“Holy crap! Look at that reaction speed. Is her mental power really only D-class?” Ren Baifeng, the Director of Academic Affairs who was monitoring the candidates from the observation room, blurted out a choice expletive.
He gave a thumbs-up to the long-haired woman beside him. “Wenzhi, the talent pool for this year’s freshmen is looking quite good. Even though this student’s mental power value is only 80, her application of it seems far beyond D-class. With a little hard work, she might even reach Super A-class in the future.”
“The talent is there, but their temperaments still need tempering.” Despite her words, Yan Wenzhi’s furrowed brows gradually relaxed. She looked at Yan Changfeng on the screen. “Picking a fight with Wanyue the moment she arrives at the academy… she certainly has guts.”
Back in the exam hall, Yan Changfeng realized she had overstepped and immediately retracted her hand. A split second later, a faster, more precise, and more ruthless attack followed. Before Yan Changfeng could react, a mark was imprinted on her forehead.
A splash of red bloomed on her somewhat sickly pale skin, appearing exceptionally prominent.
*That was fast.* Even though her eyes had captured the movement for a fleeting moment, her body couldn’t keep up at all.
Yan Changfeng blinked. A piece of chalk had hit her head. Though it left a red mark, it didn’t actually hurt much. It seemed the ill-tempered teacher only intended to teach her a lesson.
*Is this the power level after mental power and physique have been enhanced?*
The chalk hit the floor with a crisp thud. Simultaneously, a bell rang outside the exam hall.
“Sit down. The exam has begun.” Xie Wanyue coolly retracted her gaze. Her previous dissatisfaction with Yan Changfeng’s last-minute arrival had faded slightly. She glanced at the stark white mark on the blackboard, then turned around, a faint smirk touching the corners of her mouth.
*Looks like I dodged a bullet,* Yan Changfeng thought as she pulled out her chair and sat down. Just as she took her seat, a faint whisper drifted from beside her.
“Going head-to-head with a teacher before even getting admitted… you’re a role model for our generation.”
Yan Changfeng: “…”
She looked up and, as expected, met Xie Wanyue’s sharp, piercing gaze.
As the bell echoed outside, the exam desks tilted upward. The blank electronic screens unlocked, revealing the test questions. Yan Changfeng scanned the entire paper first. It was almost entirely multiple-choice and fill-in-the-blank questions, with only a short-answer question at the end.
Thanks to the intensive cramming session the day before, Yan Changfeng could answer most of the basic questions. She calculated the point values; it added up to exactly 60 points. Brother Wo Ri hadn’t lied to her—finishing those notes was just enough to pass.
Yan Changfeng wasn’t one to make things up, so she left the questions she didn’t know blank. After finishing, she straightened up and suddenly felt a subtle gaze on her. She looked toward the source and met the guilty eyes of the short-haired girl sitting next to her.
Their eyes met, and the girl, clearly new to this sort of thing, turned beet red instantly. She buried her head in her desk like a cat caught stealing a snack.
Yan Changfeng arched an eyebrow. She never expected that she, a half-baked student who had crammed at the last minute, would one day be mistaken for an academic ace.
Curious, she leaned her head on her hand and watched the girl, only to see her pull out a die.
The girl rolled the die for every question and picked an answer based on the result.
While Yan Changfeng was still processing this shock, a cold, sharp voice rang out above her.
“Certain people should focus on their own exam and stop staring at others.” Xie Wanyue’s eyes were fixed on Yan Changfeng, her intent clear.
At those words, almost everyone in the exam hall turned to look at her. Despite being the center of attention, Yan Changfeng’s expression didn’t change at all. She silently sat up straight and lowered her hand.
The crowd thought: *As expected of a troublemaker, she’s so stubborn!*
Once the written exam ended, the candidates were told to go home and wait for the results. Those who passed would participate in the “Minor Exam” the following day.
The “Minor Exam” wasn’t meant to eliminate freshmen but rather to determine their major.
Each major had its own specific requirements, so specialized trials were added after the written portion. There were five majors available for freshmen: the Mecha Combat Department, the Command Department, the Mech Manufacturing Department, the Pharmaceutical Department, and the Individual Soldier Department.
Returning to the hotel, Yan Changfeng logged onto the Star Net. She downloaded several courses on Materials Science and Forging from the knowledge base and forums. The blade of her favorite dagger was now notched and worn, and since she wasn’t used to weapons forged by others, she planned to forge a new one herself.
The materials and forging techniques of this world were worlds apart from her previous one. Although she had a foundation in forging, she would have to start almost from scratch.
After entering the Star Net Space, Yan Changfeng went straight to the rest area.
The Materials Science course started with the basics, covering the vast majority of materials from remote planets to specialized mining worlds. However, it mostly focused on everyday tools and construction materials. Regarding materials used for forging weapons, it only touched upon a few types.
As for the forging courses, their quality was even lower. Yan Changfeng only watched a few minutes before closing the video.
Just as she exited the immersive learning mode, Yan Changfeng froze.
Standing before her was a shadow whose face and form were blurred, leaving only an outline. Seeing her move, the shadow began waving its hands wildly, dancing and jumping around her.
Yan Changfeng: “…”
Yan Changfeng felt that her mental state wasn’t so fragile that she would hallucinate from studying, so she searched the Star Net for an explanation.
[When a user blacklists another user, if they encounter each other in Star Net Space, they automatically enter “Mosaic Mode.”]
*But doesn’t appearing as a giant blob of pixels make them even more conspicuous?*
After waving his arms for a long time under the strange looks of others, “I Am The Sword Dao Genius” saw that Yan Changfeng still had no intention of acknowledging him. He had a sudden brainwave and pulled over a nearby Tiger Mask Brother who was watching a show, begging him to pass on a message.
After the genius whispered a few words, the man raised an eyebrow and walked over to Yan Changfeng. “Hey, little girl, your boyfriend asked me to give you a message. He’s begging you to take him off the blacklist, and he’ll give you a piece of High-grade Thunder Iron Alloy.”
“He seems pretty sincere. Why don’t you forgive him?”
The man’s voice wasn’t quiet. A circle of people nearby turned to gossip, and two girls standing close by were already wearing strange smiles.
“Wow.” That was the sound of someone enjoying the drama.
“Forgive him!” That was the sound of the crowd joining in.
“Get together!” Someone had already started talking nonsense.
Yan Changfeng’s face darkened, and “I Am The Sword Dao Genius” looked like his world had collapsed.
He had asked the man to help pass a message, not to add his own “flavor” to it!
“I don’t know him.” Yan Changfeng retracted her gaze and tapped the Star Net interface, intending to log out.
Tiger Mask Brother scratched his head awkwardly. He hadn’t expected it to turn out like this. “Little sister, a piece of Thunder Iron Alloy is worth a million Star Coins. Don’t let your anger get in the way of your money.”
*One million Star Coins.*
Yan Changfeng’s hand silently moved to the button to unblock him.
The moment the blacklist was cleared, the crowd grew even larger. Yan Changfeng said to “I Am The Sword Dao Genius,” “Follow me.”
She opened a private lounge and sent him the invitation link directly.
Once inside the lounge, Yan Changfeng was brief: “The Thunder Iron Alloy.”
Seeing that the alloy worked, “I Am The Sword Dao Genius” tried to push his luck: “Emperor, add me as a friend and send me your address. I’ll mail it to you.” As he spoke, he cautiously observed the expression behind Yan Changfeng’s mask, terrified of being blacklisted again.
A million Star Coins just to get off the blacklist and a friend slot… Yan Changfeng felt her luck was finally turning. She had just logged on to read some books and ran into a sucker willing to give her money.
During her moment of silent hesitation, “I Am The Sword Dao Genius” had already imagined a thousand ways she might reject him and immediately raised the stakes. “If that’s not enough, then two pieces of Thunder Iron Alloy.”
Yan Changfeng quickly reached out her hand. “Deal.”
Both successfully added each other as friends. Since Yan Changfeng didn’t have a fixed address yet, she sent him the address of Lan Xing Academy.
“I Am The Sword Dao Genius” looked at the star system where the planet was located and said in surprise, “Emperor, you’re actually from the Alliance of Stars!”
Yan Changfeng arched an eyebrow. “Is that strange?”
“Not exactly. It’s just that most people in the Alliance of Stars prefer firearms and thermal weapons. I didn’t expect to find someone as passionate about swordsmanship as you.”
This was the first time Yan Changfeng had heard such a thing. However, since arriving on Blue Star, she had indeed noticed that the weapon shops she passed mostly displayed thermal weapons, and even the weapons on mechs were almost entirely firearms and laser cannons.
“I Am The Sword Dao Genius” continued, “Emperor, I’ve always wanted to spar with you in swordsmanship. Would that be okay?”
Having just accepted two million Star Coins’ worth of materials, Yan Changfeng felt it would be rude to refuse. “Just swordsmanship?”
“Yes. The PK rooms in the Star Net Space have special rooms that can disable mental power and physical enhancement.”
Yan Changfeng gave a subtle reminder: “Your PK win rate is currently one hundred percent.”
“It’s just a win rate. Besides, I don’t think I’ll necessarily lose.”
“Fine.”
Since the special rooms were VIP rooms, they required a certain account level and a fee of 100,000 Star Coins per use. Naturally, this bill fell on “I Am The Sword Dao Genius.”
[“I Am The Sword Dao Genius” has challenged “Trash Picking Emperor 097” to a swordsmanship duel in a special room.]
This message flashed across the public screen of the Sword Skill Zone. At first, no one cared, but after three or four seconds, the entire public screen erupted with hundreds of messages, even drawing out those who were just slacking off.
[Wasn’t the genius blacklisted by the Emperor? His post offering a huge reward for the Emperor’s contact info is still up.]
[Shh, I just went to check. He deleted the post three minutes ago. Guess he actually found his ‘friend’!]
[Wait, why can’t I spectate?]
[Idiot, it’s a special room. It has privacy mode.]
Inside the special room, “I Am The Sword Dao Genius” swiped his hand over his virtual spatial locket, which served as his “backpack” in Star Net Space.
A longsword with a sharp, cold edge and intricate patterns appeared in his hand. Compared to this sword, the basic longsword in Yan Changfeng’s hand looked like scrap metal.
Yan Changfeng silently tightened her grip on her sword. Her desire for a sword of her own reached its peak.
When a person gets excited, their hands become even more ruthless.
In less than three minutes, “I Am The Sword Dao Genius” was pierced through the throat, ending the match.
The Sword Skill Public Screen:
[The special room match has ended. Room closed.]
[??? That was fast! Who won?]
[Breaking news: “I Am The Sword Dao Genius”‘s 100% win rate has been broken. It’s obvious who won. All I can say is, the Emperor is badass!]
[The Emperor is badass!]
[You guys only care that a new powerhouse appeared in the Sword Skill Zone. Am I the only one concerned that the genius only lasted ‘three minutes’?]
[Hahahahaha, to be precise, it wasn’t even three minutes.]
Inside the lounge, “I Am The Sword Dao Genius” lay on the floor, staring blankly at the ceiling.
Yan Changfeng: “Are you okay?”
The genius suddenly sprang up like a fish out of water. “I’m more than okay! I’ve never had such a satisfying duel in my life. Emperor, can I continue to challenge you in the future?”
For a moment, Yan Changfeng suspected she had hit him in the head. Why else would someone enjoy getting beaten up?
“Sure, but I have a question for you.”
“What is it?”
Yan Changfeng looked at the spatial locket on his sleeve. “Where did your sword come from?”
This sword was the most masterfully forged piece Yan Changfeng had seen so far. Every sword line perfectly matched her preferences. In other words, she couldn’t find a single “flaw” in it. Although its tier wasn’t the highest, in her eyes, it was “perfect.”
“I Am The Sword Dao Genius” pulled out the longsword and generously handed it to Yan Changfeng. “I replicated this sword in Star Net Space based on one kept in my family. According to my elders, it’s the work of a forging master from the Ghost Market.”
Yan Changfeng observed it carefully before reluctantly handing it back. “Where is the Ghost Market?” She wanted to meet this forging master.
The genius shook his head. “The Ghost Market isn’t a specific location. Most planets have traces of it. I’m not sure which specific Ghost Market that forging master is in.”
After resting for a bit, the genius’s hands started itching again. “Emperor, shall we spar again?”
Yan Changfeng: “…”
“500,000 per match.”
“Deal.”
Since she was now a paid sparring partner, Yan Changfeng’s attitude couldn’t be the same as the first two times. This time, she focused entirely on attacking his weaknesses, lecturing him as she beat him.
“The gap on your left is too wide. Are you trying to make it easy for me to hit you?” As soon as she spoke, the scabbard of her sword struck his left waist, leaving a red mark.
“All attack and no defense for your rear. Are you a bull? All you know is how to charge?”
His buttocks took another solid hit.
After beating him into the ground three times in a row, he finally went offline, clutching his sword with a satisfied expression.
Yan Changfeng also successfully received 1.5 million Star Coins in sparring fees.
After logging off, her optical computer automatically popped up an admission notice from Lan Xing Academy. A beautiful, azure planet appeared on the holographic projection. The moment she touched it, the light points scattered into stars, and the glory of Lan Xing Academy unfolded like a scroll.
[Welcome to Lan Xing Academy~]