"We're classmates; we're bound to run into each other. How could I possibly harm you?" Chang Luan said with a smile.
"Mm." Zhou Leng nodded.
The two of them walked out of Class 01's Martial Arts Dojo and came to a willow tree.
Zhou Leng looked at the boy with the slicked-back hair.
Chang Luan smiled and said, "I have a friend at your school named Rao Mingxian. You know him, right?"
"Crown Prince Rao." Zhou Leng nodded.
"You participated in the supplementary exam before, and I was shocked by your results. Later, I chatted with Rao Mingxian about you. You have come this far with limited pill resources, which I truly admire," Chang Luan said.
Zhou Leng didn't want to beat around the bush and said, "Just say whatever you want; the opening ceremony is about to start."
Chang Luan laughed and said, "Alright, let's get straight to the point. I want the position of head senior in our class, and I hope you can support me. Of course, I will compensate you with pills."
Zhou Leng said, "I see. Then you've come to the wrong person. I'm not interested in the head senior position and won't compete with you. I only care about martial arts cultivation."
"I haven't come to the wrong person; you're one of the strongest in our year. In terms of potential, you're probably in the top three, likely only weaker than Xu Kang'an from Class 2, and almost on par with a few others," said Chang Luan.
Zhou Leng looked at Chang Luan and slowly said, "I aim to pursue Extreme Martial Arts. On this path, I must give up certain things and learn to block out distractions."
Chang Luan smiled and said, "I know you're someone who is focused on martial arts. I never thought you would compete with me for the head senior position. I am hoping to get your help."
"I have neither the time nor the energy." Zhou Leng said.
Chang Luan said helplessly, "I'll be straightforward—I am willing to trade pills for your support in helping me become head senior."
"It won't be just verbal support, right?" Zhou Leng asked.
"In this opening exam, I aim to be in the top four of our class, and I hope you can hold back a bit during the test. Afterward, I'll compensate you with the pills you deserve and give you an extra portion," said Chang Luan.
Zhou Leng's gaze turned cold. Such matters, once discovered by the Martial Arts Hall, could have unpredictable consequences.
Zhou Leng said, "Classmate Chang Luan, the Martial Arts Hall has its rules. Any manipulation of rankings could result in a major demerit or even expulsion, affecting one's entire life."
"The premise is that there's evidence. If you don't say anything, and I don't say anything, who will know?" Chang Luan said.
Zhou Leng stared into Chang Luan's eyes and slowly said, "I'll say it one more time: I have no interest in the position of head senior. I won't block your path, and there's no need for you to block mine. I'd rather we peacefully be classmates for four years. Farewell."
Zhou Leng turned and walked away.
Chang Luan sighed and said, "Classmate Zhou Leng, think it over; my rewards will surely satisfy you."
Yet Zhou Leng walked away as if he hadn't heard.
On the surface, pill compensation seemed to earn some small money, but what about the risk and cost?
The blue-haired Tao Bing walked over, brushed past Zhou Leng, and quickly went to Chang Luan's side.
"Young Master Chang, how did it go?"
"He doesn't want to cooperate."
"Surely he can't affect you, right? As long as you get into the top four in the class, you'll be facing students from other classes in the final top sixteen combat," Tao Bing said.
"It's not easy getting into the top four in the class. I checked everyone's information and talked to many people. There are several who aren't short on money and have surely consumed Perfection Pills. Their exam scores will probably be similar to mine. If Zhou Leng goes all out, he will certainly be above me. I only surpass him in True Qi volume, True Qi intensity, and certain power projects. In other areas, I'm a bit lacking," Chang Luan said.
Tao Bing lowered his voice and said, "If you don't make it into the top four, just take down one of the people ahead. We've done it before."
Chang Luan hesitated but then lightly nodded, remembering his father's harsh words.
When the time came, Instructor Deng Zhijue of Class 01 arrived at the class's Martial Arts Dojo, called roll, lined up the team, and then led them to run to the Great Martial Arts Dojo No. 1 at Rucheng Martial Arts Academy.
The whole school's teachers and students gathered, holding the opening ceremony under the morning sun.
After the opening ceremony concluded, each class left in formation.
The non-martial arts classes were scattered and loose, but the Martial Arts Academy classes and Martial Arts Hall classes maintained a tidy formation and left the Great Martial Arts Dojo orderly.
This year's four Martial Arts Hall classes gathered at the Great Martial Arts Hall.
All the instructors wore camouflage Martial Guard uniforms, contrasting sharply with other teachers at the academy, resembling more a military school.
Head Instructor Huang Jingqiu appeared to give a speech.
"...Some of you already know that the Affiliated Martial Arts Hall of the academy is an entrusted training unit of the Martial Guard Department. What is an entrusted training unit? It means the national Martial Guard Department has entrusted the Martial Arts Hall of the academy to train you. You will have a significant chance of entering the city's Martial Guard Bureau in the future..."
"...From another perspective, each of you is equivalent to a Martial Guard intern. Although your cultural courses may not be as extensive as those of Martial Arts Academy students, you must bear Martial Guard responsibilities when needed, such as participating in the capture of the Demon Worship Sect..."
After Huang Jingqiu's speech, Hall Master Wang Boxiong was invited to speak.
The instructors applauded first, and the students followed, clapping vigorously.
The towering Wang Boxiong walked forward, capturing the attention of all the students.
Zhou Leng watched Wang Boxiong, surprised to find out that he was the hall master of the Affiliated Martial Arts Hall.
Wang Boxiong, dressed in clean and neat camouflage, with his hands behind his back, scanned all the students.
"I'm very happy to meet all of you in the golden autumn at the academy's martial arts hall..."
Wang Boxiong politely spoke a few words, then his gaze turned cold.
"Everyone has their own joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness. I, Wang Boxiong, cannot control them, nor do I want to."
"But if you stay in the Martial Arts Hall, using its resources to improve yourself, you must understand that every pill, every piece of demonized equipment in the Martial Arts Hall is cultivated with human blood, harvested with sweat, and crafted with wisdom."
"Now, demons, sea sirens, giant dragons, giant insects, fierce beasts, and more are eyeing us. The Demon Worship Sect wreaks havoc across the world. We must use our precious resources as blades to eradicate demons."
"Appropriate competition and conflicts are allowed within the Martial Arts Hall. However, I hope everyone understands that only by uniting, uniting, and uniting further, using all the power of the Human Race together, can we climb out of the quagmire of an elementary civilization and ascend higher on the ladder of civilization."
"Remember, beneath your feet lies not only the earth but also bones and bloodstains."
"Flowers of the motherland, welcome, stepping out of the greenhouse, onto the ladder of civilization."
Wang Boxiong said, striding away.
The sound of his military boots hitting the ground was like a giant elephant trampling, pounding heavily on each student's heart.
A group of teenagers fell into contemplation.
The instructors, standing with straight postures, looked at the students in front of them, with faint smiles appearing on their faces.
Chief Instructor Huang Jingqiu smiled and said, "Let me share a common knowledge. When Hall Master Wang was young, his favorite thing to do with people from the Demon Worship Sect was to drown them in the toilet. Another person who is as famous as Hall Master Wang preferred to blow them up with a punch."
"Awesome!" Wei Hong was not afraid at all, instead, he exclaimed excitedly.
"Step out! Sprint five kilometers." Huang Jingqiu said.
"Yes!" Wei Hong responded loudly, sprinting with all his might around the outdoor Great Martial Arts Dojo.
Huang Jingqiu said, "Our Martial Arts School Students are a bit different from Martial Arts Academy students and non-martial arts students. Here, it's more like a military academy. Don't forget that."
"Now let me talk about the arrangements for the next few days."
"In a while, everyone will receive their student card, which is almost the same as the War Merit Token. It has many integrated functions and can be used in many places. After receiving it, you can access the 'Rucheng Freshman Chart' and 'Rucheng Qi Blood Chart' in the Martial Arts City..."
"The main event today is the opening assessment. After uploading the results, it will determine your ranking on the freshman chart..."
"In today's assessment, the top four from each class will be selected. Next Monday, there will be a top sixteen real combat to compete for the top spot..."
"Every school assessment, according to the ranking, you will receive corresponding rewards..."
"You are now first-year students, each month you can receive a basic subsidy of 500 yuan, one Qi Nourishing Pill per month, and one meal of Meat Herbal Cuisine per week..."
The eyes of many students were shining.
"Starting tomorrow, it's military training. The military training at our Martial Arts Hall is different from non-martial arts students. You need to be prepared."
Huang Jingqiu smiled, and the other instructors laughed particularly happily.
The students' hearts were pounding.
In the smiles of these instructors, a demon was hidden.
An hour later, the main instructors of each class led their classes away.
Wei Hong, panting heavily, followed at the end of the team.
The main instructor of Class 01, Deng Zhijue, led the group to receive their student cards and Marching Pills, explaining as they walked.
"You must keep your student card with you at all times and bind it to the 'Martial Arts City'. Try not to lose it, but if you do, it can be located. From now on, all your activities, clocking in for classes, assessments, meals, etc., will require this student card..."
"Now you can warm up as you walk. Next, we will conduct today's opening assessment, starting with the physical assessment."
"The current physical assessment is similar to the high school entrance examination's physical assessment, just slightly more difficult. It includes sprinting, dodging, weighted running, obstacle running, weightlifting, and punching power, six subjects in total."
"The Martial Arts Hall does not have a martial arts test, only a True Qi exam and a comprehensive exam."
"The True Qi exam content, similar to the martial arts exam, tests the total amount of True Qi, True Qi strength, and True Qi manipulation, three subjects."
"The comprehensive exam tests Qi manipulation weightlifting, maximum destructive intensity, average destructive intensity, and blocking and counter-strike ability, four subjects in total."
Upon hearing "blocking and counter-strike ability," almost everyone's complexion changed slightly.
This assessment is well-known.
"Each of the three examinations has a maximum score of 100, for a total of 1300 points across 13 subjects. Unlike the capped 100 points in the high school entrance exam, future tests allow for special scores, enabling 'super resolution', meaning scores over 100, though usually seen only in Yunhua and Jinjing. Among the tens of thousands of new students in Quanru City, probably only 'Mountain and River Origin' can achieve it, so don't even think about it."
"After completing the exam, the scores will be uploaded to the relevant charts in the 'Martial Arts City'. On the freshman chart, additional grading items will be added, recalculated, and finally displayed as a percentile index score, with the total ranking based on the index score."
"The top four from each class will receive a free meal card for September at the school cafeteria."
A few tall students' eyes shone brightly.
Zhou Leng was tempted.
Deng Zhijue continued, "Next Monday, the top four from each class will participate in a real combat ranking. The first place will receive one Replenishing Essence Pill, two Qi Nourishing Pills, and two Blood Replenishing Pills."
"The second and third places will receive five Qi Nourishing Pills and five Blood Replenishing Pills each."
"The fourth to eighth places will receive two Qi Nourishing Pills and two Blood Replenishing Pills each."
"The ninth to sixteenth places will receive one Qi Nourishing Pill and one Blood Replenishing Pill each."
Hearing such generous rewards, many students began breathing more heavily.
"This time, the exam must be completed continuously today, which means no lunch, and we'll eat directly after the exam for dinner."
The students looked reluctant; these three exams will take at least five or six hours, and it's already past ten o'clock.
"Of course, everyone is given a Marching Pill. Besides this, only drinking water is allowed. Consuming any other food or pills will result in expulsion."
"Did you hear that?" Deng Zhijue suddenly asked.
"Heard! It! Clear!"
"I didn't hear it."
"Heard! It! Clear!"
"Louder, didn't you eat enough?"
"Heard... it... clear..." The students shouted until their necks turned red.
"Very good."