Ignoring Xia Youhui, who was pretending to be clueless, Luo Fei turned her attention to Chen Chu and suggested, "Lunchtime is approaching. How about we grab a meal together?"
Chen Chu replied, "The food in the canteen at Wuxiu District is quite different from what they serve in the Liberal Arts section. They offer exotic animal meat every day."
Intrigued, Chen Chu inquired, "Is there a noticeable difference in taste between exotic meat and regular meat?"
Luo Fei explained, "Not much difference in taste, but exotic meat tends to have better texture and higher nutritional value, as the canteen serves meat from ordinarily raised exotic animals."
As she spoke, Concubine Luo casually tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, exuding a subtle charm.
At that moment, the office door in the distance swung open, and Pang Long glanced over at the three of them. He called out, "It's still early for lunch, Chen Chu, come in and sign some agreements."
Chen Chu hesitated momentarily, not entirely sure what he was supposed to sign. He nodded to Luo Fei and Xia Youhui and then followed Pang Long into the office.
Pang Long handed over a stack of documents as he explained, "This is the 'Law Prohibiting Practitioners from Coercing or Harming Ordinary People,' and here's a commitment letter regarding the non-dissemination of exercises."
He continued, "You'll also find the 'Student Weapon Management Treaty,' 'Practitioners' Daily Guidelines,' and 'Instructions for Responding to Injustice'..."
Pang Long retrieved various documents from his drawer and tossed them over to Chen Chu. Some required his signature, while others outlined guidelines for students, including weapon management.
The sheer volume of paperwork overwhelmed Chen Chu as he tried to skim through them.
Seeing his confusion, Pang Long reassured him, "You don't need to read these in one go. Take them home after school and go through them at your own pace. You can return them to me tomorrow."
Chen Chu sighed in relief and said, "Thank you, teacher."
Pang Long nodded, saying, "It's my duty. By the way, I've reviewed your foundation building data, and it looks good. Have you chosen your training exercises?"
Chen Chu replied, "Yes, I have."
Pang Long advised, "Since you've made your choice, after lunch, head to the logistics department to collect your training resources. Starting early is crucial. Foundation building not only strengthens your physical attributes but also modifies your physique to better harness extraordinary energy."
He continued, "Once you complete foundation building in a few days, your body will become more attuned to extraordinary energy, enhancing your cultivation efficiency."
Chen Chu was surprised by the wealth of information. He now understood why Xia Youhui had been so secluded after completing foundation building.
Grateful, Chen Chu said, "Thank you for the guidance, teacher."
Pang Long replied, "You're welcome. If you have any questions about your cultivation in the future, feel free to approach me. I'll be available here most mornings."
Exiting the office, Chen Chu joined Xia Youhui, Luo Fei, Lin Xue, and two others who were engaged in conversation.
Xia Youhui smiled and said, "Ah Chu, you're here. Let's grab some lunch and catch up."
Chen Chu glanced at Lin Xue and the others and agreed, "Sure."
...
The cafeteria on the 30th floor of the training area offered cuisine similar to that in the Liberal Arts section but with larger portions, especially of meat dishes. The cafeteria was bustling with students.
After securing their meals, Chen Chu and Xia Youhui found a quieter corner to sit. They were joined by Luo Fei and monitor Lin Xue, along with two other classmates.
As they settled in, Lin Xue smiled at Chen Chu and said, "First of all, congratulations on successfully completing your foundation building in just half a month, Chen."
Chen Chu replied modestly, "Thank you, but my progress pales in comparison to yours."
Lin Xue shook her head gently, saying, "No flattery intended. Achieving foundation building in such a short time indicates exceptional talent. That's precisely why we sought you out."
"Please, go on."
Lin Xue got straight to the point, "For us, foundation building is just the beginning. We plan to establish a club."
"A club?"
"Yes, a club."
"This club serves two purposes. Firstly, it's a platform for us to exchange our experiences in real martial arts, motivate each other, and prepare for future trials."
Chen Chu asked, "Trials? Are we going to engage in combat?"
"Indeed."
Lin Xue stated confidently, "Our practice of real martial arts isn't just for fun. To develop a strong heart, we need to gain battle experience. It's a crucial part of our journey."
"Chen, have you ever noticed the scarcity of second-year and third-year martial arts students in our school? Even in society, practitioners are relatively rare."
"I honestly hadn't paid attention to that."
Having spent half a month traveling, Chen Chu had been preoccupied with numerous matters and hadn't deliberately considered these issues. Although occasional doubts crossed his mind, he attributed the absence of practitioners on the road to them concealing their abilities within the city.
"Starting from the second year, all practitioners are required to participate in a trial. In past years, these missions usually took place in primeval forest areas, blocked off by the military."
"Over time, the number of mutated creatures in these areas has increased, necessitating regular clean-ups. Consequently, these trials have become increasingly perilous, resulting in casualties every year."
"Faced with this situation, many sophomores choose to form teams to improve their chances of completing the missions. That's why I'm planning to establish a club."
"We currently have five club members, all of whom are our classmates. If things go smoothly in the coming year, we'll form a team to participate in the trial next year."
"Of course, if any of us discover irreconcilable differences in our worldviews or personalities during this year, we can withdraw from the club at any time."
"So, what do you think, Chen? Are you interested in joining?"
Faced with Lin Xue's invitation, Chen Chu paused for a moment.
In truth, joining this club held no disadvantages for him at this point, only benefits such as information sharing and practical knowledge. Lin Xue and Xia Youhui, due to their family backgrounds, possessed insights and information that eluded ordinary people. Their talent further ensured they'd forge ahead, widening the gap between them and ordinary individuals.
Of course, it was possible for exceptionally talented individuals to catch up, but in this world, how many ordinary people possessed the potential to reach that level?
Moreover, Chen Chu was aware that Lin Xue had extended this invitation due to his achievement in completing foundation building within half a month, indicating that his talent was above average, if not exceptional.
It wasn't that Lin Xue and the others were overly pragmatic, but rather that dragons don't associate with snakes.
After a brief moment of reflection, Chen Chu weighed the pros and cons from every angle before politely requesting, "May I have a couple of days to consider?"
"...Of course," Lin Xue replied, detecting Chen Chu's polite decline.
Still, she couldn't fathom why Chen Chu, despite the clear benefits, was hesitant to join the club. This decision perplexed not only Lin Xue but also the others.
Little did they know that Chen Chu harbored a multitude of secrets, and compared to the advantages of joining the club, he believed that solo practice was a superior path for him.