High Martial Arts: Grinding for the Supreme Talent

Chapter 81: Chapter 81: Shock from All Sides

On the platform, Yan Hong and Zhang Cheng looked at the shocked students and smiled as well.

When they first saw the report cards, they were just as shocked.

The grade rankings had changed dramatically, just as Zhang Cheng had predicted.

Yu Jing and Qi Yuelin, who had dominated the top three spots for two and a half years, had finally been replaced by Jiangtao and Lin Qi.

Yan Hong watched Lin Qi, the center of everyone’s attention. His expression was calm, but she was inwardly amazed.

’Who would have thought that an ordinary student she once taught would become second in the grade after just one semester? No one in the entire school would have expected it.’

A corner of Zhang Cheng’s mouth lifted. The two students, Lin Qi and Jiangtao, were both from his class.

He deserved most of the credit. Their current achievements were proof of his judgment and teaching ability.

”Quiet!”

Zhang Cheng suddenly spoke, his resonant voice like a tiger’s roar as a powerful aura erupted from him.

The crowd immediately fell silent.

”The results are out. Some are good, some are bad. This time, our No. 2 Middle School’s scores have generally improved, which is worthy of celebration.”

”The national rankings have also been released. Students ranked below 30,000 need to pay attention. Your position is extremely precarious. You’ll need to double your efforts during winter break and even next semester.”

”Everyone, take a look at your own national ranking.”

”Our school’s number one student, Li Zhou, is fifth in Celestial Sea City and twelfth in Cang Province, yet he couldn’t even break into the top one hundred nationally.”

At Zhang Cheng’s words, the crowd quieted down and turned to look at the leaderboards. Li Zhou’s national rank was a striking 126th.

”That’s insane. Li Zhou has already broken through to the Second Realm, yet there are still over a hundred people stronger than him. Where do all these geniuses come from?” the crowd murmured in amazement.

”In this world, there’s no shortage of geniuses. If you don’t want to be eliminated, you have to work twice as hard to improve your strength.”

”Winter break is almost a month long. I sincerely hope none of you waste it.”

After speaking, Zhang Cheng cracked a grin.

Seeing his ”friendly” smile, everyone’s heart tightened.

...

「Meanwhile, in the principal’s office」

Jiang Zhiguang stared blankly at the huge report card projected on the screen, his heart pounding.

A minute later, his entire expression changed, and he burst into loud laughter.

”A surprise! A truly massive surprise!”

”I never thought my luck would turn around like this! Haha!!”

His gaze locked onto the top three names in the grade.

”In terms of overall results, our No. 2 Middle School has already entered the second tier.”

”Of course, the most crucial part is the emergence of three geniuses: Li Zhou, Lin Qi, and Jiangtao.”

”We have three students in the city’s top fifteen! That’s a result only No. 1 Middle School used to achieve.”

”Especially Lin Qi. That kid is a real genius. He’s a blessing for our No. 2 Middle School.”

...

Exhausted after a long day, Wu Kang returned to his private office.

He sat down and took a simple sip of water.

”The results just came out, and I had to notify the students right away. I haven’t even had a chance to look at the full grade report card yet.”

”I wonder how much progress Jiangtao and Lin Qi made this time?”

Wu Kang muttered to himself and logged into the school website to check the published overall rankings.

BEEP!

The screen projected the top 100 leaderboard before his eyes.

He started reading from the top, and his gaze instantly froze.

”Huh?”

”Lin Qi, second place?”

PFFT—

He spat out the water in his mouth.

He quickly grabbed a tissue to wipe it up, then looked back at the leaderboard, his face a mask of shock.

Lin Qi... his former student. The most diligent student in the class, yet his performance had always been merely upper-middle level.

He had originally thought that students like him, with no money, had no future at all.

But now, reality had slapped him hard in the face. The kid didn’t just get into the Elite class.

In a single semester, he had skyrocketed, shooting up like a rocket from 100th in the grade to second place.

”It seems I was blind. Teacher Zhang Cheng is the impressive one,” Wu Kang said, shaking his head.

But then a smile appeared on his face. Four of the top ten in the grade this time were his former students, which made him very gratified.

...

A dozen or so minutes later, it was already past 10 PM.

All the students began packing up to go home.

「Outside the school, at Zhang’s Barbecue Shop」

This was a time-honored barbecue shop that had been in business for over a decade. Lin Qi, Jiangtao, and Chen Zichuan were sitting together.

The three of them quickly grabbed skewers of sizzling, glistening beef and began to eat.

”Mm?”

”I’ve been eating here for years, and the flavor is still just as good,” Jiangtao couldn’t help but nod.

Lin Qi nodded as well. He took a sip of cola and instantly felt refreshed.

”Brother Qi, ever since the semester started, you’ve just gotten more and more incredible. It’s like you’re on a rocket, soaring straight to the top.”

”You’re already second in our grade and ninth in Celestial Sea City. I can’t even imagine how strong you’ll be in the future,” Jiangtao sighed, taking a big gulp of his cola.

”Taozi, aren’t you the same?”

”I’m just a bit more incredible, that’s all,” Lin Qi said with a laugh.

”That’s right. The three of us are all geniuses. We’ll keep surpassing everyone,” Jiangtao said with a nod.

Chen Zichuan, who was sitting to the side, also nodded. Compared to Lin Qi and Jiangtao, his progress wasn’t as stunning.

But he was constantly improving, and in this final exam, he had climbed to 19th in the grade.

His contract would most likely be upgraded from D-level to C-level, and maybe even B-level.

Halfway through their meal, Lin Qi slowly began to speak.

”We can’t waste our time during winter break either.”

”You saw the national rankings. There are too many geniuses stronger than us. We can’t afford to slack off.”

Jiangtao swallowed the meat in his mouth and said, ”That’s right. We have a higher goal: to break into the national top 100 during the college entrance exams.”

In his heart, Lin Qi also set a goal. ’The higher the rank, the better.’

...

Over an hour later, the three of them went their separate ways and headed home.

Lin Qi returned to his Martial Arts Room and started packing. A moment later, he came downstairs to the front door, carrying several bags.

”Little Qi!”

A brand-new black sedan with a beautiful, streamlined body was parked at the door.

His parents, Lin Zhen and Fang Huiyi, came up to greet him, taking his luggage and putting it in the trunk.

Sitting in the car, Lin Qi noticed how spacious it was. A unique, fragrant incense wafted through the air.

”Comfortable, isn’t it? This is a Star Sea 2 Series, from a subsidiary of the Red Dome Martial Arts Dojo. The specs are great in every respect, and it only costs 280,000. It’s a really good value.”

Lin Zhen explained, stroking the steering wheel, unable to put it down.

Lin Qi nodded, quite satisfied. His family used to have a car when he was a child, but they later sold it for money.

He was the one who had asked them to buy this new car, since having one would make things more convenient.

Lin Qi looked at his panel:

[Name: Lin Qi (17)]

[Occupation: Martial Artist]

[Template: True Monarch Erlang Yang Jian]

[Fusion Degree: 9.8%]

[Talent: Stomach Enhancement, Dragon Energy and Tiger Fierceness]

[Cultivation Technique: Hunyuan Posture, Five Elements Fist, Basic Spear Skill, Mountain Shattering Spear Technique, Drip Water Spear Technique, Rock Gun Skill]

[Qi and Blood Value: 9.91]

[Fist Technique: Tier Two 28%]

[Spear Technique: Tier Two 13%]

[Body Technique: Tier Two 2%]

...

This was his current Martial Arts strength. Four months had passed, and the data on his panel had changed immensely.

Now, his Fist Technique was about to break through the Tier Two Early-stage. His Spear Technique had reached Tier Two 13%, and his Body Technique had just barely broken into Tier Two.

He was very satisfied with this level of strength, which had earned him the rank of second in the grade.

Then, his gaze fell on the Template Fusion Degree. After breaking past 5%, no matter how hard he tried, the progress had slowed to a crawl. Even now, it was only at 9.8%.

This made him eagerly anticipate what new Talent he would get upon reaching 10%!

”Little Qi, did you really break into second place in your grade? And the top ten in Celestial Sea City!”

Lin Zhen, sitting in the front seat, suddenly asked, his tone uncertain.

”I was so excited at the time, I bragged about it to your uncle and my old colleagues.”

”If it’s not true, I’ll be so embarrassed.”

”That’s right, Little Qi. What you said on the phone sounded too exaggerated,” his mom, Fang Huiyi, also asked.

Lin Qi nodded and smiled.

”Of course it’s true. You saw the report card.”

Lin Zhen and Fang Huiyi exchanged a look. Hearing Lin Qi’s personal confirmation, they both breathed a sigh of relief.

”That’s wonderful!”

”Then the A-level Contract...?” Lin Zhen asked, his eyes filled with anticipation.

Lin Qi nodded.

”The A-level Contract is no problem!”

”Haha, that’s my boy!”

In the driver’s seat, Lin Zhen burst out laughing, his heart soaring with excitement.

His heart was pounding wildly and wouldn’t calm down for a long time.

’My son has become an A-level genius. This means my wife can be saved. The future is bright.’

Seeing his happy parents, Lin Qi smiled as well.

...