NOVEL NEXT Chapter 3: Senior Student, Luo Feng
After a while, the chat group became lively again.
[Zombie Taoist Priest: …So my two apprentices are such scoundrels!]
[Peach Blossom Island's Little Chef: Oh my God! I'm actually going to marry someone as dull as Guo Jing? He's a complete idiot. Crazy.jpg]
[Wudang Centenarian Taoist: I thought we just shared the same name before, but now I'm certain—you're Guo Xiang's mother. This is incredible. I've seen you in middle age before.]
[Peach Blossom Island's Little Chef: Oh my goodness, I'm actually seeing my future daughter's suitor in this group?!]
Jiang Li couldn't help but laugh at the conversation between the two. A centenarian Taoist meeting his teenage crush's mother? It felt like the plot of a dramatic love story filled with history, longing, and unspoken emotions.
[I Am Spider-Man: So this is how I got bitten by that spider…]
[Zixia Junzijian (Purple Mist Gentleman Sword): Damn Feng Qingyang! He never passed down the Dugu Nine Swords to me, leaving me as a laughingstock in the martial arts world!]
[Heaven and Earth Infinite Universe Borrows the Method: Seriously? That scholar is in a world of monsters, and he's there to fall in love? What is this nonsense?]
For a moment, the group was filled with skepticism and confusion.
However, Jiang Li paid no attention to the chatter. He now had 500 points in hand, and it was time to focus on improving his strength.
Without hesitation, Jiang Li clicked on the enhancement function and selected the option to strengthen himself.
[It has been detected that this is your first enhancement. The price has been adjusted to the beginner's discount!]
[Do you wish to spend 200 points (original price: 2000 points) to enhance?]
"Yes!" Jiang Li confirmed immediately.
[Enhancement successful!]
Name: Jiang Li
Realm: Intermediate Warrior (Apprentice Level)
Skill: Tai Chi Breathing Exercise
Points: 300
"I've improved so much in one go!" Jiang Li was thrilled. If he had enough points, wouldn't it be possible to level up all the way? Of course, having a high realm wasn't enough—skills and combat experience were equally essential.
"I still have 300 points left. I should be able to exchange them for some skills," Jiang Li thought to himself.
He browsed through the available techniques, picking out some affordable ones, and spent all his remaining points in one go. As the information flooded his mind, Jiang Li entered a state of deep comprehension.
[You have studied "Basic Swordsmanship of Peach Blossom Island" and grasped the key principles of swordsmanship, gaining valuable experience!]
[You have studied "Pure Yang Palm" and understood the fundamentals of palm techniques, gaining some combat insight!]
[You have studied "Tai Chi Health-Preserving Boxing" and achieved a state of harmony and balance!]
…
The Next Day
As dawn broke, Jiang Li was about to get up and return to his room when he noticed Ling Ling staring at him in awe.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"Nothing… It's just that you seem different now. More… handsome," Ling Ling said, trying to keep her expression calm. But inside, her heart was racing.
She was certain—absolutely certain—that Jiang Li had been an ordinary person with no warrior potential before. She had confirmed this through her own means. Yet now, overnight, Jiang Li had broken through and become a warrior. The speed of his progress was nothing short of astonishing!
"If I weren't handsome, how could I deserve such a beautiful wife?" Jiang Li chuckled, reaching out to playfully tease her.
Ling Ling let out a small yelp, and the two bantered for a while before Jiang Li turned serious. "I'll be taking the assessment later. By the way, which faction do you think I should join?"
"The Extreme Martial Arts Gym!" Ling Ling replied without hesitation.
"Got it."
…
Jiang Li left the house and headed straight for the Extreme Martial Arts Gym. The gym was founded by 'Hong,' the strongest man in the world, while the second-strongest man, 'Thunder God,' had established the Thunder and Lightning Martial Arts Gym. These two major martial arts schools were highly prestigious and had branches all over the globe.
In addition to these schools, there were also five major nations, each vying for power and influence, creating a complex web of alliances and rivalries.
"Sir, are you here to register for the quasi-warrior examination?" a young woman greeted Jiang Li respectfully as soon as he arrived at the gym's entrance. Anyone who came here had the potential to become a warrior, so she treated him with utmost courtesy.
"I'm here to get my student ID," Jiang Li replied.
The woman was momentarily taken aback. After the Great Nirvana, ordinary people could register as martial arts students at the age of 16. Those over 30 were barred from joining to avoid wasting resources. It was rare for someone like Jiang Li, an adult, to be applying for a student ID for the first time.
She frowned slightly but said nothing, leading Jiang Li to fill out the necessary forms.
After completing the paperwork, Jiang Li was taken to a punching strength tester.
"Huh? A new face? I've never seen him before."
"He's quite handsome, but… he looks a bit old."
"Hasn't he become a warrior by this age?"
"Hey, handsome guy!"
The training hall was already bustling with about twenty or thirty people, and they couldn't help but comment as Jiang Li stepped forward.
"Jiang Li, this is the punching strength tester," the woman explained, pointing to the machine. "You just need to hit this drum with all your strength, and I'll determine your student level based on the result."
"Got it," Jiang Li nodded. He took a deep breath, centering himself and preparing to deliver his strongest punch.
"What do you think? Can he reach the strength of a junior student?"
"He looks a bit old. He might manage beginner level, but intermediate? I'm not sure."
"I'm not optimistic. He's too thin and looks weak. Even reaching junior level might be a stretch."
"Exactly. Otherwise, why would he be taking the assessment in his twenties?"
As the murmurs continued, Jiang Li exhaled sharply, pulled his right arm back, and channeled all his strength into his fist. With a thunderous roar, he struck the machine.
Boom!
The impact was so powerful that the entire machine shuddered. A number flashed on the screen: 1320KG.
Instantly, the room fell silent. Everyone stared at the number in disbelief.
The woman from the gym was equally shocked. "Mr. Jiang, your strength exceeds the standard for a warrior! As long as your speed meets the requirement, you'll officially qualify as a warrior. Please follow me…"
"Alright," Jiang Li replied calmly, following her to the second floor.
"Wait, he's actually a warrior?!"
"1320KG? That's stronger than Big Brother Lu and the others!"
"Maybe he's some young master from a wealthy family here to show off."
"Probably! Otherwise, why would someone with his strength wait so long to verify it? Warriors have status!"
"Oh no, I forgot to ask for his contact info."
"Idiot, didn't you see the wedding ring on his finger? He's taken!"
…
Third Floor
The third floor housed another training hall, filled with advanced equipment. This area was reserved for 'senior students,' so it was much quieter.
As soon as Jiang Li entered, he was greeted warmly by the others.
"Hey, a new face! Welcome. I'm Lu Fei."
"I'm Du Xiao."
"Chen Ming. Hey, everyone, we've got a newcomer! Come say hello."
Most of the people training here were from ordinary families who couldn't afford private training facilities. Over time, they had grown close.
The 'Madman' Chen Ming mentioned was a young man named Luo Feng, nicknamed for his relentless training and his victories over several wealthy senior students.
"Hello, I'm Luo Feng," a tall, handsome young man stepped forward with a friendly smile. "You can call me Madman."