'Less than 100 strength and 0.8 blood qi basically secures your path as a berserker? Yet that's a bad fate, and everyone is trying to avoid?'
Shen was in a terrible mood as he left the classroom with a gloomy face.
From the professor's explanation, he got a brief understanding of his situation, and from it he knew that this world aluthough so advanced in all paths, the berserker path was on the lowest end of that advancement.
— — —
After school later that day, Shen lethargically walked out of school carrying his bag.
At that moment, someone came from behind, calling his name, and blocked his path.
"Shen, how about becoming friends?"
It was the handsome man sitting in the first row in the classroom earlier.
His name was Joshua, and he could be considered the top student in the classroom.
Shen raised an eyebrow at such a sudden request.
Joshua noticed the reaction and quickly waved his hands, interrupting his chain of thoughts," This isn't what you're thinking. I just liked your guts and cool behavior earlier, such a personality is bound to shine later on if your path is great, hence I decided to befriend you."
'This kid, he has a keen eye for things,' Musing secretly, he couldn't help but inquire, the corners of his lips fainly rising." About Anna? You not afraid of becoming her enemy by being my friend?"
Gibert pulled him away from class and gave him a few warnings towards that girl so Shen could know how to act around her, hence he got a general idea of the situation.
As for why he was entertaining this kid so far?
Laughable...
Information is key!
Hearing Shen's remark about Anna, the kid couldn't help but grab his stomach and burst out laughing, his actions attracting many weird gazes towards him.
After several seconds, Joshua wiped the tears off the corners of his eyes and spoke in a rather serious tone," I don't know your situation but it doesn't seem like you know much." After saying so, he pointed at several cameras on the street, on top of the academy walls and several other spots.
"Oh so you mean..."
Before Shen could finish his words, Joshua cut in, affirming with a nod," Indeed, the Empress of Wisdom has ensured the safety of the students from all dangers, and even safety in the streets and whatnot. Anna might hate you, but do you think she will target you? Of course not."
"Although dangers still exist, pulling out attacks on other people, especially students in the city, is nigh-impossible without consequences."
"Killing, I believe?"
Joshua was rather shocked as his eyes widened, but he then quickly regained his composure and cleared his throat before continuing," Cough... you right, killing is the thing forbidden, but fighting in reality isn't that restricted to the same degree. After all, the new generation can't be so soft or else humanity will lose the galaxies under its control."
Shen could figure this much, or else he would have been instantly caught that day by the Empress of Justice for hitting the fat kid. Still, getting to know the guy a bit, he strode off as he waved his hand at him.
"Let's meet another time...friend."
Starting at Shen's back, Joshua smiled.
'Seems like I found the third member of my team.'
***
Shen closed the door to his hotel room and let out a little sigh of relief.
Only in this small room, which belonged to him alone, did he feel at ease and could focus on his situation even further.
'This is rather complicated...'
The room was small, with a single bed and a desk in the corner.
In the center was a black yoga mat, surrounded by dumbbells, grip strengtheners, sandbags, and other workout equipment.
This was Shen's martial arts practice and restroom, which he requested from the hotel.
Shen put down his school bag, took off his uniform, and then sat down on the yoga mat.
The reason he returned immediately after school was, in fact, before he figured out that not only was his martial arts sealed, but his cutliuvation base was also gone!
This issue was extremely serious and needed to be addressed immediately...so it could be controlled.
After calming himself down, Shen took a deep breath and silentlyspoke.
"System, what kind of bullshit is this? Why did my cultivation base vanish?"
Indeed!
His cultivation wasn't just sealed, but outright vanished into thin air.
This is why he never reacted this way till now. At first, he thought that it was rather sealed since he used a bit of spiritual qi back on the fat kid, but after the teacher Gibert spoke about the berserker path and blood qi and whatnot, he checked his cultivation base.
Only to find it gone!
"Host, it isn't my issue that you are not listening. I clearly stated a thousand years ago that whatever cultivation base you finish with isn't gonna be there once you go back to earth eventually. Only martial arts techniques are your own; the rest cannot be transferred over."
"It was a practice session at the end of the day..."
The system's casual words made Shen feel angrier than he initially was, and several drops of blood could be seen trailing off his palm as his fingernails dug deeper into it.
Sigh...
Shaking his head, Shen calmed down,' It's indeed my mistake, I totally forgot about that point. Well, anyway, I'll cultivate once again then.'
He sat cross-legged on top of the yoga mat, the setting sun's last rays of light spilling over his window into his face.
His breathing slowed.
Shen's heart pounded with excitement; he also felt slightly nervous. He was afraid that he would not be able to cultivate successfully.
The first step was always the most dangerous, although he done it before, that slight bit of fear still hit him.
He was, after all, a human being.
Closing his eyes, he envisioned the contents of his cultivation technique in front of him as he recited it slowly under his breath.
"The martial arts path is endless, but the beginning of cultivation is nothing more than refining the skin, refining the bone, refining the meridians…"
'Berserker path is frowned upon? Martial arts are useless, and its path isn't even halfway complete?' Shen thought, a small laughter escaping through his lips.
He-he-he
Truly, they don't know what true martial arts are...as Arnold always used to say.