Absolute Focus, Competition Addicts

Cultivation began, and Li Xijun quickly entered a state of complete focus, forgetting himself entirely.

This was also thanks to having undergone Spirit Refining and Orifice Opening.

Previously, he could sometimes achieve this state of single-minded concentration, but he always needed time to adjust before he could slowly immerse himself completely.

Sometimes, when he was in a bad mood or poor physical condition, he could train all the way through without ever reaching such a state.

However, the Aperture Opening Realm's "Spirit-Refining Detailed Explanation Orifice-Sensing Method" could use mantras, hand seals, and other methods to guide one into a tranquil, peaceful state focused on oneself, allowing one's mind to enter the Ancestral Aperture through the technique and sense the soul.

And with One Proof, Eternal Proof, Li Xijun could enter this state whenever he wanted and maintain it continuously.

As he practiced each move over and over, time passed bit by bit.

Information continuously appeared and updated within Li Xijun's field of vision.

Your Martial Arts System: Skin and Flesh Realm has increased from 11% to 13%.

Your "Subduing Tiger Bone Refining Method" proficiency has increased from Beginner 91% to Beginner 94%.

Your "True Martial Thirty-Six Forms" proficiency has increased from Proficient 97% to Proficient 98%.

The prompts from the Attribute Panel did not make him stop. This intensely focused state lasted until Zhou Yibai's voice came from outside the classroom.

"Ye, why have you been standing outside the door this whole time?"

Zhou Yibai, who had arrived later, found it strange to see Ye Liuyun, like Zhang Haifeng, standing outside the door and watching the classroom through the glass window.

Startled by the sudden call, Ye Liuyun maintained the bearing of an ancient-style young master. Though somewhat displeased inwardly, he still spoke gently.

"I saw that a classmate inside was in an excellent state just now, and I couldn't bear to disturb him, so I observed and learned from outside for a while."

With that, he pushed open the Martial Arts Classroom door and walked in.

He looked toward Li Xijun, who had left his state of focus and begun to conclude his stance, then nodded slightly in apology.

Since childhood, he had made many preparations in order to comprehend Artistic Conception. He had put a great deal of effort into meditation and similar pursuits, even neglecting his foundational cultivation methods somewhat.

Naturally, he knew very well how rare Li Xijun's state of absolute focus and total mental immersion had been for most people.

Having inadvertently disrupted such a fine state, he felt somewhat embarrassed.

Li Xijun, however, did not care about any of that. He merely wiped away his sweat casually and reviewed the notifications in his field of vision.

He was extremely satisfied with his progress just now.

Though they were only small improvements of one or two percent, Li Xijun, who had accumulated his initial fortune of over a million through short-term trading, understood very well how terrifying steady daily gains could be.

Pile up earth, and it becomes a mountain; gather water, and it becomes an abyss. Given enough time, astonishing results would eventually appear.

Feeling thoroughly satisfied, he walked to the side and sat down to rest, taking small sips of his energy drink.

As always, Ye Liuyun had already taken his position at the very front and was practicing the foundational cultivation method, "Flowing Water Wave-Stacking Method."

This foundational cultivation method lacked the majesty and grandeur of the "Azure Dragon Heaven-Reaching Method" and "Thunderclap Prison Vine Method." Instead, it drew upon the idea that flowing water did not strive to be first, but strove to flow on without end. It seemed calm and natural, yet concealed surging undercurrents. During cultivation, the blood essence within the body surged wave after wave, stimulating the flesh, blood, tendons, and bones throughout the body.

It suited Ye Liuyun's mindset and temperament extremely well.

Only upon seeing this scene did Li Xijun recall that, when the Ten-Year Cultivation Plan had first been announced, this top-ranked student in the class had been one of the few whose expression had remained calm.

This guy never shows off in daily life, and he does everything methodically. His cultivation speed isn't especially fast, but he steadily improves step by step. It feels completely natural, and he never stops.

Hm, why does this guy seem a little like the protagonist of a novel too?

Li Xijun relaxed his mind and let his thoughts wander idly.

"Beep!" The blood essence detector at the Martial Arts Classroom entrance was activated, and the large screen at the front of the room gradually lit up.

"Zhou Yibai, Blood Essence Level: Level 6.1."

Zhou Yibai's name and level appeared on the screen. At the same time, he walked in with a broad smile, and the smugness on his face was impossible to hide when he saw Li Xijun.

"Hehe, I've been eating pretty well this past week. I've had Blood Essence Potions every day without interruption, plus meditation classes every night to help me recover. After training hard at my cousin's place over the weekend, I finally raised my level by 0.1."

Zhou Yibai had broken through to Level 6 sometime after August twentieth during the summer vacation of his second year, but during the nearly ten days before school started, he had made almost no progress.

Now, after a week of Blood Essence Potion supplies from the school and hard training, he had finally increased his Blood Essence Level by 0.1. Naturally, he could not resist showing off a little in front of Li Xijun.

Li Xijun merely responded with an "Oh" and casually humored him with a few remarks.

He did not mention at all that he himself had improved by 0.2 levels in seven days and would break through to Blood Essence Level 6 today.

At the same time, his relaxed thoughts drifted aimlessly.

Before, I thought Zhou Yibai's family setup had a bit of that urban novel protagonist vibe. It would fit a plot where an Immortal Venerable was reborn.

But compared to Ye Liuyun, that refined ancient-style young master in the classroom, he suddenly feels a bit like a minor antagonist.

"By the way, Brother Li, my uncle said my Martial Dao Spirituality has awakened. I should be able to enter the Elite Class today. At noon, I'll treat you to a Nourishment Meal Set on the second floor of the Cafeteria, and I'll introduce you to my cousin while we're at it." Zhou Yibai patted his chest, looking extravagantly generous.

Protagonist material. Being this generous has to be protagonist material!

Hearing that he could get a Nourishment Meal Set for free, Li Xijun revised his opinion.

As the sun gradually climbed higher,

One by one, the students who arrived early to train in the Martial Arts Classroom saw that the three of them had already been practicing for quite some time. On the surface, they smiled, greeted them, and teased them with remarks like, "You're here so early," and, "You're working so hard." Internally, however, they all cursed, Competition addicts! Then they decisively focused on their own training and began competing even harder.

Seeing this scene when he arrived at the classroom, Zhang Haifeng felt quite pleased. He thought the class had finally regained some of the urgency they had possessed during their senior year.

Time passed until after eleven.

Zhou Yibai, who had long since loudly told quite a few classmates that his Martial Dao Spirituality had awakened, was becoming too restless to continue training when the teacher with the notification finally arrived late.

"Zhou Yibai, your Martial Dao Spirituality has awakened. Go to the Academic Affairs Office to register, then prepare to head to the dedicated Elite Class building next door with an Elite Class teacher."

After the teacher outside delivered the notice, Zhou Yibai, who had been restless moments ago, felt utterly refreshed as he sensed the envious looks around him.

He hurriedly followed the teacher to the Academic Affairs Office to register. However, after the registration was complete, the Dean of Academic Affairs spoke up.

"Everything has been registered, but the Outer Scenery Level Instructors assigned to the various high schools are due to arrive at the station today."

"Teacher Zhao from the Elite Class and the Principal personally went to the station to pick them up, so they aren't here right now."

"Would you like to return to your class and wait for the afternoon, or contact an Elite Class student and have him swipe his student ID to let you in first?"

The moment Zhou Yibai heard that he could return to his original class and show off, he naturally ignored the second option.