At the school’s award ceremony, Li Yuan received the title of "Youth Hero." His popularity spread throughout the school, overshadowing Lin Lanyue. Many younger students looked up to him as an idol. News reports also helped him gain some recognition online, although it was mostly limited to Jiang City.

On January 8, just after ten in the morning, during a break in the senior class (Class 2) cultural classroom, Zhou Qi excitedly flipped through his device and exclaimed, "Brother Yuan, you really are famous now! Look, your online profile was dug up, and your follower count shot up by over a thousand!"

This caught the attention of several curious classmates who leaned in to look at Zhou Qi’s screen.

"Most of the followers are just there to watch the show, mainly from our school. News blows up so quickly these days; it’ll fade in a couple of days," Li Yuan said with a chuckle, shaking his head. "Do you really believe it?"

"I probably wouldn’t be recognized by the noodle shop owner at the school gate," Li Yuan added with a laugh.

"That’s true," Zhou Qi replied, scratching his head and closing his smart wristband.

"Brother Yuan, have you seen the news about the Lobu Sea?" asked Yan Zhou from the back row. "I remember you said your uncle went to work there."

"I have," Li Yuan’s smile faded a bit. "The fighting there has been intense, and it seems like it hasn’t calmed down yet."

Ten days prior, just two days after Jiang City was attacked by creatures from the Star Realm, a massive battle broke out in the second-level Star Realm, Lobu Sea. It has been the top news story in Xia Country and across Blue Star ever since.

Li Yuan kept a close eye on the situation, sending messages to his uncle, Li Changzhou, almost every day. Sometimes, his uncle would reply to reassure him.

"I saw in the news yesterday that since September, nearly ten thousand people have died in this war," Li Tianyou said, shaking his head. "The casualties are truly tragic."

The atmosphere in the classroom turned a bit heavy. In this age of advanced communication, as senior students facing the college entrance exam, they were more aware of national events and their own futures. They understood that their destinies were tied to the fate of their country and humanity.

"Don’t worry," Li Yuan suddenly said with a smile. "In the past, we’ve weathered many battles, and we’ll get through this one too."

"Class is starting."

The bell rang, and everyone returned to their seats, ending the discussion.

Sitting at his desk, Li Yuan instinctively looked out the window, his thoughts drifting. The Northern Frontier Province was nearly ten thousand kilometers away from Jiangbei Province. While Jiang City was peaceful, the front lines at Lobu Sea were engulfed in flames of war…

Li Yuan’s life settled back into its usual routine, maintaining a daily schedule of school, home, and the Starfire Martial Hall in Guanshan District. Aside from morning classes, he followed a strict training regimen, practicing basic cultivation methods and spear techniques. He continuously bought and took vitality-enhancing elixirs based on his physical condition.

Day after day, it felt monotonous. His bank account and points in the martial hall were quickly dwindling. Yet, Li Yuan’s strength steadily improved. This was the nature of martial arts training, or really, the path to excellence in any field.

The moment of glory often required ten years of hard work to achieve. There were no shortcuts.

Before he knew it, it was February 10, 2043. This was the most important traditional holiday in Xia Country, the Spring Festival, celebrated with grand festivities across the nation and even worldwide. Even for seniors, the school granted a ten-day break.

At home in Wanhua Platinum Residence, Aunt Chen Hui sat at the head of the table. An empty seat was beside her, but the smart wristband projected a hologram of her husband.

"Changzhou, Happy New Year!" she said, looking at the projection.

"Happy New Year, dear!" Li Changzhou replied, raising his glass with a smile. His face looked much darker than before. "Happy New Year to Xiao Yuan, Qianqian, and Mu Hua!"

"Happy New Year, Uncle and Aunt!" Li Yuan smiled and raised his glass.

"Happy New Year, Dad, Mom, Brother!"

Though Li Changzhou was far away, he still celebrated the Spring Festival with his family through the video projection. The family was full of warmth.

After the meal, Li Qianqian and Li Mu Hua cleaned up, while Li Yuan went to his room. He still had time before the Spring Festival Gala started, so he wanted to squeeze in some more training.

Aunt Chen Hui sat on the sofa, looking at the projection of her husband with a hint of worry. "Changzhou, how much longer will you be away? Didn’t you say you’d be back in January?"

"It’ll probably be another two months," Li Changzhou replied. "You know how tense things have been lately. Our team was supposed to be replaced, but now they’ve gone to Lobu Sea."

"We’re here, working day and night."

"It seems we’ll have to wait for the next batch to come and replace us," he added.

"Alright," she said, reluctantly nodding. "Just be careful."

"Don’t worry. After the battle two weeks ago, the military and martial artists have pushed back into the Star Realm. It’s been a tough fight, but we should be close to winning," Li Changzhou said with a smile. "Last month was indeed dangerous, but this month, we’ve been making progress."

"Though I’m on the edge of the Star Realm, I’m actually working in a large fortress behind the front lines, so it’s not too dangerous."

"Okay," Aunt Chen Hui nodded. If she didn’t know her husband was safer than last month, she would be even more worried.

"Try not to share too many details with them," Li Changzhou said softly. "Especially with Xiao Yuan; the college entrance exam is getting closer."

"Got it," she replied, nodding.

Li Yuan didn’t know much about his uncle Li Changzhou’s situation. It wasn’t that he didn’t care; it was just that his uncle rarely shared the real details. This led Li Yuan to believe his uncle’s work was far from the Star Realm.

After the Spring Festival, life for the seniors became increasingly tense. Every class, whether in cultural studies or martial arts, displayed a "100 Days Countdown" banner. The college entrance exam was approaching.

Yet, Li Yuan felt increasingly calm. He had been training hard, whether in physical training, spear techniques, or cultural studies. He never slacked off.

"The college entrance exam is just a result."

"The quality of the result doesn’t depend on how serious I am during those three days of exams," Li Yuan thought. "It’s about whether I’ve put in enough effort over the past three, six, or even twelve years."

"If I accumulate enough, success will come naturally."

"If I haven’t accumulated enough and my scores aren’t high enough, worrying won’t help!" Li Yuan’s mind became even purer.

"Brother Yuan, my physical constitution is now at level 4.8!" Zhou Qi exclaimed after another class test, clearly excited. "The advanced cultivation method is really amazing."

"Awesome! But don’t get complacent. You weren’t strong before, and now that you’ve awakened the advanced cultivation method, you need to make up for lost time," Li Yuan said with a smile. "Try to improve as much as you can before the exam."

"Yeah, my goal is to reach level 5.2 before the exam, to hit the class average," Zhou Qi said confidently.

This was the terrifying power of the advanced cultivation method. It absorbed energy from the universe, like taking various supplements every day. Zhou Qi’s physical constitution was once at the bottom of the class, but in just over two months, he was nearing the middle.

If Zhou Qi had another year, his physical level could easily reach the top ten in the class.

On March 8, 2043, in the martial arts room 4011 at school.

"Li Yuan."

"After half a year of training, your spear techniques, movement techniques, and fist techniques have all reached the third stage perfection without any flaws," said Xu Bo, who looked like a tower of iron. "Starting next week, you don’t need to come to me for guidance anymore."

"Don’t need to come anymore?" Li Yuan was slightly taken aback.

"I’ve told you everything you need to know," Xu Bo said, looking at Li Yuan with a smile. "From the third stage to the fourth stage, you’ll have to find your own way to break through."

"I only have one last piece of advice for you."

"Focus on your body first, then your mind, and finally on your techniques. From the inside out, that’s how you achieve unity," Xu Bo said seriously.

"Focus on the body first, then the mind, and finally on the techniques?"

"Got it, thank you for your guidance during this time, Teacher," Li Yuan said, bowing deeply.

If last October, Li Yuan and Xu Bo shared a typical teacher-student relationship, after all this time, Xu Bo’s careful guidance had transformed their bond into something closer to the relationship of a master and disciple in ancient martial arts.

A master is both a teacher and a father.

Though they were still far from that, a similar feeling had developed.

"Haha, it’s getting late. Head home early," Xu Bo said, helping Li Yuan up.

After spending so long together, he grew fonder of Li Yuan. Over the years at Guanshan District High School, he had taught nearly a thousand students. But few had formed a bond like the one he had with Li Yuan.

Late at night, around two in the morning.

After enduring two hours of intense mental training, Li Yuan woke up from his spiritual palace.

"Your spiritual power has increased from level 14.9 to level 15.0," Li Yuan noticed a reminder from the Divine Palace Panel a few moments earlier.

"Days of hard training, enduring the scorching heat of the sun."

"My spiritual power has finally broken through to level 15.0," Li Yuan took a deep breath, feeling quite pleased.

Levels in martial arts, like 10 and 15, are significant milestones. In Li Yuan’s subconscious, reaching level 15 in spiritual power was also a threshold.

"There’s only a week left until the invitation from Jiangbei Martial Arts University," Li Yuan thought, glancing at his Divine Palace Panel.

——

"Life Level: 8.8 (Not Ranked)"

"Physical Constitution Index: 91 (A comprehensive measure of explosive power, endurance, speed, physique, spiritual power, and more.)"

"Fist Power: 988 kg"

"Speed: 19.6 m/s"

"Spiritual Power: Level 15.0"

"Spiritual Awakening Level: 0.6% (Current Cap: 20%)"

"Body Cultivation Method: Rock Foundation Cultivation Method"

"Mental Cultivation Method: Great Sun Starry Sky Sutra"

"Skill Level: Spear Technique (Three-Stage 99%), Movement Technique (Three-Stage 99%), Fist Technique (Three-Stage 99%)"

"Note: When the Spiritual Awakening Level reaches 25%, 50%, 75%, 100%, and 125%, guidance will be provided step by step."

——

"Let’s try again today and see if I can pass the Falling Star Rank promotion match," Li Yuan thought, getting up to enter the virtual network pod.

(End of Chapter)