As soon as she finished speaking, Qin Rushuang's fiery figure, like a gust of wind, turned and left without the slightest hesitation, disappearing into the Martial Arts Practice Hall entrance in an instant, leaving behind a room full of agitated students.
The silence lasted only a moment!
"Whoosh—!"
The entire Martial Arts Practice Hall erupted!
"《Qu Pi Jue》! This is a true Martial Arts Cultivation Technique! I finally have it!" Someone held the thin booklet, hands trembling with excitement, as if clutching a priceless treasure.
"This is great! From today on, I'll also be someone who can Cultivate martial arts!"
"Hahaha! I'm going back to Cultivate immediately! Skin Tempering to Minor Achievement in one month? I'll do it in ten days! No! Seven days is enough!"
In countless eyes, the flame of "hope" burned, making them eager to find a place to sit cross-legged and begin to stir their Qi and blood. The chance to change their destiny was right before their eyes!
However, amidst this fervent atmosphere, a slightly sharp voice unseasonably rang out:
"Don't celebrate too early! What's the use of just having a Cultivation Technique? Without resource assistance, wanting to achieve Skin Tempering to Minor Achievement in one month? Dream on!"
The speaker was a thin young man with shrewd eyes.
As soon as these words were uttered, it was like a basin of ice water being poured over their heads, instantly cooling down many of the students who had just been hot-blooded, their expressions of ecstasy freezing on their faces.
"He... he's right," someone murmured. "Body Tempering and Skin Tempering require the support of Qi and blood. Relying solely on self-practice is too inefficient. I heard that those Family disciples all use medicinal baths made from precious medicinal ingredients to assist them, which is why their progress is so fast..."
"Medicinal baths? How expensive would that be? How could we afford it?"
"It's over... Without resources, it's impossible to reach Minor Achievement in a month. Are we really going to be eliminated?"
The hope that had just risen seemed to be extinguished again by cruel reality. Many people showed expressions of worry and despair, and the Martial Arts Practice Hall was once again filled with oppressive sighs.
Just then, the shrewd young man's lips curled into a meaningful smile, and he raised his voice:
"Cultivation Techniques are hard to come by, and resources... are even harder! But, hehe, I happen to have some connections and got a batch of 'Qu Ti Powder' to assist with Skin Tempering. Although its effect isn't as good as the secret medicinal baths of those prominent Families, it can still increase your Cultivation speed by more than 30%! Anyone need some?"
Instantly, everyone's gaze focused on him!
"Qu Ti Powder? Is it real?"
"Quick, tell us! How much per packet?" an impatient student immediately asked.
The shrewd young man held up five fingers, wagging them proudly: "No more, no less, five hundred federal credits per packet! Only enough for three days!"
"Five hundred?!"
"Hiss—!"
Gasps of cold air rose and fell! Five hundred federal credits, for most of these students from commoner backgrounds, was almost a month's living expenses! To spend so much in three days?
"Too expensive!" someone couldn't help but exclaim.
"Expensive?" The shrewd young man sneered, "Martial Arts resources are inherently sky-high! This is already my friendly price! Miss this chance, and it won't be this price next time! If you want to become a Martial Artist, and you're unwilling to make this small investment, what future are you even talking about?"
The words were crude but true. Everyone fell silent, their faces shifting between expressions of uncertainty. Indeed, compared to the benefits of becoming a Martial Artist, this amount of money seemed insignificant...
"I'll buy!" A student with a determined expression gritted his teeth and stepped forward, "Give me three packets!"
"I want two packets too!"
With one person taking the lead, several others immediately followed. Although it pained them, to seize this opportunity to change their destiny, they had no other choice.
The shrewd young man's smile grew even brighter as he began to attend to his "business."
All of this, Dongfang Yueming merely observed with a cold eye. Resources? He might need them too, but definitely not now! His gaze had long since sunken into the depths of his consciousness.
【Character: Dongfang Yueming】
【Realm: Mortal (Gain 1 point daily)】
【Cultivation Technique: None】
【Martial Arts: None】
【Points: 1000】
The panel was simple and clear, and the "1000" points shimmered with a reassuring light!
"《Qu Pi Jue》..." Dongfang Yueming's heart was burning with fervor. "I must go back immediately and completely memorize the contents of the Cultivation Technique. As soon as the Cultivation Technique's name appears on the System panel, I can—add points!"
What resources? What medicinal baths? In front of his Heaven-Defying point-adding cheat, they were all fleeting clouds!
Thinking of this, he didn't want to stay for another moment. He picked up the 《Qu Pi Jue》 and turned to leave this noisy Martial Arts Practice Hall.
Just as he stood up, from an adjacent seat, a graceful woman with a distinctly different aura from those around her also rose. She wore a well-fitted light blue student uniform, her skin fair, her appearance refined and extraordinary, and her bright eyes, as she looked around, carried a natural air of nobility.
Perhaps noticing Dongfang Yueming's slightly eager movements, or perhaps his earlier silence and incongruity with his surroundings had caught her attention, she turned her head, her clear voice carrying a hint of curiosity: "Classmate, you... aren't buying some Qu Ti Powder? Without resource assistance, Cultivation will be very difficult."
Her voice wasn't loud, but amidst the surrounding clamor of bargaining, it sounded exceptionally clear.
Dongfang Yueming paused, turned to look at her, and shook his head frankly, a wry smile on his lips: "Thank you for your concern, but I have no money." He shrugged, his tone calm. "I'm an orphan. I barely managed to scrounge up tuition fees by receiving relief funds. Now, I'm as clean as a whistle."
The refined woman was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, apparently not expecting him to be so direct. Her beautiful eyes surveyed Dongfang Yueming for a moment, then she said no more, merely nodding gently before gracefully walking away, her steps light, like a moving white lotus.
Dongfang Yueming didn't mind; they were just passing acquaintances. He took a deep breath, suppressing the craving for power in his heart, and was about to step out and follow her.
"Bang!"
A huge force suddenly slammed into his shoulder!
Caught off guard, Dongfang Yueming stumbled, almost falling!
He quickly steadied himself and looked up, only to see an unusually tall, muscular young man, whose muscles bulged like small mountains, standing before him, looking down at him with an unfriendly gaze, his face showing an undisguised look of provocation.
"Kid, don't you watch where you're going?"
A surge of nameless anger instantly shot from the bottom of Dongfang Yueming's heart to his head!
He had clearly seen it just now; this guy had deliberately bumped into him!
"You—" Dongfang Yueming's eyes suddenly sharpened, his anger erupting.
However, the tall young man, like an iron tower, merely glanced at him disdainfully, a mocking sneer on his lips, as if looking at an insignificant ant.
"Hiss—that's... Gao Hu, the 'Brute' of the Gao Family?"
"Oh my god, how did he get into trouble with him!"
"I heard the Gao Family is a famous Martial Arts Family in the city. Gao Hu started Body Tempering since he was a child, so he's probably... already achieved Skin Tempering to Minor Achievement!"
The surrounding crowd instantly recognized the tall young man's identity, and the murmuring immediately lowered considerably. Their gazes towards Dongfang Yueming were filled with sympathy, and even a hint of schadenfreude.
Clearly, this Gao Hu was no easy opponent. He had a formidable background, and his strength far surpassed these rookies who had just received their Cultivation Techniques.
Gao Hu sneered inwardly. Why? Why should this poor boy be worthy of Lin Qingyao—that Young Miss of the Lin Family, who was like a Fairy from the heavens—initiating a conversation with him?
He had seen it clearly just now! Lin Qingyao, with her cool demeanor, actually bothered to ask this good-for-nothing a few questions? It was simply an insult to him, Gao Hu! He had long regarded Lin Qingyao as his exclusive property. How could he allow others to touch her, even if it was just a single word!
"What?" Gao Hu slightly raised his chin, looking at Dongfang Yueming through his nostrils, his tone full of provocation, "Kid, from the look in your eyes, you seem to have a lot of opinions?"
Dongfang Yueming's fists suddenly clenched, his knuckles making a soft "crack" sound from the effort. Blood rushed faster through his veins, and an unprecedented sense of humiliation welled up in his heart!
"Don't be impulsive, brother!"
"Endure for a moment, and the winds will calm! We can't afford to provoke the Gao Family!"
"He's clearly doing it on purpose, don't fall for it!"
The whispered conversations nearby, like buzzing mosquitoes, entered Dongfang Yueming's ears, reminding him of the disparity in reality.
Hearing these discussions, the smugness on Gao Hu's face grew even stronger, as if he had already taken control of the situation. He extended his large, fan-like hand and patted Dongfang Yueming's shoulder with considerable force, carrying an insulting implication: "Kid, be smart! From now on, in the Martial Arts Academy, keep your tail between your legs! Otherwise, you'll regret it!"
Endure?
Dongfang Yueming's heart suddenly constricted!
Ever since his Transmigration, he had had enough of mediocrity, enough of powerlessness! Now that he had finally gotten a chance to change his destiny, should he choose to bow his head on the very first day, choose to beg like a dog wagging its tail?!
No! Absolutely not!
The anger in his chest seemed to solidify, but he knew that if he acted now, he had no chance of winning and would only bring humiliation upon himself.
However, this did not mean he would swallow this insult!
Dongfang Yueming suddenly raised his head, his eyes showing no trace of retreat, but instead burning with fierce Battle Intent. He looked directly into Gao Hu's disdainful eyes, enunciating each word, his voice not loud, yet clearly reaching everyone's ears:
"One month from now!"
"On the Martial Arts Academy arena!"
"Do you dare to come?!"