High-Level Martial Era
Chapter 15: 13 Xu Bo's Test

"Creating this unique move, my Spear Technique Realm has increased by 6%?" Li Yuan revealed a trace of a smile at the corner of his mouth.

Such an improvement was within his expectations.

Li Yuan remembered that during the second semester of his junior year, as the final exams approached, his Spear Technique Realm had been stuck at 99% at the Second Stage, unable to break through.

Teacher Xu, at that time, had given him three pieces of advice.

First, both Fist Technique and movement technique are combinations of body and mind. As you gradually improve control over your body to mobilize its strength to the utmost, both Fist Technique and movement technique will often continue to improve, and vice versa.

Second, Spear Technique is a weapon! The essence of practicing Spear Technique is the integration of body, mind, and weapon. As the weapon is an external object, not an inherent part of the body, it is more difficult to cultivate; however, a weapon can exert terrifying fighting power beyond the body's strength.

Third, when you hit a bottleneck in spear practice, try transforming fists into spears!

"Historically, the 'Xingyi Quan' in traditional martial arts evolved from spear skills," Li Yuan thought silently. "Integrating the force and technical variations of Spear Technique into bare-handed Fist Technique truly transforms the spear into a fist."

"In this era, with Cultivation Methods like stance practices and Breathing Techniques complementing each other, the efficiency of body cultivation far exceeds that of the ancients.

The entire human civilization has embarked on the road of Life Evolution, repeatedly breaking the limits of life, and ultimately giving rise to Martial Artists capable of soaring through the heavens and earth, but the fundamental principles of Martial Arts Skills remain unchanged." Li Yuan reviewed the past.

"The 'Solid Rock Fist Technique' and the traditional Xingyi Quan have a similar ingenuity and can also be transformed into Spear Technique."

This was the direction that Li Yuan chose after receiving guidance from Teacher Xu Bo.

It was also one of the reasons why Li Yuan had so fervently studied the "Solid Rock Fist Technique."

Fist Technique, Spear Technique, and movement technique were never independent of each other but promoted each other.

During the final exams of his junior year, Li Yuan had not managed to break through.

Therefore, during the vacation, he did not relax at all and kept pondering relentlessly.

With his spiritual power further enhanced, finally, in the half-month before school resumed.

Li Yuan took the basic spear skills as the cornerstone and combined the core secrets of the "Solid Rock Fist Technique" to create his very first real Spear Technique move—Solid Rock Pillar.

This move combined the two moves from the Solid Rock Fist Technique, 'Solid Rock Foundation Initiation' and 'Force like a Steady Pillar,' into Spear Technique.

Both the "Solid Rock Cultivation Technique" and the "Solid Rock Fist Technique" prioritize the foundation and energy from the ground, and they are the strongest in defense among the Seven Fundamental Cultivation Methods.

This Spear Technique move was also a defensive one.

Creating 'Solid Rock Pillar' enabled Li Yuan's Spear Technique Realm to break through from 99% at the Second Stage to the Third Stage in one fell swoop.

At the beginning of the school term, during the test and the sparring with Teacher Xu Bo, it was also because of this unique move that Li Yuan was able to withstand more than ten moves.

A defensive spear move would only save your life.

To kill an enemy? You must attack.

Therefore, in these two months, Li Yuan had been thinking about how to create an attack move.

"Solid Rock Fist Technique excels in defense, so creating a defensive ultimate move is easy, but creating an attack move is difficult."

The Seven Fundamental Cultivation Methods include seven Fist Techniques, like the "Blazing Flame Fist Technique" and the "True Gold Fist Technique," which are good at attacking and can more easily create attacking ultimate moves.

Through repeated practice of both Fist Technique and Spear Technique.

As his Skill Realm rose higher, it was only after referencing the concept of 'Turnabout Spear' that Li Yuan finally had a breakthrough.

"Turnabout Spear is about feigning weakness before an enemy, pretending to retreat and then suddenly turning around to counterattack—it's a mounted spear skill," Li Yuan thought silently. "My Solid Rock Spear Technique excels in defense, whether it's in the circulation of vigor, footwork, or the way I hold the spear, there's an innate tendency towards defense."

"Then, the moment I take the initiative to attack, during the switch between spear moves, it's easy for the enemy to discern the feint from the real attack."

"The only way is to counterattack."

"To use defense as offense, waiting until the enemy is careless or becomes weary after a fierce attack, then suddenly strike with a lethal move." Li Yuan's eyes shone with determination.

On this principle, Li Yuan finally created the killing move 'Hidden Dragon in the Gorge.'"

"Based on the single sessions of Martial Arts lessons these past two weeks and Teacher Xu's personal guidance," Li Yuan thought. "The First Stage and Second Stage are the foundation of skills."

In the most recent lessons.

Teacher Xu Bo always provided personal guidance to Li Yuan.

"The Third Stage Realm emphasizes the integration of body, mind, and weapon, striving to use one hundred percent of the body's strength," Li Yuan thought silently. "The Spear Technique and Fist Technique that I normally execute instinctively can't fully utilize my strength."

"Only when I replace the opportunity to apply an ultimate move can I achieve it."

Only those moves that can fully unleash the body's strength can be considered ultimate or killing moves.

So far, the ultimate moves that Li Yuan had created were only two.

"Moving forward, if I can create more ultimate moves," Li Yuan gradually clarified his future path. "Even to the extent that someday, every punch or spear thrust I make could achieve perfection in the circulation of vigor and weapon power without wasting any strength, then my Martial Arts Skills will be able to break through to the Fourth Stage Realm."

In the lectures by Teacher Xu Bo.

The so-called 'Fourth Stage Realm' has another name—Unity with the Weapon.

Also known as 'Body-Mind-Weapon Integration.'

In ancient times, if one's skills reached the Fourth Stage, they could barely qualify to be called a 'Spear Technique Master' or 'Fist Technique Master.'

"Unity with the weapon? That's a bit far off," Li Yuan shook his head slightly. "Step by step, let's continue to ponder more ultimate moves."

Each ultimate move is essentially a specific way for the body to exert force perfectly.

The more ultimate moves created, the more perfected the body's overall power-generation techniques become, and ultimately, one would naturally step into the Fourth Stage Realm.

"Whew!"

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"Tssk!" Li Yuan continued to practice his Spear Technique, becoming more familiar with the "Dragon Hidden in the Ravine" move.

"The day after tomorrow."

"The day after tomorrow is a holiday, I'll have enough time, so I'll work hard to get my points up to the Gold Stage with 500 points," Li Yuan resolved.

Can't wait for the scholarship.

If he wanted to lessen the financial burden on his family, he'd have to replace his own way.

The prize money of fifty thousand from the Starry Skies Fighting Network had been on Li Yuan's mind for quite some time.

…

Office building, first floor.

Teacher Xu Bo's office was exceedingly spacious.

"This kid, he's progressing really fast," Xu Bo, standing in the middle of the Martial Arts Room and built like a tower, dressed in a martial arts uniform, remarked.

In front of him.

A mass of light coalesced to form an image on a light screen about two meters high and two and a half meters wide.

The screen displayed the martial arts classroom of class Senior Three (2).

And the enlarged image showed Li Yuan practicing his "Dragon Hidden in the Ravine" Spear Technique.

"He really can keep his cool, hasn't asked me about it after all this time; the kid sure is steady," Teacher Xu said, a hint of teasing in his smile.

As the homeroom teacher and a special-grade instructor of the school, he had high-level access and could freely pull up class surveillance footage.

Thus, upon seeing that Li Yuan arrived at school past four o'clock that day.

He began to pay special attention to Li Yuan and pulled up a significant amount of past surveillance records.

This investigation, even for someone accustomed to big scenes like Xu Bo, was somewhat surprising.

He found that Li Yuan had been coming to school after three o'clock every day for a year.

Without ever taking a break.

"Determined, persistent, he's a promising student," Teacher Xu thought. "Moreover, my previous speculation was correct; his family's conditions are only average. The fact that his body can withstand such intense training demonstrates that his physical talent is truly remarkable."

Teacher Xu was unaware of the existence of the "Observing the Great Sun Starry Sky Scripture."

He attributed Li Yuan's ability to endure daily arduous training, yet still be full of vigor, to 'exceptional talent.'

His standards were incredibly high, and he knew that there are many unique geniuses in this world.

The abilities that Li Yuan displayed weren't anything special to him.

What Teacher Xu valued most were Li Yuan's persistence and comprehension.

"Having talent isn't everything," he said.

"But it's crucial to make the effort to realize that talent," he added.

However, even after thoroughly investigating, besides providing normal guidance in his teaching, Teacher Xu had yet taken no particular action.

He wanted to observe and test Li Yuan further.

Should he use his resources and connections to nurture someone with talent just because he had it? Who said he had to? Li Yuan wasn't Teacher Xu's own son.

Just a student.

That was why he was going to use the issue of the 'scholarship'.

To see what kind of character Li Yuan had.

If Li Yuan couldn't wait more than a few days and became impatient to inquire, Teacher Xu would understand, as it's human nature. He would apply for the scholarship, and even help get a Second Class Scholarship, fulfilling his duty as a teacher.

But he wouldn't do more than that, because the talented individuals worthy of Teacher Xu's attention shouldn't just be 'ordinary people.'

"It's about time."

"Since it's his Senior year, I can't delay him too long, and besides, he's still a kid after all, my demands can't be too harsh," Teacher Xu gazed at the light screen and said, "Black Dog, help me connect with Principal Tan."

"Yes, Master."

"Beep—beep—" The projected image changed.

Shortly after.

An office scene appeared on the screen, where a middle-aged man in his forties was sitting in front of a desk.

If Li Yuan saw the man, he would definitely recognize him as the school's principal, 'Tan Zhenlong'.

Tan Zhenlong, his actual age over seventy years old.

In this era, the normal retirement age is eighty; if one is a Martial Artist, they may choose to delay retirement to a hundred years old.

"Old Tan," Teacher Xu said bluntly.

"Xu Bo," Principal Tan smiled and asked, "Calling me this late, what's the matter?"

"I want to apply for a Special Scholarship spot, approve it," Teacher Xu said straightforwardly.

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