Kui Wood Wolf Applies to Duel the Wealth God!

Boom!!!

The rustling voices seemed as if someone had hit the pause button again.

"Whew~"

A gust of wind passed through, making the dead silence all the more pronounced.

"Y-you, what did you say?!"

The principal's mouth visibly fell open in astonishment, as though he couldn't believe his own ears.

"You want to accept an S-rank mission?!"

"Yes, Principal. I think this mission suits me well. I want to give it a try!"

Lu Chen clasped his fists.

Only then did the uproar around them erupt like a volcano.

"Lu Chen, are you insane? You're strong, sure, but that's an S-rank mission! You've never even worshipped the Dragon King."

Li Ruoyi anxiously reminded him in a low voice from beside him.

Even now, she still couldn't believe, understand, or even imagine how Lu Chen had raised his Divine Service Rating to 50% in just two days.

No matter how obscure this Lord God of Wealth was, he was still an Orthodox God of the Heavenly Court with an exalted status.

But this mission had absolutely nothing to do with Lord God of Wealth.

Since it had been promoted to an S-rank mission—

Then naturally, it possessed the difficulty of an S-rank mission.

In Li Ruoyi's eyes, Lu Chen was undoubtedly being a little too rash.

She wasn't the only one who thought so.

All the teachers, including the principal, thought the same.

Yet Yu Feng, Lord City Governor, who stood nearby with his hands hanging at his sides—

Narrowed his eyes slightly, curiosity curling at the corners of his lips.

"Quiet!!"

The principal pressed down through the air. "Lu Chen, I admit that you're remarkable. Today, you've given me an unprecedented shock. At least among every student I've ever taught, none has been stronger than you! But!"

The expected turn came.

"You worship Lord God of Wealth, a Wealth God who blesses you with prosperity. This has no connection whatsoever to the mission itself. Don't let yourself become arrogant. You should still put humility first."

Before Yu Feng, Principal Zhang was clearly caught in a difficult position.

If he encouraged him, people would think he was an irresponsible principal. The mission clearly didn't suit Lu Chen, so how could he allow him to take such a risk?

But if he didn't encourage him, that would go against the principles of this reform.

After turning it over in his mind, he could only patiently guide Lu Chen, hoping he would see reality clearly, find his proper place, and take missions suited to him.

"Principal, I've made up my mind. I'm taking this mission!"

The Dragon King wasn't making it rain. What did that have to do with me?

If he wouldn't do it, plenty of others would!

There wasn't just a handful of dragon gods in the Heavenly Court responsible for rainfall.

Rain Master Red Pine counted as one.

And if all else failed, Star Lord of Water Virtue counted too.

As long as it rained, that was enough.

"Holy shit, that's badass!"

"Today, I saw a real god!"

"No wonder he's the man with a 50% Divine Service Rating. When he talks now, my heart and liver tremble."

"If nothing unexpected happens, this guy's going down in No. 3 Middle School history!"

"My brain's blank right now. Am I dreaming?"

Everyone around them stared with eyes as wide as bronze bells.

Just moments ago, his 50% Divine Service Rating had shattered the confidence and superiority of these absolute elites from the advanced classes, grinding them into dust.

And before the aftershock of that blow had even faded halfway—

Another nuclear strike came straight at them.

Forget S-rank missions. They even found C-rank missions difficult. B-rank missions were something they could only gaze at from afar in fear. They didn't dare imagine accepting A-rank missions at all—it would be pure suicide.

Yet this man had dropped a stone that shattered the heavens, refusing anything below S-rank?!

At that moment, the way these elites looked at Lu Chen changed completely.

He was clearly standing right in front of them.

Yet they had the overwhelming illusion that they existed in two different dimensions.

The principal's mouth twitched. He drew a deep breath and instinctively glanced at Lord City Governor Yu from the corner of his eye.

Seeing the latter's intrigued expression, his heart tightened, and his throat went dry. "You brat, you're really taking it?!"

"This student has made up his mind. If it isn't this mission, I won't take any!"

"Then... then do you have the money?"

The principal suddenly threw out a question Lu Chen hadn't expected.

"Money? What money?" Lu Chen froze.

"Look carefully again. There are two lines of fine print beneath the mission. Didn't you notice them?"

At that, Lu Chen focused and looked again.

Not knowing was one thing. Once he saw it, Lu Chen nearly cursed his mother.

"Accepting the mission requires prepayment of a 20% deposit and military merit. Both will be fully returned upon mission success. They will be deducted immediately upon mission failure."

"What the hell? Which shameless bastard designed a mission list like this? You have to pay a deposit before even accepting a mission?"

In other words, to take this mission, Lu Chen had to pay four million in cash in advance, plus eight hundred military merit points.

The money was a minor matter.

The key was that he didn't have a single military merit point.

For a moment, Lu Chen was dumbfounded.

He truly hadn't expected some immoral bastard to design the mission list this way.

"Now you understand why S-rank missions aren't easy to accept, right? You can temporarily owe the military merit and pay it later, but the deposit must be paid first. A four-million deposit isn't a small sum."

Seeing Lu Chen like this, the principal didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

See? That was what happened when he rushed in.

He hadn't even properly read the mission details.

If high-rank missions were so easy to accept, wouldn't everyone just take them whenever they pleased?

Great rewards naturally required a threshold.

Not just strength.

The deposit requirement alone could exclude 99% of people.

After all, the deposit wouldn't be refunded if the mission failed.

"Principal, what did you say? You said military merit can be owed first, but the deposit has to be paid upfront?"

Who would have thought that as soon as Lu Chen heard that, his eyes lit up.

"That's right." The principal had no idea why.

The next second—

Lu Chen pulled out his phone. "Fine, no problem. Where do I scan? I'll pay!!"

Li Ruoyi: "..."

The surrounding students: "..."

The principal and teachers: "..."

Yu Feng and the city officials: "..."

Meanwhile, Song Hao had been lurking in a corner all this time, drowning in self-doubt, confusion, and jealousy. Seeing Lu Chen apparently unable to pay and trapped in an awkward situation—

The moment before, he had been about to burst into mocking laughter.

Yet the next second, just as his mouth split into a grin, it froze stiffly.

Lu Chen smiled faintly. "My Divine Service Rating with Lord God of Wealth is already at 50%. Isn't it perfectly reasonable for me to come up with four million?"

"Holy shit!!!"

At last, the entire field completely snapped and collapsed beyond all limits!

No one had expected a school Divine Service Rating test to one day turn into one person's private showcase.

Four million!!

Almost everyone in Class 3 knew that his family circumstances were as pitiful and unpresentable as his Divine Service Rating with Emperor Wenchang.

Yet only two days had passed.

And he could already produce a massive fortune of four million.

The students around him weren't just stunned to tears—they were jealous to tears as well.

Lu Chen had practically become the most perfect version of what they imagined themselves to be.

Seeing this, the principal took a deep breath and asked one final time, "Lu Chen, if the mission fails, not only will your deposit not be refunded, but your account will also owe eight hundred military merit points. Have you thought it through? Are you really taking it?"

"I am!!"

"Good! Come up and collect the mission!"

"Yes!"

Lu Chen went onstage, and a staff member immediately came over to help him complete the procedures!

Then he handed Lu Chen a mission document stamped with the official seal of the City Governor's Manor.

"Wait!"

Just then, a sharp shout rang out.

Everyone turned toward the sound.

Yu Feng walked over and took the document from the staff member. "I'll personally issue this mission!"

"Everyone, applaud!!"

The principal immediately took the lead in clapping.

In an instant, thunderous applause filled the field.

Yu Feng presented the mission document with both hands. "Little Friend Lu, today you've truly shown me what it means for heroes to emerge in their youth! Listening to you has set this city governor's heart surging, and I can scarcely contain myself. Here, I wish you victory at the first stroke and success the moment you mount your horse!"

"Thank you, Lord City Governor!"

Lu Chen solemnly accepted the mission document.

For the first time in his life, he had formally accepted a mission!

With Lu Chen taking the lead, the others soon selected their own trial missions.

But every single one was C-rank.

The highest deposit paid didn't even exceed five hundred.

Still, that was normal.

It was only because Lu Chen stood out like a crane among chickens, radiating brilliance in every direction, that these other talents—each one chosen from a hundred—appeared so ordinary.

"Alright, everyone has chosen their missions. Next, I'll distribute the rewards for the top ten in this test. Students whose names I call, come onstage to receive your awards."

The Heavenly Official's Blessing segment officially began.

"First place: Lu Chen, Divine Service Rating of 50%."

Lu Chen stepped onstage again.

"Second place: Feng Yue, Divine Service Rating of 3.6%."

"Third place: Song Hao, Divine Service Rating of 3.5%."

"Sixth place: Li Ruoyi, Divine Service Rating of 3%."

As the ten top-ranked students of the year stepped onto the stage—

Ten young women in cheongsams slowly emerged from the other side of the stage, each holding a tray.

On every tray sat a precious box inlaid with gold and carved jade.

Inside each box lay a dazzling pill that caught the eye and wouldn't let go.

"The top ten of this Divine Service Rating Tournament will each receive one Heavenly Official's Blessing: an Origin Spirit Pill. Once consumed, it will shatter your shackles and allow you to formally enter First Grade."

As the principal spoke—

Lu Chen and the others took the pills from their boxes and swallowed them in one gulp.

A warm current instantly coursed through their entire bodies.

Lu Chen immediately felt his magical power strengthen by several degrees.

He seemed to have faintly reached the realm of peak perfection.

Just one more step, and he could break through First Grade and light the second Spirit Lamp within his Spirit Sea.

But perhaps because he had already entered First Grade—

The advancement phenomenon caused by Lu Chen's Origin Spirit Pill was far less dramatic than that of the other nine.

After the other nine consumed theirs, gusts of magical power swirled around their bodies.

Several streaks of radiant light even bloomed faintly around Song Hao, making him seem especially extraordinary.

By contrast, Lu Chen's sleeves merely fluttered slightly from the spiritual energy.

"Haha!! I actually broke through to the early stage of First Grade in one go."

Song Hao clenched his fists, looking utterly incredulous as he burst into wild laughter.

"Among the ten of you, it seems you've absorbed it most thoroughly. You're quite a promising martial arts seedling."

Seeing this, Yu Feng nodded inwardly and praised him.

"Thank you for the City Lord's praise."

Song Hao was flattered beyond measure.

"No need. This is your good fortune as well."

"Alright, from this day forth, you have officially stepped into First Grade as Spirit Cultivators. I hope you'll keep striving and set an example for others!"

The principal waved his hand, signaling that they could step down.

"Wait, Principal! This student has something I'd like to ask you!"

Song Hao suddenly called out loudly, cupping his fists.

The other students all halted in their tracks.

Only Lu Chen went thump, thump, thump down the stage.

Seeing this, Song Hao immediately grew anxious. "Principal, I've heard that after entering First Grade, Spirit Cultivators may spar with one another. Once one side issues a challenge, the challenged party cannot refuse. Is there such a rule?"

The moment he said this—

Everyone wore puzzled expressions.

Even Lu Chen stopped and turned to look over.

The principal frowned. "Student Song, what are you trying to do?"

Song Hao said, "May I ask, Principal, whether such a rule exists?"

The principal subconsciously looked toward Yu Feng.

Yu Feng stood with his hands behind his back and nodded. "That's right, there is such a rule. Who do you want to challenge?"

Song Hao's face lit up with delight. A trace of a feral grin appeared as he looked at Lu Chen, who had already stepped off the stage. "This student wishes to challenge him!"