There's an old trick fishermen use called the "catfish effect." You toss a single, aggressive catfish into a tank of sardines. The constant threat keeps the sardines active, sharp, and alive.
Xiao Ke couldn't decide which he was: the catfish or the sardine. He was still reeling from being plucked from the bottom-ranked "garbage class" and thrown into the elite track by the academy's head instructor, Di Shitian. Was this a test? A way to light a fire under the complacent elites? Or was it, as Di Shitian had claimed, a personal trial designed to forge him into something stronger?
Whatever the reason, the gauntlet had been thrown. They'd made a public wager: if Xiao Ke couldn't crack the top ten rankings within one week, he'd be kicked out of the prestigious Glory Academy for good.
Getting into Glory was the honor of a lifetime. Getting booted out was the ultimate disgrace. Besides, Xiao Ke had his own mission. He needed to get strong enough to pull his old squad, Qin Bing and the others, out of the dead-end assignment they'd been stuck with in the Black Shark Legion. Failure wasn't an option. He had one week to become one of the best.
He trained like a man possessed.
But the elite class wasn't exactly rolling out the welcome mat. To them, he was the catfish—a threat, an outsider. A walking reminder that their spot wasn't guaranteed. Defeat at the hands of a kid from the garbage class was unthinkable. So they gave him the silent treatment. He was completely ostracized. When it came time for sparring practice, he couldn't find a single partner.
Fine. He didn't mind training alone. He shifted his strategy, pouring all his energy into raw power. Instead of storing the Origin Force Water he cultivated each day, he channeled it directly into his bones, tempering them one by one. He started with his spine. Every day, another vertebra hardened, and his punching power jumped by another 100 jin.
By the fifth day, 19 of his 26 vertebrae glowed with inner power. His punch now packed a staggering 2,000 jin of force.
Initially, the lower-ranked elites had been nervous. They'd seen his fight against Chen Yan on the first day; even in defeat, Xiao Ke had looked dangerous. But five days had passed. It was Saturday, leaving him only two days to make good on his bet, and his rank was still dead last: #101.
The anxiety faded, replaced by smug confidence. He's a joke, they thought. A one-week wonder who's going to become a cautionary tale at the academy.
Meanwhile, Chen Yan, the guy Xiao Ke had lost to, was on a tear. He'd been challenging students left and right, climbing from #100 all the way to #30 after taking down a student named Tian Liniu.
That afternoon, the training grounds hummed with the usual activity. Then, a hush fell over the crowd. Xiao Ke was walking toward the fighting arena. Entering the arena was an official declaration—a challenge was about to be issued. Everyone stopped what they were doing and stared.
The student on duty today was Ling Feng, the undisputed king of the elite class, ranked #001. After receiving a rare Marrow-Washing Pill last week, he'd already broken through to the Seventh-Level Valiant General realm.
Ling Feng paused his own sparring session, a smirk playing on his lips. "Well, look at that. He's been quiet for days. Finally ready to make a move? I was beginning to think he'd just fade away."
As the student on duty, Ling Feng was the designated referee. He strode over to Xiao Ke. "You challenging someone?"
"I am," Xiao Ke said, unclasping his #101 rank tag and tossing it to him.
Ling Feng caught it, intrigued. "Who's the lucky one?"
Xiao Ke scanned the crowd. Dozens of hostile, challenging glares met his gaze, each one silently screaming, Try me, you punk. I'll wipe the floor with you.
He ignored the top ten. He ignored the bottom feeders. His eyes landed on Chen Yan, now basking in the glory of his #30 rank. Xiao Ke pointed.
"Him," he said simply. "I lost to him a few days ago. Time for a rematch."
A ripple of surprise went through the students. Chen Yan was on a hot streak, a freight train of momentum. Challenging him now was tactical suicide, especially since he'd already beaten Xiao Ke once.
But Ling Feng saw something else in Xiao Ke's eyes. A spark of admiration. He understood the play. Xiao Ke knew he'd gotten stronger, but he wasn't ready for the top ten just yet. He needed a test, a stepping stone. Chen Yan, ranked #30, was the perfect benchmark. He wasn't just picking a fight; he was reclaiming his confidence. If he could beat the new and improved Chen Yan, he'd prove he belonged in the conversation.
Chen Yan, flushed with his recent victories, was surprised but didn't hesitate. He walked confidently into the arena, removed his own #030 rank tag, and handed it to Ling Feng.
The stakes were set. If Chen Yan won, he'd keep his spot. If Xiao Ke won, he'd take the #30 rank, and Chen Yan would plummet to #101.
They faced each other in the center of the ring. "Begin!" Ling Feng shouted.
This time, Xiao Ke didn't wait. He exploded forward, a blur of motion, and unleashed a devastating whip kick aimed at Chen Yan's torso. The sheer power radiating from the attack stunned Chen Yan. This wasn't the same fighter from five days ago.
He threw his arms up in a desperate block.
CRACK!
The impact was jarring. Though he blocked the kick, the force sent Chen Yan skidding sideways across the arena floor. The crowd gasped. A Second-Level War Soldier had just sent a Sixth-Level War General flying. How was that even possible?
Ling Feng's eyes narrowed. He'd known Xiao Ke was special, but this was something else entirely. Raw, physical power on this level was almost unheard of, especially against a higher-ranked opponent.
That kick had just been a probe, thrown at 80% strength. Xiao Ke was surprised himself. With his 2,000 jin punch and 300 Kaher of Origin Force, his combat power was around 2300. A Sixth-Level War General like Chen Yan should have been closer to 3000. He should have been stronger.
What Xiao Ke didn't know was that Chen Yan was running on fumes. His week-long rampage up the ranks had left him exhausted and nursing hidden injuries. He was nowhere near his peak. He'd gotten greedy, ignoring the Chief Instructor's warnings about pacing oneself, and now he was paying the price.
Sensing weakness, Xiao Ke pressed his advantage. He unleashed a furious storm of attacks—punches, kicks, elbows, and shoulders. His entire body became a weapon, each strike a brutal, efficient tool of military combat. Chen Yan, shocked and overwhelmed, was forced onto the defensive. But you can only block for so long.
A few minutes later, Xiao Ke smashed through his guard with a flurry of punches, followed by a lightning-fast kick that connected squarely with Chen Yan's chest. He flew backward, landing in a heap outside the ring. He struggled to his knees, coughed, and vomited a spray of blood.
The fight was over.
"We have a winner!" Ling Feng announced, his voice cutting through the stunned silence. "Xiao Ke is victorious! Ranks will be exchanged. Xiao Ke is now ranked #30!"
He tossed the #030 tag to Xiao Ke and handed the #101 tag to the pale-faced Chen Yan. He gave Xiao Ke a nod. "Nice fight."
Xiao Ke caught the tag, ignoring the disbelieving stares. He looked at Chen Yan. "You're better than that," he said, his voice calm. "You weren't at your best. I'll be waiting for you to recover and challenge me again."
Chen Yan gritted his teeth. "I will. I'll take my rank back."
"Good," Xiao Ke said, a dangerous glint in his eye. "But by the time you're ready, I might not be #30 anymore. I might be in the top ten. Or maybe," he added, glancing at Ling Feng, "I'll be #1."
The corner of Ling Feng's eye twitched.
Xiao Ke's victory sent a shockwave through the elite class. The kid from the garbage class had just taken down their rising star. He was no longer a joke; he was a threat. Especially for the top ten, the clock was ticking. They knew a challenge was coming, and while they were confident they could handle him, no one wanted the humiliation of losing to a Second-Level War Soldier.
The good news? It was already Saturday. He had until Sunday night to make his move.
Word of the fight quickly reached Chief Instructor Di Shitian and his staff. They were baffled. A Second-Level War Soldier beating a Sixth-Level War General? It defied all logic. Theoretically, a warrior with freakish natural strength could pull it off, but that was just theory. To see it happen was another thing entirely.
Di Shitian, however, was quick to downplay it. "Chen Yan was exhausted and injured," he told the other instructors. "His combat power was closer to a Fifth-Level General. Xiao Ke got lucky. It doesn't count as a true victory. The top ten are all genuine Sixth-Level Generals at their peak. If he can break into that group by tomorrow's deadline, then he'll have truly proven himself."
Just then, a woman in an elegant court gown entered the room. It was the Eldest Princess, Jiang Youwei. She had overheard the conversation.
"So if he fails to break into the top ten," she asked softly, "he'll really be forced to leave the academy?"
The instructors immediately straightened up and bowed. "Your Highness!"
Jiang Youwei offered a gentle smile. "Please, there's no need for that. I'm an honorary principal here and a guest lecturer for your class. You can call me Principal Jiang or Instructor Jiang."
She repeated her question.
"Yes," Di Shitian confirmed. "An agreement is an agreement. If he fails, he's out."
Jiang Youwei's brow furrowed. She'd been intrigued by Xiao Ke ever since she'd stumbled upon him training late one night in the hills behind the academy. But there was more to it. Just yesterday, she had met with her younger brother, the new Emperor, Jiang Ning. He had asked about the students at Glory and had specifically mentioned Xiao Ke's name.
She'd been shocked. Why would the Emperor know about some low-level student? He explained that they had fought side-by-side once, cutting down zombies during an outbreak. Jiang Ning had been impressed, telling her to give Xiao Ke a little extra support if she could. He saw real potential in the boy.
And now, that same boy was on the verge of being expelled. This put her in a difficult position. How could she explain to the Emperor that the talent he'd personally vouched for had been unceremoniously kicked out?
Still, she kept her composure, merely nodding. Glory Academy was a melting pot of battlefield veterans and promising commoners the Imperial family wished to cultivate. She couldn't show blatant favoritism. Fairness, at least on the surface, was paramount.
That night, long after his four roommates had fallen asleep, Xiao Ke slipped out of the dorm. They knew about his nightly training sessions, of course. In the elite class, everyone was a grinder. You didn't need instructors breathing down your neck to push yourself. But as he left, one of them whispered to another.
"He could train until he drops; it won't matter. The top ten are on another level. The weakest among them is a peak Sixth-Level, about to break through. He got lucky with Chen Yan. Against the real monsters, luck won't be enough."
Xiao Ke didn't hear them, but he wouldn't have cared. He never accepted impossibilities. He'd beaten the unbeatable Duan Canglong once before. He could do this.
He made his way to his usual spot in the quiet park on the back hill. Tonight wasn't for practicing techniques; it was for raw cultivation. He needed to generate more Origin Force Water to light up even one more bone. Every little bit of power could be the difference between victory and defeat.
He was just settling down in the pavilion when he heard soft footsteps approaching. "Who's there?" he called out, instantly on alert.
A figure emerged from the shadows, bathed in the soft moonlight. It was Princess Jiang Youwei.
Xiao Ke froze. This was the same woman who had helped him out a few nights ago when he'd been in an... embarrassing situation without any toilet paper. He hadn't been able to look her in the eye during her lectures since. And now, here she was again.
"I had a feeling I'd find you here," she said, her voice calm.
He bowed his head. "Instructor Jiang, the competition is just so fierce, I had to—"
"You don't have to explain," she cut him off. "If I were going to punish you for breaking curfew, I would have done it days ago. I'm not here for that."
He relaxed slightly, though he was still confused. What was she doing out here so late?
As if reading his mind, she said, "I was asked to give you something. By a mutual friend. They hope it will help."
She held out a small, ornate box.
He took it hesitantly and opened it. Nestled inside on a bed of silk was a single, translucent pill, shimmering with a dense, potent energy. He recognized it instantly.
"A Marrow-Washing Pill!" he whispered in awe.
Jiang Youwei smiled. "You have a good eye. I hear you have a bet with Instructor Di Shitian, and that tomorrow is your last day. This pill can raise your rank by one level, which for you would mean becoming a Third-Level War Soldier. Honestly," she sighed, "I'm not sure that will be enough to crack the top ten. But... the rest is up to you. Good luck."
With that, she turned and disappeared into the night.
Xiao Ke's heart hammered in his chest. A moment ago, he'd been running on pure grit. Now, he had a miracle. This pill was more than just a lifeline; it was a game-changer.
He swallowed it without a second thought. An intense wave of pure Origin Force flooded his system, instantly converting into a massive reserve of Origin Force Water in his dantian.
An ordinary warrior would have used this overwhelming power to light up their next martial meridian node, a guaranteed rank-up. But Xiao Ke had a different plan. Using this much energy on a single, minor node felt like a colossal waste.
He was going to use it to temper his bones.
He had already lit up 19 of the 26 vertebrae in his spine. Seven remained. It was a gamble. Igniting a martial node, while less efficient, absorbed all excess energy. Tempering bones was more precise, but would this be enough?
He focused his will, directing the torrent of energy into the remaining bones.
One lit up.
Then another.
And another.
He pushed the energy, forging each vertebra until, finally, all seven glowed with an inner light. The entire 26-bone column of his spine was now complete.
The moment the final bone ignited, something inside him unlocked. A tidal wave of power, far greater than the sum of its parts, surged through his body.
It was exactly as he had hoped. Completing an entire section of his skeleton didn't just add power—it multiplied it. It was like unlocking a hidden set bonus in a game he was suddenly destined to win.