I created an extraordinary era

Chapter 704 They are dream chasers of the new era

The 44th year of the Extraordinary Era.

Earth star.

The popularity of the "Expedition Diary" special page has not faded with time; on the contrary, it has risen even higher due to the rapid changes at the Mars base.

Every update on the base's construction progress, new geological discoveries, or even the smallest event can spark considerable discussion and cheers.

The immersive experience of traveling across tens of millions or even hundreds of millions of kilometers has transformed the "interstellar age" from a grand concept into a topic of conversation among ordinary people.

Nature has also planted the seeds of exploring the stars in the hearts of countless teenagers.

Of course, the biggest change and the most profound impact over the past three years has to be the continuously evolving and deepening education system of the new era.

After three years of rapid development and iteration, this system has been fully formed.

The way Origin Academy selected geniuses forty years ago has finally become a thing of the past.

Today, the college entrance examination assessment standards of extraordinary universities are divided into three categories.

The practical assessment includes physical fitness and academic performance.

Each of the three assessment items is worth 100 points.

However, the weighting varies depending on the path chosen. If you choose to apply to a prestigious university that emphasizes academics, the weighting of academic performance can reach up to 50%.

In the practical assessment, physical fitness accounts for 10% and 40% of the weight respectively.

In contrast, in the Extraordinary University, which operates on a conventional combat system, practical combat assessments account for half of the weight, while everything else is the same!

Of course, this has a premise.

Whether applying for the cultural or practical training system, physical fitness must be no less than 60.

Physical fitness is the foundation for becoming an extraordinary being, and both academic and combat students must meet the required standards.

This is a strict requirement; those who do not reach 60 points will be disqualified from all prestigious universities.

In addition, there is a minimum score requirement.

Every year after the National College Entrance Examination (Gaokao) concludes, the Ministry of Education will announce a standard based on a set ratio.

Those who fall below this standard are ineligible to apply.

Last year, the minimum score was 83, and the score for the top universities was as high as 95.

Currently, the most competitive major is the Culture major, while the Combat major is slightly less difficult.

One reason is that most of the 150 extraordinary universities currently established by the human race are primarily focused on combat, with relatively few students enrolled in cultural programs each year.

There are fewer than twenty schools that focus solely on academic subjects.

Of the thirty top-tier universities, only four are purely academic institutions focused on humanities.

As for purely combat-oriented schools, they account for 12 of them.

As for the other 14 universities, they are comprehensive universities, which simultaneously offer "faculties of humanities" with high emphasis on academics and "faculties of combat" with high emphasis on practical skills.

Of course, this is just a general classification, and there are definitely further subdivisions within it.

For example, the Faculty of Arts includes construction, matrix, spiritual plants, energy, and machinery, among others.

The Battle Academy naturally also has its own distinctions between martial arts and the realms of law, which are further subdivided into swordsmanship, saberism, fist fighting, the realm of wind, the realm of fire, and so on.

However, even in comprehensive universities, combat-related majors still dominate.

Therefore, the opportunities given to cultural studies majors are naturally relatively fewer.

On the other hand, it's because for ordinary people, practical combat skills are not easy to improve.

Improving combat capabilities requires a significant amount of resources.

Professional training facilities and experienced martial arts instructors.

Although schools have teachers who can provide instruction, it is impossible for them to attend to every individual.

Moreover, there are the most important nutritional supplements, which are difficult for ordinary families to afford.

Those who can afford to study at martial arts schools are often students from wealthy families.

They can receive one-on-one professional guidance after school and even use extremely expensive elixirs.

Therefore, despite the intense competition for the cultural studies major, most students from ordinary families still choose it.

After all, there are only 150 exceptional universities at present, and the number of students admitted worldwide each year is just over 100,000.

But it's important to know that Extraordinary High School has nearly ten million students every year.

In other words, the probability of getting into a top university is only one percent.

Of course, this is much better than it was more than a decade ago.

The probability of getting into the extraordinary university was originally one in several thousand.

For many people, even a one percent chance still represents a great deal of hope.

As for those who cannot get into university, they are not without options in the future.

The purpose of educational reform has never been to make everyone extraordinary, but to select the most suitable leaders for the entire civilization, while ensuring that every citizen can become a solid foundation on the journey.

They can still choose to attend a higher vocational school, just like before.

They could even join a supernatural force, a technology company, or a martial arts school, and have the hope of becoming a superhuman in the future.

Of course, even martial arts schools now require at least a level 5 martial artist as a starting point.

Even most of the top martial arts schools are already staffed with extraordinary individuals.

However, in this day and age, becoming a superhuman is no longer an impossible task.

Even if many level 5 martial artists fail to get into university, or join extraordinary forces or official organizations, they still have the opportunity to earn contribution points and become extraordinary individuals.

After all, the price of the "Source Energy Body Tempering Method" is not expensive; it only requires five contribution points!
The difficulty lies in how to continue improving one's strength after becoming a superhuman.

Don't be fooled by the fact that the number of superhumans has now exceeded 250,000.

However, more than 100,000 of them are still in the early stage of body tempering, and less than 50,000 are above the innate realm.

The only way to resolve this situation is to wait until the seal is completely broken!

Otherwise, even if Xia Yuan invests tens of millions of source crystals every year, it still won't be enough to meet the cultivation needs of hundreds of thousands of people and the development of Earth.

……

Jiangcheng No. 7 Middle School.

This is one of the twenty-five outstanding high schools in Jiangcheng, and it is also a key school.

Jiangcheng No. 1 and No. 2 High Schools are two top-tier high schools.

The third to tenth places are key high schools.

The remaining fifteen high schools are regular high schools.

To get into a prestigious high school like Jiangcheng No. 7 Middle School, one must be at least a level two martial artist.

A level one martial artist can only enter a regular high school.

As for the top two schools, Jiangcheng No. 1 and No. 2 Middle Schools, 80% of the students can only enter as Level 3 martial artists.

at this time.

Jiangcheng No. 7 Middle School, Class 3 of Senior 3 has reached its last class in the afternoon.

This lesson is "Basic Body Refinement Techniques: Theory and Practice," the most important subject in the combat system.

none of them.

On the training ground.

Martial arts instructor Zhao Gang's booming voice echoed through the soft-matted training ground.

"The key to the ninth movement of the Basic Body Refining Technique, 'Rhinoceros Gazing at the Moon,' is not how high you can tilt your head back, but rather that this movement stretches the entire spine, mobilizes the muscle groups in the back, waist, and even the back of the thighs, and stimulates muscle strength in coordination with a specific breathing rhythm!"

"Get the feel right, everyone. Don't just put on a show!"

The students, dressed in matching practice uniforms, diligently performed each movement under Zhao Gang's instructions.

Sweat soaked their backs, and the air was filled with the spirit of youth and hard work.

Lin Hao gritted his teeth and tried to adjust his posture.

He could feel the soreness and stretch in his back muscles, but he could never quite grasp the smooth, flowing power.

His "Basic Body Refinement Techniques" completion rating was only "Good".

It is still quite a distance from "excellent", and its physical strength has just reached the standard of a level 5 martial artist.

It would be considered quite good in the third year of high school (Class 3), but it would be a bit lacking in the context of the entire Jiangcheng and even Hanzhou.

"stop!"

Zhao Gang's loud voice echoed across the training ground.

"Now, in pairs, we will practice 'resistance pushing hands'."

"Remember the key points: Do not use any tricks or techniques. Purely utilize the body structure and core strength developed in the 'Basic Body Refinement Technique' to feel the opponent's force and learn to neutralize and redirect it!"

The students were quickly paired up.

Lin Hao's opponent was none other than class monitor Chen Jing.

She is one of the few students in the class who can consistently maintain an "excellent" rating in the Basic Body Refining Technique.

His physical strength has reached the peak of a level 5 martial artist, making him a role model that his teachers often praise.

"Lin Hao, please give me your guidance."

Chen Jing clasped her hands in a respectful greeting, her eyes serious.

"Please advise."

Lin Hao took a deep breath and got into a fighting stance.

The two men pressed their palms together and began to slowly exert force.

Upon contact, Lin Hao felt a steady and continuous force emanating from Chen Jing's hand, causing him to involuntarily lean back.

He quickly steadied himself in a horse stance, trying to direct his power to his feet according to the key points taught by his teacher.

However, Chen Jing clearly had much better control over her body than he did.

With a slight twist of her wrist, the force changed abruptly, and Lin Hao felt his center of gravity shift, his feet suddenly becoming unsteady. He staggered back two steps before regaining his balance, his face flushed slightly.

"Pay attention to your waist and hips; keep them relaxed and sinking, like a roly-poly toy!"

Zhao Gang's voice rang out at just the right moment.

"Lin Hao, your power transmission is broken! You're not a unified whole from head to toe!"

Chen Jing withdrew her hand and encouraged him:
"It's an improvement over last time; the lower body is a bit more stable."

Lin Hao, panting, nodded, but he knew in his heart that there was a huge gap between him and Chen Jing.

This most basic use of the body and control of power is the foundation for becoming an extraordinary being in the future.

Without a solid foundation, the speed of improvement in martial arts will inevitably be very slow in the future.

Of course, for Lin Hao right now, the most important thing is to get into university.

Otherwise everything is empty talk.

In this respect, Chen Jing is much better than him.

As a top genius renowned in Class 3 of Senior Three and even the entire Jiangcheng No. 7 Middle School, Chen Jing will surely be able to get into a prestigious university in the college entrance examination five months from now.

In the citywide unified exam two weeks ago, she ranked second at Jiangcheng No. 7 Middle School with a score of 88.3, and 146th among all high schools in Jiangcheng.

She is also one of the few people outside of Jiangcheng No. 1 and No. 2 Middle Schools who can enter the top 200 in Jiangcheng City.

Moreover, being among the top 200 in the combat category makes it extremely prestigious.

Like the top 200 in Jiangcheng's combat system this year.

More than 150 students came from Jiangcheng No. 1 and No. 2 Middle Schools, while the eight key high schools combined only had more than 30 students.

As for the remaining fifteen regular high schools, only eight students made it into the top two hundred.

Moreover, apart from Jiangcheng No. 1 and No. 2 Middle Schools, fewer than ten people were able to enter the top 150.

With this score, especially considering it's for a combat-related major, it's safe to say that he's 100% guaranteed admission to a prestigious university.

It's not impossible that even the top 30 extraordinary universities could be included.

After all, there are still five months until the college entrance examination. As long as you can raise your score to above 90, there is still a good chance.

Last year, for example, Ling Shu University, one of the top 30 universities, had a starting score of only 89.5.

So if things are the same as last year, Chen Jing still has a good chance of getting the following.

However, if you only get 90 points in the cultural studies section, it's impossible to get into a top university.

The cultural system admits fewer students and has higher score requirements than the combat system.

Last year, only a little over eighty students from the cultural studies department of Jiangcheng were admitted to university.

The combat unit consists of 207 people.

Judging from the situation this year, the number may be even higher.

Jiangcheng's 83 points this year have placed him in 268th place.

"Chen Jing, come with me for a moment, everyone else, get out of class is over!"

As the bell rang to signal the end of get out of class, Zhao Gang waved his hand.

Goodbye, Teacher Zhao!

After saying this, everyone bowed to Zhao Gang and quickly headed out of the training ground.

Lin Hao glanced at Chen Jing and then followed the crowd away.

after class.

Lin Hao didn't go straight home, but instead went to the school's "physical training room".

There are many exercise machines here, and it's always crowded with students doing extra training after school.

Most of those people who left so quickly just now have come here.

After all, only a minority of people can go to martial arts schools to learn. Most ordinary children, like Lin Hao, can only rely on the school's public resources to improve themselves.

The training room was already bustling with activity. The air was thick with the scent of sweat and the smell of hard work, and the sounds of various machines whirring together created a unique symphony of youth.

Lin Hao skillfully found an empty barbell area and began basic strength training.

He strives for perfect form with each set of squats, feeling the burning sensation in his leg muscles.

Sweat quickly soaked through his training clothes.

We must work harder.

Lin Hao wiped away his sweat and continued training.

He wasn't worried about his academic performance, which consistently ranked among the top in his grade.

His practical test scores and physical fitness assessments are the key factors in determining whether he can get into university.

His current goal is to raise his practical test score to over 85 points before the college entrance examination, and his physical fitness score must be at least 80 points.

Only in this way can you have a better chance of getting into university.

"Feeling good today?"

After a while.

A familiar voice sounded from the side.

It was Zhang Hao, a classmate, who was also a frequent visitor to the training room.

"good."

Lin Hao put down the barbell and wiped his sweat.

"We lost to Chen Jing again in the sparring session just now."

Zhang Hao sighed, feeling a deep empathy:
"That's normal. Her actual score was already 88 points half a month ago, so we naturally can't be her match."

The two looked at each other and smiled wryly, but neither of them was discouraged.

In this era of universal self-cultivation, disparities objectively exist, but hard work is a price everyone can pay.

Moreover, Chen Jing comes from a very well-off family and often goes to martial arts schools to learn, which is something these people simply cannot compare to.

Another corner of the training room.

Several students are lining up around the latest "neural response training device".

This equipment was just purchased by the school last month and can effectively improve the ability to respond to situations in real combat.

While it may not be as advanced as the high-end facilities at top high schools and martial arts gyms, it is still a rare training resource for ordinary students.

“It’s my turn, it’s my turn!”

A tall, thin boy excitedly put on the sensor and awkwardly dodged the 3D projection attack, which drew bursts of laughter from the surrounding classmates.

But the laughter of the crowd was actually well-intentioned.

Because everyone understands that the current dishevelment is so that they won't be so disheveled in the exam room.

For ordinary people, being able to get into a prestigious university is a lifelong dream.

After finishing his strength training, Lin Hao also joined the queue.

He gazed at the young, focused faces in the training room and suddenly remembered what his father often said:
"Our generation has been born in the best of times."

In fact, this is indeed the case.

Although they have to compete with classmates from wealthy families, and although training conditions are limited.

But at least, the path to the extraordinary has been opened.

Compared to decades ago when only a very few geniuses had access to the extraordinary.

They are already so lucky.

When it was finally Lin Hao's turn to use the training device, he took a deep breath and focused all his attention on the rapidly moving light spot in front of him.

At that moment, he forgot the gap between himself and Chen Jing, forgot the pressure of the college entrance examination, and only had the purest pursuit left.

Become stronger, and then venture into the vast starry sky.
……

When I got home, the city lights were already on.

His parents prepared the meal and didn't ask him too much about his cultivation progress. They just told him to take care of his health and eat more.

The dinner table.

The television, which was turned on, was broadcasting news about the Expedition spacecraft's upcoming new round of orbital adjustments to Mars.

Watching the news, the father sighed:

"I heard that after this adjustment, we can prepare for the establishment of a larger base in the future. What an amazing era!"

The mother placed a piece of meat on Lin Hao's plate and said:
"Yes, I just hope that Xiao Hao will have the opportunity to see such a vast world in the future."

Lin Hao ate his rice and mumbled a "hmm," but his heart was burning with excitement because of those words.

Mars, starry sky, extraordinary, energy technology.

These words constitute his entire vision of the future; he didn't want to be just a bystander looking up at the television.

In this era, educational reforms have opened a door to an extraordinary world for children from ordinary families.

But not everyone has hope.

There are millions of high school seniors like him who are working hard for a spot in a prestigious university.

That's why Lin Hao cultivated so diligently.

So that one day I can personally experience the greatness of this era.

"I'm stuffed!"

After dinner, Lin Hao returned to his simple room.

He didn't start doing his homework immediately, but instead habitually reviewed his daily activities first.

He closed his eyes and began to replay every detail of today's training in his mind.

Teacher Zhao Gang's key points of guidance, the moment when the power transmission was interrupted during the confrontation with Chen Jing, and several misjudgments on the neural reaction training device.

"The waist and hips should be relaxed and sinking, and the power should flow smoothly throughout the body."

He muttered to himself, and even stood up, ignoring his physical exhaustion, and slowly practiced the "Rhinoceros Gazing at the Moon" posture again, carefully experiencing the subtle connection between spinal stretching and core muscle activation.

He knew that compared to his classmates who had private tutors who could correct details at any time, the only thing he could rely on was this painstaking effort of "reviewing" his lessons.

We strive to maximize the value of every training session and every coaching session.

After reviewing the test, Lin Hao sat down at his desk and opened his math test paper.

The pen tip scratched across the draft paper, and formulas and symbols flowed smoothly.

His academic subjects are his strength and a key factor in his plan to gain admission to a prestigious university.

For an ordinary student like him whose talent is not top-notch, only by "balanced development" and avoiding obvious weaknesses can he squeeze across the narrow bridge among thousands of competitors.

Time slips away quietly while you're focused.

As the clock struck midnight, Lin Hao finally completed his task for the day.

He walked to the window and opened it.

The early spring night breeze carried a hint of coolness into the room.

The drowsiness I was feeling was gone.

He looked up and saw that the city lights were still bright.

Intertwined with the stars in the sky.

In the depths of that boundless sea of stars, planets hover silently, representing the future direction of humanity.

"I'll be there."

Lin Hao gazed at the starry sky and silently made a vow in his heart.

"Not through television broadcasts, but through my own efforts, I went to that starry sky in person."

this moment.