Chapter 151: Martial Dao Celestial

"The Star Core Medulla Crystal is indeed a fine heavenly treasure, but by all logic, the effect shouldn't be this great."

Dean Hai felt a hint of doubt: "He isn't going from level 10 to 11, but from level 14 to 15."

"In terms of physical fitness alone, his punching power has increased by over 4,000 kilograms in a single month."

"Has he left the school at all this month?" Dean Hai asked.

Many thoughts flashed through his mind.

"No. Ever since the Ten-School Freshman Battle ended, Li Yuan has remained at school to cultivate," Li Yang said. "He undergoes actual combat training every day and attends general knowledge classes; all of this is documented."

Li Yang understood Dean Hai's doubt; he suspected Li Yuan had encountered some other fortuitous opportunity.

But looking at reality, he hadn't.

"Furthermore, I have been testing his physical fitness once every week," Li Yang added. "After using the Star Core Medulla Crystal, his rate of progress increased significantly."

"The rate of progress is very stable," Li Yang affirmed. "It is all recorded in the files."

"Good." Dean Hai finally let go of the last shred of doubt in his heart and revealed a smile: "It seems that for the Star Core Medulla Crystal, this treasure, we truly chose correctly for him."

"We also underestimated his speed of progress," Dean Hai said lightly.

"The Dean is wise," Li Yang laughed, though he muttered in his heart, *We? *

*It was clearly you yourself who underestimated him. *

But Li Yang followed up by asking: "Dean, what should we do now?"

"It is still too dangerous to go to the Mingxu Star Realm now," Dean Hai said softly. "Let's stick to the original plan—one month."

"There are still nearly two months left; his strength should be able to improve by another notch, and his ability to protect himself will be even stronger."

"Also, the school will have a holiday in December, right?" Dean Hai inquired.

"Yes," Li Yang nodded.

Ordinary universities have winter and summer breaks, but the holiday schedules for martial arts universities are completely different.

Every year in late June and late December, they have a half-month break to allow students to return home, which is staggered from normal universities.

"It just so happens that he should go home and take a look before he goes off to roam the Star Realm," Dean Hai said.

"Understood," Li Yang nodded, understanding Dean Hai's meaning.

Roaming the Star Realm is completely different from actual combat assessments.

Although actual combat assessments are dangerous, the mortality rate for each one can be controlled at around one percent, or even lower; it is just that the cumulative casualty rate is high.

Especially for a genius of Li Yuan's level, the mortality rate is even lower.

The most important thing is to eliminate all "accidental factors."

Roaming the Star Realm? Although the school will also take some protective measures, no matter how much protection is in place, accidental situations cannot be avoided—for example, suddenly encountering a Tier-2 alien race or even a flying creature... Historically, such situations have not been absent.

Letting Li Yuan go home first is, in a sense, a form of "farewell."

Who knows, he might just die out there this time.

When all is said and done, Li Yuan is only 18 years old.

"There are two more things," Dean Hai said lightly. "First, have Li Yuan come to see me tomorrow."

"Second, notify the Starfire Martial Hall that Li Yuan has reached level 15, and have them arrange to send the Source Power Battle Suit over as soon as possible."

"Understood," Li Yang nodded.

That night.

Li Yuan, who was watching the news, received a message from Li Yang.

"Dean Hai wants to see me tomorrow. Perhaps to give me pointers on cultivation, or about roaming the Star Realm?" Li Yuan looked at the message Li Yang sent and thought to himself: "To think I don't even need to apply for it myself?"

In the school rules of Kunlun Martial Arts University, before the fourth year, regardless of one's physical fitness level, one does not have to roam the Star Realm.

But likewise, if one's physical fitness reaches level 15, one can enter the Star Realm to roam upon personal application, regardless of whether one is a freshman, sophomore, or junior.

He put down his smart wristband.

"Fish-Spirit Race." Li Yuan continued to watch the "Star Realm Channel" on the light screen projection.

"According to statistics, the Star Realm attack encountered in Jiang City this time has caused at least 284 deaths..."

"Shi Prefecture has suffered attacks from the Fish-Spirit Star Realm over the last seven days, causing at least 800 deaths..."

"Following an accompanying visit by our station's reporters, starting from today, the Jiangbei Province military, the Starfire Martial Hall, and the Starry Sky Martial Hall will conduct joint operations, carrying out a dragnet-style operation along the Xianghe River area..." The news on the projection came one after another.

They were all news about Jiangbei Province and the Fish-Spirit Race.

Ever since his last call with Wan Qinghe, Li Yuan had been paying close attention to Jiangbei Province news, especially news related to Jiang City... Yesterday, the entire Jiangbei Province encountered large-scale attacks once again.

As of today, they had only just basically been cleared.

"So many casualties." Li Yuan frowned slightly: "Is the Fish-Spirit Race really that hard to eradicate?"

The Fish-Spirit Star Realm is like a sore on the body of Jiangbei Province—not fatal, but it occasionally becomes inflamed, causing panic and harm to the people of the entire Jiangbei Province.

"However."

"Uncle and Aunt live in the Starfire South Lake residential area, so the impact is not that great," Li Yuan thought to himself.

The next day, November 17th.

At two o'clock in the afternoon, Li Yuan arrived at Dean Hai's villa residence with Li Yang.

This was Li Yuan's first time here.

During the previous few times he met Dean Hai, both parties met at the Black Dragon Building.

However, just after jumping off the aircraft, Li Yuan was stunned for a moment.

Because, on the lush green lawn outside the villa, Dean Hai was wearing casual clothes, wearing sunglasses, and lying leisurely on a lounge chair.

Fishing.

A sun umbrella was set up high.

To the side, several service personnel were waiting, and various exquisite foods were carefully prepared on the table.

In a word, exquisite!

Coupled with Dean Hai's already young and handsome appearance, he looked exactly like a luxurious, wealthy young master.

"Dean, Li Yuan is here," Li Yang stepped forward and said.

"Mm."

"Li Yuan, Li Yang, both of you sit down," Dean Hai smiled lightly and pointed to the two stools beside him.

Li Yang and Li Yuan both sat down and looked at Dean Hai.

Only then did Dean Hai put down his fishing rod.

"Li Yuan, do you like fishing?" Dean Hai laughed.

"I've fished before," Li Yuan said honestly.

Except for learning a little bit from his uncle in June, in all other times of his life, Li Yuan had truly never learned to fish.

"Do you know what is most important in fishing?" Dean Hai looked at Li Yuan with a smile that wasn't quite a smile.

Li Yuan pondered for a moment: "Patience?"

"No!"

"It's that there must be fish in the pond," Dean Hai laughed. "If there are no fish, no matter how hard you try, it's useless. For example, in some fishing grounds, it looks like there are many fish, but the owner deliberately digs the center of the fishing ground deeper and then uses heavy bait to attract all the fish there... then you definitely won't be able to catch anything by the water's edge."

Li Yuan was dumbfounded.

"How did you feel about the 'Concentration' technique I let you cultivate last time?" Dean Hai changed the subject.

"I cultivated it, it felt average," Li Yuan said.

One can be vague on other issues, but when it comes to cultivation, this is a matter of personal interest and must be answered seriously.

"Hm? It is originally a mental secret technique for honing willpower, allowing martial artists to better resist mental attacks," Dean Hai said. "The Star Realm is full of dangers, and you can hardly predict the enemy's methods; mental attacks are very common."

"However, your mental power is strong, so its effect is indeed not great, but if you have time, still cultivate it more; it will always have some effect."

"Yes," Li Yuan nodded.

"I heard from Dean Li that your spear technique has reached the fourth-stage limit?" Dean Hai said.

"Just about," Li Yuan laughed.

In reality, looking at the Divine Palace panel, Li Yuan's spear technique and fist technique had both reached 99% of the fourth stage.

Only his movement technique was slightly slower, at only 96% of the fourth stage, but he would reach it within half a month at most.

"Reaching the fourth-stage limit, with the mind reaching the microscopic level to control every subtle force of the body, the next step is the fifth-stage 'Heaven and Man as One'," Dean Hai smiled.

Li Yuan's eyes lit up, and he listened carefully.

He understood that Dean Hai calling him here today was actually to give him pointers on his skills.

"The term 'Heaven and Man as One,' in ancient times, was a mystery pursued by many martial arts masters throughout their lives, just like the Daoist Golden Core Great Dao or the Buddhist relic sayings... It is spoken of very mysteriously, but pursuing its essence, it is nothing more than the two words 'nature'," Dean Hai laughed.

Nature? Li Yuan was thoughtful.

"Human strength is limited. We draw Source Power into our bodies to temper our physical bodies and exercise our skills, making our strength and speed stronger and stronger... but even for a flying martial artist, or even one who transcends the flying level."

"The sprint speed can reach dozens of times the speed of sound or even faster."

"The physical body can enter space."

"One punch can shatter a high mountain," Dean Hai sighed: "It sounds like it seems very strong, but compared to this vast heaven and earth nature, how is it?"

"Just in our Seven Star Sea, we and Flying Star are separated by hundreds of millions of kilometers. If we don't pass through the Star Bridge or Star Realm... it is extremely difficult for us to communicate with each other."

"The operation of heaven and earth, the universe and starry sky—we individuals seem powerful, but we are just slightly stronger ants in this endless heaven and earth... Heaven and Man as One requires us to use our own weak 'mind and spirit' to perceive the countless mysterious operations between heaven and earth."

"To grasp a trace of its laws."

"Just like technology, weak life forms can control various weapons of great power... Our martial artist life evolution is the same; we must strive to explore the laws and mysteries of heaven and earth nature."

"Only by borrowing the power of heaven and earth can we become stronger, whether it is spirit or physical body," Dean Hai laughed: "Otherwise, relying solely on cultivation techniques, do you think that in such a short time, you could make a flying martial artist's physical body become that powerful?"

Li Yuan was thoughtful.

"These are to let you establish a concept in your heart," Dean Hai laughed: "If you want to break through, the best way is still to walk the original path."

"The original path?" Li Yuan was puzzled.

"Natural laws have no traces to follow," Dean Hai laughed: "Do you think I am too extravagant?"

"No, the Dean has made a great contribution to our human civilization; this is nothing," Li Yuan shook his head.

"That is true," Dean Hai laughed: "In these years, the taxes I have paid alone amount to tens of billions. It is not from doing business or collecting rent within civilization... but obtained from roaming and fighting in the Star Realm."

"Amazing," Li Yuan said sincerely.

Paying tens of billions in taxes—how much must the actual harvest be? He dared not imagine.

Even if these treasures and wealth are under Dean Hai's name, in a sense, they are also part of human civilization.

"I seem to be enjoying myself."

"Mm, and I am indeed enjoying myself," Dean Hai lay down leisurely and laughed: "But this is also cultivation for me, refining the heart and understanding the law."

Li Yuan was confused; this kind of realm was too far away from him.

"When you truly step into the fifth stage, you will gradually understand what I mean," Dean Hai laughed: "Next."

"From the Martial Dao Knowledge Network, learn a third-stage spear technique secret manual, 'Intent of the Stars'."

"This secret manual is an extension of the 'Star Spear Technique,' and it will be helpful for your skill to break through to the fifth stage."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 152 =====