"Teacher Li, I'm here!"
"Ping'an, have you been feeling tired lately? Your state doesn't seem too good during class. Do you need to take some time off to rest?"
The female teacher's words carried a hint of concern. Even in the Otherworld, teachers pay extra attention to students with good grades.
Moreover, Lin Ping'an holds the top position in humanities in Celestial Yang City, making him a not_so_insignificant figure.
Although these days humanities are not as valued as sciences, a first_place position in any field is always noteworthy.
Though Martial Arts are revered in this world, the delicate balance between ordinary people and Martial Artists is maintained on the surface with some nuances.
At this moment, Lin Ping'an, having lived two lives, was rather composed in the face of concern.
However, hearing these words, his mind stirred as he responded.
"I've been researching later than usual recently, and my mind feels a bit tired. It's just the right timing for me to take a few days off."
Upon hearing this, the female teacher nodded.
"Alright! I approve! You've already covered all the cultural knowledge in the textbooks anyway."
"Just return for the final exam next week. Come back to class whenever you wish during this period."
A slight smile appeared on Lin Ping'an's face. After expressing gratitude, he turned to leave.
Seeing this, the female teacher seemed to remember something, opening her mouth to give a few more reminders but then stopped herself.
The kid is always steady; there's no need to say more.
"Boom~"
The office door closed.
The female teacher sighed slightly, murmuring with a somewhat regretful expression.
"Ah! Truly a talent envied by the heavens! If only his aptitude were better, it might have been different."
"Civilization Master? Master of Civilization! That path isn't easy!"
"Just a little more? That little difference is like heaven and earth; I hope he can handle the setbacks!"
"What a pity! Really such a pity!"
A dozen seconds later, the door was pushed open again, and several teachers walked in, filling the office with noise.
"Wasn't that Lin Ping'an just now? The top student in humanities! It's just a pity his Martial Arts aptitude is too poor."
"I heard the principal spent money to transplant him here for the humanities class spotlight, but didn't expect the kid insisted on joining the Martial Arts class."
"Understandable! Nowadays, Martial Arts are revered; which ambitious kid doesn't aim to become a Martial Arts powerhouse?"
"..."
On the other side, Lin Ping'an, unaware that he had once again become the center of conversation, returned to the classroom, packed his things lightly, and prepared to leave.
Meanwhile, he paid no mind to the group of little brats in the same class.
Having lived two lives, his psychological age was on a completely different level, unable to blend in at all.
Moreover, since the death of his parents, Lin Ping'an swore to avenge them and had no desire to join those kids in playing house.
This attitude was also one of the reasons some classmates liked to target him.
To their perspective, Lin Ping'an was too arrogant and liked to act mature and aloof.
Just like those adults, extremely annoying.
Thus, as Lin Ping'an left with his backpack, it was no surprise the classroom filled with yin-yang, taunting voices.
"Humph! Still so annoying! Just because he's a little better at cultural subjects! So arrogant it's infuriating!"
"I really don't understand what those brainless girls like, always giving that pretty boy love letters—it's infuriating."
"Good humanities grades are useless; passing martial arts exams relies on Martial Arts cultivation, on genuine strength."
"..."
An academic overachiever, even when doing nothing, will evoke inexplicable hostility among underachievers.
At this moment, this was the case.
A moment later.
On the silent playground, Lin Ping'an walked alone towards the gate, greeting the old guard and then left.
Walking along the street on his way home, various signs and slogans lined the sides.
"Celestial Soaring Martial Arts Hall, Elite Class Helps Achieve Martial Artist Dream in 100 Days..."
"College Entrance Exam Sprint, Qi Blood Pills Three for 10% Off..."
"Genius Martial Artist Training Class, Achieve Martial Artist Dream..."
On the roadside, park squares began to become lively, similar_yet_different from his previous life.
The square dancing grannies transformed into square martial grannies, each practicing basic fist techniques for fitness to the rhythm.
Not far away, the elderly taking walks were either showing off muscles or teaching their grandchildren martial arts.
More than half an hour later, Lin Ping'an stepped into an old neighborhood, greeted familiar neighbors along the way with a smile, then returned home, put down his backpack, did some preparation, and lay on the bed, beginning to study the system.
Civilization Value refers to the influence on the entire civilization, including beliefs, emotions, etc.
The existing 124 points also stemmed from the fame and influence generated from his lifelong first-places.
It's not much, but better than nothing.
Next, a thought moved, entering the Creation Space.
In an instant, Lin Ping'an felt his soul and consciousness enter a pure white space.
Boundless, limitless.
As thoughts surged, changes appeared within the pure white space.
In no time, it transformed into a giant library, the place Lin Ping'an spent most of his eighteen years, and subconsciously the most familiar environment.
Inside the library, every book on the shelves was one he had read.
Then, with another thought, another self appeared before him, without consciousness but controllable, exuding meridian and acupoint radiance.
Seeing this scene, Lin Ping'an's mouth curved upwards, revealing a slight smile.
The Creation Space ability was indeed powerful. With sufficient spiritual power, he could create countless replicas here, speeding up the creation process immensely.
Moreover, experimental bodies for trying out cultivation techniques were seemingly endless.
Subsequently, he wasted no time, immediately beginning to deduce and experiment.
His mind continuously surged with various Martial Arts knowledge he had read, gradually enhancing and perfecting the cultivation technique.
58%... 59%... 60%...
In a trance, Lin Ping'an could no longer feel the passage of time, fully immersing himself in Technique creation.
Constant adjustments, trial and error, research, development...
Finally, the progress reached 100%.
In the next instant, a system prompt appeared.
"Ding~"
"Successfully created Yellow Level Technique (Unnamed)"
"Let's call it Painful Demon Body."
"Only through pain can a grand future be forged!"
As Lin Ping'an murmured, a new change appeared before his eyes.
"Cultivation Technique Name: Painful Demon Body"
"Cultivation Technique Level: Yellow"
"Type: Qi Blood Cultivation Technique"
"Advantages: Extremely low difficulty, can be cultivated without aptitude, the longer the operation time, the faster the Qi Blood cultivation speed, no limit."
"Side Effects: The longer the operation time, the stronger the pain sensation, highest pain is limitless, prolonged pain may lead to addiction tendency, increasingly severe, in extreme cases, may die of pain."
"PS: All pain is inflicted upon me."