Lin Qi slowly rose from the Virtual Cabin and took a sip of the sports drink Jiangtao handed him.

Jiangtao looked up at the Red List on the large screen and said, "At ten o’clock sharp, the Red List will officially update. Ten minutes to go."

Then he leaned in and whispered secretively,

"Brother Qi, you’re actually Yang Jian, aren’t you?"

Lin Qi heard him and nodded calmly in acknowledgment. "I am."

A smile immediately spread across Jiangtao’s face. "Haha, I knew I was right."

"With your level of Spear Technique, Brother Qi, there’s no way your rank on the Red List is low.

"I heard Lv Xiang and the others say that Yang Jian not only uses a spear but also employs the Mountain Shattering Spear Technique. That makes it even more obvious."

"You’re the only one on the entire Red List who fits that description, Brother Qi."

Lin Qi nodded. He wasn’t surprised, as he knew Jiangtao would find out sooner or later.

"I’ll keep it a secret for you, Brother Qi," Jiangtao said with a sly grin.

The two then went to find Guo Heng to wait for the Red List update. When they arrived at the rest area, a large crowd had already gathered and was chatting idly.

"Si Ying, you got matched with that Yang Jian too? And you lost?"

At a table in the corner, Qiu Siying faced Lv Xiang’s question and nodded.

"That Yang Jian is incredibly strong. We both have Tier Two Martial Arts, but he easily broke through my Swordsmanship and killed me."

"He’s definitely no ordinary person."

Guo Heng chimed in with a laugh, "Don’t worry. If I get matched with Yang Jian next time, I’ll definitely teach him a lesson."

"I’ll let him know that we from No. 1 Middle School are nothing to scoff at."

Just as he finished speaking, Lin Qi and Jiangtao approached. Jiangtao gave Lin Qi a pointed look, raising his eyebrows.

"Lin Qi, Taozi, you’re here!"

Guo Heng greeted them when he saw them arrive.

The six of them sat together and chatted.

"Now that the Red List covers all of Cang Province, I wonder if Wang Qiufeng can still hold on to first place," Qiu Siying said, curious.

"It’s time! The Red List is about to update!"

Guo Heng suddenly exclaimed. Everyone’s gaze fixed on the large electronic screen in the Virtual Room.

It wasn’t just them. There were over a thousand people in the Virtual Room, a dense crowd packed together.

Everyone was watching for the Red List’s update.

SWISH~

The projected Red List on the large screen instantly transformed into a ball of raging, crimson flames.

BOOM~

A moment later, with a deafening roar, the flames exploded and reformed into a brand-new crimson list. The new rankings had appeared.

Everyone stared intently, trying to see who was in first place.

[Red List (Cang Province)]

[1st Place: Liy, Rank: Star]

[2nd Place: Wind God, Rank: Star]

[2nd Place: The loudest sound is inaudible, Rank: Star]

...

[85th Place: Yang Jian, Rank: Star]

...

"The rankings are out!" someone shouted.

The entire Virtual Room instantly erupted in an uproar, filled with the sounds of intense discussion.

"Who is this Liy? He actually surpassed Wind God?" someone asked in confusion.

"Wang Qiufeng was actually surpassed?" Qiu Siying stood up in disbelief.

Lv Xiang, Wu Feng, and the others also frowned.

Lin Qi was also surprised. He had witnessed Wang Qiufeng’s strength firsthand; he was an absolute top-level expert.

’Someone is even stronger than him?’

’Just who is this "Liy"?’

Just then, Guo Heng spoke slowly.

"After the midterm exams ended yesterday, besides our own report cards, No. 1 Middle School also received a list of the top ten in all of Cang Province."

"This Liy should be the first place winner of the Cang Province midterm exams—Chen Li!"

"His nickname is Overlord Sword. He’s from Shuangshi Middle School in Bailu City. During the Martial Arts exchange tournament, he easily defeated the top student from No. 3 Middle School, Li Ke, who’s now ranked fifth on the Red List."

Hearing about this track record, the others felt he was indeed worthy of first place.

Lin Qi silently committed the name "Chen Li" to memory.

’If I want to aim for first place in the province in the future, he will be a formidable opponent.’

Thinking of this, Lin Qi glanced around.

"Liy... I think I’ve been matched against him. His Swordsmanship is ferocious and domineering. He shattered me with a single strike," someone said, still shaken.

"That fierce? He really lives up to his rank as number one on the Red List."

Lin Qi looked at the rankings. He was 85th, Jiangtao was a little lower at 95th, and Guo Heng had dropped all the way to 28th.

Even Li Zhou had now fallen out of the top ten.

"Brother Qi, everyone’s talking about the top three. They’re the center of attention. I can’t imagine how many people admire them."

"To be honest, I’m pretty envious."

Jiangtao suddenly spoke up from the side.

Listening to the crowd’s excited and admiring discussions, Lin Qi nodded silently.

"Brother Qi, do you think it’s possible for the two of us to break into the top three and take their places?" Jiangtao suddenly asked seriously.

Lin Qi looked at Jiangtao, the corners of his mouth turning up.

"Sure. When the time comes, I’ll be first, and you can be second."

"Huh? Why can’t I be first?"

"I’m strong too, you know! I’ll definitely surpass you by the final exams."

Jiangtao retorted.

...

「Martial Arts Education Bureau, Director’s Office」

After a long day of work, Director He took a sip of an Energy Potion and continued handling his affairs.

He quickly scanned the projected document, added his annotations, and then opened the next one.

Suddenly, his eyes lit up.

’Lin Qi from No. 2 Middle School... The name sounds a bit familiar.’

’He wants to apply for the special talent loan? His last application was rejected, and he’s actually trying a second time?’

’He’s actually in the top ten of his grade now?’

’Well, then there’s no problem!’

Director He approved the application, stamping it with his electronic seal.

’Confirmed as a talent. I look forward to this student’s future progress. Don’t disappoint the country’s expectations.’

...

「That day, in Martial Arts Room 503」

Lin Qi finished his lunch and prepared to start his training.

BZZZT!!

His phone vibrated. Lin Qi took it out and looked.

[A deposit of 2,000,000 Xia Country Coins was made to your bank card ending in xxx at 12:10 on November 13!]

"The special talent loan has arrived!"

Lin Qi’s expression brightened. Just that morning, his homeroom teacher, Yan Hong, had notified him that his application for the special talent loan had been approved.

By noon, the money was already in his account.

He did a quick mental calculation. Of the 3,000,000 from his B-level Contract, he had used 2,000,000 to pay off a loan, leaving him with over 1,000,000 unspent.

With the newly arrived 2,000,000 from the special talent loan, his balance was now back up to 3,000,000 Xia Country Coins.

’That saying is right. Xia Country is the fairest place in the world.’

’As long as you show you have Talent, you’ll never be short on money or resources.’

Lin Qi put down his phone, took out two bottles of Energy Potion, drank them, and then applied the Red Blood Ointment.

HUUU~

Lin Qi took a deep breath and soon felt his body begin to heat up.

’The nutritious meal, the Energy Potion, and the Red Blood Ointment... all three combined maximize the effects of my Refinement.’

HUUU~

Lin Qi’s breathing grew heavier. His skin felt scorching hot, and a heat rapidly spread from his stomach, like a raging furnace.

His body temperature continued to rise, his muscles fully activated. His Qi and Blood surged, rushing into every corner of his body under the intense heat to begin the Refinement process.

Enduring the intense pain, Lin Qi grabbed his Long Spear.

The Red Blood Ointment had another benefit: while he practiced his Spear Technique, it also tempered his muscles and enhanced his Qi and Blood.

SWISH SWISH~

Lin Qi gripped the Long Spear, pouring his strength into it. His muscles tensed, the spear tip quivered, and he executed countless consecutive thrusts.

He thrust ten times in a single second.

’Not fast enough. I need to thrust even more.’

Lin Qi thrust his spear frantically, improving his control over the weapon, pushing himself to execute more strikes in the shortest possible time.

Although his style was ferocious and domineering, it didn’t mean his Spear Technique was slow.

On the contrary, Lin Qi was developing into a Hexagonal Warrior. He wanted power, but he wanted speed, too.

Most importantly, when his speed was fast enough, the power of his Spear Technique would also be immense.

His first Killing Technique required unparalleled speed.

HUUU~

Lin Qi’s breathing was heavy and ragged. He brandished his spear wildly, his entire body feeling as if it were about to burst into flames.

While the pain tormented his will, an endless well of power seemed to keep him from feeling any fatigue.

He could just keep thrusting, on and on.

SWISH SWISH!!

TSS~

The cold glint of the spear tip flashed as it pierced the air. Lin Qi felt the Long Spear in his hands moving faster and faster.

Ten, eleven, twelve!

BOOM!

Lin Qi suddenly thrust the Long Spear, stirring up a gale.

He didn’t know how long he had been practicing, only that his Spear Technique had evolved. He could now execute twelve thrusts.

[During your training, you have achieved a breakthrough in your Qi and Blood Value. Qi and Blood Value +0.01]

[During your Spear Technique training, your Refinement effect has increased. Qi and Blood Value +0.01]

[During your training, your proficiency with the Spear Technique has increased.]

[Qi and Blood Value: 9.21→9.25]

[Spear Technique: Tier Two 2%→3%]

...

Lin Qi exhaled a breath of stale air and stopped, only then realizing his entire body was soaked in sweat.

The burning pain all over his body was subsiding.

Lin Qi opened his hands. The skin on his calloused palms had been worn raw once again.

He chugged the sports drink, downing two full bottles before he stopped.

"So satisfying!"

Lin Qi let out a breath. He was exhausted, but he felt an exhilarating sense of satisfaction.

He gripped his Long Spear, his heart full. As long as he could improve his strength, what was a little pain like this?

The midterm exams were over, but his progress was far from finished.

...