Chapter 14: Are You Targeting Me?
[To prevent certain students from taking advantage of the exchange competition by treating it as a mere formality and not taking it seriously, the following rule is hereby established—]
[Students whose final scores in the exchange competition differ too greatly from those of other participants from their school will have 20 academic credits deducted.]
In the participants’ group chat.
Other students preparing to compete stared at this new rule posted by the team leader, feeling utterly baffled.
Everyone was competing in the exchange; naturally, they would give it their all, hoping to be chosen by some distinguished academician as their protégé!
Who would deliberately slack off?
Wei Lun Ji: “Why is the school suddenly imposing this rule? All of us have participated in at least one previous exchange competition—we’ve all given it our best shot.”
He was ranked second in the entire school.
Because he had always been overshadowed by Fan Qin, he had earned the nickname “Perpetual Runner-up.”
But he didn’t mind; in fact, he took pride in ranking just below the icy beauty, Fan Qin.
So much so that Fan Qin would avoid him whenever she could.
No choice—she feared that if she fought him, she might enjoy it too much.
He was one of the few who left Fan Qin at a loss.
Yu Zhu Bu: “This time is different! Our team even has a newcomer who’s only here because of sheer luck!”
She was ranked seventh, just 0.05 points ahead of Qiao Chu.
She was also Chu Han’s close friend and had often thrown sarcastic jabs at Qiao Chu in the past.
Fan Qin: “If you want to admit you’re jealous of Qiao Chu’s luck, just say it—there’s no shame in it.”
Yu Zhu Bu: “Are you kidding? With my strength, why would I need to be jealous of her?”
Fan Qin: “Strength? You mean the strength that’s only 0.05 points higher than Qiao Chu’s?”
Yu Zhu Bu nearly exploded with frustration.
And since Fan Qin was the school’s top student, arguing further would only be self-defeating.
Chu Han: “No need for long speeches.”
“The exchange competition speaks for itself with results.”
“Those who fall too far behind and get docked twenty points, causing delayed graduation, brought it upon themselves—no one else is to blame.”
Everyone knew whom she was addressing.
The ten students competing this year mostly hovered around the top ten in the entire school in previous years.
Only Qiao Chu had suddenly surged from a rank in the thirties into the top ten.
It was important to note that being in the top ten was a clear dividing line, separating true prodigies from ordinary students.
Even ranking eleventh, with enough effort, could be achieved.
But the top ten… without innate talent, no amount of effort could reach it.
Yet Qiao Chu had jumped from 30-plus all the way to eighth place!
This astonishing leap could only be explained by one thing: extraordinary luck.
Thus, everyone believed that Qiao Chu would inevitably reveal her true colors in the exchange competition, completely distancing herself from those genuine prodigies.
Hearing Chu Han’s words, several people quickly chimed in agreement.
“I agree with Chu Han.”
*Sigh* “Every year we only get to be crushed by those two freaks from the top-tier universities—that’s already painful enough.”
“This year, we’ve got someone dragging us down too—I just feel hopeless thinking about it!”
“The school should improve the system so that those who got in by sheer dumb luck can’t participate in such an important exchange competition!”
Wei Lun Ji, however, disagreed: “I think it’s great!”
“Being dragged down and losing because of someone else is better than being crushed because you’re just far weaker, right? That’s more comforting mentally.”
Whoa!
That actually made sense!
Those who had been complaining suddenly felt that having Qiao Chu compete was actually wonderful.
Watching the so-called geniuses in the group chat, Fan Qin felt any more words from her would just waste intelligence.
She put down her phone and looked at Qiao Chu, who was fully focused on solving problems, completely unbothered by the outside world, and felt a surge of admiration.
“Qiao Chu, don’t you care at all about all the nasty things they’re saying in the group?”
Qiao Chu could tear those fools apart from every angle.
But the moment she put down her pen and picked up her phone, the system would start blaring a countdown for electric shock motivation…
Without looking up, Qiao Chu said, “Those mediocrities aren’t worth even a second of my time.”
“And that rule is obviously aimed at me because Director Zhao wanted me to withdraw from the competition and give my spot to his nephew, but I refused.”
“So there’s no point in arguing. Better to work harder and trample everyone underfoot so they won’t dare to yap anymore.”
Fan Qin was shocked to hear this and couldn’t help but say angrily, “Director Zhao has gone too far.”
“Deducting twenty points? According to our school’s rules, that’s basically setting you up to fail graduation!”
Before, he had used his power to benefit himself and his relatives.
Now, he even wanted to snatch a spot that a student had worked hard to earn!
Unable to take it, he’d then sabotage the student’s graduation!
After venting, Fan Qin couldn’t help but worry about Qiao Chu.
Delayed graduation was the greatest blow to any university student.
Qiao Chu was working so hard; she must be terrified of performing poorly and being delayed too.
Then Qiao Chu sighed softly.
“Being targeted by villains is probably the inevitable path of the supreme strong.”
“Fan Qin, now you know who the real protagonist of this school is, right?”
“If you don’t work harder, your top spot will soon be mine.”
Fan Qin: “…”
Where does that confidence even come from?
Oh right, she’s now a benefactor of the Lu family head—so never mind.
...
The next day.
Qiao Chu, Fan Qin, and the other students headed to the competition, boarding the school bus to Lu’an University amid the cheers of all the faculty and students.
As soon as Qiao Chu got on the bus, the system’s voice rang in her mind:
[You have finally arrived at the annual grand competition among the great sects.]
[As a world-ending demonic cultivator reborn, you find these disciples’ contests to be child’s play.]
[Winning first place is inevitable for you; it lacks any real challenge and is inevitably a bit boring.]
[So you’ve decided to prepare in advance for your future world-ending by doing something else—]
[New task: Sow discord between the two major righteous sects.]
[Make Lu’an and Guangzong sects fight among themselves, thereby weakening the forces of righteousness.]
[Task reward: Double skill experience points.]
[200 points.]
[Skill experience gain function unlocked.]
[Shop function unlocked.]
[Task time limit: 5 days.]
[Task can be abandoned.]
Qiao Chu’s face instantly darkened beyond livid.
From the previous task, she knew that Lu’an and Guangzong sects corresponded to Lu’an University and Guangzong University respectively.
In other words...
She was supposed to sabotage the relationship between the top prodigies of these two elite universities during this exchange competition.
Good grief!
She dared to dream of simply taking first place and crushing those prodigies.
But the system not only thought she would easily take first place, it also expected her to stir up trouble among those geniuses?
What made it worse was that the top student at Lu’an University was Bai Lu, while the top at Guangzong University was Lu Anyun.
One held a grudge against her and was ready to send her to prison at any moment.
The other was the sister of Lu Jingtian, the new god of wealth and the system’s main storyline target, and also her childhood friend.
They had grown up together from childhood; even if they weren’t best friends, their bond couldn’t be broken that easily.
And now... she was supposed to drive a wedge between these two? Make them turn on each other?
Qiao Chu was stunned.
Yet this task was not only the key to unlocking the shop but also offered generous rewards—she absolutely could not refuse.
Qiao Chu thought it through all the way.
She realized the usual methods wouldn’t work.
To complete this task, she would have to get creative.