What's Coming...

"This isn't Doctor Li's infirmary either," Instructor Chen said, settling back into his chair and eyeing the half-dead Kai Ang. "Alright, get up. Let me show you something that'll lift your spirits."

Kai Ang dragged himself upright, moving like a soulless zombie. "I'll never recover. Never, for the rest of my life."

"Has Su Li figured out how to suck people's souls through holographic projections now?" Instructor Chen tried to diagnose Kai Ang's condition.

"It makes no difference. None at all." Kai Ang clutched his head in agony. "We're only halfway through the original trial period, and she wants me to complete the final assessment with the students within ten days. Are you kidding me? What kind of interstellar joke is this?!"

"She's lost her mind too." Instructor Chen busied himself with his tea leaves again. He needed to calm down as well.

"And she's coming to personally inspect the results of the final assessment." Kai Ang rubbed his nose. "The first thing she'll do when she gets here is tie me to a tree and let me hang myself."

Instructor Chen's hand froze.

"Don't think you're getting away either. You'll be hanging from the tree next to mine," Kai Ang said gloomily. "Alright, so what's this good news that's supposed to restore my mood? Show me."

Instructor Chen sent over the shooting training score sheet. The moment Kai Ang saw the top two names and their scores, his eyes lit up, and the little storm cloud that had been hovering over his head immediately cleared.

"These two monsters in a team match would be pure kill harvesters. And this one here—our commander—is a commander wielding a scythe." Kai Ang was now completely optimistic about the future, itching to run over to the Sky Network organizers and shout in their ears: Start the tournament right now! My students are coming to dominate!

He continued flipping through the score sheet.

In third place was Shen Shouli, whose total score was one point behind Xu Lingqu's—a small gap. Right after him were two names Kai Ang was already very familiar with: Xu Xiqin and Jin. Their scores were all within a 0.4–0.6 range of each other.

Behind them were Wang Qihu, Liu Ning, and those students who had maintained a solidly above-average performance throughout the trial. They were separated from Jin by two full points, with their own scores tightly clustered together.

And after that—essentially a free-for-all scramble among the weaker students.

The stratification was too obvious. After reading through the entire score sheet, Kai Ang's expression grew serious instead.

In the past, the best students Kai Ang had led from Moye's second- and third-year classes were only on par with Wang Qihu. When it came time for team selection in the inter-academy league, this kind of stratification would still exist, and it would easily breed defeatist attitudes among students.

If the sky falls, the big shots will hold it up. If I die, I die. Anyway, in the end, better to let the best few go one-versus-many, and I'll just coast to victory.

Once such a mentality took root, it would inevitably drag the lower tiers down, and then that mindset would spread upward, until eventually only the best few were carrying the entire match—and even they would eventually be dragged down with them.

Instructor Chen saw the change in his expression and knew he had noticed what he'd wanted him to notice. Today's tea had been brewed well—not bitter. He slid a cup over to Kai Ang.

"So this is the good thing you said would improve my mood." Kai Ang still had trauma from the last batch of poison water and didn't dare take a sip without watching Instructor Chen drink first.

"Yeah." Instructor Chen picked up the lid of his teacup and scraped at the foam. "When you're thinking about these things instead of dwelling on Su Li hanging you—that's when your mood starts improving."

Kai Ang nodded. "You're right." In that moment, all the mess had already cleared from his mind, and numerous plans for the final assessment were already flashing through his head.

He picked up his teacup, drained it in one grand gulp, and slammed the cup heavily onto the table. "Inspiration struck! I'm absolutely brimming with power now!"

That slam was thunderous. Instructor Chen didn't respond—he silently picked up his own teacup and examined its base.

"It's cracked. Pay up."

Kai Ang: ...

-

"Stand right there. Yes, don't move." On the training ground, Xu Lingqu was directing Wang Qihu to stand still. Right now, there was a steamed bun perched on his forehead.

One of Wang Qihu's friends—Guan Zhongli, also from Star System No. 2's command track—held a firearm borrowed from the weapons storage room along with the special bullets Kai Ang had brought back. They caused pain on impact but no real damage. He looked at Xu Lingqu helplessly.

"You. Shoot at the steamed bun on his forehead." Xu Lingqu said flatly.

Wang Qihu's expression was about to crack completely.

Regret. He was feeling intense regret right now!

Twenty minutes ago, Wang Qihu had shamelessly brought his friend to seek advice from Xu Lingqu.

Guan Zhongli was the most capable command-track student among this batch besides Xu Lingqu herself.

His psychic power level was A-, and his physical fitness was up to par, but shooting had always been his weak point. His family had spent a fortune hiring professional shooting coaches, but nothing had improved.

Watching Xu Lingqu's unorthodox stance yet godlike accuracy, Wang Qihu thought that maybe his friend could be saved by their commander.

And this was how she was "saving" him.

Jin was laughing so hard tears were streaming down his face. He remarked to Shen Shouli, "See, I told you she was born for Ares. She can dish out this kind of torture like it's second nature!"

Xu Xiqin, meanwhile, was practically vibrating with anticipation behind Guan Zhongli. Can this guy do it or not? If he can't, can I take his place? This looks so fun!

"Hit it, and congratulations—your aim's improved. Miss it, and no food was wasted, which is also great." Xu Lingqu felt she should add a bit more commentary to boost her credibility. "Though it might be a bit rough on your friend."

Xu Lingqu considered this serious teaching, not entertainment at anyone's expense. Her experience taught her that real combat produced real knowledge, and a person made a better target than a dummy. Besides, she'd only agreed to teach because of Wang Qihu's sake. Otherwise, she couldn't be bothered.

"Thanks." Guan Zhongli took a deep breath, looking at his friend who was on the verge of tears. He aimed at the steamed bun—can't hit Wang Qihu, don't miss. He mentally cheered himself on, then pulled the trigger.

Wang Qihu twisted into an awkward pose to protect his more vulnerable areas, waiting for his friend's bullet to arrive. A gunshot rang out, and the steamed bun fell to the ground.

It didn't get hit! Thank heavens and earth!

Thrilled, Wang Qihu picked up the steamed bun and checked for a bullet hole, but found nothing.

Guan Zhongli couldn't have shot so wide it went into the sky. So the steamed bun must have fallen because he himself was trembling too much from fear, right?

Just then, Guan Zhongli came over. He took a look and finally found a "scrape" on the steamed bun.

It had been hit.

Overjoyed, Wang Qihu slapped his friend on the back, nearly sending him flying.

He was about to thank Xu Lingqu when he looked up to find that her group had already left.

"They left fast." Wang Qihu scratched his head.

Guan Zhongli's smile faded a little. "Don't you feel they're too tightly bound together?"

"Huh?" Wang Qihu didn't understand why his friend had suddenly said that.

Guan Zhongli patted his shoulder. "If the final assessment is still a free-for-all among students, do you think any of us left can beat them?"

This was a highly capable little team, and Guan Zhongli had been quietly observing them for a long time.

"If we can't beat them, we can't beat them." Wang Qihu still didn't get Guan Zhongli's point. "So what if we can't beat Xu Lingqu? That's totally normal."