Gaokao Day, Returning to School, Regretful Classmates

The following few days passed.

Xu Yihan followed Ji Feiyue's group down into the Abyss, while Jiang Yuan trained his physique and spirit alone at the martial arts gym, preparing for the college entrance examination.

Nanjiang City saw a dozen more bizarre massacres and incidents of Transferred Martial Artists attacking civilians, leaving the public in a state of panic. The Martial Artist Association and the Patrol Bureau issued a public notice claiming they had identified the cause and would resolve the issue shortly, urging citizens to remain calm.

Recalling the events of that night, Jiang Yuan felt uneasy. He sent a message to his aunt's family, warning them to be careful and to avoid going out at night as much as possible.

"We know. You be careful living out there on your own, too. Don't go looking for trouble, and try to avoid fighting people," Tao Yufeng replied. It seemed she already knew about Jiang Yuan's duel with Liang Cheng.

Soon.

Time flashed by, and the eve of the college entrance examination arrived.

"Boom!"

A loud crash echoed through the room.

The combat power testing machine shook violently, emitting white smoke as the numbers fluctuated wildly before finally settling.

150,392!

"The base damage under the Ripple Force has finally broken through 150,000."

A smile appeared on Jiang Yuan's face.

"In terms of single-target damage, this is enough to rival an average Tier 3 Transferred Martial Artist."

"Jiang Yuan, Sister Feiyue said your bone spear has been forged. She traded it to the guild warehouse for you to check out. She also sent you a package."

A pleasant female voice drifted in from outside.

Xu Yihan, having returned from the Abyss, walked in wearing a plain white training suit and carrying a parcel.

She had gained a great deal from this trip to the Abyss; after overcoming her mental block, her spear technique had finally reached the Great Completion stage, and her level had reached Tier 3.

Clatter.

Seeing the number on the combat power testing machine, the parcel in her hands dropped straight to the floor.

Jiang Yuan opened the guild warehouse and saw the bone spear inside. He took it out to inspect it.

The once snow-white, plain bone spear was now stained with a touch of dark gold. Its weight, hardness, and sharpness had all increased by several levels.

He checked the information.

[Dark Gold Bone Spear (Common Masterpiece): Attack +10%, Attack Speed +10%, Critical Hit +5%, comes with Damage Reduction, Magic Penetration, and Laceration effects, Durability 100%]

Even among Common Masterpiece equipment, these were top-tier attributes.

"Not bad at all."

Jiang Yuan said with satisfaction, tucking it into his system inventory.

"What is this?"

He walked over and curiously picked up the parcel.

Xu Yihan finally snapped out of her daze and said, "It should be the clothes she bought for you. Open it and see."

Jiang Yuan opened it to find several sets of clothing. The fabric was top-tier, the brand was high-end, and they were embroidered with the Blood Rose logo—clearly custom-made.

These were tailored by [Senior Tailors] who had transferred into life professions. Beyond being comfortable, form-fitting, and aesthetically pleasing, they also came with effects like dust-repellence and self-repair. Each piece cost over a hundred thousand.

"Sister Feiyue said the clothes you usually wear aren't up to standard, so she had these custom-made for you to wear during the entrance exam," Xu Yihan laughed.

"I feel like I've become a kept man being supported by a rich woman..." Jiang Yuan said with a wry smile.

"A kept man couldn't dish out 150,000 damage." Xu Yihan looked at the combat power testing machine, wearing an expression that suggested she didn't know what to say.

"I thought I could relax a little after reaching Tier 3... I didn't expect you to be on the verge of catching up to me in the blink of an eye."

Her own damage without using skills was only a little over 200,000.

Jiang Yuan was currently LV9. Once he reached LV10, he would gain another profession skill at both Tier 1 and Tier 2, which would lead to a massive boost.

By then.

She feared her position as the team's main attacker would have to be handed over.

The next day.

The day of the college entrance examination.

Jiang Yuan returned to school and arrived at the playground. He saw students dressed in all sorts of ways; some wore warrior armor and carried greatswords.

Others wore mage robes and hats, holding staves, while some carried long spears or bows, dressed like members of the Elf race.

They were all eager to show off their full gear.

"Can't they just put those in their inventories?" Jiang Yuan thought, speechless.

He was still wearing his simple, plain black-and-white school uniform.

The clothes Ji Feiyue had sent were nice, but they were far too eye-catching.

Especially the black custom-made trench coat with the Blood Rose logo; wearing it made him look like an executive from the Enforcement Department. It was simply too conspicuous.

"Who is he?"

"Is he from Class S?"

"You don't even know him? That's Jiang Yuan from Class 3, the one who defeated Liang Cheng."

"So it's him! No wonder he looks terrifyingly strong..."

"He really is so handsome!"

"Hiss... so it's actually him, the heartthrob of Class 3. But I remember he only awakened an E-rank talent."

"You believe that? He must have hidden his true talent..."

Students in the distance cast side-glances, whispering to each other as they looked at Jiang Yuan.

He stood in the middle of the field, his handsome, fair face still bearing a trace of youthful innocence. His figure was tall and straight, his golden eyes cold and majestic, and his indifferent expression exuded an invisible pressure and surging aura that made people afraid to approach.

Even dressed in a school uniform, he was like a scorching sun in the sky, radiating a dazzling light that no one dared to ignore.

Some of his classmates also saw Jiang Yuan, but they did not dare to step forward to greet him.

"Is that... Jiang Yuan?"

"Hiss... how did he change so much?"

"I heard he's already a Tier 1 class-transferred warrior."

"No wonder just looking at him makes me feel afraid; it's just like seeing those monsters from Class S..."

Their eyes were filled with awe and worship.

Huang Yi, dressed in a set of warrior gear, shrank his neck and hid in a corner, not even daring to take another look at Jiang Yuan, who was surrounded like the moon among stars.

His own blood-qi had only reached 5, while Jiang Yuan—whom he had once mocked and looked down upon—had long since become a Tier 1 warrior and even defeated Liang Cheng, who had been incomparably powerful in his eyes. Now, he didn't even have the qualifications to look up to Jiang Yuan.

The female classmates who had once looked down on Jiang Yuan, saying that not even a dog would talk about E-rank talents, were now regretting it so much their guts were turning green.

He was handsome, strong, had an ordinary background, and was hardworking!

He was simply a top-tier investment!

Even if they couldn't be his girlfriend, if they had just shown him some kindness back then and been friends, maybe he would have become some big shot in the future, and a single word from him could have changed their lives.

But now... they had buried the bond of being classmates, and there was no longer any chance to close the distance.

Thinking of this, their hearts were filled with bitter regret.