Chapter 38: Xu Bo's Assistance
"If you don't have a purchase record but are caught stealing or spreading techniques, you'll be judged as breaking the law."
"Once verified, the Martial Arts Bureau and the Cultural Bureau will jointly punish you, starting with a tenfold penalty." Xu Bo shook his head. "If the situation is serious, you could even be sent to prison."
"Prison?" Li Yuan held his breath.
"Teacher, wouldn't this approach hinder the evolution of martial arts for human civilization?" Li Yuan hesitated slightly. "What about the poor?"
"If they don't have money, does that mean they don't qualify to learn advanced techniques?"
"Your concern is valid; it does seem unfair to the poor." Xu Bo said. "Copyright protection is a double-edged sword."
"Overprotecting it will stifle innovation."
"But without any protection, innovation will also be stifled." Xu Bo said. "So, after numerous social experiments, we've ended up with the current system."
"Cultivation techniques, whether basic or advanced, are completely open, and many first-stage manuals are entirely free."
"This allows ordinary people to try martial arts for free," Xu Bo said.
"For most people, reaching the third stage of skills is extremely difficult."
"But if someone is truly a martial arts genius," Xu Bo said, "with incredible skill or physical talent, then the nation and even the Seven-Star Alliance have various channels to discover talent and provide free cultivation resources."
"All forces of human civilization strive to discover all martial arts geniuses."
"For example, the Martial Hall signed you in advance as a way to discover talent." Xu Bo smiled. "Similarly, students of martial arts universities have free access to many second and even third-stage manuals in the 'Martial Arts Network.'"
"Martial arts university students' copyright fees for these manuals are paid by the nation."
Li Yuan suddenly understood.
It turned out that the nation, or rather the entire human civilization, had long considered this issue.
"There are copyright fees."
"Driven by profit, strong warriors are more motivated to create new skill manuals and cultivation techniques." Xu Bo said. "Paying copyright fees also encourages warriors to share their created manuals rather than keeping them to themselves."
"Through mutual exchange, every warrior can learn the wisdom of others and grow faster."
Xu Bo looked at Li Yuan. "In the future, if you create powerful skill manuals, you can upload them to the Cultural Bureau and collect copyright fees."
"You can earn money from home."
Li Yuan smiled and thought of many historical techniques that were only passed down to one or two people per generation. Once something happened, they were lost forever.
The continuous strength of human civilization comes from the generational inheritance of knowledge.
Martial arts are the same.
"With your current martial arts level, learning two second-stage manuals is enough." Xu Bo advised. "Wait until your spear and body techniques break through to the fourth stage before learning more second-stage manuals."
"Yes," Li Yuan nodded.
If one's martial arts level is not high enough, it's a joke to think of mastering the best of all schools without first mastering one.
"Of course."
"In your cultivation plan, you don't need the monthly guidance from renowned teachers." Xu Bo said. "My guidance is enough for you."
"If you purchase the manuals' copyrights, my guidance won't violate copyright laws."
"Not seeking guidance from a Source Warrior?" Li Yuan was slightly hesitant.
Having Teacher Xu guide him was naturally something he desired, but Teacher Xu was only at level 19.
Could he match the guidance of a second-stage Source Warrior?
"What, looking down on your teacher?" Xu Bo saw through Li Yuan's thoughts and smiled. "Don't worry, my martial arts level is not weaker than most Source Warriors. If back then... forget it, there's no need to say more."
Xu Bo sighed and his smile faded, seeming somewhat disinterested.
"Teacher, I was wrong." Li Yuan quickly bowed his head and apologized.
"I'm not blaming you; it's not your fault." Xu Bo shook his head and continued. "From now on, every Wednesday evening in my office, I will guide you once on spear and body techniques."
"No extra charge."
"Thank you, Teacher." Li Yuan was grateful.
Once a week?
"However, you will need to find someone for your bi-weekly practical combat sparring with a warrior." Xu Bo said. "I don't have that much time."
"Yes," Li Yuan nodded.
It was already extremely fortunate that the teacher would specifically take the time to guide him on spear and body techniques.
He couldn't ask for more.
You should know, if you invite a second-stage Source Warrior for guidance, it would cost 100,000 cultivation points each time.
Suddenly.
"Mm?" Xu Bo frowned, gritted his teeth, and showed a painful expression.
"What's wrong, Teacher?" Li Yuan was startled.
"Nothing." Xu Bo said deeply, his voice trembling slightly. "An old ailment from the battlefield."
"Alright, let's leave it at that."
"In martial arts cultivation, no matter how much guidance others give, you still have to practice it yourself."
"Don't worry, I'll be fine after taking some medicine. You can go back and think about it yourself." Xu Bo said, enduring the pain.
"Yes." Li Yuan was worried.
But he was smart and saw that Teacher Xu didn't want to show weakness in front of him.
Once Li Yuan left the office.
"The effect of the medicine is lasting shorter and shorter." Xu Bo gritted his teeth. "Just now, I couldn't resist using source force to demonstrate to Li Yuan, and it accelerated the onset."
Xu Bo walked slowly to the rest room, took a delicately packaged bottle from the refrigerator.
After taking the medicine, the pain quickly subsided.
"I don't know how many years I have left." Xu Bo murmured, a hint of fierceness in his eyes. "If it really comes to the end, I'll apply to return to the star realm."
"I, Xu Bo."
"Even if I die, I will die on the battlefield."
After a while, Xu Bo finally returned to normal. Suddenly, his smart wristband vibrated with an unread message.
"Hmm? A message from Li Yuan asking about my condition?" Xu Bo felt a warm feeling in his heart. "This kid, he's quite considerate."
Xu Bo could guess that if he didn't reply, Li Yuan would probably come to his office to check on him.
"Black Dog."
"Reply to Li Yuan, tell him I'm fine." Xu Bo said deeply.
"Yes, Master."
...
"Glad the teacher is okay." Li Yuan received Xu Bo's reply in the school's independent martial arts room.
He closed the smart wristband.
"Let's enter the virtual network." Li Yuan entered the virtual network cabin beside him.
Connecting his consciousness, he directly arrived at the Starfire Space.
"Master." A purple-clothed girl appeared out of nowhere.
"Purchase the second-stage manual 'Dragon Movement Body Technique,' the second-stage manual 'Starry Spear Technique' with cultivation points." Li Yuan said directly. "And with points, buy a Source Force Pill."
Basic blood and energy elixir? There are still a few bottles at home, no rush to buy.
"Master, please confirm the purchase list." Little Jade waved her hand, and a light screen appeared in front of Li Yuan, listing the items.
Li Yuan glanced over it and confirmed it was correct.
"Confirm."
Quickly.
"Acquired the usage rights for the second-stage manual 'Dragon Movement Body Technique,' registered with the Martial Arts Bureau and Cultural Bureau, inquiry code is... 1,000,000 cultivation points deducted."
"Acquired the usage rights for the second-stage manual 'Stellar Spear Technique'... 1,000,000 cultivation points deducted."
"Acquired one Source Force Pill, please fill in the delivery address... 100,000 points deducted."
Li Yuan immediately received three notifications from 'Starlight Space.'
"Delivery address, set it to home." Li Yuan thought for a moment. "Delivery time, 10 PM."
As a level L3 member of the Martial Hall, he could have 24-hour delivery.
"Master, the Source Force Pill will be delivered to your door tomorrow." Little Jade said cheerfully. "According to copyright law, all second-stage and above manuals must be studied in virtual space, and there are no physical manuals."
"Master has obtained all the information on the manuals and can choose to study in the personal space."
"Good." Li Yuan nodded slightly.
If there were physical manuals, it would be too easy to spread them privately. If spread in the virtual network?
The entire virtual network is monitored by human civilization.
"I want to see how powerful the second-stage manuals are." Li Yuan was quite looking forward to it.
...
While Li Yuan was studying skill manuals in the virtual network.
In the office of Song Yi on the twelfth floor of the Guanshan branch of the Starry Sky Martial Hall.
"Bang~"
The teacup was instantly crushed, and tea splashed everywhere.
But the elegantly dressed Song Yi didn't care, the glass fragments couldn't harm her fingers at all.
Song Yi's eyes were sharp and cold. "What did you say? Li Yuan refused the meeting tomorrow? Why?"
"Yes."
Zhong Cheng, dressed in black, stood and smiled bitterly. "I just received Li Yuan's message this afternoon. I tried to contact him, but he didn't respond."
"I then contacted his uncle and found out that he had already signed with the Starlight Martial Hall in advance." Zhong Cheng said softly.
"Starfire Martial Hall?"
"They snatched the person I had my eyes on?" Song Yi's eyes flashed with anger. "Clearly, we invited him first, and the Starlight Martial Hall broke the rules?"
"And this Li Yuan!"
"We had already arranged a meeting, and he canceled it without giving you a reason." Song Yi's eyes were cold. "Is this the promising candidate you spoke of?"
Instantly, Zhong Cheng felt a bit of resentment.
Blaming me for your plan?
"Hall Master Song." Zhong Cheng said softly. "To my knowledge, Li Yuan's refusal of us is understandable."
"Understandable? Are you siding with him?" Song Yi stared at Zhong Cheng, her eyes as sharp as ever.
"Starlight Martial Hall offered a B-level contract." Zhong Cheng quickly said.
Song Yi's pupils shrank.
The room fell into dead silence.
After a while.
"Leave." Song Yi suddenly shouted.
"Yes." Zhong Cheng nodded and left, seemingly forgetting to close the door.