Chapter 28: I, Li Zhangzhou, am not dead yet (Fourth update, seeking monthly votes)

Hanging up the video call with Zhong Cheng.

Li Yuan pondered for a moment; fearing he would disturb his uncle Li Zhangzhou’s rest, he didn't initiate a video call directly, but left a message instead.

He explained the situation roughly.

Only five minutes later.

Beep—beep—Li Zhangzhou initiated a video call back, and Li Yuan answered immediately.

"Uncle." Li Yuan looked at Li Zhangzhou in the video projection; he was covered in dust, seemingly having just finished working.

"I know roughly." There was no joy on Li Zhangzhou’s face as Li Yuan had expected; instead, his brows were tightly furrowed: "If the Starry Sky Martial Hall truly only gives a D-grade contract in the end, then whether you sign it or not when the time comes is another matter."

"Oh?" Li Yuan felt slightly puzzled.

A special recruitment by the Martial Arts Hall had always been Li Yuan’s primary goal, but unfortunately, there hadn't been any news for over half a month.

In reality, at the very beginning, Li Yuan wasn't that desperate to sign with a Martial Hall in advance.

But these past few days, Li Yuan had searched for a lot of information online and knew that the early signing contracts of the major Martial Halls were generally good; apart from the significant binding force, there were no pitfalls.

Most importantly, as long as one signs in advance, regardless of the grade, it can indeed significantly reduce the family's financial pressure.

One can even receive cash rewards and provide for the family.

In his heart, Li Yuan felt indebted to his uncle and aunt.

He always felt that his uncle taking the risk to go to the Northern Frontier Province was because of him.

"I used some connections and basically found out clearly." Li Zhangzhou explained patiently: "Over these many years, the early signing contracts of the three major Martial Halls are divided into five grades from low to high: D-grade, C-grade, B-grade, A-grade, and S-grade."

"The terms for contracts of the same grade between different Martial Halls are all about the same."

Li Yuan nodded slightly. Looking at it this way, in the eyes of the Starry Sky Martial Hall, did he belong to the lowest grade?

However, those who could sign in advance were already extremely outstanding.

"A D-grade contract provides one million Blue Star coins per year for a total of six years." Li Zhangzhou said in a low voice: "It sounds good, but you have to know."

"The cultivation resources you need now and the cultivation resources you will need after entering university and becoming a martial artist are two different concepts."

"For example, basic blood-Qi potion, one bottle only costs 2,000 Blue Star coins; you only need to spend 20,000 Blue Star coins a month now."

"After becoming a martial artist, a single bottle of the first-tier basic blood-Qi potion used by first-tier martial artists costs 10,000 Blue Star coins, and you need at least ten bottles a month, or twenty to thirty at most." Li Zhangzhou said solemnly: "Just this most basic item alone requires at least over a million Blue Star coins a year."

"And there are 'auxiliary spirit-nourishing treasures'; if you aspire to impact the second-tier Source Martial Artist level in the future, these are indispensable, and spending several million Blue Star coins a year is the bare minimum..."

"And physical therapy..."

"And purchasing weapons and various auxiliary equipment; martial artists have to fight with Star Realm creatures, can the equipment be ordinary? It's both expensive and easily damaged." Li Zhangzhou looked at Li Yuan: "One million is a lot for you right now."

"If you have no heart for the Martial Dao and want to minor in other majors at university."

"Then, you don't need to spend too much money on the Martial Dao; cultivate slowly at university and strive to become a 15th-level martial artist in the future. This contract can even be called generous, and you might even be able to save a few million Blue Star coins." Li Zhangzhou said: "After graduating from university, according to the contract, the Starry Sky Martial Hall still has to give you a job."

"By then, like your Uncle Zhong, being an ordinary member in the Martial Hall, the various benefits and treatment won't be worse than a civil servant."

"If the Starry Sky Martial Hall proactively terminates the contract and doesn't provide work, you take those several million Blue Star coins and find another job; that's also a guaranteed profit without loss."

"This is a bright path to lying flat." Li Zhangzhou stared at Li Yuan.

Li Yuan was surprised.

He didn't expect there to be such a way to play it.

"But Xiao Yuan, are you really willing to be an ordinary person? An ordinary martial artist?" Li Zhangzhou stared at Li Yuan.

Li Yuan was silent.

"You are not willing." Li Zhangzhou shook his head and sighed: "I watched you grow up, how could I not understand? You cultivate so crazily, besides wanting to help the family, the important thing is that you have the heart of a martial artist."

"From the second year of junior high until the third year of high school, have you rested for even a single day on weekends, summer vacations, or winter vacations? Even during the New Year, you were cultivating."

"You are ruthless to yourself."

"I have never seen this kind of ruthlessness; I can't compare to you, and your father couldn't keep up with you back then either." Li Zhangzhou said slowly.

Li Yuan’s eyes flickered. For so many years, his uncle rarely said so much, let alone mentioned his late father.

"Your aunt has always wanted you to take civil service exams and become a teacher in the future; she has always blamed me, feeling that I shouldn't support you."

"Why don't I oppose you being a full-time martial artist?" Li Zhangzhou’s voice held a hint of agitation: "I don't want you to be like me, regretting it when you are forty."

Li Yuan’s heart shook, and he looked at his uncle in shock.

"A full-time martial artist is dangerous."

Li Zhangzhou smiled frankly: "But since ancient times, what good man hasn't had the dream of galloping on the battlefield and pursuing the limits of the Martial Dao?"

"With a human body, truly stand shoulder to shoulder with the gods! To explore the limits of life."

"In this life, I have no hope."

"But you still do." Li Zhangzhou smiled as he looked at Li Yuan; the helmet on his head was covered in mud, making him look somewhat disheveled.

Li Yuan held his breath and listened.

"If you want to take the path of a full-time martial artist, this bit of money, the money from this contract, is far from enough." Li Zhangzhou continued: "But your future will be trapped by this contract."

Hesitating for a moment, Li Yuan couldn't help but say: "Uncle, according to the information I found, as long as the performance is good enough, the Starry Sky Martial Hall will upgrade the contract."

"But what if the Starry Sky Martial Hall doesn't upgrade it?" Li Zhangzhou asked rhetorically: "Why should you hand over the initiative of your own destiny to others?"

Li Yuan realized.

"Your Uncle Zhong is a good person, but many things, as an ordinary member, are not for him to decide." Li Zhangzhou said: "Moreover, as far as I know, once you sign a contract with a Martial Hall in advance, your development will be limited when you go to a Martial Arts University in the future."

"Limited?" Li Yuan was stunned; this was a point he didn't know.

"Like the five famous schools in Xia Country, they are funded by the state." Li Zhangzhou said: "If you sign a contract with a Martial Hall in advance, you are destined to join the Martial Hall after graduating from university... If some special resources arrive at the school and a choice must be made between you and another student specially recruited by the Martial Arts Hall, who do you think the school will give them to?"

Li Yuan’s eyes flickered.

Signing a contract with a Martial Hall in advance is, in a sense, indeed a form of restriction.

"This contract."

"When you go to the Martial Hall on Sunday, first understand it with your Uncle Zhong. If it can be upgraded to the C-grade level and has passive upgrade clauses, such as reaching what standard before what age, it will directly and automatically upgrade to B-grade or even A-grade, then signing it is fine." Li Zhangzhou said patiently.

"If you want to be a full-time martial artist, the Martial Hall is indeed a better choice, but if the restrictions are too great, there is no need to sign."

"Li Yuan, I know your thoughts, wanting to help the family." Li Zhangzhou stared at Li Yuan: "But remember, your uncle is not dead yet."

"It is not yet time for you to completely support this family."

"At least, before you go to university, don't have any worries. What you need to do is to devote yourself wholeheartedly to cultivation, understand?" Li Zhangzhou said solemnly.

"Yes, Uncle." Li Yuan nodded heavily.

"I believe in you, I won't be wrong." Li Zhangzhou looked at Li Yuan.

"Now that the Starfire Martial Hall and the Starry Sky Martial Hall won't sign you, it's because they have no vision."

"When the college entrance examination results come out, or even when you enter university, you will naturally receive better contracts."

"It won't be too late to sign then."

Uncle Li Zhangzhou’s words made Li Yuan completely calm down, and he could think about this matter more calmly.

"Uncle is right."

"What's the rush? When the time comes, they should be the ones rushing." Li Yuan revealed a faint smile.

He continued to cultivate.

In the blink of an eye, it was two days later, Saturday. Li Yuan followed his daily routine of two points and one line: school and home.

Saturday afternoon.

All third-year high school students were uniformly having Martial Arts class in the Martial Arts classroom today.

At the school gate.

Several black cars arrived slowly, and six figures stepped out from the cars one after another.

Five of them were wearing black suits, and only one middle-aged man was wearing a black Tang suit. He looked ordinary, but inexplicably gave people an invisible aura.

"Hall Master Wan."

"Hall Master Wan, welcome to our school." Principal Tan Zhenlong and several other vice-principals all stepped forward one after another, smiling to welcome him.

"Iron Tower." The middle-aged man looked directly at Xu Bo standing in the distance, revealing a smile: "It's been a long time since we parted in the Star Realm."

"Old Wan." Xu Bo then stepped forward, grinning: "I didn't expect that you would be the new Hall Master of the Guanshan Branch of the Starfire Martial Hall."

"Welcome!"

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 29 =====