The morning sun pierced through the thin mist, casting its light on the gates of Jiangnan City's Third High School.
Carrying his faded old backpack, Lin Zhiran merged into the bustling crowd of students entering the campus. After the baptism and rest of the previous night, the hostile aura around him had completely converged, replaced by a calmness as steady as still water.
If one didn't look closely, no one would notice that this seemingly frail teenager maintained a precise distance with every step, his breathing rhythm always adhering to a peculiar cadence.
"Hey, did you hear? Zhang Wei from the class next door broke 0.9 in his Vitality test yesterday. They say his family spent a fortune buying intermediate Qi-Nourishing Potions." "Tch, that's nothing. I heard Young Master Zhao Tai from Class 2 has already started learning real Martial Arts Skills. He's the one aiming for the Key Martial Arts Universities."
The chatter of surrounding students drifted into his ears. Lin Zhiran's face remained impassive as he walked straight into the classroom of Year 3, Class 6.
He walked to the corner of the last row by the window and sat down—the exclusive spot for "underachievers." Taking out his textbook, he didn't space out as usual but began silently reviewing the "Basic Spear Eighteen Moves" he had deduced last night in his mind.
Although he had the System's assistance, Lin Zhiran knew very well that the System provided the "Realm," but muscle memory required him to polish it over and over again. It was like walking on a high-rise building; the System gave him a balancing pole, but he had to take the steps himself.
"Yo, isn't this our F-Rank genius, Lin Zhiran?"
A piercing voice broke the morning silence.
Surrounded by a group of lackeys, Zhao Tai strode into the classroom and deliberately stopped in front of Lin Zhiran's desk, looking down at him condescendingly. "I heard you ran off right after the Awakening yesterday? What, did you hide under your blankets and cry all night? Hahahaha!"
A burst of echoing laughter came from around them.
Lin Zhiran slowly raised his head. His gaze was clear, devoid of anger or embarrassment. He simply looked at Zhao Tai calmly, as if watching a child who hadn't grown up showing off a new toy.
"Class is starting soon. Go back to your seat."
Lin Zhiran spoke indifferently, then lowered his head to continue reading his book.
This reaction made Zhao Tai feel like he had punched cotton—suffocatingly frustrating. He had expected to see Lin Zhiran angry, inferior, or hysterical, but the other party's breezy attitude made him feel like a jumping clown.
"Stop pretending to be deep!" Zhao Tai huffed coldly and slammed his hand on Lin Zhiran's desk. "Don't think staying silent will help you. In the combat class this afternoon, I'll let you know just how big the gap is between F-Rank and A-Rank!"
After saying that, he walked away cursing with his lackeys.
Lin Zhiran reached out and patted the dust off his desk, his expression remaining unruffled.
For a wealthy scion like Zhao Tai who was born with a silver spoon, face and vanity were monumental issues. But for Lin Zhiran, who had experienced life-and-death combat last night, this kind of verbal dispute on campus was truly too childish.
As long as Zhao Tai didn't touch his bottom line—his sister and family—he couldn't be bothered to argue with such people. With that time spent getting angry, he might as well think of two more spear moves.
This endurance wasn't cowardice, but the strong looking down on the weak.
Not long after, the homeroom teacher, Wang Gang, walked in holding a stack of documents.
Wang Gang was a retired soldier with only one arm. At this moment, his expression was serious as he knocked hard on the blackboard.
"Quiet down! I have a major announcement today."
The class instantly fell silent.
"There are two months left until the College Entrance Exam. To select true combat talents, the Ministry of Education, in conjunction with the Military, has officially launched a new holographic simulation competitive platform—The [Ladder System]!"
As Wang Gang spoke, he turned on the projector in the classroom.
A massive, sci-fi-style tower appeared on the screen, piercing through the clouds, with each level glowing with a different light.
"This is a nationwide virtual combat network. Inside, your consciousness will enter a virtual space, and your physical data will be 100% replicated. You can engage in unrestricted combat simulations without worrying about injury or death."
"Most importantly..." Wang Gang paused, his eyes becoming sharp. "The [Ladder System] has established a 'Nova List.' Any student under 18 who can get a ranking on the list will receive Combat Points issued by the state!"
"These points can be exchanged for cash, high-tier Martial Arts Skills, and even military-grade Genetic Potions! If you can break into the city's top 100 before the exam, you can directly obtain a guaranteed admission spot to the Four Great Martial Arts Universities!"
Boom!
The classroom exploded with noise.
Every student's eyes turned red.
Cash? Martial Arts Skills? Guaranteed admission?
For any student yearning to change their destiny, this was an offer they couldn't refuse. Even Lin Zhiran, sitting in the corner, had a glint flash in his eyes.
What did he lack most right now?
Resources!
Although he earned eight thousand yesterday, it was a drop in the bucket for the consumption required for martial cultivation. His sister's follow-up treatment needed higher-grade potions, and his own cultivation required massive energy replenishment.
If he could earn resources through this virtual system without exposing his real identity, it was practically tailor-made for him!
"Now, everyone put on the VR helmets inside your desks for the first account registration and strength calibration!"
With Wang Gang's order, the students excitedly took out their helmets.
Lin Zhiran also took out the slightly worn helmet, took a deep breath, and put it on his head.
"Connecting..."
A sense of weightlessness washed over him.
When Lin Zhiran opened his eyes again, he was standing in a pure white virtual space.
[Welcome to the Ladder System.] [Scanning body data...] [Scan complete.] [Please set your Virtual ID.]
Lin Zhiran pondered for a moment.
Since it was a dual identity, he might as well go all the way. In reality, he was the F-Rank trash Lin Zhiran, but in this virtual world, he would be a ghost wielding a spear.
He thought of the cold spear glare in the night, and the obsession in his heart to only protect his family.
"ID: Cold Light."
[ID available.] [Please choose your starting weapon.]
Rows of dazzling weapons appeared in front of him—sabers, spears, swords, halberds, axes, hooks, and forks.
Without any hesitation, Lin Zhiran reached out and grabbed the most ordinary black long spear.
The moment his fingers touched the spear shaft, that familiar feeling of flesh and blood connection surged in his heart again. Even in the virtual world, the SSS-Rank Talent was still effective!
[First login detected. Arranging calibration match.] [Opponent: AI Combat Puppet (Vitality 1.0)] [Countdown: 3, 2, 1, Start!]
As the countdown ended, the white space instantly transformed into an ancient Roman Colosseum.
Opposite him, a mechanical puppet holding an iron shield and a single saber slowly emerged. Its electronic eyes flashed with red light. Without any nonsense, it stomped its foot and charged at Lin Zhiran with a howling wind!
Vitality 1.0. This was already the threshold for a formal Warrior. For an ordinary high school student, this was simply an invincible opponent.
But Lin Zhiran just stood quietly on the spot, holding the spear in one hand, the tip pointing diagonally at the ground.
His breathing became long and steady, his entire being seeming to merge with the spear in his hand.
Facing the menacing mechanical puppet, he didn't retreat, nor did he panic. His eyes were as calm as a pool of stagnant water, until the moment the puppet entered his attack range—
The water surface broke.
[Talent · Heart of the Spear God, activated.] [Passive · Lethal Tempo, charging.]
Lin Zhiran moved.
It wasn't a wide, sweeping strike, nor was it a flashy dance.
He simply took a step forward and gently shook his wrist.
Crack!
It was as if a thunderclap had exploded in the air.
The black long spear flicked like a venomous snake's tongue, tracing a strange arc in the air and accurately passing through the gap in the shield raised by the mechanical puppet.
Pfft.
The spear tip tapped the puppet's throat.
The mechanical puppet's violent movements stopped abruptly. Its data stream became disordered, and then it turned into countless particles of light and dissipated into the air.
One spear thrust.
No wasted movement.
Clean, precise, efficient.
This was Lin Zhiran's current style. He didn't seek the thrill of torture; he only sought to resolve the battle at the minimum cost.
[Calibration match ended.] [Combat time: 0.8 seconds.] [Evaluation: Perfect.] [Congratulations, you have obtained the calibration rank: Bronze Tier 3 (League Points 100/100).]
The System's notification sound was a bit hesitant, as if it had never seen a novice end a battle so quickly.
Lin Zhiran put away the long spear, looked at the lit-up badge behind his rank, and the corners of his mouth curled up slightly.
"Bronze? Still far from enough."
What he needed wasn't a vain reputation, but tangible points and resources.
Just as he was about to continue matchmaking, the voice of his homeroom teacher Wang Gang came from the outside world, forcibly cutting off the connection.
"Alright, the first experience is over. Everyone take off your helmets!"
Lin Zhiran felt his vision go dark, and his consciousness returned to the real classroom.
The classroom had already exploded with noise; excited discussions were everywhere.
"Oh my god, that AI is too perverse! I was insta-killed without even blocking a single move!" "Same here, that's a monster with 1.0 Vitality! I'm only 0.8, I can't fight it at all." "What about the Class Monitor? It seems he lasted thirty seconds?" "Young Master Zhao Tai is the most amazing. I heard he exchanged over a dozen moves with that puppet before losing. He calibrated to Black Iron Tier 1, only one step away from Bronze!"
Hearing the praise from the crowd, Zhao Tai leaned back in his chair smugly, enjoying the envious gazes around him. He indeed had the capital to be proud. Being able to spar with a 1.0 puppet on the first contact proved that his combat talent was indeed at the A-Rank level.
"Lin Zhiran, what about you?"
Zhao Tai suddenly turned his head, looking provocatively at Lin Zhiran in the corner. "You didn't lack the guts to even go in, did you? Did you just AFK in the starting space? Haha, makes sense. An F-Rank would just be insta-killed anyway, better to save some electricity."
Lin Zhiran was packing his schoolbag. Hearing this, his movements paused slightly.
He glanced at Zhao Tai, then at the class ranking scrolling on the big screen—Zhao Tai's name was impressively ranked first.
"Yeah, you're right."
Lin Zhiran nodded calmly, his tone sincere. "The monsters inside are indeed too strong. An F-Rank like me shouldn't go and throw my life away."
After speaking, he shouldered his bag and walked out of the classroom amidst the disdainful gazes of the whole class.
No one knew that just a moment ago, that "trash" ranked last in the whole school had quietly lit up a star named "Cold Light" on the net-wide Nova List.
Since he wanted to develop in a low-key manner, he would carry out the "trash" persona to the end.
As long as he could accumulate strength in the dark and let his sister live a good life, what did a little misunderstanding matter?
Walking out of the school gate, Lin Zhiran glanced at the bustling street, silently planning his schedule for tonight.
By day, he was the mocked F-Rank high school student. By night, he would be the terrifying... God of the Spear in the Ladder System.