The enrollment process at the school went very smoothly. No upperclassmen jumped out to show off, and no rich second-generation students, spotting Jiang Xinyu's unparalleled beauty, came over to get a face-smashing from Wang Lan. After filling out forms and registering their student information, they received their room keys and could head to their dorms.

After escorting Jiang Xinyu to the entrance of the girls' dormitory area, Wang Lan, carrying his luggage, found the assigned dormitory using his admission slip.

Upon entering the dormitory, he saw two people already lying around inside.

The dormitory was an apartment-style unit with a living room, a bathroom, and two bedrooms, each containing two beds. Wang Lan glanced at the two open bedroom doors; both rooms seemed to have been claimed.

"Hello, everyone. My name is Wang Lan, and I'm from Jiang Province. Which bed is mine?" Wang Lan asked softly as he entered.

"Damn! You're finally here?" a student engrossed in a mobile game suddenly exclaimed, putting down his phone.

"Wang Lan's here? Perfect, I have a score to settle with you," said another student, jumping up from a bed in the inner room and hastily making his way to the living room.

His roommates' reactions left Wang Lan slightly taken aback. Looking at their eager gazes, he hesitantly asked, "Do we know each other?"

"No, but I've heard so much about you," the student lying on the sofa laughed.

"Wang Lan, I used to be *that* kid—obedient, sensible, diligent in my cultivation, praised by friends and family. Until a year ago, my life was carefree and utterly enjoyable. I had everything I wanted; things always went my way.

But ever since the summer vacation of my senior year in high school, my dad started beating me up for no reason, always because of you!"

Wang Lan was even more confused. "Is he really your dad? And why because of me?"

"Because my dad raised his standards for excellence. In my family, there was always a benchmark. As long as I met it, everything was peaceful, and I was free to do as I pleased once my tasks were done. But then, my dad raised the benchmark to your level, and I got beaten daily. If he didn't have time to beat me, he'd have his brothers do it. Tell me, don't we have a score to settle?"

"His brothers beat you too? Are you sure you weren't found in a dumpster?"

"HAHAHA..." The other student suddenly burst out laughing. "Wang Lan, don't listen to his nonsense. A beating? That was combat training. Right, his dad's a soldier. During the summer of our senior year, we had planned to travel to the West Continent, but instead, his dad dragged him to a military camp to train with the Star Martial Army for the entire summer.

We were only released right before school started. We thought the hardship would only last two months. But afterward, whenever he wasn't in class, his dad pulled him into the military camp to train. He's worked harder than an ox this past year."

"But what does that have to do with me?"

"It's because when his dad was training him, he'd constantly say, 'Is that all the skill you have? Is that your limit? You're far behind Wang Lan. You're both sixteen, and he's streets ahead of you.' If you were in his shoes, wouldn't you be annoyed?

What made him even angrier was that he considered himself exceptionally talented and harder working than most, respecting no one in his generation except Princess Yu Ruoyun. How could he tolerate such humiliation? He thought his dad was deliberately trying to pressure him by bringing you up. But then, everyone in the Martial Arts Corps said he couldn't compare to you. It pissed him off so much; look, his face is still dark from it."

"Nonsense, I just got a good tan, okay?"

"The Martial Arts Corps? Might I ask who you are...?" Wang Lan asked, clasping his hands in a fist-and-palm salute.

"Easy. My father is He Jinze, Commander of the Martial Arts Corps. I'm He Jing. Wait, don't change the subject. I've been waiting for you. Perfect. Come on, let's go to the training grounds and spar. I want to see just how I 'can't compare.' Otherwise, after all the suffering I've endured this past year, I just can't accept it."

Wang Lan turned his head to look at the other student. "Does this count as trouble finding me even when I'm just minding my own business?"

"Haha, he's just kidding. Don't take him seriously. My name is Ming Guodong. My father is the director of the Action Department of the Modu City Tianjian Bureau."

Wang Lan's eyes narrowed slightly. Another high-ranking official, possibly a Senior Colonel? Modu City was directly administered by the central government. During the imperial era of the Jade Country, Modu City and the Imperial Capital were known as the two capitals. After the shift to a republic, Modu City retained its prominent status.

Although both were directors of Action Departments, the director in Modu City would be ranked one or two levels higher than the one in Suzhou City, at least a Colonel or Senior Colonel.

"You're both big shots. From now on, I'll be relying on you two to look out for me."

"Why are you playing humble? As if we don't know who you are," He Jing said impatiently. "Speaking of second generations, you're the real deal, okay? The son of the Southern Flame Emperor. Everyone who needs to know, knows by now.

Speaking of which, our fathers and your mother were classmates; they're of the same generation's circle, and we are of the second generation's circle. In our circle, you're the boss now."

"Me?" Wang Lan was curious. "How come I didn't know?"

"Well, you know now, don't you? Everyone knows there are the Five Elders and Five Emperors in the Star Martial Warrior world; it can basically be divided into five factions. The Five Elders are the spiritual leaders, and the Five Emperors are the commanders. You, you're the Crown Prince. Us? At best, we're like secondary generals."

Wang Lan's expression shifted subtly. Had he been thrust into the spotlight? At the end of the provincial martial arts tournament, when Eld Di had him fight Wang Mingling alone, Wang Lan had suspected something. Indeed, Eld Di had pushed him into the limelight.

"What era are we living in? Who still talks about this stuff?" Wang Lan said nonchalantly, dragging his luggage into a room. "Ming Guodong, am I rooming with you?"

"No problem. I'll help you unpack."

"No need, I didn't bring much. I'll go out and buy whatever I need later. By the way, the school doesn't restrict us from going out, right?"

"Not before the semester starts. After it begins, it seems only Sundays are free. Normally, unless you have special permission, the entire campus is covered with surveillance and sensor devices. It's called a school, but it's more like a military fortress."

"Want to go out together later? I guess you guys just arrived too, right?"

"Aren't we supposed to go to the training grounds for a fight later?" He Jing still hadn't forgotten.

"Forget it, He Jing. Even a stubborn mule knows when to stop banging its head against a wall. Didn't you watch this year's Jiang Province provincial martial arts tournament?"

"Wasn't I thrown into the intermediate trial grounds by my old man back then? To help maintain... Damn him! He just treated me as free labor, the kind that's completely neglected.

Guodong, you have no idea. If I weren't such a genius, I would have ended up as Exotic Beast dung several times."

"Perfect then. I have a video on my phone. As the saying goes, 'Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated.' You need to understand Wang Lan's strength to come up with the right tactics."

"Psh, this young master fears nothing!" But in the blink of an eye, He Jing's expression changed. "A video of Wang Lan's battle? The kind where he's going all out?"

"Absolutely all out. The kind where he couldn't hold back even if he wanted to."

"Alright then, give it to me quickly. I'll study it and then challenge Wang Lan," He Jing said, walking into his room.

"Where are you going?"

"To use the projector. It'll be clearer that way."

Wang Lan had just finished making his bed when his phone chimed. It was a message from Jiang Xinyu: "Settled into the dorm. Two roommates, three people per room. Dorm number 305."

"Why are you sending me this? It's not like I can just pop over for a visit."

"Have you finished unpacking?"

"Yeah. Want to go out and buy some daily necessities together later?"

"Okay! See you at the school gate in an hour."

Wang Lan never quite understood why they had to meet an hour later when everything was supposedly ready. What did girls need so much time for? In his memory, "in a while" had never meant more than ten minutes.

Not even twenty minutes had passed when a sudden roar erupted from the adjacent room.

"Monster! What a freaking monster!" As the words faded, He Jing stormed out of the room, plopped down on the sofa, and stared at Wang Lan. "How did you manage to achieve full mutation at your age?"

"Still want to challenge our Flame Emperor's Crown Prince, He Jing?"

"Challenge my ass! One punch turns half the field to dust. My small frame would probably crumble just from the aftershock, right? Wang Lan, your strength is likely not beneath Princess Yu Ruoyun's."

"I've heard you guys mention Princess Yu Ruoyun several times now. Who is she?"

"Of course, she's Her Highness Princess Yu Ruoyun of the Jade Country. She's from the royal family's direct lineage, a pinnacle Galaxy Stage master. And the thing is, she's only a sophomore, just eighteen this year."

"An eighteen-year-old at the peak of the Galaxy Stage?" Wang Lan exclaimed in surprise.

"Yeah, that's why she was called the top genius of the new generation. But that was in the past. Many 'demons' have emerged in recent years. Just like you—'the strongest high school student in history' is also a pretty resounding title."

"Empty titles, all of them," Wang Lan said modestly, smiling.

"Oh, please. You're clearly thrilled," He Jing retorted sharply. "Your grin's as wide as a ladle. By the way, to celebrate our first day here, how about we go out for a big meal tonight? My treat!"

"Sounds good. But what about the other roommate?"

"He probably won't arrive for another couple of days. I know Modu City well. I'll take you guys out later; I guarantee you'll be satisfied," Ming Guodong said.

"Can I bring a friend? I have a friend who came to Modu City with me."

"It's that Jiang Xinyu, right?" He Jing said, a hint of sourness in his voice. "He's abnormally strong and talented, and yet he still has time to find a girlfriend. We spend practically all our free time cultivating, and you can still manage a love life. This, I suppose, is what it means to be a winner in life."

"Sure! By the way, is your girlfriend settled in too? Why not invite her dorm mates? It'd be a good chance for us to meet some girls," Ming Guodong chimed in.

"I'll ask her for you later." Saying this, Wang Lan walked to the door and changed his shoes. "I'm going out to buy some things. Do you guys want to come?"

"No need, we brought everything."

Exiting the dormitory building, he headed straight for the school gate. The male and female dormitories were as far apart as the North and South Poles, so meeting at the school gate was the most time-efficient plan.

Come to think of it, perhaps the school had intentionally arranged for both roommates to be easy to get along with. Coupled with the connection their parents shared, the three of them naturally found common ground.

So, he'd just been pushed out to carry the banner? While not particularly eager, he wasn't averse to it either. His experiences from his past life had long taught Wang Lan that one cannot escape their standing in life. No matter where you positioned yourself, you were always part of some circle. Most people existed within the circle of their family; Wang Lan's circle just happened to be larger, drawing more attention.

Previously, Ming Guodong had mentioned he was familiar with Modu City, but Wang Lan was also quite familiar with it. Although he seldom visited Modu City, he owned a commercial plaza in its business district. The entire plaza belonged to Wang Lan, and the rent he collected each year was an astronomical sum. This commercial center was conveniently located not far from Modu City's Star Martial Academy and had everything from fitness and entertainment facilities to a wide array of restaurants. However, the supermarkets in the commercial plaza operated on a membership basis, and ordinary people didn't typically choose to buy their daily necessities there.

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