Promotion to Fifth Grade!

All the hustle and bustle of the world is for gain; all the coming and going is for profit.

Li Yuan believed that the mark of a mature person was understanding that saying.

A person should move toward profit, and do so with unwavering resolve.

But why had Director Ma chosen to help him?

Didn't he know that provoking Principal Yin like this would only bring him more harm?

As Director Ma himself had said, after years of brown-nosing, he should have long been used to it.

Why would he still do something that went against his own interests?

Director Ma lowered his head and took a sip of tea.

"The answer isn't that complicated. I just don't think you deserve to have that bonus docked.

A teacher who works hard and puts in the effort ought to get more bonuses.

Besides, you've already compromised for years. You deserve this chance to train."

Facing Li Yuan, Director Ma laid out his thoughts completely.

To sum it up, he simply couldn't stand to watch any longer.

"Thank you, Director. I'll do my best at the Youth Martial Tournament and aim for a decent ranking."

Li Yuan didn't hold much resentment toward Director Ma.

In his position, many things were beyond his control.

If he took Li Yuan's side, he'd be ousted soon enough.

Hearing this, Director Ma gave a helpless smile.

"Though I don't agree with the principal's actions this time, I don't think all of his views are wrong.

Your talent in martial arts isn't that outstanding.

The gap in real strength between you and Jin Fan and the others is considerable.

Barring any surprises, this kind of training opportunity at the Youth Martial Tournament will be hard to come by again.

After the tournament, focus on honing your teaching skills.

I have high regard for your teaching ability—enough to make you a grade-level teaching lead."

Li Yuan exchanged a few polite words and left the office.

Director Ma still didn't have much confidence in him.

This time, he spoke up more because he simply couldn't stand it anymore.

Even if not for merit, then for hard work—Li Yuan deserved the qualification to participate in this Youth Martial Tournament.

To Li Yuan, Director Ma's words didn't affect him.

Whether or not he had confidence in him didn't change his own strength.

Besides, Director Zeng from the Education Bureau had already shown considerable approval of him.

At the Youth Martial Tournament, it wasn't impossible to achieve a decent ranking.

After work, he took the bus home.

Starting tomorrow, it would be time to prepare for the Youth Martial Tournament.

He had taken a total of twenty days off to focus entirely on training.

After dinner, Li Yuan first checked the experience points he had earned so far.

Today, he had taught the later lessons ahead of schedule, which made the classes a bit rushed.

But with Li Yuan's teaching ability, even though the pace was fast, the results were still decent, and he managed to pick up quite a few light points.

[Experience: 315/400]

Below the light screen, Li Yuan looked at the fourth Talent Point. He was only a little over eighty experience points away.

He would definitely obtain it before the Youth Martial Tournament.

After reviewing this, Li Yuan continued his realm cultivation.

With an ample supply of B-grade Nutrient Fluid and the time off, he could afford to push himself a little harder.

Li Yuan planned to set out for Qijia Town the morning after next.

The high-speed train ride would take a full day and night, giving him plenty of time to sleep on the train.

So, spending this one day at home pushing himself hard wouldn't be a problem.

After dinner, Li Yuan resumed his cultivation and tempering.

The effect of the B-grade Nutrient Fluid was very noticeable.

Gradually, the pain in his body began to lessen, and even started to disappear.

All these signs pointed to a leap in physical strength.

At four in the morning, Li Yuan lay down to rest.

He woke naturally at nine, and after waking, continued his training and improvement.

Through this combination of medicine and self-cultivation, at four in the morning, Li Yuan finally advanced to Fifth-Rank.

Trapped at Fourth-Rank for years, he had finally taken this step.

At the same time, the most noticeable changes were in his eyesight and hearing.

The lights in Li Yuan's room were actually quite dim.

But now, they seemed much brighter.

Listening carefully, the voices of people talking downstairs in the complex had also become clearer.

The benefits of a strengthened physique should go far beyond this, but for now, Li Yuan was genuinely tired from training.

He took a shower and stabilized his realm.

He was set to depart for Qijia Town tomorrow, and Li Yuan didn't want to waste energy on other matters.

Even celebrating wasn't something for now.

At six in the morning, Li Yuan shouldered his bag and set off to take the high-speed rail.

Once on the train, he immediately leaned back and slept to rest and recover.

In his backpack, he carried six bottles of B-grade Nutrient Fluid.

Of the thirty-five bottles of nutrient fluid, only nine were left at home.

After reaching the Fifth-Rank in martial arts, D-grade Nutrient Fluid had little effect.

From now on, cultivation would require at least C Grade.

The cost of living would gradually rise.

But after the Youth Martial Tournament, he would soon obtain the title of Intermediate Teacher.

His salary and bonuses would increase significantly—he could afford it.

He slept on the high-speed rail until a little past six in the evening, fully rested.

For a Fifth-Rank Martial Artist, not resting at all was fine; the body could handle it.

Resting and sleeping was more about recovering mental energy.

The body could still endure, but focus would drop somewhat.

After waking, Li Yuan drank some nutrient fluid and continued to sense the changes of Fifth-Rank.

The high-speed train raced along, yet Li Yuan found he could clearly see nearby scenery.

The rapidly retreating scenery didn't seem so fast in his eyes.

And in this noisy environment, he could hear sounds from outside.

Feeling this, Li Yuan realized that when martial artists fought, even suppressing their martial realm, the advantage was enormous!

Eyesight, hearing, reaction speed—these were all things on a higher level.

In this situation, Gu Yu still lost to him, and Li Yuan didn't know what he had to be dissatisfied about.

At the same time, Li Yuan noticed something.

It could be called bad news.

His basic cultivation method, the Zhou Tian Dao Yin Technique.

After advancing to Fifth-Rank, its effects had become very weak.

This basic cultivation method had always had limited effects on strengthening fascia and bone marrow.

Its enhancement of cells was still decent.

When he was at Fourth-Rank, it barely sufficed.

Relying on the Zhou Tian circulation method, he could still benefit his fascia and bone marrow.

But after stepping into Fifth-Rank, the Zhou Tian Dao Yin Technique had no effect on fascia or bone marrow at all.

He really needed to find a suitable basic cultivation method.

Li Yuan wasn't panicked, though.

If worst came to worst, he could find another ordinary one and use two basic cultivation methods together.

There was still some distance to Qijia Town; he wouldn't arrive until tomorrow morning.

For the remaining time, he could calm down and read some books.

For this trip, Li Yuan had also brought two books in his backpack.

One was Practical Handbook for Beast Response, and the other was Border Records.

These two books would be very helpful for border training.

The two books were very thick; in the past, it would have taken half a month just to finish one.

But now, Li Yuan understood all kinds of books very quickly.

One night was enough to finish reading all the remaining content.

After spending the night on the high-speed train, at 9:30 in the morning, Li Yuan walked out of the train station.

Qijia Town, he had arrived.

Li Yuan first called his friend Chen Yong to report his safe arrival and ask about the situation.