The Ding Technique!?

The classroom of Class 2, Senior Year 3, at Chenyang City No. 1 High School was solemn.

More than fifty young men and women stared expectantly at the bald, middle-aged man on the podium.

"Ahem." Huang Bo cleared his throat, barely suppressing a smile. "What? Why are you all looking at me?"

"Homeroom teacher, I think you're even more handsome than you were yesterday!" said a sunny-looking young man.

"...Watch your manners!" Huang Bo couldn't hold it in any longer. Grinning broadly, he scolded, "All right, I won't tease you. Look at how impatient you all are."

He immediately switched on the projector and began playing a video.

"Watch closely. It's fine if you can't memorize it; I've already sent the video to your terminals, so you can check it whenever you want.

"But sharing it with anyone outside this class is strictly forbidden!"

The video began to play, displaying a human figure rendered in 3D.

Inside the body, strands of light seemed to flow as though they were alive.

At the very top were three large characters: Essence Tempering Technique!

At the window in the last row of the classroom, a handsome young man watched the projection with rapt attention.

Sunlight streamed through the window, catching his tousled hair and lending him a youthful air.

Chu Yuan wasn't from this world. He was a transmigrator.

It had been more than ten years, though, and sometimes he even forgot he was one.

Aside from the writing system and the people being identical to those in his previous life, this world had almost nothing else in common with it.

Martial arts had resurged, and monstrous species ran rampant!

As the saying went, all other pursuits were inferior; only martial arts stood supreme.

But most people simply didn't have the potential to become martial artists. In the end, they could only resign themselves to finding work in one of countless other professions...

This distribution of cultivation techniques was the final round of screening.

If they could advance to the Blood-Qi Realm within a month by relying on this basic technique, they could attend a martial arts university!

Otherwise... they would have to make do with whatever else they could find to do...

That was because the college entrance exams were only a month away.

The Essence Tempering Technique wasn't mysterious, let alone precious. Nearly everyone in Great Qin had practiced it.

But the law expressly forbade students under eighteen from viewing it.

One reason was that beginning cultivation before they were old enough could exhaust their physical potential.

The most obvious symptom was stunted growth...

But that wasn't the main reason. The main reason was screening!

When most other factors were equal, the faster someone progressed in cultivating a basic technique, the greater their talent for martial arts.

It was a simple, straightforward way to judge talent. Those with greater potential would receive better training.

Three days earlier, Chu Yuan and the others had undergone a general screening. Anyone who had started practicing martial arts techniques ahead of time was barred from attending a martial arts university!

Of course, someone might ask: even if everyone started cultivating at the same time, some people had wealthy families who could buy all kinds of supplements and resources;

while others were completely impoverished, without any outside help at all.

Wouldn't that still make it impossible to screen them with absolute fairness?

That was true. The authorities couldn't stop parents from buying martial arts resources for their children.

But this screening system had always existed. Even a martial artist who lacked talent but had been propped up by resources would eventually be found out!

Besides, the schools themselves had special support quotas for geniuses...

As the basic technique used throughout the country, the Essence Tempering Technique wasn't difficult to learn.

Chu Yuan quickly memorized the flow of the lines and, following the instructions, tried to absorb energy from his surroundings.

But just as the first wisp of energy entered his body, before Chu Yuan could even examine how it felt, a voice suddenly rang out in his mind!

[Ding! Blue Star System—Immortal Path Special Edition has restarted!

Host detected as having learned the Essence Tempering Technique;

System conversion in progress...

Converted to Evergreen Foundation Establishment Method!

Conversions today: 0!]

Chu Yuan was dumbfounded. Was this... the standard perk of a transmigrator, from the legends?

The legendary supreme divine ability of all realms—the Ding Technique?

But why had it only appeared now?

He had been in this world for more than a decade. He had long since prepared himself to be an unremarkable martial arts prodigy.

And before he'd even had a chance to put that preparation to use, his cheat had arrived?

If he thought about what he'd done differently today... it seemed the only thing was practicing the Essence Tempering Technique.

Could it be that the system would only activate once he began cultivating a technique...

Countless thoughts raced through his mind, but in reality, only an instant had passed.

The next moment, a torrent of information surged into his mind!

Those memories, that knowledge, seemed engraved upon his soul, clear as day!

Chu Yuan instinctively began circulating the technique.

Not the Essence Tempering Technique, of course, but the Evergreen Foundation Establishment Method!

Some wondrous energy in the world was drawn toward him, flowing in through every limb and bone.

Then it began surging wildly through his body, washing over him!

Chu Yuan felt a tingling sensation throughout his body. It was the impurities that had accumulated inside him over the past decade or so being flushed away.

A thin layer of blackish-gray substance seeped from his skin, giving off an unpleasant smell...

He could clearly feel himself growing stronger, little by little!

It was as if he had cast off the shackles of the past and shed a suit of iron armor!

The sensation made him want to leap up, sprint around, and let out a long howl!

But the comfort of the energy entering his body made it impossible for him to stop cultivating...

Until a familiar voice rang out.

"All right, take a break." Huang Bo looked over the students as he spoke.

Some looked reluctant to stop, while others scratched their heads in frustration.

Some wore delighted expressions, while others looked utterly dejected...

The difference in martial arts talent had once been a vague concept. But from their very first lesson in cultivation, it had been laid bare.

He didn't try to comfort anyone. After all, empty reassurances wouldn't help those with poor talent. They could only recognize reality for themselves and find a way forward.

"Today was just to help you get familiar with the technique. Starting tomorrow, the Energy Gathering Array in the classroom will be activated.

"Of course, if anyone wants to cultivate at home, you can come see me for an absence slip." Huang Bo recited the standard instructions.

It was the usual arrangement. For the month before the college entrance exams, starting with the distribution of basic techniques,

the Energy Gathering Array in the classroom would be activated to support cultivation.

Regular classes would be suspended, and everything would revolve around cultivation!

But it wasn't compulsory. Students could choose to cultivate at home instead.

Only after he finished speaking did the students below start talking. Their discussion, though, had gotten a little sidetracked.

"Uh... what's that smell?"

"Yeah, why does it stink?"

"Teacher, I'm going to the restroom..." Chu Yuan stood up and said awkwardly.

Huang Bo immediately noticed the impurities covering the skin exposed beneath his clothes.

His previously calm expression turned to shock.

"Chu Yuan! You... underwent Marrow Cleansing?"