Chapter 69: All Things Have a Spirit

Chapter 69: All Things Have a Spirit

"President Li? An S-Class Training Contract?" Li Yuan looked at the two people before him.

His display of skill in the cage free-for-all would undoubtedly attract the attention of the top five martial arts universities.

However, the arrival of Kunlun Martial Arts University was unexpectedly swift.

To be precise, the cage free-for-all had just concluded less than two minutes ago.

Unbeknownst to Li Yuan, when the fifth round of the cage free-for-all began, President Li and Teacher Fan Jin had already changed their minds, set off early, and rushed over by flight vehicle.

"I..." Li Yuan hesitated for a moment before saying, "I can't confirm your identities, seniors."

Logically, the observers from the top five martial arts universities shouldn't have arrived so quickly.

Most of the time, the signing of contracts would occur after the five-day invitation activities had ended.

President Li and Fan Jin exchanged a glance and couldn't help but smile.

"Li Yuan, I'm Fan Jin," the elder-like Fan Jin said with a smile. "A few days ago, one of your elders personally submitted your information to our Kunlun Martial University."

"My elder?" Li Yuan instantly thought of Palace Master Wan.

Before coming here, Teacher Xu Bo had mentioned this matter.

"Because your information was submitted, when we came from Kunlun Martial University to Jiangbei, President Li had already included you in the A-Class student list," Fan Jin explained with a smile. "However, at the time, we didn't know that your skills had advanced."

"A-Class from the start?" Li Yuan was surprised.

He had some understanding of the S-Class and A-Class classifications on the preliminary selection list, as Lin Lan Yue had mentioned it to him.

A-Class was already quite high.

"Just now, during the cage free-for-all, as soon as we discovered your advanced skills, we immediately decided to upgrade your training contract to S-Class," Fan Jin said solemnly. "Then we rushed over."

The result was the same, but Fan Jin had 'optimized' the process quite a bit.

"S-Class?" Li Yuan held his breath.

He had mostly believed their identities and felt the importance Kunlun Martial Arts University placed on him.

Suddenly, Li Yuan's smart ring vibrated. He instinctively glanced at it: "Kunlun Martial Arts University S-Class Advanced Training Invitation."

The message was from the official channel of Northern Jiang Martial Arts University.

"You should have received the invitation," President Li smiled. "Do you believe it now?"

"President Li, Teacher Fan, I'm sorry," Li Yuan apologized. "Please lead the way, seniors."

"No problem, being cautious is good," President Li smiled. "You have a roommate, so let's go to this conference room and chat in private."

"Okay, please lead the way, senior," Li Yuan said decisively.

After the previous invitation from the Martial Hall and the guidance from his uncle, Li Changzhou, Li Yuan had thought it through. Good opportunities like this might only come once or twice.

Yes, his talent was good, but ultimately, he didn't have suitable advanced cultivation techniques. His physical fitness hadn't even reached the 9th level.

Now, a personal visit from a dean of Kunlun Martial University was a sign of their high regard for him.

If he were to put on airs now, that would be foolish.

Genius? He wasn't even a strong martial artist.

..."Li Yuan."

"Li Yuan," Gu Qiang Han said, holding a freshly cut honeydew melon as he walked out of the lounge, looking puzzled.

At the end of the corridor on the same floor, there was a small conference room.

"Please sit," President Li smiled.

Teacher Fan Jin closed the door and drew the curtains, blocking out the light.

Li Yuan sat down.

"On our Kunlun Martial University's prepared list, there are currently four S-Class students," President Li smiled.

He had a robust build, was shirtless, and his laughter gave off a kind and amiable vibe.

"Tian Dazhuang, Wu Dongdong, Wang Yu, and you," President Li said. "We came to you first, and our expectations for you are the highest."

"You came to me first?" Li Yuan hesitated.

The four S-Class students President Li mentioned were precisely the four students with fourth-tier skills.

"Why?" Li Yuan was puzzled. "I haven't awakened my martial spirit. Logically, my comprehensive evaluation should be much lower than theirs, right?"

"Your mental strength talent is even stronger," Teacher Fan Jin also sat in the chair, smiling. "President Li is a 29th-level Origin Martial Artist, and his mental strength is very strong, so he can accurately sense the intensity of your mental power."

Li Yuan's pupils narrowed slightly.

"Your mental strength should be comparable to a 15th-level martial artist," President Li smiled.

Li Yuan nodded slightly, seeing that President Li's assessment was indeed accurate.

Li Yuan wasn't surprised, as Palace Master Wan had sensed this talent in him before, although half a year had passed, and his strength and mental control had improved.

However, President Li's strength was obviously much stronger than Palace Master Wan's.

29th-level Origin Martial Artist?

"If we follow the Seven Star Alliance's unified evaluation, an A+ rating would be more appropriate, but I believe you deserve an S-Class rating," President Li smiled.

"Why?" Li Yuan became even more puzzled.

"Li Yuan, let me tell you something, and you'll understand," Fan Jin said.

"A First-Rank Martial Artist's physical fitness is much stronger than an ordinary person's," Fan Jin said slowly. "But if they only wield cold weapons, they can still be killed by heat weapons. You should understand this."

Li Yuan nodded, recalling the Robo Sea Star System war he had witnessed earlier.

First-Rank Star Realm beings were actually quite fragile in the face of the metal war frenzy.

Carbon-based bodies struggled to directly counter heat weapons.

"Second-Rank Martial Artists can directly utilize Essence Energy, making it very difficult to kill them with heat weapons," Fan Jin said. "So, the primary goal of the top five martial arts universities, the top martial arts schools in various countries, or the Blue Planet's three top-tier universities, is to cultivate Origin Martial Artists."

"Origin Martial Artists are the ones who delve deep into various Star Realms and slay Star Realm beings," Fan Jin emphasized.

Li Yuan nodded in agreement.

He had watched many documentaries, and those who ventured deep into the Star Realms were usually 20th-level Origin Martial Artists or higher.

At the very least, they would be 15th-level martial artists.

"Becoming an Origin Martial Artist is extremely difficult," Fan Jin sighed lightly. "You need to reach a physical fitness level of 19, and also have advanced skills and mental strength..."

"In fact, all living beings have a martial spirit, but a specialized medium is required to directly absorb the Essence Energy from the universe during the early stages.

"Fan Jin spoke, "Advanced Cultivation Techniques?" Li Yuan's heart skipped a beat as he realized something.

"That's right," Fan Jin nodded. "Hundreds of years ago, during the Star Bridge Era, the early martial artists had no cultivation techniques. They solely relied on consuming vast amounts of heavenly treasures and resources to forcefully enhance their physical fitness to reach the 19th level."

Li Yuan slightly nodded, understanding that part of history.

"Among them, the exceptional ones with outstanding skills and powerful mental strength eventually became Origin Martial Artists," Fan Jin explained. "Once you become an Origin Martial Artist, you'll understand... Origin Martial Artists can directly sense and absorb Essence Energy without the need for any cultivation techniques."

Li Yuan nodded lightly.

This point was also mentioned in the books, and it was one of the reasons why Second Rank Martial Artists were referred to as Origin Martial Artists.

"However, relying solely on the body's instinct to absorb Essence Energy, the evolution process is still too slow, and it's nearly impossible to reach the 29th level within a lifetime."

"So, the first generation of Origin Martial Artists began attempting to create cultivation techniques."

"There wasn't much guidance."

"With no prior experience, a large number of the first generation Origin Martial Artists had their bodies explode, resulting in a mortality rate exceeding 99%." Fan Jin explained.

"99%?" Li Yuan was shocked; such a high mortality rate was indeed too high.

"The mortality rate was extremely high, but eventually, an extremely small number of people succeeded in creating rudimentary cultivation techniques that suited them, and they reached the 29th level," Fan Jin said.

"However, since each person's physique is different, the cultivation techniques created by Origin Martial Artists are mostly suitable only for themselves."

"Then, among the few 29th-level Origin Martial Artists, some broke through the life restrictions and became Sky Soaring Martial Artists."

Li Yuan listened intently.

He had read about similar historical events in his textbooks, but hearing it from Fan Jin made it even more real.

"What happened after that?" Li Yuan asked eagerly.

"Sky Soaring Martial Artists, with their strength and realm already surpassing the scope of ordinary life, could fly through the sky and travel underground. They could enter space in their physical bodies and survive without food or water... They had the ability to create universal cultivation techniques," Fan Jin explained. "But even in that era, no one could absorb Essence Energy before reaching the 20th level without awakening their spirituality."

Li Yuan nodded slightly.

Everyone had spirituality, but without cultivation techniques, spirituality was meaningless.

The early Sky Soaring Martial Artists' self-created cultivation techniques were also only suitable for their own cultivation.

"The entire civilization of the seven planets continuously invested massive resources. Constantly, Origin Martial Artists succeeded in creating their own cultivation techniques, spending years of effort. Eventually, numerous Sky Soaring Martial Artists collaborated, and about two hundred years ago, the first universal advanced cultivation technique, the 'Namo Ten Thousand Waters Scripture,' was born."

"This made it possible for ordinary people to absorb Essence Energy and become a reality."

"A compatibility rate above 85% gives hope for cultivation, and a rate above 90% guarantees success."

"The birth rate of martial artists in the entire civilization began to accelerate." Fan Jin said, "The number of First Rank Martial Artists increased rapidly, but the consumption of various cultivation resources actually decreased."

Li Yuan sighed inwardly.

For someone like him, relying solely on consuming various cultivation treasures, the resource consumption was astonishing.

One person's consumption was manageable.

But what about ten, a hundred thousand, or even a million? The entire human civilization couldn't afford it.

In the early days of humanity, they had no choice. To become Origin Martial Artists, they had to rely on brute force! With advanced cultivation techniques, ordinary people could cultivate and absorb Essence Energy from the universe.

Therefore, on the path to becoming Origin Martial Artists, the consumption of cultivation resources could be reduced by at least 90%.

"Without compatible advanced cultivation techniques, Origin Martial Artists who want to break through to become Sky Soaring Martial Artists must create their own techniques, and any mistake could lead to death."

"Nowadays, with our rich experience, the success rate is ten times higher, but the mortality rate of Origin Martial Artists creating their own techniques still exceeds 90%." Fan Jin shook his head slightly. "If they possess advanced cultivation techniques, they can progress from Origin Martial Artists to Sky Soaring Martial Artists with minimal risk of death during cultivation."

"Precisely for this reason, eighty years ago, the Martial Arts College Entrance Examination System was introduced."

"To consider the interests of the entire civilization, we focus on nurturing young people with high compatibility for advanced cultivation techniques."

"This is what we call 'Spirituality Awakening'."

"It reduces resource consumption and casualties caused by Origin Martial Artists creating their own techniques, and at the same time, it produces more Sky Soaring Martial Artists."

"With more Sky Soaring Martial Artists, the efficiency of creating universal advanced cultivation techniques increases."

"In the past eighty years, the top martial artists of human civilization have consecutively deduced four new advanced cultivation techniques." Fan Jin turned to Li Yuan.

Li Yuan finally understood.

It wasn't that human civilization didn't want to cultivate ordinary people.

Instead, it was a matter of weighing the enormous cost of creating Origin Martial Artists against the 90% mortality rate of creating techniques.

The input and output were simply not proportional.

With the same resources, if used to cultivate people who could directly practice advanced cultivation techniques, the number of powerful individuals produced would be exponentially higher.

"So..."

"The 10% spirituality bonus is essentially a way to discourage ordinary people from pursuing their dreams of entering martial arts universities?" Li Yuan pondered.

Online, there was an ongoing debate about the 10% spirituality bonus, and the discussion never ceased.

But in the past eighty years, this policy had never wavered.

"That's right," Fan Jin nodded. "This policy may seem unfair to ordinary people, but from the perspective of the entire civilization, the benefits outweigh the drawbacks."

"Then why am I listed as an S-Class target?" Li Yuan asked, filled with confusion.

"Because your talent is high enough," President Li stated firmly.

High talent? Li Yuan was taken aback.

"Everyone has spirituality, but talent encompasses physical, mental, and comprehension abilities." President Li smiled. "You didn't have advanced cultivation techniques to guide you, nor did you consume any rare treasures, yet your physical and mental talents are top-notch."

"Your comprehension talent is also top-notch, as evidenced by you reaching the fourth stage of blade skills at the age of seventeen."

"What you lack is just a cultivation technique."

"And for creating techniques, comprehension is the most crucial factor."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end