The Four Realms of Cultivation

Whoosh!

A brief announcement struck like a thunderclap.

After a moment of silence, the cafeteria instantly erupted into an uproar.

Li Qingshan's table was not overly shocked, since they had learned the news from Wan Keshan beforehand.

Based on the scant information in the announcement, Yu Lei, Hong Qian, and Zhao Hongzhou discussed it quietly.

Meanwhile, Li Qingshan kept his head lowered without saying a word, his fingers tapping rapidly across the light screen.

When Zhao Hongzhou had not heard Li Qingshan speak for some time, he turned toward him in confusion.

"Brother Shan, what are you busy with?"

"Nothing much. Writing a resignation letter."

Li Qingshan smiled and raised his wrist, displaying the light screen.

It was a resignation letter, half-written.

"I just joined the Martial Arts Class and don't want to be distracted, so I'm putting my part-time job on hold for now."

Li Qingshan gave a simple explanation, lowered his wrist, and continued tapping away.

Since there was a risk, he had to avoid it in advance.

Whether the murderer was that purple-red-haired woman or not, he had no intention of continuing to work at Galaxy River Bar.

Soon, he finished and sent the resignation letter. Another letter appeared beneath it.

A report letter!

The page was packed with words, all typed out moments ago with the speed of his fingers.

Li Qingshan carefully skimmed through it. Once he confirmed that it described every detail of his experience last night, he immediately sent it to the Patrol Bureau.

The Patrol Bureau had always been generous. As long as the lead was useful, there would definitely be a reward.

But he had to act fast.

After all, he would not be the only one reporting it.

Someone on the bus last night might have seen those three yellow-haired punks.

By the time Li Qingshan was done, the discussion at the table had already stopped.

There was too little information in the announcement to discuss anything useful.

Yu Lei looked at Li Qingshan, her eyes shifting as she thought of a new topic.

"Li Qingshan, do you rarely use Nutrient Solution?"

"I haven't used any before, but I'm planning to buy some on my way back later."

Li Qingshan nodded without hiding it.

"You should've bought some long ago." Zhao Hongzhou wiped his mouth. He knew Li Qingshan's situation well.

"If Brother Shan had started using Nutrient Solution earlier, his test results today would definitely have been even higher."

"He got first place in the whole class without using Nutrient Solution. That's already freakish." Hong Qian clicked his tongue in amazement.

Yet Yu Lei was not surprised in the slightest. Instead, her eyes lit up.

"I knew it!"

Li Qingshan's gaze shifted to Yu Lei.

When Wan Keshan had assessed him earlier, Yu Lei's expression had been different from that of the other students.

Yu Lei definitely knew more about martial arts.

"You should all know that The Stars Are Calling has different realms. But you probably don't know that this cultivation method has four realms in total."

Yu Lei held up four fingers without beating around the bush.

"The four realms are movements, force exertion, breathing, and muscle."

"Other than a small number of people in our class who only know the movements, most students are at the second realm. They've mastered the Force-Exertion Stage techniques for all 108 movements."

"The reason Hong Qian and I have better results is simply because we used more Nutrient Solution."

"And Li Qingshan, you should be at the third realm and have mastered coordinating your breathing, right?"

"That's right. Sharp eye." Li Qingshan nodded.

The characteristics of the first three realms did indeed correspond to the beginner, proficient, and mastery levels on the panel.

But he was even more curious about the next realm.

"Yu Lei, could you explain what 'muscle' means in the fourth realm?"

"Just call me by my name." Yu Lei waved her hand and pondered for a moment.

"The key to the fourth realm is mastering the rhythm of the muscles."

"This realm is rather mysterious. I heard my uncle... ahem... Teacher Wan say that movements, force exertion, and breathing go from the outside in, while Muscle Rhythm goes from the inside out."

Her words came to an abrupt stop. Yu Lei looked at the three pairs of baffled eyes and helplessly spread her hands.

"That's all I know."

It really was mysterious. They could not understand it at all.

Li Qingshan shook his head regretfully. He had only gained one thing from that explanation.

Wan Keshan was Yu Lei's uncle.

"Li Qingshan, don't be discouraged either." Yu Lei felt a little apologetic and comforted him.

"You reached the third realm so quickly, so you must have had an awakening. With your comprehension, you'll reach the fourth realm sooner or later."

Comprehension?

Li Qingshan smiled but said nothing. He had never experienced such a thing.

Whether it was the Force-Exertion Stage techniques or breathing coordination, he had automatically learned them after the panel leveled up. There had never been any process of "comprehending" them.

Still, Yu Lei was not entirely wrong. Once he filled the proficiency for the mastery level, he would naturally "comprehend" Muscle Rhythm.

After chatting a little longer, the four of them left the cafeteria. They parted ways outside the school gates, and Li Qingshan headed straight for the nearest shopping mall.

"Ten bottles of Basic Nutrient Solution. Please take them."

The salesgirl smiled brightly as she presented a specially made small insulated case with both hands.

Li Qingshan forced a smile in return, his lips stiff.

He took the insulated case with his right hand and clenched his saber sheath in his left as his Communicator passed over the payment terminal.

-30000

His savings had been cut in half!

"Take care, and we look forward to seeing you again!"

The salesgirl's service attitude was excellent, but Li Qingshan could not slow down in the slightest. He hurried away from that place of sorrow.

After returning home,

Li Qingshan leaned his machete against the wall and swept his gaze over the panel, not rushing to try the [Martial Arts Space].

Reality was the foundation. Cultivation method levels were only a means of improvement.

If he wanted to increase his Body Tempering progress, he could not neglect his daily real-world training.

"Besides, now that I have Nutrient Solution, I should be able to increase the number of training sessions."

Li Qingshan placed both hands on the insulated case and carefully opened it.

Hiss!

Cold mist surged out, enveloping ten thumb-thick test tubes. The pale blue liquid inside flickered in and out of view.

"The packaging's luxurious enough, at least."

Li Qingshan muttered, feeling a little better.

He took out a bottle of Nutrient Solution, quickly shut the insulated case, removed the stopper, and tipped his head back to drink it.

The icy, sweet-and-sour liquid flowed down his throat and vanished without a trace.

"Three thousand, gone?"

Li Qingshan shook the empty bottle, somewhat dazed.

His body had no special reaction. The Nutrient Solution worth 3,000 Star Coins seemed no different from a drink worth 3 Star Coins.

However, the salesgirl had already explained this point.

Nutrient Solution was a supplement, and its actual effects depended on the individual.

Ordinary people could barely absorb any of it after drinking it.

To improve absorption efficiency, they had to train with a cultivation method.

The exact effects varied from person to person.

In other words, the higher the cultivation method level, the better the absorption efficiency.

Li Qingshan gathered his thoughts, stood in the middle of the living room, swung his arms, and began practicing The Stars Are Calling.

An hour later,

After completing the final movement, Li Qingshan collapsed onto the floor, drenched in sweat.

"I'm not hungry?"

Li Qingshan touched his stomach, his eyes lighting up.

Every time he had practiced in the past, he would be so hungry that his chest stuck to his back, forcing him to eat immediately.

But now, not only was there no hunger,

It felt as though streams of water were flowing from his stomach, spreading throughout his body and nourishing his exhausted limbs.

"Three thousand well spent!" Li Qingshan grinned.

At this rate of recovery, it would not be long before he could begin a second training session.

Li Qingshan spent the entire afternoon training.

By evening, after dinner and another completed session,

Li Qingshan's limbs were weak and sore, and he could not summon even a trace of strength. The Nutrient Solution's effects had been exhausted.

[Realm: Body Tempering 9/100] → [Realm: Body Tempering 10/100]