16: Chapter 16 Glory Abounds
Wang Pingan panted slightly; that punch just now had almost drained all the power from his body, which had just completed its transformation.
But he felt no fatigue.
He only felt... exhilarated.
An indescribable sense of relief that surged straight from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head.
He looked at the faces in the stands, flushed red with excitement, and listened to the deafening cheers ringing in his ears.
In his past life on Blue Star, he had been a corporate drone, living like a dog, facing a computer, KPIs, and his boss's deadpan face every single day.
After transmigrating here, he had mediocre aptitude, losing sleep every day over a few points of blood qi value, living a stifling life.
The repression and unwillingness of two lifetimes dissipated at this moment, along with that punch and the overwhelming cheers filling the sky.
He slowly lifted his head, his chest rising and falling slightly.
It felt damn good.
Just then, the judges from the Municipal Martial Arts Association began to speak. After certification by the Municipal Martial Arts Association, Student Wang Pingan had not taken any banned substances.
The atmosphere in the gymnasium was pushed to a new climax once again.
Amidst the external clamor, Wang Pingan's consciousness quietly sank into his mind.
The deep blue sci-fi interface, which only he could see, had silently refreshed.
【host: Wang Pingan】
【Realm: Second-Rank Martial Artist (blood qi value 300 / 1000)】
【Strength: 30.0】
【Speed: 29.7】
【Physique: 30.1】
【Spirit: 29.7】
【Recovery: 30.0】
【pay-to-win points: 845】
He had broken through.
He had really broken through.
He could clearly feel that the blood qi within his body was no longer the rushing stream it had been before, but a calm and vast lake.
Strength, speed, physique... every attribute had crossed a huge threshold.
This feeling was a completely different world from being a First-Rank Martial Artist.
If a First-Rank Martial Artist relied on brute force, then a Second-Rank Martial Artist had already begun to master their own power with precision, carrying a solid force in every move.
This was the true beginning of the path to becoming a powerhouse.
He shifted his gaze away from the system panel and scanned the entire venue.
He saw the Director of Academic Affairs, Zhang Jianmin, slumped in his chair on the judges' bench, his face ashen.
Several men in black uniforms with stern expressions were walking up to him, presenting an electronic document.
Zhang Jianmin did not even have the strength to look; it was as if his bones had been removed. He let those men hoist him up, one on each side, and drag him away from the scene in a sorry state.
His ugly behavior was clearly broadcast on the gymnasium's big screen, drawing undisguised laughter from the stands.
Wang Pingan's gaze did not linger on him for more than a second.
You reap what you sow.
His gaze continued to move.
He saw Gao Fei in the student ranks, who had fainted and was being frantically revived by classmates pinching his philtrum.
He also saw the figure sitting next to Gao Fei, who had remained motionless from beginning to end.
Li Moran.
He hadn't fainted.
Nor had he lost his composure like Zhang Jianmin.
He just sat there quietly, head bowed, making it impossible to see his expression.
The surrounding cheers and the clamor seemed to have nothing to do with him.
He had become an isolated island.
But Wang Pingan could clearly feel the cold malice radiating from that island.
That feeling was not the unwillingness of losing a match.
It was the hatred of having one's most precious thing forcibly snatched away.
Wang Pingan withdrew his gaze.
He knew that the grudge between him and Li Moran had been completely cemented starting today.
And it was the kind that could not be resolved.
Just then, the clamor in the gymnasium subsided a little.
The principal of Shencheng No. 1 High School, a seemingly refined middle-aged man, walked down from the judges' bench with several leaders from the Municipal Education Bureau and the Municipal Martial Arts Association.
Their faces were all wreathed in pleasant smiles.
"Student Wang Pingan!"
The principal was the first to walk up to Wang Pingan, enthusiastically extending both hands and gripping Wang Pingan's hand tightly.
The attitude was so intimate that Wang Pingan felt a bit uncomfortable.
"Remarkable! Truly remarkable!"
The principal shook his hand vigorously, his approval undisguised.
"You are not only the pride of our Shencheng No. 1 High School, but the pride of our entire Shencheng City! You are the light of hope for our Shen City!"
A leader from the Municipal Education Bureau nearby also smiled and leaned in.
"Yes, yes, little student, I saw that punch of yours just now—steady, refined, and already possessing the style of a master! In time, you will surely become a pillar of our humanity!"
(Sorry, I really don't know how to write this kind of stuff, just have a laugh at it.)
With them speaking one after another, Wang Pingan was getting a bit embarrassed by the praise.
He could only smile modestly, saying polite phrases like "Principal, you flatter me" and "Leaders, you are too kind."
"Alright, alright, there are too many people here, it's not the place to talk."
The principal glanced at the reporters around them who were still trying to push forward, and waved his hand.
"Student Wang Pingan, come with us. Let's go to the VIP room; there are some things we need to discuss with you properly."
Amidst countless envious and awe-filled gazes, Wang Pingan was led away from the clamorous gymnasium, surrounded by a group of high-ranking leaders like stars around the moon.
In the VIP room, the windows were bright and clean, and a faint scent of tea drifted in the air.
It was like a different world compared to the noisy environment outside.
Just as Wang Pingan sat down, the principal personally poured him a cup of tea, his attitude excessively enthusiastic.
"Pingan."
The principal's form of address had become intimate.
"I called you here today because I have a huge piece of good news to tell you."
He put down the teapot, his expression becoming serious and solemn.
"After discussions between our school board, the Municipal Education Bureau, and the Municipal Martial Arts Association, we have unanimously decided to formally invite you to join the 'Shencheng City Elite Training Program'!"
Elite Training Program?
Wang Pingan paused.
He had heard of this program.
It was a genius training camp specifically set up by Shencheng City to challenge those top-tier martial arts universities in the Xuan Yuan Galaxy System.
Those who could enter were all the top monsters in the entire Shencheng City.
It was said that every student inside enjoyed cultivation resources comparable to the core descendants of some small families.
The principal noticed his confusion and explained with a smile.
"This program is spearheaded by our Shencheng No. 1 High School, combining the best resources in the city. Once you join, you will receive top-tier cultivation resource allocations, including but not limited to nutrient solutions, spirit crystals, and even some gene agents not available to the public."
"At the same time, we will equip you with the most professional team of mentors. They are all powerful Fourth-Rank Martial Artists or higher with rich combat experience, and they will provide you with one-on-one guidance."
"You will have the highest level of access to cutting-edge facilities such as gravity rooms, virtual combat pods, and spirit energy cultivation rooms."
Every word the principal said was like a sugar-coated shell, making Wang Pingan's heart pound.
These conditions were too tempting.
Given his current situation, what was he most lacking?
Resources!
Stable and continuous resources!
Although the scrapyard was a gold mine, it was not a long-term solution, and the risks were too high.
If he could join this program, he could legitimately obtain a large amount of resources to recharge the system.
Moreover, he could also get a "genius" halo as a cover.
In the future, if his strength made rapid progress, he could explain it with the resources of the "Elite Program" and the guidance of the mentors.
This was like someone bringing a pillow just as he felt sleepy.
Wang Pingan's heart was so excited he almost wanted to shout.
But on his face, he still maintained the flattered expression a student should have.
"Principal, this..., I..."
"Eh."
The principal waved his hand, speaking in an indisputable tone.
"You are the hope for our Shen City's future; investing in you is the most important thing we should do!"
"This matter is settled!"
Just then, the personal terminal in Wang Pingan's pocket vibrated slightly.
He took it out and saw two familiar names flashing on the screen.
It was a frontline communication call from his parents.
He excused himself to the principal and the leaders, walked to the side, and connected the call.
The light screen lit up, and his mother's face, tear-stained yet full of pride, appeared on the screen.
"Son! Well done! You are truly Mom's pride!"
His mother's voice was choked with sobs, incoherent with excitement.
"Your dad and I just watched the live stream! You... you are already a Second-Rank! That's great! That's really great!"
On the other side of the screen, his dad also squeezed in.
He was still his usual stern self, but his eyes were a little red.
He looked at Wang Pingan, his lips moving as if to say something, but in the end, he just gave a heavy grunt of affirmation.
"You rascal, well done."
Hearing his parents' voices, a warm current surged in Wang Pingan's heart.
He smiled, reassuring his parents and telling them about his experiences during this period.
Just as the communication was about to end.
His dad's serious face suddenly leaned close to the screen. He lowered his voice and said one sentence to Wang Pingan in an extremely grave tone.
"Son, listen to me."
"You are a genius now, a hot commodity in many people's eyes. Many people will come to win you over and give you benefits."
"But remember one thing."
"Do not easily trust anyone; all gifts come with a price."
After saying this, without waiting for Wang Pingan to ask more, he hung up the call directly.
He turned his head and looked out the window.
Outside the window was the brilliant night view of Shencheng City, with thousands of lights shining like stars.
But beneath this prosperity, there seemed to be hidden, surging undercurrents that he could not see.
Wang Pingan clenched his fists.
He felt an unprecedented sense of urgency.
He was no longer the boy who could hide in a corner, sneak to the scrapyard to scavenge, and make a fortune in silence.
From today on, he was pushed into the spotlight.
Every move he made would be watched by countless eyes.
He had to find a perfect balance on this new stage.