Training

"You've got quite the nerve."

Yan Menglu looked at the student she'd previously thought was the least troublesome, a headache forming. "Inciting two classes to fight one Martial Arts Student. I don't even know when you became the boss of the Preparatory Students."

The mass brawl involving nearly a hundred people in the cafeteria had, of course, blown up.

However, before the security guards and teachers arrived, Li Ye had let out a shout and led everyone in the cafeteria in an escape.

But just running away wasn't enough; the incident had still led to Yan Menglu summoning him.

"Do you know how serious this is? Fractures, spinal injuries, concussions – they've already been sent to the hospital. Even for a Martial Artist, it'll take at least three days to recover."

Hearing this, Li Ye shrugged. "In his own words, it's for medical expenses. If there's going to be any punishment, I incited them, and I was the one who struck first. Punish me alone."

"Punish my ass!"

Yan Menglu cursed. "A Martial Arts Student comes to the Preparatory Student cafeteria to curse people, and he's in the right? This school isn't run by his family; he's going too far! This can at most be considered a mutual fight!"

"That Guo Chuming, he came back from the Dragon Mountain trial after fighting an Ironclad Boar. He can't handle Demons, so he comes here to bully Preparatory Students. Anyone would find that unacceptable!"

As she spoke, she suddenly seemed to realize something, looking at Li Ye's smiling face. She said irritably, "Did you know from the start that this wouldn't blow up?"

Normal teenagers, especially those who hadn't entered the Martial Arts track, feared being called to their parents or getting punished. But Li Ye seemed completely unfazed.

That's why she always thought this kid was mature.

Li Ye, of course, didn't care. Fights were normal for those practicing martial arts; this incident wouldn't be taken seriously. If it were, the other side would be at a disadvantage.

He had initially thought he'd at worst get a reprimand and have to pay some money. But after hearing Yan Menglu, it seemed he wouldn't even have to worry about that.

Before Li Ye could speak, Yan Menglu waved her hand. "You... forget it. No need to pay. Someone from the Dragon Gate comes to the Preparatory Student area to provoke, and if he can't win, can't he run? Getting injured is his own lack of skill. Staying in the hospital for three days is just buying a lesson."

"There's no way they'll punish us. A Martial Arts Student comes to the Preparatory Student cafeteria to provoke, and the Preparatory Students get punished? Do I have any face? Does Old Yang from the Martial Arts track have any face?"

Even if they didn't, the principal had to care about appearances!

She glanced at the figures peeking out from behind the windows outside, sighing. "Go comfort your 'subordinates.' If you're any later, I think it's going to be a full-blown riot."

"Thank you, Teacher."

Li Ye nodded and turned to leave the office. Just before he exited, he paused and said, "Teacher, what I said yesterday... pretend I didn't say it."

"Hm?"

Yan Menglu was taken aback. She wanted to say something more, but Li Ye had already left.

The students gathered outside the office, trying to eavesdrop. Seeing Li Ye emerge, they swarmed him.

"Brother Ye!"

Deng Hao's neck was flushed red. "Don't worry, I instigated it! I'll take all the blame and punishment, I won't let you get implicated!"

"Punish my ass!"

Li Ye laughed and cursed. "Old Yan said it's nothing, just eat and drink as usual."

After he finished, all the students cheered, their faces flushed with excitement.

For this group fight, even the students crowded at the very edges had found ways to kick Guo Chuming.

In the past, they'd only heard of people getting beaten by Martial Arts Students and had to accept their misfortune.

Today, they felt invigorated. Most importantly, there were no consequences.

Li Ye waved his hand. "Alright, why are so many people gathered here? Disperse. There's no need to worry about retaliation, Guo Chuming is hospitalized for three days."

"What about after three days?" someone asked.

"It's summer vacation after three days!" Jia Dong laughed heartily.

This set off a wave of even louder laughter.

After a brief commotion, people slowly dispersed. Some hadn't eaten enough, so they took the opportunity to grab more food while they still had time.

"I'm going to break through the Dragon Gate during summer vacation!"

Deng Hao clenched his fist. "When I enter the Martial Arts track next semester, I'll settle the score with that Guo guy properly!"

Jia Dong also started thinking. He nudged Deng Hao with his elbow. "That master you mentioned this morning... is he reliable?"

Deng Hao said, "My physical test score is the same as yours. The master said it's fine. Even if you have to work a bit harder, if you want to, I can introduce you in a couple of days."

Li Ye knew about these kinds of masters. Unlike the standardized teaching at martial arts schools, these masters offered personalized training, using their own experience for intensive coaching.

However, finding a master required a certain foundation. Generally, students who only just passed the school's physical tests didn't need it; at least a 'Good' rating was necessary.

And it was very expensive, costing at least a million.

Jia Dong was a rational person. His initial thought was the same as Li Ye's: there was no need to waste so much money. If your aptitude was good, it was good; if not, then so be it.

After all, if you couldn't break through the Blood Essence in a martial arts school, your future progress wouldn't be significant.

Below the Third Dragon Gate, they were essentially no different from ordinary people. It would take many years after entering society to earn back the money spent.

Mainly, he was stimulated by what happened at noon. In the long run, there might not be a difference, but right now, there was!

After all the hardship and suffering endured in martial arts training, it couldn't all be for nothing!

Don't mind that he said he was barely getting by at the martial arts school; his family was actually middle-class and could afford it if they pushed themselves.

The midday commotion quickly ended, and by the afternoon, they were immediately immersed in training.

The morning was for physical conditioning, and now it was time for pure body training.

From thirty meters to one hundred meters of obstacle traversal, they had to leap onto posts after clearing obstacles made of sandbags, first practicing stationary stances, then moving stances, followed by an hour of training before freely engaging with punching bags or wooden posts.

Those not training at the martial arts school would receive specialized instruction in free fighting from the school's Martial Arts Teachers, while Martial Arts Students were left to their own devices.

Li Ye found a wooden dummy, assumed a horse stance, his legs bent below the knee.

He first exhaled a long breath, then inhaled deeply, channeling power into his legs and feet. His left foot twisted half a circle on the ground, and his right foot transformed into a whip, smashing into the wooden dummy.

Bang!

Under the immense force, even the specially made, fixed wooden dummy trembled slightly.

After unleashing his leg, Li Ye quickly shifted, stomping his right foot down heavily. It also twisted half a circle, transforming into his left leg, which fiercely kicked the wooden dummy.

Bang!

With each kick, his posture had to be readjusted and shifted to achieve maximum training effect.

After rapidly delivering a hundred kicks, Li Ye retracted his leg and immediately sprang up, his feet and legs alternating, kicking the wooden dummy seven times in quick succession. Upon landing, he immediately resumed his horse stance, taking a brief moment to adjust his breathing before leaping up again, delivering another seven kicks.

After another hundred repetitions, Li Ye quickly retracted his leg, then stomped down hard on the ground. Using the force, he shot forward, delivering a powerful knee strike to the center of the wooden dummy. He then used the dummy's momentum to retreat, once again shifting his legs and feet before charging forward.

His martial arts aptitude was average, making it difficult to break through the Dragon Gate. However, his sole advantage was his speed in learning techniques. Not only were the martial arts school's moves standard in his hands, but he could also integrate them with his own development to create a path suited to him, which could be considered perfect.

Forward kick, chop and smash, side kick, whip kick, knee strike, stomp, cross kick, consecutive kicks.

Each strike was powerful and heavy, as if he were going mad, completely disregarding himself.

The sounds he produced drew the attention of all the students training nearby, who secretly marveled.

Some recognized what he was doing and wanted to stop him, but upon seeing Li Ye's focused yet slightly ferocious expression, they hesitated to step forward, merely watching.

It wasn't until he finally landed, his foot twisting a full circle on the ground, his body shifting from facing forward to facing backward, that one leg shot out like a sword, striking the wooden dummy with explosive force.

Bang!!

The sound was louder than before, even creating an echo.

Only then did he stand firm, beginning to regulate his breathing.

"Ye, Brother Ye?"

Deng Hao's voice sounded from behind him.

He turned his head and saw Deng Hao and Jia Dong looking at him with astonished expressions.

"Why are you suddenly training like this? This isn't a martial arts school," Deng Hao asked.

That was the most orthodox martial arts school training method, emphasizing full power and a frenzied approach, constantly strengthening oneself and boosting Blood Essence through the training method.

This was completely different from what the school taught. The school's methods were moderate and peaceful, at most consuming energy without causing damage to the body.

Martial arts school training methods, without professional dietary supplements and accompanying medicinal baths, could damage the body if practiced independently.

Although Li Ye hadn't been training for as long as those at the martial arts school, his stance was absolutely correct.

Jia Dong thought for a moment and said tactfully, "Brother Ye, perhaps you should go to another martial arts school? If you don't think Springing Leg is good enough, the 'Natural Martial Arts School' I know is quite good."

"It's fine, I'm just practicing casually,"

Li Ye smiled and kicked a couple more times. "It's no problem at all."

Under normal circumstances, one should still go to a martial arts school for training methods because of the professional dietary supplements and accompanying medicinal baths offered there, which would prevent any hidden injuries.

But Li Ye didn't need that.

The 'Qi Devourer' allowed him to precisely absorb the power of every meal, enabling him to maintain a balance and ensure he wouldn't suffer losses or sustain hidden injuries.

After lunch, based on his self-assessment of his Blood Essence data, his Blood Essence had reached 80.19.

After an afternoon of training, combined with his practice methods, his Blood Essence had increased to 80.25.

Li Ye was very satisfied.

"Let's rest, class is about to start."

Li Ye patted the shoulders of the two and they walked out of the training room together.

In just about twenty minutes, the afternoon training session concluded, and after another general studies class, they were dismissed from school.

"Brother Ye, thank you today. I'll treat you tonight, let's go for a meal."

Deng Hao said to Li Ye with a grin, "After eating, we'll go for a foot massage. I know a place where the top masseuse is a Martial artist from the First Dragon Gate; a massage there will make you feel incredibly comfortable!"

"Really?" Jia Dong's ears perked up. "Which place?"

"Just one place, I'm treating Brother Ye," Deng Hao said. "It's very expensive; a regular foot massage costs 1688."

Jia Dong raised an eyebrow. "And what about the non-regular ones?"

"There's no such thing," Deng Hao rolled his eyes.

"You two go ahead, I still have something to do."

Li Ye smiled. "Also, at your age, you should go to such places less often."

With that, he slung his backpack over his shoulder and left.

It wasn't that he minded; a second-generation rich kid wouldn't care. It was just that Huang Qingyi had arranged to meet him today, and he had to go.