"Isn't One-Punch Man truly unbeatable? Who can withstand his punch?"
"Kakarot could swallow the bald head whole."
"Ultraman is the strongest; one beam can destroy a planet and travel through the universe."
"But DC superheroes! They can blow out stars with a breath and move multiple planets at will. Don't you get the multiverse?"
The summer breeze blew from outside the classroom. After the tedious math class ended, the boys, who had been suppressed for a long time, eagerly discussed power levels.
Comparing the power within the same works, comparing the power across different works.
Quoting references and finding settings, even a drop of sweat during a battle could be used as evidence of power strength, leading to heated debates.
"Childish."
Jiang Si, passing by, sneered, "You're in high school and still watching this stuff."
One of the boys, arguing fiercely with his classmates, immediately slapped his desk, causing books to fall all over the floor. "What are you watching that's not childish?"
Without a word, Jiang Si sat back in his seat and pulled out a thick book, its bold characters especially eye-catching.
Covering Sky!
"Ye Fan, Emperor Ye, is the strongest."
There was a burst of laughter.
Of course, some sarcastic remarks couldn't be avoided.
Jiang Si didn't bother to argue with these frogs in a well.
What Ultraman, what Superman, mere fireflies dare to compete with the bright moon.
When they were still debating who was stronger, the protagonists of web novels had long since dominated the ages.
What multiverse, what parallel worlds, the web novel protagonists had long certified the eternal, reversing cause and effect, time and space becoming a loop.
Not only was there a crushing power difference between Three-Body People and Primitive People, but the gap in realms was terrifyingly vast.
No matter how much he said, these kids would never understand.
Boring school, dull classmates, and teachers who know nothing.
For Jiang Si, he was already tired of everything here.
If he could become like a web novel protagonist, he would probably be able to escape everything in front of him.
He had always been searching for extraordinary power in this world.
Qi Gong, Magic, Superpower, anything would do.
All the extraordinary abilities that could be found in the city, they could eventually turn to Cultivation Immortality.
As long as he could cultivate immortality, he could step onto the path, achieve immortality, and dominate the ages!
Yet, there was nothing.
This world was just plain and ordinary, with no extraordinary power at all. Following the rumors of those extraordinary abilities only led to disappointment and being deceived again and again.
Given this, Jiang Si was no longer obsessed with it.
All paths lead to the same destination. Since there was no extraordinary power, he would take the stupid route of proving the Tao with strength. As long as he forged his body to the extreme, one day, he could break through the limit and glimpse the Tao.
Thus, Jiang Si was always honing himself, even during class, he would continually grip the grip strengthener under the desk.
During lunchtime, he would run, do push-ups, pull-ups.
For over five years, never slacking.
Of course, just exercising wasn't enough. What web novel protagonist ever succeeded through reclusive bitter cultivation? They all transformed through actual combat!
So, to train for combat, he often challenged the local thugs.
Initially, he would get beaten black and blue even in one-on-one fights, but now he could skillfully handle being surrounded by two or three thugs without falling behind.
He could clearly feel his own transformation.
The story might be fictional, but the principle was never fake.
Jiang Si also didn't slack off in his studies. Which web novel protagonist doesn't know some physics and chemistry? In crucial moments, they can even recite ancient poetry backward!
These are basic skills; it's just that his energy is ultimately limited. He only learns useful knowledge, while subjects like English, which he finds useless, are a mess.
He might be a bit biased, but his grades in the class were still above average, not good enough to gain the teachers' attention, but not bad enough to be ridiculed for letting web novels affect his studies.
It was just a few classes in the afternoon, and soon it was almost time to leave school.
When Jiang Si stood up to leave, passing by the classmates who were arguing about power levels earlier, the few who were originally whispering fell silent immediately.
For Jiang Si, who was addicted to web novels and not fond of socializing, though many classmates couldn't stand it, nobody dared to provoke him.
After all, he was indeed a good fighter.
Everyone said they wanted to become Superman, wanted to become Ultraman, but they were just fantasizing.
Only Jiang Si was serious about wanting to become a web novel protagonist and cultivate immortality. After all, everyone could see him working out like mad every day.
No one wanted to be close to such an odd person.
Of course, there were exceptions.
For instance, the girl from the next class, Lu Ya.
This girl, with her favorable family background, excellent grades, and stunning looks, was the one who happened to get along with the unpopular Jiang Si.
Every time after school, she would come over, ignoring the many strange glances around, and follow Jiang Si to go home with him.
She would even take out new novels from her backpack to give to Jiang Si.
The two would not walk on the main road. Once they left the school gate, they would walk into a less crowded alley, soon disappearing from sight.
If Lu Ya wasn't quite popular in school and the teachers didn't favor her, rumors would have flown long ago.
However, in fact, there was nothing shady between the two of them.
Jiang Si just helped her a bit when he was challenging some thugs, and later asked her to help rent some novels for him to read.
As for Lu Ya, she had a hard time viewing this always superstitious, somewhat crazy classmate as a romantic interest.
"Even if you read every web novel, you won't become the protagonist, you know."
She would try to remind him every time, hoping he wouldn't get overly obsessed.
To this, Jiang Si merely replied without lifting his head: "Do not disrupt my Dao heart."
Long used to this, Lu Ya simply clutched her backpack and continued to nag:
"The college entrance exam is soon, Auntie also mentioned that during this time you should put web novels aside and review well. With a little effort, it's not hard to get into a top university, the same university as me, and I can continue helping you find novels."
"I have my own plans."
"Your plan is to maintain the status quo all the way to university, even society?" Lu Ya looked at him earnestly, "You can't keep going like this your whole life, can you?"
"Why not?"
"You'll regret it."
Jiang Si returned the book Lu Ya handed him and turned to leave, "Destiny leads to defeat."
Lu Ya, who had also read novels to understand what he often muttered about, naturally knew the next line of the verse.
Immortal Venerable repents, but I do not!
She clutched her backpack and stomped her foot, "Why won't you listen to reason?"
Just as she was about to chase after him, a small truck suddenly crashed through the wall beside them!
The alley was already narrow, and the small truck suddenly squeezed in, taking up the entire road!
It accelerated further, charging at the two of them with nowhere to hide.
"Jiang Si!"
The boy looked up at the groggy driver, and instead of dodging, he walked right up to it!
He kicked a large stone beside him under the wheels, causing the bumping truck to slow slightly, and Jiang Si met it with a frontal kick, breaking his leg bone on the spot.
But he actually managed to make the truck pause for a moment.
Then, he crashed into it with his whole body, causing the truck to veer to the side, bringing himself into it as well.
He was pinned by the truck's bumper against the wall, rubbing all the way.
He finally stopped hard in front of Lu Ya.
A stunned Lu Ya sat down on the ground, then got up, helplessly watching the boy in torn clothes, half his body soaked in blood, stagger but still stubbornly stand up.
The driver, also covered in blood, got out of the car, hastily making calls, while Lu Ya's eyes turned red,
"You, you idiot, why didn't you run..."
The once quiet alley began to become noisy, vision gradually blurred until nothing could be seen, but before falling, Jiang Si still managed to sneer disdainfully:
"I evade its edge?!"