Three days later, Jiang Xinyu drove to Wang Lan's doorstep.
Wang Lan changed into combat gear, carrying a steel knife as he walked out, only to search for the car door handle for ages and not find it.
At this moment, the car door slowly opened like spreading wings, revealing Jiang Xinyu behind sunglasses.
"Sometimes I really wonder if you're actually rich. Logically speaking, you earn over a hundred million a year. How can you be as clueless as a bumpkin?"
"So being rich means I should be into cars, yachts, and tender models at clubs?"
"Get in the car," Jiang Xinyu said, too lazy to argue with Wang Lan.
"Let me make this clear: we're entering the Tinglin Elementary Trial Grounds. Even though it's just a beginner level, it's still very dangerous. Any of the Exotic Beasts inside could kill a grown adult in a few seconds.
You're bound to be nervous on your first entry, so stick close to us, and do not move more than three meters away from the team. With your skills, killing Exotic Beasts on your own shouldn't be difficult, but real combat and training are two different things. You're going to encounter real dangers and need to adapt quickly.
Also, entering the Trial Grounds isn't just about getting hurt; you could also die. Especially for first-timers, the fatality rate is twenty percent. If you're scared, it's still not too late to back out."
The car had already entered the highway. Jiang Xinyu chattered non-stop, offering advice, while Wang Lan stared at her hands, slightly nervous.
"What are you looking at? I'm a woman too; it's perfectly normal and reasonable for me to paint my nails."
"I know. When did you get your driver's license?"
"Last year. Why?"
"How many times have you driven?"
"Spit it out!" Jiang Xinyu frowned. "What? Doubt my skills? You think I'm like those female drivers on the internet?"
"Hard to say... How about I get out and take a cab myself?"
"Sit tight and don't test my patience. Besides Xincheng, you're the first one to ride in my car."
"You mean the first one brave enough to ride! Seeing you this nervous, how could I not be scared?"
"Nervous? Which eye of yours sees me as nervous?"
"Your hands are clenched on the steering wheel. Only a novice grips the steering wheel like it's a life-saving straw, while experienced drivers just casually rest their hands on it; some don't even bother holding it..."
"Really?" Jiang Xinyu suddenly went quiet and then deftly switched gears.
"Although I'm not quite sure why your car has twelve gears, this road has a speed limit of eighty..."
"Shut up!"
VROOM—
From the campus to the southern district, it was forty-three kilometers along the ring road. Half an hour later, the car slowly drove into the parking lot of the Trial Grounds.
"Get out!" Her tone was icy and carried a strong hint of murderous intent.
"It's no big deal. No need to be angry. It was just a fine of two thousand, right? That's just peanuts for you. The traffic cop was right. It's a highway with a speed limit of eighty, and you pushed it to two hundred sixty. He only fined you two thousand, which is already very lenient.
Being pretty has its perks, huh? If it had been me, it definitely wouldn't have been less than twenty thousand, and they would've impounded the car and revoked my license..."
"Believe me, if you keep gloating, I'll punch you! Would I have been speeding if it weren't for you?"
"How's that my fault? The steering wheel, accelerator, gears, brakes – they're all under your control."
"Would I have been speeding if you hadn't doubted my driving skills?"
"Is there a necessary logical connection between me doubting your skills and your speeding?" Wang Lan retorted, not to be outdone.
"Xinyu, over here..." At that moment, a voice called out. Outside the Trial Grounds, where a line of shops stood, Xu Xiangwen waved and shouted from the entrance of a fast-food restaurant.
Wang Lan followed Jiang Xinyu over. Xu Xiangwen was slightly stunned to see Wang Lan, then a knowing smile spread across his face. "You lad, not bad at all!"
"You knew?" Wang Lan smiled faintly, thinking Xu Xiangwen was talking about him becoming a Star Martial Warrior.
"Hehehe, I didn't know at first, but seeing you here made it obvious. Let's go inside."
Next to Gong Feiyu sat a young man whom Wang Lan didn't recognize, probably someone from the Star Martial Arts Campus. Jiang Xinyu approached, pausing slightly with a somewhat displeased expression that quickly vanished.
"Wang Lan? Hey, what a surprise, and such an unexpected one at that! Let me introduce you. This is our classmate, Wang Youle. And this is Wang Lan, my childhood friend turned best buddy."
"Ah, the legendary Study God! I'll go order the food," Wang Youle said with a smile, getting up to leave.
"Why did you bring him along?" Jiang Xinyu asked Xu Xiangwen.
"Hasn't he always teamed up with us? I notified him right after you called me. Were you thinking it would just be us?"
"Forget it, one more doesn't make a difference. I'm going to use the restroom." Jiang Xinyu stood up and left, leaving Wang Lan sitting with Xu Xiangwen and Gong Feiyu.
In a flash, two pairs of eyes fixed on Wang Lan.
"When did it happen?"
"The day the vacation started," Wang Lan smiled.
"Who made the first move?" Gong Feiyu promptly asked.
"First move?" Wang Lan was bewildered.
"It must have been Xinyu! The day we had dinner together, she drank three glasses by herself. She never used to drink before. Feiyu and I thought she was drowning her sorrows, but it turns out she was gathering her courage."
"Gathering courage? I feel like what you're talking about isn't the same thing I'm talking about."
"Humph, humph, humph, still playing dumb? You're with Xinyu now, aren't you? Did you come here today to flaunt your relationship? No worries, Feiyu and I can handle this public display of affection.
Don't worry too much. We've been to the Trial Grounds three times and know them inside out. In ten days, I guarantee I'll return Xinyu safely to you. I can at least assure you of that, right?"
"Which shameless person has the nerve to say that? It's more likely Xinyu would be protecting you than the other way around."
"Wait, you've got it all wrong."
"Wrong my foot! You just admitted it."
"I admitted I awakened my Star Martial Talent, but I didn't admit to anything else."
"Listen to him, he admits to awakening... Wait a second, what did you say? I didn't catch that?" Xu Xiangwen's shout was so loud the entire restaurant suddenly fell quiet.
Wang Lan looked at Xu Xiangwen, exasperated. How has he not changed at all after all these years? "Can you not be so loud?" he said. "Sit down and talk, will you?"
"No, Lan, Uncle Lan, you can't be serious! You've really awakened?"
"Awakened."
"When?"
"The day the holiday started."
"That makes no sense... There was no Soul Resonance, how did you just suddenly awaken? So is this... a spontaneous awakening or a stimulated awakening?"
"It should be a spontaneous one, I guess, since the Soul Resonance failed, right? Even with a delay, it wouldn't be two years late."
"Cough, cough..." It was only then that Gong Feiyu recovered from his shock. Looking at Wang Lan with disbelief, he said, "I always suspected you were some kind of mutated species, and now I can confirm you belong to the completely mutated type.
So Jiang Xinyu is taking you to the Trial Grounds? Isn't that messing around? The Trial Grounds are a battlefield, and she's letting someone who just awakened as a Star Martial Warrior go straight into battle? That's practically murder."
"Who's being murdered?" Wang Youle walked back with a smile and sat down. "The order's placed. Wang Lan, I only ordered half a portion for you; I was afraid you couldn't finish it."
"Thanks."
"Hold on, Wang Lan, show me your Star Martial Badge," Xu Xiangwen said, still skeptical, reaching out his hand.
"Oh." Wang Lan took out his Star Martial Badge and handed it to Xu Xiangwen. Xu Xiangwen took the badge and scanned it with an app on his phone.
"Searching for information... Search complete. Wang Lan, Star Martial ID: ZZ501807080115."
"Holy shit, it's real! You just got it the day before yesterday! You've really awakened? That's great, we can hang out together again!"
"It really is good news. Let's see the ratings," Gong Feiyu said, also smiling, while Wang Youle looked at Wang Lan in surprise, an inexplicable hostility in his eyes.
"Wang Lan, born on January 3, 5002; awakened Star Martial Talent on June 30, 5018; Star Power attribute: Fire. Strength rating A, Speed rating A, Endurance rating A, Potential rating B. Overall combat power rating: Professional Grade, B+."
"Wait, did you read that wrong?" Gong Feiyu quickly asked. "Shouldn't the overall combat power rating be Entry Level? Professional Grade? We're only at Professional Grade ourselves!"
"I wish I read it wrong, but... my vision is 2.0."
"At least you're still Professional Grade B+, same as Wang Lan. I'm just Professional Grade B, one level below Wang Lan. Don't believe me? Look for yourself. My dear Lan, I think Feiyu's earlier assessment of you is wrong, ridiculously wrong.
You're not just a completely mutated species; your DNA must have a hundred percent match with insects."
"Xu Xiangwen, you've made progress. Learned how to insult without using dirty words?" Wang Lan folded his arms and sneered.
"Xiangwen... why say it matches insect DNA?" Wang Youle asked curiously.
"Because insects are the only species in nature that undergo complete metamorphosis."
"I get it now why Xinyu would bring a greenhorn like you, who just awakened, to the Trial Grounds. Just awakened and already possessing professional-grade combat power! If your Star Power level increases, who knows how formidable you'll become," Gong Feiyu said.
"The Study God is truly the Study God. Even as a Star Martial Warrior, he's a genius among geniuses," Wang Youle complimented from the side.
"There's no such thing as geniuses in this world." Jiang Xinyu came over to the group, gesturing to Wang Youle, who quickly moved to sit beside Gong Feiyu.
"You all just see that Wang Lan has professional-grade strength right after awakening as a Star Martial Warrior. But you didn't see the kind of arduous training Wang Lan went through all these years."
"We don't know, but Xinyu, how would you know?"
"I guessed." Jiang Xinyu's eyes darted about; she quickly changed the subject. "I called you all here because I need your help. I reached the peak of the Star Shine Stage this April, and I'm hoping to break through to the Star Cloud Stage with your assistance during this opportunity.
Mu Shaoyun of Class Three has also reached the peak of the Star Shine Stage, and so has Duan Ziqi from Class Five. Out of the nine sophomore classes, there are twelve at the Star Shine peak. And I am going to be the first to break through to the Star Cloud Stage."
"Of course! Her Majesty the Queen always comes first!" Xu Xiangwen raised his hand.
"Shut up!" Jiang Xinyu shot Xu Xiangwen a sideways glance. "So, I'm covering the cost for everyone to enter the Trial Grounds this time. The Soul Beads we obtain, apart from those needed to replenish your Star Power, will all be given to me.
This will continue until I break through to the Star Cloud Stage. In exchange, during the winter holiday, I will take you to the Intermediate Trial Grounds and ensure that you all reach the Star Cloud Stage before the start of the provincial martial arts competition... Hmm... Wang Youle is an exception. You're only at the early Star Shine Stage now; it would be a bit difficult to get you to the Star Cloud Stage."
"I understand," Wang Youle nodded obediently.
"So, who agrees with my proposal, and who opposes?"
"Agree!"
"Agree!"
"Agree!"
"I..." Wang Lan was about to say he agreed when Jiang Xinyu suddenly interrupted.
"Since everyone agrees, that settles it. As for Wang Lan, he's an auxiliary member of the team, so he won't be part of the distribution. The Soul Beads he collects belong to him alone."