"17.8 meters per second?"
"I must be seeing things."
"How can it be so fast? Is he really from the regular class?"
"Brother Yuan is amazing!"
"Li Yuan is incredible." The hundreds of students outside the testing area erupted in cheers.
The students from Class 3 (2) were mostly shocked and excited, and if you had to sum it up in one sentence, it would be, "Li Yuan is getting more impressive."
But the elite class students were shocked too, but they were more focused on thinking, "How can this Li Yuan be so impressive?"
"Has he really not awakened his Martial Spirit?"
"With that kind of physical ability, he’s almost at level 8.0, maybe he’s already there." The elite class students were discussing among themselves, some unable to believe it.
You have to understand, elite class students often feel superior to regular class students. They knew Li Yuan was strong, especially in martial arts skills, even better than Lin Lanyue.
However, not having awakened a Martial Spirit in their minds meant his training speed should be much slower. But Li Yuan's current performance? He was crushing most of the elite class students.
"Wow! He's even a bit faster than me. His physical ability is about the same as mine? How did he improve so quickly?" Gu Qianghan stared wide-eyed. "Doesn't that mean his raw score will surpass mine?"
Gu Qianghan ranked third in martial arts in the grade during the end-of-year exam for his second year. But his speed in the forty-meter burst test was only 17.6 meters per second.
"Lanyue, him?" A slightly chubby girl standing next to Lin Lanyue had her mouth agape. "With that kind of burst speed, he would rank third in our class, right?"
Lin Lanyue ignored her friend, deep in thought. "How did he do it? Is this why he could sign with the Starfire Martial Hall?"
On this winter day, the sun was shining just right, and the breeze was gentle. The girl watched the handsome young man in a white martial arts uniform among the crowd.
He was smiling brightly, receiving cheers from his classmates, but he didn’t look at her.
"Lanyue, stop daydreaming."
The chubby girl couldn’t help but nudge Lin Lanyue’s arm. "I admit Li Yuan is handsome, maybe even better looking than the boys in our class, but you don’t have to be so infatuated."
"You’re the one who’s infatuated." Lin Lanyue glanced at her friend. "I’m just curious about how he’s improving so fast."
"Curious?"
The chubby girl, Peng Qiqi, giggled. "Curiosity is the first step to falling for someone, you know. If you don't want him, I won’t hold back."
"I think you’re the one who’s falling." Lin Lanyue raised her head. "Besides, I don’t think Li Yuan is that handsome. We are martial arts students; we care about strength first, looks don’t matter."
"Isn’t he handsome at all?" Peng Qiqi teased. "Then you don’t find any of the boys in our school attractive?"
"They’d have to at least stand on the podium first." Lin Lanyue smiled slightly, pulling her friend’s hand. "Come on, we need to gather for the 100-meter test."
"The podium?"
"Lanyue, listen to what you’re saying!" Peng Qiqi exaggerated. "Only the top martial arts student can stand on the podium; who can compete with you? Oh, I get it, you’ve got your eye on the younger boys in first and second year?"
"So you like them young, huh?"
…
"Young man, are you really a regular class student?" Two supervising teachers from other schools were equally surprised by Li Yuan’s strength.
Among the third-year students, it’s rare to find anyone who hasn’t awakened a Martial Spirit and has a physical ability over level 6.5.
Let alone someone at level 7.9 or 8.0.
The two teachers paused the exam to check their equipment and reconfirmed Li Yuan’s identity from a distance.
"Yes." Li Yuan nodded.
"Impressive, another good seedling from Guanzhong." One of the older martial arts teachers couldn’t help but say, "Young man, keep working hard. Even without the spirit bonus, with your physical ability, you have a chance to get into the martial artist class at Jiangbei Martial Arts University."
"Thank you, Teacher." Li Yuan smiled.
The martial artist class at Jiangbei Martial Arts University is similar to the elite class and would receive the best training from the university. However, that wasn’t Li Yuan’s goal.
…
As time passed, the physical tests for 100 meters, 1 kilometer, and 10 kilometers were conducted in succession.
Lin Lanyue was the center of attention. Her displayed physical ability was truly on another level, not only leaving all the elite class students behind but also far surpassing the second place.
The next most watched was Li Yuan.
In terms of physical test data, there were several students in the elite class, like Gu Qianghan, who were just as good as him.
But Li Yuan was too special; he was just a regular class student who couldn’t practice advanced cultivation methods… yet his physical ability had already surpassed over 90% of the elite class students.
"Li Yuan’s progress is too exaggerated."
"Has he really not awakened a Martial Spirit? How could his physical ability improve so quickly?"
"I just checked; at the end of the second year, based on scores, his physical ability should have been around level 6.0."
"In just half a year, his physical ability has improved by almost 2 levels, even more exaggerated than the top students in the elite class."
"By the time of the college entrance exam, what level will his physical ability reach? Level 9? He won’t directly become a martial artist, will he?"
"In martial arts skills, he’s first, and his physical ability is so impressive too?"
"What will his martial arts score be this time? I feel like he could break into the top twenty in the grade."
"Definitely in the top twenty, maybe even the top ten."
"Top ten? That’s impossible."
"He hasn’t awakened a Martial Spirit; the top ten usually have spirit bonuses. It’s too hard for Li Yuan to get into the top ten. No matter how high his skill score is, he can’t get a perfect score." Many students in the third year were discussing.
In no time, Li Yuan became the center of attention in the school, drawing a lot of interest.
The story of the underdog rising is always a popular topic.
Li Yuan wasn’t exactly an underdog, but not having awakened a Martial Spirit allowed most regular students to resonate with him and feel a connection—so what if they hadn’t awakened? They could still be impressive.
… The three-day January mock exam came to an end.
That evening was self-study, and the exam results would be announced the next day in class.
Around seven in the evening.
In the Guanshan Branch of the Starfire Martial Hall, in the martial arts room 7024.
"Boom!"
"Whoosh!" "Bang!" Li Yuan, dressed in a loose martial arts uniform, was practicing the Rock Fist Technique.
This was a fist technique that matched the Rock Foundation Cultivation Method, or you could say the fist technique was a direct evolution of the standing meditation and practice of the cultivation method.
Each move seemed slow, but the sudden bursts of power were incredibly fierce.
"The fist technique is about controlling your body."
"The spear technique is about controlling your weapon."
"When my spear technique broke through to the third stage, it was because my fist technique broke through first." Li Yuan focused on his training, glancing at the Divine Palace Panel: "My spear technique has just broken through to 90% of the third stage, but my fist technique has already reached 99% of the third stage."
"The fourth stage of spear technique emphasizes the unity of body, mind, and weapon."
"But the fourth stage of fist technique is just about the unity of body and mind." Li Yuan thought quietly: "If I can’t even achieve perfect unity of body and mind, how can I achieve the unity of body, mind, and weapon?"
Unity of body and mind is the foundation for the unity of body, mind, and weapon.
Fist and spear are inseparable.
Practicing the spear is essentially practicing the fist, but Li Yuan still occasionally practices the fist technique separately.
"According to the Divine Palace Panel, my physical ability is at level 7.8, but based on today’s performance data, it should be similar to other level 7.9 students." Li Yuan’s thoughts wandered: "According to the college entrance exam standards, I should score around 435 points for physical ability."
"For skill scores, I didn’t make any mistakes today, so I’m sure I’ll exceed 380 points." Li Yuan sighed inwardly.
360 points is the standard for the third stage.
To reach 380 points, Li Yuan estimated he would need to achieve above mid-level skills in the third stage.
With his near-perfect third stage spear technique, how many points could he get? Li Yuan wasn’t sure.
"However."
"By the most conservative estimate, as long as my cultural score exceeds 65 points, my total martial arts score will be at least over 880 points." Li Yuan silently thought: "I have a chance to break into the top ten."
He felt confident about breaking into the top ten in the grade.
But the top five?
"The hope is very small; I won’t be greedy." Li Yuan suddenly punched out, causing the air around him to crackle.
He didn’t feel any disappointment inside.
He had done everything he could, and now all that was left was to wait.
"No matter what the result is, I have no regrets. Why should I trouble myself?" Li Yuan’s heart was calm as he silently practiced his punches.
The heart of a martial artist seeks only to have no regrets.
…
At nine in the evening, in the principal's office of Guanshan District First High School.
Principal Tan Zhenlong was still working late.
"Beep—" A smart assistant voice sounded: "Master, Teacher Xu Bo is video calling you."
"Xu Bo?"
"This guy can’t wait even a quarter of an hour." Tan Zhenlong shook his head with a smile, putting down the score sheet in his hand. "Little Nine, connect him."
Buzz~ A lot of light gathered, forming a holographic screen.
Xu Bo, who looked like a tall tower, appeared in the projection.
"Old Tan, have you seen the results of the January mock exam?" Xu Bo had a big smile on his face.
"I’ve seen it."
Tan Zhenlong nodded, appearing quite indifferent. "Teacher Xu is looking for me so late; is there something you need?"
"About Li Yuan." Xu Bo said.
"Li Yuan?" Tan Zhenlong nodded. "He performed quite well."
"So?" Xu Bo looked at Tan Zhenlong.
"So what?" Tan Zhenlong smiled at Xu Bo.
"What’s with that attitude?" Xu Bo glared. "You old rascal, don’t pretend to be clueless. I have video evidence from last time."
"Get to the point."
"I’ve sent you the application for the scholarship; hurry up and approve it."
(End of Chapter)