Spoke Too Soon

"Oh?" Jiang Ping raised an eyebrow.

Was the Nourishing Life Technique truly that difficult?

Why had two people already mastered the second level in just six days?

At this rate, wouldn't someone soon break through the fourth level and become an escort?

Of course, he clearly did not count himself. After all, Jiang Ping would break through the Nourishing Life Technique's fifth layer this very morning, yet he thought those who had only mastered two levels of skill were progressing far too quickly.

Don't play favorites so shamelessly, all right?

Beside him, Liu Wensheng naturally had no idea what Jiang Ping was thinking. He merely assumed the other man had been struck speechless by surprise, and could not help saying smugly, "Didn't expect that, did you?"

"Mm, then I should congratulate you, Brother Liu," Jiang Ping replied.

"Let's go. It'll be time for 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 tall and imposing, radiating authority without anger. Beside him, Escort Huang 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 whole body trembled. Escort Huang did not comfort him. Instead, his face was full of disdain as he said:

"Utterly terrible. You ate so much beef from our Escort Agency, yet your Fist Force only rose by four jin in total. You're still nowhere near the threshold for entry. Once you return, you may consider finding another way out."

Hearing this, Zhang San walked back into the crowd like a lost soul.

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

"The beef from our Escort Agency may smell delicious, but do not think you can keep enjoying it until the assessment ends. If you want a free lunch, then show your strength. I am formally informing you now: after the next test, anyone who has yet to enter the Nourishing Life Technique will no longer be provided with free nutritious food, including rice!"

The moment those words fell, the crowd erupted.

Panic appeared on many faces, and the invisible pressure suddenly doubled.

"Didn't you say free meals would be provided? Why have you suddenly stopped providing them? Without nutritious food, how are we supposed to nourish our training through eating?" someone asked, his expression ugly and unwilling to accept it.

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

Many people were somewhat unconvinced by the escort's words, feeling that such a demand was too harsh. They had only trained for six days; counting everything, they had merely nine days in total. What if someone was simply slow to get started?

Naturally, some could not accept this decision, while others thought it perfectly reasonable.

"If you can't do it, don't blame the road for being uneven. Nine days still isn't enough? How much time do you want to enter the technique—one month, one year? No talent means no talent. You should recognize reality early." Sun Zheng spoke with a mocking expression, carrying himself as though he were looking down on them all. As he spoke, he could not help glancing at Luo Da Niu and the others.

Luo Da Niu and the others wore complicated expressions. Though that grandson spoke unpleasantly, it was the truth.

The Escort Agency's willingness to train them for free was already a gift. If they wanted to keep freeloading forever, that would be unreasonable. The Agency had no obligation to provide nutritious food for free indefinitely.

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

At this, Escort Huang snorted coldly as he looked over 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 testing proceeded, one young man after another received his results.

Quite a few had entered the Nourishing Life Technique, but those who had not were still the majority.

Among them, however, no one had mastered two levels of skill.

Until Sun Qi.

The moment his name was called, the scene instantly grew noisy.

"This is the most formidable among us. He was the first to enter the technique, and he was also the first to break through the second level. Does he plan to occupy the top spot on the Fist Force rankings until the end?" someone said bitterly.

"That's my brother!"

Sun Zheng looked immensely proud, as though sharing in the glory. He was especially excited, and his voice was loud, as if afraid others might 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 suck in a breath.

With that much Fist Force, an ordinary person would probably suffer no small injury from a single punch.

"Mm, keep it up." Escort Huang nodded slightly.

"Sun Qi will," Sun Qi said as he cupped his fists. He appeared neither servile nor overbearing, but when he turned toward the crowd, a trace of arrogance still involuntarily surfaced on his face.

"Brother Qi, the first person!" Sun Zheng gave a thumbs-up. This time, he cast a provocative glance 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 had the panic of last time. Instead, anticipation filled his face.

When the result came out—

"Two hundred and twenty-two jin!"

"Hiss!"

Gasps rose without end, and many faces showed shock.

"If I remember correctly, his Fist Force last time was only a hundred and seventy-odd jin. It jumped by fifty jin all at once?"

"This person has actually broken through the second level as well, and he kept it quiet until now."

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

"Mm?" Sun Qi could not help raising his brow. His expression grew slightly grave as he sized Fang Yong up and down.

This person cannot be underestimated, Liu Wensheng thought.

Upon hearing this result, Qian Dele and Sun Zheng were instead somewhat pleased. Sun Zheng sneered, "The Top Five are about to change again. Jiang Ping will have to give up his spot!"

As he spoke, he turned back for another look. Seeing that Jiang Ping was still surprised, he immediately felt incomparably satisfied.

Up front, Fang Yong stood straight and smiled. "Escort Huang, this Nourishing Life Technique doesn't seem all that difficult, does it?"

The moment he said this, the crowd stirred. Some thought Fang Yong was putting on airs, while others felt his words made some sense. In such a short time, two people had already broken through the second level. The Nourishing Life Technique did not seem as hard to train as the rumors claimed.

Yet Escort Huang offered no explanation, merely saying, "Keep it up."

As Fang Yong left the field, 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 entered the technique; he had been nothing more than an Ephemeral Flower.

"Jiang Ping!"

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

He said no more, but the meaning behind his words was clear: he too believed Jiang Ping would likely be unable to hold onto a Top Five position.

"Sure."

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

"Mm?"

As he watched Jiang Ping's departing 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 skill again?!

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

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

"Brother Liu, you spoke too soon again."

"..." Liu Wensheng.

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

Up ahead.

The instant Sun Zheng heard the Fist Force result, his expression changed drastically, and his heart felt utterly miserable.

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

"Do not dwell any longer on what happened between you two before. In the future, endure it whenever you see him if you can. You must never provoke him again."

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 instinctively shudder, his expression filled with fear.