The Day of the Assessment Arrived

At 6 p.m., Qin Heng returned to the rooftop and practiced the Innate Fetal Breathing Art.

The punch-force test that morning had shown him just how terrifying the Innate Fetal Breathing Art was.

So this time, he was especially serious and filled with anticipation.

Before the sky had fully darkened, he sat quietly to cultivate, adjusted his breathing, and eased himself into the right state.

Very soon, that comfortable, relaxed feeling from the previous night returned.

Zzzt~

The sensation of electric current flowing through him appeared again.

Qin Heng concentrated completely. In the utmost stillness, he sensed a mode of operation within his body that differed from breathing. Every cell in his muscles and skin seemed like a generator, absorbing the free natural energy of the outside world to produce "electricity," replenishing every part of his body.

The rising moon, the wandering breeze, and the invisible magnetic field were all energy driving those generators.

And in the end, all that energy was stored in his muscles and bones, becoming strength.

This feels so good. It's nothing like the difficult, agonizing ordeal Chen Yuan described, Qin Heng thought.

When they had exchanged cultivation experiences during the day, Chen Yuan had said that cultivation caused a faint pain throughout the body, and that the process was hard to endure. At most, he could only last three hours.

But to Qin Heng, the process was instead an enjoyment. If not for hunger and the need to use the toilet, he felt he could maintain his cultivation in one stretch for several months without issue.

As dawn approached, Qin Heng ended his cultivation.

"Tut, tut. My strength has clearly increased again."

He clenched his fist, and his joints gave a low crack. It felt as though the force in his five fingers could crush granite.

"My punch force has definitely surpassed 800 kilograms now!"

That was no small number.

An 800-kilogram score on the First Assessment could get someone on television!

He would be taking the assessment today. Perhaps he could make a name for himself in one stunning stroke and shock the entire Base City!

"Better go home and eat first."

Qin Heng went downstairs and returned home.

His parents knew he would be taking the Quasi-Martial Warrior assessment today, so they had gotten up early to make him breakfast.

The family of three sat together, eating porridge.

"Xiao Heng, make sure you bring your Admission Ticket. Don't be nervous when you get to the examination hall. Relax a little," his father said, patting him on the shoulder.

"Don't worry, Dad, Mom. I'll definitely pass the assessment! Once I earn enough money, we'll move into an apartment with an elevator in the New City District. Then you can go downstairs for walks every day!"

His mother said with a smile, "We're used to living here, so it doesn't really matter to us. But if you really make a fortune, the first thing you must do is marry Xiao Xue. You can't let down everything she's done for you all these years."

"Of course!" Qin Heng nodded.

He had already thought it through. It should not take him long to become a Martial Warrior. When Fang Lingxue turned eighteen in a few months, he would propose to her.

By then, he would have saved up a little money as well. He could make the wedding grander and invite all their relatives and friends to witness it together!

"Come, eat these two eggs. Try to get a perfect score!"

Sheng Yuhan brought the prepared breakfast over.

Whether people in the Slum District ate breakfast mainly depended on whether they had work to do that day.

If they had labor work, they ate. If it was not physically demanding work, they endured until noon before eating.

Qin Heng's parents were physically unfit and unable to work, so they often pretended to sleep in during the mornings and held out until noon to eat.

But the past two days were different. With Qin Heng's assessment imminent, they had both gotten up early and had even specially boiled eggs.

"Smells great. What's for dinner today?" Qin Heng caught a distinctive aroma.

Looking closely, he saw that it was the pork hock bones they had finished eating yesterday, washed clean and stewed with pickled vegetables.

"Stewed bones with pickled vegetables—this was the best delicacy we could eat when we were children," Qin Ziming said with a smile.

"Smells amazing!" Qin Heng smiled on the outside, but sighed inwardly.

His parents had been born in troubled times, when life had been far harder than it was now. Going hungry for six meals out of three days was normal. They had neither enough food nor warm clothes, nor any chance to receive an education. Simply surviving had already made them among the fortunate ones.

Times were better now. As their son, he knew his parents had poured all their effort and hopes into him.

So for today's assessment, he had to face it in his best condition!

"Time to eat!"

Qin Heng ate in big mouthfuls until his stomach was full.

After eating, he took his Admission Ticket and walked out the door under his parents' hopeful gazes.

Before long, Qin Heng arrived at the Martial Hall.

It was still early—7:20, with forty minutes remaining until the gathering time Coach Yang had mentioned.

However, the people preparing to take the assessment had already arrived one after another. Quite a few of their family members and friends had come to see them off as well.

"Hey, Qin Heng."

A bronze-skinned youth walked over.

"Senior Brother Zhou Yan, I haven't seen you in a long time. Have you been training hard lately?" Qin Heng replied with a smile.

Zhou Yan was on good terms with him. He had failed the assessment last year, and Qin Heng had still often seen him at the Martial Hall during the first half of this year. Then he had disappeared during the latter half.

Zhou Yan said helplessly, "Training hard, my ass. I was so poor I couldn't even lift the lid off the pot. I couldn't even afford the Martial Hall membership fee. I've been working these past six months. Otherwise, you wouldn't see me today—you'd only see a starving ghost."

"Hahaha, Senior Brother Zhou is too funny. You've put on a whole circle of weight. You don't look like someone who can't afford food at all."

Qin Heng and the others all laughed.

Zhou Yan chuckled, patted his slightly protruding belly, and replied, "Not bad, not bad. Mainly because I found a pretty good job. The meals had plenty of oil and meat, so I ate my way into this blessed appearance."

"Oh? What job even provides meals?" Everyone was quite interested.

Zhou Yan lowered his voice and said mysteriously, "I serve rich older women at the Purple Light Club in the New City District. A Quasi-Martial Warrior with punch force over 500 kilograms can earn thirty yuan per session. If you make the customer happy, you can even get tips!"

"Uh..."

Qin Heng's expression froze.

Su Kuang burst out laughing. "You know, this job really suits Qin Heng. He's good at that sort of thing!"

Zhou Yan looked surprised. "Seriously? Qin Heng, you have that skill too? Then I'll introduce you to my boss some other day..."

Qin Heng: ...

He hurriedly explained, "Don't listen to Su Kuang's nonsense. He's just jealous because I have a girlfriend."

Zhou Yan suddenly understood. "So that's how it is. I thought you were really good in bed."

The group erupted in laughter.

"Is everyone here?"

At that moment, Coach Yang arrived.

Chen Yuan counted heads and said, "Everyone is here except Wang Peng."

"What about your Admission Tickets?" Coach Yang asked again, afraid that they might have forgotten something essential.

Qin Heng and the others took out their Admission Tickets one after another.

The First Assessment certificate was slightly larger, with space for two extra lines of text. Two choices could be filled in on the back.

Those taking the retest did not have the right to select their preferences. They could only be randomly assigned by the government system to one of the Four Great Martial Halls.

"Mm. Get on the bus." Coach Yang checked the certificates and, after confirming there were no problems, instructed everyone to board.

Wang Peng was now part of the wealthy class and could drive himself to the examination hall, so there was no need to wait for him.

The twenty-five trainees taking the assessment, along with Coach Yang and the driver, made twenty-seven people in total. They boarded a somewhat shabby retired bus.

"Good luck, son! Whether our family can live a good life depends on you!"

"Little brother, may you win at the first stroke of the banner!"

"My Xiao Kuang is the best!"

By the roadside, the candidates' families offered blessings and encouragement one after another.

"Don't worry, we can do it!" Su Kuang and the others waved through the bus windows.

Qin Heng searched through the crowd with his eyes. He had thought Fang Lingxue would come to see him off, but sadly, he did not spot her.

The driver started the engine, and the bus slowly began to move, leaving the Martial Hall.

Zhou Yan squeezed over to sit beside Qin Heng, put an arm around his shoulder, and whispered, "Little brother, seriously, do you want the job? Just one hour a day is enough. Even if you become a Quasi-Martial Warrior, you'll still have time to make money!"

Qin Heng waved his hands repeatedly. "Forget it, forget it. You should give such a good opportunity to Su Kuang. He looks like he needs it more."

"Really?" Zhou Yan believed him immediately and went straight over to find Su Kuang.

The bus swayed and bumped along the pothole-riddled roads of the Slum District.

After turning two corners, it reached the main road on the outskirts of the New City District.

As they passed the entrance to Frost Snow City at the intersection, Qin Heng's gaze unconsciously drifted into the shop.

But it was too early, and the little shop had not opened yet.

"Ling Xue..."

The image of the girl he loved flashed through his mind. Qin Heng silently said in his heart, I definitely won't let you down!