his all.
He was also afraid that if he used even a little too much strength, he'd shatter the other guy's confidence. After all, they'd only fought three days ago.
Seeing Xu Ziming fight timidly, as if he'd completely taken control of the battle, Angry Haki-mi grew more and more excited with every strike, completely forgetting that he'd just taken drugs.
"Is that all? If I can't beat a Silver, surely I can beat you, a mere Black Iron!"
He thought proudly, never noticing that his frenzied assault had left an opening.
At that very moment!
Xu Ziming's expression changed in an instant.
He went from perfectly calm to fierce and ruthless.
At the same time, his aura surged to its peak, unsettling his opponent.
His sword thrust forward.
In that instant, his swordplay transformed, its every move carrying a sharp killing intent.
Without a trace or warning, in the blink of an eye, his sword pierced Angry Haki-mi's chest.
"Pfft."
As the blade sank into flesh, streams of blood gushed from his chest.
Angry Haki-mi still wore the grin he'd had while dominating the fight. Only when the sword pierced his chest did he realize he'd lost.
How was this possible?
How could someone improve so quickly?
A mere Black Iron...
His body began to fade. His face was full of unwillingness, but there was no turning things around.
[Promotion Match Victory]
[Rank advanced. Current rank: Silver]
"Finally, I've reached Silver..."
The moment Xu Ziming reached Silver, the high school student rankings for Pengcheng City shifted slightly.
At the very bottom, Little Ming Who Can't Use a Sword quietly climbed onto the list, officially joining the ranks of Pengcheng's strongest high school students.
"Someone else made the rankings?"
Battle Net access had opened after the First Mock Exam. At this stage, almost anyone who reached Silver could make the list.
There were only a little over three hundred people on Pengcheng City's rankings.
"Which school are they from?"
"Pengcheng No. 3 High School."
"So they're not from our No. 1 High School? Third High School has had quite a few talented students these past two years, especially Shen Xingyue."
At the same time, in the principal's office at Pengcheng No. 3 High School,
the phone rang incessantly.
Principal Wang saw how late it was and answered with a puzzled expression.
"Old Wang, your school has turned out another promising kid."
The voice on the other end was full of delight.
"What do you mean, Old Liu?"
"Take a look at the Battle Net rankings. Another player with the ID Little Ming Who Can't Use a Sword just made the Pengcheng City High School Student Ranking. They registered their account using your school's qualification."
"Little Ming Who Can't Use a Sword..."
Could it be Xu Ziming?
His expression shifted like the weather, but he still laughed heartily. "He earned it himself. I've always had faith in that kid."
After hanging up, he thought it over. Tomorrow seemed to be the day he'd promised Ma Mingyu that Xu Ziming would fight Zhao Yong.
"I only agreed because I didn't want to embarrass Ma Mingyu. I never expected that kid would really turn out to be so promising..."
Xu Ziming had no idea any of this was happening. He'd been on the rankings for barely five minutes when his phone was flooded with messages.
Most of them were invitations from martial arts halls.
Nebula Martial Hall offered the most—the hall run by the father of the virtual fighter Xu Ziming had beaten.
Five million a year! The figure left Xu Ziming deeply shaken. It was the first time in his life he'd ever seen so much money.
But he didn't sign right away. He'd wait until he could discuss it with Ma Mingyu tomorrow before making a decision.
"Knock, knock, knock!" Someone rapped on the door.
"A-Ming, your dad's calling! Come out and see!"
Hearing this, Xu Ziming logged out of his Battle Net account and hurried outside.
His father worked on the front lines of the war against the other races, repairing equipment. They could only connect once every month or so.
Now, at last, he'd called.
"A-Ming, A-Yao, your dad's been quite the big shot on the front lines lately."
As soon as Xu Ziming stepped out of his room, he saw his father grinning at him from the screen projected by his wristband.
Though exhaustion and the ravages of time showed on his face, his smile came from the heart.
"The fighting's been intense these past couple of days. I've been repairing machines on the battlefield with the troops, so I'm earning three times my usual monthly pay. I got over ten thousand Blue Star Coins this month. I've already sent it to your mom."
"Spend what you need to on daily life. Don't try to save every penny, especially you, A-Ming. The College Entrance Exam is coming up, so buy some potions too. Your dad will earn more merit on the front lines and exchange it for good resources for you."
Xu Father looked at his two children, his eyes filled with happiness, as if the hardships of the front lines meant nothing to him.
"Dad, don't go with the troops anymore. The front lines are too dangerous. My grades have been pretty good lately, and I can get a scholarship. The first-place scholarship is worth thirty thousand a month."
Xu Ziming gazed at his father with tears in his eyes.
"I knew my boy would make something of himself. Once the fighting lets up, I'll take a long leave and come home to celebrate properly."
As he spoke, another barrage of enormous shells streaked over the battlefield, exploding one after another.
"Enemy raid! Enemy raid! All personnel, be on alert!"
Another warning rang across the battlefield, and Xu Father immediately sprang to his feet.
"A-Ming, A-Yao, I have to get back to work. You two take good care of yourselves at home."
"Beep—"
The call disconnected.
Xu Ziming turned to look at his mother and sister and saw that they were already wiping away their tears.
"I have to make sure my family never has to live like this again."
He thought silently, and the fire of determination flared in his heart once more.
And right now, the first chance to change his family's situation was tomorrow's match.
He had to defeat Zhao Yong and win the first-place scholarship. He'd use the extra money to help the family and get his father off the front lines sooner.
"Mom, don't worry. Dad's been on the front lines for so long. He must know how to stay safe. Nothing will happen to him."
He went over and wrapped his arms around his mother and sister, comforting them.
"Mm, big brother, don't push yourself too hard either. We believe in you."
Xu Zhiyao slipped out of his arms and wiped her tears, her eyes full of trust.
"I'll go back to my room and train."
Xu Ziming nodded, returned to his room, and assumed the training posture for the Basic Body Forging Method.
Time to train!
[Basic Body Forging Method progress +1]
The electronic voice sounded in his ear again, and determination filled Xu Ziming's eyes.
Meanwhile,
"Brother Zhao, tomorrow's the day Xu Ziming challenges you. Make sure he learns that being a clown isn't as easy as it looks."
"Of course. I'll treat him real—real—well."