“`
Logically, with the pressure of being a senior in high school already immense, it wouldn’t be appropriate to ask such a sensitive question now.
Besides, there were still nine months left until the college entrance exams.
It was only because Li Changzhou was about to travel far away, and he believed Li Yuan wouldn’t be affected, that he inquired.
Auntie Chen Hui couldn’t help but look towards Li Yuan, as she’d always taken care of his daily life and was naturally concerned.
“College entrance preferences?” Li Yuan pondered for a moment and said, “Uncle and auntie, I still plan to become a full-time martial artist. My first goal is the nation’s five major Martial Path colleges.”
“If I don’t get admitted, then I’ll strive to enter the ‘Warrior Class’ at Jiangbei Martial Arts University.”
A full-time martial artist?
Li Changzhou and Chen Hui exchanged a glance, a hint of worry passing between them.
Not all graduates from Martial Arts University necessarily end up as full-time martial artists.
Like Li Changzhou, who attended Martial Arts University with decent results, but eventually also majored in other subjects.
The advantages of a martial artist over ordinary people are comprehensive; even in everyday work, a martial artist’s energy and speed of thought are far superior, increasing the likelihood of making greater achievements.
However, full-time martial artists, as the name implies, devote themselves entirely to the Martial Path, seeking to go further in it, but it is far more dangerous.
Because as martial artists train further, advancement often requires enduring various life and death struggles…
“Xiao Yuan, can’t you take up another major simultaneously? After graduating, becoming a civil servant or a martial arts teacher isn’t that good,” Chen Hui couldn’t help saying.
In her eyes, there was no difference between Li Yuan and Li Muhua.
She saw herself like a mother, most worried about Li Yuan’s safety.
To her mind, becoming a civil servant or a martial arts teacher was among the best jobs.
“A full-time martial artist?” Li Changzhou didn’t argue, but instead he pondered and asked, “Can you get admitted to one of the five prestigious Martial Path colleges? Doesn’t your school only manage a few admissions a year, and have you awakened to Martial Spirit today?”
Li Changzhou was very aware of the difficulty in being admitted to any of the five prestigious Martial Path colleges.
Jiangbei Martial Arts University admits ten thousand students a year in Jiangbei Province.
Yet the five major Martial Path colleges combined only admit about ten thousand students nationwide each year.
In Jiangbei Province, historically they’ve only admitted a few hundred students per year.
“I haven’t awakened.” Li Yuan shook his head.
“You haven’t awakened, then you…” Li Changzhou frowned.
“But in today’s school test, my physical quality was grade 6.5.” Li Yuan said, “And my Martial Arts Skills score was over 360 points.”
Li Changzhou’s eyes brightened, and he couldn’t hide the excitement on his face.
He understood the significance of what Li Yuan was saying.
“Really?” Chen Hui was also quite surprised.
She remembered that although Li Yuan’s scores were also excellent at the end of the previous semester, they seemed not nearly as high as now.
Especially the physical quality, which had improved by 0.5 grades so suddenly? It was quite astonishing.
“Xu Bo teacher personally conducted the assessment, and the Martial Arts Skills score is based on college entrance examination standards,” Li Yuan added.
Xu Bo’s assessment?
Li Changzhou nodded slightly.
He knew Xu Bo, who even in the entire Guan Mountain District, had some fame.
Previously, Li Changzhou had heard that Xu Bo became Li Yuan’s teacher in charge of the martial artist class and was very pleased, believing Li Yuan had found a good teacher.
“Good!”
“Xiao Yuan, if you continue like this, not to mention getting into one of the top five colleges, there’s a great chance to get into the ‘Warrior Class’ at Jiangbei University,” Li Changzhou smiled and said, it was the best news he’d heard all day.
Li Yuan looked at his uncle and aunt, sighing slightly in his heart.
He had originally planned to surprise them during the January mock tests.
But now, with his uncle about to travel, Li Yuan thought it over and still wanted his uncle to have some peace of mind.
For parents, the greatest concern is the safety of their children, followed by their children’s futures.
“We’re not in a rush to decide on college entrance preferences or whether to become a full-time martial artist; we’ll wait until you get into Martial Arts University and decide in college,” Li Changzhou advised, “For now, just focus on working hard.”
“I understand,” Li Yuan nodded vigorously.
“My trip to the Northern Border, for now, just you be aware of it,” Li Changzhou added, “After I’m gone, when you have time, help your aunt take good care of your younger siblings… Alright, you’ve had a long day, go back to your room and rest.”
“Hmm.” Li Yuan pondered for a moment but in the end didn’t mention the matters of the Third Class scholarship.
He got up and left the master bedroom.
The door closed.
“Old Li,” Chen Hui turned to Li Changzhou, with a hint of anger in her tone, “just now, were you supporting Xiao Yuan in becoming a full-time martial artist?”
She was indeed angry.
“Didn’t you hear his scores?” Li Changzhou shook his head, “A Martial Arts Skills score exceeding 360 points, with such a rate of progress… I remember our eldest brother’s Martial Arts Skills score during his college entrance exams was not even this high.”
“You still remember your elder brother.” Chen Hui gritted her teeth, “Our elder brother and his wife, back then to save us…”
“Enough,” Li Changzhou frowned.
“You don’t want me to talk, but I have to,” Chen Hui suddenly stood up, staring at her husband, her eyes slightly red, “Our elder brother and sister-in-law helped us so much, and left only Xiao Yuan behind. Don’t you know how dangerous it is to be a full-time martial artist?”
“How many of your former classmates who chose the path of a full-time martial artist are still alive?”
“I know what you mean,” Li Changzhou looked at his wife and sighed softly, pulling her down to sit.
“But the child is grown up and has his own will.”
“We can only advise, not force,” Li Changzhou said, “After I leave, you can try to persuade him slowly.”
“Besides, the path of a full-time martial artist is not easy to walk.”
“How many students admitted to Martial Arts University don’t aspire to become full-time martial artists? But in the end, very few choose that path.”
“Once he enters university and understands there are always greater talents out there, without us needing to urge him, he will come to his senses,” Li Changzhou said.
Chen Hui finally nodded reluctantly.
“Wife, keep me company for a bit longer,” Li Changzhou pulled his wife into his embrace.
Chen Hui calmed down, resting against her husband’s chest.
Time passed.
Approaching midnight.
“The kids must all be asleep by now,” Li Changzhou finally stood up, whispered, “Wife, I have to go now, or I’ll miss the high-speed rail.”
“`
“By the time I get to the Northern Border, the government-promised subsidy of five hundred thousand will come through, and then I’ll transfer it to you.”
“The family… I’ll leave it in your hands.”
…
Inside Li Yuan’s room.
The lights were out, with only the faint streetlamp light and moonlight streaming in through the window.
In the room of less than twenty square meters, besides two wardrobes, there was a miniature home virtual network capsule occupying about two square meters.
The rest of the area was empty.
One side of Li Yuan’s wardrobe concealed a Murphy bed designed to be foldable.
The purpose was to save space, making it convenient for him to practice simple exercises at home.
However, ever since awakening the Mind Spirit Divine Palace in his sophomore year, Li Yuan seldom used the Murphy bed, mostly sitting directly on the wooden floor.
Today was no exception.
“Hmm?” Li Yuan, seated on the floor, perked his ears slightly.
His strong physical quality gave him hearing beyond that of ordinary people, coupled with the profound silence at night, he was sensitive to the slightest sounds.
“Uncle is leaving?”
Li Yuan heard the faint sound of the door closing, and like a cat, he got up without making a sound.
He approached the window.
Half a minute later, Li Yuan saw his uncle, Li Changzhou, carrying his suitcase, hurriedly walking out the apartment door.
After taking a few steps, Li Changzhou paused, looked back at the building upstairs, and then without lingering any further, disappeared around the corner of the street.
Li Yuan stood by the window for a long time.
“Uncle, are you truly willing to go to the Northern Border?” Li Yuan sighed inwardly.
That one phrase “Someone has to go” from his uncle had greatly moved him.
From a young age, his uncle had been full of patriotism and had always been guiding Li Yuan.
Yet, in Li Yuan’s view, the situation in the Northern Border didn’t seem to warrant such a step yet.
“Uncle is going, not just because of the nation’s call, but perhaps also for that very high subsidy.” Li Yuan’s eyes dimmed slightly, “Muhua and I are both practicing Martial Path, and the financial pressure on our family is huge.”
He raised his hand.
Whirr~ Silently, a glimmer of light shot out from Li Yuan’s wrist, forming a transparent holographic projection in front of his chest.
Displayed was a wealth of war report news regarding the ‘Rob Sea Star Realm,’ including news about ‘combat subsidies’ and ‘support subsidies.’
“I must get admitted into one of the top five Martial Arts Universities.” Li Yuan murmured to himself, his resolve growing stronger.
Whoosh!
Li Yuan went to the wardrobe near the window and gently pressed it; the door, spring-loaded, popped open.
In front of Li Yuan, besides clothes, was only a specially crafted metal box with the pattern of an endless starry sky shining brightly on it.
This was the symbol of the ‘Starry Sky Martial Hall,’ one of the three great Martial Halls.
He opened the box.
“Basic Qi and Blood Elixir.” Li Yuan gazed at the two rows of ten bottles of elixir in the box, nine of which were empty, with only one full bottle remaining.
He took out the last bottle of elixir and held it in his hand.
“Two thousand per bottle.” Li Yuan looked at the exquisite bottle in his hand; its nearly transparent and smooth surface felt slightly cold to the touch.
This was a specially designed bottle, capable of preserving the effects of the medicine for a long time.
Through the bottle, one could see the flowing red liquid inside, faintly reddish under the weak moonlight, giving off a sense of vitality and vigor.
This was the universally used Basic Qi and Blood Elixir.
Even ordinary meals, including nutritional meals, could only ensure that one’s qi and blood would not be depleted during high-intensity physical training.
But to improve the speed of physical evolution? That required the use of various precious elixirs and treasures.
As far as Li Yuan knew, many precious medicines were more effective than the Basic Qi and Blood Elixir, but their prices were far more exorbitant.
In terms of cost-effectiveness, the Basic Qi and Blood Elixir was among the highest in auxiliary cultivation medicines.
Yet even so, it cost two thousand Blue Star Coins a bottle.
Li Yuan needed a bottle every three days for his cultivation.
Every month, he spent nearly two thousand Blue Star Coins just on Basic Qi and Blood Elixir.
Plus the cost of daily meals.
Each month, Li Yuan nearly spent close to thirty thousand Blue Star Coins on cultivation supplies.
Not to mention clothing expenses, tuition fees, and other costs.
And with Li Qianqian, Li Muhua… One could imagine the financial pressure his uncle and aunt bore.
“According to the schedule, I have to drink a bottle today.” Li Yuan pulled the stopper off with ease.
A strange scent wafted through the air.
“Glug~.” Li Yuan skillfully tipped his head back and drank the entire bottle of Basic Qi and Blood Elixir.
Ensuring not a drop was left.
He then placed the empty bottle back in the box.
Soon, Li Yuan felt streams of warmth emanating from within his body, gradually spreading to all parts, eagerly absorbed by his muscles and bones.
It was very comfortable.
“After three days of intense cultivation, the effect of the last bottle of Qi and Blood Elixir has mostly worn off, and my muscles and bones are craving for more.” Li Yuan was very satisfied with the medicinal effect.
“Hmm.”
“It’s past midnight, time to practice the ‘Great Sun Starry Sky Scripture.'” Li Yuan sat cross-legged, closed his eyes.
Gradually, his mind emptied and his spirit receded inward.
His consciousness focused on his mind.
Boom!
Silently, his consciousness arrived at a mysterious place.
There, a strange palace floated.