Sharp Tongue

"Many of you must have seen yesterday's news. I won't waste time talking about it. Safety has always been repeatedly emphasized. You..."

During morning self-study, their mentor, Sun Yiying, appeared in the classroom and gave them a reminder about the Old Kingdom Organization member who had appeared and committed violence yesterday. As she spoke, her gaze drifted toward Tang Jian in the distance. Clearly, she still remembered his fight with Mosquito last night.

However, she believed Tang Jian had never noticed her. Afterward, she had cleaned up after him and threatened Mosquito again, so Tang Jian could not possibly have known.

Naturally, that was only Sun Yiying's wishful thinking. In truth, Tang Jian, the actor, had noticed her long ago. He was simply playing dumb and revealing nothing.

Before morning self-study ended, Sun Yiying called out Tang Jian and several others by name, leading them out of the classroom.

Yang Mao and the others were all excited. They felt that with the Interstellar Tower opening today, they could finally show what they were capable of, and they were quite confident.

Sun Yiying led them toward the school's science and technology hall, explaining precautions as they walked. Looking at Yang Mao and the others' eager faces, she could not bear to discourage them. She kept some words to herself and offered only encouragement.

As someone who had been through it before, Tang Jian was good at reading people. He noticed the concern in Sun Yiying's expression and thought, It looks like there are quite a few formidable students in the other classes this time.

The school's science and technology hall was located in the deepest part of the campus. Students were usually forbidden from entering it.

This was Tang Jian and the others' fourth visit to the science and technology hall during their three years of high school, and they were even going to the Interstellar Tower. Not to mention Yang Mao and the others, even Tang Jian felt a little excited.

From what he knew, the Interstellar Tower's functions were somewhat similar to the dream function of the Red Card Cheater. It created a virtual energy world.

When a person's consciousness entered that energy world to train or act, their body would also undergo subtle reactions. It could produce the effects of cultivation and tempering, increasing one's strength.

However, each activation of the Interstellar Tower consumed an enormous amount of energy and cost a great deal.

Therefore, the school only opened the Interstellar Tower once a year, shortly before some senior students took the college entrance examination. It allowed the students to train together through this opportunity, considered the school's final gesture of goodwill.

During assessments within the Interstellar Tower, everyone entered in the form of consciousness.

Therefore, no matter what battles occurred or what dangerous assessment missions they undertook, the students would ultimately suffer no injuries or deaths. At the same time, it still fulfilled the purpose and significance of an assessment, making it highly useful.

Led by Sun Yiying, Tang Jian and the others entered the spaciously decorated science and technology hall. In the large hall ahead, students from many classes were already waiting.

When they saw Sun Yiying leading her students over, several teachers smiled and greeted her.

The students from those classes also looked them over with all kinds of expressions—provocation, appraisal, scrutiny, observation, and more.

"Liu Kun, your teacher made a bet with ours, betting that we won't get into prestigious universities. Hehe, this time I also want to test you, the top student of Senior Class Twelve, and see whether you really have what it takes to get into a prestigious university."

While Sun Yiying was talking with the other teachers, a student from Class One walked over and looked at Liu Kun with a faint smile.

Liu Kun frowned. His eyes held a trace of wariness as he looked at the crew-cut youth. "Wu Chun, Teacher Sun never said you wouldn't get into prestigious universities. You all know what your teacher is plotting. Teacher Sun was only forced to accept that bet."

"Hahaha, Liu Kun, there's no need to say such things. As the top student of Senior Class Twelve, how can you have so little spirit? That's not like your usual style.

"This time, if any of us from Class Two run into you inside the Interstellar Tower, you'd better prepare to run. The farther, the better!"

Another student from Class Two, wearing an earring, approached with several people surrounding him. He looked arrogant, sweeping a contemptuous glance over Tang Jian and the others beside Liu Kun.

Yang Mao's face reddened. He spat and said, "What are you acting so high and mighty for? Wang Ba, didn't you just drink a few more bottles of Solar Energy Potion than us? What are you being so smug about? Senior Class Twelve has more than just Liu Kun."

Wang Ba's expression turned cold as he looked at Yang Mao disdainfully. "What? Are you saying Class Twelve has trash like you too?"

"Hahaha!" The other students beside Wang Ba burst into laughter.

Watching this group of high schoolers engage in such a boring war of words, Tang Jian was truly speechless.

Still, it let him relive the childish, awkward verbal sparring of his high school days. He felt rather sentimental and could not help shaking his head with a bitter smile.

"What are you laughing at? You look unfamiliar. What, do you think you're somebody important too?"

At that moment, Wang Ba coldly fixed his gaze on Tang Jian, who was shaking his head and smiling bitterly beside Yang Mao. His eyes were unfriendly.

Clearly, he had taken the bitter smile on Tang Jian's face, since he was close to Yang Mao, as mockery toward him.

Tang Jian froze, glancing at Wang Ba in surprise. He pursed his lips and said, "I never thought I was anything special, but you old bastard don't need to throw your weight around in front of me, do you?"

The moment he said that, Yang Mao burst out laughing, while Wang Ba and the others from Class Two all turned extremely grim.

"Fine. You've all got some nerve. I'll be waiting for you in the Interstellar Tower."

Wang Ba clenched his fists until they cracked. But after glancing at the teachers nearby, he restrained himself. He coldly tossed out those words before leaving with several students.

Wu Chun gave Yang Mao and Tang Jian a pitying look before turning to leave as well. He seemed to mutter casually, "Sigh, looks like I won't even need to make a move. Wang Ba alone can beat these loudmouths so badly they won't know which way is north."

At that moment, the fashionably dressed Hu Lingli walked over from the side. Her beautiful eyes glanced at Tang Jian, then passed over him to look directly at Yang Mao with disappointment. "Yang Mao, you shouldn't have acted so arrogantly just now. If you really run into Wang Ba in the Interstellar Tower, you might be eliminated early. Why bother?"

Yang Mao was stunned. "We were arrogant? Wang Ba and his lot were the arrogant ones just now. Lingli, couldn't you see that?"

"Hehe, they have the capital to be arrogant. What do you have?"

A young man in red casual clothes walked over to Hu Lingli's side. He spoke with a light laugh, then glanced at Liu Kun.

"Your class only has Liu Kun who is worth looking at. The rest of you are no good."

That single sentence immediately made Gao Yang and Yang Mao burn with anger.

Tang Jian frowned. "Enough. Whether someone is arrogant or has the capital to be arrogant should be decided after today's assessment. You don't need to come over here and pretend to be good people."

"Sigh." Hu Lingli shook her head without saying anything, then pulled the young man in red away.

Yang Mao looked miserably and dejectedly at Hu Lingli's slender retreating figure. For the first time, he felt that the girl he had always liked was very far away from him.

"Brother, don't look so miserable. Once we get into the Interstellar Tower, I'll help you vent. Wang Ba or that guy from earlier—I'll knock them all down." Tang Jian punched Yang Mao lightly and smiled.

"Hehe." Yang Mao forced a smile at Tang Jian. "Brother, you should look out for yourself. If you see Wang Ba, run immediately. We're only good with our mouths."

Gao Yang clenched his fists, shook his head, and said dejectedly, "The gap is too big."

Wang Lele and Jia Ling, who had remained silent at the side, also wore pessimistic expressions.

"Brother Tang, don't play the hero. Passing the assessment is what matters most. You really don't let anyone have the last word either."

Tang Jian: "."