Crazy Improvement!

Ding ding ding!

Buzz buzz buzz!

The sharp vibration and ringing intertwined, stirring an unbearable irritation.

Li Qingshan struggled to open his eyes, the edges of his eyeballs shot through with bloodshot veins.

"Late again?"

Li Qingshan frowned and turned off the alarm.

In the past, he could wake up naturally every morning; the alarm was just a backup.

But these past two days, thanks to the Martial Arts Space, he'd been severely sleep-deprived, always jolted awake by the alarm.

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

Over two days, Li Qingshan had mostly confirmed this guess.

Still, it wasn't exactly a flaw.

With a 1:10 Time Flow Rate in the Martial Arts Space, he could easily fit his rest time inside.

"The key is still getting rid of that Wolf Poison projection!"

Li Qingshan shook his head, reining in his thoughts, and looked at the Status Panel.

Code
[Li Qingshan]
[Realm: Body Forging 10/100]
[Technique:
The Thirty-Sixth Set of Broadcast Gymnastics--The Stars Are Calling 10/1000 (Proficient)]
[Martial Skill: Mizong Step 2/500 (Skilled)]
[Function: Martial Arts Space Lv1 (1/100)]
[Available Time: 364 days]
[Time Flow Rate: 1:10]

The Available Time had already dropped by a day, though he wasn't sure exactly how many hours.

Anyway, last night he'd died over a thousand times just to train Mizong Step to "Skilled."

And to verify the pattern of skill level progression, he'd forced himself through dozens more deaths, completing two full sets of the footwork.

Right—at the Skilled level, Mizong Step had to be performed twice to gain 1 point.

But once skilled, the footwork showed no stiffness, and the efficiency hadn't slowed much.

"Almost there, almost there."

Li Qingshan patted his cheeks lightly, forcing himself to rally.

"In a few days, Mizong Step will reach 'Proficient.'"

"At Proficient level, the footwork becomes instinct. Maybe then I can try dodging Wolf Poison's attacks."

First High School, Martial Arts Hall.

Zhao Hongzhou caught sight of the bloodshot veins in Li Qingshan's eyes and said in surprise, "Brother Shan, didn't you quit your job? Why are you still pulling all-nighters?"

Yu Lei and Hong Qian heard the voice and turned their heads curiously.

"It's nothing, just trained a bit late."

Li Qingshan waved a hand, not elaborating.

Hong Qian hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Li Qingshan, would you mind telling us how many times you do Body Forging when you get home?"

"What's there to mind?" Li Qingshan pinched his brow lightly and said casually, "Four times."

Hong Qian's pupils shook, and a look of shame crept onto his face.

He could barely manage two rounds of Body Forging after getting home each day.

Li Qingshan had better talent, a higher technique realm, and trained even harder than he did.

Yu Lei noticed Hong Qian's thoughts from the side and shook her head. "Don't overthink it. I can only do two rounds when I get home too. It's a gap in technique realm."

"When you're doing Body Forging, try to focus on matching your breathing. Raising your technique realm is the real path forward."

Hong Qian nodded gratefully, his expression improving.

Yu Lei then turned back to Li Qingshan, studying the bloodshot veins in his eyes, and said with some hesitation, "Li Qingshan, were you practicing martial arts last night?"

Body forging drained energy, but deep sleep also sped up recovery.

Just body forging alone couldn't possibly leave him this exhausted.

Li Qingshan nodded, surprised. "Did Teacher Wan tell you?"

"No." Yu Lei shook her head and lowered her voice in advice. "Too much is as bad as too little. A person's energy has its limits."

Last night, when her sister Yu Man came home, she'd casually asked about Li Qingshan's situation.

Coupled with how Li Qingshan looked today, it inevitably reminded her of what her sister had gone through before.

"Thanks, I know what I'm doing."

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

This period of fatigue was unavoidable.

Once he pushed Mizong Step to Great Accomplishment and killed Wolf Poison, things would ease up afterward.

As they spoke, Wan Keshan walked in from the front door of the venue.

As usual, he swept his gaze over all the students, paused on Li Qingshan, frowned almost imperceptibly, but said nothing.

Soon, the students scattered again and began their body forging training.

Training at school followed the same routine day after day, as if nothing ever changed.

Except for Li Qingshan's increasingly pronounced exhaustion.

Still, the energy spent wasn't wasted.

Mizong Step's proficiency was skyrocketing!

[Mizong Step 2/500 (Proficient)] → [Mizong Step 65/500 (Proficient)]

[Mizong Step 65/500 (Proficient)] → [Mizong Step 127/500 (Proficient)]

[Mizong Step 127/500 (Proficient)] → [Mizong Step 190/500 (Proficient)]

Day eight, afternoon.

After finishing another round of body forging, all the students collapsed to the floor.

Dark circles faintly shadowed Li Qingshan's eyes.

But after glancing at his Status Panel, the corners of his mouth couldn't help curling into a smile.

[Li Qingshan]

[Realm: Body Forging 12/100]

[Technique:

The Thirty-Sixth Set of Broadcast Gymnastics -- The Stars Are Calling 22/1000 (Mastery)]

[Martial Skill: Mizong Step 2/1000 (Mastery)]

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

[Available Time: 356 days]

[Time Flow Rate: 1:10]

Eight days.

Nearly every night, he spent at least twenty hours in the Martial Arts Space.

Mizong Step had been forcibly shoved to "Mastery."

Not just Mizong Step—his Body Forging progress hadn't fallen behind either, rising by 2 points.

At the Mastery level, Mizong Step's footwork became instinct.

What once felt stiff and awkward now seemed incredibly ingenious, fully showcasing its ability to dodge and maneuver.

If he were tested again right now, he'd probably become a "specialized student" just like Yu Lei.

"I should be able to dodge Wolf Poison's attacks a few times now. Time to try the blade."

Li Qingshan's eyes lit up, brimming with excitement.

Since he could dodge attacks, naturally he had a chance to swing his blade and counter.

Eight days of frantic improvement came at the cost of over ten thousand deaths in a wolf's jaws.

His enmity with Wolf Poison was irreconcilable!

"I'll kill it ten thousand times in the future—no, at least a hundred thousand times!!!"

Li Qingshan's gaze turned fierce as he forced himself upright, ready to head to the cafeteria.

"Li Qingshan, wait!"

Wan Keshan's voice came from behind.

Li Qingshan paused mid-step and turned around.

Wan Keshan looked over the student before him, his frown deepening.

From eight days ago, he could tell Li Qingshan had ignored his advice and started training in martial techniques, pouring considerable effort into it.

At this moment, he even regretted sending those two techniques to Li Qingshan that day.

But in the end, a person had to walk their own path—especially on the martial road.

After a moment's deliberation, Wan Keshan finally spoke.

"Tonight, when you get back, don't practice anything. Get a good rest!"

"Got it, teacher."

Li Qingshan flashed a smile, agreed readily, and turned toward the cafeteria.

But after 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's with the bowing!"

Wan Keshan frowned and shooed him away.

Li Qingshan chuckled, turned, and jogged toward the cafeteria.

He understood Wan Keshan's concerns, but when it came to the Status Panel, he couldn't explain.

Still, he could do better—so no one would worry about him.

"One day off—I'll treat it as a celebration!"

After a quick meal in the cafeteria, Li Qingshan hurried out of the school gate and ran toward the mall he'd visited last time.

The 10 bottles of Nutrient Solution were already used up—time to bleed his wallet again.

"40 bottles of basic Nutrient Solution. Please take them!"

The salesgirl was the same one as before, but this time her smile was even brighter.

Li Qingshan took the insulated box, and his left-hand communicator trembled as it slid over the payment terminal.

-120,000

Only 10,000 credits left...

"Please take care, and welcome back next time!"

The salesgirl bowed as she saw him off, and Li Qingshan walked quickly.

Back home, he set down the insulated box and rushed into the bathroom.

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

Li Qingshan closed his eyes, thoughtless and mindless...