In September 2042 of the Seven Star Calendar, in Xia Country, Jiangbei Province, Jiang City, a city known as the "Furnace City" where winter and summer blend for most of the year, the beginning of September is particularly hot.
At Guanshan District's top high school, every classroom in the senior year has similar banners hanging on the back blackboard, such as "No Struggle, No Gain, Senior Year is Wasted" and "Fight for a Year, No Regrets for a Lifetime."
On the east side of the first floor, there is a particularly large classroom, nearly a thousand square meters. Unlike ordinary classrooms, it has no desks or chairs. One side is filled with various cold weapons like knives, guns, swords, and staffs, while the other side has many special instruments and a unique track made of dark red metal.
This is the Martial Arts Class.
At this moment, over a hundred students are practicing standing meditation, performing different movements. Some move like monkeys, some like flying birds, and some resemble fierce tigers. Their energy and spirit are impressive.
"The root is in the feet, it starts from the legs, controls the waist, and gathers the strength of the body into the fingers..." A burly middle-aged man in a black martial arts uniform walks among the students. He has a stern face, stands nearly two meters tall, and his voice is booming, like a tiger's gaze, fixed on every student.
The most striking feature is his right arm, a silver metal arm that moves fluidly, perfectly integrated with his body.
"By now, you should have mastered the basics of the cultivation method in your second year, yet here you are in your third year, still standing around slackly." The burly man scolds, casually knocking down a sweating student with a slap from his metal arm. "If your stance is stable, your center of gravity won't shift. The basic cultivation method is the foundation of martial arts!"
"Practice every day, or you'll lose progress. I see that even after a half-month break during summer, you all completely relaxed and didn’t practice at home."
"You’re already in your third year and still think you can take it easy? You’re just ordinary class students who haven’t awakened your spirit. If you don’t work hard, how will you get into a martial arts university?"
"Even if you don’t plan to attend a martial arts university, your martial arts scores still account for 30% of your overall grade..." The burly man continues to scold.
The students dare not breathe, focusing even more seriously on their practice.
"Report."
"Report." Suddenly, a chorus of voices rings out at the classroom door as a group of students in martial arts uniforms appears.
"Is Group Two back from the spiritual potential test?" The burly man glances at the door. His sharp gaze lands on one student.
This student is nearly 1.8 meters tall with a buzz cut. At first glance, he seems ordinary, but upon closer inspection, one notices his posture is upright, and his spine is straight, giving an unshakeable impression even when standing casually.
Clearly, this student has integrated the basics of the cultivation method into his daily movements, truly achieving harmony between mind and body.
This level of martial arts has surpassed all the students practicing standing meditation in the classroom.
"Li Yuan, how did it go?" The burly man asks him.
The nearly hundred students practicing standing meditation secretly glance at the student named Li Yuan.
"Teacher Xu, I didn’t awaken," Li Yuan replies calmly, shaking his head without showing disappointment.
The burly man furrows his brow upon hearing this.
Li Yuan is the student in this class with the most potential to awaken his martial spirit.
"Li Yuan didn’t succeed?"
"During the end-of-term exam in his second year, his martial arts score was in the top thirty of the grade, and his physical constitution was already at level six. He must be even stronger now, yet he still hasn’t awakened his martial spirit?"
"Awakening a martial spirit is really difficult!" The nearly hundred students practicing standing meditation are all secretly astonished.
Currently, across Xia Country and even the entire Blue Star, there are two paths for selecting talent—cultural courses and martial arts cultivation.
Starting from middle school, all students are taught the basics of cultivation by the state to practice martial arts.
Guanshan District's top high school has over two thousand students in the senior year, divided into twenty classes. However, there is only one martial arts elite class, while the rest are ordinary classes.
The elite class has over sixty students, all of whom have awakened their martial spirits, and the top fifty martial arts scores are usually dominated by them.
Li Yuan’s ability to break into the top thirty of the ordinary class is quite impressive.
"What about the others? Did anyone awaken their spirit?" The burly man scans the rest of the group.
Silence falls.
"Come in, everyone." The burly man is not surprised.
In fact, most students who awaken their martial spirit do so in their first year or even in middle school. Trying to awaken in the third year? The chances are slim!
The burly man had only hoped for Li Yuan, and he waves his hand. "Group Three, go to the martial arts building for the spiritual testing."
Boom~
A row of students who had been standing for a long time, their legs sore and feet aching, quickly get up and rush out of the classroom.
Li Yuan and his group return to their positions to continue practicing standing meditation.
"Brother Yuan, Teacher Xu seems a bit disappointed," a classmate with a short mustache and a mature appearance whispers to Li Yuan. "But you, Brother Yuan, just got the spiritual test results and you’re not upset at all?"
"Enough of that."
"Let’s keep practicing. Four hours of basic practice every day is essential." Li Yuan replies calmly. He had guessed the result early on, so he naturally wouldn’t feel disappointed.
"Four hours?" The mature-looking boy mutters, "No wonder you’re the second top scorer in our class."
Li Yuan smiles at this and closes his eyes, standing in his position with slightly bent legs. His aura shifts, becoming as solid as a rock, exuding an even more unshakeable presence.
"Rock Foundation Cultivation Method." Li Yuan recalls the various movements of this cultivation method in his mind.
He has practiced these movements countless times, mastering them completely.
In this era, martial arts are very popular.
The Seven Star Alliance has made seven basic cultivation methods available to all citizens across the seven planets, with no distinction of high or low—only what suits them.
Whether they are wealthy or ordinary people, everyone starts their martial arts journey with the basic cultivation methods.
Li Yuan chose the "Rock Foundation Cultivation Method."
He has been practicing it for over five years now.
Each basic cultivation method can greatly stimulate the human body's potential, continuously improving physical constitution, and even completely awakening the spirit.
Even though Li Yuan’s physical constitution is still below level seven, even those who are ranked martial artists with a physical constitution above level nine continue to practice the basic cultivation methods.
"Whoosh!"
"Whoosh!"
Every basic cultivation method has thirty-six training movements, along with a corresponding breathing technique.
Li Yuan’s breathing alternates between rapid and slow, coordinating with his movements, creating a faint sound within his body.
His bones resonate!
"Feels good." Li Yuan immerses himself in this practice.
He can feel his muscles and bones being constantly stimulated, becoming stronger.
This is the evolution of life.
In this era, ordinary teenagers have the potential to break the century-old world record in sprinting, thanks to cultivation methods.
"Too bad, I didn’t make it into the top twenty in the last term assessment. Otherwise, in addition to the five thousand Blue Star Coins scholarship, I could have received more vitality-enhancing elixirs this semester." Li Yuan thinks, "With more vitality-enhancing elixirs, my physical constitution would improve faster, and it would ease some financial pressure on my uncle and aunt."
Li Yuan is an orphan, raised by his uncle and aunt.
His uncle works for a state-owned enterprise, and his aunt is a middle school teacher.
By all accounts, this family isn’t rich, but they are comfortably off.
However, Li Yuan has been weak and sickly since childhood, and his uncle and aunt have spent a lot of money on his treatment.
Later, following the doctor's advice, starting from middle school, they invested a lot of money in Li Yuan's martial arts training, even more than they spent on their own children.
Fortunately, Li Yuan has good talent and works hard. He got into Guanshan District's top high school, and his grades have been improving. By his second year, he was in the top hundred, and by the end of that year, he broke into the top thirty.
This made his uncle and aunt very happy.
However, martial arts cultivation relies heavily on talent and money.
Especially after his physical constitution reached level six, the resources needed for improvement—food from the Star Realm, vitality-enhancing drugs, medicinal meals, and special equipment—are all incredibly expensive.
Compared to other students in the top thirty, Li Yuan's external conditions are quite average, even considered poor.
But Li Yuan understands that his uncle and aunt have done their utmost to support him.
They also have younger siblings at home, so he can’t ask for more.
"But this is the sixth time."
"Since the first year of middle school, I've failed the spiritual tests every year." Li Yuan thinks, "If the spirit within me could awaken, I would get a 10% score boost, and I could easily break into the top ten."
"Awakening a martial spirit also comes with a government subsidy."
Whether one awakens their martial spirit or not is the most important indicator of a person's martial talent across the entire Blue Star and the seven planets.
Yet, Li Yuan has never managed to awaken his martial spirit.
"In previous years, no more than five students from the school have made it into the five major martial arts academies," Li Yuan thinks silently. "With my current scores, getting into an ordinary martial arts university shouldn't be a problem."
"But getting into the five major academies seems very unlikely without awakening my spirit."
Xia Country has a population of nearly two billion and twenty-four provinces, each with its own martial arts university that only recruits within the province. This is the goal for most aspiring martial arts students.
The five major academies, established by Xia Country, recruit students nationwide.
While students at ordinary martial arts universities receive plenty of resources, they still rely more on their own efforts.
Students at the five major academies, however, receive substantial resources from the government.
"With national resources for training, I could go further in my martial arts journey, becoming a ranked martial artist like Teacher Xu, or even stronger," Li Yuan thinks.
His goal for the college entrance exam is to get into one of the five major academies.
However, the score requirements for these five schools are also very high.
"Step by step, there are still nine months until the college entrance exam." Li Yuan practices quietly, focusing his mind.
...
Not long after, a commotion comes from outside the classroom as more than ten students from Group Three return to the classroom door, their faces showing excitement.
"Teacher Xu, Wan Xiao has awakened his spirit!"
"Teacher Xu..." Before the burly man can ask, many students can’t help but shout.
The classroom erupts in excitement.
"Wan Xiao, he awakened his martial spirit?" "Is he going to the elite class now?"
"I heard that elite class students can practice advanced cultivation methods early." Most classmates show envious expressions.
Only those who awaken their martial spirits can enter the elite class. Otherwise, like Li Yuan, even if he breaks into the top thirty, he still has to stay in the ordinary class.
"Wan Xiao?" Li Yuan opens his eyes and looks toward the burly figure at the classroom door, who has a slight flush on his face.
He stands nearly 1.9 meters tall, with a very robust build, resembling a bear, with surprisingly thick arms, though his face still looks a bit youthful.
He is the only other student besides Li Yuan in the top hundred of martial arts scores—Wan Xiao.
"Li Yuan." Wan Xiao, filled with excitement, notices Li Yuan's gaze and smiles at him.
Li Yuan smiles back.
In terms of martial arts scores, Li Yuan is better than Wan Xiao. But in terms of family background, Wan Xiao is much better off.
As the two best students in the class, Li Yuan and Wan Xiao often compete for scholarships, but they have a good relationship.
Friendship among classmates is often pure.
"Damn! Brother Yuan, you didn’t awaken, but this bear did. What luck!" The mature-looking boy next to Li Yuan can’t help but mutter. "If you calculate it this way, with the spirit bonus, his martial arts score will almost catch up to yours."
Wan Xiao is nicknamed "Bear."
Li Yuan chuckles softly, "Old Zhou, are you jealous?"
The boy speaking is named Zhou Qi, known as "Old Zhou" because of his thick hair and mature appearance. He is Li Yuan's middle school classmate, and they ended up in the same class after entering high school.
After five or six years, they have become good brothers.
"I’m not jealous at all." Zhou Qi whispers, "My cultural scores are enough to get into a key university. I take martial arts mainly to train my body. I can't always be a weakling and fall behind even Ling Ling... I’m just standing up for you."
Li Yuan smiles.
Zhou Qi's physical constitution is average, barely reaching level four, but his cultural scores are very good, ranking in the top fifty of the grade.
With limited national resources, only a few students are admitted to martial arts universities.
Most students ultimately enter different universities based on their cultural scores.
"Wan Xiao has a good physical constitution, so it’s normal for him to awaken his martial spirit," Li Yuan says. "Besides, the college entrance exam is a competition among all third-year students in the province and even the nation, not just against Wan Xiao."
Li Yuan is genuinely happy for Wan Xiao's awakening.
In their school’s third year, over sixty students have awakened their martial spirits, and across the province and the nation... there are too many.
Instead of worrying about others, it’s better to improve oneself. This is a lesson Li Yuan learned from a young age.
...
Wan Xiao's successful awakening has greatly motivated the other students, and those who have yet to be tested feel a bit of anticipation.
Group Four, Group Five... failure, failure.
In the end, only Wan Xiao from Class Three (2) awakened his martial spirit after all the tests.
Once all the students return to the classroom, the burly Teacher Xu scans the room and says in a low voice, "Alright, today’s basic training ends here. Stop."
Rustle~
Immediately, all the students stop. Many have legs that feel sore and weak.
Yet, due to Teacher Xu's strictness, no one dares to lie down.
Basic cultivation methods are very physically demanding.
Even though most third-year students have a physical constitution of level four, two hours of training still takes a toll on them.
"It’s good for students to awaken their martial spirits, but don’t be disappointed if you didn’t succeed."
"There will be another spiritual testing organized by the school in January and April."
"Before the college entrance exam, there will also be a nationwide spiritual testing."
"As long as you awaken your spirit before the college entrance exam, your martial arts scores will receive a boost," Teacher Xu says solemnly. "But remember, exam scores are the foundation. A high base score makes the bonus useful."
"Even in the elite class, not everyone can get into a martial arts university."
"How do you get good scores? By working hard!"
"Like Li Yuan, even without spirit bonuses, his martial arts score can exceed eight hundred, surpassing most elite class students." Teacher Xu scolds. "And his dedication goes without saying."
Most students can’t help but look at Li Yuan, their eyes filled with admiration.
Li Yuan's hard work in training is well-known throughout the entire third year.
"Brother Yuan, Teacher Xu is making you the target again." Zhou Qi whispers nearby.
Li Yuan can only smile helplessly.
Ever since his martial arts scores broke into the top hundred, he has gotten used to being seen as the "model student."
Teacher Xu, whose full name is Xu Bo, is the martial arts class teacher for Li Yuan's class and one of the two special-grade martial arts instructors at Guanshan District's top high school.
As far as Li Yuan knows, Teacher Xu's physical constitution exceeds level fifteen, making him quite impressive even among ranked martial artists. He was originally a military martial artist but came to teach at Guanshan High School after being injured.
With a physical constitution above level nine, he holds a very high status in society.
Most ordinary adults have a physical constitution of only level five or six.
"You are at a stage where your physical constitution can improve rapidly. This year is crucial for your future," Teacher Xu continues. "You must not slack off."
"Now, take a thirty-minute break, and then I will conduct skill evaluations in order." After finishing his speech, Teacher Xu turns to leave.
"Huh?"
"Skill evaluation?"
"We're going to get wrecked by Teacher Xu again. I bet you won't last three moves."
"Can you last three moves against Teacher Xu?" The students excitedly discuss among themselves.
Li Yuan's eyes also flash with a hint of excitement.
The Blue Star and the seven planets have always faced the threat of war, and powerful martial artists play a crucial role.
Thus, martial arts cultivation is a common understanding.
In human society, top martial artists hold a very high status.
Students like Li Yuan admire martial artists greatly.
Xu Bo is one of the top martial artists that Li Yuan and his classmates can interact with in real life.
"Brother Yuan, skill evaluation is your strong suit," Zhou Qi says excitedly.
"You should think about yourself first. I noticed you didn’t make much progress in standing meditation compared to last semester," Li Yuan laughs. "Just don’t get knocked down by Teacher Xu’s staff, or you’ll embarrass yourself in front of Peng Lingling."
Peng Lingling is Zhou Qi's crush.
Zhou Qi's face stiffens, and he awkwardly says, "I’m not planning to attend a martial arts university. Lingling won’t care."
...
In the classroom, each student retrieves their weapon from the weapon cabinet behind the weapon rack.
Then, they all put on their protective gear.
In this era, every high school student is provided by the state with one or two unsharpened cold weapons, mainly knives, guns, and shields, with a few choosing axes, halberds, or swords.
As for hammers, hatchets, hooks, forks, whips, and flails? Almost no student chooses those.
The study of cold weapons focuses mainly on knives and guns.
The martial arts college entrance exam score consists of a base score of one thousand points, made up of physical constitution, martial arts skills, and cultural scores, with respective weights of 50%, 40%, and 10%.
If one awakens their spirit, there will be additional bonuses.
Thus, skill evaluations are very important, being a top priority in students' daily training.
Simply having a good physical constitution isn’t enough to get into a martial arts university.
Whoosh!
Li Yuan also retrieves his weapon from his personal weapon cabinet—a black spear nearly three meters long and weighing about five kilograms.
Although it's called a spear, the spearhead is merely decorative; it’s more like a long staff, as it is issued by the state for training purposes, not actual combat.
"Whoosh!"
Li Yuan grips the spear and casually makes a thrust.
Swish! The spear tip pierces the air, creating a faint tearing sound, causing the nearby classmates to change their expressions slightly.
With Li Yuan's strength, even without a sharpened tip, a single thrust can be quite powerful.
"Only Li Yuan can handle this spear in our class."
"When Li Yuan holds the spear, it feels like he’s ready to face Teacher Xu." Many classmates whisper, showing looks of envy and admiration.
Many students study spear techniques, but most are reluctant to practice with such a long spear.
The longer the weapon, the more powerful it is.
However, the longer it is, the harder it is to control.
Weapons are something one must immerse themselves in for a lifetime; the best weapon is the one that suits oneself.
"Skill first! Brother Yuan’s martial arts skill assessment score from the end of his second year was 356 points, the only one in the entire grade to exceed 350 points." Zhou Qi says with a grin. "Even Teacher Xu has said that Brother Yuan's spear technique is solid."
Many classmates nod in agreement.
Without a spirit bonus and not having the top physical constitution, how did Li Yuan manage to break into the top thirty?
It’s because his spear technique is far superior to his peers.
In the martial arts skills category, Li Yuan is recognized as the top student in the grade.
Soon, the burly Xu Bo casually walks back into the classroom, holding a long staff.
He pauses to look at Li Yuan for a moment.
"I will conduct the test according to the college entrance exam standards."
"Treat every test seriously as if it were the real exam. When the actual exam comes, it will just feel like another test," Xu Bo says in a serious tone, holding the staff firmly.
"According to student ID numbers, we’ll go in reverse order."
"Number 112, Zhou Qi."
(End of Chapter)