Volume One: First Signs of Promise Chapter Seventeen: So I Wasn't Mistaken

"That's right, ten extra points for each stage of a martial artist's cultivation. That's all the information I've received," Liu Mao nodded at Luo Shui's words, then knocked on the lectern again to quiet the class. "Alright, that's enough for now. Those who have already become martial artists, come see me after school. I'll take you all to get checked together. For now, let's begin the lesson."

In truth, he wasn't clear on many details himself; the new policy introduced in the Safe Zone was simply an order from above. His job was merely to announce it. The specifics would only become clear after classes ended.

As a teacher, Liu Mao knew well that this so-called cultivation bonus was nothing more than a small perk for martial artists—at best, an incentive to encourage them. To get into a good school, real ability still mattered. No matter what, basic studies couldn't be neglected!

He quickly redirected the attention of most students and began teaching the lesson.

But beneath the lectern, Luo Shui was as restless as a monkey. Ever since she heard that cultivation could earn extra points, she couldn't calm down, let alone focus on the class.

Ignoring Liu Mao, Luo Shui turned openly to Wang Jue, excitement in her voice, "Wang Jue, did you hear that? There's actually a bonus for cultivation in the new policy!"

"Yeah, I heard," Wang Jue replied. Seeing Luo Shui nearly climbing onto his desk, he couldn't help but say, "Let me give you some advice—pull your head back before something happens. I won't save you if it does."

Wang Jue was loyal enough. With Liu Mao's gaze occasionally darting their way, his whispered warning was a testament to how close their friendship was.

"Come on, I know exactly where I stand with my grades. Listening or not doesn't make much difference," Luo Shui pouted, disappointment flickering across her face. "With my current cultivation, it's just sixty extra points—not much, really. Why only ten points per stage? If it were thirty or forty, I'd get over a hundred extra points, and even if my basic grades weren't great, I'd easily make it into the top ten martial high schools."

She was the very picture of insatiable greed—sixty points had sounded exciting at first, but soon felt bland, and she was already wishing for more.

Why not just aim for the stars?

Without this new policy, she wouldn't even have sixty points, yet she was still unsatisfied.

"Heh, I think that's quite enough," Wang Jue began, but as he caught the fiery glare of Old Liu from the lectern, he thought better of it, using the opportunity to warn Luo Shui again.

If not for their friendship—and the uncertainty of whether he could win in a fight—he might have already given her a whack.

He and Luo Shui could be considered childhood friends; he knew her family was ordinary, perhaps slightly better off than his, but not by much. Her parents might have scrimped and borrowed from relatives just to buy her a single cultivation manual; as for cultivation resources, that was likely out of the question.

Wang Jue understood all too well just how expensive martial cultivation manuals were.

Yet, in such an environment with almost no resources, Luo Shui had advanced to the sixth stage of Body Tempering. That alone showed her extraordinary talent.

Compared to Luo Shui, Wang Jue felt a pang of despair.

Though they were close friends, the gap in their talent was simply too wide—the two of them were in entirely different leagues.

It was clear that someone with little talent would never catch up to those gifted few without some miraculous encounter.

Thankfully, Wang Jue had his own golden finger, which allowed him to improve his aptitude as long as he collected enough star essence. Catching up, or even surpassing, was just a matter of time.

Perhaps realizing that his glare was ineffective, Liu Mao seemed to give up, focusing his attention on teaching the other students.

Wang Jue, for his part, wasn't paying attention to the lesson at all. Without the homeroom teacher's "death stare," his thoughts wandered even more—partly influenced by Luo Shui's persistent excitement, and partly wondering whether something had happened in the Safe Zone.

Otherwise, why introduce such a sudden policy?

He remembered clearly that the previous graduating class had no such perk; why the dramatic change for their year?

Before he could puzzle it out, the three morning classes were over. Taking advantage of the half-hour break, Wang Jue and Luo Shui went together to their "secret base"—just a small clearing in the woods behind the school.

They weren't up to anything sneaky, nor did anything unseemly happen between them. One of them practiced boxing, while the other sat under a tree, lost in thought.

"By the way, you haven't broken through to the Body Tempering stage yet, have you?" Luo Shui asked as she practiced her basic fist techniques, glancing at Wang Jue, who was daydreaming beneath the tree. "So this bonus policy doesn't really help you. Anyway, your grades are always so good—even if you don't get into a martial arts high school, getting into the best ordinary high school should be easy for you."

"Do you have so little faith in me?" Wang Jue returned to himself, torn between laughter and exasperation.

He wasn't offended. With their relationship, there was no need. Mostly, he realized he hadn't told anyone—not even Luo Shui—about his breakthrough.

No wonder she still looked at him as she always had.

"Don't I know you? We've known each other for almost ten years, right?" Luo Shui said, rolling her eyes. "Same class since elementary school, same class in junior high, practicing together for nine years. Now I'm at the sixth stage of Body Tempering, about to break through to the seventh. And you? Still an ordinary person who hasn't even reached the first stage."

"But that's fine," she continued, pausing her practice to pat her chest—a chest, to be fair, already developed beyond her age—causing a noticeable ripple. With a sly grin, she added, "From now on, I've got your back. If anyone bullies you, just tell me, I'll take care of it!"

At first, Wang Jue was genuinely touched, but seeing her smug expression, he couldn't help but twitch at the corners of his mouth.

Suddenly, a mischievous urge arose. He quietly activated the "Stellar Soul Technique," letting the star energy flow through him. A martial artist's unique aura, belonging to the Body Tempering stage, radiated from his body. With a teasing glint in his eye, he grinned, "Looks like you're in for a disappointment."

Feeling the aura emanating from Wang Jue, Luo Shui's eyes widened. "Am I seeing things? You actually broke through? And it's not just the first stage?"

"My current cultivation really isn't just the first stage," Wang Jue replied, a trace of pride in his voice. "I got lucky—broke through just yesterday. I was just practicing, then suddenly reached the third stage. Even now, I don't quite understand how it happened."

A sharp intake of breath from Luo Shui. She rubbed her eyes in disbelief. "It's really the third stage? So I wasn't mistaken?"

She knew Wang Jue's aptitude better than anyone.

Now, seeing him leap from ordinary to the third stage of Body Tempering in one go, the shock was understandable.

But Luo Shui recovered quickly. She simply stared at Wang Jue, appraising him up and down without a word.

Feeling uncomfortable under her gaze, Wang Jue scratched his nose to hide his embarrassment. "Alright, enough staring. What, did I get even more handsome?"

"I can't tell if you did," Luo Shui replied, rolling her eyes. "I'm just curious what happened to you. How did you suddenly break through three stages at once?"

"I told you, I don't even know myself," Wang Jue replied, feigning a bitter smile.

He trusted Luo Shui, knowing she was big-hearted and trustworthy. There were things she'd never tell, no matter how much someone pressed her. Even so, he couldn't tell anyone about his "transmigration" or "golden finger"—not his parents, not his sister, not even Luo Shui. He'd decided from the start: the fewer who knew, the better; once too many people knew, it was no longer a secret.

Luo Shui frowned, suspicious. "You're not lying to me?"

"Of course not," Wang Jue replied, his face the picture of sincerity.

It wasn't that he distrusted her—he simply knew that some secrets had to stay with him alone.

Luo Shui, ever straightforward, seemed to accept his answer, though she looked a little disappointed. "Well, if you don't know, then so be it."

Saved by the bell!

Wang Jue secretly breathed a sigh of relief. If not for his thirty-some years of experience from his past life, and Luo Shui's personality, he might not have pulled it off so easily.

"By the way..." As Wang Jue relaxed, Luo Shui suddenly spoke again, making his heart leap into his throat. "Since you just broke through to the third stage, you haven't gone to the director to claim your two basic martial skills yet, have you?"

"What? That's a thing? You get martial skills from the school just for breaking through Body Tempering?" Wang Jue asked in surprise.

Luo Shui shrugged. "Of course. Basic martial skills aren't worth much—a book goes for about a hundred credits outside. Since the school gives them to us for free, we might as well take them. That saves us two or three hundred credits—can't say no to free stuff."

Perhaps growing up in a not-so-wealthy family had made Luo Shui a little money-crazed, always careful to avoid unnecessary spending.

She might love a bargain, but she knew better than anyone which ones to take advantage of—and which to avoid at all costs.

If you accept everything that comes your way, the price you pay in the end might be more than you can bear...