The assembled onlookers collectively held their breath. Several students who had been waiting for an opportunity to capitalize on the aftermath of the Qian Jin battle immediately abandoned that enticing notion. This young man's combat prowess was simply overwhelming!

Even if he stood perfectly still and allowed three Demon Slayers to batter him, as long as they avoided his most vulnerable vitals, they couldn't harm him in the slightest. Qian Jin slowly turned, stepping out from under the shade of the trees. The shadow that had obscured the sunlight gradually receded from his face, as if his very presence were pushing the darkness away.

The three young warrior students, observing Qian Jin, subconsciously took a collective step back. Their once merely sturdy frames seemed to gain stature with every forward step taken after a punch had shattered volcanic rock; in that short distance, they gave the impression of a deity descending upon the academy. As Qian Jin emerged fully from the shadows and observed the changing expressions of the crowd, a faint smile touched his lips.

Uncle Mu Gui Wuxin had been absolutely right. Low profile? Why be low profile?

To be low profile for the sake of being low profile? Intentionally inviting others to step on you? That was sheer idiocy.

"Three seniors," Qian Jin said, gently raising his right hand in a gesture of invitation. "I believe my performance just now should prove I possess the strength to face all three of you simultaneously. So, come at me together." Come at him?

The three young warrior students exchanged wry smiles; the gap in their strength was simply too vast! It now seemed the Headmaster's announcement wasn't about finding someone to knock Qian Jin off the rankings, but rather using these challengers to quickly build his fame within the academy. "Classmate Qian Jin, we won't fight.

You've won; we are far beneath you. We will challenge you again when our strength has increased." The three warriors cleanly retracted their battle auras, collectively striking their right fists against their chests several times to acknowledge Qian Jin's demonstrated power. The expressions of the surrounding students varied.

Some felt relief that they hadn't stepped up to challenge him, otherwise they'd be in the same awkward predicament as the trio currently standing there. Others’ eyes darted around rapidly; this was major news! Qian Jin was clearly not as poor in standing as the Headmaster had suggested.

Qian Jin tilted his head slightly and smiled toward a corner of the distant academy building's rooftop. The Headmaster certainly knew how to pick a spot for watching a show. If an archer were planning an assassination, that corner of the balcony would be the most ideal, not only for concealment but because it offered a view of nearly the entire front gate area of the academy.

"Oh? You noticed me?" Isabella spun a lock of hair around her finger, watching Qian Jin with genuine interest after he bowed and turned to leave. "Kid, I was worried you suffered from the common flaw of many young people these days—the desire to feign humility, wait for others to provoke you, and then crush them in retaliation.

I even deliberately released rumors because of it... But I never expected... I truly didn't expect you to be more exceptional than I imagined." "Your Highness, this person hasn't awakened his bloodline power, yet he possesses a fighting spirit, much like you..." "Indeed, it is surprising," the stoic Mu Ce said, gently fanning himself as he turned back to the large, dark figure behind him.

"I gained this fighting spirit through the secret methods unique to the Zhen Ce clan. How did he achieve it? Did he inherit it from his father?

That seems like too steep a price." "This man could make a very good retainer." "Tie Nan..." Mu Ce frowned. "I initially thought we could take him on as a retainer. Now, I have a strong feeling my judgment was flawed; this person gives me the sense that he cannot be brought under control as a retainer." "Cannot be brought under control as a retainer?" Tie Nan's dark face registered surprise.

The Sixth Prince was renowned as one of the three most outstanding princes of his generation, excelling in both personal charisma and strategy. This was the first time he had ever heard His Highness declare someone was impossible to secure as a follower. "Yes, impossible to secure as a retainer." Mu Ce looked thoughtful for a moment, then shook his head.

"He is a strange individual; I feel I cannot see through him. I don't know how to approach him. If I don't make him a retainer, what should I do then?" Tie Nan looked at Mu Ce with confusion.

Yes! If not a retainer, how should His Highness treat this man? His Highness has studied countless methods of imperial governance; surely there is a suitable approach?

"No rush, no rush," Mu Ce strode toward the classroom. "I will figure out a way eventually." "Not a retainer? This boy judges me higher than I judge him?" Isabella watched Mu Ce's retreating back, crossing her arms with a faint smile.

"Those born into royalty learn so much, yet they miss out on the simple things common people can grasp. If he cannot be a retainer, then he can be a friend..." "A friend?" Isabella instinctively covered her lips with her hand, a flicker of shock crossing her beautiful eyes. "What did I just say?

A friend? For the Sixth Prince to be friends with Qian Jin? How is that possible?

Have I been influenced by the Sixth Prince? Or by Qian Jin? Never mind!

I won't dwell on it. I'll go see how Qian Jin performs in class! This young man, I am increasingly sensing, is filled with fascination." The class bell slowly rang, echoing across the academy grounds.

A few warrior students who were ambling along suddenly erupted with battle aura, deploying special high-speed movement techniques across the grounds to sprint towards their classrooms. In the blink of an eye, the paths of the academy were clear, save for a few fallen leaves; nothing else remained in sight. Qian Jin entered the classroom and casually selected a seat.

Just as his backside touched the bench, the classroom door opened again, and the three young warrior students walked in side-by-side. "Qian Jin?" The tallest of the three warriors, his smiling eyes suddenly sharp as blades, clenched his fists, which cracked audibly. Qian Jin looked up at the enraged young warrior before him.

He tapped his temple lightly with his finger, finding the man vaguely familiar but unable to place him. After a brief moment of thought, he asked, "Excuse me, have we met before?" "You!" Veins bulged on the tall young warrior’s forehead, and his face flushed crimson; he swayed as if struck hard in the chest by a hammer, barely managing to stay upright. "Hall...

Holt..." The two younger warriors beside the tall warrior quickly reached out to steady their companion, murmuring the name softly. "Holt?" Qian Jin rolled his eyes. "I think I have heard that name..." Holt stabilized himself, glaring hatefully at Qian Jin.

The last time he was humiliated on the dueling platform—insulting Fen Tu Kuang Ge only to be punched by this Qian Jin until he bent over vomiting bile—it had been the greatest disgrace of his recent years. To think this opponent had forgotten him! That was an even deeper humiliation than being defeated.

"Holt... The Holt family..." Qian Jin lightly tapped the desk with his finger. "A warrior from the Explosive Bear bloodline family?

Ah, yes. I beat you up the last time I was at the academy." "You finally remember!" Holt’s jaws clenched so tightly his teeth nearly shattered. Yet, there was no pleasure in being remembered; being ignored for half a moment in front of so many classmates was merely another insult!

He had trained relentlessly specifically to erase the shame of their last encounter by hearing the sound of his opponent’s bones breaking! "You..." Qian Jin turned his attention to a skinny warrior standing beside Holt. "You were the Viper bloodline warrior who was scared off by Duan Feng Bu Er that day, weren't you?

What was your name... something with Zago..." "Lili Zago." The young Viper bloodline warrior glared darkly at Qian Jin. If fighting were permitted within the classroom, or if they were in the wilderness, he would have already teamed up with Holt to eliminate this Qian Jin.

Qian Jin nodded dismissively. Although these three were bloodline warriors, their strength did not seem exceptional, and they certainly weren't ranked among those ahead of him on the Hundred Battles List, making them unworthy of sustained attention. Holt trembled violently as he stared at Qian Jin.

Being ignored! The last time he was ignored, he was beaten until he was bedridden for a long time, becoming a laughingstock in the academy for months. To be ignored again upon meeting Qian Jin was unbearable!

How dare these common warriors treat a great bloodline warrior this way? Did they even know who protected this prosperous Zhen Ce Dynasty? "Forget it, Holt," Lili Zago yanked Holt’s arm hard, his eyes quickly scanning the classroom before settling with a cold, serpentine smile.

"There's no need to take someone like this seriously. We are noble bloodline warriors. Just wait until we get onto the battlefield; he'll see what's coming." The battlefield?

Qian Jin looked puzzledly at the three classmates who left with cold sneers. He gently tapped his desk. Wasn't the next lesson Military Psychology?

What did that have to do with a battlefield? An old man with white hair pushed open the classroom door, his hands empty, carrying no textbooks at all as he strode to the front. "Hey, rookies!

I missed you guys. Today, I finally get to abuse some rookies again." Rookies? Abuse?

Qian Jin scratched his head, noticing the bitter smiles on the faces of the surrounding students—they clearly wanted to retort against the old man but seemed unable to do so. "Oh?" The old man’s gaze settled on Qian Jin, and he paused. "We have a new rookie today?

Kid, what's your name?" Qian Jin quickly rose, placed his fist over his heart, and bowed respectfully. "I am Qian Jin." "Qian Jin?" The old man opened his mouth, savoring the name with his tongue over his half-missing teeth. His eyes, no larger than soybeans and slightly misty, showed a spark of thought.

"I think I’ve heard that... Ah! The person who knocked out Wei Bu Huan at the ball last night—that was this name." Qian Jin nodded slightly.

"Yes, Teacher." "Oh..." The old man drew out the vowel, his small eyes sweeping over Qian Jin from top to bottom. "Bloodline warrior? Common warrior?

Never mind! Anyone who makes it into the top forty of the Hundred Battles List usually only has personal combat strength left in their brains; they probably haven't even heard of many famous generals." "Famous generals' names?" Qian Jin grinned. "Teacher, is there a reward for reciting the names of famous generals?"

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