Training

A week passed in the blink of an eye.

Li Ye had spent the past few days practicing the Foundation Building Technique. He had not accumulated enough vitality and blood for the Twelve Cycles Technique of the Twelve Golden Palaces Dragon Tiger Gate, so he could only practice the Foundation Building Technique. The vitality and blood generated from it was stored under the authority of the Qi Devourer.

Vitality and Blood: 410

Twelve Golden Palaces Dragon Tiger Gate: 0

These were his own quantified stats. Over the week, he had consistently eaten martial artist meals in the cafeteria every day, supplemented by his remaining three bottles of Nutrient Solution, for a total of 400 points. The other 10 points had been accumulated through the Foundation Building Technique he practiced daily.

The school had not granted his request for extra meals, which was rather unfortunate. Still, fifty cups a day were enough. Next, it depended on whether the Training Points would come through.

Martial Arts Students did not get weekends off. They trained all day, though they could apply for leave if they truly had something to do.

At that moment, Li Ye sat on a coach bus, scrolling through his phone.

The moment he arrived at school, everyone had assembled and boarded the bus. There were only thirty-eight Martial Arts Students in total now, so one bus was more than enough.

Displayed on his phone was the information on the demons and monsters at this Longshan Training Point, which had only been issued last night.

"Some of you are new, so I'll explain it again. This time, you'll only be operating within the designated area. You cannot go beyond it. The dangers within the area have been strictly controlled, and drones will monitor the place at all times to ensure your safety to the greatest extent possible."

"If you encounter danger you can't handle or lack the strength to return, you can shout to the sky. The patrolling drones above will hear you. Of course, that isn't absolute. You aren't students here for a spring outing or study trip—you're martial artists, and you'll shoulder greater responsibilities in the future. So prepare yourselves mentally."

Gu Yang's words made Deng Hao and Jia Dong somewhat nervous. Although Gu Yang had emphasized this to newly admitted Martial Arts Students like them over the past few days, when the moment truly came, they still could not help but panic.

Yao Leden, seated nearby, looked over. "Relax, he's just saying that. No accidents have happened so far. If it really comes down to it, follow me first. I know this area of Longshan well. Li Ye, want to come with us?"

"You guys form a team. I'll take a look on my own first." Li Ye shook his head.

Gu Yang continued, "The information on your phones clearly records the demons and monsters of Longshan. If you encounter a demon or monster not listed in the information, don't attempt to fight it. Retreat immediately. But that situation basically won't happen, so don't worry too much."

Hearing that, Li Ye looked back at his phone.

There were quite a few names marked in green. Aside from Ironclad Boars, there were demons and monsters such as Green Bamboo Dart Mantises and Whirlpool Saliva Grey Toads. Most had come from Longshan's native animals mutating into demons and monsters.

Not only were their names listed, but detailed information was included as well—their weaknesses, habits, possible locations, and even clues to where they might establish nests.

Longshan did not respawn at fixed locations, nor was it some realm of suffering. It was merely home to some demons and monsters capable of reproducing again. Given enough time, new Training Points could be generated.

The designated area was also planned with this factor in mind. As for how many there were, they would only know after entering the mountain.

The coach bus traveled north all the way before finally stopping at the mountain entrance. Further up, there were no proper roads, only simple dirt paths winding upward. Fences roughly half a person's height encircled the area on both sides, serving as boundary markers.

Li Ye raised his head and happened to see several drones flying overhead.

"You don't need to personally deal with the demons and monsters you kill. The miniature cameras issued to you earlier can record them, link with the drones, and transmit data in real time. Dedicated personnel will process the records of your kills, so you don't need to worry about your prey being stolen or your kills not being recorded."

"One demon or monster counts as one point. If you fight together, the points will be divided equally. Everything will be calculated clearly. Now, move out!"

As Gu Yang finished speaking, the first few students who had long been unable to hold themselves back sprang forward one after another. Rather than taking the mountain path, they swiftly climbed the nearby slopes, using the high ground to scramble upward on hands and feet before vanishing into the forest.

"Huh? Why don't I see Fu Chuxue?" Deng Hao looked around and asked curiously.

A great beauty left a deep impression, especially since they had only seen her at the start of school and had not seen her at all these past few days.

Yao Leden said, "Special talents get special treatment. She doesn't need the little bit that comes from training; she only needs to participate in martial competitions. Li Ye, if you get good results in the martial competition, maybe you could too—"

Thud!

Before she could finish, a gust of wind erupted beside her, whipping her short hair.

Li Ye kicked off the air to either side, each step sending a ring of air rippling out beneath his feet. It was as though he were climbing a ladder to the heavens. With his body weaving through the air, he reached halfway up the slope in two or three steps. Borrowing force, he soared again, flying straight toward the mountain.

"Such badass Lightness Skill. Brother Ye truly is Brother Ye."

Deng Hao stared dumbfoundedly at Li Ye's rapidly ascending figure as it gradually disappeared. After blinking several times, he looked at Yao Leden. "Sister Leden, how much does that breakthrough martial art cost? Can I buy it?"

"Why buy it? To worship it at home and wait for your ancestral graves to emit blue smoke so your descendants might have the talent to learn it? The country is already worried sick that no one can master those breakthrough martial arts, yet here you are, wanting to spend money to buy one."

Yao Leden rolled her eyes. "Practice your ordinary martial arts properly first. Come on, I'll take you hunting."

"You're staying with us? You don't want Training Points?" Jia Dong asked.

"I'm not suffering through that. Fighting demons and monsters is exhausting—you'll understand once you run into one. I'm not short on money, and I have things better than Nutrient Solution anyway. We've already worked it out; I'll just buy what you get." Yao Leden looked pleased with herself.

The demons and monsters on the mountain were not everywhere one looked. The designated range roughly covered three connected peaks, and the demons and monsters were spread over a wide area.

Normally, they would need to seize the initiative like those below by using Lightness Skill, then search for clues and pinpoint the demons' and monsters' locations.

Li Ye did not need to go through all that trouble. His ability to remain airborne was strong, giving him a better view from high in the sky.

Why would he not use good martial arts? Was he supposed to follow those with poor martial arts and hike up the mountain on foot?

He had come to train, not to show off.

The training period would last until the next martial competition. There was not much time, and the number of demons and monsters was limited. Once they were cleared out, that was it.

Within that time, he needed to earn more points and exchange them for more Nutrient Solution.

"Found them!"

After kicking through the air several times, Li Ye traveled a great distance through the sky like a swimming dragon. His gaze locked onto an open clearing amid the forest, where two wild boars lay resting.

The pitch-black boars were easy to spot from the air.

Li Ye leaped down like a heavy hammer striking the earth, making the ground tremble when he landed.

Bang!

The impact startled the boars. They immediately rose to their feet and squealed at Li Ye.

Unlike ordinary wild boars, these two had no bristles and looked more like domestic pigs. Their bodies were so black they nearly reflected light, as if they wore a layer of armor.

Their tusks had protruding roots, with obvious signs of having been broken off.

They were purely meant to train students. No wonder they said accidents were unlikely.

The instant that thought crossed his mind, Li Ye moved. With a stomp, his body shot forward like a roaming dragon. Just as the boars spread their four legs and assumed defensive stances, he slid between the two Ironclad Boars.

"Golden Dragon Claw."

With a thrust of both claws, he easily punched holes through the two Ironclad Boars' heads. He seized them in passing and twisted their skulls hollow.

Hard.

But useless.

Li Ye was harder!