The morning mist had yet to clear, but the gates of Jiangnan Martial Arts Academy were already in sight.
Holding Lin Xiaoyu's hand, Lin Fan stood beside the pair of enormous stone lions flanking the academy's main entrance. The lions stood about five meters tall and were carved with lifelike detail. Some kind of red crystal was set in each lion's eye, gleaming with a faint, eerie light in the morning sun.
"Wow, it's so big..." Lin Xiaoyu gazed up at the six gilded characters spelling out "Jiangnan Martial Arts Academy" above the gate, her small mouth hanging open.
It really was big.
The main entrance alone was wider than the entire street in the Slum District. Bluestone steps stretched upward, flanked by carved stone pillars depicting martial arts sages of old. The air carried a faint fragrance of grass and trees, along with an almost imperceptible ripple of vital energy—the academy's Spirit Gathering Array was operating within.
"Hold it! Who are you?"
A guard in a gray uniform emerged from a side gate and sized up the siblings. He looked about forty, with dark skin and sharp eyes. His aura was around that of a 2nd Grade Martial Artist.
"We're here to register as new students." Lin Fan took out the credentials issued by the academy.
The guard accepted them and checked them carefully. His expression softened a little. "Lin Fan? The one who came first in the entrance assessment?"
"That's me."
"Mm. Go on in." The guard stepped aside. "Follow the main road straight ahead, and you'll reach the New Student Registration Office. Your sister..."
"The academy allows family members to accompany students," Lin Fan said. "The Vice Principal made a special exception."
"That's good, then." The guard nodded, giving Lin Fan another look. "Make the most of your training, kid. It's not easy for someone from a common background to come first. Don't waste your talent."
"Thank you."
Stepping through the academy gates felt like entering another world.
The road beneath their feet was paved with smooth bluestone slabs, and tall parasol trees lined either side. In the distance, teaching buildings, training towers, and dormitories stood in orderly rows, their upturned eaves lending them a distinctly classical charm. The vital energy in the air was noticeably denser than outside. Every breath lifted the spirit.
"Brother, the air feels so nice here." Lin Xiaoyu took a deep breath, her cheeks faintly flushed.
"It's vital energy." Lin Fan felt his Basic Breathing Technique running automatically inside him. "The academy has a Spirit Gathering Array that draws in the vital energy of heaven and earth from the surrounding area."
That was what resources meant.
In the Slum District, absorbing vital energy meant relying on one's own breathing technique, little by little. Here, even breathing let you absorb it without trying. Over time, the difference in cultivation speed would be like heaven and earth.
Quite a few students were already on the main road.
Some wore matching uniforms, others casual clothes, but every one of them had the vigor unique to Martial Artists. They walked in groups of two or three, chatting and laughing. Now and then, someone would use a movement technique, leaving a string of afterimages along the road.
"Look over there! Those are students from the Genius Class!"
"Where? Where?"
"That road to the east, the one leading to Tianjiao Garden."
Several students who looked like new arrivals had gathered together, excitedly pointing in one direction.
Lin Fan followed their gaze.
A group of richly dressed young men and women were walking along a narrow path paved with white jade. Most were sixteen or seventeen, their auras powerful. Even the weakest was a 2nd Grade Martial Artist, while several at the front had reached the 3rd Grade.
The two who stood out most were a young man and a young woman.
The young man wore a purple brocade robe and carried a sword at his waist. He was handsome, but his eyes were haughty—it was Wang Hao. He had two different lackeys with him now, both stronger than the ones before.
The young woman had silver hair that shimmered faintly in the morning light. She wore a moon-white martial outfit, and her figure was tall and straight. Her face was as cold as snow. Even from a distance, she gave off an aura that warned everyone to keep away.
"That's Lin Xue'er, the second-ranked student in the Genius Class," a bespectacled boy nearby whispered. "I heard she's of mixed Chinese and European descent, with a natural affinity for ice. She was already a 3rd Grade Martial Master before she enrolled."
"Wang Hao is in the Genius Class too?"
"Obviously. The Wang Family is one of the four great families in Jiangnan City. They could pile up enough resources to get him in."
"Ugh, comparing yourself to others will drive you crazy. We in the Regular Class get eight to a dorm room, while the Genius Class students go straight into private villas."
Lin Fan listened in silence.
He noticed that the Genius Class students were indeed heading toward a secluded garden district. Through the gaps between the trees, he could see exquisite little buildings, each with its own courtyard and even a small training ground.
The new Regular Class students were headed west, along an ordinary bluestone road. At its end stood several drab, gray dormitory buildings.
The gap was laid bare before their eyes.
"Brother..." Lin Xiaoyu tugged at Lin Fan's sleeve, a trace of unease in her eyes.
"It's all right." Lin Fan patted her hand. "Let's go."
The New Student Registration Office was on the east side of the academy plaza, in a row of temporary wooden booths. More than a dozen staff members sat behind desks, processing registrations.
The line for the Regular Class was long, with hundreds of people. The Genius Class had only a dozen or so students, and each had a staff member to assist them. They didn't even have to queue.
Lin Fan and his sister joined the end of the Regular Class line.
While they waited, he watched the other new students.
Most were dressed as plainly as he was, their faces uneasy. Some spoke in low voices, some nervously rubbed their hands together, and others rested with their eyes closed, regulating their breathing.
"Have you heard? The top scorer in this year's assessment got specially placed in the Regular Class."
"Seriously? Shouldn't the top scorer be in the Genius Class?"
"Apparently he comes from a common background and has no connections. The academy was worried he'd be ostracized in the Genius Class, so they put him in the Regular Class."
"That...isn't that unfair?"
"Fair? Where's the fairness in this world? A Martial Artist's path takes resources, connections, and talent. You can have all the talent in the world, but without resources, it's useless."
"True enough. My family sold our house just to support my training. Even after getting into the academy, pills, weapons, techniques...which of those doesn't cost money?"
The conversation reached Lin Fan's ears, but his expression remained calm.
Old Man Li and Chen Dashan had already told him all of this. That was simply reality. Complaining was pointless; all he could do was become stronger.
"Next."
At last, it was Lin Fan's turn.
The registration was handled by a serious-looking female teacher in her thirties, who wore glasses. She took Lin Fan's credentials, checked the information, then pulled a wooden box from beneath the desk.
"Lin Fan, Regular Class Three." The teacher adjusted her glasses. "Here's your student ID, uniform, and class schedule. Your dorm is Building 7, Room 203, East District. It's an eight-person room. Your monthly basic resources are 50 Academic Credits. You can eat for free in the cafeteria and train at the Public Training Ground."
"Thank you, teacher." Lin Fan accepted the items.
The wooden box held a gray uniform, a metal student ID, a course handbook, and a pale-blue crystal card—it was probably his Academic Credit card.
"As for your sister's accommodation..." The teacher looked at Lin Xiaoyu. "The Family Quarters are in the West District. The conditions are rather basic, with four people to a room. It costs 20 Academic Credits a month, or 1,000 Credit Points."
Lin Fan frowned.
Twenty Academic Credits were worth two First-order Demonic Cores. All he had was the 100 Academic Credits the academy had awarded him, and he still needed to buy a technique and pills...
"I'll pay for one month first." Lin Fan took out his crystal card.
The teacher accepted it and swiped it across a device. "Twenty Academic Credits deducted. You have 80 left. Take your sister to Building 12 in the West District to register. The residential staff there will help her."
"All right."
After leaving the registration office, Lin Fan first took Lin Xiaoyu to the Family Quarters in the West District.
Compared with the teaching district, the Family Quarters were noticeably more run-down. More than a dozen three-story buildings were packed together, their outer walls stained and peeling. Laundry hung in the courtyards. Several women drew water from a well, while children ran and played in the open space.
"This place...looks a lot like the Slum District," Lin Xiaoyu whispered.
"At least it's safe." Lin Fan patted her head. "The academy has a protective array. Demonic Beasts can't get in. And there are doctors here, so you'll be able to get your medicine on time."
The residential supervisor of Building 12 in the West District was a woman in her fifties with a loud voice and a warm manner. Her surname was Zhao.
"Oh, a new girl? What a pretty little thing." Auntie Zhao took Lin Xiaoyu's hand. "Don't worry. You can treat this place like home. You'll be in Room 306. The other three are all family members of Martial Artists, and they're nice people."
She handed Lin Xiaoyu a key, then turned to Lin Fan. "You focus on your training, young man. Your sister's here, and I'll keep an eye on her."
"Thank you, Teacher Zhao."
After settling his sister in, Lin Fan headed to the East District dorms alone.
The East District was the men's dormitory area, with seven six-story buildings lined up in a row. The buildings were old, with peeling paint—a stark contrast to the garden villas of the Genius Class.
Building 7, Room 203.
Lin Fan unlocked the door, and a musty smell hit him.
The room was about twenty square meters, furnished with four metal bunk beds for a total of eight beds. A long desk stood by the window, with eight metal lockers on top. The floor was concrete, and cobwebs clung to the corners.
Two roommates had already arrived.
One was Chen Dahu, bent over as he spread a bedsheet. The other was a skinny, bespectacled boy sitting on his bed and reading—the information broker Zhou Ming.
"Brother Fan!" Chen Dahu spotted Lin Fan and grinned broadly. "You're finally here! I saved the lower bunk by the window for you. It's the best spot!"
"Thanks." Lin Fan set his cloth bundle on the bed.
Zhou Ming looked up and adjusted his glasses. "Lin Fan, it's good to see you again. We'll be roommates from now on, so I hope we can look out for each other—though my information fees are, of course, non-negotiable."
"Why do you only ever think about money?" Chen Dahu grumbled.
"Money's a wonderful thing." Zhou Ming smiled. "By the way, Lin Fan, here's a heads-up. There are eight of us in this dorm. Apart from you, me, and Dahu, the other five are from ordinary families. But three members of the Wang Family's collateral branch are in Room 204 next door."
Lin Fan paused. "Wang Hao's people?"
"More or less." Zhou Ming nodded. "They're only collateral relatives, but they lean on the Wang Family's name and hold sway even in the Regular Class. You humiliated Wang Hao, so they might come looking for trouble."
"Let them come." Lin Fan spoke calmly.
His injuries had healed about eighty percent, and his Basic Fist Technique was close to Minor Accomplishment. If it came to a fight, unless they were 3rd Grade Martial Masters, he wasn't afraid of however many ordinary 2nd Grade Martial Artists showed up.
Confident, Zhou Ming gave him a thumbs-up. "Still, be careful. Spears are easy to dodge; hidden arrows are hard to guard against. The Wang Family has spent years building up connections at the academy."
As they spoke, the other five roommates arrived one after another.
They were all boys of sixteen or seventeen, plainly dressed and visibly nervous. After introductions, Lin Fan memorized their names: Li Yan, Zhang Hai, Liu Feng, Zhao Qiang, and Sun Xiaopang.
"Brother Fan, you really came first in the assessment?" Sun Xiaopang sidled up to him, full of admiration. "I heard you punched with over a thousand jin of force and smashed the dummy to pieces!"
"I got lucky." Lin Fan smiled.
"Lucky? That was pure strength!" Li Yan said with a sigh. "It's already hard for kids like us from ordinary families just to get into the academy. We'll have to count on Brother Fan to look out for us from now on."
"We'll look out for each other," Lin Fan said.
The eight of them finished making their beds by noon.
"Come on, let's eat!" Chen Dahu's stomach rumbled. "I heard the academy cafeteria serves as much as you can eat, and they even have Demonic Beast meat!"
The cafeteria was a three-story building beside the main teaching building.
The first floor served free ordinary meals. The second floor offered medicinal meals in exchange for Academic Credits. The third floor was supposedly open only to teachers and the Genius Class.
Most Regular Class students ate on the first floor.
Lin Fan got himself a meal: two meat dishes, one vegetable dish, a bowl of soup, and as much staple food as he wanted. The meat dishes really did contain Demonic Beast meat. It was only from a 1st Tier beast, but the meat was delicious and held a faint trace of vital energy.
"Good heavens, this is better than what my family eats for the New Year!" Chen Dahu wolfed his food down.
"That's what the free meals are like. If you want anything good, you have to go to the second floor." Zhou Ming ate unhurriedly. "The cheapest medicinal meal there costs 5 Academic Credits. They say eating them over the long term strengthens the body and speeds up cultivation."
"Five Academic Credits? What a rip-off!" Sun Xiaopang clicked his tongue.
"That's why we need to earn Academic Credits." Zhou Ming looked at Lin Fan. "Lin Fan, when are you planning to go to the Mission Hall?"
"This afternoon," Lin Fan said.
He urgently needed Academic Credits. His sister's lodging, his own cultivation resources, the technique he wanted to buy...everything cost money.
"I'll go with you!" Chen Dahu raised his hand.
"I'll go too," Li Yan said. "The more of us there are, the more we can look out for each other."
The others also said they wanted to team up.
Lin Fan considered it, then nodded. "All right. Let's go take a look together this afternoon."
After eating, the eight of them didn't return to the dormitory. Instead, they decided to explore the academy and get familiar with the grounds.
First, they went to the Public Training Ground.
It was a broad open plaza paved with bluestone slabs, with wooden dummies, stone locks, sandbags, and other basic training equipment set up around it. More than a hundred people were training there, their shouts and calls ringing without pause.
"So this is the Public Training Ground." Zhang Hai looked a little disappointed. "They don't even have a sunshade."
"That's what you get for free." Zhou Ming spread his hands. "If you want better facilities, you have to go to the Cultivation Tower. It has private training rooms, with twice the vital energy concentration of the outside, but they cost 10 Academic Credits an hour."
"Ten Academic Credits?!" The others gasped.
Lin Fan calculated silently.
At his current speed, an hour of practicing the Basic Fist Technique at the Public Training Ground would earn him around 30 proficiency points. In an environment with twice the vital energy, his efficiency should increase quite a bit.
But 10 Academic Credits an hour was too expensive.
"Look over there." Zhou Ming pointed at a distant nine-story tower. "That's the Cultivation Tower. The higher you go, the denser the vital energy and the more expensive the room. They say the training rooms on the ninth floor have ten times the vital energy of the outside, but they cost 100 Academic Credits an hour. Only students from the Genius Class can afford to use them."
Ten times the concentration.
Lin Fan was tempted.
If he could activate five-times-speed cultivation in that kind of environment, his proficiency growth would reach terrifying speeds.
But 100 Academic Credits an hour...
He would have to kill ten 1st Tier Demonic Beasts or complete a high-difficulty mission.
"Come on, let's go see the Library Pavilion," Lin Fan said.
The Library Pavilion stood at the center of the academy. It was a seven-story wooden building with upturned eaves and interlocking brackets, steeped in classical charm. A stone tablet stood at its entrance, engraved with the words: "Store the martial arts in the pavilion; nurture the talented in the academy."
New students in the Regular Class could only enter the first floor.
The first floor was spacious, with dozens of rows of shelves. They held books on techniques, martial skills, and miscellaneous subjects, though most were the most basic Mortal Tier Low Grade works, with few Mid Grade texts.
Lin Fan saw several new students moving between the shelves, their faces alight with excitement.
To these students from ordinary families, even a Mortal Tier Low Grade Technique was a precious resource they had never been able to access before.
"Lin Fan, aren't you going to choose a technique?" Li Yan asked.
"I already know what I want," Lin Fan said.
He walked to the counter at the very back, where a white-haired old man was dozing.
"Teacher, I'd like to use my reward voucher to choose a technique."
The old man opened his eyes and glanced at Lin Fan with cloudy eyes. "The voucher."
Lin Fan handed over the voucher printed with the academy emblem.
The old man accepted it and examined it carefully, then nodded. "The reward for coming first in the assessment lets you choose one Mortal Tier Mid Grade technique or martial skill. Have you decided what you want?"
"I have," Lin Fan said. "Iron Body Skill, a Mortal Tier Top Grade body-tempering technique."
The old man froze. "Top Grade? That's only available for students in the Elite Class to exchange for, and it costs 200 Academic Credits. Your voucher only covers a Mid Grade selection."
"I can pay the difference." Lin Fan took out his crystal card.
The old man looked at Lin Fan, then at the card. "Kid, though the Iron Body Skill is only Mortal Tier, practicing it is extremely painful and requires medicinal baths. It costs a fortune. Many students choose it but can't stick with it. Are you sure?"
"I'm sure." Lin Fan's voice was firm.
A body-tempering technique was exactly what he needed most. Combined with the system's proficiency bonus, it could push his physical strength to the limit. As for the pain and expense...he could endure the pain, and he could earn the money.
"Very well." The old man took a thick tome from beneath the counter. "The original copy of the Iron Body Skill can't be taken out of the Library Pavilion. You can copy it here, or spend 10 Academic Credits on an engraved copy."
"I'll buy the engraved copy." Lin Fan swiped his card.
Ten Academic Credits were deducted. He had 70 left.
The old man handed Lin Fan a thin booklet. It was a simplified version of Iron Body Skill, containing only the first three levels of its mental cultivation method and basic training exercises. To obtain the later content, he would have to return and exchange for it after advancing his cultivation.
"Thank you, Teacher."
Lin Fan put away the booklet and was about to leave when the old man suddenly said, "Young man, the path of body cultivation is the hardest to walk. But if you can keep going, your future will be limitless. Make the most of it."
"I will."
When he left the Library Pavilion, the sun was already sinking in the west.
"Brother Fan, you really chose Iron Body Skill?" Chen Dahu scratched his head. "My dad said practicing that technique is practically like self-mutilation."
"As long as it suits me," Lin Fan said.
He opened the Status Panel and looked at the new entry:
[Technique: Iron Body Skill (Mortal Tier Top Grade · Not Started 0/100)]
He would start practicing tonight.
"Let's go check out the Mission Hall, then head back to the dorm," Lin Fan said.
The Mission Hall stood in the academy's northwest corner, a grand and imposing building. Inside were more than a dozen enormous jade walls displaying all kinds of missions.
[Clearance Mission: A 1st Tier Demonic Beast, "Wind Wolf," has appeared in the academy's rear mountains. Reward: 10 Academic Credits for each one killed. Must form a team of at least 3.] [Gathering Mission: Collect "Glow Grass." Reward: 5 Academic Credits per plant. Location: Ten Mile Slope west of the academy.] [Guard Mission: Escort a merchant caravan to Linjiang City and back, a three-day round trip. Reward: 50 Academic Credits. Requirements: 2nd Grade Martial Artist or above, with combat experience.] [Bounty Mission: Kill the wanted criminal "Bloody Hand Zhang San." Dead or alive. Reward: 200 Academic Credits. Warning: The target is a 3rd Grade Martial Master, ruthless and vicious.]
The missions ranged from easy to difficult, and their rewards differed by a world of their own.
Hundreds of students crowded the hall. Some were forming teams, some were accepting missions, and others were turning in completed missions and collecting their rewards.
"So many missions!" Sun Xiaopang's eyes shone.
"But none of them are easy," Zhou Ming said, dousing his excitement. "Clearance missions mean going outside the city, where your life could be in danger. Gathering missions take time and effort, and you have to compete with others. And the guard and bounty missions go without saying. Without the strength, you'd just be throwing your life away."
Lin Fan scanned the jade walls, then settled on one mission:
[Hunt Mission: Kill a 2nd Tier Demonic Beast, "Ironback Porcupine," and obtain its intact pelt. Reward: 30 Academic Credits. Location: Black Pine Forest, fifty li north of the city. Recommended: A team of three 2nd Grade Martial Artists.]
A 2nd Tier Demonic Beast was equivalent to a 2nd Grade Martial Artist.
With Lin Fan's current strength and Basic Fist Technique at Minor Accomplishment Level, he should be able to handle one alone. With Chen Dahu's help, it would be even safer.
"We'll take this one." Lin Fan pointed at the mission.
"A 2nd Tier Demonic Beast?!" Li Yan was startled. "Brother Fan, we're only 1st Grade!"
"I can handle it," Lin Fan said. "Dahu, are you in?"
Chen Dahu thumped his chest. "If Brother Fan says we're fighting, then we're fighting!"
Zhou Ming pushed up his glasses. "Lin Fan, I know you're strong, but a 2nd Tier Demonic Beast is nothing like a 1st Tier one. The Ironback Porcupine has an incredibly tough hide. When it charges, even a 3rd Grade Martial Master has to avoid its edge. Just the two of you would be taking too big a risk."
"What if there are three of us?"
"At least three 2nd Grade Martial Artists, or five 1st Grade Martial Artists who work well together," Zhou Ming said. "How about this? Count me in. I'm at the peak of 1st Grade, and I'm good at scouting and setting traps. The three of us might have a chance."
Lin Fan looked at Zhou Ming. "Aren't you afraid?"
"Of course I am." Zhou Ming smiled. "But high risk, high reward. Besides, I think there's a future in following you."
"Good." Lin Fan nodded. "Then it's the three of us. We leave first thing tomorrow morning."
"Wait," Zhou Ming said. "Accepting the mission requires a deposit of 10 Academic Credits, which you won't get back if you fail. We also have to register our team information and collect a Mission Token."
The three of them walked over to the mission counter.
The attendant was a young woman. Her eyes lit up when she saw Lin Fan. "You're Lin Fan, right? The one who came first in the assessment?"
"That's me."
"You want to accept the Ironback Porcupine hunt mission?" The woman frowned. "A 2nd Tier Demonic Beast is dangerous. The three of you... are you high enough in cultivation?"
"We're ready," Lin Fan said.
The woman looked at Lin Fan's determined expression, then at Chen Dahu and Zhou Ming. In the end, she nodded. "All right. The deposit is 10 Academic Credits, and the mission deadline is three days. Here's your Mission Token. When you complete the mission, present the beast's materials and the token to claim your reward."
Lin Fan swiped his card and took the token.
It was made of wood, with the mission number carved into the front and the academy crest on the back.
"Be careful," the woman said quietly. "Things have been unsettled in Black Pine Forest lately. I hear some Demonic Beasts have mutated. If anything seems wrong, retreat at once. Staying alive comes first."
"Thanks for the warning."
By the time they left the Mission Hall, darkness had fallen.
Lights had come on across the academy, and a warm yellow glow shone from the windows of the Teaching Building and dormitories. The villa gardens in the distance, where the Genius Class lived, were brightly lit. They could even faintly hear the sound of music and flutes.
"Looks like they're holding a welcome banquet," Zhou Ming said.
"Who cares?" Chen Dahu muttered. "Those of us in the Regular Class can barely get enough to eat, and they're having a banquet."
The three returned to the dorm. Their other five roommates were already there.
When they heard Lin Fan had accepted a mission to hunt a 2nd Tier Demonic Beast, they were all stunned.
"Brother Fan, you're really going?" Sun Xiaopang asked anxiously. "Why don't... we go help, too?"
"No need." Lin Fan shook his head. "Too many people would make things chaotic. You all focus on cultivating at the academy and wait for us to come back."
That night, Lin Fan didn't sleep.
After his roommates had fallen fast asleep, he quietly got up and went to the Public Training Ground.
It was deep in the night, and the training ground was empty. Moonlight fell across the Bluestone Slabs, casting a silvery sheen.
Lin Fan settled into his Boxing Stance and began practicing Basic Fist Technique.
One punch, two punches, three...
His movements weren't fast, but he poured all his strength into every punch. His muscles worked, his bones vibrated, and his primordial energy flowed through his meridians.
The proficiency on the Status Panel steadily increased.
[Basic Fist Technique Proficiency +1] [Basic Fist Technique Proficiency +1]...
After practicing for about an hour, Lin Fan stopped and began trying Iron Body Skill.
According to the technique's instructions, he first circulated his primordial energy to cover his skin, then struck different parts of his body in a specific rhythm.
His first punch landed on his chest.
It wasn't pain in his skin or flesh—it went straight to the marrow. It felt as though countless needles were stabbing into his meridians, or as if fire were scorching his organs.
Lin Fan gritted his teeth and continued.
The second punch, the third...
Sweat poured from him, and his body began to tremble. But the proficiency for Iron Body Skill was ticking upward on the Status Panel:
[Iron Body Skill Proficiency +1] [Iron Body Skill Proficiency +1]...
As expected, the more painful the training, the faster the proficiency increased.
That was the nature of body cultivation techniques—training through self-torture.
A ruthless glint flashed in Lin Fan's eyes.
What was pain?
As long as he could become stronger, as long as he could protect his younger sister, he could endure any amount of pain.
He activated Cultivation Acceleration 2x.
His stamina drained twice as fast, and the pain doubled, but his proficiency gains doubled as well.
Punch after punch, in the stillness of night, the boy pounded his own body in solitude.
Under the moonlight, his shadow stretched long across the ground.
In the distance, a figure stood silently atop the Teaching Building.
It was Teacher Zhang.
He adjusted his Gold-rimmed Glasses and watched the boy training like a madman on the practice ground. A complicated look passed through his eyes.
"Lin Fan... just how far will you make it?"
The night breeze stirred gently. No one answered.
Only the dull thuds of the boy striking his body echoed across the empty training ground.
Before you continue