Together, Then!

"You really dared to think that?" Wan Keshan was instantly stunned, looking Li Qingshan up and down.

He knew the kid was greedy, but he had not expected him to be greedy to this extent!

"Is that not allowed?" Li Qingshan looked disappointed.

For the first-year ranking rewards, he could only choose one C-rank martial skill.

This meant he had to choose between the Nine-Heavens Wind-Thunder Blade and the Heavenly Net Lost-Trace Steps.

As an adult, of course he wanted them both!

"Is this even a question of whether it is allowed?" Wan Keshan shook his head speechlessly.

"There are only three months until the end of the year. Even if you cultivate The Stars Are Calling to the fourth level, you can at most reach the Body Tempering Fifth Stage."

"The top elites among the second-years are basically at the sixth stage or above. There are even some at the seventh stage!"

"And even if their martial skills have not reached mastery, they are at least proficient."

"After the Body Tempering Fifth Stage, the difference in punching force between each stage nearly doubles. Tell me, how are you supposed to fight them?"

Wan Keshan sprayed saliva as he spoke, going on and on.

Li Qingshan instinctively took a step back. Only after waiting with difficulty for him to stop did he quietly ask,

"Would it not be enough if I mastered the Lost-Trace Steps and the Wind Shadow Blade?"

"Heh. If you can really do that, then you can give it a try."

Wan Keshan sneered, not taking it seriously.

Mastering two martial skills would indeed be enough to make up for the gap. After all, he was only competing for a spot in the top ten.

But martial skill mastery and major accomplishment were fundamentally different concepts. How could mastery be so easy to achieve?

"Then that is great!"

As though he had not noticed his teacher's expression, Li Qingshan let out a long breath.

Martial skills were not as difficult to cultivate as cultivation techniques.

Over three months, as long as he set aside some time while grinding his cultivation technique, it would be enough to bring both martial skills to mastery.

Thinking of his cultivation technique, Li Qingshan asked a question he had long been curious about.

"Teacher, does The Stars Are Calling really only have four levels?"

Wan Keshan's eyes flashed with surprise. "Why did you suddenly think to ask that?"

"It was not exactly sudden, was it?" Li Qingshan shrugged and pointed at himself.

"After all, I have already reached the fourth level. There cannot be nothing left for me to cultivate afterward, right?"

Wan Keshan was left speechless. After frowning and pondering for a long while, he finally spoke.

"I can tell you that The Stars Are Calling does indeed have a fifth level.

However, no one on Purple Star has reached that level in nearly a thousand years, so it is generally not mentioned during lessons."

"Is it that difficult?"

Li Qingshan tried hard to widen his eyes, putting on a surprised expression, while his gaze casually swept over the panel.

He did not know whether it was difficult, but if he just kept grinding for another half year or so, would he not become the first person in a thousand years?

"Do not think too much about it. The fifth level of The Stars Are Calling mainly involves the Body Tempering Ultimate Realm. You are still far from that stage. It will not be too late to consider it after reaching the Body Tempering Tenth Stage."

"The Ultimate Realm?"

It was another new term. Li Qingshan almost instinctively linked it to his speculation about the Body Tempering Eleventh Stage during the entrance test.

Back when he was at the Body Tempering First Stage, the panel had displayed Body Tempering 9/100.

Later, when his Body Tempering progress reached 18/100, he tested himself again. His speed had just surpassed the Body Tempering Second Stage requirement of 13 meters per second, and his punching force had reached 350 kilograms.

Clearly, his guess had been correct. The Body Tempering Tenth Stage could only bring the panel's progress bar to 90/100.

Since the Ultimate Realm could only be touched upon after the Body Tempering Tenth Stage, it was certainly connected to this.

Li Qingshan was itching to know more, but Wan Keshan had no intention of explaining further. He waved a hand and prepared to leave.

"Hurry up and cultivate. Raise your Body Tempering Realm first."

Just then,

"Teacher Li, you have to stand up for us!"

"Exactly! The private cultivation rooms belong to all of Fallen Blossom City. What right does Teacher Wan have to decide everything by himself?"

"That is right. Li Qingshan is only a new student. He has no right to occupy a cultivation room."

Amid the accusations and noisy footsteps, a group of second-year martial arts students gathered around a lean male teacher and stopped outside the cultivation room.

Wan Keshan folded his arms across his chest, a smile of unclear meaning tugging at his lips as he looked at them.

Wherever his gaze passed, it was as though someone had pressed a pause button. Sweat appeared on every student's forehead, and they tightly shut their mouths.

"Were you not all talking quite well just now? What, cat got your tongues?"

Wan Keshan smiled without really smiling. The students grew even more nervous, while the few Body Tempering Fourth Stage instigators at the front turned pale.

"Teacher Wan, why scare these little ones?"

Teacher Li spoke helplessly, taking the initiative to step forward and look at Li Qingshan.

"Li Qingshan, I personally have no objection to you taking the last private cultivation room.

However, cultivation rooms are public resources. They cannot simply be assigned to you without explanation. There must ultimately be an answer for everyone. Do you agree?"

Meeting the teacher's gaze, Li Qingshan did not sense any malice, so he nodded.

"Teacher Li is right. I have no objection."

"Good."

Teacher Li let out a breath and turned to the four students behind him.

"You are all close to the Body Tempering Fifth Stage. Only the four of you have any hope of competing for a private cultivation room. Since you refuse to accept this, settle it with your fists!"

As soon as his words fell,

the four immediately became excited, exchanging glances as though discussing who would make the first move.

The students watching from behind erupted in cheers, looking at Teacher Li with admiration, as though he had already become an embodiment of justice.

Teacher Li awkwardly twisted his neck. His gaze swept over his four prized students, and he sighed inwardly.

Although he did not hold a position at the Patrol Bureau, he was equally aware of what had happened at the Silver Radiance Hotel last night.

Given Li Qingshan's record, occupying a private cultivation room was naturally not a problem at all.

But since the students had come looking for him, he could only make this trip.

Some things could not be resolved with words alone. Only seeing was believing, and only then would they give up.

In less than a minute, the four had already reached a decision.

"Li Qingshan, we will not take advantage of you. Yang Peng will spar with you. As long as you win, we will leave without another word!"

As he spoke, a tall and sturdy boy among the four stepped forward, wearing a confident expression.

Li Qingshan's gaze fell on Yang Peng, and understanding dawned on him.

"So you are the strongest among them?"

Yang Peng's expression stiffened, becoming somewhat unnatural.

The other three behind him also frowned slightly. Clearly, they did not agree with Li Qingshan's words.

If Yang Peng had been the strongest, they would not have needed to argue earlier.

They had put Yang Peng forward only because they were all evenly matched and did not want to waste time.

"Li Qingshan, why are you asking so many questions? In any case, I am more than enough to deal with you." Yang Peng took a deep breath and took control of the rhythm.

"I guessed wrong?"

Li Qingshan ignored the provocation, his brows gradually furrowing.

The reason he had agreed to Teacher Li was that this sort of thing was unavoidable and had to be resolved.

If Yang Peng were the strongest, then this battle would be enough to shut them up. Naturally, that would not be a problem.

But clearly, none of these four accepted the others. They said they would turn around and leave, but unless they got beaten, they would not know pain.

Next time, they might find some other excuse to come and waste his time again.

That was right. In Li Qingshan's eyes, this was simply a waste of time.

Every minute that passed now meant wasting ten minutes of cultivation time in the Martial Arts Space.

At that thought, Li Qingshan immediately grew impatient and waved a hand.

"Forget it. Stop wasting time. Come at me together!"