Xu Bo and the woman in black passed by the classroom. Their breaths were so well concealed, and because they did not observe for long, Li Yuan did not notice them at all.
He was completely immersed in his own cultivation.
Although Li Yuan was serious when studying his academic courses, he essentially did it with the mindset of 'completing a task', so it was difficult for his efficiency to reach the highest level.
But when cultivating his fist technique or spear technique, feeling his physical quality and martial skills gradually improving filled Li Yuan with heartfelt joy.
Utterly focused.
Doing one thing well only happens when one is fully immersed and loves it from the bottom of their heart, which is the only way to make the greatest progress.
Time passed, minute by minute, second by second.
Suddenly.
[Your Fist Technique Realm has increased from 88% at the Third Stage to 89% at the Third Stage.]
[Your Fist Strength has increased from 426 kg to 427 kg.]
[Your Speed has increased from 14.4 m/s to 14.5 m/s.]
Three prompts appeared out of nowhere in Li Yuan's vision, and his Divine Palace panel data changed accordingly.
But so engrossed was he in his cultivation that he didn't even notice the slight improvements to his physical quality.
It wasn't until his intelligent wristband suddenly vibrated.
"Is it already 5:30 am? How time flies," Li Yuan was startled awake.
He was already sweating profusely.
"Hm? My physical quality has improved again?" It was only then that Li Yuan noticed the reminders on the Divine Palace panel.
He felt even more satisfied in his heart.
"A little progress every day, as long as it's consistently maintained," Li Yuan thought to himself.
Ever since awakening the Mind Spirit Divine Palace a year ago and learning the Great Sun Starry Sky Scripture, Li Yuan only needed to meditate for two hours each day. If he could endure the hellish torture of his psyche, his physical exhaustion would vanish completely, rendering better recovery than sleep or deep therapy.
Since then, he had cultivated the habit of arriving at the school for cultivation at around 3:30 am.
Even during holidays, he would find a place to cultivate alone at the bottom of his apartment complex.
Striving to the utmost.
Only by doing so had he managed to make such rapid progress in the Martial Path over the past year.
Li Yuan wiped the sweat from his body and put back his towel.
Suddenly sensing something, he turned to look back.
"Tianyou? You're here so early?" Li Yuan smiled at the slim figure with the backpack.
"You got here even earlier than me," Li Tianyou said, also looking surprised at Li Yuan.
"I just got here a while ago, just put my bag down," Li Yuan, while taking out his long spear, laughed and said, "I left evening self-study earlier than you yesterday, so I need to work harder in the morning."
"Is that so?" Li Tianyou looked at Li Yuan, puzzled.
He could no longer remember how many times this had happened.
Every time after evening self-study, he was the last one to leave the classroom, which is why he was called the 'First Study King' by his classmates.
But!!
Li Tianyou alone knew that no matter whether he arrived at the classroom at 6:30 am, 6:15 am, or even 6:00 am, one figure was always there before him—Li Yuan.
Today, he deliberately arrived at 5:40 am.
Li Yuan was already standing in the classroom.
"Pfft!"
Not far away, Li Yuan took out his long spear and silently began to practice his spear technique.
"Could it be that Li Yuan arrives at school every day at 5:30 am, or even earlier?" Li Tianyou couldn't help but think as he watched Li Yuan.
He immediately shook his head.
Impossible!
"My home is just a street away from school, pretty close."
"When I occasionally arrive around 5 am, I feel a bit sleepy during the day," Li Tianyou thought to himself. "If I want to stay fully energized throughout the day, I should get up at 6:15 am."
Li Tianyou was equally disciplined.
"Li Yuan's family is only slightly better off than mine, so he can't afford high-level therapy, and he lives so far away... If he wants to get to school by 5:30 am, he has to get up at 5 am. His body can't handle that."
"He must be like me, only occasionally coming to school for practice early in the morning."
"It's just that these few times, we happened to bump into each other," Li Tianyou guessed.
He didn't dwell on it and started practising the Basic Cultivation Method on his own.
Until 6:30 am.
It was broad daylight by then, and a few classmates began to trickle into the Martial Path classroom.
"You two study kings are here again?" Several classmates teased, and then they all began to practice on their own.
It wasn't that the students of Class 3(2) didn't work hard; rather, most of them focused on academic courses, and even if they arrived early, they would likely head to an academic classroom to review.
"Clang!"
Li Yuan put his long spear back into the weapon cabinet and left the classroom to go to the canteen.
It was time for breakfast.
Eating three meals a day, at set times, adjusting for snacks or portions according to what the body needs.
That is the basic code of conduct for a Martial Path student.
After breakfast.
Li Yuan went straight to the cultural classroom, beginning a morning of cultural lessons.
...
Day after day.
Li Yuan practiced methodically.
For senior year students—whether they focused on cultural studies or the Martial Path.
The process was incredibly dull and depressing.
But Li Yuan was clear, there were no actual geniuses in the real sense.
"Genius" has always been 99% perspiration plus 1% talent, and sometimes, when breaking through a bottleneck, that 1% of talent is indeed more important.
However, without the 99% perspiration, no matter how high one's talent, it would ultimately be a castle in the air.
Because the world never lacks geniuses.
What is always lacking are hardworking geniuses.
...
Day after day, time flew, and it was suddenly mid-September.
During this time, Li Yuan made time to visit the 'Starry Sky Martial Hall Guan Mountain District branch' and purchased a whole box of basic blood Qi liquid from Uncle Zhong for 19,000 Blue Star Coins.
Uncle Zhong, a friend of his Uncle Li Changzhou, was an Entry Rank martial artist and a member of the Starry Sky Martial Hall, who helped to buy the basic blood Qi liquid with a discount.
Even so, this expense still made Li Yuan's heart ache.
But it had to be spent.
If he didn't have the basic blood Qi liquid, his progress in physical quality would be at least halved.
Even his body might not be able to withstand such frantic training, resulting in a deficit.
The Martial Path required not only talent and effort but also financial investment.
All three were indispensable.
And now, it had been over ten days since Teacher Xu Bo promised the "Third Class scholarship".
Li Yuan was eager at heart.
But during this period, whether it was during his Martial Path classes or when he encountered Teacher Xu Bo during the breaks, Li Yuan never mentioned it.
It was as if such a conversation had never taken place between them.
"This scholarship, I can only wait for it, I must not ask for it," Li Yuan sighed inwardly.
Because, he wasn't entitled to it.
If Teacher Xu Bo had kept silent all this time, he must have encountered some difficulties.
To ask proactively would only displease the other party.
...
Before long, another five days had passed.
The moonlight was hazy, scattering a cool brilliance over the oil cypress path outside the senior teaching building.
In the spacious Martial Path classroom of senior year (Class 2), a dozen students were each practicing on their own.
On one side of the field, Li Yuan was immersed in practicing his Spear Technique.
Standing there, his entire presence was like an immovable rock, emanating an invisible pressure, with both hands holding the spear.
He repeatedly practiced various techniques with the long spear.
"Pff!"
"Pfft!" The tip of the spear drew invisible arcs through the air, creating afterimages, swift as a gale with aggressive, straight thrusts.
"Boom!" Suddenly, firm as a Solid Rock Pillar, the spear shadows flowed endlessly.
Each turn, lift of the spear, thrust, and parry by Li Yuan landed precisely on the points he had envisioned in his mind.
With his spine arching and waist twisting, the muscles and bones throughout his body moved along with the long spear, reaching a high realm of unity between body, heart, and weapon.
Suddenly.
Li Yuan, who had just taken a defensive stance with his spear, suddenly lunged forward with a powerful thrust as if a dragon lurking in a myriad of rocky ravines unleashed its power.
The might of this thrust was hidden to the extreme before its burst.
But when the thrust exploded forward, its ferocity reached the ultimate extreme.
"Boom!" The spear shadows instantly blurred, and the air itself seemed to crackle.
This scene.
Astonished all the surrounding students, who couldn't help but turn their heads to look at the move Li Yuan had just executed.
"Finally, I've fully perfected this killing move."
"Dragon Hidden in the Gorge!" Li Yuan retracted his spear, a faint light flickering in his eyes: "With this move, combined with the killing move 'Solid Rock Pillar' I created before, one offensive and one defensive supporting each other."
"I am now fully capable of surpassing 500 points in the Gold Stage on the Starry Skies Fighting Network."
The Combat Network had long established a rule.
If one could reach 500 points in the Gold Stage before the age of eighteen, they would be rewarded with 50,000 Blue Star Coins.
"Hmm?" Li Yuan suddenly noticed a reminder on the Divine Palace panel.
[Your Spear Technique Realm has progressed from the Third Stage at 40% to the Third Stage at 46%]