How many people lived in the City of Hope?

Five hundred million!

Even the Eastern District alone had a population of over one hundred million.

With such a massive population, how could their social circles be this small?

Fang Tangtang actually knew Shen Ning’Er. Not only that, but they seemed to be on excellent terms. The way she called her "Sister Ning’Er" was even more affectionate than how he said it.

Gao Neng didn’t hesitate any longer. He snatched the phone from Fang Tangtang’s hand and, under her astonished gaze, spoke into it. "This is Gao Neng... What? You’re shy? What’s there to be shy about? That’s that, then. I’m busy. No time to bullshit with you."

"..." Fang Tangtang’s jaw dropped so wide you could almost fit a fist in her mouth.

Kong Kun and Feng Qingqing were just as horrified.

’Gao Neng is so powerful!’

’How dare he talk to Shen Ning’Er with that tone? She’s the granddaughter of the Eastern Capital Military District’s deputy commander! Could it be... their relationship has already progressed beyond that of a normal couple to something...’

AHEM!

Kong Kun and Feng Qingqing didn’t dare to imagine what came next.

But to have crossed that line at eighteen, and with Shen Ning’Er of all people... When they looked at Gao Neng again, their gazes held a trace of admiration.

"Alright, everyone go home. Tomorrow, we’ll talk to Bald Shark first, then we’ll formulate a strategy and start challenging the battle rankings!" Gao Neng said no more, decisively dismissing them.

’Would he really tell Fang Tangtang and Feng Qingqing that he had actually hung up the phone before he even finished talking?’

"Alright, we’ll discuss it tomorrow then," Kong Kun nodded.

"Okay, and I’ll put up the Merit Points for the first match by myself." Gao Neng spoke again. Seeing their confused looks, he added, "The three of you will pool together 10 Energy Pills for me. We’ll use the logistics department’s exchange rate of 5 Merit Points per pill. If we lose, the 10 Energy Pills are gone. If we win, I’ll give you all 100 Merit Points back."

"Trading Energy Pills for Merit Points? Okay!" Feng Qingqing’s eyes lit up. It was easy to trade Merit Points for Energy Pills, but trading Energy Pills for Merit Points was much harder.

Gao Neng had made such an offer.

Naturally, they had no objections. In fact, they felt like they were getting a great deal.

"I’ll put in four, then," Fang Tangtang said magnanimously. "I’m the vice-captain. The more I put in, the more I’ll earn!"

"Alright, then Feng Qingqing and I will each put in three." Kong Kun didn’t hesitate, pulling three First-Grade Energy Pills from his pocket and placing them on the table.

The three of them left.

Only then did Gao Neng turn his gaze to the ten Energy Pills on the table.

’So this is an Energy Pill, huh?’ Gao Neng looked at the ten green pills, feeling a bit emotional. He’d had no choice. Without Energy Pills, he couldn’t cultivate tonight. Not only that, he might not even have the "energy" needed to control his powers.

Energy!

You need energy to cultivate, and you need energy to fight!

Gao Neng picked up an Energy Pill, swallowed it, and then carefully tried to feel its effects.

Just as he expected, the color of his magnetic core was slowly returning.

But one First-Grade Energy Pill...

It didn’t seem to be enough.

He ate five in a row before his magnetic core gradually began to turn red. However, it was still a little dull compared to the vibrant red it had been right after his breakthrough.

Gao Neng opened his system interface.

’Let’s see what this ’Infinite Energy Imbuement’ skill is all about! Huh... Did I miss a line earlier?’ Gao Neng had originally intended to check the skill, but after opening the interface, he suddenly noticed a new value below his HP and Stamina.

He’d been in such a hurry to check his second attribute before that he hadn’t paid it much mind.

Now, he happened to see it only because the value was constantly changing.

HP: 550/623

Stamina: 235/286

Energy: 896/1320

’So I can see my energy value now? It’s a shame "Three Hundred Nursery Rhymes" only restores HP and Stamina, not Energy...’ Gao Neng was a little disappointed, but after a moment’s thought, he let it go. ’If I could restore Energy just by singing, I could really just lie my way to becoming a War God.’

’Based on the energy recovery rate...’

Gao Neng did a rough calculation. There must have been a tiny bit left in his magnetic core before. Now, after eating five First-Grade Energy Pills, his energy value had recovered to 896 points, and it seemed to still be rising.

’By that logic...’

One First-Grade Energy Pill was worth around 200 points of energy.

Gao Neng stopped looking at his energy value and turned his attention to ’Infinite Energy Imbuement.’ He casually tapped it open, and a line of text quickly appeared.

"Infinite Energy Imbuement: Infinitely imbues any item with energy."

"That’s it?" Gao Neng’s mouth fell open.

’This damn description really is... so lame!’

’Imbuing energy into an item?’

’Could it be similar to ’Energy Manifestation’?’

Gao Neng recalled Shen Ning’Er once saying during a demonstration of Energy Manifestation that to manifest energy, one must infuse it with "essence, qi, and spirit."

He hadn’t really understood what she meant by that.

He knew what "essence, qi, and spirit" were.

But as for how to infuse them into energy, he had no idea.

However, seeing the description for Infinite Energy Imbuement now gave him a sudden idea. ’Could it be that if you imbue an item with energy, the item... comes to life?’

’Or maybe, its power will be magnified a hundred times?’

’I’ll have to test it when I have time!’

Gao Neng didn’t dwell on it. He glanced at his energy value again. Sure enough, once it recovered to 1120 points, the recovery all but stopped.

’Five First-Grade Energy Pills aren’t even enough to fill my magnetic core? Just how many of these am I going to need in the future?’ Gao Neng gave a bitter smile, then began cultivating by singing "Little Leaping Frog."

Time was tight!

He didn’t want to waste a single moment.

’Tonight, I have to finish magnetizing my entire right arm.’

...

While Gao Neng was cultivating by singing...

...the internal forums of the Eastern Capital Military Academy were already exploding.

A single post by Kong Kun had successfully stirred up a huge storm, triggering a flame war between the freshmen and the upperclassmen.

"Gao Neng, Fang Tangtang, Kong Kun, and Feng Qingqing are forming a team!"

"Their goal isn’t just to get on the battle rankings!"

"Wipe out 20 teams from the D-Rankings within a month?! Are all the first-years this arrogant now? Are they treating us Eastern Capital Military Academy upperclassmen like we’re already dead?"

"How dare this ’Bone Kun’ call us trash?!"

"..."

Message after message flooded the forums.

By the next morning, the news had spread throughout the entire Eastern Capital Military Academy.

"Vice Director Gui, your students are really aiming for the heavens!"

"Vice Director Gui, has Gao Neng gone crazy? Or did you use reverse psychology on him... If he really does take down 20 D-Ranking teams in a month, you’ll be known as one hell of a mentor!"

"Vice Director Gui..."

All the way from his morning commute to the War Academy, Gui Zian had been greeted by countless instructors, and with each one, his expression grew darker.

’What the hell is going on?!’

He knew Gao Neng wanted to fight his way onto the battle rankings.

But fighting onto the rankings and challenging 20 D-Ranking teams were two completely different things.

Just as he was thinking...

...the military music playing over the campus broadcast suddenly stopped.

It was followed by a series of unidentifiable crashing sounds. Finally, the crashing stopped, and a few soft coughs came through the speakers.

"I’m Gao Neng, captain of the Invincible Team!"

"I’m Fang Tangtang, vice-captain of the Invincible Team!"

"I’m Kong Kun... AHEM, a member of the Invincible Team."

"Feng Qingqing..."

"Our mentor is the War Academy’s Vice Director Gui Zian! We are now representing our teacher, and the Invincible Team, to formally announce that under Teacher Gui’s leadership, we will fight all 20 teams on the D-Rankings within one month! If anyone has a problem with that, we’ll beat you until you don’t!"

The voices vanished, and the crashing sounds started up again.

"..." At this moment, Gui Zian’s face was so dark it was almost impossible to look at. ’These kids really are trying to ascend to the heavens, aren’t they?!’

’They actually went to the broadcasting room!’

’If I’m not mistaken, those four must have beaten up the students in the broadcasting room.’

’Most importantly, did those four brats have to specifically announce my name over the broadcast? And what was that about taking on the D-Rankings under my leadership?’ 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

’If you have a problem, we’ll beat you until you don’t!’

’What are those four trying to do?’

Gui Zian didn’t wait any longer. He strode rapidly toward the broadcasting room. In no time, he saw the four of them being kicked out.

"HAHAHA... Gao Neng, now Bald Shark will definitely have to support us with all he’s got!" Fang Tangtang was ecstatic, not the least bit ashamed about being thrown out.

"Isn’t this plan a little too malicious? Will Bald Shark really give in?" Feng Qingqing asked, a little worried.

"Eighty percent chance he will!" Kong Kun said with certainty.

"What Bald Shark? It’s Teacher Gui! You have to call him Teacher Gui from now on, got it?! Think about it... If we really do conquer the D-Rankings, it’ll bring glory to Teacher Gui’s name. If he doesn’t support us, is he going to deliberately sabotage us instead? Wouldn’t that just get the whole academy talking?" Gao Neng spotted Gui Zian in the distance and immediately shot a look at the other three.

"Oh? And what would the academy say about Teacher Gui?" Fang Tangtang had sharp eyes too. She immediately understood and shouted at the top of her lungs.

"What do you think they’d say? They’d say Teacher Gui is useless! His students made a bold declaration, but their supervising teacher is too timid to fight! In the army, that’d make him a deserter... Oh, no, not even a deserter. A soldier must dare to fight, but Teacher Gui doesn’t dare. What would you call that?" Gao Neng immediately replied.

"No backbone!" Fang Tangtang shot back instantly.

"To be precise, no soldier’s backbone!" Gao Neng corrected.

"Oh, is that so? Then will Teacher Gui ever be able to hold his head high again?"

"Of course not! His nickname might even have to change. Forget Bald Shark, they’ll just call him Bald Turtle!"

"..."

"Shut up! The four of you, stop putting on a show for me! Get over here, now!" Gui Zian couldn’t listen anymore. ’These kids are staging a coup!’

’Issuing a challenge over the broadcast and then dragging him, Gui Zian, down with them? How had he not seen through their malicious scheme sooner?!’

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