Yang Liu walked up to the podium and swept her gaze across the classroom. The students were restless, clearly anxious to hear the final arrangements for track selection.
Without wasting any time, she went straight to the point, “Regarding the track selection, I assume all of you have already discussed it with your families. This concerns your future, so I still hope you’ll make your choice carefully.”
“…”
Yang Liu gave them one final warning, “Let me remind you one last time. You must think this through carefully. Don’t let youthful passion get the better of you and make an impulsive decision.”
As she spoke, she deliberately glanced toward Wang Teng.
Wang Teng felt a little guilty under her gaze. Still, he knew that Yang Liu genuinely had his best interests at heart.
As usual, she continued giving them advice, and everyone listened carefully. After speaking for about five minutes, she finally moved on to the main topic.
Yang Liu said, “We’ll begin assigning tracks now. Hand in your application forms. After the classes are reorganized, you’ll still have seven days to switch classes if you feel you can’t adapt.”
She continued, “Students who choose the Academic Track will remain in this grade, while those who choose the Martial Arts Track will go to the martial arts teaching building across from us to cultivate martial arts.”
“This time, the school has decided against a large-scale reshuffling of classes. We only need to merge some classes where necessary. So the students in our class won’t be scattered among different classes.”
The classroom immediately erupted in cheers. This was certainly good news. At the very least, they would not have to adjust to an entirely unfamiliar environment.
Afterward, everyone began handing in their track-selection forms. Wang Teng observed for a while and found that roughly half the class had chosen the Martial Arts Track. Apparently, the distribution was about the same every year.
When Yang Liu saw that Wang Teng had still chosen the Martial Arts Track, her brows furrowed almost imperceptibly. In the end, however, she said nothing more.
If she and Wang Huai’an had not known each other since childhood and maintained a good relationship, she would never have gone out of her way to visit him.
Cultivating martial arts required money at every step. Without money, it was almost impossible to advance. Yang Liu understood all too well the fatal weakness of families at the bottom of society.
Could Wang Huai’an really afford to help his son succeed?
Or had he simply been unwilling to lose face in front of her and stubbornly insisted on letting his son cultivate martial arts?
Unable to conceal the concern in her voice, Yang Liu said, “Wang Teng, if you feel you can’t adapt within these seven days, come and talk to me.”
There was little trace of a smile on Wang Teng’s face either. His mind was a complete mess. One moment, he remembered his father claiming to be a 5th-Rank Martial Artist. The next, Yang Liu’s helpless expression flashed through his mind.
He casually nodded and replied, “Okay.”
Once everyone had chosen their tracks, Yang Liu finally said, “All right. We’ll spend the morning reorganizing the classes and tidying up the classrooms. This afternoon, teaching for the respective tracks will officially begin.”
…
Meanwhile, Wang Huai’an extinguished the cigarette in his hand and raised his head to look at the Jinghai Martial Artist Alliance in the central district of Jinghai City.
The Martial Artist Alliance building towered high above him. Its black exterior carried a solemn dignity befitting Martial Artists. Merely standing beneath the building was enough to feel the oppressive presence unique to those who held authority in the world of martial arts.
Wang Huai’an couldn’t help sighing, “Being a Martial Artist really is incredible! Finally, I can come here too.”
His eyes gleamed as he looked at the building before him. “It’s about time I applied for an official Martial Artist identity. Once I have that identity, everything will become much easier.”
To him, the Martial Artist Certificate was similar to the professional qualifications required in various occupations. When applying for a job, employers cared about official certification rather than simply taking someone’s word for it.
Of course, if a person’s strength was overwhelming enough, that was another matter. Only then would others be willing to overlook the lack of certification.
Once he obtained a Martial Artist Certificate, he would finally possess a voice of his own in this world where martial arts reigned supreme. You are reading on g.com, the official source.
He would no longer have to helplessly accept his fate as an ordinary man.
Wang Huai’an took a deep breath and suppressed the excitement surging within him. Then he headed toward the Martial Artist Alliance.
He had barely taken a few steps when someone approached him from the side and called out, “Brother.”
Wang Huai’an stopped.
The man continued, “I’m an apprentice at the barbershop next door. I could tell at a glance that you’re here to get some kind of certificate. Why don’t you come over and let me tidy you up a little? You’ll look more energetic when they take your photo.”
Wang Huai’an lowered his head and examined the ordinary clothes he was wearing. They had been washed so many times that their colors had faded.
He certainly looked like an ordinary factory worker. For an identification photo, his appearance was indeed somewhat shabby.
In fact, he had already put on some of the best clothes he owned, but they still did not look particularly presentable.
So he simply nodded and agreed.
He had to admit that after being properly groomed, his already handsome appearance improved considerably. His previously messy hair was now neat and sharp.
Wang Huai’an looked at his reflection in the glass and found himself surprisingly handsome. He looked almost like a handsome celebrity barely in his early thirties.
He was completely different from the greasy middle-aged man he had appeared to be before.
After gaining strength, even his vitality and overall presence had improved considerably. Of course, the greater reason was that Wang Huai’an had never been unattractive in the first place.
Even when he had looked somewhat greasy before, quite a few married women at the factory had secretly flirted with him. However, he had rejected all of them.
The main reason was simple.
None of them caught his eye.
After entering the lobby, Wang Huai’an glanced around. There were quite a few people coming and going, and many of them seemed to be handling matters related to Martial Artist certification.
Every Martial Artist looked energetic and vigorous, their Qi and Blood Power abundant.
Each of them wore a special badge on their chest.
The badge was a circular disk about the size of a bottle cap. It was an exclusive badge belonging to Martial Artists, and the Martial Artist’s rank was displayed on it.
With a single glance, anyone could tell roughly how powerful the person wearing the badge was.
Wang Huai’an could clearly see the respect in the eyes of Low-Rank Martial Artists whenever they noticed the badges worn by Mid-Rank Martial Artists.
It was worth mentioning that Low-Rank Martial Artists wore black badges. Three stars on the badge represented their respective ranks.
Mid-Rank Martial Artists, meanwhile, wore silver badges bearing 3 moons.
Wang Huai’an was here to certify himself as an Early-Stage 5th-Rank Martial Artist, so his badge should have 2 moons on it. The badge was directly linked to his official Martial Artist identity.
Once he had it, he would not even need to demonstrate his strength. His son would believe him completely.
That was also why Wang Huai’an had not bothered explaining too much that morning. He wanted to give Wang Teng some time to process everything.
He had to admit that these badges clearly displayed the hierarchy between different Martial Artist ranks.
When the female receptionist saw someone approaching, her eyes immediately brightened.
Although Wang Huai’an’s clothes looked somewhat worn and were obviously cheap street-market goods, such details seemed completely different when paired with a handsome face. Instead of looking shabby, his outfit almost seemed like some deliberate fashion choice.
The receptionist smiled and asked, “Hello. What can I help you with?”
Wang Huai’an casually replied, “I’d like to have my strength certified as a Martial Artist.”
The receptionist’s smile became even warmer as she said, “Certainly. The entire certification process can be completed in as little as 1 hour.”
She continued politely, “I’ll reserve the testing equipment for you. May I ask which rank you wish to certify? The Jinghai City Martial Artist Alliance can certify Martial Artists up to the Mid Rank.”
Wang Huai’an nodded and calmly replied, “Early-Stage 5th Rank.”
Those few casually spoken words fell lightly from his lips.
The receptionist’s gentle smile instantly disappeared.
In its place came unmistakable respect. Even her tone became considerably more deferential as she said, “5th-Rank strength. Understood. I’ll submit the request immediately.”
She gestured politely and continued, “Please wait here for a moment. I’ll ask Vice Alliance Master Song Ningfeng, a 6th-Rank Martial Artist of our Martial Artist Alliance, to personally verify your strength and complete your certification.”
The receptionist then said, “Please give me your previous Martial Artist Certificate and identification card.”
Wang Huai’an rubbed his nose, looking slightly embarrassed as he replied, “I don’t have one. This is my first time applying for Martial Artist certification.”
The receptionist stared at him in confusion. “??”
1 hour later…
In front of the testing equipment, Wang Huai’an slowly exhaled a breath of stale air before walking out of the testing room and entering the glass-walled room beside it.
It was merely the certification of a 5th-Rank Martial Artist, not the certification of a Grandmaster, so naturally it did not cause much of a commotion.
Having a 6th-Rank Vice Alliance Master personally oversee the process was already showing him considerable respect. Within Jinghai City, a 6th-Rank Martial Artist was an important figure whom ordinary people could hardly hope to meet.
Vice Alliance Master Song Ningfeng and the female receptionist warmly approached him.
Song Ningfeng smiled and said, “Congratulations, Mr. Wang. You’ve successfully completed your Martial Artist certification. Your strength has been confirmed without question as an Early-Stage 5th-Rank Martial Artist.”
He handed over the items and continued, “This is your 5th-Rank Martial Artist badge and certificate. Your information has also been uploaded to the Martial Repository.”
Wang Huai’an accepted them and expressed his thanks.
Vice Alliance Master Song Ningfeng was in his early fifties, and the Qi and Blood Power radiating from his body was not to be underestimated. With a friendly smile, he said, “Mr. Wang, you’re only 38 years old, yet you’ve already become an Early-Stage 5th-Rank Martial Artist. With your potential, you should be able to become a 6th-Rank Martial Artist before the age of 50.”
He added with a smile, “It seems Jinghai City will have another 6th-Rank Martial Artist in the future.”
Song Ningfeng certainly knew how to flatter people. Wang Huai’an had only just become a 5th-Rank Martial Artist, yet the man was already praising him all the way to his future at 50.
Still, what Song Ningfeng said was not wrong. Becoming a 6th-Rank Martial Artist by the age of 50 was considered extremely impressive throughout Jinghai City.
Wang Huai’an couldn’t help laughing inwardly after hearing those words.
He had to admit, they were pleasant to hear.
Wang Huai’an clasped his fists and smiled, “Then I’ll gladly accept your good wishes.”