The process of deification began with the discovery of hidden information in divine objects.

Su Ziye took a deep breath. He should have realized this earlier. These school leaders were all shrewd and capable of sitting in that position. How could they not have a way to check and balance them?

There was no way to directly target Su Ziye, but they could sow discord among the people around him. Xu Lu had already been very accommodating by not telling Zhang Fengmian and the other person directly, for fear of affecting the relationship between Su Ziye and them.

"This wasn't the principal's decision; it was decided by a vote of the school administration. You know how it is; where you sit determines your opinion. Those who are in those positions have all received some benefits from the elite classes and the wealthy families."

Xu Lu explained that she didn't even need to say it explicitly; Su Ziye understood it perfectly in an instant.

Words can deceive, but actions cannot; actions are the eyes of the heart.

Judging from the school's decision, it's clear that Aoba Middle School has become almost entirely the private property of those elite classes.

Throughout the school, the principal certainly holds the greatest power, but the management checks and balances him. It's like a dynasty, with an unshakeable family and ever-changing emperors.

Even an emperor cannot control everything, let alone a school principal.

"You went too far yesterday. Liu Yi was beaten up like this, with seventeen stitches in his head. His family is quite influential in the South District, so they definitely won't let this go. Most importantly, your sudden rise has made the students in the elite class feel threatened."

"They're working together to coerce you, sideline you, and isolate you by using your connections."

"Yes, they can't outmaneuver me, so they're targeting the people around me. I didn't think things through. I'll tolerate any problems, but... I, Su Ziye, am not someone to be trifled with."

"No matter what, I will make the school give back those two spots. They deserve every single one of them!"

"The school didn't say they would completely disqualify them, just temporarily postpone it."

"Even the management cannot directly waive the baptism eligibility of outstanding students who meet the requirements; this does not comply with the explicit provisions of the Ministry of Education."

Xu Lu explained.

"There's only a little over a month left until the college entrance exam. When will it be postponed to? Right before the exam? What's the point of this ordeal, or will it ruin their future?"

Su Ziye sneered. In powerful organizations, there's never any open confrontation; most people use underhanded methods to disgust you.

If the baptism is postponed until just before the college entrance examination, what is the point of baptism?

"Teacher Xu, Zhang Fengmian told me this morning that he's going to work hard. They've been looking forward to this baptism for three long years! It's finally their turn! This might be the closest we ordinary kids ever get to this divine object in our lives!"

"Liu Yi hit someone and got away with it, I hit Liu Yi and got away with it too, but the two innocent victims are the ones being punished!"

"This world shouldn't be like this!"

Xu Lu remained silent, then sighed, feeling deeply exhausted and powerless.

"I've been at this school for three years. In those eight years, I've seen this happen countless times. Students in regular classes are treated unfairly, but even so, I... I'm powerless. Like this time, I can't even speak up for my students!"

To put it bluntly, she was just a working-class person with no standing in front of the school's higher-ups. Even if she tried her best to fight for the students' rights, no one would listen to her.

"It's alright, I know you've done your best, Ms. Xu. I'll handle this myself. Could you please try to get me a chance to meet with the principal? I want to talk to him!"

Su Ziye spoke, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes!

"What do you want to do?"

"Negotiation! Whatever he wants, I'll give him! People are driven by self-interest; as long as there's a benefit, nothing is off-limits for negotiation!"

Su Ziye rested one hand on the railing, looking down from the third floor with a deep gaze, as if he were pondering something.

Xu Lu looked at Su Ziye like this, and her heart trembled slightly.

She always felt that Su Ziye at this moment was not like an ordinary high school student at all. His cognition, thinking, and even his temperament were more mature than hers!

"Okay, I understand."

I will give you an answer by this afternoon at the latest.

Xu Lu spoke up.

"Let's go back to class first."

Su Ziye returned to the classroom, trying his best to appear relaxed. When Zhang Fengmian asked him a question, he simply waved his hand.

"It's nothing serious, the school won't hold me responsible."

"That's wonderful!"

After the bell rang, Zhang Fengmian continued to chatter on, eagerly anticipating the divine baptism. Lately, he seemed to be getting quite close to Chen Yingying.

"Zhang Fengmian, have you decided to take the college entrance exam?"

Chen Yingying asked, holding the book.

"Yes, I want to work hard and not let myself down, nor my dad!"

He nodded vigorously.

"Then I will also take the college entrance exam. Actually, I had already planned to give up at the beginning. I have two younger brothers at home. If I start working earlier, I might be able to earn more money to help support my family."

"But now that I think about it, I really don't want to give up. I've worked hard for three years, and I finally got to receive this divine blessing. I don't want to regret it for the rest of my life!"

"Then let's take the college entrance exam together! Midnight, what about you?"

"Huh? Me? I guess I'll be going to higher education too."

Su Ziye answered somewhat absentmindedly.

"Su Ziye is so amazing, you'll definitely get into a four-year university! A junior college diploma is nothing to you!"

Chen Yingying encouraged her.

"By the way, when is Teacher Xu Lu coming to take us for baptism? I can't wait!"

During the ten-minute break, Zhang Fengmian craned his neck and peered out the door seven or eight times.

"It might be too late today, it might be delayed until tomorrow. Don't be in such a hurry, the opportunity for baptism won't disappear."

Su Ziye comforted her.

"The sooner I get baptized, the more time I have to work hard. After what happened yesterday, I realized something: if I don't get into a junior college and become a powerful cultivator, we ordinary kids will never be able to turn our lives around!"

"My dad worked hard half his life, but in the end, he still has to grovel before others. I want to try my luck myself!"

"If we succeed, we'll be destitute; if we fail, we can always go back to the mines and work as laborers!"

Zhang Fengmian said that men always grow through humiliation, and only by knowing shame can they become brave; this is the true nature of a man.

"It's okay, it's only for one day, it won't have any impact."

Su Ziye comforted her.

He will fight for these two spots; he won't allow them to be taken away even by the King of Heaven himself!

As afternoon approached and school was about to end, Su Ziye eagerly awaited Xu Lu's arrival.

"The principal said he can see you."

Xu Lu said quietly.

"He was also very curious about how you managed to beat Liu Yi up like that."

Su Ziye's eyes flickered slightly.

"As he wished!"