Chapter 137

Chapter 137 Chapter 137 During the afternoon class, Zhou Renjie apologized to Su Bei. After a lunch break, he’d regained his senses, realizing how unwise his actions were. Su Bei accepted; such a small matter wasn’t worth getting mad over. But he stored it away—Zhou Renjie’s personality would likely cause bigger trouble later. Su Bei hadn’t forgotten the author’s foreshadowing on him. Foreshadowing used early has less impact. If Zhou Renjie had blown up right after the dream world, an apology might’ve settled it. But with it lingering, Su Bei sensed the author was planning something big. The next day, Meng Huai addressed yesterday’s incident: “Mu Tieren, as Class Monitor, tell us your mistakes.” Ever the honest student, Mu Tieren dutifully listed them: “Even at school, we shouldn’t let our guard down, approaching a High-Level Nightmare Beast unprepared. After it was revealed, we didn’t ask the teacher about its abilities. If we had before the first period ended, we could’ve avoided what followed. Also, the teacher gave us multiple hints we didn’t notice, showing our lack of alertness.” He was the model student, answering thoroughly and hitting Meng Huai’s points. That’s why Meng Huai called on him—others might’ve said who-knows-what. Meng Huai nodded, satisfied: “Well said. Sit down.” Then he called on Su Bei: “Su Bei, what did you do wrong yesterday?” No choice—though Su Bei was a troublemaker, only he and Wu Jin stood apart from Mu Tieren’s group. Wu Jin couldn’t be called, forced to stay silent, so it had to be Su Bei. Surprisingly, Su Bei admitted: “I was wrong.” Everyone looked at him in shock. Meng Huai felt a bad premonition, almost not wanting to ask, but had to: “What was wrong?” “I shouldn’t have stayed silent out of fear of the teacher’s authority,” Su Bei answered honestly. Meng Huai’s vision darkened, half-laughing, half-furious, pointing at Su Bei: “Fine, well said. I hope you train as well in this afternoon’s physical class.” Su Bei shrugged, sitting under admiring gazes. He knew about the physical training but wanted to push his limits and see his current level. As the second semester, the start was plotless. A week passed routinely—no special Different Spaces, no “Black Flash” disruptions, no brainless antagonists, no manga updates, no [Manga Consciousness] presence. Everything was so calm it felt like the manga was a dream, and this was just an ordinary world. But seeing his notebook’s meteor fall notes snapped Su Bei back to reality. He needed a plot point to share this with Jiang Tianming, letting them and the readers see and discuss it. If readers discussed, he could use “Prophet” to steer the plot, finding a reason to solve the meteor fall and eliminate Nightmare Beasts. But he had to reveal it at a plot point, or he couldn’t ensure the author would draw it. If not drawn, the move would be wasted. No need to wait long—Su Bei judged the first monthly exam would trigger a manga update. He’d find a chance then. Meanwhile, he began precision Mental Energy control training. Meng Huai explained the process: it started with pure Mental Energy control, then combined with abilities. Tailored ability training required deep teacher knowledge of the student’s ability. Since much of Su Bei’s ability remained secret, Meng Huai waved it off, letting him choose the second phase: follow teacher guidance or train privately with a method. Su Bei chose the latter, as Meng Huai suspected—his secrets couldn’t be exposed. He’d researched ability-Mental Energy integration in [Dream Bubble] and knew how to train. “Su Bei, how’s your training?” Zhao Xiaoyu asked curiously after a training session. She wasn’t curious about his progress but what Mental Energy training was like. Su Bei knew what she meant but dodged: “It’s okay. Kinda dull, but not tiring...” His unexpected, evasive reply made her suspicious. She didn’t believe he missed her intent—it was deliberate. Thinking, she asked directly: “How do you train Mental Energy? Any specific methods?” She asked bluntly because she knew Su Bei wasn’t one to hide such things. With others, noticing evasion, she’d back off. Su Bei paused, then answered reluctantly: “Weaving scarves with Mental Energy.” He had to admit, it helped his control. From struggling to tie a knot with two needles to forming a scarf in just over a week, he’d progressed. But it was embarrassing. Knitting wasn’t the issue, but at their age, it carried a weird shame, even for Su Bei. He could dodge the first question, but evading again would be worse when exposed. Better to come clean. Sure enough, Zhao Xiaoyu froze, then burst out laughing: “Hahaha, that’s so creative! What’ll you do with the scarf? Can you give me one? Hahaha, I’ll keep it.” Su Bei: “...” Before he could reply, Mo Xiaotian leaned in: “What’s so funny?” Zhao Xiaoyu looked at Su Bei, not answering. It wasn’t about isolating Mo Xiaotian—she saw Su Bei’s reluctance and wouldn’t spread it. But Su Bei didn’t hide, saying: “We’re discussing how weaving scarves with Mental Energy controls Advanced Mental Energy.” “Weaving scarves?” Mo Xiaotian’s eyes widened in blatant surprise, but his next words felt unexpectedly fitting: “Wow! That’s so cool! I wanna try!” Even Su Bei had to admit why shonen protagonists like Mo Xiaotian were universally liked. His sunny vibe maxed out emotional value. And he wasn’t just talk. The next day, he brought yarn and knitting needles. Seeing this, Su Bei laughed: “You’re really knitting?” Mo Xiaotian said confidently: “I’ll awaken Advanced Mental Energy someday. Practicing now builds experience.” His logic was absurd, but the next day, Zhao Xiaoyu brought knitting supplies too, with the same reason. By the fourth day, the whole class followed Mo Xiaotian, knitting in class. Su Bei wasn’t dumb—he figured it out. Mo Xiaotian’s knitting was genuine interest. Zhao Xiaoyu and the others? Likely to spare his dignity. Zhao Xiaoyu’s description probably made them think he was embarrassed, and since it was out, they knitted with him so he wouldn’t feel alone. It was funny... and touching. It was a small thing—Su Bei only felt slight shame, not aversion. It was for strength, not some shady method. Why object? But their consideration warmed him. He said nothing, just started training Mental Energy during class breaks. Teachers seeing S Class pull out yarn and needles to knit scarves: “...” Was this some unknown activity? Time flew, another week passed. The school felt odd. Su Bei didn’t seek gossip but sensed restlessness among upperclassmen with a few encounters. Was it the monthly exam? He asked Zhao Xiaoyu, perfect for intel. Thriving in the Student Council, she got news early. As expected, she nodded: “It’s the exam. Teachers will probably announce soon. This semester’s midterm is a three-school competition, so this monthly exam selects the school team.” Su Bei, a shonen manga and novel veteran, knew school competitions well—a great chance for personal spotlight. Since he asked in class, others heard. Those like Si Zhaohua, informed by their families, had no questions, but the unaware were curious. Wu Mingbai inferred: “So other grades need to form teams too?” “Right. Monthly exam forms teams, midterm is the three-school competition, and at finals, top second- and third-years form a national youth team for international battles,” Zhao Xiaoyu said, clearly researched. Su Bei asked thoughtfully: “So you know the monthly exam’s process?” Zhao Xiaoyu nodded: “It’s split into tracks—attack, control, support, defense, special—each picking two, one main, one reserve, for the midterm three-school competition.” Five tracks—Su Bei was confident in the special track. Competitors in S Class were at most Feng Lan, Zhao Xiaoyu, Jiang Tianming, and Li Shu, and many could join other tracks. Even if they all competed, Su Bei wasn’t scared. Unless instantly defeated, he could fight. With a pointer adjustment, others couldn’t resist [Destiny Bestowal]’s forced changes. But ten slots meant, even if all were S Class, five would miss out. Su Bei looked at Zhao Xiaoyu: “Which track are you picking?” She should want the midterm, but unless it tested Nightmare Beast elimination, her ability wasn’t ideal for any track. Yet she didn’t seem worried. Zhao Xiaoyu winked playfully: “Who said I’m competing?” “Then you...” Su Bei was rarely surprised. She smiled, raising her voice: “At the midterm, I’ll be a volunteer for the three-school competition. You might see me as a host!” Hosts were usually for third-years, who had more experience and strength, plus it boosted resumes. Hosting such a competition was prestigious. But Zhao Xiaoyu secured it. Her [Happiness] ability, stronger against Nightmare Beasts, also calmed human anger. In a competition with school honor and expectations, tempers flared. Participants, even first-years, were elite, and with diverse abilities, real fights could turn deadly, hard for teachers to stop. Zhao Xiaoyu’s ability soothed rage. After arguing her case, teachers agreed. “You planned that far ahead?” Ai Baozhu said, shocked. “The monthly exam’s not even here, and you’ve got your midterm role?” Mo Xiaotian, the mood-setter, added: “You’re amazing! A host! Like reading cheer scripts at school sports meets?” Zhao Xiaoyu hadn’t considered this, her face turning serious. Sports meet hosts’ cringe-worthy speeches made her want to cover her ears. Saying them herself? Unbearable. “...I’ll check past competition videos,” she said, hurrying off. Su Bei’s focus wasn’t on her but Mo Xiaotian. He realized their class had many attackers: Si Zhaohua, Qi Huang, Mo Xiaotian, Ling You, Mu Tieren. Ling You might skip this track, as it wasn’t her style. But the other four had strong attack abilities. Mu Tieren was weaker, but he had a plot point. Su Bei was sure Si Zhaohua would make it—his ultimate move guaranteed eliminations. Not making it would be absurd. But the others—Mu Tieren’s plot point, Qi Huang’s dominant attack ability, Mo Xiaotian’s mole status—any could vie for the last spot. The attack track was crowded. Su Bei was curious who’d win. His guesses might be off—Qi Huang was attack, but Mu Tieren and Mo Xiaotian could join other tracks. Defense was likely Ai Baozhu and Wu Mingbai. They could fit support, attack, or special, but defense had less competition, so Su Bei guessed those. Jiang Tianming’s choice intrigued him. Which track? Without items in solo battles, how would he show his new abilities? With just [Object Control], Su Bei doubted he’d qualify. Even if he did, [Object Control] wouldn’t shine in the midterm three-school competition. He needed a way to use other abilities reasonably. But using them required a believable excuse, not linking to the two dead criminals. Though dead, they could still provide clues. As an S Class member, Jiang Tianming’s abilities were watched—not just by Endless Ability Academy but by rival schools and “Black Flash.” The schools were fine, analyzing for weaknesses or training. But “Black Flash” might dig into his secrets. If his true ability, [Death Summon], was exposed, it’d be trouble. The “Black Flash” boss' lover was dead—he might covet Jiang Tianming’s ability to see her again. Abilities weren’t guilty, but people’s gazes could taint them. Even if Jiang Tianming never misused his ability, some wouldn’t trust he’d stay clean. Shaking his head, Su Bei resumed knitting with Mental Energy. It was his only progress path now—physical training was maxed, and [Dream Bubble]’s cooldown wasn’t over. Training abilities in reality wasn’t impossible but wasted Mental Energy and risked exposure. [Dream Bubble]’s dream was safer. Soon, most first-years learned the monthly exam details, growing as restless as upperclassmen. This exam differed from the [Campaign Reenactment]. Though both were three-school rankings, the latter tested pure individual strength. Many who missed chances in [Campaign Reenactment] due to poor roles, timing, or plotlines felt confident again. But they knew beating other schools meant beating their own first. Ten slots from 200 first-years was tough. Some gave up, aiming for good exam scores, not the three-school competition. Others were eager to defeat S Class and join it. Some felt they couldn’t match S Class in attack but had a shot in other tracks. Endless Ability Academy, privately ranked highest, meant representing it was a resume booster for jobs or ability teams. Under eager anticipation, on the fourth week’s Monday, Meng Huai announced the monthly exam details.