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Cultivation is like flushing an instrument with water. The body is the instrument, and the spiritual veins are water pipes.
The higher the talent, the better the water quality and pipes. The realm is the size of the container, such as a cup for the Black Iron Realm. When the cup is filled, one advances to the Bronze Realm.
However, overloading the pipes causes them to burst.
For three days, Li Mu trained relentlessly, feeling subtle changes within, though he couldn't pinpoint anything.
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Qingshan City, Lingwu High School
Groups of students gathered on the playground. Teachers kept order as senior students prepared for trials.
"Why are they so slow?" Li Mu muttered, stretching and scanning for his friends.
He spotted Liu Jinxin chatting nearby and approached.
"Hey, what's the hot topic here?" Li Mu asked, squeezing into the circle.
A bespectacled boy adjusted his glasses. "We're talking about an SSS-level talent at the awakening ceremony."
A boy with a bandaged arm chimed in, "Yeah! I heard about it! They ran off, though. No one knows who it is."
Li Mu smirked. "So, no concrete details, huh?"
Liu Jinxin grinned. "Come on, everyone knows it's Yang Shung."
"What?! Him?!" The bandaged boy exclaimed.
"Yeah, SSS-level talent and good looks to match," Liu Jinxin joked.
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Lingwu High School, Senior Office
Knock knock.
Yang Shung poked his head in. "Teacher Yao, you called?"
"Come in," Yao Xiao replied without looking up from grading papers.
Yang Shung entered, sitting across from her. "What's this about? Trials are starting soon."
Yao Xiao handed him a stack of documents.
Yang Shung skimmed through, eyes widening. "University admission letters?! All for me?!"
Yao Xiao smiled. "Yes, from the top universities in the East Region. They'll contact you soon to discuss their offers."
Yang Shung hesitated. "Why me?"
"SSS-level talent. No school would ignore you," Yao Xiao said. "Have you considered East Region War Zone University?"
Yang Shung frowned. "Isn't that the one with the highest casualty rate?"
"It is," Yao Xiao admitted. "But it's also the best for combat training. And... your parents had their reasons for wanting you to go there."
"My parents?" Yang Shung's expression hardened. "What do you mean?"
Yao Xiao sighed. "There are things you need to know. But for now, focus on the trials."
Yang Shung clenched his fists. "Alright. I'll think about it."
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