Chapter 1 The Crowd

Hua University High School was packed today, bustling with activity. Students from dozens of nearby middle schools were here to participate in the First Military Academy's entrance exam, filling the campus with unfamiliar faces.

The allure of the First Military Academy was immense. With humanity's constant expansion into extraterrestrial domains, the importance of military academies had become increasingly prominent. Admission to the academy guaranteed state recognition and special protection as a First Military Academy student, classified as a special talent.

The First Military Academy was a comprehensive university offering many courses similar to other universities, but it specialized in military technology. Many high-ranking government officials were alumni, solidifying the academy's unshakeable position. Graduates weren't obligated to join the military, but a First Military Academy background opened many doors, a sentiment shared by most.

At the entrance to the underground parking garage, three girls from Class 3 were chatting. They were classmates of Nie Yan and Xie Yao.

"I heard Liu Ze drove a Nisu, worth two or three million."

"I didn't expect Liu Ze's family to be so rich."

They wore envious expressions, each lost in their own thoughts. One of the girls glanced into the distance at Nie Yan, who was getting out of a Solon in the underground garage and locking the door.

She rubbed her eyes, and after confirming it was Nie Yan, revealed an incredulous expression. A Solon wasn't something two or three million could buy; the most basic Solon hovercar cost at least twenty million.

Just then, an even more formidable vehicle entered the underground garage. Its streamlined design resembled a ferocious beast. A Meng Hu! To see a Meng Hu here! The girls' eyes widened.

Nie Yan had just closed his car door as the vehicle parked nearby. He glanced over. Wasn't that Tang Yao's car?

Tang Yao stepped out of the car.

"Yaozi, what are you doing here?" Nie Yan asked.

"My old man made me come take the exam. He said if I get in, he can pull some strings and secure me a good career after graduation. What else could I do?" Tang Yao said, shrugging helplessly. He took advantage of his father needing him to drive the Meng Hu out; his father wouldn't dare say anything.

Nie Yan understood. Tang Yao wasn't acting without purpose; his father had some influence. Unfortunately, he was a businessman, and the status of a businessman couldn't compare to that of government officials. That's why his father hoped Tang Yao would get into the First Military Academy, partly for the glory it would bring to their ancestors.

"Let's go."

Nie Yan and Tang Yao chatted as they walked towards the elevator.

"Is that Nie Yan from our class?"

"Who's that fatty?"

"I don't know."

"Driving a Meng Hu is amazing. I doubt there are many in our school who can afford one."

The three girls' gazes followed Nie Yan and Tang Yao until they disappeared around the elevator corner.

"Nie Yan seems pretty low-key and doesn't talk much, but he can afford a Solon."

"His target isn't us, it's class beauty Xie Yao," a tall girl said with a hint of jealousy.

"Who's that classmate next to him?"

"I don't know. Maybe there's a chance."

Nie Yan and Tang Yao walked through the long corridor towards the exam hall. The exam hall was a large auditorium. After swiping a personal credit record and submitting the information, a test admission ticket number could be obtained immediately, allowing the student to participate in the exam. There were about five or six hundred people in the exam hall, all from Hua University High School. The exam halls for other schools weren't located here.

Nie Yan scanned the exam hall and noticed a group of people gathered in the distance, including Xie Yao, Xia Ling, and Zhai Hao. There was also an unwelcome figure nearby: Liu Rui.

Xia Ling and Zhai Hao stood between Liu Rui and Xie Yao, protecting her.

Nie Yan suddenly thought that Xia Ling and Zhai Hao were adorable together.

Xie Yao seemed to be waiting anxiously for something. When she saw Nie Yan, her eyes lit up. The delighted expression in Xie Yao's bright eyes filled Nie Yan with joy.

Nie Yan walked towards Xie Yao and the others.

"You're here! I was just about to call you," Xie Yao said happily.

Seeing Xie Yao's radiant smile, a cloud of darkness spread across Liu Rui's face. He clenched his fist, then released it. He was jealous of Nie Yan and wished he could beat him up, but he vividly remembered Nie Yan's kick. He was afraid of being beaten again and couldn't muster any thoughts of confronting Nie Yan.

Nie Yan nodded at Xie Yao with a smile and looked at Liu Rui, revealing an enthusiastic grin. "Oh, Liu Rui, you're finally back! I'm really sorry about what happened last time. I kicked too hard and accidentally injured you so badly." Nie Yan's expression seemed very sincere. Anyone who didn't know Nie Yan would definitely think he was sincerely apologizing.

Seeing Nie Yan approach, Liu Rui took a step back warily before realizing this wasn't the arena. He laughed awkwardly and said, "It's nothing." His smile looked forced, and Nie Yan's words grated on his ears.

Nie Yan hooked his arm around Liu Rui's neck and punched him lightly on the chest, laughing. "We're classmates. Don't take such a small matter to heart."

A small matter? Spending so long in the hospital was a small matter?

Liu Rui felt his blood churning from the two heavy punches to his chest. He blocked with his hand. With Xie Yao and the others nearby, he couldn't reveal his true feelings. He forced a smile and said, "It's okay, I won't hold it against you. It's my turn to be tested, so I'll go first."

Liu Rui pushed Nie Yan away and hurried towards the exam area as if escaping.

Watching Liu Rui's retreating figure, Nie Yan revealed a mischievous smile. Xie Yao looked over, her expression slightly reproachful. She could see through Nie Yan's little trick, but she didn't have any good feelings toward Liu Rui, so she didn't say anything.

Nie Yan, Xie Yao, Zhai Hao, Xia Ling, and the others chatted together for a while.

After a while, Nie Yan and Xie Yao looked towards the exam area. Liu Rui had already started the exam, and his scores were being displayed one by one.

Punch force: 230 kilograms, leg strength: 260 kilograms, squat: 320 kilograms, pull force: 220 kilograms… The numbers elicited gasps of surprise from the people nearby. These values far exceeded the First Military Academy's standards.

"That's Liu Rui, the strongest in Class 3, the guy who can compete with Zhao Long from Class 7. He's amazing. These results will definitely get him into the First Military Academy."

"I heard Class 3 has a new student who's even stronger than Liu Rui."

"That's just nonsense. How could that be possible?"

...

After being defeated by Nie Yan, Liu Rui had indeed suffered a bit. He used the best nutritional supplements every day and trained desperately, wanting to surpass Nie Yan. His stats improved quickly.

These quiet discussions reached Nie Yan and the others. Zhai Hao walked over and patted Nie Yan on the shoulder, saying, "Bro, give it your all later. I think you're definitely stronger than Liu Rui." Although he knew Nie Yan was strong and had defeated Liu Rui in one move, he never knew how strong Nie Yan really was, so he encouraged him.

Liu Rui's scores were a bit astonishing, even stronger than before.

Nie Yan smiled but didn't say anything. Liu Rui's stats were nothing to him.

After a while, it was Xie Yao's turn. Xie Yao's stats were much lower, but as a girl, she had already exceeded the standards. Academic performance wasn't a problem for her.

Zhai Hao and Xia Ling went to be tested. Nie Yan and Xie Yao chatted together and heard some discussion from a distance.

"Nothing to see, no one can compare to Liu Rui."

"Yeah, one is worse than the other."

These people were standing not far away, speaking loudly, as if deliberately for Xie Yao to hear. Liu Rui was watching from a distance but didn't dare to approach because Nie Yan was there.

Xie Yao frowned when she heard these words.

"It's my turn. I'm going up to test. If I surpass Liu Rui, you have to give me a reward," Nie Yan said, smiling in Xie Yao's ear.

"What reward?" Xie Yao asked, her heart feeling a little guilty. Nie Yan's meaningful smile made her heart beat faster.

Nie Yan's words were a bit ambiguous. He smiled without speaking and walked towards the exam area.

Nie Yan entered the exam hall.

Seeing Nie Yan leave, Liu Rui finally walked over from a distance, pretending to be casual. "Nie Yan went in? I hope he gets good results." Of course, he was just saying it. He hoped Nie Yan would perform poorly.

"Mm," Xie Yao responded faintly, saying nothing more.

"I didn't perform very well today. I could have done better. Xie Yao, are you going to the First Military Academy too? Then we'll be alumni," Liu Rui said, watching Xie Yao's reaction.

Xie Yao looked towards the exam area, seeming a little impatient. Liu Rui felt unwelcome.

Nie Yan walked into the exam hall. How similar this scene was to his past life, when he had wanted to enter the First Military Academy but was powerless. According to the trajectory of his past life, Xie Yao and Liu Rui would both enter the First Military Academy. How could Nie Yan not go!

Looking at the sandbag in front of him, he saw that the sandbag had a special sensor that could detect minute deviations in power.

Nie Yan stood in a standard stance, took a deep breath, and shouted, striking the sandbag with a punch. With a bang, the sandbag shook violently.

Punch force: 511.3 kilograms.

After Nie Yan threw his punch, a commotion erupted outside.

"Holy crap! That's impossible. Is the instrument broken?"

"Yeah, the instrument must be malfunctioning! How is that possible!"

No high school student had ever achieved such a level of punching power.

A thin proctor walked down from the platform, checked the instrument to make sure it was working correctly, and glanced at Nie Yan in surprise. He gestured to the other proctors on the platform, indicating that the exam should continue.

Result valid. Punch force: 511.3 kilograms.

Another commotion erupted outside.

"Damn, who's such a freak?"

"I heard it's a guy named Nie Yan from Class 3."

"Did someone say he kicked Liu Rui and sent him flying, causing Liu Rui to stay home for several days?"

"Is that true?"

"A fierce guy with a punch force of 511. He could join the Federal Professional League."

"Let's keep watching and see what his squat, leg strength, and pull force are."