His name is Eric Johnson, the strongest martial arts practitioner in the class, and a collateral descendant of the prestigious Zhao family of Luyang Prefecture. In this small class, he is truly a tyrant—no one dares to provoke him.

For the past three years, he had been eagerly hoping that Sandra Cooper would break up with that loser William Harris.

Unfortunately, it never happened—until, right before graduation, Sandra Cooper suddenly announced she was breaking up with William Harris. The surprise and delight he felt were beyond words.

“What a pity about Sandra Cooper. She’s the number one beauty in our class—gorgeous and outstanding in martial arts. In all of Luyang Prefecture, she ranks among the top three beauties. If it weren’t for the fact that she and William Harris grew up together as childhood friends, how could that pig William Harris have gotten such a prize for nothing?”

“The joint entrance exam for the top ten junior academies of Luyang Prefecture is coming up. William Harris will definitely be eliminated in the promotion assessment, forced to leave Nancheng Martial Academy, and become just another lowly commoner. But Sandra Cooper is different—she’ll definitely pass the assessment and has a bright future ahead! How could they not break up?”

“Good that they broke up!”

“Too bad it happened too late—only on the very last day of the third year at the junior martial academy! Otherwise, I might have had a chance to pursue Sandra Cooper myself!”

“Today is already our last day studying at Nancheng Martial Academy. Tomorrow is the joint assessment for the top ten junior martial academies of Luyang Prefecture. This is probably William Harris’s last day at the academy—haha, better enjoy it while it lasts. After this, he won’t have the chance to be with us anymore!”

Egged on by the loud jeers of the dandy’s loyal followers, the other martial students began to get excited and noisy.

William Harris’s eyelids twitched a few times.

He kept his head down, veins bulging, desperately suppressing his burning anger.

During these three years at Nancheng Martial Academy, he had long since had enough of the countless sneers and ridicule from Eric Johnson and his gang, and he wished he could beat them up.

But Eric Johnson was a collateral descendant of the most prestigious Zhao family in Luyang Prefecture. As a mere commoner, William Harris couldn’t beat him, nor could he afford to provoke him. He also didn’t want to cause trouble on this last day and risk not graduating from Nancheng Martial Academy.

“Shanshan!”

William Harris kept his head down, lips pressed tightly together, and said, “I will definitely get into Luyang Prefecture Academy!”

“Haha, oh my god, that’s hilarious!”

“Him, get into Luyang Prefecture Academy? That academy only accepts one in ten! In our class, maybe only a third of us can get in. And he, at the very bottom, dares to boast he can make it?”

Immediately, the classroom erupted in laughter, with the martial students slapping their desks and mocking him loudly.

William Harris kept his head down, his ears burning red with shame at the ridicule around him.

“William Harris, stop deceiving yourself! Your martial talent is too low. With your current strength, you can’t possibly pass the joint assessment of the top ten academies, let alone get into Luyang Prefecture Academy. You have no hope of joining any of the nine major guilds. My ambition is to get into an even higher-level Luyang Prefecture Academy and become an apprentice alchemist, joining the Alchemy Guild. I won’t give up on my dreams, and you simply can’t keep up with me!!”

Sandra Cooper lifted her head proudly, her beautiful eyes filled with dreams and longing.

“I…”

William Harris lowered his head in shame, clenching his palm so tightly that deep bloody marks appeared.

A deep sense of powerlessness filled his heart, along with guilt toward Sandra Cooper.

He knew his words sounded hollow.

No matter how hard he tried to persuade her, it was useless.

In fact, as early as three years ago, when he had just entered Nancheng Martial Academy, William Harris quickly realized he was not worthy of Sandra Cooper.

The top ten junior martial academies gathered nearly all the talented and gifted youths of Luyang Prefecture.

Back then, William Harris had barely squeezed into Nancheng Martial Academy—one of the top ten—thanks to a pitiful bit of bloodline talent and sheer effort.

But once he entered the academy, he clearly couldn’t keep up with the progress of the other students and soon became the lowest-ranked among them.

As for the exceptionally talented ones, like Sandra Cooper, not only was she beautiful, but she also had impressive martial and alchemy talent, quickly becoming known as the third most beautiful girl in Luyang Prefecture.

He could only rely on tireless hard work and desperate training to numb and delude himself.

Telling himself that even without talent, he could still make it.

In a flash, three years had passed, and the students were about to graduate from the junior martial academy.

But he was still only at the first level of the Warrior Stage, and his martial skills were very weak.

He was getting further and further from Luyang Prefecture Academy, with little hope left.

“When we were younger, we didn’t understand anything and didn’t have to think about the future. But over the past few years, I’ve matured, become sensible, and after looking at those around me, I gradually realized that my life can’t be just a pale love.

I need more—status, wealth, a superior life!

You have nothing, you’re just ordinary, and even at Nancheng Martial Academy, one of the top ten, you’re at the bottom—let alone in all of Luyang Prefecture. Other than empty love, you have nothing to offer me.

I, Sandra Cooper, have looks, a figure, temperament, and talent. I may not be the very best at Nancheng Martial Academy, but I’m still in the top ten! Why should I be with you?”

Sandra Cooper finally said everything she wanted to say in one breath. Her expression gradually calmed, and her eyes grew even more determined.