Someone Behind the Scenes

"The ten-day intensive training ends today. Tang Jian, Yang Mao, He Chong, and Wang Lele showed the most improvement this time. The rest of you still need to work harder."

In the quiet multi-purpose classroom, Sun Yiying stood at the podium, speaking to Tang Jian and the others seated below.

Despite appearing calm, Liu Kun and the others who weren't called out clearly felt a bit awkward.

Yang Mao deliberately puffed out his chest when his name was mentioned, but then he glanced at Tang Jian, who looked nonchalant, and his triumphant expression instantly diminished, as if he'd been punched. His face fell.

"As of now, four people in our class have Card Energy exceeding 70: Liu Kun, Gao Yang, Tang Jian, and Yang Mao.

All four of you, get ready. Tomorrow, the selection trials for the Rocket Class will begin. I don't care about anyone else, but the four of you absolutely must perform well and get into the Rocket Class."

Sun Yiying stated directly.

He Chong, Wang Lele, and the others who weren't mentioned didn't feel discouraged.

Everyone had a chance to try and join the Rocket Class tomorrow. It wasn't that they had no hope, just that their chances were relatively smaller.

Because Tang Jian and the other three would enter the Interstellar Tower tomorrow to spar with students from other classes, and even battle alien races.

Their performance throughout the entire process would be fully displayed before all the teachers and school leaders, so their chances were definitely high.

As for those who weren't selected to enter the Interstellar Tower, they weren't abandoned. They would be taken for other trials and ultimately pass through a different layer of selection.

This was simply unavoidable.

After all, Xicheng was just a small place, and Xicheng No. 1 High School had very limited resources. The Interstellar Tower could only allow a limited number of students to enter and experience it.

Students who temporarily didn't meet the standards could only be temporarily bypassed, but they weren't completely without opportunity.

"Bastard, good luck! You're so treacherous, I have a really good feeling you'll get into the Rocket Class."

As they were about to disperse, Jia Ling gave Tang Jian a thumbs-up.

"Is that how you compliment someone?" Tang Jian smacked him.

"Bastard, tell me honestly, how strong is your vitality now? I heard that battles in the Interstellar Tower aren't just about Card Energy, but mainly about vitality," Yang Mao leaned over and asked.

"Haven't you noticed, after I've thrashed you in every combat session these past few days?" Tang Jian squinted at Yang Mao.

"Damn it, can you not bring that up?"

Yang Mao was embarrassed. Lately, Tang Jian had beaten him to a pulp in every combat session. What was even more shameful was that Wang Lele had knocked him down several times, which he'd always considered a disgrace.

The group laughed and chatted for a while. After the ten-day training concluded, everyone felt very relaxed. He Chong proactively suggested they all go out for a meal, which many agreed to.

He Chong was quite disappointed. Originally, his Card Energy was among the top three in the class, but after these ten days of intensive training, he had fallen to fifth place.

It wasn't that he wasn't strong, but that everyone else had made such significant progress.

Liu Kun and Gao Yang already had higher Card Energy than him, so that was understandable.

But Tang Jian, this invincible dark horse, had burst forth, his Card Energy soaring from over 40 to over 70 in just ten days, directly suppressing him.

Not only Tang Jian, but Yang Mao had also been incredibly driven these past ten days.

It was said that Yang Mao's family had prepared two Solar Energy Potions for him, which he drank. Coupled with his intense physical training over the past ten days, his vitality had significantly increased. He barely managed to raise his Card Energy to 70 points on the tenth day, reaching the standard.

Only He Chong's Card Energy was stuck at 68 points. To raise it to 70, he would need at least two more days, but tomorrow was the selection for the Rocket Class, and he simply didn't have that much time.

"Tang Jian, stay for a bit. The rest of you can go to the gathering first. Be careful outside and don't cause trouble."

Before they left, Sun Yiying instructed.

Tang Jian reluctantly stayed, while the others left together.

"I just knew Tang Jian might have some family connection with the instructor."

"Exactly. His family isn't well-off, and he's improved so quickly lately. He probably drank Solar Energy Potions too. Where did he get those potions? Maybe…"

"No way, I asked that bastard, and he said he had no relation to Teacher Sun. Besides, he's so ugly, Teacher Sun wouldn't…"

"That bastard is so devious, how could he tell you the truth?"

Liu Kun listened to the words of his classmates nearby, and his expression grew somewhat gloomy and depressed.

He had always been the top student in Class 12 of the third year, but now Tang Jian, this dark horse, had emerged with an eye-catching performance, gradually attracting the attention of Instructor Sun Yiying.

He could clearly sense that Sun Yiying valued Tang Jian much more than she valued him.

This feeling was not pleasant.

It was as if his pride, which rightfully belonged to him, had been forcibly taken away by someone else.

If Tang Jian's strength surpassed his, he would accept it.

But now, his Card Energy had reached 87 points, his vitality had broken through 9 points, and his combat skills were also very refined. Moreover, he had learned many Card combat techniques from Master Le.

In every aspect, Liu Kun considered himself superior to Tang Jian.

Yet, Sun Yiying still seemed to value Tang Jian more.

This made him start to believe that Tang Jian was Sun Yiying's relative; it felt truly unfair.

"Tomorrow, in the Interstellar Tower, I'll let my strength speak for itself. I'll display undeniable power and let everyone know who the top student in Class 12 of the third year truly is. Tang Jian won't be able to compete with me."

Liu Kun secretly made up his mind.

Although he wasn't a malicious or petty person, this unfair treatment and feeling of being undervalued forced him to prove himself, and to prove it to others, making them notice his presence.

At this moment, Tang Jian looked innocently at Sun Yiying. "Teacher Sun, you've kept me behind alone again. You don't know how easily misunderstandings can arise every time you do this."

Having spent more time with Sun Yiying, Tang Jian's tone had become a little more casual.

Mainly, Sun Yiying wasn't much older, and her manner with people was very approachable, making it hard to feel a strong sense of distance.

Sun Yiying's sweet face clouded over with a frosty expression, and she scoffed, "What misunderstanding? Who would dare misunderstand? Tell me."

Seeing Tang Jian just give a dry laugh without speaking, Sun Yiying said coldly, "Your Card Energy has now reached 78 points, and your vitality also exceeds 8. I want you to perform exceptionally well in the Interstellar Tower tomorrow. If you encounter students from Class One or Class Two, teach them a lesson they won't forget. If you do well, I'll even give you an extra reward."

Tang Jian's eyes widened when he heard this. "What kind of deep-seated hatred is this? And Teacher, my strength isn't even comparable to Liu Kun's. Why don't you assign this task to him?"

Sun Yiying reached out and tapped Tang Jian's head, rolling her eyes. "Do you think I don't know how much you're hiding, kid?

You still have that Sleeve Arrow mechanical card, right? I suspect you can also create other Cards.

And the day before yesterday, at Master Le's place, even though you tried to hide your proficiency in using Cards, I saw it. Do you really think it's that easy to fool your teacher?

I won't ask who is guiding you from behind, but I only know that you are my student, and I am your teacher. A teacher needs her students to earn her face. If you can do it, I'll heartily support and protect you. If you can't, then get out of my sight."

Sun Yiying looked as if she had seen right through Tang Jian, her eyes holding a hint of playful reproach.

"Teacher Sun, you truly have discerning eyes. Nothing can be hidden from you, it seems. Alright, I agree, but what's my reward?"

Tang Jian hesitated, giving a dry laugh, but inwardly, he was in tears.

Damn it, I, a Three-Star Card Master, have been acting in front of you for so many days, and you're finally confronting me. You're finally starting to suspect there's someone behind me.