After leaving the martial arts school, Galon stood at the street corner waiting for a carriage.
"Sir, would you like a newspaper?" A little boy wearing a gray cap approached him, holding a large bundle of newspapers and handing one over.
"A newspaper?" Galon pondered for a moment, took one, and handed over a coin from his pocket.
"Thanks," the boy said before moving on to the next potential customer.
Galon shook the gray-white newspaper, unfolding it with a rustle. A headline in large black letters immediately caught his eye:
'Increasing Tensions Between the Wisman Empire and the Tulip Republic!! The Federation's Stance to Become a Crucial Pivot.'
He frowned slightly and continued scanning the other headlines:
'The Federal Congress Leader to Review Military Armaments at 9 AM on the 19th in the Capital Stream.'
'Alarming Murder Case in the West Asia Union: All 43 Manor Residents Dead.'
'Historic Archaeological Discovery of Astonishing Relics on Rocky Continent.'
Shaking the newspaper, Galon was about to flip it over when a passerby lightly bumped his shoulder, causing the paper to tilt and reveal a clear black-and-white photograph.
It depicted a dark-colored wheat field with a crooked scarecrow standing alone in the middle, surrounded by a sea of black wheat.
Below the photo was a headline:
'Purple Wheat Field Emerges in Southwest Province.'
Galon looked closely at the photo, and faintly, he felt his special ability pulse slightly.
Scanning the content, a place name caught his eye:
'Mason Farm.'
A carriage's approach, growing louder, interrupted his reading. Folding the newspaper, he signaled for it.
"To Lan Tree Street."
"Right away, sir."
"Since the Boundary Marker War 15 years ago, the world has regained its peace. As one of the undisputed hegemonic countries among the three continents, we also bear the historical responsibility of maintaining world peace..."
The geography teacher, a beloved bald man, was energetically lecturing with his own twist on history. Waving his arms vigorously, he occasionally turned to the blackboard to underline key slogans with chalk.
In the pristine classroom, Galon sat at the back by the window, propping his chin with his hand, boredly flipping through his geography textbook.
The book was entirely white except for the cover, which featured a black bird emblem, the flag of the Arou Federation. Above the emblem were the black letters representing geography.
Galon stopped at the world map page, showing three irregularly shaped gray landmasses floating in a white rectangular sea, forming a circular ring with a slight gap in the top left corner.
The longest landmass at the top was labeled Rocky Continent; the two below were Blue Continent on the left and Five-Star Continent on the right, each surrounded by numerous islands.
Galon's finger traced over Rocky Continent, stopping in the middle-left area marked as the Arou Federation, which covered a third of the landmass.
"This world is indeed strange... With airplanes existing, it's baffling that the entire world hasn't been explored yet. The seas around the land are vast and uncharted. Humanity lives around these three continents, whose combined area already surpasses that of Earth's landmass in my previous life, and even more so."
Flipping the page, Galon glanced out the window to see people setting up flags on the lawn, apparently preparing for an event.
The afternoon's pale red sunlight cast a golden hue on the deep green grass.
Three days had passed since his return from the martial arts school; it was now Tuesday. He had applied for the audition at the martial arts school and was just waiting for the results.
If accepted, he would become an official disciple of Baiyun Martial Arts School, learn secret techniques, and receive a monthly stipend.
Ding...
The pleasant sound of the bell signaled the end of class.
The geography teacher clapped his hands loudly.
"That's all for today's lesson. I hope you all do some preparatory work for the next class; I'll be checking. Lan Ruo, thank you."
"It's nothing."
A girl with black twin ponytails stood up, nodded, and waited for the teacher to leave before quickly erasing the blackboard.
Her demeanor was cool and pure, with bangs slightly covering her forehead, and her skin was pale and delicate. She had large, black eyes, a typical feature of Eastern people.
Galon knew her; in a class of twenty-five, everyone knew each other.
Lan Ruo, one of the top three students in class and top five in the grade. Beautiful and pure, she was like a flawless porcelain doll, her skin as tender as milk jelly.
However, she was aloof, barely speaking to her classmates beyond necessary politeness, quietly observing anyone who approached her. Her bright, expressionless face and watery eyes were enough to discourage further conversation, leaving them to walk away.
"Seen Fein?" Caledo approached, his hair dyed yellow and wearing a yellow leather vest over a white shirt, adorned with a sapphire necklace, making his thin frame appear flamboyant.
"Fein? He vanished right after class. What do you need him for? That guy's probably cozying up with some girl again," Galon said, puzzled.
"His cousin's here. Let's all go out for a meal this afternoon, you, me, Fein, his cousin, and her friend. They're all students our age, and his cousins are from a girls' school," Caledo winked.
"So what if they're from a girls' school? I have to go to the martial arts school this afternoon. I don't have time."
"Missing out on such a good opportunity?"
"Next time, really," Galon shrugged. "I genuinely have something on."
"You're missing out..." Caledo grumbled as he walked towards the classroom door.
Galon shook his head, gathered his books, and followed, backpack in tow.
Twenty minutes later...
At the main hall of Baiyun Martial Arts School, a spacious, dimly lit chamber with deep red wooden walls.
A bald elder sat cross-legged on the floor, a roaring fireplace behind him casting a red glow throughout the room.
Around ten young students in white sat in front of the elder, all serious and focused.
"Congratulations," the elder began slowly. "You are this year's new official disciples."
The room remained silent, but the anticipation was palpable among the young faces, ranging from fifteen to eighteen years old, all visibly excited.
The elder nodded, seeing their enthusiasm.
"Being an official disciple, besides exemption from fees, the greatest benefit is the teaching of martial secret techniques."
"These secret techniques are the absolute secrets of martial arts schools and styles. Before I impart them to you, I hope you remember the oaths you've just sworn."
He pulled out an ancient yellow scroll from his robe, spreading it on the floor.
"Starting from the left, each of you come forward, take a look, then step back."
The first to rise was a curly-haired girl, who briefly inspected the scroll before returning to her place, followed by the others, each taking no more than ten seconds.
When it was Galon's turn, he approached, knelt before the elder, unrolled the scroll, and studied it closely.
The yellow scroll depicted a figure in an odd stance, seemingly practicing a standing pose, exuding a special aura.
Galon memorized the pose easily and noticed a faint scent of honey emanating from the paper.
Returning to his spot, he suddenly felt drowsy.
"Now, assume the position shown on the scroll. Pay attention to the essence," the elder instructed.
Everyone stood, spaced apart, and mimicked the stance.
Galon followed, pressing his hands forward, one foot on tiptoe, the other heel bearing weight.
Instantly, his skill list updated, showing a new entry: Baiyun Basic Secret Technique: Beginner.
Galon felt warmth gathering in his torso, spreading to his limbs, enveloping him in comfort.
His strength attribute began to tick up, from 0.44 to 0.45.
"Do you feel warm? That means you've successfully grasped Baiyun Martial Arts School's secret technique. Regular practice in this stance will gradually enhance your strength, depending on your body condition and talent. The technique naturally progresses through three stages: Warmth, Cold, and the Convergence of Heat and Cold. Each stage significantly boosts strength. An ordinary person can double their strength at the highest stage, though it takes time."
"Progress is gradual, and there are certain practices to avoid during training. Don't practice when too tired, hungry, or full, and avoid distractions..."
Galon listened to the elder's detailed instructions, feeling the warmth and monitoring his attributes and skills.
Pondering briefly, he focused on the newly acquired Baiyun Secret Technique.
As he concentrated, a surge flowed into the skill, upgrading it from Beginner to Intermediate.