The Path of a Martial Artist

"You bought them already?" Fang Yu was astonished by his father's speed. *Click.* Fang Ping'an had already unlatched the case. First, he took out five exquisite jade vials, followed by two large, tightly sealed boxes of medicines labeled with the words *Star Radiance Group*. "Cell Vitality Factor?" Fang Yu recognized one of the boxes at a glance. "Yes." "You're a junior college student, so you should recognize both of these medicines: Cell Vitality Factor and Life Regeneration Agent, six vials of each." Fang Ping'an pointed to the two boxes. Fang Yu's heart jolted violently. How could he not know them? At his junior college, he had a wealthy classmate who occasionally used these two high-grade medicines. Their body-tempering effects far surpassed Vital Energy Compounds and Bone-Strengthening Pills. Because of that, even though that classmate didn't train particularly hard and had only average technical talent, his Life Level was exceptionally high—reaching Level 18 by the end of their third year. Yet the price was staggering. Cell Vitality Factor and Life Regeneration Agent were premium medicines that could be reliably produced only by the Eight Great Groups, costing fifty thousand Star Coins per vial. The twelve vials his father had produced were worth a total of six hundred thousand Star Coins. "These two medicines work best when taken together. Normally, a Primary Martial Artist can take only one vial every ten days; anything more wastes a tremendous amount of medicinal potency, or worse, overnourishes the body—too much of a good thing is just as bad," Fang Ping'an said. "However, your bodily control has reached the Great Accomplishment of Entering the Minute, so your tempering efficiency is far higher. "One month should be just enough time to finish them." Fang Ping'an didn't give Fang Yu an exact schedule. Someone at the Great Accomplishment of Entering the Minute possessed far keener perception of his own physical condition than a Primary Martial Artist like him. The use of medicine varied from person to person. "Combining these two medicines with a small amount of Vital Energy Compound and Bone-Strengthening Pills will accelerate the elevation of your Life Level with maximum efficiency," Fang Ping'an said. "And most important of all are these." Fang Ping'an pointed toward the five jade vials. Uncorking one, an icy chill wafted out, revealing a fruit the size of a little finger, its surface looking like frozen ice. "Is this... an Ice Heart Marrow Cleansing Fruit?" Fang Yu asked hesitantly. "Seems your *Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures* class at school wasn't wasted after all; you actually recognized it." Fang Ping'an offered a smile. In the future, powerful martial artists all ventured into the Primordial Star. That was the martial artists' battleground, a realm rich with boundless heavenly materials and earthly treasures. Over so many years, to ensure that the new generation of martial artists would not overlook treasures while exploring the Primordial Star, all martial junior college students and undergraduate students were required to take *Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures* as a mandatory course. At the very least, they had to be able to identify them. "Dad," Fang Yu could not help but ask, "do these five jade vials contain five Ice Heart Marrow Cleansing Fruits?" Fang Ping'an nodded. Fang Yu held his breath. The Ice Heart Marrow Cleansing Fruit, like the Myriad Manifestation Creation Fruit, was used to solidify one's foundation. However, the effects of the Myriad Manifestation Creation Fruit were exceptionally gentle, releasing their medicinal potency gradually over several years. It was ideal for martial beginners, but of little value to Primary Martial Artists. The Ice Heart Marrow Cleansing Fruit, on the other hand, was a far more domineering foundation-building treasure, primarily suited for Primary Martial Artists in their Golden Age Bracket. Precisely because its potency was so domineering, many Primary Martial Artists were reluctant to purchase it. Its price was considered relatively modest—though that was only by comparison, as five of them still came out to nearly two million Star Coins. "Only someone at the Great Accomplishment of Entering the Minute can handle it. "On top of that, you haven't used any other foundation-building treasures during your three years in junior college, so the effects should be substantial," Fang Ping'an said. "Taking all of them within a month will help shore up your foundation. "Speaking of which... it was my fault for not getting you a Myriad Manifestation Creation Fruit back in high school." Fang Ping'an sighed softly. Back then... Although he had supported Fang Yu's pursuit of martial arts, the fact that Fang Yu hadn't awakened a Void Star Aspect had indeed made him hesitate. Three Myriad Manifestation Creation Fruits cost six million Star Coins. "Dad. "I hadn't awakened a star aspect back then anyway, so using a Myriad Manifestation Creation Fruit would have been pure waste," Fang Yu comforted him. "Besides, you bought me a Star Spirit Vitality Pill, which laid a fine foundation. If not for that, there's no way my physical fitness would have reached Level 8 right after the College Entrance Exam. "And after entering college, my cultivation wouldn't have gone so smoothly, either." One crucial effect of the Myriad Manifestation Creation Fruit was guiding beginners to draw star power into the body more rapidly. The Star Spirit Vitality Pill, while a tier lower as a foundation-building treasure, focused mainly on physical body tempering, yet a single pill still cost six hundred thousand Star Coins. "Yes. "Fang Yu, you've rarely given me cause for worry since you were little, and now you're fully grown. Your martial prowess has far outstripped mine at my peak." Fang Ping'an looked intently at Fang Yu. "There are three of you siblings. Your brother and sister are still young, so going forward, I will definitely have to look after them more. "This time, they awakened Swallowing-Sun Python star aspects. Even though they won't lack sponsorships once they sign with a martial enterprise, if they want to progress faster and get into elite martial universities, the expenses will only grow larger... In the future, I probably won't be able to provide for you nearly as much. "These items... "Are the last major boost I, as your father, can give to your martial path." Fang Ping'an looked slightly apologetic. "Dad! "I understand all of this." Fang Yu shook his head with a smile. "You've already helped me far more than enough. In any other family, who would invest so much money into martial arts for a child who hadn't awakened a star aspect?" Those were Fang Yu's genuine thoughts. Adding this purchase to the rest, his father had invested nearly ten million Star Coins into his martial training over the past decade. How much could his father earn in a year? Even setting aside that their family wasn't immensely rich, even an ultra-wealthy tycoon with assets exceeding a hundred million might not have gone to such lengths. "Son. "To be honest, I've spent my entire life in business, and investing in your martial path has certainly felt the most like a gamble. Many people advised me that it would be better to save the money for you." Fang Ping'an smiled. "Yet this investment is the one I've wanted to win the most. "And I think... "It's the investment your grandfather wants to win the most, too. "I'll be leaving on a business trip out of town shortly. While you're home this month, keep an eye on your brother and sister... and listen to your grandfather. He put in a tremendous effort this time," Fang Ping'an said. "Grandfather?" Fang Yu was surprised. From the sound of it, Grandfather had contributed a considerable sum... Where did Grandfather get that kind of money? *** Standing on the second floor, Fang Yu watched his father walk out the courtyard gate. *With Father's abilities, if not for the three of us, he probably could have lived a far more carefree life,* Fang Yu thought, his gaze returning to the case on his desk. *Having received so much, I must succeed in the Junior-College-to-Undergraduate Upgrade.* A fierce longing burned in Fang Yu's chest. *If I get into an undergraduate program and cultivate with state resources, reaching Intermediate Martial Artist as soon as possible, I'll be able to ease Father's burden.* The martial path had to be paved with gold. Yet if one achieved greatness, the earning power was equally astonishing. *** The following morning, at six o'clock, while Fang Yu was practicing his saber technique... On the second floor of the villa. "Do you see that? "It's six o'clock now. Your eldest brother has been training since three," Fang Zhiyuan said sternly. In front of the laptop, the siblings Fang Siyue and Fang Long were watching the surveillance feed, looking at their eldest brother, Fang Yu, who had already been engaged in bitter training for several hours. "No one pushed him. He has been like this ever since junior high school. "Yes, he attends a junior college, but you must realize that most of those who test into a martial junior college have awakened a star aspect. Your brother hasn't. His cultivation resources haven't been top-tier either—your father only gave him five hundred thousand Star Coins a year. Yet his grades have consistently ranked in the top ten. "Do you know how many students there are in his year? Five thousand! "And his martial technique is unequivocally first among his peers," Fang Zhiyuan stated bluntly. He didn't know Fang Yu's exact standing, but that didn't stop him from exaggerating. Only exaggeration could truly shock them. Fang Siyue and Fang Long wore expressions of utter awe, believing him implicitly. Since childhood, they had idolized their eldest brother. "How did he manage it? "By the sheer effort you're looking at right now. "This is martial arts: train for a day, gain a day's skill; skip a day, lose a hundred days' work." Fang Zhiyuan's gaze swept over his grandson and granddaughter. "Your star aspect talent is far superior to your brother's. "Because of that, your brother was willing to sacrifice for you, taking only basic living expenses and refusing to ask for more of the family's money. "Your father was willing to pay the price, too. "The day before yesterday, he contacted people, preparing to mortgage the supermarket to buy you foundation-building treasures so you could establish the finest martial foundation," Fang Zhiyuan said. *Mortgage the supermarket?* Fang Siyue and Fang Long were stunned. They knew very well what that supermarket meant to their family. "Just one of those foundation-building treasures costs two million Star Coins. You need to use them for three consecutive years—that's six million each, or twelve million Star Coins for the two of you combined," Fang Zhiyuan told them directly. "Your father told me not to tell you, so you wouldn't feel the pressure. "However, you are already fifteen years old. You aren't small children anymore. "You ought to know what that kind of money means." Twelve million? It was an astronomical figure. Fang Siyue and Fang Long held their breath, completely overwhelmed. Their regular allowance was a few hundred Star Coins at most. "Right now, those cultivation treasures haven't been bought yet, and I want both of you to think it through carefully. "Do you truly have the resolve and perseverance to embark on this path and work as hard as your brother? Do you have the confidence to be worthy of your father's sacrifices?" Fang Zhiyuan stared at his grandchildren. "Grandfather isn't trying to force you into shouldering this burden. "If you don't have the confidence, that's fine too. You can just take things easy, like me. Back then, I didn't have the courage to shoulder that kind of responsibility. "Yet I've lived quite comfortably. "However, once those treasures are bought, there will be no turning back. "I'll give you a whole day to think it over slowly," Fang Zhiyuan said. "No martial arts training today. Figure out the path you want to walk. "Only when your mind is set can your feet truly stride forward." *** After sending the dazed Fang Siyue and Fang Long out of his room, Fang Zhiyuan returned to the laptop and watched Fang Yu on the surveillance monitor. *When it comes to perseverance and resolve, neither my grandson nor my little granddaughter can match their eldest brother back in the day,* Fang Zhiyuan mused. *They've simply been sheltered too well.* *Hmph.* *They think awakening an Upper-Rank Star Aspect guarantees becoming a powerful martial artist?* Fang Zhiyuan muttered softly under his breath. *Keep dreaming! The martial path is perilous beyond measure. If they can't even withstand this bit of pressure, they'd be better off slacking off right now. *Muddling along as an Advanced Martial Artist wouldn't be half bad either—a million a year, and far more carefree.* *** Down in the Underground Martial Arts Room... Having concluded his saber practice, Fang Yu took out an Ice Heart Marrow Cleansing Fruit. "Let's see what it can do." Fang Yu devoured it in a few bites.