Special Tutoring

"So Father's been going out early and coming back late these past few days because he's looking for a job?"

Jiang Ye stood before the wall.

Due to his Physique Enhancement, his hearing had improved. Coupled with the poor soundproofing of the old house, he could faintly hear the conversation in the next room.

"Dad is actually going to apply for a night security guard position at the Shadow Hunter Bureau?"

Jiang Ye's brows furrowed.

The Shadow Hunter Bureau was an extremely special organization in this world.

It existed solely to deal with the 'Shadow Calamity'.

The Shadow Calamity had a long history.

Hundreds of years ago, after Blue Star connected with the starry sky, people discovered a type of strange creature that could attach itself to shadows.

Through the host's shadow, they would feed on the host's life.

These strange creatures were called the 'Shadow Clan'.

Anyone targeted by the 'Shadow Clan', unless they were a Martial Arts Expert, would have little chance of survival.

These things couldn't be killed by technological means; only with the help of Starry Sky Martial Arts was there a chance to eliminate them.

And the Shadow Hunter Bureau was the organization specifically dedicated to hunting the Shadow Clan.

Most of the Martial Arts Experts in Ancheng were stationed there.

As Jiang Dahai had said, it was the safest place in the city.

But if a 'Shadow Calamity' were to occur, the Shadow Hunter Bureau would also become the most dangerous place.

"Dad applying to the Shadow Hunter Bureau is also out of desperation."

Jiang Ye understood his adoptive father's helplessness.

A middle-aged man, with elders above and children below, couldn't be without a job.

Especially since Jiang Ye's martial arts training required enormous expenses.

Not to mention anything else, he needed to eat meat every day at the very least.

The 'Shadow Calamity' not only endangered humans but also affected animals, causing meat prices to rise year after year.

Ordinary pork was already selling for 50 yuan a jin.

Not to mention the special pork for martial artists, which cost at least two hundred yuan.

Special-grade beef and lamb, and the like, were even over five hundred yuan.

Yet, martial cultivation couldn't be done without eating meat.

"Martial arts advancement is inseparable from dietary supplements, and eating meat is just the most basic part of it," Jiang Ye sighed inwardly.

He had heard that students from affluent families not only ate large portions of meat every meal but also took precious martial arts ingredients as supplements, such as Martial Ginseng, Whale Eye, and Tiger Gallbladder.

These were all very expensive, often costing over a thousand yuan.

"Poor scholars, rich martial artists" was not just a saying.

Jiang Ye didn't have such a family background. His adoptive parents' combined annual salary was less than one hundred thousand yuan.

Despite this, they still ensured he could eat meat every day.

"I must get into a Martial Arts University."

Jiang Ye's gaze became even more determined.

Setting aside any talk of repaying kindness, at the very least, he didn't want to let his parents' expectations go unfulfilled.

His current goal was to break through the Star Martial Cultivation Method to Perfection before the college entrance examination.

"Continue cultivating."

Jiang Ye returned to his original spot and resumed his stance.

Usually, he would cultivate until one in the morning before falling into a deep sleep.

Today was no exception.

The next morning.

Jiang Ye woke up from his bed, clutching his groggy head.

"Had another nightmare?"

He had been having the same nightmare recently, and after waking up, he couldn't recall its contents.

Jiang Ye rubbed his head and didn't pay it much mind.

He looked at his panel.

[Cultivation Method]

Star Martial Cultivation Method: Minor Accomplishment (2%)

"One night of cultivation actually increased it by 1%."

Jiang Ye was a little surprised.

A 1% increase in one night, this efficiency far surpassed his previous level.

"My cultivation speed seems to have quickened. Is this also an effect of Physique Enhancement?"

Physique Enhancement could also improve Martial Arts aptitude?

Did this mean that this so-called physique actually referred to Martial Arts talent?

This guess was astonishing.

It meant that Jiang Ye's Martial Arts talent had actually improved!

"After Minor Accomplishment, it gets harder and harder to improve. However, I will break through to Great Accomplishment earlier than planned," Jiang Ye thought to himself.

The four stages of the Star Martial Cultivation Method doubled in difficulty with each new breakthrough.

The difficulty from Minor Accomplishment to Great Accomplishment was twice that of the Beginner stage!

And the difficulty from Great Accomplishment to Perfection would surge even more.

Jiang Ye had originally thought he would only break through to Great Accomplishment in his third year of high school, but now, he felt he could achieve this goal before the end of his second year.

"Time for breakfast."

Jiang Ye got up and walked out the door.

After breakfast, Jiang Ye took his sister, Jiang Ting, to school.

Arriving at the entrance of Ancheng Primary School, where Jiang Ting attended.

Before parting, the little loli looked at him expectantly and said, "Brother, I'll miss you."

Jiang Ye patted her head. "I'll bring you candy after school."

"Mhm, thank you, brother!"

Jiang Ting walked into the school with a happy expression.

Jiang Ye also headed towards Ancheng Third Middle School, starting his day of cultivation and study.

Time flew by.

In the blink of an eye, a month had passed.

Jiang Ye repeated his routine day after day.

Apart from eating, sleeping, and cultural classes, he spent all his time cultivating.

During this period, he hadn't unlocked any new achievements.

Based on his deductions, he would need to reach a certain level of strength or trigger some bugs to unlock new achievements.

For example, 'Friend of the Ancestor' was unlocked by exploiting a bug.

But to this day, Jiang Ye hadn't managed to trigger any new bugs.

Fortunately, his strength was increasing rapidly.

After Physique Enhancement, Jiang Ye's Martial Arts aptitude improved, and his cultivation speed also increased slightly.

Coupled with the Comprehension Boost 30% from Chen Zilu's class.

Of course, the most crucial factor was his diligent practice day and night.

Jiang Ye's Martial Arts strength was growing at a visible rate.

March 30th.

In the cultural class.

As the top scorer in cultural subjects, Jiang Ye sat at his seat.

He looked at his panel.

[Cultivation Method]

Star Martial Cultivation Method: Minor Accomplishment (40%)

"In a month's time, the path to Great Accomplishment is already halfway there."

Jiang Ye was content.

If it were before, he probably wouldn't have even increased by 10% in this month.

Such was Inferior Aptitude.

Most students in the Ordinary Class would break through to Minor Accomplishment in the second semester of their second year. They would need to cultivate with all their might for the remaining year and a half to have a chance of breaking through to Great Accomplishment.

His cultivation over the past month had also allowed him to summarize a pattern.

"Every 10% increase, the cultivation difficulty rises. Now, it takes two days to increase by 1%."

Jiang Ye was not disappointed; instead, he was filled with anticipation.

His cultivation speed was already very fast.

Perhaps he could break through to Great Accomplishment in less than a semester.

"This class, we'll discuss the grading of aptitudes."

At this moment, the teacher's voice caught Jiang Ye's attention.

The Culture Class Teacher was a woman in her thirties, wearing a black tight skirt, with a curvaceous figure, and glasses.

She went on to explain:

"Martial arts aptitudes are roughly divided into four levels."

"Primitive, Newcomer, Dao Bone, and Extraordinary."

"According to the Starry Sky Martial Arts classification, there are higher levels, but on Blue Star, we mainly have these four."

"Among them, Primitive aptitude, also known as Inferior Aptitude, is the aptitude of over 70% of people on Blue Star."

"Aptitude not only relates to the strength of one's physique but also to the cultivation of Starry Sky Martial Arts. For example, with Primitive aptitude, it's more difficult to embark on the path of Starry Sky Martial Arts."

Jiang Ye's heart stirred slightly.

According to the teacher, martial arts aptitude isn't entirely equivalent to physique?

This overturned some of his previous assumptions.

"Huh?"

Just then, Jiang Ye suddenly noticed a new line of text had appeared on his Panel.

--Low Martial Achievement System--

[Name: Jiang Ye] [Physique: Mortal Body (Class C)] [Aptitude: Primitive] [Cultivation Method] Star Martial Cultivation Method: Minor Accomplishment (40%) [Achievements] Martial Arts Grandmaster, Friend of the Ancestor

--

"The system has also separated physique and aptitude. It seems they are indeed different," Jiang Ye thought to himself.

"The second level of talent is called Newborn."

The female teacher with glasses in the black tight skirt said, "Newborn, signifying a Martial Bone Newborn, with a physique far stronger than Primitive Talent."

"These individuals often possess strong martial arts talent, and their cultivation is twice as effective. For example, students in the Key Class all have this kind of talent."

The female teacher with glasses continued her explanation.

Jiang Ye was also learning for the first time what students with Newborn talent were like.

"With Newborn talent, one can reach Perfection in cultivation by the second year of high school, and potentially become a Starry Sky Martial Artist by the third year?" Jiang Ye was secretly astonished.

A Starry Sky Martial Artist needed to break the shackles of life.

That level was too distant for the current Jiang Ye.

No wonder the school separated the Ordinary Class and the Key Class.

The gap between them was too large!

"If Newborn talent is already this strong, what about the higher levels like Dao Bone and Extraordinary?"

Jiang Ye thought to himself.

The sense of satisfaction he had felt moments ago was swept away at this moment.

The path of martial arts was long and arduous.

The Low Martial Achievement System was merely a tool to help him improve.

But to surpass those geniuses and become a true Martial Arts Expert, it would ultimately depend on his own efforts.

In the blink of an eye, it was time for Martial Arts Class again.

"Pfft!"

As soon as Jiang Ye stepped into the classroom, he saw Li Zhichao not far away, injecting himself with the Li Long Potion.

"So rich."

Jiang Ye sighed inwardly.

In the past month, Li Zhichao had injected himself ten times.

At a price of three thousand yuan per bottle, that amounted to thirty thousand yuan.

For his family, this was an unimaginable expense.

Just as Jiang Ye was sighing inwardly...

White Shoes and White Socks, the exceptionally beautiful Chen Zilu walked in, beginning this Martial Arts Class.

A faint, pleasant fragrance emanated from her, cool and ethereal, as she demonstrated martial arts before the students.

Jiang Ye studied diligently. His greatest progress each day occurred during Martial Arts Class.

Several hours passed in a flash.

Before this Martial Arts Class concluded, Chen Zilu suddenly said:

"Jiang Ye, after lunch, come to my office."

Jiang Ye was taken aback, but quickly replied, "Yes."

Chen Zilu departed gracefully.

At the same time, the surrounding classmates cast envious glances at Jiang Ye.

"Is Teacher Chen personally inviting him for extra tutoring now?"

"Last time I went to ask for advice, the teacher told me to go back and watch the recordings myself. Why does Jiang Ye get such good treatment?"

"Chen Zilu is really treating him well, could it be he has some dirt on the teacher?"

"Stop being jealous. Who told you Jiang Ye is handsome and diligent in his cultivation? You're not even a fraction of him."

"I have early morning classes."

"Wang Ye is heading to Fierce Horse."

"..."