Traductor: TheFluentWhisper
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Li Changye quickly left the Scripture Pavilion and hurried to a secluded corner where no one was around. Unable to contain his excitement, he shouted, "System, infuse all my experience into this 'Five Tigers Breaking the Gate Blade Technique'!"
"Understood."
In an instant, he felt a wave of dizziness, his body undergoing rapid transformation.
[You practiced 'Five Tigers Breaking the Gate Blade Technique' for a month. The essence of the technique has begun to emerge, and you sense a sharp energy brewing inside you. Every swing feels as if it can cut through the air, laying a solid foundation for your martial arts journey.]
[On the hundredth day, your understanding of 'Five Tigers Breaking the Gate Blade Technique' deepened, and your technique became smoother. The essence began to manifest in every practice session, significantly enhancing your strength and speed.]
[On the two-hundredth day, you could skillfully master the foundational principles of the 'Five Tigers Breaking the Gate Blade Technique.' Each movement became more fluid, and your understanding of the technique made you more composed in actual combat.]
[On the three-hundredth day, you finally refined the 'Five Tigers Breaking the Gate Blade Technique' to a minor success. Your technique reached a new height, with each movement filled with confidence and power, achieving a preliminary harmony between your technique and your mind.]
Li Changye sighed, feeling helpless. It took him three hundred days just to reach a minor success with the 'Five Tigers Breaking the Gate Blade Technique'?
This was clearly a technique that anyone could learn, but as the old man said, "Easy to learn, hard to master."
However, at this moment, he felt more comfortable wielding the technique. Moreover, his body had gained muscle memory from those three hundred days.
With every movement, Li Changye felt completely different.
The technique in his hands had become an extension of his will, able to be swung freely.
Li Changye had a premonition that if he faced someone like He Tian again, in a life-and-death battle, he could easily kill him in just three moves.
Suppressing the urge to practice the technique further, Li Changye chose not to reveal his strength.
He did this, of course, to catch others off guards in crucial moments.
After all, the way for him to grow stronger was to kill, not to become famous.
Li Changye returned to the Body Refinement Class 2, and it was already afternoon.
In a large courtyard, a group of students was training vigorously, sweating profusely.
In front of them stood a burly man with a sincere expression. He was standing with his hands behind his back, meticulously guiding them.
This man was Wang Shihu, the martial instructor of Body Refinement Class 2.
Seeing Li Changye arrive, Wang Shihu's eyes showed a hint of appreciation.
In his eyes, Li Changye was the most diligent student in the entire class 2.
Just a day ago, he had even killed He Tian, a student from Body Refinement Class 3.
"Alright, go join the training," Wang Shihu said.
Li Changye nodded and approached a wooden stake, beginning his routine of horse stance, punching the wooden stake, and refining his body. He was used to enduring six hours of this rigorous training every day.
This is the often repetitive daily routine of martial students. According to Wang Shihu, only by laying a solid foundation could one learn superior martial arts. Otherwise, a shaky foundation would lead to failure, even with unparalleled skills.
Li Changye was indeed the most diligent in the class, but he quickly lost interest after striking the wooden stake a few times.
After experiencing such rapid progress, he found these simple exercises incredibly slow and dull.
It was simply too slow.
Killing was a much faster way to improve.
Li Changye's gaze turned cold as he looked around at his fellow students, who were training hard, and an idea formed in his mind.
He quickly walked up behind a young man in elegant clothing and suddenly slapped him on the shoulder, saying darkly, "Wang Sheng, you've been mocking me for some time now, right? Let's settle this on the Life-and-Death platform."
"No, no! I'm sorry!" The boy was instantly terrified, his face as pale as paper, his voice trembling as he begged.
"Sorry? If apologies meant anything, what would we need the officials for?"
Li Changye grabbed his hand, smiling as he said, "Come on, I'm actually pretty weak."
Despite his protests, Li Changye dragged him toward the courtyard's exit. The boy, terrified, wailed, "No, please, I was wrong! I'm really sorry!"
"Li Changye, please let me go!"
As he spoke, he collapsed to the ground in fear.
Seeing this, Li Changye shook his head in exasperation and let him go, turning his attention to another classmate. This one was dressed in luxurious clothes, clearly from a wealthy family.
With a mocking smile, Li Changye approached and asked, "Chen Bufan, didn't you say I was an illegitimate child?"
"No, I never said that!" Chen Bufan's face was filled with terror as he waved his hands in denial.
"Let's go to the life-and-death platform. Today, either I kill you, or you kill me," Li Changye's gaze was cold and unyielding.
"No, I don't want to!"
"Come on, I'm not that tough. How will you know if you don't try?" Li Changye held onto Chen Bufan, who paled as he struggled in vain to break free.
Now panicking, he yelled, "Li Changye, you've gone too far! Don't forget who my father is."
"I don't care who your father is. Let's go to the life-and-death platform." Li Changye gripped his arm with an icy gaze.
Chen Bufan struggled desperately, yelling for help, "Help me! Li Changye's gone crazy!"
"He insists on having a life-and-death battle with me!"
But his classmates all avoided eye contact, looking guilty. After all, every one of them had bullied Li Changye before. If he were seeking revenge, they preferred to let others take the fall.
Realizing no one was coming to his rescue, Chen Bufan's face drained of color, and he stared at Li Changye with panic. "Do you even know who my father is?"
"It doesn't matter. Once I kill you, he'll just collect your corpse! I'll see him then."
Li Changye said impatiently, continuing to drag him out.
Fear overcame Chen Bufan. The once-docile Li Changye was now a fierce, unrestrained presence, ready to fight to the death. The Life-and-Death Stage, a place of merciless combat, was where everyone, regardless of status, fought on equal footing.
It was either you die, or I die.
Just the thought of it made him shake with terror.
He dropped to his knees, pleading in desperation. "My father… is you, Li Changye," he stammered with a flattering smile, his body trembling. "I've wandered without a father. If you don't mind, I'd like to call you my adoptive father."
Li Changye was stunned, and the other students were equally shocked.
As he spoke, he directly kowtowed three times in front of Li Changye, leaving him speechless.
This left Li Changye utterly bewildered. He looked at Chen Bufan in disbelief and asked, "What happened to that arrogant attitude you had before?"
"How can I bear to cut you like this?"
Chen Bufan hugged his leg, looking up at him in adoration. "You must be joking, adoptive father! I'm your obedient son. How could you possibly cut me?"
Li Changye sighed and dropped his arm.
But at this moment, his gaze shifted to the other students around him.
His eyes were filled with coldness as he scanned the room, and he spoke directly, "I've been in the Martial Academy for half a year, and I've been bullied for half a year as well."
"Today, let's settle everything."
"There's no better day than today. One by one, let's go to the Life-and-Death platform and get it over with!"
As soon as he said this, the faces of the students around him turned pale.
The entire class fell silent, faces pale. Some were indeed stronger than Li Changye, but his fierce determination intimidated them. They looked away, dreading the thought of the Life-and-Death Stage, a place where real death awaited.
In their eyes, Li Changye seemed to have gone mad, wanting to kill a few people just for fun.
Li Changye's eyes scanned the room, filled with disappointment. "Say something. Doesn't anyone want to be first?"
But his classmates remained silent, some even pretending not to hear, busying themselves with the wooden training stake.
Seeing this scene, Li Changye sighed in despair.
Seeing their reaction, Li Changye let out a disappointed sigh. Muttering to himself, he said, "If you all act like this, what's the point of learning the 'Five Tigers Break the Gate Blade Technique'?"
"Fine, if you all want to ignore me, I'll take the initiative!"
Suddenly, Li Changye turned his gaze back to Chen Bufan, who was still kneeling on the ground, hugging his legs. "You, I'll start with you! Let's go!"
"No, I don't want to! I'm not going!" Chen Bufan cried out, desperation evident in his voice as he felt the pressure of Li Changye's anger.
"Enough of the nonsense! It's either death or defeat, and you can't back out! Let's go!" Li Changye's eyes narrowed, and he harshly dragged Chen Bufan toward the life-and-death platform.
"Li Changye, don't do this! I was wrong! Please, let me go!" Chen Bufan yelled as he struggled, but the strength of Li Changye was too great.
As they approached the life-and-death platform, whispers spread among the other students.
"Is he really going to fight?"
"Li Changye is truly insane! He's dragging Chen Bufan with him!"
"Does he really want to die? He doesn't even have a chance!"
"Why is he so determined?"
The murmurs grew louder as more students gathered around to witness the unfolding situation.
The life-and-death platform was a sacred place within the Martial Academy, where disputes could be resolved through combat. However, very few dared to use it lightly, especially not for trivial matters.
Upon reaching the stage, Li Changye pushed Chen Bufan forward, forcing him to face him. "So, are you going to fight or not?"
Chen Bufan trembled, his mind racing. He had never imagined that Li Changye would be so bold and decisive.
Just as he opened his mouth to refuse again, a loud voice came from the back of the crowd. "Stop! What are you doing?"
It was Wang Shihu, the martial instructor, rushing over. He stood between them, casting a stern gaze at Li Changye. "Li Changye, what's going on?"
Li Changye was slightly taken aback but quickly explained, "Instructor Wang, I'm just teaching him a lesson. He insulted me, and I want to settle it here."
"Are you planning to kill him?" Wang Shihu's voice grew cold as he stared down at Li Changye.
Li Changye shrugged nonchalantly. "I didn't say I'd kill him. I just want to fight."
Wang Shihu sighed deeply, glancing at Chen Bufan, who was nearly crying. "You think it's fine to pick a fight in the life-and-death platform? This is not a place for petty grievances!"
Li Changye pursed his lips, clearly unrepentant. "Then what do you suggest? Letting them keep mocking me? Is that acceptable?"
Wang Shihu looked around at the gathered students. He knew that if he let this continue, it could spiral out of control. "Listen, fighting without reason is against the rules of the academy. If you want to resolve your issues, do it outside the life-and-death platform. Understand?"
Li Changye narrowed his eyes. He had a good grasp of the situation but couldn't let it end like this. "But they've bullied me for so long!"
"Everyone has their own troubles. You need to learn to endure," Wang Shihu responded firmly.
Li Changye felt a surge of frustration, but he understood that directly defying the instructor would only complicate matters further. He took a deep breath and reluctantly let go of Chen Bufan, who instantly scrambled back, gasping for air.
Wang Shihu turned to the crowd. "You all need to reflect on your actions. Treating others with disdain can have consequences, and everyone here should be careful."
Wang Shihu couldn't help but laugh awkwardly, wiping the sweat from his forehead. "You're still so young, yet so bloodthirsty. I never realized you had this side before."
After Wang Shihu finished, he walked away, leaving a stunned Li Changye standing alone on the stage.
The other students stared at him, some with pity, others with a mix of fear and uncertainty.
Li Changye's fists clenched tightly. The anger that had boiled inside him only intensified. "One day, I will make all of you pay for this!"
"Remember my name! I'm Li Changye!" He shouted, turning and striding away.
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