Chapter 13: Just Slightly Stronger Than You (Requesting Follow Reads)

Yang Lei glanced sideways at Lin Qi, thinking to himself:

“Lin Qi’s family is poor; he can’t afford potions. No matter how well he trains his fundamentals, it’s nearly impossible for his blood qi value to break 6.0.”

Thinking of this, he felt a strange sense of superiority.

“Huh～”

Lin Qi exhaled, then strode quickly to the punch strength tester.

He relaxed his body and felt dozens of eyes locking onto him.

Yet he wasn’t nervous—he had a clear understanding of his own strength.

Lin Qi’s gaze sharpened; he exploded forward, power surging from his feet like a kinetic chain, each segment lifting and transmitting force to his waist.

Then, using his waist to drive the power, his blood qi surged, his body taut as a drawn bow.

The Tiger Fist’s power pattern demanded instantaneous muscle explosion—his fist became dynamite, detonating the full force of his body.

His fist shot out like a cannonball, arcing through the air and slamming into the red target.

“Bang!!”

With one fierce punch, the target shook violently.

In the next instant, the tester’s digital screen flashed a string of numbers—“640.5kg!”

“640kg?”

Someone couldn’t help but gasp.

Round-faced Li Shaodong exclaimed: “I remember Lin Qi last semester could only hit 510kg—even less than me. How did he gain over a hundred kilograms in just one summer?”

Yang Lei’s eyes widened, unable to believe what he saw.

640kg?

That’s the same as me.

“Bang bang!!”

“643kg!”

“646kg!”

Lin Qi delivered two more punches in succession, each with nearly identical force; after seeing the readings, he smiled.

Just enough—slightly above Yang Lei.

“Next, test speed!”

Wu Kang nodded involuntarily.

Lin Qi walked slowly to the starting line of the track, before him the infrared speed zone.

“Swoosh～”

In an instant, Lin Qi’s back arched like an arrow released from a bow.

His leg muscles exploded like gunpowder, stirring a gust of wind—he crossed the finish line’s infrared sensors in a single breath, then slowed to a stop.

The speed meter’s screen flickered, displaying data—“14.4m/s!”

“Punch strength 646kg, speed 14.4m/s—definitely broke 6.0 blood qi.”

“Good, Qi-ge is awesome, just barely above Yang Lei.”

From the crowd, Jiang Tao laughed loudly.

“Hahahaha!!”

Others smiled upon hearing it.

Yang Lei’s face turned dark; he sneered: “I just didn’t perform well. Give me another try—I’ll crush him.”

Lin Qi stared at his results with satisfaction, returned to the crowd, and bumped fists with Jiang Tao.

“Qi-ge, strong!”

“I knew you’d have no problem.”

Jiang Tao grinned and gave a thumbs-up.

“After all, we’re going to the elite class together.” Lin Qi smiled, a rare sight.

……

“Jiang Tao!”

“Here!”

As students were called one by one, it was soon Jiang Tao’s turn.

“Click!”

“Finally my turn!” Jiang Tao rubbed his hands, stretched his body, and hurried to the punch strength tester, eager to begin.

He stood about 1.85 meters tall, massive and imposing, with long arms and bronze-toned skin—like a terrifying upright gorilla.

Muscles bulged, veins stood out; he twisted his waist and hips, launching both fists like cannonballs.

“Bang bang bang!”

The target shook violently, then displayed numbers.

“814kg!”

“815kg!”

“816kg!”

“Damn, Jiang Tao’s progress is insane—each punch better than the last, already over 800 kilograms!”

Someone gasped; Lin Qi was startled too.

It wasn’t just him improving—his best friend was advancing rapidly too.

This punch strength had broken 800kg; his blood qi value likely surpassed 8.0.

Jiang Tao’s talent was truly impressive.

He was genuinely happy for Jiang Tao.

A few minutes later

“Zhu Yuqi, punch strength 879kg!”

“Yu Jing, punch strength 901kg!”

“Add Jiang Tao, and the top three in class are terrifying—completely on another level from everyone else.”

The crowd erupted in murmurs, staring at the three in awe.

“Alright, clear the equipment. Next, test fist techniques.”

“Those whose names are called, step forward and demonstrate.”

After the punch strength and speed tests, Wu Kang stood up and said.

“Zhou Ping!” Zhou Ping stepped forward, bowed, then assumed his stance and lunged—his movements lively, using stillness to control motion.

He performed Crane Fist, its style swift and agile, moving like a shuttle through forest, nimble as climbing branches.

After finishing, he looked expectantly at his teacher.

Wu Kang’s face remained expressionless: “Zhou Ping, Good-”

“Next!”

Zhou Ping returned to the crowd, his face grim.

“Fist technique level can’t be scored numerically—only divided into four tiers: Excellent, Good, Average, Poor, each with plus or minus.”

“To earn Excellent+, you must achieve Great Completion in all Five Animal Forms.”

Round-faced Li Shaodong spoke again from the crowd.

“That’s too hard—probably fewer than five people in the whole class can do it.”

!

As the crowd debated, testing continued.

“Li Yu’an, Good+!”

“Cui Chengshan, Good-!”

“Lu Xingjuan, Excellent-”

“...”

As each classmate stepped forward to demonstrate, the Five Animal Forms—Dragon, Tiger, Crane, Monkey, Snake—were all displayed.

Wu Kang needed only a few glances to judge each performance, then announced the result coldly.

“Huh～”

“Ha～”

Yang Lei’s frame was broad, muscles massive, fingers thick; as he swung his fists, wind roared with each motion.

His technique was also Tiger Fist—his tiger claws struck like a tiger pouncing down the mountain, stirring powerful gusts.

“Bang bang bang!!”

As his moves flowed with his arms, sharp cracks echoed!

“Yang Lei, Excellent+!”

Wu Kang announced loudly; the tablet screen scrolled.

“Lei-ge is awesome—blood qi over 6.0, Tiger Fist at Great Completion—he’s definitely getting into the elite class.”

Someone flattered him.

Yang Lei finished his stance, secretly delighted by the praise.

“Of course—who do you think I am?”

"Lately, during the day, I’ve been receiving guidance from my teacher, and when I get home, our family’s private tutor also gives me one-on-one instruction."

Yang Lei grinned boastfully.

"I have to admit, Yang Lei’s got some real skill—but compared to Qi Ge, he’s already lost his edge."

Jiang Tao muttered under his breath.

"Lin Qi!"

Wu Kang announced loudly, then turned curiously toward Lin Qi.

"I’m up!"

Lin Qi finished speaking, stepped out of the crowd, walked to the center under everyone’s gaze, and bowed with clasped fists.

He took a deep breath, his gaze sharpened, and an invisible aura radiated from his body.

He then began practicing the Tiger Form Fist.

Memories of all the key points of the Tiger Form Fist surfaced in his mind.

In the next instant, his gaze changed, and his aura shifted.

Power surged from his waist, driving to his fingertips as he struck with tiger claws—fierce, powerful.

Blood and qi churned like a tiger emerging into the world.

Sometimes like a tiger descending the mountain, sometimes like an enraged tiger bursting from the forest, sometimes like a starving tiger seizing a lamb…

Fierce and sharp, the fist wind howled.

"Bang! Bang! Bang~~"

Each movement produced a crisp crack, like an air cannon.

"One hallmark of perfecting the Five Forms Fist is that each technique produces a clear, resonant sound."

"The Tiger Form Fist has six moves, six distinct cracks—Lin Qi has fully mastered it," someone exclaimed.

"Though Lin Qi is a bit slender, he embodies the spirit of the tiger—he looks utterly different now," someone marveled.

When Lin Qi finished his form, he heard Wu Kang’s surprised voice beside him.

Wu Kang stared at Lin Qi, astonished inside:

"This kid’s progress is incredible—he’s truly broken through to mastery of the Tiger Form Fist."

"He’s fully grasped the spirit of the Tiger Form Fist: heart harboring a tiger, delicately sniffing the rose."

Lin Qi had truly given him a great surprise—he’d completely misjudged him.

Lin Qi smiled in satisfaction.

After completing the bow, he turned and walked back into the crowd, fist-bumping Jiang Tao.

Watching Lin Qi’s figure, many felt an inexplicable sense—he seemed different now.

…

Half an hour later

"I declare the minor test officially over. Your scores and rankings will be available in half an hour."

"Many of you have made tremendous progress in martial cultivation—I’m pleased."

"Entering the elite class marks a new beginning."

"Dismissed!"

After testing the last student, Wu Kang announced loudly.

Upon hearing Wu Kang’s words, some grew tense, while others bustled about washing up, preparing to return to class and wait for their scores and rankings.

Wu Kang himself returned to his office.

This minor test’s results differed significantly from past ones—a completely unexpected person emerged.

…

(End of Chapter)