Chapter 10: Community Warmth Arrives—Three Hundred Thousand!

"Hmm?"
"There are still students who haven't come out?"
Principal Ouyang looked toward Class Six's homeroom teacher.
"Not just Wang Chen—Tang Ruotong from our class hasn't come out either!"
The homeroom teacher nodded.
Principal Ouyang glanced at his watch; the time left until the end of the leveling session was almost gone.
"Just the two of them?"
"Yes!"
"I remember Tang has potential, awakened a rare main combat profession, while Wang Chen is a support. Did they team up? Is that why they're late?"
Ouyang Yue frowned.
"With Wang Chen's popularity, no one would team up with him!" Cai Kun, regaining his confidence, chimed in, "He explored the secret realm alone!"
Though his strength was not as great as some monsters, ordinary people shouldn't compare themselves to monsters.
He, with his wealthy family, at least enjoyed good relations.
"This..." Principal Ouyang was astonished. "He's a support—without a teammate, how could he handle the ferocious beasts?"
With that, he turned angrily to the homeroom teacher of Class Six.
"Isn't this nonsense? For their first leveling, you didn't assign a main combat teammate to the support students?"
The homeroom teacher lowered his head in silence.
He was well aware of Wang Chen leveling alone, but Cai Kun's father was a powerful alchemist—not someone a regular staff member dared to offend.
"What should we do now?"
Ouyang Yue looked at the secret realm's exit, worry etched on his face.
In previous years, solo leveling wasn't unheard of, but those were always main combat professions. Wang Chen, a life shaman in the support class, was stirring up trouble by going solo.
Truth be told, because of Wang Chen's previous grades, Ouyang Yue had always had a good impression of him. Now, however, he felt the boy was reckless.
Suddenly, a white light flashed.
A tall figure stepped out of the teleportation array.
Seeing that familiar face, the anxious heart of Lu Shiyu finally settled.
It was Wang Chen.
At the same time, Ouyang Yue also secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
For this former prodigy of No. 1 High, he always had a fondness.
Safe return was all that mattered.
"Wang Chen!"
"I didn't expect you to come out in one piece!"
At this moment, seeing Wang Chen return safely, the happiest was actually Cai Kun, for now he could finally taunt this thorn in his side.
"I wonder if you hit your head? Wouldn't want you to forget our wager!"
Cai Kun sneered.
"A father never breaks his word to his son!"
Wang Chen replied lightly.
Cai Kun's arrogance faltered instantly.
"You only have a sharp tongue. Let's see how you really did. What level did you reach?"
Eager to regain his footing, Cai Kun projected his level panel for everyone to see.
Immediately, the crowd recalled the wager from the awakening ceremony and gathered around.
"Kun Kun, so eager to comfort me? How touching!"
Wang Chen smiled.
At this moment—
"Wang Chen, a real man stands by his word. You won't go back on it, will you?"
Lu Han spoke up.
"Who said I would? I already said father..."
Wang Chen glanced at Lu Han, stopping himself just in time.
He almost forgot this guy was a King-rank; not someone to provoke for now—caution, caution.
"Ahem, then I must thank you both for your kindness in warming a poor student like me!"
With a casual gesture, Wang Chen projected his level panel.
"Just bluffing..."
Cai Kun scoffed.
But soon his smile froze.
"Ten... Level ten? How can this be?!"
Cai Kun shouted in disbelief.
"What? Level ten?"
Everyone looked at the panel; the virtual projection clearly displayed: [Level: First Change, Level 10].
"My god, am I seeing things? Wang Chen actually reached level ten!"
"Wake me up, isn't his profession Life Shaman?"
"Could it be the panels are faked now?"
...
The crowd fell into confusion.
But moments later, a cheer far louder than when Lu Shiyu revealed her level erupted in the square:
"My god, it's really level ten! Lu Shiyu is nothing—hidden profession or not, can't compare to a Life Shaman!"
"So arrogant—this place should be renamed Wang Chen Square!"
"Genius is genius, Wang Chen is back stronger than ever!"
"Terrifying—a god-level talent, isn't he?"
...
For a while, praise and admiration filled the air.
Of course, not everyone was joyful; Cai Kun had been left speechless since earlier.
Lu Han's face grew darker, his jaw clenched tightly.
"Impossible. Absolutely impossible. You must have altered the panel data!"
Cai Kun struggled desperately.
"Kun Kun, if you want to renege, just say so—no need for this, at worst your father loses face!"
"The profession panel is a fusion of game space and Blue Star—never heard of anyone altering it. Who knew Young Master Cai would make such excuses just to avoid paying up!"
Wang Chen teased.
"Wang Chen, your profession is Life Shaman, how could you level up so quickly?"
Lu Han stepped forward, questioning him.
"There are many things in this world considered impossible, but that's a narrow view. Just as you can't discuss winter's snowy beauty with summer insects, nor talk about the vast sky with frogs in a deep well!"
"Otherwise, the frog might be frightened to death!"
"Don't you agree, Mr. Lu?"
Wang Chen squinted at Lu Han, smiling.
"You..."
Lu Han's eyes widened.
He could easily tell Wang Chen was mocking him.
"I'd like to know how you leveled so fast too, Wang Chen!" Principal Ouyang Yue stepped in, smiling to ease the tension. "Any tips to share with your fellow students?"
At once—
"I wouldn't dare boast in front of you. It was just luck—I stumbled upon a group of dying beasts and finished them off, picked up some easy gains!"
Wang Chen subdued his rebellious attitude; he still respected this teacher deeply.
"Where in the world does one have such luck!"
Cai Kun didn't believe it.
Wang Chen glanced at him, his right hand flashed, and he ripped off a large piece of fabric from Cai Kun's shirt collar.
"What are you doing!"
Cai Kun's pale, fatty flesh was exposed to everyone, eliciting disgust.
"You don't believe me? I'll make you believe, and pay a little price for your doubt!"
Wang Chen smiled.
"I challenge you to a duel!"
Cai Kun blushed furiously.
He hurriedly pulled the remaining fabric to cover his fat, while trying to charge at Wang Chen.
"Wait, let's see what he's up to!"
Lu Han waved his hand, pushing Cai Kun aside from a distance.
Clearly, he didn't want to touch that greasy flesh.
Wang Chen first grabbed the fabric, then, disgusted, pinched it by the fingertips. With a thought, the cloth vanished from his hand.
Moments later, he retrieved the fabric from his storage space, but refused to hold it, letting it drop to the ground.
"I happened to pick up a storage ring!"
Wang Chen opened his left hand for all to see.
There was no more argument; everyone knew Wang Chen was an orphan and could never own a storage ring.
Even among wealthy families, a storage ring was an uncommon treasure.
"Luck is part of strength as well. Hope you achieve even greater results in the college tournament, Wang Chen!"
Principal Ouyang Yue concluded the matter, patting Wang Chen's shoulder before leaving with the teachers to organize the return to the city.
The crowd around sighed, marveling at Wang Chen's luck.
Cai Kun, embarrassed, was about to slip away to find clothes, but Wang Chen stopped him.
"Kun Kun—" Wang Chen looked mischievously at Cai Kun. "You only reached level six, so by our wager, I win, right?"
"Where's my prize?"
Cai Kun was on the verge of tears.
He never expected Wang Chen to win, and hadn't prepared any bronze gear to pay up.
"I didn't prepare..."
"No worries. We accept cash equivalents!"
Wang Chen replied instantly.
At this moment, in Cai Kun's eyes, Wang Chen seemed a devil whose pupils glinted with gold coins, ready to strip him to the bone.
"How much do you want?"
With everyone's eyes on him, Cai Kun felt his chest grow cold.
He just wanted to get rid of Wang Chen and escape the awkward situation.
"I won't ask for much—twenty thousand per bronze item, and for our classmate bond, I'll give you a discount: thirty thousand, how about it?"
Wang Chen smiled.
"Thirty thousand? That's higher than the market price, why don't you..."
Cai Kun was agitated.
"Oh dear, Young Master Cai can't even afford that? What about all those wild boasts?"
Wang Chen cut him off, mocking him.
The stares around seemed to burn Cai Kun with their heat.
"Take it!"
So,
He gritted his teeth, tossed Wang Chen a card, and fled.
Wang Chen happily stored the card in his ring.
He wasn't worried about the amount—he planned to bleed Cai Kun dry, more or less didn't matter.
If it was far too little, he'd write Cai Kun's glorious deeds as a serial novel, perform it in No. 1 High over five chapters and eighteen acts.
"Mr. Lu, what do you think?"
After dealing with Cai Kun,
Wang Chen sent Lu Han a barrage of meaningful looks.