124: Chapter 124 I'm coming clean.

The silence of the Central Martial Arts Arena was eventually broken by a series of urgent alarms and the hurried footsteps of medical staff.

After enduring the full pressure of Wang Pingan's Fourth Rank Peak strike, Qin Wushuang was filled with shame, anger, shock, and fear; his mind completely collapsed, and he fainted on the spot.

Several medical robots in white uniforms carried a floating stretcher through the crowd, deftly taking away the unconscious Qin Wushuang.

The freshmen on the square were all as quiet as cicadas in winter, not even daring to breathe loudly.

Their gazes instinctively turned toward the youth who still stood in the center of the square, hands in his pockets, as if nothing had happened.

The scene just now had brought them too great a shock.

They finally understood now.

Why Instructor Shi Yan said that even if all of them were added together, they wouldn't be enough for Wang Pingan to fight alone.

"What are you all still dazed for?" Instructor Shi Yan's booming voice rang out again from the high platform, snapping all the students who were still immersed in shock back to reality.

"Collect your Ranking Competition rewards from the Logistics Department yourselves!"

"The rewards for the Comprehensive Strength Overall Ranking have already been distributed to your personal accounts!"

"Now, dismissed!"

Instructor Shi Yan's voice was crisp and decisive, without the slightest hesitation.

Following his command, the tens of thousands of freshmen on the square woke up as if from a dream. Each cast an extremely complicated look at the figure standing in the center before silently dispersing like a receding tide.

Soon, the entire massive martial arts arena became empty.

Only Instructor Shi Yan on the high platform and Wang Pingan in the center of the square remained.

Oh, and one more.

In another corner of the martial arts arena, Lin Zhan still stood there quietly, clutching his long spear.

His gaze also fell upon Wang Pingan.

In his eyes was a burning battle intent that was more fervent and pure than any time before!

Wang Pingan felt his gaze, turned his head, and smiled at him.

Then he ignored it and turned to walk toward the exit of the martial arts arena.

"Wang Pingan."

Instructor Shi Yan's figure appeared silently beside him.

"Instructor."

"You kid have offended every single freshman in the school today." Instructor Shi Yan looked at him, a half-smile appearing on his resolute face.

"It couldn't be helped; they were the ones who forced me to show my hand." Wang Pingan spread his hands with an innocent look. "I originally just wanted to be an ordinary, good student."

"Heh, an ordinary student?" Instructor Shi Yan's eye twitched. "You call a Fourth Rank Peak an ordinary student?"

Even now, whenever he thought of those four words on the light screen, he felt his heart was a bit uncomfortable.

It was so damn ridiculous!

Having taught for so many years, he had seen countless monstrous geniuses, but he had truly never seen anyone as abnormal as Wang Pingan.

"This time, you've actually helped me solve a big problem." Instructor Shi Yan's tone suddenly became somewhat sentimental. "These little fellows are all arrogant and conceited. Without giving them a harsh lesson, they would never know the heights of heaven and the depths of the earth."

"Now it's fine; with you as a great mountain weighing down on them, I reckon they'll have to cultivate like their lives depend on it for the next year."

"It is my honor to share my instructor's burdens," Wang Pingan said solemnly.

"Cut the crap." Instructor Shi Yan glared at him irritably. "You kid are probably cursing me in your heart."

He naturally knew that a large part of today's farce was due to him intentionally fanning the flames behind the scenes.

He just wanted to take this opportunity to let Wang Pingan, the 'Uncrowned King', completely solidify his reputation.

And also to knock those self-righteous children of noble families like Qin Wushuang down a peg.

"Alright, if there's nothing else, hurry up and get back to that kennel of yours." Instructor Shi Yan waved his hand as if shooing away a fly. "Don't wander around outside all day; it's annoying to look at."

"Got it, Instructor, you carry on." Wang Pingan couldn't wait to slip away. Right now, he just wanted to return to his 'palace' immediately and study how to spend his huge sum of over a million.

He bowed to Instructor Shi Yan and then, without looking back, walked quickly toward the Heaven Character Number One Villa.

Instructor Shi Yan watched his light-hearted back and shook his head, a smile he hadn't even noticed himself appearing on his face.

"This kid..."

He muttered to himself.

...

Heaven Character Number One Villa.

As soon as Wang Pingan returned to his palace-like "kennel," he immediately set all the security systems to the highest level.

Then he collapsed onto the soft, comfortable leather sofa—large enough for ten people—and let out a long sigh of relief.

"Damn, acting cool is so freaking exhausting."

He rubbed his face, which was somewhat stiff from maintaining the "master's demeanor" for so long, and let out a heartfelt sigh.

At his core, Wang Pingan was a vulgar person who loved to keep a low profile and enjoy comfort.

Being a star "idol" and bearing those gazes full of awe and worship was more uncomfortable for him than fighting a beast hand-to-hand.

"Making money suits me better."

He sat up from the sofa, rubbed his hands together, and an excited, money-grubbing smile appeared on his face.

He opened his personal terminal and logged onto the Campus Star Network.

Looking at the string of numbers in his account that made his heart race every time he saw it, he felt every one of his thirty-six thousand pores oozing with refreshment.

[credits: 1,050,000]

One million and fifty thousand!

Adding the seventy-odd thousand credits left from repairing the array previously, his total assets had now reached a massive one million one hundred and twenty thousand!

"I'm rich, I'm rich! I've really hit the jackpot this time!"

Wang Pingan was overjoyed.

Without the slightest hesitation, he opened the [Exchange Center].

The first thing he wanted to do was turn these virtual numbers into real, solid currency!

"friday."

"Master, how may I serve you?" friday's voice was elegant and magnetic.

"Go to the 'Bulk Transaction' window of the Exchange Center and exchange eight hundred thousand credits for Low-Grade Spirit Crystals." Wang Pingan gave the order without hesitation.

"Understood, Master." A faint blue light flashed in friday's electronic eyes. "Processing for you."

"Exchange application submitted... Identity verification in progress... Verification passed..."

"Eight hundred thousand credits, at an exchange ratio of ten to one, can be exchanged for a total of eighty thousand Low-Grade Spirit Crystals."

"As you are a 'Privileged Student', you enjoy a 10% discount. The actual credits deducted will be 720,000 points."

"Exchange successful. Eighty thousand Low-Grade Spirit Crystals will be delivered directly to your Cultivation Room via the dedicated Material Transport Channel within one minute."

"Does Master have any other needs?"

"No, you did well." Wang Pingan nodded with satisfaction.

As expected of a top academy, their efficiency was truly high.

He stood up from the sofa, rubbing his hands together, and walked toward the Cultivation Room he had been coveting for a long time—one that was comparable to a spirit crystal vein.

He couldn't wait to see the spectacular sight of those eighty thousand spirit crystals piled up like a small mountain.