"Third place: Qian Cheng!"
The moment the name was announced, the students who hadn't been called flinched. They subconsciously looked over at Qian Cheng, who was smiling in relief behind Wang Guanjia.
In terms of strength, he was naturally short and scrawny, a full head shorter than Wang Guanjia. His Ancient Martial Spear Technique wasn't good enough to place him among the top group of seven, making him merely upper-tier among the rest.
In terms of background, while he lived in the civilian district, his family probably couldn't scrape together even a hundred thousand in savings. Among the dozen or so students present, he was nearly last in that regard.
In terms of talent, he was nowhere near the level of Hu Ye'ye, who had been ranked ahead of him.
Yes, he was certainly hardworking. Over the past three days, every time he was knocked down, he gritted his teeth and held on until he was the last one standing outside of the top seven. He never slacked on his basic training either, often ending up drenched in sweat. But which of the students still here hadn't clawed their way through in a pool of their own sweat?
Why did Qian Cheng get the last spot?!
Even the students who were usually on good terms with Qian Cheng found their faces twitching. The faint, grinding sound of fists being clenched could be heard.
'We've all known each other for almost three years. We know exactly what Qian Cheng is—or isn't—capable of.'
'Forget about us, could Qian Cheng even compare to Jiang Qiu, whose stance a moment ago was so stunning?'
'What gives him the right?!'
Li Xueming and the other students pursed their lips, a knot of frustration tightening in their chests. Their jaws trembled. In their eyes, the sight of Qian Cheng smiling with his chest puffed out behind the towering Wang Guanjia made him seem even more insignificant, like a mouse scurrying after a ferocious Tiger!
"The list of Spear Leaders for Class 8 is now complete. Settle down and wait for the inspection from Director Zhao and his team," Wu Shan said, his pleasant gaze from his right eye sweeping gently across all the students. He added faintly, "I chose all of you. Later, be confident and show Director Zhao what you can do."
As he finished speaking, Wang Guanjia and the other two chosen students stood apart from the rest, heads held high, their eyes glinting with sharp confidence. The students who were merely there as background swallowed hard upon meeting Wu Shan's gaze, unclenching their fists and lowering their heads.
THUMP, THUMP, THUMP!
His heart hammered violently against his chest. Jiang Qiu's eyes, usually as still as a deep pool, now trembled in shock. A low creak sounded as the spear shaft twisted slightly in his right palm.
'I've already achieved a breakthrough in the Ancient Martial Spear Technique, yet the last spot isn't mine?'
'Qian Cheng... what right does he have?!'
'All I wanted was to use my own abilities to fight for the resources I could earn, to become a Spear Leader, to be an outstanding student, to take the college entrance exams!'
'Is that so wrong?'
'I was born with nothing, with no resources to pave the way for me, so I have to carve out my own path! Today, I will take one of those Spear Leader spots!'
'I'll use this opportunity to make my name!'
At this thought, a sharp CLACK echoed from the butt of his Wooden Spear. The dull thud reverberated through the training hall, drawing everyone's attention like a stone dropped into a still pond. In an instant, all eyes were on Jiang Qiu as he took a step forward. Facing Director Zhao, he performed a spear salute. "Director Zhao, I believe my Spear Technique is passable. May I request a trial against the first name on Class 8's qualification list—our class monitor, Wang Guanjia!"
"Wha... what?"
Li Xueming's eyes went wide, the breath of disappointment that had settled in his chest somehow catching in his throat again with anticipation. The other students' gazes were fixed and intense. The short-haired girl, who also stood alone apart from the crowd, tightened her grip on her spear and stared at Jiang Qiu.
After his earlier display, no one doubted the skill of Jiang Qiu, the silent, solitary boy from the back of the class. Whatever the reason he had developed such a formidable Spear Stance, no one below Wang Guanjia's level dared to challenge him!
But now, right in front of Director Zhao Gongzheng of the school's Martial Inspection Department, Jiang Qiu was questioning the list made by Wu Shan, their class teacher and a Martial Artist. And he was challenging Wang Guanjia, the strongest student in Class 8!
If he had challenged either of the other two, it wouldn't have been nearly this shocking.
At that thought, Li Xueming subconsciously glanced at Wu Shan, who stood as still as a mountain. The stitched flesh around his left eye seemed to throb, while his one good right eye was as cold as a winter pearl. His face was devoid of expression.
GULP~
A wave of nervous swallowing could be heard among the students. Zhao Gongzheng carefully sized up the spear-wielding youth who stood out from the crowd. His nostrils flared almost imperceptibly, and a faint smile touched his lips. "Student, what is your name?"
"Jiang Qiu."
A cold light solidified in Jiang Qiu's eyes, like a spear about to be thrust—forging ahead, no retreat, no return!
'Counting my past life, I've lived for decades. On how many of those days did I get to stand tall and live with dignity?'
'Fucking hell... even when I was a delivery driver, I ran into shitty customers who'd give you a bad rating before the timer was even up. And I'd have to smile and beg them to take pity on me, to go easy because making a living is hard!'
'And in this life, I'm still born at the fucking bottom, living in the Shantytown. I was just about to grab an opportunity to finally turn things around, and now some dirty deal has cut off My Dao!'
'Even if I can just scrape by for the rest of my life by relying on my Martial Arts practice, I will not accept this list!'
'My name must be proven through War!'
"Good! I agree to this challenge. If you can defeat Wang Guanjia, a Spear Leader spot will be yours!"
Sensing the indomitable spirit of youth in Jiang Qiu's eyes, something resonated in Zhao Gongzheng's heart like the ringing of a Copper Bell. He immediately gestured forward, his powerful voice shaking the entire hall: "Who is Wang Guanjia? Step out! Spar with this student, Jiang Qiu!"
The undeniable command landed squarely on Wang Guanjia. His brow tightened. He pressed the tip of his spear to the concrete floor, and with a harsh SCREECH of metal on stone, he strode forward like a Tiger descending a mountain.
"Director Zhao, I am the class monitor of Class 8, Wang Guanjia."
As he spoke, Wang Guanjia was already facing Jiang Qiu. The tip of his chin was raised high, not dipping in the slightest, and anger seeped from his narrowed eyes.
'Years ago, because of a conflict with a student from Class 1, not only did the higher-ups reject his father's application for his 'outstanding student' status, but he was also forced to study Martial Arts here in Class 8—the class with the most students from the Shantytown.'
'If it weren't for that damned bastard, how could I have ended up in Class 8? You, a bottom-feeder from the Shantytown, you think you're worthy of being in the same class as me?'
'And you have the audacity to challenge me!'
Wang Guanjia sank into a horse stance. With a sharp WHIR, the tip of his Wood spear began to vibrate wildly, locking onto Jiang Qiu five steps away like a rattlesnake. His presence was that of a mighty Tiger disdaining a mere rat!
Seeing his fierce and arrogant demeanor, Zhao Gongzheng couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. 'A student in a regular class has actually achieved a breakthrough with the Ancient Martial Spear Technique at this stage?'
'And Jiang Qiu wants to challenge *him*?'
After a moment's hesitation, the two were already squared off. All the students present clenched their fists and crowded around to watch, the palpable intent to fight flaring up like a wildfire in a strong wind, impossible to stop.
In contrast to Wang Guanjia's overbearing aura, Jiang Qiu calmed his mind and slowly sank into his own horse stance. He held his Wooden Spear steady across his waist, all of its presence focused into the very tip. At first glance, it looked like a plainly-dressed boy facing a sharp-fanged Tiger. The outcome seemed already decided.
The students, who had been holding their breath when he shouted the four words "Class Monitor Wang Guanjia," now felt a chill run down their spines. Seeing the disparity in their auras, they secretly clicked their tongues.
'How could we have suddenly thought that Jiang Qiu, that orphan from the Shantytown, had any chance of beating Wang Guanjia? Wang Guanjia secretly uses medicinal baths for Body Refining and started learning the Ancient Martial Spear Technique long ago.'
Wu Shan, also watching from the sidelines, wore a grim expression. His eyelid was half-closed over his right eye, from which slivers of sharp light seemed to emerge.
'Wang Guanjia's Talent is quite decent. If he had joined the ranks of the outstanding students earlier, enjoyed better resources, and had my personal instruction, he might have already fully grasped the Mingjin application of the Ancient Martial Spear Technique—Spearpoint Armor-Piercing!'
'As for Jiang Qiu, he probably only had his breakthrough a few days ago. There's no way he can compare to Wang Guanjia right now...'