Dragon City Martial Arts University

Dragon City Martial Arts University.

The afternoon sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, spilling across the clean, tidy dining table.

Su Yutong sat by the window, eating her exquisite meal in small bites.

Across from her sat a well-dressed male student with a sunny disposition, struggling to find something to talk about.

"Yutong, I heard you'll be a starting competitor in next month's intercollegiate tournament. That's amazing!" The boy's voice brimmed with unconcealed admiration.

"Mm." Su Yutong gave a quiet reply, her gaze drifting out the window, her mind elsewhere.

The afternoon sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, spilling across the clean, tidy dining table.

"Um, Yutong, a new star-themed restaurant just opened in the city. It's gotten great reviews, and the atmosphere is really romantic. Would you like to..." The boy worked up his courage and invited her.

Su Yutong turned her gaze back to him, her expression calm. "Sorry, I have training this weekend."

"Oh? I see." A trace of disappointment crossed the boy's face, but he wasn't ready to give up. "Then next week..."

"Wang," Su Yutong interrupted, "thank you for the invitation, but I only want to focus on martial arts. I'm not considering anything else for now."

"Uh, okay. I understand." The boy gave an awkward, sheepish smile and lowered his head, quietly returning to his meal.

The atmosphere fell silent for a moment.

Just then—

"Yutong, look at this!" Beside Su Yutong, her best friend Lin Weiwei suddenly squealed and thrust her phone in front of her.

"Look at this guy! Isn't he handsome? That gaze, that presence—he's incredible! When the music kicked in, I got goosebumps. This is a real-life rags-to-riches comeback!"

Su Yutong frowned slightly and was about to push the phone away, but her eyes happened to pass over the screen.

On it, a man covered in blood was throwing a punch powerful enough to shatter stone.

Su Yutong's gaze froze.

"Li... He?" Though they'd only been apart for a month, she felt as if a lifetime had passed.

"What do you think, Yutong? Handsome, right? Doesn't he have a real manly charm?" Lin Weiwei kept chattering excitedly. "I heard he's going to compete in October's United Martial Arts Hall Newcomer Competition."

"Isn't your family one of the sponsors? Could you get me two tickets for the inner arena? Let's go watch together, okay?"

Su Yutong tamped down the tumult in her heart.

She slowly raised her head, her face once again composed as usual. A playful smile even curved her lips.

"Sure." Her voice was calm and even. "It's just a couple of inner-arena tickets. No problem."

"Really? That's wonderful! You're the best, Yutong!" Lin Weiwei was so happy she nearly jumped up.

As Su Yutong watched her friend's excitement, her gaze returned to the phone screen, settling on Li He's bloodied face, alive with defiant fighting spirit.

Deep in her eyes, a glimmer of light flickered, almost imperceptibly.

[Proficiency +1]

[Ape Arm Mountain Crushing Fist: Beginner (99%) → Proficient (0%)]

[Vitality: 18 → 18.5]

[Ape Standing Stake: Minor Achievement (99%) → Major Achievement (0%)]

[Vitality: 18.5 → 19.5]

A surging force erupted deep within Li He, transforming into an invisible wave that swept in every direction and kicked up the dust on the ground.

He slowly opened his eyes and, as usual, exhaled a breath of stale air.

His vitality had risen to 19.5, leaving him just a hair's breadth from the threshold of a Second-Rank Martial Artist.

More importantly, he'd reached major achievement in the Ape Standing Stake!

By cultivating the Ape Arm Mountain Crushing Fist and absorbing the essence blood of exotic beasts to practice the Ape Standing Stake, he really was killing two birds with one stone!

An insight rooted in the very source of life flooded Li He's mind, and he instantly comprehended the major-achievement skill of the Ape Standing Stake.

Mountain Demon Battle Body!

Once activated, his face would contort and tense in an instant, forming a savage phantom in the shape of a Mountain Demon.

He could also let out a shrill, Mountain Demon-like screech, unsettling his opponent and amplifying their fear.

"Strange. Why would such a fluid, natural martial art as the Ape Standing Stake give me such a savage skill once I reached major achievement?"

The doubt in Li He's mind flashed past.

He took up his stance, ready to face the mountain wall and practice again, but Yuan Shan called out to him.

"Li He, you've made your first glimpse of the way today, and your body has also been tempered by essence blood. Your muscles and bones need time to adapt. Mountain Crushing Power is domineering; too much is as bad as too little. Forcing yourself to practice will only damage your foundation. That's enough for today. Go back and regulate your breathing properly, and consolidate what you've gained."

"Yes, Master." Li He answered respectfully.

Only then did he notice the faint aches in his body from the repeated surges of blood and energy. He really did need time to recover and absorb the gains.

After leaving the back mountain, he didn't head straight to his quarters. Instead, he turned toward the Scripture Pavilion.

Sunlight filtered through the branches of ancient trees, casting dappled shadows across the stone path.

Inside the Scripture Pavilion,

the air was filled with a faint scent of ink and old books.

Uncle Yuan Hong was as usual, sitting in a recliner and reading an ancient text.

Li He stepped lightly, his gaze sweeping over the familiar bookshelves.

He held a trace of anticipation.

He was sure Uncle Yuan Hong had seen his performance in the test and watched him use the three Ape Demon martial arts to defeat his opponent.

He wondered whether his uncle had happened to prepare another surprise for him this time.

He searched carefully between the shelves,

especially around the place where he'd found the Ape Demon Three Styles last time.

However,

after searching for a long while, the shelves still held the same familiar texts. Li He hesitated slightly.

"Ahem."

He cleared his throat twice.

Uncle Yuan Hong didn't even raise his eyelids, absorbed in his book.

Li He cleared his throat again, a little louder.

"Ahem, ahem..."

"Hmph!"

Uncle Yuan Hong closed his book.

"Brat, do you need something? If not, stop coughing and disturbing my peace!" His tone was unfriendly.

Li He said awkwardly, "N-no, Uncle. I was just looking around."

"Nothing? Then why are you coughing? Got consumption? Don't go spreading it to me! Get out, get out! The Scripture Pavilion doesn't welcome you today. Hurry up and leave!"

"Uh, Uncle..." Li He tried to explain.

"Out!" Uncle Yuan Hong waved impatiently. "If you don't leave, I'll throw you out myself!"

Li He got nowhere and could only bow sheepishly. "This disciple will take his leave."

Then he slunk out of the Scripture Pavilion.

Standing outside, Li He felt a little helpless.

It seemed his uncle was in a bad mood today. Or... did he think Li He hadn't mastered his current skills yet and didn't need anything new?

So be it.

Without a new technique, he'd practice what he already had until he mastered it.

He looked up at the sky. It was around three in the afternoon, so he still had plenty of time. He circled around to the back of the Scripture Pavilion, took up his stance, and began practicing the Ape Demon Three Styles.

His powerful vitality, already nearing that of a Second-Rank Martial Artist, condensed into the form of a fiendish Demon Ape over his body as he punched again and again at empty air.

[Proficiency +1]

[Proficiency +1]

[Proficiency +1]

His proficiency was rising rapidly.

Four hours later, the sun was setting, and Li He came to a halt.

[Ape Demon Three Styles: Minor Achievement (10%) → (30%)]

"Four hours, and I gained 20 proficiency points."

"At this rate, I can max out one martial art in just 20 hours!"

Li He opened his status panel.

[Name: Li He]

[Vitality: 19.5]

[Skill: Federation Body Forging Fist: Minor Achievement (1%)]

[Skill: Cloud Hand Eighteen Forms: Minor Achievement (1%)]

[Skill: Wild Goose Eight Steps: Minor Achievement (1%)]

[Skill: Turtle-Crane Health Stance: Major Achievement (0%)]

[Skill: Silk-Winding Power: Minor Achievement (1%)]

[Skill: Ape Demon Iron Body Technique: Minor Achievement (7%)]

[Skill: Ape Demon Three Styles: Minor Achievement (30%)]

[Skill: Ape Demon Steps: Proficient (9%)]

[Skill: Ape Standing Stake: Major Achievement (0%)]

[Skill: Old Ape Stretches Arms: Minor Achievement (1%)]

[Skill: Ape Trace Steps: Proficient (0%)]

[Skill: Ape Arm Mountain Crushing Fist: Proficient (0%)]

[Self-Created Movement Technique (Incomplete): Beginner (0%)]

Seven Ancient Martial Arts at minor achievement, three at proficient, and three hard techniques he hadn't yet practiced—for a total of thirteen martial arts.

It was mid-August, and the competition was a month and a half away. That was enough time for him to bring all his techniques to major achievement and secure his place as a Second-Rank Martial Artist.

Going by previous years' standards, he'd be strong enough to contend for first place!

The setting sun dyed the horizon a deep orange.

Li He ended another day of hard training. Feeling his vigorous vitality surging through him and a faint ache deep in his muscles and bones, he felt reassured.

His strength was steadily rising, and the path ahead was clear. He liked that feeling.

He left the open ground behind the Scripture Pavilion and headed for the martial arts hall's exit.

As he crossed the Martial Arts Arena, he saw some diligent disciples putting in extra practice. When they noticed him, they cast him looks of awe and admiration.

Li He nodded slightly in acknowledgment and kept walking.

He walked out through the martial arts hall's gates and onto the bustling street.