"Thank you, Teacher. I’ll strive for a good ranking!"
Lu Chenzhou was very grateful for the opportunity Ji Xuantong gave him.
Then Old Ji dropped another bombshell:
"Chenzhou, go back to the academy and practice hard! Just get any ranking for you and Ru Yu, and the Martial Arts Academy will give you a cash reward of fifty thousand. If you place in the top three, it’ll be a hundred thousand... and if you really manage to get first place, I’ll dig into my own pockets to give you two hundred thousand!"
Lu Chenzhou’s expression changed, and he quickly said:
"Teacher, that’s not appropriate."
He had already received too many benefits from Ji Xuantong.
Ji Xuantong raised his eyebrows and said:
"What’s so inappropriate? Your master isn’t short of that bit of money."
In a city-level competition , if Lu Chenzhou could take first place, the publicity for the Flying Swallow Martial Arts Hall would be enormous, much better than spending a fortune on advertisements in the nearby subway stations. Once the major news media reported it, his teacher, as the first place winner, would be on the rise, and the Martial Arts Hall’s business would naturally boom.
Old Ji was shrewd, he wasn’t going to be at a loss.
"Thank you, Teacher. I’ll head back to the academy now, as it’s getting dark."
Lu Chenzhou looked at the sky.
Before leaving, Ji Xuantong cautioned him:
"You’re considered a talent now. Inside the academy, it’s fine, the teachers will protect you well. But if you have to go outside, be cautious. Don’t discuss your rank and cultivation progress with outsiders... that includes our Martial Arts Academy’s ordinary students. With enemies like the Black Knights around, one must not be without the caution of guarding against others." Discover more novels at novel~fire~net
Lu Chenzhou had also heard of talents who were assassinated by the Black Knights, although not many. Da Xia had good public security, and the protection for Martial Arts talents was in place.
With Wang Jidao in Fangshan, who would dare to intrude? Outside the academy, he just needs to be more cautious, and it’s not like he could just stay indoors all the time for fear of being killed.
The classroom for Grade 10, Class 25 was exceptionally quiet. The merciless elimination made even the slack students tense up. They couldn’t compare to Lu Chenzhou but were also striving to do their best.
After the nutrition class ended, Liu Huan came to the back.
"Chenzhou, the class head is calling for you."
"Congratulations, you should be set for a Class A rating."
"Teacher, you wanted to see me?"
Yu Zheng’s face was expressionless, and it was hard to tell what the situation was.
Lu Chenzhou was somewhat nervous.
He thought he might have been rejected by Dragon City Martial Arts University. If that was the case, Lu Chenzhou felt he could consider Galaxy Martial University...
He would have to shamelessly seek out Master Wang.
Suddenly, Yu Zheng showed a smile and said:
"Lu Chenzhou, you’re one of only two Class A rated Martial Arts talents I’ve had in three years, and the only one with Low Class root bone to get a Class A rating in nearly ten years at our high school. Congratulations, your hard work has not been in vain. Keep it up!"
Lu Chenzhou regulated his breath to calm his emotions and his breath.
In the end, he couldn’t help but laugh and said:
"Thank you, Teacher!"
"There’s no need to be tense at all times. Laugh if you feel like laughing."
"I’m afraid extreme joy and sorrow will attract Void Things."
"... it’s not that serious. Usually, only those who form certain strong mental obsessions are more susceptible. Normal emotions of joy and anger won’t cause any trouble. As for avoiding Void Things, what’s most important is still luck and strength. If you’re like me, having broken through the Second Shackles and your Qi-Blood flowing like a river, Void Things will steer clear; they’re not foolish."
Yu Zheng laughed heartily.
Lu Chenzhou laughed along.
Yu Zheng resumed his serious demeanor and said:
"I’ve seen all the effort you’ve put in this semester. Grade 11 is upon us, so continue to push forward. If you can maintain a Class A rating in the winter examination, I can apply to the school for you to take an examination-free university admission, skipping a grade, without the need to stay here."
"Thank you, Teacher. I’ll aim for a Class A!"
"I’ve said this before, as long as your talent is good enough, all existing rules can be bent," this is the truest Martial Arts World."
"Teacher, how can I maintain a Class A rating?"
"The standards are always shifting. There is still half a year before the winter exam. If you can reach the Sixth Rank or achieve Great Success in ’Tiger Supreme Fist,’ you will certainly be Class A."
With the Martial Arts Tree, it shouldn’t be a problem.
"Chenzhou, have you achieved Class A?"
During lunch, Liu Huan asked quietly.
Lu Chenzhou gestured with his eyes and shook his head,
"I don’t know either."
Yu Zheng asked him not to publicize this matter.
Liu Huan naturally took the hint and gave a thumbs up.
"Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone else."
A Class A rating signifies a true genius. Although the school is not afraid of the Black Knight, to avoid unnecessary trouble, they won’t publicly reveal the list of geniuses.
The matter eventually passed. However, the news that Lu Chenzhou was a Class A talent had already spread throughout the class. True or false, everyone tacitly understood.
After finishing the exams, Wang Gang came looking for Lu Chenzhou again.
"Brother, still training in Hard Qigong?"
Lu Chenzhou revealed his strong upper body, and after mustering his energy, his veins bulged as he said,
"Brother Wang, go a bit harder, my ’Arhat Skill’ is getting smooth."
Wang Gang was secretly shocked; Lu Chenzhou had managed to bring one of the most difficult Hard Qigong from beginner to proficiency in just a month. It seemed that Lu Chenzhou’s Cross Training Talent... was "a bit" stronger than his own.
Wang Gang extended his hand, which had a pale golden hue. He had long applied the precious "Golden Jade Ointment," and the medicine had integrated with the calluses on his palms to form a Golden Film, a characteristic of ’Vigorous Vajra Palm’ trained to a deep level, not far from Small Success.
After achieving Small Success, one can snatch a blade barehanded, leaving only a shallow blood mark.
After Great Success, snatching a blade won’t draw blood, only a white mark.
Upon reaching Perfection, blades and swords can hardly hurt, with both palms as strong as Vajra Iron Palms.
Though considered Second Class Martial Arts, ’Arhat Skill’ is more difficult than ’Vigorous Vajra Palm,’ the latter focusing only on the palms, while the former requires training the entire upper body.
Lu Chenzhou felt that the Void-breaking Gloves were sufficient for his hands.
After he finished his training, he helped Wang Gang with hitting exercises. The two trained for an hour, covered in bruises, before they finally said goodbye and left.
"That’s so exhilarating, let’s continue tomorrow!"
Wang Gang felt the increasing sturdiness in his legs. On the spot, he performed a right spinning kick, creating a loud whoosh. The wooden post he struck tilted crazily, even showing cracks.
"Oh no, I have to go. I broke your post, and being from another school, I’m afraid I will have to pay for it." Wang Gang dashed off, looking as if he had done something wrong.
Lu Chenzhou was slightly astonished.
"Such a powerful kick, that’s a specially treated wooden post. It seems Wang Gang has also reached the Sixth Rank, truly worthy of being the son of Returning Peak Hand·Wang Ba."
Wang Ba was a teacher at Galaxy, and he had Broken the Second Shackles.
That’s why Wang Gang could afford "Golden Jade Ointment" costing eleven thousand a box, while Lu Chenzhou could only scrimp and save to buy "Black Jade No. 1" for two thousand a box.
In the blink of an eye, it was the end of July. On the training ground of Dragon City High School, a standard fighting ring had been set up. Tomorrow would be the Dragon City martial meeting.
Chen Yuan from the senior third class announced he wouldn’t participate in the Dragon City martial meeting, showing his determination to enroll in Dragon and Tiger Academy. He didn’t want to risk having to double the reward from Dragon City.
Apart from him, many other masters from the senior third class gave up competing because the Martial Arts college entrance exam was on August 3rd. They were worried about getting injured during the martial meeting, which could affect their exams, and they didn’t need the extra rewards, so in the end, only 60 competitors remained.
Waking up in the morning.
Lu Chenzhou looked at the freshly released list, his eyes shining with excitement. Originally, his goal was the top thirty, but after looking at the number of competitors at the Sixth and Seventh Rank...
He felt he had a shot at the top ten!