Stirring Among All Sides, Final Rank: Third

Chu Wen had no idea that his casual run through the Dragonspine Corridor had caused an enormous stir among the major powers of the Blue Star Alliance.

Xinhang Martial University was, after all, one of the nine martial universities. Its graduates were already considered the backbone of the Blue Star Alliance.

And the standouts among the martial universities possessed future potential that was simply beyond measure!

Those with martial arts family backgrounds might remain within their clans and serve in family affairs, but those without any backing were prized morsels!

Geniuses like Chu Wen, born from humble roots with clean backgrounds, were exactly the type most families loved.

Of course, some absolutely dominant martial arts families might not think much of him, but those powers that were neither high enough nor low enough were certainly working around the clock to devise ways to recruit Chu Wen.

After all, recruiting a mid-level warrior prodigy with the potential to become a War King was far cheaper than recruiting an established War King.

Where some families cared, others did not.

"Xinhang Martial University? Isn't that the one my sister attends? Kyoto Martial University and Three Purities Martial University are both right by home, yet she insisted on running off to a university on the border."

At that, the man felt somewhat displeased.

"Your sister has always had that temperament. Lin Han, you're already a mid-level War King—why are you still acting like a child?"

Lin Han smiled helplessly and placed a file on Chu Wen beside the table.

The partner beside him saw it and nodded slightly. "A grassroots genius actually emerged. Those small powers will have their hands full. But a future War King-level martial artist shouldn't amount to much for your Lin Family, right?"

"That's true. The family is only considering recruiting him, anyway. I voted against it."

"Let's talk about the deal in H City. That's our focus during this period. That batch of Beast King-grade goods..."

Xinhang Martial University, high-class dormitory district.

Zhang Liping answered a call, concern faintly visible on her face.

"Pingping, you have to help your father with this. Your grandfather's forces suffered terrible losses in the battle at Jiangnan Base City. If we can replenish some fresh blood, that would be for the best."

"That Chu Wen is from Jiangnan Base City. As long as you play the emotional card a little, he'll definitely be willing to work for your grandfather."

"Investing now will definitely be cheaper than investing later. Didn't your mother tell you before to keep an eye on this Chu Wen?"

"You should have had some contact with him already, right?"

Zhang Liping whined coquettishly, "Dad~~ Chu Wen is only a mid-level warrior. Who knows whether he can become a War King in the future? No matter how gifted he is now, he's still just a warrior..."

Because of Rox, she did not want to approach Chu Wen. If Chu Wen learned that the Jiangnan Martial Faction had been sabotaged through her meddling, she feared she would be unable to bear the consequences.

"Pingping! Be good!"

"Your father hasn't been able to lift his head before your grandfather these past few days. Won't you even help me with something this small?"

"Besides, I'm only asking you to go talk to him. If it doesn't work out, that's fine. Why reject it from the very beginning?"

Zhang Liping tried to evade the matter for a few sentences, but in the end, she agreed.

She knew exactly how difficult Chu Wen was to deal with!

The moment he enrolled, he had filled every bed in the school hospital! A baleful star like that—if she took the initiative to approach him, wouldn't she be walking straight into the net?

"Rox... Brother, what should I do? My dad wants me to get in touch with Chu Wen."

"Oh? Third place in the Dragonspine Corridor is already enough to catch the Li Family's attention?" On the other end of the call, Rox swirled the wineglass in his hand.

"Then go talk to him. Among those who targeted the Jiangnan Martial Faction, you're hardly the only one. Plenty of teachers wanted to skim some profit from it. Just tell him the truth and apologize. As for whether you can lower yourself, that's your own business."

Rox ended the call, having no interest in dealing with that fool.

Instead, he thought of Lin Haisheng's uncle, Chang Yun. That man knew what was what—he had gone to apologize the very next day after the incident.

The Chaos Martial Arts Hall was merely not overbearing; that did not mean it was weak.

It was an organization founded by the number one person in the Blue Star Alliance!

With the Chaos Martial Arts Hall behind him, Chu Wen was no ordinary grassroots nobody.

He looked at the travel itinerary on the table, irritation flashing in his eyes.

[Outbound Hunting Squad Roster: Chu Wen, Lin Wei, Chen Dai]

After the Dragonspine Corridor assessment came practical combat drills. The teams for the drills were formed according to Dragonspine Corridor rankings, meant to encourage students to team up and hunt stronger demonic beasts. Only when the strong joined forces with the strong did it have meaning.

And since it involved actual combat, teachers naturally had to protect the students.

The last thing Rox wanted was to lead Chu Wen's team. Yet when that person from the Lin Family learned that Rox was studying at Xinhang Martial University, they directly sent word to the principal, asking for Lin Wei to be placed on Rox's team.

Lin Wei had no boyfriend, and neither did Rox. The scheme was as obvious as Sima Zhao's ambition—known to every passerby!

As for Chen Dai, that was at the principal's instruction. In Rox's eyes, he had purely been brought in to increase the difficulty of practical combat.

"They really know how to make trouble for me."

In another villa within the dormitory district.

Chu Wen had just finished showering and changed into clean casual clothes when he saw the final ranking results on his optical computer.

Dragonspine Corridor Rank: 3

[Practical training information has been released. Three-person teams will be formed according to Dragonspine Corridor ranking order. The first two will be selected in forward order, while the third will be selected in reverse order. Departure in 15 days...]

[Instructor Rox's team members: Rox (War God), Chu Wen (mid-level warrior), Lin Wei (high-level warrior), Chen Dai (entry-level warrior).]

"Chen Dai? According to the rules, shouldn't the lowest-ranked person be joining the team...?"

Chu Wen was somewhat puzzled, but upon seeing Rox's name, he vaguely guessed that this person had probably pulled some strings.

An eighteen-year-old genius War God... younger than even him. No wonder he was so petty.

Chen Dai had also sent an email expressing his confusion, even worrying that he would hold the team back.

Chu Wen and Lin Wei were the third- and fourth-ranked geniuses. It was rather strange for him, Chen Dai, to be mixed in with them.

Chu Wen's reply was, "What are you afraid of? The last-place student is even moving together with first and second place."

Not long afterward, Rox created a team group chat. After everyone briefly introduced themselves and agreed upon a meeting point fifteen days later, there was nothing more.

Chu Wen was in no hurry to learn about the other two. Instead, he called Chen Dai along and headed for the laboratory in Zone C—

The Martial-Sense Laboratory.

White-Haired Yama Yuchi Yu had sent Chu Wen a message several days ago.

But at the time, Chu Wen had been in the Dragonspine Corridor and could not come out immediately.

After showering and changing into clean clothes, he came here with Chen Dai.

Chen Dai had also changed into a new martial arts uniform. The one he had worn before was indeed a little too small.

"Brother Wen, this seems to be White-Haired Yama's laboratory. Are you sure?"

"It's fine. Just relax."

After a series of disinfection procedures, one special metal door after another opened under Chu Wen's key.

But the two of them came face-to-face with a stern, cold visage—

Rox.

Bare-chested, he sat helplessly on an instrument, looking utterly dead inside. The instant he saw Chu Wen arrive, the expression on his face immediately turned hostile.

"Stone, you know Chu Wen?"

"I know him. Who doesn't?" Rox stepped down from the instrument. "This time, I'm leading these two and that little girl from the Lin Family on an outing."

"Alright, then be careful on the road this time. When you return, I'll have your grandmother make you a meal of dumplings."

"I'll be going then, Grandpa..."

Rox's expression was extraordinarily complicated. Before leaving, he even cast Chu Wen a glance.

Chu Wen smiled awkwardly and walked over to the instrument, where he found Yuchi Yu busy beyond measure.

"I heard there was a formidable member of the Jiangnan Martial Faction called Chen Dai. Thinking of your relationship with the Jiangnan Martial Faction, I sent you a message directly."

"This is Chen Dai, right? Have him take off his clothes and sit up there."

Yuchi Yu did not waste any words. He directly attached all kinds of testing probes to Chen Dai, and indicators of various colors began flashing across the instrument's display.

Chu Wen, meanwhile, seemed like an unnecessary extra. Standing there, he could only watch the readings on the screen and operate the equipment according to the teacher's instructions.

He heard Yuchi Yu mutter to himself, "So it really is like this... It actually really is like this."