Chapter 78: The Winner’s Reward, The First Perfection of Mathematics! (Part Two)

Shi Tiexin's mouth couldn't help but fall open; even his nearly impassive, stoic face failed to conceal the surging emotions boiling within him.

Perfect? Was it truly perfect?

The impassable chasm that had blocked his progress for so long had finally been breached; at last, perfection had been achieved.

As the sound of wind chimes resonated in his mind, his eyes fixed upon the name shining at the very top of the crimson leaderboard, and he felt the boiling surge of his mental energy. Shi Tiexin was suddenly overwhelmed by a profound sense of fulfillment after hardship. This emotion wasn't born solely from himself, but also from the Scholar Stone within his mind.

Two timelines, two Shi Tiexin—perhaps their progress in learning and cultivation differed due to their circumstances, but their relentless effort and unwavering perseverance were the same; their suffering, bearing humiliation and burdens, forging ahead through adversity, was alike. He may not have been the fastest runner, nor the most gifted, but any version of himself could proudly say he had never given up.

Persist, persist again—it was all for the moment when the clouds would clear and the bitterness would yield to sweetness.

Now, in the dazzling radiance of golden light, it seemed that day had truly arrived.

A youth born at the very bottom of society seemed, at last, to glimpse the smiling face of Lady Luck herself.

Something immense was stirring inside him, his eyes grew sore and misty. Shi Tiexin pinched the bridge of his nose, fighting back the wave of emotion threatening to overwhelm him. But then, another powerful feeling surged forth, seeking an outlet, longing to be expressed.

He wanted to say something, anything, to give voice to his feelings!

But what could he say? The frustration of not mastering rhetoric was maddening! His "Collected Ancient Writings" wasn't at hand—what was he supposed to say at such a moment? He felt as if he would burst!

Just then, a plaque appeared before his eyes, rising like the sun. On it, bold, vigorous characters stood out, powerful and grand—

“Though a thousand sieves and ten thousand washings bring hardship, only when the yellow sand is blown away does the gold appear.”

Staring at the plaque, Shi Tiexin was momentarily stunned, softly murmuring, "Though a thousand sieves and ten thousand washings bring hardship, only when the yellow sand is blown away does the gold appear..."

He felt a pang of embarrassment at being outdone by a plaque in eloquence—but... but... it was exactly what he wanted to say!

His chest swelled with pride. Following the surge in his heart, he raised his gaze, threw back his head, and shouted to the heavens, "Though a thousand sieves and ten thousand washings bring hardship, only when the yellow sand is blown away does the gold appear!"

The students around him were startled, but Shi Tiexin cared nothing for their opinions.

He clenched his fists, deeply grateful for the choices he had made.

Heaven rewards diligence; the victor is king.

—

Fortunately, he had chosen to persevere and continue his arduous study of mathematics, joining forces with the Scholar Stone to break through the first threshold of basic mathematics. Otherwise, he wouldn't have achieved this shared first place. Looking at the densely packed names on the leaderboard, especially the golden names at the top—each one a prodigy.

Zhou Zhengyang.

Gu Xuechao.

Fang Qingjue.

Even those below with scores in the three-hundred-nineties; had he not persisted in his rigorous study, he wouldn't have made it into the top twenty of the school. Failure to excel meant no first place, no first place meant no divine golden light, and without that, he could never reach perfection—he wouldn't even know that the champion received such a blessing.

In that case, his future would be built upon an imperfect foundation—he would face life in an incomplete state.

One single moment of hesitation could alter the entire course of his life.

Thus, no effort is ever wasted.

No perseverance is ever in vain.

Keep going, keep pushing forward—work tirelessly, fight unceasingly, and one day the sun will rise, golden light will shine across the land! One day, just like today’s leaderboard, standing below none and above five thousand, he would reach the summit!

So, what time was there left to waste?

Go! Keep striving!

Shi Tiexin abruptly turned, head held high, striding away from the crowd toward the self-study room of Class 28. When he entered, he found many troublemakers already waiting inside—not only from Class 28, but even from other classes.

As Shi Tiexin stepped through the door, all these troublemakers suddenly rose to their feet, staring at him in unison. He had no idea what they had discussed, but they seemed extremely excited. They stood with ceremony, and under one person's command, called out together:

“Boss Iron!”

The regular students at the front stared dumbfounded, as if suddenly realizing something, their gazes filled with awe and admiration. Whispered conversations sprang up: "The Four Heavenly Kings are secured!" "No doubt—he’s the one!" "Who would have thought he’d defeat all the competitors this way!"

Soon, in the solemn atmosphere, all chatter faded.

No one spoke; the classroom of Class 28 fell silent.

Everyone watched Shi Tiexin, and Zhao Qingmiao, who had followed him, was flushed with excitement.

Boss Iron? Were they calling him?

—

Shi Tiexin was puzzled, but soon dismissed the thought.

The Holy Land of Mind Techniques had too many strange customs; as a newcomer, he couldn't begin to fathom what these youngsters were thinking. But Boss Iron? He liked that title.

"Mm!" Shi Tiexin nodded, accepting the name, then strode to his seat with a tiger’s gait, sitting down with an air of dominance. He took out his writing copybook; tonight, his heart was ablaze and not fit for rational analysis or calm study.

Natural history could wait—right now, he wanted only one thing.

He lifted his pen, recalling the golden lines from the "Collected Ancient Writings," and, carried by his exuberant mood, began to write his own spring and autumn.

A weak will brings no wisdom; a faithless word brings no accomplishment.

Even if plunged into the abyss, one must strive to soar without cease.

I, Boss Iron,

Today

Rise!

Bold characters flowed across the page, grand and vivid, form and spirit united as his writing entered the zone. Shi Tiexin’s penmanship in regular script at this moment revealed the style of a master. The essence of Wang Xingshun’s copybook was finally mastered.

He wrote feverishly all night.

At midnight, Shi Tiexin tossed aside his pen and stood. Sparks danced along the progress bar; after breaking through the first threshold of basic mathematics, the first level of basic rhetoric had reached ninety-five points of mastery. He had surpassed the place Scholar Stone once reached, forging his own path with great strides.

The limits of rhetoric were now within sight.

Laughing heartily, Shi Tiexin went out and enjoyed a night of sound sleep.

The next day, he rose early, feeling refreshed and energized. Yet, this time, he did not immediately begin his cultivation. Yesterday, driven by passion, he had seized the moment to practice calligraphy; today, his emotions were much more settled.

The morning is the best time to plan the day. Now, it was most appropriate to calmly analyze his current situation.