Forbidden Zone of the Human Race

Just as Xiang Ning was deep in thought, Xiang Xiaoyu suddenly sobbed again, diverting his attention back to his sister.

“What’s wrong? Is there anything else bothering you?” he softly asked. Xiang Xiaoyu was usually very strong, and wasn’t one to cry often. Today had been very unusual for Xiang Ning to see her cry.

“Brother… I saw an ad for a set of spiritual armor, it was so expensive. I don’t want to become a spiritual cultivator anymore,” Xiang Xiaoyu muttered in her brother’s embrace. She had woken up from her nap and turned on the crystal television when the ad for the newest model of spiritual armor that cost four hundred eighty thousand dollars had come on. She couldn’t believe her eyes. That led her to remember Xiang Ning’s promise that he would buy her an entire set of spiritual armor if she became a spiritual cultivator. She checked and found out that a complete set would cost a few million dollars, a number that she couldn’t wrap her head around.

Rather than saying anything, Xiang Ning softly patted her head. After a moment of silence, he said, “Say… do you think I’m a man?”

“Yes! Brother is a manly man! Much more masculine than the guys in my class!” Xiang Xiaoyu promptly replied.

“Then since I’m a man, shouldn’t I keep up my end of the promise I made?” Xiang Ning stared into Xiaoyu’s big eyes.

“Yup yup.” Xiang Xiaoyu nodded.

Xiang Ning laughed and pinched her cheeks. “I’ll fulfill my promises, no matter how hard it is. Since you also promised me you’ll become a spiritual cultivator, shouldn't you keep your promise, too?”

Xiang Xiaoyu pouted. “But… but.…”

“No buts. Trust me, I’ll give you a complete set of spiritual armor the day you become a spiritual cultivator.” Xiang Ning smiled.

“Al-alright. I trust you, big brother.” Xiang Xiaoyu’s tone softened, but she was still very excited. Since Xiang Ning would fulfill his promise, she would do her best to become a spiritual cultivator, too.

Xiang Ning smiled and loosened his embrace as they continued watching the television.

He was deep in thought. Usually, the news wouldn’t broadcast something this bloody, and the news of the wall being breached would usually be suppressed to prevent mass hysteria. This time, however, they had broadcast it to the public; it was very weird.

The scene changed and Xiang Xiaoyu’s voice rang, “Brother! How much would it cost for a single trip on an interstellar cruise?”

Xiang Ning turned and looked at the crystal television again. It was showing the news of Azura Planet located three lightyears away from Earth. Technology had advanced so much that the first immigrants had successfully settled on a new planet a hundred years ago. That success had also allowed the people of Earth to retaliate against the ferocious beasts and wrestle back some of the cities using the scientific inventions made from materials mined on Azura Planet.

Xiang Ning thought a little. “The cheapest option would probably be a hundred thousand per trip.”

“Oooh~” Xiang Xiaoyu didn’t speak again and continued watching the news.

Xiang Ning was highly interested in outer space, as a technician working on a spaceship would have a yearly salary of more than a few million dollars.

He stopped watching the television and cooked a feast that was usually reserved for celebrations. Xiang Xiaoyu was happy because she got to eat delicious food, while Xiang Ning was happy because he had earned a lot of money.

The next day was the day of the physical examination conducted by the school. Xiang Ning wrapped the breakfast he had cooked in cling wrap before heading out. He didn’t wake Xiang Xiaoyu up because he wanted her to sleep more on the weekends. He stood in front of a mirror to check his appearance before heading out to school.

Since it was a weekend, and it was very early in the morning, there were very few people on the streets. Even the buses were mostly ridden by the elderly.

Xiang Ning was greeted by a familiar voice just as he got to the school gate.

“Xiang Ning, good morning.” Fatty Wang smiled as he caught up to him. “I’m so excited to see what expression they’ll show when those who looked down on you in the class find out you became a martial artist,” he laughed. He had been laughing the entire night!

Xiang Ning didn’t want to reveal himself, but since he couldn't hide it from the school, there was no choice but to face reality.

“Aren’t those military vehicles?” Xiang Ning saw some army vehicles from afar and grew suspicious. Were they the ones that would conduct the physical examination?

“I’m not sure. I didn’t hear anything about the military coming here, either.” Wang Zhe was puzzled too. He had done some research beforehand, and usually the physical examination was done by the medical staff invited from a hospital.

It was slightly bizarre but they thought nothing of it.

They were walking towards the gymnasium when Xiang Ning’s Fury Points suddenly increased.

+55

Hm? He was just walking normally, why did it increase? He looked around, and sure enough, Li Minghao was walking behind them.

Li Minghao had been very frustrated after being instantly defeated by Xiang Ning that day. He thought that he hadn’t fully utilized his strength and had been defeated because he looked down on Xiang Ning too much. But now he was a tier one martial artist and wanted to seek revenge on Xiang Ning, even though he thought it would be disgraceful for a martial artist to fight against a part-time student.

“Hey, it’s Li Minghao. Look at his spiteful gaze,” Wang Zhe chuckled. They hadn’t been on good terms since they were young, so seeing how he had been humiliated made the fatty very happy.

Li Minghao walked toward Xiang Ning while the students that saw them were staring with bated breath. Everyone knew about what happened from the live video. A prodigy had fought against a part-time student and lost. Everyone in the same grade knew about their fight. But unfortunately, Li Minghao merely walked past Xiang Ning without paying attention to him. At that moment, he felt very dashing.

That’s right, I’m very perfect. Why should I fight against a part-time student? That would be a waste of my time.

Xiang Ning suddenly called out to him.

Li Minghao's heart skipped a bit and he was flustered. But then he realized he was already a martial artist, why should he be afraid of a part-time student?

“What do you want?” he replied.

“There’s shit in your eyes.”

Fury Points +88

Wang Zhe took out a piece of tissue and passed it to Li Minghao. “Want some?”

Fury Points +88

“Just you wait and see!” Li Minghao gritted his teeth and walked faster into the gymnasium.

“Huh. He ran away,” Wang Zhe chuckled. They continued walking and entered the gymnasium.

Qiling High School’s gymnasium was big enough to fit sixty thousand people. The space in the middle was filled with scientific equipment, and nurses and doctors were moving around doing last-minute checks.

Xiang Ning noticed something through his heightened senses and saw uniformed soldiers standing around the gymnasium.

Xiang Ning and Wang Zhe arrived at the gathering point for Class 8. Most of the students were already there, and some of them even greeted them.

The physical examination mainly measured the students’ level and mental strength since there was a two-month vacation before they arrived as a student.

Everyone had arrived after another twenty minutes, and Su Muhan appeared in front of them. “Everyone, the physical examination this time will be different.”

“Teacher, is it related to the military?” Some of the more careful students had noticed.

“Yes, and I was only informed yesterday.”

Su Muhan proceeded to explain what she knew, while Xiang Ning looked at Li Zimo and Liu Ruoxue. Ever since he had enrolled, his guts had been telling him that they were special. He noticed that, while the other students were surprised by the new information, both Li Zimo and Liu Ruoxue were very calm about the situation.

Su Muhan explained to the students that anyone who was a tier one martial artist or spiritual cultivator will leave the original class and become the first batch of students in the special class. The details would be explained later.

It was something unheard of, and even Wang Zhe was confused. He turned toward Xiang Ning with a complicated look on his face.

“Don’t worry, you’ll catch up soon,” Xiang Ning reassured him.

Wang Zhe nodded. He was already at Physical Tempering stage nine, and it would only take a week for him to break through and become a martial artist.