Choosing a Martial School, Teaching the Breathing Technique

"Gu De, that bastard—no martial virtue at all!"

At the gates of Baiyun No. 1 High School, three middle-aged men watched Shi Yan and Zhang Yunya leave, gritting their teeth.

They had been rejected by Shi Yan. He had joined Magic Martial University.

"They actually used a honey trap. Impossible to guard against."

"If I'd known, I would've brought over Lingnan Martial School's campus belle too."

"Shi Yan, they said Magic Martial University used a honey trap."

When they reached the roadside, Zhang Yunya stopped and turned to look at Shi Yan.

Her bright eyes seemed to speak, and paired with the faint fragrance around her, they made Shi Yan's heart beat a little faster.

"Senior, don't stand so close. I've been abstaining lately."

Shi Yan took a slight step back, afraid that his hot-blooded youth might offend his senior.

The corners of Zhang Yunya's lips lifted. After calling him "Coward," she released her sports car.

Then the two sped off toward the Extreme Martial Arts Hall.

Not long ago, Zhang Yunya had received word that Shi Yan's Breathing Technique could be given to him today, though he had to collect it at the Extreme Martial Arts Hall.

Before long, the two arrived at the Extreme Martial Arts Hall.

Zhang Yunya said she had gained some insight and rented a cultivation room, while Shi Yan was invited by Mo Changfeng to the top floor of the cultivation building.

"Shi Yan, congratulations on becoming this year's Top Scholar in the Martial Arts Examination."

Mo Changfeng wore a gentle smile, as though looking at one of his own juniors.

The surprise Shi Yan had given them was simply too great.

No wonder the Hall Master had acted twice—once to gift him a saber, and once to give him a Breathing Technique.

"Thank you for Curator-in-Chief Mo's care. This junior is deeply grateful."

Shi Yan was no fool. He knew the saber in his hand was no ordinary B-class weapon.

Zhang Yunya had also let slip that the Lava Spirit Devouring Saber was a growth-type weapon, exceptionally rare.

His excellent results in the College Entrance Examination owed no small part to this saber.

The Explosive Flame Eighteen Sabers were the same, greatly increasing his strength.

"No need to thank me. You deserve what you have."

As Mo Changfeng spoke, an orange-red cylindrical crystal around ten centimeters long appeared in his hand. He walked over to a machine in the center of the cultivation room.

"Come over. I'll teach you the Breathing Technique now."

"Teach me?"

Shi Yan looked in confusion at the machine, which was set in a semi-reclined position and fitted with all manner of mechanical components.

He had noticed it the moment he entered, but had no idea what it was.

"That's right. This is a Cultivation Method Scene Simulation Device. Your Breathing Technique is of a very high grade. For the safety of the Cultivation Method, and so that you can learn it more quickly, we've abandoned the method of giving you a book directly."

Mo Changfeng explained.

This was the Extreme Martial Arts Hall's unique method. It could input a Cultivation Method into a memory crystal, then present it in the user's mind in the form of a "dream," making it feel as if they were personally there.

This was far more convenient than studying a book and trying to puzzle it out, and it also made comprehension much clearer.

The only drawback was that each transmission cost quite a lot. Generally, it was only used for S-class and above Breathing Techniques or Martial Arts skills.

"Just lie down, focus your mind and calm your breath. Don't worry about anything else."

As Mo Changfeng spoke, he inserted the memory crystal into a slot at the back of the machine.

Shi Yan nodded, relaxed his mind, and lay down.

After a series of clicks, Shi Yan found himself encased, as though he had entered a coffin. Then cold metal plates pressed against his head, chest, back, hands, and feet.

After the sensation of plunging headfirst into water, the scene before his eyes abruptly changed.

This was an ocean. He floated above it, seated cross-legged, performing a strange, rhythmic pattern of breathing.

His breathing was like the waves beneath him—sometimes calm, sometimes urgent; at times ripples gently swayed, at others wild billows crashed and surged.

After an unknown amount of time, his breathing had completely matched the movement and stillness of the sea below.

Then he discovered that the seawater had changed color, turning fiery red.

As far as the eye could see, the former ocean had vanished, replaced by a sea of flames.

He rose to his feet, and a strange feeling welled up in his heart.

It was as if the sea of fire below was the source of his power. He could draw out the slightest bit to light a candle;

or pour it all forth and destroy the world!

This...

"You have learned 'Boundless Sea of Fire.' Goodbye."

At that moment, a pleasant notification chimed, and the scene before Shi Yan vanished.

In its place was the training room from before.

Mo Changfeng appeared at just the right moment, a trace of surprise on his face.

"I thought it would take a week. I didn't expect you to finish in five days."

As he spoke, he pressed a button on the machine.

After another series of clicking sounds, the mechanical components pressed against Shi Yan's body opened up.

"Five days!?"

Shi Yan froze. It had felt like only a few hours to him.

As he was still reeling in shock, a wave of weakness washed over him, as though he would fall asleep the very next second.

"Your body is fine because the nutrient solution kept it supported, but your Spiritual Power was heavily depleted. You need to sleep to recover."

Mo Changfeng explained. He did not keep Shi Yan there long, instead sending him straight down to the first floor.

The moment he stepped outside, he saw Zhang Yunya's sports car parked by the roadside.

In those five days, she had come out of seclusion, and she had not left Shi Yan behind.

Soon, Shi Yan got into the car, and the red sports car became a streak of crimson as it vanished into the distance.

"Barring any surprises, a rising star will soon ascend."

Watching the sports car drive away, Mo Changfeng murmured to himself.

Shi Yan had already possessed extraordinary talent. Now that he had obtained a Breathing Technique personally improved by the Hall Master, his future accomplishments were impossible to measure.

"Congratulations, Senior. Your strength has risen another step."

Shi Yan sensed that Zhang Yunya's aura was considerably stronger than it had been days ago. According to what Lin Ye had said, she had previously been at the Late Fifth Order. That meant she should now be at the Fifth Order Peak.

Joy appeared on Zhang Yunya's face as well. She was only one step away from the Sixth Order. Once she broke through, her strength would undergo an enormous leap.

Many of her powerful methods could only be used at the Sixth Order. Otherwise, killing a Lei Ku would not have been so troublesome.

"Congratulations to you too. That Breathing Technique you received is enough to make anyone jealous." Zhang Yunya revealed a little inside information. "That Breathing Technique was originally S-Class, and it was later improved by the Hall Master of the Extreme Martial Arts Hall. You really struck it rich."

"The Hall Master improved it..."

Shi Yan was slightly stunned, finding it hard to believe.

The Extreme Martial Arts Hall had branches all over the world, with each branch having a Curator-in-Chief, but there was one and only one Hall Master.

That great figure, who often ranked near the top of the global expert rankings and was as elusive as a divine dragon whose head could be seen but never its tail, had actually improved a Breathing Technique for him?

It seemed Magic Martial University had paid quite a hefty price.

Opening the system, he discovered that the panel had changed somewhat.

[Name: Shi Yan]

[Realm: First-Order Warrior]

[Ability: Southern Bright Blazing Fire (SSS-Class)]

[Vitality: 56 Cards (+)]

[Spirit: 31 Hertz (+)]

[Martial Arts: Thrusting Punch (Beginner +), Explosive Flame Eighteen Sabers (Great Accomplishment)]

[Cultivation Method: Boundless Sea of Fire (SS-Class, First Layer)]

[Martial Virtue Points: 2638]

There was now an additional "Cultivation Method" category. Cultivation Methods included Breathing Techniques that absorbed spiritual energy, as well as body-tempering methods that refined the body.

But the SS-Class label shocked Shi Yan even more.

After all, across the entire world, the number of SS-Class Cultivation Methods was still only in the single digits.

"Senior, is it possible that they gave me the wrong Cultivation Method?"

Even an S-Class Breathing Technique could make countless major factions fight until their heads were bloodied. Yet an SS-Class one had simply landed in his hands?

Zhang Yunya was instantly speechless.

"Have you become muddleheaded from weakness? How could the Extreme Martial Arts Hall make a mistake in something like this? And there's no need for you to feel pressured. Magic Martial University has stood firm for so many years—a single S-Class Breathing Technique is nothing to us."

"Alright."

Shi Yan did not say much more. SS-Class was simply too rare; it was better not to reveal it.

With that thought, he relaxed. Then he tilted his head against the seat and fell deeply asleep one second later.

Zhang Yunya glanced sideways at him and tactfully chose not to disturb him, only murmuring softly under her breath:

"So handsome..."