Blood Qi Surges

After an afternoon of cultivation, the temperature of Chen Lie's body soared.

Swallowing the final sliver of Blood Linglong, Chen Lie once again began practicing the Basic Body Tempering Technique.

At this moment, every cell in his body had been activated and was in a state of extreme vitality. Before he could even complete the first movement of the fourth form, his cells were already ravenously devouring the energy provided by the Blood Linglong.

Seeing how overbearing the fourth form of the Basic Body Tempering Technique was, Chen Lie only performed the fifty-eight movements once this time. Fearing that his body's nutrients would be completely drained, he left the remaining undissolved medicinal power of the Blood Linglong for his hyper-active cells to absorb slowly.

After remaining in the personal cultivation room for over half an hour, the cells in Chen Lie's body finally ceased their frantic activity and gradually fell into a state of dormancy.

By now, the medicinal power of the last sliver of Blood Linglong had been almost entirely absorbed, with less than one-tenth remaining, stored within his muscles and tissues.

Leaving the personal cultivation room, Chen Lie went straight to a Blood Essence Detector and stepped into the cabin to begin measuring his blood essence value.

Inside the cabin, a blue light began to scan him. Once the scan was complete, the machine announced the results.

"Beep. Detection complete. Blood essence value: 22.91 units."

Chen Lie stepped out of the detector cabin and glanced back at the value displayed on the screen.

"My blood essence value has doubled. As expected of a fifty-year-old spirit herb."

As Chen Lie thought this, he suddenly felt a sense of discomfort in his body. He channeled his mental energy to probe his physique and reached a conclusion.

"It seems that increasing my blood essence base by such a large margin all at once has placed a significant burden on my body."

There was no helping it; he lacked the resources to properly nourish his body. However, it was only a minor burden that wouldn't affect him much; a few days of medicinal recuperation would set it right.

When he walked out of the Dongchuan Martial Arts Hall, the sky had already grown dim. Chen Lie arrived at the bus stop next to the hall and took a shuttle bus home.

Early the next morning, Chen Lie grabbed a quick bite to eat before heading out to school.

Upon arriving at the Elite campus, Chen Lie went straight to the classroom for Elite Class 5.

There were already a few dozen students in the classroom. Chen Lie walked in and picked a seat to sit down.

"Chen Lie, why weren't you here yesterday?"

No sooner had he sat down than he heard a voice from behind him.

He turned his head to see the student who had approached him on his first day in the Elite Class, a boy named Wang Chen.

"I had some business yesterday. Why? Do you come to the Elite Class every single day? When I came to report, the instructor said it wouldn't matter even if I didn't show up for a month," Chen Lie said.

Wang Chen replied, "I wouldn't say every day, but I come often. For those of us who are bottom-tier elite students, our family backgrounds aren't exactly great. What else would we do if we didn't come to school? After all, they provide two nutritious meals a day here."

"That's true," Chen Lie nodded.

"I only made it into the Elite Class in the last two months, coming up from a regular senior year class. What about you, Chen Lie?"

As Wang Chen spoke, he moved to the front row and sat down next to Chen Lie.

"I also came from a regular senior year class," Chen Lie said.

"Then we're screwed. The instructors don't pay any attention to those of us who only make it into the Elite Class in our senior year."

Chen Lie asked, "Does it really matter whether the instructor pays attention or not?"

"Let me put it this way: my family background is average. Coming to the Elite Class means I get two nutritious meals, and there are two martial arts guidance sessions every week. Do you know how many Star Dollars it costs to learn a martial art at a martial arts hall? A few hundred thousand is on the low end, so I have to rely on learning at school. That's why I have to come here often. Since I just joined, my blood essence value is definitely lower than the other students. Most people in the Elite Class are the type to suck up to the strong and bully the weak. Because I didn't join in my freshman or sophomore year, I'm not valued by the instructors, so when the veteran elite students bully me, the instructors usually just turn a blind eye."

Wang Chen shook his head and sighed.

"So that's how stifling it is for students promoted from regular senior classes," Chen Lie mused.

"Exactly. I once overheard the school leadership talking about how the school spends over a billion Star Dollars a month on subsidies for elite students, saying it's a huge waste of money. They said those who only make it into the Elite Class in their senior year, or those whose blood essence value hasn't broken 10 after half a year, should all be kicked out. Another leader said: 'There's no choice. The school needs to cultivate top-tier elite students. The students promoted from regular senior classes and those with single-digit blood essence values are both indispensable. Without these bottom-tier students to serve as a foil, how can we foster the strong-willed mentality of the top-tier elite students?' Listen to that—doesn't that mean we're just cannon fodder for the top-tier students? Our existence is merely to cultivate the 'strong' mindset for them?"

Wang Chen's face was full of indignation.

Chen Lie nodded. The law of the jungle—the survival of the fittest—was indeed like that.

Just then, a beautiful girl walked into the classroom and sat down in the seat next to Chen Lie, looking furious.

Seeing the beautiful girl sit between him and Chen Lie, Wang Chen immediately scooted away.

He whispered, "Chen Lie, move away quickly."

Chen Lie asked, "Why?"

Wang Chen was just about to explain when he saw another male student walk through the classroom door, causing him to immediately lower his head.

The boy walked up to Chen Lie's desk, tapped his finger on the surface, and without even looking at Chen Lie, simply said, "Move!"

Chen Lie saw this and said nothing, simply shifting to the side; after all, there were plenty of empty seats.

"Wanwan, please don't be angry anymore, okay? That girl from just now really is just my younger sister."

"Do you take me for a fool, Zhang Xun? You were practically glued together, and you call that just your sister? When did your parents give birth to another sister for you?"

The beautiful girl said coldly.

"This... I didn't say she was my biological sister, she's my god-sister."

"Get lost!"

The male student gave a sheepish smile, showing no intention of backing down. Instead, he sat in the seat Chen Lie had just vacated and continued talking to the beautiful girl.

At this moment, Wang Chen leaned in toward Chen Lie and whispered, "That guy is named Zhang Xun. He transferred into Elite Class 5 from the Grade 11 key class and has been in the Elite Class for a year now. His Vitality value broke into double digits a long time ago. We'd best stay far away from him; he uses his high Vitality to bully newcomers all the time."

"Understood."

Chen Lie nodded. It seemed the Elite Class managed its students with a half-neglectful, survival-of-the-fittest approach.

If you were weak, you got bullied; if you were strong, you bullied others.

Wang Chen lowered his voice further. "Because Zhang Xun comes from a good background and has real strength, he loves to flirt with new girls.

However, he has a girlfriend—that girl there, Xie Wanwan. The current situation is definitely because Zhang Xun was caught flirting with someone else by her.

We should stay far away, lest they get worked up and take their anger out on us."

"No need," Chen Lie said, waving a hand. "We'll just sit here."

"Alright."

Wang Chen saw that they weren't actually that close to Zhang Xun, so he nodded.

"How about this, Wanwan? Aren't you practicing the Water Soft Palm? My uncle is a martial arts instructor who specializes in teaching it. I'll ask him to give you one-on-one coaching, so please stop being angry with me, okay?"

Zhang Xun said to Xie Wanwan beside him.

"Hmph!"

Xie Wanwan turned her head away, ignoring him.

"Fine, I promise you, from now on I will absolutely not have any contact with other girls. Can you forgive me one more time?" Zhang Xun added.

"Really?" Xie Wanwan turned to look at Zhang Xun, blinking her eyes.

"Of course. When have I ever failed to keep a promise I made to you?" Zhang Xun countered.

"Alright then. I'm free this Saturday. Go ask your uncle to coach me in the Water Soft Palm on Saturday!"

"Deal. I'll go talk to my uncle as soon as school ends."

After saying this, Zhang Xun reached out and pulled Xie Wanwan into his arms. She didn't resist, and the two began acting lovey-dovey.

"Hmph, it's all your fault for always making me angry. I didn't even eat breakfast, and I'm still hungry now!"

After a moment of affection, Xie Wanwan suddenly snapped at Zhang Xun.

Zhang Xun laughed heartily and said, "Is that all?"

He turned his head, scanned the room, and pointed a finger at the students behind him.

"Hey you, that's right, you. Right now, immediately, go run to the front and buy two breakfasts."

Zhang Xun swept his finger around, finally stopping on Chen Lie, who was closest to him. After speaking, he didn't even wait for a reaction before turning back to continue flirting with Xie Wanwan.

Wang Chen couldn't help but glance at Chen Lie and said, "Let's go, Chen Lie. I'll go with you."

"Go? Go where?"

"To buy breakfast, obviously."

"Why would I buy breakfast? I'm not hungry."

"What does you being hungry have to do with anything?" Wang Chen said. "Didn't you hear Zhang Xun tell you to go buy two breakfasts and bring them back?"

"I'm not his father. Why should I buy him breakfast?" Chen Lie replied.

Wang Chen said, "Zhang Xun's Vitality value is in the double digits. Out of every ten newcomers in Elite Class 5, seven have been beaten by him.

We both came from the Grade 12 general classes and are at the bottom of the barrel here. The instructors won't care about you. If Zhang Xun beats you up, even if you report it to the instructors, they won't do anything.

If you don't listen to Zhang Xun and go buy that breakfast, this won't end well for you today."

"Don't worry about it."

"Sigh..."

Seeing Chen Lie's attitude, Wang Chen couldn't help but shake his head and sigh.

When he first entered the Elite Class, he too had been full of spirit, feeling that he was special and far superior to the average person.

Unfortunately, after receiving a few brutal beatings in the Elite Class, he finally understood that he was merely at the very bottom of the elite students.

He believed that in another month or so, Chen Lie would be just like him; after all, words don't teach, but experience teaches everything.

Zhang Xun, while talking to Xie Wanwan in front, noticed that Chen Lie hadn't moved. He immediately stood up, walked to Chen Lie's desk, and slammed his hand down hard.

"I told you to go buy two breakfasts, are you deaf? Why aren't you moving yet?"

Chen Lie stood up, facing Zhang Xun without a hint of fear. "You want me to run errands and buy you breakfast? Sure. Get down on your knees, kowtow to me, and call me 'Father'."