"Getting up at four in the morning for cultivation without rest?" Big Brother Lin was puzzled, "Even for a Prime Warrior, that's not possible, is it?"
"Combining work with rest is the only way to endure in the long run."
"Unless one reaches the level of a Flying Heaven Warrior, becomes attuned with the heavens and nature, they might be able to rejuvenate at any time. Otherwise, who can push themselves so hard?" Big Brother Lin said earnestly, "Even Dongfang Ji, our senior, only mentioned training for sixteen hours a day."
Lin Lanyue didn't say anything.
In her mind, she involuntarily recalled the scene described to her by Gu Qianghan after returning from Jiangbei Martial University, "Sis, that Li Yuan is simply a madman, a masochist. He practices every night, and then gets up again at four or five in the morning... I really admire him. If he doesn't succeed, who would?"
Gu Qianghan's emphatic words.
Made the then Lin Lanyue gain a deeper understanding of Li Yuan.
This was an extremely self-disciplined person with a steadfast goal, one who strove towards it relentlessly.
"Bro, what exactly is it?" Lin Lanyue asked once more.
"It's about Li Yuan," Big Brother Lin said with a smile, "Do you want to know?"
"Bro, if you're going to tell me, tell me. If not, don't delay my cultivation," Lin Lanyue shot him a glance.
She clearly understood the difference between her eldest brother and her second brother; if the eldest got hold of some news, he'd be too antsy to keep it to himself.
"Alright, alright, I'm convinced," Big Brother Lin said helplessly, raising his hand to bring up some data on the light screen.
All of it concerned Li Yuan.
"First in both subjects? First in Jiang City's bare Martial Path score?" Lin Lanyue murmured to herself.
Perfect scores! That was a truly terrifying achievement.
"Little sis, you don't seem so surprised," Big Brother Lin said smilingly, "Did you know in advance? Or have you been communicating with Li Yuan?"
"No, and I wasn't aware," Lin Lanyue said with a smile, "It's indeed incredible that he could achieve such results, but when I think about the effort he has put in, it's not surprising."
"He has indeed practiced arduously," Big Brother Lin nodded, "Besides his academic results in the April exams, I just got news that he should have broken past 300 points in Fallen Star."
"Fourth Level Intermediate Rank in skills?" Lin Lanyue finally showed a hint of surprise.
She was very aware that Li Yuan had just entered the Fourth Level a month ago.
Has he progressed this fast?
You should know, because of practicing the Nirvana Divine Scripture, she was able to come to Feixing early for special training. Whether in physical quality or skills, her progress has been much faster.
But now, her skills were still slightly lacking behind reaching complete perfection of the Third Rank.
"Fate often favors the more diligent," Lin Lanyue said with a slight smile.
"Little sis, do you really like him?" Big Brother Lin suddenly asked.
Facing her big brother's question, Lin Lanyue didn't show any embarrassment, but after thinking for a while, she said, "Perhaps, it's more that I admire him."
"That's fine, you've always been decisive, and it's good as long as you know what you want," Big Brother Lin said with a smile.
He was an experienced person; by looking at the way Lin Lanyue was, he clearly understood.
It has always been thus, from ancient times until now, that young boys admire and girls cherish spring; it's better to guide than to suppress feelings.
"Bro, you better not tell father and mother about this," Lin Lanyue suddenly glared at her big brother.
"Ha ha, why would I tell them?" Big Brother Lin laughed, "You're not a child, just be happy."
Big Brother Lin was very open-minded, although if the family knew, they would definitely have opinions.
He was Lin Lanyue's big brother, after all!
In his eyes, as long as his sister was not wronged, she could do whatever she wanted.
Even if the sky were to fall, there were still her two brothers to stand tall for her; besides, he also found Li Yuan to be not bad.
"However, little sis, I still have to remind you."
"You mean well, but do you know what Li Yuan thinks? You did quite a lot for him, just saving his uncle, but..." Big Brother Lin couldn't help but say.
Lin Lanyue cut him off, frowning and saying, "Before I came to Feixing, I told you, what's done is done, it wasn't a big deal."
"I don't care how he thinks."
"In the Martial Path, the aim is to have clear thoughts and a heart without regrets."
"Whatever I do, I do for myself. Helping him wasn't to get him to do anything for me," Lin Lanyue said earnestly.
Deep down, Lin Lanyue was a stubborn person, even carrying a hint of rebelliousness.
That was related to her living alone in Jiang City from a young age.
Although she had maids, bodyguards, martial arts teachers, and everything else she needed, she lacked familial warmth.
"Alright, alright, as long as you are clear in your heart,"
Big Brother Lin surrendered, "Do you want to take a rest day today?"
"The 'Fire Bath' in Nirvana Divine Scripture gets better with each consecutive day of practice," Lin Lanyue shook her head, "I've only continued for six days."
"Let's get through today first."
A glint of sympathy flashed through Big Brother Lin's eyes, but he didn't try to persuade her further.
The Fire Bath is indeed a burning in special flames.
Not many can completely endure such agony.
But he had to admit, his sister's willpower was truly exceptional, certainly top-notch for her age.
"Okay, I'll take you to Changji Volcano later," Big Brother Lin said.
Watching her big brother leave,
"A spiritual marrow cleansing three times a month?" Lin Lanyue murmured to herself, remembering the information about Li Yuan she had seen earlier.
She knew very well the pain of a spiritual marrow cleansing.
"Let's see if I can endure ten days. I can't lose by too much," a flicker of determination shone in Lin Lanyue's eyes.
She continued practicing her swordsmanship.
Every day, she practiced swordsmanship for half the day, then endured a 'Fire Bath' for half a day to temper her body.
On the evening of April 17th, Li Yuan returned home.
"Bro, come and watch your program."
"Come and watch." Li Qianqian and Li Muhua had already dashed over, both quite excited.
On the distant sofa, Chen Hui was all smiles.
"Program?" Li Yuan was initially stunned, instantly realizing they were talking about his interview program.
It's already being broadcast?
Li Yuan, dragged by his brother and sister without even having time to take off his shoes, arrived in the living room.
On the light screen projection, indeed, Li Yuan's interview program was being played.
"'The Impoverished Martial Arts Champion from Jiangbei? Uncovering the Bitter Past Behind a Martial Path Genius'?" Li Yuan repeated the promotional language read by the host for the episode.
In an instant, Li Yuan wished he could find a hole to crawl into.
Which shock department did that come from?
"Auntie, this is a promotional program from the Martial Hall, the script was prepared in advance," Li Yuan hurriedly explained.
"Don't worry, your aunt studied journalism before," Chen Hui said with a smile: "I get all this stuff about the news."
Li Yuan nodded with a smile, glad that his aunt didn't overthink it.
Within the light screen.
"Since I was young, I've aspired to join the Starfire Martial Hall," Li Yuan said seriously: "It's a Martial Hall founded by Dongfang Ji, and I've always admired Dongfang..."
"I heard that the Starry Sky Martial Hall was the first to invite you, initially offering a D-level contract, right?" the host asked.
"The Starry Sky Martial Hall was indeed the first to invite me, and they prepared a C-level contract for me," Li Yuan's face was filled with a young person's 'sincerity': "Hall Master Song Yi is a tremendously kind person.
She spoke to me personally, saying although she didn't have enough authority, if I were willing to sign, she would definitely help me apply for a B-level contract later on, and was even willing to sponsor me privately."
"Hall Master Song Yi is a very outstanding, dedicated Hall Master," Li Yuan said earnestly: "It's not that Starry Sky Martial Hall is bad, but I wanted to join Starfire more..."
... "Li Yuan is the most outstanding youth I've discovered in recent years. At the time, I didn't have enough B-level contract slots, so I made a special request to Fei Qian, the City Martial Hall Master. He approved immediately," Wan Qinghe said in an interview within the VCR.
"Li Yuan has a strong sense of justice. He's also the recipient of the Young Hero title," a classmate of Li Yuan's said during an interview.
"Not being able to invite Li Yuan might be my life's biggest regret," even Song Yi appeared in the VCR, her face showing loss, but also a hint of pride: "But his growth along the way has proven that my initial judgement was correct; he truly is an uncut gem."
"If anyone's to blame, it's just that this kid, Li Yuan, is too determined. Once he sets a goal, he rarely deviates from it."
"However, no matter which Martial Hall he joins, he's a genius of Xia Country," Song Yi said with resounding conviction, elevating the intention of the entire program: "I have great faith in Li Yuan, and I look forward to the day when he becomes a Flying Heaven Warrior, defending the lands of our Xia Country."
Li Yuan watched the program, the corners of his mouth twitching slightly!
He remembered the dinner party from the night before, where both sides had a great time.
Wan Qinghe had promised to Song Yi a spotlight.
"Exchanging a feature for an extra four million," Li Yuan mused to himself: "Can the higher-ups of the Starry Sky Martial Hall really be trusted?"
Li Yuan didn't care too much, as long as the money was in hand.
Li Yuan had no idea that the evening's program was just the beginning. Over the next two days.
The show continued to ferment, spreading in online forums in various districts of Jiang City, even throughout Jiangbei Province.
Li Yuan actually showed signs of becoming truly famous.
"You even got on a show? Brother Yuan, when did you shoot this? You didn't tell us."
"Brother Yuan, your social media account followers have exploded, from over a thousand, now it's soared to over thirty thousand."
"Over forty thousand!"
"Fifty thousand, it's broken fifty thousand," Li Yuan became the talk of the school once again.
"Brother Yuan, next time you go to the noodle shop by the school gate, the owner will definitely recognize you."
Li Yuan didn't pay too much attention to the program.
The Starry Sky Martial Hall's triennial review ended, and Song Yi had passed smoothly. She sent a 'thank you' emoji to Li Yuan via V-chat.
Inside Starfire Guanshan Branch's Martial Arts Room 7024.
"I hustled her, and she's still thanking me?" Li Yuan shook his head as he glanced at the bank account figures.
Bank Balance: 18.79 million Blue Star Coins
Martial Hall Points: 4.08 million
Martial Hall Cultivation Points: 9.57 million
"I haven't really spent any Blue Star Coins. I gave Auntie two million, and here I've raked in ten million," Li Yuan thought to himself: "Almost reaching twenty million."
However, the consumption of Martial Hall Points was massive.
In just one month, just buying cultivation resources had cost Li Yuan over 2.6 million.
The main reason was that his body's evolution required more than what the cultivation plan had estimated.
To sustain a month, thirty bottles of First Rank Blood Qi Medicine, four Essence Pills of Origin Power, and three portions of Spirit Marrow Cleansing every month, would cost 1.3 million points/Blue Star Coins.
"Got the second batch."
"Enough for body evolution needs until mid-May," Li Yuan murmured to himself.
Li Yuan opened the door to the 'heat preservation box' in the physiotherapy room, taking out a bottle of Spirit Marrow Cleansing.
He gritted his teeth.
"Damn, here we go again."
"Is everyone at Kunlun Martial University a freak? All tougher than me?" Li Yuan grumbled to himself: "Makes sense, university students are definitely stronger than high school students."
High school students always have a bit of admiration for university students.
"Ah!" From inside the whole-body physiotherapy machine, Li Yuan's groan, a mix of pain and relief, sounded once more.
The Prime Warrior, skilled in spiritual secret techniques and invited by Hall Master Fei Qian, arrived in conjunction with the hospital's top-level 'Consciousness Awakening Device.'
After an hour's effort.
Uncle Li Changzhou finally woke up.
On May 10th, Li Changzhou was discharged from the hospital.
He didn't return to his previous home but moved directly to the new house in Starfire South Lake Community, where Li Yuan and his family lived.
By May 15th, Li Yuan and his family had moved all their belongings into their new home.
As time went by day by day, Li Changzhou temporarily stopped working and recuperated at home.
Auntie went back to her job at the school.
Following Dongfang Ji's 'Seven Star Alliance Progress Movement,' for the recruitment of talents by Martial Arts Universities and Cultural Universities across the Seven Great Planets, a unified format of college entrance exams was adopted.
So, as time stepped into June.
In Jiang City and throughout Xia Country, one could even say the whole of Blue Star.
Almost all countries and all eyes were on the annual college entrance examination.
This was the test that determined the fate of countless people.