Class 3 Classroom
The air conditioner's chill permeated every corner, yet it could no longer ease the anxiety in the students' hearts.
Many people were eagerly awaiting their results, their hearts anything but calm.
Lin Qi, however, looked completely composed.
His attention was focused on the panel over his pupils.
[Name: Lin Qi (17)] [Profession: Martial Artist] [Template: Erlang Shen Yang Jian (2%)] [Qi and Blood: 6.2] [Technique: Perfectly Round Stance (Major Achievement), Tiger Form Fist (Major Achievement), Basic Spear Technique (Minor Achievement)] [Fist Technique: First Order 92%] [Spear Technique: First Order 60%] [Movement Technique: First Order 57%]
Over the course of a week, Lin Qi had improved tremendously. The awakening of his template had greatly increased his martial arts talent.
His Tiger Form Fist had even broken through directly to Major Achievement.
The Qi and Blood Elixir he had bought had also played an important role, rapidly raising his qi and blood.
He had exceeded his goal. Not only had his qi and blood broken through 6.0, it had reached 6.2.
In one week, it had risen from 5.2 to 6.2.
The speed was so incredible that even Lin Qi found it hard to believe.
And all of it had been brought about by his talent template.
The effects of Stomach Enhancement were incredibly strong, fully absorbing the nutrients in food. The same applied to Qi and Blood Capsules.
And this was only at a 2% Fusion Rate. He did not dare imagine how terrifying the talent would become at 10%, 20%, or even higher.
Lin Qi believed that he would not fear even geniuses who had awakened special abilities.
A class passed slowly amid anxious anticipation, and before they knew it, it was the final class of the day.
"The results and rankings are out!"
Yan Hong, the homeroom teacher, stood on the podium and swept her gaze across everyone, taking in all their expressions before speaking her first words.
In this era, technology was far more advanced, and all kinds of exams no longer required several days to grade.
Everything was released within hours after the exams ended.
Martial arts quizzes were even faster.
"Our class improved greatly in this quiz. There have even been major changes in the rankings."
A girl suddenly raised her hand and asked curiously,
"Teacher, how many people in our class made it into the top 50 of the grade?"
The moment she finished speaking, the atmosphere in the classroom instantly became tense.
"Eight!"
Yan Hong did not keep them in suspense and answered directly.
"Eight?"
"Then I must be one of them. I was ranked 7th last semester. I definitely made the top 50."
Yang Lei crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair with a confident expression.
"I'll project the score sheet. Take a look for yourselves."
Yan Hong did not say much else. She turned on the projector and displayed the score sheet.
Li Shaodong looked tense. The cold air from the air conditioner blew over him, and his palms were sweating.
"I can do it. I can get into the Elite Class."
Yang Lei took a sip of his drink, looking full of confidence.
Whoosh!
The 3D projector cast a curtain of light over the podium, revealing a huge score sheet.
The instant it appeared, everyone's eyes focused on it.
"It's out!"
"First place, Yu Jing, second in the grade!"
"Awesome! Yu Jing really is terrifyingly steady!"
"Second Place, Zhu Yuqi, fifth in the grade!"
"Not much different from before!"
"Third Place, Jiang Tao, 11th in the grade!"
"Jiang Tao improved!"
Jiang Tao saw his ranking and revealed a satisfied smile.
"Up four places. Not bad!"
"Oh, right, there's Qi Ge too!"
Jiang Tao continued looking, eager to find out Lin Qi's ranking.
"Qi Ge, what rank did you get?"
Lin Qi's gaze was sharp, and he quickly spotted his own results and ranking.
[Name: Lin Qi] [Cultural studies: 912 (1)] [Qi and Blood: 6.2 (620)] [Fist Technique: Excellent+ (1000)] [Total score: 792.4] [Class Ranking: 6] [Grade ranking: 45]
Seeing his ranking, Lin Qi's lips curled slightly into a satisfied smile, and a weight in his heart finally lifted.
Martial arts student scores were judged by three factors: Cultural studies total score, Fist Technique or Weapon Realm, and qi and blood.
They accounted for 20%, 30%, and 50% of the total score respectively.
Qi and blood accounted for 50%, making it the most heavily weighted category.
The current test measured Fist Technique Realm, but the College Entrance Examination would use Weapon Realm instead.
"Qi Ge, you're 6th in the class!"
"Now we can go to the Elite Class together."
Jiang Tao burst into laughter, draping his right arm over Lin Qi's shoulder with an excited expression.
"Stay calm." Lin Qi's lips tilted upward.
"I'm 9th in the class! 58th in the grade?!"
Li Shaodong shot up from his seat, unable to believe it.
"My qi and blood broke through 6.0, and my Five Forms Fist Technique reached Major Achievement too. How did I not even make the top 50?"
"Is the competition really this insane?"
"That's normal. Quite a few people broke through 6.0 in qi and blood during this quiz. It's normal not to make it in."
His deskmate said calmly.
Li Shaodong had a good mindset and quickly regained his composure. Then he continued looking upward.
"Damn, Lin Qi is actually sixth in the class. He climbed above me. How did he improve so much?"
Li Shaodong suddenly exclaimed in surprise.
The others were also drawn in by his words, and quite a few looked astonished.
"I remember Lin Qi was still tenth in the class and just over a hundredth in the grade last semester. After one summer break, he improved into the top 50 of the grade. Did he get pumped full of stimulants or something?"
"It's true. That's badass!"
Many people began discussing it.
Meanwhile, Yang Lei, seated some distance away, widened his eyes and stared fixedly at the projected score sheet.
His name was clearly listed in seventh place.
Right below Lin Qi.
"How could Lin Qi possibly rank higher than me?"
"That's impossible?!"
Yang Lei could not accept such a reality. Not long ago, he had mocked Lin Qi for being there merely to make up the numbers.
Yet today, Lin Qi had surpassed him, and by exactly one rank.
And he himself was ranked 49th, barely avoiding elimination.
He had nearly been eliminated and become one of those there merely to make up the numbers. Yang Lei only felt as if a boomerang had struck him, leaving his face burning with pain.
"Damn it. No, I have to find a way to surpass Lin Qi."
In the second row some distance away, a handsome boy frowned as he looked at the score sheet.
"Still Second Place? No, I will definitely become first place."
"Li Zhou, in the Elite Class, I want to see just how you train!"
Not long afterward
Ring ring ring!!
"Class dismissed. The top eight students should make preparations. Tomorrow, you'll be heading to the Elite Class."
The homeroom teacher reminded them before leaving.
All the students stood and headed for the cafeteria.
"Qi Ge, once we get into the Elite Class, we can enjoy a lot of benefits. And you can start applying for a Genius Loan!"
In a corner on the second floor of the cafeteria.
After getting their Nutritional Meals, Lin Qi and Jiang Tao sat down to eat, and Jiang Tao was the first to congratulate him.
Lin Qi nodded. Entering the Elite Class marked a new beginning.
However, he had nearly spent all the money on him. To raise his qi and blood, he had used it to buy Qi and Blood Capsules and Qi and Blood Elixir.
He ate Nutritional Meals, and in a single week, nearly all three thousand yuan had been spent.
"Phew~"
After finishing his nutritional meal, warmth spread through his stomach as it frantically digested and absorbed the nutrients.
Lin Qi rubbed his stomach. Over the past few days, Stomach Enhancement had increased his absorption ability. It had also contributed to his qi and blood breaking through 6.0.
But by yesterday, he had begun to feel that something was wrong, because a single nutritional meal was no longer enough to fill him up.
He worried that he might need to eat two Nutritional Meals in the future, just like Jiang Tao.
Jiang Tao already needed two portions to feel full.
Lin Qi was still short on money. Guo Heng had promised to let them do long-term work, but it had been nearly a week before he notified them about the part-time job.
Thinking of this, Lin Qi looked forward even more to the Genius Loan. After all, even the lowest third-tier option offered 200,000 Xia Guo Bi.
Before you continue