A Pearl of Light, Long Locked Away by Worldly Dust (Second Update)

Shi Ruyu came to the martial hall to practice boxing after finishing up matters at home.

Not long after she entered, she saw Lu Chenzhou sparring with Du Men.

She stopped to watch for quite a while. Lu Chenzhou was extremely focused when sparring with others. To trade blows with a Third Stage opponent for over ten minutes with a Second Stage body was truly remarkable.

The Third Stage was the late Mingli Realm. Whether it was explosive power, muscular endurance, or every other attribute, it far surpassed the Second Stage. Especially since Lu Chenzhou had only just entered the Second Stage. He had lasted this long entirely through combat skill and willpower.

Shi Ruyu was very satisfied.

When the senior assistant instructor returned, the trainees all greeted her.

Du Men scratched the back of his head and laughed.

"Senior Sister, my hands were just itching."

Shi Ruyu smiled gently.

"It's fine. Those who practice martial arts need to spar—otherwise, how will they improve? If you can enter Pingjiang Martial University, you can go see the training grounds at four in the morning."

Everyone exclaimed in amazement.

"As expected, everyone who gets into Wuda works incredibly hard!"

Shi Ruyu walked over to Lu Chenzhou.

"You're Second Stage already?"

"Yes, Senior Sister."

"Rising one stage in three months is genuinely impressive. Keep up this pace, and becoming a Martial Artist is within reach!" Shi Ruyu had never been stingy with her praise for others.

"I'll work hard."

Other than his parents, Shi Ruyu was the person he was most grateful to.

Though they had not known each other for long, this girl, only six years older than him, had left a deep impression on him. He was fortunate to have a benefactor guiding him along the path of martial arts.

The other trainees had assumed Lu Chenzhou had entered the stages long ago.

Only after hearing Shi Ruyu say this did their faces fill with shock.

"What? Junior Brother Lu has only been in the stages for three months?"

"Damn, with that kind of speed, he actually attends Culture High School?"

For those with ordinary innate aptitude, after entering the stages, even while maintaining diligent practice, averaging one stage per year through the Lower Three Stages was already very good. The further one went, the harder it became. The time required to advance one stage grew ever longer, until one eventually fell into a bottleneck.

Du Men sized Lu Chenzhou up again.

He had joined the martial hall three years ago and considered himself hardworking too. He entered the stages at fourteen, reached the Second Stage half a year later, and stepped into the Third Stage at sixteen. After that, his progress slowed. As for comprehending Hidden Force and stepping into the Fourth Stage, he had no idea when that would happen. He could only place his hopes on Wuda.

"Junior Brother, you're impressive. It won't be long before you catch up to me."

He said it with heartfelt admiration.

Lu Chenzhou could feel that the trainees were looking at him differently. Before today, they might not have noticed him at all. Now, quite a few of them remembered him.

In this day and age, those who practiced martial arts had to become famous.

Only fame brought resources and more people willing to lend a hand.

The All-Nations Martial Arts Tournament was the best channel for making a name for oneself.

That was why he did not refuse sparring matches.

Starting from the martial hall, he would spread his name step by step!

Genius or hard worker, strength reigned supreme!

If you were strong enough, no one would look down on you for having low-grade innate aptitude!

After that, more people wanted to spar with Lu Chenzhou.

Du Men called out.

"What are you people thinking? You're not even letting Junior Brother Lu catch his breath. Don't tell me you lot want to beat Junior Brother Lu while you can, so you'll look stronger than me?"

Both his character and strength were good, and he held considerable prestige among the trainees.

Lu Chenzhou said.

"Thank you, Senior Brother, and thank you, everyone. Once I've rested a little, we can fight again. We're all from the same martial hall, so we can exchange pointers anytime, anywhere."

"Junior Brother Lu, I'm Chen Bin. Let's add each other on MicroChat."

"I'm Lin Xue..."

Because of that lively sparring match, everyone became more familiar with one another. It was also the first time Lu Chenzhou had truly integrated into the circle at Flying Swallow Martial Hall and made more friends.

"Little brother, I'm Zhang Xun. Just call me Old Zhang."

A mature-looking man with a full beard came over to add him on MicroChat. He was not tall, but he was extremely solidly built. His vitality and blood surged powerfully, and his stage was not low.

"Hello, Brother Zhang."

Lu Chenzhou knew of this man.

Besides students like him who wanted to test into Wuda, the martial hall also had older people who had already entered society and came to learn martial arts after making money.

Such people were generally social elites who did not lack money.

They learned martial arts for self-defense, physical fitness, and a longer life.

Old Zhang had the highest cultivation among them. He was the same age as the hall master. At nearly fifty, he was only Fifth Stage. He had studied at this martial hall for eight years, having come when it had just been founded.

Old Zhang said.

"If you have any questions in the future, you can come to me too. You're welcome to spar with me."

Old Zhang's talent was ordinary. His Fifth Stage cultivation had been ground out entirely through time and supplements. Before his vitality and blood began to decline, becoming a Martial Artist was out of the question, and even reaching the Upper Three Stages was a faint hope.

So he wanted to befriend some promising youngsters.

He had money.

Over the years, he had built some Martial Warrior connections through martial halls and society. He wanted to create a martial arts social platform focused on the youth market with low-grade innate aptitude.

This would make it easier for young people to practice boxing and exchange insights. Martial halls could join the platform as well, and it could provide certain intermediary services, earning commissions in the process. There were quite a few similar platforms on the market already, but none suited his tastes.

That evening, Su City's lights had just begun to glow.

Old Zhang invited the trainees to a lavish meal at the Heavenly Immortal Drunk Restaurant. He spent over ten thousand yuan—enough to buy a box of vitality-boosting supplements—and Lu Chenzhou clicked his tongue in amazement.

Old Zhang also shared his ideas with the trainees.

Du Men said.

"Sounds good, Old Zhang. If you need me in the future, I'll take a coaching certification exam at the Martial Artists Association and work as a part-time coach there. I could make some money too."

Lu Chenzhou was somewhat tempted as well.

He also wanted to start earning money sooner and ease his family's burden.

Old Zhang clasped his fists.

"Thank you all for your support. We're not trying to make it huge. Mainly, we want to give ordinary people with low-grade innate aptitude a platform to practice boxing and show themselves. Innate aptitude can't decide everything. There must be gold buried beneath the dust... like Junior Brother Lu."

With Old Zhang's words, many people looked over.

"Indeed. I think Junior Brother Lu has very good comprehension."

Du Men said loudly.

"How did that old saying go again? Something about a pearl of light, something about being locked away... I think it suits Junior Brother Lu pretty well, right, everyone? I think none of us are bad. We just need to keep working hard. There'll always be opportunities."

"Exactly."

The young people had not yet been beaten down by society, and their hearts refused to admit defeat.

Old Zhang raised his drink and toasted the group of young people.

"I know what Little Du meant... I have a pearl of light, long locked away by worldly dust. Today the dust is gone and its radiance shines, illuminating ten thousand blossoms across mountains and rivers! All of you have bright futures ahead! You minors can't drink alcohol, so come on, bottom's up with this watermelon juice!"

Before martial arts, age did not matter.

Those who shared the same aspirations could have fun together.

Lu Chenzhou was moved as well.

"You flatter me. As long as everyone works hard, we will all achieve something."

After the meal, the trainees gradually headed home.

Qin Zheng went home as well.

Lu Chenzhou, meanwhile, returned to the boxing hall to continue practicing.

Shi Ruyu, who was practicing boxing, stopped and asked.

"Old Zhang invited you all, didn't he?"

Lu Chenzhou nodded.

"Come, I want to talk to you about something."

They found a tea room, and Shi Ruyu had Lu Chenzhou sit down.

She sat opposite Lu Chenzhou, upright and proper. Taking a sip of tea, she said.

"Do you know? Old Zhang is the hall master's friend from childhood.

"The hall master said that when Old Zhang was young, he always felt his talent had been buried. Now that he's older and has money, he wants to prove something. He's a decent person, though.

"If there are opportunities to make money with him, you can give them a try too.

"After all, your family's circumstances truly make it difficult to support your martial arts training over the long term.

"But at your current stage, improving your strength should remain your priority. First, pass Pingjiang Martial University's special admissions exam in June. Even after entering Wuda, you can't slack off. During those four years, you must advance by leaps and bounds. Only by showing Wuda your potential can you remain there.

"I was stuck at the Sixth Stage for too long and could not reach the Transcendent Realm. In the end, I had no choice but to leave. I was miserable for a while before I found myself again.

"Now, although I've broken through to the Seventh Stage and my cultivation is smoother than before, if I can't become a Martial Artist before thirty-five, I still won't be able to enter Wuda through social recruitment.

"Martial arts cultivation requires resources. The nation is still in a period of rapid development, and there are also potential threats like the Void Realm, so resources are given priority to geniuses.

"If you fall one step behind at any stage, you may be eliminated.

"Although there may still be a chance to rise again later, you'll inevitably waste precious years and squander a golden opportunity for martial arts cultivation. So work hard, Lu Chenzhou. Be neither arrogant nor impetuous, and do not belittle yourself. The road is still long, and martial arts have no end!"

After finishing her tea, Shi Ruyu turned sideways and stared blankly out the window.

Lu Chenzhou asked.

"Senior Sister, you're only twenty-two. It shouldn't be difficult for you to become a Martial Artist before thirty-five and then enter Wuda for further study, right? I believe you can do it!"

Shi Ruyu said.

"The closer you get on the road to breaking the First Shackles, the harder it becomes. Do you know what is most despairing? I know a senior who, at thirty, had already reached the peak of the Tenth Stage and was infinitely close to the First Shackles. Success was practically within arm's reach, but he remained stuck on that final step for ten years without crossing it. He has been dispirited ever since.

"That is the shackles binding humanity. Martial arts cultivation requires advancing with courage and vigor! To go further, innate aptitude, comprehension, effort, and resources are all indispensable!"

Lu Chenzhou stood and thanked his senior sister.

"Thank you for your guidance."

Shi Ruyu said.

"It's nothing. With your current cultivation progress, low-grade innate aptitude is no longer enough to limit you. In the old days, this was called sudden enlightenment. So just charge forward steadily and surely, and show your comprehension and progress to the nation. Once you gain the attention of those people, you'll obtain the resources you deserve and soar into the heavens from then on."

Lu Chenzhou murmured inwardly.

"Sudden enlightenment? That can explain why I've been progressing so quickly. In truth, it isn't sudden enlightenment—I merely awakened the Martial Dao Tree talent."

Shi Ruyu saw the doubtful look on Lu Chenzhou's face.

"What? You don't believe me? A state like sudden enlightenment cannot be put into words. Continue cultivating and you'll understand... Some also say that sudden enlightenment is a sign of awakening a Martial Bone Dao Fetus."

"Martial Bone Dao Fetus?"

Lu Chenzhou did not even dare think about such legendary aptitude. Anyone who possessed a Martial Bone Dao Fetus was without exception a top-tier genius in both innate aptitude and comprehension!

Shi Ruyu burst out laughing.

"Did that scare you? It is indeed possible, but among a hundred people who experience sudden enlightenment, there may not be even one who awakens a Martial Bone Dao Fetus. Just keep a calm mind."

Lu Chenzhou nodded.

Shi Ruyu chatted with him for a long while and introduced Lu Chenzhou to much information about Wuda. Only after the two of them had finished a pot of tea did Shi Ruyu rise and say.

"It's getting late. Practice boxing for a while, then head home early."

On his first day of class, the hall master had already praised Lu Chenzhou highly.

Shi Ruyu believed that this young man would surely become a true disciple.

She would soon have a junior brother who was a personal disciple.

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