Chapter Eleven: Yu Zhisha Returns

"It's been a long time since I last came to the Martial Hall," Su Ye murmured as he walked alongside Jian Muqian toward a teaching building. Upon seeing the characters "Martial Hall" displayed above, he couldn't help but feel a wave of emotion.

Back when he was in his second year of high school, his test here revealed forty-one successfully awakened acupoints. That result instantly made him the brightest star in the entire school—none, not even the senior students, could rival his achievement.

Unfortunately, everything changed later...

Ever since he fell from grace, he had never set foot in this place again. Even the last martial assessment had been conducted outside the school.

As he slowly stepped inside, he noticed that there were still quite a few students present. They wore martial arts uniforms, chatting in small groups. When they saw Jian Muqian, several students approached to ask after her wellbeing. Soon, they noticed Su Ye as well.

Yet now, because of the giant python incident, many students had changed their view of Su Ye; no one dared mock him openly anymore.

"Instructor Jian, where are you and... Su Ye headed?" someone asked curiously. After all, Su Ye had always avoided this place of heartbreak.

"We're here for a test, of course," Jian Muqian replied with a smile, leading Su Ye forward.

Su Ye was going to take a test?

The news spread like wildfire, drawing crowds of students. Many even rushed over from other teaching buildings.

The Martial Hall was a circular structure, with a vast open courtyard at its center—large enough to hold thousands of students. Here, Su Ye spotted students from the elite class as well.

Lu Heyan and his group stood in their training uniforms, frowning at Su Ye's approach. When they realized what was happening, they exchanged mocking laughs.

"Here for a test? Has playing hero for a moment made him think he's someone important? Three years a failure, and now he expects to achieve something? Instructor Jian must be generous to still help him after nearly losing her job because of him!"

Beside him, Yuan Guang chimed in resentfully, "That loser made my girlfriend break up with me! That wretch even compared me to him, saying I couldn't protect her, not even as well as a failure. Damn it, it's all Su Ye's fault!"

Meanwhile, across the courtyard, Jiu Yuyue tilted her delicate face upward, a rare warmth flickering on her icy features. She murmured, "Why is he coming to test now? Is it for her?"

"Heh, who knows? This is getting interesting. Do you think he might really have made a breakthrough?"

"Impossible! He fought that giant python, but he didn't kill it—it was just luck that he survived. I bet he's still stuck at zero awakened points. Care to wager?"

More and more students gathered, making Su Ye slightly uneasy.

Jian Muqian, unfazed, pointed toward the testing chamber ahead. "Su Ye, I believe in you! You'll succeed. And if you don't, if you're still at zero, that's fine too. From today on, I'll tutor you personally and make sure you graduate smoothly!"

"Thank you," Su Ye replied, his voice steady. "I want to know for myself if I've broken through." With that, he strode into the testing room, where an expensive testing device awaited.

This machine was worth a fortune; rumor had it the Yan family in Jiangnan Province had waited years to purchase it. Step inside, unleash your full strength, and it would measure exactly how many acupoints you had awakened.

Instinctively, every eye fixed on the display screen.

Su Ye drew a deep breath. Though he now possessed a true Thunder Meridian, he didn't know how many acupoints he had truly broken through. Would the Thunder Meridian show up on this machine?

Buzz—

He clenched his fist, and instantly, it was as if all one hundred and eight acupoints in his body were sensed by the mysterious device. White light flooded the display.

That light was the symbol of a successful breakthrough!

"What? He really did it?" gasps erupted throughout the crowd.

"How many? Oh heavens, is this loser about to become a genius again? How many acupoints did he manage?"

The light on the display slowly faded, revealing a single number, spinning wildly before finally settling. Every second felt like an eternity.

Number of awakened acupoints: 1

The glaring "1" froze on the screen.

That solitary digit instantly ignited the crowd.

"What? He really awakened an acupoint?"

"It's been three years, and he actually succeeded? One acupoint!"

Jian Muqian cheered and clapped, her excitement clear. Even if it was just one acupoint, it was an excellent start.

Lu Heyan and his group looked sour. "Hmph, just one after three years. What's there to celebrate?"

"Right? Someone who didn't know better would think he awakened a hundred acupoints," Yuan Guang sneered.

Su Ye stared at that number, his heart pounding. After three long years, he could finally cultivate again. In just this short time, he'd already broken through one acupoint.

He exhaled in relief. He had worried the "Thunder Meridian" might show up, but it hadn't. That confirmed his theory—he was cultivating a true Celestial Meridian, something no test machine could detect.

The Thunder Meridian would become his trump card.

Suddenly, all the noise died away.

A hush fell over the hall, as if an unseen authority pressed them into silence, choking back their words.

Every head turned to the second floor.

Su Ye trembled, his gaze following theirs.

At the top of the stairs stood a girl of peerless beauty. Her presence was commanding, her attire resplendent. She was regal, her eyes dark as night, diamond earrings sparkling at her ears.

She stood with an air of lofty pride, like a celestial bird, drawing every gaze irresistibly to her. In that instant, she became the center of all attention.

Yu Zhisha—

Su Ye's mind roared. He hadn't expected her to appear now.

When had she returned?

His fists clenched unconsciously, veins bulging, hatred surging within him.

He had once risked everything to awaken the Thunder Acupoint for Yu Zhisha, only to be betrayed by the Yu family.

With a gleaming artifact, Yu Zhisha had stabbed him in the back, tearing open his flesh in a bloody wound.

Nine Thunder Meridians—ripped from him by brutal force!

This was a grudge he would never forget.

Perhaps sensing his fury, the celestial thunder within him rumbled, almost knocking him off his feet. Only Jian Muqian's steadying hand kept him upright.

All around, students cheered Yu Zhisha's name. Only now did he realize they hadn't come to watch his test—they had come for her.

He'd heard rumors of her return, but never expected her to arrive so quietly.

"Oh? So you're recovering already?" Yu Zhisha's voice rang out. It was not loud, but carried an inexplicable authority, clear to every ear.

Her gaze locked onto Su Ye.

With a proud smile, she descended the grand staircase, trailed by the school's leadership, two defiant young men, and her personal instructor, Zhou Jinghao.

As she and her entourage came down, the students parted like a tide, clearing a path.

One of the young men at her side glanced at Su Ye, then suddenly seemed to recall something. He sneered, "So this is the useless one who once stood beside you? I can't imagine why your school still keeps someone like that around."

Zhou Jinghao waved him off. "Don't make such connections! Comparing anyone to Zhisha only diminishes her stature."

"Come," Yu Zhisha said with a cold smile, her black leather shoes tapping crisply on the wooden floor. She cast Su Ye a glance—a look filled with disdain—and strode out the main doors, the very picture of one adored by all.

Such a prodigy should have graduated high school at thirteen, but the school had kept her as an exchange student to further her growth.

Now, at last, she returned in glory, the pride of the entire school.

As she was about to leave, Su Ye suddenly stepped forward, his voice ringing out, "Yu Zhisha— I challenge you!"