Beasts

Beasts

"Our class's Zhou Leng is plenty strong. He should rank in Ru University's top five freshmen."

"Xu Kang'an from the next class seems to be 3 points higher than Zhou Leng. Who has a screenshot?"

"I do."

Everyone looked at the screenshot in the group chat.

Zhou Leng opened it and saw that Xu Kang'an's total score was 9, 2 points more than his own.

"Xu Kang'an got perfect scores in all Five Pill Subjects and is already in the Blood Circulation Stage. Once Zhou Leng makes up for the Five Pill Subjects, he'll definitely overtake him."

"Right. Zhou Leng, neither you nor Xu Kang'an should make the top hundred on the Rucheng Freshman Ranking this time, but you definitely will in Several Months. Once you enter the National Ranking, let us see your national rank. I heard the top few hundred on the National Ranking are a vast black crush of beast-level big shots."

Zhou Leng nodded without saying anything.

But in his heart, he repeatedly considered how he could make up for his own shortcomings while strengthening his advantages.

The Five Pill Subjects required long-term accumulation of time and pills. There was no use rushing.

"It updated! It updated!"

Zhou Leng opened Martial City as well and refreshed the "Rucheng Freshman Ranking." As the ranking list scrolled, his position appeared in the middle of the screen.

Zhou Leng.

Rucheng Martial University Affiliated Martial Arts Hall.

Martial Index: 92.

Rank: 503.

Zhou Leng looked at the index. It was a statistical result derived from extensive data on both the individual and everyone else.

At the very top of the screen were the top three.

First, Shan Heyuan, Martial Index 25.

Second, Yu Jueyong, Martial Index 23.

Third, Jiang Xiaoyin, Martial Index 21.

Zhou Leng looked at his own index of 7 and Shan Heyuan's index of 9, feeling a faint pressure.

A difference of 1 Martial Index point was basically equivalent to a difference of one stage.

He was at the Qi Cultivation Peak.

An index of 8 was basically equivalent to the Blood Circulation Stage, while an index of 9 meant one had the strength of the Body Tempering Stage.

With Shan Heyuan's physical qualities, ordinary Body Tempering Stage experts were simply no match for him.

Zhou Leng sent his screenshot to Zhang Xinglie, who was far away in Xiong City.

Zhang Xinglie sent back a screenshot as well.

Zhang Xinglie.

Xiong City Cloud Splendor Martial Arts University.

Martial Index: 73.

Rank: 153.

National Ranking: 172.

Zhou Leng thought for a long while, not knowing how to reply.

With such an incredible Martial Index, Zhang Xinglie still could not make Xiong City's top hundred.

Just what kind of monsters did Cloud Splendor, Golden Capital, and Military University raise?

But when he saw Zhang Xinglie's national ranking of 172, he was immediately relieved.

Xiong City was the capital and was basically equivalent to the entire nation. For Zhang Xinglie to rank in the nation's top hundred-plus freshmen already meant he possessed an utterly terrifying level of strength.

Barring accidents, Zhang Xinglie could rank within the top fifty among Cloud Splendor's freshmen.

Zhou Leng sent a row of thumbs-up emojis.

Zhang Xinglie replied, "Your ranking improvement was far more terrifying than mine. I suspect that in a year or two, you'll catch up to me."

"Brother, don't jinx me. I hope you make the top hundred soon."

"See you in the National Ranking's top hundred in two months!" Zhang Xinglie declared with a towering momentum.

Zhou Leng stared at Zhang Xinglie's screenshot again and again, then continued to flip through the local "Rucheng Freshman Ranking."

He gradually spotted several familiar names on it. Some were minor celebrities, while others were classmates.

Rucheng Martial University's first-place student was named Ji Changnian, with a Martial Index of 09 and a rank of 135.

Second was Xu Kang'an, the top Martial Arts Hall Student, with a Martial Index of 01 and a rank of 205.

Other than those two, no one else from Ru University had an index above 8.

It seemed that most students who had forcibly entered the Blood Circulation Stage through pills had inflated results, resulting in Martial Indexes below 8.

"Zhou Leng, you're damn fierce—503!" Wei Hong shouted.

Everyone turned to look.

"Awesome! You jumped forward two thousand places in one go."

"Try to move up another hundred places in the monthly exam. By next semester, get into the city ranking's top 100!"

Zhou Leng flipped through the "Rucheng Qi and Blood Ranking" again.

The page displayed the city's top ten.

Below was a line of small red text.

"You have not entered the rankings."

He then opened the "Rucheng Martial University Ranking."

The same line of small red text appeared below.

"You have not entered the rankings."

Zhou Leng tapped to close the rankings.

Beside him, Wei Hong cried out strangely, "My phone is too damn useless! When I opened the 'Rucheng Qi and Blood Ranking,' it actually showed 'I have not entered the rankings.' I'm getting a useful phone tomorrow!"

"Mine's useless too!"

Everyone laughed and joked.

A Martial Faith message popped up, and Zhou Leng opened it.

Xu Qingjin had sent a screenshot of Zhou Leng's rank, followed by text and an emoji.

"Congratulations!"

The emoji began with one little white cat scattering flowers, then a row of little white cats scattering flowers, and finally a dense crowd of little white cats scattering flowers.

"What's yours?"

Xu Qingjin sent her screenshot too.

Xu Qingjin.

Rugao City Martial Arts University.

Martial Index: 65.

Rank: 2308.

This rank was considered average among Martial Path Students.

"Keep it up!" Zhou Leng sent back encouragement as well.

"Mm!"

It was followed by an image of a spotted dog nodding repeatedly.

"By the way, Zhou Leng, don't forget to go to Eighth Middle School for your Commendation Conference!" A puppy holding a large megaphone emoji followed.

"Want to go together on Saturday?"

"Okay!"

On Chang Luan's Demonic Watch screen not far away, the "Rucheng Freshman Ranking" was displayed.

It was positioned exactly at rank 503—Zhou Leng's rank.

Chang Luan looked below the screen. His own rank was 697.

Chang Luan opened Martial Faith. Tao Bing, who was in the hospital, had sent a message along with a screenshot of Zhou Leng's rank.

"Young Master Chang, sorry. I couldn't help you."

"It's fine. Focus on recovering. I'll cover your medical expenses, and I'll send you some Great Replenishing Pills later. You'll be lively as a dragon and vigorous as a tiger within a month at most."

"What are you planning to do about This Matter?"

Chang Luan glanced at Zhou Leng.

If he moved against an ordinary classmate, the Martial Arts Hall would at most make him pay medical expenses. It might not even give him a demerit.

But Zhou Leng was Full Nine and had already left his name with the hall master.

The Martial Arts Hall was under the Martial Guard Department. The Martial Guard Department's predecessor had been the Armed Police.

Even the color of his underwear today was known to the Martial Guard Department.

If he really seriously injured Zhou Leng, his life would be over.

Chang Luan replied, "My dad said to wait for now."

"You're just going to swallow this? You're not competing for Senior Disciple anymore?"

"I mean I'll run for class monitor first. I'll Take My Time with Senior Disciple. There are still Several Months to prepare, anyway."

"You can swallow that insult, but I can't."

"Tao Bing, don't act recklessly."

"Don't worry. I won't implicate you."

"He's Full Nine."

"You don't dare touch him because you're afraid of getting a demerit and carrying a stain on your record. I'm different—I was already a punk to begin with. As long as I control the extent of it, make him stay in the hospital for a few months, the Martial Arts Hall can at most make me pay medical expenses and give me a major demerit."

Chang Luan glanced at Zhou Leng again and Sighed.

Inside the Intensity Meter equipment room not far from Class 01's Martial Arts Hall.

A Spirit Master with a floating ball of light above his shoulder frowned as he observed the equipment.

A maintenance worker in coveralls leaned on a crutch, inspecting it while cursing.

"These Martial Arts Hall instructors are rough as hell when they work. Did they use the Intensity Meter like a mule?"

"It was obviously overused."

"Look at the wear on these parts and demonic inscriptions. What have they been worn into?"

"Don't be in such a hurry."

"If it happens again next time, I'll report them directly. You can't ruin things like this. They might as well use an advanced Intensity Meter. Those things are made from high-grade materials; you can work them to death and they'll still be fine."

Outside the Martial Arts Hall, a piercing whistle rang out.

"Assemble!"

Zhou Leng and his classmates slung on their backpacks and dawdled outside.

The instructors sat atop a green demonic electric pickup truck.

Every student had question marks in their eyes.

The students ran while the instructors rode in a vehicle?

"Everyone, follow! This military training score will count toward your credits."

The students cursed the heavens in their bellies, keeping their mouths shut as they hurried over.

"Run! Are your ears deaf?"

Deng Zhijue stood on the pickup truck, slowly pulling off his glossy black leather belt, his face dark as the bottom of a pot.

Everyone lowered their heads in fright and hurriedly lifted their legs into a jog.

Wei Hong muttered softly, "Watch out, your pants might fall down."

"Timing... begins. The last ten will be responsible for cleaning the Martial Arts Hall for a month."

Everyone raised their heads all together, their eyes filled with curses.

"The route map has been sent to the group chat. Anyone who wants to run faster may speed up."

Zhou Leng glanced at the map, activated projected navigation, and quickened his pace.

After jogging for a while, everyone suddenly felt Something Was Wrong. Zhou Leng had already left them in a single cloud of dust, his back about to vanish at the end of the road.

Wei Hong stared ahead, unable to recover for a long time. He said blankly, "The instructors are beasts among teachers; Zhou Leng is a beast among students."

"How can he still run that fast? Didn't he pass out yesterday too?"

"Yeah, he got beaten for at least five minutes longer than we did. How's he still lively as a dragon and vigorous as a tiger?"

"He's really fucking not human. I'm betting on him making the Freshman Ranking's top hundred."

"But he betrayed us."

Wei Hong said, "I want to betray you too, but my legs won't allow it."

A circle of middle fingers rose around him.

The female students nearby pressed their lips together and smiled.

Feng Wenhao looked at the figure ahead and smiled.

Following the map navigation, Zhou Leng silently jogged onward.

Ru University's Rugao Mountain Campus was located on the edge of the city. This road wound forward around the foot of Rugao Mountain.

After running for more than ten minutes, Zhou Leng felt that Something Was Wrong, but he could not put his finger on it and could only keep running.

Fortunately, true qi was allowed during the Weighted Run. Zhou Leng sent thread after thread of true qi into his legs, greatly easing his physical exhaustion.

After going through an entire day of testing yesterday and then being beaten unconscious, even after a night's sleep, that indescribable fatigue still clung to him like glue.

Still, Zhou Leng's expression remained calm as he continued running.

There was no one ahead of him. As long as there was a finish line, that was enough.

A few more minutes passed when someone ran up beside him. Keeping pace with him, the person smiled and said, "Zhou Leng, right?"

Zhou Leng turned his head and saw a refined, scholarly classmate wearing glasses. A faint smile hung on his face, and his gaze was exceedingly steady.

Zhou Leng immediately recalled the screenshot from the class group chat and asked, "Xu Kang'an, this year's first place?"

"I wouldn't dare claim this year's first place. Ru University's first place is Ji Changnian. Your body recovered this well?" Xu Kang'an asked.

"I recently started increasing the amount of pills I take. You seem perfectly fine?"

"My qi had reached Perfection. Qi flowed out through my skin, and after the Blood Circulation Stage, qi followed the blood. It could greatly mitigate this kind of superficial injury."

"Those who relied on Perfection Pills couldn't do that," Zhou Leng said.

Xu Kang'an looked ahead and said slowly, "They all said you didn't go to West Sea Martial University because you were rejected. But after seeing your results, I believe that, like me, you simply didn't want to go into that mire."

Zhou Leng thought, You've misunderstood.

"Although my family arranged a path for me, I have my own convictions. I prefer cultivating in a relatively free environment. I believe you're the same."

Zhou Leng nodded. "Indeed."

"I reckon that Chang Luan has approached you too. Don't pay them any mind. People like that might climb high in the future, but they'll be utterly useless to humanity. Demon City and the Other Races are our true targets."

Zhou Leng silently gazed at the distant fields.

Xu Kang'an continued, "Once you advance to the Blood Circulation Stage, if you can't find a good Martial Arts Research Team, come straight to me. I have some regular friends, and we're all about the same level. Besides, we all follow the Extreme Martial Path."

"Alright. If we have the opportunity, let's hunt demons and slaughter monsters together."

The two of them added each other on Martial Faith.

"Keep it up." Xu Kang'an smiled and slowed his pace.

Zhou Leng immediately understood. With Xu Kang'an's strength and experience, he could tell from a single glance at Zhou Leng's report card that Zhou Leng was desperately short on pills.

Xu Kang'an wasn't lacking in pills. He had simply been more willing to give the first-place pills to Zhou Leng.

Zhou Leng looked ahead, warmth filling his eyes.

Zhou Leng took a deep breath and accelerated once more.