Old Calendar 2046—New Calendar Year 60.
July 12.
Blue Star, Xia Country, Huguang Province, Wuling City.
At two in the afternoon, the midsummer sun hung like a giant fireball. There was not a cloud for ten thousand li, and except for passing vehicles, there were hardly any pedestrians on most streets.
But outside a five-story streetfront building that covered an immense area and whose exterior was decorated with a strong sense of technology, cars were packed densely at this moment. Large numbers of parents were leading boys and girls wearing training uniforms into the building under the blazing sun.
The plaque above the building bore four large characters: Iron Mountain Martial Club. Beneath it was a smaller line: Xinjiekou Branch.
More than a dozen brand-new posters were pasted on one side of the entrance:
“New Calendar Year 60 Summer Enrollment Great Discount: For students in the Golden Age Bracket, tuition is 58,888 Star Coins for 20 classes. Supervised by a Sky-Patrolling Martial Artist and guided one-on-one by an Elite Martial Artist, this is the strongest support for charging toward Martial Undergraduate!!”
“‘Parent Certificate’ Sprint Class: For Silver Age Bracket adults before age 30. If you succeed, you gain reproductive qualification, and a first birth is rewarded with a million!!”
“Counterattack from a Bottom-Tier High School to the Strongest University: A special lecture by Jiang Chenyi, an elite student trained by this club, New Calendar Year 59 city College Entrance Exam top scorer, and outstanding student of New Moon Martial University...”
......
On the fourth floor, inside a martial arts room covering more than 500 square meters.
Thick custom mats covered the floor. Sandbags, wooden dummies, weapon racks, and other equipment were arranged around the edges, while another side held instruments such as punch-force detectors, movement detectors, and life detectors.
More than forty junior high school students, all looking about thirteen or fourteen years old, were wearing unified training uniforms and practicing stake stances.
“Feet shoulder-width apart, toes slightly inward. Knees slightly bent, not past the toes. Hollow the chest, lift the back, and let the top of the head feel as if lightly suspended...” Fang Yu, wearing a coach’s uniform, patiently instructed each student.
He was about one meter eighty-five tall.
In his early twenties, his face looked as if carved by a knife and chiseled by an axe. He could not be called handsome, but he possessed a distinctive masculine aura.
“You are beginners in martial arts. You should all know that practicing punches without cultivating the foundation means coming to nothing in the end... This foundation is the daily basic work.”
“Stake Stance Training can massage the internal organs from the outside inward, wash the bone marrow, and help you bring out the greatest effect of all kinds of sinew, bone, blood, and qi medicines. It will allow you to raise your Life Level as soon as possible and then awaken the Void Star Aspect.”
“Good Stake Stance Training is the cornerstone of passing Martial Undergraduate, and even of one day becoming a Star-Sky Martial Artist...” Fang Yu explained.
Hearing words like “undergraduate” and “Star-Sky Martial Artist,” many of the boys and girls who had just begun stake training and were already suffering greatly perked up and clenched their teeth to keep going.
Seeing this, Fang Yu also sighed inwardly.
In this era of highly developed technology and ever-intensifying competition, if one could pass Martial Undergraduate, it would absolutely mean changing one’s fate. This was also why so many parents invested massive resources in sending their children to martial training classes at an early age.
And Star-Sky Martial Artists?
Ever since the New Calendar began, humanity had landed on the Moon Star, and the first Star-Sky Martial Artist had been born. Who had not heard the legends of Star-Sky Martial Artists?
They were peerless martial artists who could cross the starry sky with their physical bodies.
They were also the towering pillars of an entire civilization!
In this era, the youths did not worship pop stars or singers. They worshipped powerful martial artists.
“Youth really is wonderful...”
Looking at the young students he was teaching, Fang Yu seemed to see himself from several years ago. His thoughts drifted. “Unfortunately, the College Entrance Exam only happens once. Back in high school, I failed to awaken the Void Star Aspect and was forced into Martial Junior College. Now, if I want to get into Martial Undergraduate, the only path is the Junior-College-to-Undergraduate Upgrade.”
As a Martial Junior College student, even though Fang Yu was an outstanding one... his hope of upgrading to undergraduate was still very small.
“If I had awakened the Void Star Aspect back then, even if it were only a medium aspect, I should probably be charging toward Level 30 advanced martial artist by now. In the future, becoming a Sky-Patrolling Martial Artist would be within reach.” Fang Yu sighed inwardly.
The path of starry-sky martial arts.
Awakening the Void Star Aspect was the first step... If one failed to awaken, then becoming a legendary Star-Sky Martial Artist would be out of the question. It would even be difficult to reach Level 30 advanced martial artist in a lifetime.
......
After half an hour of Stake Stance Training, at Fang Yu’s call of “Break,” most of the students collapsed to the floor.
Seeing this, Fang Yu smiled.
If one could enter the gate of the Vault of Stars Pillar Stance and get the work into one’s body, then even standing for two or three hours would not cause any soreness in the waist or back. One would only feel completely comfortable throughout the body, with at most a little fatigue.
After all, the function of Stake Stance Training was to integrate sinews and bones, reshape the body, and serve as the bright path of life evolution and martial communion.
If martial cultivation entered the proper track, it could be more addictive than pleasure.
As the students rested, Fang Yu suddenly stopped pacing as well.
He sharply raised both hands to the level of his brows and eyes, then slowly pressed them down to his abdomen. Naturally and clearly, he sensed the condition of every part of his body, from the five viscera and six bowels to every bone and every tendon in his four limbs and hundred bones.
“Whew!”
He opened his mouth slightly and let out a long breath. It shot out like an air arrow leaving the string, lingering for a long time.
“Huh?”
“Is that Breathing Out Like an Arrow?”
“Mastery of Entering the Minute?”
“Coach Fang can actually do Breathing Out Like an Arrow? Last time, when our school teacher demonstrated Sinews and Bones Ringing Together, he was quite proud of himself.” The students who had just been sitting and resting, full of exhaustion, now became excited one by one.
In this era, everyone cultivated.
As junior high school students, they were still growing, so most of them had only undergone training in flexibility and the like and would not engage in overly profound and domineering martial cultivation. However, Martial Arts General Knowledge was a required course at school.
Things like the Six Ranks of the Martial Artist and the Three Realms of Technique were common knowledge.
Breathing Out Like an Arrow was the mark of great mastery in the second realm of martial technique, Entering the Minute.
This scene was also witnessed by the parents outside the martial arts room, who had been watching through the glass all along while considering whether to enroll their children. Every one of them was surprised.
“This young man is impressive.”
“A beginner trial class has a coach of this level?”
“I originally thought the young fellow was young and that Iron Mountain Martial Club had found some Martial Junior College student to fool us.”
“Even among university students at Huguang Martial University, few should be able to reach this level in martial technique. His Life Level is at least Level 25, and he may even be a Level 30 advanced martial artist.”
“As expected of Iron Mountain Martial Club.” The parents discussed this with satisfaction.
For most martial clubs, beginner classes were taught by primary-level martial artists in the ten-plus levels. It was already rare for a mid-level martial artist in the twenty-plus levels to teach them.
After all, most martial college graduates were only in the twenty-plus levels upon graduation.
As for those who had reached Level 30 advanced martial artist?
Martial artists of that level could easily join large companies or groups. If they worked at a martial club, they would certainly be senior instructors, with astonishingly high class fees. How could they come to teach a beginner class?
......
Inside the martial arts room.
With Fang Yu’s eyesight, he naturally easily caught every change in the expressions of the many parents outside the window.
“My recent breakthrough in technique, the great mastery of Entering the Minute, really is effective... This time, more parents should sign up. My performance commission should be secure.” Fang Yu thought to himself.
As a teaching assistant, he was responsible for part of the instruction in the beginner class.
His base salary was low, and most of his income came from commissions on parents enrolling or renewing classes... Some teaching assistants chose to chat privately with parents after class to deepen their relationship and offer discounts.
Some teaching assistants instead chose to display their strength during teaching to attract parents.
“I don’t have that much time or energy to chat with parents one by one. If I want to increase my income, I should make use of my advantages,” Fang Yu thought. “My advantage is martial technique.”
“Even without awakening the Void Star Aspect, even if I trained desperately throughout three years of junior college, my Life Level is not high. But martial technique is also part of strength.”
Martial cultivation and life evolution; Life Level was the foundation.
Someone like the legendary Star-Sky Martial Artist, whose physical body could cross the starry sky and even withstand a nuclear explosion—what kind of physical might was that? It was practically divine.
But martial technique was also very important.
A brilliant martial technique could make one portion of strength produce ten portions of force.
“If I can earn a little more.”
“Adding Dad’s allowance, which should arrive soon, I can buy more Blood-Qi Elixir and Bone-Strengthening Pills this summer. My hopes for the Junior-College-to-Undergraduate Upgrade in the second half of the year will become much greater.” Fang Yu thought.
In this society, whether one was an academic junior college student or a Martial Junior College student, both were very common.
Huguang Province alone had fully twenty Martial Junior Colleges. Every year, 100,000 Martial Junior College students graduated. As for academic junior college students, more than a million graduated each year... One could say that even someone sweeping the street or pasting loan flyers might be a junior college graduate.
Undergraduate students were completely different.
There were only two true Martial Undergraduate universities in Huguang Province, and they admitted only 10,000 students in total each year... Compared with a province of hundreds of millions of people, their status was naturally high.
“People say that an outstanding undergraduate is not inferior to a junior college student.”
“However, the first degree of a Junior-College-to-Undergraduate Upgrade student is still junior college. It cannot change the background of being a junior college student.”
“But if one can enter undergraduate, who would be willing to attend junior college?”
......
After teaching Stake Stance Training, Fang Yu began teaching the Basic Twenty-Four Fist Forms. This was the beginner basic cultivation method promoted by the upper echelons of civilization to all the people.
The name was ordinary, but the effect was not.
“Push with the feet, turn the waist, and send the shoulders out. One punch penetrates the nine heavens... When practicing, do not exert force with only your arms. Use the power of your entire body, and coordinate it with the breathing method.” As Fang Yu described it, he demonstrated in person.
As he hollowed his chest and lifted his back, standing there gave one the feeling of a towering mountain that could not be shaken. Then he pressed his five fingers together, and his entire spine became like a great bow bent to its limit.
His two fists swung and burst forth, like sharp arrows leaving the string.
“Bang~”
The air exploded with a sound.
Accompanying Fang Yu’s demonstration, whether it was a side-step cross punch, a forward-step thrusting punch, or an overhead chopping punch, they were all like a swimming dragon, flowing like clouds and water, possessing an artistic beauty and stirring wave after wave of fierce wind in the air.
Force traveled from the four limbs to the great dragon of the spine, transmitting layer by layer. The spine continuously trembled, producing sounds layer upon layer. This was precisely Sinews and Bones Ringing Together.
This scene made the eyes of many students shine.
Most of them had seen plenty of videos of the Basic Twenty-Four Fist Forms online, but how could a video match the impact of seeing it with their own eyes?
“Comfortable.”
Fang Yu also immersed himself in this cultivation.
Even though he was a Level 16 martial artist, the Basic Twenty-Four Fist Forms could still mildly stimulate all the sinews, bones, and muscles of his body, making his body stronger.
Whether one was a noble elite of New Moon or a slum youth on Blue Star’s old land, as long as one chose the martial path, before awakening the Void Star Aspect, the Basic Twenty-Four Fist Forms could be considered the best body-tempering fist method.
This had been compiled over generations by martial artists since the Great Sky-Burning Era.
Two hours passed in the blink of an eye. After instructing each student one by one:
“You have only recently begun martial arts, so you can surely feel that, compared with Stake Stance Training, the Basic Twenty-Four Fist Forms seem to have a greater stimulating effect on the body.” Fang Yu said at the end. “But I want you to remember: the stake is the root, and the fist is the leaf. With deep roots, the leaves flourish; with shallow roots, the leaves wither.”
“Once you enter the gate of Stake Stance Training and gradually gain control over the force of your entire body, your cultivation of the fist methods will also multiply in effect.”
“The training class teaches methods. After returning home, you still need to cultivate devotedly on your own.” Fang Yu instructed them. “Alright, today’s class ends here.”
“Goodbye, Coach.” Dozens of students said together.
The level of teaching Fang Yu had displayed, though not enough to make them worship him, was enough to convince them.
“Parents, I believe you have all seen the level of our martial arts coaches... If you wish to register for the summer class, scan the code immediately, log in, and pay to enjoy a five percent discount.” Outside the martial arts room, another burly, fat salesman called out loudly.
Fang Yu had already entered the changing room next door.
The more than two-hour training class seemed relaxed, but in reality, Fang Yu had been controlling the sinews, bones, blood, and qi throughout his entire body to conduct Marrow Cleansing while lecturing, moving, and demonstrating the fist methods. Naturally, he was covered in sweat.
Not wasting cultivation time was a habit Fang Yu had formed over many years.
“If in the future I reach the great mastery of the third realm of martial technique, Inner Vista, and gradually activate every cell in my body, I will be able to lock all the pores of my body. As long as I am willing, I will not sweat at all.” Fang Yu sighed inwardly.
Unfortunately, the realm of Inner Vista was still somewhat far from him.
He had only just achieved great mastery of Entering the Minute. Once he circulated his blood and qi for a while longer, he would be able to control the circulation of blood and qi almost perfectly, hold onto the breath within his body, and to some extent close all the pores of his body. However, he would not be able to maintain it for long.
......
After rinsing off and changing into a set of clothes, Fang Yu returned to the martial arts room. By then, it had become empty.
“Brother Fang, you really are impressive. Your martial technique has already reached great mastery of Entering the Minute.” The burly, fat salesman walked into the martial arts room.
From far away, he gave Fang Yu a thumbs-up and said with a wink, “When the manager learns about this, he will definitely give you a raise. Many formal coaches are not even stronger than you in martial technique.”
“Big Head, stop running your mouth. First tell me how many paid.” Fang Yu laughed.
Big Head’s real name was Xu Chenyang. He was Fang Yu’s high school classmate, and the two had a very good relationship.
Although he looked burly, he was actually a student at an academic junior college, not a martial student. He had also been introduced by Fang Yu to work part-time as a salesman at the martial club.
“Thirty-three,” Xu Chenyang said quickly.
“Not bad.” A smile appeared at the corners of Fang Yu’s mouth.
The summer beginner training class lasted twenty days, and the fee was 28,888 Star Coins. This included the training fee and some attached medication fees. Compared with the high school sprint class’s 58,888 Star Coins, it could be considered cheap.
However, in Wuling City, where the average wage was only a little over seven thousand Star Coins and the median income was even lower, it could be called quite expensive.
For a single trial class to sign more than seventy percent was quite good.
Scholarship for the Poor, Martial Arts for the Rich.
In this era, both New Moon and Blue Star’s old land encouraged martial arts. Everyone knew this was a path that reached the heavens.
However, unless one had extraordinary talent, passed the martial university entrance exam, and received the support of national resources...
If one relied solely on buying various auxiliary cultivation medicines and hiring martial seniors for guidance, ordinary middle-class families would not be able to afford it.
The path of a martial artist was paved with gold. This was no idle claim.
“With your technique having achieved great mastery of Entering the Minute, you can circulate your blood and qi. At that point, you should have hope of reaching Level 20 before graduation.” Xu Chenyang said. Although he was not a martial student, he knew some basic common sense.
“Yeah.” Fang Yu nodded lightly.
“Level 20, that’s a mid-level martial artist.” Xu Chenyang said with emotion. “You’ll be qualified to go to New Moon. You’ll even have hope of joining some large groups or companies.”
Fang Yu did not speak.
Level 20 was indeed not bad on Blue Star’s old land. After graduation, it would not be difficult to land a position with an annual salary of several hundred thousand. But... Fang Yu’s goal was not there.
He turned his head slightly and looked out the window, as if he could see that bright star beyond the sky.
“New Moon.”
“There—that is the holy land of martial artists!”
......
After signing with finance and confirming the commission of more than nine thousand Star Coins from the recent trial classes.
Fang Yu was about to leave the martial club with Xu Chenyang when he was stopped by a pretty girl carrying a folder, wearing a black small suit, and revealing long legs in stockings below.
Fang Yu recognized her. She was the manager’s secretary.
“Coach Fang, the manager asks you to go see him.” The pretty girl smiled.
“Okay, I’ll go now.” Fang Yu was slightly moved. As he spoke, he said, “Big Head, why don’t you go home first.”
“No need. I’ll wait here for you.” Xu Chenyang shook his head.
......
On the fifth floor, Fang Yu went directly to the manager’s office. The doors were open. The office covered nearly one hundred square meters and was quite luxuriously decorated. It even had a dedicated training area and testing instruments.
“Manager Huo, you asked to see me?” Fang Yu looked at the sturdy middle-aged man standing by the window, seemingly lost in thought.
Iron Mountain Martial Club belonged to Iron Mountain Group, a martial artist group of considerable size. Its headquarters were on New Moon... Even though this was only a branch in Guangling City, the manager’s authority was very great.
“Yes.”
“Fang Yu, there is something I must inform you about.” Manager Huo’s face carried a look of regret, and he sighed. “Your application to convert from a teaching assistant position to a formal post appears to have failed due to an education issue... According to headquarters regulations.”
“You must be dismissed.”