High Martial Arts: Enlightenment after Practices

Chapter 128: Chapter 128: Small Circle

A smile touched Xu Wuyi’s lips as he looked over the records.

Shen Wei had passed the fifth level, and it was just like him to want to show off. Zeng Bonan’s message was just a casual check-in.

Yu Peiling must have just arrived at Star Martial recently. Xu Wuyi wondered what she had been training back in Dongjiang, but he noticed that she, too, had cleared the fifth level.

She was ranked fourteenth, right after him, though she had taken a bit longer to complete it.

As for Chu Shanhe, he was surprised that he would reach out for a spar. He wondered how things were going for him at the Starry Sky Martial Arts Academy.

”What about the other visitors?” Xu Wuyi asked.

”The remaining eleven visitors are all Star Martial University freshmen whom you have not met before,” Anna’s voice was completely flat.

”Seven are from other regions, including the Central Province, Xiliang Province, and the Southern Domain. They found your address through the freshman directory and came to pay a visit, primarily to meet the top student from Dongjiang Province and exchange thoughts on Martial Arts.”

”The other four are neighbors in the Hidden Dragon Garden. They all moved in recently and came by to introduce themselves.”

Xu Wuyi understood.

Star Martial University gathered geniuses from across the Entire Federation. His reputation as the ”dark horse top student” must have already spread among the freshmen.

It was only natural for freshmen from other provinces to visit out of curiosity. This was common in Martial Arts circles.

Xu Wuyi smiled. Shen Wei’s message was just his style.

”I understand,” Xu Wuyi nodded. ”Compile their contact information and send it to me. Also, send a reply to Zeng Bonan, Shen Wei, Yu Peiling, and Chu Shanhe. Just tell them I’m out of seclusion.”

”Understood. Command received,” Anna replied.

The rankings on the light screen were constantly refreshing. A freshman’s rank would change occasionally, but the top ten had more or less solidified.

Qin Rui’s record for clearing the sixth floor stood like an immovable mountain, currently unmatched. Everyone else was struggling to improve their times on the fifth floor, trying to climb even one spot higher in the rankings.

’So many experts... All right, it’s time to head to the Star Beast Hunting Ground. I wonder if a Double-Bladed Mantis can withstand my Heart Fire?’

...

「Hidden Dragon Garden, Villa 10, Shen Wei’s Residence」

Seven or eight freshmen were scattered around the living room, sitting on the sofa and the carpet.

Having spent nearly a month together, many of them had grown familiar with one another and formed their own small cliques.

The air was filled with the aroma of Clear Heart Tea and the excited chatter of the young students.

”So, is Zhao Qingwei’s Flowing Shadow Sword really that fast? She can even create afterimages?” a young man from the Southern Domain asked curiously. He specialized in Fist Techniques and didn’t know much about the Fast Sword style.

”I saw it with my own eyes,” another person, a well-informed student from the Central Province, chimed in. ”She demonstrated it in a public area on the Battle Network. With a single thrust, she created three sword shadows, making it impossible to tell which was real. Very few at our level can dodge it completely. Why else do you think she cleared the fifth level so fast?”

”If we’re talking about speed, Li Hao’s Body Technique is the truly bizarre one. It’s so erratic you can’t predict his movements at all...”

”...”

While some were making small talk, others were discussing problems they faced in their Martial Arts training.

”Shen Wei, how in the world do you train that Seven Kills Linked Slash? I’ve tried it a bunch of times, but my Qi and Blood can’t keep up. I can only manage three slashes before I’m completely gassed.”

The speaker was a round-faced young man named Zhou Hao from the Southern Domain. He specialized in the Thunderbolt Saber, a style somewhat similar to Shen Wei’s, and had been pestering him for advice lately.

Shen Wei, who had just taken a sip of tea, put down his cup and waved his hand dismissively. ”There are no shortcuts for that. You just have to build up your Qi and Blood Strength and your Saber Technique proficiency. You need to get your Thunderbolt Saber to the Minor Achievement stage first. Once your Qi and Blood Refinement Level is high enough, three slashes will become five, and five will become seven. You just have to slowly grind it out.”

He paused, remembering the frustration of being suppressed by Xu Wuyi’s Eight-direction Soul Suppressing Spear, and added, ”Also, your Spiritual Power has to keep up. Otherwise, it’s easy to get distracted during the linked slashes. The moment your Saber Momentum breaks, the whole technique is useless.”

Zhou Hao nodded, a troubled look on his face. ”It’s so hard. I’m still a long way from even linking three slashes.”

”What’s the rush?”

Sitting beside them, Yu Peiling let out a soft chuckle. She was holding a warm cup of Clear Heart Tea and wearing a simple, elegant white casual outfit that complemented her gentle demeanor.

”Martial Arts cultivation is a gradual process by nature. I think you’ve made very fast progress these last few days. Last week, it took you eight minutes to deal with the Poison Fang Bats on the third level. Now you can finish them in five.”

Yu Peiling’s words lifted Zhou Hao’s spirits. ”You’re as sharp as ever, Sister Yu! It’s mainly because I’m motivated by all you experts. Qin Rui has already cleared the sixth level! If we don’t hurry, we won’t even make it into the top twenty.”

At the mention of Qin Rui, the discussion in the living room instantly grew more intense.

”Speaking of Qin Rui, that guy’s a real monster!” a freshman from Xiliang Province named Zhao Lei exclaimed, clicking his tongue in amazement. ”The Double-Bladed Mantises on the sixth level... I didn’t even last two minutes before they chopped me to pieces. But he managed to clear it in just over eight minutes. That’s insane.”

”He’s the top student from the Central Province for a reason,” another freshman said.

”I looked him up. Even though his Light-Splitting Shadow-Stealing Sword is a C-level Martial Art, he’s already trained it to the peak of Minor Achievement. He can use its Secret Technique like a regular move. Paired with his family’s unique Qi and Blood Circulation Technique, its explosive power is on par with a B-level Martial Art.”

The topic quickly shifted to the top student from the Central Province, who currently held the number one spot on the leaderboard.

Shen Wei, sitting imposingly on the main sofa, listened to the discussion and huffed. ”They’re just Double-Bladed Mantises. Once my Seven Kills Saber improves a little more, it’s not like I won’t be able to slay them.”

Despite his words, a flicker of solemnity crossed his eyes. He had attempted the sixth level, and the coordination and attack speed of the two mantises had put him under immense pressure.

Everyone laughed, but no one contradicted him.

Shen Wei’s Seven Kills Saber was devastatingly powerful and considered top-tier among the freshmen. However, its style was purely aggressive and powerful, making it less effective against fast targets compared to someone like Zhao Qingwei.

”BEEP.”

”BEEP.”

Almost simultaneously, two soft beeps came from Yu Peiling’s and Shen Wei’s wrists.

Both of them froze and instinctively glanced down at their communicators.

The chatter in the living room died down at the synchronized beeps, and a few curious gazes drifted their way.

It wasn’t every day that both of them received a message at the exact same time, especially what looked like an instant message.

”What is it? Shen Wei? Sister Yu?” Zhou Hao asked curiously. ”Is something urgent?”

Shen Wei didn’t answer right away. As his fingers swiped rapidly across his communicator’s screen, the look of shock on his face slowly morphed into pleasant surprise, which was then tinged with a hint of fighting spirit.

He looked up at Yu Peiling, only to find her looking up at the same time, a look of mutual understanding in her eyes.

”What’s up with you two? Acting all mysterious,” Zhao Lei sidled over, his tone full of gossip. ”Don’t tell me you got some secret message.”

The other freshmen also crowded around, bombarding them with questions.

Shen Wei lowered his communicator, a broad smile spreading across his face. ”It’s no secret. I just got a message. Xu Wuyi is out of seclusion.”