After thoroughly examining the exercise introductions, Chen Chu reclined on the sofa, lost in thought.
It became apparent that all the exercises were categorized into three levels, with the highest attainable cultivation level being the third. These limitations stemmed from the inherent constraints of low-level exercises.
With low-level exercises in existence, it logically followed that there must also be advanced or top-level exercises, reserved for those with higher authority.
This authority was tied to the timing of breaking through the foundation-building stage. The quicker the breakthrough, the higher the initial authority one could obtain.
It made sense why individuals like Lin Xue and the others, possessing exceptional innate talents, spared no expense to accelerate their foundation-building process. They likely possessed prior knowledge of these privileges.
Recalling the time when Xia Youhui intentionally waited for him and mentioned that Qi and blood resources could replenish one's vital energy, thus accelerating cultivation, Chen Chu realized that Xia Youhui was not only reminding him to take care of his physical condition but also subtly suggesting investing in resources to expedite foundation-building.
Unfortunately, financial constraints limited Chen Chu's ability to take full advantage of this advice.
His relatively modest aptitude was the reason he managed to break through within half a month. This achievement was owed to the evolution of his avatar and the strengthening of his proficiency on the attribute page.
Deep in thought, Chen Chu shifted his focus back to the exercise selection.
These exercises could be broadly categorized into two types: those focused on physical conditioning and those emphasizing weapon usage.
The physical conditioning category further branched into specializations such as strength, defense, speed bursts, short-distance movement, acrobatics, and leg skills. In contrast, weapon-based exercises offered a wide variety of options.
However, regardless of the chosen weapon, Chen Chu found the requirements to be extraordinarily demanding.
For example, the sword art technique for swordsmanship practice specified that the chosen sword should be no shorter than 1.5 meters and no longer than two meters.
Two meters? That was practically a massive sword!
Similarly, the meteor hammering method for meteor hammer practice outlined that the hammerhead alone should weigh at least 100 kilograms for optimal effectiveness. The heavier the weapon, the better.
Among various sword techniques, the most extreme was Batian Shizhan, which required a knife to be three meters long and half a meter wide.
A three-meter-long knife? That was essentially the size of a door panel!
However, these exercises were designed with the intention of combating mutant beasts, and Chen Chu could somewhat grasp the reasoning behind such requirements.
After all, these mutated beasts often reached several meters or even tens of meters in size, with colossal monsters among them. Using small weapons against them would be akin to tickling the creatures.
Lost in thought, Chen Chu eventually settled on his choices: [Dragon Elephant Kungfu] and a sword technique named [Mind Eye Bright Sword], with a recommended weapon length of two meters.
With his exercise choices made, Chen Chu breathed a sigh of relief.
The process of selection had been cumbersome. While these exercises were all low-level, they held promise, provided one could handle the use of heavy weaponry.
Each exercise had been meticulously crafted to enhance specific advantages in an individual, with a primary focus on lethality.
The next step would be to acquire the necessary materials for practicing these exercises.
Indeed, true martial arts were formidable, but their practice often required additional complexities. Many body-focused exercises necessitated supplementary resources to get started.
For example, commencing the Dragon Elephant Art required smearing the body with the blood of a mutant beast known as the Tyrant Elephant during cultivation. This allowed the body to acquire a trace of elephant-like characteristics, significantly enhancing the exercise's effectiveness.
Once successfully practiced, these exercises would grant substantial power gains.
After confirming his exercise choices, a virtual helmet-like device descended slowly onto Chen Chu's head. After reading the introduction, Chen Chu unhesitatingly placed the helmet over his head.
"Authenticating... Verification successful."
"Students, please relax and remain calm. Commencing Dragon Elephant Kung Fu. Transmitting data through the mind and eyes..."
Before Chen Chu's eyes, the screen lit up, featuring a burly middle-aged man who stood at least two meters tall, engrossed in practicing Dragon Elephant Kung Fu.
Qi and blood coursed through his body, following a certain pattern...
These images passed through a specialized pupil memory beam, which prevented the brain from forgetting for a month, ensuring a state of photographic memory.
One month proved sufficient for freshmen to begin mastering the technique.
...
Upon exiting, Chen Chu noticed that Pang Long had already left.
Taking the elevator to the third floor, Chen Chu didn't spot Pang Long but did see Xia Youhui practicing nearby. His eyes sparkled with excitement upon spotting Chen Chu.
As Xia Youhui approached with enthusiasm, he reached out a hand, covered with spiked gloves the size of motorcycle helmets, seemingly about to pat Chen Chu on the shoulder. However, Chen Chu swiftly blocked the impending gesture.
"You trying to crush me?"
"Haha... My bad, it's just a habit," Xia Youhui chuckled, lowering his hand. He then asked curiously, "Ah Chu, mind sharing your basic data, like your punching strength?"
"There's no need to hide anything," Chen Chu said casually. "My arm strength is 102, fist strength is 210, and kick strength is 290, just enough to reach the first level."
"Your arm strength is 102, but your fist strength is only 200 kilograms. It seems like you haven't received any combat training, Ah Chu."
Normally, someone with professional training could achieve three times the strength of their arm, and even with specialized muscle strengthening training, they could reach four times the strength.
Xia Youhui smiled and remarked, "Nevertheless, it's not bad at all. Your basic data has reached the first level, which means you'll earn contribution points every month, helping you quickly get started with real martial arts."
Reaching the First Layer signifies that after establishing the foundation, basic arm strength exceeds 100 kilograms, and overall physical strength is twice that of ordinary individuals.
"I remember that your physique was quite average initially, probably not even meeting the standards of ordinary people," Xia Youhui continued, observing that Chen Chu appeared a bit undernourished.
"Indeed," Chen Chu nodded, acknowledging his physical limitations.
"Consequently, your body is better suited for enhancing physique and increasing strength," Xia Youhui explained. "Practicing the Body Casting Technique can boost your physique by 0.6 times."
"Only this way does it make sense that you were able to break through to the first level in one go."
As he spoke, a hint of envy appeared on Xia Youhui's face because such compatibility with certain exercises, like strength and defense, was akin to possessing a hidden talent. By choosing the right exercises, one could achieve remarkable results with less effort.
"Good fortune," Chen Chu modestly replied, knowing that Xia Youhui had misunderstood, but this misperception suited his intentions.
As he anticipated, his avatar would undergo evolution in the future, greatly enhancing his physique. This reason could serve as a cover for any sudden strength surges.
"By the way, Lao Xia, what were your stats when you established your foundation?" Chen Chu inquired, curious about the data of these 'geniuses' who laid their foundations within a week.
"It was decent," Xia Youhui replied, a proud grin forming on his face. "At the time, my arm strength was 140, my punching strength was 340, and my kicking strength was 420. How about that? Pretty impressive, right?"
"You should know that when Lin Xue completed her foundation building, her arm strength was only 130. So, I'm stronger than her."
Chen Chu nodded in acknowledgment. Based on the average arm strength of sedentary individuals at 50 kilograms, Xia Youhui's physique must have been at least 28 points when he finished foundation building, which was 6 points higher than Chen Chu's.
The expected increase in physique from the Casting Body Jue was likely only two or three points, considering Xia Youhui's envy of Chen Chu's '0.6' times enhancement.
Combined with an estimated 10-point improvement during foundation building, his physique should have been at 16 points before training, significantly higher than that of ordinary individuals.
Considering the addition of qi and blood resources, it was no wonder they progressed so rapidly.
"Chen Chu, don't boast," Luo Fei interjected as she approached. "Xia Youhui, remember that the average arm strength for women is just around 40 kilograms."
"Even if the squad leader had some physical training before, her arm strength reached 130 kilograms when she completed foundation building. This means her basic physique is three times that of ordinary people, and her rate of growth surpasses yours."
"Are you sure, or perhaps I remembered incorrectly? Are men's and women's basic strength levels different?" Xia Youhui, now caught out, appeared confused.