High-Level Martial Era

"Li Yuan." The elegant woman in black didn't pay attention to President Li and looked directly at Li Yuan, "Did you really sign the contract?"

"Yes." Li Yuan nodded.

"You're still young, don't be deceived by this surnamed Li." The woman in black smiled, "This old guy may smile benignly, but he's incredibly vicious in battle… Would you be interested in coming to East Sea Martial Arts University? Even if you've signed, it doesn't matter, we can pay the penalty fee for you."

Li Yuan was taken aback.

Penalty fee? Can it really be done that way?

"Surname Liu, since when is it proper to poach people right on the spot like this?" President Li was not so courteous, "How much do you plan to pay for the penalty fee then?"

"5 million Blue Star Coins," the woman in black frowned, "Isn't that the price for the penalty fee of an A-level training contract?"

President Li and Fan Jin smiled at the same time.

The corners of Li Yuan's mouth couldn't help but reveal a slight curve.

"President Liu." Teacher Fan Jin said with a smile, his voice gentle, "If you want to sign Li Yuan, aside from needing his agreement, you will also have to pay Kunlun Martial University 50 million Blue Star Coins."

"50 million?" The woman in black's face revealed a hint of surprise, "Did you sign an S-level training contract?"

"What else could it be?" President Li chuckled, "Or are you suggesting that you don't think Li Yuan is worth an S-level?"

Whoosh!

The woman in black instantly turned her head to stare at Li Yuan and couldn't help but say, "Did you awaken your Martial Spirit?"

Li Yuan shook his head, "Not yet."

"Then it's… your spiritual power?" The woman in black stared at Li Yuan, speculating, "Is your spiritual power talent very high?"

"Senior has discerning eyes." Li Yuan nodded.

"No wonder." The woman in black now understood the reason.

"President Li." The woman in black looked over, "Impressive guts, I admire that. To simply give away one of the two S-level training slots like that."

"I don't have guts; I just feel Li Yuan is worth an S-level spot." President Li said with a smile, "Don't you think Li Yuan is up to the S-level?"

President Li asked again.

"I never said that," the woman in black responded indifferently, "You've signed him already; there's no need to provoke further."

Resources are limited.

Behind every S-level training slot lies an enormous investment of resources, and naturally, the slots are not infinite.

For example, for students from Jiangbei Province, for this invitation event, Kunlun Martial University has two S-level training slots, whereas the other four famous schools only have one S-level training slot each.

The woman in black looked at Li Yuan, her face showing a kind smile, "Li Yuan, work hard on your cultivation. I look forward to the day you become a Prime Warrior, even a Flying Heaven Warrior."

"Thank you, Senior." Li Yuan replied neither humbly nor arrogantly, knowing that she was not willing to put forth an S-level slot.

The woman in black turned and left.

She acknowledged that Li Yuan was excellent, otherwise, she wouldn't have bothered coming.

However, she only had one S-level slot at her disposal, and she would have had to pay an additional 50 million penalty fee, which naturally caused hesitation.

After all, there were already three S-level students, and several more among the top ten elites of the province.

For instance, students like Wu Luo might not seem as technically skilled as Li Yuan at first glance, but their future prospects were more stable and their potential higher.

They could be classified as A+ level.

However, to get them to choose one of the top five prestigious schools for the college entrance examination, an S-level training contract was usually necessary to sign them up.

…

After seeing off the leaders from the two Martial Arts Universities, Li Yuan had just gone upstairs to his room.

"Li Yuan, where did you go? Who was knocking at the door just now?" Gu Qianghan was leisurely eating melon, "I saved two pieces for you."

"Didn't do much." Li Yuan said with a smile.

Ding~ Ding~ The doorbell suddenly rang again.

…

Forty minutes later, Li Yuan saw off the last teacher from Polestar Martial Arts University.

"Polestar, Xiaking, South Sea."

Gu Qianghan, standing by, was dumbfounded, "Brother, you're awesome! You've just turned down three Martial Arts Universities in one go, and they all offered A-level training contracts."

"They're all rushing over right after the cage fight finished, aren't you satisfied?" Gu Qianghan asked in confusion, "Especially Xiaking Martial Arts University, the terms of the contract they offered were very good."

"The contract was indeed not bad." Li Yuan chuckled but did not explain further.

"Wait a minute!"

Gu Qianghan suddenly realized something and widened his eyes, "Was the very first doorbell ring from Kunlun visitors? Or from East Sea? Did you already sign a training contract?"

"Xiao Qiang, you're getting smarter." Li Yuan laughed.

Shock was written all over Gu Qianghan's handsome face.

"I've always been smart, and also, call me Gu Qiang." Gu Qianghan sat down on the sofa with a thump, deep in thought, "Did you sign right from the start? That can't be right; with your Fourth Level skills, you're definitely worth an A-level contract. Didn't you want to compare contracts more?"

Gu Qianghan's character was capricious and free-spirited; he was not fond of overthinking.

But he wasn't dumb, on the contrary, he was very smart, with an exceptionally high level of insight and vision.

"S-level?" Gu Qianghan thought of a possibility, staring at Li Yuan with some disbelief, "Has a school offered an S-level contract?"

"What do you think?" Li Yuan said with a smile.

"Goddamn Li Yuan!" Gu Qianghan could not have been clearer, wailing, "S-level, to think that a school offered you an S-level elite training contract on the first day."

"What did they see in you, huh? Technique? But you don't have Fifth Stage Spear Technique."

Li Yuan couldn't help but laugh.

Having Gu Qianghan as a roommate was actually quite good, at least it wouldn't be all silent and gloomy.

Like a living treasure.

"Li Yuan, do you really not understand the significance of S-level?" Gu Qianghan couldn't help but say, "S-level, and the even more top-tier SS-level students, get to enjoy a lot of very special resources."

"There's an SS-level too?" Li Yuan was startled.

"Of course, there is."

Gu Qianghan said as a matter of course, "S-level, while there are a bunch nationwide each year, SS-level... according to my dad, it's hard to find even one in the whole country in a year, so they don't make a big deal out of it."

Li Yuan nodded slightly, his mind wandering to Yu Jinghe, who might just be a genius of that level.

"You're going to be amazing."

Gu Qianghan said with feeling, "The special resources that S-level and above students can get access to are many that even my dad can't touch."

Li Yuan was surprised in his heart.

Though he had never asked, the signs indicated that Gu Qianghan's father was at least a powerful Prime Warrior.

"Can't buy them with money?" Li Yuan asked subconsciously.

"If there's enough money, probably, but it's not worth it," Gu Qianghan shook his head, "Of course, my dad only mentioned it in passing a few times, I'm not clear on the specifics."

"According to my dad, an initial S-level elite training spot, if sold, would easily go for one billion Blue Star Coins."

"Of course, that's just the initial spot, if you can't maintain it later on, you'll be demoted to A-level," Gu Qianghan said, "There's an evaluation once a year."

Li Yuan held his breath.

One billion Blue Star Coins? He knew that S-level spots were precious, but he had no idea they were this valuable.

No wonder the penalty for breaking the contract was as high as 50 million.

"Some things can't be measured with money."

Gu Qianghan said with a smile, "Li Yuan, before I only thought you were awesome, but now, I truly admire you."

"Without awakening Martial Spirit, you still made five prestigious schools offer you an S-level elite training contract. There must be hidden depths to you," Gu Qianghan said with a snicker, "No wonder my sister always says to learn from you."

Li Yuan was taken aback for a moment, then laughed.

In this world, no one is truly foolish.

"Then you better study hard, maybe you can also get an A-level elite training spot," Li Yuan teased.

"No way!"

"I have no talent at all," Gu Qianghan's head shook like a rattle-drum, "My grades look decent, but that's all my dad's doing, If I had my... let's not talk about this, getting into one of the top five prestigious schools is enough to satisfy my dad."

"But you can't rely on your parents forever, right?" Li Yuan said with a smile, "They're going to get old someday..."

"Li Yuan."

Gu Qianghan gave Li Yuan a sideways glance and said with a smile, "Do you believe that when I'm about to get old and die, my mom and dad can still bring me a bunch of little brothers?"

Li Yuan was speechless; he understood what Gu Qianghan meant.

Ordinary people can't live off their parents forever, but Gu Qianghan... he really could!

"You signed with Kunlun Martial University, right? My dad also told me to apply there."

"I can't count on my sister; she's probably going to Starry Sky University. We're like brothers, right? When we get to university, I'll be counting on you to cover for me," Gu Qianghan lay back down and said leisurely, "In this life, I just want to coast by as a Prime Warrior and lie flat."

"Relying on parents at home, relying on brothers outside."

"Sure," Li Yuan said with a laugh.

He didn't take the words seriously, knowing well that someone with Gu Qianghan's connections and background wouldn't need his help.

On the contrary, Li Yuan had a vague understanding.

Today, it was only after revealing his Fourth Level skills and obtaining the S-level elite training contract that he truly made Gu Qianghan want to befriend him from the heart.

It had nothing to do with Gu Qianghan's personality but the perspectives they'd been raised with since childhood.

For these scions of great clans, the only ones they recognized were those from other major clans or real geniuses.

"I, too, need some friends," Li Yuan thought to himself.

A hero needs three gangs of fellows.

Making more friends and connecting with powerful seniors is beneficial for one's own path of Martial Arts.