Energy Room

After completing the mission, Qin Nansheng looked at Su Yi with some conflict in his heart, his gaze full of complexity.

Second-Rank Peak already. Third-Rank was just around the corner.

For martial artists, below Third-Rank, they were merely ordinary students. But once they reached Third-Rank or above, Martial University allowed them to learn of the Underground Cave.

Though Third-Rank High Stage was Magic Martial Academy's standard for elites, that was because Martial University students at Third-Rank High Stage would inevitably head into the Underground Cave.

Those above Third-Rank were elites too. Once they entered the Underground Cave, they became comrades others could rely on.

They were true martial artists as well. Yes—in Qin Nansheng's eyes, those First- and Second-Rank students did not yet count as martial artists at all.

The Underground Cave... Mingjie and Xiuyuan had both died there.

And now, their child was about to set foot upon that same road.

Looking at Su Yi was like seeing Su Mingjie when he had first entered Magic Martial Academy—equally high-spirited, equally reckless in the brilliant vigor of youth.

Back then, they had cultivated together, played together, entered the Underground Cave together. Then, one after another, they got married and had children of their own.

Later on, they all died.

Though Qin Nansheng had seen life and death countless times, he was still grief-stricken beyond measure.

Even martial artists were human. Even if their cultivation had made their bodies somewhat inhuman, their hearts remained unchanged.

No matter how strong a person was, there was always a soft place in their heart.

When Mingjie and Xiuyuan died, he had not cried. He had been devastated, yet he simply could not shed a tear.

But when he saw Su Yi, he truly wanted to cry.

Damn it all!

The two of them had died, and with death, all was settled.

Yet they had left the living behind to mourn and suffer.

Su Yi was only fifteen. How could you two be so heartless?

Sometimes, Qin Nansheng wondered what would happen if he died instead. But every time, he did not dare think any further. Feng Qing was still so young—she would have a hard time bearing it, wouldn't she?

And there was the child's mother. How difficult would it be for a widow to raise a child alone?

He was afraid of death too. Who wasn't? But there were always things more important than life itself.

If no one bore the burden, then who would?

Fatal Blade? Qin Nansheng gave a self-mocking smile at the thought.

If there were a choice, who would be willing to risk their life?

He had long since written his will. If one day he were buried in the Underground Cave, it would be delivered to his home.

If Feng Qing did not wish to become a martial artist, then the best thing would be for her to live peacefully as the wealthy second generation.

If she wanted to become a martial artist, that was up to her too. In any case, he would be dead. How could a dead man control the living?

Her mother would not be able to stop her either, just as he himself had been unable to refuse Su Yi's determination to become a martial artist.

Thinking of Su Yi, his heart could not help aching. Mingjie and Xiuyuan were both dead, and there was not even anyone left to care for him.

Su Yi was rather stubborn by nature and refused to move in with him to be looked after.

The child wanted to remain in his own home, and Qin Nansheng could not refuse. All he could do was take care of him as much as possible whenever he had the time.

Yet now, he was about to reach Third-Rank. Once he entered the Underground Cave, it would be difficult to look after him anymore.

Martial artists fight in the Underground Cave! Die in the Underground Cave! Are buried in the Underground Cave!

This was a martial artist's fate!

Su Yi did not interrupt Qin Nansheng as he stared ahead with a complicated expression, lost in thought. He, too, silently pondered his own concerns.

He was about to enter Third-Rank. Would it be too dangerous to enter the Underground Cave immediately after breaking through?

The mere fragments revealed in the books already made it seem extremely dangerous. Even if Su Yi was not reckless enough to provoke beings he could not afford to provoke...

His sense of direction was decent, but he had never been to the Underground Cave before, nor had he studied any knowledge about it.

Forget it. He should first familiarize himself with the Underground Cave, then wait until he reached Third-Rank High Stage before going.

After reaching Third-Rank High Stage, his strength would surge greatly, and his ability to protect himself would improve by leaps and bounds.

After all, it was the Underground Cave. There was no telling what kind of enemies might emerge; he might even run into Fifth- or Sixth-Rank martial artists.

At least then he would have some chance of escaping, rather than falling into a certain-death situation.

Of course, if he ran into someone Seventh Grade or above... heh. He was not a Destiny Child like Fang Ping. He might as well wait for death!

Su Yi wanted to wait until he had cultivated to High Rank before considering it, but that was not suitable. Martial artists were meant to enter the Underground Cave!

After a long while, Su Yi spoke, breaking the heavy silence. "Uncle Qin, can you tell me now about what you said you could tell me after I reached Third-Rank?"

Su Yi truly wanted to know how his "parents" had died—whether it had been in the Underground Cave, or truly while carrying out a mission.

It had been three years since he came into this world. There was no longer any trace of the person from his previous life. Having completely merged with Su Yi, he was Su Yi, and Su Yi was him.

By all rights and by all feelings, he needed to avenge his parents!!

Qin Nansheng snapped back to his senses, frowning. "Have you reached Third-Rank?"

"I can already kill Third-Rank High Stage martial artists!"

Su Yi was somewhat unwilling to accept that.

"That still means you haven't reached it. Talk after you break through!"

Alright, before, there had only been a ninety-percent chance. Now, Su Yi could be one hundred percent certain that it was because of the Underground Cave.

Heaven's Gate City!

A cold glint flashed through Su Yi's eyes. Sooner or later, he would wipe you out.

Ten days later, Su Yi decided to Breakthrough to Third-Rank.

A breakthrough at the Second-Rank Peak was unlike one at the Third-Rank Peak, where body tempering, bone tempering, and vein tempering all had to reach their absolute limits.

Blood Qi nourishment also had to reach its limit.

Battle Arts, Stake Standing, and the Tempering Method all had to be cultivated to the utmost, because stepping from the Third-Rank Peak into the Fourth Grade Realm brought a transformation as profound as shedding one's mortal frame and exchanging one's bones.

The deeper one's foundation, the better.

There was no need to remain at the Second-Rank Peak for too long. Invincible at Second Rank was still only Second Rank.

Su Yi picked up his phone and called the teacher who had signed the agreement with him before, informing him that he was about to Breakthrough to Third-Rank. He needed to use the Energy Room, as well as the pills promised by the agreement for breaking through to Third Rank.

The Admissions Office teacher who received the call was a little dumbfounded. In his estimation, Su Yi should have reached the Second-Rank Peak around mid-to-late August. No matter what, he should only have broken through to Third Rank after enrolling, right?

He had not expected him to break through so quickly, but this was not under his jurisdiction.

Although the signed agreement did contain that clause, he was merely assisting the Admissions Office with its work.

Using the need for approval as an excuse, the Admissions Office teacher temporarily placated Su Yi, then immediately called the principal's Office.

Since it was a reward granted by the principal, let the principal handle it.

The principal who received the call chuckled. "So soon? That kid—have him arrive at the gates of Magic Martial Academy at eight tomorrow morning sharp. I'll arrange for someone to receive him."

After ending the call, the Admissions Office teacher hurriedly called Su Yi back.

"Su Yi, I've already gotten the approval. Just go to the gates of Magic Martial Academy at eight tomorrow morning. You'll receive all the pills needed for the breakthrough as well.

"A Third-Rank Bone Tempering Pill, a Third-Rank Blood Qi Pill, and a Third-Rank Organ Protection Pill. Remember to be there on time."

"Alright, thank you, Teacher."

"Nothing else?"

"No, that's all. Sorry for troubling you, Teacher."

"Mm, it's nothing. I'm hanging up."

The call ended, but Su Yi did not mind. Martial artists were all so swift and decisive.

July 25th.

At 7:45 in the morning, Su Yi had already arrived outside the gates of Magic Martial Academy.

After greeting the guard and registering at the guard post, he moved over a stool and waited there.

Even during summer vacation, students still came and went.

Some were even carrying injuries and weapons, looking as though they had just returned from missions.

Su Yi had visited Magic Martial Academy plenty of times. Though this was his first visit in the past three years, the place was still incomparably familiar to him, and the guard uncle had seen him before as well.

Before long, a middle-aged martial artist walked toward Su Yi.

Wu Kuishan!

Wu Kuishan was from the same generation of martial artists as Su Yi's parents, and Su Yi had met him when he was little.

The current Wu Kuishan still had a head of black hair. Around 1.75 meters tall, he was a handsome middle-aged man.

Walking up to Su Yi, Wu Kuishan broke into a smile. "What is it? You don't recognize me anymore?"

Su Yi hesitated for a moment before calling out, "Uncle Wu!"

"Ah, time really flies. The last time I saw you, you were only seven or eight, just a tiny little bean. Nothing like how grown you are now."

Wu Kuishan spoke with a trace of emotion, a faint smile on his face.

His relationship with Su Yi's parents was not bad. Wu Kuishan had been one class ahead of them all.

They had all stayed at the academy as instructors, and they had known one another for over twenty years.

Earlier, when he heard Qin Nansheng say that Su Yi wanted to take him as his teacher, Wu Kuishan had intended to assess Su Yi.

He had already achieved Essence Blood Unity, and had not planned to take any new students this year, intending instead to focus on charging toward the Grandmaster Realm.

But both Su Yi's connections and talent had tempted Wu Kuishan somewhat.

"It's been so long. I was bound to grow up."

"True enough. The principal asked me to take you to the Energy Room. Once you break through, you'll be the first Freshman Year student to enroll at Magic Martial Academy in the Third-Rank Realm."

At this, Wu Kuishan could barely hide his delight.

Since the founding of all Martial Universities, this was the first freshman to enroll as a third-rank martial artist. How could Capital Martial Academy compete with them?

"Most of it was due to resource support."

Su Yi remained modest. His progress had been fast, but the resources he had consumed were equally terrifying.

Wu Kuishan nodded. He had read Su Yi's files, and his resource consumption had indeed been horrifying.

But Qin Nansheng had also told him that even without resources, Su Yi had initially tempered two foot bones every three days.

It was not as though Wu Kuishan had never seen Third Bone Tempering before. Su Yi's bone-tempering speed was clearly far faster.

What was more, he had sounded Qin Nansheng out last night and learned that Su Yi's current combat strength was enough to kill a Third-Rank High Stage martial artist.

That could not be explained merely by having sufficient resources. Su Yi's talent for bone tempering and cultivating battle arts was both terrifying.

Wu Kuishan pondered for a moment before continuing, "Resources are indeed important, but your own talent is also exceptionally strong."

Before long, Wu Kuishan led Su Yi to the South District of Magic Martial Academy.

Building 3.

Once inside, Su Yi curiously looked around.

Wu Kuishan began his introduction. "This is Building 3. You could also call it the stronghold of the Weapon Academy you'll be enrolling in.

"There's a Battle Art Room, Cultivation Room, Gravity Room, Blood Qi Pool, and, most importantly, the Energy Room. The place I'm taking you to this time is the Energy Room. It uses Energy Ore as its power source to release energy. Breaking through will be much easier for you there."

Battle Art Room—Su Yi's eyes immediately lit up.

He took a deep breath. No rush. He would be enrolling soon enough; then he could look through whatever he wanted.

Seeing Wu Kuishan glance at him, Su Yi's eyes shifted as he asked, "Uncle Wu, what is Energy Ore? I don't think I've learned anything about that."

Wu Kuishan smiled lightly. "You'll understand once you break through. The Battle Art Room, Cultivation Room, and Gravity Room mean exactly what their names suggest.

"You'll find out what the Blood Qi Pool is when you break through to the middle ranks. For now, come with me to the Energy Room."