Martial Saint!

"Lu Chenzhou, go try the Flying Step on the wooden pile."

Lu Chenzhou, who was practicing by himself, was suddenly called out by Shi Ruyu.

Several disciples had already tried it before.

The best in terms of skill was Old Zhang. Although his comprehension was average, his cultivation was the highest. Relying on his strong physical quality, he lasted two minutes. Then came Du, whose "Swallow Return Fist" was at Small Success. His mastery of the technique was high, and relatively speaking, his movement technique was better.

Lu Chenzhou did not hesitate and leaped onto the wooden pile.

His figure began to sway with the shaking of the wooden pile.

Shi Ruyu's voice reached his ears.

"Don't panic. Imagine you are a sea swallow. Use your arms to maintain balance, your core stable like a chicken head. Boldly step forward, keeping your whole body coordinated!"

Lu Chenzhou silently recited the essence of the mantra and stepped forward.

A minute later, he was shaken off the pile by the wood.

"Not bad, you lasted a minute."

Shi Ruyu affirmed.

Among the disciples present, only Du and Old Zhang had lasted over a minute.

"Everyone, continue to train."

When the class time ended, she turned and left.

The disciples, having seen the sister's prowess, admired her even more.

"How wonderful, when will I reach the Seventh Rank."

"If I can just step into the Transformation Realm in this lifetime, I'll be satisfied."

Lu Chenzhou replayed Shi Ruyu's movements in his mind.

"Sister really is incredible. She hasn't been under the Master's tutelage for long, and the 'Sea-Sweeping Body' she probably hasn't learned for long either, yet she can use it to teach us."

The night had deepened, and he left the Martial Arts Academy.

...

Stone Lake Garden, Building 3, Unit 2802.

As he opened the door, he saw Li Xianghua and Lu Guoping discussing something.

"Mom, Dad, you're back."

"Yes, your mom was worried about you being outside."

"I'm an entry-level martial artist; what could happen to me? You guys should relax more."

Li Xianghua was browsing the news, somewhat anxious:

"The fifth-level Virtual Disaster is right at Taihu... Ah."

Lu Guoping consoled her:

"Let's ease our minds. The central authorities have sent people; it'll be fine."

Lu Chenzhou also said:

"Mom, the Breakthrough Sixth masters have come, didn't you see the video in the family group? People like them are no different from the legendary immortals; it'll be fine."

If a disaster truly were to occur, worrying now would be useless.

This thing was like an earthquake. What could be done?

At best, move to another city for a while.

Lu Guoping continued:

"Anyway, our whole family is closely following the news. If there's any hint of trouble, or if the state orders an evacuation or something, we'll just move to another city to reside. Uprooted trees die, but moving people live, even if it means losing jobs and houses!"

"I've asked my brother to keep an eye on things too. People in governmental agencies are well-informed."

"Come on, he's in the Culture and Tourism Bureau, not the Virtual Disaster Bureau."

"It's still better than nothing."

While his parents talked, Lu Chenzhou returned to his bedroom.

Regardless of the storms outside, cultivation comes first.

In the current global climate, there's no safer country than Da Xia. As long as he becomes a Martial Artist, most problems will solve themselves and he can go wherever he wants.

After 1 hour and 3 minutes of painful Pile Skill training.

Lu Chenzhou looked at the Martial Arts Tree.

[Dragon and Tiger Heavenly Pile: Second Acupoint (46%) → Second Acupoint (48%)]

"The Shangyang Acupoint isn't much harder than the Middle Strike Acupoint. I can still make a 6% progress per day, just that it previously took three hours, and now it takes three hours and nine minutes. I will undoubtedly need to spend more time on the Heavenly Pile later."

The Heavenly Pile is easy to say but hard to execute. Too many people falter at the perseverance stage. They do not even qualify to challenge the limits of their talent.

"Regardless, I can ensure opening an acupoint every half month in the early stages. This pace isn't inferior to those with intermediate root bones. When I enter university, with better teachers and more Martial Arts resources, my acupoint condensation rate still has great potential to increase.

Comparatively, Du can be considered a diligent practitioner with decent comprehension among those with low-class root bones. Studying the Dragon and Tiger Heavenly Pile for 2 years, he's only opened 5 acupoints. Sister Li has opened 3 acupoints, while the club president is the worst off, also studying for 2 years but only opening 2 acupoints."

It's not that Qin Zheng is dull; he just lacks consistency.

At least Li Linling was somewhat more diligent before her senior year.

Pile Skill really is too grueling. If one doesn't practice every day and makes a concerted effort to open the Acupoints, over time, the Acupoints will regress to a chaotic state, equivalent to wasted practice.

"Wu is like rowing upstream; if you don't advance, you fall back!"

Lu Chenzhou assessed the situation with other students.

Found that he was quite incredible.

Looking at it this way, 30 acupoints didn't seem too many.

With the Martial Arts Tree, the future is promising!

Ji Xuantong, having intermediate root bones, entered a Martial Arts School at five and became a Martial Artist nearly at thirty. Lu Chenzhou has the potential to surpass the Master earlier, and might break many more shackles in the future.

"Cangtian Dragon King!"

Lu Chenzhou gazed at the poster.

Inwardly, he set the Dragon King as his target.

...

Time flew swiftly.

Taihu was sealed off, with its reopening time unknown.

In the distance, a blue dome of light still enveloped the heavens and the earth.

Gradually, the residents of Su City returned to their normal lives. As Qin Zheng had estimated, including the Inner City, the real estate prices in Su City inevitably fell. Many wealthy people had already moved away from Su City, heading for cities with a Top Martial University.

Despite the price drop, not many were buying houses.

Li Xianghua and Lu Guoping also completely abandoned any idea of buying a house. If a fifth-level Virtual Disaster erupted, there wouldn't be any difference between living inside or outside the city; buying a house now was purely foolish.

Of course, there were also those trying to time the market, waiting for property prices to recover and make a profit.

If the Virtual Disaster passed, this could indeed be likely.

But it had nothing to do with the Lu Family—it was a rich man's game.

The biggest benefit for Lu Chenzhou was that he could now consume Martial Arts Supplements continuously, increasing from one box per month to two.

The elderly couple forewent the idea of buying a house.

They were now pinning all their hopes on Lu Chenzhou making something of himself and living in the university staff housing.

This was a real leap in social circles, interacting daily with the relatives of top martial artists and accessing information streams beyond the reach of ordinary people, which delighted the elderly couple.

February 18th, early morning.

At dawn in the east, the people of Su City were still asleep.

On the rooftop, Lu Chenzhou had just finished practicing Heavenly Pile.

He looked at his right index finger, feeling a soothing sense of clarity, a feeling so wonderful that it made all the pain endured over the past half month seem trivial.

He then looked toward the Martial Arts Tree.

[Martial Arts]

[Basic Boxing: Perfection (No Regrets)]

[Black Tiger Boxing: Mastery (30%)]

[Sea-sweeping Body: Beginner (15%)]

[Cultivation Technique]

[Dragon and Tiger Heavenly Pile: Second Acupoint Opened]

"These past few days have been full of gains; I've begun my Sea-sweeping Body, opened the Shangyang Acupoint, and I'm now immune to common problems like ear deafness, toothaches, and throat diseases. My Qi-Blood has also likely increased slightly, laying a strong foundation for future True Skill cultivation."

Normally during training, Shi Ruyu would tell the students about strong figures from Martial Arts University.

She spoke of a Martial Arts Master from Pingjiang Martial Arts University named [Shangyang Sword·Duan Lingyu], proficient in an Exclusive Martial Arts that condensed True Qi and emitted it through the Shangyang Acupoint. In combat, his True Qi could instantly destroy an opponent's internal organs and even pierce steel plates that required heavy sniper fire.

Martial Arts Masters broke through the second shackles of Martial Arts.

Innate True Qi was their hallmark.

Physically destructive forces like Gold Cutting and Jade Breaking were just the basic manifestations of True Qi's power. In terms of conventional firepower, martial artists certainly couldn't compete with firearms.

Its most vital effect was to counter Void Things!

Void Things were complex; some could be destroyed with firearms or other technological means, but many were intangible spiritual bodies immune to gunfire.

Martial artists had always been the main force combating Void Things.

"Tonight, I should go learn the third Pile Skill from the master."

Next, the Middle Strike Acupoint on his right ring finger.

Nighttime.

Flying Swallow Martial Arts Hall, Qi Blood Measurement Room.

A girl with a ponytail and an oval face, dressed in training clothes, was smoothly executing Basic Boxing. Her petite frame was also rather well-formed.

After finishing, the girl stood barefoot.

[Qi Blood Value 4.44, congratulations, you have reached the Eighth Rank standard.]

The girl sighed slightly.

"Post-transformation indeed takes effort."

She stepped out of the measurement room.

A tall boy was already waiting.

"You go ahead, sorry to have kept you waiting."

The girl then headed toward the Martial Arts Room.

Lu Chenzhou turned back for a glance; this girl seemed to have an intermediate root bone. Not much older than himself, she had already reached Eighth Rank, even surpassing Shi Ruyu.

But... her legs weren't as long as Shi Ruyu's.

Lu Chenzhou withdrew his gaze, undeterred by another's excellence; after all, the road of Martial Arts was long. After finishing Basic Boxing, the measuring device announced.

[Qi Blood Value 1.60, congratulations, you have reached the Second Rank standard.]

"A net increase of 0.04 since opening my acupoint."

Lu Chenzhou left the measurement room, satisfied.

With three and a half months until the examination, he anticipated that by the end of next month, his mastery of [Black Tiger Boxing] would achieve minor success, significantly boosting his Qi-Blood. Then, he could open one or two more acupoints, aiming for a Qi-Blood measure of 1.73 with no difficulties.

A three-rank increase in half a year.

Such a pace was sufficient to showcase his talent to the school.

Now, he was fully confident about entering Martial Arts University.

Upon reaching the Martial Arts Room, he knocked on the door.

"Come in."

Lu Chenzhou entered and saw Ji Xuantong sitting opposite a girl,

the same one from earlier.

As the girl saw Lu Chenzhou, she stood up.

"Father, proceed with your class and don't delay it for others."

"Right, this is our academy's key disciple, Lu Chenzhou."

Hearing this name, Ji Feiyan looked earnestly at the boy.

"Father, so this is the exceptionally diligent junior you mentioned."

"That's right. Half a year ago, he hadn't even entered the beginner stages. In just a few months at our academy, he has reached Second Rank," Ji Xuantong said with a look of gratification.

"Wow, Dad, that's quite impressive."

"Not really. Don't butter me up. You should learn from your junior's diligence. With your root bone and comprehension, you should reach Ninth Rank before graduation, shouldn't you?"

"Easy for you to say, Dad. Weren't you just at Seventh Rank when you were my age?"

"My circumstances back then can't compare to yours!"

"I don't care, hehe."

"Fine, go find your junior sister and get familiar."

"Sure thing."

After Ji Feiyan left, the room quieted down.

Ji Xuantong said,

"This is my daughter, Ji Feiyan, currently studying at Dragon City University. You can call her Sister Ji. She was also my first True Disciple."

Moved, Lu Chenzhou smiled and said,

"I just saw Sister in the measurement room, reaching Qi-Blood Eighth Rank at such a young age, which was astonishing. Now that I know she is your daughter, Teacher, it all makes sense."