Ruan Lin crossed his arms and looked at his former classmate with disdain. In his mind, this group of people should have been shocked when they heard he had been promoted to Practitioner, their eyes filled with disbelief.
However...
Zhuo Xing and the others merely glanced at him with distaste, sneered, and walked into the testing laboratory first, showing their disdainful attitude. Ruan Lin's face darkened. Even after so long, Zhuo Xing still hated him.
The ordinary class students standing nearby also voiced their indignation:
"A bunch of idiots who practice the 'Shrouding the Heavens method' are still so arrogant. I really don’t know where their confidence comes from."
"Exactly. Just because they're in the key class, they think they're better than us ordinary students."
"They’re just a group of unlucky fools. Who do they think they're fooling?"
These students were already uncomfortable with the arrogance of those in the key class. They thought that becoming Practitioners would humble them, but it only seemed to make them worse.
One student, noticing Ruan Lin's displeasure, whispered, "Maybe it's because they can't believe how talented you are. Once they see your test results, they’ll have no choice but to believe it."
Ruan Lin nodded and said, "Let’s go in."
The students from the ordinary class surrounded him as they entered the testing lab. Once inside, Ruan Lin realized that Zhuo Xing and the others weren't even testing their strength. They were gathered around the ring, getting ready for a competition.
He sneered internally: chickens pecking at each other.
As a former classmate, Ruan Lin was all too familiar with the abilities and potential of Zhuo Xing and his group. Ding Potian, for example, had a strength of only two to three hundred pounds. Compared to him, now a Practitioner, they were not on the same level at all.
Determined to show off in front of Zhuo Xing and the others, Ruan Lin deliberately chose the strength tester closest to them, making sure they could see him.
Ruan Lin stood in front of the tester, while the ordinary class students gathered around him expectantly, looking at him as if he were an idol. Becoming a Practitioner was the dream of every high school student. But for those in the ordinary class, with average abilities, becoming a Practitioner would take much longer, if it happened at all.
From the corner of his eye, Ruan Lin felt immense satisfaction at the awe in the eyes of the ordinary class students. But when he glanced at Zhuo Xing and his group, his mood soured. They weren’t even looking his way. And when they did, it was with the same mocking amusement as if watching a monkey show.
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What’s wrong with these people?
They shouldn't be acting like the trash in the ordinary class. They should be looking up to me!
The stark contrast in reactions from the two groups nearly overwhelmed Ruan Lin. He steadied his mind, recalling what the ordinary class student had said earlier: they must think I'm lying. Once they see my test results, they'll realize I’m really a Practitioner.
Focusing on the strength tester, Ruan Lin took a deep breath, clenched his fist, and punched the machine with all his might.
*Bang!*
The machine shook slightly, and the numbers on the electronic display shot up rapidly, finally stopping at 1008 pounds.
"Wow~"
The ordinary class students gasped in amazement.
"1008 pounds! He really is a Practitioner!"
"Ruan Lin is a martial arts genius! He became a Practitioner more than 80 days before the martial arts exam. His place in the exam is guaranteed!"
"It’s more than guaranteed! He could probably get into any martial arts university he wants. Maybe even a top-tier one!"
"I’m so envious!"
The chorus of envy, jealousy, and admiration swirled around Ruan Lin. He tried hard not to let his smugness show, though he felt relieved. Yesterday, when he tested himself at home, only two or three out of ten attempts had surpassed 1000 pounds. This was the downside of using drugs to boost his strength.
Today at school, he had taken a risk, planning to keep trying until he succeeded. He didn’t expect to hit his mark on the first try. Casually glancing over at Zhuo Xing and the others, Ruan Lin thought, *Now they should believe I’m really a Practitioner.*
However, their reaction hadn’t changed. Zhuo Xing and his friends still showed no interest in his results. When they occasionally glanced over, there was no shock, envy, or admiration in their eyes. Instead... was that disdain?
Ruan Lin blinked, wondering if he had seen wrong. *Disdain? How could they look down on me?*
*I am a Practitioner!*
A Practitioner!!!
These former classmates, whom he had always looked down on, now looked down on *him* despite his achievement.
The stark gap in expectations rattled Ruan Lin’s confidence. In school and society, Practitioners were a class apart, respected wherever they went. This was a privilege ordinary people could never hope to have. Yet, Zhuo Xing and his group showed him no respect at all. Could this be their way of getting back at him?
His desire to flaunt his newfound status unfulfilled, Ruan Lin decided he would teach Zhuo Xing and the others a lesson about respecting a Practitioner.
Leading the ordinary class students, Ruan Lin marched toward the ring Zhuo Xing’s group had occupied. His face was stern as he said, "I want this ring."
Zhuo Xing looked up, frowning. "Why?"
"There are plenty of empty rings nearby. Are you blind?"
Ruan Lin had spoken as if issuing a command, and Zhuo Xing was clearly not pleased. Especially considering their past grievances, Zhuo Xing found his tone all the more insulting.
The ordinary class students were taken aback. *Wow, even though Ruan Lin is a Practitioner now, Zhuo Xing still dares to stand up to him. Is he looking for trouble?*
Ruan Lin’s follower quickly jumped in, "What's your problem? Is cursing the only thing you know how to do? Where’s your sense of decency?"
Zhuo Xing sneered, "My decency is for people, not dogs."
Ruan Lin's face flushed with anger after being insulted twice. "Zhuo Xing, kneel down and apologize to me now, and I might forgive you. Otherwise..."
"Otherwise what?" Zhuo Xing retorted.
Without hesitation, he added, "Do you want us to give up the ring?"
"Fine, let’s follow the rules of Practitioners!"
The rules were simple: strength determined the victor. Whoever won would claim the ring.
At first, Ruan Lin thought he had misheard, but he quickly realized Zhuo Xing had meant every word. "Fine, I accept."
Now that Ruan Lin had agreed, there was no turning back for Zhuo Xing. If he tried to back out now, he would face public humiliation.
With this rookie, Ruan Lin thought, *You think you can beat me?*