Before heading out in the morning, Chen Chu prepared breakfast for his pet newt.
However, before they could leave, Zhang Xiaolan, who didn't have work that day, stopped them.
At the entrance of their small old courtyard, Zhang Xiaolan gently adjusted Chen Chu's collar. Her eyes were filled with emotion as she looked at her eldest son, who was already as tall as her.
"Mom, is there something else?" Chen Hu, standing next to them, was a bit puzzled.
Zhang Xiaolan smiled slightly, looking at her two sons. "It's nothing. I just want to tell you and your brother that since school has just started, don't put too much pressure on yourselves."
Chen Hu didn't mind and replied, "It's just junior high school. I can handle whatever I learn."
Seeing her tiger-headed second son, Zhang Xiaolan smiled wryly. She wasn't worried about him, of course.
What concerned her was her eldest son, who had the potential to practice real martial arts after high school. However, not everyone possessed the talent for cultivation.
The eldest son had been weak and sickly since childhood, and at first glance, he didn't seem like someone who could practice martial arts. The greater the hope, the greater the disappointment. In case of failure...
Chen Chu remained calm and said, "Mom, don't worry, I understand."
"...Okay." Zhang Xiaolan opened her mouth to say something but eventually kept quiet.
After bidding farewell to Zhang Xiaolan, the two brothers, Chen and Chu, walked towards the school.
Along the way, they saw many students wearing school uniforms heading to school. Some were alone, some were playing and chatting with friends, and some were riding bicycles.
Federal schools were divided into districts, so many students wore the same school uniform as Chen Chu and Chen Hu, attending the nearest school.
In the classroom, the class monitor, Lin Xue, and the committee member, Yi Rui, arrived early. Many students surrounded them, engaged in lively conversations.
As soon as Chen Chu sat down, Xia Youhui, who was seated in front of him, approached mysteriously and said, "Ah Chu, I already know why Yi Rui and the others became class leaders."
...waiting to hear the explanation.
"Ah Chu, are we already that close?" Chen Chu asked curiously, though deep down he complained.
"Why?" he inquired.
"It's said that the class monitor's parents are powerful cultivators. The class teacher probably wants to gain favor with their family," Xia Youhui explained.
"Well, both of her parents are strong cultivators," Chen Chu responded.
"What about the other one?" he asked.
Xia Youhui whispered, "Yi Rui is not ordinary. His family is influential and wealthy in the city. Maybe he gave a red envelope to the head teacher before the school started, to make a good impression."
"I see, hierarchy exists everywhere," Chen Chu remarked.
"Just don't spread it around," Chen Chu cautioned Xia Youhui.
Regardless of whether it was true or not, as students, it was best not to gossip about the teachers behind their backs, as it could lead to trouble.
"I know, I only told you, and I haven't told anyone else," Xia Youhui assured Chen Chu, blinking as if to convey trust.
At that moment, a math teacher entered the classroom, and the class fell silent.
The high school culture class in this world wasn't too difficult. After listening to the lesson, Chen Chu found himself daydreaming. In reality, he was distracted, thinking about controlling his newt avatar at home to eat.
The morning passed quickly with three classes, and soon it was noon.
After lunch, they had a short break.
All the first-year high school students gathered in the back of the school, forming an impressive procession. Several tall buildings labeled with letters A, B, C, and D surrounded the practice area, which included the central gymnasium.
Following their class assignment, Chen Chu and the others headed to the practice classroom on the fifth floor of Building B.
Inside the 500-square-meter practice classroom, a stern-looking middle-aged man in his thirties stood on a raised platform, with a large screen measuring five meters in height and eight meters in width positioned behind him.
After all the students stood up, the middle-aged man slowly opened his eyes. His sharp gaze caused discomfort to everyone present.
Hiss!
Many students were deeply startled. They hadn't expected the teacher to be so intimidating just with his eyes. The middle-aged man spoke in a deep voice, "My name is Pang Long, and I will be your martial arts teacher for the first semester."
"Next, I will explain to you the essence of true martial arts."
As he spoke, Pang Long pointed to a stack of cement slabs prepared beneath the stage. "Do you see those cement slabs? Come and lift them."
After a brief pause, Yi Rui, the member of the martial arts committee, stepped forward, followed by some boys, including Xia Youhui.
There were six cement slabs, each about one meter in length and width, and around ten centimeters thick. They were estimated to weigh over 100 kilograms each.
Even in groups of two, it was challenging for the boys to lift them, especially for the slightly overweight boy. Nevertheless, their strength seemed to be quite impressive.
Following Pang Long's instruction, Yi Rui and the others stood the cement slabs upright on the table, forming a row of cement walls, unsure of what to do next.
Standing on the stage with his hands behind his back, Pang Long glanced at the youthful faces below and spoke indifferently, "What is real martial arts? True martial arts is about turning illusions into reality."
"A few decades ago, martial arts and cultivation were regarded as mere folklore, often mocked as mere spectacles lacking practical combat effectiveness."
"Even if you diligently practice for twenty years, you cannot stop a bullet."
But everything began to change in the new era. Some pioneers discovered that they could turn falsehoods into reality, bringing to life the legends of the past."
"And this is true martial arts."
Boom!
As soon as the words left Pang Long's lips, a terrifying aura erupted from his body, as if a dormant monster had suddenly awakened.
The powerful aura was tangible, compressing the surrounding air with a resounding boom. It created twisted airwaves and strong gusts that whipped around him, causing his clothes to flutter and burst.
Pang Long flickered on the high platform, seemingly teleporting across three meters to the table. His right hand gathered tremendous power, forming a clenched fist that struck forward.
Due to the immense strength, transparent shockwaves rippled in front of his fist.
Boom!
Under the astonished gazes of those who could hardly believe their eyes, the stacked cement slabs exploded with a deafening sound, engulfed in smoke and dust. The force was awe-inspiring.
Driven by the immense power, countless fragments of gravel and mud scattered like cannonballs, crashing and shattering the wall over ten meters away, leaving small craters in their wake.
Fortunately, Pang Long directed his fist downward. Otherwise, the gravel, as lethal as bullets, would have rained upon the students, enough to pierce them like sieves.
Gulp!
Even Chen Chu couldn't help but swallow hard this time.
While internet research may claim that practitioners of true martial arts can sink aircraft carriers and tear apart giant beasts, seeing it with one's own eyes is an entirely different experience.
Moreover, the six cement slabs were nearly a meter thick. Even an anti-material sniper rifle might struggle to penetrate them, yet they were shattered by a single punch.
This display of incredible force ignited Chen Chu's excitement, fueling his anticipation for the upcoming training.
On the podium, Pang Long stood with his hands behind his back, surveying the excited and flushed faces below. He was pleased with the impact of his punch.
As the smoke and dust dispersed, Pang Long spoke slowly, "Next, we shall begin the first step of cultivation."
Everyone, please wait a moment and meditate according to the pattern displayed on the screen behind me. Practice for one hour, and after that, we will proceed to the casting art training class."
"By the way, who is the class monitor?"
"It's me." Lin Xue from the front row stepped forward.
"You look energetic. Good."
Glancing at the girl, Pang Long nodded and said, "Later, you will explain to them what foundation building is. When someone meets the standards for foundation building, have them come to me."
"The martial arts committee member of this class, you are responsible for maintaining order during future training classes."
"Yes, teacher," Yi Rui replied loudly.
With that, Pang Long turned around and left, just as composed and efficient as Chen Qi, the head teacher on the first day. This left most of the students with perplexed expressions.
Is this it?
Why are all these teachers so busy?