Qi and Blood Test

The gap created by resources was stark and undeniable.

Chen Mo watched them, feeling no envy, only a clearer understanding. That was simply how this world worked: talent, hard work, and resources together determined the starting point and pace of a person's Martial Arts journey. He had no resources and no connections. The only things he could rely on were the system in his mind and the sweat he shed day after day.

Instructor Xu clearly understood these disparities too. He was equally strict with all the students, but when he looked at top students like Zhao Peng and Li Haoran, there was always a little more expectation in his eyes. Sometimes after class, he would even keep those few behind for extra guidance or teach them more refined techniques for generating force.

That was a small privilege reserved for "top students."

Chen Mo, with his astonishing progress in the First Mock Exam and his solid performance in recent Martial Arts Classes, had also gradually caught Instructor Xu's attention. Every now and then, when Instructor Xu made his rounds and reached Chen Mo, he would stop to offer him a word or two of individual guidance.

"Chen Mo." One day, during Standing Meditation, Instructor Xu came to his side and spoke in a low voice.

Chen Mo's heart tightened. He quickly focused and calmed himself, not daring to slack off in the slightest.

"When guiding your qi and blood, just keep your attention on your Dantian. Don't force it." Instructor Xu's sharp gaze seemed able to see the flow of qi and blood within him. "Your Mental Strength seems a little stronger than most people's. That's an advantage, but too much of a good thing can be harmful. Forcing the flow will only exhaust your mind, doing more harm than good. Remember, letting things take their natural course is the right way."

"Yes, Instructor Xu. I'll remember." Chen Mo answered respectfully, but inside, he was shaken.

He had indeed found that his relatively high Mental Strength score (9.5) made it easier for him to concentrate when sensing and guiding his qi and blood. But it also meant he was more prone to mental fatigue when he focused too intensely. The system let him precisely control his "practice level," but he still needed time to figure out how to balance his mind and his qi and blood.

At last, the day of the monthly official qi and blood test arrived.

This time, they used a precision Qi and Blood Meter the school had specifically purchased. It was much more accurate than Instructor Xu's rough estimates based on his senses during regular classes. The results would be entered directly into each student's Martial Arts record.

The atmosphere in the Martial Arts Hall was more tense than usual. The students lined up and took turns stepping onto the testing platform, pressing their palms against the Qi and Blood Meter's cold sensor plate, holding their breath and concentrating as they urged the qi and blood within them with all their might.

"Zhang Shun, 52 points. Failing. Get down, and practice your Standing Meditation more before next time!" The teacher in charge of recording the results read the number in a flat voice.

Zhang Shun trudged off the platform with his head hanging, looking dejected. "I failed again. It's over, it's over. I'm doomed for the Martial Arts College Entrance Exam."

"Wang Hao, 58 points. Two points short of passing. You need to work harder!"

"Zhang Yuxi, 61 points. Not bad. Up three points from last time. Steady progress."

When it was Li Haoran's turn, the Qi and Blood Meter emitted a slightly higher-pitched hum. The numbers on the screen jumped rapidly before settling firmly at 90 points!

"Whoa! 90 points!" A low murmur of amazement rippled through the crowd. Li Haoran remained calm, gave the teacher a slight nod, and stepped off the platform with composure. Only deep in his eyes was there a trace of pride, barely noticeable.

Next, Zhao Peng stepped forward. He took a deep breath, a confident smile appearing on his face, and firmly pressed his palm against the sensor plate.

Bzz—

The Qi and Blood Meter's hum suddenly grew louder. The numbers on the screen shot upward, leaping from 90 to 95 and then higher, before finally stopping at an eye-catching figure: 92 points!

"Damn! 92 points! That's incredible!"

Exclamations of amazement rose around him. Zhao Peng's lips curled in smug satisfaction. He swept his gaze over everyone, pausing especially on potential rivals like Li Haoran. His arrogance practically spilled out of his eyes.

Chen Mo stood near the back of the line, calm but with a hint of anticipation. He could feel that his morning training and extra practice recently hadn't been in vain. The qi and blood within him were much stronger than during the last test, and he should be able to break 70 points.

At last, it was his turn.

Chen Mo stepped onto the testing platform, took a deep breath, and pressed his palm against the sensor plate. He closed his eyes and stirred the warm current in his Dantian. Following Instructor Xu's instructions, he guided it steadily along his arm and toward his palm.

Bzz—

The Qi and Blood Meter gave a steady, clear hum. The numbers on the screen began to jump: 65... 68... 70...

They continued to climb slowly, then finally settled at a surprising figure: 71 points!

"Chen Mo, 71 points." The teacher in charge of recording the results glanced down at the number, then looked up at Chen Mo, surprise plain in his eyes. "You're improving fast. Keep it up."

71 points!

That was a full three-point increase from his previous score of 68!

Among ordinary students, that was an astonishing jump. After all, the higher one's qi and blood value, the harder it was to raise. Many students worked hard for a whole month and still might not gain even one point. Although this score still left him well behind Zhao Peng and Li Haoran, it put him solidly in the upper middle of the class, even surpassing some classmates who had once been stronger than him.

Everyone's eyes immediately turned to Chen Mo again, their surprise even greater than during the last exam.

His improvement in Cultural Class could be explained by him having "finally gotten the hang of it," but the steady, rapid rise in his Martial Arts qi and blood wasn't so simple. It took more than hard work; it also required talent and the right methods.

Zhang Shun pushed through the crowd and gave Chen Mo's shoulder a hearty slap. His eyes widened as he gave him a thumbs-up. "Brother Mo, that's amazing! 71 points! You're about to take off!"

Zhang Yuxi turned around too, beaming at him as she mouthed, "Amazing."

Even Xu Yunjing, at the front of the line, seemed to casually glance back at the score board on the wall. Her eyes lingered for half a second on the words "Chen Mo, 71" before she slowly turned around again.

Chen Mo stepped down from the testing platform without much stirring in his heart. 71 points was just a small milestone along his long journey, a modest goal for this stage.

His eyes were already fixed on the next mark.

100 points. That was the qi and blood limit for an ordinary person.

Once they broke through that limit, the qi and blood in their body would undergo a qualitative transformation, usually leaping directly to over 120 points and officially crossing the threshold to become a First-Rank Martial Artist.

This step was crucial.

Becoming a First-Rank Martial Artist before the Gaokao was practically the same as having one foot inside a Martial Arts academy. It was a true leap from carp to dragon, a ticket for ordinary people to change their fate and climb the social ladder.

Still, Chen Mo knew that becoming a First-Rank Martial Artist alone wouldn't be enough. If his Cultural Class scores were low, he might only get into an ordinary Martial Arts academy with limited resources. Second-rate, first-rate, and top-tier Martial Arts universities all had extremely high standards for both academic scores and Martial Arts cultivation.

Take the legendary "East Asia's Number One Martial Arts University" and "Big Dipper Martial Academy," for example. It was said that not only did they require students to become First-Rank Martial Artists before the Gaokao, but they also expected academic scores close to the cutoff for key universities. They even had requirements for combat ability and potential assessments that were strict to the point of being almost inhuman.

There was still a long way to go.

But as Chen Mo looked at the clear number beside [Qi and Blood Value] on the System Panel in his mind, along with the steadily growing proficiency of his various skills, his heart filled with more confidence and motivation than ever before.

The evening sun washed the entire campus in warm gold. The school bell rang, clear and pleasant.

Chen Mo packed his schoolbag and left the teaching building with Zhang Shun, who was muttering as he walked, "I have to go back and do worksheets again. It's practically torture."

The two pushed their bicycles along the shaded path through campus. The evening breeze brushed past, stirring the willow fluff by the roadside and the boys' shirt hems.

"Brother Mo." Zhang Shun suddenly stopped and gazed at the evening glow on the horizon as he asked out of the blue, "Do you think I could suddenly get the hang of things like you did?"

Chen Mo was taken aback by the rare seriousness and confusion on his friend's face. Then he answered earnestly, "Shunzi, it doesn't happen all at once. It's more like walking far enough, taking enough falls, and thinking about enough things... Then one day, you look back and realize the road was there all along. You just hadn't seen it before. You have to keep moving forward, without stopping."

Zhang Shun paused, turning the words over in his mind. After a long moment, he sighed. "Keep moving forward... It's exhausting."

"It is, but it's worth it." Chen Mo swung onto his bicycle and smiled back at him. His smile was especially bright in the evening sun. "At least, when you buy a jianbing guozi in the future, you'll be able to add two eggs without feeling guilty. And they'll taste even better than before."

Zhang Shun froze for a moment, then burst out laughing and punched Chen Mo's shoulder. "You only ever think about food!"

The two rode their bicycles into the evening breeze, chatting and laughing as they headed home.

The city's neon lights came on one after another, dazzling the streets and illuminating countless young people just like them. Each carried different dreams and put in different kinds of effort as they struggled forward along the tracks of youth and reality.

Chen Mo faced the evening breeze and gripped the handlebars tighter.

He knew that his own path was growing clearer and firmer, inch by inch, through the morning light, sweat, ink, and surging qi and blood of each passing day. And the door called "Limit Breaking" was already visible in the distance.