C139

A deadbeat...

Dakun was feeling rather down.

He lacked any talent for martial arts, and when it came to academic performance...

Well, that was a disaster too.

Upon reflection, he realized he had nothing to brag about, so Dakun wisely chose to remain silent.

Chu Yi and Lee Zi beamed, "Don't worry, Uncle Cai, Kun and I have been inseparable since childhood. No matter what the future holds, Kun will always be our dear brother!"

Kun's father's smile grew even more radiant at their words.

He was well aware of his son's capabilities. After all, no one knows a child better than their own parent.

He was still relatively young and, although he couldn't guarantee his son a life of wealth and luxury, he wouldn't let Dakun go hungry or overworked. But the future might hold different challenges.

As a minor administrative leader, Kun's father had a good grasp of the Terran Federation's state of affairs.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, after this round of college entrance exams, the Terran Federation was set to ascend to a Second Level civilization. With new rules in place, the populace would experience an uplift, the avenues for cultivation would expand, and the prestige of warriors would rise even further.

Currently, as a government official, he wielded some influence, but that might diminish in time.

Thus, securing a strong support system for his son was a necessary strategy for Kun's father.

At the moment, he was particularly focused on Captain Chu Yi.

In the past, if it were about Lee Zi...

Yes, she would certainly have been the one Kun's father sought to impress.

Lee Zi's potential was boundless, but for now...

Reflecting on the news he had seen, Kun's father let out a sigh.

Chu Yi and Dakun had grown up together, and although Kun's father was a leader, he harbored no prejudices. He genuinely adored all three kids.

He always considered Lee Zi and Chu Yi as part of his family.

Yet, who could have predicted such an event would occur?

Still, Kun's father would never discuss such matters at a time like this.

Today marked the college entrance exams, and virtually all of Redmarsh, indeed the entire Terran Federation, was under traffic control.

No private vehicles were permitted on the roads until the exams concluded, with the exception of those private flying cars shuttling students.

Without the usual crowds, they swiftly made their way to Seventeenth High School. After saying goodbye to Dakun's father, Chu Yi and Lee Zi entered the school grounds.

It was undeniable that Lee Zi and Chu Yi, as the respective male and female idols of Seventeenth High School, drew considerable attention when together. The moment they stepped onto campus, nearly all eyes were on them, with the majority fixated on Lee Zi. This wasn't just because of the male population; many female students reacted similarly. The reason was Lee Zi's recent ordeal.

Word of Lee Zi's shattered genetic power had spread throughout the school. Everyone understood that while Lee Zi's looks remained unmatched at Seventeenth High School, she was no longer the untouchable goddess she once was. Lee Zi was well aware of their thoughts, yet she remained unfazed. She knew how people were and chose not to dwell on it. What mattered most to her was that she was now stronger than before.

"Lee Zi, Dakun and I are heading out," Chu Yi said.

"We'll see each other at the martial arts exam."

After parting ways with Lee Zi, Chu Yi and Dakun made their way to their classroom. Lee Zi belonged to the class for top students, while Dakun and Chu Yi were in a regular class. The homeroom teacher was already at the podium, smiling at the students instead of scolding the noisy room as he usually would.

"Chu Yi, Cai Kun has arrived..."

It was later than usual, and under normal circumstances, the teacher would have been irate, but today he simply offered a warm smile.

Chu Yi and Dakun greeted him with a bow, "Hello, Teacher."

The teacher nodded in response, "Alright, Cai Kun, take your seat. Those of you with the written exam can leave once you're all accounted for. As for Chu Yi..."

He sighed deeply. The teacher had never anticipated that Chu Yi would choose the path of martial arts in the final month before the college entrance exams. He was well aware of Chu Yi's academic performance; if it were based on the written exams, Chu Yi would likely only qualify for a second-tier specialized college—and that was if he outperformed his usual standards.

If one were to opt for the martial arts examination...

Based on Chu Yi's initial martial arts test performance, it seemed he had no hope at all.

However, Chu Yi's talent eventually became apparent, leading his homeroom teacher to recognize that if Chu Yi went for the academic exam, he could definitely gain admission to a top-tier university through special recruitment.

In fact, if the right person took interest, even the most elite universities might be within reach.

But who could have predicted that Chu Yi would choose the martial arts examination?

"Chu Yi, I want to say..."

Watching the homeroom teacher falter, Chu Yi offered a reassuring smile and said, "Teacher, I've got it under control."

Confronted with Chu Yi's resolute demeanor, the homeroom teacher ultimately just let out a deep sigh.

Indeed, to many uninformed individuals, the college entrance exam is synonymous with the martial arts test, and vice versa.

The martial arts exam is the focal point of national attention, while the academic exam...

Well, aside from the parents still invested in the academic path, it garners little interest from the rest.

The martial arts exam truly represents a path to the future. Passing it and gaining entry into a university's martial arts program—whether at a prestigious institution or not—opens many doors.

Upon graduation, a bright future is almost guaranteed.

Even if one only achieves the status of a Bronze warrior and nothing more, that alone can ensure a life free from financial worries.

The government's subsidies for Bronze warriors already surpass the salaries of many white-collar workers in major cities.

Yet, passing the martial arts exam is no small feat.

Each year, in addition to those from specialized martial arts training programs, countless regular students take the martial arts exam.

Sadly, only a handful succeed. It's an exaggeration to say one in ten thousand, but one in a thousand or even one in a few hundred is certainly plausible.

Those who don't make it through the martial arts exam continue to strive, while others must abandon their efforts for the year and start anew with the academic exam.

Typically, teachers do not recommend their students pursue the Martial Arts Examination.

In this world of cultivation, the true powerhouses were the martial arts masters. Young and full of fiery passion, the youth yearned for a life filled with thrilling heroics and swift justice. Despite the notorious difficulty of the Martial Arts Examinations, an endless stream of students chose to face the challenge every year.

Chu Yi was one such student in the eyes of his homeroom teacher. With his exceptional talent, he could have easily gained admission to any of the elite universities. Yet, he insisted on taking the Martial Arts Examinations, a decision that seemed to squander his potential.

The homeroom teacher had discussed Chu Yi's future with Lee Guoqiang, but to no avail; Lee Guoqiang was firmly in support of Chu Yi's choice. Efforts to sway Chu Yi seemed futile.

"Chu Yi, wait over there for a moment. The Martial Arts Examinations candidates are grouped separately."

Typically, Martial Arts Examinations candidates made up about a tenth of the total examinees. But this year was exceptional. With civilization's advancement, the influence of the mighty had surged, sparking unprecedented enthusiasm among the candidates. Consequently, the number of students opting for the Martial Arts Examinations had soared, exceeding a third of all examinees!

It was well known that the majority of these aspirants were unlikely to pass the grueling test, and their futures were uncertain. Yet, they had made their choice, and they would have to face the consequences.

Chu Yi stood at the edge of the hallway, watching as students filed out from classrooms all around him. These were his peers, all of whom had chosen the path of the warrior.

Before long, a teacher appeared before them. "All students participating in the Martial Arts Examinations, please follow me..." With these words, the teacher led the way outside.

Chu Yi and his fellow candidates trailed closely behind, quickly reaching the plaza. In no time, the area was teeming with over a thousand students. Chu Yi couldn't help but feel astonished by the turnout.

Seventeenth High School had a student body of about ten thousand, with three thousand eligible for the college entrance exams. Now, over a thousand were gathered here for the Martial Arts Examinations, representing nearly a third of the entire cohort.

Chu Yi was aware that with the impending advancement of civilization, a significant number of students would opt for the martial arts examination. Yet, he hadn't anticipated that a full one-third would make that choice.

Lee Guoqiang stood at the center of the square, observing the students. As a principal, he couldn't help but sigh. He wished for his students to become increasingly powerful warriors and experts, but he knew that was nearly impossible. Out of the thousand students, likely less than ten percent could gain admission into even a third-rate martial arts university. And that was at Seventeenth High School; the numbers would be even lower at other schools.

"The college entrance exam is a pivotal moment in your lives," he said. "It will affect your entire future, so I urge you to choose wisely and avoid a lifetime of regret."

Having done all he could, this was Lee Guoqiang's final effort. As expected, after his speech, no one in the plaza stirred.

Without further ado, Lee Guoqiang gestured towards the massive flying cars at the plaza's center. "Alright, board the cars..."

The venue for Chu Yi and his peers' Martial Arts Examination was the 12th Martial Arts Stadium, not too distant from Seventeenth High School. These stadiums, akin to the sports complexes of his previous life, were filled with training equipment. They couldn't match up to the professional Martial Arts Stadiums, but they provided a training space for those less affluent, as there was no charge for their use.

The stadium had been under strict lockdown for three days prior to the college entrance exam, with Redmarsh's finest patrolling non-stop, ensuring the venue was secure to prevent any mishaps during the exam period. Today, the Martial Arts Stadium finally reopened.

"In Redmarsh, there are 147 middle schools," he explained. "They are grouped in tens, and Seventeenth High School has been assigned to this 12th Martial Arts Stadium for our assessments. Along with us, Thirty-third High School and Thirty-seventh High School will also be taking their exams here."

"I'm not expecting you to shatter any records, but remember one thing: you absolutely cannot let them outperform you!"