"Qin Feng, you've been training like crazy lately. Keep it up, and you might have a shot at a regular Martial Arts High School. If that happens, we can still be schoolmates."
Qin Feng looked at him and gave a calm nod. "I will."
With that, he turned and walked toward the training area without another word.
Zhou Heyuan watched him go, shrugged, and went back to showing off his new stats to the other students he knew.
Training began once more.
The daytime coach, Lin Weiping, wore his usual stern, impartial expression as he meticulously patrolled the training floor.
He stopped when he reached Qin Feng's side.
He watched Qin Feng practice the "Mountain-Splitting" technique.
Qin Feng's feet were planted firmly on the ground as he twisted at the waist. A condensed wave of power traveled up his spine and into his arm, and he unleashed his right fist.
BAM!
A muffled explosion of air erupted from his fist. It was a level of power far beyond what he'd shown yesterday.
For the first time, a subtle flicker of emotion crossed Lin Weiping's perpetually stoic face.
He circled Qin Feng twice, his piercing gaze scrutinizing every detail of the young man's body.
"Not bad. Your physical condition is steadily improving."
A hint of probing curiosity, barely perceptible, entered Lin Weiping's voice. "Your force generation has become more refined as well. Very good."
He paused for a moment before offering new instructions.
"Now, forget the fixed techniques. Try to chain together the core force generation of all nine movements. Don't get hung up on the forms. Strive for a smooth, unimpeded flow of power within your body. From 'Mountain-Splitting' to 'Sea Suppression,' make it one complete, unbroken cycle."
This was advice far beyond the scope of what an ordinary student would receive.
"Yes, Coach."
Qin Feng nodded and immediately began to practice as instructed.
For the rest of the day, Qin Feng was completely immersed in the new training state Lin Weiping had described.
He stopped repeating the full Body Refining Technique. Instead, he deconstructed and fused the nine core movements.
One moment it was a "Mountain-Splitting" straight punch, the next a "Mountain-Moving" charge.
Then a "Sea Suppression" downward press would flow into a "River-Churning" twisting attack.
He moved about a corner of the training area, his every motion concise, efficient, and imbued with the feel of real combat.
Sweat had long since drenched his training uniform, and the rising heat from his body formed a faint white mist around him.
His body was like a finely tuned war machine, running at full tilt, breaking itself in as it completely converted the vast Spiritual Energy from the day before into his own flesh, blood, and power.
The other students had long grown accustomed to his "madness." They would only cast an occasional glance his way before returning to their own training.
Unwittingly, he had earned the nickname "Madman."
Time slipped away, measured in sweat.
When the evening bell rang and Lin Weiping announced the end of the day's training, Qin Feng finally emerged from his trance-like state.
His entire body ached, yet he felt an unprecedented sense of accomplishment.
The students left in twos and threes, and the training hall quickly emptied out.
As Zhou Heyuan passed by Qin Feng, he grinned and called out, "Heading out, Madman. See you tomorrow."
"Yeah."
Qin Feng gave a slight nod.
He walked to the rest area at the edge of the training floor, drained his water bottle, and sat on a bench for ten minutes.
Once the fatigue in his body had eased slightly, he stood up and walked toward a familiar corner.
There stood a latest-model punch-strength tester.
He stood before the machine, regulating his breath.
He slowly raised his right fist, sank slightly into his stance, and assumed the simplest, most direct force-generation posture from the Empire's Basic Body Refining Technique.
He closed his eyes, feeling the vitality surging through his body like a great river.
The next second, his eyes snapped open.
Power erupted from his waist and hips, twisting his torso, driving his shoulder forward—arm cracking like a whip, fist slamming like a hammer!
BOOM!
The massive crash even drowned out the hum of the other machines in the hall.
The sturdy punching pad caved in deeply from the force of his blow, and the entire machine shuddered as if under an unbearable load.
The numbers on the electronic screen above the machine flashed wildly before finally settling.
[502 KG]
Qin Feng stared at the number, a hint of satisfaction finally gracing his calm expression.
'There's still half a month. Getting into an elite high school shouldn't be too hard.'
'I just don't know if I'll have a chance to get into Qiming Seventh High School... I'd need a vitality index of 1.2, and time is just too tight for that.'
Qin Feng silently calculated his rate of progress and figured his chances of getting into Qiming Seventh High School were slim.
He turned, gathered his things, and walked out of the brightly lit training hall, melting into the deep darkness outside.
...
「Half an hour later.」
In the empty training hall, only the lone figure of Li Weiguo remained.
As the evening coach, he was responsible for closing up.
Checking the equipment, shutting down the power, cleaning the floors... he meticulously performed these trivial but necessary tasks.
"Kids these days have no discipline. They don't even know enough to reset the equipment after they're done."
He muttered to himself as he walked over to the punch-strength tester, preparing to reset it.
When his gaze swept over the display screen, he froze.
[502 KG]
The scarlet numbers burned like a blazing fire, searing his eyes.
"Five hundred and two kilograms?"
Li Weiguo read the number aloud, his voice thick with disbelief.
"Who was it? Who managed a hit like this?"
He immediately pulled up the machine's usage log.
The log showed the most recent user: Zhou Heyuan.
Zhou Heyuan had been using this very machine all afternoon to test his "Spiral Force."
"Zhou Heyuan..."
Li Weiguo looked at the name, then back at the glaring number, and his lips began to tremble.
He never expected this so-called underachiever to give him such an immense surprise.
This... This is incredible talent!
"Spiral Force... He actually managed to completely master Spiral Force!"
A brilliant, heartfelt smile slowly spread across Li Weiguo's face.
He felt that all his hard work and effort recently had not been in vain.
From an "underachiever" who was nearly expelled from school, to a true genius with a shot at an elite Martial Arts High School—someone who might even reach the standard of a First-level Martial Artist before even enrolling.
Of course, Zhou Heyuan's own talent and his family's support were factors, but it couldn't have happened without his, Li Weiguo's, careful guidance and constant encouragement.
He could already picture it: the day the high school entrance exam results were announced, Zhou Heyuan's name would be on the acceptance list for Qiming Elite Martial Arts High School.
And he, Li Weiguo, as one of the genius's formative coaches, would share in the glory.
"Good kid. You didn't disappoint me."
He said softly, his voice full of relief and pride.
"Now I'll have something good to report to the principal."
He shut off the power to the machine, humming a tuneless little song, and cheerfully switched off the last light in the hall.
CLICK.
The alloy door slid shut, locking the entire training hall—and the record that belonged to Qin Feng—away in the darkness.