Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
In the blink of an eye, September 1st arrived.
Magic City Martial Arts University.
At the school gates, a herd of parents waited.
MCMAU did not admit many students, but with about a thousand students, just their parents alone meant there were thousands of people.
At the moment though, the parents were all blocked at the gates, complaining.
“What is going on? Why aren’t they letting parents into the school yet?”
“Exactly. I still want to take a look at the school and the accommodations, yet they’re not letting us in…”
“My precious daughter brought three luggage bags by herself. I noticed the person who led the way didn’t help her carry it…”
“…”
The parents refused to leave. The ones who complained kept complaining, and the ones who waited kept waiting. There were also a few who talked to their children through the gate’s grilles.
Fang Ping had just arrived. He heard them complaining and only then found out that parents were not allowed to accompany their kids for today’s registration.
Fang Ping did not mind and headed for the small gate next to the school gates.
The martial arts university’s main gates are rarely opened. They normally used the side-gate.
Fang Ping was quite conspicuous as he walked by.
At the side-gate, there was a long workbench table. The students who were behind it were the welcoming committee.
Seeing Fang Ping walk over, the young men and women behind the table were not very certain of Fang Ping’s identity.
Because his luggage was left at the hotel, Fang Ping came mostly empty-handed.
That was ignoring the admission notice he had rolled up in his hand.
It was because they saw what looked like the admission notice that they could not place him.
Still, no matter if he was a new student or an old one, when Fang Ping came over, someone swiftly asked, “New student?”
“Uh-huh.”
“You really are!”
The guy who had asked the question was slightly taken aback. A smile crept onto his previously expressionless face.
“You came by yourself?”
“Yes.”
Fang Ping answered, then turned to look at the parents. He asked lightly, “Parents aren’t allowed in?”
The guy snorted in contempt. “They’re not banned normally, but they aren’t allowed in now!
“Do the students really think they can come to Magic City Martial Arts University and enjoy the life of a young master?
“Since you’re getting ready to become a martial artist, you should start having the mentality of someone about to become a martial artist.”
After he finished speaking, someone else entered the conversation. “Junior, you’re alright. You didn’t even bring anything. You’ll save yourself a lot of trouble.
“The first thing you have to learn when entering a martial arts university is independence.
“To be so old yet still need their parents to accompany them and carry their luggage, what a waste of their Vitalities!”
This person’s words were sharp. Upon mentioning the new students who let their parents carry their luggage for them, his face showed disdain.
Magic City Martial Arts University’s new students had a minimum Vitality of 130cal. They did well during the practical test too, which meant they did not lack training.
Under these circumstances, no matter male or female, they should be able to carry two or three luggage bags by themselves without issue.
“That’s enough, Zhou Yun. Don’t talk about others that way. We were like that too when we first arrived.”
The guy who spoke previously interrupted Zhou Yun, then turned to look at Fang Ping. “Let me see your admission notice.”
Fang Ping did not care about what Zhou Yun had said since it did not apply to him either.
He passed them his admission notice. The young man took it and looked it over. He turned his head and said, “Who’ll bring this Junior Fang Ping to go through the procedures?”
The ten or so people behind the table did not answer.
The sharp-tongued Zhou Yun noticed the guy looking at him and could not stop himself from complaining. “I’m not going, there’s no point!
“It’s bad enough he’s not a girl. If he had been a guy with several large luggage bags, I wouldn’t mind watching how that played out either.
“This guy looks like he already knows what he’s doing, so there won’t be anything interesting to see. Anyway, I’m not going!”
“Exactly. If he doesn’t know what he’s doing, he’s been taught by someone else. I’m not going either.”
“Old Wei, you go yourself then!”
“…”
Someone called among the students for the guy who welcomed Fang Ping to bring him himself.
Fang Ping also heard it. Because he had not brought bags of luggage with him and was not a girl, these people had nothing interesting to see and no girl to admire, so they were not willing to take him.
As they argued, Zhou Yun, who had refused to take Fang Ping, suddenly shouted with light shining from his eyes, “Parents stop there!”
“Junior, come here, I’ll take you!”
Zhou Yun’s tone was not very gentle, startling the chubby guy who had just arrived into confusion.
Among martial artists, there were not many who had plump figures, although there were many among civilians.
Chubby martial sciences students were rare because regular training and cultivation normally did not lead to plump figures.
However, the student who just arrived was indeed quite plump. Perhaps he was the type who would get fat just from drinking water.
The chubby guy was still in a daze. The others who had refused to take Fang Ping piped up one by one as well. “Junior, come over here, I’ll take you!”
“Don’t fight with me! I’ll do it!”
“Junior, let this big sister take you, a group of guys is too careless.”
“…”
Seeing this group of boys and girls fighting over this chubby guy, Fang Ping’s expression darkened. ‘Am I that unappealing?’
Then he noticed the chubby guy was carrying several packages and dragging along three or four luggage bags.
As if that was not enough, the person next to him, who was clearly his father as he was an obese man, was also holding two luggage bags.
Seeing the martial arts university students welcome his son, the obese man who had initially been unhappy with the words “parents stop there” smiled and said, “Guo Sheng, hurry and thank your seniors!”
The chubby guy obviously had not much initiative. Hearing his father say this, he immediately thanked them. “Thank you, seniors.”
“You’re welcome. ‘Guo Sheng’, was it? No wonder…” (TN: The Chinese characters for Guo Sheng’s name sound similar to the words meaning “in excess”)
Zhou Yun was as sharp-tongued as before. He felt this name suited the chubby guy who clearly had excessive nutrition.
In the crowd, Old Wei glared at him, then checked through Guo Sheng’s admission notice.
After that, he said, “Zhou Yu, you take him and Junior Fang Ping as well, since it’s convenient.”
The words “since it’s convenient” made Fang Ping want to vomit blood.
‘How unappealing am I? Even showing me around has to be because it’s convenient?’
It was thanks to the chubby guy too. Otherwise, Fang Ping suspected he would have had to wait there a while.
Since it was convenient, Zhou Yun did not reject it a second time. He smiled. “Alright, you two juniors, come with me!”
Fang Ping had no problem, but Guo Sheng was troubled.
As his father was not allowed, and his hands were already full, the luggage his father was carrying could not be brought along.
The obese man had not minded earlier, but seeing his son unable to carry it, he smiled at Zhou Yun and said, “Excuse me, would you mind helping Guo Sheng carry these?
“I’ll treat you all to a meal later…”
Zhou Yun said lightly, “That’s not necessary, Uncle. It’s in the school rules that new students must rely on themselves. We’re only responsible for guiding and aren’t allowed to help.”
“Since there are no teachers around, please, help out a little…”
The obese man clearly did not approve yet continued smiling as he spoke nicely.
Before he finished speaking, Zhou Yun’s eyebrows furrowed, and his Vitality ignited suddenly.
The obese man in front of him was also a martial artist, but he was only Rank-1. Moreover, it was likely he had relied on popping pills to get there. It was even hard to say if he tempered his limbs.
Zhou Yun was not very powerful, but he was peak Rank-1.
With the Vitality outburst, the obese man’s expression changed, only then realizing this was not someone he regularly negotiated with.
The students who came here were all gifted, all the elite of their society.
After Zhou Yun’s outburst of Vitality, he said, “The things that he can’t bring along can be taken back.”
The obese man did not dare to say anything else. Only the ignorant were fearless.
He knew the other party was a martial artist who had a much higher Vitality than himself. He did not waste time talking any longer and quickly grabbed a few luggage bags from his son’s hands.
While he took them, he said, “Leave your junk food for now. If you want to eat them, buy some later…”
When he said not to bring his junk food, Fang Ping noticed many packages were taken away from Guo Sheng’s hands, including a large luggage bag.
The corners of everyone’s mouths twitched!
All those were junk food?
As they were reserve martial artists, martial sciences students rarely ate junk food because they had no nutritional value and were not good for Vitality growth.
They had been wondering what was in his bags. They did not imagine it would mostly be junk food. Even Zhou Yun was surprised and speechless.
After a while, the chubby guy was only left with two luggage bags.
Seeing his luggage bags had decreased considerably and that what was left had wheels, Zhou Yun’s hopes for a good show dulled quite a bit.
After Guo Sheng was done, Zhou Yun turned and left, saying, “Follow me!”
…
Fang Ping and Guo Sheng followed him.
Guo Sheng looked at Fang Ping, seeing him empty-handed, and couldn’t resist asking, “You’re also a new student?”
“Uh-huh.”
“You didn’t bring anything?”
“Left at the school’s hotel.”
“I see. If I had known earlier, I should’ve left mine at the hotel too. Maybe I could’ve brought in my junk food after the registration.”
Guo Sheng was clearly reluctant to part with them. In front, Zhou Yun answered without looking back. “There’s no restriction on that. If you want to bring them, retrieve them yourself!”
Earlier, it was because the chubby boy could not bring them all himself, or he could have brought whatever he wanted.
“That’s good, that’s good. Thank you, Senior.” Guo Sheng thanked him.
Zhou Yun did not care. They walked a small distance from the school gates before Zhou Yun pointed out the first building they passed. “This is the school archives. Magic City Martial Arts University’s construction and all big events involving the school are recorded here.
“The school archives has 9 floors. New students can go to the first three floors. Below Rank-3, you can enter the first six floors. Rank-3 and above can enter all nine floors.”
Guo Sheng was shocked. “Even this is restricted?”
He clearly did not think even the school archives would be restricted according to strength.
Zhou Yun pursed his lips and said lightly, “You have to get used to these sorts of restrictions. A lot of the inner department of martial arts universities have restrictions according to strength.
“People who are Rank-3 and above are able to go almost everywhere, but people below Rank-3 aren’t allowed to go to some places.
“Aspiring martial artists…have a lot of places they can’t go.”
As they conversed, Zhou Yun asked, “How high is your Vitality?”
“135cal.”
“So-so. You should strive to reach Rank-1 in your freshman year.”
Guo Sheng seemed quite ignorant. He lowered his voice and said, “I have 135cal, I should be able to enter Rank-1 in this semester, right?”
‘135cal isn’t too far from 150cal, and Magic City Martial Arts University is the best martial arts university. Would I really not be able to reach Rank-1 after half a year?’
“You’ll find out soon enough.”
Zhou Yun did not explain further. This chubby guy had obviously never practiced the Methods of Honing before, and his pole-standing was most likely nothing notable either. He should have learned them since he had a Rank-1 father.
Furthermore, this guy still munched on junk food while practicing martial arts. Zhou Yun did not look at him too kindly.
Off to the side, Fang Ping did not say anything. Zhou Yun only just remembered Fang Ping and craned his head to look at him. “And you?”
Fang Ping was hesitant. ‘Should I tell the truth?’
After a moment’s thought, Fang Ping decided it was better to lay low and said lightly, “180cal.”
“Huh?”
Zhou Yun’s expression changed and his footsteps faltered. It took a second before he said, “Twice-honed?”
“Should be.”
“I remember the people who’ve been twice-honed among the new students, and your name wasn’t there.”
“I achieved it after the test.”
“No wonder!”
Zhou Yun inclined his head slightly, and his tone became friendlier. “The new students this year come to a total of 1580 people, out of which 52 of them are martial artists.
“There are fewer people who’ve been twice-honed than martial artists, just 9.
“We have the names of all these people, but you’re not among them. Now it seems there are 10 people who’re twice-honed.”
Fang Ping was a little shocked. That many?
Yes, too many!
He remembered Wang Jinyang saying Nanjiang Martial Arts University did not have many people who had had a twice-honing.
In Magic City Martial Arts University, there were so many just among the new students!
As for the number of martial artists, Fang Ping was not very surprised.
There were plenty of student martial artists. Even in the Nanjiang Province, there could be four or five people in a year.
In the entire nation, it was almost definite that there would be more than a hundred.
The people who had not applied to Magic City Martial Arts University had applied to Capital City Martial Arts University. In fact, 52 people were considered few. There were probably more in Capital City.
After all, Nanjiang was not considered advanced. Their martial sciences were not thriving either, yet they had four or five.
There were more than thirty provinces in the entire nation, and a metropolis like Magic City would have more powerhouses. The number of new student martial artists in the entire nation should be close to 150 people, right?
There were indeed fewer martial artists at Magic City Martial Arts University.
As the two people talked, Guo Sheng’s face showed his incomprehension. “What’s twice-honed?
“Also, you have a Vitality of 180cal?”
Guo Sheng’s questions made Zhou Yun furrow his brows. “Your father’s never mentioned it?”
“Nope. My dad said 150cal Vitality is enough to breakthrough to martial artist.”
Guo Sheng looked at Fang Ping. “You’re not a martial artist?”
He had heard Zhou Yun earlier. He was someone who honed twice, not a martial artist, but his Vitality had reached 180cal.
Guo Sheng felt as if he was being made to look dumb.
Zhou Yun shook his head. The chubby guy’s father either did not know or he just did not tell his son in order to not make him anxious.
Some casual martial artists not knowing about twice-honing was also normal.
In martial arts training courses, as long as you reached a Vitality of 150cal, they would let you break through no matter whether or not you could continue nourishing your Vitality.
The purpose of martial arts training courses was to produce martial artists. Other stuff had nothing to do with them. If you knew, then up to you. If you did not know, you had already broken through anyway.
Fang Ping smiled at the chubby guy’s question. “You can continue nourishing your Vitality above 150cal. When you reach 150cal, your body will go through the first bone-honing and will go through a second when you reach 180cal.”
“Is that so?”
Guo Sheng was in a blur. “Then do we have to reach 180cal before we can breakthrough? No wonder Senior said I might not become a martial artist in freshman year.”
Zhou Yun’s eye twitched. ‘You want to twice-hone?’
He was talking about a regular breakthrough!
He could not be bothered to explain to this bastard. He would know sooner or later how laughable his words were today.
As for Fang Ping, Zhou Yun did not continue showing him around in the previous nonchalant manner.
Whatever buildings they passed, he would give a detailed explanation for Fang Ping.
