Top Universities

"Are you really done gambling? You aren't lying to me, are you?"

Seeing the suspicion in Gao Teng's eyes, Fan Haiwei immediately swore, "Little Big Brother, I really, really am not lying to you. If I ever gamble again, may I die a horrible death!"

Gao Teng didn't say a word, silently watching Fan Haiwei for a few seconds.

He saw sincerity on Fan Haiwei's face; this man truly wanted to turn over a new leaf.

Gao Teng couldn't help but be deeply moved. In just a few short hours, he had completely transformed a morally bankrupt person—it was truly remarkable!

"I'll believe you this once."

Gao Teng raised his hand and patted Fan Haiwei on the shoulder. "Remember not to repeat your past mistakes."

Fan Haiwei was overjoyed and said repeatedly, "I won't, I won't. I will definitely live an honest life from now on."

"You can go."

"Right!"

As if granted amnesty, Fan Haiwei ran off quickly.

Watching the man's retreating figure, Gao Teng felt a sense of infinite emotion.

He had saved a fallen soul, adding a little more beauty to this world.

He couldn't help but sigh, "Indeed, only after surviving a disaster does one understand the value of life and learn to cherish those around them."

Zhang Meizhu's expression was incredibly strange. "How did his 'disaster' come about?"

Gao Teng waved his hand dismissively. "Don't worry about that."

Zhang Meizhu smiled. "It's getting late, and we have school tomorrow. Let's meet again tomorrow night."

"Sure."

Gao Teng replied and headed toward the Regent Hotel.

He had only taken a few steps when Zhang Meizhu caught up; her bike was also locked near the hotel.

As they walked toward the hotel together, Zhang Meizhu was silent for a moment before saying with a serious expression, "Gao Teng, if you are in urgent need of money, you must tell me. I will definitely help you."

"Thank you."

Gao Teng rarely revealed his inner thoughts, but he smiled and said, "You are my first friend."

Zhang Meizhu was stunned; it was clear that Gao Teng's life had been filled with misery.

He had lived for eighteen years, yet he had only just made his first friend.

She gathered her thoughts and said earnestly, "There are only two months left until the college entrance exam. Don't treat medicine like candy just to improve your strength; your body won't be able to handle it.

Even if you can't get into a junior college, it doesn't matter. Life isn't just about the path of martial arts; don't push yourself too hard."

Gao Teng scratched the back of his head, habitually wanting to say something witty.

But when he met Zhang Meizhu's eyes, which were full of concern, he swallowed the words that had reached his lips.

"Don't be so discouraged."

Zhang Meizhu raised her hand, patted Gao Teng's shoulder heavily, and said with a smile, "When I succeed in my cultivation in the future, I'll let you manage one of my businesses, like a hotel or something. I guarantee you'll share in the success."

"Sure."

Chatting like this, they arrived at the parking area.

Both of them were riding bicycles, and after saying goodbye, they rode off in different directions.

On the way, Gao Teng summoned his attribute panel again, looking only at [Merit Points].

"3002."

Although he hadn't encountered any monsters in the sewer, he had still been attacked by mutated creatures.

After a "brutal" slaughter, he finally had three opportunities to steal.

"A beautiful future is waiting for me!"

Gao Teng's heart surged with excitement, and he pedaled his bicycle fiercely.

After returning to the urban village, he ignored the middle-aged woman who came to strike up a conversation, carried his bike upstairs, and entered his rental room.

He washed up and went to sleep, waking up at dawn.

He carried his bike downstairs, bought breakfast on the side of the road, and rode to school while eating.

After locking his bike, Gao Teng ran impatiently toward the teaching building, specifically passing by the Grade 12 Class 8 classroom on the third floor.

Looking into the classroom from the window, Zhou Xing had already arrived at school early and was sitting cross-legged on his chair, immersed in diligent cultivation.

Wisps of white steam rose from the top of his head, and air currents flowed faintly around his body; he was clearly at a critical point in his practice.

[You have gained 56 points of cultivation]
[You have gained 0.11 points of mental strength]
[You have gained 7% proficiency in Basic Body Tempering Technique]
[You have gained 0.17 points of physical strength]

[You have obtained...]

Amidst a melodious chime, a surge of powerful energy instantly flooded Gao Teng's entire body.

Within his meridians, true qi surged and flowed, pouring into his dantian like a river returning to the sea, causing the vortex of energy to condense and solidify further.

His flesh, bones, and sinews grew increasingly firm and resilient under the scouring of this energy; it felt as if his entire being had been soaked in a spiritual elixir, leaving him feeling indescribably comfortable from head to toe.

His mind was clearer than ever before; the various cultivation techniques and martial arts he usually practiced surfaced in his mind one by one, and many points that had previously felt stagnant suddenly became clear!

Gao Teng forcibly suppressed the urge to shout out loud and quickened his pace as he walked past Class 8 of the third year.

Just as he reached the corridor, a hysterical roar erupted from the classroom from Zhou Xing.

"Why is it like this? What is happening? Ah!!!"

Listening to this voice of collapse, the corners of Gao Teng's mouth couldn't help but curl upward.

Zhou Xing deserved this kind of punishment; he deserved to have his cultivation stolen bit by bit, to watch helplessly as he grew weaker while being unable to do anything about it!

"This is what you call getting what you deserve."

Gao Teng said to himself in his heart, summoning his attribute panel.

[Name: Gao Teng]
[Realm: Level 2 (Mid-stage Qi Condensation) (21/800 cultivation)]
[Physical Strength: 2.48]
[Mental Strength: 2.03]
[Internal Technique: Basic Breathing Technique (Level 2, 48%)]
[External Technique: Basic Body Tempering (Level 6, 42%)]
[Mental Method: Basic Meditation (Level 7, 21%)]
[Martial Arts: Basic Eighteen Fist Styles (Level 5, 53%)]
[Merit Points: 2]

After thirteen consecutive thefts, he had gained 219 points of cultivation, 0.32 points of physical strength, 0.11 points of mental strength, 7% proficiency in Basic Body Tempering, 42% in Basic Breathing Technique, 10% in Basic Meditation, and 8% in Basic Eighteen Fist Styles.

Every aspect had seen some improvement.

"Very good."

Gao Teng clenched his fists; as long as Zhou Xing kept working hard, and hard, and harder, he would soon be able to get into a key university.

The only problem was that time was tight; if he were given another two or three months, getting into a top-tier institution wouldn't be a problem at all.

Taiyi University, Kunlun University, Tianshan University, Qingcheng University, and Baihua University.

The faculty, connections, cultivation resources, and martial arts heritage of these five top-tier institutions were all of the highest caliber.

Getting into such a top-tier institution was equivalent to ascending to the heavens in a single step, distancing oneself from the masses and existing in an entirely different world from then on.

"It's not like I have no chance at all. If I kill more monsters, the Big Five are not just a pipe dream."

Gao Teng rubbed his chin; he was well aware of the admission requirements for top-tier institutions.

That was to become a Level 4 martial artist, reach Level 4 in physical and mental strength, and break through to Level 10 in the four basic categories of internal, external, mental, and martial arts.

Since he possessed the divine power to steal cultivation, how could he limit himself and be satisfied with just getting into a key university?

Gao Teng decided to change his goal: he must get into the Big Five!