16: Chapter 16, Part 3

The morning sunlight filtered through the gaps in the curtains, rousing his sleeping consciousness.

"Going to bed early really is comfortable," Li Wen stretched with a satisfied yawn, dispelling the last traces of drowsiness.

Out of habit, his thoughts stirred slightly, and a translucent virtual panel unfolded before his eyes.

Taiwan Novel Website is incredibly considerate and convenient.

【Name: Li Wen】

【Age: 18】

【Realm: Unranked (Rank 6.2 → 6.3)】

【Profession: Scholar lv3 (101/400)】

【Skills: Blade Technique - Advanced (Perfection), Blade Technique - Top Tier (Not Started)】

【Cultivation Technique: Splitting Edge Golden Fiend Method (Minor Achievement 40→50/100)】

His gaze swept over it quickly, pausing briefly on the entries for "Realm" and "Cultivation Technique."

"As expected, my Physical Body Rank has increased by another 0.1," Li Wen couldn't help but let a slight smile curve his lips as he looked at the number that had changed to 6.3.

The once distant threshold of a Rank 7.0 Physical Body was now being approached step by step. Only a 0.7-Rank gap remained from the starting line for martial arts university applications.

With a bend of his legs and a push from his core, Li Wen executed a clean and crisp kip-up, landing steadily on his slippers at the foot of the bed. The lightness and sense of strength in his body clearly spoke of the changes brought by his improved cultivation.

Twisting open the doorknob, the aroma of food wafted over. Li Hong had already prepared breakfast; the sweet scent of corn porridge and the refreshing tang of side dishes were mouthwatering.

"You're up, A Wen," Li Hong turned around at the sound, a gentle smile on his face.

"Good morning, Dad," Li Wen responded, ruffling his slightly messy hair as he headed for the bathroom.

Fully focused on sprinting towards his martial arts and academic goals, Li Wen temporarily failed to notice the deeper-than-usual weariness between his father Li Hong's brows or his deliberately suppressed breathing.

Father and son shared breakfast as usual, the cool morning light from the window illuminating their quiet figures.

After breakfast, Li Wen slung his backpack over his shoulder and, as always, said goodbye before heading out.

"Cough... cough..." Only after the heavy front door had completely closed and his son's footsteps could no longer be heard in the stairwell did Li Hong suddenly turn around, leaning against the wall, and begin to cough violently, a muffled sound echoing in his chest.

It took a while for his breathing to settle. He rubbed his tight chest, his face full of worry.

The family savings were slipping away faster and faster, like sand through fingers.

His wife alone, maintaining the household expenses and their son's cultivation resources, was already exhausted.

His own illness had come at an inopportune time, costing him his factory job and severing an important source of income.

His son's future, getting into university, advancing in the martial Dao... which of these didn't require vast amounts of qi and blood resources?

Without his income, how could they support it? Could he let Li Wen's talent be wasted, trapped by a lack of qi and blood? Every time he thought of this, Li Hong felt a suffocating weight.

He walked to the balcony, looking in the direction his son had gone. The morning breeze brushed past, but couldn't disperse the thick, unmovable worry in his heart.

In the end, all the unspeakable anxiety and confusion about the future dissolved into a long, silent sigh.

...

Qingshi No. 3 Middle School, Grade 12, Class 21 cultural classroom.

As soon as the class bell faded, the atmosphere in the classroom became lively again. Several liberal arts students near Li Wen were heatedly discussing yesterday's math mock exam.

"I only got stuck on the last fill-in and the three sub-questions of the final big problem. 135+ should be secure," Wang Ruiming in the front seat said with a confident smile at the corner of his mouth.

"Don't even mention it, I'm far worse than you. I wasted too much time at the beginning, only managed the first sub-question on the last problem. 120 would be good enough," his deskmate Huang Yu shook his head with a look of frustration.

"120 is still pretty impressive. Math isn't your main focus anyway. There's no way your total cultural score won't get you into a top-tier university," Yang Junzhe, sitting across the aisle in front of Huang Yu, turned around to join the discussion.

"Hard to say, the cultural track is fiercely competitive these days," Huang Yu waved his hand. "In our class, the only one I see who's definitely getting into a top-tier school is Wei Wu."

"That's incomparable," Wang Ruiming's tone held undisguised envy. "I heard his family even bought him a mental focus potion specifically to boost his concentration for studying."

"A mental focus potion? That costs several times more than an ordinary qi and blood potion! They really are willing to invest heavily," Huang Yu also clicked his tongue in amazement.

*Ding ling ling—*

The class bell timely interrupted this discussion tinged with envy. The math teacher, a stack of test papers tucked under his arm, a thermos cup in hand, and lesson plans clutched, walked up to the podium.

"Ahem," he cleared his throat. "Looking at the overall results of this mock exam, they're... barely acceptable. However, several students performed exceptionally well!"

The teacher deliberately paused, his gaze sweeping over the class, lingering especially on top students like Wei Wu and Chen Yashi, then seemingly inadvertently passing over the direction where Li Wen sat.

"Several students in our class broke through the 140-point barrier! That's not easy!"

As his words fell, the classroom instantly erupted with a buzzing commotion. This was the third round of comprehensive review; mock exam difficulty usually matched or even slightly exceeded the college entrance exam. Scoring above 140 was absolutely top of the top!

"Quiet! I'll announce the scores now!" The math teacher raised a hand, pressing it downwards.

"Class first place, 147 points: Wei Wu."

"Class second place, 145 points: Chen Yashi."

These two names were unsurprising, drawing the expected gazes and murmurs from everyone.

"Class third place, 142 points." The teacher's voice halted, his gaze once again focusing on the back of the classroom.

"This student... has made tremendous progress and deserves great praise. I hope he maintains this momentum!" As he spoke, he looked clearly in Li Wen's direction again.

That glance instantly made Huang Yu and Wang Ruiming's hearts jump! Huang Yu even subconsciously straightened his back, while Wang Ruiming clenched his fist. Could it be...?

"That is—Li Wen!" The math teacher stopped keeping them in suspense, gesturing forcefully towards Li Wen's seat with his palm. "Let's give Li Wen a round of applause to congratulate him!"

*Clap clap clap—*

The classroom fell into a brief, stunned silence, followed immediately by a sudden surge of enthusiastic, wave-like applause!

Everyone, including the teacher on the podium, turned their eyes in unison towards the figure who had always been average, even considered a "student with lopsided strengths" by the martial arts class students.

A flicker of surprise passed through Wei Wu's eyes. Chen Yashi glanced sideways slightly. Xue Jun frowned tightly, almost unable to believe his ears.

【You achieved third place in yesterday's math exam, scholar experience +80】

【Profession: Scholar lv3 (113→193/400)】

The information that popped up on the virtual panel was crystal clear.

Looking at the skyrocketing experience points, Li Wen's hanging heart finally settled completely, and he smiled with satisfaction.

142 points, far exceeding expectations! This not only proved the effectiveness of him going all out with 【Absolute Focus】 but also showcased the brilliance of the 【One Proof, Eternal Proof】 skill in cultural subjects!

"Fourth place, 140 points: Huang Yu."

"Holy crap! Huang Yu!" Wang Ruiming nearly jumped out of his seat, turning to glare at his deskmate who had just been "playing down" his performance, his face turning green.

"140?! And you call that 120?! You academic faker, you!"