A deep voice suddenly echoed throughout the Martial Arts Classroom, and everyone fell silent.

A figure appeared in the doorway, their burly and powerful frame blocking the light.

It cast an enormous black shadow.

He walked slowly into the Martial Arts Classroom, an invisible aura radiating from his body.

Everyone turned to look at him.

This was a powerfully built man, his muscles looking as if they were carved from stone. He had a scar on his face and stood over two meters tall.

The top-ranked student in the grade, Li Zhou, looked a size smaller in front of him, like a green recruit.

’This is an expert who’s seen the battlefield,’ the thought surfaced in Lin Qi’s mind.

The burly man strode into the center of the crowd with the confidence of a predator.

BRRRING!

The next second, the class bell rang.

"This guy is strong!" Jiangtao said with a frown.

Lin Qi nodded. That was obvious. The man’s presence was too powerful.

Even Wu Kang, a Third Realm Martial Artist, didn’t have an aura this strong.

Anyone his gaze swept over went rigid, completely unable to move, utterly suppressed.

’Could he be a Fourth Realm Martial Artist?’

The big man scanned his surroundings, taking in every single person.

"Hello, everyone!"

The man spoke, his voice booming like a great bell, ringing in everyone’s ears.

"I’m sure many of you have been guessing about my identity. That’s right, I am your Martial Arts Instructor for this final year of high school!"

At this, the man grinned, revealing a smile.

"Let me introduce myself. My name is Zhang City, and from now on, I’ll be your Martial Arts Instructor."

"I’m not like the other instructors. My teaching methods are a bit... different."

"So be mentally prepared!"

Hearing this, everyone had a bad feeling.

Zhang City grinned and continued.

"You are all from No. 2 Middle School, the 50 most outstanding geniuses."

"Since you’ve made it into the Elite class, you will enjoy the best teaching staff."

"And I am No. 2 Middle School’s best Martial Arts Instructor. You’ll understand this in due time."

"Now that you’re in the Elite class, your university targets should be the three top academies in the Xia Country."

"The three top academies: Azure Sky University, Nether Sea University, and Yushan University."

Hearing the names of the three top academies, the gazes of the 50 people in the Martial Arts Classroom grew fervent.

As Xia Country People who had embarked on the path of Martial Arts from birth and trained bitterly for a decade, who among them didn’t dream of entering one of the three top academies?

The three top academies were the training grounds for the Hua Country’s Top Level experts. Their graduates would become the future pillars of the Xia Country, the main force in defending against Calamity Beasts.

"Aside from the Top Level geniuses with Awakened Special Abilities who get direct admission, the three top academies only enroll less than ten thousand students each year. Spread across the Xia Country’s various provinces, that’s only a few hundred per province."

"And among you, less than half will be able to enter one of the three top academies!"

Zhang City crossed his arms and grinned, revealing the cruel truth.

Everyone fell silent. A heavy pressure washed over them.

"Of course, my purpose here is to raise that admission number for you all."

"So, if you want to get into the three top academies, you’d best listen to me."

"And for some of you, if you just want to improve your ranking, you’d also best listen to me."

Seeing the time was right, Zhang City continued.

"Entering the Elite class means you’re no longer like the Ordinary students."

"You have better instructors and better benefits."

"One of those benefits is your own Independent Martial Arts Room, one that belongs only to you."

"A one-hundred-square-meter Space, a striking post, free training Weapons, a projector, a private bathroom, a washing machine..."

Many people’s eyes lit up. The conditions were simply too good.

"At any Martial Arts Dojo outside, a one-hundred-square-meter Martial Arts Room costs two to three hundred Xia Country Coins an hour."

"And here at No. 2 Middle School, it’s free? The benefits really are amazing."

Jiangtao said, a mix of surprise and excitement in his voice.

Lin Qi was just as surprised. A free Independent Martial Arts Room was practically a free apartment, and an extremely convenient one at that.

He even thought about how he could take a nap in the Martial Arts Room during the lunch break without anyone disturbing him.

Not to mention all the other benefits.

Everyone was thrilled, but Zhang City’s next words wiped the smiles off their faces.

"However, I’m sorry to say, not all of you will get a Martial Arts Room."

"Even though our No. 2 Middle School expanded and built ten more Martial Arts Rooms this year, we only have a total of thirty."

"Therefore, only the top-ranked 30 students will have an Independent Martial Arts Room."

"If you want an Independent Martial Arts Room, then work for it. Fight for it. As long as you improve and break into the top 30, you can have one too."

After Zhang City finished speaking, many students’ gazes grew fervent, their eyes filled with determination.

He had ignited an unseen atmosphere of competition. Who knew how many were now planning to crush others in the next test to break into the top 30.

Lin Qi was the same. He wanted an Independent Martial Arts Room too.

He was currently ranked 45th, sixth from the bottom of the class. He still had a long way to go.

"Good. You all have plenty of fighting spirit!"

Zhang City smiled, satisfied.

"Alright, that’s all for today. The rest of the time is for free practice."

"The top 30 students can go to your own Independent Martial Arts Rooms. Your fingerprint data has already been uploaded to the locks, so you can open them anytime."

"The rest of you, stay here and train in the Martial Arts Classroom."

Zhang City announced loudly.

"Oh, right. Any students who haven’t learned an advanced Secret Manual yet, come see me."

"Dismissed!"

After Zhang City spoke, everyone began to disperse. Some students eagerly gathered their things and headed for their Martial Arts Rooms.

Soon, only 21 people were left in the Martial Arts Room, and of them, only three remained standing in place.

Zhang City looked at the three people before him, a little surprised.

"I didn’t expect there to be three of you. I thought everyone would have already learned a new Secret Manual at a Martial Arts Dojo."

Lin Qi and Jiangtao glanced at each other. Lin Qi knew it was because he didn’t have the money.

Jiangtao, on the other hand, was just stingy and wanted to learn for free.

According to him, even though he had a million Xia Country Coins, if he could learn for free, it would be a waste not to.

Lin Qi then looked at the third person. It was the boy who had entered the Martial Arts Room even earlier than he had.

"Let’s get started then!"

Zhang City cleared his throat and began to speak.

"We humans are a highly intelligent species. We have an advantage that other animals can’t match."

"And that is our ability to use tools."

"Since ancient times, to survive against the threat of wild beasts, we have crafted sharp weapons from metal."

"There is a world of difference between the Combat Power of a human who is empty-handed and one holding a Weapon."

"So when facing a Calamity Beast with its massive body, sharp claws, and pointed fangs, you’re just food if you’re empty-handed."

"But holding a Weapon, you are the hunter!"

"When facing Calamity Beasts, we Martial Artists must master a Weapon."

Zhang City said with a grave expression.

"Your Fist Technique has already reached Great Success, and you have a Foundation in a Weapon. Learning an advanced Weapon Secret Manual now will yield twice the results with half the effort."

"Tell me, what Weapons do you practice?"

Zhang City looked at Jiangtao and asked.

"Saber!"

"Spear!"

"Saber!"

Lin Qi and the other two answered in turn.

"Two saber users and one spear user. You’ll learn first," Zhang City said, pointing at Lin Qi.

"Me?"

’This instructor doesn’t play by the rules. Shouldn’t he teach Jiangtao and the other guy the Saber Technique first?’

Zhang City raised his right arm, revealing a black digital watch on his wrist, and tapped on its screen.

BEEP!

The next second, a green light shot out from the watch. It was a 3D projection, displaying three green human figures of different body types.

The three boys quickly backed away to make room.

"So, what Spear Technique do you want to learn?"

...