Chapter 421 20: College Entrance Exam (Part 1)

"Wuh Ping, number 17 from Class 6, Funeng City Third Middle School, versus Zhu Xiaoshuang, number 9 from Class 2, Eighth Middle School."

"Confirm identities!"

"Check hormone levels!"

"..."

Wuh Ping took a deep breath, stepped through the security gate, and followed the instructor's guidance to the arena stage.

Across from him, a young woman with slightly dark skin and coarse pores was rapidly shaking her hands, circulating her Qi Blood.

The shaking motion of her hands might make one think she was nervous, but it was actually a special force-channeling technique.

Thousand Scatter Hand!

A Mid-Level Martial Skill!

Wuh Ping's heart sank.

High schools didn't teach Mid-Level Martial Skills. This wasn't out of fear that the lower classes would rebel if they mastered powerful skills, but because the vast majority of high school students' Physical Bodies couldn't withstand the explosive power of such techniques.

Only advanced Martial Artists could.

Learning a Mid-Level Martial Skill required extra payment, and the cost was substantial.

Therefore, it was rare to see an advanced Martial Artist in high school, let alone one who had mastered a Mid-Level Martial Skill.

'This is bad!'

Wuh Ping's eyes narrowed.

He hadn't expected his first opponent to be this strong.

...

"His luck is terrible."

A handsome, well-built man appeared beside Lin Yuxi and spoke in a low voice:

"The Eighth Middle School in Licheng District is full of dirt-poor thugs. Very few of them manage to become advanced Martial Artists in high school, but those who do have, without exception, been through all sorts of battles."

"Even you could lose if you're careless, to say nothing of him—he's not even a Martial Artist."

"Brother." Lin Yuxi turned her head, her face lighting up with pleasant surprise.

"What are you doing here?"

Although Lin Dong was still young, as a member of the Lin Family, his position in the Security Department was not low.

Holding such an important post, he naturally couldn't leave his duties lightly.

"It's my little sister's college entrance exam. How could I not come on such a big day?" Lin Dong shrugged.

"He's Wuh Ping, isn't he?"

"...Mhm." Lin Yuxi pursed her lips.

"He is Wuh Ping."

"Besides being decent-looking, he really doesn't have any other good qualities to speak of." Lin Dong shook his head.

"I really don't understand what you see in him."

"Brother!" Lin Yuxi's face flushed with bashfulness.

"Forget it!" Lin Dong sighed.

"Since he's the one my sister has her eye on, I'll arrange a job for him after the exam is over."

"Wuh Ping..."

"I did some digging. His Talent for martial arts isn't actually bad, and he trains very hard. It's a pity he has an irresponsible father. He's grown up barely even drinking any nutrient solutions."

As for Genetic Enhancement Potions, that was completely out of the question.

To be able to rank among the top of his class by tempering his Physical Body on his own, without taking any external substances, meant his Talent was certainly not bad.

Lin Yuxi lowered her gaze.

Wuh Ping's refusal to admit defeat and his relentless drive to achieve his goals were undoubtedly part of what drew her to him.

"You are a daughter of the Lin Family. You've undergone several genetic modifications. Marrying a lower-class person would disappoint the family," Lin Dong said, glancing at his sister.

"And they would never approve."

The reason why Safe Cities still had great clans and Noble Families was, naturally, because they possessed methods better suited for survival in this world.

Although the infants incubated by the Treasure Manuals underwent genetic modification, they were far from comparable to the conglomerate Noble Families. After all, the resources were there; cutting-edge technology would never be used on ordinary people.

The genes of children from great houses had been passed down and improved through generations of purposeful evolution, long surpassing those of ordinary people.

In fact, in their eyes, ordinary people were simply lower-class.

Their genes could not mix with those of the lower class; to do so would be a defilement, an unforgivable sin.

"I understand."

Lin Yuxi's voice was faint.

"He and I... we're just ordinary friends."

"As long as you understand." Lin Dong offered a faint smile.

"But it's only marriage and children that are forbidden. It doesn't matter if you want to play around a bit, as long as it doesn't cause a huge mess. You are, after all, from the main line of the Lin Family, not one of those side branches with impure bloodlines."

"Brother!" Lin Yuxi's pretty face turned bright red as she stomped her foot.

"What are you talking about?"

"Getting shy?" Lin Dong chuckled.

"You're not a little girl anymore. There are some things you can start to explore. There's a banquet in two days to celebrate all the young people taking the entrance exam this year. You should go."

"...Yes." Even though she didn't want to, Lin Yuxi had no choice but to nod.

She could no longer use her studies as an excuse to get out of it, and entering a High-Level Academy would require her to make some friends anyway.

"Wuh Ping's potential for growth is extremely limited, but his sister is quite impressive," Lin Dong continued.

"Wuh Qing..."

"Her research in genetics is enough to get her into a High-Level Academy; otherwise, she wouldn't have become that lunatic's teaching assistant. She might even be able to settle in the Inner City District someday. You could introduce her to some of your friends. People like her are very popular with research companies."

"Wuh Qing?" Lin Yuxi turned her head, her gaze falling upon a figure in the crowd below, and slowly nodded.

"I understand."

"Huh?" Lin Dong's expression suddenly turned to one of surprise.

"A Martial Artist!"

'What?'

Lin Yuxi whipped her head around. When her eyes landed on the arena stage, her expression also changed, and a look of wild joy filled her eyes.

*

*

*

"Wuh Ping, from the Third Middle School."

Wuh Ping clasped his fist in his palm in a formal salute and spoke solemnly:

"Please instruct me!"

"From the Lower City District." Zhu Xiaoshuang flexed her wrists, her eyes scanning him with a look of appraisal.

"Can't your family even afford a decent set of clothes?"

Wuh Ping lowered his head, his face showing his embarrassment.

He had been knocked unconscious by Zhu Ju the night before. His Qi Blood had been thrown into such turmoil that he had nearly died on the spot. He had barely managed to survive, and when he saw how late it was, he had rushed over without any time to clean up.

And now, not only were his clothes torn and dirty, but he was also drenched in foul-smelling sweat. It was no wonder no one had wanted to get near him on the way here.

"Whatever."

Zhu Xiaoshuang sighed and waved her hand dismissively.

"Let's get this over with quickly!"

BANG!

She stomped her foot, and her whole body shot toward Wuh Ping like an arrow loosed from a bow.

Her slender fingers clenched into a fist that shot forward, punching visible ripples into the air.

Fluctuation Fist!

This was a primary-level Martial Skill, but it could be advanced.

Because its Force Manipulation Method was extremely complex, very few people cultivated it, even though it was taught in high school.

And even those who did were rarely proficient.

But Zhu Xiaoshuang was clearly an exception; her Fluctuation Fist had already reached the Mastery Realm.

As the Fist Force bore down on him, Wuh Ping subconsciously sidestepped to retreat, instinctively executing the Impact Needle Instant Step footwork.

SWISH!

An afterimage lingered in his place as he reappeared several meters away.

"Huh?"

"Hm?"

Zhu Xiaoshuang let out a cry of surprise.

Wuh Ping was also stunned. He had never been able to execute the Impact Needle Instant Step so easily and freely.

Moreover, as he executed the footwork, a powerful energy, like an erupting volcano, surged from within him.

'I...'

'What's happening to me?'

"So you're a master!" Zhu Xiaoshuang's beautiful eyes narrowed as she flashed forward and threw another punch.

Her Fluctuation Fist, Armor-Piercing and Gang-Breaking, struck out fiercely.

Her fists were like cannon barrels, her Qi Force condensed like tungsten-core bullets, able to shatter ten thousand jun with a single point—enough to smash even an alloy gate.

BANG!

Cannon Fist!

As their fists collided, both were sent flying back.