Chapter 1 Huada High School

Huada High School was packed today, bustling with activity. Students from dozens of nearby middle schools had gathered to take the First Military Academy entrance exam, filling the campus with unfamiliar faces.

The First Military Academy was highly coveted. As humanity continued to expand into outer space, the importance of military academies grew. Admission to the academy meant state recognition and special protection as a First Military Academy student, classified as a special talent.

The First Military Academy was a comprehensive university, with many courses similar to those at other universities, but with a heavy emphasis on military science and technology. Many high-ranking government officials were graduates of the First Military Academy, solidifying its unshakeable position. Graduates weren't obligated to join the military, but a First Military Academy diploma opened many doors, a sentiment shared by most.

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

"I heard Liu Ze drives a Nisu, worth two or three million," one said.

"I didn't know Liu Ze's family was so rich," another replied.

Their faces reflected envy, each lost in thought. One of the girls glanced into the distance. In the underground garage, Nie Yan was getting out of a Solon, locking the door behind him.

She rubbed her eyes, making sure it was Nie Yan. Disbelief washed over her face. A Solon couldn't be had for just two or three million; 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 savage beast. A Fierce Tiger! They couldn't believe they were seeing a Fierce Tiger here! The girls stared wide-eyed.

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

Tang Yao stepped out of the vehicle.

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

"It's my old man. He wants me to take the exam, says if I get in, he can pull some strings to get me a good job after graduation. What could I do?" Tang Yao shrugged, feigning helplessness. While his old man needed him, he drove the Fierce Tiger out, and his dad couldn't say anything about it.

Nie Yan understood. Tang Yao's words weren't empty; his father wielded some influence. Unfortunately, he was a businessman, and businessmen couldn't compare to government officials. So his father hoped Tang Yao would get into the First Military Academy, adding glory to the family.

"Let's go."

Nie Yan and Tang Yao walked towards the elevator, chatting.

"Isn't that Nie Yan from our class?"

"Who's that fatty?"

"I don't know."

"Driving a Fierce Tiger, that's insane. I doubt there are many at our school who can afford one."

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

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

"His target isn't us, it's the class beauty, Xie Yao," one of the taller girls said jealously.

"Who's that classmate beside him?"

"Don't know, maybe there's a chance for us."

Nie Yan and Tang Yao walked through the long corridor towards the examination hall, a large hall where students could submit their personal credit records to receive their admission ticket number and take the exam. There were probably five or six hundred students in the hall, all from Huada High School. Other schools had separate examination halls.

Nie Yan scanned the hall and noticed a crowd gathered in the distance. Xie Yao, Xia Ling, Zhai Hao, and others were there, along with a figure he found particularly annoying: Liu Rui.

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

Nie Yan suddenly found the couple, Xia Ling and Zhai Hao, rather endearing.

Xie Yao seemed to be waiting anxiously for something. Her eyes lit up when she saw Nie Yan. The expression of delight 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, Liu Rui's face darkened. His hand clenched into a fist, then relaxed. He envied Nie Yan and wanted to beat him up, but Nie Yan's kick was still fresh in his mind. He was intimidated and couldn't muster any desire to confront Nie Yan.

Nie Yan smiled and nodded at Xie Yao, then turned to Liu Rui with an enthusiastic grin. "Oh, Liu Rui, you're finally back! I'm really sorry about what happened last time. My kick was too strong, and you ended up with such a serious injury." Nie Yan's expression seemed genuine, and anyone who didn't know him would think he was sincerely apologizing.

Seeing Nie Yan approach, Liu Rui took a step back warily before realizing they weren't in the arena. He forced an awkward smile and said, "It's okay." His smile was strained, and Nie Yan's words grated on his ears.

Nie Yan put his arm around Liu Rui's neck and patted him on the chest, laughing. "We're classmates, let's not dwell on such a small matter."

A small matter? Lying in the hospital for so long was a small matter?

Liu Rui felt his blood surge as he was hit with two heavy blows to the chest. He used his hand to deflect the force, knowing that Xie Yao and the others were watching. Not wanting to lose face, he forced a smile and said, "It's okay, I won't hold it against you. It's my turn to take the test, I'll go first."

Liu Rui pushed Nie Yan away and fled towards the examination area.

Watching Liu Rui's retreating figure, Nie Yan smirked. Xie Yao glanced at him, a hint of reproach in her eyes. She couldn't possibly miss Nie Yan's little trick, but she didn't have any fondness for Liu Rui, so she said nothing.

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

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

Punching force: 230 kilograms, leg strength: 260 kilograms, squat: 320 kilograms, pull strength: 220 kilograms... The numbers drew gasps of amazement from the onlookers, far exceeding the First Military Academy's passing marks.

"That's Liu Rui, the strongest in Class 3, the guy who can compete with Zhao Long from Class 7. He's amazing, he's definitely getting into the First Military Academy with those scores."

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

"That's just rumors, no way."

...

After being defeated by Nie Yan, Liu Rui had indeed suffered. He used the best nutrient solutions and trained relentlessly, determined to surpass Nie Yan, leading to rapid improvements in his stats.

These whispers reached Nie Yan and the others. Zhai Hao walked over and patted Nie Yan on the shoulder. "Bro, give it your best shot when it's your turn. I think you're definitely stronger than Liu Rui." Although he knew Nie Yan was strong, having defeated Liu Rui with a single move, he didn't know the extent of Nie Yan's strength, so he offered encouragement.

Liu Rui's scores were impressive, even stronger than before.

Nie Yan smiled and said nothing. Liu Rui's stats were simply not worth considering.

After a while, it was Xie Yao's turn. Her scores were much lower, but as a girl, she still exceeded the passing marks. Academic performance wasn't a problem for her.

Zhai Hao and Xia Ling went to test as well. Nie Yan and Xie Yao chatted together, hearing some murmurs from a distance.

"Nothing to see, none of them can compare to Liu Rui."

"Yeah, each one worse than the last."

The group was standing not far away, speaking loudly, seemingly on purpose for Xie Yao to hear. Liu Rui was watching from a distance, but he didn't dare approach because Nie Yan was there.

Xie Yao frowned upon hearing these words.

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

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

Nie Yan's words were a bit suggestive. He smiled without answering and walked towards the examination area.

Nie Yan entered the examination hall.

Seeing Nie Yan leave, Liu Rui finally approached from a distance, pretending to be casual. "Nie Yan went in? I hope he gets good scores." Of course, he was just saying that. He secretly hoped Nie Yan would fail miserably.

"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 schoolmates," Liu Rui said, watching Xie Yao's reaction.

Xie Yao was looking towards the examination area, seeming a little impatient. Liu Rui felt unwelcome.

Nie Yan walked into the examination hall, and the scene felt so familiar. In his past life, he had wanted to attend the First Military Academy but was powerless to do so. According to the trajectory of his past life, Xie Yao and Liu Rui would both attend the First Military Academy. How could Nie Yan not go?

Looking at the sandbag in front of him, he noted the special sensors that could detect even the slightest force deviation.

Nie Yan stood in a standard stance, took a deep breath, and with a loud shout, punched the sandbag. With a thud, the sandbag swayed violently.

Punching force: 511.3 kilograms.

As soon as Nie Yan threw his punch, a commotion erupted outside.

"Holy crap! That's impossible! The instrument must be wrong!"

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

No high school student had ever achieved such a punching force.

A slender invigilator on the stage walked down, checked the instrument, confirmed it was working correctly, and glanced at Nie Yan with surprise. He gestured to the other invigilators on the stage, signaling to continue the test.

The result was valid. Punching force: 511.3 kilograms.

Another uproar erupted outside.

"Holy crap, who is this freak?"

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

"Someone said he kicked Liu Rui so hard that Liu Rui was bedridden for days?"

"Is that true?"

"What a beast! A punching force of 511, he could participate in the Federal Professional League!"

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