Sun Qi walked off the stage dejectedly, eliciting mixed reactions from the crowd—some sneered, others empathized.
Regardless, he had been dismissed by Escort Master Huang. The words were cold, yet they conveyed a truth: Sun Qi was not considered a genius.
"Jiang Ping!"
Before long, the second contestant of interest among the top five stepped onto the stage.
"Speaking of which, will this one break through to the 3rd Layer? I remember his talent seemed slightly higher than Sun Qi's."
"Impossible, even if it's slightly higher, it's still within the realm of ordinary people," Sun Zheng immediately retorted, being the least willing to see Jiang Ping surpass him.
"A little higher is still higher. You never know, he might just break through," someone who couldn't stand Sun Zheng's arrogance earlier sneered.
The crowd began to chatter.
Of course, the outcome would still depend on Jiang Ping's upcoming display of Fist Strength.
However, some noticed Sun Qi's expression, seeing that he showed little emotional change, seemingly unconcerned about Jiang Ping surpassing him.
Bang!
Up ahead, Jiang Ping had already thrown a punch. His control over his strength had reached a meticulous level, making it easy to showcase the Fist Strength of the Nourishing Life Art 3rd Layer.
"Hmm?" The sound of the punch made the Head Escort murmur softly, then quickly regain composure and announce:
"Two hundred seventy-five pounds!"
As Liang Sheng spoke, the crowd was instantly shocked.
The Fist Strength of the 3rd Layer!
Jiang Ping had done it, completely surpassing Sun Qi!
"What did I say? Jiang Ping's talent is indeed higher than Sun Qi's. Any more arguments?" The young man who had argued with Sun Zheng earlier now looked at him triumphantly.
Sun Zheng dared not speak, lowering his head, fear evident in his eyes.
His old friends were similarly shocked, followed by a wave of regret and fear.
Fortunately, he hadn't gotten too arrogant after his breakthrough yesterday and hadn't offended Jiang Ping; otherwise, things could have gotten serious.
Likewise, he regretted siding with Sun Zheng during his conflict with Jiang Ping, thinking they might have become friends otherwise.
But it was too late to change anything now; the die was cast. From now on, he would have to avoid Jiang Ping and ensure no conflicts arose.
On the other side.
Sun Qi's face showed no emotion, but his fist at his side was clenched tightly, turning red.
"Do you think the Head Escort will grant Jiang Ping an extra reward?"
At this moment, someone curiously asked.
The Head Escort valued talent, as seen from his attitude towards Fang Yong. Now that Jiang Ping had shown impressive strength, would he receive special attention?
Jiang Ping himself was hopeful; something was better than nothing, and it could help him build a closer relationship with the Head Escort.
However, to everyone's and Jiang Ping's disappointment, Chief Escort Liang remained indifferent, making no further moves.
"It seems that although Jiang Ping has some talent, he's still a notch below Fang Yong, hence not catching the Head Escort's eye."
The crowd concluded that Liang Sheng's standards were extremely high; even someone as capable as Jiang Ping didn't meet them. At least, one had to be like Fang Yong.
Up ahead, seeing the Head Escort remain silent, Jiang Ping prepared to step down, only to be stopped by Escort Master Huang, who pulled him aside and whispered:
"You'll receive three portions of food supplements from now on, free of charge."
Hearing this, Jiang Ping immediately understood. Chief Escort Liang didn't value his displayed talent, but Escort Master Huang was willing to invest in him.
"Thank you, Escort Master Huang." Jiang Ping accepted gladly.
Having a senior willing to build a relationship with him, how could he refuse?
Jiang Ping was not someone who disregarded others.
This was a favor, a way to build connections.
From now on, Jiang Ping would have someone in the escort agency.
......
Not long after Jiang Ping, another person of interest took the stage—Liu Wensheng.
Unexpectedly, he too surpassed Sun Qi, breaking through the 3rd Layer of the Nourishing Life Art, making it almost certain he would become an Escort Master at the agency.
Of course, the Head Escort remained unmoved, but Escort Master Huang warmly pulled him aside for a private word.
"The Head Escort favors geniuses, so he invests in Fang Yong. Escort Master Huang also values talent, hence choosing to invest in those with some talent like me and Liu Wensheng."
"However, his status and strength are not as high as the Head Escort's, so he doesn't openly reward, fearing people might think the Head Escort is stingy, only rewarding the best to build relationships, avoiding any resentment with the Head Escort."
"Similarly, the most outstanding Fang Yong was favored and rewarded by the Head Escort, so Escort Master Huang didn't try to win him over, as that would offend the Head Escort. Investors surely want to benefit from both sides, but investors are naturally unwilling." Visit g.com for the full chapter.
Jiang Ping observed the exchange between Escort Master Huang and Liu Wensheng, contemplating.
It was all about building relationships with outstanding individuals; due to differences in status, the investors and their methods varied.
No wonder Escort Masters, who had been through many struggles, were so adept at navigating human relationships.
Then, the two Escort Masters left, and the testing concluded.
"Did Escort Master Huang also grant you a food supplement?" Liu Wensheng approached and asked quietly.
Jiang Ping nodded slightly, and Liu Wensheng indicated he had received support as well, then smiled and said, "By the way, your dormitory is really full of hidden talents. This time, the two who broke through to the 2nd Layer of the Nourishing Life Art are both from your dormitory—Qian Dele and Luo Tiegen. They might also become Escort Masters in the future. Have you thought about befriending them? You could look out for each other on future escort missions."
Jiang Ping gave him a surprised look, "Weren't you against those who curry favor and bully the weak?"
"Times change. I thought my talent was outstanding and didn't regard anyone, but then Fang Yong came along. One must be realistic. Since I can't get the best treatment, I should still make some connections to live comfortably in the escort agency," Liu Wensheng sighed.
"Oh." Jiang Ping's response was rather indifferent.
Seeing this, Liu Wensheng immediately understood what Jiang Ping was thinking and changed his tone, saying directly:
"But befriending Brother Jiang is a hundred times better than those two."
"Why don't you approach Fang Yong?" Jiang Ping suddenly asked, seeing Liu Wensheng snort, "He's too arrogant. I once offered him wine, but he ignored me, didn't invite me to join his dorm mates for a drink, and even asked why I hadn't left."
Jiang Ping chuckled at this, paused, and said, "Geniuses, right?"
......
After lunch, Jiang Ping practiced the Nourishing Life Art all morning.
He found that after consuming three portions of food supplements, there was no noticeable effect, just like before.
"It seems that after reaching the Ranked Realm, the effect of such food supplements is negligible."
Jiang Ping thought to himself, meaning Escort Master Huang's investment was in vain.
Of course, he still had to remember this kindness, as it was not only a favor but also a bridge to build connections and form a network.
Just like Liu Wensheng approaching him, even if there was a significant gap in their actual strength, he wouldn't refuse, as having more friends was never a bad thing.
He wouldn't be as arrogant as Fang Yong.
Of course, someone like Luo Tiegen, who was too much of a simp, was out of the question...
Time flew by.
More than ten days passed in the blink of an eye.