Beginner Arena

Xu Wuyi opened his eyes. A glint seemed to flash through them and vanish. Though his body was somewhat stiff from sitting for so long, his mind was exceptionally alert.

In just three or four days, he had actually completed the first level of the Mountain Moving Method!

The speed was somewhat beyond even his own expectations.

The Martial Dao Diligence Record would not directly improve his aptitude. Could it be that he possessed a talent for mental cultivation?

Xu Wuyi had no definite answer, but he vaguely guessed that it might be related to his past efforts.

Early the next morning, Xu Wuyi returned to the school's Battle Net access room with anticipation.

He expertly lay down in the silver pod assigned to him.

The hatch closed, and data streams poured in.

[Identity confirmed... Life Energy Level: 10.1...]

"Check my Mental Level." Rather than entering the Battle Net directly, Xu Wuyi issued this command.

[Mental fluctuation scan in progress... Please activate any Visualization Method...]

The virtual machine could also assess one's Mental Level, but the user had to actively display their mental strength by activating a Visualization Method.

Testing an ordinary person's mental strength was much more difficult. Not only did it require more expensive equipment, but it also required medicinal agents.

Xu Wuyi visualized a small mountain. After a brief scan, a gentle electronic voice announced the result:

[Mental Level: 7.5]

7.5!

Xu Wuyi was shaken.

The Federation had clear classifications for Mental Level. It did not directly correspond to Life Energy Level, but generally speaking, Martial Apprentices who had just reached a Life Energy Level of 10.0 usually had an initial mental strength hovering between 5.0 and 5.5.

That was only slightly stronger than the standard Level 5 of ordinary people, and not by much.

Those who reached above 6.0 on their first test were considered to possess outstanding mental talent.

Yet after cultivating the Mountain Moving Method for merely three or four days, his mental strength had already reached Level 7.5!

Xu Wuyi had long looked into it. Completing the first level of the Mountain Moving Method only increased mental strength by around one level. In other words, his mental strength before cultivation might already have been Level 6.5.

It was a number beyond his expectations. After thinking it over, Xu Wuyi directly contacted Teacher Wang through the Battle Net.

It was still that antique-style tea room.

Seeing Xu Wuyi hurry in, Wang Wenhai asked, "What's wrong? Did you run into a problem cultivating the Visualization Method?"

"No, Teacher Wang." Xu Wuyi took a deep breath and tried to keep his tone calm. "I just tested my Mental Level."

"Oh? How much?" Wang Wenhai casually asked as he lifted his teacup.

Given Xu Wuyi's comprehension, he estimated that Xu Wuyi had probably already gotten started with the Mountain Moving Method over the past few days, and that his mental strength would likely be stable at around Level 6.0.

"Level 7.5," Xu Wuyi answered.

"Pfft—cough, cough!" Wang Wenhai nearly sprayed out a mouthful of tea, choking and coughing several times. He abruptly set down his cup, his eyes widening. "How much?! 7.5? Are you sure you didn't misread it?"

"The system displayed Level 7.5," Xu Wuyi confirmed.

Wang Wenhai looked Xu Wuyi up and down as though he were examining some priceless treasure. "Which level of the Mountain Moving Method have you cultivated to?"

"The first level, complete," Xu Wuyi answered honestly.

"The first level, complete..." Wang Wenhai muttered. "The first level of the Mountain Moving Method completed in three or four days. You truly have talent for Visualization Methods, but there are always greater people out there. Never become arrogant or complacent."

Xu Wuyi naturally nodded in agreement. The Federation was vast and brimming with geniuses. He had always considered himself an ordinary person, at most someone with a little talent.

After thinking for a moment, Teacher Wang added, "However, the first level of a Visualization Method only brings about a one-level increase, 1.2 at most. That means your innate mental strength already surpasses that of ordinary people."

"This phenomenon is not uncommon. The essence of the mind is will. Martial Artists who practice martial arts for long periods often possess stronger willpower than ordinary people."

"Before cultivating a Visualization Method, many Martial Artists already have mental strength at Level 5.5 or above. You..."

He looked at Xu Wuyi, a gratified smile appearing on his face. "For you to reach this point proves that your willpower is already far beyond that of ordinary Martial Artists!"

Willpower did not come from nowhere, nor was it related to talent. It had to be forged through extensive hardship, which also showed just how diligently this student had practiced martial arts.

"Good, very good!" Wang Wenhai abruptly changed the subject. "Since your mental strength meets the standard—and even exceeds it by far—you can now engage in actual combat sparring on the Battle Net."

"Really?" Xu Wuyi's eyes lit up. He had waited far too long for this moment.

"Mm. Go try the Public Combat Zone. At first, focus on getting used to the feel of virtual combat and accumulating experience. Don't care too much about victory or defeat," Wang Wenhai instructed.

"Normally, your opponents will be newcomers like you who have only recently connected to the Battle Net. Your combat experience and martial skill should not differ too greatly."

He mentioned only experience and martial skill because virtual matchmaking used standard mode. Life Energy Levels were equalized, and real-world data was not used.

To scan one's real physical attributes, one would need a virtual machine with a higher degree of realism.

"Yes, Teacher Wang!"

After leaving the teacher guidance area, Xu Wuyi's heartbeat quickened.

He directly teleported to the bustling Public Combat Zone and found the area marked Beginner Arena, glowing with a soft green light.

The so-called Beginner Arena only allowed Martial Artists below the second rank to participate in matchmaking. It was also fixed to Weaponless Mode, with Life Energy Level set at 10.0.

Only arena battles allowed Weaponless Mode, and battle results did not affect rank standings.

Other than Martial Artists specializing in fist and palm techniques, the people most likely to enter arena battles were students preparing for the Martial Arts College Entrance Exam.

That was because student battles in the College Entrance Examination required weaponless combat and only allowed the use of fists and feet.

On one hand, blades had no eyes. Even with proctors present, casualty rates would be difficult to control. On the other hand, it was for the sake of fairness as much as possible.

After three years of martial arts training in high school, mastering fist and foot techniques was already no easy task. If they also had to study weapons, how much proficiency could they possibly attain?

In the end, it would only mean students from wealthy families could begin martial arts training early, then pour vast sums into resources to raise their weapon proficiency.

Students from poor families only knew fist and foot techniques. How could they possibly defeat opponents wielding swords and blades?

Thus, the Federation had considered this issue from the very beginning when establishing the College Entrance Examination rules, which was why the regulations were set this way.

[Matching you with an opponent of similar strength... Match successful!]

[Transferring to Beginner Arena No. 7231.]

The light and shadows before his eyes shifted. The next moment, Xu Wuyi found himself standing on a standard square arena platform, surrounded by a semi-transparent energy barrier.

At the opposite end of the arena, a figure materialized at the same time.

It was a tall, upright youth with calm features and a resolute expression.

His virtual appearance matched his real body, and the ID floating above his head was clearly visible—[Zeng Bonan].