I Just Wanted to Practice Martial Arts, So How Did I End Up on the Students Who Must Be Killed List?

Four yuan could only buy a bowl of plain noodles at the cafeteria. It certainly wouldn't get him that saber.

Ning Chuan was merely sending Master Lou a signal: he wasn't a newbie, so Master Lou shouldn't think he could name an outrageous price.

"If you really want it, give me 2,000 yuan. At least let me make enough to skip town!"

Master Lou retreated to advance.

Ning Chuan pressed him at every step. "Drop two zeros!"

"Kid, give me that saber. I'll fight you to the death! Who haggles like that?"

"Strange. Is that too much? I'm a student!"

"So what if you're a student?"

"Facing the future hope of the Federation, shouldn't you give it to me for free? If it's not too much trouble, you'd better give me some money too."

"So it has to be cash, then!"

"I was mainly considering that old people aren't good with the internet. If you know how to make a transfer, Master Lou, I don't mind. You can send it to this account..."

In the end, after a fierce bout of haggling and pulling each other back and forth, the two settled on a price of 235 yuan.

Of course, Ning Chuan paid Master Lou. Getting it for free had ultimately just been a joke made while bargaining.

Ning Chuan took out his phone and paid without hesitation.

A weapon containing a profound artistic conception couldn't be bought for a few hundred yuan, no matter how badly damaged it was.

He'd snagged a huge bargain!

What was more, Ning Chuan vaguely realized that he seemed to have found a way to make money.

He could judge whether an antique was genuine by seeing whether his martial arts experienced an epiphany.

There were admittedly major limitations. For example, it only worked on objects used by martial artists, which also had to contain some kind of artistic conception, and his martial arts had to be capable of comprehending it.

With so many restrictions, he'd been lucky to come across an antique like this on the market.

The chances of making a fortune this way were slim.

But even if he couldn't snag any bargains, it didn't matter. The important thing was that epiphanies in his martial arts could bring about a qualitative change in his strength in a short time!

"Of course, if I can make money, I definitely can't pass it up."

After paying, Ning Chuan immediately set about touching every item in the shop, even though he didn't think his chances of success were high.

He didn't even spare the two walnuts Master Lou was clutching in his hand.

Unfortunately, his expectations proved correct.

Apart from the battle saber he'd bought, none of the other items prompted a reaction from his martial arts.

Ning Chuan deduced there were two possibilities.

First, there wasn't a single genuine antique in Master Lou's shop; they were all modern industrial products.

Second, there were genuine articles, but none matched the three martial arts he practiced, so he couldn't experience an epiphany.

Whatever the answer, I need to practice more martial arts. Even if I can't snag any bargains, I can still improve my strength!

Ning Chuan pondered.

His martial arts practiced automatically, without him having to worry about them. Having more skills was no burden, so learning a few more wouldn't hurt.

Before long, Guo Renyu put away his magnifying glass and reminded him, "It's about time we went. The hundred-day rally for the college entrance exam is this morning. We'll be in trouble if we're late."

"Mm."

Ning Chuan nodded, picked up the battered battle saber, and left the antique shop with Guo Renyu.

Qingshan No. 1 High School, senior year, Class 15.

When the two walked into the classroom, most of their classmates had already arrived.

Since there were no classes that morning, they were gathered in groups of three or five, chatting.

Quite a few of the boys kept stealing glances toward the lectern.

A gorgeous woman stood there, wearing a fitted white shirt and a tight pencil skirt that outlined the seductive curves of her scorching figure. A pair of black-framed glasses rested on her fair, oval face, adding a touch of mature elegance to her allure.

Su Yun, the homeroom teacher of senior Class 15, was twenty-seven and a graduate of a prestigious university. Possessed of both strength and beauty, she was the heroine of countless boys' amorous dreams.

But precisely because she was so outstanding, hardly any of the male teachers, let alone the students at Qingshan No. 1 High School, dared to strike up a conversation with her.

Ning Chuan had long been a player and had seen plenty. After putting the battered battle saber on his desk, he walked openly over to Su Yun.

After just a few words, he made Su Yun's almond-shaped eyes widen.

"Ning Chuan, don't even think about it!"

Su Yun planted her hands on her slender waist, her curved willow brows rising as she scolded him. "You only learned Flash Thunder Slash, a B-rank martial art, a few days ago, and now you want to learn a new one.

"I don't agree. With martial arts, quality matters more than quantity!"

"I swear, I'll only learn this one more, and I'll never come to you again!"

Ning Chuan reworked a scumbag's line, staring intently at Su Yun with the sincere gaze of a baby.

Su Yun grew a little embarrassed under his stare and looked slightly away. "What rank of martial art do you want to choose?"

"B-rank will do."

Ning Chuan cleared his throat and spoke.

A B-rank martial art cost anywhere from hundreds of thousands to a million yuan on the market.

But at school, one could learn it for free.

The condition was that the homeroom teacher had to agree.

Su Yun's red lips curled into a sneer. Glaring at Ning Chuan with her almond-shaped eyes, she said, "Only B-rank? That's so low! Why not choose A-rank or S-rank?"

"Because, Teacher Su, Qingshan No. 1 High School is only a municipal key high school. Its martial arts access only goes up to B-rank."

Ning Chuan chuckled.

As soon as he finished speaking, nearly every boy in the classroom turned a fierce gaze on him and silently added him to Qingshan No. 1 High School's Students Who Must Be Killed List.

That bastard actually dared to banter with their goddess.

At the lectern, most of Su Yun's anger dissipated. She sighed and tried to persuade him. "There's no doubt that higher-ranked martial arts are more powerful and formidable in actual combat.

"But their difficulty also increases exponentially, requiring an enormous amount of time and effort.

"If you'd just started high school, I wouldn't try to dissuade you.

"But the college entrance exam is approaching, with only a hundred days left. Given the difficulty of a B-rank martial art, you'd struggle to master even one, let alone two!"

"Teacher Su, on the path of martial arts, one must not fear hardship or danger. I have confidence in myself!"

Ning Chuan said with a smile.

With martial arts that practiced automatically, he had every reason to be confident.

"Confidence isn't arrogance. You think someone like you can master two B-rank martial arts in a hundred days? You're just a clown trying to attract attention!"

In the front row, a boy with a few freckles on his face folded his arms and spoke mockingly.

He made no effort to lower his voice. In fact, he raised it, so everyone in the class could hear him clearly.

Angered that his friend had been insulted, Guo Renyu immediately retorted, "Ma Hai, cut the crap! Ning Chuan at least has the courage to practice a B-rank martial art. Would you dare to do it?"

"Ridiculous. He might not even get into a university. I don't have to think twice to know he's practicing a B-rank martial art purely out of vanity!" Ma Hai sneered. "After graduation, when he goes to work, he can show off to people around him who don't know any better."

"For example, he can say he's practiced two B-rank martial arts!"

Ma Hai deliberately mocked him, staring at Ning Chuan at the lectern with contempt, anger, and jealousy in his eyes.

He couldn't understand where a student from the bottom got the courage to chat and laugh with Su Yun.

Guo Renyu snorted and goaded him. "That's just wild speculation. What if Ning Chuan does get in? Do you dare give up your college entrance exam score?"

At that, Ma Hai's expression stiffened slightly.

He really didn't dare agree.

The college entrance exam tested academic subjects as well as martial arts, and Ning Chuan's grades in those subjects were among the best.

But Ma Hai naturally couldn't admit he was wrong. Turning the matter over in his mind, he said coldly, "So what if he gets in? He can only get into some garbage university at the bottom of the pile!

"Universities like that often charge astonishingly high fees.

"He's an orphan with no mother or father. Who's going to give him money for tuition? After he graduates, he'll still have to go to work!"

"Don't go too far!"

Guo Renyu slapped the desk and glared at him.

"What did I say that was wrong?"

Ma Hai shot to his feet, his fists cracking as he clenched them.

"And you dared to slap the desk in front of me? You don't know whether you're courting life or death. We'll spar in the next practical combat class!" Ma Hai threatened him outright.

Guo Renyu couldn't help taking a step back.

Ma Hai was at Awakening Stage Six. He could beat both Ning Chuan and Guo Renyu with one hand.

Seeing Su Yun look over, Zhang Wensi's eyes flickered. He stood up and said gently, "Ma Hai, sit down. We're all classmates, so don't be so hostile. Once we graduate, it'll be hard even to see each other."

He was very handsome, with a polished smile on his face.

"Yes, class rep!"

Ma Hai gave him a fawning smile.

Zhang Wensi nodded lightly and looked toward the lectern. "Ning Chuan, go back to your seat first," he instructed calmly.

"What Ma Hai said was harsh, that's true, but you were also in the wrong. You shouldn't keep bothering Teacher Su Yun under the pretext of martial arts.

"She already works hard enough looking after our class."

"Just mind your own business!"

Ning Chuan glanced at Zhang Wensi, a sneer curling his lips.

Zhang Wensi and Ma Hai were birds of a feather.

One was rough, while the other was mild and calculating.

At heart, both wanted to prove their own superiority by stepping on others, especially in front of beautiful women.

"You..."

Zhang Wensi's gaze turned cold.

But seeing Su Yun right beside them, he changed tack and gave a helpless smile. "Ning Chuan, don't get so worked up.

"Cultivating the martial path requires a calm and composed heart. If you're too emotional, it'll be difficult to climb to the summit."

A sneer appeared on Ning Chuan's lips.

Zhang Wensi was worthy of being the class rep. He really did have a few tricks up his sleeve.

With those words, he had demonstrated his own magnanimity and ambition while subtly stepping on Ning Chuan!

But the urgent matter was the B-rank martial art.

Ning Chuan didn't want to bicker with Zhang Wensi. He looked at Su Yun and pleaded, "I'll only choose one more!"

Su Yun didn't answer immediately.

She had heard about Ning Chuan being an orphan from other teachers and felt quite sympathetic toward him.

Now, he had already reached the threshold of university. With a little more effort, he might get into a relatively good ordinary university and change his fate.

But if he spent all the little time he had left on a B-rank martial art, he would be putting in twice the effort for half the result.

The gains wouldn't make up for the losses.

As Ning Chuan's homeroom teacher, she naturally didn't want to see that happen.

After pondering for a few seconds, Su Yun said, "You can choose a martial art, but you have to meet one condition."

"Please, go ahead."

Su Yun's red lips curled up slightly. "One of your martial arts has to advance to the Minute Subtlety Realm!"

"Flash Thunder Slash?"

Hearing that, Ning Chuan relaxed and said with satisfaction, "Teacher Su, then it's a deal. I'll come back to you once I reach the Minute Subtlety Realm."

Flash Thunder Slash had already progressed more than ninety percent through the Mastery Realm.

It would soon reach Minute Subtlety.

Beside them, Ma Hai couldn't resist mocking him when he heard this. "Ning Chuan, aren't you afraid the wind will twist your tongue? You've only practiced Flash Thunder Slash for a few days, yet you dare to boast so shamelessly. You don't know how difficult a powerful martial art is!"

"Forget the Minute Subtlety Realm. Have you even reached the beginner level in Flash Thunder Slash?"

As soon as he finished speaking, laughter rang out, and most of the nearby students grinned.

The Minute Subtlety Realm really wasn't very realistic.

"Ma Hai, don't put it so harshly. It's perfectly normal that Ning Chuan couldn't reach the beginner level in Flash Thunder Slash in just a few days!" Zhang Wensi picked up the thread and spread his hands, praising him outwardly while putting him down. "Even I might not be able to do it. It took me five days before I barely managed to learn a C-rank martial art!"

"That's because you haven't learned Flash Thunder Slash, class rep. If you had, you'd definitely crush Ning Chuan!"

Laughter rose and fell throughout the classroom.

"Quiet. Don't talk nonsense!"

Su Yun straightened her pretty face and waved a hand, calling the students to a halt.

Then, after a brief pause, she said to Ning Chuan, "How about this? I won't ask you to reach any particular level in Flash Thunder Slash.

"It's a B-rank martial art, after all. It's too difficult!

"One of your martial arts, whatever rank it is.

"Even E-rank will do!

"As long as it reaches the Minute Subtlety Realm, I'll let you choose another B-rank martial art!"

Progress in practicing martial arts depended not only on individual talent but also on the martial art itself. The lower its rank, the lower its difficulty naturally was, and the faster one would improve.

That was exactly what Su Yun had in mind.

She could see Ning Chuan's level of strength. He had only just entered Awakening Stage Four and would remain there for a long time. It wasn't very realistic for him to advance another stage before the college entrance exam.

Therefore, putting all his energy into one low-rank martial art was the most cost-effective approach.

Perhaps he could use the weak to defeat the strong in the college entrance exam and gain admission to a decent ordinary university.

Ning Chuan pondered briefly. "Can I only choose one B-rank martial art?"

"Before the college entrance exam, as long as you reach Minute Subtlety, it's not out of the question for you to make another request!"

Su Yun glanced at Ning Chuan, a hint of teasing in her eyes.

She didn't believe Ning Chuan could do it.

The Minute Subtlety Realm was a dividing line among the six realms of martial arts.

Even with an E-rank martial art, the difficulties were just as daunting.

Many geniuses could reach the peak of the Mastery Realm in an E-rank martial art in less than a year, but it was not uncommon for them to remain stuck for over a decade trying to break through to the Minute Subtlety Realm.

"Uh..."

Ning Chuan blinked.

He had only wanted to learn another B-rank martial art. What was Su Yun thinking about?

"No problem, I agree!" Ning Chuan agreed without hesitation and declared firmly, "It's a deal!"

With that, he turned to leave, only to get a fright.

The male students across from him were all staring at him wide-eyed, their gazes seemingly ready to spit fire.

In particular, the boys who had a martial art in the Mastery Realm were gnashing their teeth, wishing they could cleave Ning Chuan in two.

And then take his place.

"Um... don't get the wrong idea, everyone. I just want to cultivate martial arts!"

Ning Chuan gave an awkward laugh and returned to his seat.

Guo Renyu sat beside him. He raised his elbow and jabbed Ning Chuan hard in the kidney, then chuckled. "Nicely done!

You made it onto the students' must-kill list in one blow!

I was wondering why you suddenly wanted to learn Flash Thunder Slash before. So this was the killing move you had waiting!"

At that, Guo Renyu chuckled, lowered his voice, and said in admiration, "Damn impressive. A chain of schemes, one link hooked into the next!"

Ning Chuan sighed helplessly. "I really just want to cultivate a B-rank martial art."

"I know, I know!"

Guo Renyu patted Ning Chuan on the shoulder, wearing a look that said they were all men here.

"You two, keep your voices down!"

Ma Hai turned around and scolded them with a cold face.

Guo Renyu curled his lip. After Ma Hai looked away, he muttered, "That guy Ma Hai has always been petty. He's probably got his eye on the two of us. Let's keep a low profile these next few days and not give him a chance to catch us out."

"Don't worry. A week at most!"

Ning Chuan smiled faintly.

In a view only he could see, a fluorescent number ticked up.

[Flash Thunder Slash]: Mastery (progress: 93%)