CHAPTER 44: CHAPTER 38: BEASTS

"Zhou Leng from our class is strong enough, should be in the top five of Rucheng Freshman."

"Xu Kang’an from the class next door seems to have 3 points more than Zhou Leng, who has a screenshot?"

"I have it."

Everyone looks at the screenshot in the group chat.

Zhou Leng opened it and saw the total score of 1223.9, 3.2 points more than himself.

"Xu Kang’an scored full marks in all five pill courses and is in the Blood Transporting Period. Once Zhou Leng makes up for the five pill courses, he’ll surely overtake."

"Yeah, Zhou Leng, you and Xu Kang’an might not make it into the top 100 of the Rucheng Freshman Chart this time, but a few months later, you surely will. By then, get into the national chart and let us see the national ranking. I hear the top few hundred in the national chart are all monsters at the beast level."

Zhou Leng nodded without saying anything.

But in his heart, he kept pondering how to make up for his own shortcomings while strengthening his advantages.

The five pill courses are a long-term accumulation of time and pills, no point in rushing.

"Updated! Updated!"

Zhou Leng also opened Martial Arts City, refreshed the "Rucheng Freshman Chart," the chart slid, and his position appeared in the middle of the screen.

Zhou Leng.

Affiliated Martial Arts Hall of Rucheng Martial Arts University.

Martial Arts Index: 7.92.

Ranking: 503.

Zhou Leng looked at the index, a statistical result derived from a comprehensive personal and collective data analysis.

The top of the screen listed the top three.

First, Mountain and River Origin, Martial Arts Index 9.25.

Second, Yu Jueyong, Martial Arts Index 8.23.

Third, Jiang Xiaoyin, Martial Arts Index 8.21.

Zhou Leng looked at his index of 7 and Mountain and River Origin’s index of 9, feeling a slight pressure.

A 1 point difference in the Martial Arts Index roughly equates to a tier difference.

He is at the Peak of Qi Nourishing.

An index of 8 roughly equates to the Blood Transporting Period, while an index of 9 signifies Body Refining Stage strength.

With Mountain and River Origin’s physical qualities, ordinary Body Refining Stage experts are no match for him.

Zhou Leng sent his screenshot to Zhang Xinglie, who was far away in Xiong City.

Zhang Xinglie also sent back a screenshot.

Zhang Xinglie.

Yunhua Martial Arts University in Xiong City.

Martial Arts Index: 8.73.

Ranking: 153.

National List: 172.

Zhou Leng pondered for a long time, unsure how to reply.

Such an impressive Martial Arts Index, yet not in the top 100 in Xiong City.

What kind of monsters are Yunhua, Jinjing, and the Military Academy raising?

But seeing Zhang Xinglie ranked 172 nationwide, he immediately felt relieved.

Xiong City is the capital, almost equivalent to the whole country. Zhang Xinglie being ranked over a hundred among national freshmen already demonstrates terrifying strength.

Unsurprisingly, Zhang Xinglie should be in the top fifty among Yunhua freshmen.

Zhou Leng sent a row of thumbs up.

Zhang Xinglie replied, "Your ranking progress is way more terrifying than mine. I suspect that in a year or two, you’ll catch up with me."

"Brother, don’t tease. Wish you get into the top 100 soon."

"See you in the top 100 of the national chart in two months!" Zhang Xinglie’s spirits surged.

Zhou Leng repeatedly checked Zhang Xinglie’s screenshot and continued browsing the local "Rucheng Freshman Chart."

Soon, he saw familiar names, some are little celebrities, some are classmates.

The top in Rucheng Martial Arts University is named Ji Changnian, Martial Arts Index 8.09, ranking 135.

The second is the top Martial Arts School Student, Xu Kang’an, Martial Arts Index 8.01, ranking 205.

Besides these two, no one else from Rucheng has an index over 8.

It seems most students who forcibly entered the Blood Transporting Period through pills have falsely high scores, resulting in not reaching an index of 8.

"Zhou Leng, you’re quite impressive, 503," Wei Hong shouted.

Everyone looked over.

"Awesome! Jumped two thousand ranks in one go."

"Aim to advance another hundred ranks by the monthly exam, next semester, make it to the top 100 in the city chart!"

Zhou Leng also browsed the "Rucheng Qi Blood Chart."

The page showed the top ten in the city.

Below was a line of small red text.

"You have not entered the ranking."

He clicked on the "Rucheng Martial Arts University Chart" again.

The same line of small red text appeared below.

"You have not entered the ranking."

Zhou Leng clicked to close the chart.

Wei Hong beside him yelled, "My phone is too disappointing. Opening the ’Rucheng Qi Blood Chart’ and it says ’I have not entered the ranking’, tomorrow I’ll replace it with a more reliable one!"

"Mine’s also disappointing!"

Everyone laughed and joked.

A message popped up on Martial Faith, Zhou Leng opened it.

Xu Qingjin sent a screenshot of Zhou Leng’s ranking, followed by text and expressions.

"Congratulations!"

The expression started with a small white cat scattering flowers, then a row of small white cats scattering flowers, and finally a crowd of small white cats scattering flowers densely.

"How about you?"

Xu Qingjin also sent her screenshot.

Xu Qingjin.

Rucheng Martial Arts University.

Martial Arts Index: 7.65.

Ranking: 2308.

This ranking is intermediate among Martial Arts Students.

"Keep it up!" Zhou Leng also sent encouragement.

"Mm!"

Then followed a picture of a Dalmatian nodding continuously.

"By the way, Zhou Leng, don’t forget to go to Eighth Middle School for your awards ceremony!" followed by a picture of a puppy holding a megaphone.

"Go together on Saturday?"

"Sure!"

Not far away, on Chang Luan’s Demonized Watch screen, displayed the "Rucheng Freshman Chart."

The position happened to be 503rd, Zhou Leng’s ranking.

Chang Luan looked at the bottom of the screen; his ranking was 697.

Chang Luan opened Martial Faith, and Tao Bing from the hospital sent a message with a screenshot of Zhou Leng’s ranking.

"Young Master Chang, sorry, I couldn’t help you."

"It’s okay, take care of your injury. I’ll cover the medical expenses, and I’ll send you some Great Nourishing Pills. You’ll be back on your feet in a month at most."

"What are you planning to do about this?"

Chang Luan glanced at Zhou Leng.

If I mess with an ordinary classmate, the Martial Arts Hall might at most make me pay for the medical expenses, maybe not even record it.

But Zhou Leng is Quan Jiu, and his name is even known to the Hall Master now.

The Martial Arts Hall is managed by the Martial Guard Department, whose predecessor was the Martial Force Police.

They know everything, even the color of my underwear today.

If I really seriously injure Zhou Leng, my life is over.

Chang Luan replied, "My dad said to wait and see."

"Are you just going to tolerate it? Not fighting for senior status?"

"I mean to run for class monitor first; senior status can wait. After all, there’s still a few months left to prepare."

"I can hold it in; I can’t."

"Tao Bing, don’t do anything rash."

"Don’t worry, it won’t involve you."

"He’s Quan Jiu."

"You’re afraid because you don’t want a bad record; I’m different, I’m already a troublemaker. As long as I control the situation, let him stay in the hospital for a few months, the Martial Arts Hall might at most make me pay medical expenses and give me a major demerit."

Chang Luan looked at Zhou Leng again, sighed.

Not far from Class 01 Martial Arts Hall, inside the Intensity Meter equipment room.

A Demon Spirit Master with a floating light orb over his shoulder frowned in observation.

A maintenance worker in overalls, leaning on a crutch, cursed while checking the devices.

"These Martial Arts Hall instructors really do things carelessly, using the Intensity Meter like a mule?"

"Clearly overused."

"Look at these parts and the wear on the Demon Pattern, what a state they’re in."

"Don’t be in a rush."

"If they do it like this again, I’ll file a report, they can’t just waste things like this. They should use the advanced Intensity Meter, which is made of high-grade materials and can withstand heavy use."

Outside the Martial Arts Hall, a sharp whistle sounded.

"Assemble!"

Zhou Leng and his classmates picked up their backpacks and dragged themselves out.

The instructors were seated in a green demonized electric pickup truck.

All the students were full of questions.

Students running while instructors ride?

"Everyone, keep up! This military training score will count towards your credits."

The students cursed silently, quickening their pace with closed mouths.

"Run! Are your ears blocked?"

Deng Zhijue stood on the pickup truck, slowly pulling down a black shiny leather belt, his face as dark as the bottom of a pot.

Everyone lowered their heads in fear and hurriedly jogged.

Wei Hong muttered, "Careful, your pants might fall down."

"Timing... starts now. The last ten will be responsible for cleaning the Martial Arts Hall for a month."

The students lifted their heads together, their eyes full of expletives.

"The route map has been posted in the group chat, those willing to run faster can pick up the pace."

Zhou Leng glanced at the map, initiated projection navigation, and quickened his steps.

Everyone jogged for a while and suddenly noticed something was wrong. Zhou Leng was leaving them in the dust, his silhouette disappearing at the end of the road.

Wei Hong looked ahead, took a while to recover, and said in a daze, "The instructors are the beasts among teachers; Zhou Leng is the beast among students."

"How can he still run so fast? Didn’t he faint yesterday too?"

"Yeah, he held on for at least five more minutes than us, how is he still full of energy?"

"He’s really something else, I bet on him to make it to the top hundred on the Freshman Chart."

"But he’s betrayed us."

Wei Hong said, "I want to betray too, but my legs don’t allow it."

A circle of middle fingers rose around him.

The girls nearby covered their mouths, trying to stifle laughter.

Feng Wenhao looked at the figure ahead, smiling.

Zhou Leng followed the map navigation, quietly jogging.

The Ruge Mountain campus was located on the edge of the city; this road wound around the foot of Ruge Mountain.

After running for over ten minutes, Zhou Leng felt something was off but couldn’t pin it down, so he kept running.

Luckily, the heavy load run allowed Qi manipulation. Zhou Leng channeled strands of True Qi into his legs, greatly alleviating physical fatigue.

After a whole day of testing and being forcibly knocked out yesterday, even after a night’s sleep, the unspeakable fatigue still stuck to him like glue.

However, Zhou Leng’s face remained calm as he continued to run.

No one was in front of him, having a finish line was enough.

A few minutes later, someone ran up beside him, running alongside while smiling, "You’re Zhou Leng, right?"

Zhou Leng glanced sideways to see a gentle classmate with glasses, a faint smile on his face, and a steady gaze.

Zhou Leng instantly recalled the screenshot from the class group, asking, "This year’s top, Xu Kang’an?"

"I wouldn’t dare claim to be this year’s top, the first in Rucheng is Ji Changnian. Your body has recovered well?" Xu Kang’an asked.

"I’ve recently been intensifying my use of pills, you seem fine?"

"My True Qi is at Perfection, emerged on the skin, and after the Blood Transporting Period, Qi flows with the blood, greatly alleviating this kind of external injury."

"Those reliant on Perfection Pills can’t do that," Zhou Leng said.

Xu Kang’an looked ahead and slowly said, "They all say you didn’t go to Xihai Martial Arts University because you were eliminated, but seeing your scores, I believe, like me, you didn’t want to go to that swamp."

Zhou Leng thought to himself, you misunderstood.

"Although my family arranged a path for me, I still have my own perseverance. I prefer to cultivate in a relatively free environment. I believe you’re the same."

Zhou Leng nodded, "Indeed."

"I bet that Chang Luan has approached you too, don’t pay any heed to them, such people might rise high in the future, but they are of no use to humanity. The Demon City and the Alien Race are our real targets."

Zhou Leng quietly gazed into the distant fields.

Xu Kang’an continued, "When you advance to the Blood Transport period, if you can’t find a good Martial Arts Study Group, come to me directly. I have some steady friends, and we’re at a similar level. Plus, we all practice Extreme Martial Arts."

"Great, let’s go hunting demons and exterminating monsters together if the opportunity arises."

The two added each other on Martial Faith.

"Keep it up," Xu Kang’an smiled, slowing his pace.

Zhou Leng immediately understood that with Xu Kang’an’s strength and experience, seeing his scorecard, he could immediately tell that Zhou Leng was in dire need of pills.

He didn’t lack pills and was willing to let Zhou Leng take first in pills.

Zhou Leng looked ahead with warm eyes.

Zhou Leng took a deep breath and accelerated again.