Swordsmanship Club, Martial Arts Arena.
The new students were diligently practicing the first stance of the "Six Military Techniques", occasionally getting corrected by Xu Lan for their lack of precision.
Some among them learned quickly, while others, despite repeated corrections, made slow progress.
This clearly showed that while good cultivation techniques are necessary for martial arts, the results vary drastically depending on the individual practicing them.
It's like studying mathematics; some can become mathematicians through self-study with just textbooks, while others, despite all efforts, remain unenlightened, highlighting personal aptitude and talent differences.
Besides, to quickly get started in Martial Arts, guidance from a renowned teacher is essential.
This is why students at First High School strive to join the four major clubs at the Fighting Center, as only these clubs have professional-level Martial Artists serving as guiding instructors.
An average student would find it hard to adjust their force exertion posture and breathing rhythm without the guidance from a professional-level Martial Artist.
As for the large class-style guidance in physical education with 200 students, it certainly can't compare to the learning outcomes from this kind of small-group instruction.
Of course, wealthy people mostly hire private tutors, and the one-on-one teaching effect is obviously the best but also the most expensive, which ordinary people can't afford.
Fortunately, Ye Qingzhou doesn't need any famous teacher because he himself is a Martial Arts Grandmaster; no one knows better than him how to cultivate martial arts.
While other students gathered around Xu Lan, constantly consulting her on various cultivation issues, Ye Qingzhou had already found a corner to ponder over the cultivation techniques he obtained.
He didn't rush directly into practice but instead performed various strange movements, constantly testing and adjusting his posture to find the most suitable body movement and breathing rhythm for himself, avoiding rigid practice according to standard movements.
After all, standard movements are only most suitable for the majority, and since everyone has different physical constitutions, Ye Qingzhou needed to individually determine how to adjust the standard stances to better fit his posture, for which he had plenty of patience.
However, Ye Qingzhou's actions looked quite awkward to others around him, as if he was fooling around.
Especially for those like Zheng Zigang, who already had a dislike for Ye Qingzhou, this felt like he was just showing off, drawing mocking and scornful looks from them.
Nonetheless, Ye Qingzhou couldn't care less about the opinions of these trivial characters.
At this moment, Ye Qingzhou was completely immersed in his practice; he had already found the posture best suited for himself and began formally practicing the first stance of the "Six Military Techniques".
Swift like the wind!
Ye Qingzhou's figure moved gracefully, delivering a punch that stirred up gusts of wind, sweeping across the entire Martial Arts Arena, causing some girls wearing skirts to scream.
This punch was different from Ye Qingzhou's previous "expensive strike"; it not only gathered his body's strength but also mobilized the Primordial Qi inside him, using the Wind's Inner Breath to cause changes in the surrounding airflow, increasing its power!
Zheng Zigang and others, who had been dismissive of Ye Qingzhou, were almost blown away in surprise: "Fist force creates wind, Qi shakes the eight directions? This is the sign of reaching the entry-level of Wind Force!"
Tian Hongling was also astounded: "He took less than three minutes to accomplish this?"
"I don't believe it!"
Zheng Zigang clenched his fists tightly, his molars nearly grinding to dust.
In the martial arts techniques of Blue Star, from low to high, the levels are Entry Level, Skilled, Mastery, Great Success, Perfection, and finally, Mastery.
Zheng Zigang had trained for a full six months just to reach Entry Level for the Wind Force in the "Six Military Techniques," and till now he barely approached the Skilled level, despite his diligent practice day and night.
Yet Ye Qingzhou took only three minutes to enter Entry Level; this time isn't even enough to heat a meal in the microwave. How could it be so incredible?
No matter what, Zheng Zigang couldn't accept it: "He must have secretly practiced beforehand, otherwise, entering Entry Level in three minutes is a joke. Does he think he's Zhang Xinwu?"
Tian Hongling didn't speak; she also found it rather unreasonable for Ye Qingzhou to reach Entry Level in just three minutes, but she wasn't as upset as Zheng Zigang.
At this time, Xu Lan stopped guiding the other students and quickly approached Ye Qingzhou, calling him into the office.
Across the tea table, Xu Lan couldn't help but marvel as she looked at Ye Qingzhou: "You've already mastered the Wind Force?"
Ye Qingzhou wasn't particularly happy about it, instead, he frowned and said: "Just now, my body's Primordial Qi was completely drained; what happened?"
Xu Lan smiled at his words and said: "You just had your first Martial Meal today; how much Primordial Qi could 200 grams of farm-raised Iron Feather Chicken provide? I even think you're incredibly gifted, managing to achieve entry-level Wind Force with so little Qi. Even Extreme Heaven Madness Zhang Xinwu might not have been as capable at your age."
"Who's Zhang Xinwu?"
"He's a taboo figure in the Martial Arts world of Dongji Kingdom, rumored to have martial aptitude far surpassing Chairman Qi, the so-called Nine Dragons Boxing Saint, but with an arrogant, dismissive personality—an extremely formidable martial artist."
Mentioning this person made Xu Lan's face show a look of trepidation, clearly unwilling to elaborate further, suggesting Zhang Xinwu's unusual status.
Ye Qingzhou also didn't bother asking further; he was more interested in how to enhance his cultivation and foundation: "Teacher Xu, how do you absorb Primordial Qi?"
Xu Lan explained patiently: "Although the concentration of Primordial Qi on Blue Star has been steadily increasing since the Grotto Heaven Secret Realm was discovered, it remains too scarce; it's difficult to obtain through normal breathing. The most efficient way is to consume the meat of rare birds and beasts or consume Immortal Ganoderma, exotic flowers, and fruits from Grotto Heaven."
As for the free lunch provided only at noon each day, it obviously couldn't meet Ye Qingzhou's training consumption: "So, Teacher Xu, when are you going to start supporting me? I can hardly wait."
"..."
Xu Lan glared at Ye Qingzhou with irritation: "Who's going to support you? I'm struggling to support myself! If you want to eat Martial Meals, you'll have to work for it yourself. Coincidentally, three days from now is the weekly seat battle; as long as you make it to the top five, hold a seat, and the Sword Dao Club will provide you with free Martial Meals."
"Three days? I don't want to wait a second longer."
Just now, Ye Qingzhou was on the verge of breaking through; if not for his depleted Primordial Qi, he might have advanced to Great Success in one go, not just reaching entry-level Wind Force.
"Teacher Xu, can't we get some benefits in advance?"
"You really are impatient; fine, I'll reluctantly agree. But mark my words, if you don't get into the top five in three days' seat battle, you'll see how I deal with you."
"Top five?"
Ye Qingzhou looked at Xu Lan in confusion: "Why can't I take the top spot?"
Xu Lan was speechless: "Top spot? Can you beat Lu Yifan?"
Ye Qingzhou blinked in confusion: "Is he really strong? I didn't notice."
For Ye Qingzhou, defeating Lu Yifan was as easy as could be, not presenting any real challenge.
While Lu Yifan, as the Swordsmanship Club's top member and one of First High School's "Sword, Saber, Fist, Palm, Leg" Five Celestial Kings, was indeed formidable.
But that was only relative to an average high school student; for Ye Qingzhou, he was just average.