Chapter Eight: The Hidden Realm

Alas! As expected, it has come to this!

Old Li let out a silent sigh, put away the list, and said calmly, "Speak."

The student glared at Zhao Junhong, his voice tinged with anger: "Some people enjoy resources we could never hope to reach. Why should they still get every priority during the entrance exams? Just because they have good parents? Are we supposed to be crushed beneath them our entire lives?"

"Yeah!"
"We refuse to accept this!"
"Why should it be that way?"

One after another, the students raised their voices, faces twisted with indignation.

Of course, since Old Li was a martial artist, their protests never crossed the line. Even their furious stares were directed at Zhao Junhong, not at him.

Old Li gazed at the students in silence.

But Fang Qingyun couldn’t help but laugh.

"Fang Qingyun, what are you laughing at?" the leading student snapped, fixing Fang Qingyun with a glare. "You're one of the special students. Are you trying to defend yourself?"

"Go to hell!" Fang Qingyun rolled his eyes in disdain. "Defend myself? Who do you think you are? Are you interrogating me right now?"

"We're all men here. Let’s be direct!"

"Among martial artists, strength is everything. Even though neither of us are martial artists yet, we aim to be, don't we? So let’s settle this with a fight. Loser shuts up."

Fang Qingyun stood up slowly.

A powerful aura surged from him, washing over the crowd.

The rebellious students felt as if they were suffocating.

In that moment, they sensed that what stood before them was not a man, but a fierce beast.

They trembled uncontrollably.

How could Fang Qingyun possibly be this strong?

He had always been seen as a wealthy orphan, just like Zhao Junhong, who had invested plenty of resources into his training.

But no one had imagined he could unleash such an overwhelming presence.

Like a towering mountain!

Could he already be a martial artist?

Even Old Li was startled.

He had already noticed that something was off with Fang Qingyun. He had taught many students, some of whom had become martial artists, and the aura Fang Qingyun exuded was just like those who had just crossed that threshold.

It was simply incredible!

What had he been eating?

The leading student retorted angrily, "The exams are right around the corner! Who’d get into a fight now? I want to face the exams at my best, and besides, none of us are martial artists yet. We're just ordinary students. Fighting is forbidden at school."

"Fine, let me put it another way," Fang Qingyun sneered, pointing first at the student’s seat, then at his own. "Why do you get the best seat, while Zhao Junhong and I are stuck in the corner?"

The student snapped, "My test scores have always ranked top three in the class."

"Then what are you complaining about? You get the best seat because of your grades. If we have a better chance of becoming martial artists and receive special consideration, isn’t that fair?"

"That’s… that’s different..." The student tried to argue, but under Fang Qingyun’s icy gaze, his words died in his throat.

He sensed that if he kept talking, Fang Qingyun would really start swinging.

A couple of slaps, and his dignity would be gone for good.

"Enough," Old Li finally intervened, lifting the list in his hand. "This list isn’t as useful as you all think. And just as Fang Qingyun said, I’ll make arrangements based on your circumstances."

"Our circumstances?" the student burst out, nearly hysterical. "For someone like Zhao Junhong, a scion of privilege, he’ll always get the best, right?"

Old Li did not answer directly. "It’s true that Zhao Junhong has the highest chance in the class of becoming a martial artist."

"Because of who he is, because he has a good father!"

Fang Qingyun looked at Zhao Junhong and hesitated. "But who can you blame for that?"

"Shut up!" Zhao Junhong’s lips twitched as he shot Fang Qingyun a glare, then turned to the student. "Xu Tao, I know the pressure’s been heavy lately, and you're losing control, but if you keep coming at me, don’t blame me for what happens next."

Xu Tao panted, eyes locked in a venomous glare on Zhao Junhong.

Old Li’s tone remained gentle.

He was a veteran teacher.

He understood well that students would feel pressure before the entrance exams; these outbursts were nothing unusual.

After all, their futures were at stake.

And, perhaps more importantly, their very lives.

It was normal for students to be agitated.

And there were always those who broke the mold.

Like Fang Qingyun.

Old Li glanced at him, then turned to Xu Tao. "You’re all about to step into society. Let me tell you a law of survival in our world today: the weak have no voice."

"If you don’t want to take the exam, get out!"

"And that goes for the rest of you as well."

He swept his gaze over the other protesting students.

The presence of a martial artist was undeniable, and the will of the strong instantly subdued everyone.

One by one, the students sat down, subdued.

Xu Tao’s face contorted with rage and resentment as he glared at Zhao Junhong and Fang Qingyun.

"Well, well, looks like we’ve made an enemy," Zhao Junhong said with a wry smile.

Fang Qingyun shrugged. "What do you expect? Old Li is a martial artist. Even if you gave Xu Tao twice the guts, he wouldn’t dare go against him. We’re the only ones he can vent his anger on."

The two exchanged a glance, and in each other’s eyes they saw a cold gleam.

They were, after all, the two notorious troublemakers of the school.

Did people really think they were so easy to bully? That any stray dog could bark at them?

"All right, let’s proceed in order," Old Li said, once again producing the list.

This time, to everyone’s surprise, the list was not as they’d imagined. Among those left at the end—not just Zhao Junhong and Fang Qingyun—were several students in notably poor health.

"He could become a martial artist?" Xu Tao cried, pointing at a boy so overweight he must have weighed nearly three hundred pounds.

Old Li replied calmly, "No."

There was no need to even look. That boy, who could barely breathe after walking a few steps, had zero chance of becoming a martial artist.

If he landed in the hospital due to obesity one day, that would be the more likely outcome.

"Then why—"

"I want to give him a better chance to survive. The entrance exams are dangerous for someone like Wang Tu."

Many students were still dissatisfied. The fate of these people was none of their concern. If the exams were dangerous for them, they shouldn’t take them at all—why should they take up precious spots?

Only a few revealed some understanding.

They knew they had no chance of becoming martial artists and only hoped to get through the exams safely.

Fang Qingyun watched the polarized reactions, a faint, mocking smile curling his lips.

"Old Li, we’re lucky to have you as our teacher," he said slyly.

Old Li shot him a glance and murmured in his ear, "I don’t know what’s going on with you, but be careful. And don’t let anyone die."

He looked at Xu Tao as well.

He knew all too well the character of these two—tricky as needles.

"Don’t worry," Fang Qingyun chuckled softly.

…

When Old Li led Class Three to the field, the other classes were already assembled.

A slightly plump, Buddha-faced man greeted Old Li with a smile. "Old Li, you’re always the last, always say the most and do the most. Does it mean anything? Maybe you’re just making enemies."

Old Li only glanced at him, saying nothing.

On the dais, the principal surveyed the vibrant student body and began, "Students, years of hard work will finally bear fruit…"

…

"One last time: the entrance exams carry some risk. Does anyone wish to withdraw?"

The students sat in silence.

Though their young faces showed fear and hesitation, there was also resolve.

They had come this far; no matter what, they wanted to see the secret realm with their own eyes.

Even if they failed, just setting foot on that ground would bring closure to their school years.

Besides, who could say? Perhaps they would become martial artists after all.

The principal nodded gently. "Since that’s the case, go forth!"

"Take the most important step of your lives!"

"As principal, I hereby announce: the final phase of the entrance exams—the Martial Test—begins!"

"I wish you all a triumphant return!"

Boom!

A thunderous roar split the sky.

Space itself seemed to tear apart.

A deep, ghostly blue portal materialized before them.

The secret realm was open!