May 6 was the final day of the students' special training.
The students didn't go back out into the Wilderness or continue training their Martial Skills. Instead, they relaxed and rested.
The seven instructors, along with the squad leaders and soldiers who had trained with the students over the past month, finally got a day off. They shared a meal with the students and mingled with them.
The other event was the rank-awarding ceremony for Lu Chong, who had topped the Military Merit Ranking.
Colonel Huang appeared in person and awarded Lu Chong the rank of Second Lieutenant. The other students couldn't help but envy him.
A Second Lieutenant! It wasn't exactly a meteoric rise, but it certainly proved that even a poor family could produce an outstanding son.
The seven instructors were only Second Lieutenant platoon leaders, officers who could command a hundred or more soldiers.
Of course, Lu Chong's Second Lieutenant rank was honorary and came with no real authority.
But he could draw a Second Lieutenant's base salary of ten thousand Huaxia Coins a month. That alone was enough to make Lu Chong beam with delight.
More important to him was that his rank gave him access to some of the Military Department's resources, especially the military's martial arts inheritance.
It was no exaggeration to say that the Military Department's martial arts inheritance was probably the most complete and readily available in all of Huaxia.
Of course, he would have to make a contribution to access those resources. They could only be exchanged for military merit.
Lu Chong wasn't an exception. In recent years, the Military Department had opened up some honorary ranks to attract talent from civilian society.
That way, even young prodigies and experts who valued their freedom and didn't want to enlist could cooperate with the Military Department, while also being easier to keep track of.
The students were envious, but after all these days, they understood that Lu Chong had earned the honor.
Didn't the soldiers—and even the seven instructors—respect him wholeheartedly?
In the military, you couldn't win the respect of veteran soldiers without real ability.
"Lu Chong, don't hold back during the College Entrance Exam. If you bring home the Provincial Top Scholar title, we instructors will come all the way to the city and throw you a celebration feast."
At the farewell banquet, Cheng Dongye slung an arm around Lu Chong's neck and made his bold promise.
"Instructor Lu, don't forget about us. After the College Entrance Exam, if you get the chance, we'll take you into the Wilderness for some game."
Some of the soldiers sincerely invited him too. Most of them had received pointers from Lu Chong on their Martial Skills, and they both felt close to and respected him.
Lu Chong agreed to each invitation. He had to admit that these Huaxia soldiers had always been the kindest and most genuine people in his eyes.
Without their protection, Huaxia's vast Survival Base would not exist, and students like them would never have had the chance to study.
It wasn't until three that afternoon that the students finally climbed into the military vehicles, reluctant to leave, and were taken back to their respective schools.
As soon as Lu Chong returned to school, Principal Wei summoned him to his office. His Head Teacher, Wang Tong, was waiting there too.
"Good lad! You did a great job this time. You made First High School proud."
The moment Principal Wei saw Lu Chong, he burst into delighted laughter.
Wang Tong stood to the side, not daring to interrupt, but his face was beaming too.
It was unprecedented for a student from an ordinary class to become a Martial Artist before the College Entrance Exam.
Besides, Lu Chong's achievements went far beyond breaking through to become a Martial Artist.
According to the reports from the military camp, Lu Chong had done many remarkable things during the training. In the end, he had even received an honorary Second Lieutenant rank.
Wang Tong had come up through the military. He had served for a full ten years before finally making Second Lieutenant platoon leader, and that was as far as he had gone.
He never would have imagined that his student, who had only just come of age, could already stand on equal footing with him.
Even without command authority, he would be able to brag loudly to his old comrades from now on.
Wouldn't Li Chengjun have to take a detour whenever he ran into him?
At the thought, Wang Tong felt deeply satisfied. The more he looked at Lu Chong, the more pleased he was.
Just then, Principal Wei changed the subject, his expression turning serious. "I heard that someone tried to assassinate you during the training."
"Do you have any suspects?"
Wang Tong's expression also turned cold. It was an utterly despicable act. Who could be so cruel as to target an orphan still in high school—and the greatest prodigy in First High School's history, at that?
Lu Chong had someone in mind, but he had no evidence at all. He simply shook his head. "I don't know. I don't think I've made any enemies to the death."
The Old Principal nodded slightly and took a sip of tea. "For the time being, don't go home."
"Stay at the Teacher Apartment. Don't worry, I won't charge you. It's another house of my own," Principal Wei said with a smile when he saw Lu Chong hesitate.
He'd heard that the lad had fleeced quite a few people during training and was as fond of money as life itself.
Only then did Lu Chong grin. "Thank you, Teacher Wei."
"Mm, it's a small matter. Your safety is what matters," Principal Wei continued casually. "Besides, before the College Entrance Exam, I'll personally teach you an Earth-Rank Martial Skill that builds on the Golden Cicada Robe."
"High schools aren't allowed to teach Earth-Rank Martial Skills, but I'll be teaching you in my personal capacity. No one will dare complain," Principal Wei said magnanimously.
Wang Tong was about to say something, but Principal Wei cut him off first. "Don't teach the lad the Wind Splitting Axe for now. Your salary can't cover it."
Wang Tong fell silent. He really had been planning to teach Lu Chong the Earth-Rank Wind Splitting Axe in his personal capacity.
However, he would have to pay out of pocket for an Inheritance Jade Slip, and the price—over a million—would put a lot of pressure on him.
Principal Wei continued, "Besides, weapons aren't allowed in the Combat Assessment of the College Entrance Exam. Lu Chong can choose it as an elective himself after he gets into university."
Wang Tong saw the sense in that and let it go.
Lu Chong was grateful, but didn't say much. He simply kept their teacher-student bond in his heart.
"You don't need to feel any pressure. Taking the College Entrance Exam is a way to bring honor to our school, after all."
"Now that you've become a Martial Artist, we'll do our best to provide you with the same opportunities as the other students."
"But I should warn you: Earth-Rank Martial Skills are much harder than the Martial Skills you've trained in before."
"I can't promise how far you'll get with it before the College Entrance Exam," Principal Wei said solemnly.
As he spoke, the Old Principal suddenly remembered that he had said much the same thing when he first taught Lu Chong the Golden Cicada Robe.
Was this so-called difficulty really all that difficult for the lad?
"Yes, thank you, Teacher Wei. I'll do my best," Lu Chong replied just as seriously.
"The Earth-Rank Martial Skill that shares the same origin as the Golden Cicada Robe is called the Golden Light Wave. It's an Earth-Grade Low-Tier Martial Skill. It not only protects the body, but can also passively reflect attacks to a certain extent."
"You can receive the inheritance here and now."
Principal Wei took out a jade slip and handed it directly to Lu Chong.
Lu Chong accepted it respectfully, wondering what the difference was between this so-called Golden Light Wave and his Golden Bell Shield.
Could he train in it after mastering the Golden Bell Shield, or would the two conflict?
The question had been on his mind for a long time. At last, he could finally find out.
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