With the vice principal's speech concluded, this Monthly Examination came to an end.
Lin Mu and the others returned to the bus.
As they sat inside, everyone's eyes fell on Lin Mu.
He was like a dazzling star, making many of them unable to resist looking at him.
First place in the Monthly Examination, twenty thousand points.
What a brilliant result.
And this person had once been the deadweight of their class.
They found it strange. How had Lin Mu achieved such results?
"Lin Mu, have you been hiding your strength all this time, waiting until the Martial Arts Exam was near to make a stunning debut?"
"Yeah! You're way too fierce! You're practically about to break our school's record!"
"Do you have any secrets? Teach us!"
"..."
They all chimed in with their questions.
Lin Mu wore a faint smile as he answered them politely.
Li Yu sat at the front. Seeing the scene before her, a faint smile appeared at the corners of her lips as well.
Though she was also curious about what had happened to Lin Mu.
She knew that everyone had their own secrets. As a teacher, she should not pry too much.
After returning to the school, Lin Mu was called to the office by the principal and the others.
Looking at the stern old man before him, Lin Mu's expression was utterly calm.
Bai Fan and several vice principals sat to one side, studying Lin Mu with their eyes. They also seemed curious about how this young man had become so outstanding.
"I watched all of your performances. Very good. According to school regulations, given your family circumstances, you can be granted a D-grade poverty subsidy!"
"However, your combat ability is very strong. You should possess exceptional talent in that area, so I will make an exception and raise your subsidy!" Principal Gu Fei said slowly.
"A C-grade Subsidy!"
A flicker of excitement appeared in Lin Mu's eyes.
A C-grade Subsidy consisted of a full hundred thousand yuan and a certain amount of C-grade Potions.
To him, it was an unexpected windfall.
"As for the reward for taking first place in this Monthly Examination, go to the Academic Affairs Office to collect it later," Gu Fei said.
"Thank you, Principal!" Lin Mu said gratefully.
"You've earned it," Gu Fei said.
Lin Mu expressed his gratitude once more. After they chatted briefly for a few more moments, he left.
He went straight to the Academic Affairs Office and collected his rewards for this examination.
A full sixty C-grade Supplies and one hundred thousand yuan.
There was also news about the Blood Qi Medicine Pool.
The medicine pool would open in seven days, and he had secured one spot.
After learning this, Lin Mu thanked the teacher and turned to leave.
He was deeply satisfied with this Monthly Examination.
Not only had he tempered himself, he had also received so many rewards.
As for those people he had injured during the Monthly Examination, Lin Mu did not care in the slightest.
When soldiers came, he would block them with generals; when water came, he would dam it with earth. With the system, he had no need to fear anyone.
Besides, he had a B-grade Contract. If things truly blew up, the Virtual Combat Arena would step in as well.
After returning home, Lin Mu washed up and quickly fell asleep in bed.
Early the next morning, Lin Mu had only just opened his eyes when he discovered that his room door had somehow been opened.
Lin Mu was instantly startled.
He saw Chu Miaomiao walking in.
When he saw her, Lin Mu was slightly taken aback.
"How did you get in?"
"The door wasn't closed, so I came in!" Chu Miaomiao explained.
But when she saw Lin Mu's lean, muscular body, a flush rose on her pretty face, and she hurriedly backed out.
Yet Lin Mu's figure lingered in her mind, impossible to dispel.
His body is way too good!
Chu Miaomiao thought to herself.
Lin Mu got dressed and walked out of the room.
He must have been too tired yesterday; he had not even closed the door.
Still, that was normal. No matter how powerful one's cultivation became, people could still forget things sometimes. It was human nature.
"You came looking for me so early in the morning. What is it?" Lin Mu asked.
"Didn't I promise to give you a breathing technique before? Here!" Chu Miaomiao took out a calligraphy scroll.
Lin Mu was slightly stunned when he saw this. He knew that breathing techniques were extremely precious. Like Secret Arts, they were the key to why martial artists stood above ordinary people.
He had been surprised even when Chu Miaomiao promised to give him a breathing technique.
He had not expected her to really bring one out.
Judging by her appearance, she must have secretly taken it out. Otherwise, she would not have come to his home so early.
"I can only keep this out for two hours at most. Read it first, and I'll bring it out for you again later!" Chu Miaomiao explained.
"Two hours is enough," Lin Mu said.
He opened the scroll. It was a landscape painting, with several lines of small writing in its lower-left corner.
When he saw the scroll, Lin Mu's expression changed slightly. He discovered that it seemed to possess some kind of magic, drawing his mind into it without his noticing.
For a moment, it felt as though he stood within the landscape painting itself—the majesty of icy peaks, the fragrance of the forest.
His breathing also began to change at that moment.
Chu Miaomiao sat quietly to one side and waited.
She knew that comprehending a breathing technique was not so simple. It had taken her several days just to find a little direction.
It's all because my family watches things too closely. Otherwise, I could have brought it out for longer!
A trace of frustration appeared on Chu Miaomiao's face.
She truly hoped Lin Mu could learn the breathing technique.
Because breathing techniques could significantly increase cultivation speed.
Under the effects of a breathing technique, both Martial Skills and cultivation methods would receive a boost.
That was why breathing techniques were so rare.
After about an hour, Lin Mu's mind withdrew from the landscape painting.
His expression had visibly changed.
Because he had never expected a breathing technique to be so wondrous.
What an incredible scroll. Just looking at it was enough to immerse me in it! And in that state, my breathing also changed noticeably!
Lin Mu thought to himself.
A system notification sounded at that moment.
Completed cultivation of the Xuanmu Breathing Technique Fragment. Obtained 147x efficiency.
For a moment, Lin Mu felt many subtle changes occur throughout his body.
His Blood Qi Value had also increased noticeably.
He had gained an entirely new understanding of this breathing technique.
Interesting! This breathing technique can balance the five viscera and six bowels, making it easier to enter a meditative state. It helps with both combat and cultivation! While using the breathing technique, my efficiency increases by at least thirty percent. Combined with the system's effects, my cultivation speed will be far greater than before!
Lin Mu thought to himself.
He knew that this breathing technique was like carrying medicine with him at all times—take it, and he could improve.
And it had no side effects.
At that moment, he also understood why breathing techniques were so expensive and scarce.
Because this thing was practically a cheat device.
Some high-level breathing techniques could completely increase a person's cultivation speed severalfold.
No wonder people say that in Dragon Capital, some people are born at the Third Order and reach the Seventh Order in only ten years. The gap between people isn't just talent—it's resources!
Lin Mu thought to himself.
The more he understood this world, the more he understood why the gap between people could be so enormous!
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