Embodying Myriad Traits, I Will Eventually Become Immortal — Part 31

"Who knows? The principal said that if he did well enough on the exam, he'd start taking martial arts classes with the second-years when school began next year. That would be like getting a six-month head start."

"Don't go spreading this around. Nothing's set in stone yet, hahaha."

At that moment, Teacher Wang, the homeroom teacher of Class Three, suddenly chimed in:

"Oh? The principal spoke to me last night too. Meng Chuan from my class is taking the second-year exam as well."

Hearing Teacher Wang's words, the other teachers stopped what they were doing and looked over.

"Really? Isn't Meng Chuan from your class that kid who practices National Obligatory Basic Fist Art? Why is he taking a grade-skipping exam like Zong Ping?"

Teacher Wang pursed his lips, looking as though he knew nothing at all.

He had not planned to bring up Meng Chuan in the first place. Even if Meng Chuan switched to another martial art, there was not enough time. Some of those second-year students had already broken through the Third Blood Qi Threshold. He was afraid Meng Chuan would be knocked out in the very first round.

The bolder his boasts were now, the harder his face would hurt if Meng Chuan came back in last place.

But he had never gotten along with Li Min, the homeroom teacher of Class One. He could not help speaking up today because he could not stand the sight of her looking so pleased with herself.

"You'll have to ask the principal about that."

The other teachers nearby loved nothing more than stirring up trouble. They patted Teacher Li on the shoulder and teased:

"Director Li, looks like someone wants to seize power and claim the throne."

Li Min was not worried in the slightest. She drained the tea in her cup in one gulp, then walked out of the office with the test papers in her arms.

"Then we'll wait and see."

Big brothers, please, I'm begging for votes.

Peaceful High School Martial Arts Training Ground.

The second-year martial arts students were all inside, rubbing their hands together as they warmed up, striving to get good results in the upcoming exam.

"Hey, did you hear? It sounds like some first-years are taking the exam with us this time."

"Is it that Zong Ping? He's a genius. He reached the Third Blood Qi Threshold when he had just started first year. Unlike people like us..."

"Geniuses get special treatment everywhere. That's normal."

"It's not just Zong Ping. Someone named Meng Chuan is taking the exam too. Do any of you know him?"

Everyone showed curious expressions. The second-year martial arts students were busy practicing martial arts all day and rarely paid attention to this kind of school gossip.

"I heard about him from my first-year cousin. He said Meng Chuan has pretty good natural aptitude, but he practices National Obligatory Basic Fist Art every day and nothing else. Is he here to take the exam because he wants us brothers to knock some sense into him?"

The crowd burst into laughter. Then a broad-shouldered, burly-waisted figure in a white training uniform walked over. His youthful face looked strangely mismatched with his massive build.

He radiated the intimidating aura of a fierce tiger as he stopped beside the people talking.

"Stop talking. Qi Fei's here."

"I heard you talking about some first-year genius. I'd like to see how much he's really worth."

One of the people in the discussion hurriedly said:

"No matter what, he's just a first-year kid. How could he compare to our boss Qi Fei?"

The surrounding students all recognized the broad-shouldered student. He was Qi Fei, the top student of their year. They immediately echoed:

"Yeah, yeah! Boss Qi Fei is the most badass!"

Qi Fei smiled with narrowed eyes, thoroughly enjoying the feeling of being praised.

"Oh, Qi Fei, what are you showing off for now?"

As the words fell, two young men with buzz cuts stepped out from behind him.

They looked extremely alike. Though they were relatively short, their arms were especially striking—thick and powerful, and so long they nearly hung to their knees.

They were the Hu Brothers, twin brothers who practiced Ape Form. The taller one was the elder brother, Hu Jiaxiang, while the shorter one was the younger brother, Hu Jiarui.

Hearing the Hu Brothers mock him, a flicker of anger flashed through Qi Fei's eyes.

"Looks like I didn't beat you two up badly enough last time?"

"Little tiger, we'll settle this with our hands later."

The Hu Brothers and Qi Fei had never seen eye to eye. They had sparred in private many times before. Either brother alone was no match for Qi Fei, but together, they would not be at a disadvantage.

At that moment, the second-year martial arts director entered through the doors of the Martial Arts Training Ground with two people behind him.

"Quiet down, everyone. Let me introduce you. The two behind me are your junior schoolmates, and they'll be taking the exam with you today. Let's give them a round of applause."

Scattered applause rang out. Everyone stared curiously at the two juniors behind the director, wanting to see what sort of people they were.

"They look pretty ordinary. The one with dyed yellow hair is Zong Ping. Then the one beside him with the crew cut must be that Meng Chuan they were talking about, right?"

Someone was unhappy that first-years could take the second-year exam and could not resist teasing him:

"Meng Chuan, why aren't you off practicing your Child's Fist? What are you doing here joining the fun?"

Hearing someone ridicule him, Meng Chuan quietly memorized what the other person looked like.

If he ran into him on the ring later, he would use National Obligatory Basic Fist Art to teach him how to speak properly.

Peaceful High School was not a specialized martial arts school, so it did not have a professional blood qi chamber. Whenever martial arts exams were held, it had to borrow blood qi testing equipment from a nearby martial arts academy.

Just then, two men in black training uniforms wheeled over a piece of blood qi testing equipment. A white ape beating its chest was painted on their chests.

Seeing this, the director stepped aside to make room, then announced loudly:

"Our thanks to Ape God Martial Arts Academy for providing the blood qi testing equipment. For Ape Form training, choose Ape God! Ape God Martial Arts Academy is the road you must travel to become a Martial Artist."

Meng Chuan was somewhat speechless.

There's even product placement? If I'd known, I would've had Master provide it.

Then the director spoke again:

"The equipment still needs time to be calibrated, so let me first explain today's exam rules."

"The first event is the blood qi test. Since there are many participants, everyone should adjust their breathing and condition in advance, then throw one punch with all their strength.

"The results may fluctuate by around 0.2, but it will not have much impact."

"The second event is the ring matches. Principal Zong will personally oversee them.

"The old rules still apply. Fists and feet have no eyes. Students below the Third Blood Qi Threshold will not participate."

"Alright, everyone, line up first. Once the equipment is installed, we'll begin with the blood qi test."

This was Meng Chuan's first time participating in a school martial arts exam, so he listened to the director explain the rules with great seriousness.

"Come on, Meng Chuan. Let's line up too."

Zong Ping invited Meng Chuan. His principal uncle had said that Meng Chuan was very formidable, and he wanted to see just how capable he really was.

Meng Chuan and Zong Ping stood at the end of the line. Since the result only required one punch, the testing went very quickly.

Meanwhile, the front of the line was extremely lively.

"Damn it, Teacher, this machine's not accurate, is it? 3.81—I was so close! If it fluctuated upward by 0.2, I'd have entered the third threshold."

"Get out of here. If you're weak, train more. Don't blame the machine. Watch me."

Blood Qi Value: 3.12
Second Blood Qi Threshold reached

"..."

When it was the Hu Brothers' turn to test, their results drew repeated praise from the crowd.

"The Hu Brothers are still strong. The elder brother got 6.41, the younger got 6.05. Probably only Brother Fei can beat them."

The Hu Brothers were also very pleased with their results. If they kept this up, Yong'an Martial Arts University would be theirs for sure.

Their family was not wealthy. They came from ordinary backgrounds and still had to support two young martial artists.

Beyond talent and hard work, their achievements today were also due to the appreciation of the Ape God Martial Arts Academy's owner. Delighted to find such talent, he had given the brothers a fifty-percent discount on their tuition.

Filled with gratitude, the Hu Brothers removed the sensor devices and shouted loudly to the people around them:

"Classmates, if you want to learn fist arts and practice martial arts, Ape God Martial Arts Academy is still the place to go!"

The academy staff beside the blood qi tester applauded in approval, secretly sighing to themselves:

"Good kids. They know how to repay kindness."

There were nearly two hundred second-year martial arts students, and the blood qi testing continued.

Meng Chuan was quite the grudge-holder in real life.

He had been watching from the back for the person who had just said he practiced Child's Fist and had come here merely to join the fun.

In the end, that person had not even reached the Third Blood Qi Threshold and was not qualified to enter the ring later.

Meng Chuan could only secretly sigh in regret.

Qi Fei had been striking wooden Human Stance dummies nearby to get into the zone, preparing for the upcoming ring matches. He had not lined up with the others.

He was completely confident, intending to make his entrance last.