Chapter 18: 16: Independent Martial Arts Room (Requesting Monthly Votes for Third Update)
This past half-month.
Li Yuan, aside from diligently practicing his cultivation, had been closely following the war in Northern Border Province.
After all, his uncle was constructing defense facilities in Northern Border Province.
According to the news, the human allied forces were winning victory after victory, each time with great success, causing significant casualties among the Star Realm Creatures.
However, Li Yuan keenly sensed that something was amiss.
"Battle reports can deceive, but the front line won't," Li Yuan murmured as he ate, glancing at the news playing on the electronic screen.
"Based on past experiences, if our human civilization truly had the advantage, then after facing the first wave of attacks, we would quickly organize a large army and Martial Artists to infiltrate deep into the heart of the Star Realm..." Though Li Yuan's science grades were average, his humanities grades were quite good.
He was particularly adept at both history and geography.
Especially modern history.
"The war in the Rob Sea Star Realm, it's been half a month, and it seems like the front line has been stuck in a tug of war at the several major entrances to the Star Realm," Li Yuan said, worry filling his eyes.
What does that indicate?
The human allied forces have been unable to push back!
The war, it must be very fierce.
"I hope my uncle can come back safely," Li Yuan thought to himself. These days, his uncle would occasionally call or send messages, telling him not to worry.
Sigh!
"Old Zhou, Yan Zhou, I've finished eating—I'm heading out first," Li Yuan said, picking up his meal box and preparing to walk toward the collection table.
"Brother Yuan, wait for us—we're about to finish, too," Zhou Qi called out. "Let's go to the Martial Arts Room together."
"I'm heading to the Elite Building, it's not on the way," Li Yuan said softly.
The Guan Mountain District's top high school covered a vast area, with the teaching buildings divided into four types: the Cultural Building, Martial Hall, Office Building, and Elite Building.
The so-called Elite Building consisted of three extra-large Martial Arts Rooms and dozens of independent Martial Arts Rooms.
It was specifically for the use of students from the three Elite Classes ranging from freshman to senior year.
In total, there were less than two hundred students.
"Going to the Elite Building?" Zhou Qi and Yan Zhou were caught off guard for a moment.
"Looking for someone? Wan Xiao?" Yan Zhou asked, puzzled.
"From now on, I'll be training there," Li Yuan pondered before saying: "The school approved an independent Martial Arts Room for me. I'll practice there during Martial Arts self-study from now on."
Martial Arts classes only happened every other day for their class.
The scholarship, if the school didn't publicize it, no one would know—Li Yuan wasn't about to invite envy by revealing it.
But an independent Martial Arts Room? It was there for all to see; it was bound to spread sooner or later, so Li Yuan decided to just tell them upfront.
"An independent Martial Arts Room? Holy shit!"
"Is it Brother Yuan's?"
"Definitely approved by Teacher Xu!"
"Brother Yuan is awesome!" Yan Zhou, Zhou Qi, and the rest of the dozen or so boys exploded with excitement, shouting fervently.
This immediately drew the attention of many other students around them.
"Keep it down, I'm only telling you guys—don't spread the word," Li Yuan said in a low voice.
"Understood."
"Brother Yuan, we want to check it out; I've never been inside an independent Martial Arts Room before."
"An independent Martial Arts Room, I've never even dared to dream of that," the boys lowered their voices, but their curiosity remained.
They didn't envy Li Yuan; even if a few of them had thoughts, they weren't foolish enough to show it.
After all, their group of more than a dozen boys had Li Yuan as their implicit leader.
Moreover, they all knew that Li Yuan's Martial Path grades were excellent, with his bare score already ranked in the top ten of their grade.
"I haven't been there either," more people shouted.
"Alright, I'll take you guys sometime in the future," Li Yuan said with a smile. "But not today, it's my first time going, and I need to get familiar with it."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
...
The Elite Building and the senior year Martial Hall were separated by a small playground, and one had to cross the Office Building to get there—it was relatively independent.
As a result, the area was very quiet.
Tree-lined roads flanked both sides, with a gentle breeze blowing, quite refreshing.
"The Elite Building," Li Yuan quickly arrived at the bottom of the grand building, glancing around, noting the rather classic decoration.
In front of the building stood a statue of a person.
"Dongfang Ji." Li Yuan recognized the statue.
The first strongest of human civilization, the strongest in Xia Country, founder of the Starfire Martial Hall... he was also the first extraordinary martial artist to walk out alive from the center of a nuclear explosion.
He was the idol Li Yuan admired most.
"The Martial Path is me." As Li Yuan approached the statue, he saw the famous quote engraved beneath it.
At one o'clock in the afternoon, it was time to return to the martial arts classroom for self-study practice, so there were quite a few students coming and going.
However, nobody paid much attention to Li Yuan.
First-year students thought Li Yuan was in second or third year, while third-year students thought he was a second-year student.
Perhaps, Li Yuan had a little fame in the third year, but it was limited to being 'famous by name'.
Apart from his classmates, students from other classes rarely recognized him.
Suddenly.
"Li Yuan." A voice tinged with surprise called out, and Li Yuan turned his head to look.
A burly figure resembling a bear, dressed in martial arts attire, walked up the steps.
"Wan Xiao, long time no see," Li Yuan said with a smile, waving his hand.
The person who came was none other than Wan Xiao, who, after awakening his Martial Spirit, had transferred to study in the Elite Class.
"It's been a long time indeed," Wan Xiao said with a smile.
Although they were in the same school, being in different classes made it very difficult to encounter each other.
"How's the Elite Class?" Li Yuan asked with a smile.
"Not bad," Wan Xiao nodded. "The high-rank cultivation methods are indeed extraordinary, everyone in the class is very skilled, and sparring with each other has great effects..."
"You'll have to work hard, don't let me surpass you in the next exam," Wan Xiao said half-jokingly.
"I'm waiting for it," Li Yuan said with a smile. Their relationship was good, and he didn't take it as a provocation.
"By the way, I haven't asked you yet, what are you doing at the Elite Building?" Wan Xiao asked, puzzled. "Looking for someone?"
"Looking for a classroom," Li Yuan replied with a smile. "How do I get to Martial Arts Room 4011?"
"4011?" Wan Xiao was startled. "The fourth floor? That's a senior-year independent martial arts room, but room 11 hasn't been open, has it? There's nobody there."
"There's nobody yet." Li Yuan said with a smile. "Once I arrive, there will be."
Wan Xiao's pupils narrowed. He wasn't stupid and couldn't help saying, "Your independent martial arts room?"
Li Yuan nodded with a smile, "It's my first time here, so you can show me the way."
...
On the fourth floor, in front of the independent Martial Arts Room 4011.
Watching Li Yuan open the door to the martial arts room with 'face recognition,' Wan Xiao finally believed what Li Yuan had said was true.
His face still couldn't hide his shock.
"Impressive, was it granted by Instructor Xu?" Wan Xiao said, standing at the entrance to the martial arts room.
Li Yuan simply smiled.
"That's right," Wan Xiao continued, "Aside from not awakening your Martial Spirit, based on raw scores, you indeed qualify to be here."
Deep down, Wan Xiao truly admired Li Yuan.
Li Yuan stood inside the martial arts room, looking around. The room was about one hundred and fifty square meters and very clean.
He drew open the curtains.
Sunlight poured in, making the room bright.
Fist strength testing area, life vitality detector, projector, camera... even a virtual network pod.
Except for the space issue not having a speed test track, the room had all the technological equipment one could ask for.
"Starting today, this is my independent martial arts room?" There was a trace of joy in Li Yuan's eyes.
With an independent martial arts room, there would be no disturbances, and naturally, his training efficiency would be higher.
Wan Xiao stood at the door of the martial arts room with a hint of envy in his eyes.
An independent martial arts room? He actually didn't care about it!
His family's martial arts room was not inferior to the school's independent martial arts room.
What Wan Xiao cared about was the honor that came with it.
Suddenly.
"Wan Xiao, what are you doing here? Who let you open the door to Martial Arts Room 4011?" An icy voice echoed down the corridor.