C23 I Had No Choice but to Take First Place.

After school, Lu Chong continued his training in the Wind Splitting Leg technique under the guidance of his Class Teacher. It wasn't long before he received an encouraging notification: "Your Wind Splitting Leg has greatly improved by observing others' martial arts practice, increasing its cultivation speed fivefold! You've achieved Great Completion. Keep striving for excellence."

Wang Tong was taken aback and reluctantly ceased his instruction, managing a wry smile. "I expected your cultivation to advance, but for your Wind Splitting Leg to reach Great Completion already... Soon, there'll be nothing left for me to teach you."

Lu Chong responded modestly, "That can't be. Teacher, there are still three martial skills from the school that you haven't taught me."

Wang Tong was at a loss for words. He had cautioned Lu Chong against greed just the day before and had set what he thought were stringent conditions for him.

Yet, Lu Chong had not only advanced to Stage 6 but had also mastered the Wind Splitting Leg to Great Completion. Given Lu Chong's current pace, it seemed likely that within a few days, he would elevate the technique to the Arcane stage.

"Continue your training," Wang Tong instructed, "and we'll discuss further once you've reached the Arcane realm with your Wind Splitting Leg." He remained composed and resumed the one-on-one teaching.

Lu Chong kept quiet, though he noted the increased challenge in refining the Wind Splitting Leg post-Great Completion. Even with the Class Teacher's mentorship, the pace of improvement had halved. Now, he could only enhance his proficiency by sixteen percent each hour.

"Cultivating a Middle Grade Martial Skill is certainly more demanding," Lu Chong mused silently, careful not to voice his thoughts and risk the Class Teacher's disapproval.

After an hour, instead of dismissing him, the Class Teacher inquired with curiosity, "I heard you faced some intimidation from Class 1 students today?"

Lu Chong replied nonchalantly, "They didn't really threaten me. Please rest assured, Teacher. They were simply interested in hiring me as a private instructor."

Wang Tong's brow furrowed as he speculated, "I suspect Lee Chengjun is behind this. They're likely attempting to use seduction as a means to coerce you into joining their class."

Wang Tong reassured him, "Lu Chong, don't worry. Just concentrate on your training. If you run into any issues, the old principal and I will be there to support you."

"Thanks, Teacher. I'm doing alright, and I'm not swayed by their offers," Lu Chong reassured the Class Teacher in return.

"That's the spirit. As a Martial Artist, you should always be ready to handle disputes. It might even turn out to be a good thing for you," the Class Teacher advised with a note of gravity before dismissing Lu Chong.

In the days that followed, Lu Chong settled into a tranquil and structured routine.

By day, he attended his regular classes and found time to help his classmates refine their martial skills.

At night, after school, he practiced the Wind Splitting Leg technique with the Class Teacher and then spent time training with Lou Qingqing. Once home, he would cultivate the Golden Cicada Robe using a medicinal bath and end his day by practicing the Qi Accepting Spell before bed.

Lu Chong didn't let weekends slip by idly; he doubled down on his training and dedicated extra time to coaching Lou Qingqing, which also helped him earn some much-needed extra cash.

The daily cultivation of the Golden Cicada Robe was costing him five thousand yuan, and his funds were running low.

During this period, his strength was rapidly increasing every day, both in terms of his cultivation level and his martial skills.

After five days, Lu Chong successfully advanced his Wind Splitting Leg to the Arcane stage.

True to his word, the Class Teacher, both surprised and resigned, imparted the school's remaining three martial skills to Lu Chong.

As time marched on, while most seniors were enduring the grueling final sprint before exams, Lu Chong valued every moment, careful not to waste a single day.

Before he knew it, it was March 29th, 2136.

The last mock exam before the College Entrance Examination was set for the next day. At 10:30 PM that evening, Lu Chong rose from his bath as another layer of dead skin peeled away from his body.

"I've finally mastered the Golden Cicada Robe to the Arcane stage! It took over twenty days. It wasn't easy at all!" he exclaimed.

His skin gleamed with a rich metallic sheen, as though he had been gilded.

Lu Chong extended his right hand and rapped on his left arm, eliciting a solid, resonant sound.

He had tested his Golden Cicada Robe at home when it reached the stage of Great Completion. Taking a kitchen knife, he had tried to slice his hand, only to chip the blade without breaking his skin.

Now that his Golden Cicada Robe had advanced to the Arcane Stage, Lu Chong was uncertain about the extent of its enhanced defense.

With the robe at the Arcane Stage, his skin, muscles, and bones had all been fortified. It was nothing short of miraculous.

Despite appearing lean, Lu Chong stood at 1.83 meters and weighed a substantial 250 kilograms, a testament to his body's incredible density.

Lu Chong stowed the Golden Cicada Robe. Outwardly, he seemed to revert to normal, yet even in this state, his defensive capabilities and physical strength remained formidably high.

Considering he had invested 200,000 yuan over the past 20 days to cultivate the robe to this level, it was no surprise his savings had dwindled to barely 10,000 yuan.

Lu Chong mused, "It seems my breakthroughs during this period aren't limited to the cultivation of the Golden Cicada Robe."

He reviewed his personal data once more:

"Name: Lu Chong.

Level: Martial Disciple, Stage 8 (18%).

Martial Skills: Nine Shadow Step, Monument Breaking Hand, Cloud Penetrating Finger, Mountain Hitting Crash, Eagle Claw Technique, Iron Line Fist, and Heart-poking Foot, all cultivated to the Stage of Perfection.

Wind Splitting Leg, also at the Stage of Perfection.

Golden Cicada Robe, now at the Arcane Stage (1%)."

For the average person, the progress achievable in twenty days might be minimal.

However, the strides Lu Chong had made in that same timeframe could rival what others might accomplish in several years, or even a lifetime.

His cultivation had ascended to Martial Disciple Stage 8. Beyond the Golden Cicada Robe, he had brought each of his eight martial skills to the pinnacle of perfection.

After all, those Low Grade martial skills would reach the Stage of Perfection on their own within twenty days, even without Lu Chong's active cultivation.

His progress was rapid, but to Lu Chong, it seemed insignificant. However, his Class Teacher, who had witnessed his growth, had recently begun experiencing nosebleeds.

The Class Teacher was aware of Lu Chong's cultivation level and his advancement with the Wind Splitting Leg technique, but remained oblivious to the fact that Lu Chong had already mastered the Golden Cicada Robe to the Arcane Stage, as well as achieving Perfection in his other martial arts.

Concerned that the Class Teacher and classmates might not handle his swift advancement well, Lu Chong had kept his other martial skills under wraps.

He reflected, "But now, I'm using up more resources than ever, and the pace of my cultivation, along with my training in the Golden Cicada Robe, is slowing down."

Every day, he needed to consume five Nutrient Sticks. Yet, the Qi Accepting Spell's cultivation pace was sluggish, improving by just 5% daily.

Even with medicinal baths aiding the process, the Golden Cicada Robe's progress in the Arcane Stage was a mere 1% per day.

Lu Chong pondered, "With only two months until the College Entrance Examination, continuing at this rate will make it tough to ascend to the Martial Artist Realm or to bring the Golden Cicada Robe to Perfection before the exams."

Feeling unsatisfied, he resolved, "To quicken my cultivation, I'll need more money for superior nutrients and additional medicinal baths."

With no new martial skills to develop, Lu Chong was determined to devote most of his time and energy to enhancing his cultivation level and refining the Golden Cicada Robe.

"So, I have no other option but to secure first place in the upcoming mock exam," Lu Chong decided firmly.

He was set on claiming the substantial prize of 300,000 yuan.