Are You Willing to Swallow This Humiliation

But to climb the ranking, you have to challenge each spot one by one.

For instance, if you’re a student outside the top five hundred, your first challenge can only be against the person currently ranked five hundredth on the Qi-Refining Ranking.

With a crowd of students watching, Leon Huang arrived at the Challenge Pavilion in Sanctum Martial Academy.

He registered with his identity crystal card, paid 100 contribution points, and the Challenge Pavilion attendant told Leon Huang his match would be scheduled for three days later.

There were several people ahead of him in line, all waiting to challenge the student in the five hundredth spot.

The ranked student can’t just accept endless challenges, so the academy has a rule: each one only needs to accept three matches per day. After three, if they agree, they can keep going; if not, the rest are postponed to the next day. That way, no one gets completely swamped.

Win, and you get 100 contribution points from your opponent. Lose, and you have to pay up 100 points yourself.

Currently holding the five hundredth spot was Lin Wu, twenty-five years old, at the ninth layer of Qi-Refining, saber in hand, and a six-year veteran of Sanctum Martial Academy.

When Lin Wu received the list of upcoming challengers, his expression turned grim.

Because right there on the list was Leon Huang’s name.

He’d watched that big fight a few days ago, so he knew there was absolutely no way he could beat Leon Huang.

He’d only squeezed onto the Qi-Refining Ranking three months ago.

Thinking about getting knocked off the ranking so soon made him extra bitter, but what could he do? Leon Huang was just too strong—there was no chance he could win.

Knock, knock!

Someone knocked on the door.

Lin Wu frowned and opened the door, only to see a narrow-eyed young man standing outside.

This was Simon Shen—Liam Liang’s trusted adviser and scheming strategist.

Lin Wu quickly put on a smile. "Oh, it's Senior Shen! Please, come in."

Simon Shen accepted the tea Lin Wu handed him, took a sip, and said with a sly smile, "Junior Wu, three days from now, Leon Huang is going to challenge you. With his strength, it’s going to be tough for you to stay on the ranking, isn’t it?"

Lin Wu’s face fell. There’s a saying—don’t hit a man’s sore spot, and don’t rub salt in the wound. Simon Shen’s words hit him right where it hurt. He replied coldly, "So what if that’s true?"

"Are you really just going to give up like that?"

Lin Wu snorted. "Hmph, and what if I don’t give up? It’s not like I’m stronger than him! Alright, Senior Shen, I’m tired. If there’s nothing else, please leave."

But Simon Shen just sat there, not moving.

So Lin Wu repeated, "Senior Shen, please go. I need to rest!"

"Sigh."

Simon Shen put down his teacup and got up to leave. As he reached the door, he suddenly paused and said, "I was going to offer a bit of advice, but it seems someone doesn’t appreciate it. Guess I’ll be on my way!"

Lin Wu’s eyes narrowed. Simon Shen was backed by Liam Liang, and after Hugh Xu lost to Leon Huang last time, Liam definitely wasn’t satisfied—he wanted revenge.

Does Liam Liang want to use me as a pawn against Leon Huang?

Sure, being used as a pawn felt a little unpleasant, but if it meant keeping his honor and his ranking, what did it matter?

Thinking this through, he called out to Simon Shen, who was already leaving: "Senior Shen, please wait!"

Simon Shen turned back slowly and looked at Lin Wu. "Junior Wu, what can I do for you?"

Lin Wu’s face stiffened for a moment, but he quickly smiled. "Sorry, Senior Shen, I was in a bad mood just now and didn’t treat you properly. I got some good tea from somewhere—why not try it?"

"Since you’re so insistent, I won’t be shy!" Simon Shen said.

"Please, Senior Shen!"

Simon Shen sat down again, and Lin Wu enthusiastically brewed a fresh pot of good tea.

"Hmm, this tea really is pretty good," Simon Shen praised after taking a sip.

"As long as you like it, Senior Shen. If you don’t mind, take the rest with you when you leave. I’m not picky—good tea or bad, it all tastes about the same to me."

"Oh, I couldn’t possibly," Simon Shen said, waving his hand.

"No problem, as long as you like it, Senior Shen." By now, Lin Wu’s voice was full of flattery.

"Well, if you insist, I’ll accept!" Simon Shen laughed.

"By the way, Senior Shen, just now you said you had some advice for me—what is it?"

Seeing Lin Wu so anxious, Simon Shen felt a bit contemptuous, but he kept a straight face and said seriously, "With your cultivation, there’s no way you can beat Leon Huang head-on."

"Please advise me, Senior Shen!" Lin Wu jumped up and bowed.

Simon Shen accepted the bow and finally said, "I do have a plan, but it’s not exactly aboveboard. Interested in hearing it?"

"Yes, I’m interested!"

"Come closer."

Simon Shen leaned in and whispered in Lin Wu’s ear. Lin Wu’s expression shifted wildly.

"Senior Shen, if this gets exposed, I could be expelled! It’s way too risky!"

"Hmph! A ruthless man is a true man. If you want to keep your honor, you have to do it. Otherwise, when Leon Huang challenges you, you’ll fall off the ranking, and getting back on will be almost impossible!"

As he spoke, Simon Shen took a packet of powder from his sleeve and placed it on the table. "Here it is. Whether you use it or not is up to you. But Senior Liang said—even if things go south, he’ll find a way to keep you in the academy. That’s all I’ll say. I’ll take my leave now!"

After Simon Shen left, Lin Wu sat there, deep in thought, his eyes drifting again and again to the packet of powder.

The powder was called Break-Qi Powder. If a martial artist took it, their true qi would slowly fall apart until they became a cripple.

Should he really use Break-Qi Powder on Leon Huang? Lin Wu was seriously torn.

Simon Shen’s words—“a ruthless man is a true man”—kept echoing in his mind. In the end, Lin Wu clenched his teeth and made up his mind.

Meanwhile, Tim Wang and Mason Zhang weren’t having a good time either.

They might have joined up with Liam Liang, but he didn’t value them at all.

Especially since it was their fault Liam Liang lost so much face—he had to kneel and apologize to Yoon Zhengyang and the others in public after the duel, and now he took out his anger on them. After all, the whole mess started because of them.

"Wang, maybe we should ask to switch dorms," Mason Zhang sighed.

Sharing a roof with Leon Huang every day was seriously uncomfortable.

"Yeah, we can’t afford to mess with him—hiding is the only option!" Tim Wang nodded.

Just then, a voice called out, "You two are really just going to let yourselves be forced out? Are you okay with that?"

The two turned their heads and saw Lin Wu walking toward them.