Chapter 89: Slapping in the Face with True Strength

After the first round of tests, the results left everyone gaping in astonishment, especially Ethan. He actually got the first place, which was both unacceptable and unacknowledged by them!

A student who had never received any training actually won the top spot. Then what were the teachers for? Everyone could just become self - taught.

"Don't get too complacent! He who laughs last laughs best!" A teacher said to Ethan with a sour look.

"Exactly! This is just the beginning. Even if he used some underhanded means before, he can't be so lucky in the following tests. Because the subsequent tests will really examine one's true strength." A teacher who suspected Ethan of cheating in the first - round test couldn't help but say.

In the preparation area, Mr. Wilson, who was second in the first - round exam, came up to Ethan, exuding a menacing air.

"You are the only one who has ever surpassed me in the exams I've taken."

"What? Not convinced? You'll get used to it slowly!" Ethan replied.

"Huh?" Mr. Wilson frowned.

"You're so arrogant! I hope your performance in the following will be as tough as your words!"

"You'll find out soon." Ethan showed no sign of weakness. Then, he raised his arm and pointed at everyone, declaring with great bravado, "I'm telling you! And all of you! As long as I'm here, you can only be second - best at most!"

Hearing this, everyone was stunned at first, and then an uproar broke out.

"So irritating! He just got first place by luck and dares to talk like this. He really thinks he's invincible!" A classmate beside them said indignantly.

"This classmate is interesting. He has successfully aroused my urge to crush him! I hope he won't be crushed too badly by me in the upcoming competition." A student from Azure City No. 16 Middle School said.

"Heh... I used to have a friend as arrogant as you. Now, the grass on his grave is already one and a half meters high!" Another student sneered.

Mr. Lane and Kevin also couldn't stand it.

"Ethan, I know you're very capable. Can we be a bit more low - key? Don't be so conceited. You're likely to get beaten up like this, you know?"

"Be low - key?"

"Yes! Right, be low - key!" Kevin nodded repeatedly.

"Alright. This time I'll be a bit more low - key and try not to make you lose too embarrassingly!" Ethan waved his hand grandly as if he had given them a great favor.

Kevin and Mr. Lane beside him were a bit speechless. Was this also called being low - key? It seemed that this guy had been completely obsessed with being cool.

As for Sophia, she stood there quietly, with a faint smile on her face, just watching quietly.

The second test mainly examined computational ability.

"Ethan, how is your mental arithmetic ability? This is a technical skill. Without special training, you are likely to lose miserably!" Kevin asked Ethan.

"Mental arithmetic ability? I haven't trained." Ethan answered.

"What? You haven't trained but still dare to boast that as long as you're here, others can only be second - best?" Kevin said nervously.

"It's all over. You're definitely going to lose this time. For mental arithmetic ability, without training, it definitely won't work. There are a lot of basic things that need to be memorized. When calculating, it will be much faster, and in the eyes of ordinary people, it seems extremely amazing, but actually it's not that mysterious." Kevin said.

"Have you trained?" Ethan asked Kevin in return.

"Of course. I've been secretly practicing for a long time. The first thing I do every day at school is to practice abacus - based mental arithmetic. I've been坚持 for more than ten years without interruption." Kevin said.

This made Ethan look at Kevin with new respect. Previously, he only knew that Kevin was a good student. He didn't expect that he was so serious and hard - working in private.

"You haven't participated in abacus - based mental arithmetic training. Otherwise, I couldn't have not known you! I've been to all the abacus - based mental arithmetic training classes in Sunny County, and even all the training classes in Azure City. Now there's nothing more to learn. It's mainly about training." Kevin said.

Then, Kevin turned to Sophia beside him.

"Sophia, you should have learned abacus - based mental arithmetic, right?" Kevin asked.

"Yes, I've learned it and have been practicing all along." Sophia answered.

"No wonder. How could Teacher Li let you miss such an important course?" Kevin said.

"However, that second - place Mr. Wilson this time is indeed a strong opponent!

In last year's Azure City abacus - based mental arithmetic competition, this guy got the first place. He is a rare opponent and was almost admitted to the National Mental Arithmetic Committee.

A year has passed, and his mental arithmetic ability is estimated to have improved a great deal! If there were another entrance exam for the National Mental Arithmetic Committee this time, it would be no doubt that he could enter." Kevin said.

Then, Kevin said to Ethan again, "If you're not confident later, just leave directly to avoid being ridiculed!"

"Don't worry. It's still too early for them to laugh at me! Besides, I'm a genius. Does a genius need training?"

"..." Kevin.

He found that Ethan was getting further and further on the road of being thick - skinned and was now far ahead.

The exam bell rang.

This time it was an electronic test paper. Beside the electronic test paper was a submitter. As long as the test was completed, one could immediately press the submitter. Moreover, when the submitter was pressed, it would make a popping sound. So, the moment the popping device was pressed, it would interfere with the calculations of the people beside.

There were a total of one hundred questions on the test paper, all involving complex calculations.

The first question was a multi - digit addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division problem, but the number of digits involved was relatively small, with each number being only two - digit. If a normal person were to calculate it, it would probably take five minutes. However, for these students who had received professional abacus - based mental arithmetic training, this was just an appetizer.

The moment they saw the test paper, everyone got busy.

Many people had their own calculation methods. Some kept pinching their fingers as if they were fortune - telling; some blinked their eyes quickly; some kept making empty gestures in the air as if they were painting. It was really full of variety and emerging in an endless stream.

Everyone's brain was running at high speed.

Swish!

The sound of pen tips sliding on the paper rang out in the examination room.

"It's Mr. Wilson. This guy is so fast. It's less than two seconds."

Then!

"Within less than ten seconds, everyone in the first examination room has finished answering. It seems that everyone is very strong!" A teacher observing the situation inside through the screen couldn't help but exclaim.

"No, there is still one person who hasn't finished!" Another teacher said.

"What is this guy doing?"

"Everyone else is calculating. What is he doing? Still reviewing the questions?" A teacher was stunned when he saw Ethan's performance through the screen.

While everyone else was seizing every second to answer the questions, this guy was taking his time.