Chương 56: War God — Chapter 56 - Teacher Zhou, Wang Xian... Has He Left Rong City?

Rong City, Heavenly Blade Club. Tan Tianze closed his eyes. The image replayed in his mind: Wang Xian from Seventh High, that single blade strike cutting down the wolf. A bloody wind howled. The wolf shadow lunged. His eyes snapped open. He drew his blade and slashed down. The Saber-Toothed Wolf barely split in two, dissolving into particles that vanished in the holographic environment. The challenge timer froze:"47 seconds." He walked out of the room.

"Brother Tan, that's insane! One slash?"

"Half a month ago Brother Tan could beat the Saber-Toothed Wolf easily, but it took minutes. Now it's just seconds!"

"I feel like Brother Tan could even try the beginner Holographic Intelligent Beast challenge now, right?"

"Definitely. One-shot kills. Taking on a few more would be easy."

"Pass that and you can sign with the club! Man... Brother Tan's probably the only one from Fourth High with a shot, yeah?" Listening to his classmates' praise, Tan Tianze's face remained blank. He felt nothing. They had no idea. What he'd just accomplished was something Wang Xian could do easily a month ago. Even more perfectly than this. Tan Tianze sighed inwardly. This past month, he'd trained day and night without rest.

First the martial arts training in the Gravity Chamber, then the movement technique challenge. Then every remaining hour immersed in the Holographic Intelligent Beast challenge. Still couldn't replicate that stunning slash Wang Xian had performed a month ago.

"Short term, I've hit my limit... maybe only talent awakening could push me further..." He shook his head. The crowd buzzed with chatter. Someone said quietly:"Brother Tan, heard someone from Seventh High signed with Heavenly Blade Club?"

"That Wang Xian?" Tan Tianze's interest stirred. He frowned.

"But this whole winter break, I haven't seen him come train at the club. No idea where he went..."

"No, it's that Ye Miyue."

"Oh, probably because Grandmaster Bai went to Seventh High for the martial lecture..." Tan Tianze dismissed it.

"I thought someone passed the beginner Holographic Intelligent Beast challenge and signed a D-Grade Contract directly."

"How could that happen? No way anyone from Seventh High could manage that. Maybe First High..."

"Heard yesterday someone from First High can already fight 9 beasts in a row at Divine Sword Club's beginner holographic challenge."

"Before the Martial Exam, they'll definitely sign with the club directly."

"That's pretty impressive..." Tan Tianze wasn't particularly surprised. Wang Xian's blade strike kept replaying in his mind. If his life force were high enough, with sufficient endurance... his success rate challenging 10 Holographic Intelligent Beasts should be very high. Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. Thinking this way, that First High prodigy wasn't so special after all. At the same time. The club's tenth-floor office.

Zheng Changhong smiled as he handed the contract to the girl before him:"Congratulations, Student Ye. You've officially signed with our club." Ye Miyue took the contract and carefully read through every clause. Suddenly. She pointed at one clause and spoke:"Teacher Zhou, Minister Zheng, I've heard of this contract before... but this clause, it wasn't here before, was it?"

The clause read: [If Party B is a student who has not yet entered university, the club reserves the right to refuse processing their martial practitioner strength certification.]"That, oh, yes." Minister Zheng's expression stiffened slightly.

"Does Student Ye wish to apply for martial practitioner certification? I apologize, but regulations don't permit it. Additionally, the state prohibits high school students from obtaining martial practitioner certification to enter any relics or unmanaged zones."

"No, I was just asking." Ye Miyue shook her head. Minister Zheng breathed a sigh of relief:"Good, then." After the contract was signed.

"Student Ye, you can go ahead. I need to speak with Minister Zheng."

"Alright." After Ye Miyue left the room. Zhou Dahai's face turned grave:"Still no news of Wang Xian?" Zheng Changhong's mouth twitched:"No..."

"You damn..." Zhou Dahai pointed at Zheng Changhong and exploded.

"That's my student! Even if he signed a contract with you, how could you let him go to unmanaged zones explicitly forbidden by the state to hunt beasts?"

"That was his request..." Zheng Changhong gave a bitter smile.

"At the time, the club didn't refuse because the contract had no clause about it. And I put him with what was considered one of our elite first-realm squads."

"The relic they explored was also completely safe, the Skeletal Blade Tomb..."

"Then where is he? It's been a month. Not a single piece of news, phone unreachable, even satellite can't locate him."

"We've already dispatched two elite squads to search the Skeletal Blade Tomb..." Zheng Changhong sighed.

"Look, if we're talking urgency, I'm more anxious than you. I signed him. I have to take responsibility."

"And while there's no good news, at least there's no bad news either..."

"You believe that? A student who hasn't even reached first realm, wandering a month in relics and unmanaged zones. What are his survival odds?" Zhou Dahai was furious. The kid's third uncle had called several times already. He was too embarrassed to call back. Zheng Changhong said nothing. He already knew the full story. Weeks ago, only three members of Long Yuan's squad returned. After returning, they reported everything to the club and requested a rescue squad. It scared him half to death.

He never imagined Long Yuan was actually an active blade puppet from the Skeletal Blade Tomb. Worse, Wang Xian had stayed behind. How could he possibly handle that? Now another month had passed. Several rescue attempts yielded nothing. Honestly, survival odds were slim. Just thinking about it made his scalp tingle. If Grandmaster Bai asked about it later, he'd have an even harder time explaining. This past month, he could neither sleep nor eat well.

"Well... unmanaged zones... do have temporary safe camps..." Zheng Changhong said, as if comforting himself while comforting Zhou Dahai.

"Maybe he's in one of those safe camps, waiting for the train back."

"It better be!" Zhou Dahai gave him a hard look and left the room. Just as he returned to the fifth floor. Ye Miyue suddenly approached:"Teacher Zhou, Wang Xian... has he left Rong City?" Zhou Dahai's heart lurched, but his expression didn't change:"Why do you say that, Student Ye?"

"That clause wasn't there before. I only saw it this time when signing. Someone must have violated this rule, otherwise the club wouldn't add such a clause. And among students, the only one who recently signed with the club is Wang Xian, right?"

"Did he ask the club to process certification for him, then leave Rong City for those unmanaged wilderness areas?"

"..." You're too clever. You figured that out.

"No." Zhou Dahai remained calm.

"Student Wang is undergoing 'special training.' His progress is indeed faster than yours. In short, he'll likely return when school starts. If not then, he'll absolutely be there for the Martial Exam in 2 or 3 months."

"Your task now is to train well. Don't overthink things." Ye Miyue made a small sound of acknowledgment and nodded. Watching Zhou Dahai's retreating figure. She took out an old-style phone and looked at the messages: [Ye Miyue: I helped you tidy up the training room...] [Wang Xian: Think it's too small? Mm... it is cramped for two people to train.] [Ye Miyue: That's not what I meant.] [Ye Miyue: Some clothes in your wardrobe got moldy...] [Wang Xian: Take them out and wash them. Especially my mother's clothes, a few pieces must be washed carefully. I'll check when I get back [hands on hips].] [Ye Miyue:......] January 28, 2025, 23: 59. [Ye Miyue: Happy New Year [firecrackers]] [Wang Xian: Not happy at all.] [Ye Miyue: What's wrong?] [Wang Xian: Missing my mom.] [Ye Miyue: I'm sorry...] [Wang Xian: Since you're sorry, wear my mom's clothes tomorrow and send me a selfie. Consider it consolation for my longing. The black short skirt set. Skip the stockings, that set doesn't look good with stockings.] [Ye Miyue:......] A few days later. [Ye Miyue: [picture]] After that, all the way to now, February 25th. No more replies. Ye Miyue sighed softly. By now most high schools had been back in session for a while. As a martial class student, she was still doing special training at the club and hadn't fully enrolled yet. But that would happen in the next couple days. Holding her phone, Ye Miyue looked at that picture.

Her cheeks flushed, but her eyes held worry. Just as she was about to put it down. Suddenly. The phone vibrated. ➤ Next: Wang Xian: See, You're Getting Worked Up Again