The prompts on the Divine Palace panel flickered, and Li Yuan took notice, but he did not stop to check as he had in the past.
Instead, he continued practicing with his spear.
His movements were as graceful as the wind, with his long spear dancing mightily without faltering, each thrust erupting with inconceivable might.
Stellar Illumination, Galaxy Waterfall, Dawn Piercing the Clouds, Meteor Fall… Li Yuan executed each of his four major techniques in turn, his entire being faintly imbued with the essence of the stars.
Ten times!
A hundred times! A thousand times!
The insights gained from months of solitary spear practice, the life-and-death struggles in combat assessments, the guidance from Teacher Li Yang, the combat wisdom from Teacher Jiang Lun and the other two sparring partners… it all amounted to what many others would take years or even longer to amass in spear training.
At this moment, at the instant of perfect synergy between Li Yuan’s heart and his long spear.
It burst forth completely.
“[Your Spear Technique Skill Realm has risen from 62% at the Fourth Level to 63% at the Fourth Level],” an occasional prompt still flashed on the Divine Palace panel.
Advancing, Straight Thrust, Cleaving Spear, Retreating Right, Sweeping Spear, Crushing Spear… If observed by a Spear Technique Master, one would discover that Li Yuan was gradually entering a special state of ‘clear-sightedness’.
His mind was completely empty.
And his spirit fully unified.
…
This practice session lasted until past seven o’clock in the evening, before Li Yuan finally came out of his self-forgetful state.
He exited that special mindset.
“Phew~” Fatigue from every part of his body swept over him like a tide, making Li Yuan involuntarily put down his long spear and sit down on the ground.
“It’s past seven?”
“I was so engrossed that I practiced for nearly five hours?” Looking at the time, Li Yuan secretly sighed in relief: “Lucky I had some of the High Origin Spirit Spring just two days ago and ate plenty at noon, otherwise I would really not have been able to keep up from the afternoon until evening.”
As his focus shifted from the long spear, hunger pangs immediately struck Li Yuan.
He quickly ordered five nutrition meals.
Then, Li Yuan got up, dragging his exhausted body, and downed a bottle of First Rank Qi and Blood Potion from the rest room.
Having reached the level that Li Yuan was at, Qi and Blood Potions had transitioned from being supplements to ‘stamina restoration potions’, gradually diminishing in their role of enhancing physical quality.
“Spear Technique.” Li Yuan put down the empty bottle and glanced at the Divine Palace panel, suddenly stunned.
——
[Life Level: 12.8 (First Rank)]
Fist Strength: 4590 kilograms
Speed: 34.8 meters/second
Spiritual Power: Level 20.5
Spiritual Awakening Level: 25% (Current limit 25%)
Skill Realm: Spear Technique (Fourth Level 65%), Movement Technique (Fourth Level 48%), Fist Technique (Fourth Level 67%)
…
“65%?” Li Yuan was somewhat surprised, his epiphany had increased his mastery by more than 10%.
Even his Movement Technique had improved significantly.
“Physical Quality has improved by 0.1 level, and my spiritual power by 0.5 level,” Li Yuan thought in astonishment.
Just one afternoon.
“Teacher Li Yang once said.”
“The mind is the most powerful force. When the heart has enlightenment, all aspects will be improved,” Li Yuan muttered to himself, “The progress of the mind has greatly enhanced my control over my body during my epiphany.”
“The more complete the mind, the more natural the growth of spiritual power.”
“Body.” Li Yuan closed his eyes and surveyed his interior, feeling an even deeper connection to his body, barely sensing the flow of every drop of blood.
The pulsing and operation of the five internal organs seemed to be within his control.
“Is this what High Rank Fourth Level body awareness feels like?” Li Yuan marveled to himself.
The higher the skill, the deeper the excavation of bodily strength, the more terrifying the progress of physical quality.
This is also why those martial arts geniuses, even after breaking through the Life Level of 15, could still improve several levels in a year.
The gap between geniuses and ordinary people gradually formed.
Until it became completely insurmountable.
“With this special epiphany.”
“For the coming period, my Spear Technique should not slow down,” Li Yuan pondered, “Only the ‘Subtlety’ of moving from high rank Fourth Level to perfect Fourth Level can stop me now.”
Before reaching Subtlety, all Li Yuan needed was time.
If it were any other Martial Artist at level fifteen or so.
After reaching High Rank Fourth Level in skill, due to the weakness of spiritual power, it would be very difficult to sense the whole body and near impossible to achieve Subtlety.
This is the difference in foundation.
This is also why most martial arts geniuses can only hope for Subtlety after becoming a Prime Warrior.
But for Li Yuan, the bottleneck of spiritual power simply didn’t exist.
Strong spiritual power was a crucial reason for Li Yuan’s rapid progress.
…
After eating, Li Yuan felt refreshed and took a bath.
After some reflection, he initiated a call to Wan Qinghe.
Soon the video link connected.
Wan Qinghe’s figure appeared.
“Uncle Wan,” Li Yuan greeted with a smile, “I hope I’m not disturbing you by calling so late.”
“Not at all,” Wan Qinghe replied with a smile, “How did it go? Did your uncle agree?”
“No,” Li Yuan shook his head.
“I guessed you wouldn’t persuade him,” Wan Qinghe said with a touch of regret, “I contacted him during the day. I don’t fully agree with his views, but I have to admire your uncle’s resolve.”
“Actually, I offered to help him this morning… and was declined as well.”
“If his determination was aimed at someone else, that would be another matter.”
“But your uncle is applying it to himself,” Wan Qinghe continued with emotion, “I personally couldn’t do it.”
Li Yuan listened in silence.
If it were his aunt, brother or sister in trouble, and his uncle refused treatment, Li Yuan would never just stand by.
But this rehabilitation and longevity plan was for Li Changzhou himself.
Wan Qinghe looked at Li Yuan and continued, “As for the state rewards and Martial Hall appropriations for martial arts geniuses, though the purpose is to encourage your cultivation, part of it is indeed a ‘Settling-In Fund’ for you to practice with peace of mind.”
“Including villas in areas like Starfire South Lake District… that’s the idea,” Wan Qinghe explained, “The ‘Rehabilitation and Longevity Plan’ you created for your uncle indeed exceeds the usual settling-in expenses.”
“But how should I put it? The money is given to you, and how you spend it is really up to you,” Wan Qinghe said, “Martial arts ultimately seek a clear and unhindered mind.”
“This is also why I didn’t stop you last May when you asked me after I understood your intentions,” he added.
“Mmm.” Li Yuan nodded slightly.
Li Yuan was aware of this; in martial arts cultivation, one amasses great power within oneself, which is why the Martial Hall and even human civilization afford such great privileges and freedom to the ‘martial artist community’.
Because it’s uncontrollable.
The mighty martial force of a martial artist originates from within, and nobody can take it away.
“You’re thinking right, and you’re doing right,” Wan Qinghe said. “Your uncle… he’s also done nothing wrong, and is even more admirable. People like your uncle, once they decide something, others find it very difficult to shake their will.”
Li Yuan sighed in his heart.
Why didn’t he dare to tell his uncle at the beginning? It was because he feared his uncle would refuse if he knew the truth.
And indeed, that was the case.
“My uncle resists internally; I can’t force him,” Li Yuan shook his head and said. “I can only wait until I am strong enough to find a solution, just worried that if it drags on for too long, his body will weaken even more.”
Working hard to become stronger, and then to earn money on his own, that was Li Yuan’s goal.
“Li Yuan.”
“You don’t need to worry too much. I had Professor Zhong re-examine him today, and your uncle is only in his forties. His body has no major issues, it’s just that his vitality is severely damaged,” Wan Qinghe said. “Even if it’s a year or two later, the impact won’t be fatal.”
“Moreover.”
“With the current technology, even if we implement a rehabilitation plan, his body can’t recover to its peak. We can only say that his expected lifespan would be extended by a decade or two,” Wan Qinghe said. “Rather than that, you might set your sights further in the future.
If you come across some heavenly materials and treasures, not only could you restore his health, but his lifespan could become even longer than that of an average person.”
“Heavenly materials and treasures?” Li Yuan was startled.
“Yes.”
“Some treasures in the depths of the Star Realm are quite special and have extremely unique healing effects on ordinary people. Regrowing flesh and reviving bones are a bit of an exaggeration, but for cases like your uncle’s, the effect is definitely ten times better than any rehabilitation plan,” Wan Qinghe said with a smile.
“However, these treasures are extremely rare, and as soon as one is found, it is immediately used up. I only know about them from conversations with my senior brothers.”
“Once you become a top-grade Origin Martial Artist, you will have more connections and know more people, then you can think of a plan,” Wan Qinghe said with a smile.
“Alright,” Li Yuan felt a stir in his heart.
Yes!
He was being somewhat shortsighted.
Rehabilitation plans extending his uncle’s life expectancy to ninety were only the limit of current human technology… But some treasures from the Star Realm could work even better.
“I’ll leave it at that.”
“You concentrate on your cultivation at Kunlun Martial University,” Wan Qinghe said with a smile. “I will keep an eye on your family.”
“Thank you, Uncle Wan,” Li Yuan said gratefully.
…
Ending the video call.
After his exchange with Wan Qinghe, Li Yuan felt even more at peace internally.
He went out onto the balcony.
Li Yuan couldn’t help but gaze into the distance, where the lights of each villa were on.
In the further direction lay the school’s ‘Logistics Department’ building.
At eight o’clock at night, it was still brightly lit.
With Li Yuan’s exceptional eyesight, aided by the flood of lights, he could still see numerous staff bustling about, navigating in their flying vehicles.
To serve so many students, the logistics department had to work 24 hours a day.
A gust of wind brushed gently against his face, clearing Li Yuan’s thoughts even more.
“Going forward,”
“I’ll strive to pour all the prize money I win into cultivation,” Li Yuan silently pledged. “I’ll advance to level 14 as quickly as possible to see what Spiritual Guidance truly is.”
“Right now?”
“With my grasp of the Stellar Four Techniques, I should have a great chance at challenging the Bright Moon Stage,” Li Yuan turned and walked towards the rest room. “I’m still 300 Points short; I’ll make a push tonight.”
“Let’s see if I can break into the Bright Moon Stage in one go.”
Li Yuan needed to secure the 20 million Blue Star Coins of the Bright Moon Stage by August 29th.
…
Over three hours later.
In the virtual network, the Starry Skies Fighting Network, Li Yuan was engaged in fierce battles with one opponent after another.
“Clang! Clang! Clang!” Li Yuan’s long spear whirled, as he put his all into displaying the Stellar Spear Technique, every move swirling like the stars, its power terrifying.
Not only could he easily parry the opponent’s war hammer attacks, but the light from his spear also forced his foe into disarray.
“Stellar Four Techniques.”
“Truly wonderful,” Li Yuan immersed himself in combat. “Stellar Illumination is for defense, making one’s self unbreakable like the stars.”
“Galaxy Waterfall is for consecutive strikes. If given enough time to build up the Twelve Continuous Strikes, its power is the strongest.”
“Dawn Piercing the Clouds is speed, using the utmost speed to burst forth and kill the enemy.”
“Meteor Fall is fierce. Though not as fast as Dawn Piercing the Clouds, it excels at direct bombardment,” the more Li Yuan fought, the more exhilarating he felt.
Such Second Rank Secret Manual moves, taken individually, each had its flaws.
But when combined, their power grew exponentially.
“Puff!”
After dozens of exchanges of moves, accompanied by a streak of spear light across the neck, the opponent finally could not hold on any longer.
Their body turned into nothingness.
“Congratulations Defender·Yuan, you’ve won the stage match. Points +9,” the system’s prompt instantly sounded.
Li Yuan noted the change in points.
“No time to rest. Fighting nearly forty fights is indeed tiring,” Li Yuan glanced at the points on the Starry Skies Fighting Network.
Stage Match: Fallen Star Stage.
Points: 994 points (1000 Points required for the promotion match)
Stage Win Rate: 76%
…
In the past few months.
As his skill level increased, even though he only entered the Combat Network occasionally to fight, Li Yuan’s win rate was on the rise.
Especially after today’s breakthrough in spear technique, Li Yuan fought 37 battles, losing only two.
The two he lost, one was indeed terrifying with movement techniques and swordplay in combination.
The other was a Bright Moon Stage master.
“Just 6 points short. If I’m lucky, I’ll be able to participate in the promotion match after the next battle,” Li Yuan reached out to click match. “I hope the matching will be quick.”
All these hours, Li Yuan had spent a fair amount of time simply ‘waiting to match’.
After all, even though it’s global matchmaking, the number of high-level experts in the Bright Moon Stage is not that many.
To Li Yuan’s surprise, after just five seconds.
“Buzz~”
Along with a flash of light, Li Yuan entered a brand new battle arena and immediately spotted his opponent in the distance.
“Tian Dazhuang?”
“Li Yuan?” Tian Dazhuang was equally astounded.