High Martial Arts: Grinding for the Supreme Talent

Chapter 42: Chapter 42: The Classification of Geniuses

Jiangtao and Lin Qi were also extremely curious. Their families were ordinary, even poor, and it was hard for them to tell what was true or false among all the information on the internet.

So they needed a trustworthy person to explain it all to them.

Zhang City operated his smartwatch, projecting a large screen filled with images and text. He gathered his thoughts and began to speak.

”After the annual Celestial Sea Monthly Exam, the major Martial Arts Dojos will begin signing contracts with the top talents from each school.”

”A contract isn’t a ’genius loan.’”

”A genius loan is, in essence, a loan. You have to pay back the money you spend now in the future, just without interest.”

”A contract from a Martial Arts Dojo, however, is an investment. They give you money upfront for you to improve your strength, so that you can join their dojo and earn profits for them in the future.”

Everyone nodded. This was more or less what they already understood. No one disliked the idea of a contract; in fact, they were all eager to sign a better one.

Zhang City continued, ”In our Xia Country, there are countless Martial Arts Dojos of all sizes, and they’re all backed by major corporations.”

”Over the next few days, they’ll start approaching you one by one to negotiate contracts.”

”But the dojos themselves vary in quality. The contracts offered by ordinary Martial Arts Dojos, while they do offer money, come with many rules and limited support. They’re not great value for your talent.”

”They’re only suitable for students with ordinary Talent.”

”But as students of the Elite class, your targets should be the three top-tier Martial Arts Dojos.”

”Red Dome, Black Brilliance, and Chongming—the three top-tier Martial Arts Dojos. Each was founded by a Ninth Realm Title Level Martial Artist from our Xia Country. They not only possess wealth that could rival a nation, but also immense martial power and authority.”

”Signing with one of the three top-tier dojos means more freedom in your contract, a higher signing bonus, and better benefits.”

”That’s why no ambitious genius would ever refuse a contract from one of the three great dojos.” Zhang City smiled as he said this.

The hearts of the surrounding students began to beat faster. Signing with one of the three great dojos meant a future filled with promise.

”However, not all of you will be able to sign with the three top-tier Martial Arts Dojos.”

”As I recall, only about 30 people from last year’s class managed to sign with them.” Zhang City poured cold water on their excitement.

Many of their hearts sank at his words.

”I’m ranked 37th... doesn’t that mean I can’t sign with one of the three great dojos?” someone sighed.

The expressions on some of the students’ faces turned sour. Their own ranks were also below 30th.

”Of course, your class is more outstanding than the last one, so there might be more spots available,” Zhang City offered, a rare moment of comfort.

”The three top-tier Martial Arts Dojos categorize geniuses into seven tiers, from the lowest D-level to the highest SSS-level.”

”The S-class, SS-level, and SSS-level tiers have nothing to do with you. Those are reserved for geniuses who have Awakened a Special Ability.”

’A Special Ability?’

Everyone had a complex expression upon hearing this, Lin Qi included. They had only ever seen geniuses like that in the news; they seemed worlds away.

”The tiers that concern you are A-level, B-level, C-level, and D-level.”

”Even the lowest D-level contract grants you millions in cash and precious resources.”

”Of course, signing with a Martial Arts Dojo is a long-term process. As long as you work hard and improve your ranking, you can still secure a contract, or even upgrade an existing one.”

”RING RING RING!”

”Alright, class is over. Dismissed!”

Seeing that class was indeed over, Zhang City dismissed everyone, packed his things, and left the Martial Arts Classroom.

As the students packed up, they began chatting enthusiastically.

A group of them headed to the cafeteria, their conversation centered on the contracts:

”I’m afraid it’ll be difficult for me to even get a D-level contract.”

”Who in our class do you guys think can get an A-level Contract? I heard only a very small number of geniuses are qualified,” someone asked curiously.

”I reckon Li Zhou has the best shot. Yu Jing and Qi Yuelin might have a chance too. The rest of us will get B-level Contracts at best,” someone said.

The others agreed with this assessment.

「The Second Floor of the Cafeteria」

Lin Qi sat down with a tray piled high like a small mountain and began to eat heartily.

”Brother Qi, which Martial Arts Dojo are you planning to sign with?”

Jiangtao asked curiously from across the table after taking a few bites.

Lin Qi shook his head. ”I don’t know. It depends on the negotiations and the contract’s contents.”

Jiangtao nodded excitedly. ”I’ll probably only get a B-level Contract. There’s no hope for an A-level.”

”But even a B-level Contract is worth several million Xia Country Coins! I won’t have to worry about money for the rest of my senior year.”

”But still, Brother Qi, whichever Martial Arts Dojo you go to, I’ll go to the same one,” Jiangtao added.

”Alright!” Lin Qi didn’t refuse.

...

「Evening Self-Study, the Principal’s Office」

”Old Jiang, what’s so important that you had to call me over? I was hoping to get some rest.”

Zhang City complained as he walked in, plopping down onto the sofa.

”Teacher Yan, you’re here too?”

Yan Hong was sitting across from Zhang City. Jiang Zhiguang’s gaze shifted away from the projected spreadsheet.

”We have three students who need to apply to raise their genius loan levels. Old Zhang, I need to get your opinion.”

”Who are they?” Zhang City asked, taking a sip of tea.

”Jiangtao, applying for a Special-Grade Genius Loan.”

”Lin Qi, applying for a Second-Grade Genius Loan!”

”Chen Zichuan, applying for a Second-Grade Genius Loan!”

After speaking, Jiang Zhiguang and Yan Hong both watched for Zhang City’s reaction.

”Those three, huh?” Zhang City’s eyes shifted in thought.

After a moment, he grinned. ”The three of them have excellent Talent. There’s no problem with these applications.”

”However!”

”However what?” Jiang Zhiguang asked.

”I think Lin Qi’s application can be changed. He should be applying for a First-Grade Genius Loan.”

”No, I recommend he apply directly for a Special-Grade Genius Loan,” Zhang City said with a serious expression.

Jiang Zhiguang was stunned. ”That’s even more of an exaggeration than what Yan Hong said. You two think that highly of this Lin Qi?”

Yan Hong spoke up, ”Lin Qi improved by 17 ranks in this monthly exam. His Talent is far greater than that.”

Zhang City also chimed in, ”I don’t know about his academics, but in my Martial Arts class, his Comprehension far surpasses the others.”

”I’m certain his rank will continue to soar by the mid-term assessment.”

”I agree!” Yan Hong nodded.

Jiang Zhiguang nodded after hearing them out. ”I understand. I’ll submit the application for the Special-Grade Genius Loan, but whether it gets approved or not will be up to luck.”

「After the Two Left」

Jiang Zhiguang quickly processed the documents and submitted the three application forms.

After submitting them, he opened Lin Qi’s file to look over his grades and family background.

”Lin Qi... interesting. In three months, he went from a rank of over 100 to 18th in his grade. His progress is unbelievably fast.”

’Is this a case of long-term accumulation leading to a sudden burst of progress? Or has he simply had an epiphany?’

Jiang Zhiguang muttered to himself, habitually watering a flowerpot.

”Huh? It’s sprouted?”

Jiang Zhiguang was pleasantly surprised. In the flowerpot, a speck of green had appeared in the brown soil.

...

「Rongshan District, Lin Family Home, Living Room」

”Dad, I got 18th in the grade on the monthly exam, and in the Starlight Event...”

Lin Qi told the good news to his father, Lin Zhen, who he could see on the video call.

’How long has it been? My son is already in the top 20 of his grade?’

After the shock wore off, an unstoppable smile spread across his lips. ”As expected of my son!!”

”Dad, are you doing okay at the Coastal Base?”

Lin Qi asked.

”Haha, of course I’m doing well! I’m just busy, but I’m definitely earning more than I was before,” Lin Zhen laughed heartily.

”...”

A few minutes later, Lin Qi handed the phone to his mom, Fang Huiyi, and went to wash up.

By the time he came back out, Fang Huiyi had also hung up.

Lin Qi took a few boxes from his room and placed them on the table.

”Mom, I forgot to give you these during the call earlier.”

”These are some supplements I bought. They’ll be good for your health.”

Fang Huiyi smiled, shook her head, and took the boxes. ”You’ve been spending money carelessly again.”

As she spoke, she looked at the boxes, and her expression changed slightly.

”This is the Lotus Set... one box costs twenty thousand! It’s too expensive.”

”Mom, I’m not short on money now. I can afford some supplements,” Lin Qi reassured her.

”Alright then.” Fang Huiyi accepted them.

”Mom, I’m grown up now. I want to know... exactly how much debt does our family have?”

Lin Qi’s expression became serious as he looked into his mom Fang Huiyi’s eyes and asked.

...