You're so humble, it feels unfamiliar to me

"Students from No.4 High, apologies—the holographic intelligent beast challenge requires recalibration."

"We’ll need to pause usage for now."

"You can still use the gravity chambers and movement simulation rooms."

The staff member from the Heavenly Blade Club addressed the group of students from No.4 High with an explanation.

"Is it not calibrated properly?"

"No, it’s because someone is about to attempt the challenge later. To prevent deviations in the beast model, we need to recalibrate," the staff member replied with a smile.

"Shouldn’t it be fine even with minor deviations? No one can clear it right now anyway..."

"Yeah, does it really matter? No need to be so strict..."

The No.4 High students found it odd.

Challenging the holographic intelligent beast was undeniably thrilling.

So naturally, every one of them had tried it at least once.

It was part of their training regimen.

With frequent attempts, slight fluctuations in the beast model’s data were inevitable.

But the impact was negligible.

"It’s necessary," the staff member nodded. "A student from No.7 High is about to challenge this beast model directly."

"No.7 High? That guy earlier—Xia Sichen, right? I know him. He only lasted fifteen seconds," a tall, burly teen chuckled. "Not even close to Brother Tan’s level."

"Our Brother Tan lasted almost a full minute on his first try."

"Right, bro?"

He glanced at the composed young man beside him.

The boy wasn’t particularly handsome or imposing in stature.

But standing there, calm and steady, he exuded an unshakable presence—like a mountain.

"If the staff says they need to recalibrate, why are you all wasting time?" Tan Tianze waved them off. "Go train in the gravity chambers if you’ve got nothing better to do!"

As the central figure of No.4 High’s martial arts class, his words carried weight. The others fell silent.

"Mind if I ask—who from No.7 High is attempting the challenge?" Tan Tianze turned to the staff member.

"Wang Xian from No.7 High," the staff member replied after a brief thought. "He’s probably... a bit stronger than that Xia Sichen."

But even so, clearing it on the first attempt was highly unlikely.

Having worked at the club for years, he’d seen plenty of elite martial arts prodigies from top high schools.

None had ever cleared the holographic intelligent beast challenge on day one.

The other two challenges? Not a single success either.

"Wang Xian..." Tan Tianze nodded. "I’ve heard of him. Rumor has it he’s the only student in No.7 High’s history to master a foundational martial art—a blade technique, no less—to perfection in just a week."

"I respect that."

"Could you let me know when he starts? I’d like to watch."

The staff member had a favorable impression of this polite, humble student. With a smile, he said:

"You can watch on the lobby’s big screen. I’ll give you a heads-up, though—there’s a thirty-second delay compared to the live battle."

"Thanks."

Changing didn’t take long.

Wang Xian even waited a bit for Ye Miyue.

The training uniforms were personal gear. Ye Miyue’s was a soft white.

Today, her mood was visibly brighter.

With her hair tied up in a bun for training, her delicate features took on a playful charm.

"What?" Seeing Wang Xian at the door, Ye Miyue’s eyes flickered. She instinctively tightened the sash around her waist.

"?" Wang Xian.

Seriously? What kind of person do you take me for?

"Here’s a spare key to the house." Wang Xian tossed it to her when no one was around. "You’re cooking tonight. I’ve already bought groceries—they’re in the fridge."

With that, he turned and left.

Ye Miyue hurriedly caught the key, glanced around, then ducked back into the changing room to stash it in her bag.

"Hey, Ye Miyue, why’d you come back?"

"Forgot to put something away..."

"I thought I heard Wang Xian outside just now... What did he want with you?"

"You must’ve misheard..."

Chen Yuting, who had just finished changing, frowned slightly. She stepped out and jogged after Wang Xian.

"Wang Xian!" she called.

He didn’t turn, only pausing mid-step. "What is it?"

"This winter break’s training..." Chen Yuting lowered her voice. "I have a way to get you a Class D contract with the Heavenly Blade Club in just a couple of days!"

Wang Xian turned to face her, his gaze tinged with amusement.

"I don’t want anything in return..." Chen Yuting’s eyes wavered, but her tone grew earnest. "Just spend the break training with me."

"We’d just need to share a gravity chamber... If you’re free..."

She trailed off, her head dipping slightly.

A faint blush colored her cheeks.

"What’s your plan?" Wang Xian asked, intrigued.

He didn’t know much about Ye Miyue’s family.

But Chen Yuting’s? Thanks to his past life, he knew it well.

Middle-class at best—no deep connections.

The Heavenly Blade Club’s Class D contract had clear requirements for high schoolers:

Before the martial arts exam, you had to defeat ten beast models in a row.

Even prestigious schools couldn’t bypass that condition.

But I still need to achieve the two goals I set for my winter break training.

Chen Yuting, what exactly can you do to help me secure a Class-D contract in just two days?

"This... don't worry about it," Chen Yuting said with confidence. "I just have my ways... My request isn’t too much, is it?"

It really wasn’t.

The Heavenly Blade Club’s tenfold gravity chamber was a large facility, usually capable of accommodating over a dozen people training simultaneously.

With fewer than fifty students in the martial arts class, splitting them into four gravity chambers would be more than enough.

Being grouped together wasn’t even a condition worth mentioning.

But still.

Chen Yuting.

You’re acting so meek—it feels unfamiliar.

Is it because my changes have also made me seem like a stranger to you?

"Sorry..." Wang Xian shook his head. "This winter break, I might not be able to train with you all."

"Why?" Chen Yuting’s voice stiffened as she stared at him, her eyes filled with confusion.

Was he really unwilling, even like this?

"You’ll understand soon," Wang Xian said without elaborating, walking back to the lobby.

Not long after, the class regrouped.

"Everyone except Wang Xian, proceed with your training," Zhou Dahai announced. "Gravity chambers six through ten have your names posted outside. Go directly to yours, and unless absolutely necessary, do not wander into others’ chambers and disrupt their training."

"Wang Xian, come with me."

With that, Zhou Dahai led Wang Xian away.

The others were puzzled but didn’t dwell on it.

"Ready?"

"Ready."

Zhou Dahai took Wang Xian to a private gravity chamber.

"Go in." Zhou Dahai took a deep breath before heading to another room.

Wang Xian stepped inside.

The chamber was empty except for a weapon rack.

Standing at the center, he gestured toward the surveillance camera, signaling he was prepared to begin.

Meanwhile, in another room.

"Honestly, our criteria are quite lenient," Vice Director Zheng Changhong remarked, watching the young man on the monitor with a smile. "He just needs to pass two tests within today."

"As for the holographic intelligent beast challenge, failing that doesn’t matter..."

"I’m just worried he might be overconfident..." Zhou Dahai sighed. "A reality check could hit hard. Performing a complete martial arts set in a tenfold gravity chamber isn’t easy. In recent batches, most students struggle just to move freely in it on their first day."

Zheng Changhong didn’t respond.

Only when he saw the young man pick up a long blade and signal readiness did he speak.

"Begin!" he ordered the staff nearby.

"Understood. Activating tenfold gravity!"