Vile Abuse! Murderous Intent Erupts

Living two lives, Ling Zhan had long since passed the hot-blooded age of a naive youth.

From the moment he secured the top spot on the Provincial Trial Ranking as a Jobless Freelancer, he knew he was destined to face such skepticism and disdain.

The admissions officers from these key combat academies treated Ling Zhan with cold indifference.

Conversely, their attitude toward Sun Ze and Su Rou was far more enthusiastic.

Was Ling Zhan angry about this?

Naturally, he felt a little annoyed.

But he was not about to spout grandiloquent nonsense or recite old proverbs about how fortunes change every thirty years.

He was weak right now, so he understood the logic of keeping a low profile to grow.

Given his scores, Ling Zhan could absolutely get into a second-tier academy.

As for those so-called key combat academies, Ling Zhan's attitude was that he could take them or leave them.

Anyway, I have a system. Do you really think I'm lacking your so-called educational resources?

Don't be ridiculous! Do you really think I, Ling Zhan, can't become strong without you?

It was just that...

Ling Zhan hadn't expected this girl, whom he had only met once, to appear.

He expected even less that she would declare, "If you don't want Ling Zhan, our Tianyan Academy does."

It wasn't just Ling Zhan who felt stunned.

Everyone present was astonished.

It wasn't just the surprise of seeing Zhu Yaoguang here.

It was also her saying, "Our Tianyan Academy."

Could it be that she was representing Tianyan Academy's admissions?

At this thought, the faces of the admissions officers from the other key academies darkened.

In their hearts, Zhu Yaoguang was the true top scorer of the Provincial Trial Ranking!

Had she actually chosen Tianyan Academy?

Logically, Zhu Yaoguang should have been in her high school office right now, carefully considering the olive branches extended by various institutions before making a choice.

"Yaoguang, don't be ridiculous."

Just then, a voice came from behind Zhu Yaoguang.

The crowd turned their eyes to see a middle-aged man of about forty, dressed in a suit with a refined air.

"Zhu Xiaoshan! Isn't he the director of admissions for Tianyan Academy? Why would he be here?"

Among the many teachers, someone immediately recognized the middle-aged man's identity.

"Director Zhu, why have you appeared here in Yundong City?"

Mu Yutian stood up in surprise.

Like the other teachers, he felt that Zhu Xiaoshan had no business being here.

The reason was simple.

Yundong City was merely a third-tier city.

Although a Provincial Trial Ranking top scorer had emerged here, so what?

This Provincial Trial Ranking champion had absolutely no substance; he was just a Jobless Freelancer who liked to grandstand.

With Zhu Xiaoshan's status, he should have been recruiting in other provinces, specifically targeting prodigies of Zhu Yaoguang's caliber.

Now that he had appeared here, it was no wonder all the admissions officers were surprised.

"It's all because my niece insisted I come, saying she was afraid the Nanzhou Province Trial Ranking champion would be snatched up by other academies."

Zhu Xiaoshan looked at Zhu Yaoguang with doting eyes, shook his head, and said, "What? Judging by the tone of you teachers, none of your academies want this top scorer?"

"Director Zhu, you don't understand. This Ling Zhan is just a clown looking for attention, deliberately choosing to be a Jobless Freelancer to catch everyone's eye."

"Which academy would want a clown with no bright future?"

"Even if an academy admitted him, he'd probably just be a deserter if sent to the front lines of the Dark Night Plains."

Before Mu Yutian could speak, a student beside him chimed in.

The badge on his chest bore his name: Fang Bo. His demeanor was arrogant, his tone contemptuous.

He had stepped forward voluntarily because he wanted to show off in front of the teachers.

Of course, the main reason was that Zhu Yaoguang was there!

And Su Rou was there too!

It was like boys playing on a basketball court; if two pretty girls suddenly appeared to watch the game, the boys would certainly show off to grab the beauties' attention.

Clearly, Fang Bo felt he was the most beautiful peacock on the court.

"Oh? Is that so?"

Zhu Xiaoshan hadn't expected this kind of answer.

He had thought his genius niece had been surpassed by someone truly brilliant.

He hadn't expected it to be a Jobless Freelancer...

"This student of mine is indeed a Jobless Freelancer, but he is no clown looking for attention."

At this moment, Qi Mu stood up and said in a deep voice, "I have seen this student's performance with my own eyes. His strength is very high. I hope everyone will not slander others without understanding the reasons."

"Where did I slander him? I'm telling the truth."

With his own teacher present, Fang Bo was naturally unafraid. Instead, he pushed his luck and sneered, "It seems the teachers from Hastings Academy didn't even come. Although I don't know the reason, I suspect they must look down on this Nanzhou Province champion."

"We only came because Yundong City at least produced someone in the provincial top hundred."

Fang Bo's words went a bit too far.

He pointedly claimed Ling Zhan was a fraud and looked down on Yundong City as a small backwater.

However, Sun Ze felt very smug under the praise of these words.

He glanced at Ling Zhan, thinking: I thought you were something special, but it turns out the top scorer is nothing more than a fraud. Now, not a single academy wants you.

Zhong Wenshan's face was pitch black.

Zhu Xiaoshan, meanwhile, fixed his gaze on Ling Zhan, the focus of the controversy.

Zhu Yaoguang's beautiful red eyes blinked as she looked at the still-silent Ling Zhan, and she couldn't help but sneer inwardly.

Still playing the fool, are you? I've already stood up for you, and you're still hiding? Then don't blame me.

So, she muttered nonchalantly, "Since you all question Ling Zhan's level, why doesn't this senior spar with him? It would be a perfect chance for us to see just how much 'padding' this top scorer really has."

When these words were spoken:

"No!"

Zhong Wenshan and Qi Mu immediately shook their heads in refusal.

This Fang Bo was a university student at Huaqing Academy; he had already finished his freshman year and was preparing for his sophomore year.

That meant his level couldn't be low.

He was at least Level 20.

Moreover, the equipment he wore and the skills he had learned were definitely not entry-level.

Looking at Ling Zhan, he was only Level 14, right?

His equipment was likely very poor as well.

If they dueled, Ling Zhan would definitely lose.

It wasn't fair at all.

"Haha, so eager to refuse? I told you he's just a little piece of trash with no real strength."

Fang Bo looked at the silent Ling Zhan with contempt, his vicious words spilling out: "I think this Provincial Trial Ranking champion's parents must be losers too, right? Otherwise, how could they give birth to such a clown looking for attention?"

These words were even more excessive.

Not to mention Zhong Wenshan and Qi Mu, even the faces of teachers like Zhu Xiaoshan turned ugly.

And Ling Zhan, who had been silent and head-bowed with a simple, honest expression, suddenly looked up at this moment.

His clear, piercing pupils stared fixedly at Fang Bo, like a starving wolf spotting its prey!

Zhu Yaoguang and Su Rou, who had been watching Ling Zhan the whole time, felt their bodies tremble slightly when they sensed his astonishing murderous intent.

At this moment, they finally realized.

Beneath the simple, honest exterior of the boy before them, a vicious dragon was hidden!