Chapter 14: Sixth in the Class, Forty-Fifth in the Grade (Please Continue Reading)
Class 3 Classroom
The cold air from the air conditioner permeated every corner, yet it could no longer ease the students’ anxious hearts.
Many were eagerly awaiting their results, trying to maintain inner calm.
Lin Qi, however, wore a composed expression.
His attention was fixed on the panel within his pupil.
[Name: Lin Qi (17)]
[Occupation: Martial Artist]
[Template: Erlang Shen · Yang Jian (2%)]
[Vitality: 6.2]
[Techniques: Complete Circle Stance (Mastered), Tiger Form Fist (Mastered), Basic Spear Technique (Intermediate)]
[Fist Technique: Level 1, 92%]
[Spear Technique: Level 1, 60%]
[Mobility: Level 1, 57%]
...
In just one week, Lin Qi had made tremendous progress. The awakening of his template had greatly enhanced his martial aptitude.
His Tiger Form Fist had even broken through to mastery.
The vitality-enhancing potions he purchased also played a significant role, rapidly boosting his vitality.
He had exceeded his goals: vitality not only broke through 6.0 but reached 6.2.
In a week, from 5.2 to 6.2 — such rapid growth even surprised Lin Qi himself.
All of this was thanks to the innate template.
The enhanced stomach function was incredibly effective, fully absorbing the nutrients from food, including the vitality capsules.
And this was only at 2% fusion — he dared not imagine how terrifying his talent would be at 10%, 20%, or even higher.
Lin Qi was confident that even against prodigies who had awakened special abilities, he had nothing to fear.
...
A whole class period passed slowly amidst anxious waiting. Before they knew it, it was the last period.
“The results and rankings have been released!”
Head teacher Yan Hong stood at the podium, scanning everyone’s expressions before announcing the first words.
In this age, with advanced technology, exams no longer took days to process.
Results came out within hours after the test.
Martial arts quizzes were even faster.
“Our class has made great progress this time. There have even been significant shifts in rankings.”
Suddenly, a girl raised her hand curiously.
“Teacher, how many from our class made it into the top 50 of the grade?”
Her words instantly thickened the atmosphere.
“Eight!” Yan Hong answered without hesitation.
“Eight?”
“That definitely includes me. I ranked 7th last semester, so I’m surely in the top 50,” Yang Lei said confidently, crossing his arms and leaning back in his chair.
“I’ll project the results so everyone can see for themselves.”
Yan Hong said no more, immediately activating the projection, displaying the large leaderboard on the podium.
Li Shaodong’s expression grew tense. The cold air blew on him, and sweat formed on his palms.
...
“I can make it into the elite class.”
Yang Lei took a sip of his drink, oozing confidence.
“Shhh!”
A 3D projection cast a glowing screen above the podium, revealing a massive results sheet.
At once, all eyes fixated on it.
“It’s out!”
“First place, Yu Jing, second in the grade!”
“Impressive, Yu Jing is truly steady and formidable!”
“Second place, Zhu Yuqi, fifth in the grade!”
“No change from before!”
“Third place, Jiang Tao, eleventh in the grade!”
“Jiang Tao has improved!”
Jiang Tao smiled with satisfaction upon seeing his ranking.
“Up by four places, not bad!”
“Oh, and Qi Ge too!”
Jiang Tao continued scanning, eager to know Lin Qi’s ranking.
“Qi Ge, what place did you get?”
Lin Qi’s gaze was sharp as he quickly found his own results.
[Name: Lin Qi]
[Academic Score: 912 (Rank 1)]
[Vitality: 6.2 (620)]
[Fist Technique: Excellent+ (1000)]
[Total Score: 792.4]
[Class Rank: 6]
[Grade Rank: 45]
...
Seeing his rank, Lin Qi’s lips curved into a faint smile, a weight lifting from his heart.
Their martial arts results considered three factors: academic scores, fist (or weapon) technique level, and vitality.
These accounted for 20%, 30%, and 50% of the total score respectively.
Vitality alone accounted for half the total score, the largest portion.
Currently, the test measured fist technique level, but the college entrance exam would use weapon technique instead.
“Qi Ge, you’re sixth in the class!”
“Now we can go to the elite class together.”
Jiang Tao laughed heartily, throwing his right arm around Lin Qi’s shoulder, excitement shining in his eyes.
“Stay calm,” Lin Qi replied with a slight upturn of his mouth.
...
“I got ninth! Fifty-eighth in the grade?!”
Li Shaodong suddenly stood up from his seat, disbelief written all over his face.
“I broke through 6.0 vitality, and my Five-Form Fist technique is mastered. How did I not even make the top 50?”
“This competition is fierce.”
“It’s normal. Many broke 6.0 vitality this time. Not making it in is understandable.”
His deskmate said calmly.
Li Shaodong, with a good mindset, soon regained composure and continued to look upward.
...
“Wow, Lin Qi actually made sixth in the class, surpassing me. Such huge progress?”
Li Shaodong exclaimed in surprise.
Others nearby were drawn in by his words, many expressing astonishment.
“I remember last semester Lin Qi was tenth in class and just over one hundredth in the grade. After this summer, he’s jumped into the top fifty in the grade — is he on steroids or something?”
“Seriously, impressive!”
Many whispered among themselves.
Not far off, Yang Lei’s eyes widened as he stared fixedly at the projected results.
His name was shockingly seventh, just behind Lin Qi.
“How could Lin Qi rank higher than me?”
“Impossible!”
Yang Lei couldn’t accept the fact. Not long ago, he had mocked Lin Qi as just filler.
Now, Lin Qi had overtaken him — by exactly one spot.
And Yang Lei was ranked 49th, nearly eliminated.
Nearly eliminated, becoming the filler — Yang Lei felt as if a boomerang had hit him, his face burning with humiliation.
“Damn it! No way, I must find a way to surpass Lin Qi.”
...
In the second row, a handsome young man furrowed his brow, studying the scores.
“Still second place? No, I will be first.”
“Li Zhou, in the elite class, I want to see how you train!”
Shortly after—
“Ding ding ding!!”
“Class dismissed. Students ranked in the top eight, prepare yourselves. Tomorrow you will advance to the elite class.”
The head teacher reminded them before leaving.
All the students rose and headed toward the cafeteria.
“Qi Ge, entering the elite class comes with many perks. Plus, you can start applying for the Genius Loan now. Congratulations.”
In a corner on the second floor of the cafeteria, Lin Qi and Jiang Tao sat down after ordering nutritious meals. Jiang Tao was the first to congratulate him.
Lin Qi nodded. Entering the elite class was a new beginning.
However, his funds were nearly depleted. To raise his vitality, he had spent money on vitality capsules and potions.
Eating nutritious meals for a week had cost nearly three thousand yuan.
“Phew—”
After finishing his meal, Lin Qi felt warmth in his stomach as it greedily digested and absorbed nutrients.
He rubbed his belly. The recent stomach enhancement and improved absorption had contributed greatly to pushing his vitality past 6.0.
But by yesterday, he felt uneasy. One nutritious meal was no longer enough to fill him.
He worried that in the future, he might need to eat two meals like Jiang Tao.
Jiang Tao now needed two meals just to feel full.
Lin Qi still lacked money. Guo Heng had promised they would do long-term work, but after nearly a week, they were only now being told to start part-time jobs.
Thinking of this, Lin Qi looked forward to the Genius Loan all the more, since even the lowest third-class loan offered 200,000 Xia currency.
...
End of passage.