Soft Persimmon

"Such a gap was a bit exaggerated..." Wei Hong said.

Feng Wenhao sized up Zhou Leng and said, "You've improved remarkably fast lately. Over 90 points in Dodge Run? At Eighth Middle School, that's Zhang Xinglie's exclusive domain."

"Maybe I got lucky."

"I believe you."

Soon, the third event, Weighted Run, began.

Each person carried an iron-sand bag weighing 100 kilograms on each shoulder, for a total load of 200 kilograms.

At Deng Zhijue's command, the first ten people started running together.

Everyone saw that Zhou Leng was like a rabbit among turtles, shooting far ahead while the other nine fell farther and farther behind.

Tao Bing said quietly, "Young Master Chang, if we don't act now, it'll be too late. Aside from Obstacle Run, the later events aren't suitable for making a move."

Chang Luan said nothing.

Tao Bing continued in a low voice, "Those who took Perfection Pills more or less have some backing. Only this Zhou Leng had such good Martial Arts Examination scores and still got rejected by West Sea Martial University, making him the easiest to handle. Sometimes, you have to kill the chicken to scare the monkeys."

Chang Luan lightly brushed his slick pompadour with his right hand and gave a soft snort through his nose. "Mm."

"Rest assured," Tao Bing said with a smile.

Afterward, Tao Bing left and secretly spoke with several classmates.

The fourth event, the long-distance Obstacle Run, began.

The students frowned as they looked at the obstacle course.

Of all the running events, Obstacle Run was the most troublesome.

Crawling under barbed wire, jumping over gravel pits, crossing aerial ladders, scaling walls, rappelling down ropes at high speed...

There were thirty-nine obstacles in total, and every obstacle was timed. Slow down even slightly, and points would be deducted.

Obstacle Run simulated a long-distance march. They had to run back and forth ten times, a full ten thousand meters.

Deng Zhijue said, "Just like the 5,000-meter Sprint Run, enter one after another. This course may be rather crowded, so everyone must be extra careful. Maliciously injuring others is forbidden. In some narrow areas, a certain degree of collision is permitted, but keep it within reason."

The instructors wore smiles on their faces.

This sort of chaotic Obstacle Run had always been an event for watching a good show.

Wei Hong shouted, "Instructor, what if I accidentally injure someone by crashing into them?"

"In battle, protecting yourself is also a basic ability. If you can't even protect yourself in this kind of Obstacle Run, how will you fight demonic beasts in the future? You might as well go home early," one instructor said bluntly.

Some students felt vaguely uneasy. At last, they realized that these instructors were Martial Guard, not mere teachers.

"Alright. Same as before, starting with student number 01, begin the Obstacle Run at twenty-second intervals."

One student after another rushed in.

Zhou Leng entered as well.

At first, Zhou Leng did not accelerate with all his strength. Instead, he focused on familiarizing himself with the obstacles.

By the first lap, Zhou Leng was in nineteenth place, within the second tier.

After entering the second lap, Zhou Leng accelerated slightly.

Third lap, fourth lap...

As he approached the twenty-meter-long barbed-wire section, Zhou Leng observed the students around him, calculated the lead time, and suddenly dove beneath the barbed wire. Flat against the ground, he moved rapidly with hands and feet together.

The instant Zhou Leng rushed in, a student beside him suddenly accelerated and charged straight at Zhou Leng, who had just entered beneath the wire.

Like a lizard, Zhou Leng swiftly shifted diagonally and evaded him.

That student suddenly cried out as his scalp was slashed open by the sharp barbed wire.

Zhou Leng did not even turn back for a look.

Before long, Zhou Leng scaled a wall and stepped onto the aerial ladder high above.

Between two tall walls, there was only a single long ladder.

Zhou Leng ran swiftly across the ladder, getting closer and closer to the student ahead.

When they neared each other, the student in front suddenly stopped and violently leaned his back toward Zhou Leng.

Zhou Leng's gaze turned cold. He pulled in both hands, sent them out, then shoved, pushing the student in front off the aerial ladder as he continued running.

The student landed easily, raised his hand, and shouted, "Report, Instructor! Zhou Leng pushed me off the aerial ladder."

The instructors smiled and did not move.

That student looked utterly awkward and could only climb the wall again and cross the aerial ladder once more.

Not long after, Zhou Leng climbed a steep artificial mountain, a full five stories high.

Just as he was about to reach the mountaintop, Tao Bing suddenly crashed into him at an angle, his shoulder like a bull's and his charge fierce and swift.

The slope here was steep, and Zhou Leng had nowhere to dodge. He sank his body and planted his stance firmly.

His body was like a boulder.

The image of the Chapter of Establishing Image appeared in Zhou Leng's mind as he rammed into Tao Bing.

Shoulder against shoulder, rising proudly like an elephant.

Zhou Leng's body swayed slightly, while Tao Bing was sent flying backward off the artificial mountain.

"Hm?" Zhou Leng gave the featherlight Tao Bing a puzzled glance, then flipped himself onto the mountaintop, descended, and continued running.

In mid-air, Tao Bing's entire body went numb and sore. His meridians shook, leaving him unable to circulate True Qi. He lost his balance, crashed heavily onto the mountainside, and rolled downward.

Crack...

"Ah..."

Tao Bing rolled screaming to the foot of the mountain, his entire body drenched in blood. His right leg twisted grotesquely, bright red bone piercing through the skin.

Deng Zhijue's expression did not change. Instead, he smiled. "Little Jia, take him to the infirmary."

"Yes!" Instructor Jia ran over, picked up Tao Bing, and rushed toward the infirmary.

One instructor laughed. "Kids these days are far too unable to keep their composure."

"They overestimated themselves too much. They have no idea what it means for Zhou Leng to score over 90 in so many events."

"Today's not bad. There's a good show to watch."

The instructors smiled, acting as though it were nothing at all.

Chang Luan, who had seen everything from behind, had storm clouds gathering in the sky of his eyes.

Chang Luan's mind was in chaos, and his speed slowed.

Lap after lap passed. When he reached the eighth lap, Chang Luan climbed the tall wall and ran across the aerial ladder in the air.

Suddenly, he felt an immense strength crash into him from behind, sending his body flying diagonally away.

Fortunately, it was not very high here, and he was in the Blood Circulation Stage. He barely landed on both feet, staggering several steps before steadying himself.

Anger appeared on his face. Looking up, he saw Zhou Leng running past on the aerial ladder.

Chang Luan narrowed his eyes and gave a cold smile before continuing the Obstacle Run.

The instructors saw everything.

"Zhou Leng is good. He has both fire in his blood and a sense of proportion."

"Friction creates motivation."

"Back then, we fought our way out with fists that drew blood."

Over the next few laps, Zhou Leng had an exceptionally smooth run.

The people in front even took the initiative to make way for him.

When Obstacle Run ended and the new scores were released, the class suddenly grew much quieter.

Zhou Leng: 8 points.

Only a few people did not understand what had happened.

Feng Wenhao, Wei Hong, and the others came over.

Feng Wenhao asked quietly, "They made the first move?"

Zhou Leng nodded.

"Hmph. It's fine. We're Martial Path Students. As long as no one gets crippled, even broken arms and legs won't count as a demerit."

Wei Hong said quietly, "The other side isn't a lamp that burns on saved oil. Be more careful."

Before long, Lu Juncai, the top direct-admission student in the class, walked over and asked, "Chang Luan came after you too?"

Zhou Leng nodded.

Lu Juncai was tall and powerfully built, every muscle on his body like cast iron.

Lu Juncai said, "I saw your Makeup Admission Test scores. They were much higher than my College Entrance Examination scores. Don't bother with that sort of trash. Your target is Xu Kang'an from the neighboring class. Fight for first place for our class."

Obstacle Run ended, and the fourth event was Weightlifting.

Before long, it was Zhou Leng's turn. He stepped onto the Demonic Weightlifting Platform.

It was a piece of equipment shaped like a doorway. Zhou Leng raised both hands and braced the thick steel plate above him.

With a soft beep, the thick steel plate slowly pressed down, while the blue demonic patterns on its surface grew brighter and brighter.

On the display screen of the doorframe, the number representing weight rapidly increased.

100... 200... 300...

The entire class stared at that number.

As the black steel block pressed down, Zhou Leng's face grew redder and redder, and his body sank slightly.

Suddenly, with another beep, the thick steel plate slowly rose. Zhou Leng removed his hands from the plate, walked out, and turned back to look.

5 kilograms.

5 points.

After returning to the students, Feng Wenhao breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Alright, finally something normal. That freak Zhang Xinglie got full marks, and even a 'super score'—over 900 kilograms. He's simply a monster."

Wei Hong said, "Zhou Leng's body is clearly at the level of a minor genius. He truly can't compare with that kind of great genius. Next comes the Comprehensive Exam, especially the two events of Qi-infused Weightlifting and Maximum Destructive Intensity. Those best reveal one's actual strength."

Next, the others lifted one after another. Three scored 100 points, and a total of twelve students had Weightlifting scores higher than Zhou Leng's.

Even Chang Luan's Weightlifting score was above Zhou Leng's.

Several instructors watched Zhou Leng.

Zhou Leng was so strong in other areas but relatively weak in strength. Very likely, there was another reason.

The medicinal pills and Meat Medicinal Cuisine from his childhood had not kept up.

Strength required slow accumulation over long years and months.

If he made up for the Meat Medicinal Cuisine and pills, to what extent would Zhou Leng grow?

After thinking for a moment, Deng Zhijue wrote Zhou Leng's data and his own assessment into two simple reports, sending them respectively to chief instructor Huang Jingqiu and hall master Wang Boxiong.

Wang Boxiong was handling Martial Guard Bureau affairs. After giving it a brief look, he connected to the examination site's surveillance equipment and projected it onto the large screen in front of him.

Next came the punch-force test.

When it was Zhou Leng's turn, he first tested a few punches, then stood before the Demonic Punch Force Meter.

Ahead of him was a thick black padded target, as large as a chair back, its surface covered in scuff marks.

Zhou Leng drew a deep breath, drove his right foot into the ground, twisted his torso and waist, and whipped out his arm. Power flowed through his whole body as he swung his fist.

Everyone widened their eyes. It was clearly only a punch, yet it looked as though his entire body had slammed forward.

The instructors nodded one after another. It was a very standard ramming-style exertion, equivalent to compressing the strength of the entire body into the fist.

Bang!

Everyone looked at the display screen.

"25 kilograms."

"2 points."

Everyone flipped through their phones one after another, checking Zhou Leng's Weightlifting strength and comparing it with his punch force.

Wei Hong said, "Punch force is closely connected to body weight and foundational strength. Zhou Leng's weight lags so far behind, and his foundational strength isn't strong either, yet his punch nearly scored 95 points. That shows Zhou Leng's power exertion is exceptionally skillful. Unless something unexpected happens, Zhou Leng's destructive intensity will also be especially strong."

After a brief rest, they entered the True Qi Exam.

Both Total True Qi and True Qi Intensity used the True Qi Measurement Instrument, making them very quick.

Because many students in the class had taken Perfection Pills and advanced to the Blood Circulation Stage, many received full marks of 100.

Zhou Leng was at Eightfold Perfection of Qi Cultivation. He received 3 points for Total True Qi and 8 points for True Qi Intensity.

The third event was True Qi control.

The event was still Bubble Basketball. The students began practicing, while all the instructors watched Zhou Leng.

Zhou Leng had scored 99 points in both the Martial Arts Examination and the Makeup Admission Test.

Soon, the official examination began, and it was Zhou Leng's turn.

The bubbles flew out. Ten throws, ten hits. They did not touch the rim and shattered upon landing.

100 points.

The entire venue was silent as a cicada in winter.

"Awesome..." Wei Hong sighed.

Chang Luan looked at the glaring 100 points on the display screen, remembered Tao Bing, who had nearly been smashed to pieces, and furrowed his brow tightly.

Chang Luan vaguely felt that he had picked the wrong soft persimmon.

Very likely, the truth was not merely that it was not soft—it might not even have been a persimmon.