Global Necromantic Specialist

Marsh's expression remained calm, completely unshaken by the situation.

However, the rest of the people in the yard couldn't hide their surprise.

"Only level 17? What a joke."

"If you want to bring someone along, at least pick someone useful, not just any stray cat or dog."

The voice carrying such arrogance belonged to a man holding a staff. He stepped into the courtyard with an air of superiority, his gaze sweeping over Marsh with disdain.

Ning Yiyi frowned, clearly displeased. "Ling Zhen, watch your words. Marsh is the top scholar in the country!"

Ling Zhen let out a sneer, filled with contempt. "So what? Being the top scholar means nothing in front of us."

"I've seen plenty of so-called top scholars in the past. All of them turned out to be complete trash."

His arrogance was undeniable, and it was clear he had no regard for Marsh or his accomplishments.

The others in the yard also displayed a sense of superiority, as if Ling Zhen's words held undeniable truth. It seemed that to them, the title of the top scholar carried little to no significance.

Ning Yiyi wasn't having it. She glared at Ling Zhen and snapped, "You talk as if you're farting—so full of nonsense and stinking up the place!"

Ling Zhen scoffed but didn't bother arguing with her. Instead, he turned his sharp gaze back to Marsh. "So, you're Marsh, huh? I know you were introduced by Master Kong."

"Don't get cocky just because you have connections with him."

"Our Qianlong team values strength above all else."

"We don't mind bringing an extra person along for this trial, but you'd better keep your mouth shut. Don't talk, don't make a sound, and most importantly—don't drag us down. If you do, I'll be the first to put you in your place."

Marsh found Ling Zhen's attitude absurd. He had met proud individuals before, like Jeny, who carried herself with an air of superiority as the eldest daughter of the Xia family.

But this guy?

This level of arrogance was outright ridiculous.

"Idiot?" Marsh suddenly asked, his voice calm but cutting.

Ling Zhen's expression darkened instantly. "What did you just say!?"

His staff ignited in flames, massive energy surging around him in an intimidating display.

Ning Yiyi quickly stepped in front of Marsh. "Ling Zhen, you dare make a move?"

Jiang Taotao also intervened, positioning herself between the two. "Ling Zhen, that's enough."

Ling Zhen gritted his teeth, but at Jiang Taotao's firm stance, he eventually withdrew his energy. The flames around his staff flickered out.

"I'll let it go this time, Sister Taozi," he muttered before giving Marsh a long, cold glare. With a final huff, he stepped aside, clearly still holding a grudge.

Jiang Taotao sighed, then turned to Marsh. "We'll set off at 9 AM tomorrow. Be here on time."

"As for the details of the trial, you'll find out then."

Marsh nodded. "Got it."

"Come on, let's go shopping and prepare," Ning Yiyi said, pulling Marsh away.

Once they were out of the courtyard, Jiang Taotao turned back to Ling Zhen. "Listen, I understand you have grievances, but personal feelings shouldn't interfere with the trial. And don't forget—Master Kong himself introduced him. You need to be careful."

Ling Zhen scoffed. "I know my limits, but that doesn't mean I have to like it. If we're going to bring someone, at least make sure it's someone useful. Have you even heard of a necromancer before?"

Jiang Taotao hesitated before shaking her head. "He's the top scholar in the country. That alone means there must be something special about him."

One of the team members spoke up, "A necromancer is a newly discovered profession, and it's rumored to be the only one of its kind."

Ling Zhen remained unimpressed. "Every few years, some new class pops up, and most of them turn out to be useless."

---

Ning Yiyi and Marsh walked through the bustling marketplace. She glanced at him and sighed, "Don't waste your energy on that guy. He's just full of himself. Not worth it."

Marsh's response was simple: "A dog bites a man, but a man cannot bite a dog."

Ning Yiyi burst out laughing. "Oh, I didn't know you had this side to you!"

The two arrived at the Imperial Exchange, where Marsh quickly began selling the loot he had collected from the Xihai Mine dungeon.

Instead of consigning the materials, he directly sold them to the exchange's recycling division.

The weapons he had acquired, ranging from black iron to bronze, silver, gold, and even platinum, were sold off. Bronze-tier weapons, suitable for level 10 to 20 professionals, weren't worth much—each going for around 10,000 gold coins.

After clearing out his inventory, Marsh received a total of 230,000 gold coins.

Not a fortune, but enough to last him for a while.

"You should buy some red and blue potions for tomorrow's trial," Ning Yiyi advised.

Red and blue potions were essentials for all professionals.

[Basic Life Potion: Heals injuries. Usable below level 20. Cooldown: 1 hour.]

[Basic Mental Potion: Restores mental power. Usable below level 20. Cooldown: 1 hour.]

Each potion cost 1,000 gold coins.

Following her advice, Marsh purchased ten bottles of each, spending 20,000 gold coins.

After that, he spent 200,000 gold coins on two primary skill scrolls, leaving him with only 10,000 gold coins.

Money really did burn fast.

Their next stop was the Xuefu Exchange, where Marsh bought a communicator for 100 points.

The device, resembling a wristwatch, was an essential tool for every student, allowing easy communication.

Ning Yiyi grinned as she added Marsh to her contacts. "From now on, I can bug you anytime, anywhere!"

Marsh glanced at her playful expression, a rare smile appearing on his face.

---

The next morning, as the sun rose over the academy, Marsh prepared for the upcoming trial.

This was just the beginning.

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