High-Level Martial Era
Chapter 40: 38 Xu Bo's Assistance

"If you don't have a purchase record and are caught learning or spreading it, you will be found guilty of violating the law."

"Once verified, you will be punished jointly by the Martial Arts Hall and the Culture Hall, starting at ten times the cost," Xu Bo shook his head and said, "In serious cases, you might even be sent to prison."

Prison? Li Yuan held his breath.

"Teacher, could this approach be detrimental to the evolution of human civilization's martial path?" Li Yuan hesitated slightly, "What about the poor?"

No money, no right to learn high-rank skill secret manuals?

"Your thoughts are correct, indeed this is somewhat unfair to the poor," Teacher Xu said, "Copyright protection is a double-edged sword."

"Too much protection can stifle innovation."

"But without any protection, innovation can also be stifled," Teacher Xu said, "Therefore, after many social experiments, the current situation has been established."

"Cultivation methods, whether basic or high-rank, are completely open, and a large number of first-rank secret manuals are also completely free."

"This is enough to allow ordinary people to try the martial path for free," Teacher Xu said.

"For most people, reaching the third stage in skill would be extremely difficult."

"If one truly is a martial path genius," Teacher Xu said, "with astonishing talent for technique or an extraordinary body, then the nation or even the Seven Star Alliance have various channels to replace talents, providing cultivation resources for free."

"Striving to discover all martial path geniuses is the purpose of all human civilization forces."

"Like you, being offered a contract by the Martial Hall in advance is one of the channels for discovery," Teacher Xu smiled and said, "Similarly, students at Martial Arts University have free access to many second-rank and even third-rank secret manuals in the 'Martial Knowledge Web'."

"The cost of the secret manual royalties is paid by the nation on behalf of Martial Arts University students."

Li Yuan suddenly understood.

The nation, or rather the whole of human civilization, had long considered this point.

"With copyright fees."

"Under the drive of interest, powerful martial artists are more motivated to create new skill secret manuals and cultivation methods," Teacher Xu said, "Paying copyright fees is also an encouragement for martial artists to share their creations instead of hoarding them."

"With mutual exchanges, every martial artist can learn the fruits of others' wisdom, and they would grow faster."

Teacher Xu looked at Li Yuan and said, "In the future, if you create some powerful skill secret manuals, you can also upload them to the Culture Hall and collect copyright fees."

"You can make money while sitting at home."

Li Yuan smiled, his mind drifting to the many unique skills and teachings in history that were passed on to only one or two people per generation and would be lost if any mishaps occurred.

The continuous strengthening of human civilization comes from the passing down of knowledge from generation to generation.

The martial path is the same.

"With your current martial arts realm, learning two second-rank secret manuals is enough," Teacher Xu instructed, "Wait until your spear technique and movement technique both break through to the fourth level, then it won't be too late to learn more second-rank secret manuals."

"Yes," Li Yuan nodded.

Without a high enough martial arts realm, trying to learn everything without mastering anything is a joke.

"Of course."

"In your cultivation plan, the monthly guidance from a master doesn't need to be included," Teacher Xu said, "My guidance will suffice."

"If you've purchased the copyright to a manual, my guidance won't count as a copyright infringement."

"Not seeking guidance from a Prime Warrior?" Li Yuan hesitated slightly.

Getting guidance from Teacher Xu was undoubtedly a great opportunity, but Teacher Xu was only 19th level.

Could he really match the guidance of a second-rank Prime Warrior?

"What, you doubt your teacher?" Teacher Xu, seeing through Li Yuan's thoughts, revealed a smile, "Rest assured, my martial arts realm is not weaker than most Prime Warriors, if back then... Never mind, let's not talk about that."

Teacher Xu suddenly sighed, his smile fading, seemingly with a hint of lost interest.

"Teacher, I was wrong," Li Yuan quickly apologized.

"It's not your fault, it has nothing to do with you," Teacher Xu shook his head, then continued, "From now on, on Wednesday evenings in my office, I will guide you once in spear technique and movement technique."

"No extra charge."

"Thank you, Teacher," Li Yuan felt grateful in his heart.

Once a week?

"However, the twice-a-week martial artist sparring sessions for actual combat, you need to replace someone yourself," Teacher Xu said, "I don't have that much time."

"Yes," Li Yuan nodded.

Having the teacher personally take time out to guide him in spear technique and movement technique was very fortunate.

He couldn't ask for more.

You should know that to invite a second-rank Prime Warrior for guidance would cost 100,000 cultivation points for just one session.

Suddenly.

"Hmm?" Teacher Xu frowned deeply, gritting his teeth, showing a look of pain.

"What's wrong, Teacher?" Li Yuan was shocked.

"It's nothing," Teacher Xu said somberly, his voice even seemed a bit shaky, "An old problem from the battlefield."

"Alright, that's enough."

"Martial arts cultivation, no matter how much guidance you receive, ultimately relies on your own practice," Teacher Xu said.

"Don't worry, I'll just take some medicine and it will be fine, you should go back, and think it over," Teacher Xu said, enduring the pain.

"Yes," Li Yuan left with worry in his heart.

But he was smart and noticed that Teacher Xu didn't want to show his vulnerability in front of him.

Once Li Yuan left the office.

"The effects of the medicine are lasting shorter and shorter," Teacher Xu clenched his teeth, "I couldn't help but use Origin Power to demonstrate to Li Yuan just now, and it accelerated the onset."

Teacher Xu slowly walked to the rest area, taking out a delicately packaged small bottle from the refrigerator.

He opened it and took the medication.

The pain in his body quickly eased.

"It's unknown how many more years I can live," Xu Bo murmured, a hint of ferocity in his eyes, "If I'm really close to death, I will apply to return to the Star Realm."

"I, Xu Bo,"

"if I am to die, must die on the battlefield."

It was quite a while before Xu Bo entirely recovered. Suddenly his smart ring vibrated with an unread message.

"Hmm? A message from Li Yuan? Asking about my health?" Xu Bo felt a touch of warmth in his heart, "This kid, he does care."

Xu Bo guessed that if he didn't respond, Li Yuan would likely come to his office to check on him again.

"Black Dog,"

"reply to Li Yuan saying I'm fine," Xu Bo said sternly.

"Yes, Master."

...

"It's good that Teacher is fine," Li Yuan, in the school's independent Martial Arts Room, received Xu Bo's reply.

He turned off his smart ring.

"Let's enter the virtual network." Li Yuan entered the virtual network capsule beside him.

Connecting consciousness, he directly arrived in the Starfire Space.

"Master," a purple-clad young girl appeared out of thin air.

"Use Cultivation Points to purchase the Second Rank Secrets Manual 'Dragon Movement Technique' and the Second Rank Secrets Manual 'Stellar Spear Technique'," Li Yuan immediately said, "Also, exchange points for an Origin Power Essence Pill."

Basic vitality medicine? There were still a few bottles at home, no rush to buy them.

"Master, please confirm the purchase list." Xiao Yu waved her hand, and a screen appeared in front of Li Yuan, listing the items.

Li Yuan glanced over and confirmed they were correct.

"Confirmed."

Quickly,

"Obtained use rights for the Second Rank Secrets Manual 'Dragon Movement Technique', registered in the Martial Arts Hall and Culture Hall, inquiry code is... 1 million Cultivation Points deducted."

"Obtained use rights for the Second Rank Secrets Manual 'Stellar Spear Technique'... 1 million Cultivation Points deducted."

"Received one Origin Power Essence Pill, please fill in the delivery address... 100,000 points deducted."

Li Yuan directly received three reminders from 'Starfire Space'.

"Delivery address, let's go with home," Li Yuan pondered a moment, "As for the delivery time, let it be ten o'clock tonight."

As a Martial Hall L3 level member, he could have delivery within 24 hours.

"Master, the Origin Power Essence Pill will be delivered to your door tomorrow," Xiao Yu said cheerfully, "According to copyright law, all Secret Manuals above the Second Rank must be studied in the virtual space; there are no physical copies."

"Master, you now have access to all the data of the Secret Manuals and may choose to enter your personal space to study."

"Alright," Li Yuan nodded slightly.

If there were physical manuals, private dissemination would be too easy. If disseminated through the virtual network?

The entire virtual network is under the supervision of human civilization.

"I have to see just how impressive these Second Rank Secrets Manuals are," Li Yuan thought with anticipation.

...

While Li Yuan was studying the Skill Secret Manuals in the virtual network,

in the office of Song Yi on the twelfth floor of the Starry Sky Martial Hall's Guan Shan branch.

"Pong~"

The teacup was crushed instantaneously, and tea splashed everywhere.

But Song Yi, dressed exquisitely, didn't seem to mind, the glass shards not harming her fingers in the slightest.

Song Yi's eyes were piercingly sharp, with a hint of coldness, "What did you say? Li Yuan refused tomorrow's meeting? Why?"

"Yes."

Zhong Cheng, clothed in black, stood, replying with a wry smile, "I only received Li Yuan's message this afternoon. I sent him a message, he didn't respond."

"So, I contacted his uncle, and only then I found out he has already been signed by the Starfire Martial Hall in advance," Zhong Cheng said softly.

"Starfire Martial Hall?"

"They poached the person I had my eye on?" A flicker of anger crossed Song Yi's eyes, "We invited him first, how could the Starfire Martial Hall be so unscrupulous?"

"And this Li Yuan!"

"We already had an arrangement, and he suddenly refused, without giving you a reason," Song Yi's gaze turned icy, "Is this the promising candidate you spoke of?"

At that moment, a trace of dissatisfaction surged in Zhong Cheng's heart.

Blaming me for your plan?

"Hall Master Song," Zhong Cheng said softly, "As far as I know, there's a good reason why Li Yuan directly turned us down."

"A good reason? Whose side are you on, defending him?" Song Yi glared at Zhong Cheng with an extremely sharp look.

"The Starfire Martial Hall offered him a Grade B contract," Zhong Cheng said quickly.

Song Yi's pupils constricted.

In the room, there was a deadly silence.

After a long pause,

"Get out," Song Yi suddenly ordered harshly.

"Yes," Zhong Cheng nodded, turned, and left, apparently even forgetting to shut the door.