At night.

　　Since four of them shared the room, Fang Ping did not cultivate the Methods of Honing anymore. Instead, while he was free, he practiced his stance.

　　When it was time to rest, the four of them pushed the two beds together, making them into one large bed.

　　It was a rare experience. Fang Ping had done something like this before, but the other three were still high schoolers, so they had yet to experience college dorm life.

　　That night, Fang Ping did not say much, but the other three spent a lot of time chatting.

　　…

　　May 1st.

　　They woke up early in the morning, but the atmosphere was already unnaturally nervy.

　　Outside the rooms, there were students walking up and down the corridors, and teachers knocking on each door, one by one.

　　“Hurry up and wake up. We gotta gather downstairs!”

　　“Get your ID and exam docket!”

　　“Prepare your pills. You can start eating them now!”

　　“…”

　　Amidst the cacophony, the students began to stream downstairs.

　　Fang Ping and the others had woken up a long time ago too, and they had left the room before the teachers came knocking.

　　As soon as they left the room, they could hear someone sobbing, “I fell sick, and my Vitality plummeted…

　　“Mom, Dad, I’m sorry…”

　　The sobs came from afar, and there were already teachers consoling the student.

　　Falling sick before the physical assessment was the worst thing that could happen to a Martial Science Exam candidate.

　　When one fell sick, their Vitality would drop. Many candidates were already struggling on the edges of the benchmark.

　　If they fell sick now, the candidate’s chances had fallen to basically nothing.

　　This was even crueler than missing out on the Gaokao. Martial Science Exam candidates broke the bank for this!

　　For students who came from lower-class families, they could not afford to repeat the year once they were held back. In that case, all they could do was give up.

　　Some people shuddered at the wails, and Wu Zhihao sighed. “Falling sick now… is just…”

　　He did not know what to say either. Nothing remained but sympathy.

　　The instructions to gather up kept echoing through the corridors. When they turned around for a glance, they could still hear the sobbing.

　　Nevertheless, they did not have the time to see what had happened. They simply followed the crowd downstairs.

　　…

　　Downstairs.

　　As the students went downstairs, the teachers from each high school began yelling through their megaphones.

　　“Candidates from No. 1 High School, line up over here!”

　　“No. 2 High School, over here!”

　　“No. 5 High School, gather up!”

　　“…”

　　Fang Ping and the others walked to No. 1 High School’s gathering point, and the teacher-in-charge began to take their attendance after a while.

　　When they were going down the list, one person was found to be absent.

　　The teacher did not say much, but someone in the crowd said with a tone of sympathy, “Xiao Liang from Class (8) couldn’t make it. Apparently, he has a really bad fever…”

　　“The one crying earlier was Xiao Liang? That’s too bad, his Vitality was at exactly 110cal. He really stood a good chance.”

　　“I know, right? And now? He’s done for this year.”

　　“I say he’s done for forever. The admission requirement increases every year, and Xiao Liang’s family isn’t particularly well-to-do…”

　　The students discussed it in low voices until the teacher-in-charge yelled, “Everyone, quiet down!

　　“Students, the Martial Science Examinations have officially begun!

　　“Whether we get into a martial arts university or not — that is the first hurdle in our lives!

　　“But you must remember, it is not the last!”

　　“For the physical assessment later, do your best, and if you pass, celebrate!

　　“Even if you don’t, don’t give up!

　　“You’re still young. You still have hope and a future!

　　“Even if you can’t get into a martial arts university, you can go for a martial arts training course. If you can’t get into a martial arts training course, you can join the army…

　　“Even if all else fails, there are still other paths available to us!

　　“The path of martial arts stretches beyond the martial arts universities.

　　“After you graduate, you can join a large corporation. If you work hard and get good results, the corporation may also sponsor your journey to becoming a martial artist!

　　“The road ahead is long…”

　　The teachers began to give the students their motivational speeches. They might not be very effective on adults, but they had some sort of influence on the students.

　　A few minutes later, the teacher-in-charge stopped speaking.

　　Outside the hotel, Tan Zhenping had appeared behind them without anyone noticing.

　　“Students, the location for the physical assessment is the Sun City’s No. 1 Physical Assessment Test Center, situated 300m away from here. Alright, everyone, line up and follow me!”

　　Tan Zhenping did not use a megaphone, nor did he yell at the top of his lungs. Nevertheless, his voice reached the ears of the thousand-odd students present.

　　That was the power of a martial artist!

　　Tan Zhenping’s powerful Vitality spread from his body, and even those who were less sensitive than Fang Ping could feel the strength of the speaker before them.

　　…

　　Everyone walked toward Sun City’s No. 1 Physical Assessment Test Center.

　　Suddenly, the Tan brothers appeared in front of Fang Ping and yanked him forward without a word.

　　Fang Ping was rendered speechless, until he finally said, perplexed, “What are you doing?”

　　“We need you for something!”

　　As Tan Hao said that, he had already pulled Fang Ping to the front of the line.

　　Just then, in front of the procession, Tan Zhenping had stopped walking and was waiting at the side.

　　There were a few more students next to Tan Zhenping too.

　　While Fang Ping was not familiar with Zhou Bin and Chen Jie from No. 1 High School, he at least knew their faces, having seen them before.

　　There were two others, a boy and a girl. They probably came from other schools, but Fang Ping did not know them.

　　By the time Fang Ping arrived, Tan Zhenping had finished briefing the others.

　　Zhou Bin and the others glanced at Fang Ping, whom the Tan brothers had dragged over. Without saying a word to him, they just nodded and entered the students’ ranks.

　　Once they had left, the Tan brothers and Fang Ping were the only ones next to Tan Zhenping.

　　Glancing at Fang Ping, Tan Zhenping said with a laugh, “Young Fang Ping, your Vitality is higher than 130cal, isn’t it?”

　　“F*ck!”

　　The one who swore was Tan Hao. Although he knew Fang Ping’s Vitality was pretty high, his old man had not told him yesterday that it was above 130cal!

　　Fang Ping did not deny it, simply nodding in affirmation.

　　With that, Tan Zhenping chuckled again and said, “That’s good. There’s something I want to talk to you about, young Fang Ping.”

　　“Please speak, Uncle Tan.”

　　“Auspicious Sun City has 5 counties, 3 districts, and 1 province. As a county-level city, Sun City is also one of the top few under Auspicious Sun City’s jurisdiction.

　　“Still, Sun City is only slightly bigger than the 5 counties, and it’s slightly smaller than Auspicious Sun City’s districts.

　　“For the martial sciences exam every year, how many students reach the benchmark? And how many candidates manage to successfully enter a martial arts uni…?

　　“These standardized tests are the most important of all trials, with fixed and rigid quotas!”

　　每年的武科考,达标学生多少,考上武大学生多少…

　　教育考核,是重中之重,也是硬性指标!”

　　Tan Zhenping gave Fang Ping a few lines of context. Basically, he was saying that competition within Auspicious Sun City was also extremely fierce.

　　For every jurisdiction, their performances in these exams were a vital point.

　　Many people never forgot that Sun City was merely a county-level city.

　　If others, especially the 5 counties, overtake Sun City in their performance index for several years running, it was not impossible for Sun City to lose its position to another.

　　Of course, these conflicts and competitions did not have much to do with Fang Ping.

　　There was only one reason why Tan Zhenping had called Fang Ping out here.

　　“For the physical assessment this time, we have been allocated the same test center as Rising Stream County and Serenity District.

　　“Of the 5 counties, Rising Stream County is the strongest in economy and education.

　　“Serenity District takes that one further, because Auspicious Sun No. 1 High School is in Serenity District and falls under Serenity’s jurisdiction.

　　“In other words, we got a pretty bad draw when it comes to the test centers this time.”

　　Seeing the confusion on Fang Ping’s face, Tan Zhenping shook his head and said, “You have to know, the students’ emotional states have a huge effect on how they demonstrate their Vitality.

　　“If you’re surrounded by people who are weaker than you, you’ll be full of confidence and the results of the physical assessment might surprise you.

　　“However, if you’re surrounded by people who are stronger than you, your confidence will suffer, and you’ll be worried and uneasy. Under those circumstances, you won’t be able to perform to the best of your abilities.”

　　This was similar to what Wang Jinyang called an Emotional Outburst. Fang Ping understood and nodded.

　　“There are promising talents in both Auspicious Sun No. 1 High School and Rising Stream No. 1 High School, and both schools don’t look at our Sun City particularly kindly.

　　“The fact that Sun City is half a step higher than them in terms of administrative status has been a thorn in their side for many years now.

　　“There can’t be two county-level cities in one prefectural-level city, at least not for Auspicious Sun City.

　　“That’s why, before the assessment later, I hope you can fully unleash your Vitality and overwhelm the students from that county and that district.

　　“I told Zhou Bin and the others to do the same earlier, but their Vitality isn’t that high to start with, so even if an outburst would only have a limited effect.

　　“You, on the other hand, are a different story altogether. If you unleash an outburst, everyone would sense it…”

　　Fang Ping finally understood what Tan Zhenping was suggesting.

　　However, he frowned slightly at it. Tan Zhenping was asking him to use a Vitality Outburst to suppress the other students, to cause them anxiety and break their spirits.

　　To be honest, it was slightly underhanded.

　　As though reading Fang Ping’s thoughts, Tan Zhenping said with a slight smile, “Martial artists are always fighting! We must fight!

　　“Pitying your opponent, pitying weaklings… That isn’t the way of a martial artist!

　　“Besides, the truly strong will always stay strong!

　　“Anyone whose performance is affected by your Vitality Outburst would not have a hope of making it into the martial sciences stream anyway.

　　“Do you think Wu Zhihao, Tan Hao and the others will have their performances affected by your Vitality Outburst?

　　“If they are so easily influenced, we’d just have to pull in a random martial artist to unleash an outburst, and then all the students might as well forfeit the exam right there and then.

　　“We’re only doing this to boost the confidence of the students from Sun City slightly.

　　“After all, most people believe that the students from Auspicious Sun No. 1 High School are extremely powerful, and such a belief would affect them later.”

　　Fang Ping was slightly conflicted, but Tan Zhenping said with a tone of disappointment, “Don’t be a coward and hide from a battle. Bear in mind that I’m not trying to instigate you, young Fang Ping.

　　“But once you cultivate a habit of being indecisive, wary, and hesitant, the path of a martial artist will become exceedingly difficult for you!

　　“You’re young, so you should show off your power and not hide it!

　　“What are you worried about?

　　“Are you scared to reveal your true powers, or are you afraid others will not take it kindly?”

　　Tan Zhenping shook his head and said, “In that case, you’d be wrong. The more useful you are, the more others will appreciate you!

　　“It’s no secret that you have ties to Wang Jinyang from Nanjiang Martial Arts University.

　　“That’s why you have nothing to worry about it…”

　　Fang Ping laughed dryly. It was true, he did have nothing to worry about. After all, Old Wang had agreed to be his scapegoat.

　　His hesitation was partly because of how unethical it felt, and partly because of something else.

　　After a pause, Fang Ping said slightly awkwardly, “Uncle Tan, that’s not what I’m worried about.

　　“I… I’m thinking about the Vitality consumption that comes with unleashing an outburst right before the assessment.

　　“In that case, during the assessment, I would…”

　　Tan Zhenping was slightly taken aback, and then he burst out laughing. “Oh yeah, I forgot about that.

　　“Don’t worry, the city will make it up to you.

　　“After your Vitality Outburst, I’ll give you a Vitality Pill. It won’t be from me personally, though; treat it as compensation from Sun City itself.”

　　“A Vitality Pill!”

　　When Tan Hao heard that, he immediately said wistfully, “Dad, didn’t you say it would be a Blood and Qi-replenishing Pill?”

　　Tan Zhenping glared at him. His son was so stupid!

　　Zhou Bin and the others would get a Qi-nourishing Pill, and since the two of them were his sons, he was going to play favorites slightly and give them Blood and Qi-replenishing Pills.

　　However, how could they compare to Fang Ping?

　　Fang Ping’s Vitality was already overwhelmingly high, and he was one step away from becoming a martial artist. That aside, even if they only considered his relationship with Wang Jinyang, it would already be necessary for them to compensate him with a Vitality Pill in exchange for a Vitality Outburst.

　　He might actually overwhelm the students from Serenity District and Rising Stream County, reducing their numbers slightly.

　　If that meant a few more students from Sun City would make it through, that would already count as Sun City’s greatest victory!

　　They did not have to be the strongest. They just had to make sure others were weaker.

　　It was difficult to be stronger than others, but it was very easy to find others weaker than oneself.

　　If they had a resource like Fang Ping at the fingertips, what was stopping them from using him?

　　If the Sun City candidates performed well, he could go back and alter his request slightly. In that case, it may no longer be just 4 Qi-nourishing Pills, 2 Blood and Qi-replenishing Pills.

　　With a slight alteration, he might even change that to 7 Vitality Pills.

　　Of course, first, they would have to ensure that their results were indeed better than the other two sides.

　　Although Fang Ping did not understand every part of Tan Zhenping’s little scheme, most of it had nothing to do with him, so he was not too bothered either.

　　When he heard that there was a Vitality Pill up for grabs, though, he remembered how much Wealth he had spent lately, and how his cash supply was rapidly dwindling.

　　With that, Fang Ping lost all of his inhibitions, and he nodded, “Alright, Uncle Tan, I’ll do my best later!”

　　Tan Zhenping smiled and said, “Now that’s the way of a martial artist!

　　“Fang Ping, your Uncle Tan is old now, but you’re still young. We’re inherently different.

　　“As a young man, you should keep your head up high and never bow to anyone!

　　“When you enter a martial arts university, you’ll realize that keeping a low profile will only cause you to fall behind.

　　“The only way is to fight!

　　“You must fight, you must be bold to fight, and you must be able to fight!

　　“It’s fine if you lose the fight. You can only go further if you win. But the worst is if you don’t have the guts to fight in the first place!”

　　Those last few lines reached Fang Ping’s heart.

　　Tan Zhenping was not the only one saying that. The books said it, as did Wang Jinyang.

　　Even the reality of the world was telling Fang Ping to fight!

　　Even Brother Ma was fighting, even deigning to take Tem on. Their battle was the very epitome of this desperate fighting.