Chapter 256

Of course, any conspiracy or targeting involved was child's play to Wen Jing.

Soon, Bai Xiao's challenger appeared.

The other person walked into the arena with a tense chin, his eyes fixed on a single point in the sky, not looking at anyone, his expression extremely cold and arrogant.

Wen Jing and Xu Yuan looked at each other in bewilderment.

No? Is this really the Xie Ming they know?

It's already rare to see a professor who doesn't have the typical classroom atmosphere, but this aloof demeanor is even rarer.

The next moment, amidst the rustling sounds of the students, the challenge officially began.

"Bang!"

Bai Xiao unleashed a strike that Xie Ming couldn't defend against.

The audience found it unexpected.

The second attack landed, and Xie Ming still couldn't defend against it.

The audience felt that Bai Xiao was quite something.

In a few quick moves... Xie Ming, who had seemed like a master before the fight started, was quickly beaten up by Bai Xiao and had bumps all over his head.

The audience finally noticed the problem.

"Huh? What happened?!"

"Isn't Xie Ming a B-rank special Wilderness Body? How come he can't beat a C-rank one?"

Gasps of surprise rose and fell from the crowd. The students were extremely surprised, never expecting that the seemingly strongest student in this year's class would actually be so weak in a real fight.

Only Wen Jing and Xu Yuan remained calm as they looked at each other again.

Yes, this is indeed the Xie Ming they know.

Chapter 256

The challenge ended abruptly, catching the students of Mystic Radiance off guard and leaving them sighing in disappointment.

But no one thought it was because Bai Xiao was strong; they all thought it was because Xie Ming was too weak.

During this period, even though Wilderness Body discrimination was prevalent and some people were dissatisfied, no suitable leader emerged to raise the banner of Reformist Faction. The overall atmosphere was much worse than it would be decades later.

"Clearly only B-rank, what a disgrace to high-level Awakened."

"He used to be so arrogant because of his special Wilderness Body, but I heard that now no one wants to team up with him to explore the Ancient Wilderness."

At the Mystic Radiance Traversal Registration Center, two classmates who were preparing to team up for the shuttle were making sarcastic remarks as they watched Xie Ming return injured.

While on the spaceship, rumors circulated that the other party was the strongest and most unique individual with Wilderness Body among this year's students. They had even tried to get to know him, but were met with a lukewarm rejection, so they were naturally gloating now.

Bai Xiao had just returned from the Ancient Wilderness world, frowned slightly upon seeing this scene.

What do you want with me?

Xie Ming came at Bai Xiao's invitation and saw the mysterious couple from his class there as well, which made his heart sink.

No one knew beforehand that their class had two A-level individuals standing before them.

Even the Wang Family, which belongs to one of the top ten conglomerates, has no information about these two individuals, indicating that their background is extraordinary.

He was born into the paternal family of the Wang Family Chaebol, a powerful conglomerate. Among his siblings, he was dropped from School District Planet early because his martial arts grades were not good enough in elementary school, and he never received any systematic training.

According to his original life trajectory, Xie Ming would have started an ordinary life in Ocher Soil after receiving his last living allowance at the age of 18.

Unexpectedly, due to a large-scale internal power struggle within the Wang Family, he compromised with his partner and obtained an awakening slot, and even successfully awakened a B-level Wilderness Body.

While on the spaceship, his half-brother spread the news that his Wilderness Body was the strongest in this generation, deliberately trying to elevate him.

Originally, some opportunists within the Wang Family were prepared to support him, but their attitudes changed after he was defeated by Bai Xiao, and they took the opportunity to act arrogantly.

Xie Ming never intended to sign those agreements in the first place; signing them would only make him a puppet of those people. Therefore, under pressure from all sides, his situation during this period has been extremely difficult, even worse than that of an awakened Awakened from an ordinary family.

Bai Xiao tilted his head and looked at him. "You're not getting any teammates because I defeated you? How about I team up with you next time?"

Xie Ming, who had expected to face another bullying threat, was taken aback. He then subconsciously thought of the couple—or more accurately, Wen Jing, one of the two, as anyone could see that she was the central figure.

The two made no comment, seemingly just observing, and he even saw a mysterious... kindness in their eyes?

"Do you want to team up with them?" Bai Xiao shook his head and explained to Xie Ming, "Both of them are used to exploring the Ancient Wilderness alone; they don't even team up with me."

Wasn't it at their behest?

Xie Ming didn't have any flexible information channels to begin with, and he always thought that Bai Xiao, like the other classmates who had chosen sides with the financial cliques, belonged to Wen Jing's faction. Now it seems that the situation is not as he thought.

However, the circumstances were none of his concern.

Thinking of this, Xie Ming waved his hand. "No need, this is none of your business."

Even if it weren't Bai Xiao, there would be other people, and those people would all target him.

That's what he really thought, but he acted very arrogantly.

Bai Xiao grew annoyed. "What do you mean it's none of my business? What are you so arrogant about, you defeated general?!"

Hearing this, Xie Ming recalled the memory of being beaten by her, and felt a pang of pain. He retorted angrily, "I didn't want to hit you at all! You were the one who inexplicably picked me out of the crowd!"

Bai Xiao choked. "They all say you're the strongest, and you seem the most arrogant to me!"

Xie Ming, unable to bear it any longer, finally spoke his mind, "I only acted that way because I didn't want to be challenged! I'm just weak, I can't beat anyone, okay!"

He had been training and studying very hard since he awakened, but the gap between those who had trained and those who hadn't was not so easily bridged. If he couldn't beat someone, he simply couldn't beat them... He was helpless!

"Oh, I see..." Upon hearing this, Bai Xiao finally understood.

Xie Ming's pale face flushed red with embarrassment. Without waiting for the three people present to say anything more, he turned and ran away with an expression of shame and indignation that seemed to say, "Are you happy now?"

Wen Jing and Xu Yuan exchanged a glance.

I see... However, Xie Ming misunderstood one thing. It's not that he can't beat anyone, but rather that he encountered a genius in his very first battle.

If it hadn't been a teacher, things might not have turned out this way.

Bai Xiao watched Xie Ming's retreating figure, feeling somewhat ashamed. He scratched his head and said, "I think I did something wrong. What should I do?"

As she spoke, she turned her pleading gaze to Wen Jing.

Wen Jing, Wen Jing laughed and said, "Then as long as we prove that he's not the only one who's weak, isn't that enough?"

Bai Xiao was taken aback at first, then his eyes lit up. "That's right!"

"This C-rank got arrogant after defeating the weakest B-rank, and now he's challenging someone of a higher rank?"

"Oh, Xie Ming, who was defeated by her last time, is here too. You don't think it'll be the same this time, do you?"

Throughout the entire fall semester of the first year at the Mystic Radiance Academy, all students except Wen Jing and Xu Yuan received challenges from Bai Xiao.

The vast majority agreed.

After all, C-grade Wilderness Body have always been at the bottom of the discrimination chain within the academy. If you refuse, it's like putting yourself at the bottom of the discrimination chain as well.

Xie Ming arrived at the venue after receiving the news. He saw that Bai Xiao had already taken the stage. His gaze swept across the audience and landed on the two people who seemed to be separated from the others by an invisible barrier.

He walked towards Wen Jing and Xu Yuan under everyone's gaze, bracing himself to ask them questions.

Wen Jing waved to him familiarly and patted the seat next to him.

So when Xie Ming came to his senses, he found himself unknowingly watching the game.

"She is—" He stared blankly at the figures in the room, unable to look away.

"Bang!"

The next moment, amidst gasps from the crowd, Bai Xiao's fist struck his opponent cleanly and decisively, shattering the shield.

"Oh..."

In the spectator stands, Wen Jing took a bite of the popcorn that Xu Yuan handed him. "It's been 'many years,' and Saerjia is still as bad as ever."

"I never imagined that the Federation and the Empire would make peace. Maybe by the time our Academy League comes around, all the students from their training camp will be here to participate."

Bai Xiao shared the latest news she had received with her friends.

In the half year since the appearance of the Tenth Star, the two great civilizations of the Federation and the Empire have been in turmoil, changing rapidly, and everything is developing in a new and unknown direction.

Compared to some industries that have been disrupted, the students in the three Awakener Academy have been the least affected.

After the entire class was beaten up by Bai Xiao, the troubles that had been plaguing Xie Ming naturally disappeared.

He joined the trio, making it the permanent group of four.

As his compatibility increased and his talents were developed, people realized that he possessed a rare healing ability, causing some of those who had previously curried favor to regret their actions.

However, despite Bai Xiao and Xie Ming teaming up to explore the Xu Yuan multiple times, they never teamed up with Wen Jing.

Even these two, who are usually inseparable, did not team up together, but explored separately.

When asked why, they always avoid the question.

After Bai Xiao finished sharing the latest news, he looked at Wen Jing and said, "The Freshman League is coming up soon. You're not going to skip it this time, are you? I still can't figure out just how strong you really are."

"I'm not really sure either..."

Wen Jing spoke the truth, but did not directly answer the question about the league.

Bai Xiao blinked and didn't ask any further questions.

Three months ago, neither of them participated in the grade-level ranking competition.

If you say they're just slacking off, their excuse for not participating is that they went to explore the Ancient Wilderness...

Although she was very curious about her two friends' situation, she ultimately did not use her mother's energy to investigate.

Just like how she has never relied on her status as an S-class girl since entering the academy.

Xie Ming, who was standing to the side, seemed to think of something, his gaze lingered on Wen Jing for a moment, and then looked away.

On the eve of the Freshman League, there was a knock on Wen Jing's dormitory door.

Xu Yuan opened the door and saw Xie Ming outside.

Xie Ming was taken aback, then realized something and said somewhat awkwardly, "Did I disturb you?"