Mastery-Grade Fist Art

A moment later, Lin Ye slowly withdrew his Momentum. He felt the faint yet steady circulation of Blood Qi, like a slender stream of warmth newly flowing through his body—unassuming, yet undeniably real.

"Today's Stake Training ends here."

Zheng Huai, standing at the front, clapped his hands, his voice ringing out. "Rest for ten minutes, then we'll begin fist art practice."

A ripple of exhalations and the crackling of loosened joints rose from the group. Lin Ye walked to the wall, picked up his water bottle, and took small sips of warm water. He could feel several classmates watching him—the subtle change in his bearing when his Stake Training had broken through was obvious to anyone with sharp eyes.

"Lin Ye, just now you..."

Wang Tao, drinking beside him, trailed off.

"I just found a bit of the feeling." Lin Ye smiled and gave a simple reply without elaborating. Wang Tao nodded, his expression complicated. He remembered Lin Ye's resolve in choosing the paid meal plan at the cafeteria yesterday, and the sight of him walking alone toward the Martial Arts Pavilion that evening.

Some things were quietly changing the relationship between them.

When half of the ten-minute break had passed, Zheng Huai returned to the front of the group and cleared his throat. "An announcement." His gaze swept across the room. "Tomorrow afternoon, we'll be holding a class mock test."

As soon as he finished speaking, low grumbling filled the training room.

"Again..." Zhao Qiang rubbed his aching thighs. "Didn't we just test last month?"

Zhou Qian sighed softly. "My fist art hasn't improved much this week either..."

A boy in the front row, who had long since decided to apply for the Academic Stream, muttered, "I'm applying for the Academic Stream anyway. What difference does it make whether I test well or not?"

Lin Ye quietly listened to the murmurs around him, his fingers absentmindedly rubbing the surface of his water bottle. A mock test meant the results would be recorded, forming a growth curve. For him, this would be his first official test while having "the system."

He was a little nervous, but even more than that, he was expectant. He wanted to see just how much visible progress his desperate training over the past three days had bought him.

"The test items remain the same: Blood Qi Value and basic sparring."

Zheng Huai looked over the room. "The results will count toward your monthly evaluation. If your performance declines three times in a row, I'll advise you to seriously consider whether you should continue in the Martial Arts Stream."

Those words made several students with middling Martial Arts Stream grades visibly change expression.

"Alright, break's over. Begin fist art training."

It was fist art practice again. Lin Ye threw his entire focus into the Rolling Stone Fist. Thanks to the stability in his lower body brought by his Stake Training breakthrough, he could clearly sense the complete chain of force—from his feet driving upward to its release through his fist. That awareness greatly improved the efficiency of his fist art practice, making it much easier.

[Rolling Stone Fist (Proficient): 271/300]

272, 273... all the way to 280.

Two hours still earned him 10 Proficiency points. He was only 20 points away from Mastery Grade. When Lin Ye withdrew his Momentum, he checked the time—it was 5:25 in the afternoon, with only five minutes left before class ended.

Six o'clock in the evening, Martial Arts Hall.

More people had come tonight than yesterday. The air was thick with the unique tension that came before an exam. Li Weiwei was discussing techniques for exerting force with Zhang Zhen in a corner, Zhao Qiang was fiercely attacking a sandbag, and Zhou Qian was repeatedly practicing a set of footwork.

Lin Ye went to his usual spot and began with Stake Training as always. Once the micro-circulation of Blood Qi had formed, the experience of holding the stance became completely different. Before, he had gritted his teeth and endured it; now, he simply went with the flow. That stream-like warmth continuously washed away the fatigue in his muscles, and he easily held on for half an hour.

An hour passed.

[Primordial Stance (Proficient): 6/300]

He easily gained 6 Proficiency points.

As he stood still and finished his training, Lin Ye felt as if someone was watching him. Turning his head, he saw Li Weiwei studying him, surprise faintly visible on her face. She walked over and lowered her voice. "Your Stake Training... is completely different from yesterday."

"I found a bit of the feeling."

Lin Ye gave a simple response.

"It's more than just a feeling." Li Weiwei studied Lin Ye seriously. "It's a qualitative change. Did you break through to Proficient Grade?"

Lin Ye hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

There was no need to hide such a small achievement. Besides, many people had probably already guessed.

Li Weiwei nodded and did not press for details, but the surprise in her eyes could not be concealed. She was one of the few students in the class whose Stake Training had reached Proficient Grade, and she knew full well how difficult it was to go from Beginner to Proficient. Now that he had taken this step, Lin Ye truly had hope of getting into the Martial Arts Stream.

"Congratulations."

Li Weiwei congratulated him. "Good luck on tomorrow's test. I'm looking forward to your performance."

With that, she returned to her own area and continued practicing her fist art.

"Thanks."

Lin Ye offered a polite reply. He watched her retreating back but did not dwell on it.

For the next two hours, Lin Ye practiced his fist art just as he had yesterday. Over those two hours, his Proficiency steadily rose by 10 points.

[Rolling Stone Fist (Proficient): 290/300]

"Tomorrow is the test, so don't train too hard tonight."

Looking at everyone in the Martial Arts Hall, Zhang Zhen, as the class representative, reminded them, "Maintaining your condition is the most important thing. Martial Dao cultivation is not something achieved in a single day."

Everyone nodded. When the Martial Arts Pavilion bell rang, they packed up and left one after another. Lin Ye watched them disappear, and the Martial Arts Hall soon emptied as well.

Looking at the vacant Martial Arts Hall.

Lin Ye savored this solitary moment and immersed himself in practicing his fist art.

His Stake Training had already broken through, so there was no need for extra practice for now. Instead, the Rolling Stone Fist, which was about to break through, needed some additional training.

The sound of Lin Ye practicing his fist art echoed continuously through the empty Martial Arts Hall.

An hour passed.

The Rolling Stone Fist gained 5 Proficiency points.

[Rolling Stone Fist (Proficient): 295/300]

Only 5 points remained before it could break through to Mastery Grade.

At that moment, the administrator made an announcement over the indoor broadcast. "Students who have not yet left the Martial Arts Hall, please leave within ten minutes. The Martial Arts Pavilion will close in ten minutes!"

Lin Ye checked the time—it was one minute past ten.

In that case, it really was time to leave.

Moonlight shone brilliantly as Lin Ye took an autonomous bus back to his residential complex.

However, after entering the complex, he did not return home directly. Instead, he headed to the complex's public Martial Arts Hall.

The public Martial Arts Hall was one of the basic facilities every residential complex had in this era. It was generally for people to exercise in, open twenty-four hours a day. Its equipment was rudimentary, but free to use, and at night there was usually no one training there.

When he reached the entrance, he found the inside pitch-black. He pushed open the door, and as expected, there was not a single person inside. It was completely empty.

Lin Ye set down his backpack, took off his coat, turned on the lights, and slowly assumed his fighting stance beneath the not particularly bright lighting.

The first time through, he moved slowly, as though reviewing every detail—the angle of each punch, the degree of his waist rotation, the rhythm of his breathing...

The second time through, his movements became a little faster, and the techniques linked together.

The third time through, the muscle memory throughout his body was fully awakened, his movements flowing like drifting clouds and running water.

The fourth time... the fifth time... the numbers jumped.

[Rolling Stone Fist: Proficiency (1/500)]

At that instant, a new realization surged into his mind.

It was an understanding of how to exert force. He clearly realized just how clumsy that movement of his had been—or rather, all his previous punches had been "broken." The force had been scattered through his shoulder and elbow, never forming a single line.

He had said before that he understood, but in truth, he had not. Now, however, it was different. With the help of the panel, he truly understood.

At that moment, the new realization stimulated the ends of his nerves like an electric current, making him throw a punch unconsciously.

"Not right..."

Lin Ye muttered to himself. He noticed that his force was broken, then immediately corrected his movement for the next second, lowering his waist first.

As he sank, the soles of his feet gripped the ground tightly. For the first time, he clearly felt the reactive force transmitted back from the earth.

Then, following the guidance of the realization in his mind, force rose from the soles of his feet, passing through his legs, waist, back, shoulders, and arms before finally releasing through his fist.

Bang!

The punch shot out, and the fist wind shook the air.

Lin Ye could feel that the power of that punch had clearly risen considerably compared to before.

That was the effect of linking strength into a single line. When the various parts of the body worked together, the force of a punch would increase greatly and become far more lethal.

"So this is... Mastery Grade?"

Lin Ye murmured, a different light gleaming in his eyes as he filled with anticipation for tomorrow's test.