Losing Is Losing

The female clerk suppressed her inner excitement.

The store manager had just told her that her bonus this month would be an extra ten thousand!

Ten thousand in bonus—that was equivalent to her monthly base salary plus commission combined.

She found Xu Zhiming, her speech slightly rushed.

"Hello, Xu Zhiming. Our store manager said they're very grateful for your help."

"From now on, whenever you come to our potion shop to buy potions, everything will be thirty percent off."

"As for the two million, you can exchange it for potions of equivalent value, or you can take it as cash."

The female clerk's pretty face looked at Xu Zhiming, envy practically spilling from her eyes.

As one of the most well-known E-grade martial skills in Daxia, countless people practiced the Wind Thunder Fist.

Only a few people each year could break through to the fourth level of the Wind Thunder Fist.

"Is it a one-time thing?"

"You can come and collect it anytime. Whatever you take will be deducted accordingly."

The female clerk quickly explained.

Xu Zhiming fell silent.

[Blood Energy: 9.53]

Looking at the blood energy of over nine points, tomorrow's reward should push it past ten points.

After practicing the fist for about two hours, without potion assistance, the blood energy increase was relatively slow.

Compared to before the system arrived, the speed was still much faster.

Once blood energy exceeded ten points, the effect of the F-grade Azure Potion was already minimal.

If blood energy surpassed twenty points, becoming a Level Ten Martial Artist, F-grade potions would have no effect on increasing blood energy at all.

"Then give me one bottle of E-grade Azure Potion."

"Gulp, gulp..."

The female clerk looked at Xu Zhiming, a smile appearing on her face.

"I recommend you exchange it for Azure No. 2 Potion. It has some special herbs added that provide energy for the body, so you won't need to eat on the day you take it."

"The effect is completely unaffected, and the price is the same."

Hearing this, Xu Zhiming's gaze fell on the potion shelf.

Various colored potions, a dazzling array.

When he had money, he'd buy them to drink like soda.

"Alright."

A few minutes later.

Xu Zhiming carried a bottle of E-grade Azure No. 2 Potion and headed home.

The stronger the blood energy, the more energy the body consumed.

High-level martial artists mostly ate demon beast meat or other foods rich in energy.

Xu Zhiming caught the supermarket just before closing and bought five or six jin of beef.

Back home, he couldn't wait to cut it into small pieces, add a spice packet, and toss it straight into the pot to boil.

His place was simple—one kitchen, one bathroom, one living room.

While the meat was boiling.

Xu Zhiming washed up and scrolled through the daily hot topics in the living room.

Hot topics were a good way to keep up with the world's trends.

He felt sore all over; he'd probably overdone it with training today.

Xu Zhiming wiped his face.

Every time he threw a punch, he could see a minimum of ten times critical harvest, sometimes twenty times.

The more he punched, the more excited he got.

In just one day, his blood energy had increased by over two points. Such a rate of improvement was unheard of.

Zeng Hao said that Yu Qingqing, who snatched his Azure Potion, had eleven points of blood energy.

At most three days—he had to make it to the third floor!

Tomorrow, he'd pick a D-grade martial skill, choose one with strong killing power.

March fifth.

Five-thirty in the morning.

The sky was just beginning to lighten.

Xu Zhiming carried the potion as he walked toward the school.

It was just past 5:40.

Xu Zhiming woke up the security uncle and was the first to enter the school.

He had never seen the school at 4 a.m.

But ever since he transmigrated here, he had been the first to arrive every single day.

Martial Arts Hall.

Wang Hu rubbed his eyes and opened the door.

The moment the door swung open, he saw Xu Zhiming approaching.

He gave a slight nod.

He'd have to go back and catch some sleep.

He didn't have to worry about the Martial Arts Exam—he wouldn't fail to get into a martial arts university, so there was no need to work hard.

Aside from Xu Zhiming, it seemed the earliest anyone else came was 8 a.m.

"E-grade Azure Potion. Cultivate well."

"I've already applied for your martial skill. You can pick it up after the doors open at nine."

Wang Hu handed Xu Zhiming a 100-milliliter bottle of pale blue potion, then yawned and walked away.

"Thank you, Teacher Wang."

Xu Zhiming lifted his head and glanced upward.

Third floor. Top floor.

Xu Zhiming withdrew his gaze and entered the first floor of the Martial Arts Hall.

He locked the E-grade potion in his private box.

He unscrewed the cap, tilted his head back, and drank the F-grade potion.

Then he started practicing punches.

He set a small goal for today—increase his blood energy by three points.

When Zeng Hao arrived at the Martial Arts Hall at 7:20.

On the first floor of the Martial Arts Hall, there were only three people.

He spotted a certain corner at a glance.

In the empty hall.

Beneath a small energy-saving lamp, a thin figure swayed, drenched in sweat.

Zeng Hao couldn't help but give a thumbs-up.

He walked over to Xu Zhiming's side and began practicing his own martial skill.

Xu Zhiming shot Zeng Hao an encouraging look.

Time slowly passed.

The first floor of the Martial Arts Hall gradually grew lively.

"4.69. Improved by 0.1 from yesterday. Not bad, not bad."

"5.08. My blood energy hasn't moved in five days. It's so hard to improve after breaking past five."

"7.98."

Beside them, the blood energy testing device.

Before practicing martial skills every day, some students liked to check.

From time to time, students tested their blood energy—most were in the fours and fives.

There were also B-grade class students who came to show off and test their blood energy.

A blood energy of over seven drew envy from the first-floor students.

"The gap between B-grade talent and us is too big. The lowest in their class is over seven blood energy."

"Xu Zhiming, the one who comes first every day to practice Wind Thunder Fist, seems to have 7.1 blood energy, and he still didn't make it into the B-grade class."

"Sigh, we've all heard about his situation. The school really just doesn't treat us low-grade and mid-grade talents like people."

8 a.m.

Yu Qingqing, with his green hair, was about to head up to the third floor when he spotted Xu Zhiming in the crowd.

And the students testing their blood energy beside him.

He squinted, swaggered with his toes pointed outward, flicked the green mop on his head, and walked up to the blood energy device.

Perfect timing—let these people see the gap between him and themselves.

The person whose potion he had snatched should be inside here.

"11.79!"

Listening to the gasps around him.

Yu Qingqing revealed a satisfied smile, arms crossed over his chest, eyes narrowed into slits.

A boy beside him pointed at Yu Qingqing and said.

"See that? When our Yu Qingqing, Brother Yu, makes a move, you know it's real. Over eleven points of blood energy—unbelievably strong."

"This is the absolute gap between talents, something hard work can't bridge."

"Some people need to work hard just to get first place in Cultural Studies; others can casually take first place with a bit of spare time."

Yu Qingqing nodded, acknowledging the truth of those words.

A pin drop could be heard.

No one dared to refute what the boy said.

Over eleven points of blood energy was nearly double what most of them had.

The disparity between people, in this moment, stood out starkly.

In the martial world, strength reigns supreme.

The stronger you are, the more others naturally believe what you say.

Zeng Hao stood to the side, watching Xu Zhiming finish a round of Wind Thunder Fist, feeling he had gained a lot.

Unknowingly, he owed Xu Zhiming another favor.

When he heard Yu Qingqing belittling Xu Zhiming like that, he was deeply displeased.

Sitting on a bench, he muttered quietly.

"He's still second place. A loss is a loss."

Yu Qingqing's ears twitched slightly, his gaze landing on Zeng Hao.

He hadn't expected this useless cousin to still be training in the Martial Arts Hall.

"Zeng Hao, what did you just say?"

Yu Qingqing was just over 1.6 meters tall, half a head shorter than Zeng Hao.

Yet with just one sentence, he forced Zeng Hao into silence.

Zeng Hao had the courage to regain his confidence and work hard at fist training to improve.

But he didn't have the courage to argue with Yu Qingqing.

"I... I..."

Under the weight of many eyes, the pressure on Zeng Hao grew heavier.

Finally, he lowered his head, unable to meet Yu Qingqing's gaze.

Just as a smug, cold smile crept onto Yu Qingqing's lips.

"I said..."

At that moment, Zeng Hao felt a gentle pat on his shoulder.

"He's right. A loss is a loss. If you've got the skill, go get the Ministry of Education to change his Cultural Studies score."

Xu Zhiming had finished his Wind Thunder Fist and was about to rest for two minutes before continuing.

[You have refined one potion. Blood energy increased by 0.01. Triggered 100x Critical Hit. Blood energy increased by 1.]

[Level: 8]

[Blood Energy: 10.59]

Seeing Zeng Hao's nervous demeanor, he guessed this was the Yu Qingqing that Zeng Hao was somewhat afraid of.

Yu Qingqing sneered coldly, looking at the person before him, and shot a meaningful glance at the boy beside him.

The boy immediately caught on.

"Who are you? Do you even deserve to speak to my Brother Yu?"

Xu Zhiming walked over to the blood energy testing device and mobilized all his blood energy.