The Light Shone Upon Us

"Did you know whether Xu Zhiming had cultivated any other Martial Dao Visualization Diagrams?"

Zhang Wei shook his head.

He immediately asked Xu Zhiming.

Martial Dao Visualization Diagrams could not be cultivated carelessly.

"If I came across a better one, I'd switch diagrams. I helped someone train Wind Thunder Fist to the Sixth Level, and they gave me the D-grade Martial Dao Visualization Diagram, Rolling Heavenly Thunder."

Zhao Deyun raised his brows, staring silently at the words on his phone.

Gave him Rolling Heavenly Thunder?

Wind Thunder Fist Sixth Level.

He recalled the somewhat familiar voice from when he had spoken with Xu Zhiming before.

"I'm numb, I'm numb..."

"Meng Tian?"

Zhao Deyun was somewhat suspicious and called Meng Tian.

After quite a while, Meng Tian answered.

"Meng Tian, are you training Wind Thunder Fist Sixth Level with Xu Zhiming?"

"Huh? Principal, your ears are sharper than a dog's nose. I only said one sentence, and you heard it."

The corner of Zhao Deyun's mouth twitched.

He decisively hung up.

Then it made sense.

Wind Thunder Fist and Rolling Heavenly Thunder were a matching set. Together, their effect was greater than one plus one equaling two.

Meng Tian had the means to produce Rolling Heavenly Thunder.

There was only one problem: could Xu Zhiming teach Meng Tian to the Sixth Level of Wind Thunder Fist?

If he could not cultivate a Martial Dao Visualization Diagram for a long time, Xu Zhiming's vitality growth would slow somewhat.

Xie Hong had certainly already submitted the Heavenly Pride test application.

Once the people above came down to test Xu Zhiming, the more his vitality had improved, the higher his rating would be. That would be more beneficial to Xu Zhiming's future.

Zhao Deyun was somewhat conflicted over whether to tell Xu Zhiming.

But the vitality cultivated through Rolling Heavenly Thunder paired with Wind Thunder Fist was of higher quality, and he could not produce a Martial Dao Visualization Diagram better than Rolling Heavenly Thunder.

After thinking it over, Zhao Deyun decided to quickly sell off the E-grade Martial Dao Visualization Diagram qualification.

Then he would find some time to talk to Meng Tian and ask him to make a sacrifice?

"Teacher Zhang, sorry for the trouble, but go tell the other dozen or so students. If they're unwilling to go to Cloud Water No.2 High School, make a count of them. Remember to explain things clearly to Xu Zhiming."

Zhang Wei nodded and hurriedly rose to see Zhao Deyun out.

If he wanted to keep making a living under Zhao Deyun in the future, he had to leave a good impression.

"Alright, Principal. I definitely won't have any problems."

Yunshui First High School Martial Arts Hall.

Wang Hu led more than a dozen students in practicing martial techniques.

By now, the students all knew that Peng Sixiong had been taken away by the Martial Arts Ministry of Education today.

Zeng Hao told them that Peng Sixiong had been suspended pending investigation, and all rewards would be distributed to the students.

"What a pity. We haven't broken through Level Five, so we can't receive the rewards."

"But this is good too. Peng Sixiong has been targeted by the Martial Arts Ministry of Education. At least students will have better days from now on."

Zeng Hao nodded, feeling extremely excited.

He was the only student who had witnessed Peng Sixiong being taken away for investigation.

At the same time, he had learned that Xu Zhiming's vitality had already risen to over eighteen points!

What impressed him even more was that Xu Zhiming's Wind Thunder Fist had broken through to the Sixth Level.

Sixth-Level Wind Thunder Fist and eighteen points of vitality.

In comparison, Sixth-Level Wind Thunder Fist was even more astonishing.

Vitality could be forcibly raised through large amounts of medicine or Spiritual Medicine.

Martial techniques had to be trained step by step.

"The light Xu Zhiming fought for has shone upon us too."

"Haha, when I'm old, I can brag to my son that I signed my name on this honor roll."

Quite a few students nearby somewhat regretted not having signed their names.

Listening to Zeng Hao and the others show off, some people became displeased.

"What benefit is there in signing your name? What's the use?"

"Exactly. Isn't it just writing down a name?"

Zeng Hao chuckled.

From the sour remarks of several particularly jealous classmates,

he experienced how Xu Zhiming must have felt back then, when he had worked hard to improve while they failed to understand and instead mocked him.

"What do you know? This is glory, a symbol that we dared to resist oppression."

"Tch, you can't eat glory."

Just as Zeng Hao was about to retort, he heard someone calling him.

"Zeng Hao, come here. I have something to tell you."

Zhang Wei had heard someone mocking Zeng Hao.

He had not expected Zeng Hao and the other dozen or so students to dare do something like this.

"Call over the other dozen or so students who reported Peng Sixiong with you. I have something to announce."

Zeng Hao's heart skipped a beat.

Seeing Zhang Wei nod at him,

"Go on, call them over. I'm announcing something."

Quite a few students stopped what they were doing and gathered around.

They looked at Zhang Wei and began discussing among themselves.

"Is this a reckoning? The Bear Principal has only been suspended for investigation. He'll still be our school principal in the future, and dealing with a few students and teachers shouldn't be a problem."

"Sigh, we're still the lucky ones. Xu Zhiming will definitely be targeted far worse."

"To be honest, Xu Zhiming is pretty impressive. And he even indirectly offended that person upstairs. He's done for now."

Wang Hu glanced at Zhang Wei and continued practicing martial arts.

The two exchanged looks and nodded slightly, which counted as a greeting.

"Teacher Wang, I have some good news. I'll share it with you in a moment."

Zhang Wei also greatly admired Wang Hu for being willing to oppose Peng Sixiong as a teacher.

Quite a few students watched Zeng Hao and the others.

Some of them admired Zeng Hao for daring to step forward.

Most of them were also grateful to Xu Zhiming for bringing down Peng Sixiong and giving them a chance to receive bonuses as well.

There were also a very few who were jealous and hoped Xu Zhiming would be targeted.

Several of Yunshui First High School's top ten students from the third floor

stood amid the crowd.

"Xu Zhiming is still a little clever. He didn't come to school today because he was afraid of being targeted."

"This guy is quite strong and poses a threat to us, but he offended Principal Peng, so we don't need to worry anymore."

"Those dozen or so students who signed their names are probably done for too. That's what happens when you rashly stick your neck out."

"Follow Xu Zhiming, and you'll go hungry nine meals out of three days."

"Hahahahaha..."

Their laughter was filled with delight.

Because of Xu Zhiming, the resources allocated to them had decreased considerably.

The reason they tacitly agreed not to give rewards to students below Grade C was because Peng Sixiong had used part of those rewards to curry favor with them.

The resources Yunshui First High School received were nowhere near as plentiful as those of Cloud Water No.2 High School.

More than a dozen students gathered before Zhang Wei.

Zeng Hao spoke softly.

"Teacher Zhang, let's find somewhere without people to talk."

"Whatever blow it is, we can take it."

Zhang Wei looked around.

Among these students were indifference, apathy, and mockery.

"Listen carefully."

"Xu Zhiming fought for an opportunity for you to go to Cloud Water No.2 High School. If you dozen or so students are willing to go, you'll go with Teacher Wang and me."

Silence.

The discussions vanished.

A falling needle could be heard throughout the first floor of the Martial Arts Hall.

More than a dozen students were going to Cloud Water No.2 High School?

"Of course, Xu Zhiming will be going to Cloud Water No.2 High School too."

Zeng Hao's eyes widened. His mouth fell open as he suddenly pulled a crumpled piece of paper from his pocket.

The first name was clearly written on it.

Yunshui First High School, Class 10, Grade C, Senior Year, Zeng Hao.

"Hey, didn't you say these names couldn't be eaten?"

Zeng Hao laughed loudly and spoke to the classmate who had mocked him earlier.

"This piece of paper seems like it can buy food after all!"

"I think everyone knows about Cloud Water No.2 High School's benefits, right?"

"You don't know? Do you need me to educate you?"

Zeng Hao's face was overflowing with unrestrained delight.

"People like us going to Cloud Water No.2 High School can only buy medicine at a 5% discount."

"Every month, we'll only get one Monster Beast Essence Blood Drink that Cloud Water No.2 High School gives every student. It isn't expensive, just a little over a hundred per bottle."

"Sigh, I heard that Cloud Water No.2 High School also receives sponsorship from many companies. If you're lucky, you can receive resource investments from them."

"Although we might not get any, it's still better than having nothing."

"..."

The faces of the students who had mocked Zeng Hao earlier flushed bright red.

They hurriedly hid in the crowd.

"Students, work hard, and you'll have the chance to come to Cloud Water No.2 High School in the future too."

"Don't doubt it. Principal Zhao Deyun told me so personally."

Zhang Wei said with a smile.

The gloom that had accumulated in his heart vanished like smoke and clouds at that moment.

"I'm very grateful to my student, Xu Zhiming."

Zhang Wei felt as though

he had received the Excellent Teacher award and was giving an acceptance speech.

Zeng Hao and the other students were all smiles.

Wang Hu rubbed his nose.

He had not expected that he would not even need to worry about work anymore.

He really had gotten lucky.

"Come on, come on, why are we still staying at Yunshui First High School? Let's go have some fun. I'm treating today."

"We're having an all-you-can-eat seafood buffet, the 488-per-person kind!"

Wang Hu raised an arm and shouted, heading outside the school.

The sky was thick with dark clouds.

Zhang Wei and Wang Hu led the dozen or so students outside.

Suddenly, a ray of sunlight drilled out from the clouds.

A breeze blew.

The March wind still carried a trace of chill.

It shone upon the group.

Zeng Hao raised his head and looked at the sun in the sky.

The wind was cool, but his heart was warm.

He closed his eyes, spread his arms, and enjoyed the rare sunlight.

"This is the first time I've felt sunlight was so warm."

"Me too..."

"The light he fought for has shone upon people like us."

The students burst into laughter.

First floor of the Martial Arts Hall.

Most of the students watched Zeng Hao's departing back with great envy.

"If, I mean if, Zeng Hao had asked me yesterday whether I wanted to sign my name..."

"If my ass. Missing it means missing it. We didn't have Zeng Hao and the others' resolve. They deserve to go to Cloud Water No.2 High School."

"I was even worried that Xu Zhiming would be targeted. Let's just treat everything I said as a fart and let it go."

Several genius students from the third floor looked at one another.

They had wanted to wait for Qiu Yingzong to emerge from seclusion and deal with Xu Zhiming, so they could enjoy the show.

"Xu Zhiming definitely has something up his sleeve. He's certainly not at the fifth level of Wind Thunder Fist like the video said."

"I strongly suspect he's at the sixth level of Wind Thunder Fist. Otherwise, Cloud Water No.2 High School couldn't possibly have poached him."

"There are more than a dozen of them. It's just one man attaining the Dao and even his chickens and dogs ascending to heaven—a stroke of dumb luck from stepping in dog shit."

"There's still some time before the Three Cities Joint Examination. There might be another good show by then."

The top floor of the Martial Arts Hall.

At the window of one Secret Chamber.

A boy stood by the window, staring at Zhang Wei and the others as they left below.

He wore an expensive training uniform, with a red stud in his right earlobe.

His left earlobe had a piercing hole, and a scar ran beneath it all the way to the edge of his ear.

Qiu Yingzong turned and glanced at the Vitality Testing Device.

"79.34."

"Xu Zhiming, you made me lose face in the Lineage. I won't let you off."

"At the sixth level of Wind Thunder Fist, Cloud Water No.2 High School can at most give you an E-grade Martial Dao Visualization Chart. The Vitality Quality cultivated by it can't possibly compare to mine, cultivated with a C-Class Martial Dao Visualization Chart."

"In one month, I'll make you pay."

Qiu Yingzong took out his phone and made a call.

"Zhenghua, a student named Xu Zhiming recently returned to your No.2 High School. Find an opportunity to teach him a lesson."

"Your vitality is over fifty points, while his is still below twenty. Taking him down will be easy."

Qiu Yingzong swept his gaze over the Secret Chamber.

Then he turned and left.

Inside the Secret Chamber, the place was a complete mess.

All kinds of weapons lay scattered across the floor, while many wooden tables were covered in blade marks.

Wind Thunder Martial Hall.

Xu Zhiming tipped his head back and drank a fifteenth-grade Monster Beast Essence Blood potion.

His vitality had to reach twenty points today.

Xu Zhiming continued practicing Coiling Dragon Surging Waves at his own pace.

Beside him, Meng Tian watched Xu Zhiming repeat his movements endlessly like an emotionless machine.

He was deeply impressed.

Meng Tian considered himself a martial arts fanatic too, but before Xu Zhiming, he seemed to fall somewhat short.

Whether practicing martial arts or cultivating a Martial Dao Visualization Chart, both required positive feedback.

For example, during his first month of cultivating a Martial Dao Visualization Chart.

Meng Tian remembered that his vitality had risen by nearly a full point in that month!

That month, he had practically gone without sleep or rest.

He trained for at least fourteen hours every day.

After practicing for a while, he would always run to the Vitality Testing Device to check his vitality, and every time, it would have increased.

The visibly rising vitality spurred him on to improve like mad.

Looking at Xu Zhiming now, he seemed somewhat like Meng Tian in the past.

Meng Tian was not surprised, but he was a little envious.

Who wouldn't want their vitality to soar wildly?

All of a sudden.

Meng Tian thought of something.

Xu Zhiming had not yet cultivated a Martial Dao Visualization Chart, so his Vitality Quality was inferior to Meng Tian's.

At this rate, Xu Zhiming's vitality would very likely surpass nineteen points this afternoon and approach twenty.

He did not want to miss out on the sixth level of Wind Thunder Fist.

Crackle!

Meng Tian's back trembled.

He sucked in a breath of cold air.

He had lost count of how many times he had been shocked.

Yet he vaguely felt that his understanding of Wind Thunder Fist had deepened.

The ancients had not deceived him.

The best way to understand something was to come into contact with it.

He had a feeling that, at this rate—

At most three days would be enough for him to break through to the fifth level of Wind Thunder Fist.

Meng Tian watched Xu Zhiming alternate between Coiling Dragon Surging Waves and Wind Thunder Fist, a slight smile curling his lips.

A rapid improvement in martial skills did not necessarily mean greater strength at the same vitality level.

Today, he would defeat a stronger opponent with weaker strength and let Xu Zhiming broaden his horizons.

Having slightly lower vitality would not stop him from taking a few more hits.

Five in the afternoon.

Meng Tian collapsed limply onto the floor.

He could not hold on any longer. His entire body ached.

"Brother Xu, are you confident you can get my Wind Thunder Fist to the sixth level within a month?"

After receiving Xu Zhiming's affirmative answer.

Meng Tian's eyes lit up.

"Brother Xu, reaching the sixth level in a month is still too extreme. Is there a simpler, more brutal way to improve?"

Xu Zhiming put away his spear, exhaled a long breath of turbid air, and adjusted his breathing.

"Yes."

"That is actual combat. No matter what I use, you'll respond with Wind Thunder Fist."

Meng Tian shouted inwardly. That was exactly what he wanted to hear.

"Alright, Brother Xu. Let me first see whether it'll be faster this way."

Xu Zhiming nodded.

He sensed that Meng Tian was somewhat excited.

"I'll apply for a sparring venue at Wind Thunder Martial Hall. It can withstand sparring between people with vitality below fifty points."

Meng Tian tipped his head back and took a mouthful of E-Grade Energy Potion.

"When martial arts training tires you out, drink Azure Potion to stay fully charged at all times."

Meng Tian recited the advertising slogan and hurried out.

He had to first let Xu Zhiming witness the power of a Martial Dao Visualization Chart. Only then could Xu Zhiming teach him without holding anything back.

Wind Thunder Martial Hall.

Underground Sparring Room.

The lights shone brightly as several students sparred with Wind Thunder Fist.

"Teacher Xiangben Li is amazing! He actually helped us break through to the fourth level of Wind Thunder Fist through practical sparring."

"Someone has already broken through. I'm going to recreate it too!"

After a round of sparring.

Xiangben Li gave some pointers and unexpectedly helped a student break through to the fourth level of Wind Thunder Fist.

He was delighted. Now, Xu Zhiming could not possibly steal away his students.

It was only one student, after all. Perhaps Xu Zhiming's Wind Thunder Fist was quite good.

But Xiangben Li had twenty-five years of teaching experience, so naturally he was more suited to teaching students.

Just then.

He saw Meng Tian and Xu Zhiming approaching.

Xiangben Li's expression tightened slightly. What were these two doing here?

"Meng Tian, what are you doing here? If I remember correctly, this student hasn't paid the membership fee, has he?"