The first physical fitness test for incoming students was quite significant, so many mentors and high-level staff from numerous academies were present to observe.
Vice Dean Liu Zhenfeng stood at the forefront, staring at the numerous new students on the training field, his face expressionless.
"Our Martial Arts Academy simply can't match the Top Four." Liu Zhenfeng's tone was tinged with some regret. "The students admitted by the Top Four, once they start systematic training after entering university, will have plenty who break through to Martial Artist within a month. In comparison, I must admit that our students are still lacking."
The reason Liu Zhenfeng sighed was that the number of new students participating in the physical fitness test this time was almost unchanged from when school started.
One should know that physical tests could merely measure the state below the Martial Student Realm.
The so-called combat power was strictly a data-fication of the new students' potential.
After breaking through to a Martial Artist, combat power lost its meaning. Aspects like martial arts and cultivation methods were simply not measurable by machines.
Although Liu Zhenfeng was not responsible for managing the new students' teaching, seeing almost no one break through to Martial Artist within a month undoubtedly made him feel somewhat helpless.
"Dean, do not worry too much. The mission of our Martial Arts Academy and the Top Four are different. The geniuses graduating from the Top Four will be heading to various battlefields in the future; they are training to be the pillars of humanity. Our Academy only oversees the Chu State region, so there's no basis for comparison between the two," a mentor stepped forward to console him.
Liu Zhenfeng nodded slightly. He understood this reasoning only too well. But... he was still not content.
"Duan Kun, has Wang Zhan made any progress in his cultivation? You're hiding Wang Zhan like a treasure. We even agreed to let you teach him; surely we wouldn't try to steal him from you?" Liu Zhenfeng then turned to Duan Kun.
Wang Zhan was a rare genius, the likes of whom the Martial Arts Academy hadn't seen in many years, so many high-level staff and mentors at the Academy were extremely interested in him.
Duan Kun grinned. "Who knows if you lot are jealous of my disciple's Talent! When dealing with you all, one can never be too careful."
No matter how much the mentors inquired, Duan Kun consistently refused to reveal the truth.
Only when their questions became too persistent did Duan Kun finally say, "Maybe that boy will come later. You can see for yourselves then."
This prompted the mentors to temporarily extinguish their flame of curiosity.
...
On the training field, the new students were undergoing the physical fitness test in an orderly manner.
Although it had only been a short month since they entered the university, all the new students had made great strides.
On the ranking list displayed on a nearby screen, ranks were constantly being refreshed. Quite a few new students' combat power had already reached thirty thousand or even forty thousand.
The student who was then the second-ranking genius in Chu State had a combat power of only over ten thousand during his College Entrance Examination, and that talent was a ninth-level Martial Student.
This meant that in just one month of university life, some students had reached the pinnacle of Martial Students and were already breaking their limits in preparation for the future.
This is the charm of universities. They enable every student to grow at a pace far exceeding their high school period, guiding them onto the right path, broadening their horizons, and strengthening their foundations.
However, despite many new students exhibiting impressive talents, Wang Zhan's combat power of one hundred thousand still solidly occupied the number one spot on the leaderboard, unshakeable.
Time passed quickly, and it seemed the new students were about to finish their tests.
Many students who had already completed the physical fitness test were unwilling to leave; everyone was waiting for Wang Zhan to appear.
"Who knows how much progress Wang Zhan has made this month! My combat power has doubled."
"Why hasn't Wang Zhan shown up yet? Could he be scared?"
"Could he have broken through to Martial Artist?"
"Heh, based on Wang Zhan's arrogant attitude when school started, if he broke through to Martial Artist, would he choose to remain unknown?"
"Exactly! That guy would definitely brag about it."
The new students discussed animatedly.
Xu Junyuan, standing some distance away, overheard the new students' discussions and then looked at a sturdy new student behind him.
This new student was extremely tall, over two meters in height. His bare arms revealed bulging muscles, a somewhat intimidating sight.
His name was Ye Shan, Xu Junyuan's most satisfying recruit this time.
"Ye Shan, not many people know about your breakthrough to Martial Artist, right?" Xu Junyuan asked with a grin.
Ye Shan had been quite inconspicuous; Xu Junyuan hadn't initially noticed the sturdy man's potential. But to everyone's surprise, this taciturn fellow had quietly broken through to the Martial Artist Realm.
Currently, none of the other new students had broken through to become a Martial Artist. So, barring any surprises, Ye Shan was the fastest among the new students to achieve this breakthrough.
Of course, Wang Zhan's situation was unknown to most, so Xu Junyuan couldn't be certain.
"Apart from you, Brother Xu, only the Combat Department mentor knows," Ye Shan answered honestly.
"Do you think Wang Zhan has broken through to Martial Artist?" Xu Junyuan asked again.
Ye Shan thought for a moment, then said hesitantly, "I don't know. In theory, Martial Artists can sense each other's Essence Energy. After I broke through to the Martial Artist Realm, I saw Wang Zhan a few times in class, but I couldn't see through him."
"Can't see through him? Then he hasn't broken through!" Xu Junyuan laughed. "Don't be frightened by the so-called title of genius. A Martial Artist who has just broken through cannot control their Essence Energy. In the eyes of other Martial Artists, they are like a bright light and cannot hide."
Ye Shan did not speak. In his heart, he still harbored some doubts. Others might not know, but Ye Shan was very clear. Even after breaking through to Martial Artist, whenever he saw Wang Zhan, he would still vaguely sense a hint of danger from him.
Xu Junyuan called over another of his subordinates and gave a few instructions.
The subordinate nodded and quickly melted into the crowd of new students on the training field.
A few minutes later, a voice suddenly rang out.
"I say... isn't Wang Zhan being too arrogant? So what if he ranks first? He dares to disrespect the Martial Arts Academy just because of his Talent, even though he hasn't broken through to Martial Artist?"
"The school requires all Martial Students to participate in the physical fitness test. Why should Wang Zhan be an exception?"
"Ye Shan has genuinely broken through to become a Martial Artist! He didn't even need to take this physical fitness test, but he still came!"
In an instant, the new students grew even more dissatisfied with Wang Zhan.
Once the crowd was riled up, one of Xu Junyuan's subordinates continued, "Ye Shan is the first among the new students to break through. *He* is the top talent in the Martial Arts Academy! Wang Zhan is nothing but a fraud who chases undeserved fame! A clown, not worth mentioning!"
From afar, Xu Junyuan watched this scene unfold, nodding with satisfaction before nudging Ye Shan, who was standing beside him.
"Go on, it's your time to shine! Challenge Wang Zhan. If he shows up, defeat him effortlessly with your Martial Artist strength. If he doesn't show up, his reputation will be ruined!"
Xu Junyuan sneered, "Ye Shan, as a Martial Artist, you must strive. Wang Zhan is a hurdle you must overcome."
Initially, Ye Shan was somewhat hesitant, but Xu Junyuan's words made him nod. He then leaped up and landed heavily in the middle of the training field.
Instantly, all eyes were on Ye Shan.
Ye Shan took a deep breath, his voice becoming extremely resonant.
"Wang Zhan, get out here!"
...
Up on the platform, Liu Zhenfeng looked at Duan Kun, a smile playing on his lips.
"Isn't it time for Wang Zhan to come out? We gave him special privileges; he should at least show something for it," Liu Zhenfeng said. "Otherwise, the students won't be convinced."
Duan Kun shrugged carelessly. "Whether they're convinced or not doesn't concern me. They're just a bunch of mediocrities."
"Vice Dean, I was the one who asked Wang Zhan not to show up," Duan Kun admitted directly. "If Wang Zhan appears, someone will inevitably want to spar with him, but right now, it's not suitable for him to fight."
The moment he finished speaking, a mentor sneered, "Is there ever a time when a Martial Artist can't fight? If he were on a battlefield, would he tell the enemy to wait until he's ready before fighting?"
Duan Kun shook his head silently.
Liu Zhenfeng's expression, however, changed slightly. "You taught him the Killing Fist? Duan Kun, he's only a freshman!"
Liu Zhenfeng's words also served as a reminder to the assembled mentors.
"What? The Killing Fist?!"
"No wonder he can't fight. They are all future pillars of humanity, and if the Killing Fist isn't mastered, it's easy to accidentally kill someone."
Duan Kun raised an eyebrow, ignoring the reprimand in Liu Zhenfeng's tone, and laughed with satisfaction. "Hahaha, geniuses cannot be measured by conventional standards. Naturally, I can't teach in a regimented manner."
"Even so, you've been too reckless," Liu Zhenfeng said, dissatisfied. "The killing intent of the Killing Fist isn't something a freshman can withstand. If Wang Zhan can't endure it, you'll have as good as destroyed him with your own hands!"
"That's why I'm not letting him make a move casually." Duan Kun clearly understood this principle as well.
But just then, the mentors all sensed a Martial Artist's momentum and simultaneously turned to look towards the other side of the training field.
Duan Kun's expression changed slightly.
How did this kid come out?
...
On the training field.
Wang Zhan walked step by step to the center of the training field, his gaze sweeping over the numerous new students before finally settling on Ye Shan.
He first looked Ye Shan up and down, a hint of surprise in his tone.
"You were looking for me?"
"That's right, I want to challenge..."
Before Ye Shan could finish his sentence, Wang Zhan suddenly threw a vicious punch.
The punch wasn't fast; even the new students present who hadn't broken through to become Martial Artists could see it clearly.
Yet, this seemingly ordinary punch made Ye Shan's expression change drastically.
He felt an overwhelming pressure wash over him, and a bone-chilling cold enveloped his body.
He couldn't dodge this punch!
Ye Shan quickly retreated, raising his hands to protect his chest.
The next moment, Wang Zhan's fist landed. It bypassed Ye Shan's guard and slammed straight into his jaw.
The next moment, Ye Shan was sent flying, soaring more than ten meters before crashing to the ground, already unconscious.
A Martial Artist, defeated in one punch!
Everyone was stunned. No one could have imagined Wang Zhan would make his appearance in such an overwhelmingly dominant fashion.
But it was far from over.
Without even glancing at Ye Shan, Wang Zhan's gaze locked onto Xu Junyuan.
"Xu Junyuan, get out here and take your beating!"