Special-Class Financial Aid

"Special-Class Financial Aid?" Principal Tan's smile froze as he flipped through the documents.

He instinctively suspected he had misheard. "Xu Bo? You said Special-Class?"

"What else?" Xu Bo glared. "Old Tan, cut the nonsense. Hurry up and approve it."

Principal Tan immediately felt a headache coming on.

As the principal, he held considerable authority. In principle, all the teachers were his subordinates... but Xu Bo's position was rather special.

"Xu Bo, it's not that I refuse to approve it." Principal Tan adjusted his glasses and said helplessly, "Special-Class Financial Aid isn't First-Class Financial Aid. First-Class Financial Aid is only one hundred thousand Blue Star Coins. I can approve that directly."

"Special-Class Financial Aid is five hundred thousand Blue Star Coins. Even if I agree, it still has to be reported to the Education Bureau."

"I know." Xu Bo nodded as though it were only natural. "Once you approve it, I'll call Director He."

Principal Tan was stunned.

The Director He Xu Bo spoke of was precisely Principal Tan's immediate superior.

Principal Tan knew that Xu Bo's strength was not particularly terrifying. After his injury, his physical fitness was only at Level 19. Yet he had roamed the Star Realm for more than twenty years and returned alive... his connections ran unfathomably deep.

As far as Principal Tan knew, when Xu Bo had come to Guanshan District No.1 High School back then, Director He had personally brought him over.

"Xu Bo." Principal Tan shook his head. "If you want my approval, you have to tell me the reason. Which student is it? Or some promising seedling from a middle school?"

Principal Tan knew Xu Bo's character well.

He was harsh when teaching students, but he was also exceptionally responsible. He often considered matters from the students' perspective.

He was the school's star teacher.

Otherwise, no matter how extensive Xu Bo's connections were, Principal Tan would not truly care much about him.

As for suspecting that Xu Bo wanted to embezzle those five hundred thousand Blue Star Coins? Principal Tan had never even considered it.

After all, Xu Bo's office had been renovated with more than ten million Blue Star Coins of his own money... Powerful martial artists who had spent years roaming the Star Realm amassed astonishing fortunes.

"There is a promising seedling, but not from middle school." Xu Bo said. "A senior."

"A promising senior student? Worth Special-Class Financial Aid?" Principal Tan was somewhat surprised.

He had no impression of such a student.

Financial aid took many factors into account, including grades, family circumstances, talent, political background, and more.

"I'll send you the materials," Xu Bo said.

Very soon, Principal Tan received the information online and immediately began reviewing it. Having worked in education for more than fifty years... he was highly capable.

"Xu Bo, this Li Yuan truly is a promising seedling with great potential. Discovering him is a merit to your credit." Principal Tan first praised Xu Bo's eye for talent.

Then his tone shifted. "But if you want him selected for Special-Class Financial Aid? To be honest, Li Yuan still falls short."

"How does he fall short?" Xu Bo's face showed displeasure. "Didn't you watch the footage of his spear technique?"

"I did. It's quite good."

Principal Tan shook his head. "But the financial aid is issued by the state. The review does not only require approval from Director He and me; it must also pass the Intelligent Supervision Bureau's review."

"The Intelligent Supervision Bureau does not conduct manual reviews. It only recognizes major exam scores. Whether Martial Arts Spirituality has awakened is also an important indicator."

"In the last final examination, he had only just entered the top thirty of his grade, and his Martial Arts Spirituality had not awakened... it will be difficult for him to pass the final review," Principal Tan said.

"With his current strength, he has a chance of breaking into the top twenty of the grade." Xu Bo glared.

"That is your claim." Principal Tan shook his head. "The Intelligent Supervision Bureau only recognizes major exam results. At the very least, we have to wait for the January Adjustment Exam."

"The January Adjustment Exam?" Xu Bo looked displeased. "That's still months away. By then, the yellow flowers will have gone cold."

"Old Tan, you're a martial artist too. You know how important this age is," Xu Bo said. "What resources can you provide directly right now?"

"Right now?"

Principal Tan thought for a moment. "I can directly approve Second-Class Financial Aid."

"Fifty thousand Blue Star Coins? Not enough." Xu Bo flatly shook his head.

"That is all the authority I have." Principal Tan spread his hands, then added, "How about this? We'll also assign him an Independent Martial Arts Room. That is treatment reserved for the top ten students in the grade."

Xu Bo furrowed his brow, seemingly still dissatisfied.

"Xu Bo, that's enough."

"For a senior student, fifty thousand is enough to buy two or three months' worth of Basic Qi and Blood Potion," Principal Tan said. "When the January Adjustment Exam arrives, if he can break into the top twenty of the grade, I'll help apply for First-Class Financial Aid."

"Top twenty in the grade? Old Tan, I have to say, you really look down on people too much." Xu Bo shook his head. "Li Yuan has every chance of reaching the top ten by the January Adjustment Exam."

This time, Principal Tan laughed.

"His Martial Arts Spirituality hasn't awakened."

"For him to break into the top ten is almost impossible." Principal Tan smiled. "If he can truly do it... then I'll do everything I can to help him apply for Special-Class Financial Aid."

"If the application doesn't go through, I'll personally sponsor him with some money," Principal Tan said with a smile.

"It's a deal."

Xu Bo's eyes lit up, a sly glint flashing through them. "You said that. I recorded everything... Fine, I've already sent you the report for Second-Class Financial Aid. Hurry up and approve it."

"I have things to do. I'm hanging up first."

Beep—

Xu Bo had already ended the video call.

Principal Tan was left in his office, still not fully recovered, looking at the newly appeared "Document Awaiting Approval" on his work display.

After staring blankly for a moment.

How could Principal Tan still fail to understand?

He had been set up.

If Xu Bo had truly wanted to apply for Special-Class Financial Aid, how could he have sent over the application for Second-Class Financial Aid in a single second?

He had obviously prepared it beforehand.

Xu Bo's target had been Second-Class Financial Aid all along... mentioning Special-Class Financial Aid at the beginning had merely been asking the sky for a price.

"This Xu Bo." Principal Tan smiled helplessly and said, "Number Nine."

"Open the document awaiting approval."

"Approved."

Inside Xu Bo's office in the Office Building.

"Special-Class Financial Aid?" Xu Bo revealed an inscrutable smile. "Call Director He? I'm not that foolish."

Xu Bo knew that with Li Yuan's current situation, there was absolutely no way he could pass the Intelligent Supervision Bureau's review.

"Enough."

"And I even got an Independent Martial Arts Room out of it." Xu Bo smiled. "That Old Tan is far too rigid. Every time I ask him to release some money, he hems and haws."

"It's state funding, yet he acts as if it's secret savings he hid from his wife. It's not as though I'd waste it..."

"Hm? Approved?"

"That was quite straightforward this time." Xu Bo thought for a moment, then said, "Hei Gou, send Principal Tan a smiling face."

"Oh, no. Send him the smiling selfie I saved last time."

"Yes, Master."

Nine o'clock that night.

The sound signaling the end of evening self-study echoed across the campus as the students gradually left.

Inside the Martial Arts Classroom of Class 2, Grade 3.

Only Li Yuan and Li Tianyou remained, both practicing with cold weapons.

"Li Yuan, you're still not leaving?" Li Tianyou could not help calling out.

"It's fine. You go ahead." Li Yuan smiled. "I'll practice a while longer."

Li Tianyou was taken aback.

He had arrived at school at five forty-five today and had planned to go home early that evening to rest... but now he hesitated.

"Li Yuan arrives earlier than I do and leaves later than I do." Li Tianyou gritted his teeth. "If I can't match his talent, can I not even match his effort?"

"Keep practicing."

In the distance, Li Yuan did not notice the change in Li Tianyou's expression at all. He was looking at the data on the Divine Palace Panel.

[Life Level: 6.7 (Unranked)]

Physical Fitness Index: 74 (A comprehensive measurement of explosive power, endurance, speed, constitution, Spiritual Power, and many other aspects.)

Punching Power: 445 kilograms

Speed: 14.7 meters/second

Spiritual Power: Level 12.9

Physical Cultivation Method: Rock Foundation Cultivation Method

Mental Cultivation Method: Great Sun Starry Sky Sutra

Technique Realm: Spear Technique (Third Stage 46%), Movement Technique (Third Stage 29%), Fist Technique (Third Stage 94%)

[Note: Some unawakened Higher Spirituality lies dormant within the body.]

"Compared with the beginning of the month, both my physical fitness and Spiritual Power have been steadily improving." Li Yuan was quite satisfied.

He firmly believed that as long as he continued cultivating with such persistence.

One day, he would become a powerful martial artist.

What excited him most today was still the ultimate move he had created, Hidden Dragon in the Rocky Ravine.

"I only just created it, so I'm still not proficient when using it."

"I need to keep pondering it more over the next few days." Li Yuan was deep in thought.

Suddenly.

"Li Yuan." A cold voice, like a great bell, rang out from within the classroom.

Li Yuan and Li Tianyou turned their heads at the same time.

"Teacher Xu?" Li Yuan was slightly surprised.

"Come to my office." Xu Bo spoke in a low voice, then turned and left, disappearing into the night.

"Tianyou, I won't be returning to the classroom later." Li Yuan hurriedly said as he placed the great spear into the weapon cabinet.

He grabbed his bag and quickly left the classroom.

"So late at night."

"Teacher Xu still came to see Li Yuan?" A trace of envy flashed in Li Tianyou's eyes. "No wonder Li Yuan wasn't in a hurry to leave today. Is Teacher Xu going to personally guide him?"

Li Tianyou shook his head and silently said, "Li Tianyou, Li Tianyou, don't mind other people."

"Just do your best!" His gaze became focused again as he seriously resumed practicing his saber technique.

Inside Xu Bo's office.

"Second-Class Financial Aid? Fifty thousand Blue Star Coins?" Upon hearing this good news, Li Yuan was first stunned, then overwhelmed by boundless delight.

Even with his composure, he could not fully conceal his joy.

In truth, to Li Yuan, these fifty thousand Blue Star Coins would not only help relieve his family's financial pressure.

They would also ease the pressure in his heart.

They could lessen some of the guilt he felt toward his uncle and aunt.

"So happy?" Xu Bo looked at the joy Li Yuan could not conceal and felt rather surprised.

Xu Bo immediately realized that the importance of this financial aid to Li Yuan likely exceeded his expectations.

"It means so much to Li Yuan."

"Yet for the past half month, he has said nothing, never came looking for me, and never revealed a trace of it. He's steady enough." Xu Bo thought to himself, raising his evaluation of Li Yuan another notch.

After Li Yuan had completely calmed himself.

"Thank you, Teacher Xu." Li Yuan said gratefully.

Li Yuan believed that the reason his reward had changed from Third-Class Financial Aid to Second-Class Financial Aid was likely because Xu Bo had spent so long working on it.

"The financial aid will be transferred into your account next Monday," Xu Bo said. "In addition, I have two more pieces of good news for you."

"Good news?" Li Yuan listened attentively.

There was more good news?

"First, I dragged this old face of mine to talk to the principal five or six times before he agreed to allocate you an Independent Martial Arts Room, so you can cultivate with greater focus." Xu Bo spoke with a serious expression.

An Independent Martial Arts Room? Li Yuan was astonished. This was a privilege for the top ten students in the grade, with almost no exceptions.

"Teacher, you've gone to great trouble." Li Yuan felt even more grateful.

"Second, the principal has already agreed that if you can reach the top ten of the grade in the January Adjustment Exam, I can help you apply for First-Class Financial Aid, one hundred thousand Blue Star Coins." Xu Bo looked at Li Yuan. "If you can reach the top five of the grade, there will be hope of applying for Special-Class Financial Aid."

"Special-Class Financial Aid is five hundred thousand Blue Star Coins!"

"The opportunity has been given to you."

"Whether you can seize it will depend on yourself."