Chapter 28: I, Li Changzhou, Am Not Dead Yet
After ending the video call with Zhong Cheng, Li Yuan thought for a moment and decided not to disturb his uncle Li Changzhou's rest with a direct video call. Instead, he left a message explaining the situation.
Only five minutes later, the video call rang back. Li Changzhou had called, and Li Yuan immediately answered.
"Uncle," Li Yuan said, looking at Li Changzhou in the video projection. His uncle appeared dusty, as if he had just finished some work.
"I have a rough idea," Li Changzhou's face did not show the joy Li Yuan had expected. Instead, his brows were furrowed. "If the Starry Sky Martial Hall ultimately only offers a D-level contract, whether you sign it or not will be another matter."
"Oh?" Li Yuan was slightly puzzled.
The special recruitment by the Martial Arts Hall had always been Li Yuan's primary goal, but there had been no news for over half a month. Initially, Li Yuan wasn't particularly eager for an early contract with the Martial Hall. However, these past days, he had researched a lot online and found that early contracts from the major martial halls were generally good, with few pitfalls besides being somewhat binding.
Most importantly, an early contract, regardless of its level, would significantly alleviate the family's financial pressure. It could even provide cash rewards to support the family.
Li Yuan felt indebted to his uncle and aunt. He always felt that his uncle's risky venture to the northern provinces was partly because of him.
"I've looked into it through some connections," Li Changzhou patiently explained. "Over the years, the early contracts of the three major martial halls are divided into five levels: D, C, B, A, and S, from lowest to highest."
"The terms of the same level contract are similar across different martial halls."
Li Yuan nodded slightly. It seemed that in the eyes of the Starry Sky Martial Hall, he belonged to the lowest tier. However, getting an early contract was already an excellent achievement.
"A D-level contract provides one million Blue Star coins per year for six years," Li Changzhou said gravely. "It sounds good, but you need to understand."
"The resources you need for training now and the resources required after becoming a martial artist in university are two different concepts."
"For example, a basic blood qi potion costs only 2,000 Blue Star coins per bottle, and you spend about 20,000 Blue Star coins a month now."
"After becoming a martial artist, a basic first-level blood qi potion costs 10,000 Blue Star coins per bottle, and you might need ten to thirty bottles a month." Li Changzhou emphasized, "Just the most basic item will cost at least a million Blue Star coins a year."
"And there's the 'auxiliary spirit-nurturing treasures.' If you aim to become a second-level source martial artist in the future, these are essential, costing millions of Blue Star coins a year..."
"Plus, physical therapy..."
"And purchasing weapons and various auxiliary equipment. Martial artists fight against star realm creatures; can the equipment be ordinary? It's expensive and easily damaged." Li Changzhou looked at Li Yuan. "One million is a lot for you now."
"If you're not keen on martial arts and want to double major in other subjects at university."
"Then you don't need to spend much on martial arts. You can slowly train in university, aiming to become a 15-level martial artist in the future. This contract can even be considered generous, possibly allowing you to save millions of Blue Star coins." Li Changzhou said, "After graduation, according to the contract, the Starry Sky Martial Hall must offer you a job."
"At that time, you can be an ordinary member of the Martial Hall like your Uncle Zhong, with benefits and treatment comparable to civil servants."
"If the Starry Sky Martial Hall unilaterally terminates the contract and doesn't offer you a job, you can take the millions of Blue Star coins and find another job, ensuring you won't lose out."
"This is a clear and easy path," Li Changzhou stared at Li Yuan.
Li Yuan was surprised.
He hadn't expected such a possibility.
"But Xiao Yuan, are you really willing to be an ordinary person? An ordinary martial artist?" Li Changzhou stared at Li Yuan.
Li Yuan remained silent.
"You are not willing," Li Changzhou shook his head and sighed. "I've watched you grow up, how could I not understand? You train so hard not just to help the family, but because you have the heart of a martial artist."
"From the second year of middle school to your third year of high school, have you ever taken a break, even on weekends, summer, or winter holidays? You were even training during the New Year."
"You are hard on yourself."
"This kind of determination, I've never seen before. I'm not as good as you, and your father wasn't either back in the day," Li Changzhou said slowly.
Li Yuan's eyes flickered. Over the years, his uncle rarely spoke so much, and never mentioned his deceased father.
"Your aunt always wanted you to take the civil servant exam and become a teacher in the future. She always blamed me, thinking I shouldn't support you."
"Why didn't I oppose you becoming a full-time martial artist?" Li Changzhou's voice carried a hint of excitement. "I don't want you to regret it at forty like I did."
Li Yuan was shocked, looking at his uncle in surprise.
"Being a full-time martial artist is dangerous."
Li Changzhou smiled calmly. "But throughout history, which good man hasn't dreamed of fighting on the battlefield and pursuing the limits of martial arts?"
"To truly stand shoulder to shoulder with gods with the human body and explore the limits of life."
"It's too late for me in this life."
"But you still have hope," Li Changzhou smiled at Li Yuan. His helmet was covered in mud, looking a bit shabby.
Li Yuan listened intently.
"If you want to be a full-time martial artist, this money, this contract money, is far from enough," Li Changzhou continued. "But your future will be constrained by this contract."
Hesitating for a moment, Li Yuan couldn't help but say, "Uncle, according to what I've found, as long as I perform well enough, the Starry Sky Martial Hall will upgrade the contract."
"But what if the Starry Sky Martial Hall doesn't upgrade it?" Li Changzhou retorted. "Why put your fate in someone else's hands?"
Li Yuan realized the truth.
"Your Uncle Zhong is a good person, but many things are not decided by an ordinary member like him," Li Changzhou said. "Moreover, from what I know, if you sign with the Martial Hall in advance, your development at the Martial Arts University will be limited."
"Limited?" Li Yuan was stunned. This was something he didn't know.
"The five major universities in China are funded by the state," Li Changzhou said. "If you sign with the Martial Hall in advance, you are destined to join the Martial Hall after graduation... When it comes to special resources at the university, if a choice has to be made between you and a student recruited by the Martial Arts Hall, who do you think the university will favor?"
Li Yuan's eyes flickered.
Signing with the Martial Hall in advance is indeed a kind of constraint.
"This contract."
"Go to the Martial Hall on Sunday and talk to your Uncle Zhong. If you can upgrade it to a C-level contract with passive upgrade clauses, such as reaching certain standards before a certain age, it will automatically upgrade to B-level or even A-level, then it's okay to sign." Li Changzhou patiently advised.
"If you want to be a full-time martial artist, the Martial Hall is indeed a better choice, but if the restrictions are too great, don't sign."
"Li Yuan, I understand your thoughts about wanting to help the family," Li Changzhou stared at Li Yuan. "But remember, your uncle is still alive."
"It's not yet time for you to completely support this family."
"At least before you go to university, don't worry about it. What you need to do is focus entirely on your training. Understand?" Li Changzhou said seriously.
"Yes, Uncle." Li Yuan nodded heavily.
"I believe in you, I won't be wrong," Li Changzhou looked at Li Yuan.
"Now the Starlight Martial Hall and the Starry Sky Martial Hall not signing you is their loss."
"When your college entrance exam results come out, or even when you enter university, you will naturally receive better contracts."
"Then it won't be too late to sign."
...
Uncle Li Changzhou's words made Li Yuan calm down completely and think about the matter more calmly.
"Uncle is right."
"Why rush? In the end, they'll be the ones rushing." Li Yuan smiled slightly.
He continued his training.
In the blink of an eye, it was two days later, Saturday. Li Yuan followed his routine of going to school and returning home every day.
Saturday afternoon.
All third-year students were having their martial arts class in the martial arts classroom.
At the school gate.
Several black cars slowly arrived, and six figures stepped out of the cars one after another.
Five of them were dressed in black suits, while one middle-aged man wore a black Tang suit. Though he appeared ordinary, he exuded an invisible aura.
"Hall Master Wan."
"Hall Master Wan, welcome to our school." Principal Tan Zhenlong and several vice principals stepped forward, smiling to greet him.
"Iron Tower." The middle-aged man directly looked at Xu Bo, who was standing in the distance, and smiled. "It's been a long time since we parted in the star realm."
"Old Wan." Xu Bo then walked up, grinning. "I didn't expect you to be the new Hall master of the Starlight Martial Hall's Guanshan Branch."
"Welcome!"