After their homeroom teacher, Wu Shangfeng, disappeared from the doorway, the entire Martial Arts Room fell into a brief, suffocating silence.
Everyone was still reeling from the immense shock of his final words.
Self-study.
No teacher supervision, no fixed class schedule—everything depended on self-discipline. To obtain more resources, they had to fight for grade points with sweat and strength.
This extreme law of the jungle was like a bucket of ice water, jolting all the freshmen who were still basking in the joy of being admitted to a top Martial Arts High School.
A moment later, the silence was broken.
The top students, led by Shi Potian, were the first to move.
They didn't exchange a single word. They simply stood up in silence, gathered their belongings, and walked straight out of the room. Their destination was clear: the school's Central Cultivation Hall.
Their actions were like a silent command.
The rest of the students quickly reacted. Some left in pairs or small groups, while others, like Qin Feng, left the room alone.
From that moment on, the cruel yet liberating life of self-study at Qiming First Martial Arts High School officially began.
...
「Evening, in the public cafeteria.」
Qin Feng, Shi Potian, and Qian Duoduo were sitting at their usual spot by the window. Each had picked up a standard D-class nutritional meal.
"This won't work. I have to make a plan."
Qian Duoduo put down his utensils. An unprecedentedly serious expression appeared on his round, chubby face.
He pulled up his personal data slate and started scribbling on it.
"My biggest flaw is my terrible self-discipline. If no one's watching over me, I could sleep in until noon."
He looked up at Qin Feng and Shi Potian, his eyes full of sincerity. "Brother Shi, Qin Feng, we're brothers from the same dorm. I have a proposal. From now on, let's follow a unified schedule, act together, and keep an eye on each other. What do you think?"
Shi Potian didn't say anything, merely glancing up at him in tacit agreement.
"Okay."
Qin Feng nodded.
"Great!" Qian Duoduo slammed his hand on the table excitedly and pushed his data slate in front of them. "Look, here's the preliminary plan I drafted."
On the light screen, a schedule, precise down to the minute, was clearly displayed.
[Dorm 402, Year 1 Class 3 Cultivation Pact (Draft)]
[Wake-up Time: 5:00 AM daily]
[Rest Time: 9:00 PM every night]
[Sleep Duration: Ensure 8 full hours of sleep. This is the golden time for bodily recovery and growth and cannot be shortened.]
[Cultivation Contents: Daily cultivation is divided into three major modules—Body Refining Technique, combat techniques, and meditation techniques.]
[Schedule:]
[5:00 AM - 11:00 AM (Morning): Public Martial Arts Room, practice the Imperial Body Refining Technique.]
[1:00 PM - 6:00 PM (Afternoon): Public Martial Arts Room, practice individual combat techniques.]
[7:00 PM - 8:30 PM (Evening): Public Martial Arts Room, second round of Imperial Body Refining Technique practice.]
[8:30 PM - 9:00 PM (Before Bed): In the dorm, practice the Emperor Meditation Technique.]
"So? What do you think?"
Qian Duoduo looked at them expectantly. "In the morning and evening, we focus on the Body Refining Technique. That's our foundation; it has to be solid. In the afternoon, we specialize in combat techniques until the skills are drilled into our very bones. Before bed, half an hour of Meditation to temper our Mental Power. I've factored in time for meals and breaks, too. Over the course of a day, aside from eight hours of sleep, every remaining moment is spent on cultivation!"
His plan was simple and brutal, yet exceptionally efficient.
It utilized every second of the day to the absolute fullest.
"I definitely couldn't stick to this on my own. But the moment I think about both of you going off to cultivate, I'd feel like a total loser if I didn't go. This way, I can force myself to keep up with you."
Qian Duoduo scratched his head, looking a little embarrassed.
"It's fine."
Shi Potian spoke this time. His voice was as cold as ever, but it carried an air of undeniable approval.
"I have no problem with it."
Qin Feng also agreed.
"Alright!"
Qian Duoduo pumped his fist. "Then it's settled! We'll supervise each other, push each other, work hard together, and improve together!"
After dinner, the three of them didn't return to the dorm. Instead, they followed the plan and went directly to the Central Cultivation Hall.
As they passed through the cafeteria, they each swiped their cards at a vending machine to collect a basic Spiritual Energy Potion, which was included in their D-class contract.
When they arrived at the public Martial Arts Room in the Central Cultivation Hall, many students were already there, cultivating so hard they were drenched in sweat.
The three didn't talk much, each finding an empty spot.
They twisted open the milky-white basic Spiritual Energy Potions and downed them in one gulp.
A vast and pure energy exploded within their bodies, providing ample fuel for the high-intensity training that was to follow.
Qin Feng sat down cross-legged and regulated his breathing.
He didn't immediately begin practicing the Body Refining Technique. First, he mentally reviewed the methods of the new version of the Imperial Body Refining Technique (Basic), which Wu Shangfeng had taught them that afternoon.
The new Body Refining Technique was largely similar to the foundational version in its movements, but its core—the pathways for circulating qi and blood and the details of force exertion—was far more refined.
He slowly rose to his feet and assumed the opening stance.
He exhaled slowly, then inhaled.
His movements were very slow. He strove to make every detail perfectly match the descriptions in the technique's diagrams.
Guided by his will, a current of qi and blood, more condensed than ever before, flowed slowly along the new meridian pathways.
His muscles, fascia, and bones began to hum with a subtle, pleasant vibration as they were washed over by this new stream of energy.
One repetition.
Two repetitions.
Three repetitions.
He was completely immersed in this state of ultimate control over his body.
Time slipped by quietly with the dripping of his sweat.
After he had practiced the new Body Refining Technique dozens of times, right as his body began to ache with that familiar soreness of approaching its limit, the panel deep within his consciousness finally showed a change.
[Imperial Foundational Body Refining Technique has been updated to Imperial Body Refining Technique (Basic). Proficiency is being transferred...]
[Transfer complete.]
[Imperial Body Refining Technique (Basic) Proficiency +1]
[Refinement Method: Imperial Body Refining Technique (Minor Accomplishment)]
[Proficiency: 16/1000]
The new Body Refining Technique integrated seamlessly with the old one, and the increase in proficiency was not affected in any way.
Qin Feng didn't stop.
Relying on the vast energy provided by the basic Spiritual Energy Potion, he continued to push his body to its limits in a second and then a third round of training.
When the electronic clock on the wall pointed to 8:30 PM, Qian Duoduo walked over, panting heavily, and flopped onto the floor.
"I... I can't go on. It's time. We should head back," he said, wiping the sweat from his forehead as he called out to Qin Feng and Shi Potian, who were still cultivating.
Shi Potian also slowly ceased his practice. His training uniform was completely soaked in sweat as well.
Qin Feng finished his last movement and stopped as well.
He glanced at his panel.
[Imperial Body Refining Technique (Basic) Proficiency +1]
[Refinement Method: Imperial Body Refining Technique (Minor Accomplishment)]
[Proficiency: 17/1000]
One evening of cultivation had increased his proficiency by two points.
The three of them left the Central Cultivation Hall together, dragging their exhausted bodies back to the dorm.
After returning to their own rooms and taking a shower, Qin Feng sat at his desk and activated the communication terminal on his wrist.
He initiated a video call with his father, Qin Dahai.
The light screen flickered to life, and his father's familiar, concerned face appeared.
"Dad."
"Mm, are you all settled in?"
Qin Dahai asked.
"Everything's fine."
Qin Feng nodded and briefly told his father about what he had seen at school, including the class system based on level, the importance of grade points, and the brutal self-study model.
Qin Dahai listened quietly, his expression showing no surprise.
"Qi Yi High School has always been like this. It's only responsible for providing the platform. How high you can climb is entirely up to you."
He looked at his son, his gaze serene. "The path is difficult, but it's one that all who would become strong must walk. Don't be afraid. Go all out."
"I know, Dad. You need to take care of yourself too. Don't work yourself to exhaustion, especially with your injury. Students can't bring outside resources into Qi Yi High School anyway, so use the money you earn to see a doctor. Just look after your health."
"Don't worry."
The father and son chatted a bit more about everyday things before ending the call.
Afterwards, Qin Feng called his uncle, Wang Ming, to let him know he was doing fine.
By the time he was done with all this, the clock on the wall already pointed to 8:30.
There was still half an hour until rest time at nine.
This was the time allotted in the schedule for the Emperor Meditation Technique.
Qin Feng turned off the lights in his room, sat cross-legged on his bed, and closed his eyes.
He once again began to visualize the figure of that magnificent Emperor clad in golden Battle Armor.
This time, with the experience he'd gained during the day, he was able to construct the image much faster.
That supreme majesty, which seemed to reign over the entire Cosmos, once again descended upon his Spiritual World.
He guarded his mind, immersing himself in this spiritual tempering as he resisted the immense pressure brought by that majestic aura.
Time passed, minute by minute, second by second.
Half an hour later, when he emerged from his meditative state, his mind felt drained, as if he had just engaged in intense mental labor.
He pulled up his panel.
[Emperor Meditation Technique (Uninitiated)]
[Proficiency: 0/10]
The proficiency hadn't changed at all.
Qin Feng wasn't surprised by this.
Cultivating Mental Power was inherently more difficult and abstruse than tempering the physical body; it was impossible to achieve success overnight.
He lay down on his bed and closed his eyes.
The exhaustion of his body and mind intertwined, and soon, he fell into a deep sleep.