2:00 PM, Third High School Martial Arts Dojo.
The several-hundred-square-meter hall was paved with high-strength black rubber mats. The dull sounds of fists and feet striking sandbags echoed in the air. At this moment, the students of Year 3, Class 6 had changed into white training uniforms and stood in two rows.
Homeroom teacher Wang Gang stood at the very front of the formation, his one-armed figure still as straight as a pine tree.
"Martial arts is not a dinner party, nor is it writing an essay."
Wang Gang's gaze swept over every student, his voice stern. "No matter how realistic the Ladder System is, it's still fake! If you die in the virtual world, you just lose some points; but in the Wilderness, facing beasts, dead is dead!"
"Therefore, the purpose of this Combat Class is singular: How to knock down the enemy in the fastest way possible!"
"Now, pair up and engage in free sparring! Lethal moves are forbidden, everything else is allowed!"
With Wang Gang's command, the formation instantly dispersed.
"Lin Zhiran!"
Almost immediately, a voice filled with malice rang out.
Zhao Tai twisted his neck, making cracking sounds, and walked over with a hideous grin. "Teacher Wang said to pair up. We are 'old classmates,' so it's not too much for me to guide you, right?"
The surrounding students immediately stopped what they were doing and formed a circle, expressions of anticipating a good show on their faces.
"Lin Zhiran is in trouble now. Zhao Tai has awakened an A-Rank Strength-type Talent." "I heard Zhao Tai's basic punching force has already broken 500kg. One punch from him, and Lin Zhiran's small frame will fall apart, right?" "Who told him to admit this morning that he didn't even pass the novice tutorial? He deserves to be squeezed like a soft persimmon."
Facing Zhao Tai's aggressive approach, Lin Zhiran's expression remained calm. He leisurely adjusted his cuffs and looked up:
"Guide me? Sure."
"However, fists and feet have no eyes. If Young Master Zhao gets hurt, don't go home crying to your mommy."
"You're asking for death!"
Zhao Tai's face flushed red instantly. Being provoked like this by a recognized piece of trash made him feel hugely insulted.
"Let's see just how tough your mouth is!"
Boom!
Without any probing, Zhao Tai exploded directly.
Although the A-Rank Talent [Berserk Beast Blood] was still in its preliminary stage, the physical stat bonuses it brought were real. The rubber mat beneath his feet sank abruptly. He charged out like a savage bull, his right fist carrying a howling wind, heading straight for Lin Zhiran's face!
This punch was heavy and powerful, without any fancy tricks.
This was the confidence of a Strength-type martial artist—one force subdues ten techniques!
"Too slow."
Lin Zhiran's pupils constricted slightly.
In his eyes, which possessed 18 Agility (close to the Prospective Warrior standard of 20), Zhao Tai's seemingly ferocious punch was full of flaws. His center of gravity leaned forward too much, his footsteps were heavy and lacked agility, and his punching trajectory was too straight...
If this were "Cold Light" in the Ladder last night, a spear would have already pierced Zhao Tai's throat in this instant.
But this was school.
Lin Zhiran's feet slid, and his body, like a fallen leaf moved by the wind, shifted half a body length to the left effortlessly.
Whoosh!
Zhao Tai's heavy punch grazed past the tip of Lin Zhiran's nose, the wind from the fist making his cheek sting.
"Dodge? Let's see how many times you can dodge!"
Missing one hit, Zhao Tai became even more annoyed. Borrowing his momentum, he changed his fist into an elbow, smashing a fierce horizontal sweep toward Lin Zhiran's chest.
However, Lin Zhiran seemed to have predicted his movement long ago.
The moment Zhao Tai raised his elbow, not only did Lin Zhiran not retreat, but he took a step forward!
This step was extremely exquisite, landing exactly in the dead angle where Zhao Tai's old force was exhausted, and new force had not yet generated.
"Basic Spear Style—Collapse Technique (Adapted)!"
Although Lin Zhiran had no spear in hand, he used his arm as the shaft and his fist as the tip. The moment he pressed into Zhao Tai's chest, his shoulder shook violently, and a burst of inch-force exploded instantly!
Thud!
A muffled sound.
The seemingly thin Lin Zhiran actually forcefully knocked away Zhao Tai's burly body with his shoulder!
Zhao Tai only felt as if his chest had been hit by a hammer. His breath hitched, and his originally fierce offensive instantly disintegrated. He staggered back several steps, almost sitting on the ground.
The entire venue fell dead silent.
The students who were prepared to see Lin Zhiran beaten flying opened their mouths wide, their eyes almost popping out.
What was the situation?
F-Rank Talent Lin Zhiran knocked A-Rank Talent Zhao Tai... flying?
"Coincidence! This must be a coincidence!"
Zhao Tai found his footing, his face burning with pain. Being forced back by a piece of trash in front of the whole class was more unbearable than killing him.
"I'm going to cripple you!"
Roar!
A faint red light appeared in Zhao Tai's eyes; this was a sign of [Berserk Beast Blood] passively triggering. His muscles bulged slightly, and his strength skyrocketed again. This time, he held nothing back, his fists enveloping Lin Zhiran like a storm!
Disorderly Wind Fist!
This was a basic martial skill of the Thunder Dojo. Although only an E-Rank skill, under the blessing of Zhao Tai's berserk strength, its power was astonishing.
"Good timing."
A glint flashed in Lin Zhiran's eyes.
Just right to use you to verify the footwork I deduced last night.
Facing the storm-like attacks, Lin Zhiran was like a petrel weaving through a tempest.
Dodge left, evade right, turn sideways, duck.
His movements were minimal; every time, he barely avoided Zhao Tai's fists, as if dancing on the tip of a blade.
He didn't use any flashy martial skills, just the most basic footwork, combined with his 18 points of Agility and the super-strong dynamic vision brought by the [Heart of the Spear God].
To bystanders, this scene was extremely bizarre.
Zhao Tai was like a bull that had lost its reason, frantically waving his fists and making the air pop, but he couldn't even touch the corner of Lin Zhiran's clothes!
"This... Is this basic footwork?"
Homeroom teacher Wang Gang, who was watching from the side, instantly sharpened his originally lazy gaze.
Experts watched the method.
Students only thought Lin Zhiran was lucky and dodged fast. But in Wang Gang's eyes, every step of Lin Zhiran was precise to the millimeter level!
That sense of rhythm, that control of distance, was definitely not luck!
"Damn it! Damn it! Do you only know how to hide? Fight me head-on if you have the guts!" Zhao Tai gasped for breath, his mentality completely collapsed.
The prolonged outburst caused his stamina to drain rapidly, and his movements began to become sluggish and deformed.
"Head-on?"
Lin Zhiran, who had been on the defensive, suddenly stopped moving.
His eyes instantly became sharp, like an unsheathed sword.
"As you wish."
The moment Zhao Tai revealed a flaw and left his center wide open, Lin Zhiran moved.
No longer dodging, but attacking!
He straightened his right hand like a knife, his entire arm tensing instantly, like a long spear ready to strike.
Thrust!
No fancy movements, just a simple straight thrust!
Fast! Accurate! Ruthless!
This knife-hand accurately passed through the gap in Zhao Tai's defense and lightly tapped three inches below his Adam's apple.
If there were a spear in his hand, Zhao Tai would be dead. If Lin Zhiran had applied force, Zhao Tai's laryngeal cartilage would have shattered.
But the moment he touched the skin, Lin Zhiran held back his force, giving just a light tap.
Tap.
A soft sound.
Zhao Tai froze.
He still maintained his punching posture, but Lin Zhiran's fingers were already pressed against his vital point. That momentary feeling of suffocation and the scent of death made the hair all over his body stand up, and cold sweat instantly soaked his back.
He lost.
He lost completely.
"I concede."
Lin Zhiran retracted his hand and calmly adjusted his somewhat messy clothes, as if he had done something insignificant.
"This... How is this possible?"
"Lin Zhiran... won?"
"Isn't he an F-Rank talent? Why is he so fast? What was that move just now? It looked like the 'Straight Thrust' in basic boxing, but it felt different?"
Waves of disbelief and exclamations came from the surrounding classmates.
"Impossible! I don't accept it!"
After reacting, Zhao Tai felt a mix of shame and anger. Disregarding the fact that the winner had been decided, he swung his fist at the back of Lin Zhiran's head again. "You ambushed me! I didn't lose!"
This punch was extremely vicious, aiming straight for a vital spot; clearly, he was truly enraged.
"Stop!" Wang Gang shouted angrily, wanting to intervene, but he was too far away to make it in time.
Lin Zhiran didn't look back.
But his back seemed to have eyes.
The moment the fist wind touched his body, he turned abruptly, his right leg whipping out!
Basic Leg Technique—Side Kick!
The extreme speed brought by 18 Agility, plus the explosion of 12 Strength!
Bang!
Striking later but arriving first!
Lin Zhiran's foot kicked ruthlessly into Zhao Tai's abdomen.
"Urgh—"
Zhao Tai arched his body like a cooked shrimp. His feet left the ground, and he flew back three or four meters, crashing heavily onto the rubber mat. Clutching his stomach, he retched painfully, unable to get up for a long time.
This time, the entire venue was silent.
If the previous move was technique, then this kick was solid, hard power!
Lin Zhiran retracted his leg and looked down coldly at Zhao Tai curled up on the ground:
"Ambush? As a martial artist, being a sore loser is more shameful than losing."
"Also, don't always bring up your A-Rank Talent."
"In this world, what decides victory or defeat isn't just talent, but also... brains."
After speaking, Lin Zhiran turned to look at the stunned Wang Gang and bowed slightly:
"Teacher, I won."
Wang Gang took a deep look at this usually reticent student, a trace of appreciation flashing in his single eye.
"Well done."
Wang Gang strode over, looked around the hall, and said loudly, "Did you all see? This is real combat! No fancy moves, only the most basic dodging and counterattacking!"
"Zhao Tai, possessing an A-Rank Talent yet being impetuous, with flashy but impractical moves, and getting counter-killed by an F-Rank Talent. Aren't you ashamed? Go run laps! Twenty laps! You're not allowed to leave until you finish!"
"And Lin Zhiran..."
Wang Gang paused, his tone softening slightly. "Your foundation is very solid, and your grasp of timing is accurate. It seems that although you awakened an F-Rank Talent, you didn't give up on yourself. Very good, keep it up."
"Yes, Teacher." Lin Zhiran answered neither humbly nor arrogantly.
He knew in his heart that Wang Gang was protecting him. If he praised him too highly, it would attract unnecessary attention. A simple "solid foundation" perfectly explained why he could win—because I trained hard, because my basics are good.
This excuse was flawless.
For the rest of the Combat Class, no one dared to trouble Lin Zhiran anymore. Many classmates even secretly looked at him with awe.
That teenager standing alone in the corner practicing punches was no longer the trash who could be bullied at will in everyone's eyes, but a ruthless character who hid his light under a bushel.
Only Lin Zhiran knew.
This was just the beginning.
When the school bell rang, Lin Zhiran rejected a few classmates who wanted to cozy up to him, shouldered his bag, and left the school alone.
Tonight, "Cold Light" of the Ladder System would continue to climb the ranks.
Before the College Entrance Exam, he needed to save enough money to buy a truly ranked Martial Arts Skill manual.
Although the "Basic Spear Eighteen Moves" had been deduced to the Transcendent Realm, it was ultimately just basic. To truly gain a foothold in this High Martial Arts World, he needed stronger means.
For example... that legendary killing move.