Spoke Too Soon

"Oh?" Jiang Ping raised an eyebrow.

Was the Nourishing Life Technique really that difficult?

Why had two people already mastered the Second Level after only six days?

At this rate, wouldn't someone soon break through the Fourth Level and become an escort master?

Of course, he clearly had not counted himself. After all, Jiang Ping would break through the Nourishing Life Technique to the Fifth Layer this very morning, yet he thought the two people who had only mastered two levels of strength were progressing too quickly.

Don't be so shamelessly biased, all right!

Beside him, Liu Wensheng naturally could not see what Jiang Ping was thinking. He only assumed Jiang Ping was too shocked to speak, and could not help saying smugly, "Didn't expect that, did you?"

"Mm, then congratulations are in order, brother Liu," Jiang Ping replied.

"Let's go. There'll be another Fist Force test soon."

Not long after.

Training Ground.

A hundred people stood in neat ranks, ramrod straight, though their expressions varied. Some were expectant, while others were nervous.

Before them, Head Escort Liang stood like a towering mountain, imposing without anger. Escort Huang beside him had already opened the Yellow Booklet and called out the first name:

"Zhang San!"

Zhang San immediately stepped out from the crowd. He forced a smile, as though he already knew what his test result would be.

And the answer did not disappoint him. When the head escort announced, "One hundred and forty-six jin," his entire body trembled. Escort Huang did not comfort him. Instead, he said with utter disdain:

"Pathetic. You ate so much beef from our Escort Agency, yet your Fist Force only increased by four jin in total. You're still nowhere near the threshold for Entry Level. Once you return, you can consider other paths."

Upon hearing this, Zhang San walked back into the crowd, looking as though his soul had left his body.

After he left, Escort Huang did not immediately call the next person. Instead, he swept his gaze around and sneered.

"Our Escort Agency's beef may be fragrant, but don't think you can keep enjoying it until the assessment ends. If you want a free lunch, you'd better show some strength. I am now formally informing you all that after the next test, anyone who has not reached Entry Level in the Nourishing Life Technique will no longer receive free nutritious food—including rice!"

The moment those words fell, the crowd erupted.

Many people looked flustered, and the invisible pressure upon them suddenly multiplied.

"Didn't you say meals would be provided for free? Why are they suddenly no longer being provided? Without nutritious food, how are we supposed to nourish ourselves through eating and train?" someone asked, his face dark as he refused to accept it.

"Exactly. I've already reached the Entry Level threshold. If I can't break through within the next three days, won't I have no meat to replenish myself with?"

Many were somewhat dissatisfied with the escort master's words, feeling that such a demand was too harsh. They had only trained for six days; counting everything together, they had merely nine days. What if someone was a slow starter?

Of course, while some could not accept this decision, others found it perfectly reasonable.

"If you're no good, don't blame the road for being uneven. Isn't nine days enough? How much longer do you want to reach Entry Level—a month, a year? No talent means no talent. You should recognize reality as early as possible."

Sun Zheng spoke with a mocking expression, carrying himself as though he looked down from above. As he spoke, he could not help glancing at Luo Da Niu and the others.

Luo Da Niu and the rest wore complicated expressions. Although that grandson spoke unpleasantly, it was also the truth.

The Escort Agency was already doing them a favor by training them for free. If they wanted to keep freeloading forever, that would be unreasonable. The agency had no obligation to keep providing nutritious food without charge.

"If anyone is dissatisfied with this decision, step forward."

At this moment, Escort Huang snorted coldly as he looked at the crowd.

In an instant, everyone fell silent.

They were lowly and weak. How could they dare defy the Escort Agency's will?

"If there are no objections, we continue. Li Si," Escort Huang said.

As the tests continued, one young man after another received his results.

Quite a few had reached Entry Level in the Nourishing Life Technique, but the majority still had not.

And among them, no one had managed to master two levels of strength.

Until Sun Qi.

When his name was called, the place instantly became noisy.

"This is the strongest among us. He was the first to reach Entry Level, and also the first to break through the Second Level. Don't tell me he plans to occupy the top spot on the Fist Force rankings until the end?" someone said, his tone sour.

"That's my brother!"

Sun Zheng looked immensely proud, as though he shared in the glory. He was especially excited, and his voice was loud, as if afraid others would not know.

Bang!

A moment later, Sun Qi threw his strongest punch.

"Two hundred and fifty-three jin!" the head escort announced, making quite a few people gasp.

With that kind of Fist Force, an ordinary person would probably suffer serious injuries from a single punch.

"Mm, keep it up." The escort master nodded slightly.

"Sun Qi will," Sun Qi said with cupped fists, neither servile nor overbearing. Yet when he turned toward the crowd, a trace of arrogance still surfaced involuntarily.

"Brother Qi is the first person!" Sun Zheng gave a thumbs-up, then provocatively glanced at Jiang Ping behind him.

"Fang Yong." Escort Huang called the name while looking toward the crowd.

Very soon, an ordinary-looking young man walked over.

He no longer wore the panic he had shown last time. Instead, his face was filled with anticipation.

When the result came out—

"Two hundred and twenty-two jin!"

"Gasp!"

Sharp intakes of breath rang out one after another, and many people looked shocked.

"If I remember correctly, his Fist Force last time was a little over one hundred and seventy jin. It suddenly increased by fifty jin?"

"This person actually broke through the Second Level as well, and he kept quiet about it until now."

The crowd murmured among themselves, their faces filled with surprise.

"Mm?" Sun Qi could not help raising an eyebrow. His expression turned slightly grave as he sized Fang Yong up and down.

This person must not be underestimated, Liu Wensheng thought.

Upon hearing the result, Qian Dele and Sun Zheng were instead somewhat pleased. Sun Zheng sneered, "The Top Five are about to be reshuffled. Jiang Ping will have to give up his place!"

As he spoke, he turned back to look again and found Jiang Ping still wearing a surprised expression. He immediately felt incomparably delighted.

Up ahead, Fang Yong stood straight and smiled. "Escort Huang, this Nourishing Life Technique does not seem all that difficult, does it?"

The moment he said that, the crowd stirred. Some thought Fang Yong was putting on airs, while others found his words rather reasonable. After all, two people had already broken through the Second Level in such a short time. The Nourishing Life Technique did not seem as difficult to train as the rumors claimed.

Escort Huang did not explain. He merely said, "Keep it up."

As Fang Yong withdrew, the testing continued.

Zhao Lusi, who had briefly entered the Top Five in Fist Force, had completely faded into the crowd. He still had not reached Entry Level; he had been nothing more than an ephemeral flower.

"Jiang Ping!"

When Jiang Ping was called, Liu Wensheng could not help saying quietly, "Good luck. Try not to disgrace us people in the Top Five this time."

He did not say much, but the meaning in his words was clear: he also believed Jiang Ping would likely no longer be able to hold a Top Five position.

"Sure."

Jiang Ping nodded, with no sign of nervousness on his face.

"Mm?"

As he watched Jiang Ping's retreating back, Liu Wensheng's eyelid suddenly twitched, and an inexplicable feeling rose in his heart.

Wait.

Could this youngster have silently mastered two levels of strength again?!

"Fist Force: two hundred and twenty-seven jin!"

The voice came, and a certain young man smiled as he said to Liu Wensheng beside him:

"You spoke too soon again, brother Liu."

"..." Liu Wensheng was speechless.

His face reddened slightly. He had actually stumbled into that youngster's hands again. Why had Jiang Ping not told him beforehand?

Up ahead.

The instant Sun Zheng heard the Fist Force result, his expression changed dramatically, and he felt miserable beyond measure.

And this time, he did not receive comfort from his old friend. Qian Dele instead wore a grave expression as he warned him:

"Don't keep dwelling on what happened between you and him before. In the future, endure it whenever you can. Under no circumstances must you provoke him again."

Upon hearing this, Sun Zheng's face instantly turned pale.

He immediately understood that even this old friend of his had lost his nerve.

"Oh, and Brother Sun Qi asked me to tell you this: if a conflict arises, he will not step in."

Qian Dele added one more sentence, making Sun Zheng tremble instinctively, terror filling his face.