C11 College Entrance Examination!
"No matter what, I won't use a single cent of their money!"
"You don't need to worry about the money; I'll take care of it!"
After uttering those words, Chu Yi heard the sound of a door opening.
In a flash, he had sprinted up to the next floor.
Did he still have his uncle and aunt around?
And his grandparents, too?
Chu Yi's mind was spinning.
After waiting for over twenty minutes, once he felt the coast was clear, Chu Yi cautiously made his way downstairs and opened his room door as if nothing was amiss. As expected, his mother had dinner ready.
"Yi, you're back. Let's eat," she said.
Chu Yi acted as if he was clueless. "Mom, Dad's not home yet?"
His mother hesitated briefly, then continued the charade as if nothing had happened. "Your dad's been really busy at work lately, so he's not sure when he'll be back."
Chu Yi nodded in understanding.
He quickly finished his meal and returned to his room.
Everything appeared unchanged. He was aware his parents would keep things from him.
That's just how parents are; despite the immense pressure they face, they shield their children from it.
Therefore, Chu Yi had no plans to probe further.
He was powerless to change anything at the moment. Asking questions wouldn't make a difference.
But if he succeeded in his cultivation, that would be another matter entirely!
After spending some time on his computer, Chu Yi moved to the window and began his cultivation practice.
As dawn broke the next day, Chu Yi concluded his night-long cultivation session.
A full night of honing the Stellar Combat Body left him brimming with energy and in high spirits for the day ahead.
Hearing the sound of a door closing outside, Chu Yi stepped out of his room.
His mother had laid out breakfast already.
Seeing this, Chu Yi's smile grew warm.
The feeling of home was truly wonderful...
Chu Yi ate quickly and then left the house.
He had his plans set for the day.
Though loosely scheduled, there was just one goal in mind: to test the new limits of his strength!
That was the crucial part!
Chu Yi was eager to discover how much progress he had made with the Stellar Combat Body after two days of dedicated cultivation.
Chu Yi was acutely aware that his current strength had increased exponentially compared to his pre-cultivation days.
Of course, without the potion Lee Zi had given him that day, Chu Yi wouldn't have become so inflated with confidence.
Chu Yi realized that if he wanted to continue improving at such a rapid pace, he would need a substantial amount of resources.
Even though the cultivation techniques of this world paled in comparison to the knowledge he possessed.
Still, this world had its own unique developmental paths and strengths!
For instance, the effects of gene reagents on physical enhancement were beyond imagination.
Certainly, in the Immortal Demon World, there were many pills capable of similar, if not more pronounced, effects.
But alas, crafting those pills was far from easy, especially when compared to these gene reagents, which seemed like child's play.
The most pressing issue was whether the necessary materials even existed in this world.
Besides, Chu Yi was just a penniless young man. Rather than dreaming of elusive treasures, it made more sense to quickly secure some quality gene reagents. Not only to repay Lee Zi but also to swiftly boost his own capabilities.
However...
A new problem arose!
Without money or influence, how could he possibly acquire those exorbitantly priced gene reagents advertised online?
Chu Yi had already devised a solution.
The college entrance exam!
Yes, the college entrance exam.
This event was the most significant annual occurrence in the world.
The college entrance exam was a national spectacle, with everyone's eyes glued to the results. Securing a top score could catapult one into the societal spotlight, drawing the gaze of investors and institutions, leading to increased financial backing.
Investors were never in short supply in this world.
Backing a prodigy could yield returns beyond imagination.
Thus, Chu Yi's current mission was to focus solely on self-improvement, striving to enhance his abilities as much as possible before the impending college entrance exam in hopes of achieving stellar results.
After his meal, Chu Yi shut the door behind him and left his home.
His destination was the old Black Bull Martial Arts Stadium, just a stone's throw from his neighborhood.
Ah, it used to be the Little Fat Cattle Hotpot City, Chu Yi's favorite haunt.
The federal government has a policy that allows students preparing for their college entrance exams to use any training and testing equipment at the Martial Arts Stadium free of charge.
Chu Yi planned to make the most of his pre-exam status and take full advantage of this opportunity!
The Old Black Bull Martial Arts Stadium was situated in what could be considered a bustling district, with a constant stream of people. Yet, upon Chu Yi's arrival, he was surprised to find the entrance nearly deserted, a stark contrast to the busy streets.
After pondering for a moment, Chu Yi had an epiphany. In civilizations of the Third or Fourth Level, Martial Arts Stadiums were hubs of activity. However, in a First Level civilization like the Terran Federation, the situation was quite different. According to the federal government's statistics, the number of practitioners in the entire Terran Federation didn't even reach one ten-thousandth of the total population. Martial Arts Stadiums were designed exclusively for these practitioners, and ordinary people neither had the interest nor the credentials to step inside.
Surveying the area, Chu Yi noticed that the layout of the Old Black Bull Martial Arts Stadium bore an uncanny resemblance to the Little Fat Cow Hotpot City from his past life memories. Indeed, the exterior decorations were almost identical—equally mouthwatering.
Aside from the signboard, Chu Yi could have been convinced he'd stepped back into his former world. He pushed open the grand doors and entered the Martial Arts Stadium.
As Chu Yi had anticipated, even in Redmarsh City, practitioners were a rare breed. Moreover, those who did practice were generally affluent and influential individuals, not the type to frequent a seemingly modest Martial Arts Stadium. But appearances can be deceiving; the simplicity was only skin deep.
Though it was Chu Yi's first visit to such a venue, he had done his research online. Inside this modestly sized Martial Arts Stadium, he was astonished to find a Three-star strength test instrument. These devices were intended for warriors to gauge their strength levels, and typically, Martial Arts Stadiums housed only One-star instruments, with chain establishments possibly featuring Second Level ones. Yet here, in the Old Black Bull Martial Arts Stadium, with its alluring ambiance, Chu Yi discovered a Three-star strength test instrument—a rare and impressive find.
It was quite astonishing.
The full expanse of the Old Black Bull Martial Arts Stadium was visible at a glance. Beyond that, Chu Yi noticed an array of training equipment.
Such equipment might not stand out in the most elite Martial Arts Stadiums, but finding it in the Old Black Bull Martial Arts Stadium was particularly remarkable.
"Welcome, brother..."
