A Contract? A Dispute

"Saber technique Entering the Minute?" Yan Fu found it equally hard to believe. Normally, when people spoke of technique Entering the Minute, they referred to the degree of physical control—the union of body and mind. Put simply, it was the extent to which consciousness could mobilize the body. The deeper one went into Entering the Minute, the stronger one's physical control became, the more one could tap into bodily potential, and naturally, the greater the burst of power. The Lesser Accomplishment of Entering the Minute meant mastering the muscles and bones throughout the body to achieve a full release of normal physical power—the base punch force. The Great Accomplishment of Entering the Minute went a step further, controlling the circulation of vital energy and blood throughout the entire body. At critical moments, it allowed the arms, legs, and other limbs to unleash nearly double their normal power in an explosive surge. That was Dark Force. However, because it surpassed the body's normal limits, it could not be sustained. Fighting with prolonged bursts of Dark Force would leave the body severely weakened afterward. Once physical Entering the Minute was attained, achieving Entering the Minute in movement technique was relatively straightforward. Yet saber technique Entering the Minute? That was an entirely different matter. A weapon was an extension of the body, yet it was not physically linked to one's bodily consciousness. It demanded the seamless harmony of body, mind, and weapon. Even martial arts junior college teachers like them had achieved Entering the Minute in weapon control only after years of bitter cultivation. To become an instructor at a martial junior college, weapon Entering the Minute was the fundamental prerequisite. *A technique genius.* *My student's talent for technique is truly extraordinary. And it seems the further he goes, the greater his momentum. In his freshman year, his technique only ranked top five in his class; by his sophomore year, he surged into the top hundred of his cohort; and in his junior year, he was in the cohort's top ten.* *Now, he is indisputably number one. Even Wu Ya in all likelihood hasn't achieved weapon Entering the Minute yet,* Yan Fu reflected inwardly. *Then again, having spent three years in junior college without awakening a Void Star Aspect, his mind must have undergone considerable tempering.* *He is exceptionally composed. He might very well accomplish great things in the future.* Physical talent and technique talent were two completely different concepts. Physical talent could be determined fairly well simply by the rank of one's awakened star aspect. The higher the star aspect rank, the higher the efficiency of absorbing star force, and naturally, the faster one's Life Level improved. Technique talent, on the other hand, stemmed partly from the strength of one's mental power. The stronger the mental power, the faster one's thought processes worked. The other part depended on comprehension. Some powerful figures possessed only average comprehension in their early years, but after enduring more life experiences and having their inner spirit tempered, their comprehension might undergo an astonishing transformation. Conversely, some peerless geniuses who shone brightly early on and made rapid strides had a certain chance of falling into a slump and never recovering if they suddenly encountered a devastating setback. Jade could not become a vessel without being carved. Yet exerting excessive force could also destroy the jade completely. *Though he isn't like the legendary geniuses who reach Outer Vista perception and the Unity of Heaven and Man at age twenty, he is already exceptionally outstanding.* *Even compared to the elite students of Huguang Martial University, his technique isn't inferior in the slightest,* Yan Fu thought to himself. *It's a pity our past interactions weren't deep enough; our teacher-student bond hasn't had time to grow strong.* Previously, he had treated Fang Yu merely as an ordinary 'outstanding student,' believing Fang Yu had only a slim chance of becoming an Advanced Martial Artist. Yet now... He felt that even if Fang Yu never awakened a Void Star Aspect, becoming an Advanced Martial Artist in the future was practically set in stone. *Reaching weapon Entering the Minute at such a young age, followed by two more years of further study in the undergraduate program, and with the help of the space station on the Primordial Star, the probability of him stepping into an Inner Vista for his technique is extremely high,* Yan Fu mused. *Once he enters an Inner Vista, one Star Coin can do the work of five. Spending several tens of millions will give him a good chance of becoming an Advanced Martial Artist.* The higher one's technique, the greater one's ability to unlock physical potential, and the greater the effect drawn from the same medicinal solutions and treasures. *If he can awaken a star aspect, an Earth Martial Artist... might not be out of reach,* Yan Fu thought, his heart stirring. Spending a lifetime in education, having a student become an Earth Martial Artist would be something worth boasting about into old age. After all, an Earth Martial Artist was guaranteed a place on Wuling Martial Junior College's Wall of Honor. Ever since Wuling Martial Junior College was founded, only a dozen-odd Earth Martial Artists had emerged from its graduates. "Old Yan, congratulations!" "Teacher Yan, you have to treat us to dinner tonight!" "Old Yan, keeping a trump card like this hidden away—you really taught him well!" "Fang Yu kept such a low profile before, but today he's made quite a splash!" The other teachers congratulated Yan Fu again, sighs of amazement escaping their lips. No one mentioned the Void Star Aspect anymore. His technique was leagues ahead of the rest. With his Life Level also effectively first, whether Fang Yu had awakened a star aspect was no longer so crucial. After all, this was merely a Junior-College-to-Undergraduate Upgrade assessment, not an exemption assessment for admission into a master's program from a martial undergraduate institution. The requirements were not that harsh. These teachers had already essentially accepted Fang Yu as the top candidate. "Haha." "It's all thanks to his own hard work," Yan Fu said with a genial laugh, though his mind was already calculating how to draw closer to Fang Yu. ... In the ninth-floor office. The six Huguang Martial University teachers, who had previously appeared calm and composed, all looked astonished when they saw Fang Yu's practical combat assessment score marked as 'Junior College Perfection.' Junior College Perfection. In the martial arts education system of the Blue Moon Alliance, that rating signified that Fang Yu's combat skills had reached the utmost limit for a junior college student—to the point where junior college martial arts teachers were no longer qualified to instruct him. "Junior College Perfection." "I've come to Wuling three times, and this is the first time I've ever seen this evaluation." "Weapon Entering the Minute really is formidable. That caliber of combat skill would rank near the very top even at our university." The teachers could not help discussing it among themselves. A Life Level of 20 was not enough to move them, because anyone with enough money could easily achieve it. Cultivating martial technique, however, could only be aided by Star Coins, never bought outright. "Associate Professor Tang, what do you think?" The middle-aged male teacher looked at the young woman in gray. "Should we offer a contract?" The other teachers turned their eyes toward her as well. Associate Professor... That title alone reflected the young woman's status. She was part of the upper echelon at Huguang Martial University and served as the leader of their delegation. Normally, an upgrade recommendation assessment like this was monitored throughout and jointly overseen by the Department of Education, the Martial Arts Bureau, and the Martial Arts Supervisory Bureau. There was no need for Huguang Martial University to send anyone. Why had they sent people then, and six teachers at that? It was precisely to see whether any truly exceptional prospects existed. Offering a contract meant an Exclusive Training Contract. Built on top of state training funds, it was a program where Huguang Martial University invested additional resources into a select few outstanding students to cultivate top-tier martial artists. "Not enough." "His talent for technique is indeed good. If he fights hard enough, relying on treasures to build up his Life Level down the road gives him a slim chance of becoming an Earth Martial Artist," the female teacher said in a cool voice. "However, without an awakened star aspect, even if he becomes an Earth Martial Artist, he'll be among the weakest, unable to go very far." The other teachers nodded thoughtfully. Before becoming an Earth Martial Artist, the greatest function of a star aspect was boosting cultivation efficiency, something money could compensate for. The Primordial Star had countless treasures that could help raise one's Life Level. But once one reached the stage of an Earth Martial Artist or Sky-Patrolling Martial Artist, a star aspect became crucial. The stronger the star aspect, the greater the boost. Lacking a star aspect would leave too severe an impact on one's future. "Each contract carries tremendous value." "We still have six more universities to visit for assessments, and contract quotas are limited." The female teacher shook her head. "This Fang Yu qualifies to enter Huguang Martial University... but he doesn't meet the mark for a contract." "His future is too uncertain." The other teachers glanced at each other and dropped the argument. If Fang Yu had awakened a star aspect, even a Lower-Rank Star Aspect, they would have fought for him. But with no star aspect awakened, the unknowns were simply too vast. However... "Associate Professor Tang," the middle-aged male teacher said with an enduring smile, "true talent is hard to come by. For a junior college student to reach this stage, he must have poured in a tremendous amount of effort... Let's give him a chance." "We have ten contract quotas. Adding him makes no great difference, and omitting him saves very little." "Just as you said, if he never awakens a star aspect, his ceiling won't be high." "But what if he does awaken one?" The middle-aged male teacher smiled, standing firm on his opinion. "He might very well achieve something extraordinary." "Better to leave a spot unfilled than accept someone substandard. At his age, the chances of awakening a star aspect are..." Associate Professor Tang frowned, but catching the look in the middle-aged male teacher's eyes, her tone shifted. "Teacher Jiang." "An exclusive contract is out of the question; I will not agree to it. If you truly think so highly of him, use your special approval quota to apply. I'll sign off on it, and we can consider that giving him a chance." "Done." The middle-aged male teacher nodded immediately. From the start, he had never expected her to approve an exclusive contract. Getting her permission to use his special approval quota had been his real objective all along. Each of the six teachers held one special approval quota. While its value did not match an Exclusive Training Contract, it was still far superior to a standard recommendation admission. ... On the first floor, Fang Yu had already walked out of the assessment arena. *Physical technique: Great Accomplishment of Entering the Minute.* *Saber technique: Entering the Minute.* *Level 20 Life Level... Even if I can't guarantee first place, securing a recommendation spot shouldn't be a problem,* Fang Yu thought to himself. *The improvement in soul and mental power truly makes an enormous difference.* He gently closed his eyes. His consciousness once again arrived in that vast, unfathomable expanse. At its center, the colossal, slumbering star aspect had grown far clearer than before. Even its facial features were coming into focus. *My Life Level has reached Level 20.* *It feels as though the moment it truly awakens is no longer far off.* Fang Yu sensed it intuitively. At the same time, through the giant slumbering star aspect, several streams of information flowed into his awareness: — Aspect Observer Life Level: Level 20.1 (Intermediate Martial Artist) Martial Technique: High Entering the Minute (Vital Energy and Blood, Weapon Entering the Minute) Soul Level: Level 23.4 Void Star Aspect: Unknown (Please strive to achieve a higher Life Level) Innate Divine Ability 1: Devour (Faster digestion speed and superior digestion effects after consuming rare treasures) Innate Divine Ability 2: Unknown (Please strive to achieve a higher life form)