[Physique: Mortal Body (Class C → Class B)]
Soon, Jiang Ye sensed the changes in his body.
A cool energy spread through his limbs and bones.
It was as if every cell in his body had been purified and reborn.
His blood, muscles, meridians, and skin all began to vibrate rapidly.
Not only that, he heard a rumbling from his internal organs, while the bones throughout his body creaked.
"My bones and meridians are changing."
As Jiang Ye sensed the changes, delight appeared on his face.
A Class C physique had already benefited him immensely.
Class B? The changes would surely be even greater than before!
"Martial Arts Grandmaster?"
Jiang Ye continued reading the panel.
[Martial Arts Grandmaster: One's mastery of the martial arts reaches the pinnacle of perfection, and one's strength far surpasses that of ordinary people. One's martial arts knowledge stands apart from all others, enough to found a school and pass on the torch of martial arts. A towering peak of martial arts in this age, inspiring countless people to look up in reverence—that is a Martial Arts Grandmaster!] [You have broken through the system's limits and reached the pinnacle of the mortal world. To advance further, you must climb the Martial Arts Heavenly Ladder!]
"..."
Mastery reaching the pinnacle of perfection, the pinnacle of the mortal world?!
Jiang Ye's mouth twitched. This system sure knew how to brag.
If only he really were that strong!
Still, Jiang Ye knew that in a Low Martial World, he might actually be that strong.
But in this world, even ten "Martial Arts Grandmasters" might not withstand a high schooler's lightning-fast five-hit whip combo.
"The Martial Arts Heavenly Ladder? It can help me advance further?"
Jiang Ye's expression shifted slightly.
[Martial Arts Heavenly Ladder: The martial arts are like a heavenly ladder, each step a rung, each step a chasm to cross! Beginning with the Martial Arts Grandmaster realm, one may climb the Martial Arts Heavenly Ladder and claim the Immortal Monument!]
Right after that, the text faded away.
A panel appeared.
--Low Martial Achievement System-- [Name: Jiang Ye] [Physique: Mortal Body (Class C → Class B)] [Endowment: Original] [Cultivation Methods] Star Martial Cultivation Method: Great Accomplishment (1%) [Achievements] Martial Arts Grandmaster, Friend of the Ancestor, Martial Arts Grandmaster [Martial Arts Heavenly Ladder] Available to climb --
A new option, "Martial Arts Heavenly Ladder," had quietly appeared on the panel.
"A new system feature? I wonder what rewards I'll get for climbing it."
Jiang Ye muttered to himself.
He looked at his body.
The transformation wasn't over yet.
Rather than hesitate, he immediately thought to himself:
"Begin the climb!"
"Buzz!"
The next instant, it felt as if someone had struck him over the head with a club. His vision spun.
Then his consciousness sank.
Amid a sea of clouds, Jiang Ye's eyes snapped open.
Before him stood a towering cloud ladder, golden from end to end and magnificent in its grandeur.
The cloud ladder was made up of tier upon tier of steps, stretching straight into the sky. Strange, inscrutable runes covered their surfaces, glowing with golden light.
"Is this the Martial Arts Heavenly Ladder?"
After a brief moment of dazed surprise, Jiang Ye headed toward the ladder.
He noticed that every ten steps or so, there was a broad platform, like a place to rest.
"Do I just climb up?"
Jiang Ye reached the ladder and considered it for a moment, then lifted his foot and began to climb.
"Buzz!"
The moment he stepped onto the first rung, he immediately felt immense pressure.
Fortunately, he had already reached Great Accomplishment in his Cultivation Method. This amount of pressure was nothing to him.
Jiang Ye climbed, one step at a time.
The higher he went, the greater the pressure became.
By the time he reached the tenth step, the pressure had nearly reached his limit.
"Boom!"
Bearing down under the terrifying pressure, Jiang Ye took another step and finally made it onto the first broad platform.
In an instant, the pressure vanished without a trace.
At the same time, a panel appeared before him.
[You have reached the First Layer of the Martial Arts Heavenly Ladder.] [Would you like to begin the First Layer Assessment now?]
Seeing the two lines on the panel, Jiang Ye couldn't help but freeze.
There was an assessment, too?
Then what was the point of all that effort to climb up here?
"Looks like only someone with the strength of a Martial Arts Grandmaster can begin the First Layer Assessment."
"They've made this so complicated. The rewards must be incredible."
A glint appeared in Jiang Ye's eyes.
Soon, he stopped hesitating.
He silently thought, "Begin the First Layer Assessment!"
As soon as the thought crossed his mind—
"Buzz!"
The surroundings abruptly changed.
The darkness receded, and Jiang Ye found himself lying on a large bed. Soothing music played by his ears, while warm-colored lights spilled over him with an intimate glow.
Various bottles of massage oil sat on the bedside table, giving off a pleasant, delicate fragrance.
"Isn't this the massage parlor I used to visit all the time?"
Jiang Ye looked around, bewildered.
Just then, the door swung open.
A stunning young woman in a white-stockinged JK uniform, her hair tied in a high ponytail, walked in.
"Hello, sir. Technician No. 13 is delighted to serve you."
Jiang Ye stared at her in surprise.
"Teacher Chen?"
The gorgeous girl in the white-stockinged JK uniform was none other than his martial arts teacher, Chen Zilu!
No, was this really right?
Chen Zilu smiled sweetly at him and said in a soft, sweet voice, "Want to change roles again? Then I'll bring another outfit next time."
As she spoke, she had already walked over and was preparing to get to work.
"Wait!"
Jiang Ye covered his head and said, feeling that something wasn't quite right.
"Hm?"
Chen Zilu looked at him in confusion. Then she suddenly seemed to understand, and chuckled. "I remember now. You like bare feet, right?"
Before Jiang Ye could react, she had slipped off her little leather shoes and stepped on him with her white-stockinged feet.
Jiang Ye's head felt foggy, as if he had forgotten something important.
But under Chen Zilu's massage, he gradually lost himself in it and began to enjoy the experience.
Time passed slowly.
Half an hour, one hour, two hours...
After being treated to the massage, Jiang Ye lay limp on the bed, his eyes slowly going blank.
But just then—
Suddenly, Jiang Ye's pupils contracted. "Something's wrong. This is clearly the massage parlor from my previous life. How could Chen Zilu be here?"
"That's right. I'm taking the Martial Arts Heavenly Ladder assessment. This is all an illusion!"
The instant Jiang Ye realized the truth—
The next moment, the scene around him scattered like wind.
He was back on the Martial Arts Heavenly Ladder.
[Assessment Time: 3 hours 07 minutes] [Martial Will assessment failed] [Assessment not passed!] [Would you like to continue the First Layer Assessment?]
Seeing the panel appear before him, Jiang Ye gave a helpless smile.
He'd expected to fail, but he hadn't expected to hold out in the illusion for more than three hours!
"Looks like the First Layer Assessment is testing my Martial Will?"
Jiang Ye pondered.
Martial Will meant being single-mindedly devoted to martial arts, without distractions.
Since Jiang Ye pursued martial arts wholeheartedly, his resolve shouldn't be that weak.
He reflected that the problem wasn't that his Martial Will lacked conviction.
It was that the illusion itself could leave him feeling foggy-headed.
Most importantly, the illusion had been too realistic. All five senses had been incredibly vivid, as if he'd really experienced a massage.
Even now, he could still feel that faint fragrance lingering beneath his nose.
And Jiang Ye was at an age when his blood ran hot, so it was only natural that he'd get caught up in it.
"Good thing I get another chance to take the assessment."
Jiang Ye breathed a sigh of relief, then immediately chose to try again.
After reentering the assessment, Jiang Ye found himself back in that massage parlor.
Seeing this, he felt relieved.
Could he really fall for the same trick twice?
But Jiang Ye's head felt foggy, and he wondered, "What did I come here for?"
Before he could figure it out, a beautiful woman in black stockings and a professional office-lady outfit opened the door and walked in.
"Hello, sir. Technician No. 5 is delighted to serve you."
Hearing that soft, crisp voice, a look of realization appeared in Jiang Ye's eyes.
"I remember now. I came here to have a good time."
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