But Jiang Hao had only just sat down in his seat when Lu Ming arrived in the classroom. After spotting Jiang Hao, he came rushing over, brimming with righteous indignation.
"Jiang Hao, you finally made it!"
"You haven't heard, have you? Last night in the Class Group..."
Lu Ming recounted everything that had happened in the Class Group the previous night, from beginning to end.
From Lin Qiu's mockery, to Lu Ming's retort, and finally to their challenge to fight.
After hearing Lu Ming's account, Jiang Hao's expression shifted slightly.
He truly hadn't expected Lu Ming to openly challenge Lin Qiu in the Class Group on his behalf.
"Lin Qiu's Blood Qi is 8.8," Jiang Hao said with a frown.
"But yours is only 8.5."
"With a Blood Qi gap of 0.3, you probably won't be able to beat him, will you?"
This wasn't pessimism; it was an objective assessment based on the numbers.
"Hmph!"
Lu Ming let out a defiant snort.
"So what if my Blood Qi is a little lower?"
"Martial combat is unpredictable. There are countless examples of people winning despite a Blood Qi gap of a few tenths!"
"Besides, that Lin Qiu looks down on people just because he's talented. I've been sick of him for ages!"
"We haven't fought yet. How do we know who'll win or lose?"
Lu Ming held his head high, brimming with fighting spirit.
Jiang Hao watched him and sighed inwardly.
He didn't like Lu Ming's chances.
Because he knew Lin Qiu was an out-and-out rich kid.
Lin Qiu's privileged family meant he had access to resources Lu Ming couldn't hope to match, whether Nutrient Solution, Martial Skills, or combat experience.
That 0.3 Blood Qi gap would be far harder to overcome than it looked on paper.
But in the end, Lu Ming had stood up for him.
A faint warmth passed through Jiang Hao's heart.
He didn't try to dissuade him any further. He simply said, calmly, "Be careful."
At the same time, deep inside him, a desire began to rise.
If only his Blood Qi Intensity were already 9.0—or even higher.
Then he wouldn't have to let his friend stand up for him.
Get stronger!
He had to get stronger faster!
Only now did Jiang Hao finally understand why all his classmates had looked at him so strangely when he walked into the classroom that morning.
This was the reason behind it.
The bell rang.
Song Jun, the instructor of Class 3-2, walked in right on time.
"Head to the Training Room. Class is starting!"
It was the same brief opening as always.
But the atmosphere in Class 3-2's Training Room was completely different from usual.
Before Song Jun had even spoken, nearly everyone's gaze had drifted toward two people.
Lu Ming!
And Lin Qiu, standing on the other side of the training ground.
Lin Qiu had clearly noticed all the stares.
Today he wore a perfectly tailored silver-white martial arts uniform. Its fabric shimmered faintly under the lights, making it obvious that it was expensive.
He was tall, and although his looks weren't especially striking, the arrogant air he'd cultivated through years of privilege made him stand out from the crowd.
He seemed to relish being the center of everyone's attention.
Song Jun stood on the raised platform, his sharp gaze sweeping over the room.
He had naturally sensed the undercurrents between the students.
But he turned a blind eye.
Competition in the Martial Arts Class was brutal by nature. As long as no one died, he never interfered in private fights like this.
"Begin your training!"
Song Jun's voice rang out.
Only then did the students disperse in small groups.
Jiang Hao and Lu Ming stood together, about to find a corner, when Lin Qiu approached them with a sneer.
Lin Qiu's gaze passed over Jiang Hao and settled contemptuously on Lu Ming.
"Make sure you warm up properly, Lu Ming."
"Otherwise, I'm afraid you won't even be able to walk out of this Training Room on your own after school this afternoon."
"You're in for a treat!"
The threat was blatant and utterly undisguised.
"Bring it on!"
Lu Ming shot back, refusing to back down.
"We'll see who ends up on the ground!"
Lin Qiu gave a scornful laugh and turned toward the other side of the room.
"Let's get started."
Jiang Hao clenched his fist slightly as he watched. All he could do was hope Lu Ming would beat Lin Qiu later.
Lu Ming took a deep breath, tamped down his anger, and nodded.
The two of them then moved apart and began practicing their Stance Training.
Jiang Hao quickly settled into it.
His mind sank into the practice as he circulated his Blood Qi.
He shut out all distractions and focused solely on his own movements.
Once.
Twice.
Six times.
After completing the sixth round of Stance Training, Jiang Hao slowly finished and sensed the strength welling up inside him once more, along with the faint warmth in his meridians.
The familiar notification sounded in his mind.
[ Ding, completed one "Nine Revolutions Stance Skill Mastery - Sixth Revolution" practice ] [ Proficiency +1 ] [ Ding, completed one "Nine Revolutions Stance Skill Mastery - Sixth Revolution" practice ] [ Nine Revolutions Stance Skill Mastery - Sixth Revolution (16/100) ]
Six points of proficiency in hand.
Jiang Hao was satisfied with the rate of progress.
Up on the platform, though, Song Jun's gaze once again came to rest on Jiang Hao.
He had noticed Jiang Hao's breakthrough the day before.
Today, he'd instinctively taken another look.
But that glance brought a flicker of surprise to his eyes.
Song Jun raised an eyebrow slightly.
He realized that, after just one day, Jiang Hao's Nine Revolutions Stance Skill movements seemed... a little more precise.
Yes.
Just a little.
A subtle adjustment: smoother, and more in harmony with the course of his circulating Blood Qi.
The improvement was so slight that no one but a Martial Master-level expert like Song Jun, who had closely observed Jiang Hao the previous day, could have noticed it.
But Song Jun was certain he hadn't imagined it.
How could someone who had only just reached mastery in Stance Training make further progress in a single day?
It made no sense!
Once Stance Training reached mastery, every subtle improvement required painstaking effort and a great deal of time spent understanding and adjusting the movements.
His precision had improved again in a single day?
A thought suddenly surfaced in Song Jun's mind.
"Could it be..."
Song Jun's gaze suddenly grew profound.
"Could Jiang Hao have awakened a Martial Bone?"
Song Jun's breath caught slightly.
Martial Bone talents were divided into seven grades: Blazing Sun, Radiant Sun, Bright Moon, Sun, Moon, Star, and Dust.
But that wasn't the whole story.
In the Human Race's ten-thousand-year history of martial arts, there was also an exceptionally rare phenomenon.
Some people awakened their Martial Bone!
This was also known as a Mutated Martial Bone!
Some people were born with unremarkable Martial Bones, sometimes even Dust Grade.
But under the right circumstances later in life, their Martial Bone could mutate and awaken!
Once it appeared, an awakened Martial Bone meant limitless possibilities.
According to Alliance records, the lowest grade of an awakened Martial Bone was Star Grade!
There had even been cases of awakenings reaching Sun-level and even Bright Moon-level!
If Jiang Hao really was one of those cases, then his breakthrough in Stance Training yesterday and his subtle improvement today made perfect sense!
Song Jun's heart couldn't help but beat a little faster.
A promising student with an awakened Martial Bone had appeared in his Ordinary Class?
Song Jun suppressed his excitement and regained his composure, but the look he gave Jiang Hao was now filled with curiosity and anticipation.
"It's not confirmed yet. There are only some early signs!"
"But it's certainly worth looking forward to."
"Let's see just how big a surprise you, with your Dust-grade Martial Bone, can give me."
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