High-Level Martial Era

"Protected by law?" Wan Xiao was stunned for a moment, then gave a thumbs up, "Li Yuan, I'm impressed by you."

"To accomplish great things, you have to study the law first," Li Yuan said with a smile.

Immediately afterward, Li Yuan shifted the topic, "Lin Lanyue and Gu Qianghan are siblings?"

"Yeah," Wan Xiao said, "They seem to be cousins, not bearing the same surname anyway. They have a good relationship. Gu Qianghan isn't afraid of anyone except his sister."

"According to him, it's because he can't beat his sister that he's afraid. Once he can, he definitely won't be anymore," Wan Xiao said with a laugh, "But I feel like he will never be able to beat her in this lifetime."

"Even if it were you in full armor combat, I reckon you wouldn't stand a chance against Lin Lanyue," Wan Xiao said seriously.

Li Yuan nodded slightly.

If you say I had a bit of fame in my senior year, then Lin Lanyue was truly a household name.

Being beautiful was just a small part.

In the entire Guan Mountain District's Number One High School, with thousands of students, could you not find a few beautiful girls? As a key provincial school, there was never talk of 'campus belles or beaux.'

Most students actually don't pay too much attention to other people in their class, let alone in other classes.

Lin Lanyue, as the sole 'public figure,' was mainly because of her cliff-like leading martial arts achievements.

The absolute first.

Since her freshman year, in every large or small test involving martial arts, she was essentially always at the top.

At the end of her sophomore year, she scored 875 points raw, and her overall score was even more astounding at 962.5, leaving the second place trailing by more than fifty points.

The only exception was the last martial arts skills test of her sophomore year.

For the first time, it was taken by Li Yuan.

"Full armor combat?" Li Yuan pondered for a moment: "What's her Physical Quality level?"

"It should be over 8.0 levels," Wan Xiao said, "That's my guess, since I haven't had any minor tests in the Elite Class since I joined."

Li Yuan nodded slightly.

Based on Lin Lanyue's Physical Quality scores from last term, along with her rate of progress, you could roughly estimate... she should be between 8.0 and 8.3 levels.

This was already terrifying.

By the college entrance exam standards, Physical Quality has a full score of 500 points, 10.0 levels is the full mark.

9.0 levels are 470 points.

8.0 levels are 440 points.

7.0 levels are 400 points.

6.0 levels are 360 points.

5.0 levels are 300 points.

"At least 8.0 levels? Given her rate of improvement, by the time of the college entrance exam, her Physical Quality might have a chance to reach 9.0 levels," Li Yuan thought with a silent sigh, "No wonder everyone says she has the potential to be admitted to one of the top three martial arts universities in the world, Starry Sky University."

"The world's top three martial arts universities – Starry Sky University, Starfire University, and Black Stone University – are better than the five famous universities in Xia Country," he added.

Li Yuan never dared to underestimate others.

Lin Lanyue, in terms of talent, was one of the most formidable among the tens of thousands of senior students in Guan Mountain District; her family background was also excellent, and crucially, she herself was diligent enough... A true hard-working martial arts prodigy.

"Teacher Xu in the Elite Class uses your spear technique as a benchmark," Wan Xiao said with a smile, "But he never mentioned your scores, and I haven't leaked your last test spear technique score either. Lin Lanyue probably doesn't know it yet."

Li Yuan nodded slightly.

Martial arts skills had a full score of 400 points; according to the college entrance exam standards, 320 and 360 are major thresholds, which are hard to cross.

"To exceed 320 points, your martial arts skills should be at the Second Stage," Li Yuan silently contemplated, "To surpass 360 points, both the spear technique and movement technique should probably be at the Third Stage."

As for what's required for a full score? Li Yuan was not clear about that.

Li Yuan also didn't ask his teacher Xu Bo, so as not to give the impression that he was aiming too high prematurely.

"In full armor combat, her Physical Quality is nearly two levels higher than yours; your chances of winning are slim," Wan Xiao said, with a hint of excitement, "But in virtual combat? Heh, I believe in your spear technique."

"When it's time for the Zhou Tian fight, I want to come and watch. Remember to send me the room number," Wan Xiao said.

"Alright," Li Yuan replied with a nod.

...

After seeing Wan Xiao off, Li Yuan closed the door to the Martial Arts Room.

All became completely quiet.

"Xiao Yu, connect via Bluetooth, take over the smart management authority of Martial Arts Room 4011, the authorization code is..." Li Yuan suddenly began speaking.

Rapidly.

"Master, I have taken control of the Martial Arts Room authority. I'm very pleased to serve you," a gentle female voice rang out.

"Open the martial arts skills evaluation system."

"Open the video analysis system," Li Yuan continued, then opened the nearby weapons cabinet.

It was filled with a large number of weapons, among which there were six long spears, each varying in length and weight.

Li Yuan took out the regulation long spear he used the most and placed it on the weapons rack beside him.

Then, he began to silently practice the "Solid Rock Cultivation Technique."

"A bet of two thousand Blue Star Coins?" Li Yuan let his thoughts drift as he felt the subtle changes in his muscles and sinews, all the while pondering the events of the day.

Li Yuan had never really taken this match to heart; he was never worried about losing.

Losing was not shameful.

The other was the top student of his grade, a martial arts prodigy.

Win or lose? As long as it led to progress in his martial arts and didn't result in any losses, what did winning or losing matter?

"Dongfang Ji, the strongest warrior of human civilization, also lost more than once on his path to growth," Li Yuan reflected inwardly, "Martial path is my path; external things shall not disturb my inner peace."

"Failure will just be a stepping stone on the path to growth."

Li Yuan had read many biographies of Dongfang Ji.

The 'Martial Path is my path' proposed by him didn't mean that he himself represented the martial path, but rather 'Martial Path is the way I go.'

"As long as you devote yourself to the martial path, you needn't care about others' judgments, you don't have to mind their praise or scorn," Li Yuan's eyes were clear, "By following my own path, my heart and thoughts are the true essence of the martial path, and that is my way."

In simple terms, walk your own path and let others talk.

The martial path is about surpassing oneself.

"However,"

"College entrance examination admissions are determined by ranking, sparring with Lin Lanyue once will also let me know the current level of martial arts skills of these top senior students," Li Yuan pondered.

...

In the Martial Arts Room 4001.

"Sis, do you really want to compete with him? He doesn't lose anything if he loses," Gu Qianghan complained from the sideline.

"Two thousand Blue Star Coins doesn't mean much to me," said Lin Lanyue, her voice cold and clear as beads falling on a jade plate.

She was practicing a set of fist techniques, with each movement of her fists and palms subtly releasing a wave of air with a resonating sound.

"It's not about the money."

"It's about face," Gu Qianghan shook his head and said, "You're the top of the grade, while he's ranked only in the twenties. It would be so embarrassing to lose."

"Face?"

Lin Lanyue suddenly stopped her movements, her sharp gaze fixed on Gu Qianghan, "You practice the Martial Path for face?"

Gu Qianghan shook his head repeatedly, "Of course not, but..."

"Shut up."

Lin Lanyue frowned and said, "Aunt has spoiled you, you spar with people every day just to show off your strength, for face? No wonder you even dare to engage in private fights."

"Sis, I really won't do it again," Gu Qianghan quickly said, although in his heart he muttered to himself, 'Aren't you also challenging someone to a duel?'

"Don't think I don't know what you're thinking."

"I want to spar not because I want to defeat him, but because I want to see how good the spear technique that even Teacher Xu praised is," Lin Lanyue said coldly, "As for winning or losing?"

"If I lose, will it hinder me from getting into Starry Sky University?"

"It's two o'clock, go back to your Martial Arts Room and cultivate," Lin Lanyue said with a frown.

"Okay there," Gu Qianghan turned and left, unwilling to stay for another second.

...

Just before the end of class, inside Martial Arts Room 4011.

[Your Spear Technique realm has increased from 47% of the Third Stage to 48% of the Third Stage.]

Li Yuan suddenly became aware of the notification in his field of vision and abruptly stopped his spear.

"Improved by another one percent?"

"Ever since I created the 'Dragon Hidden in the Gorge' spear move, the progress of my spear technique seems to have accelerated," Li Yuan thought to himself, "However, to create the 'Myriad Mountains' move that I've been conceptualizing, it's probably going to take some more time."

Such moves that perfectly harness the body's strength become relatively easier to create after the first or second one.

Until one day when every move reaches Perfection, that will be the Fourth Level Spear Technique.

Before long.

Li Yuan walked out of the Elite Building. Before he reached the cafeteria, he saw a crowd of students gathering from afar.

It was Zhou Qi, Yan Zhou, and the others, seemingly having waited for a while.

"Brother Yuan, I heard you're going to compete with Lin Lanyue to decide who's number one in Martial Arts Skills?"

"No, I heard it's to determine the real number one in the grade."

"Huh? How come I heard that Brother Yuan was the one who challenged Lin Lanyue..."

"I heard if Brother Yuan wins, Lin Lanyue will agree to date him..." the crowd was buzzing with various comments.

Li Yuan: "..."

"Stop!" Li Yuan suddenly shouted, and the surroundings immediately quieted down.

"Who told you that?" Li Yuan asked.

"Wan Xiao, I guess, he was the first to talk about it in the class group. Didn't you see the group message, Brother Yuan?"

"Anyway, it has spread," Zhou Qi said with a grin, "Brother Yuan, tell us, do you really want to pursue Lin Lanyue?"

Everyone else was also curious.

"There is indeed a bet," Li Yuan frowned, "But it's just a normal spar, nothing else."

"I'm off to eat, I still have to cultivate later," Li Yuan turned and headed for the cafeteria.

The crowd exchanged glances.

A normal spar?

"If it's a normal spar, why would Brother Yuan keep it a secret? And hurry off so quickly," Zhou Qi shook his head, "There must be something going on."

"Hmm, I think so too."

...

Weekend, 1:50 PM.

On the virtual network of Blue Star, the Starry Skies Fighting Network.

Personal challenge platform, room number 8673795.

"369 spectators?" Li Yuan, incarnated in the virtual world with a long spear in hand, stood on the platform. He frowned upon seeing the number of spectators and the dense virtual figures filling the spectator platform displayed on the screen overhead.

"Brother Yuan, good luck, take down Lin Lanyue."

"Brother Yuan, smash her."

"Class Senior Third Year (2), Brother Yuan is the strongest."

"Lin Lanyue, beat Li Yuan to a pulp!"

"Li Yuan looks so arrogant, he's asking for a beating."

"I think he's pretty handsome, even more than both my boyfriends." Various messy comments were spreading from the spectator platform.

In the virtual world, people's speech and behavior tend to be more unrestrained than in reality.

Li Yuan didn't understand why a simple virtual fight had turned into this situation.

But now, Li Yuan just felt that the high realism of the virtual network might not be such a good thing after all.

"Li Yuan, prepare yourself," Lin Lanyue stood at the other end of the platform, holding a long sword.

Her virtual appearance was quite similar to her real-life appearance.

Only her hair had changed from long to short and dyed red, less solemn but more untamed.