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Whoosh—!

The training hall immediately erupted.

"What happened? Han Mengmeng lost?"

"Was that Mountain Crushing Fist Xu Wuyi used?"

"No, I think it was a Bow Stance Punch!"

"How is that possible? Han Mengmeng's Spirit Snake Hand was broken by basic boxing?"

"I didn't see wrong, did I? That move Xu Wuyi made just now seemed a little different..."

Zhou Heng excitedly pumped his fist. "That was insane! A-Yi!"

Han Mengmeng got to her feet, her expression shifting as she stared at her hand, seemingly unable to accept the result.

She had clearly held the advantage in technique. How could she have lost...

Teacher Wang walked over at that moment. He first glanced at Xu Wuyi and nodded, then turned to Han Mengmeng.

"Do you feel unconvinced? Do you think your martial skill was more advanced and your martial arts were better than your opponent's, so you shouldn't have lost?"

Han Mengmeng bit her lip without saying anything, but her eyes clearly said exactly that.

"Your Spirit Snake Hand is indeed well-practiced. Your moves are skilled, and you have plenty of variations," Teacher Wang said calmly. "But you rely on it too much."

"You only pursue the cleverness of moves while neglecting the most fundamental things. Strength, speed, vision—no matter how exquisite a technique is, it's useless if it can't hit the enemy."

He pointed at Xu Wuyi. "As for him, he may not know any advanced martial skills, but he has trained the Basic Body Tempering Method to Entry Level. His control over Blood Energy is more precise than yours, and his stance is steadier."

"So, at the moment when your moves became predictable and exposed a flaw, he could use the most basic boxing technique to instantly break your guard."

"Technique is certainly important, but every technique must be built on a solid foundation. Otherwise, it is water without a source, a tree without roots. When it meets a truly tough opponent, it falls apart at the first blow."

Teacher Wang looked at Han Mengmeng, his tone grave. "That is the importance of fundamentals. Think it over carefully."

Han Mengmeng stood frozen in place. The unwillingness on her face gradually faded as she fell into thought.

Only then did Teacher Wang look back at Xu Wuyi. "You fought well. You know where your strengths lie, and you were able to bring them out under pressure. That's very good."

"However, your weakness is just as obvious. Your foundation is solid, but you have only the basics. If your opponent doesn't underestimate you and instead fights you steadily, you will definitely lose."

Xu Wuyi took a deep breath. He knew Teacher Wang was absolutely right. If Han Mengmeng had tried to wear him down, he would never have had the chance to wait for her to reveal a weakness.

He said solemnly, "Thank you for your guidance, Teacher."

The dismissal bell rang, and the students left in twos and threes.

The rules for this practical combat class had been simple. Many students had fought quite impressively, making it a fairly close simulation of real combat.

Xu Wuyi packed up his things and was about to leave when Teacher Wang's voice came from behind him. "Xu Wuyi, stay behind for a moment."

After all the other students had left, only the two of them remained in the empty training hall. Teacher Wang walked up to him and studied him. "You fought well today. What are your plans going forward?"

Xu Wuyi hesitated before answering, "First, improve my Blood Energy, then... take the College Entrance Examination?"

Rather than commenting on his answer, Teacher Wang asked, "At your current pace, how long do you think it will take for your Life Energy Level to reach 10.0?"

Xu Wuyi fell silent for a moment.

He had recently felt that he was improving rapidly. Especially after the Basic Body Tempering Method reached Entry Level, his Life Energy Level might reach the undergraduate cutoff of Level 9.0 within half a month.

But he had no confidence at all about reaching Level 10 after that.

Teacher Wang looked at him and said, "After winter break ends, the school will organize a Martial Arts College Entrance Exam Sprint Class."

"According to the rules from previous years, aside from Class One, which will send half its students, every other class can have at most one or two selected students. And their Life Energy Level must be at least 9.5."

Of course Xu Wuyi knew about the Martial Dao Sprint Class.

Honghe No. 1 High School was the best high school in Honghe City. Every year, more than thirty students were admitted to martial arts universities, and the main force came from the Martial Dao Sprint Class.

As long as one could enter the Sprint Class, not only would there be guidance from renowned teachers, but the school would also distribute subsidized resources.

A poor scholar and a rich martial artist—those words held true in every era.

Even in modern times, with advances in technology making martial arts supplements increasingly effective, the investment required by Martial Artists had grown even higher.

Even for an ordinary family like Xu Wuyi's, while they could not afford Blood Energy Potions, his two nutritious meals every week were indispensable.

Was there still enough time for him to enter the Sprint Class?

Teacher Wang seemed to see through his thoughts, and his tone shifted. "Where there's a will, there's a way. Your Basic Body Tempering Method has already reached Entry Level, which shows that your comprehension surpasses that of most students in your class. That is where your true potential lies—the thing that can support you in going farther."

After a pause, he took a small metal box from the sports bag he carried and handed it to Xu Wuyi.

"This is..." Xu Wuyi took it in confusion. It felt slightly heavy in his hand, cool to the touch.

"Open it and take a look."

Xu Wuyi did as instructed and opened the lid. Inside were five transparent glass tubes neatly secured in place, each as thick as a finger. They were filled with dark red, viscous liquid that reflected a faint sheen under the lights, with tiny points of energy seemingly circulating within.

"Blood Energy Potions." Teacher Wang's voice was calm. "E-Grade Standard Type. They're best suited for stabilizing and raising Blood Energy during the Martial Apprentice stage."

"Keep them. Use one every five days, and they'll last exactly until winter break ends."

Xu Wuyi suddenly looked up at Teacher Wang. His hand trembled violently, and he nearly failed to hold onto the metal box.

Blood Energy Potions!

He had only ever seen such things in TV ads. Even the lowest-grade E-Grade Standard Type cost several thousand yuan per dose on the market.

Five doses meant twenty or thirty thousand yuan. That was almost half a year of his parents' income!

"Teacher Wang, this is too valuable! I..." Xu Wuyi instinctively wanted to refuse. This gift was too heavy, so heavy that he did not know how to accept it.

"Take it." Teacher Wang's tone allowed no argument as he cut him off. "Consider these five doses an investment from me in you. What I value is not your current results, but your patience in building your foundation and your comprehension."

"Besides, they aren't free. If you can enter the Sprint Class, the school will reward martial arts teachers like us as well. Think of this as an advance payment from me."

Teacher Wang smiled at Xu Wuyi as he spoke.

Xu Wuyi held the icy metal box, yet his palm felt burning hot.

He swallowed every word of refusal. Taking a deep breath, he straightened his back and gave Teacher Wang a deep bow.

"Thank you, Teacher Wang! I definitely... won't let you down!" His voice was slightly hoarse with emotion, carrying the determination of someone who had staked everything on this.

"All right, go home." A barely noticeable smile appeared on Teacher Wang's face as he waved a hand. "The instructions are in the box. Take one half an hour before each training session for the best results."

"Remember, external aids are only aids. Real improvement still has to be forged bit by bit through your own effort."

"I understand, Teacher Wang!"