Chapter 17 The Ineffable Serendipity

"Stop!"

The tennis ball launcher immediately ceased, and Wang Lan stood up, panting. Less than ten minutes had passed, and Wang Lan was already drenched in sweat. It was an incredibly high-intensity exercise; Wang Lan had estimated that he needed to make three to five large movements per second to dodge.

"Comprehensive evaluation passed." Jiang Xinyu, with an odd expression on her face, came over to Wang Lan and handed him the evaluation sheet, "Come on, we'll do the individual tests next."

The process was like a medical check-up at a hospital, with each test needing to be completed one by one. Strength, reaction speed, and endurance evaluations all scored an A. Although Wang Lan was not quite sure what an A rating meant, judging by the evaluators' expressions, it seemed to be quite high.

Finally, Wang Lan arrived at the Attribute Analysis Detection Department.

"Attribute analysis is about checking your star power attribute, and even hidden attributes can be detected. Once you know your precise attributes, you will know the direction for future progress and what type of star martial skill to choose.

Before the invention of the attribute analysis machine, star martial warriors could only determine their attributes on their own. It was fine for those with obvious attribute characteristics, but for others with less distinct attributes, their innate talents might be buried."

"Once you get there, channel your star power into the crystal sphere. The machine will automatically analyze your star power attribute."

"Alright!" Hearing this, Wang Lan immediately channeled his star power into the crystal sphere, and soon, the entire device began to vibrate, with indicator lights flashing rapidly.

"Click, click, click—"

A report was quickly printed out. Just as Wang Lan was about to take the report, Jiang Xinyu snatched it away. Looking at Jiang Xinyu, who seemed even more anxious than himself, this behavior did not seem characteristic of her.

"Seventy percent fire attribute, thirty percent yang attribute? Not bad at all."

"Does this count as dual attributes?" Wang Lan asked excitedly.

"No, everyone has yin and yang attributes, even ordinary people. You should know that the most fundamental force that constitutes everything in the world is electromagnetic force, and electromagnetic force itself has yin and yang poles. So as long as you exist, you have yin and yang attributes.

I know what you're thinking — why is there only yang and no yin? The machine makes the selection automatically. If the yang attribute is more prominent than the yin attribute, the machine defaults to yang. If the yin attribute is stronger, it'd be yin. This thirty percent represents the proportion of yin and yang attributes."

"Then, is my attribute considered good or bad?" This was something Wang Lan really didn't understand. Some books were only available for borrowing and purchasing to those with a Star Martial Badge.

"The higher the single attribute percentage, the better. Your ratio is seven to one, which is pretty good," Jiang Xinyu said with a smile.

"What about you?" Wang Lan asked subconsciously.

"My ice attribute naturally carries both wind and water attributes, so ice accounts for 45 percent, wind for 15 percent, water for 30 percent, and yin for 10 percent."

"I shouldn't have asked; really have a big mouth!" Wang Lan silently chastised himself.

After completing all the tests, one could go to the Star Martial Badge administration to handle the badge. As each test was finished, data was synchronized to the central server. So by the time Wang Lan completed the last item, the Star Martial Badge had already been processed, and it was ready for pickup at the window.

Running through a dozen or so tests had taken over two hours, and it was nearly noon by the time he got his Star Martial Badge.

"Thank you for today, without you, I might have had to wait until the afternoon. How about I treat you to lunch?"

"Of course, but I choose the restaurant."

"Certainly."

In the end, the three of them chose an Eagle-Style Restaurant. White Eagle Country's tastes are rather heavy, with steaks made in the shape of rectangular loaves, large and filling. Even the well-off star martial warriors had to consider value for money.

At the dining table, Jiang Xinchen was silent throughout, either bowing his head to eat or his big eyes darting back and forth between his sister and Wang Lan. Meanwhile, Jiang Xinyu was watching Wang Lan the whole time, seemingly with intent.

"Why are you looking at me? Is my eating posture that bad?" Wang Lan said, somewhat speechlessly. Jiang Xinyu seemed a bit strange today.

"Isn't there something you want to say to me?"

"Cough cough—" Jiang Xinchen suddenly choked on a beverage, hastily reaching for a tissue as she coughed.

"Xincheng, you're not being good."

"Sis, I'm sorry..."

"Don't be so hard on Xincheng, I haven't seen anyone more well-behaved than her. How can she not be well-behaved when she's that quiet?"

"You don't understand; this girl definitely thought about something she shouldn't have just now. Right, I was asking you a question."

"Something to say to you? Oh, thank you. I really appreciate it, deeply grateful..." Wang Lan quickly stood up, his face serious and sincere.

"You're doing this on purpose, right? When did you become a star martial warrior? How did you awaken? Shouldn't you give me an honest explanation?"

"Just a few days ago, on the day the school was out on break."

"Soul Resonance didn't awaken you... yet you awakened on your own at this time? Something feels off... That day on the rooftop, you had already awakened, right?"

"Yes, it was at that time."

"Do you remember what I said to you on the rooftop?"

"What?"

"You won!"

"I remember, I do."

"Forget it! It doesn't count."

"What?" Wang Lan looked confused, women indeed changed their minds as suddenly as the legends said.

"You're now a star martial warrior as well. Next term you should transfer to the Star Martial Arts Campus, straight into the third year, class one is good enough."

"Is that my decision to make? Also, how about this, I admit defeat, okay? I really didn't intend to compete with you, I had my own reasons for aiming to be the best..."

"The reasons aren't important, nor does it matter who admits defeat. What's important is that I want to beat you.

You've become a star martial warrior and we have a long road ahead to walk together. It's not yet time for us to part ways, so the bet must continue.

You know, let me win splendidly, or let me accept defeat wholeheartedly. If you dare to go easy on me, I might actually kill you. And about you joining class one, I'll arrange that."

"You're arranging it? How will you arrange that?"

"Donating a teaching building, how tough can it be?"

"You're ludicrously rich!"

"Do you have any plans for the summer vacation?" Jiang Xinyu suddenly asked.

"No plans for now, if nothing comes up, I will probably be focusing on my cultivation. After falling behind for two years, I need to catch up quickly if I want to go straight into senior year. I'm not too stressed about the academic subjects, but I do need to spend a lot of time catching up on the Star Martial courses."

"Your overall strength has already surpassed more than half of the seniors, except for the Star Martial level, which is a bit low, but your other qualities are even better than Xu Xiangwen and Gong Feiyu."

"Really?" Wang Lan was surprised.

"Really, you can't rush the Star Martial level, after all, you've only awakened a few days ago. However, I plan to go to the trial ground during the summer vacation. Do you want to join?"

"The beginner trial ground? Isn't that a place for professional Star Martial Warriors to gain experience?"

"Don't make such a fuss, I've been there several times. The trial ground is teeming with Exotic Beasts, and naturally, lots of Soul Beads. Your foundation is very solid, so there won't be instability from quickly enhancing your Star Power. The trial ground is a good option. Of course, if you're willing to spend a billion or two to buy Soul Beads, that's possible too."

"A billion or two? Do you think money just flies into my wallet? I'm from a poor family; I can't afford that."

"You just collect rent, how is that any different from money blowing in with the wind?"

"Fine, I'll go. When?"

"In three days, I'll come to pick you up. It's not a short distance."

"Okay!"

As Jiang Xinchen listened to their conversation, his eyes suddenly sparkled, and he looked up at Jiang Xinyu.

"Don't even think about it. When you can pass the Level 5 test, I'll consider taking you. Otherwise, it'd be a death sentence for you to go."

"Oh!" Jiang Xinchen was unhappy and lowered his head to eat his steak.

The red limited-edition sports car roared out of the underground parking lot and zoomed into the street, disappearing from the envious eyes of onlookers.

"Dudu—Dudu—"

"Xu Xiangwen, three days later, go to the beginner trial ground."

"Understood!"

After hanging up the phone, Jiang Xinchen turned his head to look at his sister, whose face was flushed with excitement. He knew that she was always very composed, and it was rare for her to be this thrilled. Right now, she was incredibly excited, and if someone handed her a glass of wine at that moment, she would probably down it in one gulp.

"Sis, do you like Lan?"

"Don't talk nonsense, that's not true," Jiang Xinyu replied, her tone as cold as ever and filled with a stern warning.

"Then why were you so excited today? From the moment you saw Lan... your heartbeat has consistently been around 180."

"You wouldn't understand!" Jiang Xinyu suddenly spoke with profound emphasis. "It's been eight years. You can't comprehend it. Eight years, every single exam, he's been first. When I got a hundred percent, so did he. When I got ninety-nine, he still did.

Everything the teachers knew, he knew; what they didn't, he also knew. I've excelled in everything since I was young—violin, piano, painting, calligraphy—I've won so many awards I couldn't carry them all. Math Olympiads, physics, chemistry... always first in every competition.

But! Only in exams, I never got first place. With my temperament, how could I stand it? By the end of sophomore year, that was my last chance to beat him, yet I still lost by ten points. I thought I'd never get another chance to beat him in my life.

Heaven must have eyes, for he awakened the Star Martial Warrior's talent. My competition with him can continue!"

"Sis, do you really think I would believe all that?"

"Believe it or not, I don't care!"

"Hm... knowing my sister's personality, if it really weren't true she wouldn't bother explaining a word. But you explained so much, which only proves one fact."

At that moment, Jiang Xinyu's grip on the steering wheel tightened.

"Explaining means hiding, and hiding implies..."

"The steering wheel's in my hands, and I have control of the brakes and gas pedal. Think carefully before you speak," Jiang Xinyu coldly interrupted.

"You're already thinking of covering your tracks with murder, and yet you say it's not true? How boring!"

Music suddenly filled the car.

"Tomorrow I will marry you la..."

Next song!

"Love is just a word, I only..."

Next song!

"I beg Heaven..."

Turn off the playback!

"That's fate, ah..." Jiang Xinchen laughed happily. "Actually, Lan is really amazing, even the most remarkable person of our generation that I've ever seen.

I've seen people who are good at studying, geniuses like my sister. But someone who's dominated every test with a godlike performance from first grade until now, evoking my urge to bow in respect, is something else.

Even my genius sister, despite all her efforts, couldn't achieve this. I think only he could in this world. A person like that, could he be ordinary?"

"Some people are born extraordinary," Jiang Xinyu agreed with a nod.

"Having this person as a brother-in-law would be quite something... Ah—Sis, I was wrong... Slow down..."