This World Had Never Known Peace

This World Had Never Been Peaceful

Li Yuan declined the Left Hall Master's kindness. After chatting for a few more moments, he headed to school alone.

However.

Perhaps to protect Li Yuan, the Left Hall Master ordered two spider combat robots to follow him along the way. They only left when he was about to enter the school.

As for inside the school? Nowadays, in major cities, places like schools, research institutes, government buildings, and super-sized malls all had combat robots stationed there.

There were also large numbers of combat robots patrolling the streets and residential compounds.

Because of this, once small-scale attacks by creatures from the Star Realm were discovered, they would be swiftly wiped out. Although a few casualties were difficult to avoid, they could hardly stir up any great waves.

This was also the urban defense system that humanity had gradually formed over the past century, alongside technological progress and accumulated experience.

By the time he entered the school, it was nearly seven.

Li Yuan headed straight for the cafeteria.

Outside, the wind whistled and cranes cried, as if danger lurked everywhere, but that did not stop the lunch ladies from cooking on schedule.

"Brother Yuan, over here." Zhou Qi called out to Li Yuan.

Li Yuan bought soy milk and two bowls of hot dry noodles, then sat down with his classmates.

"Li Yuan, I've noticed that you've been arriving really late lately." Li Tianyou spoke while wolfing down his food.

"Wasn't there a Star Realm creature attack warning? I waited until the warning was lifted before coming out." Li Yuan smiled. "Didn't you guys?"

"I waited until the warning was lifted too."

"My dad drove me to school because he was afraid I'd run into danger." Several people beside them chimed in. "I heard a lot of people died over on Binhu Road last night."

"Sigh!"

"Hope none of them were from our school."

As for a Star Realm creature attack that had caused dozens of casualties, although it had happened right in Guanshan District, Li Yuan's classmates, beyond their sighs, had grown somewhat accustomed to it.

It happened far too often.

"Li Yuan." Li Tianyou said seriously, "Not just today. For the past two months, you've often been arriving even later than I do in the mornings."

"Have you gotten a little lazy?"

"Can't keep grinding anymore." Li Yuan joked lightly. "You're the number one grinder in our class."

Ever since signing with the Spark Martial Hall and learning two second-stage secret manuals, Li Yuan had often practiced his spear techniques and footwork in the virtual network late into the night.

Thus, he no longer arrived at school before five every day. Sometimes, he even arrived after six.

"Tianyou, do you think everyone is like you? You get up earlier than chickens and sleep later than donkeys." Zhou Qi teased. "Look at you—you're even thinner than when school started. Take it easy."

"Yeah, Tianyou. You're pushing yourself too hard. Remember to take more vitality potions." Yan Zhou added, "You can't save on that when practicing martial arts."

"Mm, I know." Li Tianyou lowered his head to eat, mumbling his reply.

Li Yuan casually glanced at Li Tianyou.

He could see the other's physical fitness level at a glance... Li Tianyou's training was indeed insane, but his physical fitness had not improved all that much.

His nutrition was clearly not keeping up.

Li Yuan would occasionally remind him indirectly once or twice, but Li Tianyou only remembered it verbally... After it happened too many times, Li Yuan chose to keep quiet.

Everyone had their own fate. A person could only be responsible for themself.

"Brother Yuan, the January assessment is coming soon, and we'll be taking the spirituality test again." Zhou Qi put down his bowl and chopsticks. "What do you think?"

"Spirituality test?" Li Yuan froze for a moment, then shook his head. "No idea."

The other students had already begun discussing it.

The spirituality test added 10% to one's total martial arts score. That was enough to turn one's fate around against heaven, enough for students who had originally had no hope of entering a martial arts university to touch its threshold...

In this era, unless one's academic grades could challenge the C9, the vast majority of students understood that the martial arts path had a brighter future than the academic path.

It was simply extremely difficult to get into a martial arts university.

"[You killed an entry-level creature and obtained spiritual nourishment. Spiritual awakening level has reached 0.6%]" Li Yuan quickly finished breakfast. Looking at the recent notification on the Divine Palace panel, he fell into thought alone.

This notification.

Had appeared after he killed the Fish Spirit race member. Even the Divine Palace panel itself had changed.

[Life level: level 7.8 (not yet entry-level)]

Physical fitness index: 81 (A comprehensive assessment of explosive power, endurance, speed, physique, mental power, and many other aspects.)

Punching force: 732 kilograms

Speed: 17.4 meters/second

Mental power: Level 14.2

Spiritual awakening level: 0.6% (Current limit: 20%)

Body cultivation method: Bedrock Cultivation Method

Mind cultivation method: <Scripture of Contemplating the Great Sun and Starry Sky>

Skill realm: Spear technique (Stage Three 88%), footwork (Stage Three 65%), fist technique (Stage Three 99%)

[Note: When spiritual awakening reaches 25%, 50%, 75%, 100%, and 125%, spiritual guidance will gradually be obtained.]

"Spiritual awakening level? What is that?" Li Yuan wondered. "Is it compatibility with high-level cultivation methods?"

The Divine Palace panel offered no explanation for this.

Or rather, ever since he had sensed the Divine Palace of the mind, Li Yuan had never received many explanations.

Most things had to be understood by himself.

"According to the last line on the Divine Palace panel, if my spiritual awakening level reaches 25%, I'll receive spiritual guidance?" Li Yuan frowned. "But the limit I can currently reach is only 20%."

What spiritual guidance was, Li Yuan did not know.

But Li Yuan had a guess. The higher spirituality displayed by the Divine Palace panel seemed not to be the same concept as the martial arts spirituality valued by human civilization.

"If I want to raise my spiritual awakening level..." Li Yuan pondered. "Do I have to kill entry-level Star Realm creatures and obtain spiritual nourishment?"

"Nourishment... does it nourish my own spirituality?"

For now, he only had one example, so Li Yuan had no way to verify his guess.

However.

With a spiritual awakening level of 0.6%, Li Yuan felt that he had not changed in any noticeable way.

"Most likely, there'll only be an obvious change once the awakening level rises to 25%. Maybe I'll gain some enormous benefit like the <Scripture of Contemplating the Great Sun and Starry Sky>." Li Yuan felt a trace of anticipation. "But how do I raise the upper limit of spiritual awakening from 20% to 25%?"

"Physical fitness? Or mental power?"

"Or a breakthrough in martial arts skill?"

Li Yuan knew nothing.

Regarding the changes to the Divine Palace panel.

After failing to reach any conclusions, Li Yuan decisively ignored them.

Up to now, the Divine Palace panel had only recorded his martial arts cultivation. It had never directly enhanced him... Strength still had to be built through Li Yuan's step-by-step training.

"No matter what spiritual awakening is."

"For now, I'll cultivate steadily according to plan. Once I'm stronger, perhaps I'll understand." Li Yuan thought.

Using Star Realm creatures as test subjects by killing them? Li Yuan immediately dismissed the idea.

This time, his killing of the Fish Spirit race member had been due partly to Li Yuan's sufficient strength, and partly to luck—the opponent had been injured.

If he encountered an uninjured entry-level Star Realm creature, even one at merely level 11 or level 12, Li Yuan would almost certainly be unable to win against its absolute superiority in physical fitness.

Besides.

Even if Li Yuan wanted to kill one, where would he find one?

"No rush. I'll think of a way after the upper limit rises to 25%." Li Yuan remained utterly composed.

"Let me tell everyone some bad news."

"In last night's Star Realm creature attack, one student each from Year Two Class Sixteen and Year Three Class Eight has been confirmed dead." Cultural studies homeroom teacher Chen stood at the podium and announced the news in a grave voice.

Silence filled the room.

Even the few students whispering among themselves stopped.

This was not the first time, and those who had passed away were not classmates from their own class... But they attended the same school, and that alone was enough to move every student.

"Star Realm creatures." Li Yuan's gaze tightened slightly as his fists clenched unconsciously.

From childhood to adulthood, almost everyone would have friends or classmates around them who had died because of them.

"The school will begin a donation drive. The supervised account has already been posted on the campus network." Teacher Chen continued. "We won't tally the amounts, publish donors' names, or involve any third party. After the deadline, the money will be handed directly to the two students' families."

"Give according to your own circumstances. No one is being forced."

"Alright, let's continue the lesson."

"Look at the second-to-last major question. This is a popular question type this year, and it'll definitely be on the college entrance exam. I've explained it many times already, yet many students still get it wrong. Today will be the last time I explain it. Fifteen points, handed right to you—listen carefully..."

"This Star Realm creature attack."

"Two students died." In the martial arts classroom, Teacher Xu Bo stood like an iron tower, his voice booming like a great bell. "I hope you understand."

"This world has never been peaceful."

"I don't expect all of you to get into martial arts universities, nor do I demand that you join the army and head to the front lines in the future. But I hope you do not slack off in martial arts."

"Become a little stronger."

"In the future, if you encounter similar danger, your chances of surviving will be a little greater."

The final tally for this Star Realm creature attack in Jiang City was eighty-six dead.

Yet it did not cause much of a stir. It did not even stay on the trending list of Xia Nation's virtual network for a full day.

Because.

In the Luobu Sea, an unprecedentedly large battle had erupted once again. Star Realm creatures attacked like a rising tide, and in a single day, the military announced more than three thousand deaths...

On January 3, 2043, the January assessment for Jiang City's senior year students was held as scheduled.