Chapter 13: High School Entrance Exam Imminent

Chapter 13: The High School Entrance Exam Is Imminent

Over the next fifteen days, everyone in the training hall of the Limitless Martial Arts Academy grew accustomed to a fixed scene.

When the first rays of dawn illuminated the training ground, a figure was already drenched in sweat in that corner.

When the last traces of twilight faded in the evening, that figure was still tirelessly repeating the body-tempering movements.

"Madman" Qin Feng became a label known to all in this year's high school exam sprint class at the Limitless Martial Arts Academy.

His life had been simplified to the extreme: training, eating, going home, sleeping.

The daytime coach, Lin Weiping, moved from initial observation to silent acquiescence, and finally, he would deliberately approach Qin Feng during his moments of exhaustion and rest, using the simplest words to offer a hint or two on key techniques for exerting force.

He never spoke any words of encouragement, only giving the purest technical guidance.

The nighttime coach, Li Weiguo, still poured all his energy into Zhou Heyuan.

He had applied for more time in the gravity chamber for Zhou Heyuan, and even spent his own money to buy several expensive auxiliary nutrient fluids.

In Li Weiguo's eyes, Zhou Heyuan was the student most likely to be personally sent into a key martial arts high school in his coaching career—a tangible glory.

As for Qin Feng, he was a tragic epitome worthy of sympathy, with admirable spirit but destined for no result.

Every time he saw Qin Feng's training uniform, repeatedly soaked through with sweat, he would silently sigh in his heart.

No one knew what terrifying growth data was recorded on the ordinary personal terminal on Qin Feng's wrist.

Over these fifteen days, Qin Feng was like a sponge sinking into the deep sea, silently and greedily absorbing everything that could make him stronger—the ample nutrition provided by his father, the vast residual medicinal effects in his body, the intentional or unintentional guidance from the two coaches, and the proficiency points that kept jumping on the [Heaven Rewards Diligence] panel, earned through his own sweat and willpower.

Time slipped away quietly amid this day-after-day ascetic training.

...

Three days before the exam, it was the return-to-school day.

Early morning, "Silver Gull" Community, 17th floor.

Qin Feng stood in his cramped room; the daylight was already bright.

He did not immediately start his morning practice as usual but stood quietly, summoning the system panel that only he could see.

Half a month of bitter training and accumulation—all his efforts would now transform into the most intuitive results.

A pale blue light screen unfolded before his eyes.

[Heaven Rewards Diligence, Unceasing Toil.]

[Host: Qin Feng]

[Vitality Index: 1.23]

[Mastered Cultivation Methods:]

[Imperial Basic Body-Tempering Method (Minor Achievement)]

[Proficiency: 15/1000]

[Hint: When proficiency reaches 1000, it can be upgraded to the Major Achievement realm.]

The Imperial Basic Body-Tempering Method had broken through to the "Minor Achievement" realm a week ago.

At the moment of breakthrough, he clearly felt an unprecedented affinity between his body and the free spiritual energy in the surrounding environment.

Every breath, every contraction and relaxation of his muscles, was absorbing the power of growth with higher efficiency.

And the Vitality Index finally settled at "1.23."

This number had already firmly surpassed the minimum admission score of 1.2 for the seven top martial arts high schools in previous years.

Of course, the score was just a reference.

Admission each year ultimately depended on ranking.

Among the tens of millions of examinees in Qiming Star, only the very top few could qualify to enter those seven schools.

Qin Feng closed the panel and slowly clenched his fist.

His knuckles emitted a series of crisp cracks, and a surge of power, far greater than half a month ago, filled his limbs and bones.

He walked out of the room.

In the living room, his father, Qin Dahai, was sitting by the dining table, silently wiping an old military dagger.

It was the only souvenir he had brought back from the battlefield.

Over these half a month, Qin Dahai had visibly grown thinner, with slightly sunken eye sockets, but his eyes were brighter than ever.

"Dad."

Qin Feng walked up to him, without superfluous words, directly pulled up his personal terminal, and projected the latest physical data report into the air before his father.

[Vitality Index: 1.23]

[Punch Strength Test (Right Hand): 789KG]

[100-Meter Sprint Speed: 8.9 seconds]

[Nerve Reaction Speed: 0.06 seconds]

Qin Dahai's motion of wiping the dagger froze instantly.

His gaze was fixed on the string of numbers "1.23," unmoving.

Time seemed to have been paused at this moment.

After a full ten-plus seconds, he let out a long, long sigh of turbid breath.

That breath seemed to carry away all the pent-up frustration and unwillingness that had been pressing on his chest for over a decade.

He did not shout excitedly like last time. Instead, he slowly and carefully put down the dagger, stood up, extended his right hand covered in calluses and scars, and heavily patted Qin Feng on the shoulder.

"Good."

One word, heavy as a mountain.

He raised his head, his eyes burning as he looked at his son, and a brilliant, heartfelt smile broke out on his weather-beaten face.

"1.23, it's already above the line for 'Qiming Seven High' in previous years. Son, as long as you perform normally in the exam, we have a great chance of being admitted to Qiming Seven High."

"Qiming Seven High admits based solely on scores—fair and just. Keep it up, son, you can do it!"

"Yes, Dad."

Qin Feng nodded solemnly, turned, and left the house.

...

The gate of No. 7 Middle School was much quieter than usual. Qin Feng walked along the familiar tree-lined path toward his classroom.

Everything around him remained the same, but the air was filled with a sense of farewell.

In the classroom of Class 5, Grade 9, many people were already seated.

But as Qin Feng glanced around, he noticed that more than a dozen seats in the back row were empty.

He still remembered the names of those who had occupied those seats.

Wang Tao, that classmate who was good at cultural subjects but never met the physical standards.

There were a few more, all former classmates once labeled as "underachievers."

They did not come.

A month ago, they had accepted the list of recommendations from the vocational technical school and never returned.

Their lives had already veered prematurely onto another track.

In the classroom, the surviving students gathered in small clusters, murmuring in low voices.

Their topics were nothing more than predictions about the high school entrance exam, dreams of the future, and the melancholy of the impending separation.

"Hey, Crazy, over here!"

Zhou Heyuan's voice came from the front row.

He was surrounded by several classmates, proudly showing off the brand-new personal terminal on his wrist.

When he saw Qin Feng, he waved enthusiastically.

"You finally made it. So, how about it—confidence for the final month's sprint? I just tested yesterday: vitality index 0.95, punch power nearly 500 kilograms. Teacher Li said I've got a good shot at sneaking into a key martial arts high school."

"Congratulations,"

Qin Feng replied calmly.

"You keep it up too. After the exams, I'll treat everyone—call up all the classmates we can still reach, and we'll have a proper get-together,"

Zhou Heyuan said generously.

Qin Feng nodded and walked back to his seat.

No sooner had he sat down than the classroom door opened, and homeroom teacher Li Weiguo walked in.

Li Weiguo carried a stack of documents in his hands. His face, usually stern, now bore a gentle and reflective expression.

His gaze swept across the class, lingering for a moment on the empty seats, a flicker of barely perceptible complex emotion in his eyes.

"Classmates, everyone's here. I've called you back today to hand out your exam admission tickets, and also for what is truly the last lesson of your middle school years."

His voice was much softer than usual.

"Now, when I call your name, come up to the podium to receive your admission ticket."

"Ding Wei."

"Here."

"Zhou Heyuan."

"Here!"

Zhou Heyuan strode up to the podium with high spirits. Li Weiguo handed him the ticket, his face showing undisguised approval and relief, and whispered encouragingly, "Do well. Don't let the teacher down."

"Got it, Teacher!"

Li Weiguo nodded with satisfaction.

One name after another was called.

The classroom was very quiet, with only the sound of Li Weiguo calling names and the footsteps of students going up to receive their tickets.

"Qin Feng."

When this name rang out, many in the class instinctively turned their gazes toward the figure who had been silent in the corner for a month.

Qin Feng stood up and walked to the podium.

His steps were steady, his back straight—a stark contrast to the slightly self-conscious boy from a month ago.

Li Weiguo looked at him and handed over the admission ticket.

He could sense that this student before him had undergone some indescribable change.

The air of frailty and gloom that had clung to him had vanished without a trace, replaced by a restrained, rock-like stillness.

"Qin Feng,"

Li Weiguo began, his tone warm and sincere, "This month, your efforts—the teacher has seen them all. No matter the final outcome, you have already proven yourself. The sweat you've shed will not be in vain."

He paused, looking into Qin Feng's eyes, and said solemnly:

"The teacher wishes you a bright future."

"Thank you, Teacher."

Qin Feng took the ticket, gave a slight bow, turned, and walked down from the podium.

When the last student's admission ticket had been distributed, Li Weiguo stood at the podium, gazing at the young faces below—some tense, some excited, some bewildered—and remained silent for a long time.

"Three years ago, you walked into this classroom. Three years from now, you will set out from here, heading toward your own different paths in life."

"Some of you will tread the path of martial arts, donning the empire's battle armor to conquer the sea of stars. I hope you never forget to protect the billions of compatriots behind you."

"Some of you will enter technical institutes, becoming a cog in the vast machinery of the empire. I hope you never forget that your post, though ordinary, is equally important."

"There is more than one road in life. No matter where you go in the future, or what profession you pursue, always remember: you are members of the Human Empire, students of Qiming Star No. 7 Middle School."

He picked up a piece of chalk and wrote four bold, vigorous characters on the blackboard behind him:

【Martial Fortune Flourishing】

"Three years as classmates, now we part ways here."

Li Weiguo put down the chalk and bowed deeply to all the students below.

"Classmates, I wish you all martial fortune flourishing, and a journey of a thousand miles ahead!"

"Ring, ring, ring—"

The bell for the end of class rang at that very moment.

(End of chapter)