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At least they can call out each other’s names.

“Yuan Zhao, the people from your Divine General Mansion are truly incredible. They are clearly newcomers, yet they came close to monopolizing the top ten rankings.”

Seated on the grass, the slender Du Qiuyue expressed her admiration to Li Yuanzhao.

She is a returning student, eighteen this year, in the prime of her youth, but within Alpha Academy, she already counts as an “elder.”

Before the semester started, she was in the top ten on the Martial Arts Ranking, but now she has fallen to the fifteenth place and beyond.

All because this year’s new students are too fierce, with seven coming from the Divine General Mansion alone, plus two royal princes; she simply couldn’t compete.

Additionally, there are children of a Grandmaster, a county princess from a certain city, all with backgrounds that are intimidating. In total, there are thirteen of them.

The returning students have practiced hard for many years to reach Cycle Heaven Realm Perfection, yet these newcomers arrived already at or near Cycle Heaven Realm Perfection, entering the school with a deeply established family foundation.

Even though their realms are the same, there are gaps in the levels of the Qi Circulation Skills and Meridian Opening Skills they practice, leading to a nearly twofold difference in strength. They are truly no match, having been thoroughly intimidated by the descendants under the supreme authority of Dayu.

“It’s alright, I guess, I’m only sixth, still a bit away,” Li Yuanzhao scratched his head as he said.

Du Qiuyue was left speechless.

Beside them, another newcomer from the prominent families of Liangzhou, Zheng Bai, gave a bitter smile.

As a new student, he only ranked 38th.

Only those with sky-high connections can bully the returning students like this. As for the children from prominent families like them, they still need to follow the rules and accept guidance from the senior students.

In the field, some are sparring and exchanging techniques.

Du Qiuyue gazes at the Martial Arts Ranking with complex emotions.

Currently, in the top five, there’s only one returning student clinging on, as if representing the last ounce of dignity for them seniors.

The two princes occupy the first and second spots, with the royal family’s Meridian Opening Skill and Qi Circulation Skill considered unrivaled in the world, naturally practiced by the princes as well.

Ranking third is Wang Han from the Divine General Mansion. At the sight of this name, Du Qiuyue’s eyes shift slightly. Aside from the princes, the most daunting figure in Alpha Academy at present is this Wang Han.

Although only fifteen, he is ruthless and decisive in his attacks, fierce in his tactics, completely unlike the others, as if he had been through the baptism of blood and fire.

It had been discovered that this Wang Han seemed to have served in the Mo River Authority for a year.

Ranked fourth is the daughter of that Grandmaster. It is said she has already comprehended the heart of swordsmanship, her sword skills are ethereal and terrifyingly powerful.

Ranked fifth is that returning student, the former number one on the Martial Arts Ranking, whose spear skills have reached the high-grade perfection level. Just yesterday, he fought against Li Yuanzhao and narrowly won by half a move.

Li Yuanzhao who sits nearby is ranked sixth, followed by his two fellow disciples, Li Yun and Li Zhining.

“Strange, where is your brother Hao? How come he’s not here?”

Du Qiuyue’s curiosity was piqued as she scanned the courtyard. Given the way Li Yuanzhao always refers to ‘Hao’ reverently, it’s clear to anyone with eyes that he greatly respects this young man of similar age.

This naturally aroused a sense of wonder and astonishment.

However, every time a lesson ends, that person bolts away as if he’s rushing to the latrine.

In these spontaneous sparring sessions and challenges for the Martial Arts Ranking, they have never seen his figure, as if he exists outside of Alpha Academy’s everyday life.

Even during lessons, each time she glanced over, he was either lying down asleep or holding something resembling a book, continuously taking notes.

Working so hard? At first, she felt somewhat impressed, but later, upon a casual glance, she realized there wasn’t a single word in the book, only full of sketches.

The drawings were all fierce demon creatures and seemed to be from the Aquatic Clan…

Besides that, there were also many of Teacher Su Yehua’s drawings, some with cat ears and tails added on, portraying Teacher Su Yehua like an incompletely transformed demon.

This was nothing short of doodling.

Yet despite this, Du Qiuyue could still tell that the artistic skill was exquisite, brought to life with precision, something that could not be achieved without considerable practice.

But then again, they are all Martial Artists. Who has the leisure to spend time on other things?

“Brother Hao must have gone to play,” Li Yuanzhao said nonchalantly.

He had become accustomed to Li Hao’s behavior. Practicing with them? Joking aside, even with Great Aunt pleading desperately, the shadow of Hao was never seen in the arena.

Since childhood, Hao had never mingled with others his age, unless they went to him.

“Play…” Hearing Li Yuanzhao speak so casually, both Du Qiuyue and Zheng Bai were stunned.

The whip marks on their small bottoms and the cane scars on their backs had long ingrained the word “strive” into their beings.

Play?

They wanted to, but didn’t dare.

In their fathers’ words:

“What you’re playing with now is time, and what you’ll be playing with in the future will be your life!”

“How can you become an extraordinary person if you don’t endure the bitterest of hardships?”

“The prosperity of the family depends on you. How can you live up to your ancestors if you’re so lax?”

“Play” is such a frivolous word, yet for them, it’s incredibly distant, like a taboo, unspeakable.

“Isn’t he participating in the Martial Arts Ranking? If so, he’ll be challenged by students from the Beta Academy, and then he’ll be demoted there,” Du Qiuyue hesitated to say.

Li Yuanzhao’s eyes opened wide in a slight rage, “Who dares! If anyone challenges Brother Hao, I’ll get demoted to Beta Academy and beat them back up!”

Du Qiuyue:

Zheng Bai:

Wow, now that’s being domineering.

“You have the Divine General Mansion backing you, so there probably won’t be many challengers, but you’ll have to rely on yourself for the Mo River Battlefield test in a year.”

Du Qiuyue said resentfully, “On extermination missions outside, we can still rely on the hidden protection of the experts our families send, but in the Mo River Battlefield, we’re on our own and can’t join forces. The Mo River Battlefield we are tested in only allows one person to enter at a time.”

“That’s true.”

Li Yuanzhao slightly frowned and thought for a moment, “I’ll talk to Hao about this matter later.”

Du Qiuyue was at a loss for words. Did the young master of the Divine General Mansion not take this matter seriously at all?

Behind Alpha Academy, atop a waterfall.

Two figures sat at the edge of the cliff atop the waterfall, drinking and playing chess, chatting and laughing leisurely.

Suddenly, a figure leapt from the bottom of the waterfall, jumping over the several dozen feet high cascade without a drop of water touching him, and landed in front of the two, holding two skewered roasted rabbits.

“You little…” Seeing the newcomer, both of the chess-playing elders laughed, then immediately sniffed, “Smells good!”

Li Hao handed the roasted rabbits over to the two elders, smiling, “Try these.”

The chess-playing elders were none other than Zhao Zongyuan and Shen Yunqing, both instructors at Alpha Academy, and had been completely conquered by Li Hao’s cooking over the past half month.

“Tsk, your cooking skills are really something else.” Shen Yunqing took a bite and couldn’t help but praise.

He and Zhao Zongyuan appeared carefree and amiable at this moment, but when teaching in the academy, they maintained a stern authority as instructors. Even the two princes had to behave properly in front of them, strictly following the rules.

Being a prince was certainly prestigious, but princes studying at Tan Palace Academy weren’t necessarily favored, and their lives might not even be as long as the instructors’. The two didn’t need to be overly subservient or flatter the royal token at their waist.

“You’ve already lost two games to me today, shouldn’t you go back to your martial arts practice?”

While eating the rabbit, Zhao Zongyuan noticed Li Hao eager to try his hand and couldn’t help but mention.

He loved playing chess… but not losing all the time.

Playing chess with Shen was more relaxing, not too draining, and he could actually win.

“Martial arts practice is so boring, especially when it’s not from the Black and White Hall.” Li Hao said.

“You just arrived and already thinking of peerless techniques, wishful thinking,” both said, shaking their heads at Li Hao’s unrealistic expectations. Previously, when Li Hao came to them for chess, they had gauged his ability. He was not the frivolous dandy they had imagined, and was even more powerful than most at Alpha Academy.

But the issue was the young man was disinterested in practicing martial arts. When they played chess and occasionally tried to offer him some pointers, it backfired:

“You’re about to lose, and you still have time to talk about other things?”

“Can you focus, pick up the chess piece, pick up the chess piece!”

“How about, I give you a five-stone handicap?”

The elders were somewhat taken aback, feeling a mix of annoyance and affection for Li Hao.

“Elder Shen, the wine.”

Li Hao motioned with his lips toward the wine flask at Shen Yunqing’s waist, “You’ve lost two sips to me today and haven’t paid up yet.”

Shen Yunqing’s mouth twitched slightly. He was originally only sharing with Zhao Zongyuan, and now there was one more little mouth to feed, causing his Drunken Wind Brew to run low even for himself.

As a man of his word, he snorted lightly and tossed the wine gourd to Li Hao, “Easy there, you’re still young.”

Li Hao chuckled, uncorked the bottle and took two hearty swigs, then wiping his mouth contentedly, “Really does taste good.”

Cooking in six ways, his scope was broad, he could brew fine wines himself but it took too much time, and he was too lazy to bother.

Seeing Li Hao’s carefree demeanor, the elders just smiled helplessly and continued munching on their roasted rabbits.

Li Hao returned the wine gourd to Shen Yunqing, patted his rear and said, “I’ll come again tomorrow.”

With that, he leaped gracefully, his figure swift as the wind, and landed on the white stones beyond the waterfall.

Then, strolling along, humming a tune, he leisurely left the place.

He had climbed up to the waterfall just for a couple of sips of wine and to give the two elders the rabbits as a token of appreciation.

“This kid…” As they watched his departing figure, both laughed wryly, having never met such an unusual youth.

“By the way, that movement technique he just used, wasn’t it the superior ‘White Phoenix Skill’ you teach?” Zhao Zongyuan asked.

Chewing on his rabbit, Shen Yunqing spoke vaguely, “That’s right, and that kid seems to have already mastered it to perfection. I’m starting to doubt whether that Wind-Slashing Fist he learned was truly mastered on the same day…”

“To reach perfection in half a month…”

Thoughtfully, Zhao Zongyuan murmured, “Did the Li Family release false information in the past? Marshal Li spends all his time on the borders, and his wife is not by his side…”

Without finishing his thought, there was no need for further words.

Shen Yunqing swallowed down the rabbit meat, took a gulp of wine, and almost lost his eyebrows in the comfort of it, he sighed, “As unpredictable as the depth of a marquis’s manor; who could really know? At any rate, this boy is definitely a rare genius, I suppose he will make a grand entrance in a year’s time at the Mo River.”

Zheng Bai slightly nodded, not denying the possibility, wondering whether Li Hao would be willing to show his talent when the time came.

Suddenly, he noticed Li Hao’s figure disappearing around the corner, and couldn’t help raising an eyebrow, “Did that kid take a wrong turn?”

“Hm? Didn’t you tell him? That way leads to Mo River.”