Unable to break through after a prolonged assault, Hu Haobo's breathing grew erratic. He was a fraction too slow in Replenishing his Qi after a fierce lunge, revealing a slight opening.
A sharp glint flashed in Zeng Bonan's eyes. The opportunity he had been waiting for had finally arrived!
He suddenly leaned forward, no longer purely on the defensive. His right fist, which had been gathering power, shot out at an astonishing speed, striking straight for Hu Haobo's chest.
This punch concentrated all his strength. The timing was perfect—it was the power-generating technique for Rock Collapse, the killing blow for counter-attacks in the Basic Body Refining Technique!
Hu Haobo's expression changed drastically. In his haste, all he could do was cross his arms to shield his chest.
BOOM!
Fist met arm with a dull thud.
Hu Haobo felt an overwhelming force slam into him. His crossed arms couldn't block it completely, and he staggered back seven or eight steps before barely managing to regain his footing.
He felt his Qi and Blood roil violently. It was clear the punch had injured his internal organs.
"I've lost," Hu Haobo said, shaking his head in resignation.
The three of them often sparred together and were familiar with each other's strength. With such a heavy injury, there was no way he could continue fighting Zeng Bonan.
Zeng Bonan slowly retracted his fist, his breathing steady. That earth-shattering blow hadn't actually consumed much of his energy.
He hadn't even used his specialty, the Wind-Breaking Finger. His fighting style just then was an imitation of Xu Wuyi, whom he had encountered earlier that day.
Zeng Bonan had already discovered that Xu Wuyi, like him, was skilled in the Basic Body Refining Technique. However, Xu Wuyi's ability to defend, counter-attack, and seize opportunities was exactly what he himself lacked.
"You let me win," he said calmly.
Liu Jing, who had been watching from the side, found it spectacular. She couldn't help but clap and say, "Zeng Bonan, where did you learn that fighting style? Even Hu Haobo's ferocious attacks couldn't do anything to you!"
Hu Haobo rubbed his numb arm. Instead of looking frustrated by his defeat, his face held a hint of curiosity; he clearly had the same question as Liu Jing.
Zeng Bonan didn't hide anything and immediately recounted how he had met Xu Wuyi in the ring earlier that day and been defeated by this very fighting style.
"Xu Wuyi? The student from the regular class that Teacher Zhou mentioned?"
"That's right."
After hearing him out, Hu Haobo thought for a moment and said, "Like you, his foundation in the Basic Body Refining Technique is solid. But I still don't agree with that approach."
"You both rely too much on the basics. Your fighting style lacks flexibility. The moment you face an enemy you can't block, you'll be defeated."
"For example, if my Stone Splitting Palm were a bit more proficient and I had switched from that last move to Heart-Shattering Claw, you might not have been able to block it."
Zeng Bonan didn't refute his point. Instead, he agreed, "You're right. Offense versus defense—neither is inherently superior. It just depends on which style suits a person better."
"Xu Wuyi inspired me. I want to try a defense-oriented strategy."
"Offense is the best defense," Hu Haobo snorted. "I'll make you two understand that!"
Zeng Bonan laughed heartily. "Then bring it on. I'll be waiting."
Liu Jing watched the two of them, inwardly amazed.
The two of them, one focused on offense and the other on defense, both made her feel pressured.
She had been able to enter this circle, and her Life Energy Level had reached 10.2, but actual combat had always been her weak point. Watching their duel, she knew she still had a long way to go.
'Looks like the competition is already fierce, even before the intensive class has started.' A sense of urgency rose in Liu Jing.
'Just these two are already stronger than me, and now there's Xu Wuyi, too...'
After the others had left, Zeng Bonan was the last to go. He looked at the silent training area, and the image of Xu Wuyi flashed through his mind.
'Xu Wuyi... I wonder what level his Basic Body Refining Technique is at now.'
He had a faint premonition that this classmate, who usually kept a low profile, might just become the biggest wild card in the intensive class.
...
The final week of winter break quietly slipped by as Xu Wuyi continued his arduous daily training.
As the sporadic sound of firecrackers echoed from outside—a sign that the New Year atmosphere hadn't completely faded—Xu Wuyi finally emerged from his near-secluded state of cultivation.
In the early morning, he stood in the center of his room, carefully sensing the changes within his body.
His Qi and Blood flowed steadily through his meridians like a great river, considerably more vigorous than before the winter break. Every movement he made felt brimming with power.
His Spiritual Will was even more condensed. With just a thought, the outline of the small mountain in his sea of consciousness—the one he needed to "move"—appeared with stark clarity, possessing a heavy, tangible quality.
He sank into his consciousness, and the ancient scroll of the Martial Arts Diligence Record materialized in his sea of consciousness, its text clear:
[Martial Arts Diligence Record]
Martial Arts: Basic Body Refining Technique
Current Realm: Minor Achievement (3.1%)
Martial Arts Traits: Not Unlocked
Evaluation: Deep foundation, vigorous Qi and Blood.
Visualization Method: Moving Mountains
Current Realm: Second Layer (15.7%)
Evaluation: Spiritual barriers further broken. Perception more acute.
Based on the feeling of his own Qi and Blood, he estimated his Life Energy Level had stabilized at 10.2.
After his Basic Body Refining Technique entered the Minor Success Realm, the improvements were all-encompassing. His Qi and Blood was more condensed and circulated faster, and his cultivation efficiency had noticeably increased.
"School's about to start." Xu Wuyi let out a long breath, the sharp glint in his eyes receding.
...
「The first day of school. Honghe First Middle School, Grade 12, Class 7.」
The relaxed holiday atmosphere hadn't completely faded, and students were chatting in small groups, sharing stories from their break.
The clamor only began to subside when their homeroom teacher, Li Hong, walked in carrying her lesson plans.
Li Hong's gaze swept over the students, as calm and scrutinizing as ever.
She dispensed with the pleasantries and got straight to the point.
"Winter break is over. Time for everyone to get focused. You can't fall behind on your academic reviews, but today, I have an announcement to make first." Her voice carried clearly throughout the classroom. "The school has officially begun selections for this year's 'Martial Arts Intensive Class'."
As her words fell, a low buzz immediately swept through the classroom.
The news about the intensive class wasn't a secret, but the clear requirement of a Life Energy Level of 9.5 or higher meant it had nothing to do with most of the students.
"Based on last semester's final grades, tracking assessments during winter break, and recommendations from the Martial Arts Teachers," Li Hong paused, her gaze landing on two students, "two students from our class have been selected."
"Xu Wuyi, and Shi Yi."
Instantly, all eyes focused on them.
Xu Wuyi's expression was calm; he wasn't surprised by this result.
His desk-mate, Zhou Heng, slapped him hard on the shoulder and whispered, "Awesome, Ah Yi! You really got in!"
"Did your Life Energy Level break 9.5?"
Xu Wuyi smiled slightly. "My family helped out with two Potions. Good thing they weren't wasted."
"That's still amazing!" Zhou Heng said with a resigned sigh. "To be honest, my dad also bought me a Qi Blood Potion, but one whole bottle didn't even raise my Energy Level by 0.1. I just gave up."
The final winter break of senior year was typically when the families of Martial Arts Students invested the most resources in them.
Everyone was secretly caught up in the rat race, but for the vast majority of students, the return was not proportional to the resources invested.
On another side of the room, a tall, sturdy, dark-skinned boy sat bolt upright, unable to hide the excitement on his face.
This was Shi Yi. With a previous Life Energy Level of 9.8—the highest in the class—his selection was expected by everyone.
However, in the back of the classroom, a figure shot to his feet, his face flushed crimson.