Direction and Future

"Rest for ten minutes, then practice your fist techniques."

As soon as time was up, Zheng Huai announced the end of stake training. Lin Ye collapsed onto the ground, his legs trembling uncontrollably. As he massaged them, he calculated rapidly in his mind.

Ten minutes increased proficiency by 1 point. If he practiced the stake for an hour every day, he could gain 5 or 6 points of proficiency. That meant it would take only three days to go from Beginner to Proficient Grade.

No, it should be two and a half days.

Two and a half days!

Over the past three years, he had spent a full two and a half years going from Beginner to Proficient Grade. Yet with the cheat's help, he only needed another two and a half days to achieve the Proficient Stake Training he had dreamed of.

Was this the power of a cheat?

Lin Ye marveled inwardly.

"Fall in! Rolling Stone Fist, ready—"

Ten minutes later, Zheng Huai gave the command again. Lin Ye struggled to his feet and assumed his stance.

Thanks to knowing about the cheat, he moved slowly this time, but with complete focus.

Punch, retract, turn, side kick...

When he completed the first set, another line of text indeed appeared before his eyes.

[Rolling Stone Fist (Proficient): 250/300]

It was more or less what he had expected. He had been stuck at Proficient Grade for a long time, so the panel showed that he was only 50 proficiency points away from the next level.

Keep going!

He smoothly completed another set. When he finished the final move, Rolling Falling Stones, the number flickered again.

[Rolling Stone Fist (Proficient): 251/300]

Understanding dawned on Lin Ye. For fist techniques, completing one full standard routine increased proficiency by 1 point.

Compared with stake training, fist techniques seemed to demand far less precision in posture. As long as the movements were fluid and met the basic standard, they would be counted.

Observing this inwardly, Lin Ye reached that conclusion and felt his spirits soar. After resting briefly, he resumed his practice.

Third set, 252/300.

Fourth set, 253/300.

While the other students gradually stopped to rest, Lin Ye alone continued. Zheng Huai noticed, but did not stop him. He even tacitly allowed it.

In his view, students of ordinary aptitude could only hope to touch that sliver of possibility through diligence.

The two afternoon classes ended, and the sun slanted westward.

Lin Ye was drenched from head to toe, his arms trembling, but he could not suppress the upward curve of his lips.

[Rolling Stone Fist (Proficient): 260/300]

Over one afternoon, his basic fist technique had gained 10 proficiency points.

At this rate, he would break through to Mastery Grade in another four days.

Mastery Grade fist techniques were a realm he had long dreamed of attaining.

"Old Ye, how many times did you practice today?"

Wang Tao came over, astonished. "I saw that you basically never stopped practicing."

"I didn't count."

Lin Ye wiped away his sweat, trying to keep his voice calm. "I just did a few extra sets."

"And you call that a few extra sets?"

Wang Tao's mouth twitched slightly, clearly unconvinced.

"No, you're working way too hard."

"But it really did feel like your movements were smoother than yesterday."

"Is that so?"

Lin Ye's heart stirred slightly, and his understanding of the cheat's power deepened.

After class, the students once again rushed toward the cafeteria.

Lin Ye blended into the crowd and was swept into the packed cafeteria. The evening cafeteria was as noisy as ever, but his state of mind was now somewhat different.

Standing at the cafeteria entrance, his gaze shifted between the serving windows on either side. His eyes flickered as he weighed his options.

Practicing Martial Dao required eating one's fill. If he could not eat enough, that was not practicing Martial Dao—it was suicide.

Now that he possessed the cheat and had hope he had never known before, if he wanted to change, if he wanted to practice at the Martial Arts Pavilion at night, then he needed to use the paid window. Otherwise, inadequate nutrition would make him work twice as hard for half the result.

After weighing it for a long while, Lin Ye still headed for the paid window and joined the line.

Since most students chose the free window, the line at the paid window was short. His turn came quickly. Standing before the serving counter, he swept his gaze across the menu and prices scrolling across the light screen.

There were three tiers for the paid meals: basic, enhanced, and deluxe.

The basic tier cost only 30 Great Xia Currency. It included a small amount of minced low-tier Beast Meat and basic energy plant extract, making it effective at replenishing Blood Qi expenditure.

The enhanced tier cost 50 Great Xia Currency. It contained more Beast Meat and had an obvious nourishing effect on the Blood Qi of Body Forging students.

The most expensive was the deluxe tier, 100 Great Xia Currency per serving. It was said to contain trace amounts of "active substances," which could provide slight long-term assistance in sensing Star Power. It was an essential choice for well-off top students in the Martial Arts Stream.

Lin Ye studied the description, his finger hovering over the terminal screen. Then he checked the account balance on his Smart Wristwatch: 312 yuan.

This was the living allowance his parents had given him, as well as all the spending money he possessed.

Looks like it could only be the basic tier.

"Excuse me, one basic tier."

A moment later, he held out the payment code on his Smart Wristwatch and passed it over the scanner before speaking to the cook inside.

With a beep, 30 yuan was deducted. The already meager balance on his Smart Wristwatch shrank again. Lin Ye felt a faint pang of pain, but it was followed by an even firmer resolve.

Besides an assortment of meat dishes, his tray held a small bowl of fragrant meat stew, its surface gleaming with oil.

When he carried his tray toward their usual spot, Zhang Hao, Li Jing, and the others were already there. Seeing the distinctly different meat stew on Lin Ye's tray, they all froze for a moment.

"Lin Ye, you..."

Zhang Hao adjusted his glasses, somewhat hesitant. "You bought a paid meal?"

"Yeah."

Zhang Hao asked even more directly, "Are you sure you want to apply for the Martial Arts Stream?"

Looking around, everyone's tray on the table held the same free meal set.

Generally speaking, only those taking the Martial Arts Stream chose paid meals. Of course, some academic-stream students wanted to taste a paid meal and would occasionally choose one.

In their class, only around ten students who had already decided on the Martial Arts Stream and came from relatively well-off families usually chose the paid window.

Lin Ye sat in an empty seat. "I'm giving it a try."

"Is that so?"

Zhang Ming adjusted his glasses, a trace of doubt in his voice, but he could not say much in response to Lin Ye's explanation.

Scooping up a spoonful of meat stew and putting it into his mouth, Lin Ye found the meat far firmer than ordinary meat, with an indescribably fresh aroma. Not long after swallowing, a warm current rose from his stomach and slowly spread through his limbs. Even the slight exhaustion from his daytime stake training and fist practice seemed to have been dispersed.

Was this the value of Beast Meat?

It was said to contain trace remnants of Star Power that could assist Body Forging.

"It really is worth the money."

After taking a taste, Lin Ye made his assessment inwardly.

Perhaps because Lin Ye had chosen a paid meal, everyone spoke much more quietly today. They quickly finished their food, cleared their trays, rose to their feet, and left the cafeteria together.

The campus streetlights were already lit in the summer night. Their soft light outlined the trees along both sides of the road as they followed their familiar route toward the teaching building area.

Upon reaching that familiar three-way intersection, Lin Ye's footsteps slowed involuntarily. To the left was the brightly lit Martial Arts Pavilion, where shouts and the clang of equipment could faintly be heard. To the right was the quiet, solemn teaching building study area, where only the scratch of pen on paper and the rustle of turning pages remained.

Two roads, two directions, two futures.

When they had first entered high school, the teachers had clearly explained this "unspoken rule": those aspiring to Martial Arts University were to consciously go to the Martial Arts Pavilion for extra training during evening self-study; those aiming for the academic stream, or believing themselves hopeless in Martial Dao, were to go to the teaching building study rooms. For three years, Lin Ye had never set foot in the Martial Arts Pavilion at night, because he felt that was the realm of "geniuses" and "brave men." As for him, he believed himself to be merely an inconspicuous supporting character among the masses, and naturally lacked the courage to go there.

But now...

His state of mind had gradually begun changing with the appearance of the cheat. The shock brought by the panel was like a hidden expressway unfolding before him.

As long as he followed this road, he would surely achieve something.

He might even reach the pinnacle of Martial Dao.

But only three months remained. Was that really enough? Could he truly catch up to those peers who had already been sprinting down this road for three years?

Lin Ye hesitated.

His feet seemed nailed to the ground, utterly motionless.

A moment later, Lin Ye smiled.

He laughed at himself for hesitating. As long as he had the Proficiency Panel, he would definitely achieve something. If he did not even dare to gamble on it, he might as well muddle through life waiting to die.

With that shift in thought, the confusion in Lin Ye's eyes was gradually replaced by determination. Then, without looking back, he walked toward the Martial Arts Pavilion, waving goodbye to the others at the same time.

The group watched the direction in which Lin Ye had vanished, silent.

A moment later, Zhang Hao said softly, "He's serious."

"But it's too late." Li Ming shook his head. "There are only three months left. His Blood Qi Value was only a little over 100 before, and his fist technique is merely Proficient Grade... Even if he starts working desperately now, it's too late, isn't it?"

"Maybe he has his own plans."

Wang Tao looked toward the direction Lin Ye had disappeared, both envious and unable to understand. "Come on, let's go to the study room."