Being forced to grow like a pig? But I'm immune to the consequences!

"Wu Sheng's friend?" Cheng Mingyuan's doubts deepened.

If he's really Wu Sheng's friend, why didn't Wu Sheng personally mention this need to me?

But he still patiently asked, "I haven't heard of anyone here wanting to find a sparring partner. Besides, sparring partners require a high level of combat skill. How's your skill level?"

"My fighting skills are pretty good," Yan Liang casually remarked.

Cheng Mingyuan looked him up and down but couldn't see anything special about him.

He thought for a moment and said, "How about this, the first assessment for your regular training ground is the day after tomorrow. If you can get a good ranking in the assessment, I can help you get a recommendation to the advanced training ground."

He didn't lower his standards just because the other party was "Wu Sheng's friend." In his view, if the other party truly had the ability, he would be willing to help even if they weren't Wu Sheng's friend.

Yan Liang frowned almost imperceptibly.

A good ranking? What kind of ranking is considered good? Top 32?

But he showed no sign of anything amiss and quickly nodded in agreement: "Okay, it's settled then!"

Cheng Mingyuan turned around and prepared to leave.

"By the way, classmate, what's your name?" Yan Liang asked again.

"Cheng Mingyuan."

Cheng Mingyuan answered casually, but he was increasingly puzzled—if he was Wu Sheng's friend, why did he come to do business without even knowing his own name?

Yan Liang, however, seemed very happy, as if he had finally made a connection, and repeatedly said, "Cheng, I'll treat you to a meal sometime!"

Cheng Mingyuan didn't say anything more, just nodded and turned to leave.

Yan Liang stood there, watching his figure disappear, his heart filled with joy.

In his view, his plan had been a success.

Even if he doesn't make it into the top 32 in the test the day after tomorrow, he can still get a spot by saying a few nice words to Cheng Mingyuan, lowering the coaching fee a bit, and fully utilizing his "good at getting things done" skills.

Indeed, fate is still in our own hands.

What I, Yan Liang, want, I can get myself.

For a moment, he was filled with pride and even whistled on his way back to the dormitory.

This unusual behavior drew another glance from Zhao Dele.

"Who has Yan Liang swooped over this time? Why is he so happy?"

He didn't think the best of it—with Yan Liang's limited abilities, what real benefits could he possibly gain?

Yan Liang returned to his dormitory, his gaze sweeping over Wu Sheng, a hint of unease flashing in his eyes.

But he quickly suppressed that unease.

In his view, his actions were quite clever—after all, who knew if he and Wu Sheng were actually friends? He was just using Wu Sheng as a medium. Once he truly became a sparring partner at the advanced training ground, even if Cheng Mingyuan discovered that he and Wu Sheng weren't friends at all, it wouldn't matter.

……

The seventh day at the Martial Arts Academy.

Evening, inside the advanced training ground.

Wu Sheng and Cheng Mingyuan were still practicing together.

The two exchanged blows, their fists and feet clashing, each move as fast as lightning. There were no fancy moves, only the most basic and unadorned fighting techniques, conveying one word—fast, accurate, and ruthless.

To be honest, it's more accurate to say that Cheng Mingyuan was sparring with Wu Sheng than Wu Sheng was sparring with Cheng Mingyuan.

Wu Sheng could sense that Cheng Mingyuan's fighting skills were at least at an intermediate level. Every time they sparred, he could learn from the essence of his opponent's moves, constantly adjusting his own actions to make each move more perfect.

Cheng Mingyuan swept a whip kick across, and Wu Sheng dodged to the side. But this whip kick had a second attack—while swinging to the left, it suddenly retaliated to the right.

Wu Sheng had anticipated this, and with a slight feint, he narrowly dodged the attack.

However, this move actually has a third stage!

Cheng Mingyuan bent his leg and hooked it, attacking Wu Sheng's neck like a venomous snake!

In a flash, Wu Sheng neither dodged nor blocked.

He chose the third option.

He threw a punch straight at Cheng Mingyuan's face!

next moment--

Cheng Mingyuan's whip kick stopped a few millimeters from Wu Sheng's neck.

Wu Sheng's fist stopped a few millimeters from Cheng Mingyuan's face.

The two stopped simultaneously, looked at each other, and smiled.

[Combat Skills (Intermediate): 0/500]

In that instant, Wu Sheng's fighting skills broke through the beginner level and entered the intermediate level.

"You're getting stronger and stronger these days," Cheng Mingyuan exclaimed. "If I'm not mistaken, your body tempering progress is above average among your group. Add to that your fighting skills—you'll definitely be in the top eight in tomorrow's assessment."

He was truly astonished by Wu Sheng's rapid progress.

He changes every day, it's like he's on a rocket. He can't imagine what level Wu Sheng would be at now if he had trained in martial arts like him from a young age.

Moreover, he could sense that Wu Sheng's physical fitness was also very strong, which meant that Wu Sheng had already reached a very deep level in the fourth level of body tempering and would soon be able to break through to the fifth level.

A person with strong fighting talent and strong body tempering talent has unlimited potential.

"Thank you for your kind words." Wu Sheng smiled faintly.

After the sparring session ended, the two prepared to leave.

Cheng Mingyuan suddenly remembered something and said, "By the way, Mr. Wu, last night a man named Yan Liang came to me. He said he was your friend and wanted me to ask if anyone at the advanced training ground needed a sparring partner."

"Yan Liang?"

When Wu Sheng heard this name, he almost burst out laughing.

He truly hadn't expected Yan Liang to do something like this behind his back. And he even claimed to be his friend?

"Not your friend?" Cheng Mingyuan noticed something amiss in his reaction.

"No," Wu Sheng shook his head. "He has absolutely nothing to do with the word 'friend.' He's just a clown."

Cheng Mingyuan nodded and didn't ask any more questions.

He never took that matter to heart from beginning to end.

Wu Sheng didn't say anything. He knew that Cheng Mingyuan wasn't the kind of person who could be fooled by a few nice words. Yan Liang's little scheme was destined to be a waste of time.

The two said goodbye and left.

……

In the dormitory.

Tomorrow is the day of the assessment, and everyone has different thoughts.

Wu Sheng remained calm.

With his current strength, he can easily secure a place in the top four, let alone the top eight.

[Body Tempering Level 7: 436/640]

Soon, I will be able to break through to the seventh level of Body Tempering.

This speed is unmatched, not to mention in ordinary training grounds, even by students in advanced training grounds.

At that time, having reached the seventh level of Body Tempering, he would no longer need to fear Xu Wenbo in terms of strength.

Wu Sheng thought to himself.

The group from Suoguli seemed somewhat excited.

They were uncertain about tomorrow's assessment. They worried about not making it into the top 32, yet couldn't help but fantasize about what would happen if they did.

Meanwhile, Yan Liang was also planning his own future.

He decided to cut off all contact with Xu Fei and his ilk.

This isn't just because he discovered his efforts weren't being rewarded. There's another, more important reason, which Yan Liang only recently realized.

In reality, Xu Fei and his group didn't have as many resources or connections as he had imagined.

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