The scarcity of such combat skills is noteworthy, even among the most esteemed military academies, particularly those essential finishing moves for ordinary warriors; each one represents a precious resource.

...Hmph," Tian Lianlingguan let out a scornful snort, utterly dismissive. "Stay by my side for a year, and you won't even learn an ultimate combat skill? Titan Iron Pillar is indeed powerful, but to whom does the future truly belong? Any person with a shred of sense should know this perfectly well."

The students on the dance floor once again turned their gaze toward Tian Lianlingguan, nodding in concert with his words. Even the mightiest warriors eventually age and return to the embrace of the stars. Over time, Tian Lianlingguan represented the true future of the Zhence Dynasty.

"Only by following me will your path be bright with promise! Only by following me will your name be permanently etched in history! Only by following me will our battle banners fly across the entire Demon Race!"

Tian Lianlingguan's voice boomed, full of grand confidence, laced with a peculiar, seductive quality. To the listeners, it sounded as if he were manifesting their deepest, hidden desires, making it feel as if following him were their very destiny.

From the seating area reserved for the Gryphon King, more than a dozen warriors and mages stood, their faces alight with supreme reverence, resembling the fervent followers of some obscure cult, their eyes blazing with fanaticism.

With each resounding declaration of "Only by following me," Tian Lianlingguan's aura surged relentlessly. His entire being seemed like a sun suddenly rising in the void, his body radiating a light of ten thousand rays.

Several warrior students, who had long yearned to pledge fealty and become his retainers, felt an overwhelming urge to drop to their knees and worship him.

Tian Lianlingguan’s chest subtly swelled almost imperceptibly, his eyes flashing like lightning summoned from nowhere, abruptly fixing upon Qian Jin.

Titan Iron Curtain narrowed his eyes to thin slits. This Tian Lianlingguan truly lived up to his reputation as someone who could conceive a thousand stratagems with a mere turn of his eye. In the wake of his recent pronouncements, coupled with his rapidly escalating presence, he had managed to secretly deploy several spells without anyone noticing.

“Be careful, Mind Bewitchment Magic,” “Lesser Fatalism Magic,” the dull-witted Tian Ce nodded repeatedly. “These spells are being launched at the perfect moment.” Everyone was swept up by the aura; no one would detect the magical fluctuations. If this were any other day, these two spells would have likely been ineffective.

Today, most people present had first been stunned by Biluo's beauty, then terrified by Qian Jin knocking Wei Buhuan down with a single punch, followed by Ling Fenglingguan unleashing his Battle Soul, which left everyone dizzy with awe. The grand recruitment efforts by both Titan Iron Curtain and Tian Lianlingguan had completely overwhelmed the crowd.

“The timing was executed perfectly,” the dull-witted Tian Ce nodded with a wry smile, full of praise. Many people who looked at Tian Lianlingguan always assumed he was the type who relied solely on brute force suppression, but few realized he was the kind who could conjure countless schemes with a mere flicker of thought.

"Your words are compelling, and your conditions are exceedingly generous. You even emanate what bards call the 'Aura of Kingship.' However…" Qian Jin, who had been keeping his head bowed, suddenly snapped it up, staring directly at Tian Lianlingguan: "Everything that appears so powerful is fragile and utterly worthless before my dream! I have my ideals. My ideal is to personally strike down the lineage of the Elven King, the Qian Family! To personally defeat Qian Zhanxuan! And to tell him, and everyone in the entire Zhence Dynasty…"

Qian Jin took a deep breath and, amidst the astonishment of the crowd, boomed out: "This world is composed of us, the ordinary people! Without the labor of us ordinary people, what would you so-called elites eat? Without us ordinary people, what would you so-called elites drink? You elites may not be common folk, but never forget! Your parents, your ancestors—they were all ordinary people!"

"Take back that arrogant posture! Take back those condescending handouts!" Qian Jin raised his hand and pointed at Ling Fenglingguan, who was about to step forward: "So what if we are ordinary people? Do those bloodline warriors born holding a golden key truly have no chance of being surpassed? I, Qian Jin, will surpass you and show you all!”

"Legend? Does being a legend mean you cannot be defeated? I will create the history of defeating legends!" Qian Jin surveyed the young students watching Tian Lianlingguan with adoring eyes, nearly kneeling in submission: "Can bloodlines decide everything? What about the Ultimate Bloodline Warriors? Straighten your masculine spines, summon the fiery passion of true men! With my determination, I will surpass geniuses and defeat legends! I will forge a legend belonging to me—belonging to us ordinary people!"

"I! Qian Jin!" Qian Jin slammed his hand forcefully against his chest, the sound echoing loud and clear: "Watch us ordinary people command the wind and clouds just the same!"

...Tap... Clap... Clap Clap... Clap Clap Clap...

In the silent dance hall, the solitary sound of Tian Ce’s applause drew everyone's attention. This simple rhythm struck like a war drum surging within their hearts, shaking free the worship each person felt for Tian Lianlingguan with every beat.

Biluo began to applaud softly, and Da Ke immediately followed Tian Ce’s lead... Gradually, the scattered applause swelled into a unified roar.

Tian Lianlingguan’s pupils contracted swiftly with a flicker of surprise, but his face retained a lofty smile as he nodded slightly: "Challenging Qian Zhanxuan? Defeating the Qian Family? Creating a legend for ordinary people? I admire your courage and your dreams... but just to..."

The admiration mingled with Tian Lianlingguan’s haughty expression suddenly turned cold: "When courage and dreams become excessive, they turn into foolishness. Bloodline warriors will always occupy the pinnacle. Do not imagine that your hard work can change anything. It has always been this way, and it will remain so forever. Bloodline warriors are eternally invincible; even the matter of the Three Ultimate Bloodlines is something only I can achieve. Abandon your pointless dreams and live contentedly; that is the life for you."

His calm words carried a hypnotic weight, and the flames that had just ignited in the hearts of the crowd seemed poised to be instantly extinguished.

"A life without dreams? What difference is that from a fish being kept in a fishbowl?" Qian Jin looked up at Tian Lianlingguan: "My life may be fraught with setbacks, perhaps it won't be smooth, but so what? Dreams belong to everyone!"

"Dreams? They are only suitable for when you are asleep,” Tian Lianlingguan said without even glancing at Qian Jin, turning and stepping toward the door: "Every dream requires strength as its foundation. What I, Tian Lianlingguan, say is always true. Whenever you come to your senses, feel free to find me..."

Qian Jin watched the retreating figure of Tian Lianlingguan about to disappear through the doorway, lifting his head slightly, and replied calmly: "No one is born with powerful strength as a foundation..."

From outside the door, Tian Lianlingguan’s cold snort drifted back, accompanied by his ever-lofty voice: "Ordinary warriors will always remain just that—ordinary warriors. If you truly believe you are correct, then I can only call you naive. If you intended to draw my attention, or the attention of the Qian Family, in this manner, congratulations, you have succeeded."

The people in the dance hall exchanged glances, their eyes slowly regaining a spark of light. They turned their suddenly enlightened gazes toward Qian Jin, mixed with admiration, envy, and wonder.

"That man is truly clever..."

"Yes! His challenge against the Qian Family just now was clearly a ploy to draw their attention, right?"

"Of course! If he could become a retainer for the Qian Family, that would be even more glorious."

"It seems we should take a page from this fellow's playbook next time!"

"Exactly! Exactly! What a maneuver!"

In the dance hall, whispers rose one after another.

Ling Fenglingguan turned back to look at Qian Jin, then quickened his pace out of the dance floor, following Tian Lianlingguan and saying softly: "Tian Lian, was that kid serious just now? Or was he really trying to attract the notice of us and the Qian Family to boost his own standing..."

Walking beside Tian Lianlingguan, Hong Zhelingguan, a Gryphon King bloodline warrior of similar stature but with a perpetually drowsy expression, yawned widely and stretched his shoulders, appearing so lethargic he seemed reluctant to exert effort even to walk. He lazily raised a hand to pat Ling Fenglingguan's shoulder.

"Ling Feng, do you really think Tian Lian cares about the thoughts of an ordinary warrior?"

Ling Fenglingguan’s bright eyes suddenly lit up, and he nodded heavily: "That’s right! Tian Lian doesn't need to concern himself with the person's true intentions..."

"Hong Zhe, you’re awake?" Tian Lianlingguan turned toward the groggy Hong Zhelingguan: "It seems you have some interest in that young warrior, otherwise you wouldn't wake up."

Ling Fenglingguan stared curiously at Hong Zhelingguan, who still looked half-asleep but carried a faint hint of excitement. This individual, ranked second on the Academy's Battle List, usually devoted his time outside training to sleeping. Many people mistook this for laziness, but those who truly knew him understood it wasn't sloth; it was a lack of interest.

"There are very few things in this world that can genuinely pique Hong Zhe’s interest. If he were truly interested, we wouldn't know who currently holds the first spot on the Battle List. Perhaps only an Ultimate Bloodline Warrior could capture his attention?"

Ling Fenglingguan recalled a drunken mutter from Tian Lianlingguan and shivered again. Hong Zhe was a Gryphon King bloodline warrior whom even Tian Lian highly respected—yet he seemed interested in an ordinary young warrior?

"He is quite interesting," Hong Zhelingguan replied, resting his hands behind his head as if using them for a pillow: "I am more interested in the person himself than that (Qian Lei) Combat Skill. The strength he displayed in the Demon Extermination Battle, where he gravely injured Wei Buhuan with a single punch. I suspect that even without using a Saint-tier combat skill, he could have defeated the Wei Buhuan of the Nine Battles of Demon Extermination, right?"

Tian Lianlingguan nodded expressionlessly. Among warriors of the same broad strength tier, it was not entirely surprising for exceptional bloodline warriors to fight and win against those of a higher level. Even if Qian Jin was indeed special, so what?