The Light Shines Upon Us

"Do you know if Xu Zhiming has cultivated any other Martial Arts Visualization Diagrams?"

Zhang Wei shook his head.

He immediately asked Xu Zhiming.

Martial Arts Visualization Diagrams couldn't be cultivated casually.

"I have a better one, so I switched diagrams. I helped someone train Wind Thunder Fist to the Sixth Level, and they gave me a D-grade Martial Arts Visualization Diagram, Rolling Heavenly Thunder."

Zhao Deyun raised an eyebrow, staring at the words on his phone in silence.

Giving away Rolling Heavenly Thunder?

Wind Thunder Fist Sixth Level.

He recalled a vaguely familiar voice from when he'd chatted with Xu Zhiming before.

"Shook, shook..."

"Meng Tian?"

Zhao Deyun was a bit suspicious and called Meng Tian.

After a while, Meng Tian picked up.

"Meng Tian, are you training Wind Thunder Fist Sixth Level with Xu Zhiming?"

"Huh? Principal, your ears are sharper than a dog's nose. I only said one sentence, and you caught it."

Zhao Deyun's mouth twitched.

He hung up decisively.

That explained it.

Wind Thunder Fist and Rolling Heavenly Thunder were a matching set; their combined effect was greater than one plus one equals two.

Meng Tian had the strength to pull out Rolling Heavenly Thunder.

The only problem was whether Xu Zhiming could teach Meng Tian to Wind Thunder Fist Sixth Level.

If he couldn't cultivate a Martial Arts Visualization Diagram for a long time, Xu Zhiming's Vitality growth rate would slow down a bit.

Xie Hong had definitely already submitted the Genius Assessment application.

When the higher-ups came down to test Xu Zhiming, the more his Vitality increased, the higher his rating would be. That would benefit Xu Zhiming's future.

Zhao Deyun was torn about whether to tell Xu Zhiming.

But cultivating Rolling Heavenly Thunder alongside Wind Thunder Fist produced higher Vitality Quality, and he couldn't come up with a better Martial Arts Visualization Diagram than Rolling Heavenly Thunder.

After thinking it over, Zhao Deyun decided to hurry up and sell the E-grade Martial Arts Visualization Diagram qualification.

Maybe find time to chat with Meng Tian and have him make a sacrifice?

"Teacher Zhang, I'll trouble you to go tell the other dozen or so students. If they don't want to go to Second High, tally it up, and remember to explain it clearly to Xu Zhiming."

Zhang Wei nodded and quickly stood to see Zhao Deyun out.

He'd be working under Zhao Deyun from now on, so he had to leave a good impression.

"Of course, Principal. No problem at all."

Yunshui First High School Martial Arts Hall.

Wang Hu was leading over a dozen students in martial arts training.

By now, the students all knew that Peng Sixiong had been taken away by the Martial Arts Ministry of Education today.

Zeng Hao told them that Peng Sixiong was suspended pending investigation, and all the rewards would be distributed to the students.

"Too bad we haven't broken through to Level Five yet, so we won't get the rewards."

"But it's still good. With Peng Sixiong on the Martial Arts Ministry of Education's radar, at least the students' days will be a bit easier from now on."

Zeng Hao nodded, his mood very excited.

He was the only student who had witnessed Peng Sixiong being taken away for investigation.

He also knew that Xu Zhiming's Vitality had now risen to over eighteen points!

What impressed him even more was that Xu Zhiming had broken through to Wind Thunder Fist Sixth Level.

Sixth Level Wind Thunder Fist and eighteen points of Vitality.

Comparatively, Sixth Level Wind Thunder Fist was even more astonishing.

Vitality could be forcibly raised through large amounts of medicine or spiritual herbs.

Martial techniques had to be trained step by step.

"The light Xu Zhiming fought for is shining on us too."

"Haha, when I'm old, I can brag to my son that I signed our names on this Honor Roll."

Nearby, quite a few students regretted not signing their names.

Listening to Zeng Hao and the others showing off, some people were annoyed.

"Signing your name doesn't bring any benefits, so what's the point?"

"Yeah, it's just writing a name, isn't it?"

Zeng Hao let out a light laugh.

From the sour words of a few more envious classmates, he understood the feeling Xu Zhiming must have had back then—when he worked hard to improve, and they didn't get it, instead opening their mouths to mock him.

"What do you know? This is honor, a symbol that we dared to resist oppression."

"Tch, you can't eat it for a meal."

Zeng Hao was about to retort when he heard someone calling him.

"Zeng Hao, come here. I have something to tell you."

Teacher Zhang had heard someone mocking Zeng Hao.

He hadn't expected Zeng Hao and the other dozen or so students to dare do something like this.

"Call over the other dozen or so classmates who reported Peng Sixiong together with you. I have something to announce."

Zeng Hao's heart skipped a beat.

He saw Teacher Zhang nod at him in acknowledgment.

"Go on, call them over. I'm announcing something."

Many students stopped what they were doing and gathered around.

They looked at Teacher Zhang and started murmuring.

"Is this the reckoning? The Bear Principal is suspended pending investigation, but he'll still be our school's principal afterward. Handling a few students and teachers shouldn't be a problem for him."

"Ah, we're still fine. Xu Zhiming is the one who'll really get targeted badly."

"Honestly, Xu Zhiming is pretty impressive, but he's also indirectly pissed off the one upstairs. He's in for it now."

Wang Hu glanced at Teacher Zhang, then continued his martial training.

The two exchanged looks and gave slight nods, a greeting of sorts.

"Teacher Wang, there's some good news. I'll share it with you later."

Teacher Zhang also admired Wang Hu for being willing to stand against Peng Sixiong as a teacher.

Many students watched Zeng Hao and the others.

Some admired Zeng Hao for daring to step forward.

Most were secretly grateful to Xu Zhiming for taking down Peng Sixiong, giving them a chance at the bonus money too.

A very small few, driven by envy, hoped Xu Zhiming would be targeted.

On the third floor, several students ranked in Yunshui First High School's top ten

stood among the crowd.

"Xu Zhiming was a bit clever, not coming to school today. Afraid of being targeted."

"This guy's got decent strength, a threat to us. But since he offended Principal Peng, we don't have to worry anymore."

"Those dozen or so students who signed their names are probably screwed too. That's what happens when you stick your neck out recklessly."

"Follow Xu Zhiming, and you'll go hungry three meals out of nine."

"Hahahaha..."

Their laughter carried a note of relief.

Because of Xu Zhiming, the resources they could score had shrunk considerably.

The reason they'd tacitly agreed not to reward students ranked C or below was that part of those rewards had been used by Peng Sixiong to curry favor with them.

The resources Yunshui First High School received were nowhere near as plentiful as Yunshui Second High School's.

The dozen or so students gathered around Teacher Zhang.

Zeng Hao spoke quietly.

"Teacher Zhang, let's find somewhere private to talk."

"What blow? We can take it."

Teacher Zhang looked around.

Among these students, there were looks of indifference, disregard, and mockery.

"Listen carefully."

"Xu Zhiming has secured you an opportunity to go to Yunshui Second High School. If you dozen or so classmates are willing to go, then come with me and Teacher Wang Hu."

Silence.

The murmuring vanished.

The entire first floor of the martial arts hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

A dozen classmates are going to Yunshui Second High School?

"Of course, Xu Zhiming is going to Yunshui Second High School too."

Zeng Hao's eyes went wide, his mouth opened, and he suddenly pulled a crumpled piece of paper from his pocket.

On it, the first name was clearly written.

Yunshui First High School, Senior Three, Class 10, Grade C, Zeng Hao.

"Hey, didn't someone say these names couldn't be eaten?"

Zeng Hao laughed heartily, speaking to the classmate who had mocked him earlier.

"This piece of paper... looks like it can be eaten after all!"

"Everyone knows about Yunshui Second High School's benefits, right?"

"You don't know? Need me to explain?"

Zeng Hao's face beamed with unrestrained joy.

"Those of us going to Yunshui Second High School can only buy potions at a ninety-five percent discount."

"Every month, Yunshui Second High School gives each student a bottle of Monster Beast Essence Blood Drink. The price isn't high, just over a hundred bucks a bottle."

"Ah, I also heard Yunshui Second High School has sponsorships from many companies. If you're lucky, you can get resource investment from them."

"Even if we might not get it, it's still better than having nothing."

"..."

The student who had mocked Zeng Hao earlier turned bright red.

He quickly ducked into the crowd.

"Classmates, if you work hard, you'll have a chance to come to Yunshui Second High School too."

"Don't doubt it—Principal Zhao Deyun told me himself."

Zhang Wei said with a smile.

The pent-up frustration in his heart dissipated in that moment.

"I'm very grateful to my student, Xu Zhiming."

Zhang Wei felt at this moment

as if he had won the Excellent Teacher award and was giving an acceptance speech.

Zeng Hao and the other classmates were all smiles.

Wang Hu rubbed his nose.

He hadn't expected that even his job was settled.

He'd gotten lucky too.

"Let's go, why are we still hanging around Yunshui First High School? Let's go out and have fun—my treat today."

"We're eating seafood buffet, the 488-per-person kind!"

Wang Hu raised his arm and shouted, heading out of the school.

The sky was thick with dark clouds.

Zhang Wei and Wang Hu led a dozen or so students outside.

Suddenly, a ray of sunlight broke through the clouds.

A breeze blew.

The March wind still carried a hint of chill.

It fell upon the group.

Zeng Hao looked up at the sun in the sky.

The wind was cold, but his heart was warm.

He closed his eyes, spread his arms, and savored the rare sunlight.

"For the first time, the sun feels this warm."

"Same here..."

"The light he fought for is shining on us."

The students burst into laughter.

On the first floor of the Martial Arts Hall.

Most of the students watched Zeng Hao's retreating figure with envy.

"If—I'm saying if—yesterday when Zeng Hao asked if I wanted to sign..."

"If nothing—you missed it, you missed it. We didn't have the resolve Zeng Hao and the others had. They deserve to go to Yunshui Second High School."

"I was worried Xu Zhiming would be targeted. Now, I'll just take back everything I said."

Several third-floor genius students exchanged bewildered glances.

They had been waiting for Qiu Yingzong to emerge from seclusion and deal with Xu Zhiming, hoping to watch the show. "Xu Zhiming definitely has something more up his sleeve; there's no way he's only at Wind Thunder Fist Fifth Level like the video said." "I suspect it's very likely Wind Thunder Fist Sixth Level, otherwise No. 2 High wouldn't have poached him." "A dozen people—just one person's success lifting everyone else, pure dumb luck." "There's still some time before that Three Cities Joint Examination; maybe there'll be another good show then."

At the top floor of the Martial Arts Hall.

By the window of one of the secret chambers.

A male student stood at the window, staring down at Zhang Wei and the others as they departed. The boy wore an expensive training uniform, with a red earring on his right earlobe. His left earlobe had a piercing hole, and a scar stretched from below it all the way to the edge of his ear. Qiu Yingzong turned back to glance at the vitality testing instrument. "79.34." "Xu Zhiming, you made me lose face in the clan. I won't let you off." "Wind Thunder Fist Sixth Level—at best, Yunshui No. 2 High can give you an E-rank Martial Dao Visualization Method. There's no way it can match the vitality quality cultivated from my C-rank Martial Dao Visualization Chart." "In a month, I'll make you pay." Qiu Yingzong pulled out his phone and dialed. "Zhenghua, a student recently transferred back to your No. 2 High, named Xu Zhiming. Find a chance to rough him up." "Your vitality is over fifty points; his is under twenty right now. You can take him easily." Qiu Yingzong swept his gaze over the secret chamber. He turned and left.

Inside the secret chamber, the floor was a mess. Various weapons lay scattered about, and many wooden tables were covered in knife scars.

Wind Thunder Martial Hall.

Xu Zhiming tilted his head back and down a bottle of Tier-15 Monster Beast Essence Blood Potion. His vitality absolutely had to reach twenty points today. Xu Zhiming continued practicing Coiling Dragon Surging Waves at his own rhythm. Beside him, Meng Tian watched Xu Zhiming, who moved like an emotionless machine, endlessly repeating the same motions. He felt an extraordinary admiration in his heart. He considered himself a training maniac, but in front of Xu Zhiming, he seemed to fall short. Whether practicing martial arts or cultivating a Martial Dao Visualization Chart, positive feedback was essential. Take the first month of cultivating a Martial Dao Visualization Chart, for example. Meng Tian remembered his vitality increasing by nearly one point that month! That month, he had practically gone without sleep. At least fourteen hours a day. Every time he trained for a bit, he would run to the vitality testing instrument to check his vitality, and it would always have increased. The visible rise in vitality spurred him on to train even more frantically. Seeing Xu Zhiming like this reminded him of his own past situation. Meng Tian wasn't surprised, but he felt a hint of envy. Who wouldn't want their vitality to skyrocket?

Suddenly.

Meng Tian thought of something. Xu Zhiming hadn't yet cultivated a Martial Dao Visualization Chart, so his vitality quality couldn't compare to Meng Tian's. Given the current situation, Xu Zhiming's vitality would likely exceed nineteen points by this afternoon, nearing twenty. He didn't want to miss out on Wind Thunder Fist Sixth Level.

Crackle!

A jolt shot through his back.

Meng Tian sucked in a sharp breath of cold air. He couldn't remember how many times he'd been electrocuted. But he vaguely felt that his understanding of Wind Thunder Fist had deepened.

The ancients did not deceive him.

The best way to understand something is to come into contact with it.

He had a feeling, judging by the current situation.

Within three days at most, he could break through to the fifth layer of Wind Thunder Fist.

Meng Tian watched as Xu Zhiming alternated between practicing Coiling Dragon Surging Waves and Wind Thunder Fist, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.

A fast improvement in martial techniques didn't necessarily mean greater strength under the same blood qi.

Today, he would overcome the superior with the inferior and let Xu Zhiming see what he was made of.

Having slightly lower blood qi didn't affect how many hits he could take.

Five in the afternoon.

Meng Tian lay limp on the ground.

He couldn't hold on any longer; his whole body ached.

"Brother Xu, do you think you can get my Wind Thunder Fist to the sixth layer in a month?"

Receiving Xu Zhiming's affirmative answer.

Meng Tian's eyes lit up.

"Brother Xu, training to the sixth layer in a month is still too extreme. Is there a simpler, more brutal way to improve?"

Xu Zhiming put away his spear, exhaled a deep breath of stale air, and adjusted his breathing.

"There is."

"That's actual combat. No matter what I use, you just fight back with Wind Thunder Fist."

Meng Tian cheered inwardly; this was exactly what he wanted to hear.

"Alright, Brother Xu, let me first try to see if it'll be faster."

Xu Zhiming nodded.

He sensed that Meng Tian was a bit excited.

"I'll go apply for a sparring venue at Wind Thunder Martial Hall. It can withstand sparring below fifty points of blood qi."

Meng Tian tilted his head back and downed a mouthful of E-Grade Energy Potion.

"Tired from training? Drink an Azure Potion, and you'll be at full mana anytime."

Muttering the ad slogan, Meng Tian quickly walked out.

First, let Xu Zhiming see the power of the Martial Dao Visualization Chart, so he could teach it without holding back.

Wind Thunder Martial Hall.

Underground Sparring Room.

The lights were bright, and several students were sparring with Wind Thunder Fist.

"Instructor Xiangben Li is amazing. He actually helped us break through to the fourth layer of Wind Thunder Fist through real combat sparring."

"Someone's already broken through. I'm going to replicate that!"

After a round.

Xiangben Li gave some pointers and unexpectedly helped a student break through to the fourth layer of Wind Thunder Fist.

He was very pleased; now there was no way Xu Zhiming could steal his students.

Just a student, maybe his Wind Thunder Fist was decent.

But he had twenty-five years of teaching experience, so he was naturally more suited to instructing students.

Just then.

He saw Meng Tian and Xu Zhiming walking over.

Xiangben Li's heart tightened slightly. What were these two doing here?

"Meng Tian, what are you two doing here? I recall this classmate hasn't paid the membership fee, has he?"