Rodriguez stared blankly at Gan Jin’s retreating back, completely missing the Headmaster’s question, his mind reeling with constant astonishment. While he had anticipated Gan Jin could defeat Zuo Luntianren, and win cleanly and beautifully, this was perhaps too beautiful. Moreover, when did this kid reach Level Four Dou Qi? He had actually advanced to a Fourth-Rank Warrior!

The senior Warrior students exchanged glances, falling into a brief silence, offering no applause or praise for Gan Jin’s victory.

Gan Jin blew on his palms, almost unable to believe it himself. Facing Zuo Luntianren’s attack, he had relied purely on instinct honed from blacksmithing—he had completely forgotten to use the Warrior Skills taught at the academy.

“Interesting,” Gan Jin murmured, rotating his shoulders, his entire arm whirling like a giant windmill. He strode with steady steps toward a stunned Kessas. “I say, weren’t you looking to spar with me in the small woods? I’m here. I’ve already sent your hired muscle off to rest. Now it’s your turn, the main event.”

Kessas watched Gan Jin’s approach, glancing at Zuo Luntianren, who was still sprawled on the ground, in annoyance. He cursed inwardly: This Eighth-Rank fighter is useless! I wasted two gold coins on him! And he swore he could take Gan Jin down in one blow!

Gan Jin laughed, in high spirits, and strode closer to Kessas. “It’s alright. You can bring that wooden staff you’re holding up here. I absolutely won’t complain about unfairness.”

As Gan Jin drew nearer, Kessas’s legs began to tremble uncontrollably, followed by his entire body. The memory of how Gan Jin had dealt with him last time flashed through his mind. He silently pleaded for rescue: You don’t mind unfairness, but I do! I’m a Second-Rank Warrior, and you’re a Fourth-Rank Warrior—this disparity in power is too great!

“I say…” Gan Jin glanced over at the two holding Rollin. “You two, do you want to smell the earth?”

Smell the earth? The two stiffened for a moment, then instantly understood: When people die, aren’t they buried in the earth? Wasn’t Gan Jin being incredibly circuitous with his words?

Rollin broke free from their grasp, shamelessly swinging his thick arms, smiling at the pair. “You guys had quite a bit of fun hitting me just now! Now it’s my turn…”

Thump... Thump...

Rollin’s heavy fists slammed into the lower abdomens of Kessas’s two underlings. His feet mercilessly delivered another heavy kick to each of them. Competing for a girl’s affection should be based on merit; suffering unwarranted attacks twice in a row—where was the logic in that?

Gan Jin shook his head, sighing as he watched Kessas drop his wooden staff. “You’re afraid of me, and yet if you ever go to the battlefield to fight the Demon Race, wouldn’t you be the first one to defect and surrender?”

“Rollin, this one’s yours! You’re wasting my time…” Gan Jin walked away, shaking his head, and approached Zuo Luntianren. “Honestly, I don’t really care about the badges. Originally, since we were all in the first batch entering the Dou Ling Great Array, that was enough. However, I don’t mind taking one of your badges to give myself a better chance to get closer to the Array Eye and absorb more Dou Qi from the Fighting Stones to improve myself.”

Zuo Luntianren lay on the ground, gasping, watching Gan Jin. His arms, used to brace himself against the ground during his clash of leg power versus Gan Jin’s arm strength, were still numb and aching. He could only watch powerlessly as Gan Jin took a badge from him.

“Gan Jin, taking my badge…” Zuo Luntianren weakly called out as Gan Jin started to walk away. “You need to think clearly; taking this badge officially throws you into the competition for the Top Ten rankings.”

Gan Jin paused his departure, lightly tossing the badge in his hand before turning back to Zuo Luntianren. “Truthfully, I have no interest in that area. But I’ve noticed that no matter how much I try to hide, you people always find me. So why should I keep hiding? If anyone else wants to end up like you, bring it on. I don’t mind having a few extra badges.”

Kessas was still screaming. Rollin had fully inherited all the positive traits of his merchant father—when there was a profit to be made, he absolutely would not let it go! Furthermore, given that Rollin and Kessas were essentially rivals for affection, Rollin certainly wouldn't pass up this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

His stout, thick fists and arms, his enormous backside delivering crushing blows, thoroughly roughing up Kessas. Several senior Warrior students watched as Rollin swaggered away, pleased with his assault, then looked at the haggard state of Kessas. Suddenly, an image flashed in their minds: if this were a dark, windy night, and the chubby Rollin was re-fastening his belt while emerging from the woods, what role would the prone Kessas on the ground be playing?

“And you kicked me once,” Rollin said, stepping up to Zuo Luntianren. He menacingly raised his foot, only to find Zuo Luntianren’s sharp eyes fixed on him like knives. For a moment, he hesitated, unsure where to bring down his raised foot. He was genuinely a little scared.

“Rollin, hurry up and finish this so we can leave. I’m busy,” a shout came from afar.

Gan Jin’s call instantly filled Rollin with courage. His raised foot, big and clumsy, landed without hesitation on Zuo Luntianren’s face, right on those sharp, glaring eyes. Smack, smack, smack went the stomping. Finally, filled with satisfaction, Rollin raised his head and left the small woods on the campus grounds.

The remaining senior students exchanged glances, an air of expectation in their eyes. This junior named Gan Jin, through this single battle, had thoroughly embroiled himself in the fight for the Top Ten rankings; there was no way for him to extricate himself now. They expected to see more of his fighting in the future, though they wondered if they would ever see him use his Warrior Skills next time.

“Interesting. Very interesting,” the gaunt Headmaster mused, stroking the white beard on his chin as he looked at Rodriguez. “Tell me, if I officially announce that for the Top Ten first-year students, regardless of whether they are Mages or Warriors, anyone who can defeat Gan Jin will be awarded two badges instead of one—what do you think?”

Rodriguez turned to look at the gaunt Headmaster, whose face held a mischievous glint. “Headmaster Fick, isn’t that against the rules?”

“Heh heh. His Warrior Rank is Level Four, but I want to see how strong his actual fighting ability truly is,” Headmaster Fick told Rodriguez. “As teachers and administrators, we can know their Dou Qi levels, but we are equally unable to gauge their practical combat capabilities. I want to see just how tough this student you favor truly is.”

Zuo Luntianren had lost! Zuo Luntianren, ranked eighth among the first-year Warrior students, had been forcefully defeated by Gan Jin, who was ranked tenth!

Zuo Luntianren was hospitalized with fractured and dislocated bones, requiring three days of complete rest! He had suffered bone displacement from a single strike by Gan Jin!

The news, as if it had sprouted wings, spread rapidly throughout the Oakland Magic and Warrior Academy, instantly becoming the most lively topic of discussion. The students had momentarily forgotten the unfortunate, ugly fellow who had been the subject of everyone’s chatter just a short time ago.