High Martial Arts: Enlightenment after Practices

Chapter 75: Chapter 75: There’s Always Someone Better

Chu Shanhe was a star among high school students. He was so famous he even had his own fan club, and the students at United Middle School had all heard of him.

”Chu Shanhe...” At the mention of his name, Yu Peiling seemed to zone out for a moment, as if recalling some unpleasant memories.

She paused, her expression growing complex. ”I’ve fought almost all the top students from Linjiang First High School. Chu Shanhe is the one who left the deepest impression on me.”

”We’ve sparred several times, a few of which were even simulated battles at the same energy level, but the outcome was never in doubt.”

She looked at the surrounding students and said, word by word, ”Even when our Life Energy Levels were identical, I was no match for him at all. I never won. Not once. The best I ever did was last a few extra moves.”

A series of sharp intakes of breath could be heard from those around her.

They were well aware of Yu Peiling’s strength. ’To think she couldn’t even win once against Chu Shanhe at the same energy level?’

”His Martial Arts skills are just too formidable,” Yu Peiling explained, her voice tinged with admiration. ”He has a nickname, ’Little Eight Extremes.’ Fists, palms, kicks, footwork, saber, sword, spear, shield... there’s nothing he can’t do, and nothing he hasn’t mastered.”

”He seems to predict any variation in your techniques before you even make it, and he always counters in the most effective way to shut you down.”

”Fighting him is like being caught in an invisible net. Every struggle is within his calculations. The more you fight, the more suffocated and powerless you feel. That feeling of being completely suppressed...”

She shook her head and didn’t continue, but everyone could imagine the despair.

”So,” Yu Peiling concluded, her tone firm, ”this year’s top scorer in the Dongjiang Province Martial Arts exam is likely already in Chu Shanhe’s grasp.”

”Over ninety percent of the province’s top contenders are concentrated in Linjiang City. And since Chu Shanhe has already become the strongest in Linjiang, that makes him the strongest in the entire province.”

It was a bold claim, but not an outrageous one. The probability of the top scorer coming from Linjiang First High School had always been high in previous years.

Given Chu Shanhe’s dominance this year, very few could truly challenge him.

”Is there really no one who can threaten him?” Su Yueling’s cool voice spoke up for the first time.

Her Life Energy Level wasn’t high, having only just reached 12.2, but she wasn’t overly concerned about it.

Thanks to her Shadow Sword Technique, her admission to Black Stone Academy was a sure thing. Still, she couldn’t help but be curious about the province’s other top contenders.

Yu Peiling mulled it over for a moment before replying, ”If I had to name someone who stands a chance... it would have to be Shen Wei.”

”Shen Wei?”

Compared to the renowned Chu Shanhe, the name Shen Wei was unfamiliar to the students.

”Shen Wei’s Life Energy Level is only about 0.4 lower than Chu Shanhe’s. Plus, he’s learned the B-Level Saber Technique, ’Seven Kills Saber,’ and has even grasped the True Intention of Martial Arts. His instantaneous burst power is terrifying.”

”In a no-holds-barred, life-or-death battle, Shen Wei is the only one who might gain an advantage over Chu Shanhe.”

”I once watched a virtual weapons battle between them. Shen Wei’s saber technique was truly terrifying; at one point, he was able to suppress Chu Shanhe in a direct confrontation.”

”However,” Yu Peiling’s tone shifted, ”the practical combat assessment for the Martial Arts exam doesn’t allow real weapons. With his greatest strength, his Saber Technique, restricted, his overall power is greatly diminished.”

”From what I know, in a simulated exam battle, Shen Wei still loses to Chu Shanhe far more often than he wins. His win rate... is less than twenty percent.”

Not even a twenty percent win rate!

The crowd fell silent once more.

Even Shen Wei, armed with the True Intention of Martial Arts and a B-Level Saber Technique, could barely challenge Chu Shanhe under the exam’s restrictions. It was a testament to Chu Shanhe’s power.

”Speaking of the True Intention of Martial Arts,” Yu Peiling’s gaze shifted to the quiet Su Yueling. ”Yueling, I heard when I got back that you were defeated by someone using the True Intention of Martial Arts in the last joint exam. Is that right?”

The topic suddenly shifted to her, and Su Yueling stiffened slightly before giving a small nod. ”Yes.”

The eyes of the surrounding students focused on her. Not many knew the details of that battle, and hearing it mentioned by one of the combatants immediately piqued everyone’s curiosity.

”It was really the True Intention of Martial Arts?” Yu Peiling pressed, seeking confirmation.

She had seen a recording of their fight, but a clash on the spiritual level couldn’t be captured on video. She had to rely on the accounts of those involved.

”Yes,” Su Yueling confirmed again, her voice calm. ”It was the True Intention of ’Mountain.’ And it wasn’t the kind one grasps in the heat of battle; it was quite refined. He must have comprehended it a long time ago.”

”If I’d known that beforehand, I might have had a chance. But alas... you can’t fight a battle with ’what ifs’.”

Su Yueling shook her head slightly as she finished.

Intelligence was a critical factor in determining victory or defeat, sometimes even more important than raw power.

Between opponents of similar strength, it was perfectly normal for the one with a definitive intelligence advantage to defeat the stronger foe.

Yu Peiling said thoughtfully, ”Anyone who can comprehend that kind of Mental Realm during the Martial Disciple Stage must be someone with an incredibly firm will and a profound understanding of their own path in Martial Arts.”

”It’s a shame his Life Energy Level is too low. Otherwise, he’d be a worthy opponent.”

In her view, if his Life Energy Level was only 11.6 in early March, by the time of the exam it would likely be around 12.5, 12.8 at the absolute most.

With a sufficient supply of Life Potions and a C-level Body Refining Technique at the Minor Success Realm, a monthly increase of 0.3 Energy Levels was a standard rate of progress.

Still, a level above 12.5, boosted by the True Intention of Martial Arts, gave him a decent chance of getting into one of the ”Three Greats.”

She looked at Su Yueling again, her gaze tinged with pity. Su Yueling was in a similar situation, really.

If her Life Energy Level could just keep pace—even if it were only at the same level as her own—she would be more than qualified to challenge Chu Shanhe!

A Heart Image Martial Art like the Shadow Sword Technique was even more powerful than an ordinary B-level Martial Art.

In Linjiang, all the geniuses agreed that Chu Shanhe had reached the pinnacle of the Martial Disciple stage. Only someone with an exceptionally powerful specialty would have any hope of breaking through his absolute dominance.

While in Linjiang, she’d also heard about Su Yueling, who had participated in the special recruitment exams for the Three Greats.

Although she hadn’t made the final list, she had left a deep impression on the other participants, who believed her only shortcoming was her Life Energy Level.

”Peiling, is the True Intention of Martial Arts really that rare even in Linjiang? I thought all the geniuses there would have grasped it...” another student asked curiously.

Her question made Yu Peiling chuckle and shake her head. ”No, it’s not like that. Being highly skilled in Martial Arts and combat techniques doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll grasp the True Intention of Martial Arts.”

”That kind of thing is too ethereal. It’s more of a sudden flash of inspiration—something you stumble upon, not something you can actively seek.”

”I’ve met several others in Linjiang who possess the True Intention of Martial Arts,” she said after a moment of thought. ”But aside from Shen Wei, the one with the highest Life Energy Level wasn’t even at 12.”

”Perhaps it’s because their Life Energy Levels don’t increase quickly that they can focus more on the fundamentals, allowing them to attain that sort of enlightenment.”

”Oh, so that’s how it is...” Everyone finally understood after hearing Yu Peiling’s explanation.

”By the way, what’s Xu Wuyi’s Life Energy Level now?” Yu Peiling asked.

”Uh...” The students looked at each other, unable to answer.

Xu Wuyi had rarely appeared in public since the three-school joint exam. He had been undergoing secret special training, and only the principal and his instructors knew his exact progress.

”I heard he’s progressing quickly, but nobody knows the specifics,” one student said. ”Honghe First Middle School is hiding him away like a precious treasure.”

’They don’t even know his Life Energy Level? That’s a bit strange...’ Yu Peiling was slightly puzzled. The rate of increase for one’s Life Energy Level could usually be estimated.

If you wanted to save a trump card for the exam, you’d hide a martial technique. After all, once you entered the exam arena, opponents could see each other’s Life Energy Levels anyway.

’Something deliberately hidden often holds a secret.’

Yu Peiling’s curiosity was piqued, and an idea suddenly formed in her mind.