The College Entrance Exam Ends

Name: Su Yi

Realm: Second-Rank Martial Artist

Blood Qi: 339 cal/359 cal

Mental Power: 398 Hz/409 Hz

Bone Tempering: 62 bones (90%), 144 bones (30%)

Knowledge: Basic Cultivation Method—Tempering Method {Optimization +2}; Horse Stance {Optimization +1}—Void Standing Realm; Basic Fist Technique—Minor Achievement;

Basic Leg Technique—Major Achievement; Basic Sword Technique—Major Achievement {Optimization +1};

...

Energy: 3874 points

Damage Status: 3.75%

After breaking through to Second Rank, Su Yi eagerly went looking for Qin Nansheng.

During this period, Qin Nansheng returned about once a week, staying for a day or two each time.

Perhaps to make it easier for Su Yi to find him, he would send Su Yi a message before returning and before leaving.

Su Yi had yet to go out and take on missions.

The moment Qin Nansheng saw Su Yi, he sensed that he had broken through to Second Rank.

Smiling, he shook his head. It looked like he had only just broken through.

He was a little impatient, but that was understandable. He was young, after all.

It was perfectly normal for young people to be unable to sit still.

"Mid Grade Combat Methods were developed for martial artists who have completed the tempering of their limb bones. There can sometimes be certain restrictions, mainly restrictions on Blood Qi—the consumption is enormous.

They place extremely high demands on Blood Qi. On one hand, Blood Qi is heavily consumed; on the other, as Mid Grade Combat Methods, they all possess powerful explosive finishing moves.

What combat methods do you want to learn?"

"Sword techniques, and movement techniques."

Su Yi had long since decided on the combat methods he wanted to cultivate. After thinking for a moment, he added, "A movement technique suited for long-distance dashes. As for sword techniques, does Uncle Qin have any recommendations?"

For Su Yi, sword techniques were the most suitable way to increase his combat strength.

As for movement techniques, he had thought of one suited to long-distance dashes, which would be better for the Underground Cave.

Qin Nansheng smiled faintly. "Falling Blossom Sword. Blossoms falling in scattered flecks, ever-changing and unpredictable. Its explosive finishing move is quite good among sword techniques, and its technical intricacy is second to none."

It could emphasize either explosive power or technique.

"Alright, then I'll have to trouble you, Uncle Qin."

Qin Nansheng nodded and told Su Yi to head back first, then come to the training ground that afternoon to learn the combat methods.

That afternoon.

At the training ground.

When he saw Su Yi arrive, Qin Nansheng pointed at a pile of books and said, "Mid Grade Combat Methods involve quite a lot of theory, and everything is broken down in considerable detail. Read through the technique materials first.

I'll demonstrate them for you a few times afterward."

Although Qin Nansheng used a saber, he had also dabbled in common weapons such as swords, spears, and staffs.

He did not need to master them, but he needed to understand them all.

Su Yi began flipping through the books, Falling Blossom Sword and Cloud Step.

Su Yi already knew a little about Cloud Step; it was the very one Fang Ping had learned.

Its unique methods of exerting force, using explosive Blood Qi to make one faster and more methodical...

Combined with the stake standing of the Void Standing Realm, it would be enough to greatly improve both Su Yi's combat strength and his ability to escape.

Mid Grade Combat Methods involved a great deal of theory: the circulation of Blood Qi, the mobilization of muscles, Meridians, and acupoints were all involved.

There were explosive Blood Qi finishing moves, as well as numerous sword techniques.

After giving everything a rough read and carefully watching Qin Nansheng demonstrate the combat methods several times, Su Yi still spent nearly two days at home before he was more or less familiar with the materials.

"Mid Grade Combat Methods really are difficult."

Su Yi put down the materials and thought to himself.

Having familiarized himself with the materials, Su Yi focused his thoughts and sensed the Book of Knowledge, preparing to optimize the combat methods.

One optimization of a Mid Grade Combat Method required 1,000 Energy Points—ten times the Energy Points needed for Basic Sword Technique.

Su Yi's eye twitched. Although he had expected the optimization cost for Mid Grade Combat Methods to be far higher, he had not expected it to be this high.

Then wouldn't the second optimization cost over ten thousand?

After thinking it over for a long time and weighing whether it was worth it, Su Yi gritted his teeth. He would optimize it just once.

He had originally planned to save the Energy Points for the Tempering Method, but an optimized battle art could boost Su Yi's combat strength even more.

Although Su Yi's Blood Qi was already fairly high, the consumption of Mid Grade Combat Methods was still too great. Even an ordinary Second-Rank Peak martial artist had 400 calories of Blood Qi, while Su Yi was still quite a ways off.

A 10% reduction in consumption after Optimization was simply too tempting—it would improve his endurance. What was more, Optimization would make it better suited to him, significantly increasing his combat power as well.

Name: Su Yi

Realm: Second-Rank Martial Artist

Blood Qi: 355 cal/361 cal

Spiritual Power: 401 Hz/411 Hz

Bone Tempering: 63 bones (90%), 1 bone (75%), 142 bones (30%)

Knowledge: Mid Grade Combat Method—Falling Blossom Sword {Optimization +1}; Mid-Grade Footwork—Cloud Step {Optimization +1}; Basic Cultivation Method—Tempering Method {Optimization +2}; Horse Stance {Optimization +1}—Void Standing Realm; Basic Fist Technique—Minor Achievement;

Basic Leg Technique—Major Achievement; Basic Sword Technique—Major Achievement {Optimization +1};

...

Energy: 2174 points

Damage Status: 4.65%

Watching the Energy Points he had only just built up to a little over four thousand instantly shrink by half, Su Yi's heart ached.

The only good news was that the Book of Knowledge had recovered quite a bit.

Based on the information that remained, Su Yi learned that once the Book of Knowledge was repaired to 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100%, its abilities would improve.

Its absorption of Energy Points would be enhanced, while the Energy Point consumption of functions such as Deduction and Optimization would also decrease.

To reach 20%, he would probably have to enter Magic Martial and spend some time in the Battle Art Room.

There were less than ten days left before the Cultural Course Exam. Su Yi planned to take on missions after graduation.

There were still three months before Magic Martial began!

It was worth mentioning that as soon as the Martial Arts College Entrance Exam ended, the Capital Martial Admissions Office and the Magic Martial Admissions Office called one after another to invite Su Yi to apply.

Although the terms offered by Capital Martial were not bad either, Su Yi did not want to go there and chose Magic Martial instead.

An Entrance Scholarship of 300 Credit Points, free Breakthrough Pills for the Lower Three Grades, a mentor who was at least a Sixth-Rank Expert, along with plenty of other benefits.

All told, the rewards were worth over ten million.

Although Capital Martial's terms were about the same, there was one crucial factor: Zhang Tao!

Kyoto, with Zhang Tao in it, was truly not a suitable place for Su Yi. He just did not know what level Zhang Tao's strength had reached by now.

After all, Su Yi's secrets were no small matter, and he himself was still far too weak. If Zhang Tao's Spiritual Power sensed something unusual about him, he would definitely become an object of special attention.

Knowing Zhang Tao's character well, he had long since decided not to go to Kyoto.

Zhang Tao's vision was too lofty. He could sacrifice anything, even himself.

Before gaining sufficient strength, Su Yi had no intention of dealing with Zhang Tao.

Besides, Su Yi still needed to dispel the obsession left behind by the original owner of this body.

Time always passed quickly while cultivating.

On the 7th, the College Entrance Exam began: Chinese in the morning, mathematics in the afternoon.

On the morning of the 8th, politics, history, and geography; in the afternoon, physics, chemistry, and biology.

The Cultural Course Exam was effortless for Su Yi.

With Spiritual Power exceeding 400 Hz, his memory and comprehension had been enhanced tremendously.

On the afternoon of the 8th, the College Entrance Exam officially ended.

Su Yi also attended a gathering with his classmates.

They ate, drank, and sang.

They had all been suppressed for too long, and everyone was venting their emotions.

Some complained, some cried, some confessed.

By the end of the drinking, Su Yi was somewhat tipsy as well.

A few female classmates took advantage of the alcohol to confess to him during the gathering, but he politely turned them down one by one.

Mao Qiutong saw all of this. She raised a glass toward Su Yi.

"Su Yi, you said you wouldn't consider dating before graduating from the College Entrance Exam. Now that we've graduated, do you still not plan to date?"

Mao Qiutong's voice carried a trace of drunkenness too. Her face was flushed, and her gaze darted away uneasily.

"I don't."

Su Yi understood what she meant, but he still refused.

"Why?"

Naturally, Mao Qiutong understood what Su Yi meant.

She had expected to be rejected, but she still did not want to leave herself with any regrets.

Su Yi smiled faintly. How could there be so many whys in this world?

Admiration was not the same as liking someone.

"For now, I don't want to think about romance. I have more important things to do."

Su Yi casually found himself a universal excuse—or perhaps it was not an excuse at all.

Cultivation had always been more important to him.

It was not that Su Yi did not want a relationship. If he met a girl who truly made his heart stir, he would pursue her all the same.

Admiration was admiration. Liking was liking.

Su Yi could clearly distinguish between the two.

Still, it would not be good to reject her too decisively.

They had been high school classmates for three years, and Su Yi still valued that bond deeply.

"Su Yi, I like you!"

Mao Qiutong's bluntness caught Su Yi off guard.

Girls and boys usually chose different ways. When boys confessed, they threw caution to the wind, burning hot with passion.

Girls, on the other hand, generally beat around the bush, confessing in a joking tone.

The girls before her had all expressed their feelings indirectly, and Su Yi had rejected them just as tactfully.

Thinking of that, Su Yi raised an eyebrow and smiled. "Did you lose at Truth or Dare?"

Mao Qiutong laughed too, but shook her head. "This is the truth."

Before Su Yi could speak, she hurriedly added, "Don't reject me! I just don't want to have any regrets in the future."

Don't accept it, but don't reject it either.

I like you. It has nothing to do with you.

Su Yi looked deeply at Mao Qiutong. He knew he would find this moment hard to forget.

Raising his glass, he smiled gently. "Classmate Qiutong, another drink?"

"Huh? One glass won't be enough. I'm going to Capital Martial Academy, and who knows when we'll meet again after this."

Three years? Five years? Or perhaps they would never meet again!

"Then we won't go home until we're drunk!!!"

"Alright! We won't go home until we're drunk."

Let this be their final revelry, Su Yi thought.

Once the exams were over, everyone would go their separate ways. Some would go to Capital Martial Academy, some to Magic Martial Academy, and some to other Martial Universities.

Whether they could gather again in the future was something no one could say.

He also had no idea how many would go to Magic Martial Academy. As far as he knew, there was only Cheng Wen.

Of the three who had reached Second Bone Tempering, Li Xian and Mao Qiutong were both going to Capital Martial Academy.

Lai Yu was going to Capital Martial Academy as well. He had been stuck at first bone tempering and unable to break through, but he had become a martial artist before the exams.

Li Xian and Mao Qiutong had broken through long ago as well.

Third Bone Tempering was simply too difficult. It wasted too much time.

It was better to break through early and begin bone tempering.

Of the remaining eleven at First Grade bone tempering, he did not know how many would go to Magic Martial Academy.

Even if they attended the same school, they might not have many chances to meet. Martial University students were all busy, especially at the two major academies.

After Third Rank, once they learned about the Underground Cave, they would have even less time.

Cultivation alone never seemed to leave enough time. Who would deliberately go out of their way to keep in touch with classmates?

No one knew how much they drank. In the end, someone suggested that everyone gang up on Su Yi and ply him with alcohol, and Su Yi accepted every drink that came his way.

In the end, the drunk-unconscious Su Yi was driven away by Qin Nansheng.