Chapter 6: Provocation (Please keep reading)

According to the theories studied in the martial arts world, one must build a foundation from a young age, starting with stance training, moving on to fist techniques, and finally weapons; every aspect of the basics must be learned.

Once students enter their third year of high school, the focus shifts primarily to fist techniques.

Only when one has achieved mastery in the Five-Form Fist and significantly improved their control over their body's muscles can they begin training with weapons; this approach allows one to achieve twice the result with half the effort.

"Currently, in Class 3, there are only five people who have achieved mastery in the Five-Form Fist: Yu Jing, Zhu Yuqi, Jiang Tao, Kang Feiyue, and Du Lin."

"Looking at it now, this kid Lin Qi is also close to a breakthrough."

Wu Kang pondered to himself, the more he looked at Lin Qi, the more he felt it was a pity.

It was a shame that the boy came from a poor family. While his talent was certainly decent, it hadn't reached the level of someone like Jiang Tao, who was in the top three of the class.

Furthermore, he couldn't afford to purchase various resources like others to boost his blood-qi, meaning his future was limited.

There were many such students who were stuck in the middle every year.

It was a pity, but there was nothing he could do to help.

Wu Kang sighed.

……

As the end of class approached, most people had finished their training.

Lin Qi picked up his gallon jug and filled it with two full liters of drinking water from the fountain.

"Gulp, gulp～"

He drank in large mouthfuls, then wiped the sweat from his body.

"Martial arts training consumes so much water, but at least I can get free water—it's worth it."

Lin Qi sighed. After practicing his punches, he was incredibly thirsty; it was fortunate that the water was free, otherwise, he would be spending a fortune on water bills every day.

"The school is about to form an elite class, and many people in our class want to get in."

Wu Kang stood among the crowd and suddenly spoke up, drawing everyone's attention.

Under their gaze, he bared his white teeth and continued

"I've been at No. 2 High for eight years, and I am very clear about the selection criteria for the elite class."

"The college entrance exam is mainly divided into three categories, ranked by importance: blood-qi value, martial arts, and academics."

"Among them, blood-qi value carries the most weight, followed by martial arts!"

"Therefore, if you want to enter the elite class, blood-qi and martial arts are crucial. Your fist technique must be at the mastery level, which is the late stage of the first rank."

"In previous years, the minimum blood-qi value required was at least 6.0."

As soon as he finished speaking, many people became restless.

"Mastery in the Five-Form Fist and a blood-qi value over 6.0? That requirement is way too high!"

"I was 13th in the class last semester, and I only have 5.4 blood-qi now. With less than a week left, where am I supposed to find 0.6 blood-qi?" someone wailed.

"I think only four people in our class had blood-qi over 6 last semester."

"The requirements are indeed high."

"I should have stopped slacking off during summer break," someone said, filled with regret.

"Boss, with your blood-qi over 8.0, getting into the elite class is a sure thing."

In the distance, a handsome boy holding a battle saber heard his classmate's praise, lifted his head, and curled his lips.

Lin Qi frowned. To get into the elite class, one actually needed 6.0 blood-qi.

If he hadn't awakened the Erlang Shen template and improved his talent, there would have been no way for him to raise his blood-qi from yesterday's 5.3 to 6.0 in just one week.

However, with his current blood-qi of 5.6, he was only 0.4 away.

If he pushed himself hard over the next few days, there was still hope.

……

In class, the teacher was lecturing.

Lin Qi sat at his desk, a strong sense of hunger flooding his mind.

So hungry!

"I ate so much this morning, how did I digest it so quickly?"

Lin Qi suddenly thought of the notification on his panel.

【Your stomach function has been strengthened, and your digestive ability has been significantly improved...】

He clicked on the notification to view the details, and a massive amount of information flooded his mind in an instant.

A moment later, he understood everything. His body was fusing with the talent and undergoing a constant transformation; his stomach function had been strengthened, and his digestive ability had been significantly improved.

At the same time, his ability to absorb nutrients had also greatly increased.

Everyone's constitution is different, and so is their digestive ability.

Weak people might only absorb fifty or sixty percent, while strong people can digest more nutrients from their food.

Lin Qi was now a top-tier digestive constitution, capable of absorbing and digesting over ninety percent of the nutrients in his food.

Even with the resources he consumed, he would be able to absorb and digest their effects perfectly.

"Taozi, do you still have any blood-qi capsules?"

"Lend me a few!"

Lin Qi nudged Jiang Tao's shoulder and whispered.

Jiang Tao's expression changed drastically upon hearing this, and he gingerly took a silver blister pack from his bag, squeezing out two red capsules.

Lin Qi teased with a smile: "Do you have to be so stingy? Would it kill you to give me one more?"

His best friend was great in every way, except for being exceptionally stingy.

He had learned many of his own money-saving and frugal skills from him.

"I learned it from you when we were kids," Jiang Tao retorted with a grin.

Lin Qi realized it was true; Jiang Tao's family used to be quite well-off.

After his parents sacrificed themselves, he and his younger sister began living a hard life. As a friend, Lin Qi had taught him many money-saving tips.

As it turned out, after a few years, Jiang Tao had surpassed his master.

He looked at the two red capsules in his hand.

Blood-qi capsules could effectively replenish blood-qi.

They were the lowest-level martial arts cultivation resources, cheap enough that even a poor family like his could afford them.

"Gulp～"

Lin Qi swallowed the two blood-qi capsules with water.

"Hoo～"

A moment later, he felt the hunger gradually subside, and his stomach felt warm.

……

During the last period.

The homeroom teacher, Yan Hong, checked the time and said to the drowsy students

"There are a few minutes left. Those who have filled out their application forms can come up and hand them to me."

"Whoosh～"

The atmosphere in the class shifted from quiet to restless.

Several students stood up from their desks one after another to submit their forms.

"Brother Qi, let's go."

Jiang Tao took out his application form and patted Lin Qi on the shoulder.

"Alright!"

Lin Qi nodded, and the two stood up together, walking to the podium with their forms.

Just then, a sturdy boy with a broad back and thick waist, sporting a spiky hairstyle, walked toward them.

Seeing Lin Qi, his eyes flickered, and he grinned

"Yo, Master of Basics, are you here to make up the numbers too?"

Jiang Tao's expression changed, and Lin Qi frowned.

The entire class turned their gaze toward them, many watching the three with amusement.

"Yang Lei, you're only hovering around 50th in the grade yourself. You're not guaranteed a spot in the elite class either; maybe you're just here to make up the numbers too!"

Jiang Tao retorted with a cold sneer, while Lin Qi remained calm.

Seeing this, Yang Lei didn't dare to respond. He patted Lin Qi's shoulder, pretending to be friendly with a grin

"Just a joke, Brother Qi. You'll definitely have no problem getting into the elite class. My apologies."

"Sorry, Brother Qi."

After saying that, he turned and walked away with a swagger.

Among the students, some were disdainful, some were just watching the fun, and others whispered

"Yang Lei wasn't wrong. Lin Qi's current grades—he was only 101st last semester. The gap is too big; it's not wrong to say he's just making up the numbers."

"Did he really get triggered by one sentence?"

"……"

The whispers reached Lin Qi's ears, but his expression remained indifferent as he and Jiang Tao submitted their forms.

"Ding-a-ling～"

"Class dismissed."

All the students headed out of the classroom toward the cafeteria.

On the way, Jiang Tao comforted Lin Qi in the crowd

"Yang Lei has a foul mouth, don't mind what he says."

Lin Qi nodded and said: "I understand. Someone like Yang Lei is a bully who fears the strong and picks on the weak. He only talks big to those weaker than him."

"It's best to just ignore him."

"Still, it's because I'm not strong enough. Look, he wouldn't dare provoke you."

"Brother Qi, I believe that with your talent, you can definitely get into the elite class."

"Brother Qi, your Tiger-Form Fist isn't far from mastery either. You just need to find a way to raise your blood-qi value," Jiang Tao suggested from the side.

Lin Qi gave a wry smile

"Blood-qi value isn't something you can achieve just by working hard; it requires resources and money."

"Let's go eat first!"

With that, a massive building appeared in their view—the cafeteria.

No. 2 High's cafeteria was built next to the playground.

It was a huge, square, two-story red building that could accommodate thousands of people eating at the same time.

White steam drifted from the top of the cafeteria, the aroma of food wafted toward them, and the bustling students entered in an orderly fashion.

Lin Qi and Jiang Tao entered the cafeteria and lined up for food.

"Beep!"

"That will be 15 yuan."

After paying, Lin Qi carried his tray, piled high like a small mountain, and found a seat.

Jiang Tao, sitting opposite him, was no different, his tray also a small mountain.

The two chatted while they ate.

"If we want to quickly increase our blood-qi value, we can't keep eating on the first floor."

Jiang Tao watched some students heading to the second floor, his expression filled with envy

"The cafeteria is divided into two floors. The food on the first floor is ordinary; the vegetables, meat, and rice used contain almost no source energy."

"The people who come here to eat are students from other departments, as well as poor students like us..."

……

(End of chapter)