High Martial Arts: Enlightenment after Practices-Chapter 65: Soaring Energy Level

After exiting the Battle Network Space, Xu Wuyi sat on the edge of his bed, his fingers unconsciously tapping his knee. The terms of the "Student Assistance Plan" echoed repeatedly in his mind.

Seven hundred thousand to one million Federation Coins would be enough to support his training expenses for the next few months, solving his pressing problem.

But the word "loan" weighed heavily on a boy from an ordinary family like him.

At dinner, the atmosphere at the table was the same as always.

Xu Wuyi took a few bites of rice, put down his chopsticks, and said, "Dad, Mom, there’s something I want to discuss with you."

Father Xu and Mrs. Xu looked over at the same time.

Xu Wuyi explained how his consumption of Qi Blood Potions had skyrocketed after he started practicing the Hundred Refinements Melting Furnace, and that his school subsidy was about to run out. Finally, he mentioned the Battle Network’s "Student Assistance Plan."

"...So that’s the situation. Teacher Wang said it’s a low-interest loan for students with potential. It’s interest-free for the first year, and the latest I have to pay it back is in five years. As long as I can get into one of the ’Three Greats,’ this debt won’t be hard to handle in the future."

Xu Wuyi tried his best to keep his tone calm, so as not to put too much pressure on his parents.

The dinner table fell silent for a moment.

A worried look appeared on Mrs. Xu’s face. "Borrowing that much money? Ah Yi, won’t the pressure be too great?"

She had been frugal her whole life and had an instinctual aversion to being in debt.

The smile on Father Xu’s face also faded. He took a sip of his drink and said thoughtfully, "Ah Yi, your mother and I aren’t very capable. We can’t give you the best resources."

"You’ve made it this far on your own, which makes you much stronger than us. We believe in you, and we trust Teacher Wang’s and the school’s judgment."

"As long as you can get into the Three Greats, it’s all worth it!"

"Right, right." Mrs. Xu nodded along. Though the worry hadn’t left her brow, her tone was firm. "I support you! This money is for you, so it’s worth it."

"If you really can’t pay it back, your father and I will help you!"

Seeing the unconditional trust in his parents’ eyes, Xu Wuyi felt a warmth spread through his heart. He nodded firmly. "Dad, Mom, don’t worry. I definitely won’t let this money go to waste."

With a consensus reached within the family regarding the funds, a weight was lifted from Xu Wuyi’s shoulders.

「 」

Having resolved the potential financial troubles, Xu Wuyi didn’t rush to challenge the Rank Battles.

Xu Wuyi didn’t slack off in the slightest, nor did he immediately try to break through to the Third Rank.

He knew full well that victory and defeat in Battle Network matches ultimately depended on real-world, tangible strength.

The most important thing right now was still to solidify his foundation, raise his Life Energy Level, and refine his practice of the Hundred Refinements Melting Furnace.

He once again immersed his entire being into the arduous process of Body Refining.

Day after day, the only sound in the training room was the boy’s heavy, rhythmic breathing.

Now that he no longer had to worry about resources, he could train with even greater focus and without distraction.

The Martial Arts Diligence Record’s judgment remained as strict as ever, but Xu Wuyi’s movements were becoming more and more precise.

Furnace Initial Burning, Fire Forged Bone, Hundred Refinements Golden Body, Qi Circulation... The first four Pile Skills of the Hundred Refinements Melting Furnace tempered his body and his Qi and Blood in rotation.

In his sea of consciousness, the notifications from the Martial Arts Diligence Record faithfully recorded his progress:

[Hundred Refinements Melting Furnace Current Realm: Beginner (11.3%)]

[Hundred Refinements Melting Furnace Current Realm: Beginner (25.8%)]

[Hundred Refinements Melting Furnace Current Realm: Beginner (32.1%)]

...

[One hundred instances of effective training completed today. You have gained one instance of "Enlightenment."]

His body seemed to have truly transformed into a human-shaped Melting Furnace, his Qi and Blood surging and burning within, constantly purging minute impurities.

Under this highly efficient Refinement, his Life Energy Level climbed at an astonishing rate.

The "Enlightenment" he gained after one hundred instances of effective training each day was the greatest pillar of his progress.

In that mystical state, his understanding of his body, his Qi and Blood, and even the "Melting Furnace" itself deepened rapidly.

When his proficiency broke past Beginner (40%), he naturally began to learn the fifth form.

Unlike the first four forms, which were primarily static Pile Skills, the fifth form was named "Furnace Flame." It was a true "combat method."

Its core principle was to use a specific circulation of Qi and Blood to instantly concentrate the "Melting Furnace" Qi and Blood, which was normally nurtured within the body, into a single point.

It could be infused into his fists and feet for attacks or gathered on the surface of his body to enhance defense, allowing him to unleash power far beyond his normal capabilities.

This was no longer just about tempering himself; it was about converting his tempered, solid foundation into tangible combat strength.

The difficulty of his training skyrocketed once again.

Dynamic power generation demanded a higher degree of precision in Qi and Blood Control. A single careless mistake could cause the concentrated Qi and Blood to go out of control and injure him instead.

As a result, Xu Wuyi’s arms and shoulders accumulated numerous minor internal injuries, but they would heal rapidly within a day or two.

As his practice of the Hundred Refinements Melting Furnace deepened, Xu Wuyi gradually discovered that his body seemed to be undergoing some kind of mutation.

His Qi and Blood grew stronger and stronger; it was no longer a mere quantitative accumulation but a qualitative leap.

His skin grew tougher, his strength became immense, and even his recovery speed after injury was almost inhumanly fast.

A small cut on his skin would scab over and heal in less than half an hour.

Normally, a Martial Disciple would only experience this kind of fundamental change in their life essence after their Life Energy Level broke through 20.

But the Hundred Refinements Melting Furnace, a B-Level Body Refining Technique, was transforming his body from the inside out, allowing him to achieve this change ahead of schedule.

Time slipped by quietly amid the dripping sweat.

In the blink of an eye, a month passed, and it was now the end of April.

"BUZZ—"

In a corner of the training hall, the Life Energy Level Tester emitted a soft hum as its indicator light flashed rapidly.

Xu Wuyi was bare-chested, sweat trickling down the lines of his solid muscles. He slowly pulled his palm back from the sensor plate and looked at the screen.

[Life Energy Level: 13.0]

13.0!

He had increased it by a full 0.8 in one month, breaking through the 13.0 barrier from 12.2!

If news of this speed got out, it would be enough to shock every high school student in Red River City, and even the entire Dongjiang Province.

This was thanks to the dual effects of the B-Level Body Refining Technique, the Hundred Refinements Melting Furnace, which reshaped his foundation, and the massive quantities of D-Level Qi Blood Potions he consumed. Of course, it was also inseparable from Xu Wuyi’s own day after day of extreme, bitter training.

At the same time, the Martial Arts Diligence Record in his sea of consciousness had also changed:

[Martial Arts Diligence Record]

Martial Art: Basic Body Refining Technique

Current Realm: Minor Achievement (79.3%)

Martial Arts Trait: Mountain Suppression

Evaluation: Foundation like a boulder, Qi and Blood like lead and mercury. It has taken the form of a mountain.

Martial Art: Wind-Settling Spear

Current Realm: Minor Achievement (60.1%)

Martial Arts Trait: Silk Binding Force

Evaluation: Spear Technique is fluid. Intention is newly born.

[Martial Art: Hundred Refinements Melting Furnace]

[Current Realm: Beginner (47.6%)]

[Martial Arts Trait: Not Unlocked]

[Evaluation: The Melting Furnace has cycled through five transformations. Qi and Blood are condensed like mercury. The foundation is solid.]

The Hundred Refinements Melting Furnace was just a small step away from 50% proficiency in the Beginner Realm.

He had also gained a preliminary grasp of the fifth form, "Furnace Flame." While he hadn’t completely mastered it, he could now use it in actual combat.

And as the essence of his life improved, his proficiency in the Basic Body Refining Technique and the Wind-Settling Spear also soared, steadily advancing toward the Great Success Realm.

However, this rapid increase in strength came at a huge cost.

Just as he had predicted, his consumption rate of Qi Blood Potions over the past month had stabilized at one bottle every two days.

The school subsidy he had left, along with the money he had saved from the joint exam rewards, was finally about to run out under this astonishing rate of consumption.

’It’s time.’