Celebratory Confetti, an Eagle Striking the Vast Sky

Zhou Leng took a screenshot of his exam results and sent it to Hu Yi.

A while later, Hu Yi sent back three words.

"You bastard!"

"I worried about you for nothing! No, once you start making money, you have to treat me to a big meal! I'm posting this in the group so everyone can tear into you—don't blame me!"

Zhou Leng immediately tried to stop him.

"Too late. Everyone will know tomorrow anyway."

Zhou Leng opened the Class Three group chat and found that it had exploded.

"For the past six months, I walked on thin ice around Zhou Leng. I didn't dare say a single excessive word, terrified I'd hurt him! Then the results came out, and he found his footing while I went splat on the ice. Face! First!"

"Every time I saw his green wristband, my heart clenched. Now he's using his report card to keep squeezing my heart. It hurts, it hurts so much!"

"An advance of sixty thousand places! I can't even walk sixty thousand steps in a day. That improvement is bigger than Hu Yi's face."

Hu Yi shot back, "I'm a victim too. Stop twisting the knife."

"Jokes aside, I really admire Zhou Leng's perseverance. If it were you guys, lying in a hospital bed for a month before the college entrance examination, could you avoid breaking down? I definitely couldn't."

"Yeah. The pressure Zhou Leng endured those several months was bigger than a mountain. Luckily, he held on."

"Congratulations, Zhou Leng! Tossing flowers!"

After Xu Qingjin spoke, she sent a picture of a little white cat throwing flowers. At first, it tossed them one by one, but later, as though performing magic, it formed a fountain of flowers.

"My mom is especially, especially happy!" Xu Qingjin added, attaching a smiling emoticon.

The classmates congratulated him one after another.

Even classmates who usually barely spoke came out to congratulate him.

For the past six months, the entire class had been favoring one person.

Zhou Leng's nose stung.

Suddenly, his phone rang.

Zhou Leng saw that it was his internal cultivation teacher, Sun Xiong. He hurriedly took a deep breath, steadied his emotions, and answered.

"Hello, Teacher Sun."

"It's me, Principal Lu."

"Hello, Principal Lu."

"I have too much to say, but I'll keep it short and won't take up your time. Before you submit your applications, come to my office to collect your pill vouchers. Also, anyone can skip the Commendation Conference except you! All right, celebrate at home."

After hanging up, Zhou Leng checked the time and quickly headed downstairs.

Today, Zhang Xinglie was leaving for Capital Xiongcheng.

Zhou Leng stood outside Zhang Xinglie's apartment building, playing on his phone. Before long, sounds came from the stairwell.

Zhou Leng put away his phone and entered the building.

Zhang Xinglie and Zhang Meiqin were carrying luggage downstairs.

"I'll take it." Zhou Leng reached out and took the luggage from Zhang Meiqin's hand.

"What rank did you get?" Zhou Leng looked at Zhang Xinglie.

Zhang Xinglie sighed and said, "Second. First was Wu Qiong—you should have heard of him."

"The Wu Qiong who spent at least a hundred million on martial cultivation? It's normal to lose to him."

"Have you heard his nickname?" Zhang Xinglie asked.

Zhou Leng shook his head.

"Wu Three Hundred Million."

Zhou Leng had no words.

Zhang Meiqin said, "Xiao Leng, how... how did you do?"

Zhang Meiqin's tone was exceptionally gentle.

"I can't compare to Zhang Xinglie. I ranked a little over twelve thousandth, enough for supplementary admission to a Martial Arts University."

"A little over twelve thousandth isn't bad..." Zhang Meiqin suddenly widened her eyes and grabbed Zhou Leng's arm. "Really?"

"Really."

"That's wonderful, wonderful... You child, you worried me to death..." Zhang Meiqin said.

"How many points did you get in the Martial Arts Examination?" Zhang Xinglie asked.

"276."

Zhang Xinglie said, "I got 291. If you hadn't been injured by demons, your Martial Arts Examination score might have been higher than mine."

"I turned misfortune into a blessing. Without the demons pushing me, I couldn't have reached this level. How many people scored higher than you in the Martial Arts Examination?" Zhou Leng asked.

"In the Martial Arts Examination subject alone, I ranked eleventh."

Zhou Leng froze for a moment, then sighed. "There are so many rich people."

The three walked outside. A Zeekr 009 was parked at the entrance to the residential complex.

"What are you doing about your applications?" Zhou Leng asked.

"I'm going straight to Cloud Splendor to apply online," Zhang Xinglie said.

"You're just leaving like that?" Zhou Leng asked.

"I'm a little reluctant, but it's better to be decisive. You're only seeing me off because you live nearby. Otherwise, I wouldn't even let you come." Zhang Xinglie stood at the entrance to the complex, looking at the place where he had lived for more than ten years.

The three stopped and looked around.

"Let's go. Don't delay him catching his flight," Zhou Leng said.

They loaded the luggage into the car, and Zhang Meiqin got in.

Zhang Xinglie stepped into the car with one foot, then turned to look at Zhou Leng, a brilliant smile blooming on his face.

"Don't forget the promise we made as children. We'll work hard together, then meet again at the peak. I don't know where we'll reach that peak—the Ten Worlds Youth Battle? The Grandmaster Realm? Or perhaps Martial Saint? It doesn't matter. What matters is that we're climbing upward, forever!"

Zhang Xinglie waved, then ducked into the car.

"Goodbye." Zhou Leng stood where he was and watched the car leave.

Even after the car vanished from sight, Zhou Leng remained standing there.

His childhood companion, with whom he had lived for more than ten years, had left Ru City just like that, heading for the capital, the center of the nation, perhaps even the center of the world.

Although he had long known Zhang Xinglie would spread his wings and soar, witnessing an eagle strike the vast sky with his own eyes gave Zhou Leng an indescribable shock.

It felt as though his entire student life had come to an abrupt end.

"Maybe I can work a little harder."

Zhou Leng slowly took a deep breath, strode home, slung on his backpack, and hurried toward Xiaoru Village.

On the way, Zhou Leng told Uncle Li about his results.

That day, some families rejoiced while others grieved.

Zhou Leng and the dog walked beneath the Frost Giant Tree.

"This junior, Zhou Leng, pays respects to Senior Tree."

After finishing his usual greeting, Zhou Leng looked toward the Divine Script Gold Page.

These Divine Scripts might be an opportunity to come into contact with higher powers. He had to study them for half an hour every day; he could not give up.

After studying the Divine Script Gold Page, Zhou Leng went to sleep amid the sensation of his brain matter being stirred.

After waking, he meditated, practiced boxing, meditated again, practiced boxing again...

He cultivated for two straight days and finished his last two Qi Nourishing Pills.

Qi Nourishing Stage, Greater Mastery, Second Heaven.

Early in the morning, Zhou Leng entered the classroom, ready to fill out his application form.

"You animal!" Hu Yi came sprinting over as the whole class watched.

Then Hu Yi publicly denounced him, while everyone watched with laughter and chatter. Only Zhou Leng did not know whether to laugh or cry.

Xu Qingjin smiled sweetly nearby.

Suddenly, Mo Hai, the martial arts committee member, exclaimed, "Zhou Leng, you've reached Qi Nourishing Grand Completion?"

Everyone stared at Zhou Leng's nostrils and silently calculated the time.

Zhou Leng nodded.

"I..." Hu Yi was truly dumbfounded.

Feng Wenhao sighed. "When the old frontier dweller lost his horse, who could know it was not a blessing? Zhou Leng has come through bitterness into sweetness."

The classmates nodded one after another.

Reaching Qi Nourishing Grand Completion at this time meant that even at a Martial Arts University, he would count among the outstanding.

Zhou Leng returned to his seat, and the classroom resumed its noisy bustle. The students gathered in groups of four or five to chat.

Those applying to Martial Arts Universities gathered together, while those not pursuing the Martial Path gathered separately.

Hu Yi squeezed in beside Zhou Leng and Feng Wenhao, listening curiously to everyone.

Feng Wenhao said, "I definitely can't make it into a Martial University, but I should be about good enough for an Affiliated Martial Arts Hall. I'm planning to apply to the Rucheng Martial University Affiliated Martial Arts Hall. Rucheng Martial University isn't famous nationwide, so the competition isn't as fierce."

"Why not try the Affiliated Martial Arts Hall of West Sea Martial University?"

"That's too risky. The Affiliated Martial Arts Halls of the Top Ten Martial Arts Universities are actually not much worse than the Martial Universities themselves. People across the country are watching them. I can't compete with them," Feng Wenhao said.

"Zhou Leng, what about you?"

"I'm applying to Rucheng Martial University and its Affiliated Martial Arts Hall."

"Huh? Your Martial Arts Examination score is so high. Why not try for supplementary admission to West Sea Martial University? It's in Ru City anyway."

Zhou Leng shook his head. "I feel about the same as Feng Wenhao. Competition at West Sea Martial University is too fierce, and the whole country is watching it. Besides, these past few years have been a postwar baby boom. Everyone online says it's difficult. A few days ago, I watched Teacher Zhang Xueshan's video. He didn't say it outright, but the meaning was obvious: it was possible in previous years, but this year, if your family background isn't enough, absolutely don't apply for supplementary admission to the Top Ten Martial Arts Universities."

"Then that's really What A Pity."

As everyone continued chatting, Zhou Leng sent a message to his internal cultivation teacher, Sun Xiong, to ask about it. After receiving a reply, he headed to the principal's office.

Knock, knock, knock...

"Come in."

"Hello, Principal Lu." Zhou Leng pushed open the door and entered.

Principal Lu, his head full of white hair, sat behind his desk. He took off his glasses, smiled, and waved Zhou Leng over. "Come, sit."

As soon as Zhou Leng sat down, Principal Lu took out a document envelope with a receipt attached to it.

"The pill vouchers are inside the envelope. You advanced more than sixty thousand places and became the Improvement Champion. There are six Qi Nourishing Pills, one Essence Replenishing Pill, and a one-thousand-point War Merit Manual Exchange Voucher inside. Just sign the receipt. Of course, you have to promise to attend the Commendation Conference. Don't take the goods and then run off," Principal Lu said with a chuckle.

"I won't." Zhou Leng signed his name and accepted the document envelope.

"Which of the Top Ten Martial Arts Universities are you planning to apply to? Local or elsewhere? With your level, any of them except those in Xiong City should be no problem," Principal Lu said.

"Rucheng Martial University," Zhou Leng said.

Principal Lu straightened up, put on his glasses, and asked in confusion, "Why choose an ordinary Martial University?"

"Competition at West Sea Martial University is too fierce. I don't have all sorts of bonus points either, so my chances aren't great."

"You're underestimating your own strength. Do you think being subjected to a second assessment by the Education Bureau merely means you're ordinarily outstanding? At Eighth Middle School, your overall martial arts level is enough to rank among the top ten."

Zhou Leng said, "I've seen quite a bit of news saying that the Top Ten are hard to get into this year. More importantly, I've liked Rucheng Martial University since I was young."

Principal Lu's expression turned stern. "You're still too young in the end. You don't understand the difference between the Top Ten and ordinary Martial Universities. The educational resources controlled by West Sea Martial University are nearly ten times those of Rucheng Martial University."

"The administrative rank of West Sea Martial University's principal is a full level higher than that of Rucheng Martial University's principal. That one level means the resources they can mobilize are as different as heaven and earth. One is in the Grandmaster Realm, the other is Peak Innate. Do I need to say more about that gap?"

"West Sea Martial University has at least twice as many Innate Realm teachers as Rucheng Martial University. Its martial arts rewards for students are also at least double those of Rucheng Martial University. With your ability, converted into money, you could earn an extra four or five hundred thousand a year at West Sea Martial University!"

"Not to mention that you'll need to move upward in the future. No matter which path you take, West Sea Martial University's starting point and endpoint are far above those of Rucheng Martial University. Tell me, what is your goal in life?"

Zhou Leng fell silent for a moment before saying, "To be granted a marquisate is not my wish; I only hope the waves of the sea grow calm."

"Good. Suppose you had the power to decide right now. Would you choose to charge alone into West Sea Demon City, or mobilize more people and resources to kill your way into West Sea Demon City?"

Zhou Leng did not answer.

"You are a smart child. You know the answer perfectly well. Only by grasping more cultivation resources and power resources can you better level West Sea Demon City. Choose West Sea Martial University. There, heaven and earth are broader."

Zhou Leng remained silent.

Principal Lu stared into Zhou Leng's eyes and slowly said, "Zhang Xinglie has already flown into the stars. You, Zhou Leng, may not be able to fly up there yet, but at the very least, you must be a fish entering the sea! Are you willing to be trapped in a little mud pond?"

Zhou Leng had no words.