Competition

Inside the classroom, all the students were still training diligently.

Qin Fen also assumed the Galloping Horse Strength stance, circulated his jin li, and sped up the flow of his blood and qi. His body rapidly absorbed the energy released from the digested food, leaving him feeling warm all over.

Jin li surged continuously with his blood and qi, flowing toward every limb and bone in his body.

It strengthened his muscles, making them firmer; the sinews within him became more resilient; under the scouring of his blood and qi, his bones gradually grew harder as well, and his strength increased bit by bit.

He trained until the first class began without feeling hungry.

The energy contained in the Nutritional Meal truly far surpassed that of ordinary food.

If he had eaten an ordinary lunch, his stomach would have started rumbling long ago.

The class bell rang, and Zhou Wu entered the classroom.

Expectant looks appeared on all the students' faces.

Today marked the start of a new week, and the teacher would conduct another round of jin li transmission.

Those with outstanding martial arts talent would generally develop jin li within a few days after receiving the second transmission.

If they failed to develop jin li within the week, it could only mean their innate talent was average. But as long as they developed jin li within a month, they could enter the Martial Arts Class and become Martial Arts Students.

As long as they became Martial Arts Students, even if they ultimately failed to get into Martial Arts University, it would still be easier for them to find work as Quasi-Martial Artists than for ordinary university graduates. Moreover, the minimum salary for a Quasi-Martial Artist was over five thousand.

"Before the transmission, I have some good news for everyone." Standing behind the lectern, Zhou Wu looked at the students below and said, "Qin Fen from our class has already developed jin li. He has submitted his Martial Arts Class registration form and has become the first student to enter the Martial Arts Class. I hope everyone works hard on Galloping Horse Strength, develops jin li as soon as possible, and enters the Martial Arts Class."

"Jin li? Qin Fen has actually developed jin li already."

"He developed jin li without even receiving the second transmission. He definitely has exceptional martial arts talent."

"Work hard, work hard! We need to keep at it too and develop jin li as soon as possible. We can't fall too far behind."

"Keep it up! Let's all keep it up together."

Upon hearing that Qin Fen had developed jin li, all the students were filled with envy.

But it also motivated them to practice Galloping Horse Strength even more diligently, striving to develop jin li early and enter the Martial Arts Class.

After a brief discussion, the classroom quickly quieted down.

Zhou Wu began calling names and transmitted jin li to each of the remaining forty-four students.

Qin Fen had already developed jin li, so he did not need another transmission.

Soon, the first class ended.

"Qin Fen, the Principal has returned. Come with me to see him."

When the dismissal bell rang, Zhou Wu led Qin Fen toward the Principal's office in the Teaching Building.

However, on the way, they ran into the Senior One Martial Arts Teachers who taught the other three classes. They too were heading toward the Teaching Building with a dark-skinned student.

"Teacher Liu."

"Teacher Zhou."

The two teachers greeted one another when they met.

"Teacher Zhou, are you taking a student to see the Principal?"

Teacher Liu glanced at Qin Fen, his pupils shrinking slightly, before asking.

"That's right. Qin Fen has developed jin li and filled out the Martial Arts Class information form. But according to procedure, I still have to bring him before the Principal. Only after the Principal confirms that he has developed jin li can his information be entered into the system and he officially become a Martial Arts Student."

Zhou Wu nodded as he spoke.

"It seems the new students this year have rather good aptitude. Shi Jian developed jin li immediately after the second transmission, and his Galloping Horse Strength has reached the level of Entering the Hall and Reaching the Inner Chamber. He can enter Martial Arts Class A."

Liu Sheng said with a smile.

"Mm, then let's go see the Principal together."

Zhou Wu nodded slightly.

He did not mention that Qin Fen had developed jin li after only one transmission.

Qin Fen and Shi Jian were both certain to enter Martial Arts Class A.

According to past rules, whichever Martial Arts Teacher's three classes first produced a student who developed jin li would be taught by that teacher as Martial Arts Class A.

Being the teacher of Martial Arts Class A meant earning five thousand more per month than the teachers of Martial Arts Class B and Martial Arts Class C, amounting to sixty thousand more a year on top of the original salary.

Therefore, if Zhou Wu said that Qin Fen had developed jin li after only one transmission, Liu Sheng would mistake him for saying so just to become the teacher of Martial Arts Class A—even though Qin Fen truly had developed jin li after only one transmission.

The two teachers brought Qin Fen and Shi Jian to the Principal's office together.

The Principal of Thirteen Middle School, Han Siyuan, wore a black formal suit with a light gray tie. He sat upright as he reviewed documents. His temples were faintly graying, yet his gaze was sharp and spirited. Like that of a lion, it carried a profound authority.

The Martial Arts Teachers all possessed cultivation at the Fifth Realm of Jin Li. As the Principal, Han Siyuan could only be stronger, not weaker.

"Principal."

The two teachers stepped forward and submitted their respective students' information forms.

"Not bad, not bad. There are actually two students among this year's new intake who developed jin li right after their second transmission." Principal Han glanced over the forms, then turned his gaze toward Qin Fen and Shi Jian. "Show me the stance of Galloping Horse Strength."

"Yes, Principal."

Qin Fen and Shi Jian stepped apart and assumed the Galloping Horse Strength stance at the same time.

As the two assumed the stance, their feet planted firmly in their steps and their muscles writhed. They began circulating their jin li along with their blood and qi. A faint current of air could vaguely be seen slowly moving beneath their skin.

The faint sound of galloping steeds came from within their bodies.

Principal Han could not help but nod slightly.

Qin Fen and Shi Jian had indeed both developed jin li.

If one looked closely, one could see that Qin Fen's air current moved slightly faster than Shi Jian's.

This showed that Qin Fen had developed jin li earlier than Shi Jian and was more proficient in its use.

There was no issue with the two entering Martial Arts Class A. However, Zhou Wu and Liu Sheng had submitted their materials at the same time, so who would teach Martial Arts Class A and become its teacher was a problem.

The teacher of Martial Arts Class A earned five thousand more per month than the teachers of Classes B and C.

"No problem. From now on, you are Martial Arts Students." Principal Han switched on the computer and began entering Qin Fen and Shi Jian's information into the Martial Arts Bureau system. Then he said to Zhou Wu and Liu Sheng, "According to past rules, whichever of the classes you teach produces jin li first is taught by that teacher as Martial Arts Class A. But since you submitted the materials at the same time, what are your thoughts?"

Zhou Wu and Liu Sheng exchanged a glance.

Of course, they both wanted to become the Martial Arts Teacher of Martial Arts Class A. It meant an extra five thousand a month, sixty thousand a year.

Although Martial Arts Teachers earned much more than ordinary teachers, making twenty thousand a month, they had to set aside time every day to train in order to maintain their peak condition. They also had to eat Nutritional Meals daily, and their expenses far exceeded those of ordinary people. By the end of each year, they could barely save any money at all.

It was unlike those Key High Schools, where quite a few students entered Martial Arts University every year. The Martial Arts Bureau allocated large sums of funding, and every Martial Arts Teacher could receive over a hundred thousand in funds, with some receiving even two or three hundred thousand.

At Thirteen Middle School, only one student had entered Martial Arts University in the past ten years.

No one would refuse the chance to earn an extra sixty thousand a year.

What was more, judging from the martial arts talent Qin Fen and Shi Jian had displayed, there was a high chance they could enter Martial Arts University.

When that happened, as their Martial Arts Teachers, the school would naturally award them a generous bonus.

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