His consciousness withdrew from his sea of knowledge. Xu Wuyi slowly concluded his practice, letting out a long, turbid breath.
He stood in place, carefully sensing the changes in his body.
The biggest difference wasn't the sudden surge in his Basic Body Refining Technique proficiency, but his body itself.
His limbs and bones were filled with power. His Qi and Blood were vigorous, surging ceaselessly, far denser and more substantial than before.
A single "Enlightenment" not only sublimated his understanding of Martial Arts but also seemed to have triggered a qualitative change in his Qi and Blood, greatly accelerating the absorption of the first Qi Blood Potion's medicinal effects.
Originally, at Xu Wuyi's Life Energy Level, it would have taken him five days to absorb one E-level Qi Blood Potion. Now, two or three days would probably be more than enough.
'If I were to get my Life Energy Level tested now, what would it be?'
Xu Wuyi didn't know the answer. Professional testing equipment was very expensive, and he could get tested at school once classes started anyway. His family wouldn't waste money like that.
A wave of hunger washed over him, interrupting his thoughts.
Only then did he feel a wave of exhaustion. He quickly changed out of his soaked athletic clothes, washed up, and hurried out of his room.
During lunch, Mrs. Xu watched him wolfing down his food, a little surprised. "Ah Yi, did you train for an especially long time this morning? You must be starving. Eat slowly, there's more in the pot."
"Yeah, I was feeling good, so I trained a little longer," Xu Wuyi mumbled, burying his head in his food.
The large amount of food settled in his stomach, converting into tangible energy and replenishing his body's reserves.
...
After lunch, Xu Wuyi didn't immediately resume his training.
He was well aware of the principle of balancing work and rest. Especially after pushing himself to the limit that morning, his body needed to rest and recover.
He forced himself to take a nap for an hour. When he woke up, he felt refreshed and clear-headed. All his fatigue was gone, and his condition had fully recovered.
In the afternoon, after a brief attempt at practicing the [Basic Body Refining Technique], he found that the effect on his Qi and Blood growth had greatly diminished, to the point where it was almost stagnant.
Anything in excess is a vice. There was a limit to how much Qi and Blood the body could increase within a certain period, a point long emphasized in textbooks.
It was just that Xu Wuyi had never trained to this extent before. This time, with the double boost from the Qi Blood Potion and the "Enlightenment," he had finally reached his body's growth limit.
'For the rest of the day, I'll practice the [Mountain-Shattering Fist] and my Step Technique.'
Martial Arts were divided into "practice methods" and "combat methods." The Body Refining Technique was naturally part of "practice," but "combat" was equally important. Han Mengmeng, with her [Spiritual Snake Hand], had once overwhelmed Xu Wuyi to the point he couldn't even fight back.
「The next day, 4:30 AM.」
Xu Wuyi woke up right on time, full of energy.
He did not immediately take the second Qi Blood Potion.
Teacher Wang had said that the first dose was the most effective, and subsequent ones required time to settle.
He planned to first rely on his own efforts to see if he could complete his "100 repetitions" goal without the support of a new Potion's medicinal effects and experience another "Enlightenment".
He took his stance, [Holding the Essence and Guarding the One].
His movements were still standard, but the feeling was completely different.
The Qi and Blood surging through his body was no longer as turbulent as when he had taken the Potion, but it was more refined and obedient, moving as an extension of his will.
With every movement, the circulation of his Qi and Blood was exceptionally smooth. Its efficiency was a notch above what it had been before the Potion—this was the most direct benefit of improving his Realm and Qi and Blood.
[Standard Practice Completed Today: 1 time]
The panel's notification appeared as expected.
Xu Wuyi was completely focused, immersed in his training.
Thirty times, fifty times, sixty times...
Sweat once again soaked his clothes, and his breathing grew heavy.
Every time he raised his arms, every time he twisted his waist and hips, fatigue and pain assaulted him simultaneously, but Xu Wuyi gritted his teeth and persevered.
Without the impetus of the Potion's potent medicinal power, he no longer pursued speed. Instead, he focused on the "quality" of each movement, thoroughly digesting and consolidating the gains from yesterday's Enlightenment.
This, in turn, made his movements steadier and the circulation of his Qi and Blood even more exquisite.
After sixty repetitions, Xu Wuyi stopped on his own. He had no intention of pushing himself to the point of exhaustion again.
Pushing to exhaustion once could squeeze out one's potential, but doing so repeatedly would only deplete his body's foundation, requiring even more time to recover in the future.
This was the principle of balancing work and rest; one should stop in time when approaching the limit.
'Now when I practice the [Basic Body Refining Technique], there's almost no chance of failure. Every repetition is a Standard Action. This is the advantage of high proficiency.'
'This saves a lot of stamina. That, plus my improved Qi and Blood, is why I could manage sixty repetitions at once...'
'I'll continue this afternoon.'
「Afternoon.」
"Ninety-seven, ninety-eight, ninety-nine..."
The moment he completed the hundredth Standard Action, that familiar, clear stream once again poured down into him!
[Effective Practice has reached 100 repetitions today. You have received one "Enlightenment".]
HUMMM!
His consciousness was once again enveloped by a torrent of profound insights.
Many subtle points he hadn't fully grasped during his first Enlightenment were now clarified and solidified one by one.
He gained a deeper understanding of the True Intention behind the Basic Body Refining Technique's principles: "as steady as a mountain, a foundation firm and stable."
The Enlightenment lasted for a slightly shorter time than the first, but its effects were still significant.
When Xu Wuyi came to his senses, most of his fatigue had surprisingly vanished. Although a great deal of his Qi and Blood had been consumed, it was now purer and circulated with perfect, fluid harmony.
He immediately checked his panel:
[Basic Body Refining Technique Current Realm: Entry Level (31.8%)]
One day of training plus one Enlightenment had increased his proficiency by 11.3%!
Although this was less than the first time, the main difference was the lack of support from the Qi Blood Potion's medicinal power. The Enlightenment itself contributed about a 9% increase, an effect that was still remarkable.
'It really works!' Xu Wuyi was elated.
This meant that even without Potions, as long as he could persist in completing one hundred effective repetitions daily, he could rely on "Enlightenment" to improve rapidly!
...
「Star Martial Battle Network, inside a private room of an antique-style teahouse.」
Wang Wenhai's figure materialized. He was still dressed in his simple athletic wear, which clashed slightly with the teahouse's elegant decor.
Across from him, a graceful female figure slowly came into focus.
The newcomer wore a form-fitting, silver Martial Arts Uniform that traced her agile and elegant curves. Her face was beautiful, but her gaze was as sharp as an eagle's.
It was none other than Zhou Yun, the Martial Arts Teacher for Class 1 of the third-years at Honghe First Middle School.
She had once been a true Martial Artist. After being injured on the front lines, her level had dropped to that of a Quasi-Martial Artist, but her strength was still a cut above Wang Wenhai and the others.
"Old Wang, you're the same as ever, choosing a place like this." Zhou Yun smiled, her voice crisp and clear.
"It's quiet. Easier to talk." Wang Wenhai waved his hand and cut straight to the point. "You were looking for me about the winter break cram class?"
"Yes." Zhou Yun nodded, her expression turning serious. "The principal has already given the green light. Starting this year, the two of us will be jointly responsible for the cram class."
"Time is tight and the task is heavy. We need to do some preliminary scouting to see which good prospects are worth investing our key resources in."
The Martial Arts cram class required two Martial Artists, a head and a deputy, to lead it. For the past few years, Zhou Yun had always partnered with another senior Martial Artist.
The latter was getting on in years and had voluntarily stepped down this year to make way for someone more capable. Thus, Zhou Yun had chosen Wang Wenhai from among the Martial Arts Teachers of the other classes.
Of course, she had already discussed this matter with Wang Wenhai beforehand.
He picked up his teacup and took a sip. The Star Martial Battle Network's Simulation Level was extremely high; even the sensation of drinking tea felt almost real.
"Those top students in your Class 1... Zeng Bonan, I hear his Life Energy Level is almost 10.5, right? And Hu Haobo and Liu Jing are both above 10.0. They have a great shot at getting into a top-tier Martial Arts University."
Zhou Yun replied, "They're good, but they're still lacking what it takes to aim for the 'Three Greats.' Zeng Bonan's comprehension is a bit poor, so it won't be easy for him to make another breakthrough. Liu Jing lacks practical combat experience and is too timid—she doesn't even dare to kill anyone in the virtual machine..."
"I have higher hopes for Hu Haobo. His family's financial situation is average, yet he's still managed to come this far. As long as we pour resources into him, he can aim for a high score."
"Unfortunately, compared to Yu Peiling from next door, none of them can measure up."
"The one from United Middle School?" Wang Wenhai shook his head helplessly. "Yu Peiling has basically secured a spot in one of the Three Greats. A student like that might not even appear once in several years. You could say United Middle School really lucked out."
There were only two top high schools in Red River City: Honghe First Middle School, and United Middle School, which had been founded by a coalition of the city's major corporations.
After commenting on the students in her own class, Zhou Yun asked, "I know all the students in Class 1. Are there any dark horses in the regular classes?"
Wang Wenhai mulled it over for a moment before saying, "I do have one candidate in mind."