Fang Yu, a Valued Partner

"Fang Yu, are you one of those martial arts geniuses who only awakened their Astral Aspect at a junior college?" Xia Yao couldn't help asking. "Judging by your life level and martial arts skills, there's no way you should be a junior college student."

The powerfully built Bai Chen also looked at Fang Yu curiously.

Originally, he had strongly objected to Jiang Wei forcing someone into his team and hadn't expected much of Fang Yu's strength. After all, how strong could a junior college student be, even one admitted on recommendation?

It would have been good enough if he didn't hold them back.

Only out of respect for Jiang Wei had he put the matter off, intending to deliberately embarrass Fang Yu when they finally met and reject him on the grounds that he wasn't strong enough.

He had never expected Fang Yu to be so strong.

"No." Fang Yu shook his head. "I haven't awakened my Astral Aspect yet."

"You haven't awakened your Astral Aspect?" Xia Yao and Bai Chen were stunned. Bai Chen couldn't help asking, "Fang Yu, if you haven't awakened your Astral Aspect, how is your life level so high?"

"I spent a little more money," Fang Yu said simply.

"So you're rich?" Xia Yao's eyes lit up. "Without an Astral Aspect to open your Star Apertures and help you absorb Star Power, reaching level 21 just after starting your senior year must have cost you at least twenty or thirty million, even if your skills reached Greater Mastery of Minute Subtlety long ago. Great! Our squad finally has a rich person."

"Being rich is good." Bai Chen also burst out laughing.

They certainly didn't think Fang Yu's wealth was a bad thing... On the contrary, they saw it as a very good thing.

"Twenty or thirty million?" Fang Yu laughed in surprise but didn't contradict her.

His family was actually fairly well-off... And now that the endorsement contract he had accepted with Shengchuan Group had taken effect, he would soon have even more money.

Among undergraduates, he really did count as rich.

"Bai Chen, the person I recommended didn't disappoint you, did he?" Jiang Wei said calmly. He didn't press Fang Yu on how he had reached level 21; it had to be because he had bought some expensive potions and treasures.

Whatever the reason,

such a great improvement in strength was a good thing.

On the martial path, the bigger fist had the final say. As for how that fist got bigger, no one would look too closely as long as it didn't violate the laws of the Blue Moon Alliance.

"Yeah, Brother Fang Yu is quite strong," Bai Chen said with a smile.

The way he addressed Fang Yu had already changed.

"Fang Yu's strength goes far beyond what you've seen so far," Jiang Wei said with a smile. "What he's best at is actually weapons."

"In terms of weapon mastery alone, even among the seniors with Earth Contracts, few can match him."

"Weapons?" Xia Yao was taken aback.

"He's that good?" Bai Chen's eyes lit up. He didn't think Jiang Wei would lie, and he couldn't help asking, "Fang Yu, what score did you get on the practical combat portion of the junior college transfer assessment?"

The junior college transfer assessment used the standards for senior undergraduates, so his score would reveal his practical combat ability.

"Full marks." Fang Yu didn't hide it.

"Full marks? Your saber technique has reached Subtlety?" Bai Chen's eyes went wide. He knew the standard for earning full marks on the practical combat assessment.

Fang Yu nodded.

"Fang Yu's saber technique has indeed reached Subtlety," Jiang Wei said with a smile. "That's how he earned an Elite Contract directly. If he hadn't yet to awaken his Astral Aspect... the university would have signed an Earth Contract with him."

Bai Chen and Xia Yao exchanged a glance.

They understood... They had found a treasure.

"Teacher Jiang, we have to thank you for this," Bai Chen said with a smile. "I was just worrying about who to recruit. We're lucky to have someone as capable as Brother Fang Yu join our Crimson Flame Squad."

His assessment of Fang Yu rose another notch.

Jiang Wei nodded slightly. He had originally thought Fang Yu's life level was 20, which, combined with his saber technique at Subtlety, was enough for him to establish himself on Bai Chen's team. That was why he had recommended him... At level 21, Fang Yu could play a major role on the team.

The difference in strength between levels 20 and 21 was obvious. With equal martial arts skills, the gap in combat strength would naturally be considerable as well.

"Captain," Fang Yu said, changing how he addressed Bai Chen as well. A little puzzled, he asked, "Is reaching Subtlety with a weapon that hard?"

"Hard!" Bai Chen said without hesitation.

"Fang Yu, you must have been the undisputed best at your junior college. Without anyone to compare yourself to, you probably don't understand what saber technique at Subtlety means." Xia Yao's voice was pleasant as she took the initiative to explain. "Put it this way: at Huguang Martial Arts University, students at the Earth Institute have very high life levels... Quite a few seniors in our year have reached level 30."

"Elite students generally have high life levels too. Even the weakest should be above level 21. The captain, for example, is an elite student, and his life level has already reached 23."

Fang Yu listened.

Bai Chen was level 23? He had already noticed signs of that while watching Bai Chen practice his spear technique... He was equally calm about there being level 30 students at the Earth Institute.

With a few exceptions, only the top fifty students could obtain an Earth Contract at Huguang Martial Arts University.

As a top university in Huguang Province, it was normal for one or two hundred Advanced Martial Artists to graduate each year.

"You could say a high life level is nothing unusual. You can always build it up with money," Xia Yao continued. "But reaching Greater Mastery of Minute Subtlety in bodily skills and reaching Subtlety in saber technique are two hurdles that money alone can't get you over."

"Even among elite seniors, a few haven't reached Greater Mastery of Minute Subtlety," Xia Yao said seriously. "Reaching Subtlety in saber technique is even harder."

"Looking at the entire senior class, there are probably fewer than ten people who have reached Subtlety with a weapon," Xia Yao said with a sigh. "Most students at the Earth Institute haven't managed it."

Only at that moment

did Fang Yu truly understand the value of his saber technique having reached Subtlety. Even among students in his year at Huguang Martial Arts University, his skills had a chance of competing for a place in the top ten.

"Fang Yu, my life level is higher than yours," Bai Chen said, forcing a smile. "But in terms of overall strength, you're probably not much weaker than me... The only thing you should be lacking is practical combat experience."

"Once we reach Primordial Star and you've had a little time to adjust,

our team can try hunting fierce beasts above level 25 on this practical combat trip." Desire shone in Bai Chen's eyes as he smiled. "When the time comes, we'll be counting on you."

"Understood." Fang Yu nodded.

"All right."

"Bai Chen, you've been to Primordial Star three times and have plenty of experience. I'll leave him in your care." Jiang Wei looked at Bai Chen. "Fang Yu is my martial nephew. Safety has to come first, and I hope you all come back alive."

"Rest assured, Teacher Jiang," Bai Chen said solemnly.

"Fang Yu, learn from Bai Chen and the others," Jiang Wei said. "Send me a message if anything happens."

"Yes, Senior Uncle," Fang Yu said, changing how he addressed him.

After seeing Jiang Wei off, the three returned to the martial arts room.

"Fang Yu, do you have a martial lineage?" Xia Yao asked curiously.

"My mother and Teacher Jiang studied under the same master," Fang Yu said simply.

Xia Yao and Bai Chen exchanged a glance... In their minds, Fang Yu was now a valued partner from a prominent family, with astonishing wealth and parents who were both powerful martial artists.

Just then-

"Captain, how did it go? Did you reject that junior college student? I saw Teacher Jiang leave a while ago." A loud, casual voice suddenly came from outside another door to the martial arts room.

Fang Yu couldn't help turning to look.

An immensely broad and powerful man walked into the martial arts room. He had to be over two meters tall and was frighteningly muscular. He also wore a heavy suit of black armor, making him look at first glance like a great general from ancient times.

Standing in the doorway, he blocked it completely.

"Fang Yu, sorry. I didn't know you were so strong before, so I..." Bai Chen smiled somewhat awkwardly.

"It's fine," Fang Yu said with a smile. "When venturing onto Primordial Star, you naturally have to be extremely careful about your teammates. I'd do the same."

Bai Chen looked at the burly man and frowned. "Xiong Meng, watch what you say. Come over and meet your new teammate."

"Oh? He got your approval, Captain?"

The burly man gave a simpleminded smile and strode over to Fang Yu. He rubbed his head and said with a smile, "Sorry about that just now! I'm Xiong Meng, the team's shield. I'm specifically responsible for drawing the fierce beasts' fire. You can call me Da Xiong."

"Shield?" Fang Yu was a little puzzled.

"To be as effective as possible and reduce casualties, a martial artist team usually has assault, shield, archer, and support positions," Bai Chen explained. "You and I are in the assault position. People in this position are generally weapon experts who specialize in things like spear or saber techniques and move quickly. They're responsible for fighting in close combat."

"Shields usually need to be strong. Da Xiong's life level is below 22, but his explosive strength is exceptionally powerful. He's also best at shield techniques and is specifically responsible for protecting the archers."

Fang Yu listened.

Everyone was different. At the same life level, some people were faster, some were stronger, and some were more agile... The same applied to weapons. Long spears excelled in group battles, while short blades were stronger at close quarters. Those who specialized in shield techniques were naturally better at defense.

"Firearms can't be used on Primordial Star, so the ancient art of archery has instead proved its power," Bai Chen said. "In a life-or-death fight, having a master archer on the team is a terrifying deterrent... That's why almost every squad has one or two archers."

"As for the support position, they usually have to scout ahead, treat poison, identify natural treasures and the course of mineral veins, and determine the strength, types, and numbers of fierce beasts. They're also responsible for carrying spare weapons for the other teammates. After all, weapons are often damaged in life-or-death fights..."

"In short, the support has to take on as much of everything outside combat as possible," Bai Chen said with a smile. "So a support doesn't necessarily need to be strong, but they need good academic grades, be willing to work hard, and not complain."

Fang Yu was secretly surprised.

This knowledge was all new to him... Primordial Star instruction had long been systematized at martial arts universities, but martial arts junior colleges didn't cover it at all.

"Fang Yu, I'm the team's support," Xia Yao said with a smile.