First Limit

"Why the long face?" Zhang Xuan asked, leaning in close to Chu Fei.

Chu Fei shrugged. "It feels like my meditation has been getting less and less effective lately. It's even stalled."

"Why not ask a teacher?"

Chu Fei nodded and headed outside.

Zhang Xuan pressed, "Hey, what level of meditation are you on?"

"A boy's secrets are not for you to pry into."

Zhang Xuan: ...

Chu Fei thought, Was I supposed to tell her I'd already started attempting the third level of meditation?

At present, meditation—also known as thought training—had three main levels:

The first level was plane geometry: calculating three hundred shapes. Everyone had reached this point by now.

The second level involved the movement of a single geometric solid through three-dimensional space. From the simplest sphere to a regular icosahedron, the difficulty rose sharply.

The third level was thought training with a three-dimensional coordinate system.

Based on the questions and answers during meditation class, most students were currently at the Regular Tetrahedron stage. Very few had reached the regular hexahedron, while only Li Honggang, Lu Hong, and Zhang Xuan had been asking about the regular octahedron.

Chu Fei, however, was different. He had already entered the third level.

While the second level only involved constructing a single regular polyhedron, establishing a coordinate system meant one could calculate any geometric solid—even multiple solids.

At that point, some basic mathematical formulas had to be introduced. That was computational logic.

As more and more mathematical formulas were added, it gradually evolved toward "matrices."

It sounded simple, but doing it was far from easy.

After another night of meditation, Chu Fei continued until two in the morning.

Recently, because he had been leading his classmates in reviewing their lessons and so on, he could accumulate around 2.5 drops of Wisdom Dewdrop per day. Chu Fei had been extravagant for a while now: meditating for four hours every night and consuming two drops of Wisdom Dewdrop.

Yet now, Chu Fei sat cross-legged on his bed, his brows tightly furrowed.

It could be said that he had made no progress at all tonight.

Whenever he tried to introduce a new formula into the coordinate system, even something as simple as a volume formula, it would cause instability or even collapse.

It had been three days. His only progress was—making several thousand attempts.

He had definitely run into a problem, but it was one his current knowledge had not covered.

Rubbing his brow, Chu Fei took several deep breaths and calmed himself down. "Tomorrow is the third physical examination. I'll see the results first.

If my results are good, I'll ask a teacher about it.

If they aren't... then I'll endure it a little longer!"

Though Chu Fei appeared arrogant on the surface, he was deeply cautious inside.

While his classmates were generally meditating on the Regular Tetrahedron, asking questions about the third stage would be dangerous.

But it was not as though there was no solution—so long as his results were good enough, he could do as he pleased.

That was why Chu Fei had to wait until tomorrow's examination results before asking.

After breakfast the next day, everyone gathered for testing.

Those whose academic and running scores had not made the top ten were especially nervous.

Cao Liwen, however, was very calm. "Chu Fei, you go first."

Chu Fei drew a deep breath and lay down on the machine.

Chu Fei's Potential Index had been 7.5587 during his first examination and 7.5921 last time, an improvement of 0.0334. How much would it improve this time?

Amid countless watching eyes, Chu Fei's Potential Index appeared:

7.6876!

Improvement: 0.0955!!!

This had to be fake!

Not only the students—even the doctor responsible for testing could not help frowning. "I'll test him again!"

Cao Liwen gave a slight nod, then said, "This machine hasn't malfunctioned so far, has it?"

No one answered. They tested him again, and the result remained unchanged.

The doctor thought for a moment. "Next."

Before long, the top four students in the class had finished their tests:

Chu Fei: 7.5921 → 7.6876 (0.0955)

Li Honggang: 7.6402 → 7.6523 (0.0121)

Lu Hong: 7.6334 → 7.6494 (0.0160)

Zhang Xuan: 7.6103 → 7.6247 (0.0144)

Looking at those four sets of results, Cao Liwen stared hard at Chu Fei.

It was confirmed. The equipment was fine. Chu Fei was the problem!

Among these four students, Chu Fei had started with the lowest potential, yet now he had the highest.

Chu Fei had previously received a "doubled punishment" for killing Huang Dapeng, and the condition for lifting it was for his potential to reach 7.65.

Chu Fei himself was a little stunned as well.

Holy shit. I knew I'd improve, but this much?

But after thinking it over carefully, it seemed only natural.

Over the past two weeks, he had actually been insanely busy—and incredibly fulfilled:

He had freely entered the teachers' offices to read and study.

He had looked through the teachers' lesson-preparation records.

He had led his classmates in reviewing their lessons.

He had continued freeloading off the four old men while practicing his whip technique.

He had learned bio-augmented combat from Huang Gang.

He had taken three bottles of Superbrain Potion in a row.

And finally, he had consumed two drops of Wisdom Dewdrop every day.

With all that combined, was "only" improving by 0.0955 really exaggerated?

Facing everyone's astonished gazes, Chu Fei remained perfectly composed.

The examinations continued. Some rejoiced, while others were devastated.

Afterward, they returned to the classroom, where Cao Liwen announced the results of last night's test.

In the end, three people were eliminated.

At that point, only seventeen students remained in the class.

Two months ago, there had been twenty-seven students. Now, only seventeen remained.

Cao Liwen looked at the remaining seventeen and said calmly, "Congratulations. You survived the trial.

Even if you are eliminated next time, you can still become industrial workers.

Dawn Academy does not support idlers. Those who cannot become Awakened or Semi-Awakened are further divided into upper, middle, and lower ranks.

The upper rank learns technology and becomes technical personnel.

The middle rank learns practical skills and becomes industrial workers.

The lower rank... cannon fodder.

After two rounds of elimination, all of you are at least middle rank."

His bland words revealed the cruel survival rules of elimination in the apocalypse, constantly reminding Chu Fei that this was the end of the world.

Chu Fei pondered: although he lived comfortably because of his outstanding performance, all of it was only temporary.

If his potential could not break through 7.75 before the end of the year, everything he had now would be reclaimed—with interest.

Right now, he seemed to be stuck before the 7.70 threshold.

A bottleneck could hold someone back for a while, or for a lifetime.

After speaking, Cao Liwen headed outside.

Chu Fei hesitated briefly, then followed him out.

Yet before Chu Fei could speak, Cao Liwen spoke first. "Come on. Let's go to the office."

In the office, Cao Liwen asked about Chu Fei's recent studies, training, and so on. When he heard that Chu Fei had only taken three bottles of Superbrain Potion and none of the other random drugs, he nodded in satisfaction. "It seems that while your improvement has been great, you've also put in unimaginable effort."

Chu Fei relaxed slightly, but he still asked uneasily, "Teacher, is my situation... normal?"

"Though it's rare, it's nothing unusual.

In Flying Tiger City, there have been cases of people attaining enlightenment overnight and advancing by 0.1.

I've even heard of someone attaining enlightenment and becoming an Awakened overnight, going from an ordinary person."

Chu Fei relaxed a little. It seemed that although his improvement was substantial, it was still short of being world-shocking.

Then Chu Fei asked about his recent situation.

Cao Liwen was slightly surprised, but quickly said calmly, "Don't worry. It's the First Limit."

What was the First Limit?