"Not bad."
Lin Xianghong smiled, then said, "In a few months, it will be your grandfather's five-hundredth birthday. I'll take you to see him. If you catch his eye, he may be able to make up for your inadequate bone structure."
"Really?"
Lin Shuyao's face lit up with surprise. Her comprehension had reached Ninth Grade, but her bone structure was only Third Grade. If she could make up for that shortcoming, her future prospects would improve immensely.
And her grandfather was no ordinary man. He was a Divine Treasury Realm expert. Even if he was only a Pseudo Divine Treasury Realm expert who had forcibly broken through and exhausted his potential, he was still a ceiling-level powerhouse in Tian Heng City.
Although her grandfather had broken through within a Dark Domain and was trapped inside a Level 2 Dark Domain, unable to leave, the resources in the hands of such an expert were beyond ordinary people's imagination. He might even have treasures capable of improving one's bone structure.
"You shouldn't celebrate too soon. You have more than a hundred uncles, and I'm not exactly the most outstanding among them."
Lin Xianghong shook his head and calmly said, "Countless people covet treasures that can reshape one's bone structure. It won't be easy for you to earn his approval."
"This final exam is your opportunity. You must secure a spot to enter the Dark Domain, then use the Cosmic Source Energy within it to cultivate the Spirit Stream Technique to perfection."
"Besides that, as far as I know, your Third Middle School's Dark Domain Expedition contains a special opportunity. It will be quite useful for achieving an External Martial Arts Breakthrough with Beginner External Martial Arts."
"External Martial Arts Breakthrough?"
Lin Shuyao's expression changed slightly, revealing a trace of shock. Then she quickly understood. "Is this because of that person?"
"Mm." Lin Xianghong nodded. "Top-grade Bone Structure is far too rare. Your Third Middle School hasn't produced anyone with such talent in years."
"Your school's Principal Qian specifically applied to the City Government for an opportunity to help that person achieve an External Martial Arts Breakthrough."
"This opportunity is no small matter. If you can display enough strength, you may be able to get a share as well."
At that point, Lin Xianghong drew a deep breath. "Whether it is internal martial arts or external martial arts, stopping at perfection only makes one ordinary."
"To cultivate an invincible King Body among those of the same realm, even merely a Quasi-King Body, one must achieve a Merit Body Breakthrough to have even the slightest chance."
"You said you can make three hundred a day from tutoring?"
At dinner that evening, Father Chu looked at the contract in his hand with suspicion on his face.
For an Apprentice Level martial artist, three hundred a day was already an extremely high income. After all, Father Chu only earned ten thousand Federal Coin a year, while Chu Kuang could earn that much in just one month.
"Mm. The contract is right here in black and white."
"And my Basic External Martial Arts has already broken through to the perfection level."
Chu Kuang smiled. He did not intend to hide either his income or cultivation from them. He was worried that Father Chu might take risks and enter a Dark Domain to earn resources for him because of their lack of money.
Although Father Chu was an Apprentice Level Perfection martial artist, he had lost an arm. If he entered a Dark Domain to earn resources, the risks would be enormous.
"External martial arts at perfection?"
Father Chu reached out and gripped his shoulder. Only after estimating his Life Level did he relax slightly.
Still, he hesitated before saying thoughtfully, "Your vitality has indeed improved quite a bit. It seems you really did break through."
"But three hundred per lesson is still too high. Do you have some kind of connection with the Lin Family?"
"Lin Shuya's older sister is my classmate."
Chu Kuang considered his words. Even he was surprised by his tutoring fee.
Seeing this, Father Chu sighed. "You owe them quite a favor. You must think carefully about how to repay them in the future."
"I'll teach Lin Shuya everything I know. Only then will I be worthy of this tutoring fee," Chu Kuang said calmly.
"Mm."
Father Chu said nothing more and simply lifted his bowl to eat in silence.
Chu Kuang thought Father Chu had been discouraged by his income, so he did not say anything else to provoke him. After finishing his meal in silence, he said, "Dad, I'm going to train."
"..."
"You're still going?"
After Chu Kuang left, Father Chu and Mother Chu began arguing again in the bedroom.
Mother Chu was somewhat agitated now, her eyes slightly red as she said, "The eldest's comprehension isn't low. He can already earn money. Why do you still have to take such risks?"
"It is precisely because he is talented that I must support him with everything I have."
"One step ahead means every step ahead. The three years of high school are the most crucial three years. If he can get into a First-Tier Martial University, he'll have a much greater chance of breaking through to the Mortal Transformation Realm and even the Transcendent Realm in the future."
Father Chu's tone was resolute and brooked no argument. "The Dark Domain holds countless treasures. Any medicinal herb can be worth thousands or tens of thousands. If I go in once, I can earn at least ten or twenty thousand. If I'm lucky, I could make tens of thousands, even a hundred thousand."
"The eldest needs money for cultivation, and we need to accumulate resources for the second child too. This is a rare opportunity."
"Brother Li has already agreed to let me follow him into the Dark Domain. A cripple like me—if I miss this chance, who else would agree to let me join their team?"
"But..."
"No buts!"
The man's voice was utterly resolute, carrying a hint of dominance mixed with deeply hidden tenderness. "I may have lost an arm, but my blade is not dull."
"And I'm going to the Gushen Star Frontier Zone. If... if I really die in there, the Federation will give you compensation..."
"Don't say that anymore!"
Mother Chu trembled all over, tears shimmering in her eyes.
A Pioneer Zone referred to a Dark Domain that had not been fully developed, and such Dark Domains were often the most dangerous.
Father Chu said nothing more. He simply pulled the woman into his embrace, only to realize that with one arm left, he seemed unable to hold the person he loved tightly anymore.
"Iron Armor Technique will still need a few days before it breaks through to the major success stage."
"My Life Level won't improve much during this period. I might as well try my hand at the Tian Heng City Ranking Tournament in the Star Realm first."
Chu Kuang knew nothing of Father Chu's plans. What he wanted now was to enter the top three thousand of the Tian Heng Star Realm Ranking Tournament and obtain that one-hundred-thousand Interest-Free Loan.
With that thought in mind, Chu Kuang connected to the virtual device and sent his consciousness into the Star Realm.
In an instant, he felt his consciousness pass through boundless space and arrive in an illusory world.
Then all illusion solidified completely, transforming into a futuristic starry city.
"Tian Heng Star Realm."
Thoughts flashed through Chu Kuang's mind. The Tian Heng Star Realm was only the lowest-level Star Realm.
Above it was the Level 2 Star Realm of Tian Yuan C Star. However, the Level 2 Star Realm had higher requirements for mental strength. One generally needed vitality above Level 6 to gain permission to enter.
Setting that thought aside, Chu Kuang swept his awareness across the entire starry city and found that there did not seem to be many people there. There were only several tens of thousands of active figures.
He was not surprised by this. The Tian Heng Star Realm was merely a Level 1 Star Realm, and only local martial artists from Tian Heng City were active there. Most of them were students.
Martial artists whose Life Levels exceeded Level 6 were mostly active in the Level 2 Star Realm of Tian Yuan C Star.
"Let's fight ranked matches first."
Setting that thought aside, Chu Kuang directly opened the ranking tournament.
Since it was his first time participating, Chu Kuang started at the very bottom, ranked only 87,921st among first-year high school students in the Tian Heng Star Realm.
"Over eighty thousand. It seems most people in my class have tried the ranking tournament."
The thought surfaced in Chu Kuang's mind. He decisively started matchmaking, and the first match was quickly arranged.
Not long after the matchmaking began, Chu Kuang was teleported into an arena. Across from him, a fair-skinned, beautiful young girl gradually solidified into view.
At the same time, an illusory light screen appeared above Chu Kuang's head.
Chu Kuang School: Tian Heng Third Middle School Rank: 87921 Wins 0: Losses 0 Win Rate: None
On the other side, a line of information appeared above the girl's head as well.
Su Ling School: Tian Heng Seventh Middle School Rank: 79534 Wins 2: Losses 0 Win Rate: 100%
"From Third Middle School? Looks like this is his first time in the Tian Heng Ranking Tournament."
After carefully examining the light screen above Chu Kuang's head, Su Ling appeared somewhat relaxed.
It had already been more than eight months since the start of the first year. Those whose Life Levels exceeded Level 5 had basically all participated in the ranking tournament. Someone like Chu Kuang, joining only now, probably had a Life Level below 5.
"Third Middle School is stronger overall than Seventh Middle School, but if he's only joining the rankings now, he's probably not very strong."
"My Life Level is 5.5. The teacher said I have a chance of making the top ten thousand. Before ten consecutive wins, I shouldn't encounter any opponents who are too strong."
Su Ling steadied herself, drew a slender sword, and said, "Classmate Chu, please—"
"Ding—"
Before she could finish speaking, the countdown had already reached zero.
At that instant, Chu Kuang moved without expression. Like a cheetah, he gripped his spear and launched a fierce thrust.
The strike looked plain and unremarkable, but it was unbelievably fast, carrying an unstoppable momentum as it shot toward Su Ling.
"Not good!"
Su Ling's heart sank. It was too late to dodge, so she could only hurriedly raise her slender sword to block.
Unfortunately, using a slender sword to block a spear was like a mantis trying to stop a chariot. Her sword was instantly knocked away, and the spear pierced through her chest, sending her flying backward before pinning her to the wall.
"Chu Kuang wins!"
As the artificial intelligence announced the result, the information above Chu Kuang's head instantly refreshed.
Chu Kuang School: Tian Heng Third Middle School Rank: 79534 Wins 1: Losses 0 Win Rate: 100%
The ranked match ended there, and Chu Kuang was instantly teleported out of the arena.
He did not rest. He casually opened ranked matchmaking again and was about to wait for the next match when he noticed an avatar flashing on the message page.
Opening it, he saw that it was from Su Ling. "You... have no martial virtue. You attacked me before I could even finish speaking."
"In a Dark Domain, enemies won't wait for you to finish speaking before attacking."
Chu Kuang casually replied, then blocked messages from strangers.
On the other side, Su Ling was still sending messages when she discovered that they had been rejected.
"Damn it! Once I digest the gains from my breakthrough, I'll definitely wash away this humiliation."
Su Ling's face flushed slightly. Thinking of how that man had pierced her chest with a single spear thrust, she clenched her fists in fury.
Her external martial arts had just broken through to the major success stage, and her Life Level still had plenty of room to grow. It would likely soon reach 5.8. Then would come her chance to avenge herself.
Chu Kuang did not know what Su Ling was thinking. He had only blocked stranger messages because he did not want to be disturbed.
He was not particularly surprised that he had defeated Su Ling in a single move. Low-level martial artists did not have sufficiently powerful vitality, so victory or defeat could easily be decided in one or two moves.
Once one reached the Mortal Transformation Realm and cultivated a Martial Dao True Body, a cultivator's vitality would improve enormously. At that point, if their Life Levels were not too far apart, it would take at least dozens of moves to determine the victor.
Before you continue