The next day, early morning.
First High School, Martial Arts Hall.
"Wow, this martial arts classroom is huge!"
Inside the vast gym, a group of students wearing white training uniforms bustled about, peering around curiously.
"Shan-ge, look at that equipment — it's way better than the gym where we used to work,"
Zhao Hongzhou tugged at Li Qingshan's sleeve and pointed to a row of training machines nearby, eyes shining.
"Of course — if the martial arts class had worse equipment than a gym, then our coming here would be pointless, right?"
Li Qingshan replied, his gaze sweeping the hall as well.
There were many familiar faces — probably other students from First High — but even more strangers from other schools.
There are five high schools in Luoying City, but only one senior-year martial arts class each year, and only First High has a martial arts hall.
Glancing around, there must have been over a hundred people.
"You students are energetic!"
A rough, hearty laugh sounded as a burly middle-aged man in a black martial uniform slowly approached.
Nearly two meters tall, his muscles bulging, he loomed like a wild beast.
The previously noisy hall fell silent instantly.
"Good!"
The burly man smiled, looking pleased.
"Let me introduce myself — my name is Wan Keshan.
"If fate allows, I'll be your martial arts teacher for the coming year."
"Fate?"
Li Qingshan blinked.
Could there be another martial arts teacher?
He looked around but didn't see anyone else who looked like a teacher.
Not only Li Qingshan, the surrounding students made the same puzzled motions.
Wan Keshan didn't explain. He raised his left hand; a holographic screen projected from his communicator onto his palm, and he swiped it with his right index finger.
"First, let's get a baseline."
As soon as he finished speaking, two light walls appeared in the center of the hall, standing opposite each other twenty meters apart.
All the students' eyes were drawn to the light walls, some understanding immediately, others puzzled.
"The DuanTi (Body Conditioning) realm shows no outward qi or blood sign — the only criteria are speed and punching power!"
"DuanTi First Stage: speed 11 m/s, punch force 250 kg."
"DuanTi Second Stage: speed 13 m/s, punch force 350 kg."
"DuanTi Third Stage: speed 15 m/s, punch force 500 kg."
"Every year many seniors apply for the martial arts class, but the program lasts not one year but three years."
"However, not everyone advances smoothly to the second year — DuanTi Third Stage is the threshold for second year."
"Of course, that's far from where you all are now."
Wan Keshan smiled and pointed at the light walls.
"These light walls are for testing speed."
"The walls are twenty meters apart. You'll run back and forth between them ten times, touching the wall each time; the system will then give an average speed."
"As for punching power..."
He moved his arm and gestured to the opposite side of the hall.
There was a wall there too, but it was physical.
Three meters square, the whole surface padded with thick leather, with a display screen mounted at the top.
"The punch-power tester — immediately after the speed test you'll do the punch test. No charging up; throw ten punches quickly."
"The device will report the average force of the ten punches."
After Wan Keshan's explanation, the students who had been confused all understood, and Li Qingshan secretly clicked his tongue.
Average speed! Average punch force!
He'd never seen this testing method before; even at the gym where he used to work part-time there was only a normal punch tester to measure maximal force.
"And this testing method measures more than just speed and strength!"
Though the results only show speed and punching power, to achieve the highest burst speed during shuttle runs you also need agility and reflexes.
Plus, the punch test follows the speed test.
Under extreme bursts, the physical toll is terrifying.
"This is martial arts. Even DuanTi First Stage — speed of 11 m/s and punch force of 250 kg — far exceeds the human limits on old Blue Star."
Li Qingshan sighed and glanced at the panel.
[Status: DuanTi 9/100]
"No — I shouldn't need DuanTi First Stage, I should already be past that."
Being a security guard wasn't easy.
At least, an ordinary high school body at the start of his transmigrated life wouldn't have been able to handle that job.
But now, whether restraining a disruptive customer or dealing with two punk kids like yesterday, it was breezy.
"All right, I've explained everything — we'll start the baseline test now."
Wan Keshan swiped the holographic screen as if scrolling through a prearranged roster.
"First up, Yu Lei."
A slim girl stepped forward, confident.
She walked quickly to one side of the light wall, planted herself, and took a deep breath.
With a powerful push from her right foot, her body shot forward like a leopard.
In a few strides she reached the opposite light wall.
As soon as one foot touched the ground and the wall, she immediately pivoted forcefully.
Power initiating from the foot, she twisted and ran again.
Her agile form darted back and forth between the walls, leaving the students wide-eyed.
Zhao Hongzhou swallowed and whispered, "Shan-ge, Yu Lei is insane! Her speed is that fast?"
"It's more than speed," Li Qingshan shook his head, eyes on the figure between the light walls.
"Her agility and reaction are the key."
As for raw explosive start speed, Li Qingshan was confident he could match her.
But handling body positioning during turnarounds was another matter.
Also, Yu Lei's movements were so practiced it didn't look like her first time testing.
Li Qingshan glanced at Wan Keshan thoughtfully.
The teacher must have detailed student data; putting Yu Lei first was probably meant to set an example.
Before long, Yu Lei finished ten round trips. She stopped, hands on her knees, gasping.
Numbers appeared on the upper part of the left light wall.
Speed: 11.8 m/s
"11.8! She's already DuanTi First Stage?"
There were exclamations; many students murmured in surprise.
Wan Keshan ignored the noise behind him and looked at Yu Lei.
"Don't rest — go straight to the punch test!"
"Remember, no charging up — punch quickly."
Yu Lei drew a deep breath, stood up, and ran toward the punch-test wall.
At the punch tester, she planted her feet, breathed steady for a few seconds, then raised both hands and threw rapid straight punches.
Bam bam bam...
In the blink of an eye ten punches were done.
She lowered her fists and stared at the display, sweat on her brow.
Punch force: 243 kg
Yu Lei frowned and turned back to join the line.
"Her speed exceeds the First Stage standard by so much, but her punch is only 243 kg?"
Zhao Hongzhou stared at her approaching figure, astonished.
Li Qingshan glanced and quickly looked away, expression calm.
"With a frame that slim, being a bit weak in strength is normal."
Not only Zhao Hongzhou was surprised; the line buzzed with discussion.
Wan Keshan waved Yu Lei back into line and said casually, "Everyone's constitution is different; some naturally emphasize speed, others strength."
"Remember, the DuanTi realm criteria are just the baseline."
Yu Lei's punching power is insufficient, so she still doesn't count as DuanTi First Stage.