China Martial Arts University and Kyoto Martial Arts University

Over the next twelve hours, Yang Sheng remained immersed in the matches.

At this stage, the opponents he matched against were basically Black Iron Second Stage or Black Iron First Stage martial artists.

They came from all over the country and used all kinds of weapons.

But they all had one thing in common: extremely rich combat experience.

Yang Sheng could clearly feel that fighting was becoming less comfortable for him.

Especially when their strength was evenly matched, both sides tried their best to control the rhythm. Whoever controlled the rhythm controlled the victory.

Yang Sheng did not stop until midnight.

Over the course of the day, he fought forty-two matches and won twenty-six of them.

But he had lost quite a few as well.

Aside from opponents who overwhelmed him in strength, Yang Sheng had also encountered many opponents with unique combat techniques.

These opponents were clearly quite young. Although they were not as strong as him, their techniques were extremely refined.

Their control over every detail of combat had practically reached the limit.

Throughout the entire fight, such martial artists never proactively exposed any weaknesses in their defense.

Fighting people like that was incredibly uncomfortable, and he had even lost some of those matches.

It could be said that fighting such people was torture.

In the arena, every one of his movements was calculated by the other party.

They would not let him casually throw even a single comfortable punch.

Even his movement around the arena was restricted to the extreme.

Every bit of space had to be fought for, and every opportunity to strike had to be seized.

He attacked every weak point in their defense with all his might.

In four or five matches, Yang Sheng had battled his opponents all the way to the thirty-minute limit, ultimately winning on points.

Although the fights had been extremely uncomfortable, Yang Sheng had gained the most from them.

His Eight Extremes Fist had been fully refined to perfection through this high-intensity tempering.

His cultivation had also risen steadily, breaking past the four-hundred mark.

[Bright Force (411/5000)]

His rank had reached ninety percent of Black Iron First Stage.

He was only one step away from a breakthrough.

Among Bay City's Lesser Completion of Bright Force martial artists, he had risen to second place.

Yang Sheng took off his equipment. His entire body was already drenched in sweat.

When he took off his clothes and gave them a light twist, water poured out in streams.

The owner of Tianhai was waiting outside the room, dozing off.

Unless Yang Sheng planned to fight through the night, he would always wait for him.

Besides, he had yet to hand Yang Sheng today's wages.

Having gone several hours without food, Yang Sheng relaxed now, and overwhelming hunger swept over him.

For a moment, he was so hungry that he could barely stand.

He supported himself against the wall and shuffled toward the dining area.

He picked up a large spoon and shoveled medicinal cuisine directly from the serving tray into his mouth.

The slightly bitter medicinal cuisine tasted like an unparalleled delicacy to Yang Sheng now.

Only after wolfing down half a tray of medicinal cuisine did Yang Sheng's dizziness finally ease.

He clutched his stomach and let out a satisfied burp.

"The only side effect brought by the Martial God Soul is getting hungry too quickly."

"Even other Lesser Completion of Bright Force martial artists only eat three meals a day and an extra snack, even while maintaining high-intensity training."

"But even if I eat a huge amount of medicinal cuisine at every meal, as long as I keep training, the food in my stomach will be completely digested after two hours."

"After four hours, I'd practically faint from hunger."

He rubbed his hair.

"Looks like I have to buy some potent medicine to supplement myself. Once I reach Great Completion of Bright Force and my consumption rises further, ordinary medicinal cuisine will become useless too."

At that moment, the owner of Tianhai heard Yang Sheng moving about and walked over with messy hair.

"You kid can really fight. You've battled nonstop for more than ten hours without getting tired?"

Yang Sheng smiled. "I feel fine. If I weren't so hungry, and if it weren't so late that I could barely match against opponents at my level, I might have kept fighting."

The owner of Tianhai gave Yang Sheng a thumbs-up.

"That's seriously impressive."

"Here's your pay for today. Three thousand in total. Count it."

Yang Sheng's eyes lit up.

"Why is there more again today?"

The owner of Tianhai said, "Other than the number of people coming to sign up for memberships doubling again today, I also opened a prize betting pool for your upcoming match against Li Ya. I took a five-percent handling fee, and we'll split it equally."

Yang Sheng nodded.

The owner of Tianhai was a shrewd businessman. While his fundamental goal in helping Yang Sheng was to make money, he had indeed provided him with this match system and created a dedicated private space for him.

That made Yang Sheng feel perfectly at ease accepting the wages.

"Boss, the Stellar Martial Arts Match System is so well made. Why does it seem like not many people know about it?" Yang Sheng asked.

The owner of Tianhai stood up and paced as he answered.

"The Stellar Martial Arts Match System started being implemented in the Starship Federation's military last year. Its purpose was to select martial artists with greater talent."

"During the first half of this year, the system gradually matured and only then began to be rolled out for wider use. As far as I know, the two joint developers behind it are Kyoto's two top Martial Arts Universities."

"China Martial Arts University and Kyoto Martial Arts University."

Yang Sheng had heard about these two schools ever since he was young.

When they had been children, they would always have childish worries about whether to attend China Martial Arts University or Kyoto Martial Arts University.

But as they grew older, students' goals shifted from attending China Martial Arts University or Kyoto Martial Arts University, to getting into a nationally ranked martial arts bachelor's program, and finally to thinking that even a martial arts junior college would be good enough.

Yet the result was often that many students could not even get into a martial arts junior college in the end.

Yang Sheng said, "As expected of Hua Nation's top martial arts institutions."

Yang Sheng did not even dare to dream of schools like those.

China Martial Arts University and Kyoto Martial Arts University basically only admitted the top hundred students from each state's Martial Arts Entrance Exam.

And to place among the top hundred in the Martial Arts Entrance Exam, one basically had to reach the Dark Force level.

In all of Bay City Martial Arts High School, there were only Wang Chao, Li Yan, and Qian Feng.

That was also the confidence Zhao Huan had to challenge Jiang Tian now.

Once a teacher cultivated a martial arts student admitted to China Martial Arts University or Kyoto Martial Arts University, their status and influence within the school would rise sharply.

Li Haitao, the former homeroom teacher of the Rocket Class, had originally been an obscure teacher as well. But a genius student had emerged under his guidance, standing out in that year's Martial Arts Entrance Exam and gaining admission to Kyoto Martial Arts University.

Li Haitao himself had successfully become the homeroom teacher of the Rocket Class, second only to Jiang Tian.

The owner of Tianhai saw Yang Sheng's longing.

He said with a smile, "If you make a name for yourself in this match system, maybe people from China Martial Arts University and Kyoto Martial Arts University will come looking for you tomorrow. Those two schools have the most special admission slots."

Yang Sheng said, "I'm only Black Iron rank right now, with Lesser Completion of Bright Force cultivation. To become a student at either of those schools, I need to at least reach the Dark Force level."

To his surprise, the owner of Tianhai patted Yang Sheng on the shoulder.

"You're the most talented young man I've ever seen. Who knows?"

"Who knows..."

Yang Sheng raised his head and looked at the night sky beyond the window.

"Again!"

Over the next two days, Yang Sheng remained in seclusion at Skysea Boxing Gym.

To keep the Li brothers from discovering Yang Sheng's competitive condition.

The owner of Tianhai deliberately shut down Yang Sheng's match livestream.

Other than Yang Sheng himself, no one knew what state he was currently in.

Yang Sheng lived up to expectations. On the morning of the third day, he finally defeated the opponent before him.

"Congratulations on successfully advancing to Silver Ninth Stage."

"Your Black Iron rank rewards have been deposited into your linked bank card."

Yang Sheng panted heavily.

He looked at his ranking and saw that he had successfully become Bay City's number one Lesser Completion of Bright Force martial artist.

Yang Sheng clenched his fists tightly.

Only he knew the hardships behind it all.

Over two days, he had matched into thirty-six fights and won fourteen of them. He had spent even more time losing.

But to Yang Sheng, failure did not mean gaining nothing.

In fact, he had gained the most cultivation improvement from those lost matches.

[Bright Force (490/500)]

"Just one final step remains."

Yang Sheng took a deep breath and suppressed the excitement in his heart.

From not even entering Bright Force to now being on the verge of Great Completion of Bright Force.

Yang Sheng had used ten days to travel a road that ordinary disciples needed three, or even five, years to complete.

"As long as you work hard, there will be rewards."

This was the Martial God Soul's creed. The Martial God was never stingy toward anyone who worked hard.

Yang Sheng had fully put those words into practice.

"Tomorrow is the day to reap the rewards, and the day to truly test the training of this period."

After saying that, Yang Sheng lowered his head, opened his mouth, and took a huge bite of medicinal cuisine.

During the two days Yang Sheng had disappeared.

The seemingly peaceful Bay City Martial Arts High School was also filled with undercurrents.

Three days earlier, Yang Sheng had publicly defeated Wang Meng and embarrassed Li Yan.

Some interested parties began gathering information on Yang Sheng's recent performance.

The Liu Group was the most active among them.

They had been investigating him openly and secretly over the past two days.

They discovered a shocking fact.

A few days ago, Yang Sheng had been expelled from school because he was a Lower-Registry Commoner and his cultivation could not keep up with the curriculum.

At that time, Yang Sheng had not even entered Lesser Completion of Bright Force.

But the change had occurred on the day Yang Sheng was urged to leave school.

From then on, Yang Sheng had practically changed by the day.

In just a few days, he had not only broken through to Lesser Completion of Bright Force, but also gained the strength to defeat Wang Meng in an instant.

Looking at the thick stack of reports in his hands.

Liu Jianming became more alarmed the more he read.

When Old Huang had reported to him two days ago, he had not taken it seriously.

But over the past two days, his understanding had been completely overturned.

"Old Huang!"

Liu Jianming called out from his office.

Old Huang, dressed in fitted martial attire, silently emerged from the corner.

"Go see Yang Sheng today. Give him a meeting gift first."

Old Huang said, "President Liu, didn't you say earlier that we should wait a little longer? Why not wait until the school testing is over and see the results before making a decision?"

Liu Jianming waved his hand. "By then, it'll be too late."

Old Huang said, "What if Yang Sheng loses tomorrow?"

Liu Jianming answered decisively, "There is no what if. Yang Sheng will definitely win tomorrow."

A sharp gleam burst from Old Huang's eyes.

"Understood. I'll go see him now."

Bay City Martial Arts High School's administrative building.

In Principal Tang's office, Jiang Tian sat in Principal Tang's swivel chair, watching Old Tang smoke one cigarette after another.

"Have you made up your mind?" Jiang Tian spoke first.

Principal Tang, who had been questioned, furrowed his brow deeply. As though he had made a major decision, he stubbed out the cigarette that was half burned between his fingers.

"Teacher Jiang, is this really worth it? For one student, you're applying for a Special Merit Scholarship and an emergency channel."

"Do you know how many teachers at Bay City Martial Arts High School are eyeing your position as homeroom teacher of the High-Aspiration Class? They're all watching like tigers. What you're doing is gambling with your reputation."

"As you said, if Yang Sheng is defeated, we'll activate the emergency channel to save his life. This has never happened before."

Jiang Tian abruptly stood up. "I have only one request: regardless of whether he wins or loses, Yang Sheng must be protected. Even if he truly loses, we must preserve as much of his strength as possible, let him repeat a year, and have him continue striving for the Martial Arts Entrance Exam next year."

"My reputation isn't that important. If we bury a talent, that would be my greatest loss."

Principal Tang said, "You think that highly of him?"

With his hands behind his back, Jiang Tian walked to the window. "You don't understand him. You haven't experienced the shock he brings. I can say that his future achievements will be no less than Lian Zhantian's."

The moment those words left his mouth, Principal Tang shuddered.

He and Lian Zhantian had been classmates in the same cohort.

Back then, Lian Zhantian had been the class monitor of the High-Aspiration Class, while Principal Tang had been the vice class monitor.

It was similar to the relationship between Wang Chao and Liu Chang now.

At that time, Lian Zhantian had utterly dominated every genius at Bay City Martial Arts High School for three whole years.

In three years, he had raised himself from Lesser Completion of Bright Force to Great Completion of Dark Force.

In the Martial Arts Entrance Exam, he had crushed his way through every round, leaving all geniuses dimmed in his shadow.

In the end, he was admitted to China University. Later, he successfully entered the Starship Federation and became an Astral Martial Artist, an Origin-Star Martial Artist.

Principal Tang still vividly remembered Lian Zhantian's terrifying aura of absolute suppression, and even now, it left him with lingering fear.

Could this Yang Sheng truly become a top-tier martial artist like Lian Zhantian?

He lit another cigarette.

He drew the entire cigarette into his lungs in one breath.

Then he exhaled a thick cloud of smoke.

"Fine. I'll listen to you one more time, Teacher Jiang."

Bay City Martial Arts High School's training room.

Li Yan sat by the window, staring blankly at the slightly gloomy sky outside.

The events of the past few days had already exceeded his ability to control them.

Starting with Jiang Tian transferring Yang Sheng into the High-Aspiration Class, then Yang Sheng defeating Wang Meng in a single move.

Everything carried an eerie strangeness he could not see through.

"Just what happened in only a few days?"

He could not figure it out.

Beside him, Li Ya, who was punching a sandbag, threw a heavy punch.

The violent gust from his fist instantly tore apart the hemp rope binding the sandbag, sending the entire bag flying into the wall under Li Ya's force.

Seeing this, the anxiety in Li Yan's heart eased somewhat.

His younger brother had already reached the limit of Lesser Completion of Bright Force.

One step further, and he would reach Great Completion of Bright Force.

In such a state, Li Yan did not know what level of Lesser Completion of Bright Force could possibly defeat Li Ya.

"Are you prepared for tomorrow's test?" Li Yan asked.

Li Ya picked up a towel beside him and wiped his face.

"Brother, you only need to consider whether to leave that brat alive."

A trace of viciousness flashed through Li Yan's eyes.

"Tomorrow, Jiang Tian and the others will definitely try every means to protect Yang Sheng. I want you to end this quickly, take him down at the fastest speed possible, and leave no future trouble. Even if he doesn't die, break his spine so he can never cultivate again."

Li Ya smiled. "Isn't that a little too cruel for him? But I want to be even crueler. I won't just break his spine—I'll break both his arms and legs too. I'll turn him into a cripple from this day onward and make him remember forever that he is Lower Registry."

PS: The author was such an idiot. I actually missed uploading a chapter, and only noticed something was wrong after the follow-up readership dropped. But you readers who could keep following the story even after missing a chapter are incredible. I'm impressed with myself. This chapter is a combined two-in-one.