High Martial Arts: Enlightenment after Practices

The mission required signing a long-term contract, starting at a minimum of six months.

However, the schedule was very flexible.

You didn’t have to be on call at all times; you only needed to participate in two tests per month, each lasting about five days.

Payment was in merit points, settled per test. The base compensation for each was 1,500 merit points, with additional bonuses for special tests or outstanding performance.

A line of small print was appended below: ”This mission’s risk level is rated B+. The test Star Beasts are all live specimens, some possessing special abilities or attack patterns. Combat testers must be capable of handling unexpected situations.”

Xu Wuyi’s eyes lit up.

’This mission is perfect.’

’Two tests a month, five days each, for a total of ten days. The time commitment is concentrated and won’t interfere with my other plans.’

’More importantly, it involves real combat against new types of Star Beasts. They’re ”test subjects” provided by the research institute, so their strength will definitely be high.’

’I can earn merit points while honing my skills in high-pressure combat, and hopefully find an opportunity to comprehend the True Intention of Earth.’

He continued to the second mission listing.

The issuer was the ”Federation Military - Seventh Star Realm Defense Zone Command.”

The mission was to head to the ”Ironblood Line” in the Seventh Defense Zone of the Star Realm Battlefield to participate in a garrison rotation.

Each garrison rotation was fifteen days. It required being on duty for the entire period to respond to potential Star Beast attacks.

The base pay was settled daily at 100 merit points, totaling 1,500 for the fifteen-day period.

If combat occurred, there would be additional military merit rewards based on performance.

The risk was rated A-, with a note: ”Possible attacks from Commander Level Star Beasts, with a small chance of probing attacks from Overlord Level Star Beasts.”

Xu Wuyi quickly did the math in his head.

’If I take both missions, I can stagger them perfectly.’

’Each month, I can start with fifteen days of garrison duty in the Star Realm. After a few days of rest, I can do the two tests for the research institute, five days each, with a possible break in between.’

’That would mean I’d be on missions for about twenty-five days each month, leaving five days for rest and cultivation.’

’The pace would be tight and the pressure immense, but that kind of high intensity is exactly what I need right now.’

’Besides, while the garrison mission requires me to be on duty the entire time, as long as the line isn’t under attack, I can use most of the time to cultivate on my own. It won’t interfere with my training.’

In terms of merit points, the base rewards from both missions would add up to 4,500.

With potential combat rewards and other bonuses, earning five or six thousand merit points a month was entirely possible.

That was more than ten times more efficient than doing patrol or gathering missions at the university.

The pay was incredibly high, but the requirements were correspondingly demanding. It was clear both missions were designed for top-tier Martial Artists.

However, there was another problem.

As a student at Star Martial University, he normally wouldn’t even be qualified to accept such Federation-level missions.

The university’s mission system had permissions that were too low, and while he could see these high-level missions on the Red Star Platform, accepting them also required identity verification.

Xu Wuyi pondered for a moment before making a decision.

Without hesitation, he logged out of the Red Star Network, his consciousness returning to reality.

In the Cultivation Room, he opened his eyes, stood up, and called for Anna.

Blue light coalesced, and Anna’s virtual projection appeared.

”Anna, schedule a meeting for me with Dean He of the East Courtyard,” Xu Wuyi said. ”I’d like to meet with him on the Battle Network this afternoon. The location is ’Lingyun Peak’, as before.”

”Command received. Sending meeting request to the East Courtyard Dean’s office... Request sent. Awaiting response,” Anna replied.

Xu Wuyi didn’t just wait around. He took a shower and changed into a clean training uniform.

Just as he finished, Anna’s voice chimed in, ”Xu Wuyi, Dean He Yifeng has accepted the meeting request. The time is set for three o’clock this afternoon in the ’Lingyun Peak’ scene on the Star Martial Battle Network.”

”Good.”

Xu Wuyi checked the time. It was 1:30 PM, so he had an hour and a half.

At two forty, he lay down in the Virtual Pod.

His consciousness connected, and he logged into the Star Martial Battle Network.

...

At the summit of Lingyun Peak, a sea of clouds churned.

He Yifeng was already waiting inside the octagonal stone pavilion.

He still wore his long, cyan robe, standing with his hands clasped behind his back as he gazed at the distant, rolling clouds. Hearing movement behind him, he turned, a gentle smile on his face.

”Dean,” Xu Wuyi said, walking into the stone pavilion and bowing respectfully.

”No need for such formalities.” He Yifeng waved a hand, gesturing for Xu Wuyi to sit. ”Seeking me out so urgently... have you run into a problem with your cultivation?”

”It’s not a cultivation problem. I came to ask for your help with something, Dean,” Xu Wuyi said, getting straight to the point.

”Oh? Do tell.” He Yifeng’s interest was piqued.

Xu Wuyi explained in detail about the two missions he had seen on the Red Star Platform and how he wanted to accept both but was restricted by his student status.

When he finished, He Yifeng didn’t answer immediately. He frowned slightly, his fingers tapping gently on the stone table.

”A combat tester for the Star Realm Research Institute... and a garrison post on the military’s Ironblood Line...” He repeated the names of the two missions, his gaze thoughtful.

After a moment, he looked at Xu Wuyi. ”Are you sure you want to take on both of these missions? You’d be on duty for twenty-five days a month, with only five days to rest. Even many veteran Martial Artists couldn’t handle that kind of intensity.”

”I’m sure.” Xu Wuyi nodded, his tone calm but firm. ”I need high-intensity combat right now to find an opportunity to break through. The university’s missions can no longer meet my needs.”

He Yifeng looked at Xu Wuyi, a flash of admiration in his eyes.

’This student always knows what he needs and has the courage to go after it.’

”The Star Realm Research Institute’s combat tests are quite risky,” He Yifeng said slowly. ”Some of the test Star Beasts they deploy have been genetically modified, while others are new, unpublicized species.”

”Their attack patterns and abilities may be beyond anything you know. And while the testing grounds have safety measures in place, accidents have still happened in the past.”

”And that’s to say nothing of the military garrison mission. The Ironblood Line is a frontline position in the Seventh Defense Zone, directly facing the Star Realm’s Beast Tides. Although it’s relatively calm most of the time, when a battle does break out, it’s a fight to the death.”

He paused, his tone turning serious. ”You’re the youth tournament champion, a ’Grandmaster prospect’ the Federation has its eye on. Logically speaking, the university should be cultivating you under protected conditions, keeping you from overly risky missions at this stage.”

Xu Wuyi didn’t argue, listening quietly.

He Yifeng’s tone then shifted. ”However, the path of Martial Arts is not one that can be walked from within a greenhouse. The truly strong are forged in blood and fire. Since you have this resolve, I have no reason to stand in your way as your dean.”

He stood and walked to the edge of the pavilion, gazing out at the sea of clouds. ”The founding principle of Star Martial University was to train Martial Artists for the Federation who can fight and kill on the Star Realm Battlefield, not to raise flowers in an ivory tower.”

”In recent years, the university’s training methods have indeed grown a bit too conservative. We’re afraid of accidents, afraid of taking responsibility, and in turn, we’ve shackled some of our most promising students.”