A month and more passed in the blink of an eye.
Through day after day of grueling practice and fierce battles in the virtual world, the High School Entrance Exam quietly entered its final countdown.
Three days before the exam.
Linjiang District Third High School, Senior Year Class Five classroom.
During the last class of the morning, the classroom was neat and solemn. Their homeroom teacher, Chen Guo'an, stood at the podium, his gaze slowly sweeping over the familiar faces below, each now a little more mature. His voice carried a hint of emotion he could barely conceal. "Class, this may be the last time in high school that we all sit together in a classroom like this."
At his words, the classroom fell silent. Even the boys who usually couldn't sit still stopped fidgeting and looked up to listen to their homeroom teacher, Chen Guo'an.
"Three days from now is the High School Entrance Exam. I know you've been waiting for this day for a long time, and preparing for it just as long." Chen Guo'an pushed up his glasses. His gaze behind the lenses was complicated, filled with hope, reluctance, and deep emotion. "Over these three years, I've watched you grow from naive teenagers into who you are today. Some of you burned the midnight oil studying, while others sweated buckets at the Martial Arts Pavilion. You've cried, laughed, and felt lost, but you've always kept going."
His words were plain, yet they were like a pebble tossed into a still lake, sending ripples spreading across the water.
At the back of the classroom, a boy whose grades were usually middle-of-the-pack clenched his fists, as if moved by the teacher's words. Several girls at the front had reddened eyes. They glanced at their deskmates, exchanging looks full of attachment and sadness at the thought of parting. In the corner, a boy at the bottom of the class wore a bitter expression and lowered his head, as if trying to shut it all out.
The classroom was filled with a complicated atmosphere of excitement, tension, reluctance, and even a little unease.
The clamor and sorrow of youth, the burning heat of dreams and the coldness of reality—all collided and mingled in that moment. Lin Ye sat quietly in his seat, watching it all in silence. His gaze was calm, and he felt little of the sadness that came with parting.
For him, the path of Martial Dao had only just begun.
The road ahead was long. Meeting and parting were simply part of life.
Just then, Wang Tao lightly nudged Lin Ye with his elbow and lowered his voice, a hint of emotion in it. "Brother Night, honestly, sometimes I really envy you. I envy that you didn't give up even with only three months left before the High School Entrance Exam. I envy how much progress you made in such a short time. Unlike me—I've only just managed to reach 180."
He paused, then lowered his voice further. "Sometimes I dream that my Blood Qi is like a dragon and I can split open a mountain with one punch... But the next morning, I wake up and know it was just a dream."
Lin Ye listened in silence, then glanced at Zhang Hao, who was sitting not far away. Zhang Hao didn't seem particularly moved by the teacher's words either. He merely pushed up his glasses and lowered his head to write something down.
Lin Ye knew that Zhang Hao, like Wang Tao, had once yearned for Martial Dao. But that yearning had been shattered two years ago, and he'd accepted it calmly.
Neither Wang Tao nor Lin Ye had accepted it. The difference was that Lin Ye had awakened his cheat, while Wang Tao hadn't.
"Arts subjects can contribute to Martial Dao, too."
Lin Ye spoke quietly, his tone earnest. "Researching martial arts theory, improving cultivation methods, analyzing the weaknesses of Fierce Beasts—those things matter just as much. Without the support staff and everyone's wisdom, the warriors hunting Fierce Beasts in the Star Realm wouldn't have lasted this long."
Wang Tao froze, not expecting Lin Ye, who usually said so little, to say something like that. Looking into Lin Ye's earnest eyes, he nodded firmly, his own eyes brightening. "That's right. Arts subjects are part of Martial Dao, too. Maybe one day I really can help out on the front lines. Brother Night, thank you."
"Keep it up. Kill a few more Fierce Beasts for those of us who can't go to the battlefield."
"I will."
Lin Ye nodded, then turned his gaze back to the podium.
The homeroom teacher's speech was still going.
"...Finally, on behalf of all the teachers who taught your academic subjects, I sincerely hope that three days from now, everyone will perform at their very best in the exam hall and earn results worthy of the effort you've put in over these three years!" He took a deep breath, his voice suddenly rising with warmth and encouragement. "The school won't hold regular academic classes during these last three days. You can adjust your state on your own or practice martial arts. We'll... see you outside the exam hall!"
"Thank you, teacher!"
"Teacher, thank you for all your hard work!"
After a brief silence, applause and a jumble of words of thanks rang out. Many students' eyes had already turned red.
That afternoon, in the Martial Arts Hall reserved for Class Five.
Everyone gathered together, with Zheng Huai standing at the front. He had changed into a neat martial arts uniform that day. His build was still upright and imposing, but there was less of his usual sternness between his brows and more of a deep, gentle warmth.
"I won't waste time on small talk."
Zheng Huai spoke in a booming voice, suppressing the faint stirrings in the hall. "Three days from now, whether you turn out a dragon or a worm, whether you climb to the heavens or take the narrow path—it all depends on the effort you've put in over these three years, especially what you've built up over the last few months."
His gaze swept over the students like an eagle's. After pausing briefly on a few he had his eye on, he continued, "This afternoon is our last group training session before the exam. After that, the Martial Arts Pavilion will remain open, but there won't be any more group sessions. If you have questions, you can still come see me on the third floor." Zheng Huai paused. "Of course, whether you come, whether you practice, and how long you practice are all up to you. I'll say just one thing: a journey of a hundred miles is only half complete at ninety. These last few days are the golden period for adjusting your condition, but they're also the most dangerous time for your state of mind to waver. Stay steady and maintain your condition. That's important."
Finally, he looked at everyone and said in a low voice, "Whatever the results, believe this: the sweat you've shed in the Martial Arts Pavilion over the past three years won't deceive you. I hope everyone gets good results in the High School Entrance Exam three days from now. May martial fortune shine on you all!"
"Dismissed!"
"Boom—"
The crowd erupted, and everyone started talking at once.
"So Teacher Zheng's telling us to decide for ourselves? Should I come tomorrow or not?"
"There are only three days left. If you know it, you know it, and if you don't, it's too late now. Might as well relax and get your mind right."
"Exactly. I'm taking the arts exam, and the Blood Qi test isn't worth many points. I might as well go review my academic subjects."
"I want to polish my footwork a bit more. I'll have a few fights in Virtual Combat to get my feel back."
"Not me. I'm going home to lie down and save my strength."
Everyone chatted as they packed their things and left in twos and threes. Some hurried home; others lingered, reluctant to leave, milling around the equipment area. Still others gathered together, excitedly discussing their plans for after the exam.
Lin Ye watched it all without joining in any discussion. He silently walked over to his usual spot and, after the others had dispersed, slowly settled into the Primordial Stance.
His mind was calm, his breathing long and even.
His Blood Qi flowed slowly through his body in time with the rhythm of his Stake Training, circulating in a steady loop.
He could feel that after all his practice these past few days, his Primordial Stance had reached the brink of fullness. That feeling of "all things merging as one, Blood Qi forming its own cycle" was growing clearer. It felt as though it were separated from his true self by nothing more than a thin veil, ready to tear with a single touch.
At the same time, the numbers on the Proficiency Panel flickered.
[Primordial Stance · Great Accomplishment (990/1000)]
He was only ten proficiency points away from Consummation. His heart remained as still as water; he was no longer as impatient as he'd been at first. His mind sank into the stance as he felt his connection to the ground beneath his feet.
Not far away, Zheng Huai was giving Zhang Zhen some final instructions. His gaze happened to pass over Lin Ye, and when he saw him standing in the stance, completely absorbed, a trace of approval flashed deep in his eyes.
This kid had a steadiness of mind that truly seemed beyond his years.
Before you continue