Nanjing Third High, small grove.
"Relax, I'm not here to rob or harass."
Opposite Ye Bai, Liu Xueqi's face was tense, completely at a loss.
For some reason, whenever she met Ye Bai, she felt like a mouse encountering a cat, utterly subdued.
"I need your help with something."
Liu Xueqi stammered nervously, "W-what is it?"
"You gave me a Skill Book for [Wind Slash], do you remember?"
"Huh? Wind Slash? The Pavilion of All Things should have it, I'll go buy one right away..."
As she spoke, Liu Xueqi took out her Trade Secret Realm Pass, ready to make a purchase.
"You misunderstood me."
Ye Bai patiently explained,
"I accidentally obtained this Skill Book in the Eternal Tower. I heard it's quite valuable, and I was planning to sell it to improve my life.
Zhao Lin mentioned that he really likes the Wind Slash skill, so I thought I'd just give it to him."
"Oh, then... why say it was from me?"
Liu Xueqi couldn't wrap her head around it.
Why would Ye Bai use her as a cover to give Zhao Lin a Skill Book?
"I only have a C Rank Talent. If I suddenly pull out a valuable Skill Book, it could easily cause trouble, and I hate trouble the most.
Besides, if I give it directly, Zhao Lin might not even accept it."
Ye Bai provided a reasonable explanation and decisively said,
"Let's settle it like this!"
With that, Ye Bai started walking out of the grove, leaving one last remark.
"I heard from Zhao Lin about your trip to Wind Thunder Valley, thanks."
"The beef was quite tasty."
As Ye Bai exited the grove, he was surprised to find the entire corridor of the teaching building packed with people.
A sea of heads leaned over the railing, necks craned, their gossiping spirits ablaze.
Everyone's gaze was directed towards the grove, naturally falling on Ye Bai.
"Doesn't anyone have classes? Is there no sense of discipline anymore?"
Ye Bai shouted confidently, scolding the entire floor.
Given his notorious incident of catching a thief outside the school, his reputation had long spread throughout the school.
The fearsome figure of Class 2, Grade 12, his name alone was enough to intimidate many.
Stolen novel; please report.
With his shout, the crowd dispersed in a flurry, rushing back to their classrooms as the class bell rang.
"How will you fight alongside me in the Abyssal Plane if you don't study properly?"
Saying this, Ye Bai climbed through the window back to his seat.
Barely three seconds after sitting down, Zhao Lin leaned over.
"Big Bai, tell me the truth, what were you two doing?"
Ye Bai and Liu Xueqi were in the grove for just about three minutes.
If something could happen in those three minutes, Ye Bai should really see a doctor.
"Nothing much, she thanked me for helping her with some questions and gave me a gift."
Saying this, Ye Bai tossed the [Wind Slash] Skill Book in front of Zhao Lin,
"I said I didn't want it, but she insisted, saying it was a tutoring fee.
I noticed it was the skill you wanted to learn, so I brought it back for you."
"Huh?"
The sudden happiness left Zhao Lin speechless, and he tossed the [Wind Slash] Skill Book back onto the table as if it were burning hot.
Then, he hurriedly picked it up again, the words [Wind Slash] on it making his heart race.
After a few seconds of hesitation, Zhao Lin returned the Skill Book to Ye Bai, shaking his head,
"Big Bai, I can't accept this!"
"It's too valuable!"
Ye Bai had anticipated Zhao Lin's reaction and casually picked up the Skill Book,
"If you don't want it, fine, I'll return it to Liu Xueqi."
"You!"
Zhao Lin panicked, grabbing Ye Bai, "Can't you use it yourself?"
"Xiao Lin, I'm a Mage. Have you ever seen a Mage learn Wind Slash?"
Ye Bai's words left Zhao Lin speechless.
Ye Bai seized the opportunity to continue,
"Even Asura wouldn't do something like a Mage learning Wind Slash!"
Zhao Lin hesitated for a moment, then nodded, "You're right... But even if you don't use it, selling it would fetch a good price, right?"
"A gift from someone can't be sold. I, Ye Bai, am upright and won't do such a thing!"
Ye Bai threw the decision back to Zhao Lin,
"If you want to learn it, keep it. If not, I'll return it."
Zhao Lin hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth, "I'll learn it!"
Holding the [Wind Slash] Skill Book in his hands, Zhao Lin couldn't put it down, liking it more the longer he looked at it.
Soon, he remembered something and rummaged through his messy desk for paper and a pen, quickly writing a few lines.
"May 2146, Zhao Lin owes Ye Bai 10 million Dragon Coins, as proof. If I can't repay, then I won't. If I can, I will..."
After writing, Zhao Lin signed his name and was about to use red ink to stamp his fingerprint.
"Childish."
Ye Bai snatched the IOU and stuffed it into his pocket.
"Alright, remember to pay me back when you earn 10 million! By the way, is this thing really worth 10 million? Xiao Lin, give the Skill Book back, I regret it..."
"No way, I'm using it right now! It's too late for you to regret!"
...
Afternoon.
After the basic test, it was soon time for the combat ranking stage.
"I'll announce the rules for the combat test!"
The PE teacher stood at the front, his voice loud and clear for everyone to hear,
"To give everyone more opportunities and to showcase your abilities as much as possible.
In combat, each person has three chances to fail, not just one elimination!"
"Opponents will be randomly assigned to you. After two losses, you can choose your opponent. If you lose again, you're out."
"Do you understand?"
After receiving affirmative replies, the PE teacher began calling names.
The students whose names were called stepped forward, donned protective gear, and entered the specially designed combat room to begin their fights under the watchful eyes of the referee and healer.
Only school-provided weapons could be used, and the use of items, scrolls, puppets, or other external aids was prohibited, with no other restrictions.
Whoever's protective gear was breached first would be considered defeated!
The defeated would exit the combat room and wait for the next call.
The victor, after receiving treatment, would begin a new round of combat.
The rules of the round-robin determined that the last person standing would undoubtedly be the one with the strongest overall ability!
Good luck might win a match or two, but it couldn't win the whole event!
Similarly, bad luck might cause one or two losses.
The third opponent could be chosen, and if you still lost, there would be no complaints.
Moreover,
In this round-robin system, when everyone is pushed to the brink, they will undoubtedly choose the opponent they perceive as the weakest to fight!
Only in this way can they ensure their continued progress!
Real and brutal.
There were many students at Nanjing Third High, and half of the gymnasium was filled.
Ye Bai and Zhao Lin's names, sorted alphabetically, were near the very end.
They waited for more than ten minutes without hearing the PE teacher call their names.
Zhao Lin was gradually getting impatient.
Some students had already finished two rounds, and Ye Bai hadn't even gone up yet!
But Ye Bai wasn't in a hurry; he only needed a spot in the summer camp, not necessarily first place.
...
A boy with naturally curly hair walked out of the combat room with a grim expression.
He frantically grabbed his hair, muttering to himself,
"It's over, it's over, I've already lost two matches, and I'm a B Rank Talent, I can't lose three in a row!"
He had faced two B Rank Talent classmates, and the battles were intense.
The outcome was on a knife's edge, but Lady Luck clearly wasn't on his side, losing both matches.
He had to seize his last chance!
The curly-haired boy thought to himself,
He must choose a weak enough opponent!
"Choose your next challenge target."
The PE teacher handed him a list, with simple annotations about the opponents' professions and talent levels.
"F Rank Talent, Liu Xueqi... forget it, she's the granddaughter of the Battle King."
He ruled out the weakest, Liu Xueqi.
Other D, E, F Rank Talent students wouldn't even sign up for this test!
Their talents were too weak, participating would be self-humiliation.
"Look for a C Rank Talent, preferably a Mage.
I'm a Warrior, and my talent has anti-magic effects, best for targeting Mages!"
The curly-haired boy scanned the list of a dozen names and indeed found a target!
"I choose this one!"
The curly-haired boy said decisively, pointing to a name, his eyes seemingly already seeing the dawn of victory!
The PE teacher glanced at it and called out loudly,
"Class 2, Grade 12, Ye Bai, step forward!"
"Check your gear, prepare for combat!"
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