20: Chapter 20 SSS-Rank Forged from Flesh and Blood

Instructor Su Qing's fingers tapped on the control console.

"Increase it to 4.5 times."

The Dean's hand trembled, nearly dropping his teacup.

"Instructor Su, 4.5 times is the standard for Special Forces selection! Who will be responsible if someone dies?"

"If he dies, it's on me."

Instructor Su Qing's voice was cold.

The Dean swallowed hard and tremblingly pushed the lever into the red zone.

The humming inside the Gravity Chamber suddenly spiked, sounding like a centrifuge running at full speed.

The air became incredibly viscous, and even the light seemed to distort.

The alloy floor groaned under the unbearable weight, fine cracks spreading like a spiderweb.

Lin Qi felt a heavy weight on his shoulders.

It was as if someone had thrown a small mountain onto his back.

His knees buckled uncontrollably, his bones making a tooth-aching grinding sound.

But he smiled.

This was the right feeling.

The previous pressure was too gentle; it couldn't even reach the limits deep within his skin.

This kind of force, capable of crushing a person into a meat patty, was the best tempering.

He took a deep breath, his chest expanding with difficulty, like pulling open a rusted bellows.

Fine beads of blood began to seep from the surface of his skin.

It was a sign that his capillaries were bursting under the pressure.

In an instant, he was covered in blood.

Pain.

Every inch of muscle in his body wailed, and every nerve screamed.

But Lin Qi could feel that the Bottleneck that had been stuck at the Peak of "Copper Skin" had finally loosened.

The Impurities in his body were forcibly squeezed out by this tyrannical force, exiting through his pores.

His originally dull skin, baptized in blood, instead took on a tougher luster.

He was smiling.

Though his face was covered in blood, he smiled happily.

This thrill of dancing on the edge of life and death brought back the fanaticism he felt in his past life when pushing for the Martial Saint Realm.

One minute.

After just one minute, Lin Qi felt he had reached his limit.

If he held on any longer, his spine would snap.

Too much is as bad as too little.

He slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air and raised his right hand, making a cutting gesture.

Buzz.

The gravity System shut down.

The mountain pressing down on him vanished instantly; Lin Qi swayed, nearly collapsing.

But he remained standing.

His feet were like roots, firmly nailed to the ground.

The hatch opened.

Lin Qi stepped out.

The training grounds were silent.

No one spoke; there was only the rustling of the wind through the leaves.

Everyone stared at the blood-covered figure as if looking at a monster.

4.5 times gravity.

This was a figure that many Strength-type Warriors with a Physique over 20 points couldn't withstand.

How could a blank slate with no class and no skills do it?

The data scrolling on the large screen stopped.

[Lin Qi: Comprehensive Rating SSS]

That glaring red "First Place" was like a loud slap across the faces of all the doubters.

Instructor Su Qing walked forward and handed him a bottle of pale green potion.

"Advanced Recovery Potion, military-grade."

Lin Qi didn't stand on ceremony; he took it and downed it in one go.

A cool, warm current slid down his throat into his stomach, quickly spreading to every part of his body.

The torn muscle fibers began to repair, and the burning pain rapidly receded.

"Thanks."

Lin Qi wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.

Li Shaobai stood in the crowd, staring intensely at Lin Qi.

His fists were clenched white, nails digging into his flesh.

He lost.

He had lost completely.

Not just in speed, but even his most prideful pressure resistance had been utterly crushed.

"Let's go."

Li Shaobai turned and left, his back looking somewhat pathetic.

Wang Gang huddled in a corner, wishing he could bury his head in his crotch.

He only prayed now that Lin Qi wouldn't hold a grudge; otherwise, his days in the Special Training Class would be unbearable.

"Qi-ge!"

A scream like a pig being slaughtered broke the silence.

Zhang Wei rolled over like a meatball and grabbed Lin Qi's leg.

"Incredible! Truly incredible! 4.5 times gravity! From now on, you're my real brother!"

Lin Qi pulled his leg away in disgust.

"Don't wipe your snot on my pants; I have to wear this uniform for another half year."

Zhang Wei chuckled, not at all embarrassed, and followed closely behind.

"Qi-ge, the reward for first place is two hundred Credits and access to the third floor of the Library! We're rich!"

Lin Qi calculated in his mind.

Two hundred Credits could be exchanged for many rare herbs, and the third floor of the Library should have in-depth information about this world's power System.

This was a good haul.

Although his body was exhausted to the extreme, his spirit was exceptionally excited.

This assessment didn't just grant him resources; more importantly, it verified one thing.

Martial Arts was not only feasible in this digitized world, but also very powerful.

As long as the Physical Body was strong enough, any data or skills were meaningless.

The crowd gradually dispersed.

Instructor Su Qing called out to Lin Qi, who was about to head to the cafeteria to eat.

"Come to my office."

Lin Qi paused and tossed his backpack to Zhang Wei.

"Get me two servings of braised pork, make them fatty."

After saying that, he followed Instructor Su Qing toward the office building.

The instructor's office was spacious, and the air conditioning was on full blast.

Instructor Su Qing closed the door and locked it behind her.

The atmosphere suddenly became a bit serious.

She walked to the desk, took out a document stamped with a red "Top Secret" label from a drawer, and threw it on the table.

"Take a look."

Lin Qi glanced at the cover.

"Experimental Report on the Development of Human Potential Limits — Military Archive No. 73."

He didn't touch the document; he just pulled out a chair and sat down, his posture relaxed.

"If you want me to be a lab rat for slicing and research, then forget it."

Lin Qi looked into Instructor Su Qing's eyes, his tone as flat as if he were discussing the weather.

"If it's a collaboration, I'm willing to hear the offer."

Instructor Su Qing leaned against the edge of the desk, arms crossed.

"You're very smart and very cautious."

"In this world, people who aren't cautious enough usually don't survive past the first chapter."

Lin Qi shrugged.

"Your body structure is very unique."

Instructor Su Qing stared at him. "Without the restrictions of a data panel, your Physical Body seems capable of accommodating infinite power. This violates the basic common sense of Awakeners."

"Common sense is meant to be broken."

Lin Qi replied.

"The military is very interested in cases like yours."

Instructor Su Qing pointed at the document. "If I hand you over, I could be promoted three ranks and have my military commission restored."

Lin Qi didn't speak, but his fingers resting on his knees curled slightly.

If Instructor Su Qing showed any sign of making a move, he would strike instantly.

Even if he couldn't win, even in death, he would knock out a couple of her teeth.

"But I'm not interested."

Instructor Su Qing suddenly pulled the document back and tossed it into the shredder.

The whirring of the shredder was exceptionally harsh in the quiet office.

Lin Qi's tense muscles relaxed slightly.

"Why?"

"Because I want to see just how far a monster without data can go."

Instructor Su Qing turned and opened the safe behind her.

"Since you don't want to be a lab rat, let's make a deal."

She pulled a black briefcase out of the safe and slammed it onto the table.

"There's something good in here; you should like it."