3: Gu Chen's determination! To become stronger!
The Warrior Incubation Plan was fully launched, causing widespread discussion in society. Shen Mengxuan, appearing at the Imperial Capital's No. 13 Middle School, successfully selected her three poverty alleviation targets. She stood there with a calm tone and expression, yet she consistently gave off a high-and-mighty vibe, and no one felt there was anything wrong with that.
Shen Mengxuan herself was born into the Starry Sky Aristocracy. The Shen Family behind her was a super family exploring the starry sky among the new stars of the human race.
“Soon, the names of you three will be reported to Xia Country's Purple Profound Pavilion. During the nationwide Martial Artist College Entrance Examination, you will be admitted to the Xia Country Imperial Capital Gene Warrior Academy as specially recruited students. I hope you can be strictly self-disciplined; the future is not a game,” Shen Mengxuan said pointedly.
Only the Dean of Discipline nearby understood.
The oppression from the Myriad Races was becoming more and more terrifying.
Moreover, those terrifying Alien Beasts were evolving frantically, their speed of evolution even surpassing that of human warriors.
The Dark Age belonging to the human race was fast approaching.
Heavy burdens rested upon the shoulders of warriors!
The three selected students were incredibly excited, their faces glowing with exhilaration. After Shen Mengxuan left, the Dean of Discipline stood before them with a complex expression. She couldn't understand why Gu Chen would give up such an opportunity. In her eyes, Gu Chen was a steady and determined child, the most suitable for this chance and capable of going the furthest in the future, yet he had declined.
The news that Gu Chen had rejected Shen Mengxuan's martial artist poverty alleviation quota quickly spread throughout No. 13 Middle School, and even sparked heated discussions across the entire Blue Star Imperial Capital.
“A poor student, yet so arrogant?”
“Being Shen Mengxuan's poverty alleviation target is, to put it bluntly, becoming her future cannon fodder and a subordinate for her future battles against the Myriad Races. To put it harshly, running errands for Shen Mengxuan might not be that glamorous, but neither the Shen Family nor Xia Country's Purple Profound Pavilion would mistreat him.”
“A heart higher than the sky, but a life thinner than paper. Heh, being a warrior is a money-burning profession. Currently, warrior resources are actually controlled by the upper class. Students like those from No. 13 Middle School, even if their grades are decent, will only be bottom-tier warriors in the future. The only chance to change his fate was right in front of him, yet he refused out of concern for his pride. What kind of future can this kid named Gu Chen have?”
Numerous voices came from the outside world, most of them mocking Gu Chen.
They felt Gu Chen didn't know his place.
Too young.
And so on.
Gu Chen also became the laughingstock of No. 13 Martial Arts High School, a subject of discussion for many.
Meanwhile, Gu Chen was completely unaware of all this. He returned home in a pleasant mood. His family's income wasn't high, but fortunately, they owned their house. Though they lacked material wealth, they were spiritually rich. Actually, the conditions in Gu Chen's home were decent; his parents had stable jobs, and their combined monthly salary was around twenty thousand. Unfortunately, in a full-scale warrior society, the average burden was completely different from what it used to be.
The financial resources and materials required to cultivate a warrior were incalculable.
Without a strong background, one could basically only enter schools with poverty subsidies, such as the No. 13 Martial Arts High School where Gu Chen was.
And this kind of martial arts high school, whether in terms of teaching staff or facilities, simply couldn't compare to other high schools.
But for Gu Chen's family, this was already the best possible outcome.
Gu Chen arrived home. His mother, Qin Yueru, was cooking in the kitchen, while his father, Gu Dongshan—Old Gu—was a mild-mannered man who was extremely good to Gu Chen. Gu Chen also had a younger sister named Gu Ling.
“Brother!” Seeing Gu Chen return, Gu Ling immediately pounced on him.
Gu Chen had been sensible since childhood and doted on his sister, so Gu Ling had always been very clingy with him.
“Get down, you're already so old, acting like this. Aren't you afraid people will laugh at you?” Qin Yueru scolded playfully.
“He's my brother, I'll hug him if I want. Who cares if they laugh? Hmph.” Gu Ling ignored her completely, hanging onto Gu Chen and refusing to come down.
“Chen'er, your sister was just selected for special recruitment by the Third High School.”
Third Martial Artist High School was also a top-tier martial arts high school in the Imperial Capital with terrifying teaching strength. Being admitted there meant winning at the starting line.
“Can our family afford it?” Gu Chen asked at this point.
Third Martial Artist High School.
It represented the top-tier martial arts high schools in Xia Country, but it also inevitably meant expensive tuition. One could not join without being from a wealthy family.
Gu Chen could have also been admitted to such an institution back then.
But faced with the high tuition fees...
Old Gu had worried himself gray without being able to find a way.
“The policy has improved, your sister is lucky. She was noticed by a teacher who applied for a subsidy quota for her, which waives a large amount of the tuition. If I work a bit harder, I should be able to scrape enough together.” Old Gu glanced at Gu Chen and sighed.
He seemed to be lamenting for his son.
Gu Chen also had great talent as a warrior.
If it hadn't been for the family's lack of money, he wouldn't have entered No. 13 Middle School. Back then, Gu Chen could even have been admitted to the First Martial Arts High School, so Old Gu had always felt very guilty!
“Brother, I will definitely work hard in my cultivation and protect you all then.” Gu Ling's pretty face was full of determination, looking very much like Gu Chen.
Gu Chen rubbed her small face.
Then he said, “Silly girl, when would I ever need your protection?”
“Dad, don't overwork yourself either. I graduate from high school this year, and I'll earn money to help with the household expenses then.” Gu Chen looked at Old Gu. The current Old Gu no longer had the high spirits of the past; he was slightly hunched, his sideburns were turning white, and the wrinkles on his face were increasing.
His father was getting older.
Gu Chen felt a bit of heartache.
“You're just a kid, focus on your cultivation. Since when do the household matters need you two to worry? Just be a good warrior. By the way, Chen'er, I heard your school has poverty student quotas, and getting one is like a leap to the heavens. How did it go?”
“I wasn't selected.” Gu Chen told a lie. If Old Gu knew that Gu Chen had directly refused, it would be impossible to explain.
Old Gu nodded, took a puff of his cigarette, and said, “Mm, that's fine too. They call it a poverty subsidy, but it's actually just choosing future servants for that Favored Daughter of Heaven. Running errands with a humble posture, it's a life of being cannon fodder in the future. It's not suitable for you.”
Gu Chen nodded and then returned to his room.
He looked out the window at the many stars.
Living in such a family, Gu Chen only felt happy. He didn't feel that his poor family background held him back. On the contrary, the steady and determined character cultivated by Old Gu and his mother was the most precious quality for future warrior cultivation.
“Looking to the future, the Myriad Races are pressing in; looking at the present, the family needs me, the eldest son, to provide relief.”
“Divine Prison Gene, I must get stronger!”
Gu Chen clenched his fists, his eyes bursting with an astonishing light. A massive bolt of lightning tore through the sky, followed by a downpour that flooded the world like a mountain torrent, wild and unrestrained, reflecting endlessly with Gu Chen's sharp and bright eyes.