Chapter 57: Terrible News! Level 2 War Alert!
"You're recommending someone to me?" The burly man, referred to as the Ninth Senior Brother by Hall Master Wan, was slightly surprised. He set his battle blade aside and pondered, "Junior Brother Wan , have you returned from the Sea Ruins Astral Realm?"
The Sea Ruins Astral Realm, located in the southern seas of China, was also a secondary astral realm, though less renowned than the Lou Bu Sea. Wan Qingshan had spent a long time in the Sea Ruins Astral Realm.
"Yes, I've been back for more than half a year. I forgot to mention it to you, Ninth Senior Brother," Hall Master Wan smiled. "I'm now the hall master of a fifth-level Martial Hall in Jiang City."
Ninth Senior Brother wasn't aware of his current situation, which didn't surprise Hall Master Wan. Their master was one of China's top martial artists, capable of flight and considered one of the cornerstones of Kunlun Martial Arts University. Hall Master Wan had been fortunate to become a registered disciple, while the burly man in the video was a direct disciple. Despite being a year older than his senior brother and having joined the school earlier, all registered disciples were required to address direct disciples as 'senior brother' according to the rules. The status gap between registered and direct disciples was significant, and over the years, the difference in their strengths had grown even more, leading to less frequent interaction over the past decade.
"Junior Brother Wan, you should know that although I am the Vice Dean of the Eight Halls, I am only responsible for teaching. I am not leading the team to Jiangbei Province for the assessment," the burly man explained. "I don't handle admissions directly, at most, I can offer suggestions. If the candidate's talent and strength aren't outstanding, they won't pass the final review."
He instinctively assumed Hall Master Wan wanted to use his connections, a notion he wasn't keen on. Still, he didn't want to strain their relationship, as Junior Brother Wan had helped him significantly when he first became a disciple.
"Haha, don't worry, Ninth Senior Brother," Hall Master Wan smiled. "I'm not here to trouble you. On the contrary, I genuinely want to recommend a promising talent to you."
"The person I'm recommending is seventeen and a half years old, with martial arts skills at the pinnacle of the third stage," Hall Master Wan quickly said. "Yesterday, he entered the top 1000 of the Blue Star Youth Rankings. Moreover, his mental strength is exceptionally high, comparable to a martial artist at level 13 or 14."
He listed all of Li Yuan's strengths.
"Oh?" The burly man showed a hint of surprise. "According to what you said, this young fellow is indeed quite exceptional."
"Wait," the burly man frowned. "Junior Brother Wan, if he's as talented as you say, why not aim for Starlight University? Why come to me? Does he have a physical disability? Missing limbs?" Ninth Senior Brother asked. "Or some other flaw?"
"Senior Brother, you see clearly," Hall Master Wan smiled wryly. "He hasn't awakened his martial spirit."
"Ah, I see," the burly man instantly understood. Martial spirit was the most crucial measure of martial talent. This fact was reflected in the weight of its score in the entrance exams.
"This young fellow, according to what you said, could become a source martial artist with enough resources, even if it costs billions of Blue Star coins," the burly man said. "But without a compatible advanced training method, it would be challenging to break through to level 25, let alone become a flying martial artist."
"It is difficult," Hall Master Wan agreed.
Hall Master Wan couldn't help but think that his Ninth Senior Brother had high standards, casually mentioning level 25 while he himself hadn't reached that level yet. However, he knew that his Ninth Senior Brother was only a step away from becoming a flying martial artist.
"His skills are so advanced, and his mental strength is strong. Ideally, as long as his compatibility exceeds 80%, he should barely be able to sense cosmic source energy with the right training method," the burly man frowned. "But his age is nearing the limit... There's a 99% chance that the seven high-level training methods of our human civilization aren't compatible with him."
"If he wants to achieve great success in the future, he must create a high-level training method that suits him," the burly man's voice carried a hint of regret.
The burly man had high standards. He knew that the seven high-level methods were mostly developed by flying martial artists or those at the pinnacle, through their own experiences and repeated experiments. Creating a high-level training method, even the simplest, tailored to oneself, was extremely difficult for a source martial artist. Such genius figures were rare across the entire human civilization.
"Yes, it's very difficult," Hall Master Wan acknowledged the challenge of creating a training method. "But he is a promising talent, with a significant chance of becoming a source martial artist."
"A source martial artist?" The burly man thought for a moment. "Alright, Junior Brother Wan, send me his detailed information. I'll mention him to Teacher Fan Jin and ask him to keep an eye on him."
"Teacher Fan Jin? He's the teacher leading the assessment in Jiangbei?" Hall Master Wan's eyes lit up.
Fan Jin had been one of his instructors.
"Yes, there are eight teachers leading the Jiangbei assessment, one from each of the Eight Halls," the burly man explained. "You know, Jiangbei Province is one of the largest sources of recruits for Kunlun Martial Arts University."
Hall Master Wan nodded. Each of the five major schools in China had around 2,000 admission slots annually, totaling about 10,000 students. Jiangbei Province alone accounted for about 500 of those slots, with Kunlun Martial Arts University enrolling over 300.
However, only up to 15% of the admitted students would be selected for special training.
"As long as this young fellow is as talented as you say, he should make it onto the special training list," the burly man didn't make any absolute promises.
"Thank you, Ninth Senior Brother," Hall Master Wan said.
After ending the communication, Hall Master Wan thought, "Li Yuan, I've done everything I can for you. I hope you seize this opportunity."
He sent a message to Xu Bo.
....
In the afternoon, around 1 PM, after lunch, Li Yuan arrived at Xu Bo's office. The door was open.
"Teacher, you called for me," Li Yuan said, standing at the door.
He had received a message from Xu Bo and came immediately.
"Come in," Xu Bo said, standing by the window, looking at the cherry blossoms blooming along the roadside. Every year in March and April, Jiang City was adorned with cherry blossoms, attracting tourists from all over the country.
"You made it into the top 1000 of the Blue Star Youth Rankings," Xu Bo said. "Your progress is faster than I expected."
"Teacher knows?" Li Yuan was slightly surprised. He had attempted the promotion match at around 2 AM.
"News from the Starlight Martial Hall," Xu Bo explained, then briefed Li Yuan on Hall Master Wan's contact with Kunlun Martial Arts University.
"A dean from Kunlun Martial Arts University?" Li Yuan held his breath.
Martial arts universities were not to be compared with ordinary cultural universities. From what Li Yuan knew, even to serve in an ordinary martial arts university, one had to be at least a source martial artist. A dean was undoubtedly a significant figure.
"I don't know the specifics, but Hall Master Wan has good intentions," Xu Bo said. "The observer from Kunlun Martial Arts University will likely focus on you during the invitation activities. Prepare well and seize the opportunity."
"I understand," Li Yuan said earnestly.
He realized this was a rare opportunity. Normally, displaying his strength might get him a training invitation from one of the top five schools. However, with additional attention, the chances were better.
"What a pity," Xu Bo sighed suddenly.
"Teacher, what's wrong?" Li Yuan asked, puzzled.
"I was just thinking, if you had awakened your martial spirit, with its added benefits, you could have aimed for Starry Sky University or Starlight University," Xu Bo said with regret.
"The world's top three martial arts schools?" Li Yuan laughed, having never dared to dream about them. The world's top three martial arts schools only enrolled about 1,000 students annually, with provincial top ten rankings being almost a requirement. Li Yuan's initial goal had been just the top five schools.
.....
As days passed, Li Yuan continued his routine of intense training. Apart from cultural studies in the morning, he devoted all his time to practicing fist and spear techniques, hoping to break through with his spear technique.
On March 13th, in the 4011 martial arts room.
"Techniques are interconnected. With body-mind unity, my control over my body's strength is seamless," Li Yuan thought. "I'm even starting to tap into deeper layers of my strength. My spear technique's power is constantly improving."
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Li Yuan's long spear transformed continuously, thrusting, slashing, sweeping, and striking with increasing intensity.
"Boom!" "Boom!" "Boom!" The heavy sandbags suspended in the martial arts room, weighing over a thousand kilograms each, thudded with each strike.
Li Yuan had replaced these training sandbags at his own expense a month ago to enhance his training.
"The Rock Spear technique's five killing moves are now deeply ingrained in me," Li Yuan's eyes were bright, his spear movements fluid and integrated with his being.
"However, I still can't fully master the first move of the Starry Spear technique, 'Star Illumination,'" Li Yuan kept trying.
The spear technique's power kept rising, but for several days, the skill interface still showed his spear technique at 99% of the third stage.
"No system prompts yet, but I can feel it," Li Yuan's eyes gleamed. "This move is becoming more refined. If I keep practicing, I'll soon fully master the first move."
Li Yuan had a premonition that once he perfected it, his spear technique would enter the fourth stage.
He wasn't worried about slow progress, only about losing hope.
"Beep—beep—" A sudden sound interrupted him.
"Master, your sister, Li Qianqian, is urgently contacting you," his assistant AI announced.
"Urgent contact?" Li Yuan was startled, immediately sheathing his spear. "Connect."
Whoosh~
A light screen formed, showing Li Qianqian's anxious face, her eyes brimming with tears. She appeared to be standing in a hallway corner.
"Brother!" Li Qianqian called as soon as the connection was made.
"Qianqian, what's wrong?" Li Yuan's voice was low. "What happened? Don't rush, tell me slowly."
"Lou Bu Sea!" "The war in the Lou Bu Sea Astral Realm has escalated, many people have died," Li Qianqian's voice trembled. "The country has issued a Level 2 war alert. Our teacher just announced it in class."
"A Level 2 war alert?" Li Yuan's pupils contracted.
For the past six months, the war had been under a Level 3 alert. He had just video-called his uncle a couple of days ago, and the war in the Lou Bu Sea Astral Realm was supposed to be ending soon. Now, not only had it not ended, but it had escalated?
"I tried calling Dad, but he's out of service," Li Qianqian was extremely anxious. "I called Mom, but she didn't answer either."
"Brother, do you think something might have happened to Dad?"