"""
"Solid Rock Cultivation Technique," Li Yuan thought, and numerous movements of this cultivation method surfaced in his mind.
These movements, he had practiced tens of thousands of times and knew them by heart.
In this era, the Martial Path prevailed.
The Seven Star Alliance had made the Seven Fundamental Cultivation Methods accessible to all citizens across the Seven Great Planets, with no distinctions in superiority, only suitability.
Regardless of whether one was a wealthy elite or an ordinary civilian, anyone pursuing the Martial Path began with the Fundamental Cultivation Methods.
"Solid Rock Cultivation Technique" was precisely the method Li Yuan had chosen.
He had been cultivating it for over five years.
Each Fundamental Cultivation Method greatly stimulated human potential, steadily improving physical quality and even awakening one's Spiritual Nature.
*Li Yuan's physical quality hadn't even reached Level 7.*
*Even Entry Rank Warriors with physical qualities surpassing Level 9 continued practicing the Fundamental Cultivation Methods.*
"Hu!"
"Hu!"
Every Fundamental Cultivation Method included thirty-six cultivation movements, accompanied by a specialized Breathing Technique.
Li Yuan's breathing alternated between rapid and prolonged, coordinating perfectly with the movements of his limbs, causing faint vibrations within his body.
His muscles and bones resonated in harmony!
"Feels incredible," Li Yuan said, immersed in the cultivation process.
He could feel his muscles and bones being continuously stimulated, growing stronger and more resilient.
This was the evolution of life.
In this era, ordinary teenagers had the potential to shatter century-old sprinting world records.
The key to their feats was the cultivation methods.
"It's a pity I didn't make it into the top twenty during the last semester exam; otherwise, in addition to the five thousand scholarship, I would've earned some vital energy medicinal liquid this term," Li Yuan's thoughts drifted, *"With more of that medicinal liquid, my physical quality would improve faster, and I could help ease some of my aunt and uncle's financial burden."*
Li Yuan was an orphan, raised by his uncle and aunt.
His uncle worked for a state-owned enterprise, and his aunt was a middle school teacher.
By rights, a family like theirs should have been comfortably middle-class, if not wealthy.
But Li Yuan had been frail and sickly since childhood, and the expenses for his treatments consumed a significant portion of their savings.
Later, on the doctor's advice, starting in middle school, they invested heavily in Li Yuan's Martial Arts Cultivation, spending even more on him than on their biological children.
Fortunately.
Li Yuan had a decent talent and cultivated with remarkable diligence. He passed the middle school entrance exam and enrolled in Guan Mountain District's top high school. His grades steadily improved; by sophomore year, he ranked within the top hundred and reached the top thirty during the semester's final exam.
His uncle and aunt were elated.
*Still, the Martial Arts Cultivation journey demanded not only talent but also money.*
*Particularly when his physical quality reached Level 6, all the resources needed to enhance it—foods originating from the Star Realm, medicinal supplements for vital energy, tailored medicated meals, specialized equipment—were bottomless money pits.*
Compared to other students in the top thirty, Li Yuan's external conditions were modest, even dire.
However, Li Yuan understood that his uncle and aunt were already doing their utmost to support him.
There were still younger cousins in the household, so he could not afford to ask for more.
"But, it's been six times now."
"Ever since middle school, I've undergone a Spiritual Nature awakening test every year, only to fail every single time," Li Yuan reflected, *"If my latent Spiritual Nature could awaken, my exam scores would gain a 10% bonus. With that, I could easily rise into the top ten of the grade."*
"Awakening Martial Spirit would also mean receiving a state subsidy."
Whether or not Martial Spirit was awakened.
Across Blue Star and even the Seven Great Planets, it was the single most important criterion for determining someone's Martial Path talent.
Li Yuan had yet to awaken Martial Spirit.
"In recent years, fewer than five students from the school have been admitted to the five elite martial arts universities," Li Yuan contemplated, *"With my current grades, getting into an ordinary Martial Arts University wouldn't be a problem."*
"Yet, without awakening Spiritual Nature, my chances of entering the five elite institutions are exceedingly slim."
Xia Country had a population of nearly two billion, segmented into twenty-four provinces, each with its own Martial Arts University, which recruited students locally. This was the goal for most Martial Path aspirants.
Meanwhile, the five elite martial universities were established by the Xia Country, recruiting from across the nation.
At ordinary Martial Arts Universities, students gained decent resources for cultivation, but mostly relied on their own efforts.
Students at the elite martial universities, however, benefited from heavy state sponsorship for every individual.
"With state resources backing me, my Martial Path would extend further, perhaps even matching Teacher Xu as an Entry Rank Warrior—or surpassing him," Li Yuan silently vowed.
His college goal was the five elite universities.
Yet the five demanded exceptionally high exam scores.
"Step by step; there are still nine months until the college entrance exam," Li Yuan practiced calmly, with fewer distractions in his mind.
...
Soon, a commotion erupted outside the classroom; over ten students from Group Three returned to the door, their excitement evident.
"Teacher Xu, Wan Xiao has awakened Spiritual Nature."
"Teacher Xu..." They couldn't wait for the burly man to inquire before excitedly blurting out the news.
The classroom immediately exploded into enthusiastic chatter.
"Wan Xiao, he awakened Martial Spirit?"
"He's moving to the Elite Class?"
"Students in the Elite Class are rumored to train in High Rank Cultivation Methods ahead of schedule," Most of the classmates couldn't help but reveal envious expressions.
Awakening Martial Spirit was the sole gateway to the Elite Class.
Otherwise, students like Li Yuan, despite ranking in the top thirty, would remain in the standard class.
"Wan Xiao?" Li Yuan opened his eyes and instinctively gazed toward the classroom door, where the towering figure stood with a faint flush on his face.
He was nearly six feet three inches tall, with a burly and robust build akin to a bear, his arms astonishingly thick, though his youthful face appeared slightly immature.
"""