Recommendation, The Embryonic Form of Momentum

The days after the college entrance exam felt as if they had been set to slow motion.

The sky over Nanjiang City remained a brilliant blue, and life returned to the mundane now that the exams were over; students went to school, and workers went to their jobs.

For Lin Ye, however, the tension that had been coiled tight for months suddenly slackened, and this return to an ordinary life felt like a profound happiness.

Nowadays, he slept until he woke up naturally, occasionally accompanied his mother, Wang Xiulan, to the market to buy groceries, listened to her chatter about neighborhood gossip, and helped carry heavy items around the house. His father, Lin Jianguo, still left early and returned late, but the wrinkles on his face seemed to have smoothed out, and he spoke more during dinner, occasionally asking Lin Ye about rumors regarding martial arts universities with a deeply hidden pride in his eyes.

Although the scores had not yet been released and Lin Ye had not told him his estimated results, his father seemed very confident that his son would definitely be able to get into a martial arts university.

Besides sleeping in, Lin Ye sometimes went to a paid virtual martial arts hall to log into the Martial Arts virtual platform, playing matches with his account. He didn't deliberately chase a high rank, preferring to try out imaginative tactical combinations and enjoy the pure pleasure of combat.

Just like that, he spent his days playing games, fighting matches, and browsing news online, as if he were making up for all the ordinary life he had missed. The only thing that remained unchanged was his two hours of daily, unwavering training. Since school was out, he didn't go to the school's martial arts hall to train; instead, he practiced for two hours every afternoon or evening at the public martial arts hall in his residential complex. Although the facilities there were dilapidated, practicing Lost Track Steps didn't require professional equipment—just a fairly spacious area to jump back and forth.

While the effect wasn't as good as in a gravity chamber, it didn't stop his proficiency in Lost Track Steps from slowly increasing through this day-after-day tempering, and he enjoyed this low-profile practice.

Just as Lin Ye was enjoying his peaceful vacation.

At Xinyuan Residential Complex, in Zheng Huai's home.

After finishing the tasks at hand, Zheng Huai pondered for a moment before dialing a number on his personal communicator that he hadn't contacted in a long time. After a few rings, the call connected, and a slightly hoarse but resonant voice came through: "Old Zheng? A rare guest. What wind blew you my way to call me today? Let me guess, did you find some good seedling you want to shove my way?"

To this, Zheng Huai laughed and retorted: "Cut the act. I know your Canglan standards are high, but this student of mine is truly a bit different."

Immediately, Zheng Huai concisely introduced Lin Ye's situation: an ordinary family background, a late awakening, but terrifying progress speed, and a high level of practical combat skill.

"As for his scores, he'll have no problem with a regional martial arts university, but since your Canglan Martial Arts University is ranked in the top three, I thought it would be a good thing for both the child and your school if he could get in."

On the other end of the line, Jiang He listened quietly, his fingers tapping the desk unconsciously. He received dozens, even hundreds of such recommendations every year. Teachers and coaches from local schools always hoped their favorite students would gain the favor of top-tier institutions, and their words were inevitably exaggerated.

"Old Zheng,"

After Zheng Huai finished speaking, Jiang He spoke slowly, his tone businesslike with a hint of imperceptible perfunctoriness, "The child you're talking about does sound quite good. Fast progress, solid fundamentals, and a good temperament—he's a good seedling. But you know that we receive too many special recruitment applications and key recommendations at Canglan every year. Adding up over a dozen provinces from all corners of the country, geniuses and monsters emerge every year. Just having 'fast progress' and 'a high level of basic fist techniques' isn't enough. Without other more hardcore, unique advantages that distinguish him from others, or concrete proof of top-tier talent, it's hard to stand out during the review process."

Zheng Huai frowned; he could hear the disapproval in his old comrade's voice. However, he also knew that Jiang He held a high position as the deputy director of the Admissions and Talent Assessment Office at Canglan Martial Arts University. He was well-traveled, and what local areas called "geniuses" might just be "not bad" in his eyes, failing to reach the threshold for special recruitment.

"That child, I really don't think it's that simple."

Zheng Huai insisted.

"Think..."

Jiang He listened to Zheng Huai's words, shook his head slightly, and after a moment of silence, said, "Old Zheng, I trust your judgment. How about this: send me his information, especially his college entrance exam registration number. I will compile it into a recommendation report based on what you just said and include him in our personnel observation list for this year."

"Once the admissions season begins, we will dispatch an expert team to apply to the Ministry of Education for the combat footage of all candidates on the observation list to conduct a potential assessment. If the child's performance is indeed as you say and meets our special recruitment threshold, I will bring it up for discussion at the school board meeting for exceptional admission."

This was the most formal and procedural promise Jiang He could give for the sake of his old comrade. Don't underestimate being included on the observation list for Canglan Martial Arts University; being included meant Lin Ye had a chance to be "seen," which was already quite valuable.

However, this was only an opportunity. Whether he could ultimately be accepted through special recruitment would still depend on Lin Ye's performance in combat and whether he could impress those picky evaluation experts at Canglan Martial Arts University.

"Alright, thanks."

Hearing this, Zheng Huai nodded, knowing this was the best his old comrade could do for now. He understood the rules of these top martial arts universities; most were like this.

As for whether he could ultimately be chosen by Canglan Martial Arts University, that would depend on Lin Ye's own fortune.

"What are you thanking me for? By the way, how are things now?"

"Is it comfortable staying in that place, Nanjiang?"

Jiang He asked casually.

"It's quite good, peaceful."

Zheng Huai changed the subject, and after a few more pleasantries, they ended the call.

However, aside from Lin Ye receiving a glimmer of attention from Canglan Martial Arts University due to Zheng Huai's recommendation, another regional martial arts university had also taken notice of him.

In a quiet office at Wind-Thunder Martial Arts University, ranked seventh.

A young teacher was sitting in the office, his smart terminal looping a recording of the college entrance ranking tournament.

The screen froze on the fifth round of Lin Ye's match against a thin candidate, the round where Lin Ye first revealed his Mountain-Suppressing Fist in an official setting.

The young teacher, named Zhou Ting, was a lecturer at the Martial Arts Academy of Wind-Thunder Martial Arts University. That day, he happened to be following the academy's assignment, serving as a special guest in the audience section provided by Qingjiang Province.

He happened to see that match of Lin Ye's and noticed that Lin Ye's fist technique seemed somewhat different from the standard Rolling Stone Fist.

Although he had already vaguely guessed it in his heart at the time, he wasn't the one facing it directly, so being the rigorous person he was, he chose to apply to download the recording to watch again when he had time.

When he repeatedly watched the power-generating process of Lin Ye's Mountain-Suppressing Fist and the state of the thin candidate when facing it, Zhou Ting confirmed the guess in his heart.

"...the prototype of an aura."

Watching the recording, he whispered to himself.

Rolling Stone Fist was originally a low-level technique, but the punch Lin Ye threw was as heavy as a mountain, vaguely possessing the prototype of an "aura."