Chapter 28: Hardcore Integration

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The campus was far from the quiet, desolate atmosphere of the school gate. Spectral students bustled about, most heading toward their respective classrooms. It appeared that this middle school was a boarding institution.

Walking through a campus whose architectural style differed vastly from anything on Blue Star, Lu Wenwu looked around with keen interest. The strength of the spectral students was unremarkable, hovering mostly around the D+ or C- rank. Roughly two-thirds were in human or humanoid forms, while the remaining third were completely grotesque, monstrous entities.

Judging by their health bars, these spectrals possessed base attributes significantly higher than "blank slate" players who hadn't cultivated any techniques; they seemed calibrated to match players bolstered by cultivation methods. The bonuses provided by cultivation techniques were simply too immense. Without them, players were like tigers stripped of their teeth, comprehensively weaker than the denizens of the instances. A player like Lu Wenwu, who could crush C-rank entities based solely on base attributes, was a true anomaly.

Consequently, should a conflict arise, the spectrals posed a lethal threat to players whose techniques and skills were sealed. Even a C+ rank player would struggle to contend with these spectral students in a one-on-one fight.

As Lu Wenwu observed the spectrals, most of them were stealing glances at him and Mao Mao, whispering behind his back. Yes, stealing glances. This was likely due to the pressure exerted by the Senior Year Grade Head standing before Lu Wenwu. Her fiery temper was notorious throughout the high school division. While school teachers could not slaughter spectral students as easily as they could humans, it was safe to assume that no sentient creature wished to be berated mercilessly and have their parents summoned. Except, perhaps, for the most incorrigible troublemakers.

Coincidentally, the class led by Xin Shengzhu was comprised entirely of such unruly, prickly characters—not a single decent soul among them.

The classroom of Grade 12, Class 1 was a cacophony of spectral shrieks and chaotic noise. Compared to this, a bustling wet market would have seemed quiet. These students, long accustomed to their own lawless ways, laughed and cursed, ignoring even Xin Shengzhu’s attempts to suppress them as their homeroom teacher.

Furthermore, in the gazes these troublemakers inadvertently cast his way, Lu Wenwu saw blatant bloodthirst and mockery. It was like a pack of wolves eyeing a sheep that had wandered into their midst.

"Quiet!" Xin Shengzhu’s face was cold as frost as she slammed a fist down, shattering the desk before her.

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The forty-odd troublemakers were unfazed; the volume of their chatter dropped only slightly, a meager concession to her authority. The laughter and conversation continued, their respect for her clearly limited.

"Teacher Xin asked for silence. Did you not hear her?" Lu Wenwu, holding Mao Mao’s leash, stood on the podium and said softly.

"What? A mere human dares to lecture us?"
"Hahahaha, he actually told us to be quiet. Did I hear that right?"
"He’s killing me!"
"Kid, are you tired of living?"
"Oh, I can't take it. It’s the first time I’ve seen such a brave human. I’m already starting to miss the taste of their thighs."

Xin Shengzhu’s expression grew increasingly grim. She didn't even notice how Lu Wenwu knew her surname.

Lu Wenwu’s expression remained unchanged as he handed Mao Mao’s leash to her. "Teacher Xin, please hold Mao Mao for me. I believe I need to introduce myself."

Xin Shengzhu frowned. "If you provoke them, no one can protect you. Human, I advise you to think clearly. You are required to follow school rules, yet you are not protected by them." Considering the 35 points of affinity and her fondness for Mao Mao, she offered him a warning.

"Don't worry, I have read the school rules thoroughly. I know what to do."

Lu Wenwu smiled and cracked his neck; his muscles tensed, and his joints popped with a series of sharp, rhythmic snaps. Turning to face the spectrals who were waiting to see him made a fool of himself, he said calmly:

"Before I begin my self-introduction, I want to give you a warning. I don't like shouting, so you had best keep quiet and listen carefully while I speak. It will be to your benefit."

As soon as he spoke, the rowdy class erupted into uproarious laughter. Lu Wenwu walked up to a humanoid spectral who was laughing the hardest and asked indifferently, "Is it that funny?"

The humanoid spectral clutched his stomach, rocking back and forth. "Hahahaha, of course! You’re a hundred times funnier than the circus freaks, hahahahaha..."

"Bang!"

The humanoid spectral’s laughter ceased abruptly. He would never laugh again, because Lu Wenwu had punched his head into a pulp. Crimson blood splattered everywhere, and the limp body collapsed to the floor, twitching from the final spasms of its nervous system.

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[You have gained 0.1 Free Attribute Points]

"Can you still laugh now? Do you still find it funny?" Lu Wenwu asked the headless corpse. "No answer? I suppose you don't find it funny anymore."

At that moment, the entire class fell deathly silent.

"You... you actually killed him! You killed him! Do you have any idea what you’ve done!" A half-octopus monster with a woman’s head shrieked, her face twisted in disbelief.

Lu Wenwu asked with a look of confusion, "Didn't you just say it yourself? I killed him. Why ask? If your brain isn't working, I can replace it for you for free. Besides, he didn't have any objections. Why are you in such a rush?"

"Human, you are courting death!"

To the right of the headless corpse, a humanoid spectral at least three meters tall grew enraged. His forelimb, thick as a pillar, whipped through the air, aiming directly for Lu Wenwu’s head.

Lu Wenwu glanced sideways, channeling his Blood Qi. In an instant, he twisted his body and unleashed a punch. His left arm, fully encased in dragon scales of blood-red, was wrapped in coils of dark, spiraling energy, resembling a drill.

The moment his heavy gauntlet made contact, a dull boom and a piercing shriek echoed through the entire corridor. The thick forelimb was blasted into pieces by Lu Wenwu’s heavy strike. The terrifying force surged up the spectral’s arm, causing half of its body to explode as well, instantly claiming its life.

[You have gained 1 Free Attribute Point]

"Your purity... is too low."

Covered in blood, Lu Wenwu wiped his gauntlet on the corpse’s school uniform and said in a gentle tone.

The entire class was deathly still. The spectrals, who usually looked down on everything, were like geese strangled by the neck. Not a single soul dared to utter another word.

The two corpses lay quietly on the ground, blood and bone shards scattered everywhere. Xin Shengzhu looked dazed, stuttering, "You... you... fighting is strictly forbidden in school! Aren't you afraid of being sanctioned by the security department, or even being expelled?"

Lu Wenwu asked, confused, "Teacher Xin, don't spread rumors. I merely killed two classmates; when did I ever engage in fighting?"

Xin Shengzhu: "..."
The spectrals: "..."