37: Chapter 37 Skills Appearance

On the arena, Qin Ce did not immediately pay attention to the reactions around him. This was because the moment the Thunder Squad captain shouted his surrender, the system's prompt sounded in his mind:

[Mission 'Making a Mark' Complete!]

[Victory Reputation Level under assessment...]

[Assessment Result: Dominating the Grade! Ding! By taking on six opponents alone and crushing a six-man squad with absolute strength, you have thoroughly awed the entire audience. You have established a preliminary image of an 'invincible' powerhouse within the new class and the base! You have exceeded the mission requirements for 'Making a Mark in the New Class'!]

[Mission Evaluation: Perfect!]

[Mission Reward Distribution: Transcendent-Grade Skill — Shadow Sight!]

An incredibly profound stream of information flooded into Qin Ce's mind, and he mastered it instantly.

[Skill Name]: Shadow Sight (Transcendent-Grade)

[Skill Type]: Wind-attribute Attack/Displacement

[Skill Effect]:

1. Release a giant Wind Blade (base power is more than five times that of an ordinary Wind Blade, boosted by the 'Breath Condensation' talent). During its flight, the Wind Blade can absorb surrounding wind elements and manifest a 'Mirror Image' that is identical to the caster (Pet Beast or Beast Tamer, depending on the user).

2. The 'Mirror Image' possesses physical interference and energy confusion effects, capable of attracting enemy attacks or interfering with their judgment.

3. Within the skill's effective duration (fifteen seconds, based on current mental strength), the caster can swap spatial positions with the 'Mirror Image' by consuming mental power. The spatial swap must occur while the Mirror Image exists and within a distance of five hundred meters.

[Usage Restrictions]: Extremely high mental power consumption. Given the Blue Luan's current mental strength, it can only be used once in a short period. Stable execution requires proficiency.

[Remarks]: Involves the preliminary application of elemental energy manifestation, illusions, and spatial laws; possesses extremely high potential.

A Transcendent-grade skill? A top-tier skill involving energy manifestation and spatial laws? Qin Ce was ecstatic! This reward far exceeded his expectations! Not only was it immensely powerful, but it also combined the effects of illusory distraction and teleportation displacement! This was truly a trump card among trump cards! Whether used for a desperate counterattack, a surprise assassination, or a deceptive escape, it had incredible utility! The only drawback was the massive consumption, meaning it could only be used as a hole card for now.

Just as Qin Ce was immersed in the joy of his new skill, Wei Ming stepped onto the arena.

He took a deep breath, suppressing the shock in his heart, and announced loudly, "Qin Ce wins! According to the rules, he obtains the 'Thunder Squad' team badge and has the right to reorganize or establish a new team!"

"As for the members of the original Thunder Squad..." Wei Ming looked at the seven members of the Thunder Squad (including Wu Zhou), who looked ashen-faced and hollow-eyed, then at the calm Qin Ce, and said, "Student Wu Zhou must withdraw from the Elite Class for initiating the bet and losing."

"The remaining members, having lost their team badge, lose their authority for fixed resource allocation and point accumulation."

As soon as these words were spoken, the six former Thunder Squad members trembled, their faces showing pain and resentment, but more than that, a dejected sense of resignation. They had lost, and they were utterly defeated; there was nothing more to say.

However, at this moment, many other students from the Elite Class below the arena began to frown. They felt a sense of shared sorrow for their kind. Although the strength Qin Ce displayed was awe-inspiring, kicking an entire established squad out of the Elite Class all at once seemed a bit... excessive? Moreover, the rule was a bet between Wu Zhou and Qin Ce; was it too harsh to involve the whole squad?

Many people wanted to plead for the Thunder Squad, but they didn't know what to say. Should they let them join their own squads? That was impossible. Or should they ask Qin Ce to take them in? They might have dared to make a fuss before, but now... they hadn't forgotten why that one-versus-six battle had happened. Furthermore, the methods Qin Ce had displayed made them extremely wary.

Just as everyone was feeling a bit lost, Teacher Wei spoke again:

"However, the remaining six members are still part of my Elite Class. They can't just be left drifting without a formal status."

"Therefore, I have decided to grant them the status of a 'Temporary Squad' to remain in the Elite Class for the time being."

"Temporary Squad?" Everyone was stunned.

"That's right." Teacher Wei's tone was calm. "By utilizing my authority as a teacher, they can continue to participate in the monthly mission collection and earn corresponding mission points. Their senior year academic points will be frozen."

"As for the qualification for resource allocation..." Teacher Wei's voice trailed off, a calculating glint flashing in his eyes. "There will still be twelve slots for monthly resource allocation. However, it won't just be those with team badges who can obtain them. Instead, we will implement a Bottom-Rank Elimination System. At the end of each month's point settlement, the squad that ranks last—whether it's a fixed squad or a temporary squad—will lose all rights to fixed resource allocation and point accumulation for that month. The twelve sets of resources will be obtained by the top twelve squads in order."

"If any squad with a team badge ranks last for two consecutive months, then that squad's badge will be taken by the temporary squad!"

After he finished speaking, the entire arena area fell silent once more as everyone looked at him with astonished eyes.

This... how ruthless! How brilliant!

The introduction of this "Bottom-Rank Elimination System" was a stroke of genius! This was equivalent to pitting all the squads in the Elite Class against each other, causing the competition between them to intensify exponentially! From now on, everyone's focus would be on "not being last," and the competition would become even more cutthroat.

Qin Ce narrowed his eyes and took a deep look at Wei Ming. This teacher was not simple either; he was so meticulous and knew how to guide situations to his advantage, using external forces to achieve his goals! How did this person look like the harmless teacher he had portrayed himself as before? He was like a seasoned old fox!

Now, the pressure on Qin Ce had also increased, since his squad consisted of only one person.

Boom!

Discussions broke out everywhere.

"Bottom-rank elimination..."

“Hiss... are they really playing this big?”

"We'll have to risk our lives every month now..."

"Old Wei's move... is impressive!"

The students of the Elite Class below the stage were first stunned by the new rule, then they all gasped, feeling an immense pressure.

Among them, the only one who felt nothing was Wu Zhou. Once this plan appeared, he knew his time was up. He had originally planned to rally his teammates who had lost their squad to cause trouble at the school, but that plan was now completely void. His face was gray with defeat, knowing he was finished. He gave Qin Ce a venomous look, then looked at his former teammates' distant and even slightly blaming gazes, realizing he no longer had a place here.

He stumbled to his feet, recalled his heavily injured Blood-Sucking Flame Wolf, lowered his head, and squeezed through the crowd in a sorry state, leaving the arena area. Whether he transferred schools or went to a regular class, no one cared anymore.

Teacher Wei concluded, "Alright, this matter ends here. Qin Ce, from today onwards, you officially possess the Thunder Squad team badge and enjoy the fixed resource allocation qualification of the Elite Class. Everyone else, dismissed!"

The crowd gradually dispersed, but the crushing battle where Qin Ce took on six opponents and the new "bottom-rank elimination" rule proposed by Wei Ming would certainly become the hottest topics in the Fengling Mountain Base for a long time to come.

Qin Ce put away the metal plate engraved with lightning patterns that Wei Ming had handed him, which represented the Thunder Squad team badge, feeling its heavy weight. This was not just a badge; it was the foothold and the right to speak that he had carved out with his own strength in this senior base full of experts!

He turned around and was about to leave the arena when he saw Jiang Ruowei walking toward him gracefully, a bright and sincere smile on her face, which was completely different from her previous scrutinizing and playful smile.

"Junior Qin Ce—no, I should call you Student Qin Ce now." A brilliant light flickered in Jiang Ruowei's beautiful eyes as she made no effort to hide her admiration. "That battle just now was truly eye-opening. Congratulations on truly gaining a firm footing in the Elite Class."

"Thank you, Senior Jiang," Qin Ce replied politely, his attitude remaining calm. He did not lose his composure because of her enthusiasm.

"Because of the special mission regulations, the squads in the Elite Class actually have a very subtle relationship. I sincerely want to form an alliance with Student Qin Ce." As Jiang Ruowei spoke, she handed over a small, exquisite metal card with her contact information on it. "Our cooperation will surely be a win-win."

Qin Ce took the card and nodded. "I'll consider it."

Jiang Ruowei took a long look at him before fluttering away. She knew that this young man was now completely different. He was worthy of being treated with a brand-new, equal attitude by her and even the family behind her.

Qin Ce put the card away and looked at the vast, undulating Fengling Mountain Range in the distance.

A new journey had only just begun. With the team badge in hand, transcendent skills in his possession, and the Blue Luan's infinite potential, the name Qin Ce would surely be left upon this Fengling Mountain Base and the wider world beyond!

At this time, Teacher Wei finished processing some reporting work and walked toward him. Since Qin Ce had just arrived today, there was a series of miscellaneous matters that he, as the class teacher, needed to guide him through.

...