"Solid Rock Cultivation Technique." Li Yuan's mind conjured up the many actions of this cultivation method.
He had practiced these actions tens of thousands of times, mastering them by heart.
In this era, the Martial Path was prevalently practiced.
The Seven Fundamental Cultivation Methods, publicly disclosed by the Seven Star Alliance to all citizens of the Seven Great Planets, had no hierarchy of quality, only suitability.
Whether they be rich and powerful or commoners, anyone who practiced martial arts started with the Basic Cultivation Method.
The "Solid Rock Cultivation Technique" was precisely the method Li Yuan had chosen.
He had been cultivating it for over five years.
Each Basic Cultivation Method could greatly stimulate the potential of the human body, continuously enhance physical quality, and even fully awaken Spiritual Nature.
Not to mention Li Yuan's Physical Quality had not yet reached the 7th level.
Even Martial Artists whose Physical Quality had surpassed the 9th level and reached the Entry Rank would continuously practice the Basic Cultivation Methods.
"Huf!"
"Huf!"
Each Basic Cultivation Method consisted of thirty-six training movements, accompanied by an exclusive Breathing Technique.
Li Yuan's breathing was sometimes rapid, sometimes prolonged, coordinating with his limbs' movements, causing a faint sound to emerge from within his body.
Muscles and bones resonating in unison!
"That feels great." Li Yuan immersed himself in this training.
He could feel every muscle and bone in his body being stimulated and becoming stronger.
This was the evolution of life.
In this era, ordinary youths all had the potential to break the century-old sprint world records.
And they did it with Cultivation Methods.
"It's a pity, the last semester-end assessment didn't get me into the top twenty of my grade. Otherwise, besides the five thousand in scholarship money, I would have gained some Qi and Blood Elixirs this term." Li Yuan's thoughts drifted, "With more Qi and Blood Elixirs, my Physical Quality would progress faster, and it would alleviate some of the financial pressure on my uncle and auntie."
Li Yuan was an orphan; it was his uncle and auntie who raised him.
His uncle was a state enterprise employee, while his auntie was a middle school teacher.
In theory, such a family would not be rich, but it should be more than comfortable.
But Li Yuan had been frail and sickly since childhood, and to treat his illnesses, his uncle and auntie had spent a lot of money.
Likewise, on the recommendation of a doctor, from junior high onwards, they invested heavily in Li Yuan's Martial Arts Cultivation, even more than they spent on their own children.
Fortunately.
Li Yuan had a good talent, and his cultivation was diligent. He passed the middle school entrance exam and got into Guan Mountain District's top high school, improving his academic performance even further after entering high school, and by his second year, he had entered the top hundred of his grade and closed the semester-end assessment within the top thirty.
This brought great joy to his uncle and auntie.
However, Martial Arts Cultivation requieres talent and even more so, money.
Especially since his Physical Quality had reached the 6th level, the food from the Star Realm needed to increase Physical Quality, the medicinal elixirs to supplement Qi and Blood, medicated diets, special equipment, and so on, all were like money pits.
When compared with other students in the top thirty of his grade, Li Yuan's external conditions were quite ordinary, or even it could be said they were poor.
Yet in his heart, Li Yuan understood that his uncle and auntie were already doing their best to support him.
He still had younger brothers and sisters at home, and he couldn't ask for more.
"But, six times now,"
"Since the first year of junior high, every annual Spiritual Nature test, I've failed." Li Yuan contemplated, "If the Spiritual Nature within me could awaken, I'd get a 10% bonus on my exam scores, and I could easily break into the top ten of my grade."
"With an awakened Martial Spirit, I'd also receive a national subsidy."
Whether one has awakened their Martial Spirit.
Across the entirety of Blue Star and even among the Seven Great Planets, it was the most important indicator for assessing one's Martial Path talent, without exception.
Yet, Li Yuan had never managed to awaken his Martial Spirit.
"Over the years, the number of students from our school who got into the top five prestigious institutions has never exceeded five." Li Yuan silently reflected, "With my current performance, getting into a normal Martial Arts University wouldn't be a problem."
"But to get into one of the top five institutions, without awakening my Spiritual Nature, the chances are extremely slim."
The population of Xia Country was nearly two billion, with twenty-four provinces, each having a Martial Arts University that only enrolled students from within the province—these were the targets for most students aspiring to the Martial Path.
However, the top five institutions, established by Xia Country, are the prestigious Martial Arts Universities that enroll students on a national scale.
In normal Martial Arts Universities, although the students receive considerable cultivation resources, much still depends on themselves.
But students at one of the top five Martial Arts Universities, each one, would receive extensive resources from the country.
"With national resources for cultivation, my Martial Path can go much further, and someday I'll become an Entry Rank Martial Artist like Teacher Xu, or even stronger than him," Li Yuan silently vowed.
His goal for the college entrance exam was one of the top five prestigious institutions.
However, the top five Martial Arts Universities also had extremely high score requirements.
"One step at a time, there are still nine months until the college entrance exam." Li Yuan quietly practiced, with fewer and fewer extraneous thoughts in his mind.
...
Soon after, waves of noise came from outside the classroom; over a dozen students from the third group returned to the classroom door, their faces all bearing a trace of excitement.
"Teacher Xu, Wan Xiao has awakened his Spiritual Nature."
"Teacher Xu..." Before the husky man could inquire, many students couldn't help but blurt out.
The classroom immediately erupted into commotion.
"Wan Xiao, he's awakened his Martial Spirit?"
"Is he going to the Elite Class now?"
"Students in the Elite Class, I heard they can start practicing High Rank Cultivation Methods earlier." Most classmates couldn't help but show envious looks.
Only with an awakened Martial Spirit can one enter the Elite Class.
Otherwise, even if someone like Li Yuan made it into the top thirty of his grade, he would still have to stay in a regular class.
"Wan Xiao?" Li Yuan opened his eyes, involuntarily looking toward the tall and husky figure at the classroom door with a slightly flushed face.
He was nearly one meter ninety tall, with an extremely burly figure, resembling a bear, with astonishingly thick arms, but his face still bore traces of youthfulness.