Three Great Benefits (Please Follow)

"Let me introduce myself. My name is Yan Hong!"

Yan Hong wrote her name on the blackboard.

"I was formerly Class 3's homeroom teacher and taught language arts. From now on, I'll also be the homeroom teacher of the Elite Class."

"We'll be spending the next year together. I hope everyone has a pleasant year."

Clap, clap, clap!!

Jiang Tao took the lead in applauding, and the classroom filled with applause.

After Yan Hong finished speaking, she turned on the projector.

"The Elite Class brings together the fifty most outstanding students of our No. 2 High School."

"You will have access to the best teaching staff. Every subject will be taught by the best teachers."

"To ensure that your Cultural Studies grades improve steadily."

"Besides that, as Elite Class students, you also have three preferential benefits."

"The first is an Independent Martial Arts Room. Teacher Zhang already told you about this. Only the top thirty in the grade can enjoy it."

"The second concerns meals. When you eat Nutritional Meals in the cafeteria, you'll receive a twenty percent discount."

"The third is the Grade Scholarship. Only those ranked in the top fifty of the grade can receive a scholarship."

"Ranks 50 to 35: 10,000 Xia Guo Bi!"

"Ranks 34 to 20: 20,000 Xia Guo Bi!"

"Ranks 19 to 11: 30,000 Xia Guo Bi!"

"Ranks 10 to 4: 50,000 Xia Guo Bi each!"

"The top three will each receive 100,000 Xia Guo Bi!"

"You heard correctly. Compared to Senior Two, the scholarships have increased substantially. You'll receive them at noon."

A chart was projected onto the screen, clearly displaying the three benefits and the scholarship amounts.

The moment Yan Hong finished speaking, discussion broke out in the classroom.

"The scholarship actually increased! I'm ranked thirty-first, so I can get 20,000 yuan. That's a huge sum!"

"Qi Ge, I can get 30,000 yuan! The school is really generous."

Jiang Tao looked excited as well.

Lin Qi's heart burned with excitement as his mind raced, frantically calculating.

The benefits of entering the Elite Class really were good. Meals came with a twenty percent discount. A Nutritional Meal cost 100 yuan, meaning he could save 20 yuan per meal, or 40 yuan a day.

He could save 280 Xia Guo Bi a week, enough to buy two boxes of Qi and Blood Capsules. It was practically free money.

There was also the scholarship. He was ranked forty-fifth, yet he could receive a 10,000-yuan scholarship.

That was equivalent to taking five sparring-partner jobs, allowing him to buy even more resources.

"Of course, don't celebrate too soon."

"Getting into the Elite Class doesn't mean you can rest easy."

As everyone grew excited, Yan Hong poured cold water over them. She looked around solemnly and said:

"Three weeks from now will be the Tianhai City High School Joint Monthly Exam. If you fall out of the top fifty in the grade, sorry, but you'll have to leave the Elite Class and be replaced by another student."

"All the benefits you enjoy will be gone."

Many students looked grave. Those below thirtieth place, especially those around fortieth, were in the most danger and could be overtaken at any moment.

Yang Lei no longer had his former confidence. Anxiety and tension appeared on his face.

He had been in the top ten in Class 3, but in the Elite Class, he was dead last.

"As for those ahead, your goal is to climb higher. You must not only surpass your classmates."

"You must also compete for higher rankings among all Senior Three students in Tianhai City."

After speaking, Yan Hong swept her gaze across the top ten students in the class, especially the top three: Qi Yuelin, Yu Jing, and Li Zhou.

Now, even those in the top thirty could no longer remain calm.

The top ten geniuses in No. 2 High School were the very best, but that might not be the case across all of Tianhai City.

Everyone was filled with a powerful desire to improve.

In just a moment, everyone's intensity rose.

"Very good. As martial artists, you must possess the will to fight."

Yan Hong nodded in satisfaction.

"Class dismissed. Anyone who wants to apply for a Genius Loan, come with me to get an application form."

Jiang Tao let out a breath. "Qi Ge, this is your chance. You have to seize it."

Lin Qi nodded. Chen Zichuan, someone he knew, came along as well. The two followed Yan Hong out of the classroom.

As the Senior Three Language Grade Group Leader, Yan Hong had her own private office.

It was an ordinary office of only five or six square meters. After sitting down, Yan Hong took two forms from a black drawer and handed them over.

"Fill these out!"

Lin Qi and Chen Zichuan sat on the sofa and began filling out the forms.

"You two, this isn't your first time filling out an application form."

"Both of your previous applications failed, but now that you've entered the Elite Class, there's a high chance your Genius Loans will be approved."

Lin Qi and Chen Zichuan looked up at the same time and exchanged a glance.

Lin Qi hadn't expected the other boy to have gone through the same thing.

"The Genius Loan is specially prepared for people from poor families like yours."

"Your family incomes have already been investigated, and there are no issues. What you lack now are grades."

"Lin Qi, Chen Zichuan, your talent isn't poor. You simply lack resources."

"Chen Zichuan, you rose from seventieth in the grade to fiftieth, improving by twenty places."

"And Lin Qi, you're even more impressive. You rose directly from one hundred and first to forty-fifth, improving by a full fifty-six places. That's especially remarkable and rare even in No. 2 High School's history."

Yan Hong sighed in admiration. Chen Zichuan looked up at Lin Qi in surprise again.

Lin Qi calmly stood up, submitted his application form, and said:

"No matter how quickly I improved, I'm still only forty-fifth in the grade. There's nothing worth boasting about."

"Not bad!"

Yan Hong nodded approvingly, then added:

"After entering Senior Three, the Genius Loan process will speed up. At the latest, it will be approved within half a month; at the earliest, within a week."

"Alright!"

Lin Qi and Chen Zichuan soon left the office. Neither spoke in the hallway, but Lin Qi felt that the two of them could now be considered acquainted.

Meanwhile, inside the office.

Yan Hong looked at the application forms and muttered to herself:

"Chen Zichuan has decent talent. A Third-Class Genius Loan won't be a problem."

"But Lin Qi is a little strange. It feels like his talent might be even better. Has he built up strength over time, or is this just a fleeting flash of brilliance?"

"Lin Qi's progress over the past year has been obvious. Perhaps he deserves a Second-Class Genius Loan?"

With that thought, she opened her computer, typed away, and sent a file to someone.

Principal's Office

Beep!

Jiang Zhiguang, with his Sturdy Build, had not even brought the tea in his hand to his lips when he saw the projected file.

After taking a simple sip, he clicked on the two projected application forms.

"Genius Loan application forms?"

"Chen Zichuan and Lin Qi."

Jiang Zhiguang quickly scanned the documents and soon stopped at one line: "Recommendation: apply for a Second-Class Genius Loan!"

"A recommendation?"

He smiled and muttered to himself:

"Why call it a recommendation? If they can apply for second-class status, then naturally they should apply for a Second-Class Genius Loan. Whether it succeeds is one matter; whether they apply is another."

"Not only should Lin Qi apply. Chen Zichuan should apply too."

With that, he modified the application forms and sent them out again.

"Phew~"

After finishing everything, Jiang Zhiguang let out a breath and stroked the brown flowerpot on his desk. There was still nothing but soil inside.

"When will our No. 2 High School produce a genius who awakens a special ability?"

"Even without a special ability, it would be fine as long as their talent is high enough."

"..."

Second Floor of Tianhai No. 2 High School Cafeteria

Beep!

Payment received: 80 yuan!

At the serving window, Lin Qi swiped his student card, then carried his tray to find a seat.

"The discount really applied. It used to cost 100 yuan per serving, but now it only costs 80."

Lin Qi smiled in satisfaction. One meal was equivalent to earning 20 yuan.

"Qi Ge, after we eat, come take a nap in my Martial Arts Room."

"Come train in my Martial Arts Room from now on too. It's spacious enough, and the old homeroom teacher said the school allows it." Jiang Tao suggested from across the table.

"Alright!"

Lin Qi did not refuse.

Beep!

His phone vibrated, and the screen lit up. Lin Qi picked up his antique smartphone.

It was a text message.

[Your Industrial and Commercial Card account ending in xxx received 10,000.00 yuan on September 8 at 12:02. Balance: 13,445.12 yuan.]

"The scholarship has arrived!"