Chapter 4: Chu Ming's Hostility

【Host】: Jiang Yan

【Realm】: Body Tempering Late Stage

【Talent】: Savage Sturdy Body

【Martial Skills】: (Unranked) 《Basic Saber Technique》 Major Achievement

(Yellow Grade Low) 《Wild Bull Strength》 Subtle Mastery

【Traits】: Heaven Rewards Diligence (Destined) Truth of Desperation (Blue) 【Haste】(Blue)

“I’ve opened an aperture!”

Jiang Yan shouted excitedly. Nine times! A full nine times!

Adding the fifty deaths in the Battle Space, Jiang Yan had experienced a total of fifty-nine life-or-death crises. Who could understand the sense of salvation when the words “Aperture Opening” appeared?

He hurriedly checked his physical state and discovered that his status panel now included a new talent: Savage Sturdy Body.

Moreover, his realm had also broken through to Body Tempering Late Stage.

“Savage Sturdy Body… it should be related to physique.”

Jiang Yan picked up the alloy long saber and, without hesitation, slashed it toward his own finger.

Clang—

His finger didn’t break the skin as he had imagined. When the blade made contact with his skin, it felt as if it had struck a piece of hard steel, unable to pierce through in the slightest.

“Not bad.”

Jiang Yan nodded in satisfaction. With his current defensive capabilities, the College Entrance Exam a month later shouldn’t be a problem.

At that moment, two options appeared before Jiang Yan once again.

“You have slain the Sharp Ruler Tiger. Do you wish to continue the challenge?”

“Yes” “No”.

Jiang Yan: “No.”

He exited the Battle Space and was just pondering how to leave the Divine Martial Space when another prompt appeared before him.

“Do you wish to leave the Divine Martial Space?”

Jiang Yan: “Oh, quite intelligent.”

He decisively chose “Yes.” After all, he had been here for too long, and Uncle Wang would start worrying about him soon.

As soon as he opened his eyes, Jiang Yan found himself surrounded by darkness. By the faint moonlight filtering in from outside, he realized he was still in the classroom.

“It seems only my consciousness entered the Divine Martial Space. Otherwise, if I had vanished into thin air, it would definitely have caused a commotion in the class.”

He stood up and stretched, suddenly hearing a call from outside as a flashlight beam shone into the room.

“Xiao Jiang?”

“Uncle Wang.”

“Why haven’t you gone home yet? It’s so late.”

Wang Zhong entered the classroom, asking with a hint of reproach.

Jiang Yan scratched his head and made up an excuse: “I was too tired this afternoon and accidentally fell asleep.”

“Alright, come back with me.”

Wang Zhong said, turning to leave.

Jiang Yan felt a bit puzzled. Uncle Wang’s tone… it seemed like he was hiding something from him?

He caught up, slinging an arm over Uncle Wang’s shoulder. The two were about the same height, walking side by side.

“Uncle Wang, what’s going on? Tell me.”

Wang Zhong opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but then shook his head conflictedly: “It’s nothing. Just focus on your cultivation.”

Suddenly, his body stiffened, his footstep freezing mid-air as Jiang Yan, with his arm over his shoulder, firmly locked him in place.

“This kid, how is he so strong?” Wang Zhong thought in surprise.

“Uncle Wang, just tell me. I can handle it.”

The youth’s low murmur drifted over, sounding quite relaxed.

He knew Uncle Wang too well—the man had a sharp tongue but a soft heart, grumbling about small matters but keeping big things bottled up inside.

Jiang Yan’s intuition told him this matter definitely concerned him.

In the end, Wang Zhong couldn’t withstand his persistent pestering. He sighed and laid out the matter.

“You can’t go to the Martial Training Ground anymore from now on.”

Jiang Yan frowned slightly: “Why is that?”

“You know the First High Principal, right? That Old Undying, to prevent any accidents at the school, has strictly forbidden you from going to the Martial Training Ground again.”

“Heh, he sure knows how to scheme.”

Jiang Yan sneered coldly. The Martial Training Ground was supposed to be a right every student should enjoy, yet that old bastard had stripped him of it with just a single sentence.

There were countless ordinary people like Jiang Yan across Blue Star. If everyone acted like the Linjiang First High School Principal, then ordinary folks might as well forget about becoming Martial Artists and stay home raising pigs instead.

After some thought, Jiang Yan looked solemnly at Wang Zhong. “Uncle Wang, I’m dropping out of school.”

“You’re not taking the College Entrance Exam?” Wang Zhong looked at him in confusion.

“Of course I am, but I don’t want to take it as a student of Linjiang First High School. I’ve heard that most kids from those big Families don’t attend school and just take the exam directly, right?”

“They have their Families to train them specifically. What do you have?”

“Uncle Wang, I’ve opened my Aperture.”

“Huh?” Wang Zhong paused, then exclaimed in delight. “You’ve opened your Aperture! When?”

Jiang Yan: “This afternoon. I took a nap and it opened. I’m already at Body Tempering Late Stage now.”

Jiang Yan wasn’t lying—he really did open it after a nap. As for what exactly opened, that’s none of your business.

“Good! Excellent! Splendid!”

Wang Zhong repeated “good” three times, pacing excitedly on the spot, looking even more thrilled than Jiang Yan.

After a long while, he calmed down and looked seriously at Jiang Yan. “Since you don’t want to attend school, I’ll take you to complete the withdrawal procedures tomorrow. You can still take the College Entrance Exam a month later.”

“Alright.”

Jiang Yan smiled brightly.

The next day.

Jiang Yan arrived at school, planning to leave once the withdrawal procedures were done.

Uncle Wang was probably gathering the necessary documents, as he hadn’t been seen all morning.

Jiang Yan returned to the classroom.

In the class, glances were occasionally cast his way—some curious, some mocking. It was hard to tell what these people were thinking.

Jiang Yan took his deskmate’s mirror and looked at himself. Hmm, he had indeed become much handsomer.

Just then, his deskmate kindly reminded him, “Jiang Yan, Chu Ming has opened his Aperture.”

Jiang Yan: “Oh, that’s impressive.”

Deskmate: …

“Aren’t you worried? Don’t you remember what happened last time?”

“Last time?”

With his deskmate’s reminder, he recalled that there was some conflict between him and Chu Ming.

He remembered that half a month ago, his deskmate had been cornered and bullied in the restroom by a group led by Chu Ming. Jiang Yan happened to witness it, but he wasn’t foolish enough to confront Chu Ming and his gang head-on. Instead, he went to find their homeroom teacher, Uncle Wang.

He heard that Chu Ming had been severely disciplined afterward and was forced to apologize publicly to his deskmate.

“It seems that guy holds a grudge against me.”

Jiang Yan muttered to himself, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.

The greater the ability, the bigger the temper.

Sure enough, Uncle Wang never showed up during morning self-study, while Chu Ming and his gang began to stir, their eyes frequently drifting toward Jiang Yan.

Jiang Yan wasn’t the type to retaliate only after being bullied. Since he was dropping out anyway, why not stir up some trouble before leaving?

School bullying—he despised scum like that the most.

He sprang to his feet, meeting the malicious gazes of Chu Ming and his crew head-on.

“What are you looking at, you idiot?”

Bang!

Chu Ming slammed the desk and stood up, glaring furiously. “Jiang Yan, you dare say that again?”

“Idiot, idiot, idiot! Did you enjoy that, you trash?”

“Argh! Jiang Yan, don’t think I’m afraid of you! I’ve opened my Aperture now—crushing you is as easy as killing a chicken!”

The argument drew the attention of all the classmates, and several of Chu Ming’s lackeys immediately rushed to curry favor with their master.

“Go on, Brother Chu, show him what you’re got.”

“That’s right, Young Master Chu is a genius who has opened his aperture. He can easily beat Jiang Yan to a pulp.”

“Hah, failing nine times in a row to open his aperture, while Brother Chu succeeded on his first try. Does Jiang Yan still not realize the gap between them? How laughable.”

But not everyone harbored such malice. Jiang Yan was usually well-liked, and many were willing to speak up for him.

“Jiang Yan, go find Teacher Wang! Chu Ming successfully opened his aperture yesterday. You can’t beat him!”

“Just apologize quickly. If you get injured and can’t take the College Entrance Exam, it’s all over.”

“Chu Ming, don’t even think about starting a fight in class. Even if you’ve opened your aperture, you’ll still face school punishment.”

…

Meanwhile, Jiang Yan’s deskmate had already slipped out through the back door unnoticed, heading straight for the teachers’ office.