Shen Ye glanced at the business card. Written on it were:
Qian Rushan
Regional Director, Mortal Martial Arts Group.
His memory stirred, quickly recalling relevant information.
Ah, so it’s this colossal giant…
A trace of understanding flickered in Shen Ye’s eyes.
Every year, countless middle school graduates dream of catching its attention.
The Mortal Martial Arts Group holds the inheritance of various martial arts knowledge. It’s an organization possessing extensive intellectual property and copyrights on martial arts manuals.
In this world, aside from the ancient noble clans with their long-standing legacies, the group holds the largest collection of martial arts knowledge.
As for the noble clans—
It’s said that some of them retain knowledge, divine artifacts, and bloodline pacts passed down from ancient deities.
Beyond the legends, these clans possess vast tracts of land, population, and wealth in reality.
The noble clans tower far above, separated from the common people by an vast gap.
For those born into humble circumstances, joining the Mortal Martial Arts Group is akin to a carp leaping over the dragon’s gate, escaping the ordinary social class.
This is a path to the heavens!
Shen Ye looked at the long-haired, scruffy-bearded middle-aged man before him. The man exuded a warm demeanor, his words accompanied by a smile that inspired trust.
From his past-life perspective, Shen Ye could tell this was someone who had endured countless ups and downs in the business world.
Yet there was something more to him, something Shen Ye couldn’t quite see through.
—Power.
As the man sat there, Shen Ye instinctively felt it was impossible to land an attack on him, no matter what.
It was an inexplicable sensation.
“Shen, may I ask what your strength attribute is?” Director Qian asked casually.
“Five,” Shen Ye replied.
Director Qian’s expression softened even further.
Old Jiang and the principal exchanged wide-eyed glances.
The police standing by whispered among themselves.
“Really? Five?” Director Qian’s calm demeanor didn’t falter as he smiled and continued, “At the middle school level, a strength score of 4.5 already surpasses our group’s selection threshold. A five? That’s exceptional.”
“Is five a lot?” Shen Ye asked.
“With a strength attribute of five, you could operate combat-class mech suits and wield some standard ancient weapons, even those in less-than-pristine condition.”
“Moreover, your agility is perfect, and you’re only fifteen years old.”
“—It’s hard to find any fault.”
Director Qian shot the principal a meaningful glance.
Why didn’t you tell me his strength was this impressive earlier? Instead, you kept talking about his mental strength.
If I had known he was this strong, I would have signed him on the spot back at the sports field.
“You flatter me. Just earlier, I got into a fight with someone,” Shen Ye said.
“Don’t worry about that. Join our group. I’ll arrange for you to retake the strength test,” Director Qian said.
“You can retake it?” Shen Ye asked, surprised.
He couldn’t help but glance at Old Jiang again.
Both Old Jiang and the principal nodded vigorously, their eyes brimming with joy.
“Normally, it’s not allowed. But occasionally, to avoid overlooking exceptional talent, our group has the authority to recommend a special retest to the Education Bureau,” Director Qian said lightly.
“Of course, I’m willing to retake it!” Shen Ye said.
“Good. That’s settled. Once you pass, I’ll personally sign you.”
Director Qian rose to leave but suddenly paused, turning back.
“By the way, I forgot to ask—what’s your mental strength?”
“Three,” Shen Ye replied cautiously.
There was no helping it.
Among the five major attributes, “Comprehension” and “Resonance” aren’t assessed in middle school.
As for “Strength,” “Agility,” and “Mental Strength,” it wouldn’t make sense for all three to be off the charts.
A three shouldn’t be too unbelievable.
…Right?
As Shen Ye deliberated, Director Qian’s steps froze.
His smile vanished, replaced by a serious expression.
“Shen, could you demonstrate? As I recall, a mental strength of three should be able to lift a chair.”
Shen Ye understood immediately. He adjusted his attribute points toward mental strength and fixed his gaze on a nearby chair.
The chair, influenced by his thoughts, floated slightly off the ground, hovering mid-air.
The entire office fell into a stunned silence.
The police were the first to react.
The leading officer muttered under his breath, “Let’s go. Pack up.”
Under his command, the police quietly exited the office.
Moments later, the chair fell to the ground with a loud clatter.
“I can only sustain it for this long,” Shen Ye said with a sigh.
Director Qian’s eyes lit up.
“Ha! Incredible! Simply incredible!”
He laughed heartily, his demeanor shifting completely. Suddenly, he clapped his hand to his forehead, jumped from his seat, and began to sing with unbridled enthusiasm:
“In days of hardship, I wandered the streets,
Today, I ask the heavens for my fate,
When fortune aligns, the universe conspires,
Together, we shall soar to the skies!”
“Shen, my boy! Your destiny is bright, and so is mine!”
Shen Ye was dumbfounded.
This… was so awkward…
Am I supposed to join in?
But I don’t know how to sing…
He turned to Old Jiang and the principal, only to find them equally dumbstruck.
Even so, the two old foxes recovered faster than Shen Ye.
The principal took the lead, followed by Old Jiang, clapping vigorously and showering Director Qian with praise.
“Well sung, Director Qian!”
“I’ve never heard such a soulful performance, Director Qian!”
—They were showering flattery in unison!
Minutes later.
The principal and Old Jiang were politely ushered out of the office.
Director Qian began a private conversation with Shen Ye.
“I can still retake the test, right?” Shen Ye asked, seeking confirmation.
Qian Rushan gestured for a pause, his tone serious yet gentle.
“Shen Ye, what is your life goal?”
“My goal is as lofty as your name,” Shen Ye replied sincerely.
Qian Rushan chuckled. “That’s just the basics. I mean, what is your deepest aspiration?”
Aspiration…
Shen Ye’s mind immediately drifted to the assassin. If even his home wasn’t safe, where could he possibly go? If—
If he had enough strength, he wouldn’t need to hide.
“At the very least, not to be bullied, and to protect myself and my family,” Shen Ye said.
Qian Rushan smiled broadly.
“You’re standing at the closest point to realizing that dream in your life right now.”
“How so?” Shen Ye asked.
Qian Rushan gestured him closer. “Come, attack me.”
Shen Ye smirked. “You greasy, long-haired old perv!”
“Not with words—use your fists,” Qian Rushan said, exasperated.
“…Fine.”
Shen Ye threw a punch at Qian Rushan’s face.
With just a slight narrowing of his eyes, Shen Ye froze in place.
It felt as though something invisible was gripping him, rendering him completely immobile.
“What’s this?” Shen Ye asked, stunned.
“This is a technique that immobilizes attackers. Once mastered, you can use it to protect yourself,” Qian Rushan explained.
“Amazing,” Shen Ye remarked.
“Do you want to learn it?” Qian Rushan asked.
“Yes.”
“Watch closely—this isn’t all there is,” Qian Rushan said with a sly grin.
He released the technique and pulled out a handgun, aiming it at his own temple.
The scene was too familiar. Shen Ye, reminiscing about Earth, couldn’t help but mutter,
“All martial arts are invincible but only speed reigns supreme.”
Bang!
A gunshot echoed.
The bullet stopped just a centimeter from Qian Rushan’s temple, hovering in midair.
“This is another technique from the group’s secret archives. It can counter projectiles of any kind—even bullets. By the way, what were you mumbling just now?” Qian Rushan asked curiously.
“Oh, nothing. I was just admiring at how impressive this is,” Shen Ye said.
It truly was remarkable. Genuine techniques like these… Shen Ye was thoroughly tempted.
If he wanted to survive in this world, he needed power—real power.
“That phrase of yours had quite the flair. Did you come up with it?” Qian Rushan asked, intrigued.
“Haha, just something I blurted out. Don’t mind it,” Shen Ye deflected.
“Fair enough. Let’s get back to business. I’m officially inviting you to join our ‘Hidden Dragon Program,’ the group’s elite development initiative.”
“Hidden Dragon Program?”
Qian Rushan explained, “We’ll recommend you to three of the best high schools in the world. Of course, you’ll need to pass their rigorous entrance exams—not the standard exams, but ones they design themselves.”
“If you pass, all your tuition, accommodation, resources, and equipment will be fully covered by the group.”
“And if I fail?” Shen Ye asked, recalling the fight earlier.
“You’ll still be guaranteed a spot in a provincial-level key high school,” Qian Rushan said with a dismissive wave.
“This group offers great perks,” Shen Ye noted.
Qian Rushan spread his arms dramatically. “Strength beyond full marks, agility maxed out, mental power exceeding limits—Shen Ye, do you realize how rare this is? You’re gifted beyond your peers!”
“—You’re a genius!”
Shen Ye fell silent.
Actually, I’m not that strong. I just allocated my attribute points…
Wait. Attribute points are also part of my innate talent?
Oh. Never mind, then.
I really am a genius beyond my peers!
Still, this might only be enough to take the entrance exams for those three schools.
I wonder how tough the tests will be…
Shen Ye suddenly felt a twinge of anxiety.
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