"Ruthless? Hehe, when did Teacher Li become so principled? If a martial artist isn't ruthless, what kind of martial artist are they? Did Teacher Li talk about rules and reason with beasts on the battlefield?" Teacher Chen spoke with disdain. He then chuckled, his gaze and attitude exuding a deep sense of contempt and mockery.
Teacher Chen seemed oblivious and continued, "No wonder Teacher Li retreated from the front line in disgrace, realizing that talking reason with beasts was impossible."
"Chen Jun!" Teacher Li roared immediately, his gaze fierce, "Zhao Xu's brother Zhao Hao is a newly minted level 1 Warrior."
Chen Jun was Wang Zhan's class teacher and also Wang Qi's former teacher. At this moment, he was arrogantly saying, "Haha! So what if he's a level 1 Warrior? My injuries were all fought for on the battlefield. Martial artists dare to compete! Martial artists must compete! Otherwise, why would we be in the current situation? The motto 'humans will never be enslaved' would be just a slogan. According to what you mean, Li Cheng, no one should participate in martial arts competitions anymore. Just show off your backgrounds, right?"
"Enough!" Principal Cao frowned and spoke, "Stop arguing. There's no problem with this competition. All's fair in war; it's better for Zhao Xu to suffer now than die on the battlefield later. If Zhao Hao has any opinions, let him come to me. I want to see whether a dignified level 1 Warrior is so lacking in knowledge!"
Li Cheng's face was livid, he moved his lips a few times, but ultimately said nothing more.
...
Below the arena, Zhao Xu was already standing up. But his body's trembling was enough to show his poor condition, and his arm was somewhat twisted, evidently already fractured. Such a critical moment with a fracture meant he couldn't participate in the upcoming College Entrance Examination.
That would leave only the path of the Martial Arts School. But the Martial Arts School, whether in terms of resources or strength, couldn't compare with the Federation-supported Martial Arts Academy.
"Good! Very good, Wang Zhan, you're remarkable. I'll remember you." Zhao Xu said through gritted teeth, enduring the pain.
His brother has become a Warrior, yet his bright future has been destroyed. He has recorded this grudge. Retaking the exam wasn't impossible, but a step behind could mean falling behind completely. Zhao Xu heard his brother say that reaching the stages of Warrior and Martial Master wasn't something that could be improved just by following the steps. It required time, opportunity, and resources. Rumor has it there was a Grandmaster who died with regret due to being a year off. This year may seem insignificant now, but in the future, it could be crucial.
"Good to remember. Honestly, pay the wager first." Wang Zhan said with a grin. He had offended people before without consequence; now, with the System as protection, Wang Zhan feared even less. So what if Zhao Hao was a Warrior? What's it worth!
"What? Do you think you can welch on Boss Wang's wager?" Wang Zhan's face immediately darkened. This wasn't blackmailing Zhao Xu for effect. Wang Zhan was serious. His sister's words had put him under great pressure. He had a big plan for that 100,000 yuan; otherwise, he wouldn't have bothered planting a trap for Zhao Xu.
"Boss, isn't the answer obvious?" Suddenly, Lin Qiang came over, fawning with a sycophantic smile, "He's just bragging, after all. 100,000 yuan..."
Zhao Xu suddenly became furious, "Lin Qiang!"
The murderous look, in addition to the pose, was somewhat terrifying; Lin Qiang shivered slightly, recalling something, "What... what's your problem? Lin Qiang wasn't scared into submission. You dare touch me? My boss is right here!"
Seeing Lin Qiang like this made Wang Zhan speechless; he patted Lin Qiang on the shoulder, "Don't say I'm your boss anymore; I can't afford that embarrassment. Using the most cowardly pose to say the harshest words?"
"Stop wasting time. As the brother of a dignified Warrior, is this all the grace you have?" Wang Zhan said slowly with a hint of a smile, "Forget it, I'll just go find your brother. If it really doesn't work, I'll have to apply for arbitration to the Federal Martial Arts Court."
Zhao Xu certainly didn't want to pay. With the College Entrance Examination approaching, even though his brother Zhao Hao was now a Warrior, 100,000 yuan wasn't a small number. This money was meant for buying Essence Pills for cultivation. A martial artist's cultivation extremely required resources. Why were noble families' offspring and Grandmaster descendants always a step ahead? Most importantly, others had resources. The saying "wealthy in literature, poor in martial arts" was a truth that had persisted for thousands of years. Without money, learning martial arts was impossible.
But now, with Wang Zhan saying this, he dared not refuse. Martial artists could not be humiliated, let alone when his brother was a Warrior. If word got out that Zhao Hao's brother lost a match and didn't acknowledge it, it wouldn't just affect him; Zhao Hao would be embarrassed too.
"Hmph, isn't it just 100,000 yuan? It's just a little money. I'll transfer it to you!" Zhao Xu snorted coldly, feigning disdain.
"Ding!"
With the alert sounding, Wang Zhan's face lit up with a smile. Looking at Zhao Xu now was much more pleasing; Wang Zhan laughed heartily, "Received, Mr. Zhao is so generous. Don't be so lavish in the future; it's not easy for anyone."
While speaking, Wang Zhan turned away directly, simultaneously checking the attribute screen in his mind.
Host: Wang Zhan
Strength: 100
Agility: 100
Physique: 100
Charm: 23
Wisdom: 9
Everything else remained the same; Wisdom was unbearable to look at. But only two points of Charm were added—what's the meaning of that? 1,000 yuan could increase one point of Charm; theoretical projection with 100,000 yuan should result in 100 points of Charm, right? If exceeding 100 points like the three main attributes were capped, that'd be acceptable. But just two points of Charm was hard to accept.
"System! Won't you come out and explain?"
Unfortunately, it was utterly useless. The System didn't want to pay any attention to Wang Zhan.
"Seems like having money can indeed increase Charm. They say money can bolster courage." Wang Zhan had a vague suspicion in his heart. Factors like money, status, and power could increase Charm. But a strong fundamental base was still necessary for Charm to truly skyrocket. Although he couldn't see others' Charm attributes, Wang Zhan felt he should be sweeping aside these useless people. Otherwise, why would Yao Yao only bring breakfast to him?
...
On the rooftop of Eight Buildings Street, beneath the hazy misty night sky, Wang Zhan sat once again in his usual spot. Beside him were a cultivation guide and an Essence Pill!
The cultivation guide doesn't require money, mainly because Essence Pills are expensive. In fact, the cultivation guide doesn't cost anything, once admitted to the Martial Arts Academy, it's freely distributed.
However, there will always be some people who don't get into the Martial Arts Academy, yet still dream of practicing martial arts. Those who want the cultivation guide can only purchase it from various Martial Arts Schools.
With Wang Zhan's current strength, he actually only needs to wait a bit longer to get them for free. But Wang Zhan doesn't want to wait. He has a bad premonition. His elder sister might be in trouble.
He is quite clear about Wang Qi's personality, audacious enough to fight with a group of men wielding a wooden stick as a teenager, nor would she utter a sound even if beaten black and blue. This time, however, she is so serious. He needs to do something, he has to do something. Unfortunately, Wang Zhan is just a student now; even fetching news would have him ignored. Thus, he must become stronger, rapidly stronger! And the cultivation guide is essential for breaking through the Martial Student Realm.
...
The entire afternoon, Wang Zhan memorized the whole cultivation guide in his mind.
A not-so-large booklet, ordinary in its making, considering it's merely a basic cultivation method and a widespread textbook, already quite decent.
It begins with a preface, from the introduction of the Federation Martial League to human survival, carrying a sense of parting for death.
The second page features only two sentences: Martial Artist must contest! Humanity will never be enslaved!
He somewhat understands Martial Artist must contest. But Humanity will never be enslaved is perplexing against those mindless beasts in the wild? He feels humanity hides some huge secret, he simply isn't qualified to know yet.
Following is the real cultivation content—anatomical diagrams of human meridians, acupoints, bones, and muscles cover an entire page. The diagrams are remarkably detailed and precise.
This integrates the essence of ancient traditional martial arts culture, combined with high-tech means to create a convergence. This tiny booklet embodies the wisdom of countless predecessors and ancestors.
Martial arts, scientifically speaking, is merely evolving humans through particular methods and training.
A Martial Student possesses nearly a thousand kilograms of force, Martial Artist even more than three tons, further up it becomes terrifying. Upon reaching the Grandmaster Realm, Walking in the Sky becomes possible. It defies scientific theory, yet it's incredibly real. The human body is so fragile, how can it contain such vast power?
For example, the palm or fingers of a human body are actually quite delicate. But through training and cultivation, mastery of Eagle Claw Technique, Iron Sand Palm, etc., allows bare-handed smashing of bricks, hammering nails, and so forth. This is indeed a form of cultivation.
The cultivation guide is thus, using specific methods to temper the body to strengthen skin, muscles, fasciae, bones.
Simply put, if an ordinary person possesses several tons of strength, but still has ordinary muscles, bones, ligaments, etc., they cannot display that strength, as the body cannot withstand it.
The skull is generally the hardest bone in the human body, but it also has the greatest tolerance limit, through cultivation it can improve that limit, withstand bullets, even block any attack.
Having read the entire text, Wang Zhan remains in a state of half-understanding: Alas! With a sigh, Wang Zhan somewhat comprehends his Wisdom, indeed too low. Even the most basic concepts are difficult to grasp.
Yet Wang Zhan does grasp the general idea. The human body as a whole is like a bottle, and strength, speed, Physique are all related to Essence Energy. Damaging the foundation, consuming Essence Energy refers to this.
An ordinary lean person cannot be as strong as a fatty of the same height; why are powerlifters so muscular? Scientifically it's due to strong muscles, but essentially a fatty certainly has more Essence Energy than a lean person.
Cultivation compresses Essence Energy, the difference between one percent alcohol and one hundred percent alcohol inside a bottle is immense. Further compression risks breaking the bottle, and cultivation is ensuring the bottle is sturdier, the concentration higher.
This is Wang Zhan's understanding of cultivation. Realizing this, Wang Zhan feels a bit unsure. Is this understanding perhaps flawed? Given his Wisdom, Wang Zhan can't muster confidence.
He glances at the attribute panel.
Host: Wang Zhan
Strength: 100
Agility: 100
Physique: 100
Charm: 23
Wisdom: 9
To train or not to train? That's the question! Whatever! Whether to train or not, let's try the Essence Pills first.
Thinking this, Wang Zhan pulled out a small bottle. Almost like some oral liquid, yet called Essence Pills. Wang Zhan found it a bit unbelievable. Essence Oral Liquid seems more appropriate.
The azure liquid turns in the bottle, flowing slowly, feeling somewhat viscous. Wondering whether drinking it would relieve lumbar pain or leg aches, ascend sixty steps without a pause.
Upon drinking, a searing heat explodes within, Wang Zhan barely has time to ponder when he sees the attribute panel change, Strength +1, Agility +1, Physique +1, Charm +1, Wisdom +1.
Simultaneously, Wang Zhan feels the flow of energy inside, is this… has he reached the Martial Student Realm?