Please provide the chapter body with exactly 102 paragraphs. The supplied body contains fewer than 102, so I can't meet the paragraph-count requirement without adding or splitting content. Chapter 43: Asking the Instructor for Guidance

The other school's student had a chunk of flesh bitten off his forearm, damaging an artery. Blood was still pouring from the wound.

However, with the medical technology available in this world, even severed limbs could be regrown. An injury like this wasn't life-threatening.

The students nearby had gone pale with fright and didn't dare approach. The class monitor soon arrived with two soldiers and administered first aid, temporarily stopping the bleeding.

Lu Chong took the handkerchief Lou Qingqing handed him and wiped the snake's blood from his face. He didn't feel particularly uncomfortable.

He had prepared himself for this sort of situation long ago. He had even gone out of his way to watch plenty of related gore videos.

Still, Lu Chong was reminded once again of how dangerous the Wilderness was. It was nothing like the captive-bred Exotic Beasts in the Hunting Ground.

The Shadow Cat from the Mock Exam hadn't been tamed, but it clearly lacked the ferocity of an Exotic Beast in the Wilderness.

"Kid, are you all right?" Instructor Liu Ziqiang came over and asked.

As Lu Chong watched the other soldiers help gather his spoils, he grinned and shook his head. "Instructor, can I ask how many military merit points I have now?"

He had worked hard for half a day and stolen plenty of kills. Wasn't it all for those military merit points?

Liu Ziqiang was visibly taken aback. This kid hadn't asked after his classmates or shown any fear. Instead, his first concern was finding out how many military merit points he had?

He couldn't tell whether the kid was cold-blooded or just had nerves of steel.

"Three hundred and fifty-two points. Don't worry, you're in first place for now," Liu Ziqiang replied irritably.

Lu Chong quickly did the math. By the usual reckoning, one military merit point was worth more than a hundred yuan. Had he just earned over thirty thousand yuan today?

"Great. This pays better than private tutoring," Lu Chong thought gleefully.

More importantly, military merit was worth more than the equivalent amount of money, because it could be exchanged for resources unavailable on the market.

If only they'd give me a few Martial Skills for free, like the teachers at school do, Lu Chong thought.

But he knew that was unlikely. Soldiers were soldiers, and the Military Department wasn't a charity devoted to educating people. Everything was decided by military merit.

Of course, private instruction didn't count.

At that thought, Lu Chong gave Instructor Liu Ziqiang a meaningful look.

This Martial Artist instructor must have a few tricks up his sleeve.

"What are you staring at?" Liu Ziqiang asked, feeling uneasy under Lu Chong's gaze.

Lu Chong answered honestly, "Reporting in, Instructor. I'd like to ask you to guide me in my Martial Skills."

Liu Ziqiang finally relaxed. He'd wondered what was going on. It turned out this talented kid knew how to humbly seek advice after all.

"We'll talk when we get back. Martial Skill training isn't until the afternoon."

Their group had finished its patrol assignment, and soon returned to the Fortress in orderly fashion.

At two in the afternoon, all the students assembled at the training grounds.

Some were injured, some looked dejected, and others seemed quite excited.

Clearly, their first day in the Wilderness had given them an experience unlike anything they'd gone through before.

Lu Chong also noticed that the Campus Forum's electronic noticeboard now displayed the military merit rankings for all the students.

Just as Liu Ziqiang had said, Lu Chong was in first place, with 352 points.

In second place, with 297 points, was Xue Cheng from Third High School, who had provoked Lu Chong earlier.

Xiang Yueya and Huang Junyan were in third and fourth place, respectively, each with over 200 points.

Xue Cheng glanced at Lu Chong from a distance, still full of fighting spirit.

Lu Chong smiled back, calculating in his head. Three hundred and fifty-two plus two hundred and ninety-seven means I effectively have 649 military merit points now...

Head Instructor Cheng Dongye addressed them. "I'm sure you all know how you performed in the Wilderness."

"I have to say, you're the worst batch I've ever trained."

"If you don't improve, my advice is to pack up and go home to play house as soon as possible."

At his words, more than half the students lowered their heads in shame, each thinking he was talking about them.

"You have half an hour to rest."

"After that, we'll begin Martial Skill training. Find an instructor who can spar with you at your level."

As he spoke, Cheng Dongye grinned viciously, making the students shiver.

They had heard from previous batches that sparring with these instructors was sheer torture.

After all, the military's training motto was to put you on the brink of death so you could come back stronger. In other words, they trained you to the point of collapse.

Many students, and even new recruits, had said they would rather face Exotic Beasts in the Wilderness than spar with the Devil Instructors.

Lu Chong didn't mind. He was still thinking about how to get the most out of the instructors.

While resting, he took a look at his personal status panel—

Name: Lu Chong

Level: Martial Apprentice Stage 9 (4%)

Martial Skills: Nine-Shadow Step — Perfection

...

Wind Splitting Leg — Perfection

Golden Cicada Robe — Microscopic (59%)

Tiger Roar Skill — Great Accomplishment (2%)

"The automatic training speed of Golden Cicada Robe and Tiger Roar Skill is still a little slow!" Lu Chong wasn't satisfied.

Golden Cicada Robe required medicinal liquid as an aid. Lu Chong planned to exchange military merit for some that evening and soak in it while he slept.

Tiger Roar Skill was a top-grade technique. It was only natural that its automatic training would slow down after reaching Great Accomplishment.

Besides, Principal Fang was giving him extra lessons. With a month, he was sure he could reach near-perfection at the Microscopic level.

"So I can learn a few more Martial Skills. The more, the better."

Now that he understood how important basic Martial Skills were, Lu Chong certainly wouldn't turn down more. They would all save him time in his future training.

Half an hour passed in a flash. Lu Chong didn't seek out any of the other instructors; he headed straight for Liu Ziqiang.

He had already perfected all seven of the school's Martial Skills, so it didn't matter who he trained with. What mattered was who could teach him something new.

Lou Qingqing had reached the Microscopic level in both Monument-Splitting Palm and Nine-Shadow Step while practicing with Lu Chong, so she had also chosen his group without hesitation.

To Lu Chong's surprise, Xiang Yueya, Huang Junyan, and even Xue Cheng had also chosen Instructor Liu Ziqiang.

Do they all want to learn Mountain Leaning Back?

Liu Ziqiang stood proudly before the fifteen students who had chosen him. His voice rang like a bell. "I'm not as good at teaching as your teachers, but I can suppress my cultivation and spar with you as realistically as possible."

"What I'm going to teach you isn't the theory behind Mountain Leaning Back. It's how to use it to defeat your opponent."

"How much you understand is up to you."

"Who wants to go first?" Liu Ziqiang's tiger-like eyes swept over the group.

One by one, the students lowered their heads and avoided his gaze. No one volunteered.

"Then I'll call on someone." Liu Ziqiang suddenly looked toward Lu Chong in the crowd. "Lu Chong, step forward!"

Lu Chong stepped out at once and cupped his fists toward the instructor. "Please guide me, Instructor."

"Good. I'll spar with you using Mountain Leaning Back at Martial Apprentice Stage 9," Liu Ziqiang said with a nod, raising his voice.

"Ninth Stage?!" The students erupted into a commotion.

When had that happened? Wasn't Lu Chong at Martial Apprentice Stage 8?

And after the Campus Forum had spread the news, everyone present knew that Lu Chong had only recently broken through to Martial Apprentice Stage 8.

But it had only been a few days. How had he reached Stage 9 already? Did he think it was as easy as eating or drinking?

Liu Ziqiang didn't know Lu Chong had just broken through, nor did he know how quickly he had progressed before. He had only judged that Lu Chong was at Martial Apprentice Stage 9 after seeing him fight in the Wilderness.

"Quiet!" Liu Ziqiang roared. "The rest of you, watch carefully. You can learn from this too."

Once the students had settled down, Liu Ziqiang faced Lu Chong and shouted, "Kid, watch closely. This is what Mountain Leaning Back looks like at the Perfection level."

Before his words had even faded, Liu Ziqiang strode toward Lu Chong. Every step seemed to shake the ground beneath his feet, thumping loudly as he advanced with tremendous force.

When he was close, Liu Ziqiang suddenly bent his elbow and turned sideways, bursting into an even faster charge as he slammed toward Lu Chong's chest.

Lu Chong wasn't intimidated. He used the same Mountain Leaning Back move, drawing in his chest until it seemed to cave in, and absorbed half the instructor's force.

At the same time, Lu Chong's right knee shot up violently, driving toward Liu Ziqiang's leaning chest and abdomen.

With a muffled thump, Lu Chong staggered backward several steps. The instructor, who had been advancing with overwhelming momentum, also retreated two steps before regaining his balance.

Liu Ziqiang was shocked. When experts exchanged blows, it only took one clash to gauge each other's ability.

From Lu Chong's reaction and the subtle force of his counterattack, he could tell what level Lu Chong had reached in Mountain Leaning Back.

This kid has perfected Mountain Leaning Back too. He definitely has! Liu Ziqiang nearly cursed. He had no idea how the Department of Education had reviewed the information submitted about him.

What the hell is the point of me guiding him in Mountain Leaning Back if he's already perfected it?

He quickly realized that Lu Chong wasn't exactly innocent either. The kid had hidden this skill and was trying to make him, the instructor, look bad in front of everyone.

You've already perfected it. Why did you come to me?

Liu Ziqiang was troubled. He had talked a big game just now. If he couldn't guide even the first student, how were the others supposed to train?

At that moment, Lu Chong said nothing and launched an attack. His movements and momentum were in no way inferior to Instructor Liu Ziqiang's.

Bang!

The two collided at close range and grappled using Mountain Leaning Back techniques. They seemed evenly matched.

Liu Ziqiang finally couldn't take it anymore and lowered his voice. "What are you trying to do, kid? You've perfected it already, and you're still messing with me?"

Lu Chong chuckled inwardly, but on the surface he remained as steady as an old dog. Keeping his voice just as low, he replied, "Instructor, I just want you to guide me in my Martial Skills."

"What the hell am I supposed to guide you in? Besides Mountain Leaning Back, I'm not good at the other Martial Skills taught at school," Liu Ziqiang replied in frustration.

Lu Chong answered seriously, "That's fine. I'm not interested in the other school Martial Skills either. I want to learn some new ones from you. Mid- or low-grade ones are fine. I'm not picky."

Liu Ziqiang froze. It didn't take him long to figure out what Lu Chong wanted, and for a moment he nearly burst out swearing.

"You're trying to take advantage of me? In your dreams, kid."

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