These prompt boards took turns appearing, one after another, never stopping for even a moment, like a whole crowd of idiotic netizens firing off bullet comments and jokes. Meanwhile, the stars continued to fly up from below his field of vision like an inverted waterfall, crackling as they slammed into the progress bar. It was dazzling—truly dazzling. Even Shi Tiexin could no longer tell how many stars there were.
He watched helplessly as the progress bar extended, then extended further, until at last it crashed into the "Good" label at the far right without the slightest sign of slowing down.
For a moment, the entire progress bar blazed with light and suddenly flashed.
Basic Mathematics First Layer cultivation progress increased to Good
A line of words announced the improvement in Shi Tiexin's cultivation of the heart. Then the enormous word "Good" shifted toward the left side of his vision. As though something massive had slammed into the ground, "Good" landed on the left with a heavy thud, replacing the previous position of "Pass."
Then, another illusory progress bar appeared. At its right end stood the words "Excellent."
The words "Excellent" swayed enticingly in the distance at the end of the bar, while the progress bar between them continued extending under the impact of the string of stars. This time, however, there were not many stars left. In the end, nine stars struck it, raising the progress bar by nine notches before it stopped.
"A thousand miles in a single day!!"
A prompt board sprang out with a duang, its roaring-style lettering written in huge bold strokes. It shook viciously for a long while before slowly sinking down like the setting sun, unwilling and resentful.
The progress bar was already wreathed in surging crimson flames, with crackling lightning coiling around it, as though it had suddenly become a Super Saiyan progress bar.
This, this, this... I just cultivated Basic Mathematics First Layer to Good?!
It was already Good so quickly?
It had only been one class!
"Brother Shi, Brother Shi?" Zhou Nan's call pulled Shi Tiexin back to his senses. Only then did Shi Tiexin snap out of his daze. Looking around, he found that only three people remained in the entire classroom. Besides the two of them, Zhao Qingmiao was waiting by the light switch at the front of the classroom, looking this way with an apologetic expression.
Shi Tiexin looked at Zhao Qingmiao, then at the book in his hand. Then he looked at Zhou Nan, and then at the progress bar in his vision.
The Super Saiyan progress bar was still baring its fangs and claws, its wildness laid bare, as though it could hurl out a Spirit Bomb at any moment and blast through every obstacle.
At a time like this...
At a time like this—
How could I possibly stop!!
I want to cultivate. I want to keep cultivating. I want to study—I want to study without ever stopping. I want to fight through the night, burn the midnight oil. I, I, I'm fucking going to study until I explode today!
A terrifyingly immense aura suddenly erupted from Shi Tiexin, stronger and fiercer than the aura he had shown when rushing to the restroom with an urgent need to piss, when gods blocked him, he killed gods; when Buddhas blocked him, he killed Buddhas. It was as though an ancient Desolate God had suddenly awakened.
Shi Tiexin swept his gaze across the room, making Zhou Nan shudder. Looking into Shi Tiexin's eyes, Zhou Nan seemed to see a stubborn stone burning in an explosive blaze, steel scattering sparks. He felt that wild, unstoppable determination.
Shi Tiexin spoke. "Where is there a classroom with the lights on?"
"Huh?" Zhou Nan did not react for a moment.
"Where is there a classroom with the lights on!" Shi Tiexin raised his voice and repeated himself, already growing impatient inside. One had to strike while the iron was hot. If he did not go all out while the progress bar had transformed, was he supposed to wait until it cooled down?
Combo counts were very hard to build up!
This time, Zhou Nan understood. But understanding did him no good, because he was dumbfounded as well.
Boss, you're really asking the wrong person... I'm just a punk who sells contraband. How would I know which classrooms leave their lights on?
At that moment, Zhao Qingmiao, who had been waiting up front to turn off the lights, timidly walked over. He looked at Shi Tiexin with both fear and admiration, then cautiously said, "B-Big Brother, I... I know..."
Hm? Shi Tiexin looked at Zhao Qingmiao. His imposing face frightened Zhao Qingmiao into taking a step back.
Shi Tiexin stepped forward and raised a hand. To Zhao Qingmiao, it looked as though a pillar holding up the heavens was crashing down toward him. Zhao Qingmiao shut his eyes, thinking that he was done for. It's all my fault. Why did I butt in? Now I'm going to get beaten!
But with a smack, Zhao Qingmiao felt his shoulder sink. Shi Tiexin's huge hand had not smashed into his head. Instead, it had landed on his shoulder.
"Good!"
Zhao Qingmiao opened his eyes and saw Shi Tiexin's approving gaze. Shi Tiexin's words were still as concise as ever. "Lead the way!"
Boundless strength seemed to surge through Zhao Qingmiao from head to toe. Since becoming the Trash Class monitor, this was the first time he had heard someone say "good" to him. And it was not perfunctory, not pretended, not casually tossed out. Zhao Qingmiao looked at Shi Tiexin, at that unwaveringly direct gaze, and it seemed as though he had suddenly touched upon a noble soul that was upright, impartial, and utterly without falsehood.
This brother was sparing with words and straight to the point. If he said it was good, then it had to truly be good!
I, I was actually praised by this big shot?
"O-Okay!" Zhao Qingmiao snapped to attention, then excitedly led Shi Tiexin outside. "This way, please. The school has dedicated study rooms open until midnight!"
Shi Tiexin strode after Zhao Qingmiao out the door. At the same time, without even turning his head, he pointed at Zhou Nan, then pointed at the exercise books on the desk, without saying a single word. Yet Zhou Nan immediately understood what the big shot meant. With a miserable expression, he darted to the desk, quickly gathered everything up, then ran after Shi Tiexin carrying the bundle like a dock laborer hauling heavy cargo at the old wharf.
Racing against time and striding like the wind, Shi Tiexin followed Zhao Qingmiao out of the Trash Class teaching building and headed straight for the front section of the academic district.
As they walked, Zhao Qingmiao explained that Fengming First High School did indeed have several study rooms that remained open until midnight, directly managed by the security department. Though Shi Tiexin had dealt with quite a few punks over the past two days, giving him the mistaken impression that punks were everywhere, in the greater environment of Fengming First High School, diligent students still made up the overwhelming majority.
Many hardworking students went straight to the study rooms after evening self-study. Because the study rooms were limited and the seats packed tightly together, anyone who arrived late might very well fail to get a seat. Shi Tiexin had been too absorbed in studying just now. Looking at the time, it was already 9:40 p.m. The situation at the study rooms was probably looking grim.
Sure enough, Zhao Qingmiao led Shi Tiexin around several study rooms and found them packed to the brim, without a single vacant space. It was not that there were no unoccupied seats, but they were either piled high with mountains of books or covered with all sorts of snacks, making them impossible to sit in.
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