This World Had Never Been Peaceful

Chapter 45: This World Had Never Been Peaceful

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

However.

Perhaps to protect Li Yuan, Hall Master Zuo 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, major cities had combat robots stationed in places such as schools, research institutes, government buildings, and super-sized malls.

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

It was precisely because of this that small-scale Star Realm Creature attacks would be swiftly wiped out once discovered. Though a few casualties were hard to avoid, they could hardly stir up any great waves.

This was also the urban defense system gradually formed over the past century, alongside Human Civilization's technological progress and accumulated experience.

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

Li Yuan headed straight for the cafeteria.

The wind outside was shrieking with the cry of cranes, but that did not stop the cafeteria aunties from cooking on schedule.

"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 you've been arriving pretty late lately." Li Tianyou shoveled food into his mouth as he spoke.

"Wasn't there a Star Realm Creature attack warning? I waited until it 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. He was afraid I'd run into danger." The others nearby all chimed in. "I heard quite a few people died over on Binhu Road last night."

"Ah!"

"I hope none of them were from our school."

Though a Star Realm Creature attack that had killed and injured dozens had happened right in Guanshan District, Li Yuan's classmates, after sighing over it, were somewhat accustomed to such things.

It happened far too often.

"Li Yuan." Li Tianyou said seriously, "Not just today—over the last two months, you've often been arriving later than even me in the mornings."

"Have you gotten a little lazy?"

"I just can't keep grinding that hard." Li Yuan joked lightly. "You're the number one grinder in our class."

Ever since signing with Starfire Martial Hall and learning two Second Order secret manuals, Li Yuan had often practiced his spear technique and movement technique in the Virtual Network late into the night.

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

"Tianyou, do you think everyone is like you? Up earlier than chickens and asleep 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 Blood-Qi Potions." Yan Zhou added. "This is something martial arts cultivation can't cut corners on."

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

Li Yuan casually glanced at Li Tianyou.

He could see the other's physical fitness level at a glance... Li Tianyou truly cultivated like a madman, but his physical fitness had not improved much.

His nutrition was clearly failing to keep up.

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

Everyone had their own fate. He could only be responsible for himself.

"Yuan, the January Adjustment Exam is coming up. We'll be having another spirituality test." Zhou Qi put down his bowl and chopsticks. "What do you think?"

"A spirituality test?" Li Yuan froze briefly, then shook his head. "No idea."

The other students had already started discussing it.

A spirituality test added 10% to one's total martial arts score. It was enough to turn one's fate around, enough for students who had no hope of getting into a Martial Arts University to touch its gates...

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

It was simply that Martial Arts Universities were incredibly difficult to get into.

[You killed a Ranked Creature and obtained Spirit Nourishment. Spiritual Awakening Level reached 0.6%.] Li Yuan quickly finished breakfast, staring blankly at the recent notification displayed on the Divine Palace Panel.

This notification.

Had appeared after he killed the Fish Spirit Race member. Even the Divine Palace Panel had changed.

[Life Level: Level 7.8 (Not Ranked)]

Physical Fitness Index: 81 (A composite measurement of explosive power, endurance, speed, constitution, mental strength, and many other aspects.)

Punching Force: 732 kilograms

Speed: 17.4 meters/second

Mental Strength: Level 14.2

Spiritual Awakening Level: 0.6% (Current upper limit: 20%)

Physical Cultivation Method: Rock Foundation Cultivation Method

Mental Cultivation Method: Great Sun Starry Sky Sutra

Technique Realm: Spear Technique (Third Stage 88%), Movement Technique (Third Stage 65%), Fist Technique (Third Stage 99%)

[Note: When Spiritual Awakening Level reaches 25%, 50%, 75%, 100%, and 125%, you will gradually receive Spirit Guidance.]

Spiritual Awakening Level? What was that? Li Yuan wondered. Was it compatibility with Advanced Cultivation Methods?

The Divine Palace Panel gave no explanation for this.

Or rather, ever since he had been able to sense the Mind Divine Palace, Li Yuan had never received many explanations.

Most of it had been left for him to understand on his own.

Judging from the last sentence on the Divine Palace Panel, if my Spiritual Awakening Level reaches 25%, I'll receive Spirit Guidance? Li Yuan frowned. But my current upper limit is only 20%.

What was Spirit Guidance? 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. Must I kill Ranked Star Realm Creatures and obtain Spirit Nourishment?

Is that nourishment meant to nourish my own spirituality?

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

However.

With his Spiritual Awakening Level at 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 get some enormous benefit like the Great Sun Starry Sky Sutra. A trace of anticipation rose in Li Yuan's heart. But how do I raise the upper limit of Spiritual Awakening from 20% to 25%?

Physical fitness? Or mental strength?

Or perhaps a breakthrough in Martial Arts Technique?

Li Yuan knew nothing.

After getting nowhere in his thoughts regarding the changes to the Divine Palace Panel.

Li Yuan decisively ignored it.

So far, the Divine Palace Panel had only recorded his martial arts cultivation. It had never directly strengthened him... He still had to cultivate step by step to gain strength.

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 experimental subjects? Li Yuan immediately dismissed the idea.

His killing of that Fish Spirit Race member this time had been due, first, to his own sufficient strength, and second, to luck—the opponent had been injured.

If he encountered an uninjured Ranked Star Realm Creature, even one at merely Level 11 or Level 12, Li Yuan would almost certainly be unable to win against its overwhelmingly superior physical fitness.

Besides.

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

No rush. Once the upper limit rises to 25%, I'll think of a way. Li Yuan was remarkably composed.

"I have some bad news for everyone."

"During last night's Star Realm Creature attack, one student each from Year Two Class Sixteen and Year Three Class Eight has been confirmed dead." Teacher Chen, the academic homeroom teacher, stood at the podium and announced the matter in a heavy voice.

Silence filled the room.

Even the few students whispering among themselves stopped.

It was not the first time, and the dead were not their own classmates... But being from the same school was enough to move every student.

"Star Realm Creatures." Li Yuan's gaze tightened slightly as he subconsciously clenched his fists.

From childhood to adulthood, almost everyone had 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. "The amounts will not be counted, donor names will not be announced, and no third party will be involved. Once the deadline passes, everything will be transferred directly to the two students' families."

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

"Alright, back to class."

"Look at the second-to-last big question. This is a popular question type this year, and it'll definitely appear on the college entrance exam. I've explained it many times already, yet many students still get it wrong. Today, I'll explain it one last time. Fifteen points—I'm handing them to you on a platter, so listen carefully..."

"This Star Realm Creature attack."

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

"This world had never been peaceful."

"I do not ask that all of you get into Martial Arts University, nor do I demand that you join the military and go to the front lines in the future. But I hope you will not slack off in martial arts."

"Become a little stronger."

"If you encounter similar danger in the future, your chances of surviving will be greater."

The final count 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 remain on Xia Country's Virtual Network trending list for a full day.

Because.

At Luo Bu Sea, another unprecedentedly large war had erupted. Star Realm Creatures attacked like a tidal wave, and in a single day, the military's announced death toll had surpassed three thousand...

January 3rd, 2043. Jiang City. The Year Three January Adjustment Exam proceeded as scheduled.

(End of Chapter)