A Different Li Wen

The next morning, at dawn.

A faint glimmer filtered through the gaps in the mottled old curtains, casting a long, narrow band of light across the floor.

Li Wen woke from his bed, his consciousness swiftly clearing from sleep.

Out of habit, he narrowed his eyes slightly to adjust to the brightness, then stretched long and hard.

Once the last traces of drowsiness had faded, the unease buried deep in his heart quietly rose again.

With a slight thought, he summoned the light screen that carried his hopes:

[Name: Li Wen]

[Age: 18]

[Profession: Scholar lv1 (0/100)]

[Realm: Unranked (Level 6.0 → 6.1)]

[Cultivation Method: Fracture Edge Gold Sha Method: Basic (Initiation 80 → 87/100)]

[Skill: Blade Art · Advanced (Minor Accomplishment 86/100)]

Seeing the familiar translucent screen still hovering quietly before his eyes, Li Wen could not help but let out a deep breath, as though he had expelled the crushing repression that had weighed on his heart for eighteen years along with it.

"It's still here... It wasn't a dream." He muttered softly, his voice carrying a faint, barely detectable tremble.

These eighteen years had been far too hard for him, like a lone canoe rowing desperately through a storm with no shore in sight.

He had clearly exerted strength far beyond that of ordinary people, sweat soaking into his bones, yet because of his family's poverty and his own former dullness, not only had he failed to draw closer to the opposite shore, he had instead been cast farther and farther behind by peers blessed with resources and talent.

To him, the appearance of this mysterious panel was no different from seeing the only piece of driftwood when he was about to drown—the only ember of hope he could seize.

The reassurance brought by confirming the panel's existence gradually soothed his panic. Li Wen's mind settled, and with focus and curiosity in his eyes, he examined the changing data on the panel one by one.

Realm: Unranked (Level 6.0 → 6.1)

"Just as I thought!" A sharp light flashed through Li Wen's eyes.

During yesterday's physical test, the cold mechanical voice had announced that his Flesh Rank had barely remained at Level 6.0, a passing line still unimaginably far from even the application threshold for Martial Arts University.

Yet in just one night, it had risen by a full 0.1 level! Such an increase was unprecedented in all his years of cultivation.

In the past, even when he gritted his teeth and used up the only three Level 1 Blood Qi Potions each month, the improvement had been negligible. An increase so visible to the naked eye, confirmed by the panel, was absolutely a first.

"It was definitely the effect of Absolute Focus!" He firmly attributed the credit to the core skill he had activated last night.

In that state of "Absolute Focus," not only did his mind and intent become one, casting aside every stray thought and vastly increasing his cultivation efficiency, but more importantly, there was that mysterious, profound sensation—as if fog had been swept away and his comprehension elevated. That was the true key!

Cultivation Method: Fracture Edge Gold Sha Method: Basic (Initiation 80 → 87/100)

When his gaze shifted to the cultivation method column, he understood.

No wonder he had always found the profound meaning of the Fracture Edge Gold Sha Method so deep and obscure. Its proficiency had only just crossed the threshold into "Initiation."

Yet one single session of cultivation under "Absolute Focus" last night had caused the proficiency that had been stuck for so long to surge by seven points. The direct feedback from the improved efficiency filled him with confidence for the future.

Skill: Blade Art · Advanced (Minor Accomplishment 86/100)

When his eyes fell upon the skill column, a faint ripple and a trace of emotion stirred within Li Wen's heart.

Compared to his shallow attainment in cultivation methods, this "Minor Accomplishment" in "Advanced Blade Art" was probably the only result from his two and a half years of bitter training worth mentioning—the one thing he could barely bring out and show.

The classifications of beginner martial arts skills surfaced clearly in his mind: Basic, Advanced, Peak, with each tier further divided into Initiation, Minor Accomplishment, and Greater Accomplishment.

After cultivating a Peak Blade Art to Greater Accomplishment and Perfection, one had to comprehend heaven and earth, merge them into oneself, and create a martial arts Secret Technique unique to oneself before stepping into that longed-for first realm—the Unity Realm!

Those who entered this realm became one in body, mind, and skill, capable of erupting with their own strength at several times, or even more than ten times, its original power, completely opening an abyss between themselves and ordinary martial artists.

Before a Unity Realm expert, so long as the opponent's skill realm had not likewise crossed into that realm, even if their Flesh Rank was much higher, they were merely targets with slightly superior strength and speed, to be wiped out with a turn of the palm.

This "Unity Realm" was also a crucial, even decisive, threshold determining whether a martial artist could break through the limits of life and enter the ranks of the transcendent "Super Warriors."

Unable to enter this realm, one would be locked firmly within the category of ordinary martial artists for life.

Within little Qingshi County, the Unity Realm experts could be counted on one's fingers, and every single one was a lofty Super Warrior.

Among high school students, those who could achieve this were even rarer than phoenix feathers and qilin horns.

As far as Li Wen knew, among all the high schools in Qingshi County combined, fewer than ten students could reach the Unity Realm before graduation.

Every one of those people was a favored child of heaven, the county's greatest hope for challenging Huaxia Kingdom's four Peak martial arts academies in the coming year.

Once upon a time, whenever he heard such legends, all he felt was deep helplessness and shock.

He had exhausted all his effort merely cultivating Basic Blade Art, and reaching Minor Accomplishment in Advanced Blade Art had already been difficult, while others could surpass Peak techniques at the same age and forge Secret Techniques of their own.

Back then, Li Wen had not merely lacked the desire to catch up. Even the right to look up at them had seemed incomparably extravagant.

Yet now, staring at the "86/100" on the panel and feeling the unprecedented clarity brought by the fusion of his two souls—

—as well as the power of the Scholar granted by the panel—the long-still lake of Li Wen's heart stirred for the first time with ripples called ambition.

"Ring-ring-ring~~" The somewhat piercing alarm beside his bed suddenly sounded, interrupting Li Wen's racing thoughts.

He casually switched off the alarm, buried those thoughts in his heart, then got up and pushed open the door to wash up.

The icy water against his face brought him completely awake.

After hurriedly washing up, Li Wen took the simple but still-warm breakfast Mother Li, Wang Juan, had prepared on the small dining table in the cramped living room. He slung on his canvas schoolbag, faded white from washing, pushed open the creaking door, and merged into the busy clamor unique to the old district in the early morning.

Qingshi No.3 High School.

Senior Year Teaching Building, Class 21 cultural studies classroom.

It was still early, and the vast classroom was empty. Li Wen was already seated in his usual corner seat by the window.

His focused gaze rested on the copy of High-Energy Mathematics Fundamentals spread open before him.

Sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating the complex and difficult formulas and symbols on the pages. Li Wen concentrated and began studying and comprehending them word by word, sentence by sentence.

About ten minutes after he entered his study state, the classroom door was pushed open, and a slightly plump boy with small eyes walked in.

Seeing Li Wen already reading, he pushed up his glasses and greeted him with a half-teasing, half-habitual tone:

"Whoa, as expected of our class's study grinder. You really came early."

This was Wei Wu, the top student in Class 21's cultural studies and someone who consistently ranked within the top ten on the entire Qingshi No.3 High School cultural studies leaderboard.

But in stark contrast to his brilliant academic achievements, his martial arts grades were a complete disaster, even considerably worse than Li Wen's used to be.

Their classmates often joked about their names behind their backs: Li Wen was no good at academics, while Wei Wu was no good at martial arts.

"Morning." Li Wen did not even raise his head. His eyes remained glued to the page as he gave a brief reply.

It was not deliberate coldness. He simply did not want to attract too much unnecessary attention through an abnormal change in attitude, and he was even more immersed in his fresh hunger for knowledge at this moment.

The Scholar's experience points had to be gained through studying knowledge! He had realized that after his preliminary attempt last night.

[You studied diligently for ten minutes. Scholar EXP +1.]

Almost at the same time, this line of text that delighted him slightly appeared on the panel.

Just as he had expected! It was exactly like the mechanics of that game from his memories!

The core source of experience for the [Scholar] profession was studying, understanding, and mastering knowledge!

And the higher the level, the more exaggerated and powerful the increase in comprehension and self-control brought by "Absolute Focus" would become!

The immense cultivation gains brought by his first experience with the skill last night were like sweet rain after a drought, filling him with the drive to farm experience.

Even without this panel, he would have worked hard to improve himself.

But now, with a clear goal and a visible progress bar, that motivation blazed like a raging fire.

He had to raise the [Scholar] level as quickly as possible!

Because in the game's settings, the first player to grind their initial profession to the maximum level would receive a heaven-defying reward—unlocking a Second Profession!

This hidden "Pioneer" achievement was publicly recognized by strategy circles in his previous life as one of the foundations for establishing the strongest late-game combat power! He was determined to claim it!

Time flowed soundlessly amid focused study.

Another ten-odd minutes later, the classroom door was pushed open again, and a girl with a high ponytail and a slightly sleepy expression walked in.

Seeing Li Wen and Wei Wu seated one before the other and already reading, she could not help yawning as she muttered:

"Sure enough, the first- and second-ranked study grinders are both here. You two, can you leave the rest of us a way to live?" Her words carried familiar teasing.

"Morning!" Wei Wu looked up and replied with a smile.

"Morning!" Li Wen still did not raise his head, answering while sparing a moment from his book.

The girl was clearly used to the styles of these two as well. She tossed the schoolbag from her shoulder onto her desk, unzipped it, took out her books, and joined the ranks of the "grinders."

The classroom was left with only the sounds of turning pages and pen tips rustling across paper. The focus of the three of them formed a silent boundary.

"Ring-ring-ring—" The melodious dismissal bell suddenly rang.

For the entire morning, Li Wen had been immersed in intense study. Aside from necessary bathroom breaks between classes, he had spent nearly six hours bent over his desk without moving.

[Profession: Scholar lv1 (36/100)]

The experience on the panel clearly recorded the fruits of his diligence.

Six hours had earned him thirty-six experience points.

At this rate, if he threw himself into it like this for another two days, he would definitely raise Scholar to lv2.

Mm... Li Wen set down his pen, rose from his seat, and moved his shoulders, neck, waist, and back, which had grown somewhat stiff from sitting too long. Then he stretched with great force.

A few soft cracks sounded from his joints.

Although he had not exercised as intensely as during afternoon cultivation, several hours of high-intensity study requiring extreme concentration likewise consumed a tremendous amount of mental energy.

At this moment, even his temples felt faintly swollen.

At the same time, his stomach let out a timely protest of hunger. "Grrr..."

"I should fill my stomach first." Li Wen muttered, quickly stuffing his books into his desk, picking up his empty water cup, and walking briskly out of the classroom toward the cafeteria.

The intangible fullness brought by knowledge now needed real energy to replenish it.

Around one-thirty in the afternoon.

Qingshi No.3 High School, Class 21 Martial Arts Room.

Completely unlike the plain, cramped cultural studies classroom from the morning, this dedicated classroom for martial arts cultivation was extraordinarily spacious.

The nearly thousand-square-meter space had flooring made from special materials capable of enduring powerful impacts.

All kinds of training equipment were fixed along the surrounding walls, while a huge open area in the center was reserved for sparring practice or group cultivation.

There was still half an hour before the official afternoon martial arts class began, but the Martial Arts Room was already quite lively.

Aside from those students in the class whose ambitions lay in academic subjects and who had long since given up on taking the martial arts path, nearly every Class 21 student planning to pursue martial arts and apply to Martial Arts University had already arrived.

By the second semester of senior year, the new material martial arts teachers could teach had long been covered during the previous two years. Classes now consisted more of students independently strengthening their practice while teachers patrolled nearby to guide them, correct mistakes, and answer difficult questions.

On the path of cultivation, the saying "the master leads one through the gate, but cultivation depends on the individual" became vividly clear in the later stages.

With the college entrance examination fast approaching, everyone had a string pulled tight in their hearts. No one dared relax. They all wanted to seize every minute and second to improve themselves, striving to gain one more advantage in the examination that would decide their fates.

That was why, by one-thirty at noon, the Martial Arts Room was already so bustling.