Chapter 4: Enemies Meet on a Narrow Path
At 2:30 PM, Xu Chao arrived at the 'Dojo of Limits'.
Everyone wants to be a martial artist in this era, so the martial arts gym business is booming; there are at least three gyms on this single street.
Many people were exercising near various equipment in the gym, creating a bustling scene.
Most were students, with high schoolers being particularly numerous.
Today was the weekend with no classes, so many people chose to come here to train, everyone hoping to awaken a Supernatural Ability before the college entrance exam to get into a Martial Arts College.
However, those who can awaken a Supernatural Ability are only a small minority; most people here are destined to be just background noise.
But in recent years, it's said that gene potions have appeared on the market, which can help humans unlock their genetic locks and start the path of a martial artist.
But they are extremely rare and very expensive; some people can't even find a way to buy them even if they have the money.
Additionally, martial artists who take gene potions are generally weaker than Awakeners of the same rank, and they need to take a corresponding rank of gene potion for every breakthrough... Xu Chao quickly found the gym manager Wang Meng and handed over two cartons of cigarettes he had bought on the way.
Land inside the city is scarce now, and much of it must be used for growing food.
The material for cigarettes has been replaced by 'Fragrant Leaf Grass', a relatively common mutated plant in the Wilderness Zone.
People have been collecting and purchasing it for a long time, forming an industrial chain.
This stuff wasn't cheap; it cost him 800 yuan.
"Brother Wang, I won't be able to come as a sparring partner anymore. I came to let you know; this is a small token of my appreciation!"
"I'm still grateful that you agreed to keep me on back then and helped me get through a difficult time."
Wang Meng looked bewildered.
"Wait, what do you mean? Did you strike it rich?"
"Take it back, don't waste your money. It's not like I don't know your family situation."
As he spoke, he pushed the cigarettes back.
Xu Chao looked at him and said in a serious tone.
"Brother Wang, I've awakened. I believe I'll be able to solve my family's problems from now on."
"What did you say? You're not kidding me, are you!"
Wang Meng had a look of disbelief.
It was no wonder he was surprised; although awakening is possible until age 30, it becomes increasingly difficult the later it gets.
It was hard to believe Xu Chao had actually become such a lucky person.
After a while, he finally accepted the fact.
"So, what are your plans next?"
"I plan to focus on cultivating and improving my strength, so I won't have time to come to the gym. I came specifically to tell you."
"I might head to the Wilderness Zone in a while."
Xu Chao said sincerely.
"Alright, be careful in the Wilderness Zone."
"I know, Brother Wang."
Since he was already there, Xu Chao still completed his last sparring session at the gym.
For him, who was already a martial artist, it was very easy.
What made Xu Chao not know whether to laugh or cry was that after Wang Meng told a group of students about how he had persisted in training until his junior year of college and finally awakened a Supernatural Ability, it triggered a wave of gasps and envy.
After hearing it, they all trained like they were on steroids!
...Once he finished his business, Xu Chao returned to the Xinghai Institute of Technology located in District 20.
He didn't go back to the dormitory first, but ate something at the cafeteria and took out the 'Shadow Stab' Elementary Martial Skill he had bought for 150,000 in a corner.
He wanted to verify a theory!
As Xu Chao carefully finished reading the entire martial skill, he looked at the panel in his mind:
[Name]: Xu Chao
[Rank]: First-Rank Martial Artist
[Supernatural Ability]: E-Grade Shadow Evasion
[constitution]: 12 (+)
[Spiritual Power]: 11
[source points]: 35
[Martial Skill]: Elementary Martial Skill Shadow Stab Not Yet Learned (+)
Sure enough, martial skills could also be improved on the panel.
Xu Chao chose to upgrade without hesitation. He spent 10 source points, and the Elementary Martial Skill 'Shadow Stab' was upgraded to entry-level. He couldn't upgrade further after that, likely due to insufficient source points.
He had no choice but to use all the remaining source points to increase his constitution.
[Name]: Xu Chao
[Rank]: First-Rank Martial Artist
[Supernatural Ability]: E-Grade Shadow Evasion
[constitution]: 14
[Spiritual Power]: 11
[source points]: 5
[Martial Skill]: Elementary Martial Skill Shadow Stab entry-level
Looking at the few remaining source points on the panel, Xu Chao secretly made up his mind that he had to find a way to kill more monsters as soon as possible. This panel was simply a bottomless pit!
Seeing the Elementary Martial Skill 'Shadow Stab' upgraded to entry-level, Xu Chao prepared to test its power.
Xinghai Normal University covers a large area. Although it is a liberal arts university, it also has a dedicated multi-story Training Hall, as this is an era where martial power is paramount.
Entering the Training Hall, the interior was brightly lit. The first-floor lobby was filled with training equipment, and many people were exercising, most of them students.
Xu Chao went straight to the second floor, where there were private rooms for strength testing.
He first went to the strength testing room and saw that it happened to be empty.
After warming up his body, Xu Chao threw a forceful punch at the target.
"Bang!"
The data on the machine's display screen flickered wildly before finally stopping at 1,480kg.
Seeing the displayed data, Xu Chao smiled happily.
Generally, without using any martial skills, a First-Rank Martial Artist's explosive physical strength is about 1,000–2,000kg, and a Second-Tier Martial Artist's is 2,000–4,000kg.
His strength wasn't weak among First-Rank Martial Artists. One must know that before awakening, his strength was only around 980kg.
Comparing it to the 14 points of constitution on the panel, he realized that 1 point of constitution was equivalent to 100kg of physical strength.
Then he prepared to test the attack power after reaching entry-level in the Elementary Martial Skill 'Shadow Stab'.
After 'Shadow Stab' was upgraded to entry-level via the panel, waves of information flooded into his mind, all of which were insights into the cultivation.
When he performed it, he suddenly felt as if he had practiced for a long time, very skilled and natural.
Finally, he tested and found that after the Elementary Martial Skill reached entry-level, it increased his attack power by about 10%.
One should know that practicing martial skills requires a lot of time from a martial artist. Normally, it takes at least several months for an average martial artist to reach entry-level.
Reaching the minor accomplishment stage is measured in years, and to reach mastery, one not only needs to spend a long time practicing constantly but also needs talent.
As for reaching perfection, it's rarely heard of anyone being able to cultivate a martial skill to that realm.
Xu Chao came out of the strength testing room and went to another room for testing speed.
His speed reached 32m/s, while a typical First-Rank Martial Artist's speed is 25m/s–40m/s.
This speed of his was considered good.
After using his E-Grade Supernatural Ability 'Shadow Evasion', his speed would increase by 50%, reaching the speed of a Second-Tier Martial Artist.
Now Xu Chao finally had a clear and comprehensive understanding of his own strength.
He wasn't weak among First-Rank Martial Artists.
Unfortunately, he had no money to buy equipment, which was his weakness.
He formulated his short-term goals.
He needed to kill monsters to obtain source points and improve his strength as soon as possible, and earn money to buy equipment in the process... After testing his strength, Xu Chao prepared to return to the dormitory.
Although the time he spent fighting monsters this afternoon was short, the high-intensity output had left him exhausted.
Just as he stepped out the door, he almost bumped into someone. When the person saw it was Xu Chao, he immediately smiled happily.
"Oh! I was wondering who it was."
"So it's our 'Quasi-Martial Artist' classmate, Xu Chao!"
"You've been avoiding me these past few days. I didn't expect to catch you here today!"
Seeing the man, Xu Chao couldn't help but frown, cursing his bad luck.
This person was named Zhou Peng, a classmate from the same year in their college.
The reason Xu Chao had offended him was during their freshman year.
Once, their dormitory had a gathering and were eating late-night snacks at a night market stall outside the school gate.
His roommate Han Yu got drunk and did a 'live broadcast', accidentally splashing some vomit onto Zhou Peng's shoes at the neighboring table.
They apologized immediately and were willing to make compensation, saying they would pay to help Zhou Peng clean his shoes.
Who knew this guy would start cursing and immediately start a fight without a second word.
There were five people on the other side, and four on theirs.
But they had Xu Chao, a Quasi-Martial Artist, so the other group ended up getting beaten up instead.
And so, a grudge was formed.