Chương 28: War God — Chapter 28 - Grandmaster Bai: I'd Like to Invite a Student Up! The Whole School is

Chapter: The Grandmaster's Invitation Today's campus atmosphere was different. Beyond the banners at the entrance, journalists in professional attire wandered the grounds.

"Student, student — who's the best performer in your school?"

"Ah? Haha, that's definitely Xia Sichen from Class 1!"

"Actually, I think Ye Miyue from Class 9 is really impressive too..."

"What? As far as I know, Xia Sichen's the top in every category right now, and he's even mastered a basic martial technique." The reporter looked surprised.

"As expected of a key high school. Someone's already mastered martial techniques in first semester senior year?"

"Seems there's a reason Grandmaster Bai chose No. 7 High!" The caught students looked embarrassed.

"Actually, No. 1 High and No. 4 High have students like that too... I think Grandmaster Bai came to No. 7 High because our school atmosphere is better... haha..." The reporter smiled, tone relaxing.

"Then who's the most handsome in your school?"

"Hard to say. I think I'm pretty handsome myself."

"..."

"Xia Sichen, probably. That idol star kind of handsome!"

"Actually Pang Sandao from Class 10 isn't bad either, just more rugged-looking!"

"Wu Bai from Class 3 — refined and scholarly handsome!"

"Actually, I think Wang Xian from Class 4 is also not bad..."

"Come on bro, who's Wang Xian?" The students couldn't hold it together. The girl who'd spoken last blushed, waving her hands frantically.

"J-just, Wang Xian from Class 4... kind of roguishly handsome, occasionally a bit melancholic..." The reporter sensed a story.

"Is this Wang Xian's academic performance good? Any special talents?" The girl quickly shook her head. The reporter looked regretful.

"Then who's the most beautiful?" No dispute here. The interviewed students spoke in unison:"That's definitely Ye Miyue!" Soon the class bell rang. The reporter handed out small gifts to the students, then waved.

"Well, thank you for the interview..." The students filed into their classrooms.

"Strange..." The reporter looked puzzled.

"No. 7 High seems... just average. Why would Grandmaster Bai choose to come here?" A staff member beside him laughed.

"Maybe No. 7 High has a few promising seedlings..."

"Better than No. 1 High's?" The reporter shook his head.

"From what I know of No. 1 High, their impressive students should be even more outstanding than this Xia Sichen... there are even geniuses with innate life force exceeding 1."

"Being able to master martial techniques at this stage does indicate talent, but No. 1 High has such students too, maybe even more."

"The school has connections and relationships..."

"Grandmaster Bai detests relying on connections most of all. The old man doesn't tolerate any sand in his eyes."

"That is strange then..."

"Let's just see. Anyway, they have the afternoon off. We're just here to record..."

The morning passed quickly.

"Damn it, I didn't learn a single thing all morning!" Zhou Xukun's eyes burned with passion. As soon as the last class bell rang, he couldn't stop complaining to Wang Xian.

"Luckily we had Teacher Xu's class this morning, otherwise I'd have been daydreaming the whole time." Wang Xian smiled. This wasn't just Zhou Xukun's state. The other classmates were more or less the same. The global martial era. Countless students had grown up immersed in martial arts. A Seventh Realm Great Grandmaster, not to mention globally, but looking across Dragon Country, was absolutely an existence standing at the pinnacle of the martial path.

"Why aren't you excited at all? What did you do last night?" Zhou Xukun asked.

"I didn't even play games last night. I was so excited I couldn't sleep."

"Last night I called Campus Beauty Ye over to my place for a massage. It was satisfying."

"..."

"Fuck you, you dream even bigger than me." Zhou Xukun looked speechless.

"At most I dream about Teacher Xu, but you dare to dream about Iceberg Ye..."

"..." See, when you tell the truth, no one believes you. Chen Yuting sitting in front frowned and glanced back at Wang Xian. She believed it even less.

"Always thinking about these things..." Chen Yuting stood up, looking utterly disappointed.

"Wang Xian, your innate life force may be low, but you clearly have martial talent... why don't you work hard?"

"Yesterday afternoon and evening, such good time, and you didn't go to the library to study martial techniques."

"You didn't ask teachers for guidance either."

"And here I actually had some expectations for you before..." Without waiting for Wang Xian to respond, she walked out of the classroom in disappointment.

"What a pity." Li Zihang beside them snickered.

"What the hell are you laughing at." Zhou Xukun said disdainfully.

"At least she had expectations for my bro Xian. Unlike someone who doesn't even qualify for anyone to have expectations of him."

"You—!" Li Zihang's face changed.

"Alright, let's go eat." Wang Xian stretched lazily, having no interest in arguing about this. He pulled Zhou Xukun and walked out. Today's cafeteria was exceptionally crowded. Probably because with a Grandmaster visiting, the school had magnanimously announced that today's meal fees were waived. So even Ye Miyue was eating in the cafeteria with the Class 9 students. This was a rare first.

Wang Xian roughly guessed the school's thinking: If the Grandmaster saw that students at our school couldn't even get enough to eat, that would be far too embarrassing. After all, a Grandmaster's perception could easily cover the entire school. After finishing the meal, Wang Xian was about to return to the classroom when Chen Yuting suddenly emerged from a corner.

"Wang Xian!"

"You have something again?" Wang Xian raised an eyebrow.

"When you go on stage later..." Chen Yuting's eyes were complicated.

"I'll secretly find an opportunity to mention you to Grandmaster Bai. In front of such a large audience, he definitely won't refuse. When you go up on stage, don't let people down."

"?" This truly stunned Wang Xian.

"You want to help me?" He understood her meaning.

"Is that not allowed?" Chen Yuting glared fiercely at Wang Xian.

"If you do this, you'll disrupt the school's arrangements..." Wang Xian looked at her with interest.

"Aren't you afraid the school will blame you?"

"As long as you perform well, the school won't be able to blame me. Don't you even understand this?" Chen Yuting's calculations were quite subtle. Indeed. But this was actually a gamble. Betting that he, Wang Xian, could have an outstanding performance on stage, enough to make a Seventh Realm Grandmaster offer a few words of praise. But what are you basing this bet on? Just on my performance in a single pop quiz a week ago?

Logically speaking, Chen Yuting's impression of him should still be stuck on that good-for-nothing underachiever and bootlicker "Wang Xian." If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Even if it had changed somewhat, it couldn't be by much. If Ye Miyue did this, Wang Xian could understand. Because the two of them knew each other well enough. But how much could you, Chen Yuting, possibly know about me?

Wang Xian said nothing, only narrowing his eyes as he looked at Chen Yuting. The latter seemed to blush under his gaze, feeling thoroughly uncomfortable.

"Why are you looking at me with that expression?" She was annoyed, letting out a light huff.

"No." Wang Xian shook his head.

"What do you mean?" Chen Yuting's face changed.

"I said no need." Wang Xian decisively refused her.

"Thank you for your kindness, but forget it." He had no intention of going on stage.

"You!" Chen Yuting's face truly turned red now. From anger.

"Don't regret it!" Chen Yuting stomped her foot, her voice turning cold.

"Losing this opportunity, you won't know how much time you'll have to spend making up for it later!" She turned and left in anger. Wang Xian looked at her retreating figure and fell into slight contemplation.

"Truly interesting..." After returning to the classroom, Wang Xian followed the main group, proceeding in an orderly manner to the sports field. At this moment, the sports field held not only the school's students. Around the perimeter, special martial officers from the Rong City Security Bureau were also present to oversee safety. The media reporters weren't many though. You could count them on one hand, just a few relatively official and formal news media outlets.

The mild sunlight spilled over one excited face after another. Reflecting a quiet scene full of anticipation. The time reached half past one. Suddenly, the sky dimmed slightly. A figure rode the sunlight, hovering abruptly like a fighter jet, then descended suspended onto the high platform at the front of the field. The great wind stirred up by the landing blew the students' blue-and-white uniforms into an ocean.

"Students, hello everyone. I am Bai Hongtian." A hearty voice gently rose within this blue-and-white ocean. Instantly, it stirred up towering waves. Thunderous applause rang out endlessly. In the crowd, Wang Xian watched this Grandmaster Bai, also applauding. Bai Hongtian looked to be around 40, with a square face, horizontal mountain brows, and phoenix eyes. At a glance, he seemed like a general who had campaigned across battlefields for years in a thousand-year empire.

Even though he now wore a kind smile on his face, he still brought a faint pressure to countless students.

"His aura is leaking outward and hard to contain. He's probably just one step away from the Eighth Realm..." Wang Xian thought to himself. That is to say, Bai Hongtian was a peak Grandmaster. Not a Grandmaster who had just entered the Seventh Realm. Truly high caliber. No wonder he'd been able to resolve the Wind King Falcon so quickly before. The subsequent speech, this Grandmaster clearly had no script, basically all improvised on the spot.

Of course, even if improvised, with a Grandmaster's life experience, just casually speaking was enough to captivate everyone's hearts and minds.

"30 years ago, I was still at the Fourth Realm, right in the middle of military training at Capital Azure Dragon University. I was responsible for leading a group of freshmen who had just entered university to the Daxing Mountain relic for training. Those students weren't much older than you." Bai Hongtian's voice wasn't loud, without a microphone, yet it could clearly reach every student's ears.

"The Daxing Mountain relic back then was a long-excavated beast relic, designated D-rank by the Martial Alliance. Meaning the highest level beast that would appear was only D-rank."

"D-rank beasts, in terms of strength, are about equivalent to our Third Realm. But 'highest' is just what they said. In reality, there were basically only E and F-rank beasts. Beasts of that level, with the quality of Azure Dragon University freshmen, could actually be managed."

"After all, there were many people." Azure Dragon University was the top martial university in Dragon Country's capital. It was also the martial higher education institution countless warriors dreamed of.

"Unfortunately..." Bai Hongtian shifted tone.

"The Martial Exam back then wasn't like it is now. There was no real combat requirement. So they had basically never killed beasts, at most only having fought holographic beasts in some training rooms or high-tech simulation networks..."

"So at that time, don't just look at them being top students of Azure Dragon University. In the relic, they were all scared shitless..."

"This is also why, later on, the Martial Exam greatly increased real combat requirements." Many students laughed. Bai Hongtian also smiled and said:"As their drill instructor at the time, I too, just like you all now, was laughing, mocking them."

"Until I led them exploring deeper into the relic and encountered a beast, the Heaven-Crippled Demon Lizard. This was an A-rank beast."

"A-rank corresponds to the Sixth Realm." Everyone's breath tightened. A difference of two major realms. Wouldn't that be a total wipeout? Even if they ran, probably not many could escape, right? Bai Hongtian paused, then slowly said:"And I, at that time, was also scared shitless." Everyone was stunned, then burst into loud laughter. Wang Xian also smiled. This was very normal. If facing those alien races on the Alien Star Battlefield, even a Seventh Realm Great Grandmaster would probably still be scared pissless.

Bai Hongtian seemed emotional:"Facing a beast of that level, a total wipeout would be normal. But that wouldn't do. I thought, it doesn't matter if I die. What if among this batch of mine, there truly was that kind of genius, a future Martial God?"

"If they died here, it would be far too tragic."

"To fight, there was almost no chance of victory."

"But not to fight, that would be simply waiting for death."

"So..." Bai Hongtian looked at the many students.

"I could only be the first to step forward, even if what awaited me would be death."

"And in that moment, I felt I truly became a martial warrior."

"And also grasped the true essence of a martial warrior."

"Living toward death." The many students were silent, yet their hearts surged with emotion. After a long time. Until one student loudly asked:"What happened afterward?"

"Afterward?" Bai Hongtian smiled.

"Afterward, after fighting with the determination to die, I discovered that Heaven-Crippled Demon Lizard was already injured, and its actual combat strength was only B-rank. Once they learned this key intelligence, those freshmen who had been scared shitless also began to rise to the challenge, and together with me, defeated that beast."

"No casualties." It ended plainly and simply. The quality of Azure Dragon University students 30 years ago was terrifyingly high. At this moment, quite a few students were thinking: if it were them, would they dare to rise to the challenge? This story was brief, ending plainly. But the danger within it, and the courage to face true mortal peril, was probably something only the individual could truly experience. Especially. The true essence of a martial warrior: Living toward death.

In the entire school, probably no one could grasp it. That required real experience.

"Living toward death..."

"The true essence of a martial warrior..." Wang Xian had also grasped it. He had even grasped it earlier. Bai Hongtian grasped it at the Fourth Realm. But he had grasped it after graduating university, when as a mere Second Realm martial warrior, he entered the Alien Star Battlefield. Even though at that time, the work he did on the Alien Star Battlefield was just serving as reserve cannon fodder... After the speech ended, it was time for the proper martial demonstration.

Bai Hongtian first stepped down from the high platform, going to the back, probably to prepare briefly. And many students were still immersed in the story Bai Hongtian had told.

"Ahem, I am Principal Xia. Next, Senior Bai will perform a martial demonstration at our school and will make some brief preparations." On the high platform, the refined-looking Principal Xia picked up the microphone.

"Class representatives, please come on stage in order." Hearing this, each class's homeroom teacher immediately looked toward their class, then nodded. And so, sparse figures emerged from the orderly formations. Each one strode boldly and confidently onto the high platform. Such an honor truly made countless students look on with envy. Among them, most of the girls' gazes fell upon Xia Sichen. Nearly all of the boys' gazes fell upon Ye Miyue.

At this moment, Ye Miyue, no one knew what had happened, her attire and appearance were no different from usual, yet as she walked, she still exuded an extraordinary and transcendent aura. Like a magnetic field, drawing countless gazes.

"Primal Chaos Breathing Method and Body-Strengthening Fist both at small success." Wang Xian nodded slightly. After the Primal Chaos Breathing Method reached small success, it could barely circulate heaven-and-earth vital energy within the body even while walking. Forming a unique magnetic field. Coupled with eating well recently, her life force progressing rapidly, and having also mastered a sword technique, her temperament was even colder than before, while also appearing more outstanding and peerless.

Even Xia Sichen kept glancing at Ye Miyue. Unfortunately, that keep-your-distance expression always made people subconsciously stop in their tracks. Just like the bright moon in the sky, one only dared to admire from afar. Of course, if not for last night's massage at his home... Wang Xian would also think so. As these representatives took their positions in order, a moment later, Bai Hongtian walked out from behind the high platform.

But emerging with him was also a Defense Special Martial officer in police uniform.

"Senior Bai, please take a look..." Principal Xia and a group of homeroom teachers stood to the side, pointing at those representatives.

"On the path of martial arts, these children are our school's most outstanding in every aspect." Bai Hongtian merely nodded. Among them, Cui Guoliang from Class 4 opened his mouth, wanting to speak but hesitating.

"Mm." Bai Hongtian looked at each one, examining them very seriously. This made Principal Xia and the homeroom teachers all tense up inwardly.

"All not bad..." After looking them over, Bai Hongtian only said this simply. Suddenly, he frowned slightly.

"No more?"

"?" Principal Xia was stunned. Originally, for this procedure, he as principal had wanted to negotiate in advance, but the other party had arrived in a hurry, plus he had some understanding of his temperament. So the people were all genuinely selected, not daring to mix in any favoritism or half-measures. He thinks it's too few?

"For now... just these." Principal Xia was somewhat embarrassed. Indeed, in terms of outstanding martial talent, they were still a bit behind No. 1 High and No. 4 High. But the top ones were absolutely not far behind! Bai Hongtian was silent for a moment, finally glancing at the name list. He nodded to the Defense Special officer beside him and walked onto the platform.

"Before the martial demonstration, I would also like to invite a student up." Bai Hongtian slowly spoke. The moment these words came out, everyone was instantly stunned. Even the principal behind him was stunned. What did he mean? Was there still someone who hadn't come up? No. Invite? Wasn't this choice of words a bit exaggerated? Among everyone present, who was qualified enough to be invited up by a Seventh Realm Great Grandmaster? The class representatives were all stunned one by one.

Behind them, Principal Xia and a pile of school leadership, homeroom teachers at every level looked at each other, completely baffled. What was going on? Even the reporters outside the field were jolted with excitement! Damn! Something's happening! On the platform.

"One week ago..." Bai Hongtian spoke calmly.

"The S-rank beast Wind King Falcon attacked Rong City, and I was ordered to slay it." Everyone listened quietly, for a moment unsure what this Grandmaster Bai meant. Everyone naturally knew about this matter. It was just that because it ended very quickly, and the news didn't widely publicize it, plus the disaster zone was far from the school, people didn't discuss it much usually. But certainly no one didn't know about it.

After all, at that time, the entire Rong City had been more or less affected by the S-rank beast.

"Although I exerted all my strength to slay it..." Bai Hongtian sighed lightly.

"The disaster-stricken area had almost no survivors..." These words were somewhat heavy. Ordinary people certainly couldn't survive in a disaster zone struck by an S-rank beast. Never mind ordinary people, even martial warriors might not necessarily survive. This was also unavoidable.

"But fortunately..." Bai Hongtian continued.

"There was one person who survived in the disaster zone."

"She was only 8 years old."

"An 8-year-old child naturally couldn't survive alone in the disaster zone." Bai Hongtian surveyed the students present, his voice suddenly softening considerably.

"Students, do you still remember that story I told earlier?" The students nodded in unison.

"The true essence of a martial warrior: living toward death." Bai Hongtian's voice grew louder and louder.

"I am very ashamed. I was at the Fourth Realm when I grasped this true essence."

"But I never expected that at your age, someone had already grasped this true essence!"

"That's right." Bai Hongtian paused.

"The one who saved this child was a senior student from No. 7 High. On that day, with the determination to die, he charged into the empty disaster zone and saved that child." Hearing these words, countless people sharply drew in their breath, their entire bodies trembling! Wang Xian: "..." In that instant, in this moment, countless people understood. The entire sports field, like a boiling oil pot, exploded into chaos! The group of school leadership behind were also gaping. What?

Our school could produce this kind of talent? A disaster zone formed by an S-rank beast? A senior high student dared to charge in? For a moment, those homeroom teachers all looked at each other, dumbfounded. When had we ever taught these things? Even if we taught it, would anyone really dare to do it? Wasn't it purely seeking death... But in this moment, whether it was Principal Xia, or the homeroom teachers behind, or the students below the stage, they all also understood. So the reason he came to No.

7 High was because of this? Countless people, in this instant, aside from Ye Miyue, had a question mark pop up in their minds. Wait, which student was this badass? At this moment, the special martial officer beside Bai Hongtian also spoke:"I am Cheng Wu from the Rong City Security Bureau. This week, as the disaster zone gradually recovers, I happened to accompany the Grandmaster to the school, intending to issue an honorary commendation and personal reward to this student."

As his voice fell, all the students present inexplicably felt a sense of shared honor. Our school actually had such an incredible figure! At this moment, Bai Hongtian loudly spoke:"So!"

"Senior Class 4, last row by the window, the student who should be called...

'Wang Xian'."

"Please come up to the stage!" BOOM! The entire venue exploded! ➤ Next: Martial Demonstration! Perfected Mastery of the Flowing Water Blade Technique!