"Human Martial Elite Battle?" Li Yuan's eyes shimmered slightly.
He had heard of this competition, and it was very popular on the virtual network.
There were many rumors,
but mostly just text messages, as concrete videos of the battle were rarely searchable on the internet. It seemed like all videos were controlled and their distribution not allowed.
"Only students of fourth and fifth year can participate?" Li Yuan couldn't help asking.
"Haha, that's not the case," President Li laughed. "In fact, both of these competitions set age restrictions based on September 1st, similar to the Blue Star Youth Ranking."
"For example, to participate in the next Global University Martial Arts Competition, one must be born after September 1st, 2022."
"For the next Human Martial Elite Battle, participants must be born after September 1st, 2020," President Li said with a smile. "Over the decades, a tradition has formed where freshman, sophomores, and juniors participate in the global competition."
"And seniors and fifth-year students join the Human Martial Elite Battle."
Li Yuan suddenly realized.
This was a continuation of the current college entrance examination system, which used September 1st as a cutoff date for admission ages, not allowing either early or delayed admissions and strictly enforced.
One could retake the exam for cultural universities,
but to apply for Martial Arts University? You must be at least 17 years old and under 18.
"In fact, even if you don't get into Martial Arts University, as long as you meet the age requirement, you can still participate."
"However, over the decades, there have been very few martial arts geniuses who rose to prominence without the cultivation of Martial Arts Universities, and gradually it has become a competition between the various Martial Arts Universities," President Li said with a smile.
Li Yuan nodded slightly.
A dark horse coming from the general populace? In most cases, that's just some people's fantasy.
Only the strongest talents, combined with the best instructors and cultivation resources, can give rise to genuine geniuses.
"Normally, the champion of the Human Martial Elite Battle is a fifth-year student, as having longer training naturally confers an advantage," said President Li. "However, there have been some extraordinary geniuses in history who won the championship early."
"Really?" Li Yuan asked curiously.
"Quite a few," President Li said with a smile. "In the sixty-plus-year history of the competition, we in Xia Country have had a genius who won the championship as a junior."
"Fang Hai," President Li said with a smile. "You might not have heard of him, but he is very famous among high-rank martial artists, reaching fifth-stage skills at the age of 16."
"16 years old? Fifth-stage skills?" Li Yuan was dumbstruck.
Was that even possible?
"Unfortunately, his later achievements weren't great," President Li shook his head. "He only became a Flying Heaven Warrior."
Li Yuan was astonished, becoming a Flying Heaven Warrior was considered an underachievement?
"You don't understand."
"He was taken as a direct disciple by Dongfang Ji at the age of 17 and was expected to surpass the Flying Heaven Level, even rivaling Dongfang Ji," President Li sighed. "Unfortunately, he encountered a bottleneck and remains at the Flying Heaven Level."
Li Yuan inwardly lamented, comparison is the thief of joy.
"So, don't be arrogant."
"Your talent in martial arts skills is indeed one of the best in the recent thirty-year history of Kunlun Martial University," President Li said. "But in the full two-hundred-year history, you wouldn't even rank in the top hundred."
"Top hundred?" Li Yuan was taken aback.
"In the earliest days, there were no three top martial schools, and Xia Country's most exceptional talents all stayed domestically," President Li said. "Understand?"
Just like himself, in terms of pure spear technique, he was indeed top-notch among this year's students of Xia Country, but there were still a bunch who could compare with him.
In the past, these top talents would enter the top five famous schools.
But in recent decades, each year's most powerful geniuses have almost always headed to the three top martial schools.
Those who enter Kunlun Martial University are mostly second-tier students.
Therefore, standing out at Kunlun Martial University was naturally easy.
"Don't dwell too much on the strength now. Starting early doesn't mean you'll reach the Flying Heaven Level. There are many who advance gradually," President Li said.
"I still have high hopes for you to become a Flying Heaven Warrior," President Li said with a smile. "Li Yuan, you currently have two main goals."
Li Yuan was all ears.
This was an elder assigning a mission.
"First, is to make it past the Fifth Mountain of the Kunlun Nine Mountains before next February," President Li said. "As long as you do, I'll allow you to participate in next February's Global University Martial Arts Competition virtual battle."
"Making it past the Fifth Mountain means your skills have reached high-rank fourth stage."
"Making it past the Sixth Mountain means your skills have reached fourth-stage perfection."
"Making it past the Seventh Mountain means your skills have entered the fifth stage," President Li said seriously. "In theory, you could join the virtual battle with fourth-stage skills, but if your strength isn't enough, it would just be embarrassing."
"Normally, sophomores are allowed to compete," President Li said. "If you reach it, I'll let you go as a freshman to broaden your horizons."
"Making it past the Fifth Mountain? High-rank fourth stage?" Li Yuan murmured to himself, not finding it too difficult.
After all, Li Yuan had set a goal for himself to reach the high-rank fourth-stage threshold by September.
Only then could he claim the 20 million Blue Star Coins reward.
"The second goal is even more important – the Ten Schools' Freshman Battle this October," President Li said. "Your goal is to come first, or at least make it into the top four."
"The Ten Schools' Freshman Battle?" Li Yuan was puzzled. "Which ten schools? Does it include our Xia Country's five famous schools?"
"And five other great martial arts schools from Asia, like Sakura Country, Tianzhu Country... The united competition is set to take place in our Xia Country this year."
"Each year, the freshmen from the ten top martial arts schools will fight, and the rewards are substantial," President Li said with a smile. "The top sixteen will receive a 20 million Blue Star Coins reward."
Li Yuan's eyes lit up.
"Money is just one aspect."
"The Seven Star Alliance has prepared a Heavenly Materials Treasure for each of the top four in our freshman battle, which is really what's most important," President Li looked at Li Yuan. "These treasures mostly come from some mysterious Star Realms, and their value is hard to calculate with money."
"If sold, they'd easily fetch several hundred million Blue Star Coins."
"Each treasure is prepared specifically for your individual situation," President Li continued. "Do you understand?"
"I understand," Li Yuan replied, holding his breath.
Heavenly Materials Treasures? Anything entitled with these words was extraordinary indeed.
The last time he encountered one was the 'Stellar Earth Marrow Crystal' promised by Lord Yang of the Province.
But the requirements were extremely demanding, and he couldn't see hope of achieving it anytime soon.
Conversely, the 'Ten Schools Freshman War' in October is closer and more relaxed for me.
"Don't take it lightly."
President Li reminded, "Just as our school has you, the other four famous schools in Xia Country also have some geniuses."
"The other five famous schools in Asia also produce geniuses year after year... In short, it's quite difficult to compete for the top four."
"Alright, I'll work hard," Li Yuan affirmed with a nod.
A fighting spirit also kindled within him.
This Freshman War of the Ten Schools seems to involve not just individual rewards but also the honor of the nation.
Although the Seven Star Alliance was established over a hundred years ago, and the threat from foreign civilizations is significant, wars between the nations of Blue Star have ceased.
But the competition during peacetime and the contest for national honor has never stopped.
As Li Yuan communicated with President Li, he gained an increasingly thorough understanding of the various training systems of Martial Arts University.
"You will personally teach me skills?" Li Yuan asked in surprise.
"What's the matter, am I not qualified?" President Li asked with a half-smile.
"No, not at all," Li Yuan said with a laugh, "I'm just a bit overwhelmed. I thought I'd be following some other teacher."
Li Yuan had learned this from the school's introduction.
The school's curriculum is divided into four categories: general education, skill classes, cultivation classes, and practical combat classes.
Each category has different teachers.
The most important are the skill classes, followed by the practical combat classes.
"Normally, a freshman would choose to follow one teacher for cultivation, for example, practicing spear techniques under a spear technique teacher."
"Those who practice swords would follow a sword technique teacher," President Li explained.
"Just for skills teachers, the school has more than three hundred."
"A teacher might lead as few as twenty or thirty students but as many as nearly a hundred students."
"Skills teachers are at least 26th level Prime Warriors, with skills perfected to 'Subtlety' at the Fourth Stage. It's quite easy for them to teach second and third stage students," President Li said with a smile.
Li Yuan held his breath.
Does that mean there are at least three hundred 25th level or higher Prime Warriors at Kunlun Martial University?
Such teaching resources are indeed formidable.
"Once a student's martial skills reach the Fourth Stage, ordinary teachers struggle to provide guidance," President Li continued, "They must be led by a vice president."
"In our institute, there are nearly 1,100 students currently."
"Including you, there are 52 students with skills at or above the Fourth Stage."
"The weapon I practice is the spear, which is perfect to teach you," President Li said with a smile, "For the next while, you'll be learning under me."
"Okay," Li Yuan desired nothing more.
Before coming here, Li Yuan had spoken with Wan Qinghe.
High school teachers and Martial Arts University teachers are completely different concepts.
University skills teachers are more akin to the ancient master-disciple relationship.
So without any hesitation, Li Yuan stood up and respectfully performed a deep bow, saying, "Li Yuan greets the teacher."
Teacher, a title much more intimate compared to president.
"No need for such formalities, we're not in the times of ancient master-disciple practices," President Li said as he stood up, reaching out to raise Li Yuan up.
But Li Yuan moved more quickly, completing his deep bow.
From beginning to end, without the slightest hesitation.
"Why bother, we're in modern society, don't stick to these formalities," President Li said with a smile, yet unable to hide the joy on his face.
Rituals might seem superficial, but they represent a kind of respect.
In dealing with people and affairs, if one can't even manage the superficial, how can they discuss what's substantial?
Two o'clock in the afternoon.
In a huge martial arts room on the seventh floor of the Heilong Building, there were already eighteen students in martial arts uniforms waiting inside.
Most of these students were practicing with long weapons, mainly long spears.
"Looks like there's someone with him too," more than ten students promptly took their seats.
They turned to look at Li Yang entering the Martial Arts Room and Li Yuan following behind.
"Take a seat here." Li Yang directed him to one of the empty seats.
Li Yuan sat obediently, feeling the gazes of the group around him.
With a thought, he activated his Divine Palace Inquiry, subsequently examining four individuals; all were Martial Artists, and there was even one Prime Warrior among them.
"The new student joining us today is freshman Li Yuan, the 'Big Brother' of the new students in our Sixth Institute. Starting today, he'll also be your fellow classmate," President Li said slowly, "Don't underestimate him. In terms of physical quality, he has reached the entry rank."
"As for his skill level, he's at the intermediate rank of Fourth Stage, already placing him in the middle of the pack," President Li's gaze swept over his students.
"To reach the entry rank at seventeen? That's impressive!"
"His name is Li Yuan?"
"I've heard about it, the entrance competition yesterday, it was Li Yuan who stood out, our Sixth Institute got first place and even broke the historical record of the competition."
"Isn't that more impressive than Jin Huguo?"
"Is our Sixth Institute going to rise this year?" these senior classmates whispered among themselves, and the few who didn't know quickly became aware of Li Yuan's achievements from the day before.
They cast friendly, even admiring glances at him.
Li Yuan also promptly nodded in response, very courteously.
He knew very well that these eighteen senior classmates, mostly fourth and fifth-year students, were almost destined to be Prime Warriors after a few more years of tempering their bodies post-graduation.
Even in terms of martial skills alone, several were stronger than him.
"Alright, everyone look this way and listen to the class."
"Today, I'll be talking about 'Stellar Spear Technique.' Listen carefully," President Li deliberately looked at Li Yuan.