Crimson Flame Squad

After completing the enrollment procedures.

Fang Yu met up with Wang Mo and Zhang Tao.

"Fang, what's your rank?" Wang Mo asked curiously as soon as they met.

"1,256th," Fang Yu said.

"That high?" Zhang Tao couldn't help saying. "I'm only 2,488th."

He had thought his own ranking was high, considering they had only just enrolled.

He had never expected Fang Yu to rank over a thousand places above him.

"That's monstrous. Minute Subtlety in saber techniques really is impressive." Wang Mo shook his head. "I'm 4,343rd. I'm probably near the bottom among the students in our year."

"Don't worry, Mo." Fang Yu smiled. "Martial arts undergraduates generally have higher life levels. They should all have taken part in practical combat training in February, so they've probably accumulated some coefficient points. Naturally, their total scores would be higher."

"Zhang Tao's rank is higher because his physical techniques have reached greater mastery of Minute Subtlety. Mine is probably even higher because I also have Minute Subtlety in saber techniques."

"But judging by base points alone, your rank wouldn't be this low," Fang Yu said. "Once you've both returned from the practical combat assessment, your rankings will rise by a lot."

It was a realistic prediction.

Zhang Tao, for example, had a life level of 20 and greater mastery of Minute Subtlety. His strength was definitely among the best of the undergraduates in their year.

As for Wang Mo, his martial arts techniques had only reached lesser mastery of Minute Subtlety, but his life level of 20 was definitely near the top, even among students in his year at Huguang Martial Arts University... That alone should have kept his rank from being so low.

What they lacked compared with undergraduates at the same level was the coefficient.

"Yeah."

"Looks like we were all right to choose practical combat." Wang Mo spoke quite solemnly. "Although it'll be hard to break into the top 300 and get an elite contract, a higher rank will at least save us some embarrassment."

Under Huguang Martial Arts University's rules, students who broke into the top 300 for the first time in an end-of-semester assessment would receive an "elite contract." At the same time, if an elite student's rank fell below 500th, their elite contract would be suspended.

Wang Mo didn't care much about his results, but what young person didn't have a competitive streak?

"Right, we can't embarrass ourselves too badly." Zhang Tao smiled too.

Even though I'm not as strong as Fang Yu for now, I've awakened my star aspect, so my life level definitely won't rise slowly, Zhang Tao thought. It's not impossible for me to break into the top 300.

Zhang Tao was full of anticipation too. His goal was to obtain an elite contract before graduating from university.

Until three in the afternoon.

Fang Yu wandered around Huguang Martial Arts University, familiarizing himself with the campus. Although the school term had yet to officially begin, many students were already cultivating on campus.

With his "elite student card," Fang Yu could enter a number of important cultivation facilities.

Huguang Martial Arts University really is a treasure land for martial arts cultivation, Fang Yu thought.

Basically, there were people assigned to take care of all the miscellaneous chores.

All the students had to do was focus on cultivation. There were all kinds of high-level cultivation facilities, such as gravity rooms and star power rooms, which the junior college didn't have.

Of course, Fang Yu hadn't awakened his star aspect yet, so he couldn't use the star power rooms.

A little after four in the afternoon, Fang Yu met his senior martial uncle Jiang Wei again.

Accompanied by Jiang Wei, Fang Yu met with another vice president of the Shengchuan Group and formally signed the endorsement contract.

It was a three-party agreement, with Huguang Martial Arts University acting as the witness. It was also uploaded to the Alliance Martial Artist Contract App as an electronic backup.

The contract officially became legally binding.

"Mr. Fang Yu, the first payment under the supplementary agreement, five million star coins, will reach your account within a day," the Shengchuan Group vice president said with a smile. "I'll head back and report to President Wang now."

"Sorry for the trouble." Fang Yu remained courteous.

After seeing the Shengchuan Group vice president off.

Jiang Wei led Fang Yu toward another martial arts room in the building, saying as they walked, "Fang Yu, when Huguang Martial Arts University students take part in practical combat on Primordial Star, they usually form squads with students from their own year, mostly in groups of five to eight. The one I chose for you is a fairly strong squad."

"Their life levels are all above 20."

"Even with my recommendation, martial artists still put emphasis on strength," Jiang Wei said. "If you want to establish yourself in the squad, it'll come down to your own strength."

"I understand." Fang Yu nodded.

A master could lead a student through the door, but cultivation depended on the individual... Senior Martial Uncle Jiang Wei had already helped him enough; he couldn't keep expecting the other man's support.

Soon.

The two arrived at the entrance to a martial arts room. Looking inside, they saw an immensely muscular young man with short hair, silently practicing spear techniques with a large spear in his hands.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

The spear shot out like an arrow, as if it would pierce every enemy before it. Each thrust tore through the air with a piercing shriek. It was terrifying.

What powerful spear techniques, and what tremendous force. Fang Yu was inwardly startled. A quick assessment told him that the other man was most likely stronger than he was.

At the edge of the martial arts room, a fair-skinned female martial artist with a voluptuous figure and flowing long hair sat cross-legged, apparently absorbing star power.

"Bai Chen, Xia Yao," Jiang Wei called.

"Hm?"

Only then did the muscular, short-haired young man lower his spear and turn to see Jiang Wei. His face had a stiff look to it as he grinned. "Teacher Jiang."

The long-haired young woman who had been sitting in meditation also rose and walked over. "Teacher Jiang," she said respectfully.

"This is the person I told you about earlier." Jiang Wei gestured to Fang Yu and introduced him. "Fang Yu, a new fourth-year student who hopes to join your Crimson Flame Squad."

"Fang Yu?" The voluptuous woman looked at Fang Yu curiously.

The muscular, short-haired young man stared at Fang Yu. "Hello, Fang Yu. I'm Bai Chen, captain of the Crimson Flame Squad. Since Teacher Jiang Wei recommended you, I trust your strength won't be lacking. But practical combat on Primordial Star is a life-and-death struggle, and I have to be responsible for the other squad members."

"So I have to test your strength. I hope you understand," the muscular, short-haired young man said.

"All right." Fang Yu nodded.

In the end, strength spoke for itself among martial artists.

"Fang Yu, check your life level first." Jiang Wei pointed to a device nearby. "Xia Yao, turn on both the life detection device and the punching force tester."

"Yes." Xia Yao quickly switched on the devices nearby.

Immediately afterward.

The muscular, short-haired young man and Xia Yao both looked at Fang Yu. Fang Yu walked straight over and stood in front of the life detection device, which emitted waves of light.

"Life level: 21.0!" The number appeared on the display above the device.

"Level 21?" A flicker of surprise crossed Bai Chen's eyes. Even among students in their year, few had reached life level 21.

Not everyone in their squad had reached level 21 either.

"He's actually level 21? No wonder Teacher Jiang recommended him. I heard he was a junior college student before?" Xia Yao looked surprised as well. "His life level is even a little higher than mine."

If Bai Chen and Xia Yao were merely surprised.

Jiang Wei looked calm on the surface, but inside he was already filled with shock. Level 21? How is that possible? Didn't the junior college-to-undergraduate assessment show only level 20.1 a few days ago?

His life level rose by almost one level in a few days? Even taking drugs wouldn't make it that fast!

Or is the device malfunctioning?

"Fang Yu, let's not waste time." Jiang Wei still maintained a calm expression, but a trace of urgency had entered his voice. "Test your punching force too. Try your base punching force first, then your maximum punching force."

"Okay."

Seeing that his life level had already been exposed, Fang Yu naturally had no intention of hiding his strength any longer. He stood before the punching force tester, planted his feet, and threw a punch.

"2,822 kilograms!" That was a perfectly standard base punching force for level 21.

Immediately afterward, Fang Yu circulated his qi and blood. His spine arched like a great dragon, his hidden force erupted, and his fist slammed into the punching force tester with a burst of air.

"Bang!"

As the muffled boom rang out, Jiang Wei, Xia Yao, and Bai Chen all looked at the electronic display on the device.

"-4,798 kilograms!"

It was an astonishing number.

"Greater mastery of Minute Subtlety?" Bai Chen's eyes lit up. "Good!"

"Greater mastery of Minute Subtlety?" Xia Yao looked even more shocked. "Is he really a junior college student? Since when did junior college students get so fierce? Where did he come from?"

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