[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-era-of-high-martial-arts":3,"chapter-era-of-high-martial-arts-era-of-high-martial-arts-chapter-1":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Era of High Martial Arts",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":18,"prevChapterSlug":19,"totalChapters":20,"novelImage":21},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":12,"translator":16,"content_hash":17},2215618,3909,"Chapter 1: Li Yuan","era-of-high-martial-arts-chapter-1",1,"\u003Cp>September, 2042 of the Qixing Calendar. Xia Kingdom, Jiangbei Province, Jiangcheng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Known as the \"Furnace City,\" it is mostly winter and summer throughout the year, and early September is currently the height of the sweltering heat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guanshan District No. 1 High School.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the back blackboard of every classroom in the senior year teaching building, there hangs a remarkably similar banner: \"No struggle, no fight, senior year is a wasted life,\" \"Struggle through the four seasons of one year, fight for a life without regrets,\" \"If you aren't ruthless in senior year, how can you stand firm?\"...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a classroom on the east side of the first floor, which occupies an exceptionally large space of nearly 1,000 square meters, things are different from a regular classroom. There are no desks or chairs. On one side, a large number of cold weapons such as sabers, spears, swords, and staffs are displayed, while the other side is filled with various special instruments and a special track paved with dark red metal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is the Martial Arts Class classroom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, over a hundred students in the classroom are standing in horse stances, practicing different movements.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some resemble apes, some are like flying birds, others look like fierce tigers... Their spirit and energy are excellent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The root is in the feet, starting from the legs, governed by the waist, combining the strength of a hundred bones to manifest in the fingertips...\" A burly, middle-aged man wearing a black martial arts uniform walks among the ranks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He has a cold expression, stands nearly two meters tall, his voice is like a booming bell, and his eyes, like those of a fierce tiger, stare at every student.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The most eye-catching feature is his right arm, which is made of silver metal, yet it connects perfectly with the remaining limb, moving with agility and ease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Logically, these are the basic cultivation essentials you should have mastered in your second year. Yet here we are in your senior year, and you are still sloppy in your stances.\" The burly man scolds angrily, and as he walks, a casual palm strike from his metal arm sends a sweating student sprawling: \"If the stance is stable, the center of gravity is hard to shift. Basic cultivation methods are the foundation of martial arts!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Practice for a day, gain for a day; skip a day, and a hundred days are in vain. I suspect you all completely relaxed during the half-month summer break and didn't practice at home.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You're in your senior year, and you still want to relax? You are all students from ordinary classes who haven't awakened your spiritual nature. If you don't work hard, how will you get into a martial arts university?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Even if you don't plan to take the martial arts university entrance exam and choose the academic route, martial arts scores still account for 30%...\" the burly man continues to berate them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The group of students doesn't even dare to breathe loudly, practicing with increasing focus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Report.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Report.\" A succession of over ten voices suddenly rings out at the classroom door, and a group of students in martial arts uniforms appears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The second group is back from the spiritual nature test?\" The burly man glances toward the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Immediately, the burly man's sharp gaze lands on one of the students.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This student is nearly 1.8 meters tall, with a crew cut. At first glance, there is nothing particularly striking about him, but if one looks closely, one would notice his head is held upright, his spine is perfectly straight, and his casual stance gives people a sense of being unshakable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, this student has integrated the basic cultivation method's \"head must be held as if suspended, tailbone must sink and hang\" into his daily walking, sitting, and standing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He has truly achieved the state where the heart moves and the form follows, intent manifesting and spirit transmitting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This martial arts realm already surpasses all the students standing in the classroom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Li Yuan, how did it go?\" The burly man looks at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The nearly one hundred students in horse stances cannot help but secretly glance at the student named Li Yuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Teacher Xu, I failed to awaken.\" The student named Li Yuan shakes his head calmly, showing no signs of disappointment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The burly man frowns upon hearing this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yuan is the student in the class he leads with the most hope of awakening martial arts spiritual nature.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Even Li Yuan couldn't do it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In the second-year final exams, his martial arts score reached the top thirty in the grade. His physical fitness was already at Level 6 back then, and he must be even stronger now. How could he still not have awakened martial arts spiritual nature?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Awakening martial arts spiritual nature is truly difficult!\" The nearly one hundred students in horse stances are secretly shocked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nowadays, throughout the entire Xia Kingdom and even the entire Blue Star, there are two paths for selecting talent—academic courses and martial arts cultivation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From junior high school onwards, all students are taught basic cultivation methods by the state to practice martial arts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guanshan District No. 1 High School has over two thousand students in the senior year, divided into twenty classes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, there is only one elite martial arts class; the others are ordinary classes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The elite martial arts class has over sixty students, all of whom have awakened martial arts spiritual nature, and they often dominate the top fifty martial arts scores in the grade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For Li Yuan to be in an ordinary class and break into the top thirty in the grade is quite astonishing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What about the others? Did anyone awaken spiritual nature?\" The burly man scans the others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Everyone, come in first.\" The burly man is not surprised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In reality, if one can awaken martial arts spiritual nature, most succeed in their first year of high school or even in junior high.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wanting to awaken in the senior year? The hope is very slim!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The burly man originally only held hope for Li Yuan. He waves his hand and says, \"Group three, go to the Martial Arts Building for the spiritual nature test.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A row of students, whose legs were already sore and whose feet were aching, immediately stand up upon hearing this and rush out of the classroom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for Li Yuan and his group, they return to their positions and resume their horse stance practice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Brother Yuan, Teacher Xu seems a bit disappointed.\" The student next to Li Yuan, who has a short mustache and a rather mature appearance, mutters: \"And you, Brother Yuan, the spiritual nature test results just came out, are you not even a little bit disappointed?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don't talk.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Continue practicing. Four hours of basic cultivation a day is the fundamental skill,\" Li Yuan says calmly. He had guessed the result early on, so naturally, he wouldn't be disappointed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Four hours?\" The mature-looking boy mutters: \"As expected of the second 'grind-king' of our class.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yuan smiles at this and ignores him. He closes his eyes slightly, stands in his position, bends his legs slightly, and his aura changes, becoming like a boulder, the unshakable quality about him growing even stronger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Boulder Cultivation Method.\" The various movements of this cultivation method surface in Li Yuan's mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He has practiced these movements thousands of times and knows them by heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this era, martial arts are prevalent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The seven basic cultivation methods made public by the Qixing Alliance to all citizens of the seven planets have no distinction of high or low, only suitability.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether one is a wealthy aristocrat or a commoner, as long as one practices martial arts, one starts from the basic cultivation methods.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The \"Boulder Cultivation Method\" is the one Li Yuan chose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He has been practicing it for over five years now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each basic cultivation method can stimulate human potential to a great extent, causing physical fitness to continuously improve, and even lead to the complete awakening of spiritual nature.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Never mind that Li Yuan's physical fitness hasn't even reached Level 7.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even ranked martial artists with physical fitness exceeding Level 9 continue to practice basic cultivation methods.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hoo!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Haa!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each basic cultivation method has thirty-six practice movements, along with an exclusive breathing technique that accompanies them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yuan's breathing is sometimes rapid, sometimes long, coordinating with the movements of his limbs, causing faint sounds to emerge from within his body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Muscles and bones ringing in unison!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Truly comfortable.\" Li Yuan is immersed in this practice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He can feel his muscles and bones being constantly stimulated, becoming stronger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is the evolution of life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this era, ordinary teenagers have the potential to break the world sprint records from a century ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They rely on cultivation methods.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's a pity that I didn't make it into the top twenty in the grade during the last final exam. Otherwise, besides the 5,000-yuan scholarship, I could have received some blood-qi medicinal liquid this semester,\" Li Yuan's thoughts drift: \"With more blood-qi medicinal liquid, my physical fitness would improve faster, and it would also relieve some of the economic pressure on my aunt and uncle.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yuan is an orphan, raised by his aunt and uncle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His uncle is a state-owned enterprise employee, and his aunt is a teacher at a junior high school.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Logically, such a family, while not wealthy, should be well-off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Li Yuan was sickly from a young age, and his aunt and uncle spent a lot of money treating his illnesses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Later, following a doctor's advice, they started investing heavily in Li Yuan's martial arts training from junior high, spending even more than they did on their own children.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yuan has good talent and practices diligently. He got into Guanshan District No. 1 High School through the entrance exam, and his grades have continuously improved since entering high school. He entered the top hundred in the grade in his second year, and by the final exam of his second year, he broke into the top thirty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This made his aunt and uncle quite happy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, martial arts cultivation values talent, but it requires even more money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially after his physical fitness reached Level 6, the food sourced from the Star Realm, blood-replenishing medicines, medicinal diets, and special equipment required for further improvement are all bottomless pits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to other students in the top thirty, Li Yuan's external conditions are very average, even poor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, Li Yuan understands in his heart that his aunt and uncle have already done their best to provide for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There are still younger siblings at home; he cannot ask for more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But, this is the sixth time.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Since the first year of junior high, I've had a spiritual nature test every year, and I've failed every time,\" Li Yuan thinks: \"If the spiritual nature hidden in my body could awaken, and I got a 10% bonus on my exam scores, I could definitely break into the top ten in the grade.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If I awakened martial arts spiritual nature, I could also receive a state subsidy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether one awakens martial arts spiritual nature.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking across the entire Blue Star and even the seven planets, it is the most important indicator for assessing a person's martial arts talent, bar none.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, Li Yuan has never been able to awaken it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Over the years, no more than five people from our school have been admitted to the top five universities,\" Li Yuan thinks silently: \"With my current grades, getting into an ordinary martial arts university is not a problem.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But if I want to get into the top five universities, without awakening spiritual nature, the hope is very slim.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Xia Kingdom has a population of nearly two billion and twenty-four provinces. Each province has one martial arts university that only recruits within the province; this is the goal for most students aspiring to martial arts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The top five universities are established by the Xia Kingdom and recruit from across the country.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In ordinary martial arts universities, students receive resources, but they rely more on themselves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for students in the top five universities, the state pours massive resources into every single one of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Only by receiving state-funded training can I go further on my martial arts path and become a ranked martial artist like Teacher Xu in the future, or even stronger,\" Li Yuan thinks to himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His goal for the college entrance exam is the top five universities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, the score requirements for the top five universities are extremely high.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"One step at a time. There are still nine months until the college entrance exam.\" Li Yuan practices quietly, his mind becoming increasingly free of distractions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not long after, a commotion comes from outside the classroom. The dozen or so students from group three return to the classroom door, their faces showing a hint of excitement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Teacher Xu, Wan Xiao awakened spiritual nature.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Teacher Xu...\" Before the burly man can ask, many students can't help but shout.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The classroom immediately erupts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wan Xiao, he awakened martial arts spiritual nature?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He's going to the elite class?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I heard students in the elite class can practice high-level cultivation methods in advance.\" Most students can't help but show envious looks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only by awakening martial arts spiritual nature can one enter the elite class.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Damn! Brother Yuan, you didn't awaken, but this 'Bear' Wan actually did. It's pure dumb luck.\" The mature-looking boy next to Li Yuan can't help but mutter: \"By this count, with the spiritual nature bonus, his martial arts score is almost catching up to yours.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wan Xiao?\" Li Yuan opens his eyes and looks toward the burly figure with a slight flush on his face at the classroom door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He is nearly 1.9 meters tall, extremely sturdy, like a bear, with surprisingly thick arms, though his face still looks slightly immature.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It is Wan Xiao, the only other student in the class besides Li Yuan who is in the top hundred for martial arts scores.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Li Yuan.\" The excited Wan Xiao seems to notice Li Yuan's gaze, looks at him, and smiles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yuan smiles back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In terms of martial arts scores, Li Yuan is better than Wan Xiao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In terms of family background, Wan Xiao is much better off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the two best students in the class, Li Yuan and Wan Xiao often compete for scholarships, but their relationship is quite good.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Friendship between classmates is often very pure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Damn! Yuan, you didn't manage to awaken, but this bear Wan actually did. It's just pure dumb luck.\" The mature-looking boy standing next to Li Yuan couldn't help but mutter: \"By this count, with the spiritual bonus to his martial arts scores, he's almost catching up to you, Yuan.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wan Xiao's nickname is \"Bear.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yuan laughs softly: \"Old Zhou, are you envious?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boy speaking is named Zhou Qi. Because he is hairy and looks mature, his nickname is \"Old Zhou.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was Li Yuan's junior high classmate; they got into Guanshan No. 1 High School together and were assigned to the same class.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After five or six years, they are practically brothers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'm not envious of a ghost,\" Zhou Qi whispers: \"My academic grades are good enough for a key university. I take martial arts classes mainly to exercise my body; I can't be a weakling forever, or I won't even be able to keep up with Lingling in the future... I'm just fighting for justice for you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yuan smiles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Qi's physical fitness is average, not even quite Level 4, but his academic grades are very good, ranking in the top fifty in the grade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>State resources are limited, and students admitted to martial arts universities are ultimately a minority.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most students eventually enter different universities based on their academic scores.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wan Xiao has good physical fitness; it's normal for him to awaken martial arts spiritual nature,\" Li Yuan laughs: \"Besides, the college entrance exam is a competition among senior students across the province and even the country, not just a competition against Wan Xiao.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yuan is only happy for Wan Xiao for awakening martial arts spiritual nature.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There are over sixty people in the senior year of this school who have awakened martial arts spiritual nature; looking at the whole province, the whole country... there are too many.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rather than worrying about others, it's better to improve oneself. This is a truth Li Yuan has understood since he was young.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wan Xiao's successful awakening gives the other students a great stimulus, and those who haven't been tested yet feel a hint of anticipation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fourth group, fifth group... failure, failure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end, after the entire Senior Year (Class 2) is tested, only Wan Xiao has awakened martial arts spiritual nature.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all the students return to the classroom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The burly Teacher Xu scans them and says in a low voice: \"Good, today's basic cultivation ends here. Stop.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swish~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swish~ Immediately, all the students stop. Many students' legs were already sore and weak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It's just that, out of fear of Teacher Xu's severity, no one dares to lie on the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Basic cultivation methods are very physically demanding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though senior students generally have physical fitness at Level 4, most feel the strain after two hours of practice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's a good thing that some students can awaken martial arts spiritual nature, but don't be disappointed if you didn't succeed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In the January mock exam and the April unified exam, the school will organize another spiritual nature test.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Before the college entrance exam, there is also a national unified spiritual nature test.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As long as you awaken spiritual nature before the college entrance exam, your martial arts scores will have a bonus,\" Teacher Xu says in a low voice: \"But remember, exam scores are the foundation. Only if your base score is high enough will the bonus be useful.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Even in the elite class, not everyone can get into a martial arts university.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How do you get grades? Hard work!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Take Li Yuan, for example. Without a spiritual nature bonus, his martial arts score can still exceed eight hundred points, surpassing most students in the elite class,\" Teacher Xu scolds: \"And I don't need to say much about his diligence.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most students can't help but look at Li Yuan, their eyes filled with admiration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yuan's diligence in practice is somewhat famous throughout the entire senior year.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Brother Yuan, Teacher Xu is making enemies for you again,\" Zhou Qi whispers from the side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yuan smiles helplessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ever since his martial arts scores broke into the top hundred in the grade, he has become accustomed to being the \"child of someone else.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Teacher Xu, whose real name is Xu Bo, is the martial arts head teacher of their class and one of the only two special-grade martial arts teachers at Guanshan District No. 1 High School.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As far as Li Yuan knows, Teacher Xu's physical fitness has exceeded Level 15, making him an impressive existence among ranked martial artists. He was originally a military martial artist who retired after being injured and came to teach at Guanshan High School.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once physical fitness exceeds Level 9, one belongs to the category of ranked martial artists, and their status in society is extremely high.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ordinary adults generally have physical fitness of only Level 5-6.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You are in a stage where your physical fitness is rapidly improving, and senior year is the year that determines your fate,\" Teacher Xu continues to lecture: \"You must not slack off.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Now, rest for half an hour, and then I will conduct the skill assessment one by one.\" After finishing his lecture, Teacher Xu turns and leaves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Skill assessment?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Going to be slaughtered by Teacher Xu again. I bet you won't last three moves.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As if you could last three moves against Teacher Xu?\" Many students exchange whispers, all quite excited.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A strange light flashes in Li Yuan's eyes as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blue Star and even the seven planets have always faced the threat of war, and powerful martial artists play an important role.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Therefore, it is a consensus that the entire population should practice martial arts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In human society, the status of top martial arts experts is extremely high.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Students like Li Yuan admire martial arts experts even more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Bo is one of the top martial arts experts that students like Li Yuan can actually come into contact with in reality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Brother Yuan, skill assessment is your forte,\" Zhou Qi says excitedly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Think about yourself first. I observed your horse stance just now; there's no improvement compared to last semester,\" Li Yuan laughs: \"Later, don't get knocked down by Teacher Xu's staff, or you'll lose face in front of Peng Lingling.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Peng Lingling is the object of Zhou Qi's unrequited love.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Qi's expression stiffens, and he says sheepishly: \"I'm not planning to take the martial arts university entrance exam, so Lingling won't care.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the classroom, every student takes out their own weapon from the weapon cabinet behind the weapon rack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Afterwards, they each put on their protective gear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this era, every high school student is equipped by the state with one or two unsharpened cold weapons, mainly sabers, spears, and shields, with a few choosing axes, halberds, or swords.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for weapons like hammers, battle-axes, hooks, forks, whips, or maces? Almost no students choose them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the practice of cold weapons, sabers and spears are the mainstream.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The martial arts college entrance exam score has a base of 1,000 points, consisting of three parts: physical fitness, martial arts skills, and academic scores, accounting for 50%, 40%, and 10% respectively.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If one awakens spiritual nature, there is an additional bonus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Therefore, the skill assessment is extremely important and is the top priority of students' daily training.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If one only has good physical fitness, one cannot get into a martial arts university.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hoo!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yuan also takes out his weapon from his exclusive weapon cabinet: a black spear, nearly three meters long and weighing about five kilograms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although it's called a spear, the spearhead is just for decoration; it's closer to a long staff. After all, it's issued by the state and is only for practice, not for real combat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hoo!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yuan grips the spear shaft and swings it casually.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swish! The spear tip pierces the empty air, forming a faint sense of tearing through the air, causing the expressions of the classmates nearby to change slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With Li Yuan's strength, a single swing, even without a sharp edge, has terrifying power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Only Li Yuan in our class can handle this kind of long spear.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"When Li Yuan holds the spear, why does it give me the feeling of facing Teacher Xu?\" Many students whisper, showing looks of envy and admiration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There are many students in the class who learn spear techniques, but most are unwilling to practice such a long spear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An inch longer is an inch stronger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the longer the spear body, the harder it is to control.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Weapons are meant to be practiced for a lifetime; the one that suits you is the best.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Skill first! Brother Yuan's martial arts skill assessment at the end of the second year was 356 points, the only one in the entire grade to exceed 350,\" Zhou Qi says with a grin: \"Even Teacher Xu said Brother Yuan's spear technique is very solid.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many students nod.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without a spiritual nature bonus, and with physical fitness not being the absolute top, why did Li Yuan's martial arts score break into the top thirty in the grade?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It's because his spear technique far exceeds his peers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the single subject of martial arts skills, Li Yuan is the recognized number one in the grade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The burly Xu Bo, carrying a long staff casually, walks back into the classroom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His gaze lingers on Li Yuan for a moment longer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"For the test, I will follow the college entrance exam standards.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Take it seriously. Treat every test as the college entrance exam, and when the real exam comes, it will just be another test,\" Xu Bo says in a low voice, carrying the long staff, looking very serious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Go in reverse order of student ID.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Number 112, Zhou Qi.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 2 =====\u003C\u002Fp>",4063,"2026-06-17T09:05:55.599Z","Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite","0b03f0b1e09303d698542a1490e794cd73c791118c8bee362252eff14e331509","era-of-high-martial-arts-chapter-2",null,65,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fera-of-high-martial-arts-cover.jpg"]