Are Newcomers These Impressive Nowadays?

Hiss!

After the Wind Blade Snake's two cold, inverted-triangle pupils swept over Lu Chuan, it flicked its tongue, then suddenly shot forward.

Bring it on!

Facing the menacing Wind Blade Snake, Lu Chuan advanced rather than retreated. He stomped his right foot against the ground and shot through the air like an arrow released from the bow.

His right fist clenched, and waves of pale blue ripples quietly spread outward.

Wave Fist!

With a low shout from Lu Chuan, his right fist slammed out, striking the Wind Blade Snake squarely on the head.

The terrifying force sent the Wind Blade Snake flying and crashing to the ground.

But it was not over yet!

Lu Chuan swept out with his left hand and clamped down on the Wind Blade Snake's neck. His right hand curled into a fist, raining blows down like a storm.

Before long, the Wind Blade Snake that made many First-Rank Martial Artists tremble at its name died beneath Lu Chuan's fists.

"This Wind Blade Snake seems a little overrated."

Seeing how easily he had dealt with it, Lu Chuan's face filled with doubt.

In truth, it was not that the Wind Blade Snake had an undeserved reputation.

It was that Lu Chuan was too strong!

Oceanic Embrace at the mastery level not only accelerated Lu Chuan's cultivation speed, but also made his foundation incomparably solid.

Moreover, the power of Wave Fist was tied to his proficiency in Oceanic Embrace.

With Oceanic Embrace at full mastery empowering it, Wave Fist was far more powerful than martial arts of the same level!

With all that combined, it was hardly strange that he had dealt with the Wind Blade Snake so easily.

Not far away in the dense forest.

"Th-This is impossible!"

Song Qing, who had witnessed Lu Chuan kill the Wind Blade Snake with his own eyes, once again wore an expression of shock.

"How could a newcomer who just broke through into the Martial Artist realm kill a Wind Blade Snake so easily?!"

"Are newcomers these impressive nowadays?"

At that moment, Song Qing instinctively recalled his younger days.

When he had just broken through to become a Martial Artist, could he have defeated a Wind Blade Snake?

Defeated my ass!

Even when Song Qing had just broken through to Second Rank, he had not been confident he could kill a Wind Blade Snake!

Was he too useless?

No!

Lu Chuan was simply too monstrous!

The partner beside him had also lost his earlier calm and composure.

Even those placid eyes, undisturbed by ancient waves, now revealed shock.

He said in disbelief, "How is this possible? Lu Chuan is a newcomer who just broke through to become a Martial Artist. How could he possess such formidable strength?"

Hearing that, Song Qing teased him in imitation of his tone. "Lu Chuan's talent is so high. Is it strange for him to be a little monstrous?"

"That makes sense."

His partner nodded, then smiled. "Old Song, it seems you're about to teach a Top Scholar."

"A Top Scholar!"

The instant he heard those two words, Song Qing's eyes blazed.

A Top Scholar!

This was a Top Scholar Third Middle School had never even dared dream of!

Even Lin City's lowest-tier Top Scholar had never appeared at Third Middle School.

If Lu Chuan truly became Lin City's Top Scholar, then as Lu Chuan's teacher, both Song Qing's reputation and benefits would soar!

He might even be qualified to compete for the next Principal position!

So, could Lu Chuan become a Top Scholar?

Based on the achievements Lu Chuan had displayed so far, there was indeed a sliver of a chance.

"Next, it's time to pick the Seven Star Vine."

After casually tossing aside the Wind Blade Snake's corpse, Lu Chuan walked over to the Seven Star Vine. Once he confirmed there was no danger nearby, he carefully picked it and stored it close to his body.

As for converting the Seven Star Vine into Simplification Points, he would wait until he got back.

What if someone nearby was watching? If he consumed the Seven Star Vine now, would that not expose the system?

Better safe than sorry.

After putting away the Seven Star Vine, Lu Chuan lightly tapped off with his right foot and drifted deeper into the forest like a wisp of green smoke.

Unfortunately, Lu Chuan found nothing else along the way.

Although this was wilderness too, it was ultimately a training ground for students. The danger was low, and accordingly, there were not many treasures.

Moreover, students came here every month for training. Over time, the treasures in this place had long since been picked clean.

After failing to find any treasures for so long, Lu Chuan lost interest in exploring. He wandered around casually for a while, then returned to the gathering point.

By then, quite a few students had already gathered there.

Holding a metal mug of tea, Lu Chuan drank while listening in on the students' information.

Calling it information was generous. It was nothing more than which student had encountered a Fierce Beast, or which student had gotten lucky and picked up a treasure.

After listening for a while, Lu Chuan discovered that his own gains were fairly good.

In all of Third Middle School, the number of students who had gained more than him could be counted on one hand.

After listening for a while longer, Lu Chuan could not be bothered anymore.

Rather than waste time on this, he might as well pour more water into his stomach.

With that thought, Lu Chuan began gulping again.

Seeing Lu Chuan constantly drinking water, the surrounding students frowned. What was wrong with this guy? Was he having some kind of episode?

What was so good about drinking water?

With that thought, the students all moved several steps away, afraid Lu Chuan might pass whatever sickness he had on to them.

Lu Chuan, meanwhile, was wholly immersed in improving his cultivation technique and knew nothing of what was happening around him.

When a person devoted themselves wholeheartedly to something, time always flew especially fast.

Before he knew it, every student who had gone out for training had returned.

The teachers each led their own students onto the buses and headed back to Third Middle School.

As for what the students had obtained, the teachers did not announce it.

After all, it concerned the students' opportunities and might even bring danger upon them. It was only natural to keep it confidential.

Thanks to that, Lu Chuan had a relatively peaceful ride, with no classmates surrounding him and bombarding him with questions.

Over the next few days, Lu Chuan repeated just two things.

Drinking water and practicing martial arts.

This regular life continued until ten days later.

Host: Lu Chuan

Cultivation Technique: Oceanic Embrace (Great Perfection)

Realm: Second-Rank Martial Artist (1/1000)

Simplification Points: 15

After ten days of cultivation, Lu Chuan's martial arts realm had finally broken through to Second Rank.

Breaking through from First Rank to Second Rank in ten days would terrify who knew how many people if word got out.

Yet Lu Chuan was not particularly happy.

"After breaking through to Second Rank, my cultivation speed has actually slowed down."

Looking at the progress of his realm, Lu Chuan gradually frowned. At First Rank, every full circulation of the Great Cycle through Oceanic Embrace had given him ten points of realm progress.

But now, after one full circulation of the Great Cycle, it did not even provide a single point of realm progress.

At this rate, Lu Chuan had no idea whether he would have to wait until monkeys ruled the world before breaking through to Third Rank.

Granted, Second Rank was enough for Lu Chuan to reign supreme in Third Middle School.

But how could Lu Chuan, who possessed the Simplification System, possibly be satisfied with his current achievements?

Beneath the boundless stars, where the Ten Thousand Races vied for supremacy—that was Lu Chuan's future!

"Has Oceanic Embrace already failed to keep up as my cultivation rises?"

This thought suddenly surfaced in Lu Chuan's mind.

Come to think of it, that was entirely possible.

Oceanic Embrace was only a foundational cultivation technique, one the school gave students for free. It was only natural that it could not keep pace with the later stages of cultivation.

"Looks like I need to find a way to get a new cultivation technique."

Lu Chuan narrowed his eyes and fell into thought.

At this stage, Lu Chuan had two ways to obtain a cultivation technique.

The first was to buy one from outside.

Unfortunately, Lu Chuan had no money.

The second was to apply to the school for a cultivation technique.