Chapter 112: No Eagle Without Seeing the Rabbit

Following this, the newly installed Great Ape puppet functioned without further faults, with the Ministry of Education’s notary officials personally inputting the programs and supervising from the side. Several veteran staff members from the logistics department, terrified of another mishap, assisted cautiously.

Once the assessment concluded, thirteen students from Class 6 of the senior year had passed the blood-energy test. In this round, including the martial arts students like Xiao Nan, a total of seventy-two passed, while eleven students who performed poorly were eliminated. Those who failed generally possessed weaker mental fortitude or had blood-energy levels that had only just reached the threshold of 3.0. Failing the test meant bad luck; they would not be required to participate in the Blood-Soaked Trial and had already lost their eligibility for the provincial examinations. Several students suffered emotional breakdowns, weeping silently and uncontrollably in the lower rows. Yet, there was no help for it; examinations are inherently cruel. Where there is triumph, there is disappointment.

Back in the classroom, Yang Yankun did not lecture, leaving the time for the students to interact. Sun Kai and the others watched with envy, though most simply offered their congratulations before returning to their seats to silently flip through their liberal arts textbooks. No one knew if they could truly concentrate.

Before long, Yang Yankun re-entered the classroom, his expression a mixture of joy and apprehension. "I am not sure if this counts as good news... Next Monday at eight in the morning, all students who passed the blood-energy test must gather at the school. Principal Sun and Teacher Tang will lead you to the Yuanjiang Military Base to participate in the Blood-Soaked Trial. Go back and prepare well over the next two days; try to ensure everything is foolproof. Although there is generally not much danger during the trial, it is, after all, real combat, which is vastly different from sparring at school."

Xiao Nan thought to himself that this was happening quite quickly. Perhaps the recent incident at the school had made some people fear that delays would lead to further complications. The trials were coming in waves, giving the students little time and denying others the opportunity to interfere.

Wei Yunyun’s face turned pale instantly, her fists clenched tightly beneath the desk. Xiao Nan knew she was nervous again. Xiong Bing, on the other hand, was eager to get started, his body trembling with excitement, his back molars gritted, and the muscles in his cheeks bulging. The other students displayed various reactions as well.

"Xiao Nan, come out with me for a moment." After announcing the news, Yang Yankun called Xiao Nan out of the classroom.

"Teacher Yang..."

"Principal Sun is waiting for you in his office; he has something to discuss with you." Yang Yankun was also puzzled, as the principal rarely involved himself in such matters; he had never seen him call a student in for a heart-to-heart before.

Xiao Nan had nothing to pack. He bade farewell to his classmates and left the classroom directly.

The principal’s office was on the fifth floor of the north building. Xiao Nan rarely came here; he had only been in the large room next door at the start of the school year to fill out forms and register his identity and background. Back then, he had been received by a stern-faced middle-aged female teacher.

"Come in."

Xiao Nan pushed the door open and saw the principal sitting loosely on the sofa. Of course, the most striking person in the room was not him, but a woman sitting in the main chair directly facing the door. The woman’s face was wreathed in smiles—mocking smiles.

Upon seeing her, Xiao Nan instinctively wanted to retreat and pull the door shut. "Damn this memory influence." The reflexive reaction belonged to the original host's inner self. At that time, Xiao Nan’s memories from his previous life had not yet fully awakened, and this woman had caused great "harm" to his young heart. In short, this elder did not carry herself like an elder at all, and she was completely different from her daughter’s composed and dignified demeanor.

"Principal Sun, Auntie Su," Xiao Nan said, biting the bullet. He actually did not want to have any dealings with the Qin family. The current situation clearly spelled trouble; getting involved would not be good.

A flicker of loneliness crossed Su Yuqing’s eyes. "Xiao Nan, are you still holding a grudge against Auntie because I didn't keep Shuang’er in check? Who told you not to train hard enough to beat her? Sigh, I can’t exactly tell her not to hit you, can I? You two young lovebirds are just having a spat..."

"Stop!" Xiao Nan nearly spat out a mouthful of blood. There were outsiders present, for heaven’s sake! He suddenly understood why little Xiao Bei held such a grudge against Qin Shuang. Perhaps, having seen her brother bruised and swollen so often as a child, she had developed both a fear of Qin Shuang and a psychological shadow. The little girl was actually very protective of her brother. Even Tan Qiuyi felt that Qin Shuang was too strong and not a good match, fearing that she wouldn't be able to handle her in the future.

"I wonder why Principal Sun asked to see me?" Xiao Nan asked.

"What are your thoughts on this trial?" Sun Zhongli’s gaze was slightly peculiar, looking at Xiao Nan as if he were not seeing the person himself, but recalling some past events.

"Isn't the trial just a formality? Complete the mission, safety first?" Xiao Nan probed. He wasn't sure what the other party’s true intentions were. Furthermore, Sun Zhongli’s gaze felt particularly cloying, making him uncomfortable.

"How could it be just a formality?" Sun Zhongli said with some excitement. "You must give it your all and strive for first place. The trial calculates merit points; good performance will lead to extra credit, and top universities look at this."

"Oh?"

Xiao Nan was surprised. Did he need extra credit? Principal Sun’s attitude was very strange.

"Forget it, let me say it. You don't know this kid's character at all; he won't cast the eagle until he sees the hare," Su Yuqing interjected with a smile. "Xiao Nan, let’s be blunt. The opportunity to train in the school’s Hollow Crystal Room only comes once every five years; it is a treasure held tightly by the old principal. The school motto explicitly states that it cannot be used for any other purpose, except by graduating seniors from Yuanjiang No. 1 High School. I don't remember the ones from long ago, but ten years ago, Gu Hanshan got the chance. He broke through to a First-Rank Martial Artist and mastered the Great Luo Spear Intent. He was admitted to the prestigious Heluo Martial Arts University during that year’s exams and is now at the peak of the Sixth Rank. I’ve heard that under his Great Luo Spear, three or four ordinary Sixth-Rank peers are no match for him. He can even contend with Grandmasters."

Seeing Xiao Nan’s expression change, Su Yuqing tilted her head to look at him, blinked, and continued: "Five years ago, Ning Ruyue spent a day and a night in the Hollow Crystal Room. She became even more formidable; her blood-energy broke through from 4.6 directly to the Second Rank, and she comprehended the 'Eight Directions Blade Technique.' Now, at Donghai University, she is a leading figure."

Donghai University was the top institution in Jiangnan Province and one of the four great universities of the Empire. Although it ranked third, behind Qingning and Heluo, being able to rank among the top tier gave it immense prestige; one could imagine how powerful the school was. Although it was somewhat unfair of Su Yuqing to attribute the success of these two prodigies solely to the training in the Hollow Crystal Room, she had successfully piqued Xiao Nan’s interest.

"Great Luo, Eight Directions..." His eyes shifted. "Do these have anything to do with the laws of space?" Even evil gods had appeared in this world; no matter how strange the abilities were, Xiao Nan would not be overly surprised.

"Xiao Nan, you’re still as clever as ever, unlike Shuang’er, who has been a bit of a blockhead since she was little..." A trace of admiration flashed across Su Yuqing’s face as she spoke. Seeing Xiao Nan’s expression sour again, she quickly steered the conversation back: "Some adult experts have entered this training room before, but they gained nothing. No one knows the principle behind it. That’s not important, though. What is important is that the school has decided: the student who ranks first in the Blood-Soaked Trial will be able to enter the Hollow Crystal Room to train. Are you willing to give that up?"

Xiao Nan began to understand the intentions of Principal Sun and Su Yuqing. "If I’m not mistaken, the person most likely to get the opportunity is Li Shaohua of the Li family, right?"

"Yes, Li Shaohua has indeed made rapid progress. I noticed that he seems to have broken through the skin and flesh barrier, and the pores all over his body are beginning to close. Who knows what heavenly treasures Li Yuanchen found for him to use?" Su Yuqing did not mince words. "Moreover, that fellow Li Yuanchen even came to my Qin family to propose a marriage for Li Shaohua, wanting to wed Shuang’er. And the old folks in the Qin family were actually tempted... Are you truly content to be outdone by Li Shaohua and watch idly as Shuang’er is snatched away?"

The more she spoke, the more excited she became, seemingly wanting to see Xiao Nan’s distress. However, she was disappointed. Xiao Nan’s face remained expressionless; he simply nodded. "We’ll see when the time comes. It is too early to say."

His attitude was clear: as for taking first place in the trial, there was no use in talking about it; he would decide based on the situation. Right now, the most important thing was not to let Su Yuqing see him make a fool of himself. This aunt had a terrible personality, and he could not let her get her way. Watching her look frustrated, Xiao Nan felt an inexplicable sense of satisfaction.