40: Reaching the top spot, lurking in the shadows.

The next day, early morning.

The school bulletin board was crowded with eager students.

The final rankings of the diagnostic test, and the list of Honor Class students who would receive preferential resources for the coming year, were officially announced.

[Third Year Diagnostic Test Comprehensive Ranking]

[First Place: Lu Yuan (Class 7, Third Year) - Comprehensive Score: SSS+]

[Second Place: Yao Xiao (Class 1, Third Year) - Comprehensive Score: S]

[Third Place: Chen Mo (Class 1, Third Year) - Comprehensive Score: A+]

[Fourth Place: Li Hao (Class 2, Third Year) - Comprehensive Score: A+]

...Lu Yuan's name was at the top of the list, and the "SSS+" score behind it was dazzling.

Between his score and the "S" of the second place, there seemed to be an insurmountable chasm.

A leading position by a wide margin!

Below the list were the selected students for the Honor Class.

A total of fifteen people.

Lu Yuan and Yao Xiao were prominently listed.

The other thirteen were also the top students in their respective classes, all at least peak nine-star apprentices, and some had even touched the threshold of the second rank, just like Lu Yuan before.

"It really is Lu Yuan in first place!"

"SSS+? Is the scoring system broken? I've only ever seen S-rank at most!"

"Nonsense! Can a gold card possessor be the same?"

"Yao Xiao is only second? Hasn't she always been consistently first in the grade?"

"No choice, who told Lu Yuan he had a gold card... This luck, can't be envious."

"Hmph, luck is also part of strength."

"Honor Class ah... I heard the resources there are more than ten times that of ordinary classes!"

"The mentors are all the school's top ones, and there are dedicated cultivation rooms and actual combat training grounds..."

Envy, jealousy, astonishment, unwillingness... Various emotions emerged in the crowd... Nine o'clock in the morning.

The fifteen Honor Class students gathered at the Dean of Students' office.

Leading them was the school's Dean of Students, Sun Libang.

A serious-faced, middle-aged man with a slicked-back hairstyle, he was rumored to be a retired Card Master from the military, with unfathomable strength.

He would serve as the homeroom teacher for the Honor Class.

"Follow me."

He led the group through the familiar teaching building, heading towards a detached white building deep within the campus.

Lu Yuan had only seen this building from a distance before.

There were dedicated security personnel at the entrance, and access was strictly controlled; ordinary students couldn't get close at all.

Entering the small building, the interior suddenly opened up.

The walls shimmered with a metallic luster, and the air was filled with energy.

It was like a much larger version of a cultivation room!

"This is Venus Tower, and it will be your place of study and cultivation from now on," Sun Libang introduced.

"The first floor has theoretical classrooms and a data room."

"The second floor has individual cultivation quiet rooms."

"The third floor has a small virtual combat training ground."

"The top floor is my office."

He pointed to the floor plan.

"The facilities here are the most advanced in Jiang City at present."

"Resource allocation also far exceeds that of ordinary classes."

"The school and the city have high hopes for you."

Sun Libang's gaze swept over everyone.

"But remember, excellence doesn't mean the end, it's just a new beginning."

"Competition is everywhere, and those who slack off can be eliminated at any time."

"Understand?"

"Understood!" everyone responded in unison.

They entered the exclusive classroom on the first floor.

Unlike the large classrooms of ordinary classes, this was more like a small conference room.

There were only fifteen individual desks and chairs, equipped with the latest interactive light screens.

Lu Yuan casually found a window seat and sat down.

The environment here was indeed much better than in ordinary classes.

As soon as he settled down, a figure lightly took the empty seat beside him.

It was Yao Xiao.

Today she was wearing a light blue tracksuit, and finally, she wasn't wearing a mask.

"Hey," she turned her head, her dark eyes curiously sizing up Lu Yuan, "How does it feel to have a gold card?"

Lu Yuan tilted his head to look at her.

The girl's eyes were very bright, like they were filled with starlight, carrying undisguised curiosity.

"It's alright."

"It's alright?" Yao Xiao seemed dissatisfied with this perfunctory answer and pressed, "Does it consume a lot of Source Power? I saw you instantly kill those three Gale Wolves yesterday, and your Source Power seemed to be almost depleted..."

She observed very carefully.

Lu Yuan's heart stirred slightly.

The summoning and instant kill of the Heavenly Thunder Light Falcon indeed consumed almost all of his Source Power (98 points).

It was just that the battle ended too quickly for outsiders to notice.

Naturally, there was no need to tell her these things.

"Practice makes perfect," Lu Yuan said casually.

Yao Xiao pouted, clearly unconvinced.

She changed the topic.

"The Black Water Gang... how do you plan to deal with them?"

"I heard that their boss, Black Crow, has already put out word that he will make you pay the price."

"Although you are now in the Honor Class and protected by the school, outside of school..."

As she spoke, she observed, seemingly wanting to gauge his confidence and countermeasures from Lu Yuan's reaction.

Lu Yuan looked out the window; students were doing physical training on the sports field.

"When soldiers come, use generals to block; when water comes, use earth to cover."

His calm tone,

neither showed tension due to the Black Water Gang's threat nor closeness due to Yao Xiao's concern.

Yao Xiao looked at his profile, "Hmph—show-off!"

But in her heart, she wondered, this guy... doesn't he care? Or does he have other backing?

She stopped pressing and instead started fiddling with the light screen on the table, seemingly losing interest.

But Lu Yuan could feel that a part of her attention was still subtly lingering on him.

It wasn't just Yao Xiao.

In the classroom, other classmates' gazes occasionally darted towards him.

The gold card brought not only honor and resources but also omnipresent attention and potential trouble.

Lu Yuan closed his eyes and began to adjust his breathing, blocking out external distractions.

He needed to get used to the environment here as soon as possible and adapt to the new rhythm.

However, just as he calmed his mind, and his perception slowly spread out, wanting to familiarize himself with the energy flow of this "Venus Tower"...

Suddenly, he felt a subtle anomaly—

In addition to the obvious attention from classmates and teachers...

There was also an extremely hidden gaze, like a venomous snake, lurking in the shadows.

This gaze did not come from inside the classroom.

It seemed... to be cast from some corner outside the building.

It wasn't the crude and direct surveillance of the Black Water Gang.

Although those bald men also had tracking skills, their aura carried the unique ferocity and impatience of desperadoes, making them easy to distinguish.

But this gaze was different.

It was more professional, more concealed, and more dangerous.

Who?

Besides the Black Water Gang, who else is watching me?

Is it those companies or families coveting the gold card?

Or someone from the authorities?

Lu Yuan's internal alarm bells rang loudly.

Damn it, the trouble brought by exposing the gold card was more complicated than he had anticipated.

Where are the real big shots?

The authorities? The military?

Why aren't they coming to find me yet!!!

...At the same time.

Jiang City, the backyard of a dilapidated car repair shop.

Zhao She was sternly instructing a few of his subordinates.

"Listen carefully, all of you!"

"Target, Lu Yuan, a third-year student, just entered Venus Tower."

"His home address, parents' workplaces, daily activity routes, find out everything clearly!"

He slammed several photos onto the table; they were candid shots of Lu Yuan.

"Blondie, you take a few people and be responsible for his home vicinity."

"Rat, you take people to guard the school perimeter."

"Remember! 24 hours non-stop! Take shifts and keep a close eye on him!"

"Who he meets, where he goes, who he talks to, even if he just buys a bottle of water from the convenience store, report it to me immediately!"

He dared not slight Brother Ya's orders in the slightest.

Especially... when the boss mentioned the word 'family', he knew in his heart that this time it was serious.

"Brother She, don't worry!" Blondie patted his chest, "I guarantee we'll even find out how many times he goes to the bathroom a day!"

"Get out of here, stop talking nonsense! Get it done cleanly!" Zhao She waved his hand impatiently, "If anything goes wrong again and ruins Brother Ya's big plan, you know the consequences!"

The subordinates were silent, nodding repeatedly, and quickly dispersed with the photos.

In a dark corner.

Zhao She took out a phone and dialed a number.

"Hello, Snake Eye?"

"Help me investigate someone, Lu Yuan, a student from Qingteng Middle School..."

"Yes, focus on his parents, the more detailed the better."

"Price is negotiable."

After hanging up, a sinister glint flashed in Zhao She's eyes.

Kid, there's a path to heaven you don't take, but you barge through the gates of hell.

You offended the Black Water Gang and dared to show off your gold card?

Do you really think the school can protect you forever?

Once I find your weakness... let's see if you can still be so calm!

...Night fell.

The lights of Jiang City lit up like countless stars.

The first day was just for familiarizing themselves with the venue, and there weren't many training activities.

Lu Yuan returned to his brand new single room dormitory.

No, it should be called a luxurious hotel king suite!

The empty room allowed his nerves, which had been taut all day, to relax slightly.

He simply washed up and changed into clean clothes.

Sitting at the desk, he prepared for his evening meditation.

These past few days, he had officially entered the second rank, and his Source Power limit had reached 103 points.

The resonance of the dual-source card slots significantly boosted his Source Power recovery rate and perception.

However, the gold card's consumption was still enormous, and he had to quickly increase his total Source Power and stabilize his realm.

At the same time, the hidden gaze in the shadows made him feel a prickling sensation on his back.

Before any big shots came knocking, he had to improve his strength as quickly as possible!

Only with enough power could he deal with unknown dangers.

He closed his eyes, adjusted his breathing, and his consciousness sank into the Source Power Sea.

Just as he was about to enter a meditative state—

Buzz... The phone in his pocket vibrated slightly.

"Who is it, so late at night..."

Lu Yuan's heart stirred; he opened his eyes and took out his phone.

The screen displayed an encrypted message from an unknown number.

He tapped it open.

There were only a few words.

[Be careful with your parents, the Black Water Gang is about to make a move.]

No signature.

No extra explanation.

A chill ran from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head!

Parents!

The Black Water Gang... was going to target his parents?!