Martial Arts Field Study

Martial Arts Field Study

"I know, I discussed it with my classmates a few days ago. Anyone trying to test into a Martial University or an Affiliated Martial Academy should, after submitting their preference forms, try to go to Demon City for a martial arts field study and engage in actual combat against Demonic Beasts. First, it is to temper actual combat ability and accumulate experience. Second, by fighting Demonic Beasts to earn merit, merit will be a bonus item during supplementary admissions, making it easier to pass."

Li Linhan said, "I have a friend with whom I have a good relationship. He is the boss of a pioneering branch company, and his son has slightly poor grades, but he spent a lot of money to secure a supplementary admission spot at West Sea University. Once the scores come out, they will form a team to head to Demon City for a martial arts field study."

"Let me go?"

"Mm. I've met that kid. Although... he's a bit of a good-for-nothing, he's actually not a bad person and isn't all that spoiled. That boss has hired bodyguards and also wants to invite some high school seniors to accompany him. Do you understand?"

Zhou Leng said, "Probably that we fight Demonic Beasts together, but let him make more moves while we try to protect him. That way, the Demonic Beast aura he accumulates will be heavier, and the Merit Badge will distribute more merit to him?"

"Right. He'll compensate his teammates with some money, roughly thirty to forty thousand. If they discover any spiritual resources, they'll split the money with you all as well. Although that boss is ruthless, he does things very fairly. With me around, he won't make things difficult for you either."

"A base of thirty thousand... That's a very high price." Zhou Leng said.

"That's why I'm asking you. Of course, if you have a better team, you can pass on this."

Zhou Leng shook his head and said, "Where would I have your connections? If Zhang Xinglie had stayed in Ru City to establish a martial arts field study team, I definitely would have gone. But right now, I can't find a better team. The crux is that ordinary field study teams can't even afford to hire bodyguards."

"This is also one of the reasons I want you to go. That boss will hire two little experts at the Blood-Circulating Stage to follow far behind in the back, only making a move at critical moments. A team like this is far safer than a normal martial arts field study team."

"I know you want to make money, but you didn't enter the elite martial arts class, haven't had actual combat experience, and your elixir nourishment hasn't kept up. Blundering in is very dangerous. Therefore, I still hope you take this path: make money on one side and gain combat experience on the other. Once you enter Demon City a few more times and advance from the Qi-Nourishing Stage to the Blood-Circulating Stage, you can join a pioneering squad. At that time, I will certainly not stop you."

Zhou Leng sank into deep thought.

Zhou Leng had originally planned that, in order to earn tuition fees, he would have Uncle Li introduce him to a safe pioneering squad after the college entrance exams.

Ordinary pioneers had to be at least at the Blood-Circulating Stage. If he entered a team like that, he would only be doing odd jobs, and his monthly salary would not exceed ten thousand.

Zhou Leng said, "When does the other party stop recruiting?"

"It's best before the college entrance exam scores come out. Besides, that boss and I have a good relationship, and the other party is also worried about messy, random people. If the team is full, it's hard to say." Li Linhan said.

"Then I'll give you an answer in three days."

"Good."

Zhou Leng raised his head to glance at the calendar; there were still five days left before the final scores were announced.

Zhou Leng hesitated for a moment and said, "Should I sell an elixir coupon to buy some combat supplies? After all, casualties frequently occur during martial arts field studies."

"You underestimate those bosses. For a team like this, they will prepare everything. For the sake of their son's future, they won't be stingy. It's just that some precious things must be returned after use." Li Linhan said.

"That's even better."

"There are still five days until the scores are announced. Your senior year of high school was so bitter, so rest for a few days, find some classmates to hang out all around, and clear your mind." Li Linhan said.

Zhou Leng thought of the balance on his bank card and said, "I'm going to Xiaoru Village to cultivate and prepare well for the martial arts field study."

"You... your body has just recovered, don't exhaust yourself."

"Rest assured, Uncle Li, I know what I'm doing. On Monday, I'm going to the hospital to take off this green wristband." Zhou Leng raised his wristband.

"Good." Li Linhan revealed a smile.

"Right, Jiang Yan, the vice-captain of our group, asked me and Hu Yi to go to work, but neither of us paid him any mind."

Li Linhan thought for a moment and said, "There was indeed a batch of cargo that day, and it was rather urgent. He knew you guys had the college entrance exams and still urged you; it probably has something to do with the recent evaluations, and he likely wants to advance further. You don't need to worry, I'll go say a word."

"Thank you, Uncle Li. I actually didn't care."

"The company isn't like school; it's not that pure, so pay more attention. However, you shouldn't wrong yourself either."

"Yes."

Chatting for nearly the entire afternoon, Zhou Leng returned to his own home.

He sat quietly, wanting to do nothing at all.

Hoo...

Zhou Leng let out a long breath; the college entrance exams were finally over.

Turning his head to gaze at the dusk and cloud-lit glow outside the window, Zhou Leng felt very relaxed, yet there was still a trace of a lost, hollow feeling.

The past had already passed, but the road ahead was filled with the unknown.

Curious, yet terrified.

Joyful, yet bewildered.

Zhou Leng took out his phone and clicked open the Class Three student chat group.

It displayed over five thousand chat messages, and they were still increasing.

Zhou Leng started reading quickly from the beginning, occasionally seeing his classmates' jokes, and the corners of his mouth lifted slightly into a smile.

Soon, Zhou Leng saw some classmates proposing a gathering and an outing.

Some were in favor, while others said they had to go on a martial arts field study and would talk after returning from it.

Consequently, the classmates in the class started discussing martial arts field studies.

"You guys going on the martial arts field study must be careful. Demon City is too dangerous; anyway, I wouldn't dare go."

"Martial arts field studies get people killed."

"Pbah, stop talking nonsense."

"As long as we don't run into the Demon-Worshiping Cult and devils, it'll basically be fine. Demonic beasts don't have much of a brain; if everyone swarms them together, there's nothing to fear."

"Don't forget to prepare Enchanted Weapons. They're useless against Innate Realm demonic beasts, but they have a huge effect on Blood Qi Realm demonic beasts."

"Stop talking nonsense, the state strictly controls Enchanted Weapons. Where would we have the qualification to use them?"

"Even to rent one costs several thousand a day. We can't afford to use it."

Flipping to the end, Zhou Leng found that Hu Yi had called via video chat.

He answered.

The phone screen was filled with Hu Yi's big, round face.

"Zhou Leng, what are your arrangements for these few days?"

"Cultivation."

"Cut it out."

"I need to prepare for the Martial Arts Field Study."

"Ah? You're really not planning to play?"

"I really don't have time."

"What about the Pioneer Corporation side?"

"We'll talk after I get back from the Martial Arts Field Study."

"Alright then. Right, Feng Wenhao is also doing the Martial Arts Field Study, how great would it be for the two of you to go together. Everyone says Demon City tests human nature the most; you two know each other inside and out, so you can look out for each other if you encounter danger."

"I'll contact him right now."

"See you later."

Hanging up the video communication, Zhou Leng went to Li Linhan's house once again.

"Uncle, can I bring a classmate along on the Martial Arts Field Study?"

"The team's condition requires at least one martial art at Great Accomplishment. Is his level enough?"

"It seems a bit lacking, but his internal cultivation should be at the seventh or eighth heaven of minor accomplishment, and his movement technique and fist techniques are both at minor accomplishment. Entering the Affiliated Martial Academy shouldn't be a problem."

"Send his martial dao diary over then, and I'll ask Boss Xue if it's okay. Even if it is, the money given probably won't be very high."

"Alright, I'll discuss it with him."

Just as he got home and was about to contact Feng Wenhao, a new message popped up.

Xu Qingjin.

"Zhou Leng, how did you test? My mom just said that after the grades come down, she's inviting our classmates to our house for a get-together, and she specifically mentioned you."

"Thank your aunt for me, I'll definitely go then. I tested okay, a supernormal performance."

"That's just great!"

"Which martial university are you planning to apply to?" Zhou Leng asked.

"I have a serious partial bias in my subjects. Only my internal cultivation and movement technique are good, so I probably can't get into the Top Ten. If nothing unexpected happens, I should apply to Ru City Martial University. How about you?"

"My scores aren't enough for a martial university, so I'm planning to apply for Ru City Martial University's supplemental enrollment, and for the martial academy, I'll apply to Ru City Martial University's Affiliated Martial Academy."

"Not bad, not bad. Afterwards, the two of us will join forces at Ru University. Right, how's the search for a Martial Arts Field Study team going? Do you want me to help you contact a few? You must be super sought-after; your true qi control level is just too amazing. It's a pity our team was already fixed back in the elite class and has already been to Demon City three times, otherwise I'd definitely pull you in."

"Uncle Li helped me find one, and Teacher Sun can also help. Once these few teams don't work out, I'll look for you."

"Alright, then that's settled!"

Kneeling on the sofa, Xu Qingjin put down her phone and shouted toward the kitchen, "Mom, Zhou Leng said he'll definitely come then."

"As long as he comes, he's been a good kid since he was small. When you were sickly as a child, he always looked after you. What was it he liked to eat again? Tsk, it's been several years since he came over, I've forgotten it all."

"Meat! He likes any kind of meat. Right, you can't make duck meat. I reckon he'd throw up from eating it."

"Alright, I'll just make meat."

Zhou Leng chatted with Feng Wenhao, waiting to give a joint reply three days later.

After watching the class group chat for a while longer, Zhou Leng browsed major websites.

Unfortunately, it was still the same as before: he could only browse and couldn't publish any news.

Early the next morning, the alarm rang.

Zhou Leng habitually sat up slowly, feeling groggy for a while before he remembered high school had completely ended.

It seemed he no longer needed to cultivate like crazy the way he did before.

Zhou Leng walked over to the window, gazing outside.

Zhou Leng suddenly leaned his head forward slightly.

On the pedestrian walkway, Zhang Xinglie was slowly walking back to the residential compound.

Zhou Leng glanced at the phone time again—that's right, a little past five in the morning, Zhang Xinglie returning from cultivation.

As expected of No. 8 High School's big senior brother. Others only see your genius side, but I can always see your nearly terrifying self-discipline and perseverance.

"You believe so firmly that I can reach the peak just like you, so I can't fall too far behind either."

Zhou Leng quickly washed up, finished his Morning-Training Powder, and went downstairs for his run as usual.

This time, Zhou Leng only ran on the jogging track because he had too many things to consider.

"With my current physique, I can wear weighted clothing in the future. Once I have money, I'll buy an Enchanted Cultivation Armor..."

"Whether entering a Martial University or a martial arts gym, I need to save up tuition before September. There's still a little over a month left..."

"Thinking carefully, for now I can only join Boss Xue's son's Martial Path Study Team. Given my current connections and strength, there is no better choice..."

"Next, I need to go cultivate near the Frost Giant Tree often and properly plan my diet. I can no longer afford high-calorie foods and martial artist foods..."

"During these next few days of cultivation, I must strive for Qi-Nourishing Great Accomplishment, with my Qi reaching the skin and muscles. When I encounter demonic beasts then, I'll have the strength for a fight. As for demons, it's impossible to defeat one alone before the Blood-Circulating Stage. Even the weakest Blood Qi Realm Lower Realm demon requires more than ten people to have a winning chance..."

Zhou Leng ran while pondering, arriving at Xiaoru Village.

"Woof..."