Getting closer, he noticed a massive Force Tester placed in the room ahead.
The Force Tester was a neat, rectangular machine. Its frame was cast from black metal with a matte finish, giving off a cold, hard glint under the light.
A large, eye-catching display dominated the front. Encased in a black frame, it clearly showed testing data and user instructions.
Below the screen was a circular striking pad encased in thick rubber.
Four thick support legs at the base firmly anchored the machine, while neat wiring and ports were distributed along its sides and back.
Right then, a dark-skinned Young Man of average height was standing in front of the Force Tester.
A closer look revealed it to be none other than his classmate, Chen Chang.
WHOOSH!
Suddenly, he threw a vicious punch, whipping up a gust of wind as his fist landed squarely on the rubber pad below.
THUD!
A dull thud rang out, drawing everyone's attention.
A moment later, the numbers on the screen flickered before settling on a final value after two seconds.
[119kg]
The crowd gasped in amazement at the sight.
For context, most ordinary people in their cohort could only manage about 60 or 70 kg.
In terms of raw strength, the Copper Fist Level Ranks 1 through 3 corresponded to 90 kg, 110 kg, and 130 kg, respectively.
The strength Chen Chang had just displayed was already enough for him to test for a Federation Copper Fist Level Second Rank certificate.
Of course, meeting the strength requirement alone wasn't enough. To earn the certificate, a Fighter's own Fighting Technique also had to be evaluated.
Otherwise, couldn't someone with innate Divine Power get certified without any training at all?
Hearing the crowd's exclamations, Chen Chang scratched his head, a trademark good-natured smile spreading across his face.
"Heh, you call that little bit of strength something worth showing off?"
Just then, a discordant voice cut through the crowd.
Following the voice, a figure pushed through the crowd and stepped forward.
He was tall and powerfully built. The muscles on his bare arms were lean and solid, stretching his Martial Arts Uniform taut.
Standing a full head taller than everyone else, he exuded a faint, oppressive aura.
He had dark skin, curly hair, a high-bridged nose, and deep-set features. His brown eyes held a look of lofty superiority.
He was a very strong black man.
"It's Sims from Class Three!"
"Hiss… I hear he has innate Divine Power. He's ruthless when he spars with other students. A few of them even ended up in the hospital with broken bones."
Some students recognized him, and looks of fear appeared on their faces.
They instinctively made way as he approached.
Sims scanned the crowd, apparently quite satisfied with their reaction.
He strode forward and shoved Chen Chang out of the way from in front of the Force Tester.
Chen Chang's face flushed red, but after a quick comparison of their difference in size, he chose to remain silent.
"Lucky for you, I'm in a good mood today! I'll show you all something special."
The moment he finished speaking, his arm blurred, and he threw a punch.
THOOM!
A much deeper thud than before echoed out. The immense force made the entire Force Tester tremble slightly.
The numbers on the screen flew through a series of changes before finally locking into place.
[315kg!]
The moment the number appeared, the area fell deathly silent.
Everyone exchanged glances, seeing the same shock reflected in each other's eyes.
That kind of power already met the requirements for Golden Fist Level, Second Rank.
It was a number that an ordinary person could barely even imagine.
If that punch landed on someone's face, they'd probably be sent flying. Just imagining it made their bones ache.
Hu Qi watched the scene unfold, a little surprised himself.
'Innate Divine Power? That's some impressive Talent, but there must be a lot of hard work behind it, too.'
Hu Qi could only sigh in admiration at the display.
The guy certainly had the right to be arrogant.
"Heh!"
Sims took in the crowd's shocked gazes, a disdainful smirk playing on his lips.
He seemed to find it all too dull.
Without another word, he turned and walked away.
As Hu Qi watched Sims's retreating back, he suddenly felt a pair of eyes on him.
He turned his head to find Song Jian, who was standing right beside him, staring intently.
"What are you looking at me for?"
Hu Qi's brow furrowed slightly, his guard instantly up.
'I've heard some of those rich kids are into some wild stuff. Don't tell me this guy is... into me?'
Song Jian said in a low voice, "Hu Qi, don't you have any thoughts about that?"
"What thoughts? I'm straight. If you're looking for a guy, find someone else."
As he spoke, Hu Qi took a step to the side, putting some distance between himself and Song Jian.
Hearing this, Song Jian's face visibly stiffened. It twitched for a moment before he caught on.
"Relax, my preferences are normal too. I already have a fiancée, so you have nothing to worry about."
He paused for a moment.
"What I meant was, that guy is way too arrogant. Aren't you going to do something…?"
However, he trailed off mid-sentence.
Because he found Hu Qi staring at him with the kind of look one might give an idiot.
"What?"
"Nothing. I just don't understand why you'd even think that.
I have no beef with him. What do I stand to gain by going up there and risking a beating? To act tough? Or for a simple 'thank you' from someone?"
At this, he reached out and patted Song Jian's shoulder.
"The guy's strong enough to have the right to be arrogant. It's like how you're rich enough to live in a mansion and drive a fancy car. By your logic, should I beat you up for that?"
Song Jian was left speechless.
He had originally intended to egg Hu Qi on, hoping to get a glimpse of his true strength.
Instead, he'd been lectured like an idiot.
In his opinion, Hu Qi was definitely hiding his true strength. He even suspected that Hu Qi hadn't gone all out during his earlier spar with the coach.
That's why he wanted to test him.
He never expected the guy to be so mature. He wasn't at all like a young man in his early twenties. Instead, he gave off the vibe of a street-smart old hand who had been knocked around by the world for years.
With Sims gone, the crowd stared at the frozen number on the Force Tester and fell silent. Some of them, having lost all desire to test their own strength, turned and left.
Only a few people went up to give it a try.
But after Sims' display, their enthusiasm was visibly dampened.
"Aren't you going to give it a try?"
Hu Qi asked, looking at Song Jian.
"No need. I've tested at home. I only hit 145 kg."
Song Jian shook his head and walked away.
Clearly, the earlier display had been a significant blow to his confidence as well.
Watching Song Jian's retreating back, Hu Qi saw that no one else was around and walked over to the Force Tester.
He set down his backpack and gave his shoulders a simple roll.