Chapter 15: Pengcheng First High School

Chapter 15: Peng City No. 1 High School

“Lord High School is of tremendous importance—it provides systematic education and training to all new lords. During your time at Lord High, the Ministry of Education will help your territory achieve its initial phase of transcendence. The school will guide you in establishing a basic administrative system within your domain, and in improving your production and military infrastructure.

“For new lords, the emphasis in high school is on balance and comprehensiveness. Every aspect must have a solid foundation. At the very least, you must set up a complete internal cycle in your territory—that is the main goal of Lord High. High school is there to help new lords lay a solid groundwork. The rest—subject specialization, expeditions, farming research, comprehensive development—will come at university. If you fail to build a solid base during high school and can’t get into university, you’ll be sent to a resource-training college, where you’ll serve as a resource provider, and then slowly study and cultivate your territory, aiming to pass the university entrance exams on your own.”

…

While Li Hongshen was absorbed in reading the promotional brochure, a sudden tap on his shoulder startled him. He instinctively dropped the booklet and grabbed the hand on his shoulder, ready to throw its owner over his back. Then he suddenly remembered he was no longer on the training grounds of his territory, so he relaxed his tense posture. Turning around, who else could it be but Fu Lei?

“Hey! You were about to throw me, weren’t you? I could feel it! Do you have any idea how much you’ve hurt me? My heart is shattered. How do you plan to make it up to me?”

“I wasn’t, I didn’t, don’t talk nonsense. I knew it was you—I just wanted to give you a scare.”

“Yeah, right. Luckily you didn’t actually throw me. If you had, I’d have let you experience my famous scam artist routine. If I didn’t milk you for at least ten dinners, I wouldn’t be a real Fu.”

“Yes, yes, you’ve made your point. No need to announce it so loudly—everyone in the hall can hear you. Why did you come out of security so late? Something wrong?”

“Heh, you’re the one with issues. I’ve been out for a while. Just chatting with a girl. I came over because you looked so lonely.”

“Sure, thanks a lot. What do you think your score will be? Good enough for a top school?”

“Relax. I expect close to ninety points. I’m definitely in for a top high school. What about you?”

“I’m good, too. Estimate is over eighty. Getting into a top school should be no problem. Do you have a target in mind?”

Fu Lei pondered for a moment at Li Hongshen’s question. “I’m not sure yet; I’ll see how things turn out. No. 1 High has the best resources and the strongest faculty, but the pressure is high, and there aren’t many girls. No. 6 and Experimental are pretty good, too. They don’t have as many resources, but there are a lot more lady lords to meet.”

“But honestly, your goal all along has been Peng City No. 1 High, right? That school’s perfect for a straight-arrow like you.”

“What’s that supposed to mean? I call it having integrity. I’ve told you, I’m already taken—childhood sweetheart.”

“Come on, you’ve been saying that since the start of training, but I’ve never seen her. You used to say she’d surprise you and show up—where is she now?”

“…”

To be fair, it wasn’t Fu Lei’s fault. In lord civilization, female lords were always in high demand—even lords from the main world had to compete fiercely for their favor. After all, a lady lord had many choices: she could pick a hero from her own world, pledge loyalty to a professional from the main world, or find an outstanding male lord.

Marriage was never a simple matter—it tied together both families and shaped the future. In lord civilization, if two lords married and confirmed their union, their Lord Hearts could be merged through the civilization’s consciousness. After merging, they shared one lord space. Resources grew and the population increased, but so did issues with management and authority.

Li Hongshen’s own parents were both lords. After marrying, they chose to merge their lord spaces: his mother managed logistics, his father led the conquests, and together they dedicated themselves to civilization.

So it really wasn’t easy for a male lord to find a female lord as his partner. According to popular information online, over half of lord couples met and fell in love at school (with the implication that female lords at school were more naïve and easier to win over).

But Li Hongshen thought that was nonsense. With all the information available on the civilization network, what female lord wasn’t capable and independent? How could they be so easily won over?

But Fu Lei believed it. He’d told Li Hongshen before that he wanted to find a lady lord in high school, go to university together, and then marry and have children.

Li Hongshen advised him not to think so far ahead—focus on improving his own strength. When the time came, there would be plenty of girls. Why tie himself down to one tree so early? He hadn’t even experienced the exotic nightlife yet—the catgirl bartenders, the foxgirl hostesses, the elven dancers. Just imagine the excitement!

…

Back on topic, Peng City No. 1 High was definitely Li Hongshen’s first choice. For one, both his parents were outstanding alumni of Peng City No. 1. The current dean of students had been their homeroom teacher. After his parents passed away, the dean even visited Li Hongshen—a relationship he had carefully maintained.

Secondly, Peng City No. 1 High boasted a powerful faculty. Both the principal and vice principal were extraordinary-class lords, and many high-ranking lords served as teachers. Their experience would help Li Hongshen avoid countless missteps.

Finally, as the city’s oldest and top-rated high school, No. 1 High was rich in resources. Every year, exceptional alumni donated generously, and the Ministry of Education funneled resources in according to the school’s yearly performance.

Moreover, the school’s location in the Endless Wilds was excellent, with an abundance of extraordinary rules, which allowed new lords’ territories to swiftly absorb transcendent power and advance in rank.

All these reasons made No. 1 High Li Hongshen’s top choice. He had no interest in second- or third-rate schools, or in proving himself by outshining top school students from the bottom up. He wanted to attend the best high school and gain the most resources. Why choose the hard mode when the easy mode was available? He wasn’t a masochist. High school was no game—it was a life-defining choice.

Even with a cheat, he had no desire to take the difficult path. Why not take resources for free, if you can?

“Hey, Lao Li, your score report is out. Go pick it up!”

Hearing Fu Lei’s call, Li Hongshen looked up at the display board—his name had just appeared. He thanked Fu Lei, got up, and walked to the machine below the call board to print his results.

The score report was printed on paper exchanged with source points and bore the Ministry of Education’s anti-forgery seal—a measure introduced after some bold students tried to fake their scores.

Name: Li Hongshen

Lord Space Area: 106 square kilometers

Population: 128

Territory Score: 98

With the score report in hand, Li Hongshen knocked on the door of the admissions office of Peng City No. 1 High School.

(End of chapter)