"If you don't have a purchase record but are caught learning or spreading knowledge without permission, it will be considered illegal."
"If confirmed, you will face penalties from both the Martial Arts Department and the Cultural Department, starting at ten times the fine," Teacher Xu said, shaking his head. "If the situation is serious, you could even end up in jail."
Jail? Li Yuan held his breath.
"Teacher, won't this hinder the evolution of martial arts for all humanity?" Li Yuan hesitated a bit. "What about the poor?"
Does being poor mean you can't learn advanced techniques?
"You're not wrong; it is indeed a bit unfair to the poor," Teacher Xu replied. "Copyright protection is a double-edged sword."
"Too much protection can stifle innovation."
"But no protection at all can also kill innovation," Teacher Xu explained. "After many social experiments, we ended up with the current situation."
"Whether it's basic or advanced cultivation methods, they are all completely open, and many first-level techniques are available for free."
"This is enough for ordinary people to try martial arts for free," Teacher Xu said.
"For most people, reaching the third level of skill is very difficult."
"If someone is truly a martial arts genius," Teacher Xu continued, "with either incredible talent in skills or physical abilities, then the country and even the Seven Star Alliance will have various channels to discover talent and provide cultivation resources for free."
"Discovering all martial arts geniuses is the goal of all forces in human civilization."
"Like you, the martial hall has signed a contract with you early as a way to discover talent," Teacher Xu smiled. "Also, students at the Martial Arts University have free access to many second-level and even third-level techniques in the 'Martial Arts Knowledge Network.'"
"Students at the Martial Arts University have their copyright fees paid by the government."
Li Yuan understood now.
So the government, or rather all of human civilization, had thought about this long ago.
"There are copyright fees."
"Under the drive of interests, strong martial artists will have more motivation to create new techniques and cultivation methods," Teacher Xu said. "Paying copyright fees also encourages martial artists to share their techniques instead of hoarding them."
"By exchanging knowledge, every martial artist can learn from the wisdom of others, and their growth will be faster."
Teacher Xu looked at Li Yuan and said, "In the future, if you create some impressive techniques, you can upload them to the Cultural Department and earn copyright fees."
"You can earn money while sitting at home."
Li Yuan smiled, thinking about how many unique skills in history were only passed down to one or two people each generation. If something happened to them, the knowledge would be lost.
The continuous strengthening of human civilization comes from the passing down of knowledge from generation to generation.
Martial arts are no different.
"With your current martial arts level, learning two second-level techniques is enough," Teacher Xu advised. "Once your spear technique and movement technique break through to the fourth level, you can learn more second-level techniques."
"Understood," Li Yuan nodded.
If your martial arts level isn't high enough, and you haven't mastered your own family's skills, how can you think about gathering the strengths of others? That would be a joke.
"Of course."
"In your training plan, you don't need to attend the monthly sessions with famous teachers," Teacher Xu said. "My guidance is enough."
"If you buy the copyright for the techniques, my guidance won't violate copyright laws."
"Shouldn't I seek guidance from a second-level martial artist?" Li Yuan hesitated a bit.
Having Teacher Xu guide him was certainly a great opportunity, but Teacher Xu was only at level 19.
Could he match the guidance of a second-level martial artist?
"What, do you look down on me as a teacher?" Teacher Xu noticed Li Yuan's thoughts and smiled. "Don't worry, my martial arts level is not weaker than most second-level martial artists. If I had... well, no need to discuss that."
Teacher Xu sighed, his smile fading, seeming a bit dispirited.
"Teacher, I was wrong," Li Yuan quickly admitted.
"There's no blame; it has nothing to do with you," Teacher Xu shook his head and continued, "From now on, every Wednesday evening, in my office, I will guide you on spear technique and movement technique."
"No extra charges."
"Thank you, Teacher," Li Yuan felt grateful.
Once a week?
"However, for the twice-a-week martial artist practice, you need to find someone yourself," Teacher Xu said. "I don't have that much time."
"Understood," Li Yuan nodded.
It's already a huge blessing that the teacher can take time to guide him on spear and movement techniques.
He couldn't ask for more.
You have to know, if you hire a second-level martial artist for guidance, it costs 100,000 training points for just one session.
Suddenly.
"Hmm?" Teacher Xu frowned, gritting his teeth, showing signs of pain.
"What's wrong, Teacher?" Li Yuan was surprised.
"It's nothing," Teacher Xu said in a low voice, his tone trembling slightly. "Just an old issue from the battlefield."
"Alright, let's leave it at that."
"In martial arts training, no matter how much others guide you, you still have to rely on yourself to practice."
"Don't worry, I'll just take some medicine. You can head back and think about it," Teacher Xu said, forcing back the pain.
"Understood," Li Yuan felt worried.
But he was smart enough to see that Teacher Xu didn't want to show his weakness in front of him.
After Li Yuan left the office.
"The effect of the medicine is wearing off faster," Teacher Xu gritted his teeth. "I couldn't hold back earlier and used my source power to demonstrate for Li Yuan, which accelerated the onset."
Teacher Xu walked slowly to the break room and took out a beautifully packaged small bottle from the fridge.
He opened it and took the medicine.
The pain in his body quickly eased. "I wonder how many more years I can live," Teacher Xu thought silently, a fierce light in his eyes. "If it really comes to the end, I will apply to return to the Star Realm."
"I, Xu Bo."
"I will die on the battlefield, if I must die."
After a while, Teacher Xu finally returned to normal. Suddenly, his smart wristband vibrated with an unread message.
"Hmm? A message from Li Yuan? Asking how my health is?" Teacher Xu felt a warmth in his heart. "This kid is quite thoughtful."
Teacher Xu could guess that if he didn't reply, Li Yuan would likely come back to check on him.
"Black Dog."
"Reply to Li Yuan that I'm fine," Teacher Xu said in a low tone.
"Yes, Master."
...
"Glad to hear the teacher is fine," Li Yuan received Xu Bo's reply in the independent martial arts room at school.
He turned off his smart wristband.
"Time to enter the virtual network," Li Yuan stepped into the nearby virtual network pod.
Connecting his consciousness, he arrived in Starfire Space.
"Master," a girl in purple appeared out of nowhere.
"Use training points to purchase the second-level technique 'Dragon Movement Technique' and the second-level technique 'Star Spear Technique,'" Li Yuan said directly. "Also, buy a source power essence pill with points."
He still had a few bottles of basic vitality-enhancing elixir at home, so he wasn't in a hurry to buy more.
"Master, please confirm the purchase list," the girl waved her hand, and a light screen appeared in front of Li Yuan, listing the items.
Li Yuan scanned it and confirmed everything was correct.
"Confirm."
In an instant.
"You have obtained the usage rights for the second-level technique 'Dragon Movement Technique,' which has been registered with the Martial Arts Department and Cultural Department. The query code is... 1 million training points deducted."
"You have obtained the usage rights for the second-level technique 'Star Spear Technique'... 1 million training points deducted."
"You have obtained one source power essence pill. Please fill in the delivery address... 100,000 points deducted."
Li Yuan received three notifications from 'Starfire Space.'
"Delivery address, let's put my home," Li Yuan thought for a moment. "Delivery time, 10 PM."
As an L3 level member of the martial hall, he could have 24-hour delivery.
"Master, the source power essence pill will be delivered to your door tomorrow," the girl said cheerfully. "According to copyright law, all second-level and above techniques must be learned in virtual space, and there are no physical copies."
"You have obtained all the information about the techniques and can choose to enter your personal space to learn."
"Good," Li Yuan nodded slightly.
If there were physical copies of the techniques, it would be too easy to spread them privately. But with the virtual network?
The entire virtual network is monitored by human civilization.
"I want to see what makes the second-level techniques so impressive," Li Yuan thought with anticipation.
...
While Li Yuan was learning techniques in the virtual network.
In the office of Song Yi on the twelfth floor of the Starry Sky Martial Hall in Guanshan District.
"Bang~"
The teacup was instantly crushed, and tea splashed everywhere.
But Song Yi, dressed elegantly, didn't care at all; the glass shards couldn't hurt her fingers.
Song Yi's gaze was sharp, filled with coldness. "What did you say? Li Yuan refused tomorrow's meeting? Why?"
"Yes."
Zhong Cheng, dressed in black, stood there with a bitter smile. "I only received Li Yuan's message this afternoon; he didn't respond to my communication."
"I contacted his uncle and found out he has already signed a contract with Starfire Martial Hall," Zhong Cheng said in a low voice.
"Starfire Martial Hall?"
"They snatched the person I had my eye on?" A flicker of anger crossed Song Yi's eyes. "We clearly invited him first; how can Starfire Martial Hall be so unscrupulous?"
"And this Li Yuan!"
"We already had an agreement, and he suddenly refused without giving you a reason." Song Yi's gaze turned icy. "Is this the good candidate you were talking about?"
In an instant, a hint of dissatisfaction surged in Zhong Cheng's heart.
You set the plan and now want to shift the blame to me?
"Master Song," Zhong Cheng said softly, "As far as I know, Li Yuan's direct refusal is understandable."
"Understandable? What position are you in to defend him?" Song Yi fixed her sharp gaze on Zhong Cheng.
"Starfire Martial Hall offered a B-level contract," Zhong Cheng replied quickly.
Song Yi's pupils constricted.
The room fell silent.
After a while.
"Get out," Song Yi suddenly shouted.
"Yes," Zhong Cheng nodded and turned to leave, seemingly forgetting to close the door behind him.
(End of Chapter)