Chapter Thirteen: My Abilities Are Beyond Your Imagination

"Has it truly been verified?" The light in Sun Wanyue’s eyes instantly dimmed.

Hearing that Jiang Yu had seized first place in the exam with a perfect score, becoming the greatest dark horse in the history of Yun City No. 1 High, it hit her harder than anyone else. Jiang Yu had once pursued her, and she had personally rejected him. Not only that, she had made public the news of his impotence.

For reasons she couldn’t quite grasp, Sun Wanyue felt a tinge of fear at this moment, as if she’d lost something intangible.

Unlike other schools, Yun City No. 1 High held several rounds of mock exams before the college entrance test: the first mock was gold, the second silver, and the third was deemed worthless. The school’s nationwide reputation stemmed from the gold content of its "three-five" exam papers.

A single three-five test directly determined one’s future fate.

With a perfect score, every prestigious university in the world would vie to admit him, the school itself likely pushing for him behind the scenes.

"No, I still don’t believe it."

Sun Wanyue’s rationality returned.

Jiang Yu smiled curiously and asked her why.

Sun Wanyue met his gaze directly. "Because I’ve long seen through what kind of person you are. You’re lazy and undisciplined—in class you either sleep or skip, and while others work hard, I only ever saw you indulging in pleasure."

"Whether in talent or perception, you’ve always been at the bottom among your peers."

"To leap from years of accumulated effort and suddenly reach the top with a perfect score—on what grounds?"

Her voice grew hoarse and desperate by the end.

Jiang Yu shook his head. "You’re wrong. Precisely because my talent surpasses all of yours, I don’t need to strive as you do. The so-called three-five questions you praise so much are, to me, no more difficult than one plus one equals two."

With that, Jiang Yu ignored Sun Wanyue and sat down.

She was left standing alone, lost and bewildered.

Jiang Shaoqi’s sharp nails dug into his palm as he stared at Jiang Yu’s calm face, as if he’d never seen it before.

No—I am the dragon of the Jiang family!

Jiang Shaoqi roared inwardly.

He was afraid, afraid that the title of the Jiang family’s true dragon would be snatched away by Jiang Yu.

How could he accept this, he who had grown up surrounded by countless dazzling halos?

As if the shock were not enough, He Bing continued to reveal, "And Jiang Yu refused invitations from thirteen world-renowned universities. Though I don’t know what he intends to do."

The news exploded like a stone thrown into a lake, sending ripples everywhere. Many people began to look at Jiang Yu as if he were some kind of monster.

Within just one morning, his name swept through Yun City No. 1 High.

...

On the rooftop of the teaching building.

A gentle breeze caressed the air. A slender figure stood elegantly at the edge, dressed in a fitted short skirt, long hair cascading over her shoulders—a silhouette both graceful and refined.

From behind, she seemed untouched by worldly dust, a celestial maiden. Her profile in the sunlight resembled warm jade.

Standing behind her was a burly young man, nearly 1.89 meters tall. Beneath his short-sleeved T-shirt, the muscles on his arms bulged, radiating explosive strength.

"Qinghan, Yuan Tiangang has returned. Not only did he join the Dragon Soar group of Huaxia, but his strength has also reached the early stage of Condensed Energy."

The graceful figure slowly turned, revealing a stunning face to the young man’s gaze.

A flicker of admiration flashed in his eyes as he looked fondly at Xia Qinghan.

Her voice was melodious as she spoke, "Compared to Yuan Tiangang, who is more capable?"

The young man pondered seriously for a moment. "Yuan Tiangang. Though we’re close in strength, he’s been tempered by blood in the Dragon Soar group. Dragon Soar is known as the Yanwang group of Huaxia—every year, several members die during training or missions. The mortality rate is among the highest in the world."

"Moreover, Yuan Tiangang is adept at killing techniques. If it truly came to blows, I wouldn’t match him."

"And I’ve almost finished preparations for the upcoming sparring exchange. We’ll invite the geniuses from No. 1 High, as well as Mo Tian, the president of the Taekwondo club from No. 17 High, and the judo champion from No. 9 High."

Xia Qinghan nodded.

Looking at the man before her, she suddenly smiled. "Lin Dong, you’re not planning to participate, are you?"

Lin Dong shook his head. "No. This competition, as per your request, is to select those with potential. Most participants are your admirers. For me, a Condensed Energy expert, to join would be bullying the weak."

"I’ll only step in if Yuan Tiangang is there. That guy seems to be back to trouble my teacher—years ago, my teacher crippled his father in the octagon. He won’t let it go."

Xia Qinghan asked curiously, "Lin Wangtian, the UFC mixed martial arts champion?"

Lin Dong laughed. "Yes, my teacher advanced to late-stage Condensed Energy two years ago, and could break through to perfection at any time. Yuan Tiangang doesn’t know his limits, though I hear he’s brought another expert of late-stage Condensed Energy."

Xia Qinghan moved on. "A genius has emerged at No. 1 High, taking first place with a perfect score—even I was pushed to second. Have you heard?"

Lin Dong nodded. "Someone from the Jiang family… is he not a good-for-nothing?"

Xia Qinghan shook her head. "Remember what I’ve taught you—never judge by appearances. Invite him as well; if he has talent, I wouldn’t mind accepting him as a disciple. Academic excellence alone is useless; true strength is the trump card!"

...

As for Jiang Yu.

After school, just as he stepped out the gate, a Mercedes S600 pulled up beside him.

The window rolled down; Yuan Tiangang looked at Jiang Yu with a complicated expression.

Seeing his bruised and battered face, Jiang Yu chuckled, "All good now?"

Yuan Tiangang’s gaze brimmed with reverence. "Jiang Yu, I’ve come to bring you the promised one million."

He handed over a bank card with both hands.

Jiang Yu slipped it into his pocket. "Alright, we’re square."

Yuan Tiangang breathed a sigh of relief. This young master of Combined Energy seemed to have no airs at all.

Watching Jiang Yu walk away, Yuan Tiangang stared at the school gate, muttering to himself, "Lin Dong, since I’m seeking revenge on Lin Wangtian, I might as well start with you."

A short distance away, Jiang Yu bought a scallion pancake at a stall, eating and pondering, "Yuan Tiangang’s million has arrived. I wonder if that fat man at Azure Sea Cloud Sky, who flirted with Jiang Ziyue, has delivered the ten million to the Jiang family?"

"Heh, does that fat man think he can rest easy by withholding the money?"

"Fine, if he delivers it by midnight tonight, I’ll let it go."

With that thought, Jiang Yu strode off.

He didn’t go home, but stopped at the entrance of Yun City’s largest traditional medicine shop.

With a million at his disposal, he could do much.

Until now, Jiang Yu hadn’t consolidated his cultivation.

Modern pollution had rendered spiritual herbs exceedingly rare, nearly extinct. Fortunately, Jiang Yu could use aged medicinal plants to refine pills.

A single pill could equal three years of arduous cultivation.

As an ancient cultivator, Jiang Yu’s realms differed from the mundane.

Qi Refinement, Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, Divine Bridge, Tribulation Crossing, Grand Ascension, Dao Integration!

Eight major realms in all.

At his peak, Jiang Yu had reached the Nascent Soul stage—a terrifying power.

On this planet, unless an ancient cultivator appeared, Jiang Yu’s strength allowed him to walk unhindered. Even the most lethal nuclear weapon could not harm him.

Yet, in his understanding, he was Earth’s last ancient cultivator.

The experts active in the world today practiced only incomplete techniques left from the late Qing era. True profound methods had vanished with the tides of history.

Compared to Jiang Yu’s "Immaterial Celestial Sutra," these techniques were utterly inferior.

At the same realm, the gap was like steel smashing tofu.

Steel against tofu—the outcome needs no explanation.

"Now I am at the peak of Qi Refinement; I can handle mundane martial artists. But against firearms, especially in numbers, my life would be in danger. Unless I quickly reach Foundation Establishment and awaken a divine ability, I’ll have no real means of survival."

"That night, Head Wolf was right. Though I’m a master of Combined Energy in their eyes, facing more than two gunmen, I’m no match. If Li Hao weren’t my disciple, I’d have eliminated him long ago, before he even reacted."

Jiang Yu, who had lived five or six thousand years, felt the pressure of survival for the first time.

He entered the medicine shop and approached the counter, reciting the names of several herbs to a staff member.

The staff replied, "Sorry, those herbs were all bought up a few days ago."

Jiang Yu was stunned. "What happened?"

The person explained, "About three or four days back, a woman came with cash and bought out all the premium herbs in Yun City. The ones you’re asking for are now unavailable at any price."

Jiang Yu was speechless.

How wealthy must one be to buy up so many herbs?