"Thief! Drunkard!"

A loud scream ech

oed, followed by the sound of hurried footsteps echoing down the corridor.

"I'm not a thief!" Arthur yelled after them. "I'm a teacher! I just wanted to ask if you needed a mentor! And was the 'drunkard' part really necessary? Couldn't you just stick to 'thief'?"

Remembering the Headmaster's ultimatum, Arthur muttered to himself, "That makes seventeen. If I don't get a single student to enroll today, I'll be packing my bags and getting kicked out of the academy."

Arthur didn't even belong to this world. In his past life, he was just a mild-mannered librarian. His last memory was a roaring fire, choking smoke, and then... darkness. When he woke up, he found himself in an entirely different universe.

This world was straight out of the fantasy novels he used to categorize. Cultivation, magic, and combat arts were everything here. Combat Instructors were revered like royalty. The strong ruled, and the weak obeyed—that was the absolute law of this world.

When he first transmigrated into this body, he thought he'd follow the classic trope: start as the academy's worst loser, fail to get a date, and then suddenly awaken a God-tier talent, slap some arrogant faces, and live a glorious life. But something had gone terribly wrong. He hadn't possessed a student; he had accidentally overwritten a teacher.

And not just any teacher—the absolute worst teacher in the entire academy!

While other instructors had classrooms so packed that students had to stand in the hallways, Arthur's classroom was painfully empty. Not only did no one want to take his class, but they also actively called him a thief and a drunk. Some just took one look at him, muttered "creep," and ran for their lives.

To be fair, the original owner of this body had thoroughly ruined his own reputation. He was the weakest instructor on staff and had absolutely zero eye for talent. Worse, he once gave a student such horrendous advice that the poor kid suffered a severe cultivation deviation, crippling his foundational skills and failing his exams.

It was like going to a doctor for a cold and ending up in the morgue because of the prescription. After that incident, the original Arthur's reputation was dragged through the mud. Students avoided him like the plague, terrified they'd end up like his last disciple.

Because of this disastrous track record, he hadn't recruited a single student last year. In the Annual Instructor Evaluations, Arthur ranked dead last. He was the first teacher in the academy's history to score in the negatives. The humiliation drove the original Arthur into a severe depression.

He tried to drink himself to death, and well, he succeeded—which was exactly when our librarian Arthur took over his body.

As the new academic year began, the academy handed him a final notice: *"If you fail to recruit even one student for your class this year, your employment will be terminated immediately."*

Today alone, seventeen students had walked past his classroom. The moment they saw his nameplate, they bolted like kids running from a monster.

"I have to convince at least one of them to join! But how?"

Just as he was racking his brain for a desperate scheme, a young girl tentatively peeked through the doorway. She looked a bit nervous.

"Excuse me... is this Professor Sterling's class?"

She looked decent. Her clothes suggested she came from a wealthy, respectable family, and her tone was incredibly polite.

Professor Sterling was the academy's superstar instructor. His classes were so packed you couldn't find a place to drop a pin, yet he was always in demand. Students traveled from neighboring cities just to attend his lectures.

"Professor Sterling's class?" Arthur echoed. "Ah! Sure, I can take you to his class."

Seeing a potential target—ahem, student—standing right in his classroom, Arthur's mind raced. *"I have to do something. I need to trick... I mean, convince this girl to become my disciple, no matter what."*

He dug deep into his librarian brain, recalling every manipulative trope he had ever read. He leaned back in his chair, adopting what he hoped was an aura of profound wisdom, and asked, "So, you wish to become Professor Sterling's disciple?"

The girl nodded eagerly.

"Why?" Arthur challenged.

"I heard he's the best instructor in the academy," she replied with deep respect. "All his students are brilliant, and just getting accepted into his class is considered a massive achievement."

"Rumors are often just echoes of the truth, not the truth itself," Arthur said smoothly. "Instructors are like shoes. Just because a pair is the most expensive doesn't mean it's the right fit for your feet. What matters is whether the shoe actually fits you. It doesn't matter how famous an instructor is or how brilliant their teaching methods are. If their style conflicts with your inherent technique, you won't progress—in fact, you might ruin your foundation completely. On the other hand, if you find an instructor who may not be famous, but whose philosophy perfectly aligns with your technique, you will thrive. You'll correct your flaws quickly and achieve top grades effortlessly."

"Oh... I think I've heard my older brother say something similar!" The girl looked thoughtful, clearly digesting Arthur's words.

But then her brow furrowed in confusion. "But... I don't know what kind of technique suits me best."

Arthur saw the hook setting in. He just needed to keep feeding her philosophical nonsense until she signed the enrollment form. He flashed a smile that he hoped looked benevolent and not like a scam artist's

.

Taking a deep, dramatic breath, he said, "Perhaps destiny guided you to my door today. Let's do this: I am also an instructor here. Let me assess your aptitude, your technique, and your temperament. I will help you figure out exactly what kind of mentor you need."

The girl's eyes lit up. "Really, sir? You'd do that for me?"

She hadn't expected a random teacher she just bumped into to be so helpful and kind.

Masking his inner desperation with a look of bored expertise, Arthur waved his hand. "Alright. Show me a sample of your combat forms."

"Yes, sir!"

*Hiyah!*

In an instant, the girl threw a punch that sent a ripple of energy through the room. As she transitioned through her combat stances, spiritual energy began to swirl around her. Instead of dissipating, the energy clung tightly to her form, a clear sign of an incredibly solid foundation. Her power was strong, yet refined. She just needed a little more polishing.

When she finished, Arthur nodded with the solemn approval of a grandmaster. "Excellent. I can see your foundational knowledge is impeccable, and your natural talent is extraordinary. It's clear you've trained ruthlessly. Geniuses like you are rare these days. You just need the right master to chisel away the rough edges."

Like a fortune teller setting a cold-reading trap, he spoke in broad, flattering terms. He wanted her to hear exactly what she hoped to hear so she would think his assessment was pinpoint accurate.

"Particularly, there is an immense, hidden power in your legs. Your stances are rooted like an ancient oak, yet your movements are as explosive as a tidal wave. If you continue to cultivate this specific strength, your future is limitless."

The girl stopped and looked at Arthur with deep suspicion. "Sir... my leg is injured. The academy doctors told me my right leg is permanently crippled."

*Crap. Busted,* Arthur panicked internally.

But a scammer never backs down. Doubling down with sheer audacity, he scoffed. "Did you really think I couldn't see that? I noticed it the moment you shifted your weight in the first stance! Why do you think I brought it up? As the ancient proverb goes: *'True rebirth only comes after utter destruction.'* Because of this injury, you have inadvertently stumbled upon a rare opportunity—a path closed to ordinary cultivators! If you can harness this 'crippled' state properly, your injured leg will become your ultimate weapon! Your peers won't even comprehend how you surpass them!"

Arthur was talking entirely out of his ass. If spouting poetic nonsense could get her to sign the paper, he'd recite the whole dictionary. Right now, survival was the only goal.

The girl's eyes widened in awe, all suspicion vanishing. "An opportunity? Sir, what kind of opportunity?"

Ever since her injury, she had lived in despair, believing she could never become a formidable combat artist. She had lost all faith in herself. How could she have known her darkest tragedy was actually a hidden blessing?

Arthur kept spinning the web. "Because of this unique condition, you will achieve breakthroughs others can only dream of. Leaving your peers in the dust will be effortless. However..."

The thought of becoming the top student made her blush with excitement. "However... what, sir?"

Arthur sighed heavily, looking thoroughly melancholic. "However... instructors capable of guiding a student through such a delicate and unorthodox path are incredibly rare. In this entire academy, including myself, there are only three. The other two went into secluded meditation three years ago and stopped accepting disciples. So, even writing you a recommendation letter to them would be useless."

"They stopped accepting disciples?" The girl's momentary hope shattered, her shoulders slumping in disappointment.

Then, a sudden realization hit her. "Wait... they aren't taking students, but sir... *you* are, right?"

"I am," Arthur said calmly. "But there is a catch. As you can see, I care nothing for fame, glory, or bustling classrooms. I prefer the quiet. And frankly, I don't have the time to waste."

He hardened his expression, looking stern and unyielding. "I refuse to take on a student unless they are a true, unpolished diamond. I only accept those who possess undeniable, raw potential."

Before Arthur could even finish his sentence, the girl bowed deeply, clasping her hands together. "I know you are a hidden master, sir! Please, accept me as your disciple! I promise I will train with my life on the line and never bring shame to your name!"

Arthur was doing cartwheels of joy in his mind, but outwardly, he frowned, looking deeply conflicted. "It seems destiny has indeed brought us together... but as you can see, I value my peace and quiet."

Sensing his hesitation, the girl quickly added, "I will never disturb you unnecessarily, Master! I will focus solely on my training and only seek your guidance when absolutely vital!"

Arthur pushed a little more. "Because I keep a small circle of students, I don't receive the same lavish funding and resources from the academy as the mainstream instructors. And... the other students might mock you for choosing me."

The girl hesitated for a second. "No resources...? But I've always been told that resources are the most important part of training."

She knew the academy distributed training resources based on an instructor's student count and their overall performance. Without resources, progress would be agonizingly slow.

"Hahaha!" Arthur let out a hearty, booming laugh. "I was merely testing your resolve! Since you have made your decision and shown such sincere respect in taking me as your master... very well. I shall accept you as my disciple."

Seeing a flicker of doubt return to her eyes, he didn't give her a second to overthink. He slammed a piece of paper onto the desk.

"Your academy ID! Now!"

"U-Uh... right now? So fast...?"

Seeing the instructor's demeanor change so drastically, the young girl was stunned. Bewildered, she accepted Arthur's token, which bore his unique instructor's insignia. Before she could even process what was happening or decide whether to agree, Arthur suddenly grabbed her hand and made a tiny prick with a small dagger. A single drop of blood fell onto the token, and...

*Ching!*

A faint spark ignited.

"Ah..." The girl gasped, utterly completely off guard.

*"Didn't he just say he needed to test me?"* she thought wildly. *"Didn't he say he cared nothing for fame or money? Then why did he do that so fast? And why did he have a dagger already drawn and ready?!"*

Once the blood pact was sealed, Arthur let out a long, silent sigh of relief. "From this moment forth, you are my disciple!"

Instantly slipping back into his grandmaster persona, he asked in a solemn tone, "What is your name?"

"Sir, my name is Elara."

Realizing the contract was bound and she couldn't back out now, Elara simply nodded in resignation.

"Take your token," Arthur instructed, waving her off dismissively. "Show it to the quartermaster to receive your bedding and textbooks. And don't forget to arrange your dormitory. Your training begins tomorrow. Meet me back here in the morning."

"Yes, sir!" Elara bowed respectfully and hurried out of the classroom.

"I actually got one!" Once he was certain she was gone, Arthur slumped back in his chair, a massive grin spreading across his face.

That was exhausting. If he hadn't spent years reading every trope-filled web novel on the internet, he would have never been able to bluff his way into convincing even one student to join his class.

But now, with at least one student enrolled, he wouldn't be fired. One crisis averted. Arthur took a deep breath, feeling an immense weight lift from his chest. The next second, a profound sense of peace washed over his soul. The lingering fear and despair of the original Arthur—the overwhelming dread of failing to recruit a student—slowly dissolved from his mind.

"Rest in peace, buddy," Arthur muttered softly. "I'm in control now. I'll take good care of your body, and I'll live a comfortable life for the both of us."

The original Arthur had taken his own life out of sheer humiliation and despair over his utter failure as a teacher. Even in death, his regrets had lingered. But now, with a student officially enrolled, that final regret vanished. As it faded, Arthur felt himself gain complete and perfect synchronization with his new body.

Feeling suddenly energized, Arthur thought, *"Why not try to recruit a few more?"* But just as the thought crossed his mind, a violent tremor shook his consciousness, followed by the deep, resonant tolling of ancient bells echoing in his mind.

*"The Heavens and the Earth are ruthless... all living things are but beasts of burden."

*"The Sun sets, the Moon hides... strange omens appear in the boundless sky."

Cryptic, ancient proverbs echoed through the void. Arthur felt a surge of excitement. Then, the grand image of a magnificent palace materialized in his mind's eye. Above its towering doors, words burned in brilliant, ethereal light:

**The Library of Heaven's Path!**

He pushed the grand doors open and stepped inside. Endless rows of towering bookshelves stretched into infinity. There were books on every conceivable subject, millions of them. Looking down the aisles, it was impossible to tell where the library began or where it ended.

"Is this my transmigration cheat? A library? I got a *library*? Ugh! I was a librarian in my past life! Does the universe really want me to be a librarian in this life too?"

"Other protagonists get ancient spirits, high-tech AI systems, or overpowered magical artifacts! And I get... books? Just a library? What am I supposed to do with this?" Arthur felt the world spin, practically ready to faint from disappointment.

"A library? For what? It's not like when people are shooting fireballs and swinging swords at me, I'm going to throw hardcovers at their heads!"

"Well... I should at least see what kind of books are in here." Sighing heavily, Arthur walked deeper into the endless aisles.

Driven by a mix of frustration and curiosity, he reached out to pull a book from the nearest shelf. He needed to figure out why this library was given to him. But instead of grabbing a solid spine, his hand passed right through it. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't touch a single book.

"Is this a joke? Is this some kind of twisted illusion? You give me a library, but I can't take a book, and I can't read anything? What is the point of this?!"

Arthur was entirely lost. What was he supposed to do? What was he supposed to say? He wanted to cry, but the tears wouldn't come.

After wandering around for a while, Arthur realized that all the books in the library were mere phantoms—like the reflection of the moon on a lake's surface. He could see them clearly, but touching or grasping them was impossible.

Realizing there was absolutely nothing he could do, he lost interest. With a mental shift, his consciousness withdrew from the library and returned to the real world.

"It's lunchtime. After I eat, I'll figure out how to con... I mean, recruit one or two more students."

He glanced out the window. It looked to be around noon. Out of the eighteen students who had passed his door this morning, he had only managed to secure one. His success rate was abysmal. Proceeding like this through the afternoon wouldn't cut it. He needed more students, no matter what. He was from a modern, advanced world! If he couldn't outsmart these ancient-minded folks, how could he ever hold his head high?

Stretching his arms, he left the classroom and headed toward the academy's dining hall.

Much like the cafeterias in his past life, this combat academy's dining hall was massive—large enough to comfortably seat ten thousand people at once. Having successfully recruited a student, Arthur was in high spirits. He bought himself a sweet treat to celebrate and found a quiet corner to sit. The food was surprisingly good.

"Well, well. If it isn't Professor Sterling?"

While he was peacefully enjoying his meal, a voice interrupted him. He looked up to see a man staring down at him with a smirk. There was no warmth in his eyes, only a layer of mocking amusement.

"Professor Vance?" Arthur replied neutrally.

The man's full name was Richard Vance. He had joined the academy's teaching staff at the exact same time as the original Arthur. Vance had a nasty habit of constantly comparing himself to others, deriving immense pleasure from putting them down to elevate his own status.

The original Arthur couldn't handle the constant belittlement, which heavily contributed to his eventual suicide. This man had played a significant role in driving the original Arthur to his breaking point with his relentless bullying.

"Today is enrollment day. The new students are choosing their mentors. How is your recruitment going? Seeing you eating so happily, it must not be a complete disaster. Look here, these are the students who joined my class today. Twelve in total. I thought I'd treat them to a good meal before they head to the dorms."

Vance spoke with overwhelming arrogance, gesturing grandly to the twelve students trailing behind him.

There was no doubt about it—he had come over purely to show off and rub it in Arthur's face.

Arthur and Vance didn't have any deep-seated blood feud, but since they started at the same time, comparisons were inevitable. Vance frequently used Arthur as a stepping stone to boost his own ego and reputation.

The group of students following Vance looked around with eager, excited faces, clearly thrilled about starting their academy life.

"Listen closely, students. This is Professor Sterling. He is quite famous here at the academy. He holds the prestigious honor of being the very first instructor in history to score a zero in the Teacher Rankings. He has literally written himself into the academy's history books!"

Vance announced loudly to his students.

"A zero in the Annual Instructor Exams?"

"Oh! I heard about him on the way to the dining hall! Didn't one of his students suffer a qi deviation and end up nearly crippled?"

"I heard the same thing! When I arrived, several seniors warned me to avoid him at all costs. They said studying under him isn't just a waste of time; it's a guaranteed way to ruin your cultivation entirely."

"He doesn't look malicious... his face seems so harmless."

A loud murmur erupted throughout the dining hall as the students began to gossip.

The Annual Instructor Exams evaluated many criteria, one of the most important being the students' progress. As long as an instructor had students, they would earn at least *some* points. Scoring an absolute zero was indeed a historic, albeit humiliating, achievement.

"Are you quite finished?"

Despite the crowd of students staring at him, Arthur didn't flinch or look embarrassed.

*"The guy who scored a zero was the old Arthur. What does that have to do with me?"

While he wasn't genuinely angry, he found Vance's behavior incredibly distasteful. Stepping on others to make oneself look taller was a pathetic way to live.

He waved his hand dismissively. "Once you're done flapping your lips, please leave. Don't ruin my appetite."

Vance was utterly taken aback. He had expected Arthur to cower in shame the moment his new students heard about the zero score. Instead, Arthur was shooing him away like a pesky fly. Vance's face flushed with anger.

He puffed out his chest, adopting an air of righteous indignation. "You broke the academy's record by scoring a zero! Do you have absolutely no sense of shame?"

"Shame? Why should I be ashamed?" Arthur shot back casually. "You said it yourself—I broke a record! I'm a celebrity now. All the new students know my name before they even step foot in a classroom. But what about you? Who knows you?"

Arthur pointed his fork at the group of students. "How many points did *you* score? Do any of them know? Before you bribed them with a free lunch, did any of them even know your name? You're an instructor, yet you're a complete nobody to them. So what exactly are you so arrogant about? Why the superiority complex?"

"What...?"

Anyone else who scored a zero would be too humiliated to even lift their head, terrified of being mocked in public. But this guy... this guy was an entirely different breed! He was actually acting *proud* of his zero score, throwing it in Vance's face as if asking, *"Why didn't you score a zero, huh?"*

Vance was seething.

*He is utterly shameless!* After all, a zero is a zero! What is there to be happy about? What is there to be proud of?!

The students standing behind Vance exchanged bewildered glances. None of them knew how to react.

What about dignity? What about reputation?

This instructor... was thick-skinned beyond belief!

Shame? Embarrassment? What a joke! In the modern world Arthur came from, what wouldn't people do to get famous? People fabricated news, created garbage content, and degraded themselves on the internet just for a sliver of attention. They had no shame whatsoever. Scoring a zero on an exam was absolutely nothing compared to that.

Furious, Vance barked, "An instructor's primary duty is to teach! I won't waste my breath arguing with you. We'll talk when you actually manage to recruit a student. Then we'll see whose disciples are truly skilled in combat arts!"

With that, Vance spun on his heel, ready to storm off.

Just then, the sound of an approaching argument reached them—a man and a young girl.

"But... the instructor isn't bad. He was actually quite nice," a timid, familiar voice argued, though it was laced with hesitation.

"Young Miss, please listen to me!" an older man pleaded. "Before we left the estate, the Master specifically ordered me to take you to Professor Sterling's class! But you refused! You left me waiting outside! And out of all the incredible instructors here, you chose *that* teacher?!"

"But... what is the real reason behind it?"

Chapter 3: The Devil's Eye

An older man’s voice drifted over, dripping with frustration and exasperation.

"But... the instructor really isn't as bad as you say. He... he seems like a decent person. He promised he would help me. He even said that if I train hard enough, I could easily take the first rank in class." Despite her defensive words, the young girl’s voice wavered with hesitation.

"First rank? Young Miss, if you study under that fraud, taking the first rank is a pipe dream. You’ll be lucky if you even remember how to stand in a basic stance! Do you have any idea who he is? He is the absolute worst instructor in this entire academy. He scored a literal zero on the evaluations! You need to withdraw your enrollment from his class immediately. If the Master finds out about this, he’ll have my head!"

The old servant’s panicked rant visibly terrified the girl. She looked completely overwhelmed, her eyes welling up as if she might burst into tears at any second.

Hearing this exchange, a malicious gleam flashed in Professor Vance’s eyes. He turned to Arthur with a mocking laugh.

"Well, well, Arthur. Did you just somehow manage to trick this poor child into enrolling? It looks like your luck has already run out. I believe she wants to withdraw her name."

In the academy, if a student felt their chosen instructor was a poor fit, they had the right to return their enrollment token and seek out a different mentor.

Vance had purposefully raised his voice, and a crowd of curious students quickly gathered around them. The young girl and her servant also turned to look at Vance and Arthur.

"Young Miss, is this the instructor whose token you accepted?" The old servant's sharp gaze locked onto Arthur.

"Yes, that's him," the girl replied meekly.

Without missing a beat, the servant marched straight toward Arthur.

"Professor Sterling, my Young Miss wishes to withdraw her enrollment."

"Uncle..." The servant's aggressive haste startled the girl. Embarrassed, she lowered her head and quickly scurried behind him.

She peeked out at Arthur and whispered, "Sir, I..."

It was indeed the very same girl Arthur had managed to swindle—ahem, recruit—just moments ago: Elara.

"Elara," Arthur began, pitching his voice loud enough for the crowd to hear, "you should know that I do not accept just anyone as my disciple. I accepted you because I believed destiny brought us together. Why else would our paths cross today? Why do you want to throw away such a rare opportunity over a moment of doubt? Do you have any idea how many students beg to study under me? How many try to force their way into my class, only for me to reject them all?"

The truth was, Arthur was absolutely terrified of losing the only student he had worked so hard to trick. He wasn't about to let her go without a fight, so he immediately resorted to his grandmaster bluffing routine.

"What is this guy spouting?"

The surrounding crowd stared at Arthur in sheer disbelief. *Has this guy completely lost his mind?*

"Who even talks like that?"

"What does he mean he 'rejects' students? Destiny? What garbage! Who would even want to be his student? The truth is no one wants him as a teacher!"

Seeing the commotion, Elara tugged at her servant's sleeve, silently pleading with him to stop. But seeing her still conflicted, the servant held his ground.

"Professor Sterling, the Young Miss wishes to withdraw from your class. She is simply too polite to say it to your face. I expect you to respect her wishes and proceed with the withdrawal process immediately."

Arthur felt the ground vanishing beneath his feet. *Withdraw?"

He narrowed his eyes, aiming for a tone of stern warning. "You need to think this through very carefully. Withdrawing your name is not a game. It will permanently stain her academic record. If a student withdraws from an instructor's class on the very first day, any other instructor will think twice before accepting her. Are you willing to ruin your Young Miss's future just to satisfy your own paranoia? Can you shoulder that responsibility?"

"I..." The servant froze, suddenly breaking into a cold sweat.

Arthur was right. Students could withdraw, but it was heavily frowned upon because it actively disgraced the instructor.

Furthermore, if a student was willing to publicly insult an instructor by withdrawing, what was stopping them from doing it again? Most competent instructors avoided taking in "rebellious" students to protect their own reputations. Accepting a student who had just publicly humiliated a colleague was a great way to make enemies within the faculty.

If no other instructor would take her, her future at the academy would be utterly destroyed.

The servant, who had been so aggressive a moment ago, was suddenly paralyzed by fear. At the end of the day, he was just a servant. If his impulsive actions ruined his Master's daughter's future, his life would be over.

Seeing the servant back down, Arthur softened his tone, offering a reassuring smile. "Don't worry. Your Young Miss is incredibly talented. I will guide her properly, and she will undoubtedly achieve exceptional results."

*"What a joke,"* the crowd whispered. *"How is a blind man going to teach a bird to fly?"

"Hold on a minute. Who says no other instructor will take her?" Vance stepped in before Arthur could seal the deal. He looked directly at Elara. "Listen to me, girl. If you withdraw your name from this fraud's class right now, I will personally accept you as my disciple."

Vance, who had literally just claimed he wouldn't waste his breath arguing with Arthur, was instantly back on the offensive.

Arthur’s temper finally flared. "Vance, what exactly do you think you're doing?"

"Doing? Ha! Look at this poor girl. She has talent, but she's paralyzed by fear. How could I stand by and let her future be destroyed by the likes of you? If she wants to withdraw, my doors are open. Ultimately, students come here to learn. It is only right that they study under someone they trust—not an incompetent fool who scores a zero on his exams!" Vance laughed uproariously.

"Poaching students in broad daylight? Do you think I won't report this blatant violation to the academy administration?" Arthur snapped.

This was no small matter. Publicly inciting a student to break their bond was a serious offense. While the academy allowed students to choose their mentors, they did not tolerate instructors turning the campus into a vicious poaching ground. It ruined the academic environment and caused endless faculty disputes.

Vance sneered. "Poaching? Aren't we being dramatic? At the very least, give the student the right to make an informed choice. Let's do this: we will both offer her our guidance. We'll let her decide who is superior. What do you say? A Guidance Competition?"

"A Guidance Competition?!"

Panic seized Arthur's heart. He had inherited the original Arthur's memories, but he had absolutely no idea how to apply them. At best, he could regurgitate the names of a few techniques. The original Arthur barely understood them, so how could the new Arthur?

And now, a live guidance battle? He would get absolutely crushed by Vance. Vance definitely knew infinitely more about combat techniques than he did.

"What's wrong? Scared to accept the challenge?" Vance goaded, rolling up his sleeves as if he had already won. "It is explicitly written in the academy rules that instructors may challenge one another to help a student make the right choice. You can't call this poaching."

"And how exactly will we evaluate this guidance?" Arthur asked through gritted teeth. He knew that if he didn't handle this perfectly, he wouldn't just lose his only student today—he would never recruit another one again.

Instructors generally guided students by pointing out flaws in their cultivation, correcting their stances, or refining their techniques. Since every instructor had a different philosophy, their guidance varied wildly.

"Simple," Vance declared confidently. "Since all these students are new, we don't know their habits, and they don't know our methods. We will have them perform their basic combat forms. Then, we will point out their flaws and advise them on how to correct them. They will perform the forms again. Whichever instructor's advice yields a greater improvement... wins. Fair?"

Normally, Vance wouldn't bother challenging a bottom-tier instructor like Arthur. But he knew for a fact that Arthur was famously blind to martial arts flaws. Vance was absolutely certain he would embarrass him.

Arthur was sweating bullets.

"Don't tell me you're actually too cowardly to accept?" Vance pushed harder. "You were just bragging about how selective you are. If you're truly a grandmaster, prove it. Don't drag this innocent girl down into the mud with you."

"F... Fine," Arthur stammered, glancing nervously around the room.

*What's the worst that could happen?* he rationalized internally. *I lose. It's not like I'll die. But if I refuse the challenge, Elara will definitely withdraw anyway. I have no other options left.*

Even if he couldn't remember anything useful, he'd just spout some vague, philosophical nonsense and pray for a miracle. Embarrassing? Sure. But he wasn't going down without a fight.

"Professor Vance and Professor Sterling are having a Guidance Competition!"

"Who's gonna win?"

"Isn't that the guy?"

"Yeah, the zero-mark teacher. And he actually accepted a challenge? Is he a glutton for punishment?"

Hearing about the duel, students abandoned their lunches and swarmed around them, forming a massive ring. Today was enrollment day. Many had heard the rumors about the infamous "Zero-Mark Instructor," but few had seen him in person. Everyone wanted a front-row seat to the humiliation.

"According to the rules, you will evaluate my student, and I will evaluate yours." Seeing the massive crowd gather, Vance puffed up with pride, flashing a brilliant, arrogant smile.

To prevent cheating or favoritism, the rules strictly forbade instructors from guiding their own recruits during a challenge. They had to evaluate each other's.

Having laid out the terms, Vance stepped back, clasping his hands behind his back like a true master. He looked at Elara. "Girl. Step forward. Show me your foundational combat sequence, and then strike that testing wall with everything you have."

"I..." Elara looked at Arthur, clearly torn. Taking a deep breath, she stepped into the center of the ring.

She executed her foundational sequence smoothly. Just like in the classroom, her spiritual energy rippled through the air, gathering momentum. As she completed her final stance, she threw a devastating punch at the padded testing wall.

*BANG!*

The sound of the impact echoed through the massive dining hall. If they hadn't seen it with their own eyes, no one would have believed such a timid girl could unleash such raw, explosive power. Her stance was impeccable, her strike heavy. It was obvious she possessed a terrifying foundation.

Panting slightly, Elara turned around to face the two instructors.

Arthur’s heart sank to the bottom of his stomach.

Even digging through the original Arthur's memories, he couldn't find a single flaw in her form. It was no wonder the original owner scored a zero; the guy genuinely couldn't spot a mistake to save his life.

Vance, however, saw her immense talent and smiled brightly. "Excellent."

Meanwhile, Arthur's head was spinning. He had zoned out completely. He didn't even know the name of the stance she just used, let alone how to critique it. How was he supposed to give advice?

Before Arthur could figure out an escape plan, a young boy stepped out from Vance's group of recruits.

"Professor Sterling, please correct my flaws," Rowan said, bowing slightly as he stepped up to take his turn.