"Who on earth knows? This has never happened before, someone not on the Battle List directly challenging someone in the top forty. This person must be truly formidable; our academy is becoming ever stronger." "Hmph!

Don't be so optimistic. I heard from a classmate who was at the dance that Wei Buhuan was in a compromised mental state, likely meaning his actual strength was significantly diminished." "So you're saying! Qian Jin might have just defeated someone who was performing poorly?" Qian Jin smiled faintly, listening to the surrounding murmurs of admiration and doubt.

Being doubted didn't matter, as long as he secured the ranking resources he was entitled to. "What's this?" Qian Jin raised an eyebrow at the dull-looking Tian Ce blocking his path. "Mu Ne Tian Ce, still content staying at the bottom of the Battle List?

Fancy a fight with me?" Mu Ne Tian Ce swiftly snapped his folding fan shut, waving his hands before him with a smile. "What a joke, Qian Jin defeated Wei Buhuan heavily; I certainly don't wish to cross swords with you." Qian Jin appraised Mu Ne Tian Ce from head to toe. His stance appeared casual, yet his entire body was nearly flawless, giving the impression of not knowing where to even begin an attack.

The only genuinely exploitable weakness was his back. And yet! Behind this young warrior, who looked every bit the dashing, noble young master, stood a warrior whose sheer presence resembled a massive steel shield on a battlefield!

If this dark-skinned giant were covered in enough soft fuzz... Qian Jin subconsciously nodded. He did bear a striking resemblance to the Behemoth bloodline warrior from last night; both exuded an immense pressure merely through their bearing, even without launching an attack.

The only difference between them... was that the pressure exerted by this dark giant was a hundred times greater than Loki Lei’s! Qian Jin raised a hand to stroke his chin.

Even without actively using Dou Qi, the aura emanating from his very core broadcast a true sense of power. If they were to actually fight, his chance of winning would likely be less than one in ten! Such a warrior serving as Mu Ne Tian Ce's retainer?

Qian Jin stepped forward, turning frequently to look at Mu Ne Tian Ce walking abreast of him. What exactly was this person’s background? "Qian Jin, might you be curious why I said you wouldn't want to fight today, yet you will have to?" Mu Ne Tian Ce gently fanned himself.

"Actually, right after the dance last night, the Principal released a message. Because you defeated Wei Buhuan outside the normal channels of the Battle List, therefore..." "It doesn't count?" Qian Jin raised an eyebrow, finding it hard to believe. That Principal shouldn't be that kind of person—judging by how she established the Battle List, her goal was clearly to stimulate competition among the students; she shouldn't employ such rigid, rule-bound methods.

"It's not that it doesn't count, nor is it that it does," Mu Ne Tian Ce slowly closed his fan. "The Principal stated that you defeated Wei Buhuan and should rank fortieth. However, granting the rank like that would be unfair to those who fought diligently for their placement.

Therefore, it was decided: Qian Jin is temporarily ranked fortieth on the Battle List. Because the procedure for obtaining this rank was flawed, it was decided that anyone in the academy is free to challenge you, disregarding the established challenge rules of the Battle List. So..." Mu Ne Tian Ce smiled thinly, gazing ahead at three warriors not far down the path.

They were dressed in uniforms indicating they were second, third, and fourth-year students, respectively. They walked side-by-side, grouped tightly yet clearly wary of one another, looking as if they feared the others might suddenly speed up. "You are Qian Jin?" "I challenge you!" The three spoke these words simultaneously and in perfect unison, as if rehearsed countless times, fierce battle intent blazing across their faces and the corners of their eyes.

The position of fortieth on the Battle List represented astonishing resources and a much brighter future! Normally, perhaps, students wouldn't dare casually challenge the formidable Wei Buhuan, but things were different now. The three young warrior students looked at Qian Jin with overflowing hope.

Along with the news of Wei Buhuan's defeat spreading last night, another rumor circulated throughout the academy: that the Dou Qi Wei Buhuan cultivated genuinely had developed a problem, a fact personally confirmed by the Principal. For a warrior, a problem with their cultivated Dou Qi was never a minor issue. In a worst-case scenario, one could practice themselves to death on the spot; if slightly luckier, their Dou Qi might be entirely crippled, leaving them paralyzed for life.

If they were luckier still, perhaps only their strength would drastically decline along with mental instability, but without paralysis. The Principal's personal confirmation that Wei Buhuan's mental state was compromised caused a flicker of smugness on the faces of the three young warrior students. They viewed this as the Principal indirectly confirming that Qian Jin's current top-forty ranking was not legitimate, otherwise, she wouldn't permit others to challenge him.

"You wish to challenge me?" Qian Jin looked at the three warriors before him. The strongest among them only possessed the strength of the Ninth Level of Demon Subjugation. Even when he had just emerged from the Four Seasons Valley, the three of them attacking him together wouldn't have been his match, let alone now?

"Yes!" The three young warriors took a synchronized step forward, casting slightly angry glances at each other, each terrified the other would strike first, robbing them of their chance to fight. Mu Ne Tian Ce smiled silently, gently fanning himself, casually retreating backward until he was ten meters away. Qian Jin paid close attention to Mu Ne Tian Ce's movement.

His seemingly casual retreat incorporated an obscure technique of movement; that nearly groundless backward step had been executed with remarkable composure. This man had integrated Dou Techniques into his daily life, radiating mystery at every turn. If a real fight broke out, he would be far more troublesome than these three before him.

"I'll go first!" After glaring at each other, the three young warriors shouted the same words almost simultaneously, taking another synchronized step forward. A trace of resentment flickered in their eyes—fighting over it like this, who knew who would get the first shot? But conceding the opportunity to another was impossible!

This involved the academy’s resource allocation. Qian Jin looked at the three seniors who refused to yield, shrugged his shoulders, and casually took a step forward, looking calmly at the trio. "Seniors, fighting like this, you'll be late for class." A flash of agreement crossed the eyes of the three young warriors.

Continuing to fight like this would clearly make them late, but being late and incurring punishment was better than losing this rare opportunity! It was much better to face a minor penalty than miss out on this chance. "How about this?" Qian Jin touched the tip of his nose.

"Why don't the three of you come at me together?" "Come at you together?" The three warrior students froze simultaneously, raising their arms in unison to dig in their ears, suspecting they had misheard. This first-year newcomer, who had only been in the academy for a few days, was daring them to attack him all at once? Who did he think he was?

The first-year monster, Titan Iron Curtain? Or did he mistake himself for the Thunder Lion King or Tian Lian Ling Guan? The surrounding students, who had stopped to watch the morning's potential battle, also widened their eyes at Qian Jin.

A few even vigorously rubbed their eyes, wondering if they hadn't woken up and were still dreaming. Had this first-year newcomer gone mad? Did he truly believe that defeating a clearly compromised Wei Buhuan made him worthy of the Battle List's top forty?

"What? Any doubts? Think I'm arrogant?

Or perhaps you think the three of you aren't enough for me? If you lack confidence, then any classmates watching are welcome to join them in a fight." Qian Jin casually stepped to the side of the path, focusing more attention on Mu Ne Tian Ce, a hint of expectation in his eyes. This person might not be a bloodline warrior, yet he gave off an incomprehensible feeling.

The Dou Heart spun gently. The Dou Qi layered successively through all one hundred and eight Dou Qiaos in his body: Demon Subjugation Warrior One, Two, Three... Demon Subduing Four, Five...

and finally, Demon Extermination One! Mighty Dou Qi surged out, manipulating the air currents within a five-meter radius around his body! Mu Ne Tian Ce smiled slightly, stepping back another pace in response to the provocation, gently shaking his head to indicate he would not engage.

Qian Jin advanced a step, reaching the artificial mountain beside the pond behind the trees. The immense Dou Qi, arranged in the sequence of the Dou Heart, collectively surged into his arms. He launched a simple, sharp straight punch, slamming it fiercely into the artificial mountain before him.

Exploding Bear Dou Technique: Uprooting Mountain! In the quiet academy that morning, a sound like sudden thunder exploded. The interior of the massive artificial mountain seemed charged with an explosive magical substance, sending countless shattered rock fragments scattering outward, peppering the surrounding trees with loud pitter-patter sounds, stripping away bark and leaves.

Several surrounding warrior students instantly erupted with Dou Qi to block the flying debris. Many faces immediately showed expressions of pain, as the fragments clearly carried residual, unspent Dou Qi. Crash...

crash... crash... The scattered stones clattered against each other, or lost their momentum, falling onto the ground like raindrops in a shower, sounding as they struck the pond.

After the shocking roar, only silence remained. The three challenging warrior students stared blankly at Qian Jin. This...

was this kid a true Demon Extermination Warrior? Why didn't the Principal mention it? That was no ordinary piece of rock used for landscaping!

That was an intrusive igneous rock! A special rock formed after volcanic eruption and subsequent cooling, ten times harder than granite! If they tried to punch it, even channeling the full power of their Ninth Level of Demon Subjugation Dou Qi and using their defensive Dou Technique, their hands would only break.

To leave even a single mark on this igneous rock? They would likely only leave behind their own blood; nothing else would be possible. A punch delivered so casually that it pulverized an igneous rock formation into rubble—this was no longer a fist; it was an iron sledgehammer specifically designed for forging iron at the blacksmith's shop!