7: Chapter 7, S-Rank, Azure Dragon

"What's wrong? You lost and now you won't admit it?"

Shen Xingchen's arrogant voice rang in Jiang Cheng's ears, filled with sarcasm.

The surrounding students and teachers saw this, but none of them felt it appropriate to say anything.

On the path of martial arts, state of mind is paramount.

They made the wager themselves. If he reneges, it might give rise to inner demons later on.

Teacher Song Qing looked at Shen Xingchen with an excited expression and asked Director Liu Xinfeng beside him, "Which class is this student in? How are his usual grades? You see, I still have direct admission spots..."

Teacher Song Qing's burning gaze made Director Liu Xinfeng's scalp tingle.

You were just calling him lazy a moment ago. Where's your dignity!?

Teacher Song Qing ignored Director Liu Xinfeng's strange look and urged, "Hurry up and tell me!"

Director Liu Xinfeng cleared his throat, "Then you're going to be disappointed. Shen Xingchen is in the regular class, and his grades aren't particularly impressive."

Teacher Song Qing looked disbelieving: "How is that possible?"

How could such a martial arts genius be just an ordinary student?

Director Liu Xinfeng explained, "He doesn't have a Talent Divine Ability. No matter how good his comprehension is, he can only be a regular class student!"

In fact, in Director Liu Xinfeng's records, Shen Xingchen was just a nobody who had broken through to First Rank Level 7 a few days ago.

"How could this be? Do you know that a Talent Divine Ability is crucial for a martial artist to break through to the Fifth Rank?" Teacher Song Qing said in shock. "Without a Talent Divine Ability, one can never break through to the Fifth Rank in their lifetime!"

The Fifth Rank was still too distant for high school students, but in university, it wasn't scarce; many college seniors close to graduation could cross that threshold.

Did someone without a Talent Divine Ability have any value to nurture?

Obviously not!

The Fifth Rank is a lifelong threshold for a martial artist. Cross it, and one becomes a powerhouse of a region.

If you can't cross it, even if you reach the peak of the Fourth Rank, you are still a low-level martial artist!

Teacher Song Qing calmed down: "Then that really is a pity! Even if he awakened an E-rank talent, I would still..."

"Sigh!"

In the end, his high expectations were misplaced!

He saw it clearly: Shen Xingchen was now at the peak of the First Rank, needing only a cultivation technique to reach the Second Rank.

But there was still no sign of a Talent Divine Ability awakening...

This could only mean that he simply didn't have a Talent Divine Ability at all!

The students also overheard the conversation between the two teachers and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

So Shen Xingchen doesn't have a Talent Divine Ability!

Those students who had already awakened a Talent Divine Ability felt their sense of superiority—which had just been suppressed—resurface again.

"I knew it! How could the school bear to let a real talent lie hidden like that?"

"The school's wisdom is indeed above ours. Admirable, truly admirable!"

"Heh! A temporary setback doesn't define life's success or failure. See you at the top!"

"..."

Jiang Qingyao showed a look of regret.

For such an outstanding person to suffer this fate, Heaven truly is blind!

On the other side, Jiang Cheng finally recovered from the pain.

Hardening his resolve, he forcefully snapped his broken arm back into place, mumbled "Grandpa" in a barely audible voice, and turned to leave.

Although the voice was very quiet, Shen Xingchen still heard it.

Shen Xingchen feigned furious outrage and shouted, "Watch your mouth! I don't have a grandson like you!"

Hearing this...

Jiang Cheng gritted his back teeth so hard they nearly shattered.

But circumstances were currently against him.

"Just wait until I reach Fifth Rank!"

"I will repay today's debt a hundredfold!"

Jiang Cheng's back looked desolate and lonely as he walked away, yet exceptionally determined.

Shen Xingchen: "Repay my ass! Remember to transfer your granddaddy's hundred thousand yuan!"

Jiang Cheng's figure stumbled.

...

After this farce ended, the students began their normal sparring practice.

Shen Xingchen felt that Teacher Song Qing looked at him with a strange expression, like... looking at a nugget of gold in a pit privy, liking it yet disdaining it.

Even the other students looked at him with somewhat odd expressions.

Shen Xingchen couldn't take it anymore and shouted at a nobody beside him, "What are you looking at? Look any more and I'll gouge your eyeballs out!"

I can't afford to mess with Song Qing, but do you think I can't handle you students?

The nobody shrank his neck in fear, but then felt he had lost face.

So the nobody said in a mildly indignant huff, "I won't look then!"

Shen Xingchen: "..."

He really couldn't find an angle to counter that.

On the other side, Teacher Song Qing heard Shen Xingchen's shout and felt a strange sensation in his heart.

Is he scolding the oak while pointing at the mulberry?

Then he thought, He's just a kid, he probably doesn't have such deep schemes.

So he took another glance at Shen Xingchen.

As luck would have it, Shen Xingchen happened to be shouting at another nobody: "Still looking!"

That nobody aggrievedly closed his eyes.

Teacher Song Qing: "..."

...

After sparring, the day's classes ended.

Shen Xingchen left a few minutes early, making everyone present feel a wave of relief.

The feeling of being dominated by someone was too terrifying.

When Shen Xingchen walked out of the martial arts hall, the sky was already beginning to darken.

Just as he was planning to cross the playground and head straight for the cafeteria, suddenly, the Awakening Stone in his bosom burst into faint specks of light.

"Finally awakened!"

Shen Xingchen breathed a sigh of relief. He had heard everything the teachers said earlier and was still somewhat worried.

It's just that this light and commotion... why does it seem a bit small?

It couldn't be just an E-rank, right?

Just as Shen Xingchen was wondering...

[Congratulations Host on awakening E-Rank Beast Talent Divine Ability: Earth Fire Lizard]

"What the fuck!"

Shen Xingchen cursed angrily out loud.

He didn't even need to go to the testing room for Talent Divine Abilities; the system had directly notified him.

I waited so long for this crap?

Although having something is better than nothing, who doesn't want to be stronger?

[Ding!]

The system's voice sounded again.

[Detected that the host's Talent Divine Ability is E-Rank; the system will automatically enhance it for you.]

[[Earth Fire Lizard] (E-Rank) → [Tiancang Azure Dragon] (S-Rank)]

[Please receive!]

As the system's voice fell...

Above the playground...

The cloud layer suddenly grew thick and heavy, and then a pillar of azure-gold light shot up into the sky.

The sheer aura pierced straight into the clouds, and its breathtaking pressure could be felt for tens of miles around.

"Holy crap!"

Shen Xingchen was pleasantly surprised.

Then he saw an illusory, massive azure-gold dragon figure roaming within the clouds.

It then plummeted down along the pillar of light.

Shen Xingchen's body was enveloped in the radiance.

Because of this light, the entire northern district of Qiunan City became as bright as day!

...

Education Bureau.

In a meeting discussing how to organize the college entrance examination affairs...

Director Li Tianshuo of the Education Bureau shuddered, spurting out the tea in his mouth.

The other teachers were filled with confusion—what had happened to the director?

Then they saw the striking light outside the window, and many officials opened their eyes wide.

"Has the Demon Race attacked?" someone asked.

Director Li Tianshuo stared at the sky-piercing azure-gold light in shock, remaining silent for a long time.

"This—this!" A veteran official exclaimed in horror, "This is an awakening! This is a Talent Divine Ability awakening!"

Everyone was shocked.

"This anomaly must belong to an S-rank, right?"

"Is it really S-rank!?"

"How many years has it been since Huaxia last had an S-rank..."

"Every S-rank is a pillar of our Huaxia! For such a figure to actually appear in our Qiunan!"

"..."

Director Li Tianshuo finally came to his senses and excitedly looked at everyone: "In that direction, which school is it?"

No one spoke.

Just as Director Li Tianshuo was lamenting the lack of an answer...

In the farthest corner...

Principal Chen Lingjun of Wudao No. 3 High School had trembling lips and spoke shakily, "That's my No. 3 High School! It's No. 3 High School's playground!"