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Chapter 11: Martial Dao is Me
Chapter 11: Martial Dao is Me
On Li Yuan's wrist, he wore a 'Smart Ring Display', similar to early smartphones but with more advanced features. It could project light screens, detect physical conditions, and perform various other functions, but it couldn't connect to the virtual network through consciousness.
The Virtual Network Pod was an essential electronic device in this era, found in every household.
Only by using it could one's consciousness connect to the virtual network.
Its appearance resembled early space capsule gaming machines.
"Iris Authentication!"
"Mind Connection." Li Yuan reclined in the pod's chair, putting on the neural connection device as the cold metal touched his head.
Instantly, his consciousness connected to the virtual network, specifically the Bluestar Virtual Net.
The seven major planets were separated by vast starry skies, so each planet's virtual network was relatively independent... at least, Li Yuan didn't have the permissions to access other planets' virtual networks.
Huff! Li Yuan's consciousness descended into a special virtual space.
He could disconnect at will whenever he wished.
"The virtual network can connect our consciousness, but it still feels somewhat illusory and can't achieve 100% realism," Li Yuan thought to himself. "Not to mention replicating physical data with complete accuracy like in some novels."
"The virtual can never truly replace reality."
Nevertheless, the virtual network, with its 70% realism, was already incredibly miraculous.
Since its birth decades ago, it had brought about earth-shattering changes in human civilization.
Huff! Huff! Li Yuan's vision was filled with numerous options:
Learning Spaces (Virtual Schools/Classrooms/Labs/Libraries/Martial Dao Rooms...)
Virtual Cities (Jiang City/Capital/Ha City/Su City...)
Social Spaces (Music/Dating/Fate/Games...)
Commercial (Virtual Malls/Real Estate/Hotel Booking) and countless other options.
Most of the options were colored, indicating they were accessible.
However, a few options were grayed out, like:
Adult Content (Restricted for Minors)
...
Li Yuan had just turned seventeen, still a minor.
"Enter Personal Study Room." Li Yuan was familiar with the process and directly entered his personal study room.
He began reviewing cultural knowledge.
In theory, students could complete all their cultural course learning through online teaching, but the virtual network couldn't achieve 100% realism.
Moreover, real-world materials were the hardware and the foundation of everything virtual.
Therefore, places like schools, office buildings, and administrative halls still existed in reality, and students still attended school.
Of course, most office work, cultural exams, and company interviews were conducted online.
For students' self-study, if they were self-disciplined enough, their efficiency could be even higher online.
Li Yuan was one of those highly self-disciplined individuals.
After an hour of efficient self-study:
"The total score for cultural courses is 1000 points. In the second-year final exam, I scored 658 points. This year, in my third year, I aim to reach 700 points," Li Yuan muttered to himself. "I just hope not to fall too far behind."
Everyone had limited energy.
Li Yuan was quite talented in Martial Dao, especially in spear techniques, where he showed great understanding.
Even before awakening his Mind Palace, his spear skills had already reached the second level, indicating his exceptional comprehension.
However, in cultural learning, his talent was indeed average, and he couldn't keep up with Zhou Qi and Yan Zhou. Additionally, he devoted very little energy to it.
Not only could he not score 700 points now, but even if he did, it would still be considered lower-middle in the first high school of Guanshan District.
This was because Li Yuan's academic performance had improved over the past year as his mental strength level increased, making his study efficiency higher.
Otherwise, Li Yuan wouldn't have been confident about reaching 700 points in the college entrance examination.
"An all-rounder?"
"There aren't many all-rounders. What I need to do is to fully bring out my strongest point and excel with it!" Li Yuan had a clear understanding of himself.
Why did he want to pursue the path of a full-time warrior? Firstly, he had a deep passion for it.
Secondly, after awakening his Mind Palace, Li Yuan asked himself where he had a greater chance of achieving greatness, and he felt that the Martial Dao path offered more opportunities than the cultural route.
...
At 3 a.m., Li Yuan left the virtual network pod.
He put on his backpack and quietly left home without disturbing his aunt or younger siblings.
...
The unmanned trams and subways operated 24 hours a day, but after midnight, the intervals between each trip became very long.
Therefore, Li Yuan often chose to run to school, using it as a warm-up exercise.
The streets at 3 a.m. were empty except for streetlights and occasional passing vehicles.
As he passed by the corner's 'Fu Wei Noodle Shop', he noticed the owner was already up, preparing for the day's business.
"Good morning, boss." Li Yuan greeted with a smile.
"You're night running again? Be careful out there," said the boss, dressed in his work uniform, as he stood up and waved to Li Yuan.
They often crossed paths.
Unaware of each other's identities and names, they had become familiar strangers over time.
...
Twenty minutes later, Li Yuan arrived at school.
He swiped his face to enter the campus.
Stepping into the classroom, the lights were on.
"First, I'll cultivate the basic cultivation method for two hours," Li Yuan said, standing in a corner of the classroom, calming his mind and quickly entering a standing meditation state.
His posture was as steady as a boulder, and he performed thirty-six movements in coordination with the 36-style technique.
A new day of cultivation had begun.
Foundation establishment, rock-shattering mountain collapse, firm as a pillar, stone-breaking heaven shock, hard strike vajra, mountain stands deep stillness... These thirty-six movements were essentially derived from the Boulder Fist Technique.
They could be further divided into practice and combat methods.
In fact, Li Yuan had spent more effort on the Stone Practice Method than he had on his spear technique.
"Spear technique can be slowly refined," he thought.
"But my martial spirit is destined to be difficult to awaken in a short time, and none of the seven advanced cultivation methods are suitable for me." Li Yuan mused, "Then I'll continue cultivating the Stone Practice Method."
"Even after becoming a martial artist, I'll probably still cultivate this method. So, I must diligently study the Boulder Fist Technique." Li Yuan's thoughts were clear: "The higher my fist technique's level, the more efficient my physical cultivation will be."
Physical quality was the foundation, and spear and body techniques were the weapons that brought out this quality.
"Moreover, spear technique, body technique, and fist technique are all essentially a combination of the body and mind. Progress in one martial skill will also lead to faster improvement in the others."
Time passed.
Li Yuan tirelessly cultivated, and gradually, a subtle warm current flowed from his waist's dantian, slowly permeating his entire body, absorbed by his muscles and bones.
The basic vital energy potion he had taken a few hours ago was gradually taking effect.
His muscles became firmer, his bone strength further enhanced, and his internal organs were all invigorated and enlarged... Only through intense cultivation could the potion's effectiveness be fully utilized.
Li Yuan cultivated without rest.
In his mind, a quote from the first martial arts master of human civilization, Dong Fang Ji, surfaced unbidden:
"What is martial arts?"
"Martial arts is not about surpassing others. It's about pouring your passion and blood, practicing day and night, sixteen hours a day, persistently for a hundred years. When you look back a hundred years later, you'll find that you've become martial arts itself!"
"Martial arts is me."
...
At four in the morning, the sky was still dark.
"Boom!" A smart off-road vehicle entered through the school's main gate.
It parked automatically.
A figure resembling an iron tower and a black-clad woman with a powerful build emerged from the vehicle.
They walked towards the administrative building.
"Iron Tower, is this the school you're attending?" The black-clad woman had a stern face and sharp eyes like an eagle, scanning the entire campus. "I haven't visited you here since you started, and I'm only staying in Jiangcheng for four hours this time."
Xu Bo smiled, a rare occurrence: "You must be in a real hurry. Even when passing through Jiangcheng, you can only stay for four hours."
"I came specifically to check on your medication situation." The black-clad woman glanced at him. "Otherwise, with such a tight schedule, I wouldn't have stopped in Jiangcheng at all. Let's go, take me to your rehabilitation room for an initial check."
"If your neural injury worsens, the director will have to find another solution for you."
Suddenly, the black-clad woman stopped in her tracks.
"There's a student cultivating this early in the morning? Seems like they're doing quite well, almost at the peak of the basic cultivation method. They have excellent control over their body." She was slightly surprised.
Her gaze turned towards a nearby building.
In the entire senior high building, only one classroom on the first floor was lit.
Through the window, they could see a student inside, intently cultivating fist techniques.
Each move was like a boulder standing firm on the ground, giving an unshakable feeling.
"Li Yuan?" Xu Bo frowned slightly. "He's here cultivating at four in the morning."
"Can his body handle it?"
Cultivation, like everything else, should be done in moderation.
In Xu Bo's opinion, ensuring adequate sleep, rest, diet, and recovery was crucial for efficient cultivation.
"Looking at his vitality, his qi is abundant, and his spirit is full of energy. Seems like he's had a good rest." The black-clad woman smiled. "Iron Tower, do you know him? Is he your student?"
"Yes, he's my student." Xu Bo looked at Li Yuan, deep in thought.
"Let's go to my martial arts room first."
(End of Chapter)
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