Chapter 38: Do You Like Perms?

The four of them chatted idly for a while, and after breakfast, Zhang Ze and Wang Chao returned to Heyue City. As for Huang Ming and Fatty, they were left behind in Mengyang County. On one hand, Huang Ming was to take charge of the elixir business between Zhang Ze and Er Long from the countryside. On the other, the two of them were also tasked with keeping an eye on the movements of the Lin family and the Qian family in Mengyang County. Of course, more importantly, both needed to devote themselves to proper cultivation.

Once Wang Chao and Zhang Ze arrived in Heyue City, they exchanged a few words of caution and then parted ways. Zhang Ze didn’t ask where Wang Chao was heading. After all, as a bona fide second-rank martial artist, he certainly wouldn’t get lost.

In the days that followed, Zhang Ze was uncharacteristically diligent. With three Qi-Replenishing Pills in his possession, he felt much more confident. For three whole days, he didn’t leave his dormitory once. This even surprised Ren Fan, who checked in two or three times and reminded him, “Martial cultivation isn’t just about locking yourself away. If your martial skills aren’t practiced to proficiency, you’re nothing more than a hollow shell.”

“I understand,” Zhang Ze replied, unable to explain that he possessed a system or was some sort of chosen one. With the support of the Qi-Replenishing Pills, he didn’t feel overly fatigued after a full day of cultivation.

After three days, two Qi-Replenishing Pills gone and an entire million spent, Zhang Ze’s stats had changed dramatically:

Wealth: 650,000
Cell Strength: 229S
Cellular Spirit: 53/150
Skills: Shield (11%), Probe
Meridian Tempering: Six (90%)

With just two Qi-Replenishing Pills, even the spiritual limit that had never changed had now reached 150. Meanwhile, his cell strength, thanks to completion of tempering the last three meridians in his lower limbs, had reached 229S.

At this point, purely in terms of cell strength, Zhang Ze was a genuine second-rank martial artist. Yet, it had only been two weeks since he’d broken through to first rank. To have tempered six meridians in two weeks—anyone hearing of such speed would surely be dumbfounded.

It was simply monstrous! For an ordinary first-rank martial artist, a cell strength of just over a hundred would allow for only about two hours of meridian tempering. Depending on the individual, each session would bring 5% to 20% completion on a single meridian. To continue, either one had to wait for their cell strength to recover or consume a Strengthening Pill.

This is why martial cultivation is so expensive!

Looking at it now, with the system at his side, Zhang Ze truly felt like some “savior” who had crossed over from another world.

He stared at his stats and broke into a silly grin. But soon, exhaustion overtook him, and he fell into a deep sleep. Clearly, even with Qi-Replenishing Pills to restore his spirit, three days of continuous cultivation still took a heavy toll.

The next morning was Saturday.

As June drew to a close, many high schools in Heyue City were already on holiday. Unlike in his previous life, where students spent their breaks cramming, the students in this world were much more fortunate. The nation prioritized the cultivation of martial artists, so resources naturally tilted away from purely academic tracks.

This, Ren Fan had explained, was why the martial arts school would see an increase in students over the weekend. Even families of modest means would scrape together enough to enroll their children in summer martial arts training, because the policies for martial artists were so generous. Although everyone knew how difficult it was to become a martial artist, many parents still eagerly made the effort. Who wouldn’t wish for their children to excel?

With such motives, even at Yongsheng Martial Arts School alone, more than a dozen new faces appeared that day. Notably, a short-haired young man was now standing beside Ren Fan.

When Zhang Ze arrived at the training ground and saw so many unfamiliar faces, he was quite surprised. “What’s going on? Are people here to buy groceries?” he muttered, quickly scanning the crowd for Qian Qian’s figure. Rushing over, he asked, “What’s happening? Why are there so many newcomers today?” Turning to Qian Qian, Zheng Li, and the others, he inquired.

“It’s summer vacation. All these are seventeen- or eighteen-year-old students,” Fatty replied disdainfully, puffing himself up.

Zhang Ze blinked and retorted, “Aren’t you yourself just seventeen or eighteen?” Then he bragged, “Yesterday, my cell strength tested at ninety-three. I’m about to break through. When I do, you’ll have to really spar with me!”

Noticing Zhang Ze’s odd look, Fatty, for once, stood his ground.

“Oh?” Zhang Ze teased, “Looks like you haven’t had enough training.”

Just as he was wondering where to vent his over two hundred cell strength, Zhang Ze’s fighting spirit was rekindled.

“Quiet!” Ren Fan’s voice rang out from behind. Within two or three seconds, Zhang Ze and his friends had already lined up. The new students, however, were still chattering.

Suddenly, a dull thud drew everyone’s attention. The crew-cut young man retracted his leg, and not far off, a fat student had collapsed.

“My name is Zhao Wu, and I’m a coach at Yongsheng Martial Arts School. For the next two months, you’ll be studying the basics of martial arts with Coach Ren Fan and me,” Zhao Wu announced briskly. Looking at the fat student on the ground, he said coldly, “You don’t need to come back.”

The fat student wanted to protest but dared not speak.

The abrupt display left the group of teenagers thoroughly intimidated, and the training ground fell instantly silent.

Ren Fan stepped forward with a smile. “Listen up: anyone with a cell strength of ninety or above, including those who have already broken through as martial artists, stand to my left. The rest, to the right.”

The disheartened fat student’s departure had left an impression on everyone. At Ren Fan’s command, even old students like Zhang Ze and Qian Qian moved swiftly. In less than thirty seconds, fewer than ten people stood to the left, and two or three dozen formed a group on the right.

“Those on the left, you’ll be with me for the next two months. My name is Ren Fan!” With that, he led his group toward a smaller training ground. Zhao Wu’s voice could still be heard behind them, and from his tone, Zhang Ze and the others couldn’t help but feel sorry for those left behind.

In the smaller training ground, Zhang Ze took stock of his new group. There were only ten people in total! Of those, he knew Qian Qian, Zheng Li, Yan Long, and one unfamiliar middle-aged man. In other words, out of the ten or so in their original group, only these four had achieved a cell strength over ninety. The remaining five were all new faces.

Realizing this, Zhang Ze couldn’t help but marvel that after so long at the martial arts school, so few had managed to reach a cell strength of ninety.

“As usual: everyone, state your names,” Ren Fan instructed. The ten of them stood in a line and quickly introduced themselves. Only now did Zhang Ze learn the name of the middle-aged man beside him.

“Yu Qian.”