"How is this possible?" Man Niu's eyes widened in shock. He secretly wondered if Qian Jin had also been secretly employing his internal energy, Dou Jin, during those previous arm-wrestling matches, only releasing and retracting it so quickly that it was completely undetectable?

Man Niu still remembered what Teacher Rodriguez had once said: when one mastered the use of Dou Jin, it was indeed possible to instantly unleash and withdraw it, deceiving the opponent. But Qian Jin had already achieved mastery over Dou Jin? That couldn't be right! Teacher Rodriguez had claimed that such a level was unattainable unless one was a Level Ten Warrior possessing Level Ten Dou Jin.

A Level Ten Warrior? Man Niu shook his head. Teacher Rodriguez was only a Level Five Warrior, and Qian Jin hadn't even been enrolled for a full year. No matter how promising he was, he shouldn't surpass the teacher.

"One more match. I don't believe I'll lose to you!" Man Niu took a deep breath, tiny blood vessels appearing in his eyes. If he let Qian Jin leave victorious now, his title as the third strongest in their grade, Man Li, would be utterly lost.

Another match? Qian Jin raised his hand and shook his wrist, signaling a lack of interest. This accidental contest had already yielded its answer; he was more eager to buy bedsheets and return to the dormitory to sleep wearing that peculiar hat and train in whatever virtual game awaited him.

"Not going to fight?" Man Niu sprang up and lumbered two large steps past Qian Jin, blocking the exit with his massive frame, his face taking on a menacing expression. "If you don't fight today, don't even think about leaving this room."

Several students from the First Year, Class Two of the Warrior track also hopped off their bunks and stood beside Man Niu. As a Warrior, Rudy, relying on sheer brute force, was considered one of Class Two's minor prides. If Qian Jin were allowed to leave with the victor's title today, it would be considered a collective stain on Class Two.

Qian Jin looked at the Warrior trainees blocking the doorway, his gaze finally settling on Man Niu with a cold sneer echoing repeatedly. He had initially assumed this somewhat rugged classmate possessed a forthright nature, but it turned out he couldn't even accept defeat with grace! Warriors, born into this world, must be able to accept loss! To own up to it—that’s what made a man!

Luo Lin, watching Qian Jin’s expression from the side, subtly tugged the few classmates from Class One behind him. Qian Jin was widely acknowledged as being in the top ten for practical combat proficiency in their grade. Although he hadn't sought out duels with the other nine to vie for a higher spot on the rankings, no one truly believed that Qian Jin, currently ranked tenth in the grade for practical combat, was actually only the tenth best.

More than anyone else, Luo Lin understood Qian Jin’s true strength. Despite Man Niu’s imposing build and the support of several other classmates, if they truly pushed Qian Jin to his limit, chances were that before Man Niu even hit the floor, these others would be accompanying him to the hospital for a period of rest.

"You all want to end up crippled?" Qian Jin's face darkened slightly. "Have you forgotten Caisus?"

The name Caisus struck Rudy and the others like an unexpected snowfall in summer. The memory of how Qian Jin had struck that day flashed through their minds, and their bodies involuntarily shivered.

Rudy and the others exchanged looks of distress. It would have been simple if they had just stepped aside earlier, but to back down now would be an open admission that they had been cowed by a few words from Qian Jin. How could they possibly remain at the Auckland School if news of this spread?

They couldn't yield! Rudy’s eyes sharpened, his focus shifting entirely to the coin purse strapped around Luo Lin’s waist, where a substantial amount of copper coins rested. Letting Qian Jin walk away with that money so easily was simply unbearable.

"If you really don't want to fight, fine. Just let him put the money pouch down, or else…"

Qian Jin’s eyebrows shot up high. He rolled up both sleeves of his uniform, exposing his reasonably sturdy arms, and brought one palm down hard onto the wooden table beside him: "Or else? Or what? Are you planning to rob me?"

Bang! The ancient, rickety wooden table took the full force of Qian Jin’s strike. It shuddered violently several times before suddenly collapsing with a crash into a pile of shattered wood debris. The planks hitting the ground kicked up a faint puff of dust.

The silent room, the scattered pieces of wood, their faint, light clinking against the floor sounded in Rudy and the others' hearts like the war drums on a training ground. Every collision deeply shook their inner composure.

One palm blow shattered the wooden table! While it was an old table that creaked and groaned with the slightest touch on normal days, it certainly wasn't so weak that a casual slap could reduce it to splinters.

Rudy knew clearly that his full-force strike could never have demolished the table like that. If he had harbored any doubt just moments ago, that doubt had now vanished; Qian Jin's strength permitted no questioning.

Qian Jin secretly glanced at the remains of the table beneath his feet, thinking inwardly: Has that virtual game training been that effective? One palm blow and the table’s broken?

"What?" Qian Jin kicked a piece of wood on the floor, his gaze sweeping over the group blocking his way, his tone laced with threat. "Do you all want to end up like this table?"

The companions who had been standing beside Rudy a moment ago instantly scattered to the sides of the exit. Their speed was so rapid that Qian Jin briefly doubted whether he could even land a hit on them if he chose to strike.

Rudy, standing directly in the center of the only path out, saw his 'comrades' make a collective flight. He defiantly raised his head, about to hurl some harsh words, when he suddenly caught a fierce glint in Qian Jin's eyes. Instantly, he bolted aside with incredible speed, clearing a wide path for Qian Jin.

Who was Qian Jin? Rudy hadn't forgotten: the tenth-ranked expert among the first-year Warriors at the Auckland Academy of Magic and Warriors. The person who had once easily beaten Caisus into severe injury, sending him to the hospital. Rumor had it Caisus had only just been discharged yesterday.

Qian Jin looked at Rudy who had sidestepped, shaking his head slightly. Based on the look in his eyes during the arm-wrestling match, he had thought this Man Niu possessed some courage as a Warrior. Now, he realized that initial judgment was wrong; he had wasted a chance for Man Niu to prove himself.

Luo Lin, clutching the money pouch at his waist, was the first to sprint out the dormitory door, watching his companion with unconcealed delight as he walked out.

Seeing Luo Lin's blatant profiteering nature, Qian Jin suspected this roommate had enrolled in the wrong school. He shouldn't be at the Auckland Academy of Magic and Warriors; he belonged at the Auckland School of Commerce.

As Qian Jin stepped out, Luo Lin quickly rushed forward two steps, making his elastic fat cheeks bunch up. His smile carried a hint of fawning servility. "I knew it! How could I have misjudged you? Qian Jin, you're just too lacking in confidence. If you challenged the grade's number one, Dak, you would surely win too!"

"Fighting for rankings?" Qian Jin let out two cold laughs and flicked Luo Lin’s forehead. "Can you be any more childish? For a useless ranking, you’d have a whole crowd watch me like a clown, just waiting to see me fight others?"