Even Shi Tiexin, calm as he was, could not help blurting out, "What?!"
This was truly unacceptable. Wasn't Fengming First High School supposed to provide whatever level of treatment matched whatever level you tested into? What Zheng Kaiming was doing was a violation of the rules!
Zheng Kaiming's powers of observation were indeed sharp; he saw straight through to what Shi Tiexin had wanted to say.
"That's right, what I'm doing isn't exactly within the rules. But this is how I do things. What can you do about it?" Zheng Kaiming shouted coldly, "Shi Tiexin, in this world, only the stronger have more privileges. If you can still study hard in the Trash Class and test your way back into the Elite Class, then I'll acknowledge that you're strong. I'll personally come to your door and send you to the Elite Class the same way I dragged you away."
"But if you can't do it, if you fail, or if you willingly sink into depravity and mingle with the punks of the Trash Class, then you're weak—real trash. From now on, I'll make you live in the worst dormitory until the day you get the hell out!"
"Besides, getting the hell out does not necessarily mean graduating from senior year. Based on what you did this morning, I can submit a request to the school board to have you expelled. If anything like this happens again, Shi Tiexin, you might not be able to hang around here for much longer."
"It's useless no matter how dissatisfied you are. Survival of the fittest; the strong survive!"
Hearing Zheng Kaiming roar, Shi Tiexin's heart suddenly calmed.
Because he felt that Zheng Kaiming was not wrong.
Survival of the fittest; the strong survive. It was the same in Tumubao. The weak had no right to set terms, no right to speak of rights. Rights had to be fought for with one's own hands.
This was completely in line with Shi Tiexin's own philosophy of survival, so he did not wish to say anything more. He merely found himself suddenly seized by a fierce, irrepressible desire to test into the Elite Class in the final exams.
Within that powerful desire, another consciousness suddenly trembled violently and resonated with him. Crackles rang through his mental domain, and that familiar sensation appeared once more. Vast emotions shattered the congealed lump of consciousness, rushing into Shi Tiexin's heart together with scene after unforgettable scene.
He saw students struggling through every hardship, striving bitterly onward. He saw the hardship of sweeping streets and hauling bricks through the depths of winter just to scrape together tuition. He saw the diligence of hanging one's hair from the rafters and stabbing one's thigh with an awl. He saw the persistence of countless days and nights. He saw the joy of astonishing everyone in the entrance exams and becoming the First Guard Champion—the joy of years of effort and sacrifice finally bearing fruit.
But he also saw the anxiety when his grades inevitably declined after being harassed by delinquent youths, and the pain of falling from the Elite Class into the Key Class. He seemed to hear countless people pointing and whispering about him, saying things like "Scholar Stone." To his ears, every word dripped with mockery.
Then Shi Tiexin heard the voice of that other consciousness.
...Test back into...
...the Elite Class...
----Test back----
----into the Elite Class----
Test back into the Elite Class—
Test back into the Elite Class!
I must test back into the Elite Class!
I am Scholar Stone. I will never resign myself to sinking in the Trash Class. I must test back into the Elite Class!
Those cries echoed through his mental domain, finally turning into an obsession that could never be erased. A powerful beam of light rose once more, condensing familiar words in his vision.
Activated: Destiny Mission! Destiny Mission 2: Poverty Cannot Move. Description: Even if cast into the abyss, one must still soar without cease! Completion Conditions: Explore on your own. Completion Reward: Explore on your own.
Another Destiny Mission. This was already his second Destiny Mission.
By now, Shi Tiexin had gained some insight. These Destiny Missions did not appear out of nowhere; they came from the original consciousness of this body—from its unyielding persistence, its unrelenting wishes, its dreams it refused to cast aside.
That immense desire had shattered the solidified lump of consciousness. Though the mission description did not provide specific completion conditions, as long as Shi Tiexin delved deeply enough—understood, felt, and listened to the other consciousness—he would naturally comprehend what exactly was required to complete the mission.
Resonate with that other consciousness and accept him from the bottom of his heart, and he would accept Shi Tiexin as well. Fulfill his wishes, and he would help Shi Tiexin. This process took the form of Destiny Missions. Once all these missions were completed, they would truly become one, thoroughly surpassing who he had once been.
Then what else was there to say?
"Get ready." Shi Tiexin looked at Zheng Kaiming, without hesitation or doubt. Since Scholar Stone had made up his mind, then I would simply charge forward with courage. There was no harm in throwing out some trash talk first. "When the time comes, you can come pack my things."
With that, Shi Tiexin turned and left, striding out of the Academic Affairs Office.
Zheng Kaiming watched Shi Tiexin's departing back without paying much attention to his trash talk. In Zheng Kaiming's eyes, such youthful spirit was not a bad thing—it was very useful. Besides, Shi Tiexin's performance had given him one more reason to look forward to what came next.
At noon, Shi Tiexin set off with his head held high and his chest puffed out, determined to give his all to completing the mission, to listen carefully in class and study hard.
That afternoon, Shi Tiexin returned dejected and dispirited. Without a word, he headed straight for the cafeteria, deciding to use the set meal that could somehow speed up Essence Nurturing to change his mood and raise his morale.
I couldn't understand it. I couldn't understand any of it at all!
During the afternoon classes, I, Old Tie, had really listened with all my heart, but I could barely understand a thing!
No, it was not as though I understood absolutely nothing. Sometimes, the other consciousness still transmitted vague fragments of information to help him understand that knowledge. To the other consciousness, the things taught in the Trash Class should have been very simple. But those messages came and went in broken, blurry snatches, and those scattered bits without beginning or end were not much help at all.
That afternoon's studying had produced no results.
No, this could not go on. I had to obtain the cultivation manual for Foundation First Level and the Auxiliary Cultivation Manual, then catch up to these favored geniuses' cultivation progress as quickly as possible. Only then could I... But why should I be able to catch up to them? They were all talented people who worked hard, and they had studied years earlier than I had. How could I defeat them and test into the Elite Class?
Ugh, my head hurt. I didn't want to think about it anymore. I was exhausted.
No matter what, I should handle what was in front of me first. I would get the manuals, then worry about the rest.
Speaking of which, where had that kid Zhou Nan gone? Why hadn't I seen him?
Shi Tiexin was vexed. Though his face remained expressionless, the pressure radiating from him became even more oppressive. Those four brats had indeed obediently offered up dinner. They stood in a row, not daring even to sit down. They believed that Shi Tiexin's dark expression must mean he already knew they had gone to Zheng Kaiming to report him.
He was not saying anything now, but who knew which barrel he was considering stuffing them into later!
Damn it, it was all Zhou Nan's fault.
If not for him, why would they have gone to Big Head Zheng?
If not for him, why would they have provoked Shi Tiexin?
If not for him, how could they possibly have lost their cigarettes?
The more they thought about it, the more it was all Zhou Nan's fault.
The four exchanged glances, viciousness steadily accumulating in their eyes.
Before you continue