She aimed and released the arrow with near-perfect precision. The arrow streaked across the courtyard at astonishing speed, further accelerated by her subtle infusion of Spirit Power.
Suddenly, the arrow thudded to the ground.
"What?!" The elder was stunned. What was this? The arrow had been flying so perfectly! With such accuracy, it should have hit the bullseye without a doubt!
Hao Zhen looked utterly bewildered. "You... missed?"
Su Xinyi was equally dumbfounded. "I could have sworn it was going to hit..."
In truth, the moment the arrow left the bow, an invisible force descended from the sky, abruptly halting its momentum. This was one of the sealing mechanisms Zunhao had set up, making it virtually impossible to hit the target from beyond a hundred yards.
Ling Xian's spiritual sense detected the sudden shift in wind direction, confirming that Zunhao was manipulating the arrow through some secret, touchless device.
"Well, you failed. One chance left. Lose again, and you're automatically eliminated. Next?" Zunhao exuded confidence, certain no one could withstand such pressure.
Su Xinyi bristled with frustration, sensing something was amiss. Just then, the slightly brown-haired youth patted her shoulder and stepped forward.
"Huh? Oh, it's the imbecile who's name I couldn't remember," Zunhao sneered, sizing him up impatiently. "You want to try? Are you sure?"
"Mm." Ling nodded. He simply wanted to test the progress of his archery skills since reincarnation, not to show off.
He aimed for the bullseye but deliberately avoided the core area that would have earned him full marks, hoping to avoid drawing attention.
Just hitting the bullseye is enough...
Zunhao handed him the bow and arrow. Ling Xian took precise aim, channeling one percent of his spiritual energy into the arrow.
Everyone held their breath. Could he actually hit it?
Whoosh! The arrow shot through the air with lightning speed, its passage so swift that it made the hems of his companions' robes flutter.
The arrow maintained astonishing momentum, leaving Zunhao utterly bewildered. What's happening? The mechanism should have activated by now!
This was completely beyond his expectations...
The arrow struck the bullseye with pinpoint accuracy, yet deliberately avoided the central ring.
Zunhao stared in disbelief, his jaw dropping. "How could he possibly—" His thoughts were interrupted by the collective gasp of shock from his companions.
Don't misunderstand—he wasn't trying to be a hero. He was simply exhausted by the entire setup of this archery test...
He could have jogged to Ziyang High School School No. 74 in minutes, but instead, they had to cram onto a bus.
He just wanted this over with quickly.
Zhao Ming and Hao Zhen's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. Hell, even Dandan was so startled she lost two feathers!He actually hit it—at a hundred yards?!
The old man gaped, even questioning Ling Xian, "Ling... you never told me you knew archery!" He had already been astonished by the jujube sword, but this...
"Hmm... just luck," Ling Xian replied tersely.
Ling Xian recalled his exceptional archery skills from before his reincarnation, when he could accurately hit targets over a thousand miles away. Considering he had only practiced for two months, a mere hundred-yard distance seemed trivial.
Wait... a thousand... a thousand miles?!
Ling Xian's casual remark left everyone stunned.
Mastering archery at Ling Xian's age was exceedingly rare; most peers were preoccupied with cultivation. Such talent would typically attract the attention of the Qionghua Galaxy Corporation, especially among malnourished or impoverished children.
If a family member reached the Foundation Establishment stage, they would qualify for government subsidies or special provisions.
Su Xinyi had once visited Ling Xian's home—a semi-rural chalet nestled in the mountains outside Feilong City, surrounded by a few other dwellings. She had initially assumed his family was reasonably well-off, but now, seeing his jujube sword and extraordinary archery skills...
As a dutiful heiress from a wealthy family, she felt compelled to look after Ling Xian.
What kind of young man was he? How could he have diligently practiced archery to reach the Foundation Establishment stage and still gain admission to such a prestigious academy?
The residents of Phoenix Ridge, No. 73 were utterly bewildered...
Connecting this minor incident to Ling Xian's rumored tragic past, a wave of admiration surged through their hearts.
Even Hao Zhen and Zhao Ming were moved to tears...
"..." Ling Xian felt deeply embarrassed. How could you twist this into some fabricated sob story?!
...
The archery test, ostensibly a competition of skill, was in reality a carefully orchestrated farce by Zunhao.
After this incident, Su Xinyi and the others finally saw through the true nature of the exchange event.
On the surface, it was a friendly exchange between two schools, but in reality, it was a performance designed to boost the morale of Ziyang High School No. 74.
They took satisfaction in watching their opponents' humiliating defeat.
"Thank goodness Ling Xian was here to help us pass the first hurdle!" Su Xinyi sighed inwardly.
The road ahead would be arduous, but they had to persevere!
As representatives of Phoenix Ridge, they had to take this challenge even more seriously!
Xu Yutong glared angrily at the dazed Zun Hao Wenyan before sweeping her gaze across the crowd and declaring coldly, "Our classmate Ling Xian has passed the test. Can we enter now?"
"So his name is Ling Xian..." Zunhao murmured, resting his chin in his hand as he stared at the calm face. He repeated the name to himself, determined never to forget it again.
This person who had unexpectedly defeated him would undoubtedly be under close surveillance in the coming days...
In those brief seconds, Zunhao Wenyan had already calculated the trials he would face next.
After all, archery was merely one link in a chain of trials.
...
"Guests from Phoenix Ridge... Now that this student has won the competition, you may all enter. Follow me, and I'll verify your accommodation reservations." Zun Haoqiang forced a smile and led the group through the school gates.
Ling Xian remained at the back of the line. As he stepped onto the stairs, he overheard Zunhao boasting about the newly promoted formation flags from the previous week. "As you all know, Ziyang High School's remarkable turnaround is entirely thanks to our new Vice Principal..."
"Vice Principal? Isn't that the guy who left a scathing review for the Circumcision Center?"
"Pfft, hahaha!" The girls erupted in laughter.
Zun Haoqiang's eye twitched as he listened to the laughter. Damn it! Shouldn't they be seething with jealousy? Why does it feel like some Phoenix Ridge vagrant has replaced my neck?!
"Hao, watch your words," the old man cautioned, suppressing a chuckle. Everyone has their youthful outbursts. The most amusing thing is watching them bicker!
"My apologies, Teacher," Hao Zhen said, living up to his name. He genuinely admitted his mistake, but in truth... it was pure provocation.
"Very well. When others are speaking, you must remain silent and listen attentively." The old man nodded, then turned his gaze back to Zunhao. "Right, Zunhao, where were we?"
Zunhao's heart churned with anger. As the class teacher, you weren't even listening to what I was saying?!
He took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing his impulse to lash out. "As you know, the construction of Teacher's Building and the entire academy relied entirely on the renovation funds provided by the new... Headmaster. This nine-story building is now covered in formation flags that automatically distribute spiritual energy to cleanse students' minds. The surrounding spiritual energy is clearly enhanced, isn't it? And much fresher."
Zhao Ming closed his eyes to sense the energy. "Strange. I can't feel any difference at all. It's exactly the same as outside."
Zunhao assumed Zhao Ming was being deliberately difficult and was about to retort when Su interjected, "He's right. It's exactly the same outside."
Xie Zhenyu gently patted Zunhao's shoulder. "Uh... Chancellor? Could there be a problem with the Formation technology?"
A problem?! How could that be possible?!
"What the hell is going on?! Is there really a problem? Investigate immediately!" Zunhao roared, his composure nearly shattering.
Moments later, Bai Ye rushed back, panting, "Chancellor... I have something to report..."
"What the hell is it now?"
"The teachers from the Education Department say the tech chips responsible for energy gathering and distribution within the formation flags have inexplicably exploded..."
Zunhao nearly burst into tears.
Hao Zhen laughed so hard his abs nearly split. "Hahaha! Flags exploding? What is this, Nokia-made?"
Zunhao's elbow throbbed faintly, and Hao Zhen's mockery only added insult to injury.
Ling Xian stood innocently at the back of the group. He glanced at the majestic nine-story Teacher's Building of Ziyang High School No. 74 and sighed inwardly.
The two sealing devices on either side of his head seemed to be gradually losing its neural connection to the dimensional seal, its power waning daily. While it had once managed to interfere with the tech chips in the formation flags or magic arrays during spiritual power regulation phases, it now struggled to maintain control...
Clearly, Ling Xian was exerting immense self-restraint.
He felt a twinge of guilt toward the Vice Principal. The complete destruction of all the formation flags represented a colossal financial loss.
How many circumcisions will they have to perform now? The mere thought sent a chill down Ling Xian's spine.
...