Practical Combat Class

"It was getting late. Time to go to school."

Xu Ziming subconsciously checked the time. It was already six thirty. In Suzhe Province, going to school at this hour was considered rather late.

He was just about to leave when an overwhelming hunger surged up from his stomach, and saliva began flooding his mouth.

Breaking through his Life Energy Level had consumed too much energy. Even he had not expected merely reaching the introductory level in the Basic Body Forging Method to bring such a huge improvement.

He quickly pushed open his bedroom door. Outside, Mother Xu had already prepared a table full of breakfast.

Steamed buns, soy milk, fried dough sticks, and some sliced beef.

The food covered the entire table.

"A-Ming, you're up? Go brush your teeth and come eat breakfast."

Mother Xu poked her head out of the kitchen, still holding a spatula.

But Xu Ziming had no time to brush his teeth. At that moment, his mind had already been consumed by the bone-deep hunger.

It felt as though his chest was about to stick to his back.

He sat at the table and stuffed bowl-sized buns directly into his mouth with his hands. Only after eating eight of them did he finally slow down.

At that point, Mother Xu came out of the kitchen with a worried look on her face. But she did not dare say anything.

"Mom, I made another breakthrough. Don't worry, my Life Energy Level has reached 3.0 now."

He swallowed the food in his mouth and gulped down a bowl of soy milk before finally speaking.

"Oh my God, how did you do that?"

Mother Xu was startled, but a smile unconsciously appeared on her face. As his mother, she could not possibly doubt her son. She was simply curious.

"The teacher said I'm very talented. I just didn't work very hard before. But now I've figured things out. I'm going to study properly and try to get into a good university."

Xu Ziming immediately brought out the explanation he had prepared since last night. It was a lie, but at least it was a well-intentioned one.

By the time he finished breakfast, it was around seven. Xu Zhiyao had just gotten up when she saw her older brother dash out of the house.

Then, with another glance, she noticed the table had been utterly ravaged.

"Huh? Mom, didn't you make breakfast today?"

By the time he reached the classroom, it was already seven twenty. Dai Fei had long been seated, holding Martial Way Theory and reciting it with great enthusiasm.

When he saw Xu Ziming arrive, he looked surprised.

"Old Xu, why are you so late today? That's not like you."

"Something came up at home. But I'm not late, right? Has the teacher arrived?"

"Soon, soon. I heard our homeroom teacher is giving us a Practical Combat Class today!"

Excitement colored Dai Fei's voice. He seemed to be looking forward to the Practical Combat Class.

The Martial Arts College Entrance Exam had a total score of 750. Martial Way Theory accounted for 30%, or 225 points. Practical combat skills accounted for another 30%, also 225 points. Finally came Life Energy Level, worth 40%, or 300 points.

Last year, the lowest admission score for a Martial Way University had been 492. Xu Ziming, however, only had 441 points, still a long way from the undergraduate cutoff.

"Quiet down, everyone. Next class will be a Martial Way practical combat class. The reason the First Mock Exam results were only released after winter break was so you could enjoy the holiday. But it looks like some of you got a little too pleased with yourselves!"

Before Xu Ziming could process that, Ma Mingyu was already standing at the podium. He kept tapping the desk, his expression stern.

Soon after, the students of Grade 12 Class 7 lined up at the door and followed Ma Mingyu to the Combat Drill Room.

Pengcheng No. 3 Martial Way Middle School had quite a solid foundation. The entire Combat Drill Room looked packed with futuristic technology.

Bright displays covered the surrounding walls. Training areas were evenly arranged throughout the hall, each one equipped with sixty Virtual Pods.

Students could lie inside and conduct virtual combat drills. Even if something went wrong, the damage would only be mental and would not injure the students themselves.

Xu Ziming found a Virtual Pod and lay down inside. His vision went dark, and he found himself in a classroom.

Ma Mingyu was already standing before everyone.

"Today, we won't be practicing anything else. We'll focus on one thing—Weapon Mastery."

"For the past two years, I only required you to practice basic fist techniques and use weapons as supplementary training. But now, there are only one hundred days left until the College Entrance Exam."

He paused, and his expression became extremely serious.

"If you want to score highly in the final practical combat assessment, you must become proficient with your weapon."

"Starting today, you will choose a specific weapon as your training focus for the next hundred days. Whether it's your daily training or targeted resource allocation, everything will revolve around that choice."

Ma Mingyu's voice rang through the class, and each student wore a different expression.

Some students came from wealthy families and had understood the importance of weapon training from a young age. They had even started specializing in a particular weapon long ago.

Most students, however, had focused more on practicing fist techniques.

Xu Ziming was different. He was not particularly good at either...

"Shi Zhixiang, state your choice!"

"Spear!"

"Dai Fei, what's your choice!?"

"I... I choose..."

Like Xu Ziming, Dai Fei was someone who had coasted along waiting for death, so he clearly had not thought it through either. Still, he gritted his teeth and shouted.

"Blade! I choose the blade!"

One student after another made their choices under the teacher's urging. Xu Ziming had already made up his mind. He wanted to practice swordsmanship.

With that thought, he unconsciously picked up the "Type 1 Psionic Sword" in the virtual environment.

[Detected equipable item: Type 1 Psionic Sword]

[Would you like to remove the Basic Body Forging Method and equip this item?]

[Note: Each Equipment Slot can only equip one item. To increase the number of Equipment Slots, you must permanently solidify traits.]

The instant he touched the sword, several lines of information flashed through his mind.

"Xu Ziming, what weapon are you choosing!"

"A sword, teacher. I choose the sword!"

His eyes were filled with confidence, leaving Ma Mingyu stunned for two seconds before he gave a deep nod. "Good!"

"Yes, equip the Type 1 Psionic Sword."

Seeing that the homeroom teacher was no longer paying attention to him, Xu Ziming removed the Basic Body Forging Method and equipped the Type 1 Psionic Sword instead.

[Equipment successful. Trait acquired: "Natural Sword Bone"]

[Natural Sword Bone: You possess unique insight into all sword techniques. With a sword in hand, you are a sword immortal! Sword technique cultivation speed increased by 200%. You may check the progress of any sword technique you are cultivating at any time.]

[Condition for permanent solidification: Reach the introductory level in the Basic Sword Method.]

As the explanation appeared, another string of data appeared before him the next moment.

Basic Sword Method: Uninitiated (89.5%)

Then train!

Xu Ziming closed his eyes and continuously recalled the movements of the Basic Sword Method.

The Basic Sword Method had twenty-four forms in total. As soon as Xu Ziming opened his eyes, he executed the first form.

Whoosh—

The longsword sliced through the air with a burst of wind, drawing a perfect arc through the air.

Chop, lift, thrust...

One stance after another flowed from his hand.

At that moment, he felt as though the sword were part of his body. The longsword in his hand was like a venomous snake hidden deep in the rainforest, every move carrying sharp killing intent.

"Could this kid be a natural Sword Seed?"

Ma Mingyu had long since turned his attention to Xu Ziming, admiration in his eyes. After all, he was also a swordsman!