Invitation from a Martial Arts University

Invitation from a Martial Arts University

Last September.

When Teacher Xu Bo helped him apply for Second-Class Financial Aid, he had promised Li Yuan that if he broke into the top ten of the grade, he would receive a First-Class Financial Aid reward of one hundred thousand Blue Star Coins.

If he broke into the top five, he would receive Special-Class Financial Aid, worth five hundred thousand Blue Star Coins.

"Just one place short." Li Yuan sighed inwardly.

He could not exactly call it disappointment. He had already done everything he could, so there was no need to dwell on it.

He could not exactly expect others to choke under pressure.

"It's enough."

"At least I can get one hundred thousand Blue Star Coins." Li Yuan thought, "Besides, I ran into Hall Master Zuo at the Martial Hall a few days ago. She said the commendations and rewards from the Martial Arts Hall and the Martial Hall should be arriving soon too. There should be quite a bit of money."

Li Yuan still had quite a few Blue Star Coins and Martial Hall Points in his bank account.

But his martial arts cultivation was practically a bottomless pit that swallowed gold. The money went fast once he started spending it.

Naturally, he had to find ways to earn more.

"Li Yuan, keep it up." Teacher Chen glanced at Li Yuan from the podium before continuing, "I hope the other students will learn more from Li Yuan."

"I'll now read out everyone else's Martial Arts Scores. Listen carefully."

"Li Tianyou, 685 points," Teacher Chen said.

Li Tianyou followed right behind Li Yuan, ranking second in the class in Martial Arts Score.

But although he ranked second, the gap between his score and Li Yuan's was astonishing.

"685 points?" Li Tianyou's expression eased slightly.

Yet it still did not look very good.

With 685 points plus his 59 Cultural Converted Score points, his Total Martial Arts Score was only 744. With that score, his hopes of getting into a Martial Arts University were still slim.

Am I still not working hard enough? Li Tianyou secretly clenched his fists, deeply unwilling to accept it. If I had more cultivation resources and received more guidance from teachers, my score would definitely be much higher.

Li Tianyou was not stupid.

He trained like a madman, to the point where even his body was nearly unable to bear it. He understood perfectly well the occasional well-meaning reminders from his classmates.

But his family did not have that much money. What could he do?

"Gu Yaoyao, 664 points." Teacher Chen continued reading out the scores.

Most of the students' Martial Arts Scores were ordinary, without much fluctuation.

Martial arts cultivation required talent, but it consumed resources even more.

If Cultural Course exams could occasionally produce moments of "sudden inspiration" or "exceptional performance,"

Then martial arts assessments only had two possibilities: normal performance or poor performance. Exceptional performance did not exist.

The strong were strong, and the weak were weak.

After the scores were announced, it was time to hand out the papers and go over the questions.

Li Yuan listened very attentively.

"I already spend little time on Cultural Courses, so I have to pay attention in class." Li Yuan had thought it through clearly. "If I want to get into one of the Five Great Prestigious Schools, I need to fight for every single point. If I can raise my cultural score by a few more points, my chances will be greater."

One point could crush a thousand people beneath it. That was no empty phrase.

Take Li Yuan this time, for example.

The ten-point increase in his Cultural Converted Score had contributed greatly to pushing his Total Martial Arts Score above 900.

In the blink of an eye, it was ten o'clock, and there was a fifteen-minute break.

Teacher Chen first posted three score sheets beside the "Scoreboard" on the blackboard before turning around. "Li Yuan, Li Tianyou, Wang Zihan, the three of you come to my office."

"Everyone else, class dismissed."

Immediately.

With a rustle, the students in the class surged toward the scoreboard like a tide, beginning to check their rankings.

Earlier, Teacher Chen had only announced their scores and had not read out all the rankings.

The posted score sheets marked their grade, district-wide, and citywide rankings.

"Steady! Top ten thousand in the city."

"Damn it, one point made my citywide ranking drop by more than a hundred places? Are there really this many beasts?"

"Sigh, my parents are going to lecture me again when I get home."

"I didn't perform well this time. I only ranked thirteenth in the grade for my cultural total, and I didn't even make the grade's top ten."

The students discussed it among themselves. Some rejoiced while others worried, but most were dissatisfied. Most of them were calculating, "If I could have gotten five more points in this subject and ten more in that one, then my ranking definitely would have..."

Li Yuan and Li Tianyou had already followed Teacher Chen to her office.

Li Yuan was calm and composed, while Li Tianyou and Wang Zihan were extremely uneasy.

"You two wait outside first," Teacher Chen instructed. "Li Yuan, come in with me."

After entering the office, Teacher Chen sat down. While sorting through papers, she exchanged greetings with the teachers around her, as though she had suddenly forgotten Li Yuan even existed.

This was a common method veteran teachers used to educate students.

First, leave the student hanging for a while. Occasionally give them a cold glance, then continue ignoring them, making them grow increasingly nervous.

In the end, the teacher did not even need to say anything. The student would spill out a flood of apologies on their own.

However.

Being called alone to the office after a major exam usually meant only one of two things—massive improvement or massive decline.

Li Yuan believed himself to be the former.

"Cough, cough." Li Yuan coughed twice as he reached for the water cup. "Teacher, the water's cold. Let me add some hot water for you."

Before Teacher Chen could respond, Li Yuan had already picked up the cup and walked toward the water dispenser.

Li Yuan first poured out the cold water, then refilled it with a mix of hot and cold water, estimating the proper temperature by feel.

After filling the cup, he loosely screwed on the lid.

Then he used a tissue to wipe the moisture from the outside of the cup before returning to the desk and gently placing it to Teacher Chen's left.

Most people were used to holding the cup in their left hand and twisting off the lid with their right.

"Teacher, the temperature is just right." Li Yuan smiled. "How about taking a drink first?"

"You!" Teacher Chen had watched the entire process. She shook her head and laughed, though she was clearly in a good mood.

Teachers actually all liked students who knew how to read the room and had sweet mouths.

"I called you here because there are some matters to discuss." Teacher Chen picked up the cup and took a drink as she spoke. "You did quite well on this exam. You ranked sixth in the grade. In particular, your Martial Arts Technique score could have contended for the city's top score in that subject in previous years."

Li Yuan listened.

"It's just a pity that the Normal University Affiliated High School produced a genius student this year." Teacher Chen said with some regret. "They got full marks in Martial Arts Technique."

"Full marks in technique?" Li Yuan was slightly surprised.

The physical fitness score was worth 500 points, and full marks required physical fitness at Level 10.0.

Martial Arts Technique was worth 400 points. Li Yuan did not yet know its requirements, but he guessed it probably required Fourth Stage technique.

"What's their name?" Li Yuan could not help asking.

"Wu Dongdong," Teacher Chen said. "He also ranked first in the city for Total Martial Arts Score in this January Adjustment Exam. His Martial Arts Score was 900, and his Total Martial Arts Score was 1077."

"Full marks in both categories? That's incredible!" Li Yuan exclaimed sincerely.

That was an unbelievably outrageous score.

It was far more outrageous than Lin Lanyue's score.

A Martial Arts Score of 900 meant that the other party's physical fitness was at least Level 10.0, and their Cultural Courses were good as well.

The Normal University Affiliated High School had always been Jiang City's best high school. It was famous even nationwide, so producing such a martial arts genius was perfectly normal.

In fact.

Li Yuan was not surprised in the slightest that someone could far surpass him.

After all, the Martial Hall's highest early contract was an S-level contract, which meant someone had definitely signed one before.

As for Li Yuan, even after awakening Martial Arts Spirituality, he only qualified for an A-level contract.

This world had never lacked geniuses. Li Yuan had understood that truth since childhood.

"Never mind others."

"You are already quite outstanding." Teacher Chen said, "After the January Adjustment Exam, Jiangbei Martial Arts University will hold a Visiting Invitation Event in early March. Our school has ten slots. The top ten students in Total Martial Arts Score from the January Adjustment Exam can all go."

"Would you like to go?" Teacher Chen looked at Li Yuan.

"An invitation from Jiangbei Martial Arts University?" Li Yuan froze for a moment.

"Yes. They'll invite elite senior-year martial arts students from across the city and even the province, probably close to a thousand people, for five days." Teacher Chen smiled. "If a professor from the school takes a liking to you and thinks you are suitable for cultivation, then once the college entrance exam ends, they will immediately invite you to the Martial Arts University. Special training will begin during the summer."

"Martial arts cultivation is ultimately different from Cultural Courses. Three months at your age is extremely important. If used properly, it is enough to raise your martial arts strength by a great margin."

"Mhm." Li Yuan could not help nodding.

Indeed, from the age of sixteen onward, as the body developed and Blood-Qi flourished, martial arts cultivation would advance by leaps and bounds.

"Teacher, my college entrance exam goal is Kunlun Martial Arts University," Li Yuan said.

The five great martial arts schools of Xia Country were respectively named after Xiajing, Nanhai, Kunlun, Donghai, and Jixing.

Kunlun Martial Arts University had the most admissions slots in Jiangbei Province every year. It was the first choice of Jiangbei Province's top martial arts students.

"I know."

"If you can get into Kunlun Martial Arts University, it will naturally be your first choice. Your scores give you a chance, but without awakened Martial Arts Spirituality, are you one hundred percent certain?" Teacher Chen asked in return.

Li Yuan fell silent.

"Your goal is to charge toward Kunlun Martial Arts University, but Jiangbei Martial Arts University is your safety net. Go take a look, get a feel for it, and get acquainted with the university teachers. There is no harm in that for you." Teacher Chen put down her cup. "Right?"

Li Yuan nodded. Teacher Chen's words did make sense.

"Alright then. I've sent the application form and detailed itinerary to your V-Chat. Fill them out, sign electronically, and send them back to me." Teacher Chen said, "Oh, right. After the schoolwide mobilization meeting this afternoon, the scholarship for getting into the grade's top ten will be deposited into your account. Remember to check it."

"Alright, thank you, Teacher." Li Yuan nodded.

For this kind of major exam, entering the grade's top ten in Total Martial Arts Score earned a scholarship reward of five thousand Blue Star Coins, plus several bottles of Blood-Qi Potion.

At the same time, one could also receive an independent Martial Arts Room, though Li Yuan already had one.

Of the three, Li Tianyou was the last to enter the office, and he was far more nervous than Li Yuan.

"Teacher." Li Tianyou came to the desk.

"It's fine. I didn't call you here to criticize you. You did well on this exam too." Teacher Chen smiled. "Do you remember what I told you last time about applying for Third-Class Financial Aid?"

Li Tianyou's eyes lit up.

"This time, considering your exam results and family circumstances... the application was approved." Teacher Chen smiled. "I know you work very hard, but you must also balance work and rest. Don't push yourself too hard. The twenty-thousand Blue Star Coin financial aid will arrive in your account today."

"Thank you, Teacher." Li Tianyou was extremely moved, his eyes even turning slightly red.

"Alright, go on. Don't spread this matter around. It is enough for you to know." Teacher Chen stood and patted Li Tianyou on the shoulder, watching him leave.

After sitting back down in her chair.

Teacher Chen's smile vanished. She opened her Smart Ring Watch and stared blankly at the file displayed on it—"Third-Class Financial Aid Application Review Opinion: Denied."

"Sigh."

Teacher Chen let out a soft sigh.

After thinking for a moment, she forwarded the file to Xu Bo.

She and Xu Bo had prepared this financial aid application for Li Tianyou together.

After lunch, Li Yuan returned to the 4011 Martial Arts Room and went straight into the Virtual Network Pod.

His consciousness connected.

"Personal space." Li Yuan stood in the empty personal space and opened the invitation letter from Jiangbei Martial Arts University:

Dear Student Li Yuan...

"It's all nonsense." Li Yuan frowned and quickly skimmed through the first few pages.

Suddenly, Li Yuan stopped sharply, staring at the itinerary.

Fourth day itinerary: Combat Assessment: Hunt Star Realm Creatures.

After pondering for a while.

Li Yuan quickly filled in his information.

Electronic signature.

Click. Accept invitation!

"Hopefully, you won't disappoint me." Li Yuan murmured as his consciousness left the Virtual Network.

(End of Chapter)