Storm Martial Arts School

[Name]: Lin Shuguang;

[Blood Energy Value]: 110 cal;

[Skills]: Basic Body Refining Technique LV3 (increases blood energy value by 0.5 cal daily), Bone Dissection LV3;

[Destined Soul]: Slaughter Blade (silver);

(Description: possesses a certain degree of killing power when manifested);

[Special Ability]: Absorption LV1 (can seize blood energy value upon a successful kill)

Over the course of a month, Lin Shuguang had achieved remarkable results at the slaughterhouse.

Not only had his blood energy value soared to 110 cal, but thanks to the stall owner's guidance, he had also unlocked a new skill-Bone Dissection.

He did not know how much his classmates' blood energy values had increased, but he wisely chose to keep a low profile.

After spending so long learning about it, he knew all too well how difficult it was to increase one's blood energy value.

Most people chose to take medicinal supplements before the college entrance exam, or spend even more to buy Qi and Blood Pills specifically intended to increase blood energy value. Just one pill cost a five-figure sum, and the trouble was that one pill might not even do the job, so this approach was out of reach for many students from ordinary backgrounds.

In the classroom, the crisp morning breeze stirred the branches and leaves outside the window. Lin Shuguang sat quietly in his seat, listening on and off as Xu Jie excitedly recounted what he had seen last weekend.

"I saw it with my own eyes that day. Senior Brother Li Hui didn't even use the power of his soul ring. He smashed a rock as big as the teacher's desk to pieces with a single punch!

"He's only two years older than us, and he's at Modu Martial School now... I heard he's already a martial arts apprentice."

Xu Jie's words were full of yearning.

"A martial arts apprentice?" Lin Shuguang raised his eyebrows. This was the first time he had heard that title.

Xu Jie replied, "It's a rank before martial artist. Their blood energy values are all over five hundred cal. Once they reach a thousand, they meet the blood energy standard for a martial artist.

"Did you know? Senior Li Hui only had a blood energy value of a hundred and fifty cal when he entered martial school. In just six months, it shot up by over three hundred cal, and he became a martial arts apprentice. Do you think their martial school has some secret method? But why won't they make it public?

"No wonder everyone says that once you get into martial school, you've got a very good chance of becoming a real martial artist!"

Xu Jie had provided a great deal of information this time. After a moment of thought, Lin Shuguang asked, "Do you know how they assess martial arts apprentices?"

Xu Jie shook his head. "That I don't know. It seems blood energy value isn't the only requirement. Oh, right, I signed up at Nanjiang Martial Hall. Want to join me? You can learn martial skills there..."

Lin Shuguang did lack martial skills. At present, all he really had was blood energy. After a moment's silence, he asked, "How much is the registration fee?"

"Fifty thousand to join."

"...Never mind." Lin Shuguang declined decisively. That much money would put considerable strain on his family.

Seeing this, Xu Jie could only drop the matter.

As that day's classes drew to a close, their homeroom teacher, Old Fu, added a few words. "I know some of you are thinking about buying Qi and Blood Pills. Let me stress this: make sure you buy through legitimate channels so you don't get scammed. Those things aren't cheap!

"As far as I know, some counterfeit and substandard products can even kill people. It's happened before, so all of you need to be careful. Your families don't have an easy time earning money. Don't go throwing your own lives away too!"

With that, Old Fu was about to leave, but suddenly stopped again and said gravely, "Also, don't go out over the next few days unless you have to. It isn't safe!"

He did not explain why it was unsafe. After he left, the whole class broke into discussion.

"What happened? Why did our homeroom teacher look so serious? That was scary!"

"No idea..."

Lin Shuguang was puzzled too. Nothing of the sort had happened in his memories.

Beside him, however, Xu Jie nudged his elbow with a secretive air. "Actually, a demonic cultivator has infiltrated our city. I heard he's already killed quite a few people in other cities."

Lin Shuguang was surprised. "You even know about that?"

Xu Jie chuckled. "I heard it from a few senior brothers at the Martial Arts Hall. We just don't know whether he's passing through or planning something else."

Lin Shuguang fell silent.

Martial Arts Halls... Too bad they're so expensive.

After school, Xu Jie waved goodbye to Lin Shuguang.

Unlike usual, Xu Jie did not head straight home this time. Instead, he turned toward a jeep parked outside the school gates and stopped there. The driver had a crew cut. Upon seeing Xu Jie, he smiled and beckoned. "Over here! It's getting late. Let's get going."

"Senior Brother Mo, will Teacher teach me martial skills tonight?"

"You little brat, you want to run before you can even crawl? Get your fundamentals down first."

"Hehe. Old Lin, I'm off!" Leaning out of the car window, Xu Jie called to Lin Shuguang.

Lin Shuguang waved.

The crew-cut senior brother paid him no attention, as though no one except Xu Jie could catch his eye.

The jeep soon drove away, and Lin Shuguang headed home alone.

As of yesterday, he had stopped going to the slaughterhouse. Perhaps because his blood energy value had reached a certain level, killing those ordinary livestock could hardly increase it anymore. This effectively cut off one of his means of getting by.

He could only look for other ways to grow stronger!

"Hey, young man, care to learn about Storm Martial Arts School?"

Suddenly, a broad, plump young man handed Lin Shuguang a flyer with a genial smile.

The words "Martial Arts Hall" made Lin Shuguang accept it, though he was still mulling it over... From what Xu Jie had said, Martial Arts Halls were generally run by martial artists, who would never lower themselves to handing out flyers for publicity. So Lin Shuguang's first reaction was that this Storm Martial Arts School was a fake.

"Young man, Storm Martial Arts School has a hundred years of history. You could call it a truly established Martial Arts Hall here in Huai City-" Seeing Lin Shuguang accept the flyer, the fat man felt his chance had come. He immediately moved closer and launched into a torrent of words.

"An established Martial Arts Hall handing out flyers?" Lin Shuguang glanced at him. Some things needed no explanation.

The fat man looked a little embarrassed and lowered his voice. "Huai City has at least a dozen Martial Arts Halls. The competition is pretty fierce, so we don't have much choice. But I stand by every word I just said. Our Storm Martial Arts School really did have a mighty reputation in the past. We're just a little weaker now, but even a fallen giant is still a giant. Our current hall master is, at the very least, a martial artist who's been famous for years!"

Lin Shuguang pondered silently, his gaze settling on the flyer.

The joining fee was only eight thousand, and the martial skill taught was saber technique...

"Can you take me there for a look?" Lin Shuguang suddenly asked.

The fat man froze for a moment, then beamed. "Of course, of course. This way, please."

The two chatted as they walked.

"What should I call you, young man?"

"Lin Shuguang."

"What a fine name! It sounds like someone destined to stand above the crowd!"

"..."

"My surname's Feng. Everyone calls me Feng San."

"..."

Twenty minutes later, following Feng San through a deserted stretch of streets and alleys, Lin Shuguang finally arrived before a rusty iron gate.

Not only was the location remote, but the entrance looked rather dilapidated too. No wonder no one came.

A sign hung above the iron gate. The four characters for "Storm Martial Arts School" were scrawled carelessly, yet had an indescribably free and unrestrained flair.

"Watch the threshold." Feng San pushed open the iron gate and turned back to offer a kindly reminder.

Lin Shuguang nodded and followed him inside.

After crossing the front courtyard and turning a corner, he saw a dozen or so students in martial arts uniforms practicing saber techniques with wooden sabers in a somewhat run-down training yard. A middle-aged man in a gray martial arts uniform walked among them, offering guidance, sometimes joking frivolously with the students and sometimes furiously shouting, "Idiot!"

"Senior Brother Feng San is back?!"

Someone shouted, and everyone turned to look.

At the sight of Lin Shuguang, the middle-aged man's face immediately broke into a brilliant smile. Then, thinking he might scare him off, he forcibly reined it in.

Only when Lin Shuguang drew closer did he say warmly, "Hello, I'm Song Shi, the hall master of Storm Martial Arts School. Are you looking to learn the saber?"

Lin Shuguang nodded.

Song Shi gave Feng San a look, and Feng San immediately added, "Our Storm Martial Arts School built its foundation on the saber and has a glorious history spanning a hundred and nine years. You could say that in Huai City, if we claim first place in saber training, no one would dare disagree!

"I can see you've got long fingers and strong limbs. You're definitely a promising saber student... Come learn the saber at our Martial Arts Hall. For just eight thousand, you can receive personal instruction from our hall master! He's a bona fide martial artist. Time waits for no one."

Song Shi looked expectantly at Lin Shuguang.

Lin Shuguang: "..."