Tianwu High School
Ye Zi yawned in boredom, only to have a piece of chalk hit him squarely on the forehead.
"Ah!"
"Classmate Ye, falling asleep during the very first class of your senior year? Looks like you had to stay up late catching up on homework last night."
On the podium stood Teacher Du, whose sinister expression made the students uneasy.
"Teacher Du, school just started! I'm still adjusting. It won't happen again," Ye Zi replied lazily.
Teacher Du ignored his excuse and continued, "Let me remind you all: you are now in your senior year, just one year away from making the most critical decision of your lives.
This year, the minimum requirement for university admission is reaching the fifth level of body refining.
The competition will only get fiercer next year. To secure a spot at a top university, you'll need to reach at least the seventh level of body refining."
Ye Zi stared at Teacher Du as he droned on about the importance of hard work, but his mind was elsewhere.
Name: Ye Zi
Age: 17
Qualification: Top-tier, mortal grade
Realm: Fifth level of body refining
Equipment:
Low-grade mortal school uniform Mid-grade mortal iron sword
Techniques:
Basic Breathing Technique (11th edition, mid-grade mortal) Basic Boxing Technique (13th edition, low-grade mortal) Qingling Sword Technique (introductory, low-grade spiritual)
Skills: None
After 17 years in this world, Ye Zi thought, Has the benefit of my transmigration finally arrived?
Ye Zi had always carried a secret. He wasn't originally from this world.
When he first woke up in this body, it was at the gates of an orphanage. Fortunately, this world provided protections for newborns. Even orphans could attend school up to high school without paying a single coin. But after that, one's future depended entirely on personal ability.
When Ye Zi was just three years old, he saw the orphanage's director slap a raging bull into submission with a single hand.
From that moment, he knew this was no ordinary world.
As he grew older, Ye Zi learned more about this martial arts-driven society.
Here, martial arts flourished, and strength was paramount. Warriors were revered, while everything else was secondary.
The martial realms were divided into tiers: body refining (9 levels), qi and blood, unity, true martial arts, heaven and human, and more.
The qi and blood realm marked the dividing line. Most people remained stuck in the body refining stage for their entire lives. Breaking through the ninth level of body refining and advancing to the qi and blood realm was nearly impossible for ordinary individuals.
Ye Zi glanced at his stats again.
His top-tier mortal-grade qualifications were slightly better than the average person, and he had reached the fifth level of body refining. With a year left until graduation, he believed he could reach the seventh level by borrowing resources.
As for his techniques, they weren't particularly impressive. Most were standard-issue or rewards for good performance. His Qingling Sword Technique, for instance, was a prize for ranking in the top ten during his second-year final exams.
However, he had always preferred using his fists over swords, so he had spent most of his savings on a standard iron sword just to practice the technique.
He sighed. His progress wasn't bad, but it wasn't extraordinary either.
Just then, Ye Zi noticed something strange on his status panel.
Skill: Breathing (0/1, pre-entry)
What's this?
Ye Zi took a deep breath instinctively. The "0" on the panel shifted to a "1," and the skill updated:
Skill: Breathing (low-grade mortal, 0/10)
It upgraded?!
Suddenly, his mind cleared, and his body felt invigorated. It was as if he had just experienced a full-body massage. The sensation was so pleasant that he almost cried out in joy.
But this was the classroom, and drawing attention now would be suicidal.
Sitting in the back row by the window, Ye Zi quickly formed a plan.
He quietly opened the window and prepared to jump out. It was the first floor, and he had no desk mate to alert anyone.
Just as he climbed halfway out, he felt a sharp pain on the back of his head.
"Thud!"
He fell to the ground ungracefully, looking like a dog chewing on mud.
Teacher Du stood at the window, another piece of chalk in hand, smirking.
"Trying to escape while I'm talking, huh?"
The students in class burst into laughter.
Teacher Du shook his head but didn't seem too upset. He knew Ye Zi was one of the school's top students, both academically and in martial arts. With his current abilities, Ye Zi was guaranteed to get into a decent university.
"Alright, everyone, it's time for today's practical combat session," Teacher Du announced.
The room erupted into groans.
"Ugh, I'm only at the third level of body refining. I'm going to get wrecked."
"Why do we have combat drills every two days?!"
"Stop whining. Other classes don't even have enough space for combat. At least we get practice."
As the class shuffled toward the training grounds, Ye Zi, now safely out of sight, bolted toward the forest near the school.
Out of breath, Ye Zi collapsed onto the ground, exhausted from running while holding his breath to avoid detection.
After a few minutes of rest, he opened his status panel again.
Name: Ye Zi
Age: 17
Qualification: Top-tier, mortal grade
Realm: Fifth level of body refining
Equipment:
Low-grade mortal school uniform Mid-grade mortal iron sword
Techniques:
Basic Breathing Technique (11th edition, mid-grade mortal) Basic Boxing Technique (13th edition, low-grade mortal) Qingling Sword Technique (introductory, low-grade spiritual)
Skill: Breathing (mid-grade mortal, 72/100)
He grinned. This golden finger was finally going to change everything.