High-Level Martial Era

"Yes." Li Yuan noted down the name of the secret manual.

"The second thing I called you for," Dean Hai said.

"After the December break, at the beginning of January, we will arrange for you to venture into the Mingxu Star Realm."

"What place is that?" Li Yuan had never heard of this star realm.

With his current access in the Starfire Martial Hall, he had the right to know some information about most star realms.

"This is a vast, yet undeveloped First Level Star Realm," President Li added from the side. "Currently, our human civilization is gradually expanding within the Mingxu Star Realm, engaging in small-scale battles with the native creatures of the star realm... But the level of combat isn't too high, which is most suitable for you."

"After all, we couldn't possibly assign you to guard a star realm," Li Yang said with a smile. "That would be pointless."

"Okay." Li Yuan nodded.

Having taken so many general knowledge courses and researched the data himself, he was clear on the differences between various star realms.

Some star realms were completely occupied by the Human Race and were very safe; there might not be a single battle for years, and many martial artists hoped to be dispatched to these places.

Because they are safe!

The rest of the star realms, like some that were in a state of war or sworn enemies... for instance, the Rob Sea, were very dangerous. Prime Warriors entering would be cannon fodder, and if he were to venture there, it would be easy to die in a large-scale battle.

Unless one had the strength of a Flying Heaven Warrior, in that kind of large-scale battle, an individual would be extremely powerless.

It sounds like the Mingxu Star Realm is more suited for me.

"Your life-and-death trial in the Mingxu Star Realm will be overseen by the person in charge of the local Martial Hall, who will evaluate you in a series of tests," Dean Hai said with a smile. "If you perform exceedingly well,"

"when you return to school, the school will prepare another generous gift for you!"

"It should be the most important gift the school can prepare for you before you graduate."

"It cannot be measured in money," Dean Hai said without revealing what it was. "At least, it's not something I can provide."

Li Yuan held his breath.

A gift that even a Flying Heaven Warrior like Dean Hai couldn't provide? What could it be?

It didn't seem like Heavenly Materials Treasures.

"Considering the timeline, you have a month and a half until your life-and-death trial. Train well."

"The trial doesn't consider talent, only strength," Dean Hai said, looking at Li Yuan, unable to help but add: "Each bit of strength increases your chance of survival in the star realm."

"I hope you will come back alive to see me."

"Yes," Li Yuan nodded.

...

After returning to the villa.

Li Yuan immediately logged into the virtual network and entered the Martial Path knowledge space.

Quickly.

He found the Third Rank skill secret manual "Meaning of the Stellar."

Second Rank secret manuals were as numerous as stars.

But third-rank secret manuals were much rarer and seldom bore the same name.

"It seems that 'Meaning of the Stellar' is not simply a Spear Technique manual, but a state of mind," Li Yuan quickly read through the manual's introduction.

Assured it was correct.

Purchase!

"Freshman 'Li Yuan,' your free learning quota for Third Rank secret manuals has decreased by 1, with a remaining balance of 2," the system voice sounded. "The skill secret manual you just purchased has been delivered to your personal space."

...

In his personal space, Li Yuan listened intently to the intelligent teacher's lecture.

"You are learning Spear Technique."

"Therefore, you can understand that 'Meaning of the Stellar' is an extension of the ultimate mystery of 'Stellar Spear Technique,' the 'Stellar Realm.'"

"It imitates the movement of stars in the outer skies."

"It can be divided into four realms: Body Like the Stars, Stardust Subtlety, River of Galaxies, and Stars Returning to Ruins," the intelligent teacher slowly explained. "If you have fully grasped the 'Stellar Spear Technique,' you should be able to quickly get the hang of the first realm, 'Body Like the Stars.'"

"The key lies in the second realm, 'Stardust Subtlety.' Once you understand the second realm, it means you've reached the threshold of Unity of Heaven and Man."

Whoosh~

With a wave of the intelligent teacher's hand, the area under his and Li Yuan's feet transformed into an endless starry sky scene.

In the depths of space, there were dimly lit stars.

"Watch me," the intelligent teacher said softly. In his hand, a long spear appeared from nowhere.

"Whoosh!"

With one thrust of the spear, his demeanor instantly changed. For a fleeting moment, Li Yuan felt an immense star rolling... an enigmatic sensation.

However, Li Yuan also felt a certain sense of incongruity and illusion.

"The virtual network, after all, is not reality. For Fifth Stage skills, it can only simulate 50% of their real effect."

"For this Third Rank Spear Technique, it would be best if you could seek out a real Fifth Stage master for live combat to gain insights. That's the fastest way to progress."

...

On the afternoon of November 19th, inside Li Yuan's villa.

In the underground Martial Arts Room.

"These past days, you've been practising 'Meaning of the Stellar' on the virtual network, how do you feel about it?" Li Yang asked with a smile.

"It's somewhat lacking," Li Yuan shook his head. "I haven't truly grasped the basics yet."

"That's to be expected."

"Intelligent teachers are more effective at instructing techniques below the Fourth Layer, especially for those who are good at learning," Li Yang said with a smile. "But once you reach the Fourth Layer, the effectiveness of intelligent teachers drops off."

"Fifth Stage skills can only be simulated to 50% of their effect."

"And Sixth Stage skills are beyond simulation."

"This is why virtual battles on the Combat Network, whether various assessments or the Starry Skies Fighting Network, can only demonstrate up to Fifth Stage Perfection skills," Li Yang explained with a smile. "Like your current Sun Eclipse Stage."

"And Martial Saint Stage, generally one can reach it with Fifth Stage Perfect Skill."

Li Yuan suddenly understood, this was something he hadn't known before.

But Li Yuan had long realized that the usefulness of the virtual network for him was rapidly diminishing.

In the Starry Skies Fighting Network, he had reached Sun Eclipse Stage, but every time he tried to match his rank... it took a long time.

The number of experts who could reach these stages worldwide were sharply decreasing.

Martial Arts Cultivation, after all, the virtual network is only an auxiliary tool, the stronger one became, the more they needed to return to reality.

"I have also pondered over 'Meaning of the Stellar,' but my path is ultimately somewhat different," Li Yang said. "I will try to emulate it as much as possible during live combat with you."

"During the fight, I'll help you feel as much as possible. Ultimately, your own realization must break through that essential threshold."

"Unity of Heaven and Man, understanding the natural world, comes down to your own spiritual breakthrough and stepping past that crucial threshold," Li Yang said solemnly. "Many advanced Prime Warriors can be stuck at such a realm for decades; it's quite common."

"Yes."

...

So it was.

From mid-November onwards, as Li Yuan's skills reached the limit of Fourth Layer, his training schedule underwent another change.

Besides daily cultivation, he no longer attended public 'Skill Classes,' and even his live combat training was modified.

It was adapted to now involve live combat drills in rotation with two official teachers and President Li.

Because regular Prime Warriors' skills were too weak, live combat training offered little help to Li Yuan.

Only those with sufficiently powerful skills could pressurize him and provide some enlightenment.

Occasionally, Dean Xu would also come to give guidance to Li Yuan.

Like this, Li Yuan was completely immersed in his Martial Arts Cultivation, time flew by, and his overall strength was rapidly increasing.

In the blink of an eye, it was already mid-December.

During this time.

A team from the Starfire Martial Hall arrived, very low-key and not many people knew about it.

This team had come to deliver the "Origin Power Battle Suit," as well as a long spear and long knife tailor-made for Li Yuan's height and build, and other auxiliary equipment for adventuring in the Star Realm.

...

On the afternoon of December 14th, inside the underground Martial Arts Room of the villa.

"Pfft!"

"Whoosh!" Li Yuan suddenly thrust forward, spear after spear whistling out, as quick as lightning, the "Twelve Continuous Strikes" from the "Stellar Spear Technique."

With each rapid burst, a series of afterimages formed in mid-air.

This was no longer Twelve Continuous Strikes, but Twenty-Four Continuous Strikes, Forty-Eight Continuous Strikes... it seemed endless.

If there were experts who also practiced the "Stellar Spear Technique," they would be shocked to find.

In executing this move, Li Yuan's spear momentum seemed boundless, wave after wave, with the might accumulating to an unbelievable degree when hundreds of consecutive thrusts were executed.

"The spear rolls like stars! Control!" Li Yuan entered into subtlety, controlling the outburst of his bodily strength.

"Weaken."

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!" The originally wildly violent spear shadows gradually weakened and quickly stabilized.

This was astonishing.

It's like a boxer, who when punching heavily, if they don't follow through completely and instead stop abruptly mid-punch, the body would feel very uncomfortable.

The Twelve Continuous Strikes from the Galaxy Waterfall were the same, once the spear technique reached its peak, it was best to complete the last strike to feel invigorated in body and mind.

"Capable of hardness, capable of softness."

"Today, I can finally say I have thoroughly comprehended the first layer of the 'Stellar Realm,' 'Body as the Stars,'" Li Yuan revealed a slight smile.

This was not a major breakthrough.

Having thoroughly comprehended the first layer, the skill realm still counted as the perfection of the Fourth Stage.

From subtlety of spirit to the Unity of Heaven and Man in Martial Path, it was not that easy to breakthrough.

Even though Li Yuan's progress was extremely fast.

He could now only say he was continuously accumulating, laying a solid foundation for comprehending the Second Layer "Subtlety of the Stellar Dust."

The so-called epiphany required deep enough accumulation first.

If one never seriously pondered, never thought deeply, and had no accumulation, what could possibly be realized in a flash of insight?

"Tomorrow, I will be able to return to Jiang City," Li Yuan thought of this and showed a slight smile.

It had been almost half a year since he saw his uncle, aunt, and siblings, although they occasionally video-called.

But for a moment, Li Yuan still missed home a bit.

Home, a place that forever invokes nostalgia.

"After a half-month holiday, I will head off to the Mingxu Star Realm," Li Yuan thought to himself.

This had been the plan all along.

"With my current strength, I should have enough assurance to make my way through the First Level Star Realm," Li Yuan glanced at the Divine Palace panel.

----

[Life Level: 15.8 (First Rank)]

Fist Strength: 16545 kilograms

Speed: 57.2 meters/second

Spiritual Power: 24.6 Level

Willpower: 29 Level

Spiritual Awakening Level: 25% (Current Limit 25%)

Star Meridian: 10 Level

Skill Realm: Spear Technique (Fourth Stage 99%), Movement Technique (Fourth Stage 99%), Fist Technique (Fourth Stage 99%)

...

"After returning home, relax a bit, spend more time with my uncle and aunt," Li Yuan contemplated, "but as long as I practice 'All Heavens' Stars' every day and run the Star Meridian, breaking through to the 16th level in physical quality is no problem."

With just over 16 levels of physical quality, combined with the limit of Fourth Stage skill, and the Origin Power Battle Suit... Li Yuan dared to engage in life and death battles with Martial Artists of the 18th or even the 19th level.

"Just in terms of strength."

"I should be catching up with Instructor Xing now," Li Yuan suddenly smiled, "But compared to Teacher Xu Bo, I should still fall short; after all, Teacher Xu Bo is at the Fifth Stage Perfect Skill."

...

Late at night, Li Yuan was packing up the things for his return home.

Such as the unit of 'Stellar Earth Marrow Crystal' and a unit of 'Hundred Marrows Spirit Restoratives' specially given by Li Yang, in preparation for his cultivation in the Mingxu Star Realm in January.

This way, he wouldn't have to make a special trip back to school.

With Li Yuan's current strength, as long as he was cautious, he could guard such treasures.

And things like the High Origin Spirit Spring, he could wait to purchase them when he returned to Jiang City.

"Hmm."

"There are also special local gifts I've prepared for my uncle, aunt, and siblings," Li Yuan revealed a slight smile.

He had bought quite a few local specialties, but the gifts for family were the most thoughtfully chosen, all packed in his bag.

People like Teacher Xu Bo, Wan Qinghe, and others had a share.

Even for Lin Lanyue, Li Yuan had specially bought a present, although he was not sure whether she would return to Jiang City for the holiday.

Li Yuan had already sent the gifts for these people to Jiang City the day before.

"It's four in the morning."

"Practice some spear technique, continue until seven o'clock, then after breakfast, take a flying vehicle to the airport," Li Yuan said to himself.

Cultivation had become ingrained in his bones.

...

Under the night, as Li Yuan was tranquilly practicing his spear inside the villa.

In the distant Jiangbei Province, deep underground within a hidden river, the river flowed on.

Large-bodied Fish Spirit Clan warriors with green skin were crawling along the river in the darkness.

Their racial talents allowed them to easily adapt to this environment.

"Roar~"

"Hurry up~ only three hundred kilometers left."

"Target, Jiang City of the human race," the multitude of Fish Spirit Clan warriors communicated in their native language.

...

December 15th.

At noon, Li Yuan, who took a 'supersonic flyer,' appeared at Tianhe Airport of Jiang City.

"Jiang City, I'm back." Li Yuan stepped off the flying vehicle and showed a smile.

Not far away.

"Li Yuan, welcome home," Wan Qinghe was standing nearby to greet him.