Chapter 6: Provocation (Requesting Follows)

According to martial arts research theories, one must begin training from childhood, mastering all foundational skills: stance work, fist techniques, and weapons.

Once students enter their final year of high school, emphasis shifts primarily to fist techniques.

Only after achieving mastery in the Five Animal Fist techniques—significantly enhancing control over the body’s muscles—can one begin training with weapons, ensuring maximum efficiency.

“Currently in Class 3, only five people have achieved mastery in the Five Animal Fist: Yu Jing, Zhu Yuqi, Jiang Tao, Kang Feiyue, and Du Lin.”

“It looks like Lin Qi is about to break through too.”

Wu Kang pondered this, finding Lin Qi increasingly regrettable.

Too bad the boy comes from a poor family; his talent is decent, but not up to the level of Jiang Tao, who ranks in the top three of the class.

He can’t afford the resources others buy to boost his blood qi, limiting his future prospects.

There are always many students like this—neither outstanding nor failing.

Too bad he can’t help him much.

Wu Kang sighed.

…

Near the end of class, most students had finished training.

Lin Qi picked up a five-liter jug and filled it completely from the water dispenser.

“Gulugulu~”

He drank deeply, then wiped the sweat from his body.

“Martial training consumes so much water—but at least the water’s free. Worth it.”

Lin Qi sighed. After practicing, he was parched, but luckily the water was free; otherwise, his daily water expenses would be enormous.

“The school is about to form an elite class, and many in our class want to join.”

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

Under their gaze, he flashed his white teeth and continued:

“I’ve been at No. 2 High for eight years—I know the elite class admission criteria inside out.”

“The Gaokao is divided into three main categories, ranked by importance: blood qi value, martial skill, and academics.”

“Blood qi value carries the highest weight, followed by martial skill!”

“So to enter the elite class, blood qi value and martial skill are crucial—you must reach mastery in fist techniques, meaning late Stage One.”

“In past years, the minimum blood qi value required was above 6.0.”

As soon as he finished speaking, many students stirred restlessly.

“Mastery in the Five Animal Fist and blood qi above 6.0? That’s way too high!”

“I was 13th in class last semester, and now I’m only at 5.4 blood qi—how am I supposed to gain 0.6 in less than a week?” someone groaned.

“Last semester, only four people in our class broke 6.0 blood qi.”

“The requirement really is high.”

“I should’ve worked harder this summer,” someone regretted bitterly.

“Boss, with your blood qi above 8.0, getting into the elite class is a sure thing.”

Across the room, a handsome boy holding a battle sword lifted his head, smirking at his classmate’s praise.

Lin Qi frowned. Getting into the elite class required 6.0 blood qi?

Without awakening the Erlang Shen template and boosting his talent, his blood qi of 5.3 yesterday would never reach 6.0 in a week.

But with his current blood qi of 5.6, he still needed 0.4 more.

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

…

In class, the teacher was lecturing.

Lin Qi sat at his desk, a powerful hunger filling his mind.

So hungry!

“I ate so much this morning—how did I get hungry so fast?”

Lin Qi suddenly remembered the prompt on his panel.

【Your stomach function has been enhanced; digestive capacity has greatly improved…】

He opened the prompt and continued reading; instantly, a flood of information poured into his mind.

Moments later, he understood fully: his body, fused with the talent, was constantly evolving—his stomach function had strengthened, and his digestive capacity had greatly improved.

His nutrient absorption ability had also greatly improved.

Everyone’s constitution differs, so does digestive capacity.

The weak absorb only 50–60% of nutrients; the strong extract far more from food.

Lin Qi now possessed a top-tier digestive constitution, absorbing and digesting over 90% of nutrients from food.

Even when consuming cultivation resources, he could perfectly absorb and digest their effects.

“Taozi, you still have blood qi capsules?”

“Lend me a few!”

Lin Qi tapped Jiang Tao’s shoulder and whispered.

Jiang Tao’s face changed; he hesitantly pulled out a silver medicinal plate from his backpack and squeezed out two red capsules.

Lin Qi teased with a grin: “You’re being stingy again? One more won’t kill you.”

His best friend was great in every way—except he was absurdly frugal.

Many of Lin Qi’s own money-saving skills he’d learned from this guy.

“Didn’t I learn it from you when we were kids?” Jiang Tao shot back with a laugh. Lin Qi realized—he was right. Jiang Tao’s family had once been well-off.

After his parents died, he and his sister fell into hardship; as a friend, Lin Qi had taught him many frugal habits.

But over the years, Jiang Tao had surpassed him—outdoing even his master.

Looking at the two red capsules in his hand:

Blood Qi Capsules—effectively replenish blood qi.

The lowest-tier martial cultivation resource, cheap enough for poor families like his to afford.

“Hululu~”

Lin Qi swallowed the two capsules with water.

“Huh~”

Moments later, the hunger faded; his stomach warmed pleasantly.

…

!

Final class

Homeroom teacher Yan Hong checked the time and addressed the drowsy class:

“A few minutes left—those who’ve filled out the application form, come up and hand it to me.”

“Whoa~”

The classroom atmosphere shifted from quiet to restless.

Several students rose from their seats one after another to submit their forms.

“Qi-ge, let’s go.”

Jiang Tao pulled out his application form and tapped Lin Qi’s shoulder.

“Alright!”

Lin Qi nodded, and the two stood up together, holding their forms and walking toward the podium.

Just then, a muscular, broad-shouldered boy with a spiked haircut walked toward them.

Seeing Lin Qi, his eyes flickered, and he grinned:

“Oh? Master of Basics, you’re here too, just filling numbers?”

Jiang Tao’s face darkened; Lin Qi frowned.

All eyes in class turned toward them; many watched with amusement.

“Yang Lei, you’re barely hanging around rank 50 in the grade—you’re not even guaranteed elite class entry. Maybe you’re just filling numbers too!”

Jiang Tao sneered back. Lin Qi remained calm.

Yang Lei, unable to retort, slapped Lin Qi’s shoulder and forced a friendly grin:

“Just kidding, Qi-ge—you’re definitely getting into the elite class. My apologies.”

“Sorry, Qi-ge.”

He turned and walked away with a swagger.

Among the students, some sneered, some watched for entertainment, others whispered:

“Yang Lei’s not wrong—Lin Qi’s rank was 101 last semester. That’s way too far behind. Calling him a filler isn’t wrong.”

“Did one comment break him?”

“…”

The murmurs reached Lin Qi’s ears, but his expression stayed calm as he and Jiang Tao submitted their forms.

“Dinglingling~”

“Class dismissed.”

All students poured out of the classroom toward the cafeteria.

On the way, Jiang Tao comforted Lin Qi among the crowd:

“Yang Lei is just a loudmouth—don’t pay attention to what he says.”

Lin Qi nodded and said: “I understand. Someone like Yang Lei preys on the weak and only brags against those weaker than him.”

“Just ignore him.”

“But it’s still because I’m not strong enough—look, he wouldn’t dare provoke you.”

“Qi Ge, I believe with your talent, you’ll definitely make it into the elite class.”

“Qi Ge, your Tiger Form Fist is almost at peak mastery—you just need to find a way to raise your blood qi level,” Jiang Tao suggested beside him.

Lin Qi let out a bitter laugh:

“Blood qi level isn’t something you can reach just by working hard—it requires resources, it requires money.”

“Let’s eat first!”

With that, the two saw ahead the massive building—the cafeteria.

The cafeteria of No. 2 Middle School was built beside the playground.

It was a huge, square, red, two-story structure capable of accommodating thousands of students eating at once.

White steam rose from above the cafeteria; the aroma of food hit them as students streamed in orderly fashion.

Lin Qi and Jiang Tao entered the cafeteria and joined the line to get their meals.

“Ding!”

“Total payment: 15 yuan.”

After paying, Lin Qi carried a stack of trays piled like a small mountain and found a seat.

Opposite him, Jiang Tao was no different—also a small mountain of trays.

The two ate while chatting.

“If we want to raise our blood qi level quickly, we can’t eat on the first floor.”

Jiang Tao watched some students heading upstairs, his expression envious:

“The cafeteria has two levels. The food on the first floor is ordinary—almost none of the vegetables, meat, or rice contains source energy.”

“Those who eat here are students from other departments, and students like us who are poor…”

…

(End of Chapter)