Martial Saint!

"Chenzhou, it's time to come home for dinner."

"I know, Mom."

"Hurry up, the dishes are getting cold. Your dad and I have finished eating, we're just waiting for you... You really are something, forgetting the pain once the wound heals. You've just had your cast removed and you're already following your coach to practice Boxing again. You can't harm your body even while practicing."

...

Su City, fourth floor of Wanhe Mall, FightTech Martial Arts Hall.

Inside the octagonal cage, a melange of sweat and the odor of feet.

Lu Chenzhou turned off his mother's call and gently wiped the screen of his phone with a tissue, his sweat beads the size of soybeans, dropped from his nose onto the rubber mat.

The bald coach in front of him patted Lu Chenzhou's shoulder, speaking earnestly, "Chenzhou, are you really not considering continuing for a few more lessons? 'Black Tiger Fist' might just be a common Martial Art, but mastering its thirty-six forms to even reach a beginner level isn't easy. I've planned out 360 lessons for you, as long as you follow my schedule and train..."

Before the coach could finish, Lu Chenzhou shook his head.

"Thanks, Coach, but I'll pass."

The bald coach, unwilling to accept it, asked,

"Bro, aren't you giving up halfway by doing this?"

"It's alright, I'm leaving now, thanks for your guidance these past days."

Lu Chenzhou extricated himself from the coach, who was still trying to persuade him, and left the Martial Arts Hall, leaving the bald coach somewhat disgruntled, muttering to himself, "Tough nut to crack..."

The Martial Arts Hall was operating at a loss anyway. The coach had hoped to fleece Lu Chenzhou for another bunch of lesson fees before closing shop and hightailing it out of there, but it seemed this kid was impervious to such tactics.

...

Stone Lake Garden, Building 3, Apartment 2802.

Hungry, Lu Chenzhou returned home to find his mother, Li Xianghua, washing the dishes while two dishes remained on the table, a plate of braised ribs and a plate of stir-fried lettuce.

After taking a shower, Lu Chenzhou sat at the dining table and said,

"Mom, I won't be going to the Martial Arts Hall anymore."

Li Xianghua asked from the kitchen,

"Why the sudden change? You've only attended ten lessons, haven't you?"

She looked at Lu Chenzhou, who was focused on eating.

Li Xianghua didn't understand Martial Arts and was just an ordinary person. However, she often watched TV and knew that Martial Arts Training required perseverance and that ten lessons were definitely not enough.

But thinking of the 300-yuan fee per lesson, Li Xianghua guessed that her son was probably concerned about the cost and didn't want to burden the family.

She thought for a moment and said,

"Let's wait for your dad to come home, and we'll discuss it then..."

"No, Mom, really, there's no need."

"Don't you want to take the Martial Arts Exam for Pingjiang University?"

"I'm only a freshman in high school, there's still three years left. Don't worry, Mom, I have a plan in mind," said Lu Chenzhou, finishing his meal and heading back to his bedroom with his phone.

Li Xianghua continued washing the dishes, sighing inwardly.

The saying went, 'the poor pursue literature while the rich practice martial arts,' and it had always been so.

"If only Chenzhou, with all his hard work and diligence, had been born with at least an Intermediate 'root bone,' he might have already secured a spot at Pingjiang Martial Arts University by now..."

Old Lady Zhang's grandson upstairs was three years older than Chenzhou but somewhat immature, always hanging out with dubious people and causing his family distress.

Yet, due to his Intermediate 'root bone'—naturally suitable for Martial Arts—he had achieved the amateur Fourth Rank at just 18 years old and had been admitted to Pingjiang Martial Arts University. Such was the hand fate dealt.

Martial Arts Cultivation firstly considered 'root bone' and secondly, comprehension.

Comprehension referred to the ability to grasp Martial Arts, which was ethereal and full of variables, making it hard to measure. On the other hand, 'root bone' was determined at birth. The ancient world's Boxers recruiting disciples were referring to this when they spoke of 'remarkable bones.'

There were three classes of 'root bone': Low, Intermediate, and Top.

Every newborn in Da Xia was entitled to a free 'root bone' assessment on their first month, and in most cases, ordinary people had a Low 'root bone.'

Those with a Low 'root bone' had average Martial Arts potential.

But this was the overwhelming majority.

Da Xia, which had established its nation with a foundation on Martial Arts, prioritized Martial Arts education.

However, limited resources were distributed first to those with better 'root bones.' From the age of 6, those with an Intermediate 'root bone' could receive 12 years of state-sponsored Martial Arts knowledge and education without tuition fees. Old Lady Zhang's grandson attended the affiliated primary and secondary schools of Pingjiang Martial Arts University; as long as one graduated normally, they could continue to the university, with a bright future ahead.

Top 'root bones' need not be mentioned.

Such people were one in ten thousand, reserved at birth by the topmost 24 Martial Arts Universities of Da Xia, even the Pingjiang Martial Arts University that Lu Chenzhou so sought after had no right to compete for them.

With a Low 'root bone,' one had to make their own way.

This was why Li Xianghua sometimes felt guilty towards Chenzhou.

Her child was so diligent, yet she couldn't offer him any Martial Arts training opportunities.

```

...

Cramped yet orderly bedroom.

Posters of dynamic scenes covered the walls, all belonging to one person. At times he stood atop misty mountains, breathing in the cloud vapors; other times he rode the whales amidst the boundless sea, treading the waves.

Rising like a dragon ascending to the heavens, striking like thunder hitting the earth!

This was the "World's Number One" titleholder of the previous "All Nations Martial Arts Competition," "Cangtian Dragon King Li Ang," the historical genius who broke the "Seven Physical Limits" the fastest, the idol of countless Martial Artists and even Martial Artist experts.

It's natural to admire the strong.

There was also a wooden dummy embedded on the floor.

This was what Lu Chenzhou used for his Martial Arts Training.

Not receiving obligatory Martial Arts education didn't hinder his progress. In the information age, most of the common Martial Arts could be found on the official website of the Martial Arts Association, including free instructional videos for the "Black Tiger Fist" that he practiced.

However, learning solely from videos made it difficult to reach the beginner level.

Martial Arts Training isn't like novels; it's not about obtaining a secret manual. The role of a teacher is crucial, which is why he went to the expense of hiring a coach.

But he was cautious. Seeing that Feite Martial Arts Hall was struggling and might close down soon, he decided against continuing classes. At 300 yuan per lesson it wasn't expensive, even ordinary fitness coaches charged two to three hundred, but he had no money.

He had scrimped and saved for it in the past, and taken on part-time jobs.

He also didn't want to burden his parents; he knew his mother had always wanted to move to a house in Su City's Inner City. The environment was nicer there, closer to Pingjiang Martial Arts University, and many Martial Artist experts lived in the Inner City, which made it somewhat safer in case of "Virtual Disasters."

Logging onto the official website of the Martial Arts Association, Lu Chenzhou opened the instructional video for "Black Tiger Fist." An elder dressed in black training clothes began to introduce:

"Black Tiger Fist belongs to the Elephant Form lineage, fierce and vigorous in style. To practice this fist technique, one must integrate footwork, leg technique, and movement technique! If you practice fists without dynamic footwork, you'll face the devil in old age..."

Recalling his coach's advice, Lu Chenzhou began to practice his punches.

He set his phone to record mode and placed it on the desk.

In the cramped bedroom, his moves closely mirrored the video, albeit with some minor discrepancies, and after one complete run-through, he was already drenched in sweat.

Lu Chenzhou wiped off his sweat, turned on the phone's recording, and carefully compared them.

"The 3000 yuan wasn't wasted, I should be close to the beginner level now.

This time my practice was noticeably smoother, and the completion was not bad. An old boxing saying goes: A thousand punches pound out spirit and understanding! The ancients did not deceive me.

Even with poor root bone, as long as I work hard, practicing through the bitter cold of winter and the scorching heat of summer, perhaps there truly will be a day when I can break through the First Shackles and become a Martial Artist."

Lu Chenzhou rested for a while then continued to train.

Unknowingly, night had fallen.

He had repeated the punches five times, becoming smoother with each repetition.

When he finished, his whole body felt refreshed.

His physical strength, however, had reached its limit.

Suddenly, the sound of water rushing filled his mind.

He also felt a bit dizzy.

"Did I train too hard?"

He instinctively thought he experienced low blood sugar from exercising too vigorously and quickly ate a Snickers bar rich in quick sugars. Not long after, the dizzy feeling subsided, and a mysterious, illusory seed appeared before Lu Chenzhou's eyes, floating in the void. Drops of salty, wet-smelling "rainwater" fell onto it, being rapidly absorbed.

The seed sprouted and grew rapidly into a three-foot-tall lush sapling, with green branches sprouting from the bottom of its trunk and two green leaves on the branches.

Lu Chenzhou concentrated his attention.

[Martial Art]

[Basic Boxing: Small Success (100%)]

[Black Tiger Fist: Beginner (1%)]

Lu Chenzhou checked the time on his phone.

"October 1, 2220, Tuesday."

...

(Author's note:

Hello everyone! It's been a while, I've missed you all!

Old Tian is back to writing, and this time it's a story about leveling up in Martial Arts.

After the book goes on sale, I'll work hard to update daily!

Finally, I would like to recommend a fantasy novel about leveling up written by a friend of mine.

It has finished successfully with 5.5 million words, so there's no worry about waiting for updates.

"Wizard: Starting the Liver Experience with the Knight's Breathing Method."

—July 29, 2024, Tian Li

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