“Sigh, it really makes one feel envious, jealous, and resentful.” Eric Dawson couldn’t help but say to Brian Carter, “If only I could be a professional ninth rank, I could enjoy that kind of treatment too.”

Brian Carter clicked his tongue and said, “This is when you need to quote the classics, so you seem cultured. The translation of ‘envious, jealous, and resentful’ is actually ‘A true man should be like this!’”

A true man should be like this… Eric Dawson mulled it over a few times, sneaked a glance at Grace Bennett by the door, and teased Brian Carter, “Then shouldn’t you say, ‘He can be replaced by me’?”

“You know me so well, Orange.” Brian Carter laughed as he raised his arm, making a fist to show off his muscles. “Even with my on-and-off training, I’m already an amateur fifth rank. If I got serious, can you imagine? Believe it or not, I could get professional ninth rank in no time and reclaim the title of the most handsome guy in the Martial Arts Club!”

“Bragging about your spotty training—no one does it like you.” Eric Dawson and Brian Carter bantered back and forth.

After a while, Grace Bennett came in from outside and went to the women’s locker room. The welcome event started right on time. Eric Dawson saw the lights come up, and a burly, broad-shouldered man stepped onto the stage.

“Everyone, I’m the president of the Martial Arts Club, David Brooks, your senior in the fourth year…” The burly figure wore a black, fitted martial arts uniform, looking tough and sharp. At this moment, he held the microphone and introduced himself with a smile, the flesh on his face seeming to soften.

“Haha, look at his eyebrows, it reminds me of a song lyric—‘Fireflies, fireflies…’” While David Brooks was speaking on stage, Brian Carter whispered to Eric Dawson with a low chuckle.

Eric Dawson shot him a glance. “Casanova, you really should join the crosstalk club. Don’t waste your talent!”

Their whispering didn’t affect David Brooks at all. He continued his introduction:

“The martial arts realm is divided into four levels—Body, Qi, Gang, and Forbidden. This is common knowledge. We won’t talk about the last two today; they’re not something we amateurs can reach. I’ll focus on ‘Body’ and ‘Qi.’ ‘Body’ means body refinement, emphasizing the word ‘refine’—just like refining pills or weapons, we ‘refine’ our bodies. This requires a combination of many aspects, not just standing in a stance or hitting the weight room…”

“My point is, it doesn’t matter if you haven’t had formal martial arts training before. From today on, you can make up for that. Our Songcheng University Martial Arts Club has a long history and a true tradition of body refinement. It’s nothing like those martial arts gyms or fitness centers out there. As long as you stick to relatively serious training for four years, getting to amateur fourth or fifth rank is more than enough. By then, becoming a coach at a martial arts gym or fitness center will be a breeze. It’s another career path, after all.”

“If any of you truly love martial arts, after four years of hard training, it’s not impossible to pass the ranking tournament and achieve professional ninth rank. I’m not particularly talented, just hardworking. Last year, I reached amateur first rank, and this year I plan to enter the ranking tournament. So, for us in the Songcheng Martial Arts Club, professional ninth rank is definitely within reach. As long as you work hard and put your heart into it, anything is possible!”

“Of course, if you really have talent, breaking through the barrier from ‘body refinement’ to ‘pill qi’ isn’t impossible either. North Mountain University has geniuses like that. Every time we face them, it’s a nightmare—we just can’t compete…”

Listening to this, Eric Dawson frowned in confusion and looked at Brian Carter beside him. “North Mountain University was last year’s university martial arts champion, right?”

“Yeah.” Brian Carter nodded.

Eric Dawson hesitated and said, “Why does David Brooks’s speech sound a bit off?”

It seemed like he was hinting at someone…

“Of course it’s off. If you boil down everything he said, it’s just two points: First, professional ninth rank is nothing, Ethan Dawson is nothing!” Brian Carter snickered. “Second, the reason our Martial Arts Club doesn’t do well isn’t because we’re not good enough, it’s because our rivals in the same region are too strong!”

Eric Dawson confirmed his suspicion and couldn’t help but shake his head. “Looks like David Brooks, the Martial Arts Club president, really isn’t convinced by Ethan Dawson. But saying it so bluntly is a bit low.”

“Who cares? Let them do whatever they want. What’s it got to do with us?” Brian Carter pulled out his phone in boredom.

After a while longer, David Brooks finally finished his long speech and smiled:

“Now, let me introduce some of the senior members of the Martial Arts Club who have achieved great results. They’ve all participated in the ranking tournament, and even the lowest among them is amateur sixth rank…”

Eric Dawson was about to look up for a better view when Brian Carter tugged at his sleeve.

“Let’s go, time to head back,” Brian Carter said in a low voice.

Eric Dawson was surprised. “Leaving already? It’s still early.”

“You’re still hoping to meet the seniors? Wake up! You’re just here to chase girls. Or do you really think you’re some once-in-a-generation genius, who, at eighteen and with no foundation, suddenly has an epiphany, skyrockets in martial arts, surpasses all the seniors, represents Songcheng University at the national martial arts tournament, wins the championship, gets noticed by top-tier organizations, gets promoted and rich, marries a beautiful, wealthy woman, becomes a legendary master, and reaches the pinnacle of life?” Brian Carter truly lived up to his reputation as a mischievous friend, joking with ease.

Eric Dawson gave a dry laugh. “Well, since I’m here, I might as well take a look.”