TL: Etude
The Fifth Academy, Training Ground No. 3.
"To become a martial artist, you must have talent. Most of you will not be able to become martial artists, but as long as you can become martial disciples, you will have much more prospects than ordinary people. The chances of finding a job will also be much better than ordinary people, and to become a martial disciple, you must practice body refining techniques."
A middle-aged man was lecturing a group of students.
The students below were listening very carefully. They were all commoners, and their only channel to learn body refining techniques was the academy. If they didn't listen seriously, they could make mistakes in their practice and continuously fail to improve their strength, or even injure their bodies.
Ye Tian was among them. He had already entered the Fifth Academy and had been studying there for ten days.
During these ten days, the middle-aged teacher taught body refining techniques every day and personally demonstrated the eighteen movements of body refining techniques.
Perhaps due to traveling through time, Ye Tian's soul was stronger than ordinary people, and his memory was quite good. Therefore, he mastered the eighteen movements of body refining techniques in just ten short days, ensuring that he would not make mistakes.
As for the other students, without a month or two, it would be very difficult to fully grasp the body refining techniques.
Of course, seeking private coaching was another matter, but the cost of private coaching was not something ordinary people could afford.
"You must completely master body refining techniques before you can officially cultivate them. This is the first movement..."
The middle-aged teacher demonstrated the movements of body refining techniques one by one.
An hour passed, the teaching ended, and the students left one by one.
"Ye Tian, how's your learning going? I have mastered thirteen movements, and I will soon be able to practice body refining techniques!" A chubby boy stopped Ye Tian, excitedly saying.
The chubby boy's name was Zhang Bao, a classmate Ye Tian met in the academy during his ten days there. They had a good relationship.
"I've only mastered eight movements!"
Ye Tian said deliberately.
He didn't want to say that he had already mastered all eighteen movements, as that would certainly cause unnecessary trouble. Having just arrived in this era, it was better to keep a low profile.
"Keep it up; I believe you can do it. In the future, we will definitely become strong martial artists!"
Zhang Bao encouraged.
But Ye Tian saw a trace of helplessness, even despair, deep in Zhang Bao's eyes.
"Perhaps!"
Ye Tian smiled.
He had observed Zhang Bao's talents through his ability to copy talents, and although it was better than his own, it was only a secondary talent. With such talent, becoming a martial artist was hopeful, but who knew how much time and resources it would take? Zhang Bao was not from a large family; he was just from an ordinary family, and he didn't have the ability to practice peacefully all the time.
Zhang Bao's ultimate outcome might be to become a martial disciple, then find a stable job and gradually grow old, or die in a future beast tide.
"Zhang Bao, who is the most talented person in our academy?"
Ye Tian asked quietly.
He had only been in the academy for ten days, and Zhang Bao had been there for over a month. Moreover, Zhang Bao was outgoing and got along well with many people, so he must know more.
"The most talented?" Zhang Bao didn't know why Ye Tian was inquiring about this, but he still said, "Talent is something very secretive; no one would reveal it, but it can be seen from the usual progress in cultivation. Our Fifth Academy is not a big academy in Linhai Base. The truly talented ones go to the First Academy, but our academy does have a genius."
"Who?"
Ye Tian asked curiously.
"Chen Dong!" Zhang Bao said mysteriously, "Chen Dong is also from an ordinary family, his parents are ordinary people. He came to our Fifth Academy a month ago, and in just half a month, he became a martial disciple, and then he was taken as a disciple by our dean. Now, Chen Dong no longer practices with other students but is privately taught by the dean."
Whoosh!
A sudden spark of excitement flashed in Ye Tian's eyes.
He was certain that Chen Dong's talent was definitely not bad; otherwise, he would not have been taken as a disciple by the dean of the Fifth Academy.
You must know that the dean of the Fifth Academy was an elite martial artist at the peak realm, whose strength far surpassed that of ordinary peak martial artists, and ordinary martial artists were like ants in the dean's eyes.
In the coastal base, the dean of the Fifth Academy was undoubtedly a top figure. Mediocre talents would certainly not be valued by the dean, and those who could be valued by the dean had to have at least medium-level talent.
Because only medium-level talent would inevitably become an elite martial artist, with the hope of becoming a great martial artist.
"How can I get in touch with Chen Dong?"
Ye Tian pondered.
Just then, a commotion was heard.
"Chen Dong is here!"
"My goodness, Chen Dong, who was taken as a disciple by Dean, actually appeared in our Number Three training arena!"
"Wasn't he privately taught by the dean? Why is he in our training arena?"
The eyes of one student after another looked at Chen Dong with envy or perhaps jealousy, for this was an era that valued talent, and Chen Dong was a figure they could never hope to reach in their lifetime.
At that moment, Ye Tian also noticed Chen Dong and slowly approached him.
When no one was paying attention, he came within three meters of Chen Dong, then instantly activated his talent duplication.
Human: Chen Dong
Cultivation Talent: Medium
"It really is medium talent!"
Ye Tian suppressed the excitement in his heart, his eyes flashing, secretly planning.
"Chen Dong, I heard you were taken as a disciple by the dean. What level have you reached now?" a student asked, looking up to Chen Dong.
"I already possess the strength of 200 catties!"
Chen Dong proclaimed proudly.
Sssss!
There was a gasp all around!
Becoming a martial disciple only required 100 catties of strength, and Chen Dong had just become one not long ago. Yet he possessed 200 catties of strength. With this pace, wouldn't Chen Dong quickly become a martial artist?
Showoff.
Ye Tian finally knew why Chen Dong came here; evidently, Chen Dong had just made some progress in his cultivation and couldn't resist showing off.
It was just like a nouveau riche mentality!
"Chen Dong, can I have an autograph?"
"Chen Dong, may I have an autograph?"
One student after another took out paper and pen, hoping that Chen Dong could give them an autograph. Getting the signature of a future martial artist would be an honor. If Chen Dong became an elite martial artist like the dean in the future, such a signature might be sold for several months' worth of ordinary people's living expenses.
"Alright, alright, I'll sign for you!"
Chen Dong was somewhat elated, fearing no one, signing one by one for the other students.
Ye Tian squeezed in too, but not to seek an autograph, but to duplicate the talent.
"I've touched it!"
Ye Tian, at the moment of touching Chen Dong's left hand, duplicated Chen Dong's cultivation talent and then quickly withdrew his arm.
The entire process did not attract the attention of others, as touching Chen Dong was too normal in this situation.
"Medium cultivation talent duplication successful; do you want to integrate?"