West Warehouse District.
Inside the small room on the balcony.
A line of text suddenly appeared before Zhang Lingfeng's eyes.
(You have been swiftly finishing rank matches for several days, acquiring the ability "Faster than others.")
"Finally awakened another ability."
"Faster than others?"
"Does it mean I'm faster than others in any situation?"
Zhang Lingfeng said excitedly.
He couldn't help throwing a couple of punches but found no speed change.
"I can only explore it slowly."
"Hopefully, speed will visibly change in attacks and defenses."
"Of course, some aspects can be left unchanged."
Zhang Lingfeng felt inexplicably nervous inside.
He then looked at the information below.
Name: Zhang Lingfeng
Life Chart: Coast Along
Profession: Entry-level Martial Artist
Combat Power: 14.52977
Coasting Along Value: 21
Basic Spear Skill Thirteen Forms: Great Success (57/100)
Tidal Breathing Method: Entry Level (43/100)
Ability: All-weather Breathing and Exhaling Ability, Arm strength increased by 200 kilograms per any level, Faster than others
"The Coasting Along Value increased by 21 points again."
"Teacher Yang put effort into this; my performance tonight probably infuriated her half to death again."
Zhang Lingfeng sighed.
He knew that it's tough for entry-level martial artists to match non-human creatures.
Especially creatures like the Catfish Demon, which are very specific demon beasts.
Because regular entry-level martial artists almost can't defeat them one-on-one; otherwise, Zhang Lingfeng's combat power of 14.5 wouldn't lose to a 14.3-combat-power Catfish Demon.
This is because demon beasts have an extra physical quality compared to humans.
And humans only achieve a physical quality of 1 by becoming Elemental Martial Artists; before becoming one, human physical quality is negligible compared to demon beasts.
They mainly compensate through techniques.
Only by awakening twenty Qi Sensitivities will the human physical quality greatly improve, surpassing 1.
At that point, humans can face demon beasts one-on-one and confront them head-on.
So even though people like Teng Qingshan knew Zhang Lingfeng's combat power reached 14.0, they were amazed when he defeated a 13.5-combat-power Catfish Demon in just a few moves.
Zhang Lingfeng then added 21 points of Coasting Along Value to the Basic Spear Skill Thirteen Forms.
Coasting Along Value: None
Basic Spear Skill Thirteen Forms: Great Success (78/100)
Combat Power: 15.0
Zhang Lingfeng furrowed his brows.
This morning, the Basic Spear Skill value changed from Great Success 11/100 to Great Success 57/100, and the combat power only increased by 0.5. Tonight, the spear skill value changed from 57/100 to 78/100, yet the combat power increased by nearly 0.5 as well.
Could this change in value mean he touched upon some sort of power?
Like the first-layer power of Skillful Strength.
Thinking of this, Zhang Lingfeng got excited, wanting to return to the Star Realm to verify it once the time restriction was lifted.
But considering his Life Chart, Zhang Lingfeng had to give up and quickly forget about this while leaving the room to go to the rooftop for some fresh air.
He saw a group of people gathered in the living room.
Everyone was chatting and laughing.
Many gifts were piled in the corner, mostly survival supplies like dragon jerky, pickled rat meat, and some cabbage and fruit.
"Ling Feng, come and greet your uncles here; they came specifically to congratulate you on getting into Divine Martial University."
Zhang Lei called out.
"Hello, uncles! I've just finished the rank matches and need some fresh air. Enjoy your chat."
Zhang Lingfeng greeted.
He noticed Lai Zhijun and his father among them.
"Yes, yes, we all saw your match with the Catfish Demon earlier; it's rare for someone so young to hold their own like that. Zhijun, you need to learn from Ling Feng."
Lai Dadao said.
"I know, Dad!"
Lai Zhijun nodded.
Ever since Zhang Lingfeng became an entry-level martial artist, participated in a rank match on the same day, won five games straight, and earned twenty thousand, even defeating a student from Inner Ring City Martial Dao, almost everyone in West Warehouse District had been talking about him.
Even tonight, as people couldn't watch inside the Star Realm, they cheered for him in the livestream chatroom, watching the entire process on video streaming in the living room.
When the 14.5 combat power appeared above Zhang Lingfeng, people automatically overlooked his loss to the Catfish Demon.
The notion that Zhang Lingfeng would soon be attending Divine Martial University, gaining the chance to live in Inner Ring City, and thus turning the fortunes of the Zhang family, was all they could think about.
Consequently, even Zhang Lingfeng's usually stern father had dragged him to Zhang Lingfeng's home to curry favor with Zhang Lei.
They even considered helping Zhang Lei pay off a portion of his high-interest loans.
Of the sixteen thousand in high-interest loans, Zhang Lingfeng had prepared seven thousand for Zhang Lei, and in the past few days, Zhang Lei managed to gather the remaining nine thousand, with the lenders even offering a small reduction in interest and an extension.
All gestures of goodwill from neighbors were politely declined by Zhang Lei.
On the rooftop.
Zhang Lingfeng projected a feed through the bracelet, checking up on Little Angry Girl as she crushed a Catfish Demon's head with her Planted Muscle Arm.
The ranking matches she joined differed slightly from those mandated by the Seven Great Star Systems Alliance for entry-level martial artists.
Beyond reduced difficulty and looser matchmaking criteria, they held a certain entertainment value, open to everyone.
Because of time limitations.
Although Zhang Lingfeng's consciousness couldn't enter the Star Realm now, he could watch Little Angry Girl's livestream of leveling up and battling monsters outside the Star Realm by connecting through another platform.
He occasionally captured combat moments and shared them on social media platforms, even posting Little Angry Girl's livestream link in his class group chat.
The next moment.
He received a pop-up on his light screen.
It was a video call from Yang Liru.
While watching Little Angry Girl chase a Catfish Demon down the street with her Planted Muscle Arm, knowing Yang Liru's intentions, Zhang Lingfeng chose to mute her message.
"He's not studying but watching a female streamer level up?"
"Yes, he always does this?"
"Which female streamer? Let me see; maybe we misunderstood."
"Little Angry Girl."
Yang Liru and Ma Yong discussed.
Both were astounded by Zhang Lingfeng's talent and didn't wish for him to stray off the path.
"How could he be so indulgent? Game livestreaming is really detrimental."
Ma Yong quickly entered Little Angry Girl's livestream room, seeing her in a hot skirt wielding a Planted Muscle Arm as she pursued several Catfish Demon minions in the forest, squealing on her chase.
"So eager for quick victory in rank matches, yet after, instead of self-reflection, he went off interacting with a game streamer. Even with extraordinary talent, how does he expect to replace me? He isn't qualified yet."
Teng Qingshan, through Zhang Lingfeng's social media posts, knew what he was currently up to and couldn't help but chuckle sarcastically, inwardly relieved once more.
After Little Angry Girl's stream ended, Zhang Lingfeng posted related information, ready to go back downstairs to rest, when suddenly a warm stream emerged in his abdomen again.