As Fang Zhou approached, the tense, trash-talking showdown between Meng Hongzhuang and Ye Fan on the arena stage immediately died down.

Meng Hongzhuang stood on her tiptoes and was about to say something to Fang Zhou when a tall, imposing figure in a military uniform stepped onto the dais.

It was Principal Su Tiankuo!

"Silence!"

As the announcement echoed over the broadcast, the entire venue fell silent.

Fang Zhou followed the sound with his gaze and saw that the distant dais was now, at some point, filled with instructors: Lu Hu, Su Xinyan, Chen Qingshan, Shen Hongyu, Wang Tao…

Unknowingly, in less than three months, I've already met so many of them.

Among these familiar faces, Su Tiankuo, dressed in a military uniform and radiating an aura of authority, spoke in a deep voice, "I am Su Tiankuo, Principal of the Sea City Military Academy. The instructors present today will serve as the judges.

"Before today's arena challenge, I want to sound a warning for all of you! Awakening as a Professional is only the first step; consistent Cultivation is the only path to becoming stronger. However, Cultivation is a very monotonous affair, especially for you pampered new recruits! I'm sure many of you, after the initial curiosity and excitement wore off, have started to slack off.

"Therefore, the academy has live-streamed the entire Cave Hunting process of all the Seed Students so that those of you who weren't selected could see the gap between you and your peers. Furthermore, the academy has placed this arena challenge between Seed Students in the First Training Ground and organized for all of you to be here to watch. Our goal is singular: to use this shame to motivate you to cultivate even harder!

"You may live comfortable lives now, but you cannot possibly imagine the price the pioneers of the Human Alliance paid for this comfort. Skills, knowledge, Arrays, potions... do not think these resources are easily obtainable! You must understand that every resource you use, every inch of land you live on, was won back from the battlefield by other Human Alliance Warriors who risked their lives.

"At the same time, every Professional Skill was created through the exhaustive efforts of its originator. That is precisely why the Human Alliance established a strict system of permissions based on contribution points. Because those who have not contributed to the Human Alliance or human civilization are not qualified to enjoy the resources others have bled for.

"I'll give it to you straight! If any of you new recruits who successfully Awakened and obtained this precious opportunity to cultivate are found to be slacking, lazy, or without ambition… over the next four years, I will not hesitate to expel you from the Sea City Military Academy!"

After a brief pause, Su Tiankuo continued in a deep voice, "While I'm at it, let me add a couple more things.

"Perhaps you've heard some discouraging notions. Some say that only those who awaken Rare Professions can become High-Tier powerhouses. Others claim that Awakening a common Profession means you are naturally inferior.

"In my opinion, that's complete bullshit! Awakening a Profession is just the starting line; it means nothing!

"You must understand that the path of a Professional's Cultivation is one of constantly breaking physiological limits and discovering one's potential. From laying the foundation at the Apprentice Tier to condensing the Invisible Core at the Black Iron Tier. Then condensing the Gaseous Core at the Bronze Tier, and a Liquid Core at the Silver Tier. Finally, you transcend the mundane at the Gold Tier to condense a Solid Core.

"Later on, a breakthrough in a single Great Realm can take ten or twenty years. Every Profession allows you to master dozens, even hundreds, of Skills. Each major breakthrough is an ascension, a metamorphosis of your very level of existence. The road ahead is long, and your potential is limitless. How could the Profession you awaken at the very beginning possibly define that?

"All of you, remember this: the Professional system has developed into the mature state it is in today. As of now, every Profession humans can Awaken can, in theory, be cultivated to the Legendary Crown Realm. I, Su Tiankuo, awakened nothing more than the most common Warrior Profession. After decades of fighting in blood and fire, I still forged my Legendary Crown and ascended to the Legendary Throne. I even personally slaughtered three of those Abyssal Demon Legendary Lords, who once looked upon all of creation with callous indifference! If I can do it, why can't you little rookies?"

Su Tiankuo's coarse but reasonable words ignited a fire in the hearts of many first-year students who had Awakened common Professions. Even some of the second-year students responsible for maintaining order on the training ground felt a renewed, urgent drive to cultivate.

It's true, the Human Alliance's Legendary Hall is filled with pioneering powerhouses who rose from common Professions to the very peak. Our new generation has far more resources than Principal Su Tiankuo had back in his day. So why should we resign ourselves to mediocrity and a life of aimless confusion?

Seeing that the atmosphere in the training ground was exactly as he'd intended, Su Tiankuo nodded to himself.

Even though I've lost my Legendary Crown, a trial run of the [Battle Cry] Skill I've used my entire life still has an astoundingly visible effect on these Apprentice-Tier rookies.

"Alright, it's about time," Su Tiankuo announced. "Lu Hu, explain the rules for the upcoming arena challenge."

"Yes, Principal." Lu Hu stepped forward and announced loudly, "The rules for this arena challenge are very simple. Your rankings from the previous Cave Hunting points will serve as your initial placements as Seed Students. Any student dissatisfied with their current placement can challenge an opponent ranked up to ten places higher than themselves. Each person will initially have only one chance to challenge. Winners may continue to challenge, while losers will retain their current ranking. Alright, the competition begins now! Who wants to go first?"

Before Lu Hu's voice had even faded, an eager Ye Fan, who had been waiting for this moment, leaped forward. He pointed at Meng Hongzhuang and declared, "I want to challenge number two, Meng Hongzhuang! Today, we will not only decide the victor but also who is superior!"

With a wave of Lu Hu's hand, several student guides led Meng Hongzhuang and Ye Fan onto the arena stage.

For a moment, the enormous training ground fell silent. All eyes were fixed on these two geniuses, considered second only to Fang Zhou.

Even Fang Zhou watched the stage with great interest.

After all, Ye Fan had served as a live target for my Skeleton Army for dozens of days. I have a fair understanding of that over-the-top teenager's strength. As a holder of the relatively rare Demon Hunter Profession, Ye Fan is not only fast, but his offensive capabilities are also not to be underestimated. His only real weakness is that he has no particular advantage in his physical Attributes, meaning he isn't very durable. In contrast, I know very little about Meng Hongzhuang's Natural Summoner Profession. I only saw her bragging to Bai Xiaochan in the [Undead Mage Support Team] chat group yesterday, mentioning that she had learned the difficult [Natural Crown] Skill. According to her, this [Natural Crown] Skill might even be helpful for my own project of deducing how to enhance the combat power of my skeletons.

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