"Good. Let's do it."
Ma Mingyu immediately decided to put the plan into action and sent Xu Ziming's personal account information to the principal.
The scholarship would be deposited directly into Xu Ziming's personal account. He only needed to claim it.
After leaving the principal's office, Ma Mingyu immediately sent Xu Ziming a message: "Come to my office as soon as you get to school."
Xu Ziming had just finished breakfast and was getting ready to head to school when he saw Ma Mingyu's message. He immediately set off.
Ma Mingyu's office.
"Knock, knock!"
Xu Ziming politely knocked twice.
"A-Ming? Come in."
Yesterday, Xu Ziming had called him Master. Today, Ma Mingyu had already changed the way he addressed him, sounding much more familiar.
Xu Ziming pushed the door open and saw Ma Mingyu holding a form, as if he had prepared it long ago.
"Teacher, is there anything I can help you with?"
Xu Ziming instinctively assumed his teacher had called him in for a reason. Naturally, he wasn't tactless enough to ask, "What did you call me in for?"
"No, no. Remember how I said yesterday that I'd get you a scholarship? I went to speak to the principal about it this morning."
At that, he smiled, then took out the form in his hand and placed it in front of Xu Ziming.
"Take a look for yourself."
His tone was relaxed, and the contents of the form appeared before Xu Ziming's eyes.
[Pengcheng No. 3 High School Second-Tier Scholarship Agreement]
After signing the agreement, you can receive a monthly reward of 10,000 yuan from the school.
Signing requirements: Applicants must meet the requirements upon assessment. The requirements will change as the College Entrance Exam approaches.
"10,000 yuan?"
This was the first time Xu Ziming had ever seen so much money. His family was only of average means; otherwise, he wouldn't have bought the cheapest Iron Cloth Shirt and put himself through such torment.
"A mere 10,000 yuan can be earned by killing one foreign race member on the front lines. It's nothing to make a fuss over. Do you want to get the first-tier scholarship?"
Ma Mingyu looked at Xu Ziming's stunned expression and teased him with a laugh.
"First-tier scholarship?"
"That's right. You can receive 30,000 yuan each month, and you can also choose to claim either five E-Grade Blood Qi Potions or one D-Grade Blood Qi Potion."
Xu Ziming fell silent for two seconds. "Of course I want it, but what are the requirements?"
He wasn't stupid. How could he receive such a good deal without giving anything in return?
"The requirement isn't difficult. You just have to defeat him."
As he spoke, Ma Mingyu pulled out a profile. It was Zhao Yong, whose Life Energy Level of 3.8 qualified him for the first-tier scholarship.
"Life Energy Level: 3.8. He specializes in fist techniques and has reached the Fist Momentum stage. He's also practiced the ancient martial art Golden Bell Cover, so his defensive ability is very strong."
Xu Ziming frowned as he looked at the profile. Even from this information alone, Zhao Yong was clearly formidable—not an ordinary opponent by any means.
But as for whether he could defeat him, in four days his Basic Body Forging Method would reach the minor-success stage, and his Iron Cloth Shirt would reach the Iron Skin stage. What's more, with an Equipment Slot now empty, he could equip another new trait.
His own stats were clearly far more impressive. "Of course. I'll do it." Confidence filled his eyes.
"Hahaha! That's my disciple. How long do you think you'll need?"
"Four days. Give me four days, and I'll beat him."
Ma Mingyu glanced at Xu Ziming but didn't ask why he'd said four days. A peculiar smile appeared on his face instead.
"You really know how to pick your timing. The class assignments are happening in four days."
After saying that, he ushered Xu Ziming out before the boy could respond. "I'll contact his current homeroom teacher. Four days from now, prove your talent in front of the school's top students."
"Oh, and if you really win four days from now, I'll give you a new sword technique. It's one I created myself."
Xu Ziming stumbled out of the office, still trying to process everything. Then he heard his homeroom teacher add those words, and warmth flooded his heart.
E-Grade Blood Qi Potions, the Battle Net, a scholarship, a self-created technique.
Teacher Ma had already helped him so many times. He wouldn't let him down.
And to prove himself, he had to win—a glorious, decisive victory!
Before that, he had to hurry up and train.
Meanwhile, Zhao Yong's homeroom teacher also received the message Ma Mingyu had sent.
"A student with a Life Energy Level of 3.1 dares to challenge mine? Does he really think that just because he came from the military, his students must be strong?"
He'd been fed up with Ma Mingyu for a long time. They'd joined the school in the same year, and his students were stronger, too.
Yet the school administrators acted as if they couldn't see it. Every time awards and honors were handed out, it was that Teacher Ma who got them—and he even had a private office!
Jealousy smoldered in his heart like a buried spark. This time, he would have his student thoroughly defeat Xu Ziming and prove his own ability.
At the thought, a lecherous smile crept across his face.
He paid no attention to the fact that he was still in the office.
"Teacher Li, what's wrong?"
Another teacher nearby asked curiously, snapping him out of his daydream.
"Oh, nothing. The results are out, and Zhao Yong in my class did well again."
"Then congratulations."
"Good timing. I'll go find my student."
With that, he left the office and went to the classroom. Zhao Yong was inside reviewing his cultural subjects.
Of all his scores, his cultural subjects were the only ones that weren't very good. He was better than Xu Ziming in everything else.
"Zhao Yong, come out for a moment. I need to talk to you."
Hearing his homeroom teacher call from the doorway, Zhao Yong immediately left the classroom without hesitation.
"Teacher, what did you need me for?"
"There's a student named Xu Ziming who says he wants to challenge you and take your first-tier scholarship spot. It'll happen in four days."
He spoke carelessly, deliberately making it sound as if Zhao Yong were the one being bullied.
"Just a clown. His Life Energy Level is only 3.1."
Zhao Yong glanced at the form and didn't bother reading further. Turning away, he said, "Don't worry, Teacher. I'll beat him to a pulp in four days."
"A-Ming, the cultural scores are out! You got 201 points! Your total score is 507! You're definitely going to get into Sprint Class now!"
As soon as Xu Ziming entered the classroom, Dai Fei hurried over and loudly announced his scores.
"He improved by more than a hundred points in just a month and a half. That's incredible!"
"He's always been close with the homeroom teacher. Could he have gotten special treatment?"
Hearing Dai Fei's voice, some students admired him, some were jealous, and, of course, some started spreading rumors.
"What are you talking about? Weren't you there when A-Ming beat the virtual body?"
Before Xu Ziming could say anything, Dai Fei had already snapped back at them.
The other student immediately fell silent. But he was a high schooler, after all, and clearly didn't want to lose face. He was just about to speak when he saw Xu Ziming staring right at him.