Chapter 11

The 'smart ring watch' Li Yuan wore on his hand was similar to early mobile phones, but more powerful, capable of light screen projection, detecting physical conditions, and many other functions, but it couldn't connect his consciousness to the virtual network.

And the virtual network pod, as an electronic device essential to every household in this era.

Using it was the only way to connect one's consciousness to the virtual network.

Its appearance was similar to early space capsule game consoles.

"Iris authentication!"

"Consciousness connecting." Li Yuan lay in the pod's chair and put on the neural connection device, the cold metal touching his scalp.

His consciousness instantly connected to the virtual network.

That is, the Blue Star Virtual Network!

The seven planets were separated by a vast starry sky, so the virtual networks of each planet were relatively independent... at least Li Yuan didn't have the authorization to access the virtual networks of other planets.

Whoosh!

Li Yuan's consciousness had already descended into a special space.

As long as he was willing, he could leave at will.

"The virtual network, although it can connect consciousness, always has some sense of illusion and cannot achieve 100% realism," Li Yuan thought to himself: "Not to mention achieving a one-to-one replication by scanning physical data as in some novels."

"Virtual things, in the end, cannot replace reality."

But regardless, a virtual network with a realism of up to 70% was already incredibly magical.

In the decades since its birth, the entire human civilization had undergone earth-shaking changes.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

In Li Yuan's field of vision, many options appeared:

Learning Space (Virtual School/Classroom/Laboratory/Library/Martial Arts Room...)

Virtual City (Jiangcheng/Jingcheng/Hacheng/Sucheng...)

Social Space (Music/Making Friends/Destiny/Games...)

Commerce (Virtual Mall/Real Estate/Hotel Booking)... A massive number of options.

The vast majority of options were in color, representing that they could be chosen to enter.

But there were also a few options that were gray.

For example: Adult Series (Prohibited for minors)

Li Yuan had just turned seventeen not long ago and was still a minor.

"Enter personal study room." Li Yuan was familiar with the process and entered the personal study room directly.

He began to review his academic knowledge.

Theoretically, students' academic curriculum learning could already be completed entirely through online teaching, but the virtual network ultimately couldn't achieve 100% realism.

Moreover, physical reality was the hardware and the foundation of everything virtual.

Therefore, places like schools, office buildings, service halls, etc., still existed in reality, and students still had to go to school.

Of course, most office work, academic exams, company interviews, etc., were already completed online.

And for student self-study, if one's self-discipline was high enough, the efficiency online would actually be higher.

Li Yuan was the extremely self-disciplined type.

After an hour of efficient self-study.

"The total score for academic subjects is 1000, I got 658 in the second-year final exam; in this third year, I'll strive to reach 700," Li Yuan muttered to himself: "I just hope not to fall too far behind."

Everyone's energy was limited.

Li Yuan had quite a talent for martial arts, and he had quite an aptitude for spear techniques.

Before coming into contact with the Spiritual Palace, his spear technique was already at the second-stage level, so his aptitude was evident.

But in academic learning, his talent was indeed average, and he really couldn't keep up with Zhou Qi, Yan Zhou, and the others, plus he spent very little energy on it.

Let alone that he couldn't even score 700 now.

Even if he scored 700, he would still be in the middle to lower tier at the First High School of Guanshan District.

This was only because Li Yuan's learning efficiency had improved over the past year as his mental power level increased, leading to an improvement in his academic grades.

Otherwise, Li Yuan wouldn't even have much confidence in reaching 700 in the college entrance exam.

"All-rounder?"

"How can there be so many all-rounders? What I need to do is to fully unleash my strongest point, one trick to master everything!" Li Yuan had a very clear understanding of himself.

Why did he want to take the path of a full-time martial artist?

First, because he loved it enough.

Second, after awakening his Spiritual Palace, Li Yuan asked himself, his hope of achieving great success in martial arts was much greater than taking the academic route.

Past three o'clock in the morning.

"Time to go to school." Li Yuan walked out of the virtual network pod.

He put on his bag.

Without disturbing his aunt or younger brother and sister, he quietly left home.

Driverless trams and subways operated 24 hours a day, but after midnight, the interval between each trip would be very long.

Therefore, Li Yuan often chose—to run to school.

He also treated it as a warm-up exercise.

The streets at three in the morning, except for streetlamps and the occasional passing vehicle, were empty everywhere.

Passing by the 'Fuwei Noodle Shop' at the corner, he could see the owner had already gotten up and started preparations.

"Boss, good morning." Li Yuan greeted him with a smile.

"Night running again, take care." The boss, wearing work clothes, stood up and greeted Li Yuan with a smile.

They met often.

They didn't know each other's identities or names, but as time went on, they became familiar 'strangers'.

In twenty minutes, Li Yuan ran to school.

He swiped his face to enter the school.

Entering the classroom, the lights were on.

"First, cultivate the basic cultivation method for two hours." Li Yuan stood in a corner of the classroom, calmed his heart, and quickly entered the stance training state.

His posture was like a rock, coordinating his breathing method with the thirty-six movements.

He began a new day of cultivation.

Standing like a rock, rock breaking mountain collapse, posture like a pillar, stone breaking heaven startling, hard shaking diamond, mountain standing abyss still... the thirty-six movements were essentially derived from the 'Rock Fist Technique'.

They were further divided into practice methods and combat methods.

In fact, Li Yuan had spent even more effort on the 'Rock Cultivation Method' than on his spear technique.

"Spear technique can be pondered slowly."

"But my martial arts spirituality is destined to be difficult to awaken in a short time, and none of the seven great high-stage cultivation methods are suitable for me," Li Yuan thought to himself: "Then, I must continue to cultivate with the 'Rock Cultivation Method'."

"Even after becoming a martial artist, I'm afraid I'll still be cultivating this method, so I must diligently study the 'Rock Fist Technique'," Li Yuan thought very clearly: "The higher the realm of the fist technique, the higher the efficiency of my body cultivation."

Physical constitution is the cornerstone, while spear technique and movement technique are the weapons that unleash that constitution.

"Besides, spear technique, movement technique, and fist technique are essentially the combination of body and mind; progress in one martial arts skill will also lead to faster progress in others."

Time passed.

Li Yuan cultivated tirelessly, over and over again; gradually, waves of subtle heat permeated from his dantian in his waist to his whole body, being devoured and absorbed by his tendons, bones, and muscles.

The Basic Qi and Blood Medicinal Liquid he had taken a few hours ago was gradually exerting its effect.

His muscles were becoming firmer, his bone strength was further improving, and his internal organs were being filled and strengthened... only crazy cultivation could ensure the medicinal liquid's efficacy wasn't wasted.

Li Yuan cultivated tirelessly.

In his mind, the famous quote of 'Dongfang Ji', the number one martial arts expert of human civilization, surfaced involuntarily:

"What is martial arts?"

"Martial arts isn't about surpassing others; martial arts is pouring all your blood and passion into it, practicing by day, practicing by night, cultivating sixteen hours a day, persevering for a hundred years, and when you look back after another hundred years, you will discover that you are martial arts!"

"Martial arts is me."

Past four in the morning, the sky was not yet bright.

"Boom!" A smart off-road vehicle drove in from the school gate.

Automatic parking.

A figure like an iron tower and a black-clad woman with a stunning figure stepped out of the car.

The two walked toward the office building.

"Iron Tower, is this the school you're staying at?" The black-clad woman had a tough face, her gaze as sharp as an eagle's, scanning the entire campus along the way: "This is the first time I've come to see you since you retired."

Xu Bo smiled rarely: "You're really in a rush this time, passing through Jiangcheng, yet you can only stay for four hours."

"I'm here specifically to see your medication situation," the black-clad woman glanced at him: "Otherwise, with the mission being so tight, I wouldn't have stopped in Jiangcheng at all. Let's go, take me to your physical therapy room, and let me give you a preliminary check first."

"If the nerve injury worsens, the director and the others will have to find another way for you."

Suddenly, the black-clad woman stopped in her tracks.

"A student coming to school to cultivate so early? Seems like they're practicing quite well, the basic cultivation method is almost at the Great Completion stage, right? Their degree of control over their body is very high," the black-clad woman said with slight surprise.

Her gaze looked not far away.

In the entire third-year teaching building, only one classroom on the first floor was lit.

Through the window, one could see a student concentrating on practicing fist techniques.

Every move and every style was like a rock standing on the earth, giving people a sense of being unshakable.

"Li Yuan?" Xu Bo, beside her, frowned slightly: "Coming to school to cultivate at just past four."

"Can his body take it?"

Cultivation, too much is as bad as too little.

In Xu Bo's view, ensuring sufficient sleep, rest, diet, and therapy was the only way to cultivate efficiently.

"Look at his spirit and energy, his Qi and blood are full, his spirit is abundant, he seems to have rested very well," the black-clad woman laughed: "Iron Tower, you know him, is he your student?"

"He is my student." Xu Bo looked at Li Yuan, lost in thought.

"Let's go, let's go to my martial arts room first."

(End of chapter)