Potential Index Rankings

Near the large screen, quite a few people had gathered, including Manager Zheng and Zhao Xin with his mother.

When Zhao Xin noticed Shen Qian and Xiao Xuan approaching, he froze for a moment before jealousy rose within him.

Compared to the middle-aged man beside her in a suit and leather shoes, Xiao Xuan, dressed in a form-fitting training outfit, was clearly far more approachable.

Shen Qian ignored him and looked toward the large screen.

"Jiuzhou Martial Arts Hall Student Potential Index Rankings."

That was the name of the list.

The rankings were divided into two lists. One was the overall ranking for all five branches in Jing City, while the other was the South City Store ranking. Both displayed the top fifty.

"The rankings are meant to motivate students on the one hand and promote the brand on the other... Look, who do you think is first on the overall list?"

Xiao Xuan explained quietly beside Shen Qian's ear as she pointed at the screen.

"Jingcheng First High School, seventeen years old, Wang Shuo, North City Store, Third Stage Intermediate Martial Artist+, Potential Index: 97."

Shen Qian looked where she pointed. The name seemed especially familiar, but he could not recall where he had seen it.

"It's Wang Shuo, the one who was on Jing City Television! He represented Jing City in last year's National Youth Martial Arts Tournament and made it into the top hundred!"

Seeing Shen Qian's puzzled expression, Xiao Xuan could not help reminding him.

So it was him!

Shen Qian suddenly understood.

He had watched last year's youth martial arts tournament livestream as well, and Wang Shuo had left a deep impression on him.

He still remembered the host's introduction. This was a genius who had been surrounded by glory since childhood.

Wang Shuo had broken through to Beginner Martial Artist at thirteen. Before he had even finished middle school, he had already received offers from four prestigious schools, including Northern Martial University, Hua Martial University, and Shenwu University. If Jingcheng First High School had not stubbornly refused to let him go, he might have become the youngest martial university student.

When he represented Jing City in the youth martial arts tournament last year, Shen Qian remembered that Wang Shuo had already been a Third Stage Intermediate Martial Artist.

An Intermediate Martial Artist under eighteen would naturally become the center of attention. Shen Qian seemed to have heard students from No.7 High School discussing him more than once.

"He's also a student at Jiuzhou Martial Arts Hall?" Shen Qian was intrigued.

"Yes. Unfortunately, he's from the North City Store, so I've never met him in person." Xiao Xuan sighed.

"How is that Potential Index calculated? It doesn't seem to be based solely on one's cultivation level." Shen Qian glanced curiously at the numbers after the rankings.

Shen Qian had a reason for asking. For example, among the top ten, the person in fourth place was a Seventh Stage Beginner Martial Artist, yet the person in third place was not even a martial artist.

"Of course not. Although most people who train at martial arts halls are students, there are also plenty of Rogue Martial Artists. Their ages vary, and there are even Advanced Martial Artists among them. It obviously wouldn't be fair to rank them purely by cultivation level..."

Xiao Xuan explained, "There's a very complicated calculation formula involved. I don't know the specifics either, but in any case, the younger you are and the stronger your cultivation, the higher your Potential Index!"

Shen Qian nodded and scanned the overall ranking again. He discovered that nearly twenty of the top fifty members came from Jingcheng First High School, while only three were from Jingcheng No.7 High School. The highest-ranked among them was a student named Zhou Xiaoguang, who was ranked seventeenth...

Of course, Shen Qian did not know any of those three.

"Looks like Ding Yi doesn't train at Jiuzhou Martial Arts Hall," Shen Qian muttered.

Otherwise, with Ding Yi's talent, there was no way she would not be on the list.

Shen Qian then glanced at the South City Store rankings and could not help shaking his head.

Compared with the overall rankings, the South City Store list looked exceptionally shabby.

The top-ranked person at the South City Store was a Rogue Martial Artist named Jiang Xiancheng. He was twenty this year, yet he was only a Third Stage Beginner Martial Artist, with a Potential Index of 81.

Second place was a second-year high school student, seventeen years old, with Burst Strength of 143 kg and a speed of 10.2 seconds. He was still far from even reaching the threshold of a Quasi-Martial Artist, yet his Potential Index was 79.

Seeming to notice the change in Shen Qian's expression, Xiao Xuan explained somewhat awkwardly, "Our South City Store has been open for less than half a year, and the student pool in South City really is a bit weaker..."

After touring the first floor, Xiao Xuan led Shen Qian up to the second floor.

"Starting from the second floor, they're all private cultivation rooms. Depending on the room's grade, the specifications and facilities differ as well."

From the second floor to the fifth, Shen Qian followed Xiao Xuan and inspected everything carefully before nodding in satisfaction.

The cultivation rooms here were divided into three grades: Silver, Gold, and Platinum. The Platinum Cultivation Room could absolutely meet all his needs.

"That's basically everything. We also offer prospective students one free trial session, so you..."

"No need. Help me get a membership card directly," Shen Qian interrupted Xiao Xuan.

It was not that he did not want to take advantage of a free session, but the trial only lasted an hour, which was far from enough for Shen Qian's plans today.

"Alright, then we... Wait, you—you want to get a membership card?"

Xiao Xuan nodded instinctively, then suddenly realized what he had said and asked in surprise.

"What, do I not look like someone who'd get a membership card?" Shen Qian teased.

The words "Not at all" nearly slipped out, but Xiao Xuan held them back.

She might only be an intern, but that did not mean she could not judge people. She had originally thought that today's effort would probably be wasted, yet Shen Qian had unexpectedly been so straightforward.

"I'll take you to the first floor to complete the paperwork."

Xiao Xuan's steps as she went downstairs became much lighter. In the end, she could not resist quietly telling Shen Qian, "You're my first customer!"

The two returned to the first floor. Xiao Xuan led Shen Qian to another corner of the lobby, where, besides the membership counter, a machine had been placed separately nearby.

Shen Qian recognized it at once as a simplified Martial Arts Simulator and asked in confusion, "What's this?"

"It's obviously for testing your strength. If your Potential Index is high enough, you can get a corresponding discount. Shen Qian, it seems this really is your first time at a martial arts hall. Are you sure you brought enough money?"

A slightly mocking voice came from behind them. Zhao Xin, his mother, and Manager Zheng had somehow also walked over.

"So this isn't your first time here!" Shen Qian looked at Zhao Xin in surprise, then at Zhong Xiaoli beside him. Realization dawned on him. "I saw you sticking so close to Auntie, so I thought you were shy around strangers."

"You..."

Zhao Xin, who had been holding Zhong Xiaoli's hand, flung his mother's hand away as if shocked by electricity. Embarrassment and anger flashed across his face.

"Enough. Hurry up and test yourself. What time do you think it is?" Zhong Xiaoli shot Shen Qian a cold glance before urging Zhao Xin.

Zhao Xin suppressed his anger. Then, as though he had thought of something, he stepped onto the Simulation Machine with a confident smile.

Jiuzhou Martial Arts Hall's Simulation Machine operated on the same principle as the one at No.7 High School, but its model was far more outdated. It could only provide a single testing scenario, and the only data it could test were the most basic strength and speed.

Once Zhao Xin's nerves were connected to the machine, his body suddenly tensed. He let out a low roar and threw a punch into the empty space before him.

Beep! Beep!

Age: 18, Burst Strength: 131 kg, Instantaneous Speed: 10.8 s/100 m, Potential Index: 68.

Very quickly, a string of data appeared on the screen beside him.

Zhao Xin removed the helmet and looked at his Potential Index of 68. Seemingly regretful, he said, "I was just short of 70."

As Manager Zheng had an employee beside him record the data, he smiled broadly at Zhao Xin. "Once your Potential Index exceeds 60, you get a ten percent discount. Also, your Potential Index is enough to place you on the South City Store rankings. You should rank somewhere in the thirties. On top of the previous ten percent discount, you can get another twenty percent off, bringing your final price down to seventy-two percent."