Hua Da High School was bustling with people today. Students from dozens of nearby middle schools had come here to take the entrance exam for the First Military Academy, making the campus crowded with unfamiliar faces.
The First Military Academy held great allure. As humanity continued to expand into extraterrestrial territories, the importance of military education became increasingly evident. Enrollment in a military academy ensured national recognition of one’s social status, and students from the First Military Academy were classified as special talents, receiving special national protection.
The First Military Academy functioned as a comprehensive university, offering many courses similar to those at other universities, with a particular emphasis on military technology. Many high-ranking government officials had graduated from the First Military Academy, solidifying its unshakable position.
Graduates of the First Military Academy were not required to join the military, but having attended the academy made many things much easier. This was the general perception of most people.
At the entrance to the underground parking garage, three girls were chatting together. They were all students from Class 3, the same class as Nie Yan and Xie Yao.
“I heard Liu Ze drove a Nisu, worth two or three million,” one girl said.
“Didn’t expect Liu Ze’s family to be so rich.”
They showed expressions of admiration, each secretly wondering. One girl glanced at the distance and noticed Nie Yan stepping out of a Solon and locking the car door.
She rubbed her eyes to confirm it was indeed Nie Yan, then showed an expression of disbelief. A Solon was no ordinary vehicle; even the most basic Solon hovercar cost at least twenty million.
Just then, a more powerful-looking car drove into the underground garage. With a streamlined, aggressive structure, it resembled a ferocious beast. It was a Tiger! They were shocked to see a Tiger here. The girls widened their eyes in astonishment.
As the car parked nearby, Nie Yan had just closed his car door. Glancing at the car, he recognized it as the one belonging to Tang Yao.
Tang Yao stepped out of the car.
“Yaozi, you’re here too?” Nie Yan asked.
“My old man insisted I come and give it a try. He said if I get in, he can pull some strings for me after graduation to secure a good job. So, here I am,” Tang Yao shrugged helplessly. Taking advantage of his father needing something from him, he had taken the Tiger out, knowing his father wouldn’t dare say anything.
Nie Yan understood. Tang Yao wasn’t here without reason. His father did have some influence, although he was just a businessman. A merchant’s status could never rival that of government officials. Hence, Tang Yao’s father hoped he would get into the First Military Academy, a way to bring honor to the family name.
“Let’s go.”
Nie Yan and Tang Yao walked toward the elevator while chatting.
“Is that our classmate Nie Yan?”
“Who’s that fat guy?”
“Don’t know.”
“Driving a Tiger? Amazing! I don’t think there are many people in our school who can afford a Tiger.”
The three girls kept watching until Nie Yan and Tang Yao disappeared around the elevator corner.
“Nie Yan seems pretty low-key, doesn’t talk much, yet he can afford a Solon.”
“He’s not interested in us, but in our class beauty, Xie Yao,” said a tall girl with a hint of jealousy.
“Who’s that guy with him?”
“Don’t know. Maybe there’s still a chance.”
Nie Yan and Tang Yao walked through the long corridor toward the examination hall. The exam venue was a large hall. After swiping their personal credit records and submitting their information, candidates could immediately receive their admission numbers and proceed to the exam. There were about five or six hundred people in the hall, all from Hua Da High School; other schools had different venues.
Nie Yan scanned the exam hall and noticed a group of people in the distance, including Xie Yao, Xia Ling, Zhai Hao, and others. Beside them was an unwelcome figure—Liu Rui.
Liu Rui was separated from Xie Yao by Xia Ling and Zhai Hao, who stood protectively in front of her.
Nie Yan suddenly thought that Xia Ling and Zhai Hao were really adorable.
Xie Yao seemed to be anxiously waiting for something. When she saw Nie Yan, her eyes lit up. Her expression of joy was clearly visible to Nie Yan, lifting his mood instantly.
Nie Yan walked toward Xie Yao and the others.
“You’re here! I was about to call you,” Xie Yao said happily.
Seeing Xie Yao’s bright smile, Liu Rui’s face darkened. He clenched his fists and then relaxed them. Jealous of Nie Yan, he wished he could beat him up. But Nie Yan’s previous kick left a deep impression on him, instilling fear and preventing any thoughts of confrontation.
Nie Yan smiled at Xie Yao and nodded, then turned to Liu Rui with an enthusiastic expression. “Oh, Liu Rui, you’re finally back! I’m really sorry about last time; I kicked you too hard and accidentally injured you seriously.” Nie Yan’s expression looked genuinely apologetic, and someone unfamiliar with him might believe his sincerity.
Seeing Nie Yan approach, Liu Rui instinctively took a step back, then realized they weren’t in the arena anymore and forced a smile. “It’s okay.” His smile looked painful, and he inwardly cursed Nie Yan bitterly.
Nie Yan put an arm around Liu Rui’s neck and patted his chest. “We’re classmates, so let’s not dwell on such small matters.”
Small matters? He had been bedridden in the hospital for so long because of that!
Liu Rui felt a surge of anger as Nie Yan punched his chest twice. He blocked with his hands, trying to maintain composure with Xie Yao and others nearby. He forced a smile and said, “It’s fine, I won’t hold it against you. It’s my turn to take the test now, so I’ll go first.”
Liu Rui pushed past Nie Yan and hurried toward the exam area like he was fleeing.
Watching Liu Rui’s back, Nie Yan showed a mischievous smile. Xie Yao looked over and gave him a slightly disapproving look. She could see through Nie Yan’s little tricks, but since she had no affection for Liu Rui, she said nothing.
Nie Yan, Xie Yao, Zhai Hao, Xia Ling, and others chatted together for a while.
After a while, Nie Yan and Xie Yao turned their attention to the exam area where Liu Rui had begun his test, with each result being displayed.
Punch power: 230 kg, leg strength: 260 kg, squat: 320 kg, pull strength: 220 kg… Each number drew astonished exclamations from the onlookers. These figures far exceeded the passing standards of the First Military Academy.
“That’s Liu Rui from Class 3, the strongest one who can rival Zhao Long from Class 7. He’s amazing; he’s definitely getting into the First Military Academy.”
“I heard there’s a new student in Class 3 who’s even stronger than Liu Rui.”
“That must be a rumor. How is that possible?”
After being defeated by Nie Yan, Liu Rui had indeed endured some hardship. He used the best nutrient solutions daily, trained hard, and wanted to surpass Nie Yan, quickly improving his performance.
These whispers reached Nie Yan and the others. Zhai Hao approached and patted Nie Yan’s shoulder. “Bro, when it’s your turn, do your best. I’m sure you’re much stronger than Liu Rui.” Although he knew Nie Yan was strong enough to defeat Liu Rui in one move, he had no idea exactly how strong Nie Yan was, so he encouraged him.
Liu Rui’s results were impressive, even stronger than before.
Nie Yan smiled but said nothing. Liu Rui’s numbers were nothing to be impressed by.
After a while, it was Xie Yao’s turn. Her scores were much lower, but as a girl, she had already exceeded the passing line. Academic performance was not a problem for her.
Xia Ling and Zhai Hao went to take their tests as well. Nie Yan and Xie Yao chatted together when they overheard some distant conversations.
“There’s nothing worth watching here; none can match Liu Rui.”
“Yeah, each one is worse than the last.”
These people stood not far away, speaking loudly, seemingly intentionally for Xie Yao to hear. Liu Rui was watching from a distance but dared not come over because of Nie Yan.
Xie Yao frowned slightly upon hearing these words.
“It’s my turn now. I’ll go take the test. If I beat Liu Rui, you have to give me a reward,” Nie Yan whispered with a smile to Xie Yao.
“What kind of reward?” Xie Yao asked nervously, her heart quickening at Nie Yan’s meaningful smile.
Nie Yan’s words were a bit ambiguous. He just smiled without answering and walked toward the exam hall.
Nie Yan entered the exam hall. The scene felt eerily familiar. In his previous life, he had wanted to get into the First Military Academy but was unable to. Following that timeline, Xie Yao and Liu Rui would both get in. How could Nie Yan not go!
Looking at the sandbag ahead, Nie Yan took a standard stance, took a deep breath, and with a deep grunt, punched the sandbag with a loud thud, causing it to swing violently.
Punch power: 511.3 kg.
After Nie Yan’s punch, an uproar erupted outside.
“What the hell! That’s impossible; did the machine malfunction?”
“Yeah, must be a problem with the machine! How could this happen!”
Never before had a high school student achieved such a punch power.
A thin invigilator from the stage walked down to check the equipment, confirmed there was no error, and looked at Nie Yan in astonishment. He signaled to the other invigilators on the stage to continue the exam.
The result was valid. Punch power: 511.3 kg.
Another commotion arose outside.
“Damn, who’s this monster?”
“I heard it’s a guy named Nie Yan from Class 3.”
“Didn’t he kick Liu Rui so hard that Liu had to stay home for days?”
“Is that true?”
“A ferocious guy, punch power 511. He could probably compete in the Federal Professional League without any problem.”
“Let’s keep watching and see his squat, leg strength, and pull strength.”
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