That evening.
Lu Guoping and Li Xianghua chatted in the bedroom.
"Guoping, do you think that bone aptitude testing machine could have made a mistake?"
"No. Chenzhou's comprehension is probably good, and that can't be measured. That's why the state uses progress in Basic Fist Art cultivation as the testing standard, while also leaving ordinary people a path through special admissions exams—so gifted talents in comprehension won't be buried."
"Ah, our Chenzhou was delayed for nine years."
"It's not that serious. Middle school, high school, and university are the crucial periods for a young person's martial arts cultivation. Chenzhou was delayed three years at most. It's not too late now."
"He wants to test into Pingjiang Martial University, and there are only six months left. I checked the official website. He needs to reach the Third Stage. They say the difficulty of going from the Second Stage to the Third Stage is greater than going from ordinary person to Second Stage combined. Let's buy him some martial arts supplements and let him make a final push."
"Chenzhou won't let us buy them. He says he doesn't need them yet, and it would waste the medicinal effects."
"How can you be so foolish! The child is trying to save the family money! Just buy them. Even if some of the effects are wasted, it's fine as long as they help. What does that little bit of money amount to?"
"That's true. I'll buy them tomorrow. Getting into Wuda is what matters."
The old couple had changed their way of thinking, spending every day worrying over Lu Chenzhou's martial arts training.
The next day, before dawn, on the rooftop.
Lu Chenzhou got up early to practice the Dragon-Tiger Heaven Stance.
From four o'clock until five, he practiced until his proficiency increased.
Then he practiced Black Tiger Fist. Having already witnessed the power of Minor Accomplishment Swallow Return Fist, he looked forward even more to Black Tiger Fist, famed for its fierce and domineering strength.
After breakfast.
Lu Guoping came before Lu Chenzhou again, carrying a bag.
"Qi-Nourishing No. 1. Two boxes. Tell Dad when you've used them up."
Lu Chenzhou said,
"Dad, why did you buy more? I can take them after reaching the Third Stage."
Lu Guoping coughed.
"Aren't you going to test into Pingjiang Martial University?"
"There are still six months left. I'll be fine."
"With medicine to go along with it, it's always safer... It doesn't matter if some medicinal effects are wasted. As long as you can get into Wuda, what does that amount to? Don't always worry about money."
Lu Chenzhou fell silent before finally saying,
"Thanks, Dad."
He truly had confidence now that he could get into Wuda.
It really wasn't simply about saving money for the family anymore.
But he understood his parents' intentions too. Perhaps they felt they owed him something, so after seeing hope, they wanted to give him everything they had.
No matter the cost!
Lu Guoping said somewhat awkwardly,
"Do your best, son. Your mom and I used to worry about too much. We wanted to change houses, send you to university, save money for you to marry a wife... We couldn't bear to invest in martial arts.
"Now we've come around. Gold will shine sooner or later. First, we'll do everything we can to make your martial arts path smoother. The rest, we can deal with slowly later."
Lu Chenzhou hugged his father and said,
"Got it, Dad. Thank you both."
"Go train. I won't hold you up."
Lu Guoping felt as if a heavy burden had been lifted, as though some knot in his heart had finally come undone.
He couldn't help humming a little tune as he headed to the neighborhood park to exercise.
At forty, there was no real hope for martial arts anymore. But practicing Basic Fist Art to build his foundation, strengthen his body, and restore his Blood Vitality—given modern technology and medical standards, as long as he didn't contract some terminal illness or severe disease, living to ninety would not be a problem. Life was still long!
He wanted to watch his son climb step by step to greater heights!
Martial Artist Lu Chenzhou!
He had even imagined his son's title: North Dipper Saint Fist!
Who hadn't had their chuunibyou phase?
Time flew like crows and rabbits racing past; a month hurried by.
February 1st.
At night, Flying Swallow Martial Arts Hall.
Two figures battled on the training ground like dragons and tigers. Their punching winds and whipping kicks made their training uniforms crackle in the air, while hazy white mist drifted away on the wind.
It was sweat rapidly evaporating under their body heat.
A Martial Artist's Blood Vitality was like a blazing furnace, their evaporating sweat like wolf smoke rising into the sky—an even more spectacular sight!
Tiger Leaps the Mountain Stream!
Lu Chenzhou sprang forward like a fierce tiger. His left leg knocked away Du Men's arm as he tried to block, then his waist twisted and he followed with a savage whipping kick to Du Men's chest. Even through the protective padding, Du Men felt tightness in his chest and his Blood Vitality churned.
He staggered back more than ten steps before managing to steady himself.
Lu Chenzhou landed and asked with concern,
"Senior Brother, are you alright?"
Du Men thumped his chest and laughed.
"I'm fine. That was exhilarating!"
"Then shall we call this round a draw?"
"A draw! Junior Brother, you're getting stronger and stronger."
"You flatter me, Senior Brother. I'll head home first."
"Go on... Oh, right. Junior Brother, you're planning to apply to Pingjiang Martial University too, right?"
"Yes. Senior Brother, are you applying too?"
"Yes, I'm determined to get in! Junior Brother, you need to hurry. Reaching the Third Stage in four months will still be difficult for you. I was stuck here for a full year. But judging by how quickly you've improved, it doesn't seem like it'll be much of a problem for you...
"I heard that Pingjiang Martial University only has one hundred special admissions spots in Su City this year. There may already be several hundred applicants who meet the requirements. There should be an elimination process when the time comes. They may have added a practical combat test this year."
"What kind of practical combat test? Do you know, Senior Brother?"
"That, I don't know."
"Thank you, Senior Brother."
"You're welcome... We came from the same martial arts hall. Let's strive to get into Pingjiang Martial University together. Then we can look out for each other at school. I hear that some Wudas have long had an unhealthy atmosphere of forming cliques in secret, which isn't good for unity."
On the way to the martial arts room.
Lu Chenzhou's opinion of Du Men rose another notch.
After all, the two of them were competitors too.
Over the past month, Lu Chenzhou had often sparred with Du Men. He had gone from being unable to defeat him to now being able to fight him evenly, with neither having a clear edge.
And yet his Blood Vitality was still at the Second Stage.
Such results were inseparable from the improvement of his martial arts realm.
Words appeared on the Martial Dao Tree.
Martial Skills: Black Tiger Fist: Mastery (13%) → mastery (14%) ... Cultivation Method: Dragon-Tiger Heaven Stance: Second Acupoint (38%)
A few days ago, aided by martial arts supplements, Black Tiger Fist had successfully entered the mastery realm. His Blood Vitality had also risen from 1.46 to 1.53, an increase of 0.07 with remarkable results. He was still 0.2 away from the Third Stage, but with four months remaining, there was no great problem.
Pingjiang Martial University was in the bag!
The second change was that he had successfully opened the Zhongchong Acupoint. Lu Chenzhou looked at his right hand. An unseen transformation had occurred, one he currently could not perceive.
So he went to ask Ji Xuantong for guidance.
According to the hall master, condensing the Zhongchong Acupoint had three benefits:
First, it could effectively prevent certain minor stubborn ailments commonly suffered by ordinary people, such as stomachaches, tongue pain, bloodshot eyes, and the like. Other acupoints also targeted particular ailments, so if one could open ten or twenty acupoints, then even without becoming a Martial Artist, one could enjoy Disease Immunity!
Lu Chenzhou made up his mind. Once he had money, he would buy his parents several years of membership at the martial arts hall and urge them to practice the "Dragon-Tiger Heaven Stance" here to open several acupoints. Paired with "Basic Fist Art," it would be enough to extend their years and let them live to a hundred.
The first benefit was mainly aimed at ordinary people.
For Entry Stage experts like Lu Chenzhou, minor illnesses already found it difficult to invade.
What he cared about were the latter two.
The first was enhanced Blood Vitality. When the Zhongchong Acupoint's progress had reached 99%, Lu Chenzhou had specifically tested it. With all other variables unchanged, after successfully condensing it, his Blood Vitality had increased by 0.03 out of thin air, and his body had visibly grown much stronger.
Acupoints were the most precious hidden treasures of the human body. Like treasure caves, they contained mysterious power, but required certain methods to awaken it.
The ancients said that the human body contained thirty-six thousand gods. This was the reason.
Some Martial Dao Grandmasters had even boldly speculated that if martial arts cultivation reached a certain realm, every acupoint should be able to contain fifty gods!
Seven hundred and twenty multiplied by fifty happened to correspond to the number thirty-six thousand.
Of course, this was merely a hypothesis, far too exaggerated.
Martial arts was a path of stimulating human potential and breaking invisible shackles.
Where was that potential found?
In the acupoints!
Thus, the prerequisite for breaking the Seven Great Limits was condensing 720 acupoints. Only by awakening all potential could humanity transcend the mundane and gain the power of gods and ghosts!
This third function was exceedingly crucial.
To become a Martial Artist, the cultivation of most True Skills required opening the Zhongchong Acupoint. If this acupoint had not taken shape, Innate Force could not circulate. How could one speak of cultivation?
Lu Chenzhou finally understood Ji Xuantong's words.
"As long as you can open several acupoints, these sixty thousand yuan will be worth it."
So, martial arts hall fees were expensive, but not truly expensive.
If one could learn it, then it was a blood-earned bargain!
Shihu Garden, Building 3, Unit 2802.
Their old, shabby home was still as warm as ever.
During this time, his parents might have found hope.
No longer constrained by buying a house, their horizons had broadened, and they began pursuing spiritual entertainment.
Lu Guoping had taken annual leave and brought Li Xianghua traveling, so Lu Chenzhou was alone at home. New Qi-Nourishing No. 1 medicine sat on the desk in his bedroom.
"Why did they buy more again..."
Lu Chenzhou opened his phone and saw a MicroChat message from his mother.
Son, don't feel bad about the money! Your uncle bought the Qi-Nourishing No. 1 medicine. I told him we didn't need it, but he insisted on buying it, so I could only accept it. Don't think too much about it. Your uncle has money. Just remember his kindness after you make it big.
Lu Chenzhou smiled helplessly.
Alright, Mom.
It seemed news of his reaching the Second Stage had reached his uncle too.
His parents truly could not restrain that urge to show off.
Before his martial arts had shown any progress, they had shown off his report cards every day.
Lu Chenzhou: Thanks, Uncle, for the martial arts supplements!
Uncle: I heard you've reached the Second Stage, good nephew. Keep training hard. If the family has any difficulties, tell me. Your dad is too thin-skinned and always afraid of troubling others.
Lu Chenzhou's feelings were complicated.
He soon pulled himself out of his emotions and continued practicing the Dragon-Tiger Heaven Stance.
This time, he would condense the Shangyang Acupoint!
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