When Wang Lan had been tested once when he first enrolled, that was just a formality, wasn't it? Back then, his strength was only at the early stage of the Star Cloud Realm, and he had released a single Fire Arrow. Given the standards at that time, not even the Capital would have dared to estimate how high his power multiplier was.

"Cut the crap. You've only been in school for half a year. What's there to be unsure about?"

"Alright," Wang Lan conceded.

Star Power surged. In an instant, a formidable aura burst forth as his hands overlapped, forming an intersecting square muzzle in front of him.

"Extreme Heat Light Beam!"

BOOM—

A beam of white light shot out from Wang Lan's overlapping muzzle, instantly hitting the protective enchantment at a temperature of thirty-five thousand degrees.

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!— Suddenly, a shrill alarm sounded.

The teacher overseeing the test was momentarily stunned. The pen he was using for recording hovered in mid-air as he stared, bewildered, at the barrier flashing with red lights. Suddenly, there was a loud bang.

The Extreme Heat Light Beam, like a needle piercing a balloon, broke through the barrier and shot toward the sky.

The high-intensity barrier, used by the Modu Star Martial Academy to test students' strength—had it actually been broken?

Silence. A deathly silence enveloped the entire testing ground.

All the senior students stared at the fading barrier in the void, their faces pale as if they had seen a ghost. They had accompanied Wang Lan to the Kingdom of Ice and Snow to offer assistance and had personally witnessed his feat of using Star Martial Skills to shoot down missiles.

They had also seen with their own eyes Wang Lan and Yu Ruoyun join forces to shatter an asteroid at the Ice City Airport. But there were too many other factors back then. Hitting a missile didn't necessarily mean one's attack power was exceptionally high, right? And being able to shatter an asteroid? Perhaps the asteroid was already on the verge of breaking apart.

He's only in the early Galaxy Stage. No matter how strong he is, how far could he possibly go? But at this moment, they realized they were wrong.

The barrier before them was reputed to be so strong that not even those at the Star Sea Stage could break it. If it weren't for its strength, why would it be used as a device to test the damage output of these prodigies, these favored children of heaven?

But... it just broke like that? What does this imply? It implies... Wang Lan, your damage output has already surpassed the Star Sea Stage! Are you even in the Galaxy Stage anymore? Do you still count as being in the Galaxy Stage? Your attack power is on par with a Titled Strongman!

The teacher in charge of the test was so dumbfounded he still hadn't snapped back to reality.

How should I record this? I let a freshman take an output test, and then the barrier—one that cost hundreds of millions to build and millions to maintain each year—was destroyed by that same freshman?

The evaluating teacher looked at Wang Lan, an urge to cry welling up. I'm probably going to be fired, aren't I?

Only Yu Ruoyun covered her forehead, a speechless, wry smile on her face. She had known this would be the result all along, although she hadn't expected that even the Extreme Heat Light Beam would be enough to blow up the barrier.

In Yu Ruoyun's estimation, if Wang Lan were to use the Star Sky God Arrow, the scene would surely be spectacular. Anyway, whether it's the Star Sky God Arrow or the Extreme Heat Light Beam, the barrier was bound to burst.

"This intensity... it's at least reached the destructive power of the Fire Emperor's single-finger Fire Rifle." A voice came from above as Eld Di, dressed in a black robe, slowly descended from the sky.

"Eld Di, the barrier..." the teacher began.

"No matter. The main responsibility falls on me," Eld Di said with a light sigh. "I had anticipated that Wang Lan's full-force attack might exceed the academy's records, but I still overestimated the barrier's strength. In that case... Yu Ruoyun doesn't need to be tested either."

So, we don't need to be tested anymore? Or is it that even if we wanted to, we can't? all the students thought.

"The evaluations will continue after the high-strength barrier is repaired. Everyone, disperse for now."

"Yes, sir!" The students responded in unison, clasping their hands before their chests and bowing.

"Um, Headmaster, about the points..." Wang Lan asked tentatively.

"You'll get yours," Eld Di assured him.

The test was only half-completed, ending anticlimactically. Wang Lan walked to the entrance of the academic building, feeling as deflated as someone who had journeyed a thousand miles to find the sun, only to be told their girlfriend had her period.

Wait, what day's classes are scheduled for today?

After being in the Kingdom of Ice and Snow for so long, Wang Lan hadn't attended classes since his return and had completely forgotten the schedule. He took out his phone to ask a classmate, but just as he did, a message from the academy's system popped up.

"Student Wang Lan, your two thousand points have been deposited. Please check your account."

Two thousand points... Tsk, tsk. If converted to S-rank Star Martial Skills, that would be... at least five of them!

Indeed, Yu Ruoyun had been right. The so-called preferential policies mentioned in the enrollment invitation were actually superfluous for those who truly qualified for them. If the academy offered such a preference, it meant one possessed extraordinary talent and strength. And with that kind of ability, one could obtain all necessary resources even without any special treatment.

When Wang Lan was initially recruited, the academy had promised him one S-rank Star Martial Skill. But in less than half a year, he had already outgrown S-rank skills. Now, all the skills he possessed were far beyond that level. S-rank Star Martial Skills, for the current Wang Lan, were no temptation; acquiring more would be utterly pointless for his own growth. However... even if I don't learn them myself, I can still exchange them for things for others. I have enough Star Martial Skills for myself, but Jiang Xinyu doesn't have that many. Besides Jiang Xinyu, there's also Xie Sisi. Although what happened between me and Xie Sisi was an accident, it would be a lie to say I have no feelings for her at all. Xie Sisi is so gentle, beautiful, and has such a great figure; even if she were interested in women, someone would probably try to 'straighten her out.'

Wang Lan, who was thriving at Modu Star Martial Academy, had no idea how Xie Sisi was faring at Jin City Star Warrior Academy.

When he found the classroom, the teacher at the podium didn't criticize Wang Lan for being late, merely nodding and motioning for him to come in and find a seat. Although Wang Lan had essentially mastered everything the teacher was discussing, he still listened attentively. At noon, Wang Lan quickly finished his lunch and called Xie Sisi.

「Jin City Star Warrior Academy Cafeteria」

Xie Sisi was eating alone, sitting quietly in a corner. Her expression was as cold as ancient, unmelted snow. At Jin City Star Warrior Academy, Xie Sisi was known as the Goddess of Death, not only because she was as cold as ice and snow, but also because she was utterly unapproachable.

Xie Sisi's looks and figure ranked her among the top three freshmen at Jin City Star Warrior Academy. Initially, many male students, including sophomores and juniors, pursued her. But after just a month, they all retreated under Xie Sisi's icy stare. Eventually, people stopped bothering her—except for Xu Xiangwen.

At first, some wondered if Xu Xiangwen, a rather ordinary-looking guy, had somehow managed to outdo all the prodigies of Jin City Star Warrior Academy and win the beauty's heart. But later, it turned out that Xu Xiangwen and Xie Sisi were just good friends. The "wolves" of Jin City (hopeful suitors) practically howled at the sky and flocked to Xu Xiangwen for advice, starting with how to become good friends with Xie Sisi. Xu Xiangwen, of course, shared everything he knew, but whether it was helpful or not depended on their individual luck. In no time, Xu Xiangwen had built connections with various circles within the academy. Being naturally adept at making friends, he had acquaintances all over Jin City Star Warrior Academy in less than half a year, becoming someone few dared to provoke.

Xu Xiangwen, carrying his food tray and accompanied by his girlfriend, approached Xie Sisi's table. He had managed to get a girlfriend within two months of starting school. Of their original five-person group, only Xie Sisi is still single now, Xu Xiangwen thought.

"Aren't you tired of pretending?" Xu Xiangwen asked, looking incredulously at Xie Sisi's stony, icy expression. He knew very well that Xie Sisi wasn't actually some frost queen. When she smiled, she was brighter than any flower. But since coming to Jin City, Xu Xiangwen had never once seen her smile.

Xu Xiangwen's girlfriend watched Xie Sisi curiously, her eyes darting between Xie Sisi and Xu Xiangwen.

"It's not tiring," Xie Sisi replied. "You get used to it if you pretend long enough."

"Is it really necessary?" Xu Xiangwen pressed. "If those guys knew I was looking out for you like this, they'd probably skin me alive."

"It was my choice. What does it have to do with you?" Xie Sisi retorted. "Dealing with that bunch is far more tiring."

"You're not a guy, so you don't understand the male psyche," Xu Xiangwen said. "The more you reject them, the more they can't give up. These are all prodigies from Jin City Star Warrior Academy; any one of them has a bright future, you know? Aren't you planning on choosing one? Of the five of us, only you are still single. How are we supposed to indulge in public displays of affection at gatherings with you around?"

"Hmph!" Xie Sisi scoffed coldly. "Flaunt all you want. I lose if I even acknowledge it."

PFFT! COUGH! COUGH! COUGH...

"Jia? Are you okay?" Xu Xiangwen asked his girlfriend.

"Nothing... I just never imagined Sisi could say something so witty," Jia replied.

"You think that's witty? You haven't seen how unrestrained Sisi can be when she cuts loose," Xu Xiangwen said. "Anyway, let's drop it. It's a pity for all those so-called geniuses, doomed to be utterly defeated by her."

"Geniuses? Where?" Xie Sisi paused her eating and asked indifferently. "Does Jin City Star Warrior Academy even have any?"

"They don't?" Jia looked up, curious. "Jin City Star Warrior Academy is ranked fifth nationally... although that's self-proclaimed, they do have the strength to back it up. Aren't those who can get into Jin City Star Warrior Academy considered geniuses?"

"Jia, that's because you've only seen the people around you," Xu Xiangwen explained. "Take me, your dear Xiangwen, for example. I was ranked seventh on the KO list in my freshman year. That's considered a genius, right? But compared to *those two*, I'm not even worthy to carry their shoes. Sisi, you can't just raise the standard for 'genius' to that level just because you know that monster. You'll crush many people's spirits that way."

"If they can't even get into one of the top four academies, can they still be considered geniuses?" Xie Sisi countered. "The top four probably enroll about three thousand first-year students combined, right? If you can't even rank among the top three thousand of your peers..."

"Stop it!" Xu Xiangwen's face instantly fell. "Do you have to be so ruthless? I'm ranked seventh here at Jin City Star Warrior Academy, and you're telling me I wouldn't even make the top three thousand of our age group nationwide?"

"It's simply the truth," Xie Sisi stated.

Just then, Xie Sisi's phone rang. She pulled it out, and her expression changed instantly. "I'm done eating. I need to take this call." With that, she quickly put her tray down, stood up, and hurried away.

"Uh..." Jia looked puzzled, first in the direction Xie Sisi had gone, then at Xu Xiangwen, who also appeared completely bewildered.

Could it be *him* calling? Why didn't he call me instead? Damn it, prioritizing romance over friendship! Xu Xiangwen muttered under his breath.

"He? Who's 'he'?" Jia asked, suddenly alert.

"The guy who actually meets Sisi's ridiculously high standards for a genius," Xu Xiangwen explained. "A monster who was sought after by all the top four academies but ended up choosing Modu Star Martial Academy because it was closer to his home. He went from just awakening his powers to the Galaxy Stage in only a year and a half—a complete non-human. And what's even more infuriating is that, on top of being so incredibly talented, he's also more handsome than me! Heaven is so unfair!"

"Oh? Is he your friend too?" Jia asked, her interest piqued.

"Not 'a' friend!" Xu Xiangwen declared.

"Not?" Jia echoed, confused.

"He's my best bro, my sworn brother!"

"What's his name? If he's a prodigy from Modu Star Martial Academy, my older sister might know him."

"Him? Ha, it's not just your sister. Soon, the whole world will know him. His name is... Wang Lan!"

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