I Want to Learn Them All

Martial skill inheritances were strategic resources under official control in Huaxia Country.

Generally, the only places where one could obtain inherited martial skills were schools, the military, martial arts schools, and a few similar institutions.

As for personal inheritances, such as the Wind Splitting Leg Wang Tong had passed on to Lu Chong and the Golden Cicada Robe the Old Principal had just given him, they were still subject to official control.

These martial skills could only be taught through Inheritance Jade Slips, because they contained not only the moves themselves but also the insights and rhythms of the skill's perfected state.

The requirements for making these jade slips were extremely strict. They called for precise, high-tech procedures, as well as the cooperation of someone who had perfected the martial skill.

Most importantly, the slips could only be used to teach people who had registered and passed the necessary reviews, after obtaining official authorization and completing the required filing.

There were a few special cases, such as the Old Principal, who had created his own martial skills. People like him had considerable control over how their skills were passed down and could even enjoy royalties similar to those from intellectual property.

Lu Chong knew a fair amount about these things and understood their value.

According to official pricing, a single Human-Grade High Martial Skill cost at least a hundred thousand, and one still had to pass various political background checks and qualification reviews before being approved to inherit it.

Only while attending school could one possibly receive instruction for free.

As for a high-grade Body-Refining Martial Art like the Golden Cicada Robe, it was even more expensive and rare. Most people weren't even qualified to buy or practice it.

He couldn't help wondering how much the Old Principal had earned over the years from royalties on his self-created martial skills.

Knowledge really does change your destiny. If I could create a practical martial skill of my own, I could make money while lying around at home.

But martial skills were precious, and gratitude was priceless. Since it was a gift from his teacher, Lu Chong couldn't bring himself to refuse.

"Go on. If there's anything you don't understand, come back and ask me." The Old Principal waited until Lu Chong had used the priceless jade slip before speaking.

Lu Chong thanked him again, then left the Principal's Office and gently closed the door. Outside, he saw his Head Teacher waiting anxiously.

"How did it go?" Wang Tong asked in a low voice only after leading Lu Chong several dozen meters away.

Lu Chong smiled. "I got it."

"Good!" Wang Tong excitedly patted Lu Chong on the shoulder. "With this Body-Refining Martial Art, you'll have an even better chance of getting into a top school."

"Teacher Wang." Lu Chong didn't head to class, but said directly, "There are a few more things I'd like to ask you about."

"Aren't you going to class?" Wang Tong glanced at his watch. As soon as he finished speaking, he paused. "Never mind. There's not much point in having you spar with them."

"Come on, let's talk in my office." Wang Tong personally took Lu Chong out of class again and led him to his office.

Once they were there, Wang Tong even poured Lu Chong a cup of hot water himself. "Just tell me what's troubling you. I'll help however I can."

"Teacher." Lu Chong didn't drink the water. Instead, he said solemnly, "I want to take some of the school's other martial skills as electives."

Lu Chong knew that high school martial arts fundamentals included more than just the Monument-Splitting Palm and the Nine-Shadow Step.

It was just that ordinary classes had only ever been taught those two.

It wasn't that the school was stingy. They were worried students would take on too much and fail to master any of it.

Only key classes like Class 1 taught additional martial skills, chosen according to each student's situation.

The Iron Wire Fist Zhou Feng used, for example, was one of them.

The Iron Wire Fist was also a Human-Grade Low Martial Skill. Like the Monument-Splitting Palm, it was an offensive skill, but the two were quite different.

Simply put, the Monument-Splitting Palm was more well-rounded and fundamental, while the Iron Wire Fist had fewer moves, hit with tremendous force, and focused more on power and offense.

What Lu Chong wanted now were skills like the Iron Wire Fist, so he could improve his overall combat ability and leave no gaps.

Especially after sparring with the students from Class 1 that day, he wouldn't underestimate any martial skill.

At that, Wang Tong furrowed his brow and thought for a moment before answering seriously, "I've already submitted an application for you, and the Academic Affairs Office approved it."

"The school still has five skills available: the Iron Wire Fist, Eagle Claw Technique, Cloud Piercing Finger, Mountain Leaning Back, and Heart-Piercing Kick. They're all Human-Grade Low Martial Skills. Which one do you want to learn?"

Lu Chong smiled sheepishly. "Teacher, to be honest, I want to learn them all."

Pfft!

Wang Tong spat out the water he'd just taken into his mouth. He coughed twice before recovering.

"Lu Chong." Wang Tong's expression turned serious. "Your comprehension is pretty good, but you must remember not to take on too much."

"At this stage, learning more martial skills isn't necessarily better. Besides, don't you still have to practice the Wind Splitting Leg and the Old Principal's martial skill?"

"And you can't neglect improving your cultivation either. Where are you going to find the time to practice even more martial skills?" Wang Tong

Wang Tong earnestly tried to talk him out of it. He was genuinely afraid Lu Chong would become arrogant and complacent and end up holding himself back.

Lu Chong knew his Head Teacher would have doubts, but his Head Teacher didn't know that he had a cheat that let his martial skills practice automatically.

With the cheat on his side, Lu Chong could say without hesitation that even if he were given ten more martial skills, he could master them all without wasting much time.

Even if he didn't have time to accelerate his practice, they could still improve gradually on their own.

After all, those martial skills were diligent by nature.

I just don't know if there's a limit to how many skills my cheat can handle. Lu Chong figured he would have to try it and find out.

The automatic martial arts practice cheat was like several programs running at the same time. He wondered whether having too many would make the host "crash" or "freeze."

But Lu Chong couldn't explain any of that to his Head Teacher, so he could only say patiently, "Don't worry, Teacher. I'm not being impulsive."

"You've seen it yourself. My Monument-Splitting Palm and Nine-Shadow Step are already perfected, and it didn't take me very long."

"As for the Wind Splitting Leg, I've already reached Small Accomplishment. I'm sure it won't be long before I reach Great Accomplishment, or even Microscopic."

"Then I won't have any martial skills left to practice."

"Besides, I'm only going to try them out first. I absolutely won't let them get in the way. Maybe practicing several different skills will even let me learn faster by comparing them."

Only then did Wang Tong realize it. That was right—the kid in front of him had already perfected two martial skills, which meant he no longer had to spend time practicing them.

And judging by his performance over the past few days, he really might be able to master several more.

"I still have to remind you," Wang Tong said, his tone softening. "Different kinds of martial skills can vary greatly in how difficult they are for each person to learn."

"Some skills may come easily to you because they suit you particularly well. That doesn't mean every skill will be the same."

Wang Tong gritted his teeth and said, "All right. I'll let you practice two more martial skills for now."

"If you can reach Microscopic with the Wind Splitting Leg and raise your cultivation to the sixth stage within a month, I'll approve the rest of the school's martial skills for you."

Lu Chong had no choice. He knew that doing it would prove his point better than saying anything.

Still, it was only a matter of reaching Microscopic with the Wind Splitting Leg, wasn't it?

"Three days should be enough."