Opening Term Test

Opening Term Test

Zhou Leng spread his legs slightly and slowly walked down the mountain.

When the old men in the village saw the way Zhou Leng walked, they came over one after another to ask.

"How did you train yourself into this state?"

"Where did you hurt yourself?"

Zhou Leng hurriedly said, "I did too many frog jumps and strained my legs. I'll be fine in a couple of days."

"Then you'd better go home and get some proper rest."

After leaving Xiaoru Village, Zhou Leng could no longer run and slowly walked home.

Along the way, martial artists who saw Zhou Leng's walking posture all revealed knowing smiles.

After training your legs, you always ended up looking this miserable.

Sitting on the sofa, Zhou Leng opened the Martial City app. The latest battle merits and rewards had already been updated.

Hunting down the Ice Crystal Demonic Lion earned 11 battle merit points.

Because he had participated in battle under a Level Five alert, it counted as officially taking part in a Level Five Ten Realms war.

For every increase in the intensity level of a Ten Realms war, additional battle merits increased by 50%. Level Five added 250%.

Total battle merits: 5.

Killing three Blue-backed Magic Wolves earned a total of 3 battle merit points.

Zhou Leng looked over his personal information.

Military rank: Trainee.

Battle merits: 5.

Once battle merits accumulated to 100 points, he could be promoted from trainee to private.

He still had too few battle merits. Once he had saved up more, he could exchange them for many valuable resources.

Some of the most precious resources could only be exchanged with battle merits.

Zhou Leng then looked towards his earnings.

For hunting three Blue-backed Magic Wolves, his allocated share was 32 yuan.

For the Ice Crystal Demonic Lion's corpse, his allocated share was 5,000 yuan.

For the Ice Crystal Demonic Lion's Magic Crystal, his allocated share was 67 yuan.

The Ice Crystal Demonic Lion's meat was inedible and could only be used as demonic beast feed. Only some of the materials on its body were valuable, so even though it was far stronger than the Blue-backed Magic Wolf, it was priced at only 30,000.

However, he had been lucky enough to find a Magic Crystal. It had wide-ranging uses and was the main material for making Demonic Batteries. A single one was worth 100,000.

His total harvest from Water Continent Demon City came to 99 yuan.

Zhou Leng chose to withdraw it all.

Seeing his new balance, Zhou Leng breathed a sigh of relief.

It was enough to cover his living expenses for the next several months.

Zhou Leng flipped through the many messages on Martial Faith.

"Zhou Leng, contact me once you've finished cultivating. I'll transfer your payment to you." The speaker was Xue Chengsong.

"I'm home now."

Before long, Xue Chengsong replied.

"The base payment is 35,000, plus the extra bonus of 10,000 we agreed on. I'll transfer it to you today. As for your four years of martial university expenses, once you've reported to school and the exact amount is confirmed, send it to me, and I'll transfer it all at once."

"Alright."

Xue Chengsong transferred the money, and Zhou Leng received 45,000 yuan.

One trip to the Demon City had earned him nearly 100,000.

Zhou Leng slowly flipped through his chat history and group messages.

Hu Yi was working at Pioneer Company and was once again complaining that his deputy team leader, Jiang Yan, was no good, forcing him to work overtime all night. By the time he got home, both his arms and legs were trembling.

Jiang Yan had left Zhou Leng another message yesterday, saying the company had received another large batch of demonic beasts and asking him to help out if possible.

Zhou Leng ignored him.

After some time passed, he would go to Pioneer Company and handle the resignation procedures.

He had enough money now to last until Qi Nourishing Perfection. There was no need to waste time at Pioneer Company.

After reaching perfection, he could break through to Blood Circulation.

Once he advanced to Blood Circulation, whether he worked as a tutor or a sparring partner, his income would far exceed slaughtering demonic beasts.

Zhou Leng searched online for some solar-powered camping cookware, chose an online shop in Ru City, and placed an order.

Zhou Leng then flipped through meat options. After thinking it over, he bought some duck and chicken, along with some high-energy pork.

Zhou Leng kept searching for cheap beef, but after looking for ages, he ultimately gave up buying any.

Then, in the Martial Arts Mall of "Martial City," he bought four servings of beginner Meat Medicinal Cuisine.

An hour later, the delivery guy arrived.

The beast meat and Medicinal Materials had already been portioned out. He simply put them into a clay pot and began stewing them.

Zhou Leng checked his admission status online again.

Still nothing.

Tomorrow was the supplementary admission exam for Martial Arts University. After that, supplementary admission notices for affiliated martial academies would be sent out.

Zhou Leng let out a soft sigh.

Teacher Sun Xiong sent him a message.

"Principal Lu is too ashamed to face you, so he asked me to apologize to you on his behalf. He never expected West Sea Martial University to Give Up such a promising seedling as you. He said This Matter isn't over! You must attend Eighth Middle School's Commendation Conference on September 8! If you don't go, he won't be able to live with himself for the rest of his life."

Zhou Leng replied, "Please tell Principal Lu that I'll definitely go. Also, tell him it's really nothing. I've always liked Ru University, and now I've gotten my wish. It's pretty good."

After chatting, Zhou Leng glanced at the front door.

He could pay Uncle Li back now, but with Uncle Li's temperament, unless Zhou Leng made a fortune himself, he wouldn't accept a single cent.

After thinking it over, Zhou Leng decided to spend part of the money on Meat Medicinal Cuisine, keep part for daily expenses, and save the rest. Once he had a hundred thousand, he would buy an Essence Replenishing Pill.

For martial artists, the most important thing was to take three Essence Replenishing Pills and eliminate the hidden ailments in their bodies.

He was still short two pills.

Once the Meat Medicinal Cuisine was done stewing, Zhou Leng dug in with gusto.

Genuine magical beast meat was more tender than scraps and trimmings.

After eating, Zhou Leng sat in meditation and circulated his qi, driving the medicinal effects throughout his body.

Fine beads of sweat emerged and streamed down his body.

After finishing his cultivation, Zhou Leng felt the heat in his body. After a moment's thought, he headed straight for downstairs.

He walked beneath the horizontal bar and looked up at the smooth steel pipe overhead.

During the Qi Nourishing Stage and Blood Circulation Stage, a martial artist's physical strength was limited.

Only upon reaching the Body Tempering Stage did one's physical strength undergo a qualitative leap.

Before the Body Tempering Stage, there were many popular ways to test physical strength. The most famous among them was the One-handed Pull-up.

A One-handed Pull-up without circulating qi was a relatively difficult movement.

In the age of technological civilization, the world record for consecutive One-handed Pull-ups without stopping was thirty.

A person like that, if placed in the martial arts era, would possess talent nearly worthy of a grandmaster.

Half a year ago, Zhou Leng could do fifteen in one go, but no matter what, he could not get up on the sixteenth.

That freak Zhang Xinglie could casually do fifty-four.

Zhou Leng took a deep breath, lightly hopped up, and grabbed the bar with his right hand.

The exposed muscles of his right arm tensed. His skin glowed faintly, smooth as polished granite.

The major muscle groups in his arm, shoulders, back, and abdominal core were like a car engine, exerting force All Together.

Zhou Leng's body suddenly rose. His arm bent, and he lifted his head slightly. The instant his chin cleared the bar, his body dropped.

His muscle groups exerted force again, and his body rose once more...

One, two, three...

By the twentieth, Zhou Leng had not slowed down.

By the thirtieth, his breathing had grown slightly heavier.

By the fortieth, his movements slowed, and sweat covered his entire body.

Fifty-one...

Zhou Leng used every ounce of his strength to bring his chin over the bar, then landed lightly.

"Whew..."

Zhou Leng panted heavily. Fifty-one One-handed Pull-ups without true qi had shattered his own record, making him second only to Zhang Xinglie at Eighth Middle School.

"Fifty-one. Not bad..."

Zhou Leng looked at his right arm, then slowly walked back home.

After showering, Zhou Leng went to the sink.

He turned on the faucet, reached out to catch the water, then withdrew his hand.

True qi spread across his right hand, and not a drop of the water atop it was lost.

Zhou Leng gently swayed his hand up, down, left, and right. Under the effect of true qi, the water in his hand moved like jelly with the motion, yet did not spill a single bit.

Zhou Leng tried lightly tossing it up, then catching it.

Smack...

Some of the water splashed out, while some remained in his hand.

Zhou Leng kept trying. After dozens of attempts, he could easily toss it up and catch it again without letting a single drop splash out.

Water in Palm, tossing and catching at will.

Over the next few days, Zhou Leng followed his routine, traveling back and forth between the Frost Giant Tree and home.

He also redeemed all his remaining Pill Vouchers.

Before long, Zhou Leng received a supplemental admission notice from Rucheng Martial University Affiliated Martial Arts Hall.

Early in the morning, Zhou Leng ran to the examination site outside Ru Da Affiliated Martial Arts Hall.

As he waited, he edited a new Martial Path Diary.

I. Realm.

Qi and Blood Realm.

Qi Nourishing Stage.

II. Divine Abilities.

1. Tribal Divine Ability: Seed of True Qi.

2. National Divine Abilities: Perpetual Legacy. Martial Path Perception. United Will Forms a Fortress. Medicinal Supplement.

III. Martial Arts:

1. Internal Art: Mysterious Tide Art—Major Accomplishment Fifth Heaven.

2. Fist Technique: Mountain Charge Fist—Minor Accomplishment First Heaven.

3. Palm Technique: Wave Palm—Major Accomplishment Fifth Heaven.

4. Leg Technique: Flying Cloud Leg—Minor Accomplishment First Heaven.

5. Footwork: Eight Trigrams Steps—Major Accomplishment Fourth Heaven.

6. Movement Technique: Flowing Cloud Movement Technique—Minor Accomplishment First Heaven.

IV. Four Wonders Body.

Qi: Mortal Qi.

Blood: Mortal Blood.

Body: Mortal Physique.

Strength: Mortal Strength.

V. Martial Will.

No Perception.

VI. Combat Awareness.

No Perception.

Looking at the levels of his martial arts, Zhou Leng felt much more at ease.

They were all at least at Minor Accomplishment.

Zhou Leng reached out and tapped the screen. Beneath "6. Movement Technique," a "7. (blank)" appeared.

Zhou Leng thought for a moment, then deleted it.

Then, silently, he added it in his heart.

7. Training Method: Ten Inverse Beast Fist—First Layer Image Standing First Form.

I'm getting closer and closer to perfection.

As Zhou Leng thought this, he heard a burst of familiar laughter and chatter.

Turning his head, he saw that it was actually those people he had met in Demon City.

The leader was tall, lean, fair-skinned, and fairly handsome. His long hair was slicked straight back, gleaming with pomade.

Chang Luan. Back at the Demon City camp, he had traded a few barbs with Xue Chengsong.

Zhou Leng turned back and continued fiddling with his watch.

Those people looked over as well.

After the two sides had moved apart, a blue-haired student beside Chang Luan said in a low voice, "Young Master Chang, that Kid was the one behind Xue Chengsong that day."

"Mm. They should be on the same Martial Arts Research team," Chang Luan said.

"Something's wrong, though. Xue Chengsong invited all top students—why would he be here for supplemental admission?"

"He could also be a helper. After all, every team needs someone to handle the odd jobs." Chang Luan continued walking, utterly unconcerned.

"Oh, then should we..." The blue-haired student shot Chang Luan a meaningful look.

Chang Luan said calmly, "His relationship with Xue Chengsong may not be that close. Even if it is, there's no need for me to start trouble. If he passes the supplemental admission, we'll be classmates from then on—looking up without seeing each other, looking down without seeing each other. There's no need. Of course, if he overestimates himself and tries to stand up for Xue Chengsong, that's another matter."

"Young Master Chang is generous."

When the time came, the many candidates entered the venue.

The supplementary admission exam had no written test, only two major sections: the physical exam and the Martial Arts Examination. The content was no different from the college entrance examination.

Because there were few people, the exam proceeded very quickly.

In just one day, Zhou Leng finished his exams and left alone.

Along the way, quite a few supplementary admission candidates looked at Zhou Leng.

Tao Bing, a blue-haired supplementary admission candidate, watched Zhou Leng's retreating back and said, "Young Master Chang really has an eye for people. This kid is seriously fierce."

"I misjudged him too. Barring any surprises, he should be first among this batch of supplementary admissions students."

Tao Bing said, "With those results, he's not just first among the supplementary admissions students. Even among the regular candidates at the Affiliated Martial Arts Hall, he's probably near the top. Then your position as Senior Disciple..."

Chang Luan narrowed his eyes and said slowly, "I'll be entering the Martial Guard Department in the future. Limited by my talent, I won't be able to obtain statuses like elite student. This Senior Disciple credential is especially important, then. If I can't win it, the old man will scold me for four years."

"Don't worry. I'll pull some strings myself—I can't let you lose face," Tao Bing said with a grin.

"No rush. Before the Opening Term Test, I'll find him and have a talk."

"Besides, your cousin is in the Student Union. If it really comes down to it, ask him for help. Once you have Student Union status, those people competing for Senior Disciple will have to weigh things carefully."

"Hard to say. Let's go. We should try to secure the Class Monitor position first."

Zhou Leng returned home and continued living between two points—cultivating, cultivating, cultivating without end.

The supplementary admission results came out soon after. Zhou Leng ranked first in the Rucheng Martial University Affiliated Martial Arts Hall supplementary admission exam.

On the day he received his admission letter, Zhou Leng thought for a moment, then sent a message to Xue Chengsong.

Among the people Zhou Leng knew, Xue Chengsong had the most information channels. Even Zhang Xinglie could not compare.

"Young Master Xue, do me a favor. I'd like to ask about the Opening Term Test and the Monthly Exam."

Xue Chengsong invites you to a video call...

Zhou Leng directly chose to switch it to a voice call.

"Zhou Leng, how... how are you?"

"In a few days, I'll report to Ru Da Affiliated Martial Arts Hall."

"Mm, all right. What exactly do you want to ask?"

"At the Affiliated Martial Arts Hall, how can I maximize the Martial Arts Resources I obtain?"

Xue Chengsong fell silent for a moment before saying, "Try not to spread some of the things I'm about to say."

"I understand."

Xue Chengsong said, "Whether it's a martial university or a martial arts hall, you need to settle on your future direction first. Based on that direction, choose what you should do now. In the future, will you enter the Martial Guard Department, the Demon City Army, the Martial Mansion, a Pioneer Company, or follow the Extreme Martial Path?"

"Give me a brief rundown of all of them."

"The Martial Guard Department is mainly responsible for security within Blue Star. Its primary targets are the Demon Worshipping Cult, Demonic Beasts infiltrating from Demon City, and hostile nations. Only under special circumstances does it enter Demon City to assist the Demon City Army."

"The Demon City Army is comparatively straightforward. It mainly deals with the Demonic Beasts of Demon City, though it occasionally cooperates with allied worlds to fight in other realms."