46: SSS-Rank Forbidden Technique: The Tragedy of Talent

Following Su Yan's revelation of his S-rank Combat Talent,

Jiangnan No. 2 High School fell into a state of total frenzy.

At the school gate, eighteen ceremonial cannons fired into the sky, their roar shocking the entirety of Jiangnan City.

The City Demon Extermination Institute, the City Government, and other departments sent congratulatory messages immediately upon hearing the news.

TV station interviewers were already on their way.

Leaders from No. 1 and Third High Schools also expressed their envy under their real names.

Jiangnan No. 2 High School instantly became a star school!

It enjoyed the highest specification of treatment it hadn't seen in two hundred years!

As for Jiang Hao being killed,

and whether Jiang Yao's guidance activity would continue,

these things were no longer important.

Because no one would remember them; everyone's focus was on Su Yan... By now, it was nearly noon.

The Old Principal was overjoyed and invited Su Yan to the principal's office, showering him with concern.

He wished he could enshrine Su Yan like a deity.

After talking for half an hour.

The Old Principal's excitement finally calmed down, and he asked pleasantly:

“Su Yan, you could kill... defeat Jiang Hao in one move, so your Divine Punishment Rank must be quite high, right?”

Su Yan sat on the sofa, drinking expensive tea from Mount Dafu, and replied with a smile:

“It's alright, I just reached Rank 28 last night.”

“That high?!”

The Old Principal's aged face immediately showed a look of massive surprise; he was clearly quite shocked by this answer.

Having been a principal for so many years,

the Old Principal was very sensitive to the Ranks of his students.

He knew exactly what Rank one should reach by which day like the back of his hand.

Currently,

based on the information he had, the highest Rank in the school was Jiang Hao's Rank 20.

It should be noted that such a Rank was already monstrous.

In any period of No. 2 High School's history, it would Rank in the top three.

Even for Jiang Yao last year, he was only Rank 22 during the same period.

Yet Su Yan, who stood before him, had already reached Rank 28!

“Is this the terror of an S-Rank Talent?”

The Old Principal adjusted his glasses with trembling hands, his face full of ecstasy.

A bold thought couldn't help but emerge in his mind.

And that was... in this year's National College Entrance Examination, Su Yan might be able to make a dash for the provincial top scholar title!

Completing another unprecedented feat since the founding of No. 2 High School!

Su Yan wasn't quite sure of the Old Principal's internal monologue,

but seeing him look like he had never seen the world before, he smiled and said:

“It's mainly because my homeroom Teacher Wang taught me well.”

“He didn't give up on me at the lowest point of my life, which gave me the courage to stand up again.”

He said this out of gratitude for Teacher Wang's earlier intervention.

“Oh, so it was Teacher Wang. Good, good. This time Teacher Wang must be credited with a great achievement; I'll promote him later!”

The Old Principal nodded repeatedly, and after making this promise, he spoke again:

“By the way, Su Yan, do you need anything right now? You can ask for anything in this regard; the school will support you with everything it has!”

Su Yan thought for a moment and said, “I lack a set of SSS-Rank equipment.”

“...”

The conversation ended there.

Knock, knock, knock!

Suddenly, a knocking sound rang out.

Immediately after, Jiang Yao pushed the door open and walked in.

The two people in the room stood up immediately, somewhat surprised that Jiang Yao hadn't left yet.

After all, with what had happened, the Jiang Family had lost all face; he should have left in anger long ago.

“Student Jiang Yao, what is this?” the Old Principal asked with a frown.

Jiang Yao looked at Su Yan, seemingly a changed man, and gave a kind smile:

“I'm sorry, Su Yan, I was just impulsive a moment ago.”

“I've already heard about what happened between you and my brother; it was his fault to begin with.”

“Furthermore, he actually dared to try and kill you during a spar; he got what he deserved!”

Looking at Jiang Yao's extended hand, Su Yan lightly raised an eyebrow.

What is this guy up to now?

He didn't pay it any mind for the moment, instead using his SSS-rank Skill: Skill Replication on Jiang Yao.

“Let me see what your trump card is.”

As Su Yan thought this,

the skill was released, and a ripple instantly shimmered through the air.

Originally, he hadn't held much expectation and was just giving it a casual try.

Since the CD was there anyway, it would be a waste not to use it.

But soon.

[Congratulations, you have replicated SSS-rank Skill: Talent Scourge (Permanent)!]

“Hmm? He actually has an SSS-rank Skill?”

In an instant, a flash of surprise crossed Su Yan's eyes, followed by a strange look.

Inside the principal's office,

seeing that he had no reaction at all, Jiang Yao could only awkwardly retract his hand.

The Old Principal's expression shifted, and he smiled to smooth things over:

“Then it seems it was all just a misunderstanding!”

“Jiang Yao, both you and Su Yan are the pride of our Jiangnan City. You should be united and progress together.”

“The Principal is right to lecture me; I have the same intention.”

Jiang Yao lowered his head and admitted his fault, then looked at Su Yan again:

“Su Yan, please believe that it really was a misunderstanding just now.”

“And to resolve this misunderstanding, my Jiang Family is willing to provide a set of Level 50 S-Rank equipment.”

“As an apology to you, would that be acceptable?”

Jiang Yao's current submissive attitude made it look to anyone like he was frantically trying to save himself.

In order not to form a grudge with a Genius of S-Rank Talent, he was doing his best to please and flatter him.

The Old Principal beside them thought the same and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

But seeing that Su Yan remained silent, Jiang Yao quickly added:

“Of course, if you have any requests, feel free to ask. Our Jiang Family will surely satisfy you, even if we have to sell everything we own!”

Hearing this, Su Yan calmly looked up and finally spoke:

“I lack a set of SSS-Rank equipment.”

“...”

The negotiation was declared a failure... Because of Jiang Yao's proactive apology, his attitude had undergone a 180-degree flip.

The afternoon guidance activity was able to continue.

In the school's ordinary reception room.

Jiang Yao sat on a stool, his expression extremely dark.

Sizzle!

The air in front of him suddenly distorted and fluctuated, and a sinister, ghostly voice emerged from it.

“No way, no way, you really intend to let that kid go? Well, it's not like you're the one who died, and your poor little brother was so obedient to you...”

“Shut up!”

Jiang Yao barked angrily, standing up and walking to the window.

“Who told you I'm going to let him go?”

“My proactive show of kindness was merely to make him lower his guard!”

“Hmph, S-Rank Talent? Highest protection rights?”

At this point, Jiang Yao's eyes were filled with boundless killing intent, and his fists clenched until they cracked.

“It's true I can't kill him, but I can cripple him!”

“Just wait and see. After entering Divine Punishment this afternoon, I'll turn him back into a cripple!”

In the air, the ghostly voice let out a 'jie jie jie' laugh.

“This handsome young man named Su Yan is truly an unexpected surprise for this trip~”

...After coming out of the principal's office.

Su Yan couldn't find Tang Xia in the classroom, so he went to the cafeteria alone.

He thought about quickly grabbing lunch, as he had to enter Divine Punishment for the Combat Drill in the afternoon.

With a slight thought, an interface appeared before his eyes.

【Talent Scourge】(SSS-Rank): Performs a Talent attack on a target, causing Talent damage or nullification based on the strength gap.

CD: 2 hours.

Cost: 1000 mana

This SSS-rank Skill replicated from Jiang Yao.

Calling it insane would be an understatement; it was utterly monstrous.

【Identified: This skill originates from the Demon Race and has been listed as a Forbidden Technique by the Demon Slaying Institute!】

A hint given by the Eye of the Gods.

Su Yan's thoughts churned, and then his lips curled into a smirk.

“I think I know something now.”