18: Ready to depart

The morning of the day before setting out for the Freshman Grand Competition.

"Youth King Lin Yan, welcome to the Virtual Battle Network."

"It has been detected that your cultivation has reached the Second Order."

"Please select a map."

"Second Order Town."

"Selection successful."

The scene before Lin Yan's eyes changed.

He looked around at the surroundings and the passing figures.

It wasn't much different from the First Order Town.

It was probably just to distinguish between Martial Artist levels.

*Ding-dong.*

"You have received a friend invitation. Do you accept?"

Lin Yan looked at the message and smiled.

"Accept."

They moved quite fast.

His vision blurred again, and he found himself in a private, enclosed space.

"Brother Yan!"

Two voices called out.

Who else could it be but Xue Cheng and Lian Chuan?

"Holy crap, Brother Yan!"

"We were just talking about your cultivation a couple of days ago, and you've already had a Breakthrough to the Second Order?"

Lin Yan smiled.

"I told you."

"I'm coming to kick both of your asses."

Xue Cheng and Lian Chuan looked at each other and chuckled.

"Maybe in a while."

"But for now..."

"Brother Yan, prepare to die!"

Both of them lunged forward simultaneously.

Lin Yan's eyes flickered slightly.

These two kids had some skill.

He raised both arms.

*Bang—!*

A muffled sound rang out.

A gust of wind ruffled the corners of his clothes, but his body remained motionless.

Their pupils constricted as their punching fists were firmly caught by powerful palms.

A surge of immense force suddenly erupted.

They were thrown back instantly.

"Whoa!"

Lian Chuan flipped and got up from the ground, looking at Lin Yan with a shocked expression.

"Brother Yan!"

"What's going on with you?"

Xue Cheng also stood up, his cold face equally filled with surprise.

With their invincible combat power at the Second Order, Eighth Level, they were completely outmatched in a two-on-one fight!

Two meridians pulsed within Lin Yan's body as he wore a smile.

"What do you think?"

Their pupils constricted again as they cried out in shock.

"Second Order, Fourth Level!!"

Lian Chuan blurted out a curse.

"Holy shit!"

"Brother Yan, you...!"

"Did you really use a cheat?"

Lin Yan laughed and scolded him.

"Cheat my foot."

"I just absorbed some Spirit Medicine over the last two days."

The two looked at each other, Lian Chuan's eyes suspicious.

"Some Spirit Medicine?"

"How much would that have to be?! What grade?!"

"He makes it sound as easy as drinking soup."

"Could that be absorbed in such a short time? What kind of conversion rate would that take?"

They both had top-tier talents too.

Lin Yan didn't care what they were thinking and charged forward.

"Didn't you want me to 'prepare to die'?"

"Since you're not coming..."

"I am."

Their expressions changed, and they stepped back abruptly.

"Wait, don't!"

Immediately.

Dense sounds of impacts and screams echoed.

"Holy shit!"

"Brother Yan, I was wrong!"

"Too fierce, too fierce!"

"I can't take it anymore, Brother Yan!"

"Chuan Zi, weren't you itching for a fight?"

"Where's your spirit weapon?"

"Bring out your spirit weapons."

"Cheng Zi, don't just run."

"What happened to your cold male god image?"

*Clang... Clang-clang-clang—!*

Weapons collided.

"Damn it!"

"Brother Yan, you're too much of a freak!"

"We can't win!"

Two figures scrambled away in a panic.

After a long while.

The space returned to silence.

Xue Cheng and Lian Chuan lay sprawled on the ground.

"Brother Yan."

"Your strength definitely exceeds that of the Chief at our school who is at the Second Order, Seventh Level."

Standing there, Lin Yan raised an eyebrow slightly.

"Oh?"

"Your school's freshman Chief is at the Second Order, Seventh Level?"

Lian Chuan nodded repeatedly.

"Yeah, Brother Yan!"

"He's pretty strong."

"But compared to you, he's probably still quite a bit behind."

...That night.

Haotian University Auditorium.

"Class Monitor."

"The Class Monitor is here."

"Class Monitor!"

"Over here!!"

All the students in the class looked at the figure in black appearing at the door, whispering among themselves.

"Lin Yan is here."

"The handsome Class Monitor."

"I thought he was fierce enough during the exchange with Anyi University."

"I didn't expect him to clear out the kings road right after."

"Simply invincible."

"What a beast!"

"Now the status of the entire class sixteen has skyrocketed because of him."

"Special Class or whatever, they all have to step aside."

"Of course!"

"This is the Young King, ranked first on the Elementary King Tablet for the First to Third Order towns!"

Lin Yan looked at the many figures waving at him, nodded with a smile in response, and walked over.

Just then.

A gust of wind passed in front of him.

A very polite voice came through.

"Student Lin Yan."

"Your seat is at the front."

Lin Yan stopped, his gaze falling on Brother Quan, who was dressed in a formal suit, and he raised an eyebrow.

What was up with Brother Quan today?

Not to mention dressing so flamboyantly.

The glow on his face was way too obvious.

"Had a baby?"

Brother Quan looked left and right, then nodded excitedly.

"Promoted."

Lin Yan understood.

"Congratulations, congratulations."

Brother Quan chuckled.

"It's all thanks to you, kid."

"Let's go."

He turned and led the way.

No!

Lin Yan looked at his back, his lips slightly parted.

"Brother Quan."

"You can't just say that!"

"I haven't even seen what your wife looks like!"

"I'll sue you for slander!"

"And how the hell can you even get excited about this?"

Lin Yan followed him to the seats in the second row of the auditorium.

Many School Leaders in the first row, who had already been looking over, smiled and nodded.

"Lin Yan is here."

"Have a seat."

Lin Yan responded politely.

"Thank you."

Under the complicated gazes of Yuan Cheng and the others, he walked to the center seat among them and sat down.

Lu Cheng, the Special Class Instructor, looked at the sycophantic Brother Quan and curled his lip.

"A petty man getting his way."

"Pure dumb luck."

Lin Yan looked at the stage, ignoring the many gazes and whispers.

What's with Old Man Duan?

Does he think this is the College Entrance Exam?

Organizing some kind of pep rally.

We go to the Imperial Capital tomorrow, and the day after we just start fighting.

At this moment.

A slightly cautious voice came from beside him.

"Prodigy Lin Yan."

"My younger brother has already transferred schools."

"Those previous unpleasantries, just consider them..."

Yuan Cheng's words faltered as he nervously watched a pair of deep eyes turn toward him.

Time seemed to freeze.

A suffocating pressure suddenly enveloped him.

Just as Yuan Cheng gritted his teeth, wanting to say something more.

A gentle smile appeared on Lin Yan's face.

"How could there be any unpleasantries?"

"As the Class Monitor."

"After hearing the news of Student Yuan Hua's transfer, I was also very... saddened."

"What a tough head he had."

Yuan Cheng awkwardly rubbed his head.

Can't you at least try to make it look more real?

Who are you mocking?

Although he thought this, he only dared to think it, and he felt a sense of relief in his heart.

It's normal for a Prodigy of this level to have a bit of a temper.

At least he didn't have to transfer schools himself.

Just as he thought.

Lin Yan, who had turned his head back, had already forgotten what just happened.

An opponent who has already been dealt with and has retreated is not worthy of continuing to have a name.

This would be a common phenomenon from now on.

He didn't wait long.

Old Man Duan appeared on the stage and began his scripture-like mobilization speech.

"..."

"This is the first National Freshman Grand Competition our school is participating in!"

"May the participating students show their style, and those not participating cheer them on!"

"Go for it!"

The drowsy Lin Yan perked up.

It's finally ending.

The auditorium erupted in fierce cheers.

"Go for it!!"