Over the past half month.
Aside from training diligently, Li Yuan had been keeping a close eye on the war in Beijiang Province.
After all, his uncle was building defensive facilities in Beijiang Province.
The news showed the Human Allied Forces winning battle after battle, each one a sweeping victory that inflicted heavy casualties on the Star Realm Creatures.
Yet Li Yuan keenly sensed that something was wrong.
"Battle reports can lie, but the front lines cannot." Li Yuan ate as he scanned the news playing on the electronic screen.
"Based on past experience, if Human Civilization truly held the advantage, then after weathering the first wave of attacks, we would quickly organize vast armies and groups of martial artists to charge deep into the Star Realm..." Li Yuan's science grades were average, but his liberal arts grades were quite good.
He had done well in both history and geography.
Especially modern history.
"This war in the Luo Bu Hai Star Realm has been going on for half a month, yet the front line seems to be repeatedly locked in a tug-of-war around the major entrances to the Star Realm." Li Yuan's eyes brimmed with worry.
What did that mean?
The Human Allied Forces had been unable to push them back!
The war was probably brutally fierce.
"I hope Uncle can return safely." Li Yuan thought to himself. These past few days, his uncle had occasionally called or messaged him, telling him not to worry.
Whoosh!
"Old Zhou, Yan Zhou, I'm done eating. I'm heading out first." Li Yuan picked up his meal tray and prepared to walk toward the tray return station.
"Brother Yuan, wait for us so we can go to the Martial Arts Classroom together." Zhou Qi called out. "We'll be done in a moment."
"I'm going to the Elite Building. We're not headed the same way." Li Yuan said quietly.
Guanshan District No.1 High School covered a vast area. Its buildings were divided into four types: Cultural Buildings, Martial Arts Buildings, Office Buildings, and Elite Buildings.
The so-called Elite Building contained three enormous Martial Arts Classrooms and dozens of independent Martial Arts Rooms.
It was exclusively for the three Elite Classes from first to third year.
There were fewer than two hundred students in total.
"Going to the Elite Building?" Zhou Qi, Yan Zhou, and the others did not react at first.
"Looking for someone? Wan Xiao?" Yan Zhou asked in confusion.
"I'll be training over there from now on." Li Yuan thought for a moment, then said, "The school approved an independent Martial Arts Room for me. From now on, I'll cultivate there during martial arts study periods."
Xu Ban only came for martial arts classes once every two days.
The school had not publicized his grant, so no one knew about it. Li Yuan would not bring it up and draw unwanted attention.
But an independent Martial Arts Room? It was right there, and word would spread sooner or later. Li Yuan might as well say it openly ahead of time.
"An independent Martial Arts Room? Holy shit!"
"Brother Yuan's?"
"Xu Ban definitely approved it!"
"Brother Yuan is awesome!" Yan Zhou, Zhou Qi, and more than ten other boys immediately erupted, shouting excitedly one after another.
Quite a few nearby students immediately turned to look.
"Keep it down. I'm only telling you guys, so don't spread it around." Li Yuan said quietly.
"Got it."
"Brother Yuan, we want to go take a look. I've never even been inside an independent Martial Arts Room."
"An independent Martial Arts Room... I never even dared dream of one." The boys lowered their voices, though their curiosity remained.
They were not jealous of Li Yuan. Even if a few of them had their own thoughts, they would not be foolish enough to show them.
After all, among their small group of more than ten boys, Li Yuan was subtly their leader.
Besides, they all knew that Li Yuan's Martial Arts Score was excellent. His raw-score ranking had long been in the top ten of the grade.
"I've never been either," even more people cried out.
"Sure, I'll take you there when there's a chance." Li Yuan smiled. "But not today. It's my first time going too, so I need to get familiar with it first."
Everyone nodded in succession.
The Elite Building was separated from the third-year Martial Arts Building by a small training field, with the Office Building in between. It was relatively isolated.
As a result, this area was exceptionally quiet.
Lush trees shaded both sides of the road, and the breeze that brushed against him was pleasantly cool.
"The Elite Building." Li Yuan soon arrived beneath the building. With a glance, he saw that its decor was rather antiquated.
A statue stood before the building.
"Dongfang Ji." Li Yuan recognized the statue at once.
The strongest person in Human Civilization, the strongest person in Xia Country, the founder of the Starfire Martial Hall... and also the first peerless martial artist to walk out alive from the heart of a nuclear explosion.
He was Li Yuan's most admired idol.
"Martial Dao is Me." Li Yuan approached the statue. That famous saying of Dongfang Ji's was engraved beneath it.
It was one in the afternoon, the time when students returned to the Martial Arts Classrooms for cultivation and self-study, so there were quite a few students coming and going.
Still, no one paid much attention to Li Yuan.
The first-years assumed he was a second- or third-year student, while the third-years assumed he was a second-year student.
Perhaps Li Yuan had a little fame among the third-years, but only in the sense that his "name was known."
Other than students from his own class, students from other classes rarely recognized him.
Suddenly.
"Li Yuan." A somewhat delighted voice rang out, and Li Yuan turned to look.
A burly figure, like a great bear, climbed the steps in a martial arts uniform.
"Wan Xiao, long time no see." Li Yuan smiled and waved.
The newcomer was Wan Xiao, who had transferred into the Elite Class after awakening his Martial Arts Spirituality.
"It has been a long time." Wan Xiao smiled.
Though they attended the same school, they were in different classes, so even running into each other once was difficult.
"How's the Elite Class?" Li Yuan asked with a smile.
"Not bad." Wan Xiao nodded. "The Advanced Cultivation Method really is extraordinary. Everyone in the class is highly skilled, and sparring with one another has been very effective..."
"You'd better work hard. Don't let me surpass you on the next exam." Wan Xiao said half-jokingly.
"I'll be waiting." Li Yuan smiled. They had a good relationship, and neither would take it as provocation.
"By the way, I haven't even asked. What are you doing in the Elite Building?" Wan Xiao asked curiously. "Looking for someone?"
"Looking for a classroom." Li Yuan smiled. "How do I get to Martial Arts Room 4011?"
"4011?" Wan Xiao froze. "The fourth floor? Those are the third-years' independent Martial Arts Rooms, but Room 11 hasn't been opened yet, has it? No one's there."
"No one was there before." Li Yuan smiled. "Once I arrive, there will be."
Wan Xiao's pupils contracted slightly. He was no fool, and he could not help asking, "Your independent Martial Arts Room?"
Li Yuan nodded with a smile. "It's my first time here. Show me the way."
On the fourth floor, outside Independent Martial Arts Room 4011.
Only after watching Li Yuan use facial recognition to directly open the Martial Arts Room door did Wan Xiao fully believe that Li Yuan had been telling the truth.
The shock on his face was still impossible to hide.
"Impressive. Xu Ban approved it?" Wan Xiao stood at the entrance of the Martial Arts Room and sighed.
Li Yuan smiled.
"Figures." Wan Xiao said. "Other than not awakening your Martial Arts Spirituality, you really do qualify to be here based on your raw-score results."
Deep down, Wan Xiao greatly admired Li Yuan.
Li Yuan stood inside the Martial Arts Room and looked around. It was about one hundred and fifty square meters and spotlessly clean.
He drew back the curtains.
Sunlight spilled in, flooding the room with brightness.
A Fist Strength Testing Ground, a Life Blood Detection Instrument, a projector, cameras... there was even a Virtual Network Pod.
Aside from the lack of a Speed Testing Runway due to space constraints, every other piece of technological equipment was present.
"From today onward, this is my independent Martial Arts Room?" A trace of joy flickered deep in Li Yuan's eyes.
With an independent Martial Arts Room, no one would disturb him, and his training efficiency would naturally improve.
Wan Xiao stood at the door of the Martial Arts Room, and a trace of envy flashed in his eyes as well.
An independent Martial Arts Room? He did not really care about that!
The Martial Arts Room in his home was no worse than the school's independent Martial Arts Rooms.
What Wan Xiao cared about was the honor.
Suddenly.
"Wan Xiao, what are you doing here? Who told you to open the door to Martial Arts Room 4011?" A cold shout came from the far end of the corridor.
(End of Chapter)
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