Chapter 25: Communication from the Martial Hall
After lunch, students walked out of the cafeteria in small groups, strolling along the tree-lined path towards the martial arts building. Despite the exhausting life of a senior high school student, their faces were filled with smiles and youthful exuberance during these rare moments of leisure, brimming with endless hopes for the future, in stark contrast to the tired workers heading home from their jobs.
Li Yuan and Wan Xiao walked towards the elite building. Zhou Qi and Yan Zhou had parted ways after lunch as their paths differed.
"Is that Li Yuan?"
"Seems like it."
"Wan Xiao used to be in the same class as Li Yuan. If they're together, the other one must be Li Yuan."
"Is he the one who defeated Lin Lanyue?"
"I heard he likes Lin Lanyue, but he didn't hold back." Many senior students from Class One noticed Li Yuan and Wan Xiao, turning their heads to look.
"Li Yuan, you're quite famous now after that match," Wan Xiao said with a low laugh. "A lot of people were watching you in the cafeteria earlier. Your fame is spreading across the entire grade, even among the first and second years."
"Jealous? Isn't it all because of your gossip?" Li Yuan glanced at him. "Want to spar again?"
Wan Xiao winced. "I told you, it wasn't me who spread it, it was Zhou Qi..."
"You started it, and he amplified it," Li Yuan pointed out clearly.
Wan Xiao suddenly changed the subject, "By the way, Li Yuan, are you really not interested in Lin Lanyue? I see many boys in the elite class fancy her but don't dare to confess. Is it because she isn't pretty?"
"Lin Lanyue is quite pretty," Li Yuan replied casually, not noticing what was behind him. With so many people coming and going, it was impossible to keep track of everyone.
Suddenly, two girls walked past Li Yuan and Wan Xiao. One of them was tall, wearing martial arts clothes, with her hair tied up high. She glanced at Li Yuan from the corner of her eye. It was Lin Lanyue.
"Did she hear that? This guy Wan Xiao did it on purpose," Li Yuan instantly realized.
"Li Yuan, don't be a coward. If you like her, say it out loud," Wan Xiao shouted, laughing as he ran away.
Li Yuan shook his head, not bothering to chase him, and instead waved his hand, greeting Lin Lanyue openly. This action surprised Lin Lanyue. She had indeed overheard Li Yuan's words but didn't expect him to greet her so directly. Seeing Li Yuan's smiling face, she subconsciously touched her chest, recalling the virtual battle from yesterday.
"Lanyue, he greeted you," said the girl with waist-length hair beside Lin Lanyue, winking and nudging her.
"Qiqi, let's go," Lin Lanyue said softly, arranging a strand of hair at her temple and quickening her pace without responding to Li Yuan or looking at him again.
"This Lin Lanyue was quite polite the first time we met, but today she ignored my greeting," Li Yuan laughed. He wasn't the type to be intimidated by pretty girls. Watching Lin Lanyue and her friend enter the elite building, Wan Xiao suddenly appeared.
"How was my assist, Li Yuan?" Wan Xiao asked.
"Great job. To thank you, come to my martial arts room, and I'll give you some extra training for free," Li Yuan said, putting his arm around Wan Xiao's shoulder with a grip so strong that he couldn't break free.
"Li Yuan, let me go. I'm not interested in you."
By almost two o'clock, in martial arts room 4011, Li Yuan stood by the window, gazing into the distance. His body was slightly sweaty after completing a half-hour basic training session, slightly improving his physical fitness. Suddenly, his smart bracelet beeped.
"Uncle?" Li Yuan answered, a smile spreading across his face as his worry dissipated.
"Little Yuan, your aunt already told me," said Li Changzhou, sitting in a chair, wearing a helmet. "Good job, kid. I've been on the Starry Sky Combat Network for decades and haven't reached 500 points in the gold rank."
Li Yuan felt warm inside, not because he had surpassed his uncle, but because of his uncle's acknowledgment.
"Uncle, how are things over there?" Li Yuan asked.
"Don't worry. The Starry Sky Martial Hall has sent reinforcements, and I estimate we'll launch a counterattack in a few days. I called you because there's something related to you," Li Changzhou said.
"Uncle, please go ahead."
"It's about your Uncle Zhong. He specifically called me. It seems he wants to recruit you into the Starry Sky Martial Hall," Li Changzhou said.
"Join the Starry Sky Martial Hall?" Li Yuan was surprised.
Human civilization had three great martial halls: the Starry Sky Martial Hall, Black Stone Martial Hall, and Starfire Martial Hall. The Starlight Martial Hall was founded by the world's strongest man, Dongfang Ji, and the Black Stone Martial Hall by the second strongest, Lante. The Starry Sky Martial Hall was on par with the other two, representing the most formidable martial forces and being the main defense against the star realm creatures. Their branches were spread across seven major planets.
"Isn't the Starry Sky Martial Hall only for martial artists?" Li Yuan asked, puzzled.
"You can start as a preparatory member," Li Changzhou explained. "Your Uncle Zhong probably learned through some channel that you made it to the Blue Star Youth Ranking... It's common."
Listening intently, Li Yuan knew his uncle, a martial artist himself, was once a member of the Starry Sky Martial Hall and was familiar with it.
"There are three types of memberships in the martial hall. The first is a registered member, which is just a name on the list without benefits or rights. Most martial artists have this kind of membership, including myself."
"Registered membership doesn't prevent martial artists from joining other groups, organizations, or national special departments."
Li Yuan nodded. A registered membership was essentially useless.
"The second type is an internal member. It's like being a company employee. You sign a contract, receive a salary from the martial hall, get resources for training, and must follow orders in critical times," Li Changzhou continued. "Your Uncle Zhong is an internal member."
Every time I buy basic qi and blood potions, it's through Uncle Zhong because he gets an internal discount of 5% off.
"Internal members are also ranked. If you're below level 15, the assessments are strict," Li Changzhou said. "It's not easy to get in."
Li Yuan understood. Like joining a big company, you need high qualifications and experience. The high standards for martial hall members were normal.
"The third type is a preparatory member. Talented individuals can sign up before becoming martial artists," Li Changzhou smiled. "Your Uncle Zhong's interest means he thinks highly of you."
"Preparatory members receive plenty of training resources, expert guidance, and free blood qi potions."
"Free?" Li Yuan's eyes lit up.
"Listen first," Li Changzhou cautioned. "There's no free lunch in the world. You have to give something in return. Once you sign up as a preparatory member, you must join the Starry Sky Martial Hall and become an internal member when you become a martial artist. Moreover, while regular members can terminate their contracts with some penalties, the conditions for preparatory members are much stricter. So, think carefully."