Volume One: First Signs of Brilliance Chapter Seventy-Two: Consideration

"Knock, knock, knock..."

Suddenly, a series of knocks sounded at the door. The female teacher paused her lecture and turned to look, just in time to see Principal Huang Daguai pushing the door open. Her face immediately showed confusion. "Principal, what brings you here?"

"Ms. Zhao, sorry to interrupt your class for a moment," Principal Huang said apologetically with a slight smile to the teacher, then addressed the students, "Is Wang Jue here? Please step outside for a moment."

"Hmm?" Instantly, every student in the class fixed their gaze on Wang Jue. Everyone was thinking: if the principal himself has come to fetch someone, Wang Jue must have gotten himself in serious trouble!

Wang Jue, who was somewhat unclear about the situation, found it odd, but remained remarkably composed. Without a word, he stood up and walked towards the door.

Out of concern for her student, the gentle-natured teacher followed out right away, hoping she might be able to say a good word or two for Wang Jue.

The next moment, as she stepped out of the classroom, she froze.

For she not only saw Ning Chuan, but also Feng Qingyang and Zhou Yunling!

Who were these three? She knew all too well—these were the three titans of the martial world in Peaceful Town! Who in all of Peaceful Town wouldn't recognize them?

"Mr. Ning Chuan and the others actually came to see Wang Jue personally?"

Something occurred to her, and she was struck by a wave of shock. "Could it be... could it be they're here to..."

Under the gaze of Ning Chuan and his two companions, Wang Jue remained calm. Step by step, he walked to his teacher, but inwardly he mused, "If I'm not mistaken, they've come either to recruit or to invite me."

In fact, from the moment Wang Jue left the classroom and saw Ning Chuan, he had more or less guessed what was happening. It was undoubtedly related to last night.

Indeed, Wang Jue was not wrong. Whatever happened last night in the Martial Association's gravity chamber was invisible to outsiders, but how could it escape the eyes of the top figures in the association?

"You are Wang Jue, aren't you?" Ning Chuan straightened his expression and got straight to the point. "I'm Ning Chuan, head of the Martial Association here in Peaceful Town. I expect you've at least heard of me, so I won't introduce myself further.

"According to the Martial Arts Convention, no organization is allowed to sign students before the exams have concluded—any contract signed before then is void. I'm here today, on behalf of the Martial Association, to invite you in advance. I hope that after the exams, you'll choose to join us!

"If you're willing, the moment exams end, you can sign with us and become a top-tier student of the Martial Association. Our student levels are divided into basic, intermediate, advanced, and top-tier, each with different privileges.

"There's too much to explain all at once, so let me briefly outline the basic benefits for our top-tier students..."

Ning Chuan rattled off nearly twenty different privileges for the Martial Association's top students. Each one made Principal Huang's heart pound wildly; he could hardly believe how generous and extraordinary these benefits were! Compared to becoming a top-tier student of the Association, even guaranteed university admission seemed utterly worthless.

Only a fool would turn this down!

To everyone's surprise, Wang Jue did not agree immediately. Instead, he replied solemnly, "Mr. Ning Chuan, I'd like to consider it carefully."

At these words, the expressions of Ning Chuan and the other two big names remained unchanged.

It was Principal Huang who almost lost his mind. He simply could not understand why Wang Jue would say he needed to think it over. Wouldn't any normal person agree at once? This was a chance to join the world's most elite force as a top student—a dream even the best-recommended students wouldn't dare imagine. What was there to consider?

Anyone else would have accepted on the spot without hesitation.

Unable to fathom it, Principal Huang began frantically winking at Wang Jue, his anxious look practically screaming, "Wang Jue, Mr. Ning Chuan came in person to invite you! This is an honor beyond imagining—don't act on impulse!"

Of course, Wang Jue understood what the principal meant, but he still had no intention of changing his mind. The truth was, he genuinely wasn't ready to pledge himself to any organization just yet. This matter was too important for his future growth—he could not make such a decision lightly.

"The Martial Association..." Wang Jue mused to himself. "It is humanity's foremost power. Compared to other groups, each has its own strengths and limitations. With my current rate of progress, any organization I join will offer me the highest benefits.

"Even if I join none, I can still become strong—just a bit more slowly. After all, I can now take on missions that pay in star source stones, and each completed mission gives me more.

"Of course, solo missions can't compare to the resources organizations provide, so growth would be slower. But with less than a month until the exams, there's no need to rush my choice. I should observe and research carefully, and then pick the group best suited for my future. That's the wise path!"

With this, Wang Jue felt much more at ease.

Perhaps sensing the steadiness and resolve in Wang Jue's eyes, Ning Chuan nodded approvingly. "Excellent. I knew I wasn't mistaken about you."

With that, Ning Chuan handed Wang Jue a business card and turned to leave, leaving only one remark: "Once you've made up your mind, give me a call. You have the potential to be a great warrior—joining us will be your best choice."

As for Feng Qingyang and Zhou Yunling, who had remained silent until now, they each gave Wang Jue a look of affirmation before following after Ning Chuan.

Watching the three depart, Principal Huang felt that everything that had just happened was nothing short of miraculous. So miraculous, in fact, that he couldn't make sense of it at all.

Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined that Ning Chuan, a master of the Orange Star Mirror, would come in person to his Peaceful Ten School to recruit a student—and not even from the elite class, but the regular one!

If that were all, it would have been remarkable enough. But what truly defied belief was Wang Jue's response. Faced with Ning Chuan's invitation, the student from his own school didn't immediately agree, but instead asked to consider it.

All of this turned Huang Daguai's worldview upside down. He needed to go somewhere quiet to process it all! He had to figure out where things had gone so unexpectedly wrong...

…

Once Ning Chuan and his companions had disappeared entirely,

At the same time,

Class 6 of the third year exploded in an uproar!

Many students had been peeking from the windows and had seen Ning Chuan with their own eyes, and overheard the exchange between him and Wang Jue.

"If I saw right, that was Lord Ning Chuan, wasn't it?"

"I'm positive—you weren't mistaken, because I saw him too!"

"My god, I actually saw the strongest martial artist in Peaceful Town with my own eyes!"

"More than that, I'm dying to know what made Wang Jue worthy of the Martial Association's invitation—and from Lord Ning Chuan himself!"

"Yeah, is it just because of his third-tier body refinement?"

"Think about it—if Wang Jue could make Lord Ning Chuan come in person, just how much face does that take?"

"I can't believe it—he actually said he needed to think it over? He must be crazy! If it were me, I'd have agreed ten thousand times!"

For a moment, Class 6 was in absolute chaos.

So much so that Wang Jue hesitated to return to the classroom, especially when he saw the bloodshot eyes of his classmates crowded at the windows.

Suddenly, he felt a chill run down his spine.

Fame brings trouble, as they say. Wang Jue knew that as soon as he returned, he'd be surrounded layer upon layer by curious classmates, peppered with endless questions.

Once word spread, who knew how many people from the whole school would come to gawk at him? Even students from the elite class might show up out of jealousy to cause trouble...

Just thinking of all the trouble awaiting him made Wang Jue's head ache.

Since the principal was right there, why not ask for a leave of absence?

"Wang Jue, from now on, you may decide for yourself whether to attend classes," Principal Huang said, as if reading Wang Jue's mind. "That way, once the news spreads and people see you're not around, things won't get out of hand."

"Really? That's great..." Wang Jue felt instantly relieved, and quickly thanked him. "Thank you, Principal!"

"No need, it's for the sake of all our students," said Huang, waving a hand. "Class is about to end—if you don't want to be mobbed, you'd best leave soon."

With that, Principal Huang departed.

Watching him go, Wang Jue turned to his teacher. "Teacher, since the principal has left it up to me, I've decided not to come to school until after the exams. Could you let the other teachers know?"

"Of course, I'll tell them," the teacher replied with a pleased nod. No matter what, Wang Jue was a student she valued. Now that he had caught the attention of such important figures, she truly felt happy for him.

"Teacher, I'll be leaving now," Wang Jue said, and to avoid trouble, left the school right away, not even bothering to collect his books from the classroom.

Out of school, Wang Jue found himself at loose ends. He was just wondering if he should go to the Martial Association to see what benefits he could get, when his phone suddenly rang in his pocket.

"Ring, ring, ring..."

When he looked, he saw it was Lan Yiyi, whom he hadn't heard from in several days.

Without hesitation, Wang Jue answered. "Hello, Captain Lan?"

"It's me," came Lan Yiyi's cool voice on the other end.

Even through the phone, Wang Jue could hear the weariness in her tone, and couldn't help but ask, "Captain Lan, is there something you need?"

"Yes. I wanted to ask if you're free in the next few days. If you are, you can join us on a hunt. If not, we'll find someone else," Lan Yiyi replied, as direct and concise as ever.

"I am—I'm definitely free! Just tell me when, and I'll be there." Wang Jue's face lit up with delight.

After all, he now had the principal's permission to skip school until after the exams, and was just worrying about having nothing to do...