Elimination

The physical examinations were over, and Cao Liwen divided everyone into two groups.

One group had twelve people whose Potential Index had increased by more than 0.015.

The remaining thirteen had increased by less than 0.015.

The group of twelve was all smiles.

The group of thirteen had mixed reactions—some were unconvinced, some wore miserable expressions, and some were blank-faced. Not one of them could smile.

"Quiet!" Cao Liwen said coldly. "Progress in Potential Index is only one of several standards, not the only one.

Now, gather in the classroom."

By the time they reached the classroom, it was nearly eleven.

Inside, the students were still divided into two groups. The twelve stood to the left of the podium, while the thirteen stood to the right.

Cao Liwen placed a stack of test papers on the desk and silently looked at everyone.

Chu Fei keenly noticed that today's test papers were no longer divided into three stacks, but two.

Amid the tense atmosphere, Cao Liwen began calling names. "Those whose names I call, move to the left side in front of the podium. Those already on the left need not move."

The first name was Chu Fei. Perfect test score, two points deducted for presentation.

Second, Zhang Xuan. Seven points deducted from the test score, three from presentation.

Third, Li Honggang. Seven points deducted, four points deducted for presentation.

Fourth, Lu Hong. Eight points deducted, three points deducted for presentation.

Fifth...

The top ten were quickly called out, and the first stack of test papers was finished.

There were still nine people left on the right side of the podium!

The faces of the remaining students went deathly pale.

Cao Liwen picked up another score sheet. "These are the results for the daily morning runs."

Then he called out the top ten again.

At this point, only five people remained on the right side of the podium. Some had already collapsed limply to the floor.

They had not made the top twelve in Potential Index!

They had not made the top ten in test scores!!

They had not made the top ten in running results!!!

Cao Liwen set down the score sheet, looked at the final five youths who had already begun to lose their senses, sighed, and waved toward the classroom door.

Five Dawn Team soldiers entered and dragged the five away.

The brilliant midday sunlight had become somewhat scorching.

Yet Chu Fei could not feel any warmth from it. All he felt was the cruelty of the apocalypse.

Those eliminated early were basically worthless. And if they had no value, they would still try to squeeze some value out of them...

Chu Fei did not dare think any further.

At this moment, the only thing Chu Fei could do was carve this scene into his heart and use it to remind himself not to relax in the slightest.

So what if he had the Wisdom Tree Seed? So what if he had Wisdom Dewdrops? He did not even have the ability to protect himself yet.

First, he would set himself a small goal: become a Fully Awakened and become Wu Yong's disciple.

Since Wu Yong was Flying Tiger City's second strongest expert, he should be able to serve as a backer.

He did not need it for a lifetime. Even a single year would be enough.

In the deathly silence, Cao Liwen spoke. "All right, you've all passed this assessment. Hmm... I'll say a few simple words."

People were not plants or trees; they could not be completely without feeling. Seeing the students' miserable expressions, Cao Liwen ultimately decided to say something.

"I also graduated from Dawn Academy. I'm a Semi-Awakened.

I entered Dawn Academy at thirteen, and it has been seventeen years since then. Before entering Dawn Academy, I couldn't even compete for scraps of grass.

Because I was too skinny, Dawn Academy was only willing to offer two hundred yuan.

After entering Dawn Academy, I was whipped every week. But I could eat my fill.

Work hard. Compared with those still starving, you at least have the chance to change your fate.

There will be no punishment today. Chu Fei got a perfect score on the test, so he'll receive a reward of one hundred yuan."

After stuffing one hundred yuan into Chu Fei's hand, Cao Liwen left.

The students' miserable expressions gradually faded.

Empathy was one of the best ways to persuade people.

So everyone had been poor children once.

Chu Fei looked at Cao Liwen's retreating back, then at the classmates around him, and could not help sighing inwardly.

Yes, although they got whipped at Dawn Academy, they could at least eat their fill, study, and have the chance to change their fate.

Compared to the past, things were far better.

As for those eliminated, they could only be said to have returned to the path fate had originally set for them.

From the perspective of the apocalypse, Dawn Academy had not done anything wrong. On the contrary, it had done very well.

After exchanging looks for a while, everyone headed to the cafeteria together. It was lunchtime.

At noon, Chu Fei rested briefly and did not go learn the whip from the four old men.

He would be going to the Dawn Team in the afternoon to learn Gun-Fu, so he needed to conserve his energy.

Whips were good, but they could not compare to guns.

Train for ten years, get taken down by one shot.

The world of science was that direct.

Chu Fei had now completely allocated his time:

From Monday to Saturday, he would spend twenty minutes after every meal learning the whip. Learning the whip itself could temporarily replace exercise.

During evening self-study, aside from after-class assignments and reviewing lessons, he would read—both textbooks and extracurricular books.

For now, he only had one type of extracurricular book: books Huang Gang had given him introducing augmentation armor and combat.

On Sunday mornings, he would handle miscellaneous chores and learn the whip if he had time.

On Sunday afternoons, he would go to the Dawn Team.

Every minute of the week's 7 × 24 hours had been arranged.

When he arrived at the Dawn Team, Huang Gang was absent, but Zhao Hongyue was there.

Chu Fei gave her a sweet smile and called her Sister. Zhao Hongyue rolled her eyes and taught Chu Fei how to shoot.

Over the course of the afternoon, Chu Fei went through four pistol magazines, forty-eight bullets in total.

Under Zhao Hongyue's guidance, Chu Fei clearly felt himself improving, correcting countless improper shooting postures.

Chu Fei was now like a human-shaped sponge, greedily absorbing every scrap of knowledge.

As the sun set, Zhao Hongyue looked at the results on the target and smiled. "You really do have talent, but you can't slack off.

You practiced quite a bit today. After you return, try to spend time every day recalling everything from today.

If you don't, you'll forget more than half of the knowledge and experience within three days."

Chu Fei nodded and asked a few more questions. It was soon close to dinnertime.

Zhao Hongyue took the initiative to say, "Let's go to the cafeteria together."

On the way, Zhao Hongyue started a new topic.

"To learn Gun-Fu, you must first understand the structure of firearms. And the core of that is explosives."

"Firearms are mainly divided into two categories: explosive firearms and Energy Guns. Energy weapons are rare; explosive firearms are the main type."

"Explosive firearms are easy to maintain, cheap to produce, highly reliable, and simple to use. Metal projectiles have tremendous penetrating and cutting power, and their attack range is long.

By comparison, energy weapons are technologically complex, expensive, difficult to repair, and demanding to use. Their attacks mainly rely on radiation and burns, with no penetrating or cutting power, making them easy to defend against. And because of the Tyndall effect, energy weapons have limited range.

But energy weapons are silent, recoil-free, accurate, varied in form, and difficult to guard against."

They talked all the way to the cafeteria. Zhao Hongyue went to the second floor, while Chu Fei stayed on the first.

After eating, Chu Fei went to the classroom for self-study, tirelessly recalling, pondering, and even picking apart the Gun-Fu and other things he had learned today.

A proper, scientific method of recollection could achieve thirty percent of the effect of actual combat while strengthening memory.

At 21:50 that evening, he returned to the dormitory.

"Chu Fei!" Tang Zhengang stood at the dormitory entrance, waving.

Chu Fei smiled with boundless enthusiasm. "Brother Tang, come in, come in."

The money-bringer had arrived!

He was about to have money!