Chapter 64
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Chapter 64: Martial Arts Tutoring
“Did Mo Tianyi contact you?”
In the school corridor, Zhang Yu listened to Bai Zhenzhen’s account and finally nodded slightly. “Indeed. There’s no need to reveal the truth to them right now.”
Bai Zhenzhen continued, “And their Boss, I find him very strange.”
“Remember I told you before that I tried to investigate his background?”
“According to Mo Tianyi and the others, this Boss was also placed in a competition during his first year.”
“I spent weeks researching, even studying the first-year competitions from the top three famous schools over the past few years. Only two people who were placed could be considered part of The Poor.”
“But as far as I know, both of them have already signed contracts with Bailong High School and have no chance of getting into the Top Ten Universities.”
Zhang Yu said, “So you mean to say Mo Tianyi and the others are being tricked?”
Bai Zhenzhen shook her head again, a strange expression on her face. “According to Mo Tianyi and the others, their Boss signed a contract under the witness of the Great God of Pacts. It stipulated that he must get into the Top Ten Universities and, once he had the ability, take them to the Second Layer with him.”
“In short, I don’t understand the situation.”
As they spoke, they reached the training ground.
***
On the training ground.
Martial Arts Teacher Lei Jun was already waiting for them to arrive for their Martial Arts Competition tutoring.
Since Zhang Pianpian’s visit to Songyang High School the previous day, Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen had been permitted to enter the Martial Arts Competition again, and their tutoring sessions had also resumed.
The sessions were three times a week for a weekly fee of 3,000 yuan.
While the teacher’s rate was already a bargain, it remained a significant financial burden for Zhang Yu.
After paying this week’s tutoring fees, his savings had dwindled to just over 35,000 yuan.
On the field, Lei Jun was diligently warming up, wearing a tank top emblazoned with the four large words “Martial Arts Supreme Utility.”
Besides Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen, no other students were present.
This was because they were the only two first-year students participating in the Martial Arts Competition.
This was unlike the Magic Power Competition, where students could still gain experience even without placing. In the Martial Arts Competition’s arena, there was a real risk of being crippled by students from the top three famous schools.
For The Poor, there was an even greater risk of being driven to financial ruin by students from the top three famous schools.
After all, the costs of on-site first aid, hospital treatment for severe injuries, and subsequent rehabilitation would escalate exponentially depending on the severity of the injuries.
So after realizing they had no chance of placing, neither the wealthy nor the poor first-year students chose to throw their money away on the Martial Arts Competition.
At that moment, seeing Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen arrive, Lei Jun greeted them and said, “I’ve already registered you both.”
He then sent them a website link. “First, buy your insurance today.”
Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen both understood. The first rule of practical combat was getting insurance.
However, after reviewing the price list, they both opted for the cheapest plan.
It was not that they could not afford the premium plans, but that the basic coverage offered better value for the money.
After all, Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen preferred to spend their money on improving their skills for a higher competition ranking rather than on the insurance.
Lei Jun reminded them from the side, “This insurance plan covers medical expenses up to 100,000 yuan. If your injuries are too severe, you’ll have to pay out of pocket.”
“When you fight, be careful not to get hurt, or at least try to minimize your injuries.”
Zhang Yu agreed completely. The first-place prize in the Martial Arts Competition was only 50,000 yuan and the right to use an Expert-Grade Martial Art. It would not be worth suffering serious injuries for that prize only to end up spending over a 100,000 yuan on medical treatment.
Lei Jun sighed beside them, “You all have it pretty good now. Back in my day, the competitions allowed weapons. Even with referees watching, every year there were still students who either died in the arena or had to drop out with massive debts.”
“It got bad to the point where only seven people entered one year. Those old geezers finally changed the rules and banned weapons.”
“Now the Martial Arts Competition is all hand-to-hand combat. Whether or not you can afford the medical bills afterward is something you’ll have to manage yourselves.”
“Alright, that’s enough talk. Finish buying your insurance, then warm up.”
After the two had finished their warm-up, Lei Jun beckoned them over and said, “The top three famous schools possess immortal path technologies that we don’t have, and their financial investment is on a scale you can’t even imagine.”
“Things like Heavenly Spirit Root cultivation, the latest drugs from their labs, and even modification surgery are all commonplace for them.”
“I’ve gathered data on their top Students participating in the Martial Arts Competition. Their average Physical Strength is level 2 or above, and their average Magic Power is over 25. And that’s before factoring in the drugs, Combat Spirit Roots, and other things they might use during the match…”
“Their stats will inevitably far surpass yours.”
“They have greater strength, faster speed, and more abundant magic power than you do.”
As Lei Jun spoke, a question suddenly surfaced in Zhang Yu’s mind. If the top three famous schools had such a huge advantage, how did Songyang manage to win any sports competitions? What tricks did they use? Was Wang Hai really that strong?
Meanwhile, Lei Jun continued, “…but in actual combat, the person with the superior stats doesn’t always win. Otherwise, there wouldn’t be any reason to have combat exams in the first place.”
Lei Jun’s expression turned serious. “So, from now on, you must get used to fighting opponents stronger than yourselves and learn how to minimize injuries as much as possible.”
As he spoke, a powerful aura slowly emanated from him, washing over Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen.
“To give you more practical combat training, from today on, the two of you will fight me together.”
“I will do my best to fight you using the power and speed of a Level 2 Physical Strength and 25 units of Magic Power.”
A moment later, Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen charged toward Lei Jun from the left and right, their movements a making a sudden whooshing sound.
Thud!
With the sound of a sharp impact, Lei Jun’s hands had already blocked Bai Zhenzhen’s kick on one side and Zhang Yu’s palm strike on the other.
Instantly, the three figures become a blur of motion in the training ground, engaged in high-speed combat.
But Zhang Yu did not feel like he and Bai Zhenzhen were ganging up on Lei Jun at all.
Lei Jun’s combat experience was unfathomable to begin with. On top of that, the strength and speed he currently maintained far surpassed Zhang Yu’s. He always effortlessly neutralized his attacks, exploited his weaknesses, and even severed the coordination between him and Bai Zhenzhen.
This made Zhang Yu feel as if he were facing Lei Jun’s oppressive presence all alone.
He could not help but sigh to himself. Are the opponents I’ll face in the Martial Arts Competition all going to have stats so much higher than mine?
Zhang Yu realized he had underestimated the challenge. Given that he had to hide his trump card, the Level 10 Limitless Cloud Hands, the difficulties he would face in the competition far exceeded his initial expectations.
Moments later, with a resounding boom, Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen were sent flying backward one after the other.
In stark contrast to the panting pair, Lei Jun stood there unruffled, not even breathing heavily. He looked as if he had merely taken a leisurely stroll.
Lei Jun stated, “Rest for five minutes, then we’ll continue.”
Bai Zhenzhen thought to herself, Old Lei is truly formidable. He saw through every move I made. How many martial arts techniques does he know?
Zhang Yu mused, Old Lei seems to be a Level 10 Dao Heart with 100 points of Magic Power and Level 10 Physical Strength. He’s also mastered at least a dozen martial arts techniques to Level 10. He’s already reached the peak of the Qi Refining Stage.
So why hasn’t he reached Foundation Establishment?
His Curiosity got the better of him, and he asked aloud, “Teacher Lei, are you still in the Qi Refining Stage? You haven’t reached Foundation Establishment?”
Lei Jun’s expression darkened at his words. “Foundation Establishment isn’t that easy.”
Seeing their curious gazes, Lei Jun sighed and said casually, “You need a Foundation Establishment Qualification Certificate to do it. Golden Core requires a Golden Core Qualification Certificate, and Nascent Soul requires a Nascent Soul Qualification Certificate. Breaking through to a new realm isn’t something you can just do whenever you want.”
“Attempting Foundation Establishment without Certification is illegal, a criminal act. It is punishable by death by the Eight Ministries of Principal Deities and the Ten Great Sects. The Ten Great Sects have always been extremely strict about this.”
“You can only take the Foundation Establishment Qualification Certificate exam after getting into a university.”
“If you don’t get the certificate before you graduate from university, you’ll never get another chance in your life.”
Recalling his own university days, a hint of gloom flickered in Lei Jun’s eyes.
He remembered the years he spent trying to get his Foundation Establishment Certificate, which coincided with a drastic reduction in the number of candidates accepted into the program.
He remembered how in those few short years, the minimum requirement for Spirit Roots alone had escalated from Human Spirit Roots all the way to Heavenly Spirit Roots, leaving him utterly hopeless.
In contrast, returning to his hometown of Songyang in the First Layer felt far more liberating. There, all he had to do to repay his debts was work and cultivate 24 hours a day… which felt much eassier.
Lei Jun sighed with feeling. “Whether or not you get the Foundation Establishment Certificate makes all the difference.”
“Without Foundation Establishment, ten years of university life is nothing but a dream. You can’t stay up there. You’ll inevitably have to return to the first layer of Kunxu.”
Turning to look at Bai Zhenzhen and Zhang Yu, he thought to himself, Cherish your easy high school days. Once you get into university, you’ll look back and miss how simple things were.
A few minutes later, Lei Jun said, “Rest is over. Get up.”
The next moment, the three figures were locked in combat once more.
After that day’s tutoring session, Zhang Yu returned to the abandoned building to continue practising the Heavenly Martial Heart Refining Technique.
This cultivation art enhanced both his Dao Heart and physical strength, providing a comprehensive improvement that made it his primary focus during this period.
The Heavenly Martial Heart Refining Technique also contained nine martial arts, including fist, leg, and palm techniques, giving him a deeper understanding of both the fundamentals and practical application of combat.
And so, in the time that followed, Zhang Yu balanced his studies and cultivation with the tutoring sessions he and Bai Zhenzhen took with Lei Jun.
Eleven days passed in the blink of an eye.
***
That night in the abandoned building, as Zhang Yu executed the final move of the Heavenly Martial Heart Refining Technique, he finally advanced it to Level 10.
At that moment, the nine martial arts, including fist, leg, and palm techniques, were instinctively imprinted into his mind. Moreover, the combat philosophy embedded within the Heavenly Martial Will became second nature. He possessed a boundless fighting spirit and courage, yet remained calm and composed, never succumbing to blind recklessness or impulse.
As expected of a mental cultivation technique designed specifically for combat, especially this Level 10 effect…
As Zhang Yu’s gaze sharpened, everything around him seemed to slow by a beat.
Even the motion of his own hand rising appeared to be caught in slow motion.
This was not because time had actually slowed down, but rather a Level 10 effect from the Heavenly Martial Heart Refining Technique. It caused his focus and concentration to explosively heighten, creating the illusion that everything had decelerated.
