Zhou Leng screenshotted the exam results and sent them to Hu Yi.
After a while, Hu Yi responded with three words.
"You damn!"
"Wasted my worry for you, no way, you have to treat me to a big meal once you start earning! I'll post it in the group and have everyone criticize you heavily, don't blame me!"
Zhou Leng immediately stopped him.
"Too late, everyone will know by tomorrow anyway."
Zhou Leng opened the class group chat to see that it was exploding.
"This past half year, I've been walking on thin ice around Zhou Leng, not daring to say a harsh word, fearful of hurting him! But when the results came out, he was stable, and I smacked down hard on the ice. Face! First! On!"
"Seeing his green wristband every time makes my heart ache, and now he's using the report card to twist my heart further. Pain, such pain!"
"Advancing sixty thousand places, I can't even take sixty thousand steps in a day. This progress is greater than Hu Yi's face."
Hu Yi retorted, "I'm also a victim, no need to add insult to injury."
"Jokes aside, I truly admire Zhou Leng's perseverance. If it were you guys, lying in bed a month before the college entrance exam, would you not collapse? I certainly would."
"Yeah, the pressure Zhou Leng was under those months really was greater than a mountain. Thankfully he pulled through."
"Congratulations Zhou Leng! Throwing confetti!"
Xu Qingjin finished and released a picture of a small white cat tossing flowers, starting with one at a time, then like magic forming a flower fountain.
"My mom is extremely, extremely happy!" Xu Qingjin added while attaching a smiley face emoji.
Classmates were all offering congratulations.
Even those who rarely spoke would come out to offer their congratulations.
This past half year, the whole class has been focused on one person.
Zhou Leng felt his nose tingle.
Suddenly, his phone rang.
Seeing it was Inner Power Teacher Sun Xiong, Zhou Leng quickly took a deep breath, controlled his emotions, and answered the call.
"Hello, Teacher Sun."
"It's me, Principal Lu."
"Hello, Principal Lu."
"I have so much to say, but, to keep it brief, I won't take up your time. Before filling out your college preferences, come to my office to collect your Pill Voucher. Also, for the commendation ceremony, anyone can skip it, but you can't! Alright, celebrate at home."
After hanging up, Zhou Leng checked the time and quickly headed downstairs.
Today, Zhang Xinglie was leaving for National Capital Xiong City.
Zhou Leng stood at the entrance of Zhang Xinglie's unit playing on his phone, and soon heard noise coming from the hallway.
Putting down his phone, Zhou Leng entered the unit.
Zhang Xinglie and Zhang Meiqin were carrying their luggage down.
"Let me," Zhou Leng reached out to take luggage from Zhang Meiqin.
"What rank?" Zhou Leng looked at Zhang Xinglie.
Zhang Xinglie sighed and said, "Second, first place is Wu Qiong, you probably heard of him."
"Isn't that Wu Qiong who spent at least a hundred million on Martial Cultivation? It's normal to lose to him."
"Have you heard his nickname?" Zhang Xinglie asked.
Zhou Leng shook his head.
"Wu Sanyi."
Zhou Leng was left speechless.
Zhang Meiqin said, "Xiao Leng, how... are you?"
Her tone was particularly gentle.
"Can't compare to Zhang Xinglie, over twelve thousand rank, can apply for supplementary Martial Arts Academy admissions."
"Over twelve thousand is not bad..." Zhang Meiqin suddenly widened her eyes, grabbing Zhou Leng's arm, "Really?"
"Really."
"That's great, that's great... you kid, you worried us sick..." Zhang Meiqin said.
"What was your Martial Arts score?" Zhang Xinglie asked.
"276."
Zhang Xinglie said, "I scored 291, if you hadn't been injured by the Demon, your Martial Arts score might have been higher than mine."
"It was a blessing in disguise, without the Demon as motivation, I wouldn't have achieved this. How many scored higher in Martial Arts than you?" Zhou Leng asked.
"In the single subject of Martial Arts, I ranked eleventh."
Zhou Leng paused, then sighed, "There really are so many wealthy people."
The three of them walked out, and an extreme zero already parked at the community gate.
"What about your college preferences?" Zhou Leng asked.
"I'm directly applying online through Yunhua," Zhang Xinglie replied.
"Just leaving like this?" Zhou Leng asked.
"A bit reluctant, but might as well be decisive. Only you're close enough, otherwise, I wouldn't have let you send me off," Zhang Xinglie said standing at the community gate, looking at the place he's lived for more than ten years.
The three stopped and looked around.
"Come on, don't delay catching the plane," said Zhou Leng.
They loaded the luggage into the car, and Zhang Meiqin got in.
Zhang Xinglie stepped onto the car, turned to glance at Zhou Leng, and broke into a bright smile.
"Don't forget our childhood promise to strive together, and then meet at the peak. Although we don't know where we'll reach the peak, perhaps at the Ten Realms Youth Battle? Grandmaster? Or Martial Saint? It doesn't matter, what matters is that we keep climbing higher, always!"
Zhang Xinglie waved and got in the car.
"Goodbye," Zhou Leng stood there, watching the car drive away.
Until the car disappeared from sight, Zhou Leng still stood in place.
Friends who had lived together for over ten years left Rucheng for the National Capital, the center of the country, perhaps even the world.
Although he always knew Zhang Xinglie would soar high, seeing the eagle take to the sky with his own eyes was an indescribable shock to Zhou Leng.
It felt as if his student life had come to an abrupt end.
"Perhaps I can try a little harder."
Zhou Leng took a deep breath, took big strides back home, shouldered his backpack, and headed for Xiaoru Village.
On the way, Zhou Leng told Uncle Li about his grades.
That day, some households were rejoicing while others were worrying.
Zhou Leng, with his dog, walked to the Frost Giant Tree.
"Junior Zhou Leng greets Elder Tree."
After his daily greeting, Zhou Leng looked at the Divine Text Golden Page.
These divine texts might be a chance to access higher powers; studying half an hour a day is something he cannot give up.
After studying the Divine Text Golden Page, with a feeling of his brain being stirred, Zhou Leng slept.
Upon waking, he meditated, practiced boxing, meditated again, practiced boxing again…
He cultivated continuously for two days, consuming the last two Qi Nourishing Pills.
Qi Nourishing Period, Great Success Second Layer Heaven.
Early in the morning, Zhou Leng walked into the classroom, ready to fill out the application form for his preferred institutions.
"Beast!" Hu Yi rushed over, catching everyone's attention.
Then Hu Yi publicly accused him, and everyone laughed, leaving only Zhou Leng at a loss to laugh or cry.
Xu Qingjin chuckled beside him.
Suddenly, the Martial Arts Committee Member Mo Hai exclaimed, "Zhou Leng, have you reached the Great Success in Qi Nourishing?"
Everyone stared at Zhou Leng's nose, silently calculating the time.
Zhou Leng nodded.
"I..." Hu Yi was truly stunned.
Feng Wenhao marveled, "A blessing in disguise, Zhou Leng has truly reaped the benefits after hardship."
The classmates nodded in agreement.
Reaching the Great Success in Qi Nourishing at this time makes one outstanding, even in Martial Arts University.
Zhou Leng returned to his seat, and the classroom resumed its noisy chatter with students gathering in groups of four or five to chat.
Those applying for Martial Arts University gathered together, while those not pursuing martial arts also grouped together.
Hu Yi squeezed in beside Zhou Leng and Feng Wenhao, curiously listening to what everyone was saying.
Feng Wenhao said, "I definitely can't make it to the Martial Arts Academy, but the Affiliated Martial Arts Hall should be fine. I'm planning to apply for Rucheng Martial Arts Academy's Affiliated Martial Arts Hall. Rucheng Martial Arts Academy isn't well-known nationwide, so the competition isn't as fierce."
"Aren't you going to try for the West Sea Martial Arts University's Affiliated Martial Arts Hall?"
"Too risky, the Affiliated Martial Arts Halls of the Top Ten Martial Arts are actually not much worse than the university itself. People from all over the country have their eyes on it, I can't compete," Feng Wenhao replied.
"What about you, Zhou Leng?"
"I'm applying for Rucheng Martial Arts Academy and its Affiliated Martial Arts Hall."
"Huh? Your martial arts test scores are so high, why not try for the supplementary admissions of West Sea Martial Arts University, since it's all in Rucheng anyway?"
Zhou Leng shook his head and said, "I feel the same as Feng Wenhao, the competition for West Sea Martial Arts University is too fierce, with the whole country watching, and these years there's been a post-war baby boom. Online, everyone says it's difficult. I watched a video from Teacher Zhang Xueshan a few days ago, and though he didn't say it explicitly, the implication was clear. It was okay in previous years, but this year, with not enough family background, it's advised not to apply for the Top Ten Martial Arts' supplementary admissions."
"What a pity."
The conversation continued, and Zhou Leng sent a message to Inner Power Teacher Sun Xiong to inquire, receiving a response before heading to the principal's office.
Knock knock knock…
"Come in."
"Hello, Principal Lu." Zhou Leng pushed the door open and entered.
Principal Lu, with a full head of white hair, sat behind the desk, removed his glasses, smiled, and beckoned Zhou Leng to sit, saying, "Come, sit down."
Once Zhou Leng took a seat, Principal Lu pulled out an envelope with a receipt attached.
"Inside the envelope are pill vouchers. You've advanced over sixty thousand places and became the champion of improvement, containing a total of six Qi Nourishing Pills and one Replenishing Essence Pills, plus a one-thousand-point War Merit Secret Manual Exchange Voucher. Just sign the receipt, but of course, you must promise to attend the commendation ceremony, don't take the things and then run off." Principal Lu said cheerfully.
"I won't." Zhou Leng signed and took the envelope.
"Which of the Top Ten Martial Arts are you planning to apply for? Local or out-of-town? With your level, aside from a few in Xiong City, there should be no problem." Principal Lu asked.
"Rucheng Martial Arts Academy," Zhou Leng replied.
Principal Lu straightened his posture, put on his glasses, and asked puzzledly, "Why choose an ordinary Martial Arts Academy?"
"The competition for West Sea Martial Arts University is too fierce, and I don't have various bonus points, the chances are slim."
"You are underestimating your own abilities. Do you think being re-evaluated by the education department is just ordinary excellence? Your abilities are enough to be in the top ten of our Eighth Middle School's overall martial arts level."
Zhou Leng said, "I've seen a lot of reports saying it's hard to apply for the Top Ten this year. The key is, I've liked Rucheng Martial Arts Academy since I was a child."
Principal Lu's expression turned serious, saying, "You're still too young to understand the difference between Top Ten and ordinary Martial Arts Academies. The educational resources controlled by West Sea Martial Arts University are almost ten times those of Rucheng Martial Arts Academy."
"The administrative level of West Sea Martial Arts University's principal is a whole level higher than that of Rucheng's, and this difference alone in the resources that can be mobilized is vast. Two people, one is a Grandmaster, and the other is at the Peak of Innate, do I need to say more about this gap?"
"The Innate Realm teachers at West Sea Martial Arts University are at least twice those of Rucheng Martial Arts Academy. The martial arts rewards for West Sea Martial Arts University students are at least twice those of Rucheng Martial Arts Academy. For someone with your abilities, converted into monetary terms, you could earn an additional four to five hundred thousand a year at West Sea Martial Arts University!"
"Let alone if you want to progress in the future, whichever path you choose, the starting and ending points of West Sea Martial Arts University are far higher than those of Rucheng Martial Arts Academy. Tell me, what is your life goal?"
Zhou Leng remained silent for a moment, then said, "To be ennobled is not my desire, but to wish for calm seas."
"Alright, suppose you have the power to decide now, would you choose to charge into West Sea Demon City alone, or mobilize more manpower and resources to raid West Sea Demon City?"
Zhou Leng did not answer.
"You are a smart kid, and you know the answer very well. Only by mastering more cultivation resources and power resources can you better level West Sea Demon City. Choose West Sea Martial Arts University; there's a broader world there."
Zhou Leng remained silent.
Principal Lu looked into Zhou Leng's eyes and said slowly, "Zhang Xinglie has already soared into the sky, while you, Zhou Leng, even if you can't fly, at least swim into the sea! Are you content to be trapped in a small muddy pond?"
Zhou Leng had no words to counter.