Chapter 64: First in the Grade, Terrifying Progress

Chapter 64: Top of the Grade, Terrifying Progress

The next morning, within the exclusive martial arts chamber of Class Three, Grade One, the atmosphere of morning training burned hotter than ever.

Yesterday's monthly exam had struck like a potent stimulant, injected into the heart of every student.

Whether those who excelled or those who felt lacking, all had transformed that pressure into the sweat now pouring from their brows.

At exactly seven o'clock, on the podium before the martial chamber, the space twisted faintly, and the holographic projection of homeroom teacher Wu Shangfeng appeared punctually.

He wore the same eternal black training uniform, the same face carved from cold rock.

The moment he appeared, every sound in the martial chamber ceased abruptly.

All students halted their movements, swiftly formed ranks, and fixed their gazes on the podium.

Wu Shangfeng wasted not a single superfluous word. He directly opened his wrist terminal and precisely sent each student's report card to their personal terminals.

"The results of this monthly exam have been distributed. Check them yourselves."

His voice was flat and emotionless.

Qin Feng tapped the file that popped up on his terminal.

A virtual report card, brimming with a sense of technology and solemnity, unfurled before him.

[Qiming First Martial Arts Senior High School · Grade One Second Monthly Exam Report Card]

[Name: Qin Feng]

[Student ID: GY1031488]

[Class: Class Three, Grade One]

[I. Liberal Arts Comprehensive]

[Score]: 100 points (Full Score 100)

[Grade Rank]: 1 (Tied)

[II. Martial Arts Comprehensive Assessment]

[Empire Body-Training Method (Beginner) Rating]: Excellent

[Physical Data Test]: Vitality Index 10.067, Punching Power 5102 KG, 100m Sprint Time 4.98 seconds

[Comprehensive Score]: 500 points (Full Score 500)

[Grade Rank]: 1 / 15,000 (Tied)

[III. Combat Simulation]

[Killing Technique Drill: Thousand Army Spear]: Rating: Full Score

[Virtual Duel]: Rating: Full Score

[Comprehensive Score]: 500 points (Full Score 500)

[Grade Rank]: 1 / 15,000

[Total Score]: 1100 points (Full Score 1100)

[Overall Grade Rank]: 1 / 15,000

[Progress Rate Rank]: 1 / 15,000

Full marks!

Every subject, every rating—all were perfect scores!

Grade rank, whether individual or total, was indisputably first!

When Qin Feng saw this report card, even with his temperament, a trace of genuine joy welled up within him.

This was the finest reward for his two months of relentless, maddening training.

In the first month, from the bottom of the grade to the top 1,000, he relied on his insight into killing techniques. In the second month, after shoring up his weakness in vitality index, he soared directly to the top of the grade!

Meanwhile, the entire Class Three, Grade One, had already erupted into chaos.

"Holy shit! Top of the grade! Qin Feng... he took first place overall in Grade One!"

"Incredible! He ranked over 60,000th in the high school entrance exam!"

"His progress is too fast."

If the earlier combat classes had only made the class internally recognize Qin Feng's terror, then this time, this report card—black and white, dominating the entire grade of 15,000 geniuses—proclaimed his "terror" to everyone in an irrefutable, officially certified manner.

Two months.

From a student with a vitality index barely above 1.23 at enrollment, to now, standing atop the entire Grade One, the brightest star among 15,000 favored children of heaven.

Such a rate of progress was too frightening.

Qin Feng could clearly feel the gazes of awe and reverence cast his way from his classmates.

He paid them no heed.

Instead, he pondered the matter of his own insight.

"Perhaps my insight truly is beyond the ordinary," Qin Feng mused.

His Thousand Army Spear had reached the Great Completion realm, earning him full marks in combat simulation.

Across the entire Grade One, the second-place finisher in combat simulation had a total score of only 290.

That score meant that the second-place student's killing technique realm likely hadn't even reached "Minor Completion"—they could use the moves proficiently, but were still far from achieving seamless integration and command as if by instinct.

Both had trained in killing techniques for two months, yet the gap was so vast that Qin Feng couldn't help but suspect he was a genius.

Still, he wouldn't let this lead to complacency.

After all, he had poured no small amount of sweat into his efforts.

Snapping back to the present, Wu Shangfeng began distributing merit points.

"Now, I will announce the merit point rewards for this monthly exam."

He called up the detailed rules for merit point rewards and projected them onto the holographic screen.

"The rules for merit points are the same as last time."

Everyone stared intently at the screen, silently calculating the points they might earn.

"Now, distribution begins."

Wu Shangfeng's voice was like a judge's verdict.

"Chu Lan, Martial Arts Comprehensive Rank 19, Combat Simulation Rank 12, Total Score Rank 15... Total merit points awarded: 45."

"Shi Potian, Martial Arts Comprehensive Rank 1, Combat Simulation Rank 3, Total Score Rank 4... Total merit points awarded: 55." "Qian Duoduo..."

One name after another was called; some rejoiced, others lamented.

And when Wu Shangfeng reached the last name, he paused, as was his habit.

"Qin Feng."

"Comprehensive martial arts, first in grade, reward: 20 merit points."

"Combat simulation, first in grade, reward: 20 merit points."

"Rate of improvement, first in grade, reward: 15 merit points."

"Total score ranking, first in grade, reward: 20 merit points."

Wu Shangfeng's pace was unhurried, steady.

Four firsts!

He had swept all the high-value rewards into his pocket!

"Total merit points awarded—75 points!"

75 points!

When that number left Wu Shangfeng's lips, Qian Duoduo's eyes nearly popped out of his head.

He counted on his fingers, calculating furiously.

Qin Feng had earned 50 merit points from his last combat mission. This monthly exam added another 75.

Together, his total merit points had reached an astonishing 125!

125 points!

That was enough to upgrade his contract grade from D-grade directly to C-grade!

"Oh, wait, you already had a C-grade contract last month..."

Qian Duoduo looked at the calm-faced Qin Feng beside him and couldn't help letting out a wail, "Old Qin, are you even human? Your merit points are more than double what I've painstakingly saved up over two months! I'm so jealous!"

Qin Feng just smiled and said nothing.

"Students who need to apply for promotion to the second year, and those who need to apply for a contract grade upgrade, may send their applications to my personal terminal later."

"That's all for today. Dismissed."

With that, his holographic projection slowly dissipated in a distortion of space.

As soon as the mentor left, the entire martial arts room instantly regained its vitality.

Qian Duoduo was the first to sidle up to Qin Feng and Shi Potian.

"So? So? Are you two both going to apply?" he asked excitedly.

Shi Potian nodded.

"My vitality index is sufficient now; I'm a second-rank martial artist. I'll definitely apply for the second year."

Qin Feng nodded as well.

"Together."

"Then what are you waiting for? Send it! Send it!"

Qian Duoduo was more anxious than they were.

Qin Feng and Shi Potian exchanged a knowing smile, each opened their subspace pass terminal, found the communication channel for homeroom teacher Wu Shangfeng, composed their application messages, and hit send.

[Second-year promotion application sent.]

[C-grade contract upgrade application sent.]

Almost simultaneously, both received the system receipt.

Then came the quiet wait for the school's review and approval.

"Ah..." Qian Duoduo looked at the two, let out a long sigh, his face unable to hide his envy.

"You two are both going to the second year, leaving me alone, stranded in the first year."

"You'll be there soon too," Shi Potian said, making a rare joke.

"Much slower than you," Qian Duoduo spread his hands, grimacing. "My vitality index just hit 8.0, still a ways off from the minimum standard for second-year promotion! And I don't have enough merit points for a C-grade contract either."

Then he clenched his fist, a renewed fighting spirit blazing in his eyes.

"But don't think you can leave me behind for long!"

"Wait for me! One month! After I finish this inter-school league and earn enough merit points, my vitality index should be close to 10.0 by then! See you in the second year!"

Seeing Qian Duoduo so full of drive, Qin Feng and Shi Potian smiled knowingly.

"Speaking of which, Old Qin, you're a real freak," Qian Duoduo suddenly leaned in close to Qin Feng, looking him up and down with a click of his tongue.

"These past two months, I've been training like crazy, and my vitality index only went up by a little over 2 points—that's already considered fast in the class."

"But you? One month! From a little over 3 straight to over 10—a full 7-point increase!"

"A freak!"

Hearing this, Shi Potian nodded in deep agreement.

Indeed, a freak.

(The end of this chapter)