This kid's temperament is far too steady for a youth.

More than a month of time passed in the blink of an eye.

Through day-after-day of tempering and intense battles in the virtual world, the countdown to the college entrance examination arrived quietly.

Three days until the countdown ends.

Linjiang District Third High School, Class 5 of the senior year classroom.

During the final class of the morning, the classroom was neat and solemn. The homeroom teacher, Chen Guo'an, stood on the podium, his gaze slowly sweeping over every familiar face below that had matured a little more. His voice carried a trace of imperceptible sentimentality: "Students, this might be the last time in our high school journey that we are all sitting together in this classroom like this."

Upon hearing this, the classroom instantly fell silent. Even the few boys who usually couldn't sit still stopped their fidgeting and looked up to listen to Chen Guo'an speak.

"Three days from now is the college entrance examination. I know everyone has been waiting for this day for a long time and has been preparing for it for just as long." Chen Guo'an pushed up his glasses. The gaze behind the lenses was somewhat complex, filled with expectations, reluctance, and deep emotion. "Over these three years, I have watched everyone grow from naive youths to where you are today. Some of you studied late into the night, while others sweated buckets in the Martial Arts Hall. You have cried, laughed, and felt lost, but you have always remained steadfast."

His words were simple, yet they were like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, creating ripples.

In the back row of the classroom, a boy with average grades suddenly clenched his fists, seemingly moved by the teacher's words. In the front row, several girls had reddened eyes, looking at their desk-mates and exchanging lingering glances filled with the sorrow of impending separation. Of course, in the corner, there was also a boy with the lowest grades who wore a bitter expression, burying his head low as if trying to hide from it all.

At this moment, the classroom was filled with a complex atmosphere mixed with excitement, nervousness, reluctance, and even a hint of panic.

The clamor and sorrow of youth, the heat of dreams, and the coldness of reality were intertwined and colliding at this moment. Lin Ye sat quietly in his seat, watching all of this silently. His gaze was calm, and he did not feel much of the sorrow of parting.

To him, the path of martial arts had only just officially begun.

The road ahead is long, and meeting and parting are the norms of life.

At this moment, Wang Tao, sitting beside him, nudged Lin Ye with his elbow and lowered his voice, his tone carrying a hint of sentimentality: "Brother Ye, honestly, sometimes I really envy you. I envy that you didn't give up even when there were only three months left until the exam, and I envy that you could make such great progress in such a short time. Unlike me, I've only just barely reached 180."

He paused, his voice dropping even lower. "Sometimes when I dream at night, I dream that my blood energy is like a dragon, shattering mountains with a single punch... It's a pity that when I wake up the next day, I know it was just a dream."

Lin Ye listened in silence, then turned his head to look at Zhang Hao not far away. Zhang Hao didn't seem to have much of a reaction to the teacher's words either; he just pushed up his glasses and looked down to record something.

Lin Ye knew that, in fact, Zhang Hao was just like Wang Tao. He had once had a yearning for martial arts, but that yearning had been shattered two years ago, and he had calmly accepted it.

Neither Wang Tao nor he had accepted it, but the difference was that he had awakened a golden finger, while Wang Tao had not.

"Liberal arts can actually contribute to martial arts as well."

Lin Ye said in a low voice, his tone earnest. "Researching martial arts theory, optimizing techniques, and analyzing the weaknesses of fierce beasts—these are equally important. Without logistics and everyone's wisdom, the martial artists hunting fierce beasts in the Star Realm wouldn't be able to hold on for so long."

Wang Tao was stunned. He hadn't expected Lin Ye, who usually didn't talk much, to say something like that. Looking at Lin Ye's earnest gaze, he nodded vigorously, his eyes brightening a little. "That's right, liberal arts are also a part of martial arts. Maybe I really can help the front lines in the future. Thanks, Brother Ye."

"Keep it up. Kill a few more fierce beasts for those of us who can't make it to the battlefield."

"I will."

Lin Ye nodded, then turned his gaze back to the podium.

At this moment, the teacher's speech was still continuing.

"...Finally, on behalf of all the academic teachers, I sincerely wish that in three days, everyone can perform at their best in the exam hall and achieve results worthy of these three years of hard work!" He took a deep breath, his voice suddenly rising, carrying blessings and strength. "For these last three days, the school will no longer arrange unified academic teaching. Everyone should adjust your state on your own or practice martial arts. We... will see you outside the exam hall!"

"Thank you, teacher!"

"Thank you for your hard work, teacher!"

After a brief silence, applause and scattered words of thanks rang out. Many students' eyes were already red.

In the afternoon, the Class 5 exclusive Martial Arts Hall.

Everyone was gathered together. Zheng Huai stood at the front. Today, he had changed into a neat martial arts uniform. His figure was still tall and sturdy, but there was a little less of his usual sternness between his brows and a little more profound gentleness.

"No more nonsense."

Zheng Huai spoke, his voice resonant, suppressing the slight commotion in the room. "Three days from now, whether you are a dragon or a worm, whether you climb the ladder to heaven or walk a narrow path, it all depends on your own efforts over these three years, especially the accumulation of these last few months."

His gaze swept over the crowd like a hawk. After lingering for a moment on a few students he cared about, he said, "This afternoon is the final intensive training before the exam. Afterward, the Martial Arts Pavilion will remain open, but there will be no more intensive training. If you have questions, you can still come to the third floor to ask me." Zheng Huai paused. "Of course, whether you come, whether you practice, and how long you practice is entirely up to your own discipline. I will only say one thing: he who travels one hundred miles only considers ninety to be the halfway point. These last few days are the golden period for adjusting your state, but also the most dangerous period where your mindset is most prone to fluctuation. Stay steady; maintaining a good state is very important."

Finally, he looked at everyone and said in a deep voice: "No matter the result, please believe that the sweat you shed in the Martial Arts Pavilion over these three years will not deceive you. I wish everyone a great result in the college entrance examination three days from now, and I wish all students great success in your martial arts journey!"

"Dismissed!"

"Boom—"

The crowd instantly erupted, and they began to discuss among themselves.

"Does Teacher Zheng mean we should just handle it ourselves? Should I still come tomorrow?"

"It's the last three days. Everything I know, I know; everything I don't know, it's too late now. Might as well relax and adjust my mindset."

"Exactly. I'm taking the liberal arts exam, and the blood energy test doesn't count for that many points anyway. I'd rather review my academic subjects."

"I want to consolidate my movement techniques and fight a few rounds in the virtual reality combat to get a feel for it."

"I'll pass. I'm going home to lie down and recharge my batteries."

The crowd discussed noisily, each packing their things and leaving in twos and threes. Some walked in a hurry, eager to get home; some were reluctant to leave, still lingering in the equipment area; others gathered together, excitedly discussing their plans after the exam.

Lin Ye watched all of this without participating in any of the discussions. He walked silently to his usual spot, and after the crowd had dispersed, he slowly set up the stance for the Primordial Stance.

His mind was calm, his breathing long and steady.

His blood energy flowed and circulated slowly within his body, following the rhythm of the stake training.

He could feel that after these days of practice, his Primordial Stance had reached a point of saturation. That feeling of "perfect harmony, where blood energy forms its own cycle" was becoming clearer and clearer, as if there were only a thin veil between it and his true self, ready to be pierced with a single touch.

At the same time, the numbers on the Proficiency Panel flickered.

[Primordial Stance · Great Success (990/1000)]

He was only 10 points of proficiency away from perfection, but his heart remained as still as stagnant water, no longer as impatient as it had been at the beginning; his mind was immersed in the Stake Training, feeling the connection between his feet and the earth.

Not far away, Zheng Huai, who was instructing Zhang Zhen on some precautions, let his gaze drift toward Lin Ye inadvertently. Seeing his silhouette immersed in the stance, a trace of approval flashed deep within his eyes.

This kid, his temperament was truly too steady for a mere youth.