Principal Lu glanced at the door, remained silent for a moment, and then slowly said, "Special admission and supplementary enrollment, indeed... do have some discussions surrounding them. But I assure you, with your ability, as long as you aren't stuck, and as long as you enter the supplementary exam, you will definitely get into West Sea Martial Arts University. Additionally, I will call the admissions office of West Sea Martial Arts University to recommend you. A recommendation from a high school principal carries significant weight."
Zhou Leng looked at Principal Lu in astonishment. Although he didn't understand much about the hidden rules, he clearly understood what Principal Lu's recommendation meant.
"Principal Lu, you..."
Principal Lu smiled slightly and said, "You were severely injured by a Demon yet did not lose heart, and you even managed to improve six thousand ranks in one go, worthy of my recommendation. Just a few days ago, I joked with the school's leadership team about changing the 'Eighth Middle School Progress Award' to 'Zhou Leng Progress Award,' and they took it seriously, everyone opposed. In conclusion, you have done what a student should do, and thus I must do what a principal should do."
"Thank you, Principal Lu." Warmth surged through Zhou Leng's heart.
"I know you're still hesitating, so don't rush to fill out the forms. Give it some more thought, it's not too late to fill them out in the afternoon. All right, go back now, and don't forget your file folder." Principal Lu said.
Zhou Leng stood up, bowed to Principal Lu, and said, "Goodbye, Principal Lu."
Watching Zhou Leng leave, Principal Lu sat for a while, then took out his phone, and started making calls one after another.
"Teacher Xu? I heard that your class's Zhou Leng was misled by someone, not choosing the promising West Sea Martial Arts University, instead opting for Rucheng Martial Arts University. Find an opportunity today to persuade him, hmm... okay..."
"Sun Xiong, that kid Zhou Leng doesn't want to apply for the Top Ten Martial Arts universities; he wants to apply for Rucheng Martial Arts University. Find an excuse to go to the third class and talk about the difference between the Top Ten Martial Arts and ordinary universities, make sure the kid doesn't choose the wrong path..."
Zhou Leng returned to the classroom and continued chatting with classmates.
Soon, the homeroom teacher Xu Meijie entered the room with a stack of college application forms and began to explain.
Subsequently, she let the students discuss among themselves.
The students all walked out of the classroom, took out their phones to contact their parents for final confirmation.
Xu Meijie walked to Zhou Leng's side.
"Zhou Leng, do you have any thoughts?"
Zhou Leng hesitated for a moment, then said, "I am considering whether to apply for supplementary enrollment at Rucheng Martial Arts University or West Sea Martial Arts University."
Xu Meijie said, "Well, that depends on you. If you are like Hu Yi without grand ambitions, then choose Rucheng Martial Arts University. If you aspire to be like Zhang Xinglie, then choose West Sea Martial Arts University."
Hu Yi stood beside, his face blank.
Nearby classmates secretly chuckled.
"Teacher Xu, you can't say that..." Hu Yi said, utterly crushed.
"I'm mainly afraid that West Sea Martial Arts University is not free enough." Zhou Leng said.
Xu Meijie replied, "If you want to live on campus, live on campus; if not, then be a day scholar. Even if you don't want to go, as long as you say you're cultivating in Demon City, the school can't do anything about you. As long as you earn enough credits… no, you don't even need to earn enough credits; as long as you reach the Vitality Stage, you can apply to challenge the Innate, graduate early."
"Can it really be like this?" Zhou Leng was suddenly relieved.
"Certainly."
Zhou Leng initially worried about not being able to cultivate at the Frost Giant Tree if he went to the strict West Sea Martial Arts University, but now, the worry seems excessive.
Not long after, teachers from various subjects arrived and started chatting with the classmates.
Most teachers approached Zhou Leng, discussing choices with him, almost all supporting him to choose West Sea Martial Arts University's supplementary enrollment.
Xu Qingjin stood up, asked several classmates about their aspirations, then casually asked Zhou Leng but didn't give him any advice.
Zhou Leng sat in his seat pondering for a long time, finally finding Xu Meijie, saying, "Teacher, I've decided."
"Which one are you choosing?"
"For the supplementary enrollment eligibility for Martial Arts University, I choose West Sea Martial Arts University. As for the supplementary enrollment eligibility for the Affiliated Martial Arts Hall, I choose Rucheng Martial Arts University's Affiliated Martial Arts Hall." Zhou Leng said.
Xu Meijie nodded gently and said, "This is good too, balancing your future with personal preference."
Xu Meijie walked out of the classroom and called Principal Lu to inform him of the decision.
"That's good."
After saying this, Principal Lu flipped through the contact list and then dialed.
"Hello, Yu, it's me."
"Old Lu, the admissions office is terribly busy right now, lots of eyes watching."
"I just wanted a casual chat. We've got a prodigy from our school, over fifty thousand ranks improved, finished 12,000 in the martial exam. Martial exam single subject score, 276, top thousand citywide."
"That… indeed a bit peculiar. The one who retook the exam at the test site?"
"Yes."
"Hmm, though this student is somewhat unbalanced in skills, they are exactly the Martial arts genius our country needs. Such talent would not be missed by any Martial Arts Academy."
"Let's have a meal together once this busy period is over." Principal Lu said.
"No problem."
Back in the third classroom, Zhou Leng officially filled out his college applications and then found Feng Wenhao.
"After finishing, let's go to Pioneer Company and meet Boss Xue." Zhou Leng said.
"Alright."
In the afternoon, led by Li Linhan, the two arrived at the Xueji Exploration Branch in the suburbs and entered the company's indoor Martial Arts Dojo.
The space as large as two basketball courts was filled with training equipment.
There were many Demonized Equipment that made martial artists envious.
Three men not far away paused their conversation and walked over together.
Li Linhan said, "This is your Uncle Xue."
"Hello Uncle Xue." Zhou Leng and Feng Wenhao greeted the tall middle-aged man in unison.
Xue Tongming smiled slightly and said, "Anyone brought by Brother Li is certainly reliable. However, the rules must be followed, you two have to spar with Xiaoguo. I'll be frank, if you're too lacking, then I'll have to play the villain."
Li Linhan said, "If your skills aren't up to par, you can only blame yourselves. Zhou Leng, you go first."
"Yes."
Guo Xiaohao, standing next to Xue Tongming, extended his left arm and said, "Please."
Zhou Leng clasped his hands and said, "Please, senior."
The two walked ten paces before stopping.
Guo Xiaohao looked Zhou Leng up and down, asking, "What does it mean 'hands are two doors, feet do the fighting'?"
Zhou Leng thought briefly and said, "The original meaning of this phrase is that the legs and feet have more power than the arms, and it's the legs and feet that decide victory or defeat. But there's more to it."
Zhou Leng continued speaking eloquently.
"In actual combat, leg techniques are often more about 'probing', are feints, and then seizing the opportunity for a 'decisive blow'. You absolutely cannot rely solely on legs in a fight; any overly flashy or excessive leg techniques lead to a miserable defeat in real combat."
"Because legs determine one's balance and have a greater range of motion than arms, they are slower to retract. Excessive use of leg techniques will inevitably expose weaknesses."
"The key to this phrase lies in 'fighting', not kicking, poking, or stomping, which broadens the scope. Martial Saint Zhao Dongjun once said during the Qi Blood Realm stage that combat is a game of legs, which holds two meanings here."
"One aspect is relying on leg-foot movement; a martial artist who stands still is a dead one, only those who can move are masters."
"And for the second aspect, in the actual exertion of force, legs, waist, arms, and hands are as one; without the power from the legs, any attack is weak and feeble."
Guo Xiaohao nodded.
"Just talking isn't enough. Now you attack, I'll defend with Great Success True Qi, using one hand. After thirty moves, I'll attack with one hand." As Guo Xiaohao spoke, he extended his right arm forward, bending the arm to align with his body's midline.
Single-handedly questioning.
Then, he beckoned to Zhou Leng with a finger.
Zhou Leng remained unfazed by the slightly provocative gesture and said, "Please instruct me, senior."
At the tail end of the word "instruct", Zhou Leng stamped his right foot, force followed Qi, his body rapidly surged, and a straight punch named "Opening the Mountain to Welcome Guests" aimed directly at Guo Xiaohao's chest.
Sleeves trembled, the punch cracked through the air.
This move came direct and honest, without hidden changes, called using the fist to greet.
Guo Xiaohao didn't act domineeringly either; he stepped back, placing his right hand on his chest as a gesture to block, called a candid return of greeting.
Zhou Leng advanced another step, turning fist into palm for a move similar to "Opening the Mountain to Welcome Guests", pushing straight without any flair.
Rushing Tide.
Feng Wenhao, not far away, blinked in surprise, unable to see clearly how Zhou Leng was suddenly in front of Guo Xiaohao.
At that moment, Feng Wenhao seemed to see a wave suspended above Zhou Leng's palm.
"Good," Guo Xiaohao said lightly, turning aside and reaching out to block Zhou Leng's wrist.
Zhou Leng swept his arm horizontally with a move known as "Crossing the Autumn River", pushing Guo Xiaohao's right hand aside, then rushing forward like a moving tide, stepping on Eight Trigrams, changing palm to elbow, the tip of the elbow rising up directly towards Guo Xiaohao's face.
Guo Xiaohao hurriedly stepped back to avoid, Zhou Leng pressed on relentlessly, his body like an urgent tide.
Palm, fist, elbow, and leg surged forward in waves towards Guo Xiaohao.
Xue Tongming said, "Brother Li, your nephew is not bad. His form is like a tide, fierce and aggressive, his Mystic Tide Technique already grasps three-tenths of its true meaning."
Li Linhan nodded and said, "He's improved a lot compared to a few months ago."
Guo Xiaohao, a Blood Transporting Period expert, retreated in succession through seven moves until the eighth move stabilized his form, breaking Zhou Leng's attack.
Upon reaching the thirtieth move, Guo Xiaohao suddenly struck, turning defense into attack.
Zhou Leng dodged left and right, retreating step by step, without directly confronting Guo Xiaohao.
Guo Xiaohao kept his True Qi at Great Success, not using Blood Transport, and couldn't seem to get a hold of Zhou Leng.
After over twenty more moves, Guo Xiaohao smiled and withdrew his hand, saying, "When attacking, you're as fierce as a tide; when defending, you're as slippery as an eel. The tides rise and fall, you do as you please, you certainly mastered the Mystic Tide Technique lively. Although your real combat experience is lacking and your form gets messy when retreating, your techniques fall apart, you're smarter than the previous ones."
Xue Tongming and Li Linhan nodded.
Xue Tongming said, "Xiaoguo's commentary is apt. These students who've never seen battle always get unstructured when fighting, their techniques falling apart, everyone is like this."
"While we forged through mountains of knives and seas of flames, they're still lacking a bit," Li Linhan said, "Wenhao, you step up."
Feng Wenhao, with his shoulders hunched, shrank his neck as he slowly stepped forward.
Zhou Leng said, "Don't overthink. You won't get hurt. If you don't trust yourself, at least trust a Blood Transporting Period expert who's a level above you."
Feng Wenhao gave an awkward chuckle.
Guo Xiaohao beckoned with his hand, Feng Wenhao mimicked Zhou Leng's way, charging forward with a punch.
Everyone furrowed their brows.
Guo Xiaohao didn't move his feet, using his right hand to block and push, causing Feng Wenhao to lean right and his steps to become disorderly.
Xue Tongming shook his head and said, "This kid lacks inner Qi, unstable lower body, basic skills aren't solid, and he's copying others blindly."
"Xiaoleng, what's your take?" Li Linhan asked.