So, the Teachers, long accustomed to such things, chose to ignore it. Children are always naughty. As long as they understood and abided by a tacitly agreed-upon bottom line, excessive discipline would only irritate everyone. Even if these children seemed a bit restless, all the Teachers would assume it was just the usual antics of underachievers whispering amongst themselves; they simply couldn't be bothered.

They never imagined that the truth hidden behind these antics might genuinely astound them and give them quite a scare.

For instance, a student with a rather handsome face and bright, constantly darting eyes, stealthily glanced at the Teachers patrolling the corridor of the Teaching Building outside the classroom window, and at the Martial Artists guarding the school's entrances and exits. Afterwards, he found his companions and whispered to them, "I saw it! We can't get out through the main gate. Both the east and west passages are blocked; I guess it's the same for the north and south ones. Even that little gap we used to sneak out through has been sealed. Do you guys know any other secret spots?"

Some students immediately frowned, deep in thought, but couldn't come up with anything. They could only continue to frown and ponder, ultimately gaining nothing but a frustrating headache.

However, just when they were at a loss, a rather thin child with a dirty, disheveled mop of hair, who was nearby, seemed to know what they were discussing and approached them uninvited. He unabashedly told them, "I know a place where we can all get out! And the Teachers won't realize for a while. But, as a condition, you have to pool together one small mud pellet for me!"

The child with the handsome face and lively eyes, who seemed to be their leader, immediately stared at him. He recognized him! This disheveled child had just transferred to their school. Rumor had it that he used to be self-taught, picking up trash to support himself. Now, with the Federation's Martial Artist selection approaching, he had left his little hovel, passed the school entrance examination with excellent results, and become their classmate.

So, after thinking for a moment, the handsome boy with the darting eyes readily agreed, "Fair enough! As long as you can get us out, I'll pay for a big gray ball myself!"

However, when the child with disheveled hair heard the term "big gray ball," he became increasingly cautious, his expression turning very grave. After pondering for a long moment, he solemnly shook his head and said, "I don't want a big gray ball. I want a small mud pellet!"

The handsome boy in front of him was speechless. "Why do you specifically want a small mud pellet? Aren't they just pieces pinched off the big gray balls anyway? You're not willing even if I give you a whole big gray ball? You insist on some tiny fragment?"

The disheveled child shook his head, showing no interest in the so-called big gray ball. "I just want a small mud pellet! The big gray ball is too expensive; I'm afraid you're trying to trick me. As long as you promise to give me a small mud pellet, I'll take you out. Or, if you give me the small mud pellet now, I'll tell you the place."

Helpless, the handsome child had to nod. "Fine, fine, fine! Whatever you say. A small mud pellet it is! After all, I'm a Martial Student now. It's not like I can't afford one small mud pellet..."

Had any outsiders been present to hear these words, they would surely have been utterly flabbergasted. It was fortunate the Teachers hadn't heard; otherwise, they absolutely wouldn't have believed that a child, clearly only in his third year of junior high, had already embarked on the Martial Arts Path and become a Martial Student. Was the Federation crazy, or were *they* the ones going mad? This seemed like an utterly preposterous notion, didn't it?

However, what these adults absolutely did not know was that beneath the current Quan State City, an undercurrent was constantly surging—something even they had vaguely heard about. It had merely been suppressed by the higher-ups. Thus, what many people knew gradually faded into a rumor that caused no ripples.

The truth was, nearly all parents of young children knew about a type of elixir called the "big gray ball." Its medicinal effect was only ten percent of an ordinary elixir, but the crucial point was its price: a mere one percent of the genuine article! This was unprecedented.

Initially, when some parents first heard this news, they almost suspected someone was trying to deceive their children, attempting to swindle money from them. However, when their own child spoke with an adult-like conviction, relaying *that* particular sentence, these parents couldn't help but be swayed.

"They told me the big gray ball might still be a bit expensive for us, but the first small mud pellet taken from it is free. So, once we try it and see it works, we can choose whether to buy more..."

Of course, children couldn't articulate such things on their own. So, other perceptive parents immediately realized someone must be orchestrating these events. The problem was, even if they brought the matter to their child's homeroom teacher, subject teachers, or even the Principal, the standard response they received was, "That's absolute nonsense! There's no such thing as a free elixir in this world. Besides, if it's free, why don't you go get one and try it? It won't kill anyone. And if it did, the Federation would haul them off to the Underground City to be treated like rats..."

Many uninformed people were effectively silenced by this response. Consequently, the Teachers, under pressure from the Principal, all chose to believe it was merely a rumor.

On the other hand, naturally, there would always be some parents bold enough to let their child try it. Besides, as the Teachers said, the worst that could happen was treating it like candy. Whether they could become Martial Artists was another matter. If it really helped Martial Artists, wouldn't it be beneficial for ordinary children too? At the very least, it would strengthen their bodies!

And so, some of these parents let their children consume it immediately. Others chose to have their children take it near a hospital, just in case emergency medical attention was needed.

From that point on, as they all witnessed the process and realized the small mud pellet was harmless—the worst side effect being that children became a bit more hyperactive—the story of the "big gray ball" and "small mud pellet" swiftly swept through Quan State City, reaching every family with underage children.

As for older children who had already matured and the vast majority of adults, these zealous parents discovered through their inquiries that these groups knew nothing about it. This made it almost certain that a powerful, hidden faction was silently orchestrating everything.

Even though the emergence of the Federation's new "goddess," Yao Yao, later made them understand that there was no such thing as a truly free lunch in this world, the medicinal effects of these elixirs were undeniably real and effective, especially when compared to completely unknown complications.

Moreover, even if there was a trap further down the line, living in this precarious world, filled with unknown dangers, what could possibly be more alluring than becoming a genuinely strong Martial Artist and gaining access to that wondrous, mystical world? Only Martial Artists possessed the true ability to protect themselves in this world.

Therefore, despite the many uncertainties, the parents of underage children were already impatient to see a Martial Artist emerge in their family—an event so momentous it would make their ancestors beam with pride.

Naturally, the influence of these two elixirs was not only confined within a certain range due to Jin Botao's careful planning and clever arrangements, but at the same time, Jin Botao also led everyone to believe that this was merely an irrelevant matter not worth their concern. However, it spread widely among all parents, its influence growing fiercer and fiercer until it permeated the entirety of Quan State City.

Naturally, there were also some families whose children were already adults who wanted to cause trouble for Jin Botao, or even for the formidable-looking men Wang Zhan had left behind. The outcome of such attempts was predictable.

It was indeed because of all this that the reaction of the Teachers and the Principal was so sluggish. To such an extent, in fact, that even though a new generation of Martial Artists was already emerging among these students, they couldn't react in time at all. At first, they even doubted their own sanity, wondering if they were becoming muddled. Or perhaps, were all the ordinary people in the Federation becoming entranced, somewhat obsessed by the powerful allure of Martial Artists?

It wasn't until today, until this very moment, as these children were about to step out from their familiar campus and onto the Federation's grand stage to begin showcasing their brilliance and passion, that the truth would come to light.

No doubt, these events would finally make them understand the kind of elaborate deception Jin Botao had woven for them behind the scenes. Truth, like fire in paper, can never be truly concealed.

Unfortunately, by the time these people, so long kept in the dark, finally discovered the truth—when the sparks were about to burn through the paper, erupting and descending powerfully upon the world—the initially small, scattered flames beneath had already grown into a conflagration capable of engulfing a prairie.

And this was the "casual answer sheet" Wang Zhan had handed to the Federation while carrying out Wei Daoming's mission.

However, what Wang Zhan himself could never have anticipated was that the ever-elusive Jin Botao, operating so quietly in the background, had just provided him with such a powerful, yet warm and gentle, tailwind to fan the flames!

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