Chapter Eight: The Silver-Haired Maiden, a Supreme Prodigy?

The loud roar of the testing machine echoed through the empty trial ground like thunder striking a flat plain, instantly drawing the attention of all the students and teachers present. Every gaze turned toward the source, following the intensity of the moment.

The blood-red number 324, sharp as a silver needle, pierced deep into the eyes of every teacher.

“324! Qi-Blood Stage Three!”

“Our school actually has a prodigy at Qi-Blood Stage Three!?”

“Whose student is that?”

The homeroom teacher trembled suddenly and hurried over to the testing device. After a careful inspection, he confirmed there was no error in the machine.

“Hahaha! Well, well! I never expected that I, Liu, would accidentally find such a treasure,” the homeroom teacher said loudly, unconsciously affirming the accuracy of Lin Yin’s test.

The teachers present were instantly ecstatic, eager to get a closer look at this prodigy at Qi-Blood Stage Three.

“Teacher, may I leave now?” Lin Yin asked calmly.

“Leave? But there’s still the second phase…”

“Teacher, are you asking me to suppress my Qi-Blood and lower my level just to fight them?”

Lin Yin smiled faintly. His voice was soft yet caught the attention of many watching closely.

“Damn! He's so arrogant!”

“This transfer student is speaking the harshest words in the calmest tone.”

“Is it typical for transfer students to be this outrageous?”

The students listened, feeling helpless and frustrated, grinding their teeth but powerless to respond.

To be honest, not only the homeroom teacher but all the teachers present were eager to see Lin Yin’s performance in the second phase’s combat test.

But Lin Yin was unwilling to fight this group of students; it seemed more worthwhile to return home and continue honing his body.

Seeing Lin Yin’s firm attitude, homeroom teacher Liu Qingsong sighed regretfully and could only stamp an “Excellent” label on his student ID.

“The results of the second phase combat test are graded: Pass, Excellent, and Seed. Logically, I think you should participate in the combat; you’d definitely earn a higher rating. But my authority only allows me to grant ‘Excellent’…”

“That’s enough.”

And so, amidst the teachers’ puzzled and amazed gazes, Lin Yin quietly left like a mysterious treasure veiled in secrecy.

---

Though he had left, the atmosphere remained fiery. The students excitedly discussed Lin Yin.

In a corner, someone poked the dazed Wang Yang.

“Wang Yang, are you okay?”

Wang Yang snapped back to reality. His once calm and indifferent face now showed deep frustration. He stared fixedly in Lin Yin’s departing direction, feeling the bright crown upon his white hair silently fading. That feeling of having his honor stripped burned a nameless fire in his chest with nowhere to vent.

Seeing Wang Yang’s expression, the surrounding students came over to comfort him. After all, in these three years at the martial school, Wang Yang had always been their big brother figure.

“It’s okay, Brother Yang. He didn’t do the combat phase. Although he talks big, maybe he’s just all show and no substance.”

“Exactly! He’s just a transfer student, right? I heard some noble families and organizations forcibly pump drugs to boost Qi-Blood values, but their actual combat skills are terrible. Basically, it’s all for show.”

“How could such a guy compare to Brother Yang? Everyone knows you’re unbeatable in the three major martial schools of Anhou District.”

Hearing the praise and consolation, Wang Yang’s mood eased a bit. He silently clenched his fists, his desire to prove himself reaching its peak. On the day of the college entrance examination, I, Wang Yang, will make everyone understand that I was, and will remain, the invincible force in Anhou District’s martial schools!

Meanwhile, Lin Yin had already left the school gate. He glanced at the silver-white McLaren parked there, like an oasis in the desert, attracting all passersby’s attention. As he walked, he suddenly paused, noticing a slender silver sword sheath seemingly stuck in the rear of the McLaren.

A sword sheath stuck to the back of a car—what kind of stunt is this? If the car drives off, the fiery exhaust could burn the sheath.

Quite bizarre.

Going home, training.

---

At the same time, inside the principal’s office.

Principal Wang, holding a cup of wolfberry-infused wine, looked utterly miserable as he stared at the silver-haired girl lounging on the sofa.

“My goodness, the Heavenly River Academy is launching the Ultimate Battle Arts Class this year, and you come here to recruit. Where am I supposed to find seed students for you to choose from?”

The silver-haired girl, her hair tied into two small buns, sucking on a lollipop, dressed in sharp, spiky black Gothic leather, flipped through the books on the desk with boredom. She turned back with a petite, fair, egg-shaped face full of impatience and waved her hand dismissively, “Alright, I’m just here to notify and have a look, not to poach students.”

Principal Wang awkwardly took a sip of wolfberry wine. Honestly, who would give their best students to the local Heavenly River Academy? They’d be sent inland to key institutions or even abroad, places like Da Wu and Da Zhou where martial arts thrive, or the northwestern plateau strongholds of Da Qi and Da Han, renowned for producing generals by the dozens.

“Oh, by the way, Uncle, doesn’t your Third Martial School have a student named Wang Yang? I heard he’s pretty good.”

“No! No, we don’t!”

“Really not?” The silver-haired girl tilted her head slightly, her clear, innocent eyes searching. “You’re not hiding anything from me, are you, Uncle?”

“Really not…”

Before Principal Wang could finish, hurried footsteps sounded outside. The office door was flung open, and homeroom teacher Liu Qingsong burst in excitedly.

“Principal! Qi-Blood Stage Three! We have a student at Qi-Blood Stage Three! Qi-Blood value over three hundred!”

Principal Wang trembled all over, slammed the table, and stood up in joy, “Really!? Who?”

“Uh? This is…”

Liu Qingsong looked confusedly at the silver-haired girl.

Principal Wang’s excited expression froze.

The room fell into an awkward silence.

“Principal… His name is Lin Yin. He’s a recent transfer student. Here’s his information. I’ll take my leave now!”

After Liu Qingsong left tactfully, Principal Wang stared at the student’s file, his mood a whirlwind.

Happy? Ecstatic! The Third Martial School actually has such a remarkable talent!

But just as the ripe fruit warms, a ravenous demon stands nearby, watching hungrily...

“I’ve never begged anyone in my life…” Principal Wang gritted his teeth.

The silver-haired girl laughed, stood up, crunching her lollipop loudly. She grabbed the file, her eyes blazing with fierce determination.

“No, it won’t do,” Principal Wang said forcefully, veins bulging on his palms.

The girl held on tightly, her teasing voice whispered like a devil’s murmur in his ear:

“Uncle, I almost believed your nonsense just now…”

The thin file trembled between their hands, like a beautiful widow caught between two repairmen fighting over who gets to work on her, about to crumble.

…

Roar!!

The silver-white McLaren emitted a beast-like growl, flames spewing from its rear scorching the silver sheath. Inside the car, the silver-haired girl unwrapped another lollipop and casually placed the torn half of the file—ripped in the heated struggle—on the passenger seat. She glanced at it, a smug smile curling at her lips. Perfect timing; she had the half with the name and phone number.

“Mmm, chocolate flavor is really delicious, though so hard to find… Lin Yin, huh?”

The fire of determination flickered in the girl’s eyes as she slammed the accelerator. The silver-white McLaren roared and sped away.