Civilization Ladder

Civilization Ladder

"They're all classmates. We'll be seeing each other for the next four years. Could I really harm you?" Chang Luan said with a smile.

"Mm." Zhou Leng nodded.

The two of them left the Class 01 Martial Arts Hall and came to a willow tree.

Zhou Leng looked at the slicked-back-haired youth.

Chang Luan smiled. "I have a friend at your school named Rao Mingxian. You know him, right?"

"Rao the Crown Prince." Zhou Leng nodded.

"When we took part in the supplementary admissions together, I was shocked by your results. Later, when I met Rao Mingxian, we talked about you. You made it this far with such scant pill resources. I admire you greatly." Chang Luan spoke.

Zhou Leng did not want to beat around the bush. "Just say what you want. The School Opening Ceremony is about to begin."

Chang Luan smiled. "All right. I'll speak frankly. I want the position of Senior Disciple for our class. I hope you'll support me. Of course, I'll compensate you with pills."

"I see. Then you've come to the wrong person. I'm not interested in the position of Senior Disciple, and I won't compete with you for it. I only care about martial cultivation."

"I didn't come to the wrong person. You're one of the strongest in our class, and in terms of potential, you're very likely among the top three. You're probably only weaker than Xu Kang'an from Class 02, and about equal to several others." Chang Luan spoke.

Zhou Leng looked at Chang Luan and slowly said, "I want to walk the Extreme Martial Path. On this path, I have to give up certain things, and I also have to learn to block out the noise."

Chang Luan smiled. "I know you're someone devoted to martial arts. I never thought you'd compete with me for the position of Senior Disciple. I'm hoping to gain your help."

"I don't have the time or the energy." Zhou Leng spoke.

Chang Luan said helplessly, "I'll be direct. I'm willing to exchange pills for your support in making me Senior Disciple."

"It won't just be verbal support, will it?" Zhou Leng asked.

"For this Opening Term Test, I want to fight for one of the top four spots in our class. I hope you can hold back slightly during the test and let me pass. Afterward, I'll make up the pills you deserve and give you an additional amount equal to that."

Zhou Leng's gaze gradually turned cold. If the Martial Arts Hall discovered something like this, the consequences would be impossible to predict.

"Classmate Chang Luan, the Martial Arts Hall has its rules. Any attempt to manipulate the rankings could result in a serious demerit or even expulsion, affecting your entire life."

"That's assuming there's evidence. If you don't tell and I don't tell, who will know?" Chang Luan said.

Zhou Leng stared into Chang Luan's eyes and slowly said, "I'll say this one last time. I have absolutely no interest in the position of Senior Disciple. I won't block your path, so you don't need to obstruct my bridge. I'd much rather we spend four peaceful years as classmates. Farewell."

Zhou Leng turned and left.

Chang Luan sighed. "Classmate Zhou Leng, think it over. My compensation will definitely satisfy you."

Zhou Leng acted as if he had not heard him.

On the surface, accepting pill compensation would let him earn some easy money. But what about the risks and the price he might pay?

Tao Bing, with his blue hair, walked over and brushed past Zhou Leng before quickly reaching Chang Luan's side.

"Young Master Chang, how did it go?"

"He doesn't want to cooperate."

"He might not be able to affect you, right? Once you make the top four in the class, your opponents in the final Top-16 Combat will all be from other classes."

"Making the top four in the class won't be easy either. I went through everyone's information and chatted with many of them. Several families aren't short of money, so they must have taken Perfection Pills. Their test results will probably be about the same as mine. If Zhou Leng goes all out, he'll definitely surpass me. I only beat him in Total True Qi, True Qi Intensity, and some strength events. I'm quite a bit worse than him in every other aspect."

Tao Bing lowered his voice. "If you don't make the top four, just take down someone ahead of you. It's not as if we haven't done that before."

Chang Luan hesitated, but when he recalled his father's harsh words, he gave a slight nod.

When the time came, Deng Zhijue, the instructor of Class 01, arrived at the class Martial Arts Hall. He called the roll and formed them into ranks, then led the group toward Rucheng Martial University's Number One Grand Martial Arts Arena.

The teachers and students from the entire school gathered beneath the brilliant morning sun to hold the School Opening Ceremony.

After the School Opening Ceremony ended, the classes formed ranks and departed.

The non-martial classes were loose and disorganized, but the university martial classes and Martial Arts Hall classes maintained neat formations as they orderly left the Grand Martial Arts Arena.

The four Martial Arts Hall classes of this year gathered at the Martial Arts Hall's Grand Martial Arts Arena.

All the instructors wore camouflage Martial Guard uniforms. They stood out from the other teachers at Ru University and looked more like people from a military academy.

The Martial Arts Hall's chief instructor, Huang Jingqiu, came forward to give a speech.

"...Some of you already know that Ru Da Affiliated Martial Arts Hall is a commissioned training unit of the Martial Guard Department. What is a commissioned training unit? It means that the state's Martial Guard Department has entrusted Rucheng Martial Arts Hall with training you. In the future, you'll have a very high chance of entering this city's Martial Guard Bureau..."

"...From another perspective, every one of you is equivalent to a Martial Guard intern. Although you don't study as much in your cultural classes as the students at the martial university, you must shoulder the responsibilities of the Martial Guard when necessary—for example, participating in the capture of the Demon Worshipping Cult..."

After Huang Jingqiu finished speaking, he invited Hall Master Wang to give a speech.

The instructors applauded first, and the students followed with vigorous applause.

The tall Wang Boxiong stepped forward, attracting the gaze of every student.

Zhou Leng looked at Wang Boxiong, surprised that he was actually the Hall Master of Rucheng Martial Arts Hall.

Wang Boxiong wore a clean, crisp camouflage uniform. With both hands behind his back, he swept his gaze across all the students.

"I'm very glad to meet all of you at Rucheng Martial Arts Hall during this golden autumn..."

Wang Boxiong spoke politely for a while, then his gaze turned cold.

"Everyone has their own joys and sorrows. I, Wang Boxiong, can't control them, and I don't want to."

"But if you stay at the Martial Arts Hall and use its resources to improve yourselves, you must understand that every pill and every piece of demonic equipment at the Martial Arts Hall was watered with humanity's blood, harvested with its sweat, and created with its wisdom."

"Now, Demons, Sea Sirens, giant dragons, giant insects, ferocious beasts, and others are watching hungrily from outside, while the Demon Worshipping Cult wreaks havoc across the world. We must use our precious resources on the blade's edge of destroying Demonic Beasts."

"Appropriate fighting and competition are permitted within the Martial Arts Hall. But I hope every one of you understands that only through unity, unity, and greater unity—by concentrating all of humanity's strength in one place—can we crawl out of the quagmire of a primitive civilization and climb a higher Civilization Ladder."

"Remember, beneath your feet lies not only the earth but also bones and bloodstains."

"Flowers of the motherland, welcome. Leave the greenhouse and step onto the Civilization Ladder."

After Wang Boxiong finished speaking, he strode away.

His military boots struck the ground like a giant elephant trampling down, pounding heavily against every student's heart.

A group of half-grown children sank into thought.

The instructors, standing straight-backed, looked at the students before them with faint smiles on their faces.

Chief Instructor Huang Jingqiu smiled. "Let me tell you a common fact. When Hall Master Wang was young and caught members of the Demon Worshipping Cult, his favorite thing to do was drown them in toilets. Another person as famous as Hall Master Wang preferred to blow them up with a single punch."

"Awesome!" Wei Hong was not afraid at all. Instead, he praised him excitedly.

"Step out! Sprint five thousand meters." Huang Jingqiu spoke.

"Yes!" Wei Hong shouted his acknowledgment and sprinted around the outdoor Grand Martial Arts Arena with all his might.

Huang Jingqiu said, "Our Martial Arts Hall Students are somewhat different from martial university students and non-martial students. Here, we're closer to a military academy. Don't forget that."

"Next, I'll explain the arrangements for the next few days."

"In a moment, everyone will receive their Student Card. It's almost identical to a Battle Merit Token and has many integrated functions that can be used in numerous places. After receiving it, you can activate Rucheng Freshman Ranking and Rucheng Qi and Blood Ranking in Martial City..."

"The main task today is the Opening Term Test. Once the results are uploaded, they'll determine your Freshman Ranking..."

"Today, each class will select its top four students. Next Monday, we'll hold Top-16 Combat to compete for first place..."

"Every test at the school grants corresponding rewards according to the rankings..."

"You're now first-year students. Every month, you can receive a basic subsidy of 500 yuan, one Qi Nourishing Pill, and one serving of Meat Medicinal Cuisine every week..."

Many students' eyes lit up.

"Starting tomorrow, you'll undergo military training. The military training for our Martial Arts Hall Students is different from that of non-martial students. You'd better prepare yourselves."

Huang Jingqiu smiled, and the other instructors wore especially cheerful smiles.

The students' hearts pounded wildly.

The instructors' smiles concealed Demons.

An hour later, the chief instructors led their respective classes away.

Wei Hong followed at the back of the group, panting heavily.

Deng Zhijue, the chief instructor of Class 01, led everyone to receive their Student Cards and Marching Pills. As they walked, he explained.

"You must carry your Student Card with you at all times and bind it to Martial City. Try not to lose it. Of course, it can be located and found. All your activities afterward—checking in for class, taking tests, eating meals, and so on—will require this Student Card..."

"Now you can move and warm up as you walk. Next, we'll begin today's Opening Term Test, starting with the Physical Exam."

"The Physical Exam now is about the same as the one in the College Entrance Examination, only slightly more difficult. It tests six subjects: sprinting, evasive running, weighted running, obstacle running, weightlifting, and punching power."

"The Martial Arts Hall has no Martial Arts Examination. We only have the True Qi Exam and the Comprehensive Exam."

"The True Qi Exam is the same as the Martial Arts Examination. It tests Total True Qi, True Qi Intensity, and True Qi Control."

"The Comprehensive Exam tests four subjects: Qi-infused Weightlifting, Maximum Destructive Intensity, Average Destructive Intensity, and Blocking and Impact Resistance."

When the students heard "Blocking and Impact Resistance," nearly every one of them looked slightly pale.

This test was notorious.

"There are three examinations, with each individual subject worth 100 points, for a total of 1,300 points across thirteen subjects. Unlike the College Entrance Examination, where the score is capped at 100, future tests allow exceptional results to form a 'Super Score'—that is, a score above 100. However, this generally only exists in Cloud Splendor and Golden Capital. Among the more than one hundred thousand freshmen in all of Ru City, I estimate that only Shan Heyuan can do it. Don't even think about it."

"After you complete the examinations, your scores will be uploaded to the corresponding rankings in Martial City. Other evaluation items will be added on the Freshman Ranking. After recalculation, the final result will be displayed as an index score on a hundred-point scale, and the overall rankings will be determined according to that index score."

"The top four students in each class will receive free three-meal cafeteria cards for September."

Several large, muscular students' eyes shone brightly.

Zhou Leng was tempted.

Deng Zhijue continued, "Next Monday, the top four students from each class will participate in the combat rankings. First place will receive one Essence Replenishing Pill, along with two Qi Nourishing Pills and two Blood Replenishing Pills."

"Second and third place will each receive five Qi Nourishing Pills and five Blood Replenishing Pills."

"Fourth through eighth place will each receive two Qi Nourishing Pills and two Blood Replenishing Pills."

"Ninth through sixteenth place will each receive one Qi Nourishing Pill and one Blood Replenishing Pill."

Hearing such generous rewards, many students began breathing heavily.

"This examination must be completed continuously today. In other words, there's no lunch. Once you finish the exams, you'll eat dinner directly."

The students looked helpless. These three examinations would take at least five or six hours, and it was already past ten o'clock.

"Of course, everyone will receive one Marching Pill. Aside from that, you may only drink water. Eating any other food or taking any other pills means expulsion."

"Did you hear me?" Deng Zhijue suddenly asked.

"Heard! You!"

"I couldn't hear you."

"Heard! You!"

"Louder! What, are you still hungry?"

"Heard... you..." The students shouted until their necks turned red.

"Very good."