After the Awakening Ceremony ended, the academy grounds slowly went back to normal.
People who had been tense just moments ago finally relaxed. Some gathered in small groups and talked excitedly, while others left without saying much. It was easy to tell who was satisfied and who wasn't.
I walked with Class 7 for a short distance, listening to the conversations around me.
Someone was already guessing how strong their talent might be. Someone else was complaining about how long we had been standing under the sun. A few people laughed and said at least the ceremony was finally over.
I stretched my arms while walking.
Honestly, standing still for that long was more tiring than training.
No one asked me anything, and I didn't ask anyone else either. Since talent details were hidden, there wasn't much to talk about. Even if someone awakened, they wouldn't say what they got.
Before long, everyone split up and went their own way.
I headed home.
As soon as I closed the door behind me, the noise from outside disappeared.
That alone made me feel better.
My room was simple and familiar. A bed, a desk, and a training mat on the floor. Nothing fancy, but it was enough.
I sat down on the bed and leaned back.
"Alright," I said quietly. "Now I can look at this properly."
I focused inward.
The information about my talent was already there. It didn't feel strange or overwhelming. It felt more like recalling rules I had already read once.
Monthly Refresh.
Once every month, I would gain a new SSS-rank talent. That talent would last for the month, then disappear and be replaced by another one. Nothing stacked, and nothing carried over.
I went over the rules once more in my head.
It wasn't complicated. It just meant every month mattered.
Then I noticed something else.
This month already had a talent active.
The current talent was called Perfect Foundation.
I read through the description carefully.
As long as this talent was active, my cultivation would stay stable. Qi and Blood would grow together properly. There wouldn't be any imbalance or hidden strain from training.
I nodded to myself.
"That works," I thought.
It wasn't flashy, but it fit my situation perfectly. I was still building my base, and a stable foundation mattered more than rushing ahead.
At the same time, I reminded myself not to relax too much.
Next month's talent could be completely different. There was no guarantee it would be this comfortable again.
So for now, the best choice was to make good use of this month.
Before starting any serious training, I decided to check my Qi and Blood value.
The Martial Hall was about a ten-minute walk from my place. It was open to students and low-rank martial artists, and it had a basic Qi and Blood checking machine.
Most importantly, students could use it for free.
After changing clothes, I headed out.
The Martial Hall was busy when I arrived.
Some people were practicing basic movements. Others were doing strength training, already sweating heavily. A few stood near the entrance chatting, clearly not in a hurry to train.
I walked straight to an empty Qi and Blood checking machine and placed my hand on it.
The machine made a low humming sound.
A moment later, the number appeared.
Qi and Blood Value: 80
I looked at it for a second.
"That jumped more than I expected," I thought.
Before the Awakening Ceremony, my Qi and Blood had been seventy. Reaching eighty usually took a decent amount of time. Early growth was faster, but each point still required work.
This meant Perfect Foundation was doing more than just smoothing things out.
I didn't feel the need to celebrate, but I was clearly satisfied.
"This puts me at a good starting point," I thought.
In this world, 150 Qi and Blood was the minimum requirement to officially break through and become a First-Level Martial Artist. The closer you got to that number, the harder each point became.
Eighty wasn't close yet, but it was past the easy stage.
I didn't stay any longer than necessary and headed back home.
That evening, I sat down on my training mat and started circulating Qi.
The difference was obvious almost immediately.
Qi moved through my body smoothly. There wasn't the usual resistance I had grown used to. My breathing stayed steady, and I didn't feel any strain.
"This is easier than before," I thought.
In the past, I always had to be careful not to push too far. Now, even when I focused a bit more, nothing felt wrong.
I kept the pace steady and didn't rush.
Time passed quietly.
When I opened my eyes again, it was already dark outside.
I stood up and moved my shoulders and arms a bit.
My body felt relaxed.
Normally, after training, I would feel some soreness. This time, there was nothing.
"That's nice," I thought.
Over the next few days, I followed the same routine.
In the mornings, I trained my body. Running, basic strikes, and simple exercises.
In the afternoons, I focused on circulating Qi.
At night, I rested instead of forcing extra training.
Each day felt a little better.
My movements became smoother.
My breathing felt more natural.
My control over Qi improved without me forcing it.
The changes weren't dramatic, but they were consistent.
A few days later, I went back to the Martial Hall and checked my Qi and Blood again.
Qi and Blood Value: 82
I nodded when I saw it.
"As expected," I thought.
The jump from seventy to eighty had been fast, but after that, the speed had clearly slowed down. Every point past eighty felt heavier than the last.
That was normal.
In this world, increasing Qi and Blood became harder the higher you went. From eighty onward, brute effort alone stopped being enough. From one hundred onward, most people needed better techniques, resources, or talent support.
Knowing that, I didn't feel impatient.
That night, after finishing training, I lay on my bed and looked at the ceiling.
Monthly Refresh was a strange talent. It gave me strong abilities, but it didn't allow mistakes. If I wasted a month, that time was gone for good.
At the same time, I didn't feel pressured.
My foundation felt better than before, and my progress was steady. I could feel the changes in my body without needing to check the machine every day.
For now, this pace felt right.
The college entrance exam was still three months away. That meant I would experience three different monthly talents before it arrived.
I turned onto my side and closed my eyes.
"I'll just keep going like this," I thought.
There was no need to rush.