Chapter 5: I Believe in You
The setting sun cast its slanting rays, enveloping the campus in a golden twilight.
After class, students in groups, dressed in uniform martial arts attire, streamed out of the classrooms, bustling towards the cafeteria amid lively chatter and laughter.
Li Yuan and Wan Xiao walked out of the Grade 3 teaching building, circled around a large flowerbed, and entered the office building.
At the end of the left corridor on the first floor is Xu Bo's office.
It's called an office, but it's actually an incredibly spacious martial arts room.
"Report."
"Report." As they arrived at the door, Li Yuan glanced around, estimating that this martial arts room exceeded five hundred square meters.
This was his second visit.
Various instruments like life-force detectors and punching strength testing fields were arranged, all noticeably more advanced.
On one side of the wall, there were also displayed cold weapons such as spears, swords, and axes, most of which were not sharpened.
But there were also sharpened cold weapons displayed.
Moreover, Li Yuan even caught sight of an independent restroom and a physiotherapy room at the end of the office.
"Li Yuan, this is the true training room for martial artists. Advanced practitioners can train here in peace," whispered Wan Xiao beside him, his eyes showing a hint of envy. "My family's training room is less than a hundred square meters, not even one-fifth the size of Xu Ban's here, and we don't even have a dedicated physiotherapy room."
"If I need physical therapy on normal days, my dad has to drive me to the martial hall, which is quite troublesome."
Li Yuan remained silent.
A physiotherapy room? He didn't even have a separate training room at home.
As for going to the martial hall? He didn't have that kind of money either.
As far as Li Yuan knew, a martial artist training room of several hundred square meters like the one in front of him would cost upwards of tens of millions of Blue Star coins just for the decoration alone.
In Jiangcheng, even in slightly better locations, the price of bare houses can exceed 20,000 Blue Star coins per square meter.
According to Li Yuan's estimate, the total price of this martial arts room in front of him is at least twenty million Blue Star Coins.
What's the average monthly salary in Jiangcheng? Li Yuan remembers seeing it on the news not long ago; it should be 11,342 Blue Star Coins.
The median income is even lower.
"You two, come in." Teacher Xu Bo stood in the center of the martial arts room, his whole figure resembling an iron tower. Especially his metal right arm, which exuded an even greater sense of intimidation.
Xu Bo's presence was even more restrained than it had been in the classroom earlier.
But somehow, it gave off a more dangerous feeling.
"Teacher." Li Yuan and Wan Xiao said obediently.
"Wan Xiao, I have already submitted your transfer application. It should be approved by 6 PM. Once approved, you can report directly to the Elite Class tomorrow," Xu Bo said, looking at Wan Xiao.
Wan Xiao, nicknamed "Bear," was burly, but in front of Xu Bo, he actually seemed somewhat small.
"So soon?" Wan Xiao was somewhat caught off guard.
"Don't worry, it's not that I'm rushing you out," Xu Bo's voice was cold yet patient. "Once you awaken your spiritual energy, you'll be able to practice advanced cultivation methods, which are far more efficient than basic ones."
"The college entrance exam is getting closer, and it's quite late for you to awaken your martial spirit. Entering the Elite Class earlier might give you an extra point on the exam."
Xu Bo continued, "Once the application is approved, the introductory methods you tested earlier that suit you will be sent to your school account. I remember you have a training room at home, so don't attend evening study tonight. Go home and try practicing each one."
"After you report tomorrow, the teachers in the Elite Class will provide one-on-one guidance until you have completely mastered it," Xu Bo said.
"Thank you, teacher," Wan Xiao said gratefully.
He understood that Xu Bo wasn't trying to rush him out; on the contrary, he was genuinely considering his best interests.
"Go ahead," Xu Bo waved his hand.
Wan Xiao saluted and turned to leave.
"Li Yuan," Xu Bo looked at Li Yuan again, a hint of curiosity in his eyes. "Your spearmanship and agility should both be at the third level by now."
"Third level?" Li Yuan was taken aback.
In regular high school teaching, there is no concept of first level, second level, or third level.
There are only skill scores.
"Oh, I forgot." Seeing Li Yuan's expression, Xu Bo realized and said: "That's how martial artists talk. Let me put it another way: Have you reached the gold rank on the Starry Sky Fighting website?"
"Just reached it half a month ago," Li Yuan said.
Blue Star, along with the other six major planets, all have virtual networks spread across their respective planets, with simulation realism exceeding 70%. The most popular game in these virtual networks is "Starry Sky Fighting".
"Starry Sky Fighting is very special; it's not just a simple game." Xu Bo looked at Li Yuan and said, "It primarily tests a person's martial arts skills and is also very good for training."
Li Yuan couldn't help but nod.
The reason Starry Sky Fighting is so popular and is vigorously promoted across all the planets by the Seven Star Alliance is inseparable from its tremendous positive impact on reality.
"Being able to stand firm in the gold rank indicates that your marksmanship and agility should both be at the level of the third stage," Xu Bo said. "For someone your age to reach this level in martial arts skills is very impressive."
Li Yuan smiled and said, "It's because of good teaching from my teacher."
A rare smile appeared on Xu Bo's usually stern face.
"Your physical fitness has improved quickly as well," Xu Bo remarked, a hint of curiosity in his eyes. "Could you tell me the reason behind it, taught by your teacher?"
He was indeed curious.
"I simply follow regular training routines," Li Yuan shook his head and said. "My teacher knows my family situation; I can't afford those special medications."
"Don't worry, I'm not suspecting you used any banned drugs to enhance your potential," Xu Bo reassured him.
In this era, there are some special treasures that can rapidly enhance physical fitness, but most of them involve overdrawing one's life potential and have long-term consequences.
After use, they can lead to serious side effects; lightly, it can be difficult to further improve strength, and severely, it can shorten life.
Several decades ago, when the martial arts entrance examination had just begun, many students would secretly use them, hoping to get into a good university.
Later, as the rules for the martial arts entrance examination were perfected, such drugs and potions were classified as banned substances, and their production and use were strictly prohibited.
Before the entrance examination, various devices are used to conduct comprehensive tests on students.
"Regular training alone leads to such progress? Excellent!" Xu Bo smiled, a rare sight. "I have high hopes for your future as a martial artist."
"You have high hopes for me?" Li Yuan was taken aback.
After the other person took over as the class teacher, he indeed received a lot of attention and respect.
But it's limited to the teacher's attention toward good students.
"Having high hopes for myself to become a martial artist? This is the first time Teacher Xu has said that," Li Yuan remarked.
Becoming a martial artist is really tough!
"Teacher, I haven't awakened my martial spirit yet," Li Yuan couldn't help but say.
"Is awakening the martial spirit very important?" Xu Bo asked in return.
Li Yuan looked puzzled, "Isn't it important?"
"It is very important," Xu Bo reflected, "but in a certain sense, it's also not important."
Li Yuan became even more puzzled.
"What is martial spirit? Essentially, it's the alignment with the seven advanced cultivation methods," Xu Bo explained.
"Alignment exceeding ninety percent allows for early cultivation of advanced techniques, significantly boosting physical fitness efficiency," Xu Bo explained. "Therefore, the hope of becoming a powerful martial artist greatly increases."
"This is why the Seven Star Alliance places great importance on martial spirits."
"Even the top five national universities prefer students who have awakened their martial spirits for the same reason," Xu Bo added.
"After all, starting advanced cultivation techniques early increases the probability of becoming an advanced martial artist, and the younger one becomes a martial artist, the greater the hope of achieving great accomplishments," Xu Bo concluded.
Li Yuan nodded involuntarily.
In youth, when one's vitality is vigorous, breakthroughs in martial arts cultivation are easier to achieve.
"Martial arts cultivation is the magical evolution of life," Xu Bo's eyes sparkled. "In fact, we humans still know very little about life cultivation, whether it's the seven foundational techniques or the seven advanced techniques... All of these have been gradually summarized over hundreds of years by numerous advanced martial artists of the Seven Star Alliance."
"Over eighty years ago, during the first martial arts entrance examination, the Seven Star Alliance only announced three major advanced cultivation techniques."
Li Yuan's eyes brightened slightly.
Many of the things Xu Bo mentioned were previously unclear to Li Yuan.
"All cultivation methods aim to promote life evolution and continuously enhance our physical fitness," Xu Bo looked at Li Yuan. "And yet, you, practicing only foundational techniques without many valuable resources, have improved your physical abilities faster than most students in the elite class."
"What does that mean?"
"Perhaps your true talent is actually quite high," Xu Bo sighed lightly. "It's just that it doesn't align with any of the seven advanced cultivation methods."