Martial Arts Were the Best Grind!

Upon hearing this, Su Tu's eyes immediately lit up, as though the doors to a brand-new world were opening before him.

His former wish had only been to get into Star Ark University and become some so-called successful person. Perhaps he would marry, have children, and live out the rest of his life that way.

But Su Tu, who carried the wisdom of a past life, had never been someone willing to settle for the ordinary!!

If the world were ordinary, that would be one thing. But if this world was so magnificent, so dazzling, how could he possibly allow himself to remain unknown and spend the rest of his life in mediocrity!

And now, that door stood right before Su Tu.

The path to transcendence lay beneath his feet!!

"But before that, the path of a martial artist must be walked one step at a time. Every step requires bitter cultivation, tempering both body and mind. Everything seen along the way is hard training." Zhou Wuliang's voice carried a trace of emotion.

"Lin Feiyang gave you that Red Seal, which means your Bone Root is good. You were merely delayed by Blue Star."

"Actually... the Red Seal might have been something Teacher dropped, and I picked it up."

Although Su Tu suspected that Lin Feiyang had deliberately left the card behind, it was so precious—there were only three in the entire Ancestral Star—that he could not help wondering whether Lin Feiyang had truly dropped it by accident.

"Hmph, that brat would do something like that. He loves doing pointless things. Otherwise, with his Source-Seeking Realm strength, forget a Red Seal—even a speck of dust falling wouldn't escape his eyes."

Zhou Wuliang explained.

"Source-Seeking Realm?" Su Tu repeated Old Zhou's words in confusion.

"The martial path requires passing through five stages and crossing Three Barriers. The five stages are Branch Peeking, Mingtiao, Leaf Falling, Source-Seeking, and Seed Dao. As for the Three Barriers, there's no need for you to know yet. Knowing too early will do you no good." Zhou Wuliang explained patiently.

"The first stage of martial arts is cultivating the Base Skill and guiding the qi and blood throughout the body. Hu Zi, take Xiao Tu to the Body Tempering Room and let him meet his fellow students. Pick out a Base Skill for him while you're at it."

"Xiao Tu has always been on Blue Star and has never come into contact with martial arts. Unlike you all, remember to choose a gentler Base Skill for him."

"Got it, Master." Li Hu replied.

"Come on, Junior Brother. Your big brother will take you to train!"

Su Tu followed beside Li Hu as they headed outside. The two passed through a corridor and arrived at a rather spacious room.

The instant he stepped inside, Su Tu felt his feet sink, as though some heavy weight had been placed upon him.

"This is the Body Tempering Room. A gravity system has been installed inside. It can adjust gravity and strengthen your physical body."

At that moment, aside from Su Tu, there were six other boys and girls of roughly the same age in the Body Tempering Room. They stood in different places.

Each held a different posture, and unusual auras radiated from their bodies.

"They're like you, all Master's students from Blue Star. From now on, you'll be classmates."

"They're cultivating their Base Skills right now."

"A Base Skill uses specific postures and movements to guide the flow of qi and blood, thereby laying a foundation. The stronger the Base Skill, the better its effects, but the greater the demands on the physical body. Junior Brother, since this is your first time cultivating a Base Skill, use this one."

As Li Hu spoke, he swiped his palm through the air several times. A virtual screen immediately appeared before him and Su Tu.

"Luojia Skill. This is a relatively gentle Base Skill. Though it takes effect slowly, the technique is mild and gradual."

After he spoke, a little figure appeared on the virtual screen, continuously assuming various postures.

"Thank you for going to the trouble, Brother Tiger—no, Senior Brother," Su Tu said politely.

"Hahahaha, just call me Brother Tiger. It sounds crisp and satisfying, makes me feel like some wandering hero!" Li Hu laughed.

"Alright, Brother Tiger. What do I do now?"

Su Tu asked.

"Copy the posture on the screen. I'll use qi to guide you."

As he spoke, Su Tu copied the movement on the screen, squatting down into a horse stance.

Li Hu reached out and placed a hand on Su Tu's body. Su Tu immediately felt a warm current moving through him.

The flow of his blood accelerated as well, and every opening in his body stirred.

"So this is qi?"

Su Tu found it rather novel.

"That's right. Qi is a form of energy that exists between heaven and earth. Nothing in the universe can exist without qi. Martial cultivation, when all is said and done, is the use of qi. Among the myriad races, some are born able to control qi. Of course, they call qi energy; some call it source. The names differ, but they all refer to the same thing."

"We humans are born with bodies that are too weak. We cannot control qi, much less endure it. That is why Base Skills came into being. The purpose of a Base Skill is to lay the foundation and stimulate the qi and blood until they become vigorous, allowing us to control qi."

"And right now, I'm using qi to guide your blood through the acupoints of your body. That way, you'll be able to bear qi in the future." Li Hu looked rough and boorish, but he was an exceptionally patient person.

"So that's how it is. Thanks for your hard work, Brother Tiger." Su Tu was deeply grateful. Even if Li Hu was helping him because of Zhou Wuliang, this was still genuine help.

"No problem. Hm?? How can you still talk?!" Li Hu's expression suddenly changed.

"Huh? Can't you talk while practicing a Base Skill??" Thinking he had done something wrong, Su Tu looked somewhat embarrassed.

"No. Cultivating a Base Skill is extremely painful. Qi is used to force open every acupoint and blood vessel in the body, then drive the blood into a furious surge. Normally, you should be like them." Li Hu pointed at the other students around them.

Their faces were all flushed red. Several clenched their teeth tightly, their expressions twisted in agony.

"Right now, it feels as if their blood vessels are tearing apart. When the qi moves, it's like steel bars are being poured into their bodies. That's the normal reaction."

Only then did Su Tu realize that his classmates had ignored him since he entered not because they were aloof, but because they were in too much pain to spare any attention for the outside world.

"Then, Brother Tiger, my situation is..." Su Tu asked.

"Xiao Tu, not bad. Your Bone Root is even better than I thought. This is happening because this Base Skill is too easy for you, so your body doesn't feel anything at all. Wait here, I'll switch you to another Base Skill."

As Li Hu spoke, he brought up the virtual screen again and began selecting.

While he was choosing, Su Tu straightened up and relaxed a little.

You have completed one Base Skill training session. Body Strengthening Proficiency +100!

Body Strengthening has advanced to Mid Grade. Skill Point +1

Body Strengthening (Mid Grade): 3/1000

The next moment, a series of crisp cracks sounded from Su Tu's body, and he seemed to have grown several centimeters taller.

His previously somewhat thin body became stronger. The muscles all over him were perfectly proportioned, beautiful yet brimming with power.

His features had once carried a trace of softness, but now they were filled with an indescribable sharpness.

"100 Proficiency!! As expected, martial arts are the ultimate destination of Body Strengthening!"

Even with Su Tu's calm temperament, he could not help feeling excited inside. He could sense that his strength had increased by more than twice compared to just moments ago.

That was the benefit the Base Skill had brought him.

However, he knew it was only temporary. Once a skill reached Mid Grade, gaining Proficiency would slow down drastically.

"But at least it proves I haven't been putting my effort in the wrong direction." Su Tu secretly rejoiced.

At this moment, Li Hu had also selected a new Base Skill.

"Huh? Xiao Tu, don't you seem a little taller than before?" Li Hu looked at Su Tu and felt that the other party had somehow grown after he merely lowered and raised his head.

"Brother Tiger, you must have seen wrong, right?"

Li Hu nodded at that. He had seen people grow quickly, but never anyone grow this quickly.

"Try this Base Skill."

"Alright!" Su Tu assumed the posture shown on the virtual screen.

"Feel anything?"

"Mm, no." Su Tu sensed the changes within his body. Other than feeling a little warmer inside, he truly did not feel the pain Li Hu had described.

"Damn, not bad, Xiao Tu. Your Bone Root is impressive. Wait, I'll keep switching them out for you. Since you call me Brother Tiger, I guarantee I'll find you the Base Skill that suits you best!"

Zhou Wuliang sat in a Grand Master's Chair, his eyes slightly narrowed.

Beside him stood a lean man with a saber at his waist, eating an apple. His face was shrouded in Black Mist.

"Is this really alright? You wasted one spot. North Sea only has ten slots. Your students already have a hard time securing positions, and now you're adding a newcomer."

"If your students can't even hold onto one spot, you'll have to withdraw from the Ancestral Star. This opportunity will have nothing to do with you."

"I, this old man, keep my word. Whoever bears the Red Seal is one of my students this time. Besides, he's my seventh student. Don't forget, my—"

Before Zhou Wuliang could finish, the Black Mist Man interrupted him. "Your lucky number is 'seven.' I really don't know why the hell you chose such a mental anchor.

What are you thinking? North Sea doesn't just have children of powerful families. New Star visitors are also coming to join the excitement. The current generation of New Stars from the Tiandu Sun Family, Linhai Zhou Family, and Taian Wang Family have all set out already. They're all figures on the Heaven's Pride Ranking.

In three months, it'll already be impressive if he can face those monsters head-on. Do you really think that just because you casually picked up a student, he'll have the bearing of a Martial God, a Supreme Sun?" The Black Mist Man spoke with extreme venom.

Zhou Wuliang frowned once, looking somewhat uncomfortable, then frowned another six times as if he were having spasms. Just as he was about to speak, a frantic voice rang out.

"Master, hurry and take a look! Senior Brother is about to be drained dry by the student you just accepted!!"