The Grind Emperor's Dawn 3

The afternoon Martial Arts class was, as usual, led by Instructor Xu. Instructor Xu was a burly middle-aged man, rumored to have placed in martial arts competitions in his youth, possessing a solid foundation in his skills.

Warm-up exercises were essential. Jogging, stretching legs, general stretching, joint rotations... Chen Mo performed them meticulously, striving for perfection in every movement. He could feel his Qi and Blood becoming active as his body moved, circulating much faster than usual.

After the warm-up, it was time for sparring. Instructor Xu waved his hand grandly, "Form groups freely, put on your protective gear, and remember to stop before causing serious injury. No heavy blows allowed!"

The students cheered immediately, rushing to find partners they were familiar with. Chen Mo didn't hesitate, grabbing Zhang Shun's arm. Zhang Shun looked resigned, but Chen Mo still dragged him over to the protective gear area.

The two put on helmets, chest protectors, and gloves, then stepped onto the soft mats, assuming their stances.

"Brother Mo, go easy on me!" Zhang Shun shouted, but his eyes gradually grew serious. Although he usually acted carefree, there was a stubborn streak of defiance within him. Being paired with Chen Mo for sparring, he actually felt a bit competitive and didn't want to lose too badly.

"Begin!" Instructor Xu patrolled the sidelines, his gaze sweeping over the two, occasionally offering pointers.

Chen Mo took a deep breath, his feet planted firmly on the ground, assuming the starting posture of the Black Tiger Stance. His center of gravity lowered, his back straightened, his fists protected his chest, and his eyes sharply fixed on Zhang Shun. He didn't rush forward but strictly followed the routines of the Body Tempering Fist, attacking Zhang Shun with precise punches and kicks, aiming for standardization in every move while carefully observing Zhang Shun's reactions to find openings.

Zhang Shun's punches seemed somewhat chaotic, his footwork unsteady, his striking power dispersed, and his defenses full of flaws. Relying on his agility, he dodged and weaved, occasionally landing a counter-punch or two, but Chen Mo easily blocked them all.

After a few rounds, Chen Mo gradually figured out Zhang Shun's style. He seized an opening when Zhang Shun stumbled slightly while dodging to the side, exposing his ribs. Without hesitation, Chen Mo delivered a standard straight punch, imbued with steady force, accurately hitting Zhang Shun's chest protector.

The force was controlled just right, allowing Zhang Shun to feel the pressure without getting injured. Zhang Shun grunted and retreated two steps before stabilizing himself.

"Stop!"

Instructor Xu walked over. He first frowned at Zhang Shun and said sternly, "Your footwork is too floaty, and your concentration is lacking! When defending, keep your arms tense, don't be like a noodle, soft and limp—how can you block punches like that?"

Zhang Shun lowered his head and nodded repeatedly.

Instructor Xu then turned to Chen Mo, a subtle hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. He circled Chen Mo, carefully observing his stance and fist frames, and slowly said, "Chen Mo, your stance is very stable today, and your punches are noticeably clearer and more powerful than last time. The Black Tiger Stance has improved. Remember this feeling; when exerting force, focus on uniting your waist and stance, transferring the power from your core to your fists. This will yield twice the result with half the effort."

"Yes, Instructor Xu!" Chen Mo replied respectfully, though his heart was soaring. Even Instructor Xu noticed his progress, which meant the System's boost was real!

The sparring continued.

This time, Chen Mo held nothing back, treating Zhang Shun as the best "proficiency practice dummy." He continuously employed the moves of the Body Tempering Fist—attacking, defending, evading—striving for precision in every action while constantly correcting his posture in practice: the angle of his punches, his defensive positioning, his evasive footwork. He could clearly feel that with every effective hit, every successful dodge, and even every perfect coordination of breath and movement, it seemed to push an invisible progress bar, emitting a faint "click."

By the end of the sparring session, both were drenched in sweat and panting heavily. Zhang Shun collapsed onto the mat, too exhausted to move, muttering, "I can't... Brother Mo, you're too strong... If we keep going, I'm going to fall apart..."

Chen Mo also leaned over, hands on his knees, gasping for air. His muscles ached with a satisfying soreness, but his spirit was exceptionally invigorated. He eagerly brought up the System panel in his mind:

[Black Tiger Stance Lv.2 (192/200)]
[Body Tempering Fist Lv.2 (18/200)]

The Black Tiger Stance had increased by 3 points, and the Body Tempering Fist had gained a whopping 8 points!

The efficiency of sparring was indeed a huge leap compared to practicing alone!

Chen Mo's eyes shone brightly, and he thought to himself, "It seems I'll need to find more people to spar with in the future, or participate in more intense practical training. The path of Martial Arts truly requires practical combat for rapid growth; practicing in isolation is not feasible."

After school, Chen Mo didn't go straight home. Instead, he took a detour to the school library.

He needed to look up some information. On one hand, it was about the literature, music, and film works of this world. In his previous life, he was a typical otaku who had consumed countless novels, listened to innumerable songs, and watched endless movies. If these works didn't exist in this world, perhaps he could pursue the path of a "Plagiarist," accumulating some extra capital for himself—after all, the Gaokao wasn't the only way out; having multiple options provided more security. On the other hand, he also wanted to see if there were any "secret manuals" or study guides that could quickly improve his academic performance, such as sprint lectures from prestigious universities or answer techniques summarized by famous teachers. Such things might increase his "leveling up" efficiency.

The library was quiet, with only the rustling of turning pages and the faint sound of pen tips scratching across paper. Sunlight streamed through the tall glass windows, illuminating rows of bookshelves, with dust motes dancing in the light beams. Chen Mo moved between the shelves, his fingers brushing over thick books, occasionally pulling one out to check the table of contents and see if it met his needs.

He discovered that the literary works of this world were very different from his previous life. Many classic works he was familiar with did not appear here. This sparked an idea, and a bold plan began to form in his mind.

He also lingered in the supplementary study materials section for a long time, selecting several sprint lectures for Math and Physics, as well as a few answer templates for Politics, History, and Geography, stuffing them into his backpack.

It wasn't until the librarian approached him and softly reminded him that the library was closing that Chen Mo reluctantly put down the books he was holding and walked out of the library with his heavy backpack.

On the way home, the moonlight was still bright, casting a faint silver glow on the road surface. The evening breeze brushed against his cheeks, carrying a hint of coolness.

Chen Mo's state of mind was completely different from yesterday.

Yesterday, he stood on the unfamiliar streets, watching the bustling traffic, filled with emotion and a touch of confusion, like an observer detached from the world. Today, with the System as his trump card, he had a clear plan and a defined path, making him an enthusiastic participant.

He knew this path would not be easy. The appearance of the System had merely opened a door for him, providing a possibility. True sweat, tedious repetition, and the torment of hitting bottlenecks were all things he had to endure and overcome personally. But he no longer feared or felt lost; instead, he felt an eager excitement.

He looked up at the slightly unfamiliar stars in the night sky. Those stars were brighter and more dazzling than the night sky on Earth in his previous life. He clenched his fist and whispered softly, his voice not loud but filled with unwavering determination: "252 days... that's enough."

By the time he returned home, it was late at night. His parents had already retired, and the lights in the living room were off. Only his sister's room still had a dim yellow desk lamp on, and the sound of a pen scratching paper could be faintly heard—his sister was in her second year of junior high this year and was also a hardworking child.

Chen Mo quietly changed his shoes and returned to his room. He didn't start studying immediately. He took out a brand-new notebook from his backpack, placed it on his desk, and turned on his desk lamp. The warm yellow light illuminated the blank pages of the notebook and the focused, determined profile of the young man.

He picked up his pen and, on the first page of the notebook, wrote the words "Third Year High School Sprint Plan" in large characters. Then, he began to meticulously plan his detailed schedule for the upcoming week and his key focus for "skill upgrades."

Wake up at 6 AM. From 6:30 to 7 AM, practice the Black Tiger Stance in the community open space.

During morning reading class, tackle weak Math concepts.

During the morning break, use fragmented time to memorize English vocabulary.

Before lunch break, complete a set of Math multiple-choice questions.

In the afternoon Martial Arts class, actively seek sparring partners to improve Body Tempering Fist proficiency.

After returning home in the evening, from 7 to 9 PM, study Politics, History, and Geography. From 9 to 10 PM, practice the Body Tempering Fist. From 10 to 10:30 PM, review the day's knowledge points and adjust the plan for the next day.

He wrote each stroke with utmost seriousness. Outside the window, the city's neon lights flickered, outlining the nightscape of a high-martial-arts world similar yet different from Earth.

Within the halo of the desk lamp, the young man's shadow stretched long.

His "Grind Emperor" journey officially began on this ordinary night. And his own, not-so-ordinary youth was slowly unfolding a new, magnificent chapter, accompanied by the gradual increase of his proficiency.