Chapter 49 - Eager
On his way back to school.
Fang Ping was still reminiscing about the battle he had just watched.
“A Grandmaster is like an inhuman humanoid avatar from an RPG!”
This was the inference Fang Ping had made in regards to a Grandmaster’s skill level, based on the degree of damage he saw them inflict on the scene.
“I should say that he’s an avatar that is invincible as long as he’s sentient, mobile and has an abundant supply of Vitality!”
The degree of damage a Grandmaster could cause while solo might not measure up to a missile or a nuclear bomb, but it could not be said with certainty who would win when it comes to lethality.
Missiles and nuclear bombs were just objects. If appropriate defense measures were set up against them, everyone might survive in the case of an attack.
A closed-off city might not be demolished even when nuclear bombs rained on it, but it would definitely not be the case when those humanoid avatar-like Grandmasters descended onto it – the Vitality supply issue notwithstanding.
It proved difficult to dodge their attacks, too.
Also, was what he had seen the extent of their power?
The two Grandmasters were only engaging in a casual match to decide the scope of their businesses.
This was not a life-or-death battle. Who could say with certainty how much of their power they had utilized?
They could probably cause more destruction when it was a matter of fight or die.
At this thought, Fang Ping suddenly cursed, “Fucking Huang Bin!”
He cursed Huang Bin because it was this man that had been the reason for his misconceptions of martial artists.
A Rank-2 martial artist was defeated by several bottles of narcotics.
At that time, Fang Ping had really assumed that martial artists were not that big a deal.
Martial artists in or below Rank-3 were no better than ordinary civilians.
That joke of a reporter, Liu Dali, had shattered a slab of stone with his palm like it was nothing and had caught a bullet with his bare hands in the past.
Was this action even within human capacity?
If Fang Ping treated lower-ranked martial artists as if they were someone like Huang Bin, he would die without even knowing it.
If Huang Bin knew what was going on in Fang Ping’s head, he would probably haunt Fang Ping for life even if he had turned into a ghost.
…
In the afternoon.
The video of the battle between the two Grandmasters was still the heat of the discussion.
Even if they did not even see them in the video – Fang Ping knew that now – it did not dampen their enthusiasm at all.
The chaos died down when it was almost time for them to go home.
While Fang Ping was packing up and getting ready to go, the class teacher Liu Anguo entered the room.
“Candidates taking the martial sciences examinations, please stay for a while. The others can go home.”
The other students did not stay. They went home.
Some of them ran out particularly quickly, face alight with glee as if they had heard some good news.
After they had left, Fang Ping could not help asking the class teacher about the pressing matter he had considered. “Teacher, who’s gonna clean the classroom?”
Liu Anguo froze for a moment.
Wu Zhihao and the others were stunned too. This question… hit the nail right on the head!
They were not scheduled for cleaning duty today. Those who were had all left. They would have to clean the classroom, would they not?
Liu Anguo was rendered speechless by their reactions. He paused for a while before continuing, “All of you can conduct a cursory sweep later. Now, sit down, and we’ll start talking about the serious issue at hand!”
Old Liu was a little embarrassed, so he changed the topic almost immediately,
Who else would remember to clean up the classroom? It’s only you, Fang Ping, you annoying chatterbox!
Fang Ping chuckled dryly. He had only remembered the cleanup responsibilities because he was tired of doing it all the time.
He was cleaning up his house in Scenic View Gardens alone. He did not know how torturous doing household chores was until he had to do it.
Fang Ping found cleaning up more tedious than cultivation.
As his mind wandered, Liu Anguo started his speech off with a cough. “It’s already the 25th today. There are only five days left to the physical assessment.
“Although the results of the background check haven’t been released yet, the school has acquired the name list.
“All candidates from this class have passed.”
Few people were eliminated by the first test. Most people passed, except for those who had applied despite their records hoping for a spot of luck, and those who had mishaps after their applications were put in.
“The school has made arrangements. You will meet up at school on the morning of the 30th, where a bus will be waiting to transport you to Ruiyang.
“The school has booked hotel rooms in Ruiyang too. Everyone will move around in groups.
“You can go to Ruiyang by yourselves if you’re not willing to follow through the school’s arrangements. Don’t miss the physical assessment, though.
“Also, those who feel like they’re short on time need not come to school in the next few days…”
The martial sciences exams are near. There should be time for these martial sciences students to recuperate.
After that, Liu Anguo gave them some advice. “Everyone, rest well in the next few days. Work hard and play hard. Don’t overexert your body.
“If you go overboard and hurt your body, it’ll be nothing but detrimental for you.”
Liu Anguo did not stay for long after he had announced the precise meet-up time.
Before he left, he turned back, as if he had just remembered something. “Everyone, remember to clean the classroom!”
At his words, Wu Zhihao and the others all turned their gazes on Fang Ping.
Fang Ping looked at them innocuously. “What are you staring at me for? It’ll be our job to do even if I didn’t say anything.”
Wu Zhihao did not bother to stay on topic. He said while he got himself a broom and started to work, “Everyone was talking about Grandmaster Ma for the whole day and forgot about the reward scheme.
“Fang Ping, do you think you can get it?”
Everyone looked at Fang Ping once again.
Yang Jian could not help interjecting, “Wu Zhihao, you’re kidding, aren’t you?
“The minimum requirement is 125cal, and you said that Fang Ping…”
Wu Zhihao asked him with a smile on his face, looking as though he had everything in his grasp, “Fang Ping, what do you think?”
“Think, your *ss. Sweep your d*mn floor!”
Fang Ping did not reply. This guy, Wu Zhihao, was a bit suspicious lately, what with him always probing him underhandedly or mentioning Wang Jinyang with that all-knowing, you-can’t-lie-to-me expression on his face.
Fang Ping knew what he was thinking, but he did not give him a direct reply, opting instead to let him guess for himself.
Wu Zhihao was used to Fang Ping’s roundabout ways of answering. He said, “We have our next few days off. What are your plans?”
Yang Jian laughed. “Take my supplements and nourishments, and train.
“My Vitality should be a little higher than before. I didn’t go check, but I think I must be at 114cal now.
“I’m going to take a Vitality Pill and create an emotional outburst like how Brother Wang suggested before going to the physical assessment.
“If my Vitality can go up to 116cal, I think that I have a good shot at passing the tests!”
The others were all a little envious after hearing his words. If he could manage an outburst that raised his Vitality up to 116cal, there was indeed a good chance he could get in.
The minimum requirement from the past year was 112cal, while the average was 115cal.
The threshold would definitely be set higher this year, but 116cal was not totally a lost cause.
Zhang Hao cursed Yang Jian with envy. He then asked Wu Zhihao, “Zhihao, your Vitality should be at 116cal now, right?”
“It should be somewhere around that. I haven’t gotten around to checking it these past few days.” Wu Zhihao sighed. “It would be so much easier if I applied last year. I really don’t have any confidence this year.
“Tan Tao and Tan Hao, those two guys told me yesterday that they can reach 120cal when the physical assessment arrives.
“Zhou Bin has already reached 125cal. Chen Jie from Class (2)’s Vitality has also reached 120cal before.
If I count them all in, there are already four people whose Vitality is above 120cal.
No, five!”
Wu Zhihao eyed Fang Ping again. This guy definitely has a Vitality that was above 120cal!
Five students from No.1 High School had passed the tests successfully the past year, while the same number had a Vitality of 120cal this year!
If admission was completely like the ratio from the past year, even him, Wu Zhihao, did not have a shot.
Not to mention there were several students whose Vitality was of a similar level to his.
When all of them were accounted for, there were at least 10 of them whose Vitality was above 115cal. 15 if more of them managed to cross the border.
Yang Jian was an example. He did not reach the threshold now, but he could with supplemental pills and a neat outburst.
Could No. 1 High School produce fifteen martial-artist hopefuls?
Vitality was not the only quality that mattered, but Wu Zhihao still felt a little apprehensive.
At this point, he could only reassure himself that other schools were worse; only No.1 High School had performed exceptionally well.
The group finished cleaning the classroom while they chatted.
The others had all revealed their current Vitality some way or another, aside from Fang Ping, who changed the topic every time it came up.
…
Fang Ping, who had finally gotten out of the school compound, felt resigned, too.
It was not that he did not want to tell. He did not because they would not believe him.
During the last weekend, he had combined The Methods of Honing and pole-standing into a training regimen and had successfully pushed his Vitality up to 133cal.
Five days had passed since then. It was him, so he would not slow down, of course.
He concentrated and took a look at the system interface. Fang Ping was resigned to the fact that even Old Wang would not believe him.
Wealth: 2965000
Vitality: 139cal
Mentality: 160Hz
…
This was after being stuck at 139cal for two days, too!
Fang Ping knew that this was the low hurdle that the Tan brothers had told him about.
Fang Ping also had a feeling that it was about time he jumped over the hurdle.
To think that he had spent three days on this… It was quite time-consuming, especially when compared to that time when he had spent three seconds to push his Vitality up to 120cal.
…
He did not go home, but to his house in Scenic View Gardens to train.
Fang Ping was planning to achieve the 140cal mark today.
In the gym, Fang Ping took off his shirt and started cultivating.
It was only five days to the physical assessment.
Fang Ping wanted to try and see if he could reach the 150cal limit within five days.
According to his hypothesis, 149cal might be possible, but 150cal would prove to be a considerable hurdle.
It was the limit for most people.
He could not help guessing how high a Grandmaster’s Vitality would be.
1000cal?
5000cal?
Or more?
One could only possess formidable strength if his Vitality and bones were strong enough.
At 139cal, Fang Ping’s punch could surpass an ordinary adult by a little in terms of strength if he concentrated the flow of his Vitality into his fist and punched with all his might. He was stronger, but his strength was still sadly limited.
Those Grandmasters were capable of turning a mountain into a beehive without fuss. The strength of the Vitality under their control must be unreal.
Fang Ping put those thoughts aside and started cultivating.
…
An hour later.
Fang Ping walked out from Scenic View Gardens, with a smile on his face and a good mood.
Wealth: 2913000
Vitality: 140cal
Mentality: 162Hz
His Vitality had finally reached 140cal, even though he was spending more and more Wealth in each session.
The other hurdles cost less though.
Fang Ping guessed that he would have about two million yuan worth of Wealth left after he broke through the 150cal barrier.
After witnessing the power a Grandmaster possessed for himself, Fang Ping was eager to become a martial artist himself.
Fang Ping saw martial arts as a means to climb up the ranks.
After seeing the video of the wrecked mountain, he now understood that martial arts could not be seen as a mere tool.
Fang Ping was dreading the martial sciences exams, but now he could not wait for them to end immediately so that he could enter a martial arts university.
Sun City was too small!
So small that few people had really met martial artists before despite knowing all about their existence.
So small that Wang Jinyang practically owned the city despite being a mere martial arts university student – without demonstrating his strength at that.
He must enter a martial arts university and explore the world of the unknown!
This was the only thought in Fang Ping’s mind!