I Really Am a Genius

The next day, morning.

Jiang Ping opened his eyes and stretched.

Although he had nearly been slapped awake last night, he had slept quite comfortably overall.

The fatigue from yesterday's training had completely vanished. He felt refreshed and brimming with energy.

He got dressed, took a towel, and went outside to wash up.

By this time, quite a few people had already gathered in the washing area.

Jiang Ping noticed that they all used willow twigs to clean their mouths. In contrast, he brushed his teeth with salt, making him seem slightly out of place.

"Is rinsing with salt very effective?" someone asked him. Quite a few others looked over curiously as well.

"It's alright," Jiang Ping replied.

He knew that ordinary poor folk could hardly bear to use salt for rinsing their mouths. Even his former workmates had used willow twigs. His own family had once been wealthy, and his Parents had taught him by word and example, so he had never changed his way of cleaning his teeth.

"Next time, I'll buy some and give it a try too." Liu Wensheng glanced at the wooden twig in his hand as he spoke.

"See you around." After washing up, Jiang Ping headed back to the dormitory.

Compared with Luo Tiegen, the others knew where to draw the line and did not ask him for any.

He was too poor. His salt would only last him a month or so.

But when one kept thinking about something, it was bound to come back around.

The moment he entered the dormitory, he saw Luo Tiegen and his fellow villager heading out to wash up.

At the sight of Jiang Ping, Luo Tiegen was like Jerry spotting cheese. His eyes lit up as he said, "Brother Jiang, lend me some salt."

"No." Jiang Ping refused outright.

He was actually a kind person and fairly easygoing, but he was no fool.

The other man had already mooched off him once yesterday. During training, he had even wanted Jiang Ping to act as free labor and teach his fellow villager the Nourishing Life Technique.

And today, he still wanted to mooch off Jiang Ping's salt.

Jiang Ping had figured it out. This person was the sort who, given an inch, would take a mile—someone who loved taking advantage of others.

If he generously opened this door now, then half his salt would inevitably belong to the other man from now on.

What was more, Jiang Ping had noticed yesterday that Luo Tiegen had paid for an extra serving of beef at both lunch and dinner.

With that money, could he really not afford a little salt?

He had merely seen Jiang Ping agree to lend salt the first time and decided he was easy to talk to. That was why he was testing more and more boundaries, dreaming of taking greater advantage.

But how could Jiang Ping agree? They had only known one another for two days. They were worlds apart from the word "friends."

Luo Tiegen's hand, extended to receive the salt, froze in midair. The atmosphere turned awkward.

"Use mine. I bought some," his fellow villager said, stepping in to smooth things over.

"Da Niu, you bought salt?" Luo Tiegen's embarrassment instantly vanished. No longer bothering with Jiang Ping, he turned to Luo Da Niu.

Da Niu glanced at Jiang Ping as he walked past and said, "Yesterday, I saw Brother Jiang rinsing with salt, so I went out and bought some last night to see whether it worked well."

Now that was someone who knew where to draw the line. If he wanted to try salt, he would not ask someone else for it—he would spend his own money and buy it.

Come to think of it, Luo Da Niu had been the one to stop Sun Zheng from throwing that slap last night.

But Sun Zheng still asked Jiang Ping about his condition now.

"Don't feel anything," Jiang Ping said casually, naturally unwilling to tell the truth to an idiot.

After tidying up a little, Jiang Ping headed out to the dining hall.

There was no way he would miss the Escort Agency's free meals, so he chose to go early.

However, others had arrived even earlier than he had.

Fortunately, the dining hall had opened early as well. Before long, Jiang Ping was eating fresh, piping-hot beef.

After eating, he practiced the Nourishing Life Technique at the Training Ground.

The two escorts naturally could not keep supervising them every day. From now on, training depended entirely on their own initiative.

As he performed the movements of the Nourishing Life Technique, a thread of qi and blood moved through his body. The Destiny in Jiang Ping's mind flickered slightly:

[Nourishing Life Technique Second Level (13/100): Train ten times daily, and it will be achieved in half a month]

The Destiny's assessment could not be wrong. What was wrong was his body.

His talent was simply too strong!

[Nourishing Life Technique Second Level (13/100) → Nourishing Life Technique Second Level (14/100)]

[...]

After completing the first round, his proficiency rose to twenty.

The second round added another eight points.

After six rounds, the Second Level's progress had already passed the halfway mark again.

"After practicing six rounds, I no longer have the strength to continue, and the cultivation effect has weakened. Over those six rounds, the increase in proficiency never exceeded nine."

"As expected, each level of the Nourishing Life Technique is harder than the last. Otherwise, the Escort Agency would not have only a handful of people who had become martial artists."

"But with my talent, I'll soon break through the Nourishing Life Technique's Second Level, and my Fist Force will increase by another forty jin!"

Jiang Ping pondered this, anticipation in his eyes.

With his talent, how long would it take him to become a martial artist?

One month?

A day passed quickly.

Jiang Ping's progress was astonishing. He was only two proficiency points away from mastering the Second Level.

At the same time, he discovered a trait of his own. He trained three times a day, and his morning sessions lasted longer. By afternoon and evening, he lacked stamina, with the afternoon being when he lasted the shortest.

It should have something to do with his talent.

Yet although he had this question, Jiang Ping did not dare ask the Head Escort, lest he expose himself.

So he simply stopped digging to the root of the matter. So long as his progress remained rapid, that was enough. Every day was a day filled with hope.

The only fly in the ointment was that he went to bed early, and once again nearly got woken by the noise.

There was no helping it. A ten-man dormitory was simply too crowded. Jiang Ping wanted to break through to the Fourth Level immediately and be assigned a Single House.

This time, Sun Zheng still waited until everyone was present before questioning each person one by one.

Other than Qian Dele, who said he felt something distinctly, everyone else claimed there was nothing unusual.

Of course, Sun Zheng no longer had any intention of waking Jiang Ping up this time.

Half-asleep, Jiang Ping drifted back to sleep.

When he opened his eyes again, it was another bright, sunny day.

"Comfortable." Jiang Ping yawned.

Ever since he started training, his sleep had become more comfortable by the day. Every trace of fatigue had been washed away, and his whole body was filled with strength.

After breakfast.

The Training Ground.

Not long after Jiang Ping began his first round of the Nourishing Life Technique:

[Nourishing Life Technique Second Level (99/100) → Nourishing Life Technique Third Layer (0/100)]

[Nourishing Life Technique Third Layer (0/100): Train ten times daily, and it will be achieved in one month!]

At that moment, the qi and blood within his body surged violently, increasing from a little over one thread to three threads.

With every breath he took, this qi and blood sometimes roiled like raging waves, sometimes sank into stillness.

Jiang Ping discovered that his control over qi and blood had grown increasingly proficient.

At the same time, he sensed that this qi and blood was the source of strength. So long as it churned within him, his entire body seemed to boil, as if he possessed inexhaustible power. Once the qi and blood fell quiet, that sense of strength vanished.

"So that's how it is. The surging of qi and blood is the beginning of the human body displaying its strength. When I erupt one thread of qi and blood, that is the strength of the Nourishing Life Technique's First level. Three threads means two levels."

Jiang Ping thought to himself, then a delighted expression appeared on his face.

As long as he erupted his qi and blood according to the circumstances during the next Fist Force test, he would definitely enter the Top Five and receive extra Nutritious food, while also concealing his true strength.

It was killing two birds with one stone!

Jiang Ping was rather excited.

It was only the beginning of the third day, yet he had already mastered two levels of the Nourishing Life Technique and found a way not to become the bird that stuck its head out!

He glanced at the Destiny with some disdain.

According to what the Destiny said, it would take him at least a year and a half to become a martial artist.

Luckily, he was a genius!

Of course, he could not say the Destiny was useless. It should be able to guarantee his upper limit.

"Come to think of it, how long would it take them to reach the First level?"

Jiang Ping glanced around.

Everyone was focused on practicing the Nourishing Life Technique, but after two days, there seemed to be no news that anyone had gotten started.

I really am a genius! Jiang Ping thought.

But this leisurely sense of self-satisfaction crumbled somewhat by the afternoon.

"I've sensed qi and blood! I've sensed qi and blood!"

A delighted voice rang out across the entire Training Ground, leaving everyone stunned.

"So fast?" Jiang Ping blurted out.

No way, someone had already gotten started?

Wasn't the Nourishing Life Technique supposed to be difficult? It had only been three days.

Following the voice, Jiang Ping saw a Tall Guy waving his arms and legs as he showed off to those around him.

The man was Sun Qi, who had previously ranked among the Top Five in Fist Force.

"Amazing!" Jiang Ping praised, instantly feeling pressure.

Sure enough, although he had some talent, he could not grow too complacent. There were always greater people beyond greater people!

Though the other man had only just gotten started, he still could not be underestimated.

Of course, that man ate an extra serving of beef at every meal compared to him. Otherwise, Jiang Ping was confident that he could cultivate even faster!

But the imbalance in Nutritious food would be erased tomorrow.

At the Training Ground, Sun Qi had become the center of attention. Some were astonished, some were jealous, and some ran over to congratulate him and curry favor.

After the uproar, everyone seemed to have been injected with chicken blood, practicing their movements with greater vigor.

Even Jiang Ping, who felt the pressure, performed one additional round of the Nourishing Life Technique.

"You're working quite hard today. Feeling the pressure?" Liu Wensheng could not help but chuckle beside him.

Other than those near the top in Fist Force, the only one worth his attention was this Little White Face before him.

There was no helping it. Among a pack of toads, a second frog had appeared. It was impossible not to notice.

"Yeah." Jiang Ping nodded. He sprawled on the ground, panting, his body drenched in sweat.

How could he not feel pressure? He was only at the Second Level, yet someone had already gotten started. Clearly, he was still not genius enough and had to work harder, striving to open up a gap of two levels of cultivation!

If Liu Wensheng could hear Jiang Ping's inner thoughts at that moment, he would probably want to beat him to death.

Listen to that. Was that even something a human would say?