Chapter 11: Martial Arts Is Me
The 'smart ring watch' worn by Li Yuan is similar to early mobile phones but with more powerful features. It can project holographic screens and monitor various body conditions, but it cannot connect to the virtual network through consciousness.
And the virtual network pod is an essential electronic device for every household in this era.
Only by using it can one connect to the virtual network through consciousness.
Its appearance is similar to early space pod gaming consoles.
"Iris authentication!"
"Consciousness connection." Li Yuan reclined in the pod chair, put on the neural connection device, and felt the cold metal touch his scalp.
In an instant, his consciousness connected to the virtual network.
This was the Blue Star Virtual Network!
The seven planets are separated by vast stretches of space, so each planet's virtual network is relatively independent... at least Li Yuan does not have the authority to access the virtual networks of other planets.
Whew!
Li Yuan's consciousness had descended into a unique space.
As long as he wished, he could leave at any time.
"Although the virtual network allows for consciousness connection, it always has a sense of unreality and can't achieve 100% authenticity," Li Yuan thought to himself. "Not to mention achieving a one-to-one replication of body data as described in some novels."
"The virtual can never truly replace the real."
But regardless, a virtual network with 70% realism is already incredibly remarkable.
Since its inception decades ago, it has brought about monumental changes to human civilization.
Whew! Whew!
In Li Yuan's field of vision, numerous options appeared:
Study Space (Virtual School/Classroom/Laboratory/Library/Martial Arts Room...)
Virtual City (Jiangcheng/Beijing/Harbin/Suzhou...)
Social Space (Music/Friendship/Fate/Games...)
Commerce (Virtual Mall/Real Estate/Hotel Booking). A vast array of options.
Most of the options were in color, indicating that they could be selected and entered.
However, there were a few options that were gray.
For example: Adult Series (Restricted for Minors)
.....
"Enter personal study room." Li Yuan, familiar with the process, directly entered his personal study room.
He began to review cultural knowledge.
In theory, students' cultural course studies can be fully completed through online teaching, but the virtual network can never achieve 100% realism.
Moreover, real-world materials are the hardware, the foundation of all virtual experiences.
Therefore, schools, office buildings, service halls, and the like still exist in reality, and students still need to attend school.
Of course, most tasks such as office work, cultural exams, and company interviews are now completed online.
And for students, if they have high self-discipline, their efficiency online can be even higher.
Li Yuan was among the extremely self-disciplined ones.
After an hour of efficient self-study.
"With a total score of 1000 points in cultural subjects, I scored 658 in the final exam of the second year of high school. In the third year, I'll strive to reach 700 points," Li Yuan muttered to himself. "Just hope I don't fall too far behind."
Everyone has limited energy.
Li Yuan had a talent for martial arts and a keen intuition for marksmanship.
Before he encountered the Mind Palace, his marksmanship was already at the second level, showing his remarkable intuition.
However, in cultural studies, his talent was quite average. He couldn't keep up with Zhou Qi and Yan Zhou and spent very little effort on it.
Let alone scoring 700 points now.
Even if he scored 700 points, he would still be in the lower middle tier at Guanshan District's No. 1 High School.
This was due to Li Yuan's improved study efficiency over the past year as his mental power level increased, which led to a rise in his cultural grades.
Otherwise, Li Yuan wouldn't even be confident about scoring 700 points in the college entrance exam.
"All-rounder?"
"There are not many all-rounders. What I need to do is to fully exploit my strongest point and succeed with one unique skill!" Li Yuan had a clear understanding of himself.
Why did he want to pursue the path of a full-time martial artist?
First, it was due to his strong passion for it.
Second, after awakening the Divine Palace, Li Yuan believed that his hope of achieving great success in martial arts was much higher than following the cultural route.
...
A little past three in the morning.
"It's time to go to school," Li Yuan said as he stepped out of the virtual network pod.
He grabbed his bag.
Without disturbing his aunt, brother, and sister, he quietly left the house.
....
Driverless trams and subways operate 24 hours a day, but after midnight, the intervals between each run become very long.
Therefore, Li Yuan often chooses to run to school, using it as a warm-up exercise.
At a little past three in the morning, the streets are empty except for the streetlights and occasional passing vehicles.
Passing by the corner "Fu Wei Noodle Shop," Li Yuan could see the owner already up and starting the day's preparations.
"Hey there, boss. Good morning," Li Yuan called out with a smile.
"Out for a night run again? Stay safe," the owner, dressed in his work uniform, stood up and greeted Li Yuan with a smile.
They often ran into each other.
Though they didn't know each other's names or identities, over time, they had become familiar strangers.
....
In twenty minutes, Li Yuan arrived at school.
Facial recognition to enter the school.
Entering the classroom, the lights turned on.
"I'll start with two hours of basic cultivation practice," Li Yuan said to himself as he stood in a corner of the classroom, calming his mind and quickly entering a standing meditation state.
His posture was as steady as a rock, and he began his new day of training with a breathing technique combined with the thirty-six movements.
With movements like "Foundation Establishment," "Rock Breaking Mountain Collapse," "Pillar of Strength," "Stone Shattering Shock," "Hard Battle with Vajra," and "Mountain Standing Still," the thirty-six movements were essentially derived from the "Rock Fist Technique."
These movements were divided into training and combat techniques.
In fact, Li Yuan had invested even more effort into the "Rock Cultivation Method" than into his spearmanship.
"Spearmanship can be refined slowly."
"But my martial intuition is destined to be hard to awaken in a short time. The seven advanced cultivation methods are not suitable for me," Li Yuan thought. "So, I must continue to train with the 'Rock Cultivation Method'."
"Even after becoming a martial artist, I will probably continue to train with this cultivation method, so I must diligently study the 'Rock Fist Technique,'" Li Yuan thought clearly. "The higher my mastery of the fist technique, the more efficient my physical training will be."
Physical fitness is the foundation; spearmanship and body techniques are the means to fully utilize this physical strength.
"Moreover, spearmanship, body techniques, and fist techniques are all essentially the combination of body and mind. Progress in one martial art will also accelerate progress in others."
Time passed.
Li Yuan tirelessly practiced, and gradually, a subtle flow of warmth spread from his lower abdomen, penetrating his entire body and being absorbed by his muscles and bones.
The basic blood and energy potion he had taken a few hours earlier was gradually taking effect.
His muscles became tighter, his bone strength further increased, and his internal organs grew stronger and more robust. Intense training was necessary to ensure the potion's efficacy wasn't wasted.
Li Yuan continued his relentless practice without fatigue.
In his mind, the famous words of the strongest martial artist in human civilization, "Dongfang Ji," unconsciously surfaced: "What is martial arts?"
"Martial arts is not about surpassing others. Martial arts is about pouring all your blood and passion into it, training day and night, practicing sixteen hours a day, and persevering for a hundred years. When you look back after another hundred years, you will realize that you are martial arts!"
"Martial arts is me."
....
A little past four in the morning, the sky was still dark.
"Boom!" An intelligent off-road vehicle drove in through the school gate.
The car parked automatically.
A towering figure and a well-built woman in black got out of the car.
The two of them walked towards the office building.
"Is this the school where you stay?" The woman in black had a rugged face and eyes as sharp as an eagle's. She surveyed the entire campus as they walked. "It's my first time visiting you since you retired."
Xu Bo rarely smiled. "You must be in a real hurry this time. Passing through Jiangcheng, you only have four hours to stay."
"I'm here specifically to check on your medication situation," the woman in black glanced at him. "Otherwise, with the mission being so tight, I wouldn't have stayed in Jiangcheng at all. Come on, take me to your therapy room so I can do a preliminary assessment."
"If your nerve injury worsens, the director and the others will have to come up with another solution for you."
Suddenly, the woman in black stopped in her tracks.
"A student is already here training so early? And it seems quite good—almost mastering the basic cultivation method, with a high degree of control over the body," the woman in black remarked with some surprise.
She looked into the distance.
In the entire senior year building, only one classroom on the first floor was lit.
Through the window, she could see a student inside, focused on practicing his fist techniques.
Every move and stance was as steady as a rock, giving an impression of being unshakeable.
"Li Yuan?" Xu Bo beside her frowned slightly. "He's here training at just past four in the morning."
"Can his body handle it?"
"Training should be done in moderation."
In Xu Bo's view, ensuring adequate sleep, rest, diet, and recuperation is essential for effective training.
"Judging by his vitality, his energy and spirit are abundant, and he seems very well-rested," the woman in black smiled. "Iron Tower, do you know him? Is he your student?"
"Yes, he is my student," Xu Bo replied, looking thoughtfully at Li Yuan.
"Let's go, to my martial arts room first."