"Hey, I heard a rumor. The school board approved a huge budget this time. They've spared no expense! They're going to select the fifty strongest in the Martial Dao from the entire senior class!"
Hearing "select fifty," Li Wen's fingers, holding his pen, merely paused for a fraction of a second. He showed no sign of looking up. 'Selections, huh? They happen every year.'
Wei Wu got a little anxious and dropped the biggest bombshell: "Here's the main point! It's not just about selecting people. I heard the benefits for the students chosen for the Flying Star Class are insanely good this time! Way better than any previous year!"
Li Wen's pen tip unconsciously drew a line on his scratch paper. 'Far surpassing previous years? Just how much better could it be?'
"Not only will they be giving out a ton of Qi and Blood Potions for free, but I even heard that the Martial Dao instructors for the Flying Star Class will all be Super Martial Artists." Wei Wu finally played what he thought was his strongest card.
"...Free?!" Like a depth charge detonating next to his ear, the keyword "Qi and Blood Potion" instantly pierced the fortress of knowledge he had built around himself.
The book in Li Wen's hand landed on the desk with a heavy THUD. He snapped his head up, his eyes flashing with a predatory gleam, like a starving wolf spotting its prey. He locked his gaze on Wei Wu, his body even leaning forward slightly with excitement.
"Wei Wu! Did you just say... free Qi and Blood Potions?! A lot of them?!"
Wei Wu was startled by Li Wen's intense, direct reaction and instinctively shrank back. He had thought Li Wen would be more interested in the Super Martial Artist instructors, just like he was.
"Uh... yeah... They said there'll be a huge supply..." Wei Wu stammered in reply, then his face filled with exasperation.
"Bro! That's not the point! It's the Martial Dao instructors! They say the school paid a fortune to hire Super Martial Artists to teach them personally! Super Martial Artists! Do you know how much it costs to hire a Super Martial Artist for one hour of private tutoring? It starts at tens of thousands of Galaxy Coins! How many Qi and Blood Potions could we buy with that?!"
Wei Wu felt that Li Wen was completely missing the point. You could buy Qi and Blood Potions, but guidance from a Super Martial Artist was an opportunity that money couldn't always buy!
However, Li Wen didn't hear the latter part of his rambling about Super Martial Artists at all.
Right now, his mind was a raging storm, with only a few words echoing and amplifying within it: Free! Qi and Blood Potions! A huge supply!
His heart was pounding in his chest, and his blood seemed to be racing! A crystal-clear thought split through the fog in his mind like a bolt of lightning:
'The Flying Star Class! This is the perfect opportunity to break free from my qi and blood shackles! It might even be my only chance!'
"But... sigh..." Seeing that Li Wen only seemed to care about the Qi and Blood Potions, Wei Wu deflated and slumped back into his chair, shaking his head in self-mockery.
"It's not like it has anything to do with us, though. We might have a sliver of hope for the top fifty in our class, but the top fifty in the entire grade? In our dreams."
"Besides, I heard you have to write your own application. With our strength, we'd just be wasting our time..." He listlessly picked up his schoolbag. "Forget it, forget it. Time to study."
"Top fifty in the grade... application..." The words were spoken casually, but they struck Li Wen like a thunderclap! Every single word of Wei Wu's dejected speech hammered into Li Wen's thoughts like a heavy mallet.
He froze completely.
His previous plans for improving his skill realm and his distant goal of enrolling in a top university were now suddenly brought into sharp focus, coalescing around the huge, tangible stepping stone that was the "Flying Star Class"!
An unprecedented, clear, and concrete short-term goal had captured all of his attention and desire like a powerful magnet. 'I must break into the top fifty in the grade by the start of next semester! I have to get into the Flying Star Class!'
Wei Wu dejectedly returned to his seat with his bag, and the sound of flipping pages soon followed.
But as for Li Wen, his gaze fell upon his open math book, yet he could no longer focus on a single formula or symbol.
The symbols and lines on the page seemed to blur. Only the keywords "free Qi and Blood Potions," "Super Martial Artist guidance," "top fifty in the grade," and "application" shone clearly in his mind, circling and intertwining.
A calm analysis began to spin like a set of precision gears in his newly integrated mind:
The selection criteria for Bluestone Third Middle School's Flying Star Class had always been based on three main areas:
Martial Dao Arts (50% of the score), Academic Assessment (20%), and Physical Body Level (30%).
'Academic Assessment?' A small smile unconsciously touched the corners of Li Wen's lips.
With his [Scholar] class, gaining a fixed amount of experience every day was a required task.
Even more heaven-defying was the passive skill "Eternal Proof"—once he understood and mastered a piece of knowledge, he would never forget it!
This meant his academic learning efficiency would far surpass that of ordinary people. As long as he followed his routine, he was extremely confident he could get a near-perfect score on this 20% portion of the assessment!
This part wasn't a disadvantage. On the contrary, it was a strength that would guarantee him points! He was determined to secure that 20%.
'Physical Body Level?' This was a hard requirement and his current weakness. But the Flying Star Class selection was at the beginning of next semester, giving him a little over a month to prepare.
Time was tight; he had to make every second count.
The key was to increase his proficiency in the Splitting Blade Golden Killing Skill and strive to enter the "Minor Achievement" realm as soon as possible to maximize his cultivation efficiency.
At the same time, he had to do everything possible to obtain extra Qi and Blood Potion support, even if it was just one or two vials. This section was worth 30%, and he needed to get as many points as he could.
Martial Dao Arts! This was the most critical part! Worth 50%! And it was also his biggest, most distinct advantage right now!
The [Scholar] class's "Absolute Focus"—this was his ultimate trump card for breaking into the top fifty! Advanced Blade Arts, Greater Achievement (55/100)?
That was far from enough!
His goal was to break through to the "Initiate" realm of a top-tier blade art before the selection.
Advanced blade arts weren't rare among third-year high school students, but a top-tier blade art? Even just reaching the "Initiate" realm would be enough to stand out among his peers! And that was on top of his terrifying comprehension and rate of improvement...
'The Flying Star Class... that endless supply of Qi and Blood Potions...' At this thought, Li Wen's breathing couldn't help but quicken slightly.
As long as he got in, the speed at which his Physical Body Level improved would be earth-shattering! Then, getting into a top-tier university would no longer be a fool's dream!
The morning passed in a seemingly calm routine of reading and doing practice problems. Li Wen invested even more focus than usual, because his academic scores had now become extremely important!
[You have studied diligently for six hours. Scholar EXP +36]
[Class: Scholar Lv. 1 (36 → 72/100)]
In the empty classroom, Li Wen let out a long breath and stretched his somewhat stiff body.
The midday sun from outside the window cast itself upon his well-defined profile. His goal had never been so clear.
The first step to becoming a top-tier Martial Artist would begin with entering—the Flying Star Class!
He packed his schoolbag and walked out of the classroom with determined steps. On the way to the cafeteria to fill his stomach, he repeatedly envisioned the two goals that could change his destiny:
Within five months, break through to Physical Body Level 8.5 or higher to meet the minimum qualifications for a top-tier martial university.
At the start of next semester, give it his all, break into the top fifty of the grade, and seize a ticket into the Flying Star Class!