The principal had watched the video of Chen Shu's battle against Nanjiang First High. His strength was every bit as formidable as Fang Si's had been back in the day.
Especially considering that most current third-year students were only Level 6 or 7 Beast Tars.
As a Level 8 Beast Tar, Chen Shu could steamroll them with ease.
But if they waited until next sester, when the other students' levels caught up, Chen Shu might not be able to sweep them so cleanly.
"Deal! All you need to do is defeat the other six schools in the city!"
The principal brought down the final hamr, authorizing Chen Shu's expedition.
Only eight high schools in Nanjiang City had notable results in beast taming. The rest were unremarkable.
Spending six million to let Chen Shu put Nanjiang Second High's na on the map wasn't exactly a bad deal.
"Then it's settled!"
Chen Shu's eyes sparkled with excitent. Shen Wushuang's lectures had been putting him to sleep anyway.
Rather than wasting ti in class, he might as well fight. Not only could he earn Huaxia Currency, but battles also had a better chance of triggering system options. Win-win, right?
"Oh, one more thing, Principal—have the other schools set up their Special Training Classes yet?"
Normally, Special Training Classes weren't ford until the second sester of third year, since they consud massive resources.
The principal replied, "Because our school started early, every high school in the city fast-tracked theirs."
"Perfect!"
Chen Shu turned to leave.
"Wait..."
Shen Wushuang walked into the office. "Principal, you agreed to this?"
Seeing the principal nod, he continued, "I have to teach the Special Training Class students. I don't have ti to be Chen Shu's bodyguard."
"What bodyguard? This is a legitimate challenge. First High's Lin Ziyan didn't need a bodyguard either."
Shen Wushuang rubbed his forehead. "Yeah, and that's why we carried him out on a stretcher..."
He then explained Chen Shu's gift for provoking people.
If nothing went wrong, Chen Shu was definitely going to have sothing go wrong.
"Teacher Shen, what are you talking about?"
Chen Shu stood up abruptly. "I can handle this on my own. Don't worry about it!"
With that, he walked straight out of the office.
That evening, the three of them gathered at a maocai stall outside school.
Xu Xingxing asked, "Chen Pi, you're really going to challenge all six other schools?"
"Obviously. Nanjiang First High couldn't even touch . The rest will be even easier."
Xie Sunan raised an eyebrow. "I don't rember you being this high-profile."
Chen Shu spread his hands. "Can't help it. The school's paying too well."
"Xiao Xing, does your family have any Black Iron rank Beast Tars? I need soone to watch my back in case the other schools get sore about losing."
Xu Xingxing's eyes darted around, a grin forming at the corner of his mouth. "Actually, you don't need a Black Iron rank bodyguard. You can protect yourself."
"?"
"Tell Nanjiang's dia that an F-rank Sli is challenging geniuses from six high schools. A story that hot will definitely get wall-to-wall coverage. With caras everywhere, nobody would dare lay a finger on you."
Chen Shu's eyes went wide. "Holy crap, that actually makes sense. That's even safer than a Black Iron rank bodyguard."
Then, imdiately: "And while we're at it, I can line up so sponsors. That's another revenue stream right there."
Xu Xingxing let out a dry laugh.
"You really know how to take an inch and run a mile, huh... But Nanjiang City dia alone won't get that much traction. Even with sponsors, they won't pay much."
"Who cares? Don't look down on shrimp—it's still seafood. A rotten egg is still an egg, isn't it?"
The other two were speechless. What kind of taphors are those...
"No, wait—I'm realizing this is a huge opportunity to make serious money. I can't let it slip!"
Chen Shu scarfed down the rest of his dinner, then headed back to school to start mapping out his challenge tour.
"Bro, this is a beast taming battle. Why are you making it so comrcial?"
"You rich kids don't get it. Don't talk to about beast taming—all I want is to make goddamn money!"
Chen Shu was already ahead of every student in Nanjiang City.
If he could reach Level 9 early, he might even make a push for Black Iron rank before the college entrance exams.
As long as he hit Black Iron rank, Huaxia Academy would accept him without question.
It had been nearly a decade since any third-year student in all of Huaxia had reached Black Iron rank.
The main reason was that once you hit Level 9, the only way to break through was through self-cultivation.
Beast Orbs and Beast Taming Pearls beca drastically less effective. Otherwise, rich people could just feed a pig until it hit Black Iron rank.
In fact, at every major realm, the final minor level would severely reduce the effectiveness of Beast Orbs.
The three of them made their way back to the dorms.
Chen Shu turned to Xu Xingxing. "Hey, how about your family's company sponsors this?"
"My family runs a major provincial corporation. A Nanjiang City event is beneath them."
Xu Xingxing added, "Besides, having YOU as our spokesperson would be bad PR."
"How is that bad PR?"
Chen Shu's mouth twitched. He pulled out his phone and found Zhou Shi's contact—a senior executive at 666 Potion Company.
"Hey, Uncle Zhou, I've got a money-making plan. Interested?"
"Not investing. Not buying stocks or funds. I'm broke!"
Beep beep beep~~
"..."
Chen Shu dialed again, blurting out before Zhou Shi could hang up, "Uncle Zhou, it's —Chen Shu!"
On the other end, Zhou Shi replied matter-of-factly, "I know. That's exactly why I hung up. Kid, did you beco a scamr or sothing?"
"..."
Chen Shu's mouth twitched. You absolute bastard.
He said earnestly, "It's not a scam, it's real. I'll try to keep it short, but the thing is... it's a long story."
"..."
He then laid out his challenge plan.
"You want to fight six other high schools? Don't be ridiculous. Your Sli is good enough for looking cute, at best."
Zhou Shi thought it sounded like pure fantasy. An F-rank Sli challenging Nanjiang City's top students?
He acknowledged that Chen Shu had battle talent, but talent only went so far in a supporting role. The real deciding factor was still a contract spirit's raw power.
"Uncle Zhou, I already demolished Nanjiang First High. Didn't Xiaoyu tell you?"
Zhou Shi's brain short-circuited for a mont. "Bullshit."
"It's true. And this is a golden opportunity to promote the company. I've already contacted Nanjiang's entertainnt dia—they'll be covering the whole thing."
"I'll need to discuss this with the company."
They hung up.
Chen Shu's eyes darted around. Then he went online and started buying paid comnters,[1] flooding every platform with manufactured hype for himself.
When it ca to the internet, he had it wrapped around his little finger.
"SHOCKING! An F-Rank Contract Spirit Is About to Demolish A-Rank Spirits Everywhere!"
"My Friends and I Were STUNNED! An F-Rank Sli Vows to Flatten All of Nanjiang!"
"Why Is an F-Rank Spirit Challenging A-Rank Spirits? The Heartwarming Reason Will Make You Cry..."[2]
It wasn't just eye-catching headlines—he also uploaded a clip of the Sli demolishing the Storm Thunder Bird.
The internet erupted into a massive uproar.
As the mastermind behind it all, Chen Shu couldn't have cared less. He was already fast asleep, snoring away.
Five short days passed.
News of Chen Shu's challenge to every major high school in Nanjiang fernted steadily across the internet, drawing hordes of spectators.
Most of them were from Nanjiang City itself and surrounding cities, of course.
By early November, Chen Shu decided the timing was ripe. He'd begin the challenge tour tomorrow.
The Bandit marches forth — not a blade of grass survives![3]
First target: Nanjiang Third High!
"Wang Teng, let witness your bearing of a GREAT EMPEROR!"
[1] Paid comnters / Water army (水军): Chinese term for hired online trolls who flood social dia with fake engagent—comnts, likes, shares—to manufacture buzz. The term literally translates to "water army," evoking a flood of artificial activity.
[2] Clickbait headlines: Parodies of China's notorious "UC Shocking Departnt" (UC震惊部) clickbait culture. UC Browser's news feed was infamous for sensationalist headlines following rigid templates: "SHOCKING! [mundane event]!" or "The reason behind [X] will make you cry..." The format beca a beloved internet .
[3] "The Bandit marches forth — not a blade of grass survives": A riff on "帝吧出征，寸草不生" (When the Di Bar marches, not a blade of grass remains), the battle cry of Baidu's Li Yi Bar community during their mass online raids (~2005 onward). The original template—"When [X] marches forth, nothing survives"—has been adapted countless tis. Here, the author swaps in Chen Shu's "Bandit" title.
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