"Golden Cicada Robe has received outside support and complete nutrition. Its confidence has soared, and its cultivation progress is advancing by leaps and bounds."
3%...10%...50%...
Two hours later—
"Golden Cicada Robe has reached the entry level. Cultivation speed restored."
When Lu Chong opened his eyes again, he found that he had successfully reached the entry level in Golden Cicada Robe.
The medicinal liquid in the bathtub had lost its color, and the searing sensation on his body had gradually faded.
At the same time, he noticed that a layer of old skin had peeled away from his entire body, revealing new skin with a faint metallic sheen and remarkable toughness.
"It's already used up?"
Lu Chong was stunned. The medicinal liquid he'd prepared for five thousand yuan had been used up in just two hours.
Fortunately, he'd successfully reached the entry level in Golden Cicada Robe, so at least his money hadn't gone to waste.
According to the Old Principal, even with a Medicinal Bath, it would take at least two months to reach the entry level in Golden Cicada Robe.
The Old Principal hadn't expected Lu Chong to achieve Great Accomplishment in this high-grade Body-Refining Martial Art before the College Entrance Exam.
"Compared to that, spending money to save time is still a good deal for me. It's also saved me a lot of time."
Lu Chong thought contentedly. He didn't buy more medicinal liquid, figuring he'd continue tomorrow night. He really couldn't afford to use it up so quickly.
"How effective is Golden Cicada Robe at the entry level?"
Lu Chong ran a hand over his metallic-looking skin. It felt as tough and sturdy as cowhide.
"This is only the entry level. What will it be like at Small Accomplishment or Great Accomplishment?" Lu Chong looked forward to finding out.
The high-grade Body-Refining Martial Art had certainly lived up to his expectations.
With a slight movement of his mind, the metallic sheen on his skin disappeared again, leaving only skin that looked healthier than before.
After settling down, he planned to make the most of his time cultivating Qi Absorbing Art before bed.
As his Head Teacher had said, he couldn't neglect his cultivation while training in Martial Skills.
Taking a bite of the Nutrition Bar he'd received from his Head Teacher that day, Lu Chong sat cross-legged and began cultivating Qi Absorbing Art.
For a while, its cultivation speed doubled on top of its existing increase, reaching 8% per hour.
Over the next three hours, his progress in Qi Absorbing Art increased by 24%.
"After a good night's sleep, I'll break through to the sixth level tomorrow."
A Martial Disciple still needed adequate sleep. Lu Chong didn't force himself to break through. After all, Qi Absorbing Art and his Martial Skills would continue cultivating automatically while he slept.
March 9, 2136, Friday, sunny.
A little after six thirty in the morning, Lu Chong awoke to a warm sensation.
Name: Lu Chong Level: Martial Disciple, Sixth Stage (1%)
"I really did break through. Waking up to find that both my cultivation and Martial Skills have improved feels great."
Lu Chong wasn't surprised. He got up, washed, and ran to school, feeling that his body was more than twice as strong as it had been the day before.
After his four morning classes, Lu Chong was about to head to the cafeteria when he saw several students from Class 1 at the classroom door. At their head was Zhao Longfei, his face cold.
"Lu Chong, come out for a moment."
Zhao Longfei didn't speak. One of the students behind him shouted instead.
"Brother Chong, don't go." Chen Yufei saw that they'd come looking for trouble and hurriedly stood up to stop him.
Then he turned toward the five students from Class 1 and called out, "What's this? Can't Class 1 take a loss? Are you trying to get revenge on him in private?"
The students from Class 5 stood up too, glaring at the five. They might not be as strong individually as the students from Class 1, but that didn't mean they'd let students from another class bully them.
Zhao Longfei stared at Lu Chong without a word, his eyes full of menace.
"It's fine. He just wants to discuss something with me."
Lu Chong knew why Zhao Longfei had come. He smiled and reassured his classmates before heading out of the classroom alone.
Chen Yufei was still worried, so he followed close behind.
The group of students went up to the roof of the Teaching Building. Only then did Zhao Longfei turn to Lu Chong and say coldly, "I said I'd give you time to consider. Why didn't you come to see me today?"
Lu Chong replied calmly, "I told you yesterday. I'm not interested in what you suggested."
Zhao Longfei scoffed. "Do you even know what we're offering?"
"Train Martial Skills with Xiang Yueya. I'll pay you a thousand an hour, plus an extra thousand as a subsidy."
"This is an honor for you, and a chance to improve your living conditions." Zhao Longfei still spoke as if he were handing out charity to a poor man.
Chen Yufei, standing nearby, was stunned. Was this actually an option?
He could spend time with the school's goddess up close and make good money. Why wouldn't anyone take the offer?
But Lu Chong only laughed. He was already training Lou Qingqing, and she paid him much better than that.
More importantly, Lou Qingqing treated him with respect.
Zhao Longfei, on the other hand, couldn't even talk like a normal person.
And then there was Xiang Yueya, the mysterious person behind the whole arrangement. If she had to use someone else to make this offer for her, she probably wouldn't be easy to deal with either.
A pretty face wasn't enough to make Lu Chong go chasing after her.
"I'll say it again. I'm not interested."
Lu Chong remained calm. When he'd finished speaking, he turned to leave with Chen Yufei. The students from Class 1 immediately blocked their way.
"My patience is limited, Lu Chong. Do you know what happens if you refuse me?" Zhao Longfei stepped in front of Lu Chong, his voice cold and aggressive.
Lu Chong chuckled. "Are you planning to fight me at school? Go ahead and try."
The school prohibited private fights. Anyone caught would be expelled. Even with Zhao Longfei's influential background, he wouldn't be exempt—and he could even lose his eligibility for the College Entrance Exam.
"Fine. Fine." Zhao Longfei's face turned livid. "I won't touch you here. But the Mock Exam is coming up soon. We'll see if you're still this tough then."
Lu Chong didn't even wait for Zhao Longfei to finish. He took the dazed Chen Yufei downstairs.
He disdained associating with people like him.
As for the Mock Exam, if he got the chance to face Zhao Longfei, that would be perfect. He'd wanted to beat that guy up for a while.
On the way to the cafeteria, Chen Yufei sighed. "Sigh, Brother Chong, you don't have to worry about how I feel."
"I may like Xiang Yueya, but I like Lou Qingqing too. And Chai Yufen from Class 2, and Miao Yuanyuan from Class 4."
"If you get the chance to win Xiang Yueya over, I won't hold it against you. As your brother, I'll just congratulate you."
Lu Chong was speechless. He silently quickened his pace to avoid being judged by everyone.
On the roof of the Teaching Building, one of the students behind Zhao Longfei asked, "Brother Fei, what should we do? Should we get someone to teach him a lesson?"
Zhao Longfei glared at the two figures below. Only after they'd disappeared from sight did he answer coldly, "No need."
"Don't let Xiang Yueya look down on us. Besides, Lu Chong is a favorite of the teachers in Class 5 now. We can't resort to underhanded tricks."
"For someone so insecure, jealous of the rich, and full of himself, all we have to do is beat him fair and square in the field he's proud of. Then he'll naturally submit."
"I'll show him what I can do at the Mock Exam."
Before you continue