For the next five days, Invincible Team’s momentum was unstoppable.

They constantly issued challenges on the D-List, stirring up a storm and starting an unhealthy trend of freshmen "slaughtering" upperclassmen, leaving the teams at the bottom of the rankings utterly miserable.

Eight battles, eight victories.

That was the record Invincible Team set in their eight challenge matches.

This, in turn, inspired the other freshmen to follow suit.

New teams constantly sprang up among the first-year students: the Awesome Squad, the Alpha Team, the Cookie Crew... The list was endless.

However, the results were all brutal.

While shouting slogans like, "On the path of the strong, one must advance or be left behind!" these new teams were promptly beaten back. The upperclassman teams they challenged showed no mercy. It was as if they were venting all their pent-up frustration and anger, using the cruelest moves they knew.

As expected, these teams collectively lost the shirts off their backs.

The freshmen eventually came to a single conclusion.

Some people are just different.

But this also drove home just how powerful Invincible Team was. In just a few short days, Gao Neng, Fang Tangtang, and their teammates had officially become the leading role models for the first-year students.

However, the topic of how far Gao Neng and the others could actually go became a hot topic of debate at the Eastern Capital Military Academy.

An eight-battle winning streak...

...didn’t mean they could actually take first place on the D-List.

After all, the teams got progressively stronger the higher up the rankings you went.

The freshmen cheered, "Invincible Team is invincible!"

The upperclassmen shot back, "They’ll fall in the next match!"

Of course, overall, the aggressive approach of Gao Neng and the others was something the leadership of the Eastern Capital Military Academy was happy to see.

When there’s a leader of the pack, everyone else is more motivated, after all.

However, some people were extremely frustrated by all this.

Like Gui Zian.

Gui Zian wasn’t frustrated about Gao Neng’s continuous challenges on the D-List, nor was he frustrated that he wasn’t the one who had taught Gao Neng energy materialization. What frustrated him was that Gao Neng never showed up for classes at the War Academy.

That’s right. Ever since Gao Neng had enrolled in the War Academy at Eastern Capital Military Academy, he had barely attended a single formal class there.

The theoretical courses at the Eastern Capital Military Academy were not mandatory.

You could attend if you wanted to, but if you didn’t... no one would force you to sit through lectures every day.

The crux of the matter was...

Gao Neng wasn’t actually skipping classes. If that were the only issue, Gui Zian wouldn’t be so frustrated. The real problem was that Gao Neng *was* attending class every single day.

What’s more, he was a model student who was rarely late.

Except...

He was attending classes at the Manufacturing Academy!

This was just too much.

Gui Zian was furious. ’If you’re going to say you don’t have time or you don’t want to attend theory classes, fine! But you’re a model freshman from the War Academy! What the hell are you doing running off to the Manufacturing Academy every day?’

...

It was another bright and sunny morning.

Gao Neng was in a great mood. He had finished magnetizing both his arms, which meant he had officially entered the Tier One Late Stage.

’Who would dare call me a Tier One Early Stage noob now?’

’I’ll beat the crap out of you!’

But there was something Gao Neng was a little confused about. He had reached the Tier One Late Stage the night before last, but last night he had not successfully broken through to Tier Two.

’Is there some kind of bottleneck I have to break through for each tier?’

Gao Neng decided to find some time to ask someone. But for now, it was time for class. After washing up, he hummed a song and headed for the Manufacturing Academy as usual.

He had a 100% success rate in weapon manufacturing.

So, what was he lacking now?

’Theory. As long as I have enough manufacturing blueprints, I can make anything. And those blueprints aren’t taught at the War Academy; they’re only covered in the theory courses at the Manufacturing Academy. As for combat techniques... with the Wordless Celestial Book, I’m not too worried about that for now.’

Eastern Capital Military Academy was huge.

But Gao Neng moved quickly, stepping through the gates of the Manufacturing Academy right on time. Then, he took a seat in the very front row and prepared to listen attentively.

"Gao Neng, you’re here again?" The Manufacturing Academy instructor was at a loss for words. ’This kid has been in my class for five days straight; of course I recognize him. Besides, Gao Neng is a celebrity at the Eastern Capital Military Academy now.’

’And he’s super handsome...’

’It would be hard *not* to recognize him.’

"Yes, sir," Gao Neng replied with an obedient nod. "Are we continuing with long-bladed swords today?"

"Um... yes, let’s continue. The manufacturing of long-bladed swords is generally divided into several types: true long blades... like the Cyan Dragon Crescent Blade, which is suitable for large-scale battles. Besides that, long-bladed swords are also divided into..." The Manufacturing Academy instructor gave a wry smile and picked up where he left off yesterday.

’What a good student.’

’But the problem is... you’re from the War Academy!’

’So what’s the deal with you running over to our Manufacturing Academy to be a perfect student every single day?’

...

Outside the Manufacturing Academy gate, Gui Zian’s face was pale with anger.

’Gao Neng went in again!’

’That brat must be doing this on purpose. He just wants to tell everyone at Eastern Capital Military Academy that his growth has nothing to do with Gui Zian, doesn’t he?’

’Just because I put you in your place during the freshman orientation?’

’Is it really necessary to go this far?!’

"Well, well. Is Vice Director Gui here to accompany the ’Prince Consort’ to his studies again?" A light chuckle sounded from behind Gui Zian as a figure appeared before him.

"Just passing by." Gui Zian glanced at Wang Qixing, who had appeared before him, and frowned.

"Really just passing by? Your War Academy’s genius student is now running to our Manufacturing Academy for class every day. The whole school knows about it now. Honestly... it puts us in a difficult position. How about I issue an order for the Manufacturing Academy, banning Gao Neng from attending our classes? What do you think, Vice Director Gui?" Wang Qixing smiled again, speaking with a sincere expression.

"Vice Principal Wang, don’t overstep your authority. The theoretical courses at the Eastern Capital Military Academy have no such restrictions. It’s normal for students to occasionally visit other academies to broaden their horizons. Oh, right, I have some matters to attend to at the War Academy, so I’ll be going now." After saying this, Gui Zian turned to leave directly.

"Vice Director Gui, if you leave now, you’ll just have to make another trip back later. Why bother?" Wang Qixing waved and called out a reminder.

"What do you mean by that, Vice Principal Wang?" Gui Zian stopped, his brows furrowed slightly.

"We have a guest coming today."

"A guest is coming? What does that have to do with me?"

"Normally, it wouldn’t. But since you’re Gao Neng’s mentor now, it has a little something to do with you. Alright, I have things to take care of at the Manufacturing Academy, so I’m off." Wang Qixing stopped there and said no more, turning to leave.

Gui Zian was lost in thought.

’Wang Qixing hadn’t spelled it out, but he understood the implication. A guest was coming to the Eastern Capital Military Academy today, and this guest was likely connected to Gao Neng?’

...

「By noon.」

Gao Neng walked out of the Manufacturing Academy, completely satisfied. Then, he ran right into a murderous-looking Gui Zian, who was waiting at the academy’s gate.

"Gao Neng, where are you going?" Gui Zian’s words were ground out through clenched teeth, his rage barely suppressed.

"To eat... Teacher Gui, is something wrong?" Gao Neng blinked.

"It’s not me who has a problem, it’s you! And it’s a serious one!" Gui Zian clenched his fists, his face as black as thunder.

A sudden chill ran down Gao Neng’s spine.

’He had no doubt Gui Zian was itching to beat him up right now.’

’Could it be because I went to class at the Manufacturing Academy...? Is it that serious? Does he have to beat me up in broad daylight? Has he no shame?’

"My wife is Shen Ning’Er! Shen Ning’Er’s grandfather is the Deputy Commander of the Eastern Capital Military District! The Eastern Capital Military Academy is subordinate to the Eastern Capital Military District! Teacher Gui, think carefully before you act!" Gao Neng shouted.

’I have to remind Gui Zian that I have powerful connections. If you dare hit me, I’ll go tattle on you.’

"No need to think twice, Vice Director Gui. If I were you, I’d give this brat a good beating right now. Teach him the consequences of being an imposter!" Just then, a voice rang out.

"Who dares say I’m an imposter?" Gao Neng was stunned, then turned to look. He quickly saw two people standing not far behind Gui Zian.

One he recognized.

Song Tianyun, the principal of the Eastern Capital Military Academy.

And the other...

He didn’t recognize him, though.

The man had a distinctly masculine air about him, with sharp brows and piercing eyes, and he was dressed in a military uniform.

But that wasn’t important. What mattered was the man’s rank insignia—it was quite high. If Gao Neng wasn’t mistaken, he saw two bars and four stars.

’An Alliance Major General?!’

’So, this was a... Division Commander?’

A strange Division Commander had suddenly appeared behind him and was bluntly calling him an imposter. ’No matter how you look at it,’ he thought, ’this isn’t going to be simple.’

Gao Neng thought it over. ’I’m in deep trouble this time...’