Scholarship

However, thanks to the entry's bonus, he no longer needed to cultivate this realm and could proceed directly to the second: Iron Skin.

The requirements for this cultivation were incredibly harsh; it seemed one had to strip naked, find an extremely coarse rope to wrap around the body, and then continuously grind against it until the body reached its limit.

Coarse rope was not difficult to obtain, nor was it expensive, so Xu Ziming immediately bought a coil using his wristband.

Next came the challenge of how to wrap himself in the rope.

Xu Ziming searched online for a binding method that would more effectively torture his body.

As for where he found it, don't ask.

Xu Ziming quickly bound himself completely; he had to admit, the rope was indeed incredibly rough.

Once tightened, every movement brought a stinging, itchy pain, but even so, he had to persist.

Following the memories in his mind, he immediately assumed the cultivation posture for the second realm of the Iron Cloth Shirt—though, in truth, there wasn't really a "posture."

It was simply a matter of constantly using the coarse rope to rub against his flesh until he could no longer bear it.

He sprawled flat on the floor and, following the movements from his memory, began to writhe continuously. Though it looked rather undignified, the cultivation effect was surprisingly good.

[Iron Cloth Shirt, First Realm (0.1%)]

[Iron Cloth Shirt, First Realm (0.4%)]

[Iron Cloth Shirt, First Realm (1.1%)]

The sound of his progress echoed in his ears; if not for these clear notifications, Xu Ziming likely would have given up long ago.

The process was grueling. He had to use the floor to help tighten the rope while simultaneously increasing the intensity as the rope constricted. Half an hour passed, and he even began to feel a sense of suffocation.

It is worth mentioning that despite the growing suffocation, for some reason, his body felt warm and increasingly comfortable, and even his blood circulation had become much smoother.

Another half hour passed. By now, Xu Ziming was drenched in sweat, and his skin was covered in bloody welts from the constant friction.

Even his cultivation progress had reached [Iron Cloth Shirt, First Realm (15.3%)].

At this rate, he would likely break through to the second realm in about a week, achieving the permanent solidification of the entry.

However, he now found himself unable to move, as the technique dictated he must train until he had absolutely no strength left.

To make matters worse, the rope continued to tighten during the friction process, and with only a tiny sliver of strength remaining, he couldn't break free.

Just then, a "knock-knock" sound came from the bedroom door.

"Brother, Mom told me to bring you some fruit... Huh?!! Sorry, I'll leave!"

"Don't go, save me!"

Although the process was full of twists and turns, Xu Ziming was eventually "unbound."

During the process, he had tried his best to explain to his sister that this outrageous operation was for the sake of cultivation.

However, looking at the "I understand" expression on her face, he felt his explanation had been in vain.

After finally reminding her to eat the fruit, Xu Zhiyao ran out looking excited, as if she were about to share the news with someone.

Xu Ziming stood up and stretched his limbs, his joints letting out a few faint pops.

His muscles tightened with his movements, especially his skin, which looked as tough and powerful as cowhide.

The effect of the Iron Cloth Shirt was indeed excellent, though the cultivation method was a bit...

Now, Xu Ziming felt that a "physique suitable for a technique" might not just be about biology—it might also be about one's hobbies.

After resting for a while, Xu Ziming dove back into his academic studies.

Yet, outside his window, a dark shadow was slowly moving across the ground of the building.

It was clearly a person. Beneath the outer corner of his left eye was a deep, prominent scar. Anyone who had watched the news would recognize him: this was the fugitive True Martial Sect member, Song Yongkang.

He was actually hiding in a residential complex in Pengcheng—the very same one where Xu Ziming lived.

In his hand, he seemed to be holding something indistinct, which kept waving tentacles outward.

At this moment, at the Pengcheng Police Station.

Sun Wenbin stared at the electronic equipment before him, his fingers tapping rhythmically.

"Chief, we've found a lead on Song Yongkang. He seems to be staying in a residential complex in the west of the city. Shall we initiate an arrest?"

"Just have someone keep an eye on him. I want to see what he's really up to. True Martial Sect members are nothing but human traitors who communicate with alien races; they are not to be feared."

Sun Wenbin closed the display screen and took a sip of tea from his desk.

"The High School Martial Arts League in Pengcheng is in another month and a half, isn't it? Focus on the preparations; keeping that running smoothly is what matters most."

"Yes!"

The night passed quickly. Xu Ziming woke up promptly at four in the morning to practice the Basic Body Forging Method. By now, his progress in the Basic Body Forging Method had exceeded 60%; in three more days, it would be permanently solidified.

By then, he would be able to unlock a new equipment slot.

Pengcheng No. 3 High School, Principal's Office.

Ma Mingyu arrived here early in the morning; shortly after school ended yesterday evening, the results for Xu Ziming's academic subjects had been released.

201 points, plus 186 points from his Life Energy Level (a 3.1 Life Energy Level conversion) and 180 points from the practical assessment, totaled a solid 567 points.

Compared to the first mock exam a month and a half ago, he had improved by approximately 150 points.

With this score, he had a chance at the Five Great Spirit Academies, and naturally, he was now eligible for a scholarship.

The school's scholarships were divided into three tiers: the lowest, third-tier, offered 5,000 yuan, the second-tier 10,000 yuan, and the first-tier 30,000 yuan.

Moreover, these scholarships were distributed monthly; that is, a third-tier scholarship recipient could receive 5,000 yuan every month until they were deemed ineligible, at which point the scholarship would be revoked.

In addition to the money, students receiving the first-tier scholarship could choose between five E-grade Blood Qi Potion vials or one D-grade Blood Qi Potion vial each month.

Today, Ma Mingyu had come to secure the first-tier scholarship for Xu Ziming, as he believed that with these resources, Xu Ziming reaching a 4.5 Life Energy Level before the college entrance exam was by no means an empty boast.

"Principal, Xu Ziming's grades improved by 150 points in just a month and a half; doesn't this prove his potential?"

"The child is indeed excellent, but he can only be awarded the second-tier scholarship; the first-tier would be difficult to justify to the others."

There were only ten spots for the first-tier scholarship, and all ten were currently occupied; to obtain one, he would have to defeat one of the ten students currently holding those spots.

The weakest among them possessed a 3.8 Life Energy Level, and all were candidates aiming for the Five Great Spirit Academies this year.

Naturally, they would not simply give up their spots; if Xu Ziming wanted the first-tier scholarship, he would have to defeat them.

"As long as he defeats one of them, it's settled, right, Principal?"

"That's correct. We can grant him the second-tier scholarship for now, but as for the first-tier, he will have to earn it himself."