I Will Grind My Way To Godhood

The full name is Qingcheng University Affiliated High School.

As an affiliate of a top university in the Outer Ring, Qingcheng High is also a leading high school in the region, and those who study here are generally considered outstanding.

"...Afterwards, the administrative divisions of our Zhu Xia have undergone reorganization..."

The geography teacher spoke while writing on the teaching board.

Unlike in Xue Jing's past life, this planet, called Earth Star, has countries with generally corresponding powers, but with many vastly different aspects.

The most significant difference is that at the end of the nineteenth century, a global event occurred, now referred to as the "Death of God."

Because of that event, the calendar based on the birth of Jesus was officially abandoned, giving way to the "New Era," with the year after God's death marking its beginning. The history before the Death of God is referred to as the "Old Era" or "Old Times."

Currently, it is the year 267 of the New Era.

Xue Jing dexterously twirled a pen in his hand, seemingly focused on the lecture but mentally absent, barely listening at all.

He opened the skill panel, and not a single skill related to studying was present.

As a student in the elite class of this prestigious high school, his academic performance was remarkably excellent. Judging by the activation criteria of other skills, it should be impossible for him to fail meeting the basic level 1 activation threshold in academic areas.

Yet on the panel, subjects like literature, mathematics, physics, politics, and history were all missing.

"Perhaps... these courses are merely 'knowledge' and not 'skills'?" Xue Jing speculated.

The skills recognized by the panel must pertain to tangible abilities, while literature, mathematics, and the like are just knowledge stored in the brain, not actual skills.

"If that's the case, then attending these classes is somewhat a waste of time..."

His pen spun rapidly as Xue Jing deliberated faking illness to skip class and focus on honing skills at home. Suddenly, he noticed the "Charm Craft" skill on his panel gaining experience again.

[Someone has developed a favorable impression of you, Charm Craft experience +1]

[Someone has developed a favorable impression of you, Charm Craft experience +1]

He remained calm, suddenly turning his head to glance around, and met the gaze of a bespectacled girl from his class who was secretly looking at him. Embarrassed, she quickly looked away, self-consciously adjusting her glasses as a blush crept onto her cheeks.

Xue Jing felt a hint of helplessness.

The skill called "Charm Art" had just been activated for him in the past few days.

As the name suggests, it's a skill that enhances one's charm and attraction to others.

The result is that his actions and demeanor appear more attractive, his ability to manage expressions improves, and even as the skill levels up, his body undergoes changes — becoming more shapely and aesthetically pleasing, with subtle adjustments to his appearance.

However, this skill... he didn't really need.

In this life, he can be described in six words: "inborn holy freeloader physique."

He doesn't need something like Charm Art at all, as just standing there, he is already a living aphrodisiac.

Yet this least needed skill is precisely the one he can improve the easiest.

One of the conditions for gaining experience is for someone to develop emotions, such as ‘liking’ or ‘affection’ towards him — the stronger the emotion, the more experience gained.

Additionally, if he deliberately engages in actions that foster positive feelings, he gains more experience. For example, during the physical fitness test at noon, accepting a towel from a junior earned him 45 points directly.

This is why, without actively trying to grind Charm Art, he still managed to level up to Lv2 within two days.

Roaming the streets casually garners plenty of experience, allowing for swift leveling up.

‘If only other skills were this easy...’

Xue Jing idly twirled his pen, filled with ennui.

...

At five in the afternoon, the bell signaling the end of class rang.

Xue Jing packed up his belongings and was about to call Li Ge to leave, when he noticed a slightly tall, middle-aged man with a slightly receding hairline standing at the classroom door, beckoning him over.

It was their class teacher, Language Arts teacher Du Shiwei.

Seeing this, Xue Jing gestured to Li Ge, indicating he should go first, then shouldered his backpack and walked over to Du Shiwei, asking in puzzlement, "Mr. Du, are you looking for me?"

"Yes." Du Shiwei nodded, gave Xue Jing a once-over, and his eyes revealed a hint of satisfaction.

This student excelled academically—not surprising for a student from the elite class. It was mainly his outward appearance that was truly outstanding.

Whenever there was an event where students were needed to make an impression, having him present always added prestige.

Unexpectedly, his athletic ability was equally remarkable.

"Xue Jing, I heard from Mr. Chen that your long-distance running results in the recent fitness test were impressive. Since the school games are coming up next month, would you be interested in competing to win some honor for our elite class?"

Du Shiwei patted Xue Jing on the shoulder and smiled.

Xue Jing instinctively wanted to refuse; he had no intention to compete, but suddenly, he seemed to think of something, pondered for a moment, and then nodded, saying, "Since you put it that way, I'll give it a go."

Du Shiwei beamed, "Great, great, I'll sign you up then. Would you prefer to run the 800-meter or the 1500-meter?"

Xue Jing asked, "Sir, what running events are there?"

After thinking it over, Xue Jing said, "Can I participate in all of them?"

Du Shiwei was taken aback, "You intend to dominate all the events, huh, that's ambitious."

"Hmm... it is possible, but a few events will be on the same day. Can your stamina handle that?"

Du Shiwei looked concerned.

Xue Jing nodded, "Don't worry, I think I can manage."

Even if he couldn’t right now... by next month, he definitely would.

Xue Jing glanced at the skills "Running" and "Fitness" displayed on the panel.

"Alright, I trust you," said Du Shiwei, patting him on the shoulder.

"So for now, let’s keep it like this. I'll go ahead and sign you up. If you really take first place across the board, your teacher here can earn some prestige from your success."

With that, Du Shiwei turned and left, a spring in his step.

After he left, Li Ge, who had been lingering nearby, walked over and asked, "What did Old Du want with you?"

Xue Jing adjusted his backpack, and as they began to walk out of the teaching building, he replied, "Next month’s sports meet. He wants me to participate in the long-distance running event."

"You agreed?" Li Ge inquired.

Xue Jing nodded.

"Something’s off, really off," Li Ge mused, falling into thought.

Having known Xue Jing for many years as both a classmate and close friend, Li Ge understood him well.

Xue Jing naturally attracted attention and had never been interested in putting himself on display. Throughout his high school years, he avoided any such activities whenever possible.

Now, he was suddenly participating in the sports meet. Li Ge could already imagine the adoring looks from the younger students as Xue Jing dashed across the finish line in first place.

He had no doubt Xue Jing would come in first; based on the run Xue Jing did at lunch, no one at school could compete with him.

“Not just the long-distance race—I’m competing in all running-related events,” Xue Jing added.

Li Ge hesitated mid-step. "You scoundrel, Xue! Do you really plan to steal the hearts of all the junior year girls? You've already set yourself on a path of no return!"

Xue Jing playfully slapped him on the head. "Get real! You have a girlfriend, why are you worrying about the distribution of junior girls?"

"Can’t say that. I was Student Council President once, after all, with a duty to think of the big picture for the students..."

Laughing, the two made their way to the school gates, chatting along the way.

"Aren’t you planning to apply to Star University? How's your preparation going?"

On the road, Xue Jing asked.

Li Ge shook his head and sighed, "The hope is slim. People from the Outer Ring trying to get into Inner Ring universities is unbelievably difficult. I tried some of the papers from the past few years and missed the admission line by a fair bit. Do these Inner Ring universities really intend to recruit from the Outer Ring, or is it just a carrot on a stick that we can see but never reach?"

Xingda, officially known as Xingcheng University, is the municipal university of Xingcheng.

Within Zhuxia, there are nine major 'metropolitan zones', where cities fall into 'Inner Ring', 'Outer Ring', or 'Peripheral'.

Both Xingcheng and Qingcheng belong to the 'Fifth Metropolitan Zone', but while Qingcheng is an Outer Ring city, Xingcheng is an Inner Ring city.

Inner Ring cities are extremely developed. Even a well-developed Outer Ring city like Qingcheng is considered a 'countryside' compared to them.

Getting into Xingcheng University as someone from the Outer Ring is like a fish leaping through the Dragon Gate, a legendary transformation.

Xue Jing patted Li Ge on the shoulder, "Keep at it."

"What about you? What's your plan?" Li Ge countered.

"With only one semester to go before graduation, are you aiming straight for Qingda, or are you going to take a chance like me?"

Xue Jing shook his head, "I haven't decided yet."

His overall grades were slightly worse than Li Ge’s. If even Li Ge wasn’t optimistic about getting into an Inner Ring university, he had even less reason to be hopeful.

Even if accepted, someone from the Outer Ring must pay steep tuition fees to the school. In reality, these fees are more like a 'residency transfer fee' for Outer Ring residents to become Inner Ring residents, often bankrupting a moderately wealthy family.

Despite this, countless people flock to the opportunity, as it represents true class elevation.

"Maybe… I will take up martial arts."

Li Ge frowned, not in agreement, "Martial arts? You want to be a martial artist? That path is not easy; the competition is fierce and it’s very dangerous. You don’t even have the basics. Are you planning to get yourself killed?"

"Not necessarily."

"Maybe I’m a once-in-a-million martial arts genius," Xue Jing remarked softly as he glanced at his skill panel.

...