"That's right!
I was lucky enough to witness the National Martial Arts Tournament once. I saw this kind of flowing, effortless blade technique there, where the blade moved as naturally as one's own arm!"
"It was definitely Peak Level!"
"I never thought Xujiang City would have a student who could reach Peak Level in a basic martial art at such a young age!?"
"This Li Ziyu is definitely a martial arts genius!"
Secretary Wang was shocked when he heard this.
Although his Martial Artist level was not high, he had been immersed in the martial arts world for a long time and clearly understood how difficult it was to cultivate basic martial arts.
He said in surprise:
"To cultivate a basic martial art to Peak Level at seventeen—this boy's talent in martial arts is truly extraordinary!"
"If I remember correctly, our city's Martial Arts Association president, Lord Chen Mingyuan, a Level Four Martial Artist, was already fifty before he cultivated a basic martial art to Advanced Martial Artist level, right?"
"Mm... The further you advance in basic martial arts, the harder it becomes to break through."
"I'm a Level Three Martial Artist now, but my basic spear technique has only barely touched the threshold of Advanced Martial Artist level. And that's after giving up all other basic martial arts to focus exclusively on spearmanship."
"Li Ziyu is so young, yet he has already cultivated his basic blade technique to Peak Level. He is absolutely a one-in-ten-thousand martial arts cultivation genius!"
Admiration appeared on Wang Jiannan's face. Then he thought of his own experience cultivating basic martial arts, and his expression unconsciously filled with envy.
But he quickly gathered his thoughts and said:
"As long as his blood vitality isn't too low, with this Peak Level blade technique alone, Li Ziyu might even be able to compete with Nangong Ao!"
"Quick! Bring the principal of Third High School here. Let's see what Li Ziyu's blood vitality value is now."
"Xujiang City may have another genius capable of entering the top ten in Su Province!"
Wang Jiannan's eyes lit up when he thought of this, and his face shone with excitement.
Whether a martial arts genius—or even a dragon—could emerge from the cities under his jurisdiction was one of the standards by which his performance was measured!
If Xujiang City could have two students enter the top ten in Su Province at the same time, his position as mayor might benefit from it and perhaps even move up another step.
A moment later.
Third High School's principal, Chen Youde, was summoned. By the time he arrived, Secretary Wang had already told him why the mayor had called for him, and Liu Yanfang had already informed him of Li Ziyu's blood vitality test results.
He had initially been delighted, but now his face was filled with fear and trepidation.
"His blood vitality test was only 0.8?"
"Are you sure? A youngster who can cultivate a basic martial art to Peak Level at such a young age actually only has a blood vitality value of 0.8!?"
Wang Jiannan's expression was ugly. He repeatedly asked Chen Youde to confirm it, and each time he received the same affirmative answer.
Wang Jiannan fell silent.
No one knew what he was thinking.
Just as Chen Youde thought Wang Jiannan was about to lose his temper, Wang Jiannan finally let out a long sigh and waved his hand listlessly.
"Ah, what a shame. Li Ziyu's blood vitality is actually only 0.8."
"If his blood vitality were 1.5—or even 1.4—with that Peak Level blade technique, hunting vicious beasts in the central region would be a breeze."
"But with blood vitality of only 0.8, even with Peak Level blade technique, hunting the Level One Low-Grade vicious beast, the Sabertooth Wild Boar, is the limit."
The principal of Third High School fell silent when he heard this. He had taken the Martial Arts Exam many times, so he naturally understood what Mayor Wang Jiannan meant.
Peak Level blade technique could greatly increase one's Combat Power and practical fighting ability, but there was still a limit.
It was like a powerful combat technique: when used by a low-level Martial Artist, it would have an entirely different power from when used by an Advanced Martial Artist.
Even with Peak Level blade technique, the most Li Ziyu could do was kill the Level One Low-Grade vicious beast, the Sabertooth Wild Boar, by fighting above his level.
But the Points provided by a Level One Low-Grade vicious beast like the Sabertooth Wild Boar were limited.
When others hunted a single vicious beast in the central or core region, it was worth as much as the several Sabertooth Wild Boars Li Ziyu had killed.
The difference was plain to see.
In simple terms, the upper limit of the Points Li Ziyu could earn in this Martial Arts Exam was too low.
Chen Youde slapped his thigh regretfully.
"Li Ziyu, what a shame!"
At the Martial Arts Exam grounds, in the ruins of a city in the fringe region.
The long blade in Li Ziyu's hand cut down Sabertooth Wild Boars as easily as chopping vegetables.
Swish, swish, swish, swish, swish.
Whenever he encountered one, he killed it.
As far as the eye could see, not one could withstand a single stroke of his blade.
"I came, I saw, I swung my blade!"
Li Ziyu stood atop a Sabertooth Wild Boar's corpse. Looking down at its wide eyes, still staring even in death, he spoke softly.
"Rest in peace. May there be no Li Ziyu in heaven."
He smiled at the two girls nearby, who were still standing there dumbfounded with their mouths agape after being stunned by his previous slash, and then Li Ziyu's figure vanished.
"Gulp!"
"That person just now—why did he look so much like Li Ziyu from Class Six at our school? Wasn't his blood vitality test only 0.8?? I remember Xu Mengyao even broke up with him over that. How could he be so strong!?"
The two long-legged girls, both exceptionally beautiful, stared at Li Ziyu's back with their red cherry mouths agape. Their beautiful eyes were filled with shock.
Li Ziyu arrived beneath a ruined water tower and immediately used both his hands and feet.
The fifty-meter water tower took him only a few quick movements to climb.
Sitting atop the water tower, he let the wind whip his collar with a rustling sound.
Li Ziyu tore open the energy bar's wrapper with his teeth and began replenishing his stamina.
At the same time, he counted his gains.
During that frenzy of slaughter, the system notification sounds had rung incessantly beside his ears. He had no idea how much his blood vitality had actually increased.
He raised his hand and glanced at the time displayed on the bracelet on his right wrist. Less than five hours had passed since the Martial Arts Exam began.
"Open the system panel."
Before you continue