Chapter 116

"Original Energy Company……"

Qin Shi silently noted it in his mind, planning to use his newly upgraded Citizen Permit to look it up online another day.

He smiled, put away the business card, pushed open the door, and got out of the car.

An Jingchu's black Elegant Wind was low-key yet luxurious, attracting many gazes.

Zhou Ning was naturally among them.

"Damn it! Old Qin didn't go to the Bai Ma Club for further studies, did he!"

Seeing his good brother come out of a car worth millions, and driven by a tall, short-haired older sister no less.

Once the Elegant Wind drove off, he immediately pounced on Qin Shi, intending to put him in a headlock for "severe interrogation."

Sensing someone approaching quickly, Qin Shi instinctively turned and threw an elbow, luckily pulling his strength fast, otherwise Zhou Ning would have been knocked flat on the spot.

"Hey hey hey hey! Wrong wrong wrong, Godfather! Spare me!"

Qin Shi released the grappling technique, freed Zhou Ning's arm that had been twisted behind his back, and said:

"I've told you many times, Little Zhou. Sneak attacking a trained fighter is an easy way to suffer."

"And who's this? You brat are getting more and more outrageous! Last time Teacher Lin drove a Han Hai Conqueror, and now this short-haired older sister is straight-up driving an Elegant Wind Junyan! Old Qin, listen to my advice: the world is treacherous, going into business is not easy, you must absolutely hold your bottom line!"

Zhou Ning admonished his sworn brother with heartfelt pain, then changed the subject and asked:

"Do you know any rich older sisters? Introduce me, maybe they'd like my tall, sturdy, righteous, durable type! I'm willing to share your burden! We're good brothers for life, sharing weal and woe!"

"Just keep eating the fitness meals my brothers make every day, combined with physical training, gaining ten points of Life Force in a month is no problem. Then you'll pass the Ranking Examination. Rich older sisters and such, you can't handle them, careful of the Happy Steel Spring Ball!"

Qin Shi ignored the clowning Zhou Ning. This guy had taken Nine Dragons Potion for a long time, almost ending up as a biochemical superman with a pointed head. Fortunately, he had some drug resistance, plus timely medical treatment and rest, and recovered without any lasting issues.

"I've been training hard according to the plan you made, going crazy on the three big items with Brother Yuan, Cheng Ge, and the others every day. Look at my muscles, bigger than before!"

Zhou Ning loved being an attention-seeker, striking a back-display pose, his distinct large muscles actually looking quite impressive at first glance.

"To be honest, Little Zhou, I feel you have a talent for fitness. If you stick with it, it's better than finding connections to become a 'Section-level Cadre' in the Security Department."

Qin Shi sized him up, not knowing if it was the fitness meals working too well, or Zhou Ning's hard work and sweat.

After more than half the summer vacation, Little Zhou's physical strength had clearly improved, his Life Force faintly surging, showing a momentum of bursting forth.

"Oh, Old Qin, what do you think? Tell me!"

"I feel that as long as I persist, train to the extreme muscles, maybe in the future I can take the fitness internet celebrity route, do live streaming sales of protein powder!"

Zhou Ning rubbed his hands, his eyes full of expectation.

Qin Shi poured cold water with a blank expression:

"I'm saying you should train your body well, properly get a Teacher Qualification Certificate, return to Old Factory Street to take over Old Liang's class, and peacefully be a Physical Education Teacher."

Zhou Ning was speechless, shaking his head repeatedly:

"Zidi Schools are almost all being shut down, where are there any establishment positions left? Besides, look at Old Liang, he's been doing it so long and hasn't saved any money... hasn't even started a family! My parents still expect me to continue the family line, find a wife and have grandchildren!"

Heh heh, Little Zhou, once you spend hundreds of thousands in bride price to buy an unfinished building and have three children, you'll be honest.

Qin Shi looked up and entered Xin Yi High School. The school gate stood tall and lofty, the place quite spacious, with students coming and going bathing in the morning light, exuding vigorous and upward vitality.

"Old Qin, after roll call later is the Life Force Detection. You've improved so much, Qian Ge will definitely praise you! He might even let you speak on stage!"

Zhou Ning hehe-hehed, eager to see his sworn brother show off on stage.

Whether Elite Class or Hongzhi Class, every time school starts, the first thing is Life Force Detection, comparing it with physical data from before the vacation to judge whether students have been working hard.

This is more effective and intuitive than any summer homework.

Because the data is right there, and Life Force doesn't lie.

The student with the greatest improvement and best results can also get the opportunity to speak on stage at the opening ceremony.

"This kind of thing has no reward, just steals the limelight, not much fun. Little Zhou, one must know how to hide one's strength and wait for the right moment. What's the point of going to the Yu Tang Bureau to fish?"

Qin Shi said the most arrogant words in the most humble tone.

Regarding the Hongzhi Class as a fish pond.

"The Elite Class still has a few tough opponents, Old Qin, you must not underestimate them! I've already inquired in the class communication group for you. Xu Mo and Zhao Yunzhu, both selected for some Talent Cultivation Project, receiving huge amounts of resources, their Life Force increase won't be small."

Zhou Ning claimed to be Xin Yi High School's Hundred-knower, Cyber Social Butterfly. By sharing resources with male classmates and having rich experience chatting with female classmates about chasing stars, he gathered all kinds of news.

"And there's Zheng Yun, the Grade First. It's said his family arranged for him to secludedly cultivate at a Dao Guan in Jingzhou for a while, and his progress is very fierce!"

Qin Shi clicked his tongue twice. Hengzhou is currently under external blockade, yet one can still take a spaceship to Jingzhou.

This Grade First's family background is indeed solid.

"Jingzhou, Dao Guan... Old Liang when he was young, it seems he studied arts in Jingzhou."

Qin Shi pondered as he entered the classroom. Many classmates had already arrived.

After the long summer vacation, everyone's enthusiasm for exchange was very high, sharing interesting experiences with each other.

"Last month I went on a self-driving trip with my brother, went to Zhou City for tide pooling, huge crabs, I caught a full bucket!"

"I watched videos, heard there are Fish Men causing trouble in Zhou City. Is it true? Upper body like a human, lower body with a long tail, and they eat people."

"Fake, right? The Relevant Department has debunked the rumors. The videos are post-production synthesized. Some internet celebrities deliberately create attention and hype..."

Qin Shi and Zhou Ning sat at the window seat in the last row. The former listened to the classmates' rich lives and couldn't help but feel a sense of unreality.

These carefree campus days seemed somewhat distant from himself.

What he was thinking about was things like the Old Martial Arts school sweeping the New Martial Arts school, defeating Heng University's Martial Arts Department...

Study Committee Member Liu Yue held a notebook, having everyone sign in one by one.

She had short hair with bangs, a very youthful and sweet smile. Leaning against Qin Shi's desk, she asked:

"Qin Shi, what did you do during the summer vacation?"

Qin Shi took the signature pen and filled in his name:

"Part-time work. At a gym, a Youth Palace, and other entertainment venues as a waiter. Got quite a lot of tips."

He said it with a smile, calm and natural, without any attempt to hide it.

"That's awesome! I want a summer job too, but my mom won't let me; she insists I take make-up lessons."

Liu Yue held her notebook with both hands, staring without blinking.

She felt that after one summer vacation, Qin Shi looked better than before, his smile sunnier, his speech steadier.

Zhou Ning joined in the fun and deliberately teased:

"Study Committee Member, why do you only ask Old Qin, treating me like air! I also did a summer job……"

Liu Yue flicked her ponytail, slapping her notebook and signature pen onto the tabletop:

"Zhou Ning, you're so fat, you should do more work and lose some weight!"

Fat?

Zhou Ning instantly felt his defenses crumble; as a fitness person, he couldn't take it, and argued his case:

"I'm muscular! Look at these biceps, this arm circumference! Don't go! Take a look…… I really am muscular!"

Liu Yue rolled her eyes; at her age, she could only appreciate thin-muscle boys.

Zhou Ning's fat-wrapped muscle was no different from a big bear.

"Little girl! No aesthetics!"

Zhou Ning felt indignant, then turned and said:

"Old Qin, you train every day, your muscle definition is uniform, not exaggerated at all."

Qin Shi smiled; partly because Old Martial Arts emphasized tendons and bones, with all tempering happening internally;

and partly because he had the 【Overgrowth】 trait, eating high-calorie nutritious food every day, yet still digesting and absorbing it perfectly.

"Qian Ge is here."

As the hour hand moved toward nine-thirty, the noisy classroom suddenly fell silent; a medium-built young man with thick eyebrows walked in.

The teaching teachers of Hongzhi Class were generally young; those with more seniority were more willing to teach Elite Class.

For First-Rank Academies, teachers were considered resources for students.

But at slightly lesser schools, the situation was reversed; students were the teachers' connections.

Elite Class students had outstanding family backgrounds and superior conditions; teaching them inevitably meant contacting their parents.

Who knew when this relationship would come in handy.

Hongzhi Class was the opposite; students were more ordinary, grade improvement was slow, it was laborious and unappreciated.

It could be called a "hard job."

So it fell to the New Teacher's shoulders.

"Summer vacation is over; everyone collect your hearts and find your learning state as soon as possible! This year is the last time of your high school life; you must cherish the friendship among classmates and also seize the opportunity to learn……"

Qian Ge started with a big bowl of steaming Spiritual Chicken Soup, speaking for a full ten minutes before reluctantly choosing to end:

"School starts as usual; according to class ranking, one by one do Life Force Detection, to see whether you stood still during the summer vacation or studied hard."

Qin Shi and Zhou Ning ranked around the middle, following the large group as they set off.

The classroom where they had class was located in "Ming De Building."

The Life Force Detector was located in "Du Xing Building."

Upon arriving at the place, Qin Shi watched the Elite Class students lined up in a long queue.

Compared to Hongzhi Class, they were obviously more relaxed, discussing the wonderful things of the summer vacation back and forth.

"The Cultivation Halls in Xi Ji District are really expensive! Those full-level coaches, each starts at five figures, completely unaffordable! I can only occasionally sit in on public classes!"

"My dad signed me up for Fighting Class, Physical Class, and Nutrition Class; seven days a week without rest, more tiring than school!"

"Did your Life Force Increase? Is it effective?"

"Not bad; barely increased by more than two points, just over the eighteen-point line……"

By contrast, everyone in Hongzhi Class was very nervous.

After all, which poor student isn't afraid of exams?

Life Force isn't that easy to increase; good food and drink plus diligent training, persisting for months to condense a strand.

This is because young people have vigorous vitality and are in the golden stage.

By middle age, physical strength declines, Life Force begins to be lost, and even decline phenomena appear.

Then they completely lose the opportunity to improve.

This is the natural law.

The Martial Artist Path is to have a strong body, promoting the vigorous emission of Qi Life Force.

Thereby nourishing a sturdy physique capable of opposing Power Armor and Steel Torrent.

Only by going far enough, when Qi Life Force integrates into flesh and blood, will there be no such worry.

Zhou Ning asked in a low voice:

"Old Qin, are you confident of rushing to first place! Looking down on all heroes!"

Qin Shi thought seriously, then shook his head:

"Grade First is a bit exaggerated; probably no chance. I've only been in contact with Old Martial Arts for a short time; how can I catch up with people who have built a solid foundation for three or five years?"

He reckoned Zheng Yun was probably around forty points; otherwise he couldn't sit firmly on the throne of Grade First.

He himself might need another half month to catch up.

"Old Qin, you're getting more and more arrogant! Actually coveting Grade First! I'm talking about our class!"

Zhou Ning's mouth corner twitched; his sworn brother was simply too crazy, completely not putting Elite Class students other than Zheng Yun in his eyes!

If he could discern inner thoughts, he would know.

The little Zheng student of Grade First, Qin Shi also didn't take seriously, thinking he could surpass him in half a month.

"Old Qin, do you think later on, Elite Class will look down on people, step on our Hongzhi Class, and then trigger class conflict, and you will step out to sweep all directions, suppressing Elite Class so they dare not make a sound!"

Zhou Ning couldn't wait, eagerly hoping for some excitement on the first day of school so he could set up a stage for his best friend.

"What nonsense, our Hongzhi Class was originally just a stepping stone for the Elite Class. Normally when we go to the cafeteria for food, the dining areas are different, don't you understand score segregation!"

Qin Shi said with a smile.

Schools in the Taian Metropolitan Area don't care about equality for all; everything revolves around scores and college admission rates.

Poor students barely keep the right to breathe, but forget about "human rights."

"Seems like it."

Zhou Ning realized only afterward that over his three years of high school life, he had never sat at the same table to eat with a single Elite Class student.

Damn it!

"Old Qin, I've decided, I'm going to advance into the Elite Class! Then run back to Hongzhi Class to eat, becoming the first person to break the rules!"

Zhou Ning puffed out his chest, showing a resolute look in his eyes.

"The Elite Class requirements aren't high; there are small exams every month, you just need your Qi Life Force to break ten points."

Qin Shi nodded, relying on his muscle-building fitness meal and the training plan he devised, as long as Zhou Ning strictly followed it, it wasn't actually hard to increase it.

In the early stage, Qi Life Force is like tree growth; with enough nutrition, it can grow tall.

But as vigorous vitality fades, it will fall into a bottleneck and need stimulation again.

To Zhou Ning's great disappointment, the process of testing Qi Life Force was very stable, without any waves.

Every year at the start of school it's this process, everyone wanting to finish quickly and end it early.

Who would cause trouble after eating full, stirring up chaos.

It dragged on until ten forty, two Elite Class students finished testing, averaging around twenty points.

If the senior year goes relatively smoothly, most should reach twenty-five points before the College Entrance Exam.

Although there's still a big gap to First-Rank Academies, the secondary choices are more numerous.

"I just saw Qin Shi."

Zhao Yunzhu did not leave, pulling Xu Mo and saying:

"He's also here for Qi Life Force detection, guess what it will be."

Xu Mo had just won the top three in class, in a good mood.

Zheng Yun hadn't returned yet, the shadow pressing over him was somewhat less.

He glanced at the tall, outstanding youth among the crowd, frowning and saying:

"Full of spirit, looks like very rich Qi Life Force, I think it should break ten points, exceeding Hongzhi Class's average line."

Zhao Yunzhu showed surprise:

"Could it be he has the strength of the Elite Class?"

Xu Mo's expression was very casual; ten-plus points of Qi Life Force wasn't taken to heart at all, not even worth calling a competitor.

"I just asked a few people, they all said he's usually quite diligent, just poor family background, from Old Factory Street, can't get any support."

Zhao Yunzhu sighed:

"What a pity; for any Supernatural Path, nothing is more feared than this. Not completely without talent, just lacking the conditions and environment to get on the right track."

Xu Mo had both hands in his pockets, standing in the corridor; no one approached around him and Zhao Yunzhu.

Those Hongzhi Class students seemed to be automatically isolated, forming clearly separated circles.

This Elite Class top student said with a condescending attitude:

"Life is often this cruel; many things are destined from the very beginning. It seems Hongzhi Class and Elite Class are not just a gap in grades, a gap in learning talent, but a chasm in every aspect."

"Wanting to break out of Hongzhi Class, catch up with Elite Class classmates, even stand shoulder to shoulder with us, relying on their own efforts alone isn't enough; they also need several generations of struggle..."

Zhao Yunzhu agreed with this statement, about to echo, when she heard a commotion erupt from inside the Qi Life Force Detection Room with the door closed, like exclamations.

She slightly furrowed her brow, thinking:

"Could it be Qin Shi's progress is great? Exceeded fifteen points? For his past results, this is indeed a huge leap! Already able to be absorbed into the Elite Class!"

Xu Mo remained calm and indifferent; he was waiting here, just accompanying Zhao Yunzhu, waiting for an answer without any suspense.

How could Hongzhi Class students have channels to contact the Education Committee's Talent Cultivation Project?

Even less possible to surpass himself, and even throw Lu Hui behind!

Several minutes passed, the Detection Room door was pushed open.

Qian Ge, serving as Class Teacher, grinned at the corners of his mouth, like he won the grand prize, completely unable to suppress it.

He looked at Qin Shi beside him, his gaze extremely fervent, simply full of deep affection, treating him as a treasure.

"Classmates! You must all learn more from Qin Shi! Ask him for methods!"

"Just now, Qin Shi classmate set an unprecedented record of increase at Xin Yi High School!"

"Before summer vacation, his Qi Life Force detection result was eight points; after summer vacation, this number came to an astonishing thirty-four points!"

"I believe, in my future teaching career, this is also a record that cannot be broken..."

Qian Ge talked endlessly, publicly serving Spiritual Chicken Soup, speaking inspirational quotes, excited with a red face, feeling his body temperature rose several degrees.

"Old Qin! Invincible!"

Zhou Ning played his role, taking the lead in cheering, wishing he could raise both hands to applaud.

The rest of his classmates were already stunned, as if The Brain crashed, unable to respond.

Because thirty-four points of Qi Life Force, this number was too unfamiliar.

Like a poor worker with a monthly salary of fifteen hundred, learning a colleague earned thirty million, completely losing concrete concept in his Brain Sea.

The most shocked background character in the corridor belonged to Xu Mo.

He widened his eyes, as if he didn't hear clearly, looking toward Zhao Yunzhu to confirm:

"Thirty-four points? Teacher Qian just said, Qin Shi's Qi Life Force reached thirty-four points?"

Zhao Yunzhu also found it outrageous, especially Qin Shi's score of eight points before summer vacation, contrasted with the enormous increase to thirty-four points, full of unreality.

She fell silent, unable to speak.

Xu Mo couldn't help but actively break out of his own "inner circle," walking to the Hongzhi Class's "territory," and politely asked:

"Teacher Qian, has Qin Classmate's Qi Life Force truly reached thirty-four points?"

Qian Ge, serving as Class Teacher, was in the middle of cooking soup when suddenly interrupted, inevitably feeling somewhat displeased.

Hearing such questioning again, his facial color instantly turned cold and stern, and he said in a deep voice:

"This student, are you questioning me of falsifying results? Are Elite Class students' words and actions always so reckless? It seems I have a need to report this to your class's Teacher Wu."

As soon as Xu Mo spoke, he regretted it; no matter how excellent he was, he was still a student.

In this small society of the school, one was naturally a head shorter than teachers.

"You can go in now and ask Teacher Zhou, who conducted the test, face to face, whether this result is correct and true."

Qian Ge was very displeased and lectured:

"Don't think that Hongzhi Class students being inferior to you is a matter of course!"

"Turning back through history, Martial Gods of humble origins are not few! You should broaden your vision!"

Xu Mo lowered his head, like a quail.

Then, as if unwilling to accept it, he raised his head to look at Qin Shi:

"Qin Classmate, the one who moved into the Talent Apartment seventeenth floor is you, right?"

"Also, the one who refreshed Lu Hui's Cultivation Room record is also you, right?"

Lu Hui?

Who?

Qin Shi, who kept a low profile silently, had question marks pop up in his head.

Chapter End