章 46: New Benefits
編集者: EndlessFantasy Translation
The next day, Sunday.
After Fang Ping woke up in the morning, he practiced his stance for a while, cleaned himself up, and prepared to head to the new house.
Fang Yuan was not up yet, and Fang Ping had no intention of waking her.
If he did, she would make it that much more troublesome for him to leave.
He was just about to step out when the phone in his pocket vibrated.
Upon pulling it out and giving it a glance, Fang Ping answered the call in slight surprise, "Yes, Brother Wang?"
Usually, Fang Ping had been the one to call him, asking him some questions regarding cultivation.
Aside from that, Wang Jinyang had never been the one to initiate the phone call.
"How's your cultivation going?"
"Not too bad. I feel like I'm improving really quickly."
Fang Ping did not mention that he had reached the first level of his stance, lest he shock Wang Jinyang too badly.
Wang Jinyang did not ask for details either. Fang Ping's tone seemed to indicate that it was going well.
After all, Fang Ping had the resources now. It was normal for him to improve quickly.
"Governor Zhang broke through to Rank-7."
"Hmm?"
Fang Ping was slightly perplexed. Why did Wang Jinyang suddenly tell him that?
On the first day of his transmigration, Yang Jian had been gossiping about how Governor Zhang from Nanjiang Province was attempting to break through to Rank-7.
That had gossip, but now it had been proven true.
"I told you this before. Now that Governor Zhang has reached Rank-7 and become a Grandmaster, he can obtain more resources for Nanjiang!
"In the past, a portion of the best Gaokao graduates went to universities elsewhere.
"For Nanjiang Martial Arts University, as well as the other local universities in Nanjiang Province… To put it bluntly, the students we get are the leftovers.
"Now that Governor Zhang has reached Rank-7, we hope to retain more talent in the province this year.
"We did not have the resources to raise such talents before, but now we do!
"In order to retain these excellent martial science students, the province has provided a new plan and benefits."
Fang Ping said hurriedly. "A new plan with benefits? Such as?"
"Cultural studies can't be changed either way, so I won't mention that. The most important changes depend on your Vitality."
After a brief pause, Wang Jinyang continued, "For students with 125cal and above this year, they'll be rewarded as long as they agree to enter a local Nanjiang martial arts university.
"If their Vitality is 125cal, they'll get a reward of 100 thousand and 3 Normal Vitality Pills.
"For students with 130cal, their reward will be 200 thousand, 3 Normal Vitality Pills, and 1 Rank-1 Vitality Pill.
"If their Vitality is 135cal, they'll get a reward of 500 thousand, 1 Rank-1 Vitality Pill, and 1 Rank-1 Bone-honing Pill."
A Rank-1 Vitality Pill was worth 300 thousand in the market, whereas a Rank-1 Bone-honing Pill was worth 500 thousand!
"..."
Fang Ping was waiting for more, but there was suddenly silence on the other side.
Fang Ping hurriedly said, "And then?"
"What do you mean, and then?"
Wang Jinyang said, amused, "Anyone with more than 140cal would have registered with the Big Two.
"These people wouldn't lack the resources, so we would be hard-pressed to retain them even with this benefit plan.
"In that case, why should we tailor our plans to them?
"If we end up with no takers in that category, we'll just be the butt of more jokes.
"That's why the plan stops at 135cal for now.
"If someone even better actually decides to apply to a Nanjiang martial arts university, there will naturally be someone to greet them face-to-face and discuss their conditions. Of course the rewards will come raining down then."
"That's true."
As Fang Ping said that, he could not help but make his own calculations.
He was already at 130cal, and he had 10 more days until the physical assessment. He should be able to reach 135cal quite easily, right?
If he did actually reach 135cal, the rewards alone would be worth 1.3 million on the market!
Those rewards were definitely impressive.
With that much money, even if the school did not sponsor him any resources, he would still be able to reach Rank-1. Of course, that was only if he was not too unlucky. After all, some people failed their breakthrough attempts.
Sure, Fang Ping had quite a few pills at hand now, and those rewards were not worth as much as his current net worth.
However, that was only because Fang Ping had robbed a Peak Rank-2 Martial Artist. It was an exception.
For a regular martial sciences student, amassing more than a million's worth of resources without their family's support was nothing short of a pipe dream.
As he considered that, Fang Ping said, "Brother Wang, if someone applies to the Big Two with 135cal, will there be a reward too?"
Wang Jinyang burst out laughing. "Of course not!
"Even martial artists swarm to the Big Two every year. They would never reward these aspiring martial artists.
"If it was a martial artist, the Big Two would offer some incentives to try and win them over.
"Oh, yeah, don't use last year's standards for this year's predictions. Last year, the minimum Vitality requirement for the Big Two was 125cal. That was the lowest, and only for someone who excelled at everything else.
"The average was at about 128cal last year, and those who entered with that much Vitality were at the very bottom of the pack.
"For this year, I'm guessing it'll be about 130cal.
"Someone with 135cal would be a prodigious talent here in Nanjiang, but even they would be at the bottom of the list if they entered the Big Two this year.
"Fang Ping, sometimes you gotta be a big fish in a small pond!"
Wang Jinyang said sternly, "Many people believe that being a big fish in a small pond is a form of escapism!
"But in truth, that's just short-sighted!
"How many students do you think are at the Big Two?
"If you're at the very bottom of the pack, who would care about you? How many resources can you get from the school? Will the teacher guide you personally?
"Even if the school is overflowing with great resources, missions, and rewards, will they ever reach you?
"On the other hand, it'd be completely different at a regular martial arts university!
"Some might say that being surrounded by people weaker than you will only be depressing…"
Wang Jinyang said meaningfully, "But I beg to differ!
"If you really think there isn't any pressure from being in such an environment, you can simply make your own pressure.
"For instance, you can go wreak some havoc at the Big Two and get beaten within an inch of your life. You're guaranteed to be motivated after that.
"When that happens, the school will also throw resources at you so you can improve and maintain their reputation.
"But if you're just a regular student from a famous school, and you came to our school to wreak havoc, no one's gonna bat an eyelid no matter how close to death you are."
When he got to that, Fang Ping could not help but sense something amiss. He said suddenly, "Brother Wang, you didn't experience that personally, did you?"
"Cough cough cough!"
Wang Jinyang coughed slightly but did not give a direct answer.
That was because he had actually done that before!
When he was about to break through from Rank-1 to Rank-2, he had run out of resources and used up everything the school gave him.
Old Wang ended up going to Magic City Martial Arts University with his blade and was beaten nearly half to death.
Once he returned to the school, the school authorities decided that they could not let the teachers at Magic City Martial Arts University have the last laugh!
Old Wang had a decently bright path ahead of him, after all. He was just missing a handful of resources needed to reach Rank-2, right? In that case, they decided to give him everything he needed!
That way, he could reach Rank-2 and get his revenge!
That was how Old Wang successfully reached Rank-2.
Of course, something like that might work once, but if he tried it again and failed, the teachers might not be so easily convinced.
Furthermore, it only worked because he was a model student. The school would not be stupid enough to sponsor someone without a future.
Old Wang regretted this slightly, actually. If he had known this would happen, he would have done it when he reached Peak Rank-2. That way, he would be able to wheedle more resources from them.
Thankfully, he met Fang Ping when he was about to reach Rank-3, so all's well that ends well.
After that slight diversion, Wang Jinyang said, "I called you to tell you that. I hope you can try to attain 125cal at the physical assessment…"
"125cal?"
The corners of Fang Ping's mouth twitched. Was he looking down on Prodigy Fang?
Wang Jinyang seemed to remember something, and he added, "Of course, if you sacrifice your resources and take all your pills, you might even reach 130cal.
"That wouldn't be worth it, though. The pills and cash you received as a reward aren't enough to justify such squandering."
With all the Blood and Qi-replenishing Pills and Vitality Pills he had, if Fang Ping threw caution to the winds and ate them all, it was not impossible for him to reach 130cal.
However, how much would all those pills cost?
The rewards on offer were not quite worth it for him to do such a thing.
Instead, he should take it slow. After all, the pills had to be digested gradually. If he ate a ton of pills at once, he would waste too much of the pills' effects.
Fang Ping did not attempt to clarify anything, saying hurriedly, "Brother Wang, if my Vitality is too high, I might catch some unsavory attention…"
"Just tell them it's because I gave you some pills. Don't sweat it."
Wang Jinyang was nonchalant about it. According to his estimates, even if Fang Ping ate every pill he could at this point, he would not be able to break past 130cal.
After all, there was too little time left until the Martial Science Exam, and there was a limit to how many pills he could absorb.
Such a level of Vitality was rather high, though.
It would definitely cause quite a stir in Sun City.
Nevertheless, Wang Jinyang was now a Rank-3 Martial Artist and the prodigy of Nanjiang Martial Arts University.
With his abilities and status, it was not too surprising for him to back his junior and raise a genius with 130cal in Vitality.
In truth, Fang Ping was currently cultivating the Methods of Honing and a stance, so he should be consuming a great deal of Vitality.
As for whether anyone would protest against his preferential treatment toward Fang Ping, Wang Jinyang could not care less. If they did not like it, they could take it up with Wang Jinyang themselves!
With Old Wang shielding him from all sides, Fang Ping felt he could relax a little now.
Since Old Wang said he could go to him with any problems, then Fang Ping would not need to hide his powers even if he reached 135cal or 140cal.
When he thought of that, Fan Ping hurriedly thanked Wang Jinyang again.
Wang Jinyang was completely unperturbed as he gave Fang Ping a few words of heavy-hearted advice, "Fang Ping, considering our backgrounds, the way of the martial artist will be much harder for us than for others!
"If you want to go far, you'll have to grasp every opportunity that comes!
"For now, you can let up on cultivating the Methods of Honing. Concentrating your Vitality will cause it to decrease.
"Those benefits you might get will be more than worth comprehending the Methods of Honing a few days later!"
By giving him that advice, Wang Jinyang was already going above and beyond what their current relationship would warrant.
Wang Jinyang could understand how badly aspiring martial artists desired cultivation methods, but there were only ten days left until the physical assessment.
If he set his cultivation method aside for now, Fang Ping could increase his Vitality much more… as long as he had yet to reach his current limits, of course.
If he did, then the Methods of Honing and the stance would become absolutely necessary.
Fang Ping was not particularly bothered either. He affirmed with a laugh and thanked Wang Jinyang again.
…
They hung up.
Fang Ping murmured, "To think there are extra benefits! Looks like I'll have to aim for more than 135cal now.
"Still…"
Fang Ping was slightly hesitant, though. If he really did reach the minimum requirements for the Big Two, would he still go to Nanjiang Martial Arts University?
If he did not go to a local martial arts university in Nanjiang, he would not get those rewards.
"Forget it, I'll just think about after the exam."
Aside from the high Vitality requirements, the Big Two had high standards for the practical test, general studies, and cultural studies too.
Even if Fang Ping's Vitality reached the required mark, that may not necessarily be true for the rest.
After the exam, if he really met all the requirements for the Big Two, he could scratch his head over the decision then.
"Also, it looks like Wang Jinyang gets advance information about everything happening in the province. The guy's doing pretty well, huh."
Fang Ping could not help but fantasize about what would happen if he did go to Nanjiang Martial Arts University.
If he surpassed Old Wang then, would that guy regret attracting him into Nanjiang Martial Arts University?
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