Civilization's Stairway

"We're classmates. We'll be seeing each other day in and day out. It's not like I could harm you, right?" Chang Luan said with a smile.

"Mm." Zhou Leng nodded.

The two left Class 01's martial arts grounds and came beneath a willow tree.

Zhou Leng looked at the young man with the slicked-back hair.

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

"Crown Prince Rao." Zhou Leng nodded.

"Earlier, we both took part in the supplementary admissions. Your results shocked me. Later, I met Rao Mingxian, and we talked about you. You made it this far with such meager medicinal resources. I especially admire that," Chang Luan said.

Zhou Leng did not want to beat around the bush. "If you have something to say, say it. The opening ceremony is about to begin."

Chang Luan smiled. "Fine. A wise man does not speak in riddles. I want the position of senior brother for our year, and I hope you'll support me. Naturally, I'll compensate you with pills."

"Oh, is that so? Then you've found the wrong person. I'm not interested in being senior brother, and I won't compete with you for it. I only care about martial cultivation," Zhou Leng said.

"You haven't found the wrong person. You're one of the strongest people in our year. In terms of potential, you're very likely among the top three. You're probably only weaker than Xu Kang'an from Class Two, while being about the same as several others," Chang Luan said.

Zhou Leng looked at Chang Luan and slowly said, "I intend to walk the path of Extreme Martial Arts. On this road, I must give up certain things, and I must learn to shut out the noise."

Chang Luan smiled. "I know you're someone devoted to martial arts. I never thought you would fight me for the senior brother position. I'm hoping to receive your help."

"I have neither the time nor the energy," Zhou Leng said.

Chang Luan said helplessly, "Let me be direct, then. I'm willing to use pills in exchange for your support in becoming senior brother."

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

"In this Opening-Semester Martial Test, I want to secure a place in our class's top four. I hope that during the tests, you can yield to me a little. Afterwards, I'll make up the pills you should have received and give you an additional equal amount."

Zhou Leng's gaze gradually turned cold. If the academy discovered something like this, the consequences would be difficult to predict.

Zhou Leng said, "Classmate Chang Luan, the academy has its rules. Any act of manipulating rankings could result in a major demerit or even expulsion, affecting one's entire life."

"That's only if there's evidence. You don't say anything, I don't say anything, and no one 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 brother. I won't block your path, so there's no need for you to block my bridge. I would rather you and I peacefully remain classmates for four years. Goodbye."

Zhou Leng turned and left.

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

But Zhou Leng acted as though he had not heard him.

Pill compensation seemed, on the surface, like a way to earn some pocket money. But what about the risks and the price?

Blue-haired Tao Bing walked over, brushed past Zhou Leng, and quickly approached Chang Luan.

"Young Master Chang, how did it go?"

"He doesn't want to cooperate."

"He might not even be able to affect you, right? As long as you make the class's top four, the opponents you face in the final top-sixteen combat matches will all be from other classes."

"It's not easy to make the class's top four either. I checked the entire class's records and talked to many people. Several of them come from families that aren't short on money, so they definitely took Perfection Pills. Their test results will probably be about the same as mine. If Zhou Leng goes all out, he'll certainly rank above me. I only surpass him in total true qi, true qi intensity, and some strength events. I'm a fair bit worse than him in every other aspect."

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

Hesitation appeared on Chang Luan's face, but when he recalled his father's harsh words, he gave a slight nod.

When the time came, Class 01's instructor, Deng Zhijue, arrived at the class martial arts grounds. After taking attendance and forming them up, he led the group running toward Great Martial Grounds No. 1 at Ru City Martial University.

Teachers and students from the entire school gathered beneath the morning sun for the opening ceremony.

When the opening ceremony ended, each class formed up and departed.

The non-martial classes were loose and disorderly, but the Martial University classes and Martial Academy classes maintained neat formations as they left the Great Martial Grounds in an orderly fashion.

The four Martial Academy classes of this year gathered at the Martial Academy's Great Martial Grounds.

All the instructors wore camouflage Martial Guard uniforms, standing out starkly from Ru University's other teachers and seeming more like a military academy.

Huang Jingqiu, the Martial Academy's head instructor, came forward to address them.

"...Some of you already know that the Ru University Affiliated Martial Arts Academy is a commissioned training institution under the Martial Guard Department. What does that mean? It means the national Martial Guard Department has entrusted the Ru City Martial Academy with training you. In the future, you will have a strong chance of joining this city's Martial Guard Bureau..."

"...From another angle, every one of you is equivalent to a Martial Guard intern. Although you do not study as many academic subjects as Martial University students, when necessary, you must shoulder the responsibilities of a Martial Guard—for example, participating in the capture of Demon-Worshiping Cult members..."

After Huang Jingqiu finished his address, he invited Academy Director Wang Boxiong to speak.

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

The tall Wang Boxiong stepped forward, drawing every student's gaze.

Zhou Leng looked at Wang Boxiong. He had not expected him to be the director of the Ru City Martial Academy.

Wang Boxiong wore a crisp camouflage uniform, his hands clasped behind his back as he swept his gaze over all the students.

"I am delighted to meet all of you at the Ru City Martial Academy in this golden autumn season..."

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

"Everyone has their own joys, angers, sorrows, and pleasures. I, Wang Boxiong, cannot control them, nor do I wish to."

"But if you remain at the academy and use its resources to improve yourselves, then you must understand that every pill and every piece of demonized equipment here has been watered with human blood, harvested with sweat, and forged with wisdom."

"Right now, demons, Sirens, Dragons, Giant Insects, vicious beasts, and more are eyeing us like tigers watching their prey beyond our borders, while the Demon-Worshiping Cult wreaks havoc across the world. We must use these precious resources on the blade that slays Demonic Beasts."

"Within the academy, a proper degree of conflict and competition is allowed. But I hope every one of you understands that only through unity, unity, and greater unity—by gathering all the strength of Humans in one place—can we crawl out of the mire of a low-level civilization and climb a higher stairway of civilization."

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

"Flowers of the motherland, welcome. Step out of the greenhouse and onto civilization's stairway."

After Wang Boxiong finished speaking, he strode away.

His military boots struck the ground like a giant elephant trampling forward, heavily hammering at every student's heart.

The group of half-grown children fell into thought.

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

Huang Jingqiu smiled. "Let me share a piece of common knowledge. When Director Wang was young, his favorite thing to do with Demon-Worshiping Cult members he captured was drown them in toilets. Another man as famous as Director Wang preferred to blow them apart with a single punch."

"Amazing!" Wei Hong was not frightened in the slightest. Instead, he praised him excitedly.

"Step out! Sprint five thousand meters," Huang Jingqiu said.

"Yes!" Wei Hong shouted in acknowledgment and began sprinting at full speed around the outdoor Great Martial Grounds.

Huang Jingqiu said, "Our Martial Academy students differ somewhat from Martial University students and non-martial students. Here, it is closer to a military academy, so don't forget that."

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

"In a moment, each of you will receive your student badge. It is nearly identical to a Merit Badge and integrates many functions. You'll use it in many places. Once you receive it, you can activate the Ru City Freshman Ranking and Ru City Blood Qi Ranking in Martial City..."

"Today's main event is the Opening-Semester Martial Test. After your results are uploaded, they will determine your Freshman Ranking placement..."

"In today's tests, each class will select its top four. Next Monday, the top-sixteen combat matches will be held to compete for first place..."

"For every school test, you will receive corresponding rewards based on your ranking..."

"You are now first-year freshmen. Each month, you may receive a basic subsidy of 500 yuan, one Qi-Nourishing Pill per month, and one serving of Meat Medicinal Diet per week..."

The eyes of countless students lit up.

"Starting tomorrow will be military training. Our Martial Academy's military training differs from that of non-martial students. You had better prepare yourselves."

Huang Jingqiu smiled, and the other instructors smiled especially happily.

The students' hearts pounded wildly.

Demons lurked within those instructors' smiles.

An hour later, each class's lead instructor led their class away.

Wei Hong followed behind the group, panting heavily.

Class 01's lead instructor, Deng Zhijue, led everyone to collect their student badges and Marching Pills while explaining as they walked.

"You must keep your student badge on you at all times, then bind it to Martial City. Try not to lose it, though of course, it can be located and recovered. From now on, all your activities—class check-ins, tests, meals, and so on—will require this student badge..."

"Now, you can move about and warm up as you walk. Next, we'll conduct today's Opening-Semester Martial Test, beginning with the physical fitness test."

"The current physical test is similar to the college entrance examination's physical test, only somewhat harder. It includes six events: sprinting, evasive running, weighted running, obstacle running, weightlifting, and punching power."

"The Martial Academy has no Martial Examination, only a true qi test and a comprehensive test."

"The true qi test is the same as the Martial Examination, testing total true qi, true qi intensity, and true qi control."

"The comprehensive test includes four events: qi-assisted weightlifting, maximum destructive intensity, average destructive intensity, and blocking and resistance to strikes."

When the students heard "blocking and resistance to strikes," nearly every face changed slightly.

This test was very well known.

"There are three tests, each subject is worth 100 raw points, and the thirteen subjects total 1,300 points. Unlike the college entrance examination, where scores are capped at 100, future tests allow exceptional scores, creating 'over-scores'—scores exceeding 100. However, those generally exist only in Yunhua and Jinjing. Among all of Ru City's hundred thousand-plus freshmen, Shanhe Yuan is probably the only one capable of it, so don't even think about it."

"After you complete the tests, your scores will be uploaded to the corresponding rankings in Martial City. On the Freshman Ranking, other evaluation items will be added and recalculated, then displayed as an index score on a hundred-point scale. The overall rankings will be based on those index scores."

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

Several large, tall students' eyes shone brightly.

Zhou Leng was tempted.

Deng Zhijue continued, "Next Monday, the top four from each class will take part in the combat rankings. First place will receive one Origin-Replenishing Pill, 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 test must be completed continuously today. In other words, there will be no lunch. Once you finish, you will go straight to dinner."

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

"Of course, everyone will be given one Marching Pill. Other than that, you may only drink water. If you consume any other food or pills, you will be expelled."

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

"Heard! It!"

"I didn't hear you."

"Heard! It!"

"Louder! Haven't you eaten enough?"

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

"Very good."