Chapter 204: Requirements for a First-Class Inheritance

The three of them emerged from the airport. Snow covered the earth; it was the end of January, and the winter in the Northwest was bitterly cold.

"Shi Xiao, you head back first. Li Yuan and I are going to see the Dean," Li Yang said with a smile. "You performed quite well during this life-and-death trial. Now that you're back at school, go and relax for a few days."

"Yes, Master." Shi Xiao nodded obediently.

See the Dean? In her impression, very few students at the academy were granted a private audience with the Dean.

Yet, she didn't find it strange in her heart. Throughout the journey back, she had already sensed the special way Li Yang treated Li Yuan.

It was nothing like how he treated a student.

"Junior Brother, see you later." Shi Xiao left quickly, leaving Li Yuan and Li Yang standing there.

"The Dean wants to see me?" Li Yuan couldn't help but ask.

"With such a major event involving you, I'd find it strange if the Dean could hold back from seeing you," Li Yang laughed. "The Dean has been waiting for you since early this morning. Come with me."

"Yes." Li Yuan was lost in thought; it seemed the shockwaves he had caused were far greater than he had imagined.

They boarded a small aircraft and traveled through the campus.

Li Yuan felt an inexplicable sense of calm and peace in his heart.

"Sophomore year, or junior year at the latest, and I'll have to leave school?" Li Yuan mused to himself, Li Yang's words from not long ago still echoing in his mind.

In reality, ever since his skill broke through to the Fifth Stage, Heaven-Man Unity, Li Yuan had been preparing for early graduation.

Most elite students, even like Senior Brother Yan He from the same academy, were already Source Martial Artists, yet they could still obtain many cultivation resources from the school that exceeded their own capabilities.

This was the reason why the few Source Martial Artist students were still willing to remain at school.

As for himself? The significance of staying at school for a long time was indeed no longer great.

"At my current rate of physical improvement, I estimate that by the end of my sophomore year, I will be able to reach Level 25, or even reach the baseline of a High-Stage Source Martial Artist," Li Yuan thought to himself.

It was difficult for Source Martial Artists to increase their level, mainly because the span of physical fitness at each level was large, but the difficulty was relative. With higher skill realms and the awakening of a second star meridian... Li Yuan's rate of physical fitness improvement would only become increasingly terrifying.

"University life?" Li Yuan's gaze swept over the campus.

In reality, most of the time he was at school, Li Yuan was also cultivating in seclusion, with little interaction with other students.

But the state of mind and atmosphere on campus were incomparable to life-and-death trials in the Star Realm.

... Facing the wind and snow.

Not long after, Li Yang and Li Yuan arrived beside Dean Hai's villa.

Looking from afar, Dean Hai was fishing in the midst of the sky-filling wind and snow, with a group of attendants beside him.

"Dean Hai, what is he doing?" Li Yuan was stunned for a moment.

"Don't ask. If you ask, he'll say he's not fishing for fish in the lake, but for fish in his heart." Li Yang's voice rang out in Li Yuan's mind. "Don't give him the chance to lecture you."

Li Yuan was speechless.

Whoosh! Whoosh! The two of them approached quickly.

"Dean, we're back. On such a cold day, why are you fishing here again?" Li Yang stepped forward directly and said respectfully.

Li Yuan was stunned upon hearing this. Wasn't it agreed not to ask?

"You're back?" Dean Hai's figure moved slightly, his gaze leisurely, and he said indifferently, "What do you know? Fish in the lake are easy to catch, but fish in the heart are hard to catch. Once your mind and spirit break through, naturally you will... Eh!"

Dean Hai turned his head abruptly to stare at Li Yang, a trace of shock appearing in his eyes: "Your spiritual power has broken through?"

"Yes." Li Yang gave a simple, honest smile. "Dean, I purchased a portion of Soul-Nourishing Ancient Spirit Fruit from Li Yuan. I was lucky, and I broke through."

"It's all thanks to the Dean's advice from before," Li Yang laughed.

"My advice?" Dean Hai was stunned for a moment, then naturally switched to a smile: "Haha, I only mentioned it in passing. It was your own ability."

"This is a good thing." Dean Hai smiled. "It is a great thing that your spiritual power could break through early. In this way, your hope of stepping into the Heaven-Flying Tier will greatly increase."

"It's all thanks to the Dean's constant guidance," Li Yang laughed.

"You've been coveting my position as Dean for a long time, haven't you?" Dean Hai suddenly laughed.

Li Yang was stunned for a moment, then shook his head repeatedly: "No, Dean. I have never had such thoughts. Not to mention I haven't become a Heaven-Flying Martial Artist yet, even if I truly did, I would still be a member of the Dean's subordinates."

"No matter. Once you truly break through to the Heaven-Flying Tier, I will yield this position to you," Dean Hai said leisurely. "Having sat here for decades, I've grown a bit tired of it."

Without waiting for Li Yang to speak again.

"Li Yuan." Dean Hai looked at Li Yuan.

"Dean." Li Yuan said respectfully.

"You all step down first." Dean Hai suddenly looked at the several attendants to the side.

"Yes." The several attendants put down their work one after another and left.

"Sit down, both of you." Dean Hai waved his hand, and the two stools on his left flew directly to his right.

That is, beside Li Yuan and Li Yang.

This scene caused both Li Yuan and Li Yang's hearts to stir slightly. This was the Sixth Stage of skill.

Already able to truly utilize the power of heaven and earth.

Materialization!

Both of them sat down, quite respectfully.

"Li Yuan, your performance this time was excellent. Not only has your own strength undergone a transformation, but you have also made a great contribution to the nation. Even the chief officer of the Mingxu Star Realm's No. 3 Outpost Base, Liu Jing, praised you." Dean Hai smiled slightly. "And now, you've helped your teacher break through."

"It was all what I should have done," Li Yuan said respectfully.

"Hmm, Li Yang should have already told you about the Martial God inheritance quota," Dean Hai said.

"He mentioned some of it." Li Yuan nodded.

"Principal Fang has just told me that you have already passed the approval of Star Lord Baishan and have been confirmed to receive the only Second-Class inheritance quota for the Xia Nation this year," Dean Hai said.

"Star Lord Baishan?" Li Yuan held his breath.

Star Lord—he had heard Li Yang mention it, representing the highest echelon within the Seven-Star Alliance, but he didn't know exactly who they were.

The status gap was too vast.

But Baishan?

This name was simply thunderous to the ears; no Xia Nation citizen would be unfamiliar with it. He was the key figure in the Xia Nation's rise to become the number one power on Blue Star... In the hearts of countless Xia Nation citizens, his status might even be above that of Dongfang Ji.

He was the true pillar of the Xia Nation.

It was just that in the last few decades, news of this person had rarely been heard.

"Second-Class quota? Could it be that there is a First-Class above this Martial God inheritance quota?" Li Yang couldn't help but ask curiously. "Could it be that among the current peers in the Alliance, there is someone with higher talent than Li Yuan?"

"Some things, logically, I shouldn't say, and you, Li Yang, are not qualified to know," Dean Hai said indifferently. "But now that your spiritual power has transformed, it doesn't matter if I speak of it. The Martial God inheritance quota is highest at Special-Class and lowest at Third-Class."

Li Yuan listened attentively.

"Under normal circumstances, elites selected from the upcoming Global University Martial Arts Competition's virtual battles and actual combat, upon their first trip to Flying Star, will basically only receive Third-Class," Dean Hai said.

"Then why am I Second-Class?" Li Yuan couldn't help but ask.

"Our Xia Nation is the hometown of Senior Dongfang Ji, so we have special privileges," Dean Hai said indifferently. "We can directly select one quota every year. This privilege is only held by the motherland of Senior Dongfang Ji and the motherland of Senior Lante."

Li Yuan suddenly understood. So that was it.

Lante, the first person in the entire Seven-Star human civilization to transcend the Heaven-Flying Tier, was the most crucial savior of human civilization in history.

Dongfang Ji, the undisputed strongest person in the entire civilization today.

It was normal for the motherlands of these two people to have special privileges.

"If it weren't for you, this year might have been Tantai Feng," Dean Hai said.

Li Yuan couldn't help but smile. Did he steal Tantai Feng's quota?

"With Li Yuan's talent, can't he directly apply for First-Class?" Li Yang asked curiously.

Li Yuan couldn't help but glance at his teacher.

Is it good to ask so directly?

"Li Yuan, do you think your talent is high?" Dean Hai smiled slightly.

"I wouldn't dare." Li Yuan shook his head repeatedly.

"Your talent is indeed very high, and your performance over the past year can be called perfect," Dean Hai laughed. "Looking at the entire history of humanity, you are in the top tier at this age, and you are no less inferior to Fang Hai back in the day. Otherwise, you wouldn't have been directly granted Second-Class."

Li Yuan didn't know how to answer for a moment.

"Your talent is high, but never think that you are unique," Dean Hai laughed. "In history, you are not the only one who possessed Heaven-Flying Tier spiritual power at the First Rank... Even as far as I know, someone like Senior Dongfang Ji has the complete ability to allow any First-Rank martial artist's spiritual power to reach the Heaven-Flying Tier."

"That strong?" Li Yuan felt shocked in his heart.

Too monstrous.

"It's just that having strong spiritual power alone is not of much significance," Dean Hai laughed. "Just like Heaven-Flying Martial Artists, all of them have Heaven-Flying Tier souls, yet there are many whose skills are difficult to break through to the Sixth Stage."

"An ordinary First-Rank martial artist, even if they possess a Heaven-Flying Tier soul, I'm afraid they could only support themselves to become a top-tier Source Martial Artist."

"Spiritual power is an amplifier for comprehension."

Li Yuan listened.

"Just like you, your skills have progressed so quickly. Spiritual power is very important, but it is not the deciding factor," Dean Hai said indifferently. "Even if your spiritual power were ordinary, with your comprehension, after many trials, you would gradually shine. I believe that eventually achieving the Heaven-Flying Tier would not be difficult, and there is even hope of transcending the Heaven-Flying Tier."

"It's just that the growth rate would be much slower than it is now," Dean Hai laughed.

Li Yuan sighed in his heart.

Dean Hai's evaluation was too high.

"You performed well, but you are still too weak and too immature right now."

"First-Class quota... it still depends on your performance next and after you go to Flying Star," Dean Hai continued. "Actually, for you right now, there is not much difference between Special-Class, First-Class, and Second-Class."

"Once you truly come into contact with the Martial God inheritance quota, you will naturally understand."

"Although there is no explicit regulation."

"But by convention, First-Class inheritance quotas are only granted to the most top-tier batch among the countless Source Martial Artists of the entire civilization. There is an unwritten rule among them," Dean Hai smiled slightly. "That is, as a Source Martial Artist, to kill a Heaven-Flying alien."

"A Source Martial Artist, killing a Heaven-Flying alien?" Li Yuan's pupils shrank. Is it that fierce?

First-Class is that strong.

What about Special-Class?

"In the entire Xia Nation, only Yu Jinghe has achieved this," Dean Hai said. "Therefore, he is called the number one genius of the contemporary Xia Nation."

"Below the Heaven-Flying Tier, it belongs to the young generation."

"Heaven-Flying Martial Artists are the true powerhouses and backbone of the entire civilization."

"Understood." Li Yuan felt shocked in his heart.

Killing a Heaven-Flying alien as a Source Martial Artist.

So, this was the standard for a First-Class Martial God inheritance quota.

Listening to Dean Hai's meaning, it seemed there were quite a few such peerless geniuses in the entire civilization?

"Combat power is one of the standards, and there are many other considerations, such as potential, age, temperament, and many other aspects," Dean Hai said. "For peerless geniuses like you, there will always be many secret investigations conducted."

"Mm." Li Yuan listened silently; he already had a feeling about this point.

"The next test you will face is the virtual battle of the Global University Martial Arts Tournament." Dean Hai smiled. "At your age, a one-year difference in strength can be quite significant."

"You are very young, so if you don't take first place, no one will blame you."

"But as the pre-designated 'Second-Rank Martial God Inheritance' candidate, if your performance is too poor, it will also disappoint many high-level officials in the Alliance." Dean Hai looked at Li Yuan.

Li Yuan suddenly felt the pressure.

Disappointment?

Being pre-designated represents honor and expectation, but it also means a heavy burden is placed upon his own shoulders.

"My goal for you is to break into the global top ten, and strive for the top five." Dean Hai smiled. "As for anything higher, the requirements for you would be too high, and I don't want to put too much pressure on you."

Top ten? Top five? Li Yuan recited silently in his heart.

"What, it seems you are not quite convinced yet?" Dean Hai smiled.

"No." Li Yuan couldn't help but smile.

"Having fighting spirit is a good thing. If you can charge even higher, I would be happy to see it." Dean Hai smiled. "Before the virtual battle, the school will send you all the information we have collected on Fifth-Stage experts."

"However, you also know."

"Information on many people is confidential." Dean Hai smiled. "Just like how you broke through to the Fifth Stage; most people are not aware of it."

"There are many formidable students who might have undergone astonishing transformations after a year."

Li Yuan couldn't help but nod; everyone has different experiences and different opportunities.

He has the Mind Palace, but others may not lack formidable methods.

One cannot underestimate anyone.

"Go." Dean Hai smiled. "On February 8th, the global preliminary selection will begin."

"There is still some time; work hard, and your strength can still improve quite a bit."

Not long after.

Dean Hai watched Li Yuan and Li Yang walk away.

"Second-Rank? I thought he could be an exception and get First-Rank directly." Dean Hai muttered to himself: "Old Fang is really not helpful."

"In front of his own teacher, he doesn't even have this much face."

Li Yang accompanied Li Yuan back to his villa.

On the way.

"Within the school, according to the data we have collected." Li Yang smiled: "Currently, only you and Jin Huguo have Fifth-Stage skills, so all our hopes are pinned on you two."

"Me and Senior Brother Jin?" Li Yuan nodded slightly; Jin Huguo had already broken into the global top one hundred during his sophomore year.

This year is Jin Huguo's last year participating in the Global University Martial Arts Tournament, so he will definitely make a fierce push.

"Don't put too much pressure on yourself." Li Yang said: "June is when the 'actual combat' of the Global University Martial Arts Tournament takes place, and it won't be until July that everyone gathers to head to Flying Star... With your speed of improvement, even if you aren't as good as the strongest few right now, once you arrive at Flying Star, you will have hope of surpassing them."

"Yes, Master." Li Yuan said.

Whoosh!

Li Yang left quickly, while Li Yuan stood in front of his residence, thinking silently.

"Top ten? Top five?"

"Not as good as the strongest few?" Li Yuan murmured to himself, a glimmer of light in his eyes: "It seems that neither Dean Hai nor Master Li believes I can challenge for the top three or even first place."

But Li Yuan had ambition in his heart.

Clang~

Opening the door, Li Yuan entered his villa.

When Li Yuan returned to Kunlun Martial Arts University, at Starfire University outside the capital of the Xia Nation.

In a large area of villas belonging to juniors, within one inconspicuous villa.

Inside the underground martial arts room.

"Whoosh!"

A cold-looking woman wearing a purple training suit was silently practicing sword techniques; the sword light was elegant, faintly merging with the surrounding heaven and earth.

Suddenly.

"Master, Principal Yu is calling." The assistant AI's voice rang out.

"Answer it." The woman in the purple training suit sheathed her sword and said in a low voice.

Whoosh~ Countless rays of light condensed, forming a huge light screen projection, in which sat a middle-aged man in a suit.

"Principal Yu." The woman in the purple training suit lowered her head slightly and said.

"Yin Man, I'm notifying you of something." The middle-aged man in the suit had a complex look flash across his eyes: "Our Xia Nation's Second-Rank Martial God Inheritance quota for this year has been confirmed."

"It is not you."

(End of chapter)