"Classmate..." Gan Jing looked at Luo Lin's roguish, opportunistic gaze and tentatively asked, "You don't mean to..."

"You really do know me best, classmate!" Luo Lin rubbed his index fingers together shyly. "For me to finally become Zhu Lisi's boyfriend, how about you make another sacrifice? Let me beat you into a pulp?"

"Get lost!" Gan Jing lightly kicked Luo Lin's plump backside and laughed, "To do that for some ugly woman, you’d have me beaten into a pulp? I'm heartbroken."

"We're all family, aren't we?" Luo Lin rubbed his backside, which hadn't even hurt from the kick, and said with a chuckle, "You’re my brother-in-law, and I’ll be your eldest brother-in-law. What's the difference between us..."

"Classmate, it’s early morning, please don't say terrifying things." Gan Jing stopped walking, placing an arm around Luo Lin's shoulder, and looked at the few Warrior students blocking the path. "What is it? Trouble?"

Luo Lin's face immediately darkened when he saw who was obstructing them. Song Wuji, ranked fifth in the first-year Warrior stream; Bai Ancheng, ranked fourth; and Tavares, ranked second! All of them were here! This lineup was far more formidable than yesterday’s battle.

Three badges appeared in their hands, and two simple words sprang from their lips: "Challenge!"

They had heard about Gan Jing's fight yesterday, and coupled with Zhu Lisi's announcement, the three of them could no longer stand by. Was the former tenth-ranked truly that strong? They didn't believe it!

Gan Jing looked at the three before him, then noticed the look in the eyes of many surrounding Warrior students—a shared sentiment that if he showed even the slightest weakness, they would all pounce on him to challenge, much like a pack of wolves daring to strike with full force upon seeing an injured tiger.

Show weakness? Gan Jing scratched his head. He had always intended to avoid the intense competition for the top ten rankings, mainly to avoid too much attention, which might interfere with his future search for the Peerless World Dou Qi secret manual. But if he refused to fight now, he might face challenges nonstop in the future, leaving no time for searching.

No backing down! Gan Jing instantly set the tone: today, no matter what, he had to fight in front of everyone, even if it was just to intimidate them.

Gan Jing sized up the three before him, then tilted his head back, standing on his toes to search around. "One is missing. Where is Dak?"

"I am here."

The crowd parted, and Dak slowly walked out from the center. His deep blue Warrior uniform was snug, and his hair, shining brilliantly like gold, was particularly conspicuous under the moonlight. His features were sharp, and his eyes were a chilling ice-blue, his gaze intensely cold. His title as the top-ranked student imbued him with an aura far surpassing the other three.

At this moment, the onlookers instinctively retreated to the sides, leaving a large, open circle with only the five of them standing within the battle ring.

"One, two, three, four..."

Gan Jing tapped the air with his fingers, counting the four men, and then lightly applauded with praise: "Since you're all here, then come at me together."

Whoosh...

All the surrounding students gasped in shock. Even the teachers monitoring the morning run were startled by Gan Jing's words, wondering if he hadn't woken up properly, or if he had become utterly insane after winning just two matches?

A hint of surprise flickered in Dak's ice-blue eyes. While he knew that the hardest opponent among the top ten wasn't the second or third ranked, but this always low-key tenth-ranked Gan Jing, he hadn't expected that when this person stopped being subtle, he would push arrogance to the extreme.

"Did you hear that? He said he wants to fight four at once!"

"Right? Isn't that too arrogant? Who does he think he is? A bloodline warrior who has awakened?"

"Look, the faces of the other guys have turned green with anger."

"Hey, hey, anyone interested in placing a bet? I'm taking bets..." That was the voice of the fat man, Luo Lin.

Gan Jing glanced at his classmate, thinking to himself: This guy is a merchant to his core. He has the nerve to set up a book at a time like this.

"Why is no one speaking? Do you think there aren't enough people? Can't beat me? No problem, you can add more people. How about this..." Gan Jing spun around sharply, raising his hand to point at the crowd: "You! And you! And you! Aren't you also eager to fight me? Come up together!"

This near-mad action rapidly amplified the arrogant aura emanating from Gan Jing. The few Warrior students he pointed at instinctively recoiled the moment they were targeted, as if facing not a finger, but a blade! A razor-sharp battle blade! The blade’s tip radiated a chilling cold!

"Dak..."

Principal Fick's aged voice shattered the campus quiet. With his hands clasped behind his back, he nodded to the students looking at him and said, "Since Gan Jing is so confident, why don't you all go at him together."

When the Principal spoke, the four challengers froze for a moment, then all bowed in unison, submitting to Fick's decision. In this small Oakland Academy of Magic and Warriors, Principal Fick's word was like an emperor’s decree; any smart student hoping to graduate from here and enter a higher academy would choose to obey.

The surrounding crowd erupted in renewed commotion—the Principal had given the order! Gan Jing was truly unlucky this time! Perhaps he had only said those arrogant words to boost his morale? Now it was too late for him to back down; he really had to fight four opponents, and they were nearly the highest-ranked students in the first-year Warrior stream.

The Dean of Academic Affairs, hiding in the crowd, secretly chuckled. This annoying Gan Jing finally got what was coming to him for being so conceited! No matter how strong you are, you’re only about equal to Dak, right? Adding the other three, how could he possibly win?

The four challengers lined up side-by-side, facing Gan Jing without moving to strike first. For Warrior students of the same year level, four ganging up on one was already humiliating enough; if they struck first, they wouldn't be able to hold their heads up in the academy anymore.

"You aren't going to attack first? Then I won't be polite."

Gan Jing shifted his stance, his feet forming a standard preparatory posture for the Warrior Charge technique taught by the academy professors—a forward lunge. His left fist shot out straight, while his right fist remained tucked near his waist, like an arrow hidden at the hip.

Instantly, the onlookers facing Gan Jing collectively took a step backward! At the very moment this Level Six Dou Qi erupted, everyone felt Gan Jing's aura suddenly explode, as if the person standing on the field was not a Warrior student, but a powerful, ferocious, and untamed Crimson-Striped Tiger!

Level Six Dou Qi! The murmurs of the crowd rose sharply. Dak inhaled sharply, gulping cold air. He had assumed Gan Jing's Dou Qi must be inferior to his own, that he must have been concealing some highly specialized combat technique, which was why he remained so calm. He never expected that his first move would be a Level Six Dou Qi eruption!

:Tomorrow is Sunday again, and after Sunday comes the midnight hour connecting to Monday. Ah! The relentless pace of weekly rankings has messed up my sleeping schedule! Alright, for the midnight hour between Sunday and Monday, please give me your member clicks and recommendation votes; there will still be an update at that time. Also, I really enjoyed writing this chapter. F