The Wager

Martial Arts Building.

In the training room on the third floor of Area A, Wang Tianyu and the others stood scattered around the room.

Su Pengfei first glanced at Wang Tianyu and the others, then spoke.

"I know some of you don't understand what happened downstairs just now. Some of you may even be thinking that using you as stakes was simply too disrespectful."

Changed into a training uniform, Su Pengfei's figure looked even more well-proportioned.

His eyes widened, and Su Pengfei raised his voice a few notches.

"First, I want to tell you a principle. As I said before, the world of martial artists is not so simple."

"The world of martial artists is not only complicated—it can even be described as cruel. Martial artists must possess the spirit to dare to fight and dare to contend. Without that spirit, you are destined not to go far on the path of martial arts."

Su Pengfei's tone was extremely serious. When he spoke of daring to fight and contend, he even clenched his fists.

"You also heard earlier that Gao Bin and I have fought before. I broke one of his arms, but that was nothing. Deaths and injuries are perfectly normal when martial artists clash."

Wang Tianyu and the others had already entered the Martial Arts Class, and these were precisely the things they needed to understand.

So, Su Pengfei took this opportunity to give Wang Tianyu and the others a basic introduction to the lifestyle of martial artists.

However, this group that had passed the Martial Arts Class assessment all had a fierce, bloody courage in their hearts.

Those without the courage to fight had already ended up among the eliminated.

"This is an opportunity. I need one of you to help me win this wager. Of course, I won't have you do it for nothing. Whoever helps me win will get half of the stakes."

Su Pengfei knew he had no real friendship with Wang Tianyu and the others. If he wanted someone to give their all to help him win the match, then tempting them with profit was clearly a good idea.

Glancing at Wang Tianyu and the others below, Su Pengfei continued, "Energy Stones are extremely useful and indispensable for martial arts cultivation. One Energy Stone is worth 100,000, and even then, they are scarce commodities with no market supply."

"Whoever helps me win this wager can take ten of them—that's one million."

Su Pengfei understood how these young people thought. Just saying a few high-sounding words would not accomplish much.

Only tangible benefits could move people's hearts and make them scramble for this slot.

Sure enough, when they heard that each little stone was worth 100,000, that the wager was worth two million, and that they could take one million for themselves if they won, the people below began breathing more heavily.

Most of Wang Tianyu's group came from ordinary families.

One million was an astronomical figure to such families.

Let alone young students like them, who had no income at all.

"Of course, not just anyone is qualified to take this money. I only need the strongest among you. Only then will we have a chance of winning. If you want to take this money, you need the corresponding strength."

"I put up the money to make the wager, and you provide the effort to win the match. Then we split the stakes evenly. Fair, isn't it?"

After listening to Su Pengfei, Wang Tianyu quietly made up his mind.

I have to get those Energy Stones. No one can take this opportunity away from me.

Setting aside the value of those Energy Stones, one million was a sum that Wang Tianyu's entire family could not have produced even if they had emptied everything they owned.

Moreover, these Energy Stones might very well be connected to the system.

That made it even more imperative for Wang Tianyu to obtain them.

Before meeting Su Pengfei, Wang Tianyu had never even heard of Energy Stones.

Clearly, only by becoming a martial artist would one have a chance to obtain such things.

If he missed this opportunity, who knew how long it would be before another came along.

"Alright, that's enough about the wager. Next, we'll begin the formal training."

Although he desperately wanted to obtain the Energy Stones, the time had clearly not yet come.

Wang Tianyu suppressed the impulse in his heart and began listening carefully to Su Pengfei's lesson.

"You have all been practicing the Basic Cultivation Method, and you have achieved a certain degree of success with it. That is why you were able to enter the Martial Arts Class."

Su Pengfei first affirmed Wang Tianyu and the others.

"The Basic Cultivation Method strengthens all aspects of the body. Perhaps you have wondered why, at the same tenth level, some people can have 300 kg of punching force while others only have a little over 200 kg."

Su Pengfei's words clearly struck a chord with everyone.

"That's right. We're both at the tenth level, so why is your punching force so much higher than mine?"

"I've always wondered about that. Are we finally getting the answer now?"

"I guess it should be because everyone's physical talent is different. After all, some people have good talent, while others have poor talent."

Without giving the trainees more time to discuss it, Su Pengfei directly revealed the answer.

"There are several main reasons for this result."

"First, everyone's movements differ in how standard they are. The more standard the movements, the better the body can be strengthened."

This was easy to understand, and quite a few people nodded in agreement.

"Second, there are differences in each person's physique. You can also understand this as things like bone structure and innate talent."

"The better your innate talent and bone structure, the better the results of martial arts cultivation. This is also why there is a Martial Arts Class assessment."

"Not everyone in this world is suited for martial arts cultivation. Only a small fraction of people can ever become martial artists."

"Your talents are fairly good. You have the potential to become martial artists."

Su Pengfei's words conveyed a great deal, and Wang Tianyu listened carefully to it all.

"If the Basic Cultivation Method tests your body's innate bone structure, then what I am about to teach you will test your mind's comprehension."

"Innate bone structure? Comprehension?"

Hearing Su Pengfei's words, Wang Tianyu's thoughts turned quickly.

Innate bone structure was easy to understand. The better one's physical talent, the better the results of martial arts cultivation.

The direct manifestation was that, even with the same Basic Cultivation Method, different people had different upper limits of strength.

Then comprehension should be the speed at which someone learns things!

The term comprehension was not difficult to understand. Before Su Pengfei had even finished speaking, Wang Tianyu had already roughly grasped it.

It was probably like the college entrance examination for academic subjects. The path of martial arts cultivation likewise placed great importance on things like talent.

In the same class, some people could read novels while studying and still learn exceptionally well, remaining at the top of the rankings.

Others listened attentively during the day and signed up for extra tutoring at night, yet still failed to master things as quickly as the former.

It now seemed that the same principle applied to martial arts cultivation.

Sure enough, Su Pengfei's next words confirmed Wang Tianyu's guess.

"Next, I will teach everyone a set of boxing techniques. The name is very ordinary: Basic Fist Technique. But don't let its unremarkable name fool you—its practical combat effectiveness is not lacking in the slightest."

"If bodily strength is the foundation, then techniques like the Basic Fist Technique are skill. The foundation is important, but without skill, you cannot bring out all the strength in your body."

"Suppose your normal punch can reach 100 kg. With techniques like the Basic Fist Technique, you can unleash 120 kg, or even 150 kg, of force."

Su Pengfei's explanation was simple and easy to understand. Everyone grasped what he meant.

"So for the next period of time, in addition to training in the Basic Cultivation Method, we will also teach you this technique, the Basic Fist Technique."

Su Pengfei glanced at Wang Tianyu and the others, then frowned.

"There are too many of you. It won't be easy to teach with everyone gathered together. I'll divide you into three teams now, and each of us will lead one team."

"This group will be one team. Xie Shanqi, you teach them."

Su Pengfei traced a line through the crowd, separating the people to Wang Tianyu's left into one team.

"Alright, Captain."

Xie Shanqi nodded, then led the selected people to one side.

"This group is yours, Xiaolei."

He made another division in the same manner, placing the dozen or so people to Wang Tianyu's right into the second team.

"Mm, Captain. I'll take them over first, then."

After responding to Su Pengfei, Xue Xiaolei also led his group aside.

"Then the rest of you will follow me. I'll teach you the Basic Fist Technique."

Looking at Wang Tianyu and the others who remained, Su Pengfei smiled.