Genius

Time flew by, and before they knew it, another Fist Force test had arrived.

Having gone through several tests already, everyone was no longer nervous and faced it with an even mind.

Yet a small number of people looked ashen, absent-minded even during the test.

Clearly, these people had still failed to get started with the Nourishing Life Technique. Once their supply of nutritious food was cut off, their paths as escort masters and in the Martial Dao could practically be sentenced to "death."

"Sun Qi!"

Before long, it was Sun Qi's turn.

Compared to the disappointment of that small group, most of those who had broken through and secured a stable supply of nutritious food were more concerned with the top Fist Force rankings.

They were curious—what kind of progress would the first person in Fist Force make this time?

"Two hundred and seventy-three jin!"

As the Head Escort's words rang out, the crowd began whispering among themselves.

"Though he hasn't broken through, he gained another twenty jin in three days. This person is truly formidable. He'll probably hold firmly onto first place."

Quite a few people knew every change in Sun Qi's Fist Force by heart. Upon hearing the result, they immediately calculated how much it had increased.

Escort Huang nodded. "The Second Level has reached its peak. I imagine the Third Layer will be here soon."

"Probably within the next few days." Sun Qi's face was full of smiles. He now ate three portions of nutritious food every meal. If he had not made this much progress, his silver would have been spent for nothing.

Not long after Sun Qi finished his test, the second person everyone had been watching stepped forward. It was Fang Yong, likewise a key focus of attention.

Sun Qi looked perfectly at ease. Fang Yong's talent in the Blade Art surpassed his, but when it came to Fist Force, Sun Qi had not feared him yet.

However, his expression soon stiffened abruptly.

Bang!

The ordinary-looking young man threw a crisp punch.

Everyone noticed that Head Escort Liang did not announce the result immediately. He paused, glanced at Fang Yong a few times, then said:

"Two hundred and eighty-four jin!"

The moment those words fell, the Training Ground exploded into an uproar. Many people sucked in cold breaths, their eyes wide as saucers.

Fang Yong's Fist Force had been just over two hundred and twenty jin last time. In other words, he had surged by sixty jin this time.

And the increase in Fist Force from the Second Level to the Third Layer of the Nourishing Life Technique was precisely sixty jin!

"Gasp! The Third Layer! Someone at the Third Layer of the Nourishing Life Technique has appeared!"

"How monstrous!"

Sun Qi, who ate three portions of nutritious food, was still at the peak of the Second Level, yet this unremarkable-looking person had taken that step first and broken through to the Third Layer of the Nourishing Life Technique!

"A genius! This is a true genius! Breaking through three barriers in nine days is absolutely not something an ordinary person can accomplish!" someone cried out, disbelief written all over their face.

"Genius Fang Yong!" Many began shouting, and the atmosphere suddenly soared.

"Very strong." Liu Wensheng's face was solemn as he felt the pressure.

Sun Qi's expression darkened slightly, his mood having long sunk to freezing point.

Not only had Fang Yong broken through before him, he had also surpassed his Fist Force.

The first person in Fist Force had changed hands!

"Good, good, very good!" Up front, Escort Huang said "good" three times in a row, looking exceptionally pleased.

"From now on, you will eat three portions of nutritious food with every meal. You will not need to spend any silver."

At that moment, Head Escort Liang spoke again. Fang Yong respectfully clasped his fists and nodded with a smile. "Thank you, Head Escort."

Watching this "heartwarming" scene, some people felt sour, while others were envious.

Come to think of it, this was only the second time the usually noncommittal Head Escort had spoken up.

The first time had been to reprimand Qian Dele. This time, it was because he appreciated Fang Yong and made an exception to grant him an additional portion of nutritious food.

From this, it was clear that even the Head Escort could not help but give special attention to the talent Fang Yong had displayed.

"It seems Fang Yong truly is exceptionally gifted." Qian Dele watched the intimate scene between the Head Escort and Fang Yong, his expression complicated.

He even thought of how he had rushed to curry favor with the Head Escort the moment he had gotten started with the Nourishing Life Technique. His face could not help reddening as he found himself ridiculous.

Fang Yong returned to the crowd.

However, he had clearly become the focal point of this Fist Force test. It was as though he had acquired a "halo." Even when Escort Huang recorded the Fist Force of others afterward, he repeatedly used Fang Yong as an example for them to chase after.

Fang Yong's reputation as a genius would likely be firmly established in everyone's hearts!

Of course, the testing continued, and soon it was Jiang Ping's turn.

"This one isn't bad either. His looks are top-notch. If he can be as 'monstrous' as Fang Yong, I'll be tempted to introduce my younger sister to him."

"Forget your younger sister. I wouldn't mind gaining another godfather."

"Shameless. Even if he isn't as good as Fang Yong, he definitely won't be interested in your sister or your mother."

Many people chatted, carrying a measure of anticipation. Could Jiang Ping be like Fang Yong?

After all, in many people's eyes, Jiang Ping's talent was absolutely above Sun Qi's!

"Two hundred and forty-five jin!"

The Head Escort's voice rang out. Everyone felt it was reasonable and could accept it.

After all, not everyone was as terrifying as Fang Yong. Jiang Ping's looks had already surpassed ninety-nine percent of the people in the world. If his Martial Dao talent were also especially dazzling, how were they supposed to live?

"Mm, he is also at the peak of the Second Level of the Nourishing Life Technique." Escort Huang nodded. Jiang Ping had improved as well, though his Blade Art seemed somewhat lacking.

"Keep it up," Escort Huang added.

"This younger generation member will certainly strive forward and follow Fang Yong's example," Jiang Ping replied.

"Not bad. You possess such awareness, neither arrogant nor impatient. You will be able to achieve great things in the future." Escort Huang greatly appreciated Jiang Ping. When Fang Yong's result had just come out, Sun Qi's expression had changed instantly. Unlike the young man before him, Jiang Ping had remained unruffled whether favored or humiliated.

However, Escort Huang did not know that if what the Head Escort had rewarded just now had not been nutritious food but a Stance Technique, then the strongest "Twin Stars" would have appeared in the Escort Agency today.

Unfortunately, an extra portion of beef was not worth Jiang Ping displaying too much talent.

As for the name of genius and the glory that came with it, they were even less than nothing in his eyes.

After all:

[Nourishing Life Technique Seventh Layer (2/200)]

[Flying Snow Saber Minor Accomplishment (198/600)]

He was only a few days away from becoming a Blood-Qi Martial Artist.

The Flying Snow Saber's progress had advanced one-third in just over a day. It could likewise reach the realm of Minor Accomplishment within a few days.

It was simply that Jiang Ping had not truly entered the inner circles of the Escort Agency yet and did not understand the situation within and outside it. He did not want to enter the sights of big shots like the Head Escort too early.

Better to keep a low profile. In any case, he could securely hold a place in the Top Five of Fist Force.

After Jiang Ping finished testing, his roommates stepped up one after another. Their results varied: some had gotten started, while others left with regret, such as Luo Da Niu and another fellow villager of his.

"It's fine. Once you get started with the Nourishing Life Technique, the Escort Agency should resume providing nutritious food," Luo Tiegen consoled him.

Not far away, Sun Zheng wore a cold smile. He had always been wary of Jiang Ping and had not even dared breathe too loudly in the dormitory. Now, he finally felt much more at ease.

Qian Dele did not care about these people's fates. At this moment, he was somewhat resistant, the scene of being cursed by the Head Escort earlier still surfacing in his mind.

Thus, when it was his turn, he appeared timid and hesitant. The test result was unsurprising: he remained at the beginner stage, his Martial Dao progress showing signs of stagnation, and even his Fist Force ranking fell out of the Top Five for the first time.

This was because the newly promoted Top Five contender was the young man whose initial Fist Force had been as high as one hundred and eighty jin. His current Nourishing Life Technique progress was nearly the same as Qian Dele's, and with an initial Fist Force five jin higher, he surpassed him by two jin overall and returned to the Top Five.

"Trash, and you still want to climb the Dragon and cling to the Phoenix."

For some reason, the Head Escort found him more and more repulsive the longer he looked at him, and could not help muttering a curse under his breath.

The crowd did not hear it, but Qian Dele heard every word clearly. His face immediately turned scarlet, and he slunk away from the field in disgrace.

Not long afterward, the Fist Force test ended.

"Didn't expect it, did you? I caught up to you and ranked ahead of you."

Liu Wensheng was among the last to be tested. He had also reached the peak of the Second Level of the Nourishing Life Technique, and because his initial Fist Force had been quite high, he surpassed Jiang Ping to rank third, leaving the latter in fourth.

"Then congratulations, Brother Liu," Jiang Ping said. In truth, he did not care much about rankings unless there were particularly enticing rewards.

"Forget it. What congratulations? That person is the Dragon and Phoenix among Men."

Liu Wensheng waved his hand. Though he spoke of surpassing Jiang Ping, he was not particularly happy inside. He pointed toward the entrance of the dining hall. That was the real fearsome person.

Jiang Ping followed the direction and saw Fang Yong surrounded by a crowd, like stars circling the moon. The people around him flattered him and showered him with every kind of praise, while Sun Qi, who had once been fawned over, passed by their side without anyone paying him any attention.

"Every generation in the Escort Agency produces talents, each leading the way for three taels of days." Jiang Ping shrugged, then paid it no further mind and headed straight into the dining hall with Liu Wensheng.

Time flew by, and four days passed in a flash.