Lost-Trace Steps, Wind Shadow Blade

Inside the enormous hall,

Sweat beaded on the students' foreheads as they focused intently.

Wan Keshan moved among the students, offering guidance from time to time.

After an hour, all the students gradually completed their final movement and collapsed onto the floor.

Li Qingshan wiped the sweat from his forehead. His stomach growled, and he felt as if he could eat an entire cow.

Looking around, the other students were much the same, their eyes practically glowing green.

Yu Lei and Hong Qian were the exceptions.

Though they too were drenched in sweat, they were clearly in much better condition.

"Having money is awesome. They drank Nutrient Solution first thing in the morning."

Li Qingshan suppressed his envy and silently looked away.

He could not treat Nutrient Solution like a beverage. Every bottle had to be carefully budgeted.

For now, the most cost-effective method was to drink a bottle after returning home each day, then keep training until its effects were exhausted.

Wan Keshan swept his gaze around and took in everyone's condition before reminding them,

"Since you've entered the Martial Arts Class, you can't save money on Nutrient Solution."

"Assess your own circumstances and do what you can."

However, hardly anyone paid attention to what he said.

Most of the students stared blankly at the hall entrance.

Wan Keshan shook his head helplessly and waved his hand.

"Alright, go eat!"

"Long live the teacher!"

Cheers erupted.

Like starving wolves released from a cage, the students rushed out of the Martial Arts Hall and pounced toward the cafeteria.

It was not yet lunchtime, so the cafeteria was mostly empty.

Everyone quickly got their meals and began wolfing them down.

After eating, Li Qingshan left the cafeteria. When he was about to reach the Martial Arts Hall, he changed direction and headed toward an office building beside it.

This building was exclusively for martial arts teachers.

Knock, knock, knock!

"The door isn't locked. Come in!"

Wan Keshan was sorting through documents. When he saw Li Qingshan push open the door and enter, he raised an eyebrow and smiled.

"What a coincidence. I was just about to look for you, and here you are."

"Looking for me?" Li Qingshan froze for a moment.

"My matter isn't urgent. We can talk about it later." Wan Keshan waved his hand and looked at Li Qingshan.

"Tell me first. What did you come to see me about?"

After considering his words, Li Qingshan spoke.

"Teacher, I wanted to ask: if I ran into that Wolf Venom from yesterday by myself outside school, how could I kill it?"

He had died more than a hundred times last night.

Let alone killing the Wolf Venom in return, he had not managed to block even its second attack a single time.

At the moment, the best option was to ask a "professional."

"You're still thinking about that Wolf Venom?"

Wan Keshan looked surprised as he sized up the student before him.

Were students these days really this aware of danger?

That Wolf Venom had already been chopped open, its guts spilling out. Why was he still obsessed with it?

"Hypothetically. I mean, hypothetically," Li Qingshan said awkwardly.

"Fine, hypothetically!"

Rather than denying Li Qingshan's assumption, Wan Keshan smiled casually.

"This question is actually very simple. This can solve it."

As he spoke, Wan Keshan opened a drawer, pulled out a silver handgun, and tossed it onto the desk.

"Wuying Model 17, a standard Laser Gun. As long as the Wolf Venom isn't within twenty meters, you'll have enough time to react and blow its head off with one shot."

"A Laser Gun?"

Li Qingshan stared in astonishment.

He had never expected a martial arts teacher to give him such an answer.

"This is the Interstellar Era. Don't be so rigid in your thinking!" Wan Keshan said earnestly.

"Whether it's a machete or a Laser Gun, they're both weapons. As long as it works, that's enough."

"You're right, Teacher. I've learned from you."

Li Qingshan nodded heavily. Staring at the Laser Gun, he asked expectantly,

"Teacher, can I pick it up and take a look?"

"Go ahead." Wan Keshan waved his hand.

With Wan Keshan's permission, Li Qingshan eagerly picked up the gun and carefully ran his fingers over it.

After looking at it for a while, he gripped the handle with his right hand and closed his eyes, seemingly imagining what it felt like to fire it.

"You like it, right?" Wan Keshan wore a smug smile.

"You can apply for a gun license once you reach the Body Tempering Third Stage. If you're the first to reach the Body Tempering Third Stage, I'll give you this gun."

To Li Qingshan, a Laser Gun was far more powerful than a machete.

But to Wan Keshan, even a casually thrown stone was more powerful than a handgun.

It was a decent way to motivate students.

Just as Wan Keshan was feeling pleased with himself,

"Thank you, Teacher!"

Li Qingshan opened his eyes. His gaze was calm as he placed the Laser Gun back on the desk without a trace of hesitation.

Huh?

Wan Keshan could not make sense of it.

He had clearly been reluctant to put it down just moments ago. Why had he suddenly discarded it like it was worthless?

Across from him,

Li Qingshan's expression remained unchanged, though he felt helpless inside.

A machete and a Laser Gun were both weapons, but the Martial Arts Space did not recognize them!

When he entered just now empty-handed, the Wolf Venom had immediately chewed him to death.

After pondering for a moment, Li Qingshan had no choice but to speak again.

"Teacher, you said just now that I can only apply for a gun license at the Body Tempering Third Stage. In other words, if I encountered a Wolf Venom now, it would be impossible for me to kill it with a Laser Gun."

"A Wolf Venom's maximum burst speed is close to fifty meters per second, and a casual strike exceeds one ton."

Wan Keshan's smile faded, and his gaze turned serious.

"You're only at the Body Tempering First Stage. You don't want to use a gun, but you still want to win?"

"I do!" Li Qingshan nodded without hesitation.

"Alright, then I'll tell you how!"

Wan Keshan lowered his head and swiped his fingers across his Communicator.

Bzzz!

His wrist vibrated.

Li Qingshan looked at his Communicator. It was a new email, sent by Wan Keshan sitting across from him.

When he opened it, two compressed files appeared before his eyes.

Lost-Trace Steps, Wind Shadow Blade

"I originally planned to teach you these two basic martial arts techniques in the second half of the year, but I'm sending them to you early."

As Wan Keshan spoke, Li Qingshan's expression brightened.

"Teacher, if I learn these two martial arts techniques, can I kill a Wolf Venom by myself?"

"How could it be that simple?" Wan Keshan's mouth twitched.

The Stars Are Calling had four realms, while martial arts techniques had five!

"Beginner, Proficient, Mastery, Great Accomplishment, Perfection!"

"If someone at the Body Tempering First Stage wants to kill a Wolf Venom, they must at least train Lost-Trace Steps to the fourth realm, Great Accomplishment!"

The divisions of martial arts technique realms were the same as the levels displayed on the panel.

That thought flashed through Li Qingshan's mind. Then he noticed that Wan Keshan seemed not to have mentioned Wind Shadow Blade.

"Teacher, do I only need to practice Lost-Trace Steps?"

"You have to survive before you can deal damage."

Wan Keshan tapped the desk lightly with his finger, his gaze profound.

"When facing an opponent like a Wolf Venom, whose strength and speed both greatly surpass yours, movement techniques are your only chance."

"Lost-Trace Steps excels at shifting and maneuvering during battle."

"If you can train it to Great Accomplishment, even at the Body Tempering First Stage, you can evade a Wolf Venom's attacks."

"At that point, it'll be a lamb waiting for slaughter."

Li Qingshan felt as though the clouds had parted and the sun had emerged. Enlightened, he thanked Wan Keshan.

"Thank you, Teacher. I understand."

"You understand my ass!"

Wan Keshan laughed and cursed, looking somewhat helpless.

"What I said was merely a theoretically viable method based on your hypothetical situation."

"Even though Lost-Trace Steps is only a basic movement technique, reaching Great Accomplishment would take at least two years."

"Two years?" Li Qingshan fell into thought.

The two years Wan Keshan mentioned were calculated according to an ordinary person's training progress.

But he was different.

Lost-Trace Steps was a movement technique. As long as his feet could move, he could increase its proficiency.

Even with the Wolf Venom watching him menacingly in the Martial Arts Space, he could begin training immediately.

At most, he would just die a few extra times in the early stages.

If he trained Lost-Trace Steps twenty-four hours a day without sleep or rest, his rate of improvement would definitely exceed all imagination.