Mastery and Dawn 2

The bitter training over this period of time had certainly not been in vain. The nutritional supplements from Zhao Peng's family were like timely rain, replenishing his depleted foundation. His day-after-day, uninterrupted practice of stance training and fist techniques had polished his sinews, bones, and willpower. Furthermore, the System's incredibly precise "Effective Training" judgment ensured that every drop of sweat was converted into solid proficiency, without the slightest bit of waste.

With such accumulation, his foundation had become exceptionally solid. His Qi and Blood were full and refined, and his meridians were clear and resilient. This was by no means comparable to the Qi and Blood Value piled up by recklessly gorging on pills; there was not a hint of "bloated" weakness.

What was the cost of all this?

Chen Mo calculated carefully. Aside from the three Qi and Blood Capsules he had bought through gritted teeth in a state of anxiety at the very beginning, the biggest "expense" was actually his own sweat and time, day and night. Zhao Peng's "investment" had come at just the right moment, supporting him through this most critical sprint period in a silent, nourishing way without making him develop even a shred of dependency.

Relying on others is not as good as relying on oneself; that saying was indeed correct.

As Chen Mo was immersed in the joy of his breakthrough, the phone in his pocket suddenly vibrated gently. He took it out, and a notification from "Tomato Literature" popped up on the screen:

[Your work Prologue to the Black Tower: Path of the Puppeteer earned 32.5 yuan in subscription revenue and 18 yuan in tips yesterday, totaling 50.5 yuan, which has been automatically transferred to your account.]

His eyes brightened slightly.

Good news had arrived on another front as well.

Prologue to the Black Tower: Path of the Puppeteer was a suspense novel he had written casually in his spare time, incorporating some Cthulhu-themed stories he had read in his past life. He had started serializing it over a month ago, updating only four or five chapters a week, with each chapter being no more than two thousand words. He hadn't held much hope for it, just wanting to leave himself a backup plan. Unexpectedly, thanks to the novel's innovative "Sequence" setting—where every Puppeteer could unlock different extraordinary abilities by consuming magic potions—along with its rich Cthulhu-style suspenseful atmosphere and relatively solid writing, it had gradually attracted a group of loyal readers.

The number of followers had long since exceeded five thousand, daily clicks were stable at over three thousand, and the comment section was incredibly lively, with posts urging for updates, analyzing the plot, and researching the lore appearing one after another. Although the daily income was only a few dozen yuan—a drop in the bucket for martial arts cultivation, as even the lowest-level Qi and Blood Capsule cost five hundred yuan—it wasn't enough to buy even a single capsule.

But the significance was completely different.

This proved that his "Plan B" was feasible! This was not just a bit of extra income; it was a source of confidence, a fallback, and a way to prove himself—that beyond martial arts and academics, he had other possibilities for creating value.

However, Chen Mo's mind remained exceptionally clear. He swiped his finger across the screen to close the notification interface and tucked the phone back into his pocket.

He could write the novel, but he must never let it occupy too much of his energy and time at this stage.

Martial arts cultivation and the college entrance exam sprint were his core goals right now. All his focus still had to be placed on these two things. Especially now that his financial pressure was temporarily relieved and a martial arts breakthrough was imminent, he needed to concentrate all his firepower on hitting these two main targets.

The next day, The Sixth High School Martial Arts Hall.

Outside the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, the sunlight was just right, spilling onto the smooth wooden floor and casting a warm, glowing halo. Hundreds of senior martial arts students were divided into square formations, practicing stance training and fist techniques under the guidance of their respective instructors. Shouts, the sound of fists and feet breaking the air, and the clashing of bones intertwined, forming a blood-pumping symphony.

Chen Mo stood in the front row, his posture as straight as a pine, meticulously practicing the Black Tiger Stance, followed by the Body Tempering Fist.

Unlike his previous awkwardness, his stance was now as steady as a mountain. His internal Qi and Blood were restrained, yet one could faintly sense a surging power within him, as if he were standing on an invisible earth; no matter how the wind blew or the rain fell, he remained unmoved. As he completed the set of Body Tempering Fist, it was even more fierce and fluid. His fist wind whistled, every move connected with effortless ease, and his strength was contained rather than exposed, yet it felt like a fully drawn bowstring, ready to erupt with thunderous force at any moment.

"Stop!"

A low shout rang out suddenly.

Hearing this, Chen Mo immediately withdrew his fists and stood still, his breath steady, his face neither flushed nor panting. He looked up and saw Instructor Xu walking quickly toward him. Those eyes, usually squinted, were now shining with sharp light. He looked Chen Mo up and down carefully, his brows first twitching slightly, then a look of undisguised surprise gradually appearing on his face.

"Good lad!" Instructor Xu's voice carried a hint of imperceptible tremor. "The Black Tiger Stance, you've broken through? And the Body Tempering Fist... hmm, this level of mastery, it's arrived too! Both of them are at the Mastery stage?!"

The surrounding students stopped what they were doing at the sound, their gazes all turning toward this direction in unison.

Chen Mo bowed slightly and replied respectfully, "Yes, Instructor Xu. I was fortunate enough to have a breakthrough in the Body Tempering Fist last night as well."

"Good! Good! Good!"

Instructor Xu said the word "good" three times in a row. The wrinkles on his face smoothed out, looking like a blooming chrysanthemum. He patted Chen Mo on the shoulder with such excitement and force that Chen Mo's body swayed slightly, yet he could feel the teacher's joy through the gesture.

"Chen Mo, I didn't misjudge you!" Instructor Xu's voice rose involuntarily, drawing even more attention. "To go from the edge of passing to the Mastery level in just over a month—this isn't just hard work; it's talent, it's comprehension! You are a fine seedling!"

His voice was loud enough that the students in the front half of the Martial Arts Hall heard every word clearly.

Instantly, countless gazes converged on them—surprise, envy, jealousy, and disbelief all intertwined.

Li Haoran stood not far away, watching Chen Mo's upright figure with an extremely complex expression. He had once been a middle-of-the-pack student who viewed Chen Mo as a stepping stone, but now, the other party had surged far ahead, leaving him in the dust. This left him with a bitter mix of emotions.

Zhao Peng, on the other hand, looked smug, as if he were the one who had achieved the breakthrough. He puffed out his chest and couldn't help but wink at the surrounding students, his expression clearly saying, "See that? That's my brother!"

Zhang Shun and Zhang Yuxi were so excited their faces turned red, and they nodded vigorously toward Chen Mo, their eyes filled with admiration.

Even Xu Yunjing, who sat in the front row and was always cold and focused solely on cultivation, stopped her movements. She slowly turned her head, her cold eyes landing on Chen Mo. A ripple that was hard to detect flashed through them before she returned to her calm state, though the fingers gripping her fist tightened slightly.

Instructor Xu was clearly in an excellent mood.

As the martial arts instructor for several senior classes, having a student reach the Mastery level in his class didn't just mean an improvement in the class's overall strength; it was directly tied to his own practical interests—year-end bonuses, evaluations for outstanding teacher awards, and even promotions in professional rank were all linked to this.

He immediately waved his hand at the crowd and said loudly, "What are you all looking at? Keep practicing! Chen Mo's example is right here before you; as long as you are willing to put in the hard work, anyone has a chance to break through!"

The students hurriedly withdrew their gazes and buried themselves back into their training, though many of them were now thoroughly distracted.

Only then did Instructor Xu nod with satisfaction. He pulled Chen Mo to a corner of the Martial Arts Hall and lowered his voice, his tone carrying a hint of solemn advice: "With your current level of Stance Training and fist technique, your Qi and Blood Value shouldn't just be 72 anymore, right?"

Chen Mo's heart skipped a beat.

After two days of nourishment, his Qi and Blood Value was already on the verge of hitting the 78 threshold. However, he had always been low-key and didn't want to be too flashy, so he replied with a smile, "It has improved slightly recently, it's around 75 or 76."

He reported a number slightly lower than the reality.

"Very good!" Instructor Xu didn't suspect a thing; he just nodded in satisfaction, looking at him with burning eyes. "Keep working hard and get your Qi and Blood Value to over 90 points as soon as possible! Chen Mo, you might not know this, but the school has special policies for students with potential like you!"

He looked left and right, confirming no one was paying attention, then leaned in closer. His voice dropped even lower, carrying a hint of mystery: "As long as your Qi and Blood Value exceeds 90 points, and you reach the Mastery level in either Stance Training or the Body Tempering Fist, you can apply for the status of a 'Key Cultivation Student'!"

"Once you pass the review, you get a fixed monthly allowance of Qi and Blood resources!" Instructor Xu's voice was filled with temptation. "These subsidies can be used to exchange for specific cultivation resources in the school's internal repository, such as the more effective 'Qi and Blood Powder'—which is three times more potent than the Qi and Blood Capsules you buy! Or you could use the advanced Gravity Training Rooms, borrow insights on basic martial arts techniques treasured by the teachers, or even apply for one-on-one guidance!"

"Furthermore, the more outstanding your performance and the faster your progress, the higher your subsidy, and the more resources the school will tilt in your direction! These are real, tangible benefits—far more cost-effective than spending your own money to buy resources!"

Chen Mo's heart gave a violent thump!

A Key Cultivation Student?

Qi and Blood subsidies? Advanced training rooms? Martial arts insights?

This was exactly what he needed!

He had been worrying that since his skill had broken through to Mastery, his cultivation consumption had increased significantly. A single Qi and Blood Capsule used to last him three days, but now, he feared it wouldn't even last two. While Zhao Peng's dietary supplements were good, they were just food, after all; their effects were slow and nowhere near as direct as medicinal pills. If he could secure the school's subsidies, it would undoubtedly alleviate his financial pressure and support a much faster cultivation speed!

This was basically milking the school for all it was worth!

Chen Mo's eyes shone with startling intensity. He immediately straightened his back, his tone resolute: "Thank you for the guidance, Instructor Xu! I will definitely double my efforts and strive to meet the requirements as soon as possible!"

"Mm, I believe in you!" Instructor Xu nodded with satisfaction and patted him on the shoulder. "If you have any questions about your training in the future, feel free to come to me. I will arrange some extra individual guidance for you as appropriate. Remember, 90 points of Qi and Blood is a critical threshold; the sooner you break through, the better! There is only half a year left until the college entrance exam, and time is tight. You must not slack off!"

"Yes! This student understands!" Chen Mo replied respectfully.

The bell rang, signaling the end of the martial arts class.

Chen Mo followed behind the crowd as they walked out of the Martial Arts Hall. The sunlight spilled over him, warm and pleasant, but his heart was burning with fervor.

Mastery was not just a recognition of his strength; it was a stepping stone to acquiring more resources.

He was determined to win the school's subsidies!

He subconsciously clenched his fists, feeling the Qi and Blood within him—now more active and seemingly more "famished" due to his recent breakthrough. They surged through his meridians, crying out to be fed, hungering for more resources to nourish them.

A single Qi and Blood Capsule, he feared, wouldn't even last him two days now.

But so what?

Chen Mo looked up at the azure sky, a confident smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

The path ahead was clear, resources were within reach, the System was in his hands, and his efforts would never cease.

His footsteps grew increasingly firm.

Milk the school for all it's worth, push for 90 points of Qi and Blood, and then... march toward that true Gate of Martial Artists!

And behind that gate lay a vast, expansive world, the true activation of the dungeon System, and a completely different path of cultivation that belonged to him alone!