On Blue Star, ravaged by Calamity Beasts, trade between cities and between nations was threatened to varying degrees. Every city-state could be said to be an independent little world. Whether it was the necessities of ordinary people, energy, or the special resources needed for martial training, everything was limited.
The entire world was like a massive arena. All rules, relationships, and even wars unfolded cruelly around the two words: "resources."
Against such a backdrop, for a commoner with no backing to carve out a path in the martial arts through talent and hard work alone was harder than climbing to the heavens.
Without resources, even the most dazzling talent would quickly wither away, ultimately becoming no different from the masses.
For commoners, there were usually three paths before them, each filled with compromise and a price to pay:
First, seek the protection of the power elites and Great Families.
This was the "fastest" route. The power elites and Great Families possessed deep foundations; even a little of the resources leaking through their fingers was enough to transform a common martial artist. But the price was also the heaviest—once accepted, it was nearly the same as signing a deed of sale. From then on, one's fate would no longer be one's own, no different from a household slave.
Second, attach oneself to official forces.
This path seemed legitimate, but its threshold was absurdly high.
It did not place much importance on talent. Instead, it required tangled, deeply rooted connections. Usually, only the children of those within the system had a chance to compete for those limited slots.
The resources the authorities could provide might not be as abundant as those of the Great Families, but at least they preserved a measure of dignity and personal freedom.
Third, rely on semi-official institutions such as martial schools and martial halls.
This route mainly formed ties through the act of taking a master. It looked simple, but was actually the hardest.
Apart from lucky people like Su Li, whose talent had been spotted and carefully cultivated by a martial school or hall since childhood, the vast majority of commoners could only gain resource support through the Martial Arts Examination, by lowering their own "price."
It was like in his previous life, scoring more than twenty points above the cutoff for a first-tier university, yet willingly lowering one's standards to choose a second-tier school for a better major and a higher scholarship.
The same applied to martial halls. Only disciples at the inner core level and above received resource investment.
However, most commoners could not hold out until the Martial Arts Examination. They often chose to submit to the power elites and Great Families while still in martial school. After passing the examination, they would enter designated martial halls according to their patron's arrangements and expand their patron's influence.
Naturally, Lu Jue would not choose the first path.
Before that gold-rimmed man appeared, Tang Ning had already hinted that the Tang family could sponsor him.
He had refused as well.
Even if Tang Ning truly bore him goodwill, the agreement he signed would be with the entire Tang family. There was no guarantee that everyone in the Tang family shared her good intentions.
Earlier, when Su Li took Li Zhanting away, she said she had important matters to discuss.
What could he and Su Li possibly have to talk about?
The only thing he could think of was that East City Martial School wanted to invest in him.
He was not some naïve person ignorant of the ways of the world. He knew all too well that in this world where the weak were meat and the strong ate, trying to rise through individual strength alone without attaching oneself to any force was nothing but a fool's dream.
Especially now, with the situation in turmoil, prices soaring, and Cultivation Resources growing scarcer by the day, he had to seize every opportunity that could make him stronger.
Though he would inevitably have to pay some price, compared with losing his freedom completely and becoming a dog for the Great Families, the martial school was undoubtedly the better choice.
About half an hour later, a knock on the door shattered the room's silence.
"Who is it? Can't you let our Brother Jue get some proper rest?"
Liu Ga muttered as he impatiently pulled open the door. When he saw the graceful figure standing outside, he was so shocked that the apple he was chewing fell straight from his mouth. "S-Su Li?"
"Could I trouble you to step out for a moment?"
Su Li swept her gaze across the room, her tone calm yet carrying an unquestionable presence. "I have important matters to discuss with Lu Jue."
"Y-Yes, of course!" Under that invisible pressure, Liu Ga hurriedly slipped out sideways.
"Hello, Student Lu Jue. We meet again!" Su Li walked into the room, and an almost imperceptible glimmer passed through her eyes as she looked at Lu Jue.
If her earlier approach toward Lu Jue had mainly been to help her friend Tang Ning escape unnecessary romantic trouble, then after witnessing him overwhelmingly defeat Li Zhanting with her own eyes, Su Li had developed a trace of curiosity toward this suddenly emerged "dark horse."
Li Zhanting had only just entered Entering Force. Among the instructors, his strength was absolutely at the bottom.
But among the students, there would never be more than ten people capable of defeating Li Zhanting head-on while he was under the effects of a Crimson Blood Pill.
Even Su Li herself did not think her chances of winning were high. She might even have been dragged into a bitter fight.
Yet what truly moved people was not Lu Jue's strength.
According to the subsequent in-depth investigation, Lu Jue had come from the slums and had no force supporting him from behind.
With such extremely limited resources, he had actually endured in silence and honed himself through hardship for nearly six years, only to stun everyone with a single feat at this crucial moment of the Quota Competition!
Certainly, East City Martial School was not without students who possessed similar strength at eighteen. But in terms of this unyielding perseverance and the temperament to hide one's edge and conceal one's clumsiness, Lu Jue was absolutely one in ten thousand.
When Su Li presented the investigation report to her master, Jiang Cui, the principal of East City Martial School, even this principal who had seen countless geniuses could not help repeatedly marveling at Lu Jue's temperament.
At the time, her master had asked, "Li, in your view, what has this child been seeking by enduring for so many years?"
Su Li had answered almost without thinking, "With Lu Jue's temperament and pride, he would never be willing to live beneath others and become a lackey of the power elites and Great Families. Revealing his strength too early would only invite suppression from those spoiled young masters!"
"If not for this time's 'cancellation of the free martial arts training policy,' he most likely intended to wait until the Martial Arts Examination before stunning everyone with a single feat!"
Upon hearing this, her master immediately made the decision to temporarily add one more Seed Student slot.
And now, Su Li stood before Lu Jue with a prepared agreement in hand.
"Student Lu Jue, I'll be direct. My master, Jiang Cui, the current principal of East City Martial School, has conducted a detailed assessment of your performance and background. She believes your temperament and potential are worthy of a long-term investment by the school."
"This Seed Student agreement is proof of that investment. It means that from the moment you sign and it takes effect, the school will officially include you in its core training program!"
Hearing this, Lu Jue did not become carried away. Instead, he raised his first question. "Seed Student? Aren't there only ten in each grade? As far as I know, the slots in our grade were already full three years ago."
"You're right. The regular slots were indeed decided long ago, but those are merely part of the government support policy. Beyond those, the martial school has the authority to grant additional slots. They are funded by the school itself, but the selection standards are even harsher!"
"So, Student Su Li, what is the price?"
Lu Jue pointed at Su Li's hand, which had been resting on his chest and lightly rubbing against it ever since she began speaking, then said seriously:
"You aren't trying to sleep with me, are you?"
Before you continue