Volume One: First Signs of Brilliance Chapter Twenty-Three: Something Is Wrong

Wang Jue had no doubt; if Luo Shui managed to break through to Body Refinement Level Seven before the exams, even if her academic scores weren't great, her cultivation alone would be enough to secure admission to many of the top hundred colleges. If luck favored her, even the top ten institutes might fight over her and rush her into their ranks.

Looking at Luo Shui, then at himself, Wang Jue suddenly felt that old pang: "Comparing oneself to others only leads to frustration; comparing goods, you'll want to throw yours away." His previous self had always aimed for Yong'an Academy, ranked ninety-ninth among the top hundred colleges. For that, he'd worked diligently and tirelessly, striving to break through to the coveted Body Refinement stage.

Why Yong'an Academy specifically? Mostly because it was close to Peaceful Town.

Sometimes, fate takes turns no one can foresee. His previous self had struggled for over nine years, finally breaking through—but in his excitement, he had died suddenly. The Wang Jue who traversed into this body became a "receiver," gaining the exclusive benefits of a transmigrator: a "golden finger" that could enhance his talent—a windfall too good to be true.

Without this "golden finger," Wang Jue’s sights would have remained on Yong'an Academy. Now, his goal had shifted—he was aiming for the top ten colleges among the elite hundred.

Of course, Wang Jue knew full well that, with his current Body Refinement Level Three, he was unlikely to make it into Yong'an, let alone any of the top ten.

If he wanted to coast through life, never striving for greatness, he could simply stop cultivating now.

But with the "golden finger," ambition began to stir within him.

He wanted to ascend to the pinnacle of martial arts, to venture beyond Azure Star, to see what wonders lay in the universe. To achieve any of this, he needed power.

Without strength, all was empty talk.

Wang Jue understood that, in the short term, his only hope for advancement lay in his "golden finger." Yet the biggest hurdle before him remained the Star Origin Points.

If he couldn't solve this problem—find enough points to boost his talent—his chances of becoming truly strong with his current aptitude were slim to none, even in a lifetime.

"Honestly, did the earlier test hit you hard?" As they walked shoulder to shoulder, Luo Shui glanced at Wang Jue, who seemed lost in thought and ignored her. She reached out and pinched his waist, twisting it ninety degrees.

"Hiss..." The sudden pain snapped Wang Jue back to reality. He grimaced, inhaling sharply. "Are you trying to murder me? Why pinch me out of nowhere?"

"Serves you right! Who told you to zone out while I was talking to you?" Luo Shui replied, clearly annoyed.

Knowing he was at fault, Wang Jue scratched his nose awkwardly. "So... what were you saying just now?"

"I asked if our earlier test upset you," Luo Shui repeated, irritation fading as she waited for his answer.

"If I said it didn't, I'd be lying. It did hit me hard. I never dreamed that the girl I grew up with would be so strong. The nickname ‘Mother Tyrannosaurus’ the class gave you isn't wrong at all."

Wang Jue nodded, smiling. "I'm wondering if I should be more cautious from now on. Who knows when you might land a punch on me—if not dead, I'd be seriously injured."

Truthfully, he'd been dazed because he was contemplating what to do in the next month. Without the system, even if he trained twenty-four hours a day, his current talent left him with no confidence he could reach Body Refinement Level Four in a month.

With the system, aside from the rhombus gem, he hadn’t found another item to convert into Star Origin Points. That was awkward!

"Hey, Little Jue, I see your cultivation has improved and your courage too. Feeling like you've gained some skills? Want me to give you another lesson like I did at noon?" Seeing Wang Jue didn’t seem as devastated as she’d expected, Luo Shui finally relaxed, flexing her delicate fingers threateningly.

Sensing trouble, Wang Jue quickly laughed it off. "Ha ha ha, don't do anything rash! My little body can't take your punches. Besides, we're out on the street—lots of people watching. Girls should be gentle, ladylike!"

"You bastard, what makes you think I'm not ladylike?" Luo Shui's beautiful eyes flashed with anger as she stared at Wang Jue, waiting for his answer. If he failed to satisfy her, she'd show him her true strength.

With danger radiating from Luo Shui, Wang Jue broke out in a cold sweat, unsure what to say.

By sheer luck, they had just arrived at Luo Shui’s doorstep.

Wang Jue’s eyes lit up; he quickly put some distance between them, darting off like the wind. As he fled, he called out, "Alright, you’re home. I’ll head back or my mom will start nagging again. See you tomorrow!"

He ran off as if a monstrous beast was chasing him, vanishing in the blink of an eye.

Watching Wang Jue’s frantic escape, Luo Shui stood stunned. "That guy..."

She hadn’t really been angry. The two of them often teased each other, and she was used to it. As long as she was sure Wang Jue hadn’t been crushed by the test, she was content.

As his childhood friend, she knew how hard and seriously Wang Jue had always trained, despite his low talent and lack of resources. They’d started on equal footing.

Luo Shui’s higher talent allowed her to break through first, while Wang Jue lagged behind. As his only close friend, perhaps out of concern for his pride, she rarely discussed her own progress when they were together.

Once they entered junior high, Wang Jue learned of Luo Shui’s strength from classmates but pretended not to know. Luo Shui had resolved that if Wang Jue ever asked, she would tell him honestly.

To her surprise, Wang Jue played dumb for three years, never asking about her abilities, and she never volunteered the information, afraid to hurt his self-esteem. So she simply played along.

Had Wang Jue not told her of his breakthrough this time, she might never have revealed her true strength in front of him.

Luo Shui lingered at her door, watching Wang Jue’s departing figure until it disappeared, then turned and headed inside...

...

Meanwhile, Wang Jue, now running away, wasn’t thinking much about anything. He knew his most urgent task was to figure out what the rhombus gem he'd acquired was, and where to find more of them.

Only by collecting enough rhombus gems to convert into Star Origin Points could he further enhance his talent. Then he’d have a real chance to break through to Body Refinement Level Four—or even Five—in the coming month.

Wang Jue avoided the main road, taking a shortcut that led closer to home.

Emerging from the side street, he walked about twenty meters to his residential complex, climbed the stairs by the dim light, took out his key, and unlocked the door.

Upon entering, Wang Jue saw his parents sitting on the living room sofa. He hurried to greet them, "Dad, Mom, I'm home."

Seeing them waiting, Wang Jue realized there was no escaping his mother’s round of nagging tonight.

He’d prepared himself for this before returning, expecting only his mother to be waiting.

But to his surprise, the whole family was there: his father, his mother, and even Wang Xiaoyu, who should have been asleep.

The atmosphere felt off.

No one spoke in the living room, but Wang Jue could sense the oppressive mood, clouded and tense.

Even his usually mischievous little sister was quiet as a princess, and his parents looked grim, clearly troubled by something.

"Dad, Mom, why do you look so upset? Did something happen at home?" Wang Jue asked hesitantly.

No sooner had he finished than—

"So you finally decided to come home? Do you even know what time it is? How old are you now? Why are you still acting like a child?" His mother’s mood, already sour from the day’s disappointing business at the store, darkened further as she saw Wang Jue. Her tone was sharper than usual.

She’d been stressed enough from work; now her son was adding to her worries. She’d be driven mad by this little rascal one day.

"Hey, don’t be mad. I know I was wrong. Next time I’ll