New Year

The winter break flew by in sweat and repetition.

Xu Wuyi followed the plan he had set for himself, taking one Blood Energy Potion every three days.

Just as he had expected, with the help of his highly proficient Body Tempering Method and his daily, unrelenting "Hundred Epiphanies," his body was able to absorb the medicine's effects efficiently.

Ordinary people needed at least five days, or even longer, to digest a bottle of E-Grade Blood Energy Potion. He needed less than three.

Moreover, every training session after taking a potion felt like a transformation.

The surging medicinal energy raced through his meridians, precisely guided and refined by the Basic Body Tempering Method. His blood energy circulated ever more smoothly, while the blood energy itself gradually became denser and more substantial.

The potions in the metal box dwindled one by one, while the numbers on the [Martial Dao Diligence Record] panel steadily rose.

[Current Basic Body Tempering Method Realm: Beginner (99.9%)]

By the time the power of the fifth potion had been completely absorbed, winter break was only halfway over, while his Body Tempering Method had stalled at "Beginner (99.9%)."

Xu Wuyi knew he had hit another bottleneck.

To break through, he might need a new stimulus—another glimpse of the rudiments of "intent"—or, as Teacher Wang had said, a flash of inspiration in actual combat.

Neither of those could be rushed. Besides, so far, the panel had only displayed the Basic Body Tempering Method as a martial art.

Xu Wuyi had also been practicing the Mountain Crushing Fist, yet this fist technique had never appeared on the [Martial Dao Diligence Record].

He did not quite understand the reason. Perhaps the Mountain Crushing Fist failed to meet the requirements in some regard.

"I won't overthink it. Even if I only have one Body Tempering Method, it is already a gift from fate. A person should not be greedily dissatisfied."

"My martial arts have reached a bottleneck. Next, I need to focus on raising my Life Energy Level, enter the Star Martial Battle Net as soon as possible, and seek a breakthrough through actual combat!"

Early the next morning, Xu Wuyi made a special trip to school.

The campus was especially quiet during the holiday, with only a handful of martial arts students training extra hours and teachers on duty.

He found the public Life Energy Level Tester in the training hall, took a deep breath, and pressed his palm against the cold sensor plate.

The machine gave off a faint hum, its indicator lights flashing rapidly. Several seconds later, a clear number appeared on the screen:

[Life Energy Level: 9.8]

Level 9.8!

Xu Wuyi's heart gave a violent thump.

In just half a winter break, he had risen from Level 8.6 to Level 9.8, crossing 1.2 levels. If word got out, it would be enough to leave most of his classmates dumbfounded.

Of course, the Blood Energy Potions deserved much of the credit.

According to existing data, every bottle of Standard E-Grade Blood Energy Potion could provide a Martial Apprentice with 0.1 to 0.2 Life Energy Levels, though it was only effective on Martial Artists below Level 11.

And the closer the user was to Level 11, the weaker the effect became.

Xu Wuyi had never taken a Blood Energy Potion before, and his Body Tempering Method proficiency was quite high. Clearly, the effects this time had been exceptional.

Not only had the effects of every potion been pushed to the limit, there had even been some excess left over. That was clearly the result of Xu Wuyi's own training.

Now, the undergraduate cutoff had long been left far behind. He was only 0.2 levels away from the crucial threshold of Level 10.0!

Amid his excitement, however, came a trace of urgency. Half of winter break remained, and while a gap of 0.2 levels seemed small, the further one progressed, the harder it became to raise one's blood energy.

Without the support of Blood Energy Potions, he would have to work harder than ever if he wanted to break through Level 10 before the holiday ended.

The thirtieth day of the twelfth lunar month, New Year's Eve.

The old residential complex was decorated with lights and colors. The air was filled with the fragrance of food and the faint crackle of firecrackers, brimming with festive cheer.

In the Xu Family's small living room, the dining table had been moved to the center and was covered with dishes Mother Xu had cooked herself. They were not expensive, but they looked, smelled, and tasted wonderful, carrying the warmth of home.

A cheerful gala program played on the television, its volume low enough to serve as background noise.

"Come on, Ayi, have more of this chicken leg. You've been working so hard at martial arts lately that you've gotten thinner."

Mother Xu kept placing food into Xu Wuyi's bowl, her eyes full of concern.

She had keenly noticed that her son had become much quieter this winter break, but the determination in his eyes was stronger than before.

"Thanks, Mom." Xu Wuyi kept his head down as he ate. His appetite had indeed grown greatly recently; high-intensity training consumed enormous amounts of physical energy.

Father Xu took a sip of baijiu from his glass and looked his son over a few times before speaking. "Ayi, how has your training been lately? I see you shut yourself in your room every day for most of the day. You're really motivated."

Xu Wuyi's chewing slowed. After swallowing, he looked up at his parents. "Yeah. I feel like I've found a method. My progress has been a bit faster than before."

"Oh? Progress is a good thing!" Father Xu grew interested. "Has your Life Energy Level improved? You were at 8.6 in the last mock exam, right?"

Mother Xu also put down her chopsticks and looked at her son expectantly.

Under his parents' encouraging gazes, Xu Wuyi nodded. "Yeah. I went to school to test it once after the break started. I'm at 9.8 now."

"9.8?!" Father Xu's voice abruptly rose, filled with incredulous delight.

Mother Xu covered her mouth, her eyes immediately welling up. "Really? It's only been half a winter break... How did you..."

Seeing his parents' excited reactions, Xu Wuyi felt warmth spread through his chest. He added, "It's thanks to Teacher Wang. Before the break, he thought highly of me and sponsored me with five Blood Energy Potions. Otherwise, there was no way I could have improved this quickly through training alone."

He truthfully told them about Teacher Wang's help, but still concealed the existence of his cheat.

"Teacher Wang... We've encountered a benefactor!" Father Xu rubbed his hands excitedly, his face growing redder from excitement and alcohol. "Level 9.8! Good boy! Getting into a martial university is definitely secure now!"

Mother Xu wiped at the corner of her eye and nodded repeatedly. "I told you my son could do it! I knew he could!"

Amid his happiness, Father Xu looked carefully at his son and said, "We must remember Teacher Wang's kindness. If we ever get the chance in the future, we have to find a way to repay him."

Xu Wuyi nodded firmly. "Dad, I'll never forget it."

Father Xu and Mother Xu exchanged a glance and did not continue the topic.

Father Xu smiled and raised his glass. "Good! It's New Year's. Let's have a toast as a family!"

"A toast!" Mother Xu also smiled and raised her glass of drink.

Xu Wuyi lifted his glass and gently clinked it against his parents'.

After the New Year's Eve dinner, Xu Wuyi returned to his room and continued his nightly routine of practice.

Even on a night of reunion, he kept training without pause. The path of martial arts had no holidays.

In the master bedroom, after Father Xu and Mother Xu had finished tidying up, they sat on the bed watching television. The laughter and cheer from the gala seemed to have become mere background noise.

"Old Xu." Mother Xu was the first to break the silence, lowering her voice. "Teacher Wang isn't related to us, yet he helped Ayi so much. How about... we pay him back?"

Father Xu sighed. "Don't be silly. Teacher Wang is a Martial Artist. If we bring him money, how could he possibly accept it? After the New Year, we'll give him some gifts instead."

"As for money..." Father Xu said seriously, "we still have some savings at home, and it should be spent on Ayi. I think Teacher Wang would approve of us doing that."

Mother Xu paused before speaking again. "I did the math. If we put together what we saved this year with what we had before, we can come up with thirty thousand."

Federal Credits had considerable purchasing power. An adult newly entering society could live a fairly decent life with a monthly salary of two thousand.

Thirty thousand was what Father Xu and Mother Xu could only save after nearly half a year of going without food or drink, even with both their salaries combined.

"Take out ten thousand first. Tomorrow, I'll go to the Martial Department Exchange and buy Ayi two potions."

Father Xu knew something about martial arts. He knew that given Xu Wuyi's current situation, once he reached Level 10.0, he would soon enter another period of rapid growth.

He might need other resources then, so they could not spend all their money at once.

"I'll go with you." A smile appeared on Mother Xu's face. "Ayi has always been sensible since he was little. He's never actively asked for anything. This time, we have to support him."

The first day of the New Year, evening.

Xu Wuyi finished his afternoon studies and walked out of his room. The living room was completely quiet.

His parents had gone out to visit relatives and offer New Year's greetings, a local Honghe custom. Xu Wuyi, however, was at a critical stage and had stayed home to train day and night.

But when he saw the two small boxes on the table, he froze.

Two familiar E-Grade Blood Energy Potions lay inside the boxes.

A note was stuck to the box, written in his mother's elegant handwriting: "Ayi, Happy New Year! Keep it up!"