Crazy Improvement!

Ding ding ding!

Bzzzzzz!

The urgent vibrations and ringing intertwined, making him unbearably irritated.

Li Qingshan struggled to open his eyes, the edges of his eyeballs bloodshot.

"Late again?"

Li Qingshan frowned and turned off the alarm.

Normally, he woke up naturally every morning. The alarm was only a backup.

But because of the Martial Arts Space these past two days, he had been severely sleep-deprived and was always awakened by the alarm.

"The Martial Arts Space ignores physical exhaustion, but it doesn't seem to restore mental energy?"

After two days, Li Qingshan had basically confirmed this guess.

Still, that was not really a drawback.

The Martial Arts Space had a 1:10 time flow. He could simply spend his rest time inside it.

"The key is still getting rid of the Wolf Venom Projection!"

Li Qingshan shook his head, gathered his thoughts, and looked at the panel.

[Li Qingshan]

[Realm: Body Tempering 10/100]

[Technique:

The Thirty-Sixth Set of Radio Calisthenics—The Starry Sky Is Calling 10/1000 (Mastery)]

[Martial Skill: Lost-Trace Steps 2/500 (Proficient)]

[Function: Martial Arts Space Lv1 (1/100)]

[Available Time: 364 days]

[Time Flow: 1:10]

One day had already been deducted from his available time, though he was not sure exactly how many hours that was.

Anyway, he had died more than a thousand times last night before raising Lost-Trace Steps to "Proficient."

And in order to verify the improvement pattern at the Proficient level, he had forced himself to die dozens more times and complete two sets of footwork.

That was right. At the Proficient level, he had to perform Lost-Trace Steps twice to gain one point.

Still, after reaching Proficient, there was no longer any stiffness in his footwork, so his efficiency had not dropped by much.

"Soon. Soon."

Li Qingshan lightly slapped his cheeks, forcing himself awake.

"It won't be long before Lost-Trace Steps reaches 'Mastery.'"

"At the Mastery level, the footwork will become instinct. Maybe then I can try dodging Wolf Venom's attacks."

First High School, martial arts hall.

When Zhao Hongzhou saw the bloodshot eyes of Li Qingshan, he asked in surprise,

"Brother Shan, didn't you quit your job? Why are you still staying up late?"

Yu Lei and Hong Qian also turned curiously at the sound.

"It's nothing. I just trained a little late."

Li Qingshan waved his hand without saying more.

Hong Qian hesitated before asking,

"Li Qingshan, would it be alright to say how many times you did Body Tempering after going home?"

"What's inconvenient about that?" Li Qingshan casually pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Four times."

Hong Qian's pupils contracted, shame appearing on his face.

When he got home each day, he could not endure more than two Body Tempering sessions.

Li Qingshan had better talent, a higher technique level, and worked harder than him.

Yu Lei saw what Hong Qian was thinking and shook her head.

"Don't overthink it. I can only do Body Tempering twice after going home too. It's the difference in technique levels."

"When doing Body Tempering, try to understand how to coordinate your breathing. Raising your technique level as soon as possible is the proper path."

Hong Qian nodded gratefully, looking much better.

Yu Lei turned to Li Qingshan again, carefully studying the bloodshot veins in his eyes before asking hesitantly,

"Li Qingshan, were you practicing martial skills last night?"

Although Body Tempering exhausted one's energy, the body also recovered faster after deep sleep.

If it was only Body Tempering, he could never have been this tired.

Li Qingshan nodded, surprised.

"Teacher Wan told you?"

"No." Yu Lei shook her head and quietly advised him.

"Too much is as bad as too little. A person's energy has limits."

When her sister Yu Man returned home last night, she had casually asked Yu Lei about Li Qingshan.

Combined with Li Qingshan's appearance today, it inevitably reminded her of what her sister had gone through before.

"Thanks. I know my limits."

Li Qingshan smiled and nodded, accepting Yu Lei's kindness.

The exhaustion during this period was unavoidable.

As long as he endured until Lost-Trace Steps reached a high level, killed Wolf Venom, and got through this, things would become easier afterward.

As they spoke, Wan Keshan entered through the front door of the hall.

As usual, he swept his gaze over every student. His eyes paused on Li Qingshan, and he imperceptibly frowned, but he said nothing.

Soon, the students dispersed again and began their Body Tempering training.

Training at school continued steadily, day after day, seeming unchanged.

Except for the increasingly obvious fatigue on Li Qingshan's face.

But the energy he spent had not gone to waste.

The proficiency of Lost-Trace Steps was rising crazily!

[Lost-Trace Steps 2/500 (Proficient)] → [Lost-Trace Steps 65/500 (Proficient)]

[Lost-Trace Steps 65/500 (Proficient)] → [Lost-Trace Steps 127/500 (Proficient)]

[Lost-Trace Steps 127/500 (Proficient)] → [Lost-Trace Steps 190/500 (Proficient)]

On the eighth day, afternoon.

After completing another round of Body Tempering, all the students collapsed onto the ground.

Dark circles faintly showed beneath Li Qingshan's eyes.

But when he glanced at the panel, a smile crept onto his lips.

[Li Qingshan]

[Realm: Body Tempering 12/100]

[Technique:

The Thirty-Sixth Set of Radio Calisthenics—The Starry Sky Is Calling 22/1000 (Mastery)]

[Martial Skill: Lost-Trace Steps 2/1000 (Mastery)]

[Function: Martial Arts Space Lv1 (1/100)]

[Available Time: 356 days]

[Time Flow: 1:10]

In eight days,

he had spent at least twenty hours in the Martial Arts Space nearly every night.

Lost-Trace Steps had been forcibly pushed to "Mastery."

Not only had his Lost-Trace Steps improved, but his Body Tempering progress had not fallen behind either, rising by two points.

At the Mastery level, Lost-Trace Steps had become instinct.

What had once felt rigid and awkward now seemed incomparably exquisite, fully displaying its ability to weave, shift, and evade.

If he took the test again now, he would probably become a "lopsided student" like Yu Lei.

"I should be able to dodge several of Wolf Venom's attacks now. It's time to try the saber techniques."

Li Qingshan's eyes shone with excitement.

If he could dodge attacks, then naturally he would have a chance to swing his saber and counterattack.

The price of eight days of frenzied improvement had been dying in the wolf's jaws over ten thousand times.

His grudge against Wolf Venom was irreconcilable!

"One day, I'll kill it ten thousand times. No, at least a hundred thousand times!!!"

Li Qingshan's gaze hardened. Forcing himself up, he prepared to head to the cafeteria.

"Li Qingshan, wait!"

Wan Keshan's voice came from behind him.

Li Qingshan paused and turned around.

Wan Keshan looked him up and down, his brow furrowing deeper and deeper.

Eight days ago, he had realized that Li Qingshan had ultimately ignored his advice and begun practicing martial skills, pouring a great deal of energy into them.

Now, he even regretted giving Li Qingshan those two martial skills that day.

Still, everyone had to walk their own path. That was even more true for martial arts.

After pondering for a moment, Wan Keshan finally spoke.

"After you go home tonight, you are not allowed to practice anything. Rest properly!"

"Alright, Teacher."

Li Qingshan answered with a smile, readily agreeing before turning toward the cafeteria.

But after taking just a few steps,

he stopped, turned back to face Wan Keshan, and bowed.

"Thank you, Teacher!"

"Get lost, get lost! I'm not dead yet. What are you bowing for?"

Wan Keshan frowned as he chased him away.

Li Qingshan smiled, then turned and ran toward the cafeteria.

He understood all of Wan Keshan's concerns, but because the panel was involved, he had no way to explain.

But he could do better and keep others from worrying about him.

"I'll take a day off and call it a celebration!"

After quickly finishing his meal at the cafeteria,

Li Qingshan hurried out of the school gates and ran toward the mall he had visited last time.

He had used up all ten bottles of nutrient solution. It was time to bleed money again.

"Forty bottles of basic nutrient solution. Please take them!"

The salesgirl was still the same one from last time, but her smile was even brighter now.

Li Qingshan took the insulated case, and the communicator on his left hand trembled as he swiped it over the payment terminal.

-120000

Only ten thousand in savings remained...

"Take care, and welcome back next time!"

The salesgirl bowed him out as Li Qingshan hurried away.

Back home,

Li Qingshan set down the insulated case and rushed into the bathroom.

After a quick wash, he lay down on the bed.

Li Qingshan closed his eyes, emptying his mind...