Gao Hu was startled at first, seemingly not expecting this kid, who was like dust in his eyes, to dare utter such arrogant words!
Immediately, an even more intense disdain and mockery appeared on his face, as if he had heard the funniest joke of the year!
"One month? A martial arts ring?" Gao Hu looked at Dongfang Yueming as if he were an idiot. "You? A good-for-nothing who can't even stir his Qi and blood? Forget one month, even if I gave you a year, you wouldn't even touch the threshold of Skin Tempering!"
He sneered, his voice suddenly rising: "Even if you got incredibly lucky and managed to enter the Skin Tempering Realm, what then? In front of me, you're still a bug I can crush with one finger!"
He looked down at Dongfang Yueming from above, his eyes as if looking at a dead man: "Good! Very good! You've got guts! I'll give you this chance!"
"One month from now, on the martial arts ring, I'll be waiting for you! Let's see how you cry and beg for mercy!"
After speaking, Gao Hu no longer spared Dongfang Yueming another glance, as if looking at him more would dirty his own eyes. He turned and left arrogantly with a group of followers, amidst a chorus of awestruck gazes.
After Gao Hu left, the Martial Arts Practice Hall was dead silent.
Everyone's gaze was focused on Dongfang Yueming, their expressions incredibly complex, with shock, but more often, undisguised pity.
"He's crazy... This kid is definitely crazy!"
"While martial arts ring battles are the Martial Arts Academy's default way of resolving personal grievances, that's only if the strengths are similar! He, a Mortal, challenging Gao Hu? Isn't that seeking death?"
"Gao Hu is a key disciple cultivated by the Gao Family, how can he fight him?"
"Alas, youthful vigor, a moment of impulse, I'm afraid he's going to pay a heavy price..."
The discussions surged like a tide, and almost no one favored Dongfang Yueming, all believing that he had been momentarily blinded by anger, making the most foolish decision.
Dongfang Yueming took a deep breath, then slowly exhaled, forcefully suppressing the surging anger and humiliation in his heart. Impulsive? Perhaps a little. But more than that, he refused to endure it any longer!
He no longer paid attention to the surrounding gazes and discussions, lowering his head and focusing all his attention on the 《Qu Pi Jue》 in his hand.
The paper was rough, the ink clear, and each character seemed to contain a certain magic, beginning to outline the profound methods of stirring Qi and blood and tempering the skin in his mind. He read with extreme concentration, as if to engrave every word deep into his Soul.
"Ding!"
Just as he had roughly memorized the entire content of the Cultivation Technique and understood its core essence, the System's prompt sounded in his mind!
With a thought, his consciousness sank into the panel.
【Character: Dongfang Yueming】
【Realm: Mortal (Gains 1 point daily)】
【Cultivation Technique: Basic Skin Tempering Method (0/1, Not initiated)】
【Martial Arts: None】
【Points: 1000】
It's done! The 'Basic Skin Tempering Method' entry appeared on the panel!
However, when Dongfang Yueming saw the "(0/1, Not initiated)" annotation, he was struck by lightning, his pupils suddenly contracting!
"What?!"
A monstrous wave surged in his heart!
"Initiation... only requires 1 point?!"
This discovery astonished him beyond measure! He had thought that a Cultivation Technique involving extraordinary power would require at least dozens or hundreds of points to initiate? After all, he had painstakingly accumulated a thousand points!
But now... it only requires 1 point?!
Then, with his remaining thousand points... no, to be precise, 999 points, to what terrifying Realm could he elevate this 'Basic Skin Tempering Method'?!
After a brief shock, Dongfang Yueming quickly calmed down, his heart burning. "But... that's right, this is just the 'Basic' Skin Tempering Method, so its effect must be limited, and thus the consumption is so low. There must be more Advanced Skin Tempering Cultivation Techniques above it, and even Cultivation Techniques for other stages of Body Tempering."
"But now, I can't worry about that much!" His eyes became incredibly firm. "Advanced Cultivation Techniques can wait; the most important thing right now is to immediately increase my strength!"
One month later, he would stand on the martial arts ring and return the humiliation Gao Hu inflicted upon him a hundredfold!
Thinking of this, Dongfang Yueming could no longer hold back. He closed the booklet, turned and left; he needed to immediately find a place where no one would disturb him and begin his Heaven-Defying point-adding journey!
Watching Dongfang Yueming's hurried departure, the people in the Martial Arts Practice Hall sighed again.
"Alas, it seems he's really going into secluded cultivation, but what a pity, he's on the wrong path..."
"What can one month accomplish? It's just a drop in the bucket."
However, in the crowd, the shrewd young man who had previously sold "Qu Ti Powder"—Qian Jingming—looked at Dongfang Yueming's retreating figure, and a strange glint flashed in his eyes.
"Challenging Gao Hu in a month... This kid is either truly crazy, or he has some reliance... Tsk tsk, no matter what, he definitely urgently needs anything that can boost his strength now!" Qian Jingming stroked his chin, a smirk playing on his lips. "This is a big client..."
Someone nearby heard his muttering and couldn't help but pour cold water on him: "Qian Jingming, be careful. This kid looks like a pauper; don't take a deposit and then have him run away without paying the balance!"
"Run away?" Qian Jingming, hearing this, looked insulted. He laughed heartily, patting his chest and saying: "Do I, Qian Jingming, look like that kind of person? I always conduct business with honesty and integrity, reputation first! I guarantee it with my name, 'Qian Jingming'! As long as he can afford the price, I guarantee I'll get him good stuff!"
His eyes gleamed with the light of "business opportunity," and he was already calculating how to make a fortune from Dongfang Yueming, this "desperate man."
Dongfang Yueming, clutching the 《Qu Pi Jue》, walked with steady steps back to his dormitory.
The anger and humiliation from before had been forcefully suppressed, replaced by a nearly obsessive calm and an extreme yearning for power.
As he passed the academy's medical district, the corner of his eye caught sight of several limping figures.
These were several older students, some with broken arms, heavily bandaged, their faces pale; some leaned on crutches, with what appeared to be gruesome wounds on their legs; and one was being carried on a stretcher, his breath weak.
"Alas, it must be injuries sustained from clearing Mortal Beasts outside the city again..."
"Indeed, I heard they encountered some particularly fierce ones this time, even senior students in the Inner Strength Realm were injured."
"The Dao of Martial Arts is a struggle against Heaven, a fight against Earth, and a battle for life against beasts! One wrong step means eternal damnation!"
The low sighs of passersby entered his ears, carrying an understanding of the hardships of Martial Artists and a fear of Vicious Beasts.
Dongfang Yueming's heart tightened suddenly!
This was reality! Behind the glory of a Martial Artist lay a bloody struggle!
Without strength, let alone challenging Gao Hu, even surviving outside the city was a luxury! He could become one of these injured people at any time, or even... a cold corpse!
Power! I need stronger power! Now! Immediately! Right now!