High-Level Martial Era
Chapter 71: 69 All Things Have Spirits

"President Li? An S-Level Special Training Contract?" Li Yuan looked at the two people before him.

In the cage turmoil, his display of skill must have attracted the attention of the top five schools.

It's just that Kunlun Martial Arts University's arrival seemed too fast.

After all, the entire cage chaos had just ended less than two minutes ago.

What Li Yuan did not know was that during the fifth round of the cage chaos, President Li and Teacher Fan Jin had already changed their minds and set out early, rushing over at high speed in a flyer.

"I…" Li Yuan hesitated before saying, "Senior fellows, I cannot confirm your identities."

Logically, observers from the top five famous schools should not arrive so quickly.

And signing contracts usually happened after the five-day invitation event was over.

President Li and Fan Jin exchanged a glance and could not help but laugh.

"Li Yuan, I am Fan Jin."

The elder-looking Fan Jin said with a smile, "A few days ago, one of your elders should have specifically submitted your information to our Kunlun Martial University."

"My elder?" Li Yuan immediately thought of Lord Wan.

Before coming here, Teacher Xu Bo had mentioned this matter.

"Precisely because information was submitted, before leaving for Jiangbei from Kunlun Martial University, President Li had already included you in the A-Level student list," said Fan Jin, speaking confidently with a smile. "It's just that at the time, we didn't know your skill had broken through."

"An A-Level from the start?" Li Yuan felt surprised internally.

He knew about the S-Level and A-Level distinctions for the pre-selected list after Lin Lanyue and he had talked about it.

A-Level was already very high.

"Just now, in the cage chaos, as soon as we discovered your skill had broken through, we immediately decided to upgrade to an S-Level Special Training Contract," said Fan Jin with gravity. "And then we rushed over."

The result was the same, but Fan Jin had 'optimized' the process significantly.

"S-Level?" Li Yuan held his breath.

He had mostly believed the identities of the others and could sense how much Kunlun Martial Arts University valued him.

Suddenly.

"Beep~" Li Yuan's smart bracelet trembled, and he glanced at it subconsciously: "Kunlun Martial Arts University's S-level Special Training Invitation."

The message was from the official source of Jiangbei Martial Arts University.

"You should have received the invitation by now." President Li said with a smile. "Do you believe us now?"

"President Li, Teacher Fan, I apologize," said Li Yuan, full of remorse. "Senior fellows, please come in."

"It's fine, being cautious is good," President Li responded with a smile. "There are roommates in your room. Let's go into this conference room and talk alone."

"Great, please lead the way, senior," said Li Yuan decisively.

Since the last invitation from Martial Hall and the guidance from his uncle Li Changzhou, Li Yuan had thought things through very thoroughly... Sometimes, good opportunities only come once or twice.

Yes, his talent was not bad, but ultimately, he lacked suitable high-rank cultivation methods, and his physical quality had not even reached level 9.

Now, a president from Kunlun Martial University had personally come, showing how much they valued him.

If he still put on airs, that would be foolish.

A genius? That's not the same as a strong warrior.

..."Li Yuan."

"Li Yuan," Gu Qianghan walked out of the resting area with a freshly cut cantaloupe, puzzled, "Where has he gone?"

...

At the end of the corridor on the same floor, there was a small conference room.

"Sit down," President Li said with a smile.

Teacher Fan Jin closed the door, drawing the curtains over the windows.

Li Yuan obediently sat down.

"On the list we prepared at Kunlun Martial University, there are four S-Level students so far," President Li said with a smile.

He was a burly man with a bald head, and his smile gave off a kind demeanor.

"Tian Dazhuang, Wu Dongdong, Wang Yu, and you," President Li continued. "However, we came to replace you first, and our expectations of you are the highest."

"You sought me out first?" Li Yuan was a bit hesitant.

The four S-Level students President Li spoke of were exactly the four Fourth Level skill students.

"Why?" Li Yuan asked, puzzled. "I haven't awakened Martial Spirit, so logically, my comprehensive evaluation should be much worse than theirs, right?"

"Your spiritual power talent is stronger," Teacher Fan Jin, who also took a seat, said with a smile. "President Li is a 29th Rank Prime Warrior, but his spiritual power is extremely strong, comparable to a 30+ rank Flying Heaven Warrior. Hence, he can accurately sense the strength of your spiritual power."

Li Yuan's pupils constricted slightly.

"Your spiritual power should be comparable to a 15th Level Martial Artist," President Li said with a laugh.

Li Yuan nodded slightly. It was indeed accurate.

Of course, Li Yuan was not surprised; Lord Wan had been able to sense it previously and although half a year had passed, his strength had grown and his mental concentration was stronger.

But the strength of President Li was clearly much greater than that of Lord Wan.

Spiritual power, comparable to a Flying Heaven Warrior?

"If we follow the unified evaluation standards of the Seven Star Alliance, categorizing you as A+ would be more appropriate, but I think you qualify for S-Level," President Li said with a laugh.

"Why?" Li Yuan became even more perplexed.

"Li Yuan, let me first tell you some things, and you will understand," said Fan Jin.

"First Rank Martial Artists have much stronger physical qualities than ordinary people," Fan Jin spoke slowly. "But if they only hold cold weapons, they can still be killed by firearms, which you should understand."

Li Yuan nodded, recalling the wartime footage he had seen of the Rob Sea.

First-Rank Star Realm Creatures were quite fragile in the face of a metal storm created by firearms.

It's difficult for carbon-based flesh to directly withstand firearms.

"Second Rank Martial Artists can directly use Origin Power, making it very difficult to kill them with firearms," Fan Jin continued. "That's why top martial arts schools like the top five famous schools, or the top martial arts institutes in various countries, or the three top famous schools in Blue Star, all aim to cultivate Prime Warriors essentially."

"Prime Warriors are the backbone of warriors who venture deeply into various Star Realms and kill Star Realm Creatures," Fan Jin stressed solemnly.

Li Yuan nodded involuntarily.

He had watched many documentaries; those who ventured deep into exploration were usually warriors above level 20.

At least a Fifteenth Level Martial Artist.

"Becoming a Prime Warrior is extremely difficult," Fan Jin sighed lightly, "First and foremost, physical quality must reach Level Nineteen, followed by skill and spiritual power."

"Actually, everything has a spirit, and every living being has Spiritual Nature, but there must be a specialized medium to directly absorb Origin Power from the universe at an early stage," stated Fan Jin.

"High Rank Cultivation Methods?" Li Yuan felt an inkling of understanding.

"Correct," nodded Fan Jin, "Hundreds of years ago, in the era of the Star Bridge, early Martial Artists had no Cultivation Techniques. They relied solely on consuming a massive amount of Heavenly Materials Treasures, forcibly stacking their Physical Quality to Level Nineteen."

"Relying solely on consumption?" Li Yuan nodded slightly, familiar with that part of history.

"Among the outstanding ones, their skill was refined, and their spiritual power was strong, eventually becoming Prime Warriors," Fan Jin continued, "Once you become a Prime Warrior, you'll understand... Prime Warriors can sense Origin Power directly, and they can absorb it without any Cultivation Technique."

Li Yuan nodded gently.

This point, had also been mentioned in books, and it was one of the reasons why Second Rank Martial Artists were known as Prime Warriors.

"However, the encumbrance of using only the body's natural abilities to absorb Origin Power makes evolution too slow; reaching Level Twenty-Nine in one's lifetime is difficult."

"Therefore, the first generation of Prime Warriors began to attempt to create Cultivation Techniques."

"Without much guidance."

"With no experience, many of the first generation Prime Warriors died due to their bodies exploding, with a mortality rate exceeding 99%," Fan Jin sighed slightly.

"99%?" Li Yuan was shocked; such a mortality rate was too high.

"The mortality rate was extremely high, but in the end, a very small number of people successfully created rough Cultivation Techniques that were suited to themselves, and reached Level Twenty-Nine," Fan Jin said.

"However, each person's Physique is different, and the self-created Cultivation Techniques of Prime Warriors are rough, basically only suitable for themselves."

"Then, among the Prime Warriors at Level Twenty-Nine, a very small number broke the shackles of life and became Flying Heaven Warriors."

Li Yuan listened with bated breath.

He had seen similar history in textbooks, but it wasn't as clearly stated as by Fan Jin.

"What happened later?" Asked Li Yuan.

"Flying Heaven Warriors, their strength and realm have already exceeded the scope of ordinary life. They can fly and escape into the earth, enter space with their physical bodies, and can go without eating or drinking for life...

They already possess the capability to create universal Cultivation Techniques," Fan Jin said, "But in that era, there was still no talk of 'Spiritual Awakening,' and no one could absorb Origin Power before reaching Level Twenty."

Li Yuan nodded slightly.

Everyone has Spiritual Nature, but without Cultivation Techniques, Spiritual Nature is meaningless.

Early Flying Heaven Warriors created Cultivation Techniques that were only suitable for their own practice.

"Throughout civilization, the Seven Great Planets kept investing massive resources, continuously producing Prime Warriors who successfully created their own Cultivation Techniques; after many years, eventually, numerous Flying Heaven Warriors worked together to deduce the first universal High Rank Cultivation Technique, 'Southern Ming Myriad Waters Scripture,' about two hundred years ago."

"This made it a reality for ordinary people to absorb Origin Power."

"With a compatibility exceeding 85%, there is hope of Cultivation; with compatibility exceeding 90%, one can definitely cultivate."

"The birth rate of Martial Artists within civilization started to speed up," said Fan Jin, "First Rank Martial Artists rapidly increased in number, but the resources consumed for various Cultivation Methods began to decrease."

Li Yuan inwardly sighed.

For someone like himself, relying purely on consuming various cultivation treasures was an astonishing use of resources.

It's not of great consequence for one individual.

But what if there were ten, a hundred thousand, or a million? The entire human civilization couldn't afford it.

In the early days of human civilization, there was no choice; if you wanted to become a Prime Warrior, you had to clash head-on!

With High Rank Cultivation Methods, ordinary people could cultivate and absorb Origin Power from the universe.

Thus, on the path to becoming a Prime Warrior, the resources consumed could be reduced by at least ninety percent.

"Without a suitable High Rank Cultivation Method, Prime Warriors seeking to break through to become Flying Heaven Warriors must create their own, and any carelessness can lead to death."

"Now, with rich experience, the success rate has increased tenfold, but the mortality rate of Prime Warriors creating their own methods still exceeds 90%," Fan Jin shook his head slightly, "If one has a suitable High Rank Cultivation Method right from the start, the transition from Prime Warrior to Flying Heaven Warrior at most fails to break through, one wouldn't die due to cultivation."

"Precisely because of this, eighty years ago, the system of Martial Arts University entrance exams began."

"Considering the whole civilization, we prioritize the training of young people with a high compatibility with High Rank Cultivation Methods."

"This is what is called 'Spiritual Awakening.'"

"It reduces resource consumption and reduces the casualties caused by Prime Warriors' creation of methods, but it leads to the birth of more Flying Heaven Warriors."

"The more Flying Heaven Warriors there are, the more efficiently they can deduce universal High Rank Cultivation Methods."

"Over the past eighty years, human civilization's top Martial Artists have successively deduced four new High Rank Cultivation Methods," Fan Jin looked at Li Yuan, "enabling more and more people to utilize their Spiritual Nature."

Li Yuan fully understood.

It wasn't that human civilization did not want to cultivate ordinary people.

But accumulating resources to become Prime Warriors bore a heavy toll, and creating methods resulted in a 90% mortality rate.

Not to mention becoming a Flying Heaven Warrior... The input and output were not proportional at all.

With the same resources used to nurture people who could directly cultivate High Rank Cultivation Methods, the number of strong individuals born would be many times greater.

"So."

"Spiritual Nature bonus points, at its core, is it to discourage ordinary people? To make them give up the dream of Martial Arts University?" Li Yuan pondered.

Online, society had never ceased debating the 10% additional points for Spiritual Nature.

But this policy had remained unshaken for eighty years.

"Correct," nodded Fan Jin, "This policy might seem somewhat unfair to ordinary people, but from the standpoint of the entire civilization, the benefits outweigh the drawbacks."

"After all, Star Realm Creatures keep emerging, threatening our entire civilization," Fan Jin declared, "We must maximize resource utilization."

"Then why list me as an 'S' rank?" Li Yuan asked in confusion.

"Because your talent is high enough," declared President Li with firm conviction.

High enough talent? Li Yuan was taken aback.

"Everyone has Spiritual Nature."

"Talent is nothing more than Physique Talent, Spiritual Power Talent, and Comprehension Talent," President Li said with a smile, "Without guidance from High Rank Cultivation Methods or ingestion of remarkable treasures, your Physical Quality still improves extremely quickly, which indicates your Physique Talent is top-notch."

"Spiritual Power Talent, top-notch."

"Most critically, you've achieved Fourth Level skill at seventeen and a half years old, indicating your Comprehension Talent is also top-notch."

"What you're lacking is just the Cultivation Technique."

"And in Law Creation, Comprehension is the most essential requirement."