High-Level Martial Era

They had lunch.

Students exited the cafeteria in groups of three or two, walking along the tree-lined path, all heading towards the Martial Path building.

Senior year was exhausting, but during the rare free time at noon, most students still had smiles on their faces, brimming with youth and endless longing for the future.

This contrasted starkly with off-duty workers.

Li Yuan and Wan Xiao were on their way to the Elite Class building.

Zhou Qi and Yan Zhou? They took different paths, so they split up after eating.

"That's Li Yuan, isn't it?"

"Seems like it."

"Wan Xiao was in the same class as Li Yuan before; the two of them together, the other one must be Li Yuan."

"Is he the one who defeated Lin Lanyue?"

"I heard he likes Lin Lanyue, and he didn't hold back when striking." Many senior year (class one) students passing by took note of Li Yuan and Wan Xiao.

They all turned their heads to look.

"Li Yuan, after this fight, you've truly made a name for yourself." Wan Xiao said in a low voice with a laugh, "Just now in the cafeteria, there were quite a few people looking at you."

"The entire grade, even the freshmen and sophomores, are spreading your fame." Wan Xiao exaggerated.

"Envious, huh? Isn't it all because you were spreading rumors?" Li Yuan glanced at him, "Want to practice again?"

Wan Xiao choked.

Yesterday on the Starry Skies Fighting Network, he was 'sparring' with Li Yuan for three rounds.

It was a nightmare.

"I've said it wasn't me; it was Zhou Qi..." Wan Xiao shook his head repeatedly.

"You initiated it, and he amplified it," Li Yuan had a clear train of thought.

Wan Xiao suddenly changed the subject, "By the way, Li Yuan, do you really have no feelings for Lin Lanyue? I see a lot of boys in the Elite Class are interested in her, but only a few dare to express it. Could it be that she's not pretty?"

"Lin Lanyue is quite pretty," Li Yuan said casually, not noticing someone behind him.

After all, there are so many people coming and going in the school; one can't always be aware.

Suddenly.

Two girls walked past Li Yuan and Wan Xiao, one of them dressed in practice attire, tall and slender, her long hair tied up high, and she glanced at Li Yuan from the corner of her eye.

It was Lin Lanyue.

"Heard that? Wan Xiao did that on purpose," Li Yuan immediately understood.

"Li Yuan, don't be a coward, if you like her, then say it out loud." Wan Xiao yelled.

At the same time, he was already laughing madly as he ran to the back.

Li Yuan shook his head helplessly, not bothering to chase Wan Xiao, but instead waved his hand and greeted Lin Lanyue openly.

This scene made Lin Lanyue freeze for a moment.

Just now, she had indeed heard Li Yuan's words, but she didn't expect that Li Yuan would take the initiative to greet her.

Looking at Li Yuan's smiling face.

Lin Lanyue couldn't help but think of yesterday's virtual combat, subconsciously touching her chest.

"Lanyue, he's greeting you," the girl beside her, with waist-length hair, made faces, deliberately bumping Lin Lanyue's waist.

"Qiqi, let's go," Lin Lanyue said softly, her slender fingers straightening out a lock of hair by her temple, quickening her pace.

She didn't respond to Li Yuan.

Nor did she look at him again.

"This Lin Lanyue, she was quite polite the first time we met, but today she ignored my greeting," Li Yuan laughed.

He wasn't the type to shrink back in the presence of a pretty girl.

He watched Lin Lanyue and the others enter the Elite Class building.

"Li Yuan, how was my assist?" Wan Xiao popped up from somewhere.

"Nicely done."

"As a token of my gratitude, let's go to my Martial Arts Room first; I'll give you some free extra training," Li Yuan said, draping his arm around Wan Xiao's shoulder with a firm grip that he couldn't break free from.

"Li Yuan, let go of me, I'm not interested in you."

...

It was almost two o'clock.

Inside Martial Arts Room 4011, Li Yuan stood by the window, his gaze falling into the distance.

A fine layer of sweat was seeping through his skin.

Li Yuan had just finished half an hour of Basic Cultivation Method, and his physical quality had improved slightly.

Suddenly.

"Drip—" The sound of the smart bracelet rang.

Li Yuan walked to the side and picked up his bracelet, revealing a pleased expression, "Uncle?"

The call connected.

Hum~ A holographic screen projected in front of Li Yuan.

On the opposing screen was Li Changzhou, wearing a helmet.

"Uncle," Li Yuan said with a smile, a trace of worry in his heart settling down.

"Xiao Yuan."

"Your aunt has already called and told me," Li Changzhou said, sitting on a work chair and smiling, "Good lad, you've done well. I, your uncle, haven't reached 500 points in the Gold Stage on the Starry Skies Fighting Network in decades."

Li Yuan felt warmth in his heart.

It wasn't because he had surpassed his uncle, but because of his uncle's recognition.

"How are things on your end, uncle?" Li Yuan asked.

"No worries, don't be concerned," Li Changzhou replied with a smile, "The Starry Sky Martial Hall has received a large batch of people. I reckon in a few days, we'll be launching a major counteroffensive... I'm calling you because there's another matter, related to you."

"What is it, uncle?" Li Yuan asked immediately.

"It's about your Uncle Zhou. He specifically called me," Li Changzhou looked at Li Yuan, "It seems like he wants to recruit you into the Starry Sky Martial Hall."

"Join the Starry Sky Martial Hall?" Li Yuan was slightly surprised.

Human civilization had three great Martial Halls—Starry Sky Martial Hall, Black Stone Martial Hall, and Starfire Martial Hall.

Starfire Martial Hall, founded by Dongfang Ji, the strongest person in human civilization.

Black Stone Martial Hall, created by Lant, the second strongest person in human civilization.

The Starry Sky Martial Hall, in no way inferior to the other two great Martial Halls.

The three great Martial Halls represented the three most terrifying forces within the Martial Artist community and served as the main force against Star Realm Creatures.

The divisions of the three great Martial Halls were spread across the Seven Great Planets.

According to information Li Yuan gathered from the virtual network and books, at the Seven Star Alliance's highest council, the combined influence of the three great Martial Halls faintly eclipsed that of the major nations on each planet.

Within Xia Country's borders, only the divisions of Starry Sky Martial Hall and Starfire Martial Hall were present, and their power was immense.

"Aren't the three great Martial Halls only joined by Martial Artists?" Li Yuan expressed his confusion.

"You'd become a reserve member first," Li Changzhou said, "Your Uncle Zhou probably got wind through some channel that you've become a member of the Blue Star youth rankings... It's quite common."

Li Yuan listened attentively.

His Uncle Li Changzhou was a Martial Artist, and as far as Li Yuan knew, his uncle had apparently been a member of the Starry Sky Martial Hall in his early years and was well-versed in this area.

"There are three types of membership when joining a Martial Hall."

"One type is a registered member, which basically just means registering without many benefits or rights," Li Changzhou said with a laugh, "Like me, I'm still just a registered member of the Starry Sky Martial Hall even now."

"In name, all Martial Artists in human civilization will join one Martial Hall, but most Martial Artists maintain this kind of relationship with the Martial Halls."

"Registered members are not hindered from joining other big groups, some Martial Artist organizations, or from joining the military or special state departments."

Li Yuan nodded to himself. Registered?

It wasn't very useful.

"The second type is an internal member," Li Changzhou continued, "like being an employee of a company. You must sign a contract with the Martial Hall, get paid by the Martial Hall, be cultivated with the Martial Hall's resources, and in key moments, you must obey the Martial Hall's orders to fight."

"Like your Uncle Zhou, he is an internal member of the Starry Sky Martial Hall," Li Changzhou said.

Li Yuan nodded slightly.

Uncle Zhou had a very good relationship with Uncle Li Changzhou.

Every time he bought Basic Qi and Blood Elixirs, it was through Uncle Zhou, as he could get them at an internal price, with a 5 percent discount.

"Internal members are also ranked differently. If one's strength is too weak, such as below level 15, the assessments are usually very strict," Li Changzhou explained, "It's not something you can join if you want to."

Li Yuan understood.

It was like some big corporations hiring employees, requiring high education, work experience, and interviews... It was normal for an internal member of a Martial Hall to have high criteria.

"The third kind is a reserve member."

"Even before becoming a Martial Artist, you can sign up early, which is usually reserved for martial path geniuses." Li Changzhou said with a smile, "For your Uncle Zhou to seek you out means he sees great potential in you."

"As a reserve member, the advantage is that you can get a substantial amount of Cultivation Methods resources ahead of time, mentoring by masters, Qi and Blood Elixirs, etc., all for free."

"For free?" Li Yuan's eyes lit up.

"Hear me out," Li Changzhou said, "There's no such thing as a free lunch. There's always a price to pay for what you gain."

"Once you sign to become a reserve member of the Martial Hall, when you become a Martial Artist, you must join the Starry Sky Martial Hall and become an internal member."

"Besides,"

"Ordinary Martial Artists who join a Martial Hall as internal members can terminate their contracts at some cost."

"But if you sign up early, the conditions for canceling the contract in the future will be much harsher," Li Changzhou cautioned seriously, "So, think it over."