High-Level Martial Era

...

After seeing off Li Yang,

Li Yuan immediately took out a bottle of "High Origin Spirit Spring" from the resting room.

The crystal bottle contained about half a liter. As soon as the cap was opened, a rich fragrance wafted out.

It was like someone who had gone hungry for three days and three nights suddenly smelled the aroma of rice,

and an irresistible urge to gulp it down rose within them.

"One serving costs a million Blue Star Coins?" Li Yuan muttered to himself in amazement.

It was indeed expensive!

He quickly swallowed it down.

Soon, streams of Origin Power madly surged through every muscle and bone in his limbs and body.

Li Yuan clenched his teeth and gently closed his eyes.

He was sensing with his mind throughout his entire body.

He felt every muscle, bone, and organ as if they had been starving for a long time, madly devouring the circulating Origin Power... His physical quality was improving rapidly.

"The transformation from Solid Rock Cultivation Technique's draining exercise really is efficient."

"My body feels as pure as new, there's not the slightest obstruction to the flow of Origin Power," Li Yuan reflected inwardly.

The transformation exercise was indeed painful,

but its results were also outstanding.

"Phew!"

Li Yuan began to practice the "Solid Rock Cultivation Technique" in an attempt to maximize the effects of the High Origin Spirit Spring.

As Li Yuan cultivated, the aching in his body quickly dissipated, gradually returning to normal.

An hour and a half later.

"[Your Life Level has increased from 12.8 to 12.9]," a subtle prompt flashed across the Divine Palace panel.

After another half an hour or so, Li Yuan finally stopped.

"12.9?" Li Yuan glanced at the Divine Palace panel, a hint of joy in his eyes, "At this rate of cultivation, I could probably reach around Level 14 in about two months."

Even without high-rank Cultivation Methods or mastery in techniques,

Li Yuan's rate of improvement in physical quality was nothing short of terrifying.

"Keep pushing!"

He decisively ordered six nutritious meals and then took a bath.

Tonight, he still had to engage in actual combat practice with Teacher Jiang Lun.

...

Just like that,

having met Dean Hai, Li Yuan had broadened his horizons and was further strengthened by the process of "Solid Rock Cultivation Technique."

His state of cultivation underwent another change.

Every day, he began cultivating Visualization Method from early morning.

For the past year, Li Yuan had been dedicating roughly two hours a day to strengthen his spiritual power without deliberately seeking to temper his willpower.

But starting from August 9,

he continuously pursued another extreme of Visualization Method.

Even while cultivating the "Observing the Great Sun Starry Sky Scripture," whenever Li Yuan's consciousness entered that vast starry sky scene, he would deliberately try to get closer to the scorching sun,

to make the burning pain his consciousness endured even more horrifying.

"Before this, my strong willpower was mostly forged passively," Li Yuan thought intensely, "But deep down, my primary purpose was to increase my spiritual power and lessen the pain."

Before, strengthening spiritual power was the goal, and tempering the will was incidental.

After all, who would choose to be beaten daily if not necessary?

"But the truth proves that my willpower is not strong enough, not nearly strong enough!" Li Yuan's eyes were resolute, "Well then, I will actively temper it."

"Just becoming stronger in spiritual power? Not enough! My willpower must also progress faster."

This change made Li Yuan's process of cultivating the Visualization Method even more painful.

"Solid Rock Cultivation Technique" was mainly for the physical body,

whereas the "Scorching Sunburn" of Visualization Method targeted the soul and consciousness, not even allowing for unconsciousness, only successive collapses of consciousness.

It's through repeated tempering that steel is made!

And Li Yuan wanted to forge his spiritual will to be unbreakable and unshakable!

...

During the day, Li Yuan insisted on attending general knowledge classes.

"Brother Yuan, I feel like your eyes have become different somehow," Gu Qianghan noticed the change in Li Yuan.

"Is that so?" Li Yuan smiled.

"Yes."

"Gu Brother is right, big senior brother, it seems like your gaze has become sharper... It's the aura... Yes, it's like a spear, becoming more fierce," An Nong also commented.

They all noticed the subtle changes in Li Yuan's aura.

"Haha, maybe I didn't rest well," Li Yuan offered a poor excuse, laughing, "Let's focus on the class."

Soon, the general knowledge class teacher arrived.

"Today, we will delve further into the weaknesses of the body structures of nine types of flying Star Realm Creatures, after which, you can switch your combat targets to these creatures in the 'Kunlun Nine Mountains' to gain a direct experience," the teacher said slowly.

...

Besides general knowledge classes,

Li Yuan spent almost all his time practicing the Spear Technique and cultivating other methods.

"Teacher Jiang! Faster! Even faster," Li Yuan wielded his long spear, fiercely battling with Jiang Lun.

While fighting,

Li Yuan also roared, "Teacher, I don't feel the pressure is strong enough, not enough, don't hold back with me, as long as you don't kill me, go ahead and beat me to a pulp."

The long spear was like lightning, its might heavy as a mountain; all sorts of killing moves from the Stellar Spear Technique were unleashed to the fullest by Li Yuan.

Accompanied by Li Yuan's roar, that indescribable momentum even made Jiang Lun slightly astonished.

Having taught students for so many years,

he had never encountered someone as crazy as Li Yuan.

"Good, after so many years, I've finally come across someone crazier than me," Jiang Lun revealed a smile.

...

In Li Yang's class.

"Teacher, with the vigor reaching subtlety and the mind sensing the entire body," Li Yuan raised a question, "then stepping into the Fifth Stage of 'Unity of Heaven and Man,'"

"is this 'Heaven' referring to the external environment? Does it mean that from the Fourth Level to the Fifth Stage, the movement technique will break through before the spear technique?"

"The movement technique is a combination of the mind, body, and the external environment."

"Smart." Li Yang revealed a smile, "Before the Fourth Level, the movement technique often lags behind the spear technique, swordsmanship, and so on."

"But from the Fourth Level to the Fifth Stage, it's often the movement technique that breaks through first."

...

Time passed day by day, and in the blink of an eye, it was a month later, September 1st.

Li Yuan had truly come of age.

Cultural universities all around the world had already begun their sessions one after another.

And Li Yuan and his peers had truly become freshmen.

The 'Blue Star Youth Ranking' and 'Blue Star Young Heroes Ranking' had all been updated.

The ranking for Li Yuan's 2042-2043 class was fixed, becoming history.

Li Yuan's final ranking on the Blue Star Young Heroes Ranking was 16th globally and 4th in Xia Country.

This did not necessarily mean that the top 15 were stronger than Li Yuan, just that they had higher points in the Starry Skies Fighting Network.

The new 'Blue Star Youth Ranking' belonged to the new class of global high school seniors, who had their own exciting stories.

...

On September 8th, Li Yang once again came to Li Yuan's villa, bringing with him a new portion of 'Hundred Marrow Spirit Drought'.

"Have you thought it through? You still can give up," Li Yang asked finally.

"Teacher."

"You're already here," Li Yuan grinned, a glint of anticipation in his eyes, "Today, I really want to try again to see if the Hundred Marrow Spirit Drought can defeat me."

"Fine."

Ten minutes later.

"Ahh!" The endless, horrific pain enveloped his entire body, tormenting Li Yuan to the brink of madness.

He was howling in agony.

The pain climbed to its zenith.

The terrible efficacy of the Hundred Marrow Spirit Drought erupted; its erosion and torment of the body was something a normal Martial Artist could not possibly withstand.

But this time,

Li Yuan, though howling in agony and his body turning crimson, his teeth clamped down almost to the point of drawing blood,

clenched his fists tight, his bloodshot eyes looking as though they would burst, yet he still maintained a sliver of sanity.

Hold on!

Hold on!!

I must hold on!! These thoughts erupted continuously from the depths of Li Yuan's spirit.

On the path to becoming a powerful warrior, one could fail, one could lose.

But one's heart must never bow! Never cower!

In terms of sheer talent, Li Yuan was actually not particularly strong.

But deep down, he had the madness and the resolve to challenge anything.

Half an hour.

In Li Yuan's consciousness, it seemed longer than the past year.

Finnaly,

the effects of the Hundred Marrow Spirit Drought were rapidly waning, the hellish pain steadily diminishing, and though still painful... Li Yuan suddenly felt a sense of relief.

A comfort that came from the soul.

It was an absolute delight.

"Haha! Great!" Li Yuan lay on the ground, his limbs still twitching with pain, as he couldn't help but cough and laugh heartily, "This feels amazing!"

In the distance, Li Yang was shocked.

He had watched the whole process clear as day.

He had been ready to stop Li Yuan again,

but he had never expected that, just a month later, Li Yuan, who had suffered to the point of near-suicide and eventually lost consciousness last time,

this time, while seeming still in agony, had actually endured it.

This Transformation of willpower was simply beyond belief.

After a while, Li Yuan gradually returned to normal, lying on the ground resting.

"Amazing!" Li Yang inwardly uttered two words.

Talents often inspire envy.

But it's those with great resolution and willpower that truly earn respect.

"I, Li Yang."

Thinking over it, Li Yang couldn't help but reveal a slight smile, "In my lifetime, to have the chance to teach such a disciple."

Although Li Yuan was his student,

and although Li Yuan's strength was still very weak,

at this moment, Li Yang had already made up his mind that Li Yuan's future achievements would far surpass his own.