Stepping through that door led into an enormous martial arts arena,
where several burly men were pummeling and kicking sandbags in front of them, drenched in sweat. Every one of them emanated a sense of strength; their punching motions were crisp and efficient, aiming to deliver the strongest force with the simplest movements.
As he walked forward, the noisy sounds gradually faded, replaced by a few people sitting quietly on prayer mats.
Each of them wore something akin to VR glasses on their heads, their expressions twisted in agony as if facing something terrifying.
The feeling they exuded was remarkably familiar to Su Tu; they were... engaging in Dao cultivation.
"Dao cultivation is indeed related to Martial Arts Dao!" Su Tu thought secretly, having always been puzzled by this skill; today, he finally managed to unravel it.
"My name is Li Hu, I'm in my thirties. If you'd like, you can just call me Brother Hu." Li Hu's voice was hearty, accompanied by an undercurrent like rolling thunder.
"Brother Hu," Su Tu addressed him aloud.
"Hahahaha, good, Su, my friend, I wonder what your relationship with Mr. Lin is?"
"The master only issued three Red Seals on Ancestor Star. Since Mr. Lin gave you one, your relationship must be special." Li Hu spoke straightforwardly.
Ordinary people might probe indirectly when speculating about these things, but Li Hu questioned directly, his words curious yet devoid of other emotions, as if asking purely out of curiosity.
Upon hearing this, Su Tu realized that the card Lin Feiyang 'accidentally' dropped was unexpectedly valuable.
"If the Mr. Lin you're referring to is Lin Feiyang, then he is my teacher," Su Tu answered truthfully.
"You mean to say a physical education teacher isn't a teacher?"
"Hahahahaha, lucky you, Brother Su, having Mr. Lin as your teacher is..." Li Hu spoke cheerfully.
But his words were cut off by a loud, authoritative voice.
"It's your misfortune."
The sound was so commanding that it hushed the whole Dao Field, as if awaiting something.
Upon hearing this, Su Tu looked up, only to see that they had walked into a room at the back of the Martial Arts Hall, where a large character 'Seven' was engraved on the white wall.
An old man of slender build sat in a master's chair; he wore simple sportswear, his hair was a head full of silver, his beard disheveled. His frame was bony and daunting, with black eyes that seemed to be burning with fierce fire.
"Lin Feiyang, that troublemaker, has worn out New Star. Now he's coming to stir up Ancestor Star. You being favored by him is your misfortune."
The old man spoke, but the voice didn't come from his mouth; instead, it exploded directly in Su Tu's ear.
"I am Zhou Wuliang, the master of Tayue Martial Arts Hall. Do you know what it represents that you've brought this Red Seal here?"
Upon hearing this, Su Tu's eyes quivered slightly. At first, he thought this Martial Arts Hall was akin to a boxing gym or fitness center, but it seemed not so simple now.
"I don't know..." Su Tu answered honestly.
Zhou Wuliang showed an expression as if he had expected as much upon hearing this.
"Since you have been favored by Lin Feiyang, you should know about the Martial Arts Dao being included in the college entrance examination, right?"
"I have some speculations in my heart."
After the conversation with Wang Sheng earlier, Su Tu had pieced together the general idea regarding the Martial Arts Dao being included in the college entrance examination. Martial Arts Dao was inherently extraordinary, but ordinary people could hardly access it; only a small segment mastered the methods of cultivation.
The Federation had always blocked Blue Star from accessing cultivation, but this year, for some reason, they suddenly decided to popularize Martial Arts Dao, include it in the college entrance examination, and offer extremely generous rewards.
And just like Wang Sheng said, the main participants in this Martial Arts exam would be that small segment, while ordinary people like Su Tu could only be spectators.
"A transformation in Ancestor Star is imminent. In three days, the Federation will announce the inclusion of Martial Arts Dao in the college entrance examination."
"For the first martial arts exam, only ten candidates from each city will be selected, and they will become the first batch of martial artists in Ancestor Star, enjoying the Federation's top-level resource support to stimulate the Martial Arts Dao craze in Ancestor Star."
"My purpose in coming to Ancestor Star is to train candidates capable of being selected, though the stakes I'm unable to disclose to you.
My lucky number is seven; I only take seven disciples for the martial arts exam on Blue Star. I stated earlier that those who bear the Red Seal can enter my sect directly.
And now you've come with the Red Seal. You are my last student on Blue Star."
"In the next three months, I will fully cultivate you to become one of the ten in North Sea!"
Zhou Wuliang picked up a teapot on the table, drank silently, his eyes fixated on Su Tu.
Su Tu was stunned upon hearing this sentence.
Never mind the inexplicable lucky number; is that how easily he accepts me as his last disciple?
From his earlier exchanges with Wang Sheng, he knew this old man before him came from beyond Ancestor Star, and his identity was extremely prominent.
The descendants of the aristocratic families that could access Martial Arts Dao on Ancestor Star must hail from eminent backgrounds, and they were all waiting quietly outside the door, which already spoke volumes.
Yet now, he himself had smoothly become the old man's student. According to those novels and movies he'd read in his previous life, shouldn't he experience numerous trials, come across a few fools to overcome before he could become the disciple?
Despite the myriad surges in his heart, Su Tu knew the opportunity before him was an unparalleled chance.
With reform imminent and the martial arts exam approaching, he originally believed that with the system panel, he could still score well even with Martial Arts Dao added to the exam.
But after experiencing everything, he realized martial arts and this world were far from simple.
In some people's eyes, ordinary people didn't even have the chance to go on stage.
Yet Su Tu was unwilling; having witnessed the fascinating side of this world, how could he resign to be ordinary?
Zhou Wuliang before him was the best avenue for him to engage with Martial Arts Dao.
"Student Su Tu greets Teacher," Su Tu spoke earnestly.
"Not bad, the seventh student, my lucky number indeed is seven, I have high hopes for you!" Zhou Wuliang took another sip of tea.
Zhou Wuliang set down the teacup in his hand and said, "Ancestor Star was sealed from Martial Arts Dao for some reasons, and your heart must now be filled with questions. Feel free to ask, and I will clarify them for you."
"What is Martial Arts Dao?" Su Tu pondered thoroughly before asking.
"Martial Arts Dao is divided into Mind-Body Techniques, which involve honing the body with Basic Skill, tempering the heart and spirit with Dao cultivation, and excelling in Martial Arts. The combination of these three is Martial Arts Dao."
Zhou Wuliang sipped tea once more; Su Tu observed that his teacher seemingly had an obsession with the number seven, as he had sipped tea seven times during their short exchange.
"Of course, that's the official explanation."
Then, he continued immediately, his tone changing:
"In my eyes, to draw upon the Heaven and Earth Qi, to forge an indestructible body, to cultivate a boundless heart that is eternal and indestructible - a master of Martial Arts Dao can step into the cosmos, crush stars with a punch, immune to the ravages of time, live for millions of years, witness all beings across all realms, walk on the Other Shore, and behold the Venerable Gods and Immortals. This is the true Martial Arts Dao!!"
Zhou Wuliang's voice was akin to the roaring sound of thunder, and at the conclusion of his words, void-like thunder seemed to descend, illuminating the old man as if he were... a divine entity!!!