Jiang City, Second High School.
Inside the Martial Arts Class training room, Chen Yu's face was pale, and beads of sweat rolled slowly down both sides of his cheeks.
"Phew~"
Though the wooden training saber in his hand trembled slightly, he still maintained the complete trajectory of Thunder Extreme Saber.
As a shaft of sunlight spilled in by the window, figures began appearing one after another at the Martial Arts Class entrance.
They were all Martial Arts students from the class, and by now, they were used to seeing Chen Yu there.
"Chen Yu's here first again. I've seen him practicing his saber every morning for the past two years. I thought he wouldn't keep it up for long, but he's still at it."
"Obviously! He's a Biohuman. He even took out a loan for the fifty-thousand enrollment fee. On top of his million in debt, if he doesn't work hard, he'll be a wage slave for the rest of his life!"
"But working hard won't help. If Chen Yu can't pass the Martial Arts Assessment in half a month, he'll have to go back to the regular academic class!"
Wiping away his sweat, Chen Yu listened to the chatter without the slightest change in expression.
At that moment, a panel glowing with pale blue light slowly appeared before his eyes.
Name: Chen Yu Realm: Body Tempering Second Layer Techniques: Star-Treading Stance, Thunder Extreme Saber (Minor Mastery) Talent: [Perseverance] [Perseverance]: Time will prove everything
"It said time would prove everything, but it's already been two years. Why has my progress in martial arts still been barely noticeable?"
Looking at his useless panel, Chen Yu couldn't help twitching the corners of his mouth.
He had been transported to this world two whole years ago.
Martial arts flourished here, technology was advanced, and the Human Race Territory stretched across the stars and the cosmos.
The Crimson Radiance Star where he currently lived was merely an ordinary planet in a remote corner of Human Race Territory.
When the panel first appeared, he had thought it was some incredible cheat.
But two years had passed, and it still hadn't done a thing.
"Panel, oh panel, you're an embarrassment to all the cheat-system transmigrators across the myriad worlds!"
Chen Yu curled his lip.
His current identity was a Biohuman. Not only was his martial arts talent mediocre, but he had also been saddled with a million in debt from birth.
Alien races, Evil God Cultists... War broke out frequently for many reasons. Combined with the aging population and declining birthrate, Crimson Radiance Star had no choice but to artificially incubate babies.
People like that were called Biohumans.
By contrast, babies born to a traditional couple after ten months of pregnancy were called Natural Humans.
From birth until they finished high school, the Crimson Radiance Star authorities covered all a Biohuman's basic needs, from food and clothing to housing and transportation.
But Biohumans also started life burdened with a debt of up to a million. Once they came of age, they had to keep paying it off until it was fully repaid before they could be considered free.
At this rate, paying it all back would take around twenty to thirty years.
"But if I can get into a Martial Arts University, all that debt will be wiped out. That's one shortcut for Biohumans."
Even so, Chen Yu hadn't taken up martial arts just to pay off his debt.
Even without these reasons, even without his system cheat, Chen Yu would still have chosen martial arts without hesitation.
After all, powerful Martial Artists in this world could shatter stars with a wave of their hands and roam the cosmos. They possessed power that truly belonged to themselves!
Since he had been transported here, Chen Yu would die pursuing the martial arts path, even if it killed him!
He would have no regrets, even in death!
Just as Chen Yu was resting and waiting for class to begin, a grating voice rang out abruptly from the doorway:
"If you're a Biohuman, then just work honestly and pay off your debt. Can you even afford a Body Tempering Elixir?"
"Stop dreaming about soaring to success through martial arts. Do you really think that's a path you can choose?!"
A figure in a high-end custom martial arts uniform stood outside, arms folded and wearing undisguised mockery.
"Xiao Feng!"
"If you want to fight me, just say the word. There's no need to provoke me with that crap!"
Chen Yu narrowed his eyes and looked toward the speaker.
Natural Humans discriminating against Biohumans wasn't unusual on Crimson Radiance Star. But it was rare to see someone like Xiao Feng flaunt his prejudice so openly.
After all, Crimson Radiance Star had the Biohuman Protection Act, which clearly stated that Biohumans had the same rights as Natural Humans.
Though it didn't say anything about punishing discrimination.
As the only Biohuman in the Martial Arts Class, Chen Yu had been hassled by Xiao Feng plenty of times.
"Provoke you? You're not worth it." Xiao Feng looked at him with disdain.
"Xiao Feng, stop blocking the doorway. Get back to your place!"
Just as the tension began to rise, Teacher Fang's broad figure appeared behind Xiao Feng, his expression slightly cold.
"Teacher Fang, you should've said you were coming!"
Xiao Feng immediately wiped the mockery from his face and obediently went back to his seat.
He didn't dare talk back to Fang Xiong, a skilled Martial Artist.
Fang Xiong said nothing more. He walked up in front of the students and got straight to the point:
"Today's our practical class. As usual, one student will act as my sparring partner."
At his words, all the students' expressions shifted.
Acting as his sparring partner was like receiving one-on-one instruction from Fang Xiong. This was the only chance they got during practical class.
Outside the school, such an opportunity would be worth at least tens of thousands of Red Radiance Coins!
And there was no guarantee you could even book it!
"Teacher, pick me!"
At once, many students volunteered.
"Teacher Fang, I'm not afraid of pain. Pick me!" Xiao Feng was among them, practically jumping up and down.
Fang Xiong's gaze swept slowly across the room. He didn't pause on Xiao Feng for even a moment, and finally settled on Chen Yu, who had also raised his hand.
"Chen Yu, you're up."
"Thank you, Teacher Fang!" Chen Yu replied excitedly, then leaped onto the platform with his wooden saber in hand.
"Why?!" Xiao Feng fumed, unable to understand.
Including today, Fang Xiong had chosen Chen Yu as his sparring partner three times.
Most of the Martial Arts Class students had been picked at least once.
He was the only one who hadn't been picked a single time!
"Does Fang Xiong really favor that Biohuman, Chen Yu, so much?!" Xiao Feng couldn't figure it out, but he didn't dare complain.
On the platform, Fang Xiong sparred with Chen Yu while explaining things to the others:
"Your strike is too direct. Before attacking, you can use small movements to fool your opponent..."
"Power starts from the ground. Your feet must be planted firmly before you strike, or your power will be greatly reduced..."
"..."
Almost every word Fang Xiong said pointed out one of Chen Yu's shortcomings, which were also things most Martial Arts students tended to overlook.
Chen Yu gained a great deal from the match.
"Thank you for your guidance, Teacher Fang."
Chen Yu cupped his hands.
He could tell that Fang Xiong seemed to favor him and took special care of him.
Most of the Natural Humans in the Martial Arts Class hadn't received this kind of treatment. He was the exception.
"It's nothing." Fang Xiong waved a hand, then reminded him, "Keep working hard. If you can't pass the Martial Arts Assessment in a month, there's nothing I can do."
Only those who passed the Martial Arts Assessment could stay in the Martial Arts Class.
At Fang Xiong's reminder, Chen Yu's expression didn't change, but a shadow fell over his heart.
He knew that, with his current strength, he probably wouldn't pass next month's Martial Arts Assessment.
If he was kicked out of the Martial Arts Class, he would lose his chance to get into a Martial Arts University for good.
Then he could only return to the regular academic class, join a company after graduation, and spend most of his life as a wage slave, paying off his debt.
His future would be set in stone.
Fang Xiong knew that too, but there was nothing he could do. Talent was something you either had or didn't.
"All right. Choose your own sparring partners for the rest of class. I'll be here to offer pointers."
As Fang Xiong finished speaking, the Martial Arts students began choosing their opponents.
Xiao Feng hurried over to Chen Yu, his gaze challenging.
"Chen Yu, dare to fight me? Let's see what you've learned from Teacher Fang."
Xiao Feng couldn't accept it!
He didn't dare argue with Fang Xiong, but he was confident he could beat Chen Yu.
He would use this match to show Fang Xiong—and prove—that he was stronger than Chen Yu and had better talent!
Fang Xiong had chosen Chen Yu instead of him only because he had no eye for talent!
But when Xiao Feng challenged him, Chen Yu's pupils went unfocused, as if he were distracted. He didn't answer right away.
Because at that moment, the panel that had remained unchanged ever since he had been transported here finally showed its first sign of activity:
[Talent Copying successful after battle]
[Copied talent—Blade Technique Grandmaster (Purple)]
[Blade Technique Grandmaster (Purple)]: Blade technique comprehension increased by two hundred times that of an ordinary person; naturally possesses the Blade Eye; has a chance of entering an Epiphany while practicing blade techniques.
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