His hard training over this period had paid off. The nutritional meals at Zhao Peng's home had come like a timely rain, replenishing his depleted reserves. Day after day, without a single break, he had practiced his stances and fists, tempering his bones and willpower. And the system's extraordinarily precise "effective training" assessment had turned every drop of sweat into real proficiency, without wasting a single bit of effort.
With all that accumulation, he had built an exceptionally solid foundation. His Qi and Blood were abundant and refined, his meridians clear and resilient. He was nothing like those whose Qi and Blood Values had been inflated by recklessly swallowing pills; there was no hint of hollow excess.
What had it all cost?
Chen Mo carefully worked it out. Apart from the three Qi and Blood Capsules he'd nervously gritted his teeth and bought at the start, his greatest "expense" had really been the sweat and time he'd put in day and night. Zhao Peng's "investment" had come at just the right moment, quietly supporting him through this crucial final sprint without making him the least bit dependent.
It really was better to rely on yourself than on anyone else.
Chen Mo was still immersed in the joy of his breakthrough when the phone in his pocket suddenly vibrated softly. He pulled it out, and a notification from Tomato Literature popped up on the screen:
[Your work Black Tower Prologue: The Puppeteer's Path earned 32.5 yuan in subscription revenue and 18 yuan in tips yesterday, for a total of 50.5 yuan. The amount has been automatically transferred to your account.]
His eyes lit up.
Good news had come from another front as well.
Black Tower Prologue: The Puppeteer's Path was a mystery novel he'd written in his spare time, drawing on some Cthulhu stories he'd read in his previous life. He'd started serializing it over a month ago, posting only four or five short chapters a week, each barely two thousand words long. He hadn't had high hopes for it. He'd only wanted to leave himself a backup plan, but the novel's fresh "Sequence" setting—each Puppeteer could unlock different supernatural abilities by consuming Magic Potions—along with its rich Cthulhu mystery atmosphere and solid prose had gradually drawn in a loyal readership.
Its follows had already passed five thousand, and daily clicks were holding steady above three thousand. The comments section was lively, with readers constantly posting to demand updates, analyze the plot, and scrutinize the setting. Though he only earned a few dozen yuan a day—not nearly enough to make a difference in his Martial Arts training; even one lowest-grade Qi and Blood Capsule cost five hundred yuan, and this income couldn't even buy him one.
But its significance was entirely different.
It proved that his "Plan B" was viable! This wasn't just a little extra income; it was confidence, a fallback, and proof that he could create value in other ways. Martial Arts and academics weren't his only possibilities.
But Chen Mo remained exceptionally clearheaded. He swiped across the screen, closed the notification, and slipped the phone back into his pocket.
He could keep writing, but he absolutely couldn't let it take up too much of his time and energy at this stage.
Martial Arts training and the Gaokao sprint were his most important goals right now. They still had to take priority above everything else. Especially now that his financial pressure had temporarily eased and a breakthrough in Martial Arts was close at hand, he needed to focus all his efforts on these two main goals.
The next day,
Sixth Middle School's Martial Arts Hall.
Sunlight streamed through the enormous floor-to-ceiling windows, falling across the polished wooden floor and bathing it in a warm glow. Hundreds of senior-year Martial Arts students stood in formation, practicing stances and fist techniques under the guidance of their instructors. Shouts, the whistle of fists and feet cutting through the air, and the thud of collisions echoed together, forming a stirring anthem.
Chen Mo stood in the front row, upright as a pine tree. He practiced the Black Tiger Stance with unwavering focus, then flowed straight into the Body Tempering Fist.
Unlike before, when his movements had been stiff, his stance was now as steady as a mountain. His Qi and Blood were contained within him, yet a surging power could still be sensed, as if he stood upon an invisible earth, unmoved by wind or rain. His Body Tempering Fist was fierce and fluid, each blow cutting through the air with a roar. Every move flowed seamlessly into the next, his power held in reserve like a bow drawn taut, ready to unleash thunderous force at any moment.
"Stop!"
A low shout rang out abruptly.
Chen Mo immediately lowered his fists and stood straight, his breathing steady, his face calm. He looked up to see Instructor Xu striding over. The eyes that were usually narrowed were now gleaming as he examined Chen Mo from head to toe. His brows lifted slightly, then his face gradually filled with barely concealed delight.
"Good lad!" Instructor Xu's voice trembled ever so slightly. "You've broken through with the Black Tiger Stance? And the Body Tempering Fist... yes, you've reached the right level with that, too! Proficient in both?!"
The students around them stopped what they were doing and turned to look.
Chen Mo bowed slightly and replied respectfully, "Yes, Instructor Xu. I was lucky enough to break through with the Body Tempering Fist last night, too."
"Good! Good! Good!"
Instructor Xu repeated the word three times. The wrinkles on his face unfolded like a blooming chrysanthemum. He excitedly clapped Chen Mo on the shoulder with such force that Chen Mo swayed a little, yet he could feel his instructor's joy in the gesture.
"Chen Mo, I knew I was right about you!" Instructor Xu's voice rose without him realizing it, drawing even more attention. "In just over a month, you've gone from barely passing to the Proficient level. That's not just hard work—it's talent, insight! You're a fine prospect!"
His voice carried, and every student in the front half of the Martial Arts Hall heard him clearly.
Countless gazes turned their way, a mix of surprise, envy, jealousy, and disbelief.
Li Haoran stood not far away, staring at Chen Mo's upright figure with an expression of utter complexity. He had once been a middling student in the class and had always treated Chen Mo as a stepping-stone. Now Chen Mo had surged far ahead and left him behind, leaving him with a jumble of emotions.
Zhao Peng looked proud, as though he had a share in the achievement. He puffed out his chest as if he were the one who had broken through, then winked at the other students, his expression practically saying, "See? That's my bro!"
Zhang Shun and Zhang Yuxi were even more excited. Their faces flushed red as they nodded vigorously at Chen Mo, eyes full of admiration.
Even Xu Yunjing, who was usually cool and aloof, focused entirely on her training, stopped what she was doing and slowly turned around. Her cool eyes settled on Chen Mo, a flicker of emotion passing through them before they returned to their usual calm. The fingers of her clenched fist tightened slightly.
Instructor Xu was clearly in an excellent mood.
As one of the Martial Arts instructors for several senior-year classes, he stood to gain more than just an improvement in his class's overall strength from having a student reach the Proficient level. It directly affected his own interests: year-end bonuses, outstanding teacher evaluations, and even promotions in professional rank were all tied to it.
He waved at the students around him and called out, "What are you all looking at? Keep training! Chen Mo's right here as an example. If you're willing to put in the hard work, you all have a chance to break through!"
The students hurriedly turned away and went back to training, though quite a few had lost their focus completely.
Only then did Instructor Xu nod with satisfaction. He led Chen Mo to a corner of the Martial Arts Hall and lowered his voice, offering a few serious words of advice. "With your current level in stances and fist techniques, your Qi and Blood Value should be above 72 by now, right?"
Chen Mo's heart stirred.
After two days of recovery, his Qi and Blood Value was already close to 78. But he had always kept a low profile and didn't want to draw too much attention, so he smiled and replied, "It's gone up a little lately, probably to around 75 or 76."
He gave a number a little below his actual value.
"Very good!" Instructor Xu said, not suspecting a thing. He nodded approvingly and looked at him intently. "Keep working hard and get your Qi and Blood Value above 90 as soon as possible! Chen Mo, you might not know this, but the school has special policies for students like you with potential!"
He glanced around to make sure no one was paying attention. Then he leaned closer and lowered his voice further, speaking with a hint of mystery. "As long as your Qi and Blood Value exceeds 90 and either your stance or your Body Tempering Fist reaches the Proficient level, you can apply to be designated a Key Cultivation Student!"
"Once your application is approved, you'll receive a set amount of Qi and Blood support every month!" Instructor Xu's voice was enticing. "You can exchange that support for specific training resources in the school's resource pool, such as better Qi and Blood Powder—three times more effective than the Qi and Blood Capsules you've been buying! Or you can use a more advanced Gravity Training Room, borrow some basic martial technique notes from teachers' private collections, or even apply for one-on-one instruction!"
"And the more outstanding your performance and the faster your progress, the greater your support allowance and the more resources the school will provide! These are real benefits, far better than spending your own money on resources!"
Chen Mo's heart gave a sudden leap!
Key Cultivation Student?
Qi and Blood support? An advanced training room? Martial technique notes?
This was just like a pillow falling into the hands of someone who was sleepy!
He was worrying that his training costs would keep rising now that his skills had reached the Proficient level. One Qi and Blood Capsule used to last him three days; now it might not even last two. Zhao Peng's nutritional meals were good, but they were still just food supplements and worked slowly, nowhere near as directly effective as pills. If he could get the school's support, it would undoubtedly ease his financial pressure considerably and let him train faster!
This was basically getting the school to foot the bill!
Chen Mo's eyes lit up. He immediately straightened and said with absolute resolve, "Thank you for the advice, Instructor Xu! I'll work twice as hard and try to meet the requirements as soon as possible!"
"Mm, I have faith in you!" Instructor Xu nodded with satisfaction and patted his shoulder. "If you have any questions about training, come see me anytime. I'll see if I can arrange some extra individual instruction for you. Remember, 90 Qi and Blood is a critical threshold. The sooner you break through, the better! There's still more than half a year until the Gaokao, so time is tight. You absolutely can't let up!"
"Yes, sir! I understand!" Chen Mo replied respectfully.
The bell signaling the end of Martial Arts Class rang.
Chen Mo followed the crowd out of the Martial Arts Hall. Sunlight fell warmly over him, but his heart was burning.
Proficiency wasn't just recognition of his strength; it was a stepping-stone to greater resources.
He was determined to get the school's support!
He subconsciously clenched his fists, feeling the Qi and Blood in his body, made more active by his recent breakthrough and seemingly even more "hungry." It surged through his meridians, ravenous and yearning for more resources to nourish it.
One Qi and Blood Capsule probably wouldn't even last two days.
But so what?
Chen Mo raised his head and looked at the blue sky, a confident smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
The way ahead was clear, resources within reach, the system at his side, and his effort unrelenting.
His steps grew ever more resolute.
He'd get the school to foot the bill, push his Qi and Blood Value to 90, and then... step through the real Gate of Martial Artists!
Beyond that gate lay a wider world, the true activation of the instance system, and a path to cultivation unlike anything he'd known!
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