Academic Excellence in Both Character and Scholarship
Shen Qi put away his phone. He hadn't forgotten what Sun Erxiong had said. He needed to plan his studies for the next few years carefully, because once a person loses their direction, they will get lost.
Just as I was planning, the system notified me. "New achievement! The host excels in both character and academics, and has obtained a Bachelor of Mathematics degree ahead of schedule. The basic reward is 60,000 Academic Excellence Points, multiplied by the Mathematics main talent coefficient of 2.0, the final reward is 120,000 Academic Excellence Points. Remaining balance: 330,789 Academic Excellence Points. Please confirm."
So many academic points!
It's just a bachelor's degree, what a pleasant surprise!
Shen Qi had never imagined that a bachelor's degree would be considered an achievement.
That's great! Before studying abroad, I can upgrade my math to the elite level of 8. It takes 250,000 academic points to upgrade from level 7 to level 8.
A level 8 elite is someone who can travel the world without fear.
"System, I've upgraded my math level to 8."
My current math level is 7 (368/250,000). After upgrading:
Host, Shen Qi
Age: 19
Mathematics Level 8 (0/400,000) -- Elite Level
Physics Level 5 (188/50,000) -- Professional Level
Physical Education Level 4 (892/10000) --- Advanced Level, the same below
English Level 4 (201/10000)
Chinese Language Level 3 (1827/5000)
Chemistry Level 3 (171/5000)
Biology Level 3 (131/5000)
History Level 2 (137/3000)
Geography Level 2 (252/3000)
Political Level 2 (2998/3000)
Remaining Academic Points: 81157
"I'm 2 points away from leveling up in politics, and my OCD is killing me. Where can I find those 2 experience points first?"
Shen Qi returned to his dormitory, carefully wrapped up his degree certificate, and locked it in a secret place.
Then I prepared to go downstairs to have a heart-to-heart talk with a classmate and discuss important international and domestic news.
Just then, Shen Qi's phone rang. It was his Track and Field team teammate, Li Taimeng, calling, "Shen Qi, you haven't been to the Track and Field team for a week. Are you not planning to come? By the way, congratulations on getting your degree before finishing your freshman year. I'm already a junior and haven't earned a single degree. I'm so envious!"
"I'm so sorry I've been busy with my thesis defense lately. Come on, I'll be right there at the Track and Field team!" Shen Qi hung up the phone, changed into his sportswear and running shoes, slung his sports bag over his shoulder, and ran towards the track and field training field.
"I'm sorry, Teacher Wu, I've been really busy lately. I accept the punishment and will run 5 kilometers as a penalty." Shen Qi sincerely apologized to Teacher Wu of the Track and Field team.
"No need, a normal warm-up is fine." Teacher Wu understood Shen Qi's perspective. "I saw your post on WeChat Moments, it's amazing, Shen the academic star."
"On this track and field, a battlefield for real men, I want to become Shen Jianjiang," Shen Qi said, swinging his arm. "A country has its laws, and a team has its rules. I must punish myself by running 5 kilometers first. Teacher Wu, please don't stop me. Everyone is equal before sports, and no one can enjoy special privileges."
Teacher Wu: "Are you sure?"
Shen Qi patted his chest, his voice resounding with pride. "National fitness benefits the country and its people; its merits are for the present and for future generations!"
Politics Experience Points +1
+1
System: "Congratulations, host, your political level has been upgraded to level 3. Your political sensitivity, awareness, and cognitive understanding have significantly improved compared to the previous level."
"You graduated from the Central Academy of Drama, right? And you really have a degree in the Mathematics Department from Peking University?" Teacher Wu raised his arm and pointed to the track. "Then you run, Shen Qi, 5000 meters, on your marks, go!"
As soon as the starting signal was given, Shen Qi took off running, and Teacher Wu habitually started the timer.
Degree certificate in hand, 120,000 academic points rained down from the sky, math and politics both improved.
Good news comes one after another in one day, and blessings arrive in pairs.
People are in high spirits when they have good news. Shen Qi ran the 5000 meters very strongly this time. He was out of control and performed beyond his usual level.
"15 minutes and 5 seconds!" Teacher Wu was shocked when he stopped the watch.
This result isn't some incredible, groundbreaking achievement; it doesn't even meet the qualifying standard for a first-class athlete.
Teacher Wu was surprised by Shen Qi's rapid progress. After a week without training, Shen Qi had actually reduced his 5000-meter personal best by a full 50 seconds.
"Hey, Shen Qi, you got your math degree from Peking University before even finishing your freshman year. You've proven your talent in math," Teacher Wu said to Shen Qi. "But I never imagined you were a genius in track and field too!"
"Huff... huff..." Shen Qi lay on the track panting. "Is this what a genius is?"
"To drastically reduce your personal best (PB) without training, what else could you be but a genius? A natural-born superhuman?"
"Teacher Wu, with this result, am I qualified to win a medal at the Capital University Track and Field Games?"
"It's quite difficult."
"Huh?" Shen Qi jumped up in surprise.
"I don't expect you to get into the top three, just getting a ranking is good enough. The top 12 in the 5000 meters and 10,000 meters all have official rankings," said Teacher Wu.
"Are university athletes from the capital region that strong?" Shen Qi felt the pressure. What's the point of going if you can't win a medal? Just to get thrashed?
"Do you know how many universities there are in the capital?" Teacher Wu asked rhetorically. "Among university athletes, there are quite a few professional athletes. Not to mention other universities, just look at our own. The track Track and Field team —the discus thrower, hammer thrower, long jumper, triple jumper—these athletes would at least be at the provincial level if they went out to compete. Alas, our team's track and field events have declined, so for Shen Qi, it's a victory if you can get a ranking."
"I understand."
After resting for a while, Shen Qi continued training.
The Capital University Track and Field Games are held annually in May, and Shen Qi has already registered for the 5000-meter and 10,000-meter events this year.
You absolutely have to get a medal! What kind of achievement is it if you don't get a medal?
"Luckily, I gained 120,000 academic points today. I have some saved up, let's use them!"
Shen Qi upgraded his sports skills to level 5, the professional level.
The improvement in athletic level resulted in a boost to Shen Qi's red and white muscle fibers, which were simultaneously strengthened.
In fact, investing those 9,000+ academic points in sports is a worthwhile investment.
Simultaneous strengthening of both red and white muscle fibers means that Shen Qi can excel in both endurance sports and high-speed power sports. Due to the limitations of human physiology, such athletes are relatively rare, but they do exist. Top decathletes like Ashton Eaton are good at both running and jumping, capable of both short and long distances.
Shen Qi noticed a phenomenon: he has rarely been sick in the past year or two.
Even if I stay up all night studying and doing practice problems, enduring intense academic pressure, or stand alone in the snow like a lone plum blossom, all I'll do is sneeze; I won't fall ill and be bedridden.
Shen Qi's healthy body allowed him to dedicate himself wholeheartedly to his studies, and he enjoyed it all.
In today's final 5000-meter training session, Shen Qi, despite some physical exhaustion, ran a time of 14 minutes and 56 seconds.
"He ran it in under 15 minutes." Teacher Wu recorded Shen Qi's time.
"Teacher Wu, just tell me directly, what time and minute do I need to reach to have a chance to win a medal?" Shen Qi asked while writing down mathematical symbols in his notebook.
"It's hard to say, because long-distance running doesn't have lanes, and there are too many uncertainties in official competitions. Athletes scheme and use tactics, so official race times are often lower than their training times. Personally, I think Shen Qi, if you run around 14 minutes and 30 seconds, you'll have a chance to win a medal."