0015 Second Rank (3 more chapters requesting monthly tickets and follow-up reads)

At noon, Qin Zheng showed up late.

He was here to practice boxing too.

By this time, Lu Chenzhou had already taken a shower and was eating in the Martial Arts Academy cafeteria. Actually, as a non-annual card member, meals weren't included for him.

This was a special privilege from Ji Xuantong. He said the cafeteria food often goes to waste anyway. Lu Chenzhou could just eat as much as he wanted. Old Ji is such a great guy.

"You beast, Chenzhou, starting to grind so early."

Qin Zheng always had the illusion that Lu Chenzhou was constantly getting stronger.

The main thing was this guy's work ethic. In all his years, he hadn't seen anyone so hardcore—other than studying and practicing boxing, he doesn't have even a bit of fun.

No scrolling short videos, no gaming, no flirting with girls.

What's the point of living like that?

Lu Chenzhou couldn't help but advise:

"To practice boxing, you have to get up early. President, you get up way too late."

As a member of the Martial Arts Society, he still hoped Qin Zheng would rise up. With his foundation, as long as he put in the effort, he might not become a Martial Artist, but at least reaching the Dark Force Realm shouldn't be a problem.

"Alright, I'll be more diligent from now on and follow in your footsteps."

Qin Zheng agreed right away, mostly because Li Linling had been focusing on her studies recently and had turned down his date invitations multiple times, so he felt bad about bothering her.

Might as well use this time to improve his Martial Arts Cultivation. In half a year, when Li Linling graduates, maybe he'll already be a Third Rank expert and really impress her!

While shoveling rice and scrolling on his phone, Qin Zheng asked:

"By the way, Chenzhou, I remember you said your family wanted to move to an Inner City apartment, right? I have a friend whose family is high up in a real estate company.

If you need it, I can ask him for you. Maybe you could get an insider discount. Lately, properties in Su City aren't selling well."

Lu Chenzhou thought of his mom, who always dreamed of an Inner City apartment.

"My family doesn't have the money right now, but I'll let you know if we need to. By the way, why aren't Su City's properties selling? Isn't everyone scrambling for Inner City housing?"

Qin Zheng looked around, then whispered:

"I'd guess it's related to the recent Virtual Disaster."

"But didn't they already take care of the source?"

Looking at the slightly naïve Lu Chenzhou, Qin Zheng smiled.

Finally, there was something he knew better than Lu Chenzhou.

His family had money and connections, so he heard more inside news.

He pulled Lu Chenzhou aside to a quiet spot and whispered:

"Don't tell anyone what I'm about to say."

"Okay."

"Bro, I trust you."

After half a year hanging out, he truly trusted Lu Chenzhou's character.

This kid, his biggest strength and weakness is honesty!

Qin Zheng said mysteriously:

"Word is, the Central Void Control Department dispatched a special team to Su City. That means the Virtual Disaster here isn't over yet. I'm guessing there's a Void Realm convergence point here."

Lu Chenzhou's face changed slightly.

Qin Zheng continued:

"You can't hide things like this for long—the officials will report it soon. When that happens, all the rich people in Su City will move to buy property elsewhere, right?

With the way things are, who would dare buy real estate in Su City?"

Lu Chenzhou said:

"With Da Xia's tech, and those powerhouses who've broken through the Seventh Shackles, this should get resolved. No need for useless worry.

If it really can't be solved and some terrifying Virtual Disaster breaks out, where could we even run? Anyway, if Da Xia thought they couldn't handle it, they would evacuate people before the disaster hit. That's how they always do it."

Some small foreign countries did fall before.

Back then, they were like ghost states on earth, Void Things running rampant. But those were rare areas, and afterwards other countries wiped them out and took over. After New Da Xia was founded, its territory ended up bigger than the old peak days, that's how it happened. Like Sakura Island—for all it's supposedly a country, it's basically like a province of Da Xia. Otherwise, why would they let Da Xia host a huge moneymaker like the Foreign Martial Arts Competition?

Qin Zheng pondered this, then added:

"You make sense, but there's always a panic. Every time the Central Void Control Special Team visits some place, it's chaos. This time, it's even bigger. A whole squad of Martial Arts Grandmasters came—think about that..."

Martial Arts Grandmasters are powerhouses who've broken the Fourth Shackles.

At some regular Martial Arts Universities, they can even serve as the president.

Lu Chenzhou asked:

"Is your family moving?"

Qin Zheng shook his head.

"Nah, not that extreme. My family's company is here, moving would be a pain. Besides, my dad thinks this Virtual Disaster is manageable. He trusts the central authorities!"

Lu Chenzhou said:

"Thanks, President."

Now he didn't have much desire for a place in the Inner City. If a huge Virtual Disaster breaks out, nowhere's safe—you'd be better off living in the Martial Arts University family quarters.

At his current level, it's pointless to worry about this. Still, he should warn his family to stay alert, and move out if necessary.

If it came down to it, move to another city and just apply to a different Martial Arts University.

After lunch, Qin Zheng went to find Ji Xuantong for class, and Lu Chenzhou had a nice nap. Rested up, he warmed up and headed to the Qi Blood Measurement Room.

He put on the sensor stickers.

He ramped his martial aura up to peak; practicing Basic Boxing at Perfection Level was really free and expressive, unrestrained by form, with a true master's vibe.

[Qi-Blood 1.46, congratulations! You've reached Second Rank standard!]

"Second Rank! Three months ago, I was just a regular guy."

Having low class root bone but reaching Second Rank as a high school freshman—Lu Chenzhou was satisfied. He went back to training and started practicing Black Tiger Fist alone, the wooden dummy rattling under his strikes.

His first goal now was to reach Small Success in Black Tiger Fist. At that point, his Qi-Blood should naturally reach Third Rank—plus, opening more acupoints would boost his Qi-Blood too.

"Chenzhou, heading home?"

Qin Zheng finished his practice and came out to ask.

"You go ahead—I'm going to train a little longer."

Lu Chenzhou regulated his breath; his Black Tiger Fist had only progressed 2% in proficiency on the Martial Arts Tree. He was out of class for a few days, and really wanted to master Black Tiger Fist soon.

He couldn't wait to see what the Divine Seed effect of Black Tiger Fist Perfection was like.

"Then I'm not leaving either."

Qin Zheng put down his bag, determined to train with Lu Chenzhou till it got dark.

He loosened up, and suddenly suggested, all fired up:

"Chenzhou, let's spar! Since I hit Second Rank, I haven't had a proper match. Time to show you how terrifying Second Rank is, hehe."

Lu Chenzhou got to his feet.

"Um... I'm Second Rank too. Forgot to tell you."

Qin Zheng was stunned.

"Seriously? Weren't you just First Rank three months ago?"

"Yeah, but I was already at 1.33 back then."

"You picked up 0.11 in three months?"

"To be exact, 0.13. I'm at 1.46 now."

"Holy shit! Were you mis-tested for root bone as a kid or something?"

Qin Zheng was having an existential crisis. Weren't they both low class root bone? His own resources were better than Lu Chenzhou's, but now Chenzhou's Qi-Blood actually surpassed his.

Heaven help him—he was only at 1.45!

"I just spent the time you used for gaming and dating senior girls on practicing. Plus, my dad bought me Martial Arts Supplements. It's not as miraculous as you think."

Lu Chenzhou explained.

"Ah, that makes sense. I knew it."

Qin Zheng felt a bit better.

Afraid his bro would suffer, but also afraid his bro would drive a Land Rover!

"I'm not slacking off another day! Starting tomorrow, I'm gonna practice every day. Otherwise you'll leave me in the dust—how can the club president hang his head then?"

Qin Zheng went through another burst of ambitions!

As club president, he couldn't be the dead weight.

Lu Chenzhou asked:

"President, still want to spar?"

"Of course. We're both Second Rank, it's a fair duel."

Qin Zheng assumed his stance and, after warming up, called out:

"Which fist technique you using? I'm picking Swallow Return Fist."

Swallow Return Fist was a standard martial arts technique, about the same tier as Black Tiger Fist—pretty much third class. Even among ordinary techniques, there's a third class ranking.

Shi Ruyu had picked up White Ape Fist at Pingjiang Martial Arts University, which is a first class ordinary technique. With Dragon and Tiger Heavenly Pile practiced to Perfection, you could get Qi-Blood above Ninth Rank. Those kinds of techniques are usually only taught at universities, rare in martial arts academies.

Lu Chenzhou said:

"I'll go with Black Tiger Fist."

Actually, his Perfection Level Basic Boxing was more powerful now.

But he didn't want to crush the president's confidence—he was a decent guy, after all.

Qin Zheng cleared his throat and declared loudly:

"Swallow Return Fist, Qin Zheng—please give me your guidance!"

Lu Chenzhou hadn't expected him to be so formal—such a dork. It wasn't even a challenge match, and even worse, Qin Zheng's shout drew all the other people training to look over.

A bunch of folks pounding wooden dummies or doing weights all turned their attention this way.

Lu Chenzhou felt helpless, so he humored him and said:

"Black Tiger Fist, Lu Chenzhou—please give me your guidance!"