Xiao Ke's eyes flew open. He didn't just stand up; he launched himself from the ground in a single, fluid motion. A strange lightness flooded his limbs, a reservoir of seemingly infinite power humming just beneath his skin. It felt as if a single bound could send him soaring, a casual punch could turn granite to dust.
He took a few tentative steps, the ground feeling oddly distant. It was the dizzying sensation of his own power overwhelming gravity itself. This sudden surge was raw, untamed. He hadn't yet learned to rein it in, to master its scale, and every movement felt like it was on the verge of becoming an uncontrolled leap into the air.
Slowly, consciously, he began to acclimate. He forced his body into movements more delicate than he'd ever used, and the feeling of being a puppet on a string finally began to fade.
He ambled over to a decorative rockery and, with a casual twist of his fingers, snapped off a chunk of stone as if it were styrofoam. He closed his hand around it. With a soft crunch, the rock didn't just break; it vaporized, sifting through his fingers as fine dust.
"Haha, it worked!" he thought, a wild grin spreading across his face. "Lighting up a whole region of bones… the power boost is exponential!"
He was ecstatic. By his old math, illuminating 26 bones should have put his punching force around 2,700 jin. But this… this was something else entirely. He could feel it in his core. It wasn't 2,700. It was over 5,000. No, he could pinpoint it—a staggering 5,300 jin of raw force.
Normally, a warrior's combat power was a straightforward calculation based on their Origin Power. A Level 4 Battle General had 1,000 Kahe, a Level 5 had 2,000, and a Level 6 had 3,000. Simple.
But that was a shortcut. The real formula, the one that mattered for outliers, was a blend of raw physical strength and Origin Power. For most warriors, whose punch was negligible, it didn't make a difference. But for Xiao Ke, it changed everything. His strength was so far off the charts that it was in a different book. Who, besides some freakish Western werewolf, could even imagine a human with over 5,000 jin of punching force? He could probably deadlift an armored truck.
Adding it all up, his total combat power was now 5,600. He had blown past the threshold of a Level 6 Battle General. While he was still no match for the true powerhouses—the Level 7 Xiao Jiangs—he could likely dominate anyone else in his class.
Before this, his goal of breaking into the top ten was more a matter of stubborn pride than genuine confidence. Now, for the first time, he felt he actually had a shot. A wave of relief washed over him. The bet with Di Shitian ended tomorrow. His training was done. The new priority was simple: learn to control this monstrous new strength before he accidentally broke something—or someone.
He walked back to the dorm, feeling light on his feet. He reached for his door, turned the handle, and with a sickening snap, the metal knob twisted off in his hand.
He froze, his face burning with embarrassment. Okay, maybe this is going to be harder than I thought.
The noise woke his roommates. They stared, first at the broken doorknob in his hand, then at him, their expressions a mixture of shock and weary acceptance. They all knew he was freakishly strong, but this was a new level.
The next morning, the dorm was stirring long before the official wake-up call. In the elite class, you didn't need an alarm. Your motivation was the terrifying knowledge that the person more talented than you was also working harder.
They trained in the pre-dawn quiet of the indoor facility for two hours before the official academy horn blared, rousing the regular students from their sleep. After a quick wash, they attended the flag-raising ceremony and headed to the cafeteria.
Breakfast was a lonely affair for Xiao Ke. He was the outsider, the "trash class" transfer who was here to steal one of their coveted spots. The other students clustered in tight-knit groups, pointedly leaving him isolated.
He wasn't bothered. He'd grown up a scavenger in the refugee camps; being ignored was a luxury compared to what he'd endured. He grabbed his food, found an empty table in the corner, and ate in silence.
That's when a handsome young man sat down across from him. It was Ling Feng.
Xiao Ke raised an eyebrow. Ling Feng was a noble, even if he was an illegitimate son. The aristocracy didn't mingle with commoners, and they certainly didn't break bread with former scavengers. It was a line you just didn't cross.
Ling Feng said nothing, just focused on his food. Xiao Ke shrugged and did the same.
They both ate quickly. After a few minutes, Ling Feng wiped his mouth with a napkin and spoke, his voice low. "Watching you challenge Chen Yan yesterday… you're not the type to go down quietly. You're looking to make some noise. But based on what I saw, breaking into the top ten is going to be tough."
"You here to tell me something I don't already know?" Xiao Ke replied flatly.
Ling Feng's lips twitched into a slight smile. "I just think you're interesting. A kid from the slums making it this far… It's impressive. But if you get kicked out of Glory, you're branded for life. No one will touch you. Your future is over." He paused. "So, I figured I'd give you a little help."
Xiao Ke's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"
"Chu Tian, the guy who just broke into 8th place. He won his challenge, but he's badly injured. If you want a real shot at the top ten, he's your best bet. He's your weak point."
"You're probably thinking the guy at 10th would be the easiest target," Ling Feng continued, leaning in. "Wrong. Song Zhongjin has been guarding that spot for a long time. He's at his peak, and nobody dares challenge him. Chu Tian is actually stronger than him on paper, but with those internal injuries, he's vulnerable. He's your opening."
Xiao Ke was about to turn him down. After his win against Chen Yan, whispers of him being an opportunist were already circulating. Taking on another injured opponent would only cement that reputation. Besides, if he hadn't had his breakthrough last night, he might have considered Ling Feng's advice. But now? He felt he could take on anyone in the top ten besides the three untouchable Level 7s. Why aim for the weakest?
Before he could speak, a group of students approached their table. Leading them was a tall, imposing figure with an air of pure arrogance.
Li Zhenning. Ranked 5th. A Level 6 Battle General so powerful that he was already knocking on the door of the next realm. While most at his level hovered around 3,000 Kahe, Li Zhenning's Origin Power was a staggering 4,000, making him a monster among his peers.
He stopped at their table, a sneer twisting his handsome features as he looked at Ling Feng.
"Well, well, cousin," Li Zhenning scoffed. "What is this? I know you're just a bastard with no real standing in the Ling family, but you're still a Ling. Have you no shame, sitting here with… this?" He gestured dismissively at Xiao Ke.
So they were cousins. Sort of. Li Zhenning's aunt was the main wife of the Ling family patriarch, making her Ling Feng's technical stepmother. By the rigid rules of the nobility, Ling Feng, as the illegitimate son, had to call him cousin.
Though Ling Feng was currently stronger, he couldn't touch him. Attacking Li Zhenning would cause a massive scandal between their families.
Ling Feng just offered a wry smile. "They say an illegitimate son is no better than a servant. I have no illusions about my status. But Xiao Ke served in the military. He was a centurion who bled for our Empire on the battlefield. What's so shameful about my sharing a meal with him? Or do you have a problem with the soldiers who defend our Empire, cousin?"
It was a clever trap. Disrespecting the military was a cardinal sin in the Empire.
Li Zhenning's face tightened. "Don't twist my words," he snapped. "I respect soldiers. I just don't respect gutter trash. You're a Ling, yet you associate with this filth. It's an embarrassment." He shot a venomous glare at Ling Feng. "A bastard is a bastard. No wonder you flock to his kind. You're both mud."
Li Zhenning's insults were aimed at Ling Feng, but Xiao Ke felt the sting. He slowly looked up from his plate.
"You seem to have a problem with me," Xiao Ke said, his voice quiet but carrying an unmistakable edge.
The attention of the entire group snapped to him. Ling Feng's eyes widened in alarm. This was a fight Xiao Ke couldn't win, not against Li Zhenning's power or his background.
Li Zhenning turned, a cruel smile spreading across his face. "Oh, it's not personal, Xiao Ke. I'm just saying that all of you who crawl out from the dirty bottom rungs of society are garbage. And don't get a big head just because you got a lucky win against a worn-out Chen Yan. In my eyes, you're still nothing. A Level 2 Battle Soldier. That says it all. Strength?" He chuckled. "Brute force is a dead end. In the world of the truly powerful, Origin Power is king."
Ling Feng held his breath, worried Xiao Ke was about to explode. He expected a flipped table, a shouted challenge, a foolish rush to a brutal beatdown.
But Xiao Ke didn't move. He simply watched Li Zhenning with an unnerving, enigmatic smile. For a moment, Ling Feng felt a flicker of admiration for his restraint.
Then, Xiao Ke spoke.
"You keep calling me trash," he said, his voice dangerously calm. "It just makes me wonder… what kind of face will you make when a piece of trash like me wipes the floor with you?"
Silence. The entire cafeteria seemed to freeze. Li Zhenning stared, his jaw slack. Even Ling Feng was stunned speechless. Challenge Li Zhenning? The undisputed king of the Level 6s? It was suicide.
Li Zhenning's shock melted into roaring laughter. "Hahaha! You beat one exhausted fighter, and suddenly you think you're a god? Fine! I'll be waiting for you in the training arena. In front of Instructor Di Shitian and everyone else, I'll wait for your challenge. And if you show up, I swear I will cripple you. If you don't," he added, his voice dripping with contempt, "that's fine too. We'll all just know you for the gutless coward you are. Hahaha!"
He turned and swaggered away with his cronies, his laughter echoing through the hall.
Ling Feng turned to Xiao Ke, his expression grim. "Are you insane? You can't beat him. And he's not kidding—he will try to kill you in that ring. Swallow your pride. Challenge Chu Tian. It's the only chance you have."
Xiao Ke just smiled. "I appreciate the advice, Ling Feng. But where's the fun in fighting an injured man? No, your cousin is exactly the opponent I was looking for. I'm going to enjoy this."
Ling Feng stared at him, bewildered. Did he start drinking this morning? Has he completely lost his mind?