CHAPTER 15: CHAPTER 14: ZHAO QINGLI

Xu Sisi steps onto the silver treadmill.

"Boom!"

The silver treadmill roars to life.

"Second place, I must hold onto second place to get the ten thousand yuan scholarship in senior year."

"And if I can rush into first place, I can get thirty thousand yuan in scholarships!"

Xu Sisi continually motivates herself.

According to Federation regulations, families with a monthly income below ten thousand yuan are listed as poor families.

She is from such a family.

She cannot lose!

The girl strides with her slender long legs, sprinting like lightning.

Maybe the self-motivation worked.

This time, she feels her speed breaking through like never before.

The hundred-meter test concludes.

The electronic board displays her speed:

"16.9 meters per second?"

Xu Sisi shows a surprised expression; normally her fastest is only 16.5 meters per second.

...

Other students start the speed test one after another.

"Wen Yuehui: 14.1 meters per second"

"Li Zhichao: 17.0 meters per second"

"Zeng Niu: 13.1 meters per second"

When it’s Jiang Ye’s turn, he instantly grabs everyone’s attention.

Everyone wants to know if this dark horse in the strength assessment can continue to shine.

Jiang Ye ignores those stares; for him, doing his best is enough.

"Boom!"

He starts sprinting on the silver treadmill.

Moments later, the treadmill slowly halts.

The electronic board updates the data.

Jiang Ye: 16.1 meters per second

"B Level physique, more strength enhancement but slightly weaker in speed." Jiang Ye understands internally.

Below the stage, Xu Sisi breathes a sigh of relief.

The speed assessment, she undoubtedly retains second place.

"It’s a pity, just a little more, and I could surpass Li Zhichao."

Xu Sisi feels a bit regretful, while glancing at Jiang Ye walking down the stage, thinking to herself:

"Comparing speed, Jiang Ye is indeed not as good as me."

"Strength is his strong suit, in the upcoming combat assessment, I need to perform exceptionally to hold onto second place."

Can she do it?

Absolutely she can! Easily!

Xu Sisi takes a deep breath, determination evident in her apricot eyes.

...

Ten minutes later, the speed assessment concludes.

Li Zhichao still maintains first position, Xu Sisi is second, and Jiang Ye is third.

Jiang Ye is not surprised, Xu Sisi has reached Great Success months ago, and with a focus on speed, surpassing him is normal.

"First place in the second-year final exam, top scholarship of thirty thousand yuan in senior year."

"Second place receives ten thousand yuan, third place five thousand yuan, fourth to tenth place three thousand yuan."

Jiang Ye also has his own goal.

Achieving a higher rank means more scholarships.

These funds may not mean much to the wealthy, but to Jiang Ye, they are crucial.

"In the upcoming two assessments, both striving for top rankings."

Jiang Ye thinks to himself.

Despite having a B Level physique, he doesn’t get arrogant, as the realm difference is evident.

At the current stage, Xu Sisi is a strong opponent for him.

After all, she is among the few Level C physiques in the class.

"Martial Arts third assessment, arena combat!"

Zhang Jianwu’s voice echoes: "First up, Xu Sisi!"

Jiang Ye observes the stage, while a thought suddenly arises: "Wonder if fighting Director Zhang would trigger a new achievement?"

The strength of the Martial Arts class director surpasses that of ordinary teachers.

Even Teacher Chen can be a Martial Arts Ancestor, so shouldn’t Director Zhang be at least a Martial Saint level?

Jiang Ye waits silently with anticipation.

Time passes.

Finally, it’s Jiang Ye’s turn.

On the arena.

Zhang Jianwu examines Jiang Ye as he steps onto the platform, a hint of scrutiny in his eyes: "Miss Chen mentioned this boy, let’s see how his combat skills are; if really decent, that condition is indeed worth considering..."

"Teacher, please guide me."

Jiang Ye slightly arches his hand toward Zhang Jianwu.

Then, he steps his left foot forward, adopting the ’Tiger Pounce Fist Stance.’

"Make your move."

Zhang Jianwu carries himself with a steady aura, using only Minor Success level cultivation technique to spar with students.

Yet even students at Great Success are inevitably defeated within thirty moves.

In the next instant, Jiang Ye charges like a hungry wolf, his figure swiftly gliding through.

Fist winds slice through the air, hammering heavily toward the opponent like a meteor.

Zhang Jianwu sidesteps lightly, easily dodging the strike, while his right elbow swings forward to hammer Jiang Ye’s chest.

In an instant, the two clash.

The combat style beyond Great Success usually erupts with tremendous sounds.

Only hearing the echo of clashes on the arena, akin to the resonation of iron and stone.

Jiang Ye adopts an aggressive defense, leveraging his strength advantage to barrage attacks, while Zhang Jianwu counters with soft techniques, his power continuous and elusive.

Fortunately, Jiang Ye’s fist technique is highly refined, various moves emerging endlessly, using strength to counter strength.

"Ye’s combat skills truly grasp Teacher Chen’s essence."

Offstage, Wen Yuehui secretly admires: "No wonder Ye always looks exhausted nowadays; seems like he’s been fully filled in private by Teacher Chen."

On another side, Xu Sisi clenches her hand tightly; her preceding arena performance was merely average.

Now, witnessing Jiang Ye’s display, she realizes second place is slipping away.

Not far away, Li Zhichao also observes, a thoughtful expression appearing in his eyes.

...

Over twenty rounds later.

Jiang Ye is forced out of the arena by Zhang Jianwu.

He stabilizes his form, bowing slightly toward the stage.

The electronic board displays his arena combat ranking: "Second place, Jiang Ye."

Jiang Ye pays no heed to his ranking, immediately accessing the panel to check.

To his disappointment, this assessment did not unlock a new achievement.

"Strange, is it because Director Zhang’s strength is lesser than Teacher Chen? Or is Director Zhang’s strength also classified within the ’Martial Arts Ancestor’ level?"

Jiang Ye believes it’s likely the latter.

As for the former... it seems unlikely!

A half-hour later, the arena combat assessment concludes.

The electronic board displays the comprehensive score of Martial Arts three assessments.

Jiang Ye also looks toward the board.

[First place: Li Zhichao, 295 points]

[Second place: Jiang Ye, 260 points]

"260 points?" Jiang Ye ponders: "Just need 90 points in the last assessment to meet the standards of Martial Arts University."

Going by annual patterns.

The college entrance exam standard for ordinary Martial Arts universities is 350 points.

Of course, the Twenty-Five Schools Alliance far exceeds that, requiring at least 700 points.

As for the top ten elite schools, the minimum for the lowest-ranked one is also 900 points.

The maximum total for Martial Arts four assessments is 1200 points; scoring 900 points demands near-insane standards.

But Jiang Ye still has a full year, his improvement space is considerable.

...

The fourth assessment——Virtual Starry Sky combat assessment is held not in the classroom but in a spherical building at the school’s center.

Under Zhang Jianwu’s guidance, the students of Class Nine arrive at the entrance of the spherical building.

Other classes’ students are already queueing.

The school’s virtual equipment is limited, late-arriving classes often face long waiting times.

Luckily, Class Nine reaches first.

Some students have finished the virtual assessment, exiting the spherical building.

"Students from the special class."

Jiang Ye glances at those students, his expression slightly changing.

Students from the special class are different from ordinary classes.

Benefiting from newborn talent, whether in demeanor or temperament, they exude a kind of spirited confidence.

Among them, leading is a cool-tempered girl, standing at one meter seventy-five, short-sleeved and in shorts, her legs snowy and long.

Above her delicate waist, the stunning sight is astonishing.

The cool girl turns her head to glance at Class Nine, her expression aloof, striding with long legs to leave.

"Class 1’s Zhao Qingli, a terrifying presence reaching 700 points from four evaluations!"

Inside the building, many students look in awe at the towering figure.

Jiang Ye opens his panel to look, revealing a slightly surprised expression.