Nanjing Third High, Gymnasium.
When the teacher called Ye Bai's name, he stepped out from the back of the line, cooperating with the protective gear check, making the final preparations for the combat test.
In the monitoring room on the second floor.
The principal, along with a group of teachers, accompanied Battle King Qingyan to observe the afternoon's combat test.
"Principal Qingyan, our student Jiang Yun has admired you for a long time..."
"Quiet!"
Liu Qingyan impatiently interrupted, not having heard of any Jiang Yun.
Even if he had heard, an A Rank Talent was nothing special to Liu Qingyan, who had seen thousands of them.
Is it really that rare?
Liu Qingyan put aside other matters, taking precious time to come here specifically to watch a bunch of kids fight.
The main reason was for Liu Xueqi, and the remaining small reason was for this kid in front of him—Ye Bai!
Pointing at Ye Bai on the screen, Liu Qingyan said,
"This kid has a third of the handsomeness I had back in the day, I find him quite pleasing."
"That's him, his name is Ye Bai, he's in the same class as Liu Xueqi, but... his talent is mediocre, only C Rank."
The principal casually pulled out Ye Bai's file and handed it to Liu Qingyan.
Liu Qingyan didn't even look at it, standing up to head downstairs.
"I've been too idle, I'll go down and watch this kid fight, handsome people always attract each other."
Liu Qingyan turned back to instruct the principal,
"I don't like watching with others, no referees or healers should be present."
"But this combat..."
"The outcome will be judged by me, is that not acceptable?"
Liu Qingyan slightly raised his head, snorting disdainfully, "Or are you suggesting that I would cheat for this kid?"
"No, no!"
The principal quickly smiled apologetically, "We'll do as Battle King Qingyan says!"
Despite his domineering ways, the renowned Battle King had always been fair and just, never showing favoritism even when his own family was involved!
"Oh, if Xueqi participates in the combat, let me know, I'd like to watch."
With that, Liu Qingyan turned and entered the combat room prepared for Ye Bai.
...
"Calm down, calm down, the opponent only has a C Rank Talent, and he's a mage, my chances of winning are high!"
The curly-haired boy took deep breaths, adjusting his mindset.
"Protective gear check complete!"
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"Status check complete!"
"Identity verified, please enter the examination room promptly!"
The doors on both sides of the combat room opened simultaneously, with the curly-haired boy and Ye Bai entering from opposite sides.
"Huh, where's the teacher?"
In the empty combat room, without a referee or healer, the curly-haired boy looked around for them.
Bang—
The door closed automatically.
A voice, old and raspy, came from the speakers on the ceiling,
"You may begin, I will serve as both referee and healer for this match, have no worries."
Though the process was different from before, the curly-haired boy forced himself to focus on his opponent, recognizing him,
"You're the notorious one from Class 2, Senior Year?"
"Rumors, just rumors."
Ye Bai waved his hand, "I'm a very kind person, I even feel sorry for stepping on an ant."
The curly-haired boy's expression changed slightly, kind?
More like dangerous!
A kind person wouldn't break a thief's three legs! What kind of kindness is that!
The curly-haired boy felt uneasy, "I was too focused on the profession and talent when choosing, no wonder Ye Bai's name sounded familiar, it's him..."
Being intimidated before the fight is not a good sign!
The curly-haired boy quickly adjusted his state,
"Don't panic, he just has a slightly better physical condition.
After entering the Eternal Tower, I'm already level 9, with a strength attribute as high as 45, his talent is worse than mine, his level is lower, and my profession counters his!
No matter what, a warrior against a mage, the advantage is mine!"
Ye Bai didn't know what he was thinking, only feeling that standing there wasting time was pointless.
"Can we start?"
"Yes!"
The curly-haired boy nodded heavily, ready for action!
"He's a mage, he'll definitely try to distance himself from me, once the battle starts, I must charge at him as fast as possible, once I'm close, I've won!"
He quickly formulated his battle strategy in his mind.
They moved!
Both made their move simultaneously.
The curly-haired boy had just taken a step forward when Ye Bai also charged forward.
Wait! What is he doing?!
The curly-haired boy's pupils shrank, unable to comprehend what was happening.
A mage charging at a warrior?
Before he could react further, Ye Bai's figure was already in front of him!
So fast!
"Sorry."
Ye Bai grabbed his opponent's arm with one hand, sweeping his right leg down, and flipped him over his shoulder.
The curly-haired boy hadn't even realized what happened, feeling the world spin, everything turned upside down, losing balance, and finally crashing heavily to the ground!
Bang—
A dull thud, face first.
Buzzing—
The impact was not light, the curly-haired boy saw stars, his head felt like mush, likely concussed.
Beep—Beep—
The piercing alarm sounded, the curly-haired boy struggled to get up, his vision blurred.
He looked down at his protective gear, the screen flashing red, his face turning pale.
"I... I lost?!"
"I lost in close combat to a mage, how is this possible, what happened?!"
Everything happened too fast.
Ye Bai's charge, attack, shoulder throw, and finishing blow to break the protective gear... all these actions flowed seamlessly, taking less than 5 seconds!
Giving the opponent no time to react!
A flame descended from the sky, healing the curly-haired boy's injuries.
Restoring his clarity, though his face remained defeated, unable to accept his loss.
With such an advantage... why... did I end up losing?
The old voice sounded again.
"Ye Bai, wins!"
A door opened, the curly-haired boy left dejectedly, while Ye Bai awaited his next opponent.
During the wait, Ye Bai glanced up at the speaker.
"Liu Qingyan? What's he doing here?"
"Old fellow, pinching your nose to speak doesn't mean I can't recognize you?"
Ye Bai pondered for a moment, with Liu Qingyan present, he decided to focus on wind-based spells.
"Need to maintain my wind mage persona!"
Ye Bai reminded himself, in the next fight, don't rush into close combat immediately.
His basic attributes were too high, a single punch could break the protective gear, these classmates who weren't even level 10 were no match for Ye Bai.
...
Ye Bai swiftly finished another battle.
Meanwhile, in other combat rooms, intense fights were ongoing.
...
In the combat room next to Ye Bai's.
"Wind Slash!"
Zhao Lin appeared swiftly behind his opponent, slashing with his long knife, catching them off guard!
Seizing the initiative with Wind Slash, Zhao Lin attacked continuously, gaining the upper hand!
Finally, he used a Wind Slash followed by a heavy slash, successfully breaking the opponent's protective gear, securing victory.
"Zhao Lin, wins!"
"Yes!"
Zhao Lin's joyful cheer echoed in the combat room.
...
In another combat room.
A girl was full of worry, muttering to herself.
"Doomed, doomed!"
"How did I get so unlucky, facing Jiang Yun, I'm bound to lose!"
Opposite her was Jiang Yun from Senior Year Class 2, with an A Rank Talent, rumored to be the strongest of this cohort, with hopes of becoming the top in South River City!
Facing Jiang Yun, there was no chance of winning!
She was so flustered she didn't even hear the referee announce 'Combat begins.'
"I forfeit!"
"Huh?"
She never expected Jiang Yun to forfeit!
The referee looked at Jiang Yun sternly, reminding him,
"Jiang Yun, you've already forfeited once, if you forfeit again, you'll only have one chance left!"
"I know."
Jiang Yun insisted, "I forfeit."
The principal and others watching through the glass were puzzled, "What is Jiang Yun thinking!"
"With his strength, there's no need to forfeit!"
Just as everyone was confused,
Jiang Yun spoke again, "According to the rules, after losing two matches, I have the right to choose my next opponent."
The referee nodded, "That's correct."
Hearing this, several teachers' expressions changed, realizing what Jiang Yun intended!
The crowd buzzed, someone whispered,
"What an arrogant kid! Too cocky!"
"Arrogant? He has the right to be, isn't it normal for young people to be cocky?"
"Indeed, looking across Nanjing Third High this year, it's hard to find anyone who can threaten Jiang Yun!"
"......"
Inside the combat room, Jiang Yun, after forfeiting, seemed more like a victor, slightly raising his head,
"I don't need three chances to fail, one is enough for me."
"From now on, I won't lose a single match, until I win them all!"
Even the referee, who had seen many geniuses, found Jiang Yun's pride and arrogance rare!
"Choose your next opponent."
Jiang Yun stated the name he had prepared:
"Ye Bai!"
Starting with Ye Bai, Jiang Yun wanted Nanjing Third High to know what a true genius was!
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