Who made the school belle act like this?

"Cold Moon Swordsman... this was the class I always dreamed of..."

Bai Qiu Li wiped away her tears, but uncertainty still lingered in her eyes.

She suddenly felt afraid. If she had remained a Gardener forever, perhaps she could have gritted her teeth and quietly endured it.

But now that she had tasted the power of a Cold Moon Swordsman, she feared she would fall apart if she had to go back to being a Gardener.

"Relax."

"As long as I don't die, your dream will become reality."

Yi Tian raised an eyebrow and found a piece of armor among the bull demon's remains: [Savage Bull Heavy Armor].

"This one's mine." As the boss, safety came first!

Curious yet conflicted, Bai Qiu Li said, "I remember reading about this in the Compendium of Other Races..."

"Among the [Elven Royal Family] bordering the South China Region, there's an extremely rare group called the Sacred Sacrifice Elves."

"They can grant other elves new racial abilities, but only by sacrificing their own lives!"

"Most methods of granting abilities to others come at an enormous cost."

"Why did you choose me?"

Yi Tian considered it for a moment, then answered sincerely:

"Because you're a qualified employee."

His answer did nothing to resolve Bai Qiu Li's confusion. Instead, it made her even more curious about his thoughts. Seeing that Yi Tian had no intention of explaining further, she smiled brightly.

"All right, boss!"

"No matter what happens, I'll protect you from now on!"

Listening to Bai Qiu Li's confident promise,

Yi Tian glanced at his own attributes, each ten points higher than hers... and silently nodded.

He had better not dampen his employee's enthusiasm.

The two stepped into the fog. This time, they would actively hunt down monsters.

"Demonprayer flowers. These only grow where demonic power is concentrated. Looks like we're in the right place!" Bai Qiu Li scanned their surroundings, eager to fight.

Suddenly, two Savage Bone Bull Demons charged out of the gray fog!

But this time, their higher spirit attributes let them detect the two Ferocious Beasts much earlier.

Without hesitation, Bai Qiu Li slashed out with her sword. Empowered by her passive skill-Cold Light Sword Soul-the sword energy was as sharp and fierce as crystalline ice.

[Employee-Bai Qiu Li killed a Savage Bone Bull Demon. Shared experience +30!]

[Employee-Bai Qiu Li killed a Savage Bone Bull Demon. Shared experience +30!]

"The attribute and talent bonuses of a legendary class are incredible!"

Joy lit up Bai Qiu Li's face, but a moment later, she looked apologetically at Yi Tian.

"Sorry. Since we're in a party, I should have left some weakened monsters for you to finish off."

During the trial, experience was divided according to each member's contribution.

Normally, a "freeloader" like Yi Tian would receive no experience, leaving Bai Qiu Li to claim it all.

Yet Yi Tian was delighted instead. "Just keep killing them. Don't worry about me!"

She killed them, and Yi Tian still shared the experience anyway, so why bother fighting himself?

[Trial Mission: Ferocious Beasts killed 3/10. Rating: None]

[Time remaining: 1 hour, 47 minutes, 30 seconds...]

They had plenty of time, but Yi Tian and Bai Qiu Li were no longer aiming merely to pass. They wanted a high rating and a new record!

Yi Tian in particular was determined to take first place in this trial. After all, the honor came with a cash reward through [Dividends]!

With his funds currently at zero, he urgently needed to recoup his investment!

Just then, sounds of fierce combat suddenly rang out beyond the gray fog ahead.

Yi Tian and Bai Qiu Li exchanged a glance, then quickly looked ahead.

They spotted two enormous, rotten-black apes leading four Savage Bone Bull Demons in pursuit of a student party.

Liu Chuang was guarding the rear. Storm power swirled around him, and he was badly wounded as he retreated with his teammates.

Their party clearly had considerable strength and had already killed several bull demons, but being surrounded by a pack of beasts was the hardest situation for newly awakened class users to handle.

Once the beasts closed in, most beginners became terrified and lost their composure.

At that point, forget forming up to counterattack; even using a skill accurately was an achievement.

"Ape Demons! Low-level fiends!"

"They're faster and smarter than the bull demons!"

Trials and dungeons contained not only demonic beasts, but also stronger fiends. The latter naturally fed on living creatures and possessed greater combat strength.

Bai Qiu Li identified the monsters, while Yi Tian pointed out someone with interest:

Lin Yu, the girl who had mocked Bai Qiu Li not long ago, was running fastest in Liu Chuang's party, too frightened even to turn around and cast a skill.

"Are you going to help her?"

Yi Tian looked teasingly at Bai Qiu Li. Her expression was as cold as a frozen lake as she raised her sword and advanced without hesitation.

"I'm not doing this to help anyone. I'm killing monsters and claiming the first place that's mine!"

"Stay safe for now, boss!"

With that, Bai Qiu Li darted forward like a phantom. Every step left a faint moonlit shadow beneath her feet-Moonshadow Step.

Yi Tian clicked his tongue admiringly. "Now that's an outstanding employee."

"Help! Someone save me!"

Lin Yu fled for her life, clearly panicked by the pack of fiends.

Meanwhile, Liu Chuang still held the rear, under immense pressure as he faced two Ape Demons.

"Fuck! Give me a damn heal!"

Suddenly, a silver streak zigzagged through Liu Chuang's five-person party, shot straight toward an Ape Demon, and thrust out a sword!

Shhk!

The sword pierced the Ape Demon's throat with lightning speed, striking its weak point and killing it instantly!

[Employee-Bai Qiu Li killed an Ape Demon. Shared experience +60!]

Yi Tian's experience bar was already full, but he had not yet passed the Apprentice Trial. While in [Novice] status, he could not level up and could only stockpile experience until he passed.

Yi Tian was eager to level up.

At level 10, he could advance his class from tier 0 to tier 1 and obtain a class-exclusive skill!

Class users had five tiers, with level 10, 25, 50, 75, and 100 serving as the requirements for their five class advancements.

Each tier granted a class-exclusive skill and advanced their class.

However, the tier 4 class advancement dungeon at level 75 was extremely difficult. No one in the world had cleared it yet.

The peak of tier 3 at level 74 remained the limit for class users across every nation on Blue Star.

Yi Tian was intensely curious. What would the Boss's exclusive skills be?

Meanwhile, watching an Ape Demon collapse into a puddle of rotten blood before him, Liu Chuang looked stunned.

Only after recognizing the newcomer did he stammer, "S-school... school belle?"

Bai Qiu Li ignored him and turned to keep swinging her sword. One slash instantly killed a bull demon; one strike to a vital spot did the same to an Ape Demon!

Bai Qiu Li was already an excellent swordswoman. The Cold Moon Swordsman class made her even more formidable!

For a moment, Liu Chuang and his teammates were completely dumbstruck. "Wasn't Bai Qiu Li a Gardener?"

"Compared to her, I'm the one with a crafting class."

"Could she have gotten the opportunity from that golden pillar of light earlier?"

Hearing the voices behind her, Lin Yu shakily stopped and looked back. Terror flooded her face, as though this frightened her even more than being chased by fiends.

"Bai Qiu Li!!?"

"H-how did you..."

Before she could finish, she saw the bloodstained sword in Bai Qiu Li's hand and her icy gaze directed this way.

Lin Yu's knees buckled in fear. She dropped to the ground, not daring to make another sound.

Whoom!

A wave of sword energy flew toward her. Lin Yu's pupils shrank to pinpoints, her expression frozen.

However, the sword energy struck behind her, cleaving the last Savage Bone Bull Demon in two just as it was about to ambush her.

Once she was done, Bai Qiu Li returned straight to Yi Tian without pausing. She had not spared Lin Yu a single glance the entire time.

[Trial Mission: 10 Ferocious Beasts killed. Rating: D]

[Trial passed. You may leave the secret realm at any time!]

[Time remaining: 1 hour, 44 minutes, 36 seconds...]

After ten Ferocious Beasts had been killed, the Trial Mission's rating changed, but it still fell far short of Yi Tian's expectations.

Qingshan No. 2 Middle School's highest trial record was an A rating, set by two Epic-Class Professionals.

Yi Tian decided to set a modest goal: an S rating, at minimum!

"Boss, let's go," Bai Qiu Li said to Yi Tian.

Just then, Liu Chuang approached awkwardly, still stammering. "B-Bai Qiu Li, could I join your party?"

Another teammate, who had also witnessed Bai Qiu Li's terrifying strength, hurried over and said eagerly:

"Yeah, our lovely school belle! We all have rare classes. We promise we won't hold you back. We're definitely not freeloaders!"

Bai Qiu Li said nothing more. She simply looked at Yi Tian and waited for his decision.

"Boss, do you want to bring them?"

Her voice remained cool and calm, yet it struck Liu Chuang and the others like a raging tidal wave.

"Boss!?"

Hearing that form of address, Liu Chuang and the others turned incredulously toward Yi Tian, who looked every bit a "freeloader," their minds racing.

Why was she calling him boss?

The aloof school belle, adored by everyone and now possessing such terrifying strength, was actually calling this listless guy her boss?

And judging by her behavior, she really did obey Yi Tian's orders.

Who made the school belle act like this?

For a moment, Liu Chuang and the others almost heard the faint sound of their hearts breaking.

Yi Tian could not be bothered with their shock or speculation. He shook his head speechlessly, then said:

"Let's hurry and raise our rating. Try to take down the trial boss too."

"Okay!"

Under the varied gazes of Liu Chuang, Lin Yu, and the other three, Yi Tian and Bai Qiu Li walked straight away, leaving only their retreating figures behind.

Outside the secret realm, in Qingshan No. 2 Middle School's Classist Hall.

Principal Ji Changlin silently watched a glowing screen above the secret realm's portal. It displayed the trial ratings.

Whenever a party inside the secret realm received a rating or its rating changed, the screen relayed the update to those outside.

Though he had said he held little hope for this year's students, Ji Changlin still watched the ratings in silence...

"Director Wei! What brings you here?"

Suddenly, a group entered the Classist Hall.

The man at their head wore a navy-blue Zhongshan suit. Refined and scholarly, he had the gentle smile of a literature professor.

He was Wei Yuan, the chief director and highest-ranking official of the East China Region.

Ji Changlin rose to greet him. Wei Yuan spoke in a voice as smooth and warm as polished jade:

"I just came back from watching the trial results at No. 1 Middle School. They had a party earn an A rating this year. Very impressive!"

Despite Wei Yuan's words, Ji Changlin's many years as principal told him that No. 1 Middle School's result was not what Wei Yuan wanted!

This was the year of the grand competition against the [Yagu Dynasty]. They especially needed outstanding newcomers to safeguard some of Great Xia's interests.

As the director of East China, Wei Yuan had come in search of top talent.

But Ji Changlin could only shake his head helplessly. "Our students this year at Second High School will probably do no better than No. 1 Middle School's."

Their class awakening results already gave a fairly clear indication.

After examining No. 2 Middle School's class awakening report, Wei Yuan could not help sighing quietly as well.

"Class awakenings are determined by fate. We can't demand the impossible of the students."

"In that case, I'll go take a look at No. 3 Middle School first."

Ji Changlin nodded. "I'll see you out..."