This was an opportunity, a fortunate encounter, a wondrous chance bestowed by Heaven. But to turn that opportunity completely into strength still required actual combat, to make it truly his own. Only then would the opportunity be complete.
Even the most incredible heavenly treasures, once they entered the meridians, would largely be consumed by the body's metabolism if no effort was made to digest and absorb them to the fullest, greatly diminishing their benefits.
And fighting, training, and physical activity were the surest ways to absorb them completely.
Everyone saw Zuo Xiaoduo's desperate determination to keep fighting and assumed he was excessively obsessed with winning and losing. None of them realized that this fellow was simply digesting his food...
Zuo Xiaoduo was fighting!
Knocked down again and again, he climbed back up again and again, fought again and again, charged again and again...
Even drenched in blood, even with his face battered and swollen, his fighting spirit remained high. He grew braver with every battle, refusing to bend through a hundred setbacks.
Gradually, even the four instructors overseeing the grounds from the raised platform noticed this student who lost every fight yet fought again after every loss. All four were moved.
"This kid's good. He's got plenty of fire in his blood."
At the edge of the Martial Dao training grounds.
Hu Ruoyun stood silently beneath a tree, quietly watching Zuo Xiaoduo fight again and again, get hurt again and again, get knocked down again and again, and climb back up again and again...
Her lips were pressed tightly together, and her eyes were rimmed with red.
It was like watching her own slow-witted child finally awaken from his muddled stupor one day and chase desperately after his lost years to reclaim them... that urgency, that burning drive!
"Xiaoduo, you can do it!"
Hu Ruoyun murmured to herself.
Behind her, beyond the window glass of the school building, Li Changjiang stood with his hands behind his back, watching the field, his wife, and a certain boy farther away.
It was finally over.
The way the entire class looked at Zuo Xiaoduo had already undergone a world-turning change!
That went for everyone, Qin Fangyang included.
Such effort, such an attitude, such utter fearlessness in the face of death...
It inspired heartfelt, solemn respect in every one of them.
Even Long Yusheng and Wan Lixiu, who had initially said they would teach Zuo Xiaoduo a lesson, quietly abandoned the idea.
Someone like this was destined to become strong!
On his very first day after transferring into the class, he had climbed a full six places!
It was more than shocking-it was downright awe-inspiring and terrifying!
"Rest and heal for the next hour... and while you're at it..." Qin Fangyang called on someone. "Li Chenglong, tell everyone about the continent and its history."
"Yes."
Zuo Xiaoduo was bewildered. He had no idea why Teacher Qin would have this fellow teach history. Even if Teacher Qin wasn't going to do it himself, surely he should have picked an outstanding student near the top of the class rankings? Why choose a certain someone in last place?
Indeed, after an afternoon of hard-fought battles, Zuo Xiaoduo had officially escaped last place in the class. Li Chenglong was back at the bottom!
Just then, Long Yusheng quietly came over and explained in a low voice, "Li Chenglong may have the weakest cultivation, but his breadth of knowledge and powerful memory are second to none even in our entire Second High School. He also has a photographic memory. He only needs to read a book once to remember every bit of it. Whenever there's something we don't understand, we ask him first. It's more convenient than asking a teacher. He even knows all sorts of things many teachers don't know, and knows them inside out. He's really something."
Zuo Xiaoduo's expression shifted.
That ability was incredibly powerful!
Even if his cultivation fell short, having someone with such all-knowing expertise was an enormous blessing for anyone traveling alongside him!
Back in the classroom.
Qin Fangyang went straight over and pressed a switch. Transparent panes of glass instantly descended across the doors and windows, sealing the entire classroom.
The next moment, thick, milky-white mist began spilling from all four walls, enveloping every student.
This was a restorative energy. It could replenish the stamina expended during their earlier sparring and effectively heal the students' injuries as well.
Zuo Xiaoduo felt a soothing energy pour into his body through countless pores all over him. The comfort and pleasure were truly beyond words.
Enveloped in that miraculous white mist, the swelling all over his body quietly faded, little by little.
This is fantastic! The Martial Warrior Class really does get excellent treatment.
I absolutely love it here!
Zuo Xiaoduo secretly reveled in delight.
As he enjoyed himself, he worked hard to circulate his energy and absorb the mist in great quantities. It felt like soaking in a hot spring in the depths of winter while drinking a cup of richly nourishing tea. His whole body was warm, comfortable inside and out.
Just then, the chubby Li Chenglong strolled leisurely up to the lectern.
Zuo Xiaoduo glanced over and discovered that, in the brief time since they had entered the classroom, the fellow had actually changed clothes. He wore a suit and leather shoes, and had even put on a tie. His hair gleamed with oil too-holy crap, he'd even slicked it all back!
He looked every inch a teacher!
Chapter 20: Teacher Li Gives a Lesson
Now Li Chenglong stood tall at the lectern, pointer in hand. He tapped it against the desk, looking quite imposing.
"Students!"
The chubby boy began his lesson without the slightest hint of nerves, entirely calm and unhurried. Clearly, this was far from his first time doing this.
"It is now time for Teacher Li's lesson. You can enjoy your recovery while listening to my lecture. Remember to pay attention. Ahem, Teacher Li can't read fortunes from faces, nor does he have an eye for discerning victory and defeat, and he certainly doesn't know how to spout bullshit... I'm just an ordinary student, an ordinary student who knows a little more than the rest of you..."
The moment the chubby boy finished speaking, a low ripple of laughter suddenly rose from the students and continued for a long time.
The corners of Zuo Xiaoduo's mouth kept twitching.
This brat's asking for a beating. He's clearly getting revenge because I knocked him off his horse earlier!
Taking the piss out of me the moment he gets up there-he really isn't big-hearted enough!