Vitality and Blood Stage

After sitting in the office for a while, Ren Hongguang checked the time and said to Chen Lie, "Let's go. The students should all be here by now."

Chen Lie rose and followed Ren Hongguang to the classroom of Senior Year Class 16, the regular martial arts class.

The moment he entered, a cacophony of voices flooded Chen Lie's ears.

Ren Hongguang walked to the front of the classroom and clapped his hands. "Everyone, quiet down. I have something important to announce."

As soon as Ren Hongguang finished speaking, the entire classroom fell silent.

He cleared his throat and said, "Our classmate Chen Lie has passed the elite student assessment and successfully advanced to the elite class. Let's all congratulate him."

With that, Ren Hongguang took the lead in applauding, and the students in the classroom followed suit.

Yet the students who joined in the applause all wore bewildered expressions.

Only after the thunderous applause died down did many of them begin voicing their doubts.

"Wait, what did the instructor just say? Chen Lie? He got into the elite class?"

"Chen Lie passed the elite student assessment? Bullshit! His vitality and blood value isn't even a fraction of mine."

"Yeah, must be hearing things. If Chen Lie can enter the elite class, isn't that like Blue Star Martial Arts University giving me early special admission?"

Hearing the students' murmurs, Ren Hongguang explained, "I know some of you may not believe it. After all, Chen Lie has always hidden his strength at school.

"He only had no choice but to reveal it because he was taking the elite student assessment today. His vitality and blood value has actually already surpassed 6."

As soon as Ren Hongguang said this, the classroom fell silent once more.

Many students looked at Chen Lie with eyes full of awe—the kind of awe ordinary martial arts students felt toward elite students.

In the Martial Arts Era, strength determined status. Men and women, young and old—regardless of their stage or standing—everyone held a deep reverence for the strong.

Every gesture of the strong carried profound meaning, while the antics of the weak were nothing more than clownish posturing.

"I hope that from now on, you can all learn from Chen Lie and work hard to improve your vitality and blood values. Do not be arrogant in victory or discouraged in defeat.

"I'm sure you all understand the enormous gap between elite students and ordinary martial arts students.

"Elite class students are guaranteed admission to at least a key martial arts university. Those with exceptional talent may even have a chance to enter Blue Star Martial Arts University and soar to the heavens in a single step.

"Do you want to fail to get into even an ordinary martial arts university and end up at the bottom of society after leaving school?"

As he spoke, Ren Hongguang swept his gaze over the students in the classroom. Seeing them sit in silence, he launched into another round of lecturing.

Only after lecturing for a full ten minutes did Ren Hongguang look at Chen Lie, who had been waiting beside him.

He hurriedly said, "Sorry, Chen Lie. I've held you up.

"Since you've passed the elite student assessment, you'll definitely be reporting to the elite class tomorrow. Before you leave, say a few words to your former classmates."

Chen Lie thought for a moment, then said, "On the path of martial arts, those who hold an unyielding will and a heart that presses ever onward will surely achieve something."

"Well said!"

After Chen Lie finished, Ren Hongguang took the lead in applauding, and soon the entire classroom joined in.

When the applause ended, Ren Hongguang said, "I hope everyone remembers Chen Lie's words. With unwavering resolve and the courage to press forward, you will surely achieve something in martial arts!"

After his round of encouragement and lecturing, Ren Hongguang did not want to delay Chen Lie any longer, so he had the class see him off.

The only female student in the class whose vitality and blood value had surpassed 1 took advantage of the crowd thinning out and quietly approached Chen Lie.

"Chen Lie, can I add you on WeChat? If you have time, could you share some of your experience in raising your vitality and blood value with me?"

Chen Lie nodded and did not refuse, even though he could no longer remember this girl's name.

By the time he returned home, it was already past seven.

The moment Chen Lie entered, he saw his younger sister, Chen Xingyao, walking toward him.

"Chen Lie, what did Mom tell you yesterday?"

"Nothing much."

"Then... are you thinking of giving up martial arts? You don't need to lose heart. For many people, their vitality and blood value rises slowly only before it surpasses 1. Once it does, their cultivation speed picks up."

"Who told you I was giving up martial arts?" Chen Lie asked.

"Huh? Then why are you taking all those random supplements? Do you know that misusing supplements can damage your martial arts foundation?" Chen Xingyao said.

"I know what I'm doing. I won't damage my foundation."

"Do whatever you want. It's not like I can control you anyway!"

Chen Xingyao snorted and turned back toward the sofa.

She felt that Chen Lie had been especially irritating these past few days. She was clearly concerned about him, yet he acted as if he could not care less. It made her furious.

Although Chen Lie used to argue loudly with her over certain matters and never acted like an older brother, at least he had not been like this—acting as though her words meant nothing.

After dinner, Chen Lie returned to his room, sat cross-legged on his bed once again, and cultivated the Lingguang Divine Refinement Chapter.

After cultivating for the entire night, his progress was not very noticeable.

Mental cultivation was the same as martial arts cultivation: without resources, progress was incredibly slow.

Early the next morning, Chen Lie arrived at school.

Following the directions he had received at the freshman registration desk yesterday, he made his way to the office of Hong Chengshuo, the instructor of Elite Class 5.

When he arrived at the office, he saw that the door was open, so he walked straight in.

"Hello, Instructor Hong. I'm a new student here to report in."

Hong Chengshuo set down his light computer and turned to look at Chen Lie.

"You're Chen Lie?"

"Yes." Chen Lie nodded.

"Hang on a moment."

As he spoke, Hong Chengshuo opened his light computer again and looked up some information.

"Chen Lie, a Senior Year martial arts student. Your vitality and blood value has already surpassed 6, and your comprehension is rated excellent. Not bad, not bad. Your strength value has even remained above three times the standard.

"With strength like that, you should have been able to advance to the elite class long ago. Why did you only take the elite student assessment now?"

"Whether it's the elite class or a regular class, martial arts cultivation is the same, so I wasn't in a hurry," Chen Lie said.

"Good mindset. Now, let me explain the structure of the elite classes and some basic knowledge."

"The elite campus has a total of sixteen elite classes. Each one has roughly a hundred elite students, so there are only around sixteen hundred elite students in the entire school.

"Every elite student can receive two vitality and blood potions per month, along with a case of premium nutrient solution."

"Can I collect them now?" Chen Lie asked.

"Any time. Take your elite student ID to the Academic Affairs Office in the elite campus to collect them."

Hong Chengshuo continued, "Anyone who can enter an elite class undoubtedly has their own cultivation methods, so I won't interfere with your martial arts cultivation. Even if you don't attend class for an entire month, the school permits it.

"But remember this: every Tuesday and Friday, the elite classes hold martial arts guidance lessons. Whether you come learn is up to you.

"Considering that some elite students may not come from well-off families and may lack the means to support their martial arts cultivation, the school holds elite student martial competitions at regular intervals.

"Those who rank highly in the competitions will be rewarded with a large amount of martial arts resources by the school.

"There is much more besides that, which you'll have to learn about gradually on your own."

"I understand."

"Mm. Go to the classroom. Class will begin shortly."

"All right."

After saying that, Chen Lie turned and left Hong Chengshuo's office.

Next to the office was the classroom for Elite Class 5, and behind the classroom was a massive training ground covering roughly 4,000 square meters.

When Chen Lie entered the classroom, he saw that despite its enormous size, there were only fifty or sixty people inside.

Figuring that the seats were probably not assigned, Chen Lie casually found a place and sat down.

The moment he sat down, a student beside him leaned closer.

"Bro, are you a new student in the elite class?"

"Yes."

"I haven't been in the elite class for long either. Before I got in, I thought the elite classes were so mysterious, and elite students were so untouchably impressive.

"But after getting in, I realized that elite students like us with single-digit vitality and blood values are just at the very bottom of the elite class. We're only here to make those elite students at the top stand out."

Chen Lie asked, "Which elite students stand at the top?"

"The Elite Top Hundred Ranking. You don't know about it?" The student thought for a moment, then shook his head. "Well, you're new, so it's normal that you don't know."

"As the name suggests, the Elite Top Hundred Ranking lists the hundred strongest elite students.

"Every one of those elite students is a martial arts genius. They also receive at least 100,000 star dollars' worth of resource subsidies from the school every month. Their strength far surpasses that of ordinary elite students, so they can definitely be considered the elite students at the very top.

"There's a large screen in the central plaza of the campus. Go take a look when you have time. The Elite Top Hundred Ranking is displayed there."

Chen Lie nodded. Naturally, he had no time for that.

"Oh, right. My name's Wang Chen. What's yours?"

"Chen Lie!"

"Chen Lie, let me tell you..."

Wang Chen leaned closer to Chen Lie, just about to speak, when he suddenly saw someone enter through the classroom door. He immediately leaned back and whispered, "The instructor's here!"

Hong Chengshuo, the instructor of Elite Class 5, stepped onto the podium.

Hong Chengshuo swept his eyes across the classroom and seemed somewhat surprised. "Quite a few students came today. Let me count. There are 103 students in our class altogether, and more than half of you actually showed up today."

"Students, we won't be studying martial arts techniques today. If you encounter any difficulties in martial arts cultivation, come find me after class.

"Today's lesson will be about the martial arts road that lies ahead."

"All of you here are elite students. Unlike the ordinary martial arts students from other schools, you are the future of Blue Star martial arts. Therefore, you are qualified to know just how long the martial arts road beneath your feet is, and where exactly you stand upon it."

"For anyone living on Blue Star, martial arts cultivation is like climbing an insurmountable mountain. Even if you are a martial arts genius with extraordinary talent, it makes no difference."

"The beginning of martial arts is known as the Vitality and Blood Stage, which is the stage you are currently in.

"The strength of one's vitality and blood is of paramount importance to a martial artist. The Vitality and Blood Stage is the crucial step in forging a martial arts foundation.

"A towering building rises from level ground. If a person's foundation is not well laid, they are destined never to achieve much in martial arts."