First Year, Class (5).
Second period, academics.
The teacher was at the lectern, lecturing nonstop, spit flying from his mouth.
The other students were all diligently taking class notes.
They didn't need to worry about the Martial Arts exam.
So, they weren't like the third-year students,
who were allowed to stop attending class.
Besides, they had just started high school, so every student was extremely diligent.
However, Lin Yu just sat there, his eyes glazed over.
He had been in this state since morning.
He had no mind for the lecture at all; it was as if he'd left his brain at home.
He couldn't concentrate whatsoever.
His thoughts kept drifting back to what had happened this morning.
"Lin Yu, are you not feeling well?"
Suddenly, his deskmate, a girl with glasses, gave him a strange look.
"Huh? No!"
Lin Yu snapped back to reality and quickly shook his head.
The girl glanced at him and lowered her voice. "You've been like this since this morning, completely unable to focus. If you're not feeling well, you should tell the teacher and ask to go home and rest..."
"No, I'm perfectly fine!"
Lin Yu cut her off before she could finish.
Seeing that Lin Yu didn't appreciate her concern, the girl pursed her lips and said nothing more.
Left in peace for a moment, Lin Yu's thoughts began to churn again.
He just couldn't figure it out. How on earth did Lin Yi manage to reach the 1-star realm?
Normally, Lin Yi was unassuming and practically invisible at home.
He didn't take supplements, much less go to a Martial Arts Hall.
'Could he really have broken through to the 1-star realm just by relying on the school's Martial Arts classes?'
'If that's true, isn't his Martial Arts talent just too high?'
'Reaching 1-star so easily, without any external help?'
A cold sweat broke out on Lin Yu's back.
'If all the resources I currently have were given to Lin Yi instead... if he was the one drinking supplements and going to the Martial Arts Hall... Lin Yi's growth would probably be even more terrifying.'
Lin Yu's brow was deeply furrowed, his expression growing even more grim.
To him, Lin Yi's terrifying talent was now a threat.
'What if Lin Dazhi finds out about this?'
'Would he give up on me and transfer everything I have over to Lin Yi?'
"No... I absolutely cannot let that happen!"
Lin Yu muttered, his face dark.
The words had just left his mouth when his deskmate glanced at him.
"What did you just say? What can't happen?"
Lin Yu jumped, glancing back at his deskmate. Thankfully, he hadn't spoken very loudly.
He hadn't disturbed anyone else.
"It's nothing..." Lin Yu shook his head.
The girl shot him a resentful look, muttered "Weirdo," and ignored him from then on.
...
The morning classes came to an end.
Their homeroom teacher, Liu Song, gave Lin Yi the address of the Martial Arts Hall.
"New Star Martial Arts Hall?"
When Lin Yi saw the name of the Martial Arts Hall, he said it aloud, slightly surprised.
'If I remember correctly, isn't this the Martial Arts Hall Lin Yu goes to?'
Liu Song glanced at Lin Yi. "What, you know of this Martial Arts Hall?"
"Teacher Liu, the New Star Martial Arts Hall is one of the best in our Xinghai City. Who hasn't heard of it?" Lin Yi replied with a light chuckle.
Liu Song nodded. "Alright. You can go there directly tomorrow. I've already spoken with the hall!"
"Thank you, Teacher Liu!"
Then, Liu Song and Lin Yi headed straight for the cafeteria.
The afternoon session was Martial Arts class.
The students who had been absent in the morning all trickled into school after lunch.
They had all come just for the afternoon Martial Arts class.
For them, academics were no longer that important.
They were single-mindedly focused on their Martial Arts class and on increasing their Qi and Blood.
Over fifty students had gathered in the martial arts classroom.
Everyone was present, except for Wei Nan, who was away at a secret special training session.
When the Martial Arts coach walked into the classroom, his eyes swept over every student's face.
"There isn't much time left before the Martial Arts exam!"
"Therefore, I hope every single one of you can get into the Martial Arts University of your dreams!"
"The root of Martial Arts is the foundation. Only with a solid foundation can you walk a steadier path. Today, you will all practice the basic fist techniques, leg techniques, and Body Techniques that I've taught you before. Let me see what level you've reached..."
The students didn't say a word.
They all spread out, found an empty spot, and began to practice on their own.
Meanwhile, Coach Qi Heng walked among them.
When he saw someone with improper form or insufficient force, he would stop to offer a few pointers until he was satisfied.
Soon, Qi Heng made his way over to Lin Yi.
He saw Lin Yi in a corner, practicing the basic fist techniques over and over.
Every punch was executed with perfect form, both firm and powerful.
He even added some new moves he had devised himself after each punch.
These new moves were practical combat techniques Lin Yi had comprehended during his fight with the Dog Demon.
By incorporating these techniques, he had transformed the seemingly harmless basic fist style. It had become much sharper and deadlier.
Qi Heng stopped, crossing his arms as he watched Lin Yi.
His brow would furrow one moment and relax the next.
Flashes of surprise crossed his eyes, and at times he would pinch his chin, lost in thought.
When Lin Yi finished a complete set of the basic fist techniques and emerged from his [Absolute Focus] state,
"Coach Qi?"
he turned his head and said in surprise.
Qi Heng smiled and nodded. "Were you just practicing the basic fist techniques?"
Lin Yi nodded, immediately understanding what Qi Heng was implying.
He quickly explained, "I just added in some moves I figured out on my own. It makes the form more suitable for real combat and more effective in a fight!"
"Mm, not bad. I watched for a while. The moves you added are indeed very useful, and quite vicious!"
"But in a real fight, fancy moves are useless. The best technique is whatever wins. It seems your comprehension is also very high!"
Qi Heng found himself liking Lin Yi more and more.
A student like this, with good talent and excellent comprehension. He could even incorporate his own practical combat techniques and moves.
His future was bound to be limitless. Getting into a Martial Arts University would be no trouble at all.
Lin Yi nodded. "It's because Coach Qi is a good teacher!"
Hearing this, Qi Heng gave him a complicated look.
His mouth moved, as if he wanted to say something, but he swallowed his words and instead stepped forward to pat Lin Yi on the shoulder.
"Keep practicing hard. I believe you can go very far on the path of Martial Arts!"
"Thank you, Coach Qi!"
Lin Yi smiled and nodded.
After Coach Qi went to instruct other students,
Lin Yi once again entered the [Absolute Focus] state and diligently practiced the basic leg techniques and Body Techniques.