No. 5 High School Training Ground, Yang City.
All students from over ten sophomore classes at No. 5 High School gathered on the training ground. Principal Principal Wang Siyuan stood in front of more than a thousand students, his expression solemn.
"Students, at this time every year, the Yang City Five High School League is held. The purpose is to test your martial arts Cultivation and combat capabilities. It provides guidance for your National Higher Education Entrance Examination applications next year and allows the Yang City Education Bureau to focus resources on cultivating some Genius Martial Artists. Our No. 5 High School has been ranked last among the five high schools in Yang City for four consecutive years. I hope this year's situation can change."
The students below stirred slightly. The fact that No. 5 High School had been at the bottom for so long was undoubtedly an embarrassment and a source of pressure, and the Principal's words placed expectations squarely on them.
"Following the annual custom, each school will arrange a test to measure your Mental Energy values. Based on the ranking of these Mental Energy test results, the top 20 students from each school, totaling 100 students, will participate in the second round of combat testing."
"Those who ultimately rank in the top ten, in addition to the Spirit Stone Cultivation resources provided by the Yang City Education Bureau, will also receive an opportunity to enter a Secret Realm. This is unprecedented. This Secret Realm will be an excellent test and a very good opportunity for the top ten students. We hope to select students with strong combat abilities. Alright, without further ado, each class will test their Mental Energy according to the previous Awakening process. The final results will be displayed simultaneously on the large screen in the training ground."
Each class occupied a section of the training ground, and Mental Energy testing began immediately.
"Although Mental Energy isn't equivalent to actual combat power, with one or two thousand people in each school, it's impossible to arrange battles for everyone. This is a compromise," Teacher Guan explained to her Special Ability students.
During Awakening, everyone's Mental Energy was generally just over 100. Under normal Cultivation, there's an increase of about 5 points per month. Without using Spiritual Crystal Stone or Quenching Spirit Liquid, the normal range is 160-180. However, in times like these, where parents hope for their children to become Dragons and Phoenixes, every Family will spare no effort to purchase Cultivation resources. Therefore, the average for this test will be between 250-300. Shen Han thought to himself, his Mental Energy value of over 500 shouldn't be too conspicuous.
"Lü Ziming, 371, temporarily ranked first."
A stir went through the crowd. Wasn't that the top student from their class before? He was nearly 100 points higher than the average.
"Zhu Yunzheng, 352."
"Isn't that someone from the Zhu Family, one of the Three Great Families? It seems their Zhu Family provided a lot of resources; he's almost caught up to the top student."
"Indeed, the heritage of Family clans is beyond our comprehension."
"Song Ziqing, 388." Song Ziqing's name surpassed Lü Ziming's, moving her to first place.
"Song Ziqing? The one who Awoke with a B-grade Wood Element talent? She seems to be Shen Han's girlfriend, actually having such high Cultivation."
"They broke up a long time ago. How could Shen Han, with only an F-grade talent, compare to a B-grade Prodigy?"
"It's rumored that Song Ziqing got together with an S-grade Genius from Third High School. Who knows if it's true or false?"
"This truly is a crazy yet realistic world."
"Look, look! The leaderboard has changed again!"
"Wen Tingting, 411."
"Ah, I know! She's the only A-grade Water Element Martial Artist who Awoke in our No. 5 High School this time."
"This is a true Prodigy! By the way, does she have a boyfriend?"
"Uh, you? The Wen Family is also one of the Three Great Families, and Wen Tingting is the apple of the Wen Family's eye. It's just that she's usually very low-key."
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"Huazi, it's your turn."
"Li Muhua, 309."
"Not bad, you've already surpassed the average level. Keep up the good work, but you're probably out of luck for the second round of this league."
"Han-ge, tell your brother honestly, how much Mental Energy do you actually have?"
"At least top two in the entire city."
"Nonsense."
"Shen Han, 519."
"Shen Han? That F-grade Lightning Element Martial Artist? 519? Is this thing broken?" This was the thought of many.
"How is this possible? A Martial Master first stage already? He didn't seem that special during the last Awakening."
All eyes on the training ground were fixed on Shen Han.
"Student Shen Han, would you mind testing again? The instrument might have a problem," the teacher in charge of testing said apologetically.
"No problem, test as much as you want." The number "519" displayed on the new testing instrument. Surely, both machines couldn't be malfunctioning.
"Shen Han, 519, confirmed correct."
"Holy moly, Han-ge was actually telling the truth! I always thought he was joking." Li Muhua's mouth could fit two eggs. "Could it be that I really need to consider dumping my girlfriend? The legendary 'indifference makes one strong'?"
"How is this possible…" Song Ziqing, standing in the crowd, turned pale, barely able to believe what she saw. She had always firmly believed that Shen Han's F-grade talent was destined for failure, but the Mental Energy value displayed on the large screen at this moment struck her heart like a heavy hammer. "How could an F-grade talent possibly have such high Mental Energy? It must be a mistake…" She stood dumbfounded, her mind swirling with confused thoughts.
"As expected," Teacher Teacher Guan, on the other hand, appeared quite calm. It seemed this student had some unknown secrets.
"Are you sure the F-grade wasn't a mistake?" Principal Principal Wang Siyuan asked his assistant. The assistant's forehead was slightly sweaty, and he looked very awkward under the Principal's gaze. After a moment of hesitation, he whispered, "Principal, the previous record was indeed F-grade, and the equipment has just been checked… there should be no problem."
As the number of untested individuals gradually decreased, the leaderboard on the large screen did not undergo major changes. At least the top 20 positions remained unchanged.
"Good, it seems our No. 5 High School's roster for the second round of this league has been determined." Principal Wang Siyuan concluded the Mental Energy test. "The second round of combat will begin the day Acquired, held at Third High School's training ground. At that time, everyone can choose to go to the site or watch the live broadcast at our school. Half an hour later, the overall leaderboard information for the five high schools in Yang City will be synchronized to the large screen. Interested teachers and students can stay and watch. Those participating in the second round can also get an early understanding of their opponents' strength."
After the Mental Energy test was completed, the discussions never stopped.
"What do you guys think, will Shen Han directly win the championship, overpowering the other four schools to become first? 519! That's over 100 points higher than second-place Wen Tingting, that's just too crazy!"
"Top three in Yang City is pretty much guaranteed, but first place is really uncertain. Don't forget, Third High School also has an S-grade Genius."
"Yeah, No. 5 High School and Third High School aren't bad either. Although they don't have S-grade Special Abilities, they have quite a few A-grade Special Abilities, and they all come from wealthy families. They could probably push out a 500 too."
At the Special Ability class section:
"Han-ge, your brother truly admires you! You just swept the entire field." Li Muhua, with his arm around Shen Han's shoulder, whispered, "How did you Cultivate like this? Did you take some medicine? I know you Cultivate diligently, but mere diligence can't achieve such results. Come on, give your brother the inside scoop."
"Get lost," Shen Han cursed with a laugh. He dared not tell the truth; if he did, the whole world would know by tomorrow. Besides, if they knew he had the Devouring Skill, all Martial Artists in the world would go mad.
"Congratulations! It seems you've been hiding quite deeply," Teacher Guan said with a smile.
"How could I? I still have to thank Teacher Guan for her care."
"So, do you feel confident about the second round?"
"Top ten is a given. Beyond that, I'm not sure. I don't really know much about those Prodigy Geniuses from the other schools."
-
Third High School Training Ground
"Boss Han, this time, first place is definitely yours! You're the only S-grade Special Ability Martial Artist in Yang City in the last decade. Who can surpass you?" The young man called Boss Han had an arrogant look.
"His Mental Energy has already reached 501 before even starting his third year of high school. We haven't seen that in years. In previous years, no one has advanced to Martial Master directly in their second year of high school."
"It seems Boss Han is set for this one."
"The overall leaderboard for the five schools has updated, quick, look!"