At five in the afternoon, Jack Clark slung his shoulder bag and walked out of the school.
However, he didn't head straight home; instead, he planned to go to the Flower, Bird, Fish, and Insect Market — the Iron Beetle he had the owner order had arrived.
Walking on the street, Jack thought about the issue of True Martial Compatibility that Freya Louise had mentioned earlier.
According to Freya's explanation, all Cultivation Methods are a kind of change to the cultivator's physical attributes, so the higher the level of the method practiced, the greater this change.
In such a case, if someone naturally has a physique compatible with this direction, not only would their cultivation progress more quickly, but the power of their skills would also surge dramatically.
For instance, a few years ago, a student at South Sky Martial Arts School perfectly matched the low-level martial arts they were practicing and broke through to the Third Realm in the first grade, becoming invincible among their peers and defeating Senior Students.
Even those Senior Students practicing advanced True Martial could not compare; their combat power was astonishing.
However, the Cultivation Method Freya practiced was quite special, unorthodox, therefore, the requirement for compatibility was not physique but the mind's realm.
"The Iron Beetle you wanted is here, and to avoid trouble if it died on the way, my friend caught two extra. Consider it a buy one, get two free deal," said the store owner.
In the Flower, Bird, Fish, and Insect Store, Jack picked up a black beetle from a box.
Unlike other flying beetles, the Iron Beetle pursues defense to the extent that its entire exoskeleton, especially on the back, has evolved to fuse into one single piece.
Although only two centimeters long, this species of insect can withstand more than thirty thousand times its own weight, according to scientific research data.
After confirming that the insects were fine, a smile appeared on Jack's face: "Thanks, boss, I'll come back to you next time I want to buy something."
"Sure, you're welcome anytime," the owner replied with a smile, having received the money.
Such beetles are quite common in the Northern Continent and are as numerous as ants, so there's virtually no cost involved — it was simply a matter of asking a friend to send an international express delivery.
Just a phone call and received package to make an easy few hundred; such light business put the owner in a very good mood.
The box containing the Iron Beetles had some damp wood shavings, so there was no worry of them starving, which meant that after getting home, Jack casually placed it in a drawer.
"Next, I just need to wait for the Avatar Evolution," Jack muttered, turning to look beside him, where the Six-legged Salamander Avatar was lying quietly, looking increasingly majestic.
...
On Monday, as soon as Jack stepped out of the door, he felt that something was amiss.
Patrol cars would occasionally pass by on the street, and enforcers could be seen at some intersections, with cameras on intersections and posts frequently flashing.
"Has something happened?" Jack frowned slightly.
In the cultural class classroom, Jack took his seat, and Justin Welan turned around to lean closer.
"Jack, did you know? Jane Aiken from Class 1 has already gathered True Strength and broken through to the Second Layer Heaven," he said.
"...Impressive," Jack expressed his astonishment.
Foundation Establishment in two days, reaching the limit of First Layer Heaven in a week, and now a breakthrough to Second Layer Heaven after just a few more days; the exaggerated speed of advancement was so great that it left no room for feelings of jealousy.
The gap had become so vast it was disheartening.
Keep in mind, most of the first-year students hadn't achieved Foundation Establishment yet.
Jack shook his head to cast aside the news and took out his textbook from the drawer to review a bit, as there would be an end-of-the-month exam on Friday.
After all, he had been the top student at Forest Mount No.1 Middle School; he couldn't afford to start failing every subject in high school, could he?
And even if others had outstanding talent, it had nothing to do with him; all he needed to do was focus on his cultivation, but...
"New student ranking."
In the afternoon, in the Cultivation Room, Jack was somewhat stunned when he heard this news.
What was there to rank among freshmen who were just beginning their cultivation, all of whom were weak? Was it going to be like watching a flock of chickens peck at each other?
Justin Welan said excitedly, "It's said that the officials have allocated a lot of resources, with the purpose of cultivating a new generation of cultivators, especially to let those with outstanding talent grow faster."
"This time, it's not just our city's South Sky Martial High, but even the first-class universities like South Martial High next door, have also set up a ranking for freshmen."
"Starting from the first of next month, the Top 50 will be decided within the day, and those who make it onto the list will get an additional 5 Contribution Points every month."
5 Contribution Points, equal to an extra subsidy of five thousand dollars per person per month, is indeed a big push for cultivation, considering that a school only has so many students.
Even Jack Clark was somewhat tempted when he heard this.
He only received 3 points a month, which wasn't even enough to exchange for a regular-priced vial of Tyrant Elephant Essence Blood.
If he could cultivate with another portion of Tyrant Elephant Essence Blood, even if he couldn't break through the first layer of the martial arts, he could save a month's worth of cultivation time.
Jack Clark raised an eyebrow, "That's not right, if it starts on the first of next month, then those who just achieved Foundation Establishment will have no chance, right?"
In this period, many freshmen who had been diligently cultivating for half a month had just established their foundation. Now just a few days before the competition, many of them might not even have reached the threshold of the First Layer Heaven.
"Do you feel it's somewhat unfair?"
Justin Welan patted Jack Clark on the shoulder and said with a sigh, "Jack, if this world were truly fair, there wouldn't be any differences in talent and background."
"If everything were the same for everyone, that would be fairness, but do you think that's possible?" Justin shook his shoulders after he finished speaking.
Jack Clark was a bit surprised, "I didn't expect you, Mr. Willard, to say something so philosophical."
"Hehe, of course, I've always been philosophical, you just didn't notice," Justin said with some pride.
He was right, there's no such thing as fairness in this world. However, humans are a thinking, social species that has stepped into modern civilization.
So on the surface, society seems relatively equal.
But that's only on the surface. No matter the era or society, people always categorize themselves into levels, and this is an inescapable truth.
After talking with Jack Clark for a while, Justin Welan went back to his diligent cultivation.
Not just him, when the other students learned that the school had actually created a real new student ranking, and not just the amateur ones on the official website, they were all full of motivation.
Because being on the list meant not just resources, but fame as well.
After all, they were teenagers, who wouldn't want to show their prowess in front of others?
"Aiming for the Top 50, huh?" Jack Clark mused.
According to the information Justin Welan had gathered, of the more than nineteen hundred freshmen, after nearly a month of hard cultivation, over seven hundred had successfully established their foundations.
In forty-eight classes, there were over one hundred thirty ordinary 'geniuses' who had established their foundations within a week, and over two hundred of medium quality in half a month.
So, if Jack Clark wanted to compete and get into the Top 50, he would have to defeat at least eighty-plus 'geniuses' who had cultivated Advanced Skills.
This didn't even include the two hundred-plus who established foundations in half a month. Among them, there might be 'geniuses' who were building up strength for a breakthrough.
"I wonder, just how strong are those who have cultivated Advanced Skills?" Jack Clark narrowed his eyes as he spoke.
Although his plan was to cultivate low-profile and slowly develop.
But when opportunity and resources appeared before him, he still had to compete for them. By then, making it into the forties or fifties shouldn't be too difficult, right?
After all, everyone only remembers the first; nobody cares who is second, let alone someone at the tail end like him.
Also, if you don't compete right from the start of cultivation, once those geniuses obtain more resources, the power disparity between you will only grow wider, and eventually, you might not even get to see their backs.
Of course, at the moment, Jack Clark was just thinking about it.
Unless his Avatar matures in a second Evolution in the next few days, boosting his strength significantly, there's no point in participating, because he would only be at the bottom if he did.