Martial Arts Calendar, year 2045. December 26th.

Tianhai No. 2 Middle School, Elite Class

With a few minutes to go before Martial Arts class, Qiu Jie, bored, turned on the projector in the Martial Arts Classroom and put on the news.

"As the year comes to a close, Calamity Beast invasions have become more frequent and the situation is grim."

"Cang Province, Shu Province, North River Province..."

"At four o’clock this morning, a large-scale Disaster Beast Tide erupted in North River Province. An exceptionally large spatial rift formed, coalescing into a Space Gate that descended upon Blue Star."

"Countless Calamity Beasts launched an assault. It is reported that a King Level (Level 9) Calamity Beast, the Mountain-moving Ape, has been sighted."

"North River Province has suffered a severe blow, and the North River War Base has been hit hard. Fortunately, several Eighth Realm Martial Artists joined forces to severely wound it and drive it back to the Otherworld."

"Experts predict this battle will last for a month."

"As of now, over a thousand Martial Artists have been sacrificed, including one Seventh Realm Martial Artist and eight Sixth Realm Martial Artists..."

Qiu Jie watched the projection and sighed.

"This world isn’t safe. North River Province has it the worst. They get a large-scale Disaster Beast Tide every year, and not just one or two."

"Not to mention all the other Calamity Beast Tides, big and small. It’s like the Space Gates have a thing for North River Province."

Zhu Yuqi shook her head.

"We don’t have it much better. Our Cang Province is near the sea, so the Disaster Beast Tides never stop, all year round. The number of soldiers and Martial Artists sacrificed each year is incalculable."

"Countless families have lost their parents. My own distant uncle was sacrificed two years ago."

"We interrupt with this breaking news: A small Space Gate recently appeared in the city center of Quan City, triggering a minor Disaster Beast Tide."

"With the help of the local Martial Arts Dojo, the Space Gate has been closed and the Calamity Beasts have been swiftly suppressed. Losses were minimal."

"However, we urge all citizens in the cities of Cang Province to remain vigilant. If you encounter a Space Gate, please call..."

Everyone listened and silently memorized the number.

’This is the world of Martial Arts, and it’s not safe,’ Lin Qi thought as he did the same. ’I’m still too weak. I have to get stronger.’

’Cang Province hasn’t been safe recently, either.’

’I should tell Mom and Dad to be careful.’

"BRRRING!!"

The bell for class rang. Qiu Jie turned off the projector, and everyone waited for the teacher to arrive.

Just then, a burly figure walked into the classroom, radiating an invisible aura that made everyone instinctively clear a path.

Li Zhou swaggered into the center of the crowd.

Lin Qi felt a powerful aura. He turned his head and locked his gaze on Li Zhou.

’Strange,’ Lin Qi thought. ’Li Zhou’s aura is much stronger than before, like a wild beast’s.’

’Could it be...?’

An idea suddenly occurred to him.

Then, the others also noticed something different about Li Zhou.

Yu Jing’s eyes widened, and he couldn’t help but ask:

"Li Zhou, did you break through?!"

Li Zhou grinned smugly. "My Qi and Blood Value has been at 9.99 for a month. Isn’t it normal for me to break through?"

Hearing Li Zhou’s admission, the class erupted in an uproar.

"Damn, he really broke through."

"Li Zhou is a Second Realm Muscle Training Martial Artist now. We all knew this day was coming, though."

"But I didn’t expect it to come so soon."

"My Qi and Blood Value is only 7.5. I might not even break through to the Second Realm by the college entrance exams."

"The gap between people is even bigger than the gap between a person and a dog."

The students buzzed with discussion, their gazes fixed on Li Zhou, full of awe and envy.

Lin Qi and Jiangtao glanced at each other, both filled with surprise.

Lin Qi could feel the strength of Li Zhou’s Qi Blood; his power had clearly taken a huge leap forward.

’Trying to surpass Li Zhou anytime soon will be difficult.’

Nearby, Yu Jing heard this and, instead, a smile touched his lips. He thought to himself:

’My Qi and Blood Value has already reached 9.98!’

’I won’t need a month. I’ll be able to break through the First Realm into the Second Realm and surpass Li Zhou.’

"Li Zhou, how were you stuck at 9.99 for a whole month?" Jiangtao suddenly asked.

"Yeah!" The others were also puzzled.

A 0.01 increase in Qi and Blood Value should only take a few days.

Why was he stuck for so long?

"Quiet!"

A deep voice boomed from the doorway.

The imposing figure of Zhang Cheng strode into the classroom with the gait of a dragon and the step of a tiger, coming to the center of the crowd.

"Allow me to explain."

"This is all material that isn’t in the textbooks. Every one of you will eventually break through to the Second Realm, and you will all need this."

Zhang Cheng stood in the middle of the students and scanned the crowd. Seeing that all eyes were locked on him, he began to speak slowly.

"There are Nine Great Gates of Martial Arts, and each Realm is a Great Gate!"

"The First Realm is Muscle Training, and its focus is on tempering all the muscles in the body."

"Your usual Pile Skill and Five Elements Fist training tempers all the muscles of your body for maximum efficiency."

"However, during this tempering process, some of the body’s smaller muscles are very difficult to refine."

"This is why many people who reach a Qi and Blood Value of 9.99 get stuck on that last 0.01!"

"They need to find and fix these gaps, specifically refining those minor muscles. Everyone gets stuck at this step."

"One month is normal. Some people even get stuck for one or two months."

With Zhang Cheng’s explanation, everyone understood.

Yu Jing wasn’t concerned. He didn’t think he would need a month.

He wasn’t the only one who thought so.

Zhang Cheng shook his head. He could tell at a glance that they all thought they wouldn’t get stuck at the final step.

’Go ahead and be smug,’ he thought. ’When you get to 9.99, you’ll get stuck one by one and won’t make a peep.’

"Alright, dismiss! Go to your own training!"

"If you have questions, come find me."

As soon as Zhang Cheng dismissed the class, Li Zhou immediately went to ask him a question.

Many others also left, returning to their own Martial Arts Rooms.

Lin Qi remained where he was, digesting Zhang Cheng’s words and mulling them over, many ideas forming in his mind.

A moment later, when Zhang Cheng was alone, Lin Qi approached him.

"Teacher, you said that our usual Pile Skill and Five Elements Fist training tempers our major muscles, but the minor muscles aren’t fully tempered."

"When we practice Pile Skill, it’s the same for everyone, and the muscle tempering effect is the same."

"But the Five Elements Fist is different. I practice two forms, and every time I strike, I can feel the pull on different muscles, especially the minor ones."

"Does this mean that if I practice the Five Elements Training, simultaneously refining all the minor muscles, I can speed up my Qi Blood Refinement and not get stuck at 9.99?"

Lin Qi presented his idea.

Zhang Cheng was surprised. He said:

"You actually thought of that yourself?"

He then organized his thoughts and said:

"You’re right. Each style within the Five Elements Fist Technique tempers a different muscle region."

"But the five fist styles together cover almost every muscle in the body."

"When most people reach 9.99, there is a way to speed up the refinement process: by practicing other Fist Techniques."

"Given their Boxing Realm, learning other Fist Techniques is actually quite efficient."

Lin Qi nodded. It had been like that for him when he learned the Crane Form.

"But no matter how quickly you improve your Fist Technique, it still takes a significant amount of time to practice."

"This will inevitably delay your Martial Arts training."

"That’s why most people choose to just grind through it, so they don’t delay their Martial Arts."

"They know that even if they waste a little time, once they break through to the Second Realm, they’ll be able to use a Cultivation Technique to absorb Source Energy from nature and make up for it completely."

Lin Qi had a flash of insight. So that’s how it was.

"Lin Qi, I know your Comprehension is high, and you’ll most likely try Five Elements Training, but I still hope you don’t let it delay your Martial Arts practice."

Zhang Cheng patted Lin Qi’s shoulder, offering a word of caution.

Lin Qi nodded. "I was just asking!"

...

「Back in his own Martial Arts Room, 503.」

Lin Qi drank a bottle of Energy Potion and thought to himself:

’Teacher Zhang is afraid that if I do the Five Elements Training, it will delay my Spear Technique’s improvement.’

’But he doesn’t understand my Talent.’

Lin Qi knew his Boxing Realm was far superior to his spear skills. Even Li Zhou might not be his match in that regard.

The Five Elements Training wouldn’t delay his Spear Technique practice at all.

"HUUUH..."

Exhaling a breath of turbid air, Lin Qi began to assume a fist stance.

...