The Grand Auditorium was brightly lit.
More than thirty students had gathered here. They were the true elites of Third High School; every single one of them had a Vitality value above 0.9. They were the seed candidates aiming for the Key Martial Arts Universities.
Zhao Tai stood in the center of the crowd, enjoying the flattery of those around him. He looked radiant today. Last night, not only did he take potions, but his meridians were also groomed by an elder in his family using inner force. His Vitality had firmly broken through 1.1.
"Is that... Lin Zhiran?"
A cry of surprise suddenly came from the crowd.
Everyone's eyes turned toward the door in unison. They saw Lin Zhiran, wearing a baseball cap with his hands in his pockets, walking in with a calm expression.
"What is he doing here? This is a gathering point for elites. Idlers with Vitality below 0.9 are not allowed." "Probably here to join in the fun? After all, he won against Young Master Zhao yesterday, so maybe he's getting arrogant." "Tsk tsk, an F-Rank Talent dares to come here. He really doesn't know the immensity of heaven and earth."
Seeing Lin Zhiran, Zhao Tai's face instantly darkened. He carved the grudge of that kick yesterday into his bones.
"Lin Zhiran, who let you in?" Zhao Tai stepped forward, blocking the path, and sneered. "Didn't you hear the broadcast? Vitality above 0.9! Do you, an F-Rank trash, think you're capable just because you drank a few bottles of low-level potions?"
Lin Zhiran stopped and slowly raised his head.
Under the brim of his hat, those eyes were terrifyingly calm.
"Move."
Just one word.
"You—"
Just as Zhao Tai was about to explode, a cold shout came from the podium.
"Silence!"
A terrifying pressure instantly swept through the entire venue. All the students felt their chests tighten, as if an invisible hand was strangling their throats. Even breathing became difficult.
On the podium, a young woman in a black combat uniform had appeared at some point. She was tall, her eyes sharp as knives, and a golden badge was pinned to her chest—the symbol of an official Inspector of the "Ladder System"!
Behind her, Homeroom Teacher Wang Gang and the Principal were smiling apologetically, their demeanors respectful.
"Let me introduce myself. I am Ye Hongyu, the Special Commissioner of the Ladder System stationed in Jiangnan City."
The woman's voice was cold and clear as her gaze swept across the venue. "I have only one purpose for coming here today: to select seedlings for the 'Ladder Elite Training Camp.'"
"I won't waste words. I know you are all top students in the school, but in my eyes, most of you..."
Ye Hongyu paused, the corner of her mouth curling in disdain.
"Are trash."
The audience was in an uproar, but under that terrifying pressure, no one dared to voice a rebuttal.
"Not convinced? Then let the data speak."
Ye Hongyu waved her hand, and a sci-fi-looking silver device was pushed out.
"This is the 'Potential Tester' newly developed by the military. It measures not only Vitality but also your 'Talent Potential' and 'Spiritual Will.'"
"In this world, Vitality can be piled up with drugs, but Talent and Will determine how far you can go."
"Come up one by one to test. If the rating reaches B-Rank or above, you'll be signed on the spot with a monthly martial arts allowance of 50,000; reach A-Rank, and you'll be directly admitted to the Thunder Training Camp with full resource supply!"
Hearing these generous benefits, the students' eyes instantly turned red.
50,000 allowance! Full supply! This was a chance to ascend to the heavens in one step!
"I'll go first!"
Zhao Tai took the lead and rushed up first. He glanced provocatively at Lin Zhiran, then pressed his hand on the device.
Hum—!
The device lit up with red light, and the numbers jumped frantically.
[Vitality: 1.12] [Talent Assessment: A- (Berserk Beast Blood, Strength Type)] [Comprehensive Potential: B+]
"Not bad." Ye Hongyu nodded slightly. "Strength-type talent. Although common, it excels in explosive power. You pass. Listed for observation."
Zhao Tai was overjoyed and walked down the stage triumphantly. As he passed Lin Zhiran, he lowered his voice and said, "See that? This is foundation. Lin Zhiran, what do you have to compare with me?"
The subsequent tests, however, gradually cooled the atmosphere.
Although most students met the Vitality standard, their potential assessments were only C or even D. Obviously, having Vitality without strong talent support held no cultivation value in the eyes of the military.
Soon, it was Lin Zhiran's turn.
Everyone's eyes were full of mockery. Wasn't a well-known F-Rank Talent coming up to test just asking for humiliation?
Lin Zhiran stood in front of the device but didn't rush to put his hand on it.
He silently communicated with the System in his heart.
"System, can my current camouflage be adjusted?"
[Answering Host: Yes. The SSS-Rank Talent 'Heart of the Spear God' possesses an extremely high status and can simulate the fluctuations of any lower-tier talent.]
"Very good."
A glint flashed in Lin Zhiran's eyes.
All along, he chose to keep a low profile to save his life. But "low profile" did not mean "humble."
In this world where resources determined everything, if he kept wearing the F-Rank hat, he couldn't even buy decent cultivation techniques, let alone treat his sister's illness.
Teacher Wang Gang's potion yesterday reminded him—if he wanted resources, he had to demonstrate value.
As long as he didn't expose the heaven-defying SSS-Rank that would attract alien assassinations, properly revealing his edge would instead gain official protection!
"System, adjust camouflage."
"Disguise the talent rank as... S-Rank! Talent Name... [Spear Intent Connection]!"
Since he was going to play, he would play big.
A-Rank? That was something trash like Zhao Tai took pride in.
What he wanted was for everyone to shut up, and for resources to tilt in his favor!
[Command confirmed. Camouflage adjusting...]
Lin Zhiran took a deep breath and pressed his palm heavily onto the device.
"Hmph, putting on an act." Zhao Tai sneered from below the stage. "F-Rank is F-Rank, can you press out a flower..."
Before he could finish his sentence, his voice got stuck in his throat.
Boom!!!
The originally calm tester suddenly emitted a deafening roar!
Immediately after, a dazzling golden pillar of light shot up into the sky from the device, even drowning out the original lights of the auditorium!
"What?!"
Special Commissioner Ye Hongyu, who had been expressionless, abruptly stood up from her chair, her beautiful eyes filled with disbelief.
"This is... Golden Light?!"
Homeroom Teacher Wang Gang was so shocked his jaw nearly dropped to the floor, and the teacup in his hand shattered with a snap.
Under everyone's horrified gazes, the data on the big screen began to jump frantically, finally freezing on a few lines of suffocating text:
[Vitality: 1.05 (Has broken the human limit!)] [Talent Assessment: S-Rank (Pseudo) · Spear Intent Connection!] [Spiritual Will: S+] [Comprehensive Potential: S-Rank (Extremely Rare)!] [Evaluation: Possesses a rare Weapon Soul Mutation Talent. A natural Ruler of the Spear!]
Dead silence.
Deathly silence.
You could hear a pin drop in the entire Grand Auditorium. Everyone was petrified, staring blankly at the teenager standing in the center of the pillar of light.
S-Rank...
The legendary S-Rank?!
That F-Rank trash who had been mocked for three years was actually... an S-Rank?!
"Impossible! The machine is broken! This is absolutely impossible!"
Zhao Tai let out a shrill scream. His face was pale as paper, and his whole body was trembling.
He didn't believe it! He wouldn't believe it even if he died!
However, Ye Hongyu had already rushed onto the stage like she teleported. She pushed away Zhao Tai, who wanted to check the machine, and stared dead at Lin Zhiran with those sharp eyes, as if looking at a rare treasure.
"Spear Intent Connection... Mutated Talent?"
Ye Hongyu's voice was trembling slightly. "No wonder... no wonder the previous test was F-Rank. This kind of Weapon Soul Secondary Awakening is extremely rare. In the early stage, it gets locked by the body's self-protection mechanism, appearing as ordinary Basic Mastery. Once awakened, it's a dragon ascending to heaven!"
She took a deep breath, calmed her excitement, and looked at Lin Zhiran with an incredibly gentle gaze, even carrying a trace of... fawning?
"Student Lin Zhiran, right?"
"On behalf of the Ladder System and the Jiangnan Military Region, I officially extend an invitation to you!"
"S-Rank Special Recruitment Contract! An annual salary of five million! Assigned exclusive mentor! Direct admission to the nation's number one 'Imperial Capital Martial Arts University' for the College Entrance Exam! If you are willing, I can even apply for a Wargod powerhouse to take you as a disciple!"
Boom!
These heavy bombs were thrown out one after another, directly stunning the students off stage.
Annual salary of five million? Wargod disciple? Direct admission to Imperial Capital Martial Arts University?
Zhao Tai's legs went soft, and he collapsed directly onto the ground, his eyes full of despair.
Over.
It was completely over.
He and Lin Zhiran were no longer people of the same world.
Facing this overwhelming wealth and glory, Lin Zhiran remained calm.
He slowly withdrew his hand, and the golden light dispersed.
He turned around, his gaze sweeping over those who once mocked and despised him, finally landing on Zhao Tai, who was limp on the ground.
He didn't say any mocking words, nor did he even give a second look.
This kind of ignoring was the highest level of contempt.
"The conditions are not bad."
Lin Zhiran looked at Ye Hongyu, his tone neither humble nor arrogant. "But I have a request."
"Speak! As long as it doesn't violate principles, I agree to everything!" Ye Hongyu said eagerly.
"I want an advance of one year's salary." Lin Zhiran said lightly. "Also, I need a High-Grade Genetic Repair Serum. Immediately, right now."
For his sister, this was the only reason he showed his hand.
"Deal!" Ye Hongyu didn't hesitate at all. "I'll have someone transfer the goods right now. It will be delivered within ten minutes!"
Lin Zhiran nodded, and a smile finally appeared on the corner of his mouth.
"Then I'll sign."
Under everyone's gazes of envy, jealousy, and hate, he took that glittering S-Rank contract and signed his name with a flourish.
At this moment, the F-Rank trash Lin Zhiran died. The S-Rank Genius Lin Zhiran was born!
At the same time, the System's notification sound rang in his mind:
[Ding! Detected Host's state of mind breakthrough, no longer living in obscurity.] [Reward: Unlocked SSS-Rank Heart of the Spear God Stage 2 Authority!] [Reward Skill: [Spear Domain · Absolute Territory] (Within a three-meter radius of the body, Host's spear speed increases by 300%, and possesses Sure-Hit attribute!)]
Lin Zhiran clenched his fist, feeling the surging power in his body.
This was only the beginning.
With this five million and the S-Rank identity as a shield, he could finally stand tall in this world and slaughter in all directions!