It was afternoon in the classroom of Senior Class 7.
Ms. Lee, the homeroom teacher, stood at the podium holding a geography practice test. She said loudly, "Everyone, pay close attention to this question... This one is important, mainly testing your ability to distinguish latitude and longitude. It's a freebie question."
Andrew Han sat in the third row by the wall, secretly nodding.
"Mm."
"What concept does this question test? Better listen carefully." He picked up the black gel pen on his desk, preparing to mark the key points according to Ms. Lee's detailed explanation.
He suddenly found studying rather interesting and not so tiring, but that was probably because he'd already been admitted to Southland University and was in a good mood.
The next moment.
Ms. Lee's voice came from the podium: "Obviously, B and D are not correct; option A is clearly wrong, so the answer is C... Everyone okay with that? Good, next question."
Andrew Han was slightly taken aback.
He murmured softly, his feelings complicated. What was that supposed to mean? How could you just know at a glance that it's wrong!
But the explanation continued.
Andrew Han blinked, thought for a while, then set aside the test paper and took out his phone to continue reading books on cultivating the mind.
......
On the podium, Ms. Lee's voice drifted intermittently to his ears.
"Sigh, you all really are the worst batch of students I've ever taught."
"There are only ten days left until the college entrance exam. Don't slack off—you might still improve your scores. Once you're in university, things will get easier."
......
Unconsciously, time passed.
The bell rang for the end of class. Ms. Lee hurriedly picked up her books and rushed back to the office, chatting with other teachers.
"Is there a meeting later?"
"I heard Principal Yu is going to personally preside over the meeting. All senior-year teachers have to attend. I guess it's to remind us not to slack off in these last ten days.0
"Let's hurry up. We better not be late."
They chatted as they left the lesson preparation room together, exited the senior-year teaching building, and headed toward the administration building.
......
Inside the classroom of Senior Year Class Seven.
Andrew Han glanced suspiciously at the empty seat beside him and took a sip of milk tea.
"Where did Gu Yuanliang run off to? As my desk mate, he's good at everything except studying. But everyone has their own path in life."
"If I succeed in martial arts in the future, maybe I can help him out."
He pondered quietly.
Click.
Andrew Han gripped the hand gripper in his right hand, gently squeezed, then slowly released, repeating the process calmly and patiently.
He was already aware of the destructive power of Third Tier.
A thousand pounds of force isn't just talk. With acceleration factored in, it becomes truly destructive. That's why he was learning to control his strength, to avoid overexertion.
Click, click.
Andrew Han continued squeezing the hand gripper, careful not to break it.
Whish, whish.
A stifling breeze drifted through the classroom of Senior Year Class Seven, brushing past the desks and across Andrew Han's face, revealing eyes filled with deep contemplation.
Third Tier, Second Tier, First Tier—collectively known as the Upper Three Tiers in martial arts.
Third Tier channels internal power throughout the body, while Second Tier focuses on consolidation and integration—a rather unique level.
Simply put...
The process of Martial Arts Second Tier is to fully strengthen the internal power, continuously refining one's qi and blood, and persistently enhancing internal strength. Only when qi and blood are unified with internal power can one step into First Tier.
"I've already reached the peak of Third Tier. I'm close to Second Tier now."
Andrew Han frowned and pondered, "The Fifth Tier integrates tendons and bones. The amplification from the gray-white current greatly prolongs the transition period. If I reach Second Tier, I might encounter a similar situation."
He was worried about one thing.
If the gray-white current amplifies everything, causing unlimited increases in qi and power, it might be difficult to achieve unification in a short time.
After thinking for a while.
Andrew Han couldn't help but shake his head and laugh, "Everything has its limits; nothing can increase without restriction. My Second Tier will likely just be a bit stronger than other martial artists."
"Besides, worrying about this is pointless."
"First, I need to reach Second Tier. Today, I gained thirty-four strands of gray-white current. With one or two more sessions, I should reach Second Tier."
Andrew Han thought calmly.
Suddenly.
His phone buzzed—Zhang Meng sent a QQ message: "Our class is so noisy, everyone's writing in each other's yearbooks. How's your class?"
Andrew Han replied, "Normal."
Zhang Meng sent a speechless 'confused cat staring' meme: "Don't you know all the senior-year teachers went to the administration building for a meeting?"
Oh.
Andrew Han understood.
For now, there were no teachers overseeing the senior-year building. No wonder Zhang Meng's class was busy writing in yearbooks.
Thinking of this, he replied, "Most of our class has finished writing in the yearbook. By the way, if Zong Kaixuan tries to give you trouble, let me know. I can come downstairs for a walk."
Zhang Meng curiously asked, "You're in class?? /confused/ /confused/"
For martial arts students, the martial arts exam was already over, which was basically the same as finishing the college entrance exam. Hardly anyone wanted to continue attending regular classes.
Andrew Han replied, "I'm a martial arts student who loves to study. /smile/ /smile/"
......
Zhang Meng was completely speechless.
——
Directly below the senior-year teaching building.
A well-built martial arts student, wearing a blue-and-white school uniform and standing about 1.85 meters tall, was none other than Fifth Tier martial artist Ni Quan. He glared darkly at Gu Yuanliang, who stood three meters away.
On Ni Quan's right were two other martial arts students, both sizing up Gu Yuanliang.
"What do you want?"
Gu Yuanliang clenched his fists, his face flushed red.
All he did was give Xu Churan a cup of milk tea—nothing inappropriate—and yet he was cornered under the teaching building.
What hurt him the most was that the one who asked him to come down was Xu Churan, whom he'd admired for so long.
At that moment.
Xu Churan, dressed in a black undershirt and loose school pants, her upper body curves visible, was clinging to Ni Quan's left arm and persuading him, "Gu Yuanliang is just my classmate. Besides, he didn't bring milk tea just for me—my desk mate Feng Weiqi got one too, and so did his own desk mate."
Ni Quan sneered.
Even if it was just ordinary classmate friendship, it wasn't acceptable to him.
He'd had Xu Churan invite Gu Yuanliang here, but it wasn't to reason with him.
Xu Churan pursed her red lips, glanced at the flushed Gu Yuanliang, and helplessly said, "Just go easy on him. Even though Gu Yuanliang's grades are terrible and the college entrance exam is pointless for him, this is still school."
Upon hearing this.
Gu Yuanliang's heart trembled; he looked at Xu Churan in disbelief.
The scorching summer sun and the stifling afternoon breeze couldn't warm him at all—it was as if he'd fallen into an ice cave.
"Of course, just teaching him a lesson."
Ni Quan nodded slightly, a smile playing at the corner of his lips.
Throughout three years of high school, he'd trained hard in martial arts, rarely drawing attention.
Now, in the prime of youth, Ni Quan felt he'd restrained himself for too long. As a Fifth Tier martial artist who had passed South River University's martial arts exam, it was time to show some pride.
No more worries, no need to fear the teachers.
With this in mind.
Ni Quan stepped forward, threw out his right fist, easily broke through Gu Yuanliang's defense, grabbed his school uniform, lifted him up, and sneered, "Kid, apologize and I'll let you go this time."
"And another thing."
"I'm warning you—don't try talking to Xu Churan again. Do you even know who you are? Have some self-awareness."
Gu Yuanliang's face flushed red as he clenched his teeth.
He didn't feel shame or anger—what filled his heart now was a chilling sense of coldness.
Ni Quan shook Gu Yuanliang by his blue-and-white uniform, "Kid, aren't you going to apologize?"
The two martial arts students with Ni Quan, both at the Sixth or Seventh Tier, pointed and laughed, nearly doubling over.
"Hey."
Xu Churan played with her pink nails and chuckled, "Why bother with him? At worst, make him buy you two cups of milk tea. Gu Yuanliang, just apologize to Ni Quan already."
Ni Quan shook his head. "It's about attitude."
Gu Yuanliang's face burned red. Suddenly, he gave a self-deprecating smile, gripped his nearly empty milk tea, and said quietly, "I was wrong. I'm sorry."
He hadn't known Xu Churan had a boyfriend when he bought the milk tea. At most, it was just a gesture of friendship between classmates—he hadn't tried to confess anything.
"Hmph."
Ni Quan snorted and shoved Gu Yuanliang twice.
Thud.
Disheartened, Gu Yuanliang couldn't withstand the shoves and fell to the ground. His milk tea spilled everywhere, sticking to the hem of his school pants.
"Hahaha!"
The two martial arts students pointed at Gu Yuanliang, clutching their stomachs with laughter.
Their laughter echoed into the classrooms of the senior-year building, drawing the attention of several students.
During study breaks, watching a commotion was rather entertaining.
Gu Yuanliang pursed his lips, silent and dejected, glancing at Xu Churan. He knew he was at fault and didn't want to argue anymore.
He quietly picked up the spilled milk tea and looked at the nearly empty cup of bubble tea.
Thankfully.
There was still a little left to drink.
That milk tea had cost him two days' living expenses—it couldn't be wasted.