Celestial Sea City’s No. 2 Middle School, one of the city’s key secondary schools.

It was a gathering place for a great number of Martial Arts prodigies.

The entire school occupied a vast area. Its buildings were styled in red and white, surrounded by towering metal walls that separated the world inside from the one outside.

One academic building after another rose within the walls, and countless students in blue and white school uniforms gathered at the entrance, lining up to enter in an orderly fashion.

A row of burly security guards stood at the main gate. Their gazes were sharp as torches, and they patrolled like great bears.

"So this is No. 2 Middle School? It really is full of geniuses and top students."

"Son, study hard. Our family is counting on you!"

"..."

The new first-year students, filled with curiosity, filed into the school one after another.

Lin Qi watched the vibrant freshmen, feeling a bit nostalgic. Two years ago, he had gotten into No. 2 Middle School by a stroke of luck, just as green as they were now.

Lost in nostalgia, he followed the stream of people into the school.

He parked his bicycle and, following a familiar path, walked to the athletic field, found his class’s designated spot, and got ready for the opening ceremony.

「One hour later.」

The tedious opening ceremony ended. Everyone returned to their respective classes, but not to ordinary classrooms.

Instead, they entered a spacious room of over a thousand square meters, its walls lined with an array of common weapons like sabers, spears, and swords.

In the corners, massive punching posts, each over two meters tall and incredibly thick, stood on padded mats.

After the students of Class 3, Year 3 entered, they voluntarily went to the changing rooms, swapped into loose-fitting Martial Arts Uniforms, and began their training.

Some practiced their stances on the spot, while others started their Fist Technique routines.

Some moved like a fierce tiger emerging from the mountains, some like a crane spreading its wings, others swung their arms at the air like an Ape, and still others coiled like a Spiritual Snake...

A few students started on the punching posts, letting out a staccato of CRACKS and POPS.

There were even some who picked up weapons like sabers, spears, and swords, brandishing them freely.

As they practiced their Martial Arts, they chatted amongst themselves, recounting the fun they had over the holiday. The air was filled with a pleasant and relaxed atmosphere.

Lin Qi didn’t join the chatter. Instead, he found a corner by himself, popped a Qi and Blood Capsule into his mouth, and then started to warm up his body.

It was important to fully activate the body before practicing Martial Arts to avoid injury.

’My muscles are all sore and tired. It’s been like this for days. Why haven’t I recovered yet?’

Lin Qi twisted his torso, pondering the abnormality he felt in his body.

"Look at you all! Stiff muscles, powerless fists! How long has it been since you last practiced?"

"You’ve wasted the entire summer vacation, and you still have the nerve to stand here grinning."

A thunderous, scolding voice boomed through the crowd, drowning out all other sounds.

Lin Qi looked over and saw a middle-aged man nearly 1.8 meters tall. His muscles were lean and powerful, his face was plain, and a distinct scar ran across it.

He wore a white tracksuit and moved through the crowd as if riding the wind.

A formidable aura radiated from him, and the entire Martial Arts Room fell deathly silent in an instant.

This was their Class 3 Martial Arts Instructor—Wu Kang.

He was in charge of their Martial Arts instruction and was a Third Realm Martial Artist.

Wu Kang’s gaze was sharp, like a Sharp Blade grazing each student’s cheek. He sneered, "Some of you haven’t even achieved Great Success with your Fist Technique, yet you have the gall to practice with weapons. You haven’t learned to walk, and you’re already trying to run? Do you think you’re so cool?"

The students who were called out instantly put down their weapons in shame. Only two or three ignored him, puffing out their chests and tightening their grip on their weapons.

Wu Kang clasped his hands behind his back, scanned his surroundings, and spoke again, his voice like a great bell.

"Why do you practice Martial Arts?"

"Because being a Martial Artist is the most promising profession in this world. They possess Superman-like strength."

"And in this world invaded by Calamity Beasts, strength means safety, money, and status."

"According to the latest social survey report, the average income for the Martial Artist profession ranks first globally, far surpassing the second-ranked profession."

"This is an era where everyone practices Martial Arts. From birth, everyone must strive to become a Martial Artist. It’s a mad scramble for the top, like a thousand soldiers trying to cross a single-plank bridge."

"Only a select few are destined to become Martial Artists."

"And right now is your golden age. This is when you can improve the fastest."

"With your current attitude, how do you expect to compete with others?"

After Wu Kang finished speaking, the entire Martial Arts Room fell silent. The relaxed atmosphere had completely dissipated, replaced by a heavy pressure.

"Let’s begin class!"

Seeing that his words had the desired effect, Wu Kang continued:

"In the year 1999 of the Martial Arts Calendar, the Otherworld invaded, and the Calamity Beasts arrived."

"Countless spatial rifts opened up on our Blue Star. Calamity Beasts poured out from these rifts, and along with them came an Extraordinary power—Source Energy!"

"This was something our Blue Star never possessed before."

"Scientists discovered that after the human body absorbs Source Energy, it can unlock its genetic shackles, allowing the body to undergo a metamorphosis, to evolve."

"Humans can now possess Superman-like powers, the kind once only seen in comics, novels, and movies."

"The ancient Martial Arts rose again, sparking a frenzy of human evolution."

"Through the joint research of all nations on Blue Star, the Nine Great Gates of Martial Arts were identified—nine shackles to be broken."

"The realms of a Martial Artist were divided into Nine Realms."

"Every time you break through one of these gates, your strength will undergo an earth-shattering transformation."

"Source Energy is tyrannical. An Ordinary person’s organs cannot absorb it directly. It can only be absorbed through food, or bit by bit over many long years."

"To allow us Martial Artists to increase our strength more scientifically and efficiently,"

"our Xia Country has developed the Hunyuan Posture and the Five Elements Fist Technique based on ancient Health Care Skills, Cultivation Techniques, and Ancient Fists."

"For the first lesson of the school year, you will practice the Hunyuan Posture. It’s time to work out those flabby bodies of yours."

With a loud shout from Wu Kang, the 50 students quickly spread out and began their stance practice.

"The Hunyuan Posture was developed by our Xia Country from countless ancient Pile Skills. It is the most universal and effective Pile Skill there is."

"The first of the great gates of Martial Arts is Muscle Training!"

"It requires us to train the large muscle groups of the body, improving our physical condition in every aspect."

"The Hunyuan Posture can fully mobilize the body’s Qi Blood, allowing for the Refinement of every single muscle without exception."

Lin Qi threw himself wholeheartedly into the stance practice.

"Stance practice is the interconnection of form, intent, breath, and strength."

"It emphasizes a suspended head, sunken shoulders and dropped elbows, a contained chest and straightened back, sinking your breath, lifting the hips and contracting the anus, gripping the ground with your five toes, and sinking your qi into your Dantian..."

"Not only does it temper the physical body, but it also stretches the tendons and bones..."

As Wu Kang explained, Lin Qi also entered the zone.

Having practiced stance work for over a decade, the Hunyuan Posture had long since become second nature to him.

His breathing was natural, his muscles relaxed. His arms formed a circle, creating a seamless whole as he felt the changes in his spine.

In just a few moments, his body began to heat up. A numbness spread through him, and his body began to tremble involuntarily.

"DRIP. DRIP."

Sweat beaded on his skin, dripping continuously onto the padded mat.

It was as if his body had come alive, the Qi Blood throughout him stimulated.

The vertebrae of his spine protruded, as if a single Great Tendon was being pulled taut along his back.

This was the "dragon bone," a sign that only appears when one has mastered the essence of the Hunyuan Posture.

Just then, Lin Qi felt a large hand placed on his back.

"Some of you have been practicing stances for over ten years and still haven’t grasped the essence. Your foundation is unstable."

"Take another look at Lin Qi’s Pile Skill. His is the best in the class."

Wu Kang’s voice rang out again. He looked at Lin Qi with an appreciative expression.

His words immediately drew the attention of many students, who gathered closer and began to murmur among themselves.

"He lives up to his name as the Master of Basic Skills. He has the best fundamentals in our class. That stance is truly textbook-perfect."

"Every time I see it, it looks so perfectly integrated. It’s flawless."

Some were amazed, but others were dismissive.

"No matter how strong his fundamentals are or how good his stance looks, it’s useless. Without enough resources like Qi and Blood Capsules and Qi and Blood Potions, his Qi and Blood Value will never increase."

"For a Martial Artist, the Qi and Blood Value is the most important thing."

At that moment, Lin Qi was completely immersed in his stance practice.

His whole body was scorching hot and drenched in sweat. Qi Blood surged from his feet, rapidly permeating every corner of his body.

The parts moved the whole, top and bottom connected as one. An formless energy darted through his body; aside from a few minor blockages, it flowed with incredible smoothness.

"Hooo..."

Lin Qi’s eyes shot open. He exhaled, and a surge of power erupted from him.

A cloud of hot air billowed forth.

[You have achieved a new breakthrough in your Hunyuan Posture cultivation. Your Qi and Blood Value has increased. Qi and Blood Value +0.1!]

[Qi and Blood Value: 5.2 → 5.3]

...

A look of delight crossed Lin Qi’s face as he straightened up from his stance.

"Hooo..."

He clenched his fists. Streams of heat flowed through every joint in his body, and his muscles rippled.

’I finally broke through again!’

The higher the realm of his Pile Skill, the more efficient his body tempering would be.

Looking at the 5.3 Qi and Blood Value on his panel, Lin Qi’s spirits soared. His entire body felt like a blazing furnace.

The so-called Qi and Blood Value represented the strength of a person’s Qi Blood, and by extension, their realm.

The Nine Great Gates of Martial Arts divided a Martial Artist into nine levels, and the Qi and Blood Value represented an even more detailed subdivision.

It allowed one to visually track the progress of their physical tempering.

Every single point of progress could be seen.

...