Chapter 438: Probing (3k)
Emerging from the dormitory, Su Jiu looked around but found no one. She then strode towards the training ground within the military district.
After passing through a few streets and stopping at a store to buy some candy, Su Jiu finally arrived at the training ground after being “lost” for over ten minutes. She glanced at a very conspicuous, large figure, her eyes slightly narrowing.
“Luo Dong, is he here too?”
Her gaze swept across the training ground and she spotted Chuan Guang, who had just spoken with her, confronting Instructor Lu Nan. Amidst the flashes of swords and rays of light, their fight wasn’t exactly back and forth; Lu Nan seemed to be going easy on her.
“Your attack is good, and your stamina is acceptable. You’re one of the better Intermediate Stage Warriors. Come… let me see.” On the martial arts stage, Lu Nan’s guiding voice drifted out, laced with some praise.
“This girl named Chuan Guang is so fierce! She can even trade swords with Instructor Lu, who is using a weapon.”
“Although Instructor Lu is guiding her, her strength is truly immeasurable. I didn’t expect the fourth person to be such a formidable high school student.”
The surrounding students exclaimed in amazement. It was rare to receive praise from Instructor Lu Nan. Of the three students who had gone before, only one had passed, and this girl had even received commendation. It was truly terrifying.
Luo Dong, the overall instructor, also nodded slightly, his eyes half-closed as if contemplating something.
Hearing Lu Nan’s voice, Chuan Guang immediately stomped on the ground, and her body shot towards him. The half-meter sword in her hand, under the scorching aura it carried, directly tore through the air.
Facing Chuan Guang’s full-power assault, Lu Nan kept one hand behind his back and didn’t move. However, just as the attack was about to reach his body, the right hand holding the sword suddenly swayed. Without using any External Qi, a “clang” sound rang out, followed by a faint chuckle:
“Not bad. You are indeed much more impressive than the students I’ve taught before. This power is already infinitely close to the full strike of a High-ranking War General. With External Qi, it would be comparable to a Half-King.”
Her attack blocked, Chuan Guang felt her arm go numb from the recoil. She stumbled back two steps, and once she stabilized herself, she cupped her fists and said, “Thank you for your guidance, Instructor.”
“Your name is Chuan Guang, right? I can let you take on the responsibility of Team Leader, leading ten people, and you’ll also receive extra points. How about it?”
Waving his hand at her with a smile, Lu Nan chuckled with great charm, his gaze falling on the short-haired girl’s face, as if he saw the shadow of another student.
“Thank you, Instructor.”
The girl named Chuan Guang couldn’t help but show a hint of joy on her face. After thanking him, she stepped off the stage. She had joined this special training camp to prove herself, and becoming a captain would definitely allow her to perform better.
“Next…”
Watching her step down, Lu Nan nodded slightly, picked up the list, and continued to read. It seemed he was always in charge of testing this team of nearly fifty people to see if they were qualified. This task could not be botched, and having an outsider do it was the most suitable.
Su Jiu found a place to sit, and her gaze flickered through the trials like a carousel, occasionally observing the behavior of Officer Luo Dong, but she found nothing unusual.
Looking at the high school students, Su Jiu gained more clarity. This selection competition required participants to have the combat power of an Intermediate Stage Warrior. From the duels of these individuals, Su Jiu could vaguely discern that their backgrounds must not be simple, and they likely learned professional and systematic combat skills from a young age.
This further deepened Su Jiu’s thought—these people were definitely targets of the Ancient God Sect, and Officer Luo Dong, judging by his cultivation level, was only at the Initial Stage Battle King level. However, Su Jiu could feel a subtle confidence emanating from him; such confidence wouldn’t be possible with just this level of strength.
After all, three Half-King level officers would accompany them to ensure the students’ safety.
“If there’s nothing else, it’s your turn. Aren’t you nervous? Do you perhaps think that Instructor Lu, who is testing you, will go easy on you?”
A low voice suddenly came from the side. Su Jiu turned her head, and her eyebrows slightly twitched. Why was this little girl Chuan Guang looking for her?
“Mhm…”
Hearing this, Su Jiu remained silent for a moment, then spread her hands with a hint of helplessness and said, “Even if I’m eliminated, it has nothing to do with you, right? You keep bothering me. I haven’t offended you, you know.”
“Heh, haven’t offended… it’s people like you, young ladies from wealthy families, who rely on family influence to disrupt all the rules. Everything I achieve is attributed to my parents’ efforts.”
Seeing Su Jiu’s indifferent attitude, Chuan Guang’s expression changed, and her face instantly turned cold. She continued speaking in a deep voice,
“The cultivation techniques I practice are all obtained through my own efforts by participating in various competitions. As for you young ladies and young masters… you only barely reach the Warrior Class by basking in your family’s protection.”
Hearing Chuan Guang’s words, Su Jiu finally looked at the girl with a hint of stubbornness on her face. She covered her mouth and chuckled lightly, shaking her head, and said softly, “Don’t dwell on these meaningless things. Your bloodline and your identity allow you to gain rankings and rewards in various competitions. Ordinary people who truly rely on themselves might still be struggling for Coagulated Blood points.”
Hearing Su Jiu’s words, Chuan Guang slightly froze, then gritted her teeth, her gaze fixed on Su Jiu, and said with disbelief, “Coagulated Blood points are something anyone can achieve eighty to ninety percent of the time, how can they struggle? Besides, after reaching the Warrior Class, the academy also issues body refinement fluid…”
“Stop talking, it’s meaningless. When you’re older, you’ll understand…”
Gently interrupting, Su Jiu’s gaze shifted to the stage. She saw that the students in line were getting fewer and fewer, so she slowly walked over, leaving the short-haired girl named Chuan Guang standing there blankly.
“Heh, a young lady like you, how could you understand ordinary people? You probably haven’t even learned any combat techniques…”
The latter suddenly snapped back to reality, and in a low voice, she looked at Su Jiu’s retreating back, feeling that this girl, who was around her age, was just good with her words.
Su Jiu paused upon hearing this, and said softly to the girl named Chuan Guang with her back turned, “If you really want to experience the life of the lower class, you can try becoming an Exorcist. That’s the profession called ‘city cleaner’.”
“Exorcist?”
Chuan Guang was slightly taken aback. This was the first time she had heard of this profession. Normally, she interacted with Dragon Hunters and Enforcers from the Law Enforcement Hall. This job called Exorcist, she assumed, also involved fighting Monsters.
How low-class could a job that fought monsters be?
Plus, Magic Crystals should be easy to obtain. She herself received Intermediate Magic Crystals as rewards for winning competitions…
“Unqualified.”
While Su Jiu and Chuan Guang were conversing, the sparring in the arena was nearing its end. With a wave of Lu Nan’s hand, a girl was helped off the stage by her companions. Hearing the sound, her face instantly turned pale.
“58th, Jiusu… come up.”
As soon as he finished calling out the name, Lu Nan glanced at the name on his phone and was slightly stunned. Why did this troublesome name feel familiar? Upon seeing the familiar young face and its signature smile, his mouth twitched…
Wait, why are you joining the fray?
He wasn’t a local officer, and no one had informed him that Su Jiu had also become a student. All he knew was that there was a student who needed to be looked after.
“It’s that rich young lady! Will Officer Lu go easy on her?”
“Absolutely not! Even the granddaughter of the head elder of the local Law Enforcement Hall didn’t get special treatment…”
“This young lady is going to have a tough time.”
Su Jiu walked onto the martial arts stage with a smile. The noisy training ground fell silent for a moment, and then countless gazes instantly shifted to her. Those gazes held various intentions, with unfriendly ones naturally being more frequent.
After all, privilege hounds were universally despised.
“Instructor Lu, later on, how about you just give me a perfunctory pass? I know your Teacher Yu.”
Su Jiu asked with a light chuckle. With Luo Dong nearby, she truly didn’t want to reveal herself. Since these people insisted on treating her as a young lady, she might as well fully embrace the identity.
As soon as her voice fell, a huge wave erupted among the students. They became agitated, with some even shouting curses at the privilege hound. Chuan Guang, however, stared intently at Instructor Lu, whom she believed to be very fair, expecting him to issue a perfect rejection.
Looking at the situation below, Lu Nan covered his head, feeling a terrible headache. However, remembering the matter of the Ancient God Sect she had mentioned earlier, he realized she might be doing this to complete a mission. After a moment of contemplation, he decided to ignore the crowd below, gave Su Jiu a look, and then spoke loudly to the students: “Classmates, our requirement for this session is the High-ranking War General Level. This student, Jiusu, has already reached the High-ranking War General Level, so she naturally passes directly.”
Since she might be on a mission, he should follow Su Jiu’s intentions. Moreover, the latter’s strength might have already reached the High-ranking War General Level, so there was no need to worry about her safety.
“What?!”
The entire crowd wore expressions of disbelief, followed by a wave of disgruntled murmurs. It seemed Lu Nan’s preferential treatment of Su Jiu had angered many people—
“Instructor Lu, can you step up your game!”
“A relative of Teacher Yu is this terrifying, tsk tsk…”
“Why do I get eliminated while that skinny little girl passes directly?”
…
“Saying all this, isn’t it just relying on connections…”
Hearing this decision, Chuan Guang’s eyes went blank, and then a look of anger appeared on her face. Her fist, wrapped with bandages, clenched tightly, but she didn’t notice the pair of brown eyes that had been fixed on her.
“She’s also a participating student?”
Recalling his gaze, Luo Dong looked at Su Jiu on the stage, his eyes narrowing further. He couldn’t shake off a feeling of unease. He looked at Su Jiu’s storage ring again, took a deep breath, took a small step forward, waved his bulky arm, and announced loudly:
“Everyone, quiet down. How about I spar with this little girl…”
