"It's a good thing I have a foundation, or I never would have caught up on the missed lessons." Qian Jing pulled the Hundred Battles Ranking list out of the Dou Realm and flipped to the page where Wei Buhuan’s name was listed, scanning upward toward the higher ranks.

Thirty-ninth… thirty-eighth… thirty-fifth…………

The Hundred Battles Ranking also had a challenge limit: one could only challenge opponents ranked within ten places higher than oneself. So… thirtieth place…

Youhun Lingguan? Qian Jing blinked. What kind of luck was this? The surname was Lingguan? Then the rest of the information was a foregone conclusion—he must be a Griffin King bloodline warrior.

A first-year Griffin King bloodline warrior? Height one meter eighty-nine, wingspan one meter ninety-five, weight one hundred kilograms, at the Demon-Slaying Warrior realm…

Qian Jing vigorously rubbed his eyes. Demon-Slaying? A Griffin King bloodline warrior who had condensed the Dou Heart? It seemed this person must have awakened their bloodline power in the altar as soon as they reached the required age, and a particularly talented one at that.

Griffin King bloodline warrior! One of the Ten Great Bloodline Warrior Families of the Zhence Dynasty, second only to the Three Ultimate Bloodline Warrior Families.

Qian Jing studied the file seriously. Even some Qian family Elf King bloodline warriors his own age hadn't condensed their Dou Heart yet. This person had already done so; his talent was exceptionally high.

"Only ranked thirtieth…" Qian Jing looked at the ranks above, raising a hand to stroke his chin in confusion. The warriors ranked twenty-eighth and twenty-ninth surely weren't stronger than Youhun Lingguan, so why hadn't he challenged them? Which of the Ten Great Bloodline Families wasn't bursting with pride over their ranking?

Hundred Battles Ranking, ninetieth place. Hundred Battles Ranking, eightieth place. Hundred Battles Ranking, seventieth place…

Qian Jing followed Youhun Lingguan’s progression up the Hundred Battles Ranking and couldn't help but chuckle. This person was quite interesting; he always directly challenged those ranked ten spots higher. Perhaps he was temporarily stuck here because he couldn't beat the person ranked twentieth?

"Personal Combat Specialty Track, Class One, First Year?"

Qian Jing was surprised. Although bloodline warriors possessed extreme personal combat power, in higher academies, they generally aimed to become renowned generals later on and usually chose the Command Track. Especially for Griffin King bloodline warriors from the Ten Great Families—a lineage famed for producing great commanders—why would someone choose the Personal Combat Specialty Track?

"Excuse me, is Youhun Lingguan in this class?"

Qian Jing stood outside the classroom door and lightly knocked on the door of Class One, First Year, Personal Combat Specialty Track. A slight, personal, inexplicable excitement stirred within him. This was the first time since his debut that he had actively sought someone out for a challenge.

The Personal Combat Specialty classroom was exceptionally large, featuring a massive blackboard on one wall. However, this board didn't have much text; it was mostly filled with illustrations: decomposed movements of two people fighting, or sometimes just a single person performing an isolated stance.

Though these drawings lacked the artistic flourish of masterpieces by art masters, their simple lines exuded an implicit aura of killing intent.

The explanation of combat skills! The analysis of engaging an opponent in battle! This was the core curriculum of the Personal Combat Specialty Track!

There were no desks, only numerous mats woven from straw—obviously seats reserved for cultivating Dou Qi.

The Personal Combat Specialty Track abandoned all talk of tactics, strategy, or even flag signals, focusing solely on pursuing the ultimate in individual combat prowess.

"Who's looking for me?"

From the crowd, a young man stood up. His two golden eyebrows were long and sharp, and the muscles hidden beneath his clothes seemed ready to burst through the fabric at any moment. His eyes fell on Qian Jing, a faint surprise flickering across them. "Qian Jing? I saw you last night! You were the one who heavily injured Wei Buhuan."

The quiet classroom instantly erupted in a small commotion. The warriors inside began sizing up Qian Jing—was this the rumored Qian Jing who had been solicited by Tianlian Lingguan at the ball but had refused the invitation of the academy's strongest figure?

Qian Jing felt the attention directed his way, a sensation akin to entering the Western Mountains of the Endless World, surrounded and watched by countless demonic beasts hidden in the grass and trees.

The Personal Combat Specialty Track! They were all madmen obsessed with individual martial might and absolute faith in personal strength! Suddenly, seeing the person rumored to be worthy of becoming Tianlian Lingguan’s attendant ignited a fierce impulse in many of them to step forward and test their mettle.

"Hello," Qian Jing nodded lightly toward Youhun Lingguan. "I'm here to issue a challenge."

A challenge? Everyone in the room stared at Qian Jing in astonishment. Did this kid know what he was doing? Youhun Lingguan was a powerful warrior from one of the Ten Great Bloodline Warrior Families of the Zhence Dynasty—a Griffin King bloodline warrior!

A mere first-year student who had already secured the thirtieth rank on the Hundred Battles Ranking! Rumor had it that if he wanted, even warriors ranked twenty-fifth or twenty-sixth might not be his match.

And a student who had only just defeated the fortieth-ranked Wei Buhuan—did he really think he was invincible? To directly challenge Youhun Lingguan, ranked ten places higher?

Youhun Lingguan looked at Qian Jing with unexpected interest. Since joining the Hundred Battles Ranking, no senior student had dared to challenge him because of his young age. He had expected that within this Conquest Academy, no one would dare issue a challenge until he personally defeated his older brother, Tianlian Lingguan.

Griffin King bloodline warrior! Youhun Lingguan tilted his chin slightly. This bloodline power, so full of honor, was a name that could frighten mischievous little demons into sleeping soundly when dealing with the Demon Race. And now, a challenger had actually appeared—and one who had just refused his big brother Tianlian Lingguan last night.

Interesting. Truly interesting! Youhun Lingguan's mind replayed Qian Jing’s formidable performance on the dance floor, and his body trembled with excitement. Since entering the Conquest Academy, his sole purpose had been to follow in the footsteps of his brother Tianlian Lingguan, hoping for a good fight, but no one had ever challenged him; it had become rather dull. And now, someone had finally shown up.

"Fine! Let's go, let's go, we'll go to the dueling stage." Youhun Lingguan strode toward the door, naturally draping an arm over Qian Jing’s shoulder and patting him lightly. "If you hadn't come looking for me, I would have found you soon enough. I also want to witness that legendary, supposedly lost, Saint-grade Dou Skill, Submerged Thunder."

Qian Jing looked at Youhun Lingguan walking alongside him in surprise. This person was very different from most bloodline warriors! Even Huoerte, with the Exploding Bear bloodline, who wasn't even part of the Ten Great Bloodline Families, possessed an inherent arrogance, always carrying an air of superiority when dealing with ordinary warriors.

Coming from the Griffin King bloodline—a family ranked quite high among the Ten Great Bloodline Warriors—why was this person so unconcerned? Especially considering that last night, the Griffin King bloodline warriors of that faction had exuded an aura of standing at the pinnacle and looking down, making them seem unapproachable.

Today, despite this being a contest for rank on the Hundred Battles List, Youhun Lingguan's attitude was so nonchalant; it was peculiar.

The warriors of Class One, First Year, Personal Combat Specialty Track, watched the two of them leave, stunned for a moment. Then, they rushed toward the door like madmen, afraid they would miss the most exciting confrontation if they were a moment too late. In an instant, they jammed the doorway, causing the doorframe to creak and groan under the strain.

"Damn it! Who's shoving? Will you die if you slow down?"

"Heck! Why aren't you slowing down? Will you die if you slow down?"

"Who's being so arrogant? When I get out there, I'm calling you out for a one-on-one!"

"A one-on-one it is! But wait until I see Youhun Lingguan’s challenge first, or I'll be distracted."

"Stop shoving! Let me out first!"

"On what grounds? Who the hell are you?"

More than a dozen warriors forcefully pushed their way out of the classroom door. The once beautifully decorated frame was already ruined, looking like the aftermath of a fierce battle.

"What's wrong with those warriors? Why are they so frantic?"

"Go ask them! Hey, classmates, what are you all doing?"

"Qian Jing and Youhun Lingguan are going to fight for the Hundred Battles Ranking… Move aside! We don't have time for you!"

A warrior from the Personal Combat Specialty Track pushed aside the obstructing student and sprinted in the direction Qian Jing had disappeared.

"What? Qian Jing, who only entered the Hundred Battles Ranking at fortieth place last night, is challenging the thirtieth-ranked Griffin King bloodline warrior Youhun Lingguan today? Is he out of his mind?"

"Exactly! Youhun Lingguan is a Griffin King bloodline warrior! Does he think Youhun Lingguan is just an ordinary warrior like Wei Buhuan?"

"What are we waiting for? Hurry and follow!"

In a very short time, a whirlwind swept through the warrior departments of the Conquest Academy. The news that Qian Jing was challenging Youhun Lingguan spread throughout a large part of the Warrior Department. Even many students from the Magic Department heard the news and were inquiring about which dueling area Qian Jing had gone to.

In moments, hundreds of people had formed a crowd near the dueling stage, some even bringing sunflower seeds!

"Who do you think will win?"

"Is there even a question? Of course, Youhun Lingguan! He's a bloodline warrior, a Griffin King bloodline warrior! That bloodline power ranks very high among the Ten Great Bloodline Warriors of the Zhence Dynasty!"

"Not necessarily, though. I heard Qian Jing defeated Wei Buhuan with ease last night. Against Youhun Lingguan, he might still have a chance to fight."

"So what? Can Wei Buhuan compare to Youhun Lingguan? Wei Buhuan is just an ordinary warrior; Youhun Lingguan is a Griffin King bloodline warrior! Have you ever heard of a first-year freshman in a war academy, at the same age, losing to an ordinary warrior in a bloodline warrior matchup?"

The few warrior students who had tried to encourage Qian Jing suddenly deflated like punctured balloons, falling silent. Their gazes, meeting one another, were filled with helplessness.

Bloodline warriors held too many, too significant advantages over ordinary warriors! Powerful bloodline awakening brought about rapid, dual improvements in both quality and quantity. An ordinary warrior might struggle halfway to the mark through diligent effort, only for a bloodline warrior to achieve that same gap in a single awakening, instantly separating the two by eight streets.