Earth Star had a Divine Martial Records Network, which listed all sorts of world records relating to Divine Martial Artists.
For example, the hundred-meter sprint record for the Skin Grinding Realm, the punching power record for the Skin Grinding Realm, and so on.
In an era when Divine Martial Artists attracted so much attention, every record on the Divine Martial Records Network naturally drew plenty of attention as well.
And the most closely watched of them was called "Fastest Time to Train a Tier-One Martial Skill to the Transformation Realm."
The record was three months and twenty-four days. Since the Divine Martial Records Network was founded, it had remained untouched for seventeen years.
Countless people followed it, wanting to see when it would finally be broken.
Yet now, thinking about this world record that his predecessor had once followed, Xu Yuan found it a little hard to keep a straight face.
The world record was three months and twenty-four days, so what did his three hours count as?
That was right. Three hours. This martial skills class had not even ended, and his comprehension of Savage Bull Heart-Shattering Butt had already reached the Transformation Realm!
If not for his abdominal injury, he could have performed it right now and made the entire class's eyes pop out!
"Bro Brain, if there's ever anything you want to eat or drink, don't stand on ceremony with me..."
Like a complete idiot, Xu Yuan babbled away at the Martial God's Brain in his mind.
Once he finished, he could not resist "looking toward" the Beast Ranking, which stood like a tombstone.
The Martial God's Brain was so badass, yet it was only the first reward from the Beast Ranking. Just imagine how many more good things would follow!
How about... abandoning my bottom line for a bit and doing something bad?
I can't stomach major evils like murder and arson, but surely I can accept minor evils that don't take lives, like extortion, swindling, and fraud?
Xu Yuan swallowed, greedy desire beginning to grow in his heart.
But his own thoughts soon frightened him into a cold sweat, and he abruptly withdrew his consciousness from his mind!
"Holy crap, I almost became a beast!" Xu Yuan's heart pounded with lingering fear.
This Beast Ranking really was potent. It could make people want to fall into depravity just by sitting there doing nothing.
It looked like he would have to be more vigilant from now on, or one careless moment might send him down a road of no return.
"Xu Yuan, Sun Hao, only you two are left."
Just then, Lin Yuan's voice rang out, his tone three parts teasing and seven parts serious. "It's our last class. You've hidden your abilities for so long. Isn't it time you showed us a little something?"
"Pfft, hahahaha..."
Hearing that, the students immediately roared with laughter.
"Forget it, sir. The only thing those two can show us is a handful of shit when they have diarrhea!"
"Fuck, who said that about a handful of diarrhea? Now I can picture it, hahaha..."
Waves of mockery rose, and Sun Hao's face flushed crimson.
Even though he had been mocked plenty of times for being at the bottom of the class, he still wished he could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.
Xu Yuan's gaze flickered, however, and he said, "Mr. Lin, you're right. I really have been hiding my abilities all along. My martial talent is actually extremely high!"
At those words, the classroom first fell silent, then erupted in even louder laughter!
"Oh god, I can't take it. Xu Yuan, you actually said you're talented, hahaha..."
"He sure is talented! His talent for telling jokes is so fucking good I'm laughing myself into a stitch, hahaha..."
"Didn't Luo Yaoxi stab you in the stomach? How did your brain get damaged?"
Sun Hao had been looking for a crack in the ground. Seeing all the firepower turn toward Xu Yuan, he immediately rejoiced inwardly and quietly shuffled a few steps aside.
Since this idiot was drawing fire for him, he would duck out first.
Xu Yuan remained calm, as though he could not hear their mockery. "I know you don't believe me, but everything I said is true. If I weren't injured, I could show you right now."
That was what he said, but he actually did not care at all whether these people believed him.
He only wanted to plant a seed in their minds, so that when he performed a Transformation Realm martial skill during the assessment, their reaction would be:
Holy shit! He really wasn't bragging. His martial talent really is amazing. He's just been hiding it all along!
Rather than: Holy shit! How did he suddenly become so powerful? Did he get his hands on some precious treasure?
The former would earn him a little jealousy at most, but the latter could very well bring serious trouble down on him!
So it was necessary to play it safe.
But he could not hide everything just for the sake of playing it safe, either. If he could not even pass the assessment, he really would have no way to get by.
"Enough! Class isn't over yet. What kind of behavior is all this noise?"
With the mocking laughter continuing unabated, Lin Yuan had no choice but to reprimand them, finally quieting the classroom.
"I really do hope you've been hiding something. That way, I can lose a little less face during the assessment."
Lin Yuan looked at Xu Yuan as he spoke.
For the martial arts class assessment, not only would the school leadership attend, but the Martial Suppression Department and the Divine Guard Army would also send people to witness it.
If someone performed terribly, Lin Yuan really would feel embarrassed.
And the more such people there were, the more embarrassing it would be!
"Don't worry, sir. Not only will I keep you from losing face, I'll make you look really good!" Xu Yuan continued planting seeds.
The corner of Lin Yuan's mouth twitched. Only after a long moment did he squeeze out, "All right, then. I'll be waiting."
But judging by his expression and his eyes, he clearly did not believe a word of it.
"Riiing..."
Just then, the bell rang to end class.
Lin Yuan waved a hand. "Go back and prepare properly. Don't leave yourselves with any regrets."
With that, he walked straight out of the classroom.
Once the teacher left, the students started laughing again.
"Xu Yuan, how come we never noticed what a braggart you were before?"
"You're even going to make Mr. Lin proud? Fuck, that's hilarious, hahaha..."
"Stop laughing. What if he pulls out a perfection-stage martial skill and slaps all your faces swollen?"
"Pfft, him? Give me a break. If he's got that kind of ability, I'll livestream myself eating shit. A whole kilo!"
The laughter continued, the group showing no concern whatsoever for Xu Yuan's feelings.
Xu Yuan could not help smacking his lips. A perfection-stage martial skill? These boys and girls were at the age when their imaginations should run wild. How could they have so little imagination?
But they could not really be blamed, because No. 3 High School had not produced a student who had trained a martial skill to perfection in five years.
So perfection was the limit of their imagination.
As for the Transformation Realm, Yang City had only produced four people who had reached it in decades. Who would dare imagine that?
Ignoring these classmates who had already booked themselves a resounding slap in the face, Xu Yuan walked out of the classroom amid the laughter.
Seeing this, Luo Han hurried after him.
When they emerged from the martial arts department's teaching building, the sun was already about to set. The entire world was bathed in golden evening light that made people want to laze around.
Students leaving class streamed toward the school gates in groups, carrying bags and wearing No. 3 High School's red-and-white uniforms, like migrating chum salmon.
"This really looks like back home. It feels like I never transmigrated."
Watching this scene, Xu Yuan inexplicably felt a little less of an outsider's detachment.
"Bro Yuan, you're a real bro! Once we've collected the money, I'll treat you to some Baiyunbian!"
Sun Hao appeared from somewhere, slung an arm around Xu Yuan's shoulders, and spoke with a grin.
Baiyunbian was a Great Xia cigarette brand, famed for the saying, "One Baiyunbian, and you're happy as an immortal."
Xu Yuan froze for a moment at his words. "What do you mean, a real bro?"
"Weren't you bragging your ass off just now to draw fire for me?"
Xu Yuan: "..."
"Then what do you mean by collecting money?"
"Protection money. It's time for those wimps to pay us tribute today. Don't you remember, Bro Yuan?" Sun Hao looked surprised.
The corner of Xu Yuan's mouth twitched as he finally remembered what was going on.
His predecessor, Sun Hao, and Luo Han had picked out a dozen or so timid students at school and extorted 300 Great Xia Currency from each of them every month.
His predecessor and Sun Hao each took forty percent of the ill-gotten gains. Luo Han was not particularly bright, and after being hoodwinked by the other two, he only took twenty percent.
"Whatever, forget that for now. Collecting the money comes first!"
Without giving him a chance to argue, Sun Hao led Xu Yuan straight toward the school gates.
Luo Han followed the two like a ball. Despite clearly being the strongest, he was like a lackey among the three.
A few minutes later, the three arrived at an alley outside the school.
A dozen or so ordinary students with timid faces were already waiting in the alley like quails.
"Anyone still not here?" Sun Hao swept an unfriendly gaze over the crowd.
"No."
"No."
The dozen or so students hurriedly shook their heads. Their meek appearance made it obvious that they were the sort of introverted kids who would not dare report being bullied.
"Hey! That's more like it. Being sensible is better for all of us!"
Sun Hao grinned. "Come on, same rules as always. Pay up and leave!"
At his words, the dozen or so students obediently took out their money and lined up to hand it to Sun Hao.
Several of them were clearly from poor families. The shoes on their feet were peeling, and the schoolbags on their backs were faded.
Those students also had sallow faces. Clearly, the money in their hands had been saved from their already meager food budgets.
"Wait!"
Xu Yuan really could not stand watching any longer.
What the fuck was this bullshit?
He stepped forward and pulled Sun Hao away from where he was blocking the alley entrance. "You can go. Starting today, you don't have to pay anymore!"