Chapter Seventy-Three: With a Mortal Body, Perform Deeds of the Divine! (Fourth Chapter—Please Subscribe!)
Shang Xiulin looked at Tang Fei and the chubby boy standing before him, and asked, “Are you two the ones who wish to enter our Empire’s First Military Academy?”
“Yes.” Tang Fei bowed deeply to Shang Xiulin.
Though fearless of heaven and earth, he held deep respect for teachers and knowledge.
Shang Xiulin nodded, thoughtfully sizing Tang Fei up.
He could sense the genuine respect Tang Fei showed him—not the superficial kind, nor the sort performed merely to gain admission. After decades of teaching, Shang Xiulin trusted his own judgment.
It was heartfelt, the kind that could be keenly felt by others.
But weren’t they supposed to be exiles from the Old Lands?
Could it be that the children from the Old Lands thirsted so fiercely for culture and knowledge?
Shang Xiulin appreciated Tang Fei’s reverence for teachers; he refused to teach any student who could not demonstrate even this.
His gaze shifted to the chubby boy, pondering the possibilities of future cultivation, and asked, “You wish to join the Ancient Martial Arts Department?”
“I hadn’t thought about it. Sister Phoenix helped me decide.” The boy answered with a simple, honest smile.
“Hm?” Shang Xiulin looked at the boy in surprise. Not only was he overweight, but perhaps not very bright?
He cast a slightly resentful glance at Zhong Yu Xiu Xue, who sat nearby sipping tea. My princess, are these two students you found really as exceptional as you say?
You praised them to the heavens, saying they are unmatched on earth—pardon my poor eyesight, but I really can’t see anything remarkable about them.
Phoenix pointed at the chubby boy and explained, “His real name is Gongshu Lei. Though he hasn’t sensed the energies of yin and yang and cannot become a true cultivator yet, he was born with extraordinary strength.”
Phoenix glanced around the dean’s office and said, “Chubby, lift the dean’s desk.”
“Alright!” the boy replied, ready to attempt lifting the desk.
“Wait, wait!” Shang Xiulin hurriedly stopped him, saying, “This is nonsense! What kind of assessment is this? It’s absurd.”
His desk was full of precious documents and collections; if the boy lifted it, everything would be thrown into chaos.
“So how does the dean wish to test him?” Phoenix asked.
“Come with me to the martial training hall,” Shang Xiulin replied.
Fearing the boy would still attempt to lift his desk, he ushered everyone out of the office, locked the door, and then departed.
The Empire’s First Military Academy was a comprehensive university, offering politics, economics, music, art, military command, and ancient martial arts. The entire campus sat at the foot of Egret Mountain, on the outskirts of Phoenix City. It was vast and beautiful, known as a famous tourist destination in the Phoenix Empire.
Whenever the mountain was awash with peach blossoms and flocks of egrets played by the streams, visitors arrived in endless waves.
On Egret Mountain stood Egret Academy, one of the top cultivator schools in the Phoenix Empire and across the New Star. The finest ancient martial talents from various universities or elite members of the Cultivator Alliance could enter this academy for advanced training through rigorous assessments.
Of course, for most students, it was an unattainable dream.
The First Military Academy had an Ancient Martial Arts Department and naturally a Martial Arts Hall.
At the grand entrance of the Martial Arts Hall, the founding emperor of the Phoenix Empire, Zhong Wushuang, had personally inscribed: First Martial Arts Hall.
This alone showed the academy’s esteemed status in the hearts of the empire’s people and the importance of the Martial Arts Hall within the academy.
When humanity settled on the New Star, they discovered that to survive—and to thrive—they needed not only explosive technological advancement but also robust physiques and resilient wills to endure the demands of this interstellar era.
Thus, nations began promoting ancient techniques and revering martial prowess. One must enrich the mind and arm the body; only through mastery of both could one remain undefeated.
“Dean.” Upon seeing Shang Xiulin arrive with his guests, Chen Bing, director of the Martial Arts Hall, immediately stepped forward to greet him. “The assessment is ready.”
Within the academy, Phoenix was a student, so teachers and students did not need to salute her. Only when she represented the palace at events or grand ceremonies would that be required.
“Very well,” Shang Xiulin nodded. “Begin.”
Chen Bing glanced at her documents. “Which one is Gongshu Lei?”
Her gaze had already settled on the chubby boy, for his physique was unmistakable.
“I am Gongshu Lei,” the boy stepped forward.
He wondered if, upon entering the school, he would be called only by this name. Why had his foster father chosen such an odd name for him? If only he were called Gongshu Fat, then people could rightfully call him ‘Chubby.’
Chen Bing nodded. “Your assessment is a gravity experiment: in the gravity chamber, lift the sledgehammer and smash the virtual diamond before you. Passing the test at ten times gravity is considered qualified.”
“Ten times?” Phoenix protested, “You’re setting the standard for cultivators for Chubby!”
Shang Xiulin gave Phoenix a sidelong glance. “What’s the matter? Lost confidence?”
“I just think it’s too difficult. I’m afraid it might harm Chubby’s health.”
“We’ll start the assessment at three times gravity and gradually increase. If he can’t endure, he can call it off at any time,” Chen Bing explained.
As head of the Martial Arts Hall, she naturally recognized Zhong Yu Xiu Xue, the star student.
Although she could not manage Phoenix herself, there were people all around who could.
Best not to offend such a person. If she misunderstood that Chen Bing was deliberately targeting her friend, it would not end well.
“Sister Phoenix, I’ll be fine,” Chubby reassured her.
He had no idea what a gravity experiment entailed, but he feared nothing.
Hadn’t he seen every monster and demon on the mountain? The rocks he carried home were enough to fill the sea like Jingwei.
“Be sure to stay safe,” Phoenix advised, patting Chubby’s shoulder. “If you can’t endure, don’t force yourself.”
No matter what, she would find a way for Chubby to enter the best school in the empire.
If all else failed, she would pull out all of Shang Xiulin’s hair and turn him bald.
Let’s see how the girls in the school could still call him “the most cultured and refined dean in the empire.”
Phoenix genuinely cared for Chubby. With her connection to Tang Fei, her affection extended to him, but more importantly, on the Old Lands, Chubby had shown her selfless kindness and care.
She regarded Chubby as a younger brother.
She could not bear to see such a kind soul harmed, much less perish.
“Alright!” Chubby agreed, reassuring her, “I’ll be fine, Sister Phoenix. Don’t worry.”
“Go on. Good luck!” Phoenix encouraged him.
Chubby clenched his fists and turned to Tang Fei, “Brother, any last advice?”
Tang Fei knocked him on the head, annoyed. “What, you’re not coming back?”
“Hehe,” Chubby laughed foolishly.
That knock from his big brother made him feel instantly invigorated.
Led by Chen Bing, Chubby entered a sealed, silvery room.
Inside, the outside world was invisible, but those outside could watch the real-time feed from the gravity chamber on a large screen.
Chubby entered and looked around. The chamber was oval, empty—even without a button.
“Where’s the hammer?” Chubby asked. “Where’s the stone?”
How could he be tested without them?
Whoosh!
A winged, yellow virtual sprite flew up to Chubby and spoke in a cute mechanical voice, “Attention, trainee! Attention, trainee!”
“I’m paying attention!” Chubby replied.
...
Everyone watching on the screen was speechless. Why was he chatting with an electronic sprite?
“The assessment begins now,” the sprite said, skipping further chatter.
“Alright,” Chubby nodded.
“For this test, the trainee must use the hammer to strike the stone. Only when the stone is shattered will you pass.”
As soon as the sprite finished, a pitch-black hammer and a glittering golden stone appeared before Chubby. Though both were virtual, when Chubby reached out, he found the hammer heavy in his hand, almost tangible.
Outside, Chen Bing used a voice command, “Begin three times gravity assessment.”
“Three times gravity assessment begins,” the sprite announced.
Suddenly, Chubby felt his body become heavy. He no longer felt nimble.
His body stiffened; even breathing grew labored.
The gravity chamber was now fully operational.
Chubby reached out, grabbed the hammer, and brought it down hard on the golden stone.
Crack!
The diamond shattered into a pile of sparkling fragments.
“Three times gravity assessment passed,” the sprite announced.
“Three times gravity assessment passed,” Chen Bing echoed. “Begin five times gravity assessment.”
“Five times gravity assessment begins,” the sprite repeated.
The scattered fragments quickly gathered, reforming into a glittering diamond.
Chubby immediately felt even heavier. Sweat beaded on his forehead, and his arms felt as if weighed down by lead.
Still, as before, he seized the hammer and smashed it against the diamond.
Crack!
The diamond splintered again.
“Five times gravity assessment passed,” the sprite promptly reported.
“Five times gravity assessment passed. Eight times gravity assessment—”
“Ten times,” said Shang Daoxiu. “He hasn’t exerted himself yet. Let’s try ten times directly.”
“Yes, Dean,” Chen Bing responded.
“Five times gravity assessment passed. Begin ten times gravity assessment.”
“Five times gravity assessment passed. Begin ten times gravity assessment,” the sprite confirmed.
As soon as the words were spoken, the entire gravity chamber grew oppressive, cramped, stifling—inciting frustration and rage.
Chubby felt like a biscuit being compressed in a machine, or a fish vacuum-packed.
He thought his body might be crushed or torn apart at any moment.
It was unbearable; he had to open his mouth wide to breathe, and his clothes were soaked through with sweat.
The hammer in his hand seemed heavier and heavier, threatening to drag him to the ground.
“Dean,” Phoenix cried, seeing Chubby’s miserable state, “I’m afraid he can’t take it.”
She could accept failure, but not harm befalling Chubby.
“He can take it,” Shang Daoxiu’s eyes flashed. “He must take it.”
Chubby gritted his teeth, his veins pulsing on his forehead.
He hunched over, eyes fixed on the diamond before him as if it were his mortal enemy.
Tang Fei knew he was gathering his strength.
Such a weight could not be lifted lightly; it required a sudden burst of power—like weightlifting.
“Roar!”
Chubby let out a cry, mustering every ounce of strength, and swung the hammer with all his might, smashing it down onto the diamond.
Crack!
The diamond burst into golden dust.
“He did it! Chubby succeeded!” Phoenix exclaimed, gripping Tang Fei’s arm in excitement.
She was happier than if she had passed the entrance exam herself.
“Yes, he passed. It’s no easy feat,” Tang Fei said with deep emotion.
A boy who could not sense yin and yang, who had never formally cultivated a day in his life, had passed an assessment only cultivators could pass.
With mortal flesh, he performed a feat worthy of gods.
“Twenty times,” a cold voice sounded in the air.
...
(ps: Thanks to Xiao Ou for becoming our Star River Lord. Xiao Ou is a very old friend of Old Liu—through wind and rain, never abandoning. Thank you for always being here.)
(End of chapter)