Chapter 9 Qi and Blood Medicines
Logically, the pressure on high school seniors is already immense; it wouldn't be appropriate to pose such sensitive questions now.
Besides, there are still nine months left until the national exams.
However, since Li Changzhou was about to leave on a long journey and believed Li Yuan wouldn't be affected, he decided to ask anyway.
Aunt Chen Hui couldn't help but glance at Li Yuan. She had been taking care of his daily life for a long time and naturally was concerned about him.
"National exam aspirations?" Li Yuan paused momentarily, then said, "Uncle, Aunt, I'm still planning to become a full-time martial artist. My first goal is one of the top five national Martial Arts Universities."
"If I can't get into one, then I'll aim for the 'Warrior Class' in Jiangbei Martial Arts University."
Full-time martial artist?
Li Changzhou and Chen Hui exchanged glances, a hint of worry flickering in their eyes.
Even graduates from Martial Arts Universities don't necessarily end up becoming full-time martial artists.
Take Li Changzhou, for example: he attended a Martial Arts University, performed fairly well, but eventually pursued coursework in another field.
*Martial artists possess advantages over ordinary people across the board. Even in everyday jobs, their energy levels and cognitive agility far surpass those of regular individuals, giving them a much higher likelihood of achieving remarkable success.*
By contrast, *full-time martial artists dedicate themselves entirely to the Martial Path, seeking deeper progress, but their path is fraught with danger.*
*The further martial artists advance in their training, the more often they find themselves facing life-and-death struggles to make progress.*
"Xiao Yuan, can't you double-major in another subject? After graduation, you could become a civil servant or teach martial arts—that wouldn't be so bad either," Chen Hui said anxiously.
In her eyes, Li Yuan was no different from her own child.
She was like a mother, most concerned about Li Yuan's safety.
To her, becoming a civil servant or a martial arts teacher were the best career options.
"Full-time martial artist?" Li Changzhou didn't oppose outright but pondered aloud, "Do you think you can get into one of the top five universities? Your school only sends a few students there each year. Did you awaken your Martial Spirit today during the test?"
Li Changzhou was deeply aware of how difficult it was to get into the top five national Martial Arts Universities.
Jiangbei Martial Arts University enrolls ten thousand students annually in Jiangbei Province.
Meanwhile, the combined annual enrollment of the top five Martial Arts Universities nationwide is only about ten thousand.
In Jiangbei Province, they've historically admitted only a few hundred students each year.
"No awakening," Li Yuan shook his head.
"No awakening? Then how…" Li Changzhou frowned.
"But during today's school test, my physical quality measured at 6.5, and my martial arts skills scored over 360," Li Yuan said.
Li Changzhou's eyes lit up, and a faint but unmistakable trace of excitement broke onto his face.
He understood the significance of what Li Yuan had just said.
"Really?" Chen Hui was equally surprised.
She remembered that during last semester's final exams, while Li Yuan performed well, his results seemed far below today's level.
Especially his physical quality—how had it improved by 0.5 in such a short time? It seemed almost unbelievable.
"Teacher Xu Bo personally evaluated me. The martial arts skills score is aligned with national exam standards," Li Yuan added.
Xu Bo evaluated him?
Li Changzhou nodded slightly.
He knew Xu Bo and was aware of the teacher's reputation across the Guan Mountain District.
Previously, when he learned Xu Bo had become Li Yuan's martial arts class advisor, he had felt relieved, believing that Li Yuan had gained a competent mentor.
"Good!"
"Xiao Yuan, if you keep progressing like this, even if we don't talk about the top five universities, entering Jiangbei's 'Warrior Class' should be well within reach," Li Changzhou said with a smile. To him, it was the best news he had heard all day.
Li Yuan looked at his uncle and aunt, letting out a small sigh inwardly.
*He had originally planned to surprise them during the simulated exams in January.*
*But now, with his uncle about to embark on a long journey, Li Yuan thought it best to offer some reassurance.*
*For any parent or guardian, their greatest concerns are their children's safety first and their future second.*
"There's no rush to finalize your national exam aspirations now. Whether or not you'll pursue full-time martial arts can be decided after you get into a Martial Arts University and learn more about it," Li Changzhou advised. "For now, just focus on studying hard."
"I understand," Li Yuan replied with a firm nod.
"Keep my trip to the Northern Border to yourself for now," Li Changzhou continued. "Once I'm gone, help your aunt keep an eye on your younger siblings... Go, you've worked hard today. Head back to your room and rest."
"Alright." Li Yuan considered briefly but ultimately decided not to bring up the topic of third-class scholarships.
He got up and left the master bedroom.
The door closed.
"Old Li," Chen Hui turned to Li Changzhou, her tone tinged with anger, "were you just supporting Xiao Yuan becoming a full-time martial artist?"
She was genuinely upset.
"Did you not hear about his scores?" Li Changzhou shook his head. "His martial arts skills are above 360 points—this progress rate... Even my older brother's martial arts skills during his national exams weren't that high."
"You remember your older brother." Chen Hui's teeth clenched. "Your brother and sister-in-law sacrificed so much to save us back then…"
"Enough," Li Changzhou frowned.
"You tell me not to speak—I absolutely will speak." Chen Hui abruptly stood up, staring at her husband, her eyes reddened. "Your brother and sister-in-law helped us so much, only leaving behind Xiao Yuan. You know how dangerous the path of a full-time martial artist is, don't you?"
"Of your former classmates who chose the full-time martial artist path, how many are still alive?"
"I understand what you mean," Li Changzhou sighed softly and pulled his wife back down to sit beside him.
"But the child is grown now and has his own will."
"We can only guide, not compel," Li Changzhou explained. "After I'm gone, you can convince him slowly."
"Besides, the path of a full-time martial artist isn't easily walked."
"For students who get into Martial Arts Universities, how many don't dream of becoming full-time martial artists? Yet, in the end, very few end up taking that road."
"Once he's in university and realizes there are always people stronger than him, even if we don't intervene, he'll calm down naturally," Li Changzhou added.
Chen Hui reluctantly nodded at last.
"Honey, stay with me for a little while longer," Li Changzhou embraced his wife.
Chen Hui quieted down, leaning against her husband's chest.
Time slipped away.
Soon it was nearly midnight.
"The kids should all be asleep now," Li Changzhou said as he finally stood up. In a low voice, he added, "Honey, I should get going—I have to catch the train."
"Once I arrive at the Northern Border and the government's promised fifty thousand subsidy is disbursed, I'll transfer it to you."
"The family… I leave it in your hands."
...
Inside Li Yuan's room.
The lamp was off, with only faint streetlights and moonlight filtering in through the windows.
The room, measuring less than twenty square meters, contained two wardrobes and a miniature home-use virtual network cabin occupying about two square meters.
Everything else was empty.
One of the wardrobes in Li Yuan's room was a Murphy bed designed to be foldable.
The purpose was to save space and also facilitate his simple training at home.
However, since he had awakened the Mind Spirit Divine Palace during his sophomore year, Li Yuan rarely used the Murphy bed, preferring to sit directly on the wooden floor.
Like today.
"Hmm?" Seated cross-legged on the floor, Li Yuan's ears twitched slightly.
His enhanced physical quality granted him hearing far superior to ordinary people, and with the late-night quiet, even the faintest sounds were distinct.
"Uncle left?"
Li Yuan caught the soft opening and closing of a door, and with movements as silent as a cat, he rose without making a sound.
He approached the window.
Within half a minute, Li Yuan spotted his uncle, Li Changzhou, carrying a suitcase as he hurriedly exited the unit's main door.
After taking a few steps, Li Changzhou paused, looked back toward the upstairs window briefly, then turned away without further delay, disappearing around the corner of the street.
Li Yuan stood at the window for a long time.
*"Uncle, are you truly willing to go to the Northern Border?"* Li Yuan sighed inwardly.
*His uncle's phrase 'someone must go' had deeply resonated with him.*
*Throughout his youth, his uncle had been filled with patriotism and had consistently guided Li Yuan along the same path.*
*Yet, as far as Li Yuan could tell, the situation in the Northern Border hadn't reached that level of urgency.*
*"Uncle isn't going purely because of the nation's call; it's also for that substantial subsidy," Li Yuan thought gloomily. "With both Muhua and me practicing martial arts, the family is under enormous financial pressure."*
He raised his hand.
Swish—silently, a beam of light emerged from his wrist, projecting a transparent holographic screen in front of his chest.
Displayed on it were numerous war-related reports about the Rob Sea Star Realm, including news of "participation subsidies" and "support grants."
*"I must get into one of the top five Martial Arts Universities,"* Li Yuan murmured as his resolve hardened.
Whoosh!
Li Yuan moved to the wardrobe near the window, pressed lightly on the door, and the cabinet popped open.
Inside, apart from clothing, there remained a single custom-made metal box. Its exterior bore designs of an endless starry sky glowing brilliantly.
This was the emblem of the "Starry Sky Martial Hall," one of the three major Martial Halls.
He unlocked the box.
"Basic Vitality Medicinal Liquid," Li Yuan stared at the box's contents, which consisted of two carefully aligned rows of ten bottles. Nine were empty; only one remained intact.
Grabbing the last bottle, he held it firmly in his hands.
"Two thousand Blue Star Coins per bottle," Li Yuan studied the delicate vial, its near-transparent surface smooth as silk, a faint chill emanating from its touch.
The special design of the bottle ensured minimal degradation of the medicinal liquid's potency over time.
Through the vial's transparent surface, the crimson liquid inside glowed faintly under the moonlight, radiating vitality and strength.
Such was the Basic Vitality Medicinal Liquid.
*For regular meals, even nutritionally enhanced ones, they were only effective enough to prevent depletion during high-intensity physical training.*
*But to accelerate physical evolution? That required rare, costly medicinal liquids and treasures.*
*From what Li Yuan had learned, many expensive alternatives could yield better results than Basic Vitality Medicinal Liquid, but their prices were even more exorbitant.*
*In terms of cost-effectiveness, Basic Vitality Medicinal Liquid stood as the most favorable auxiliary for physical cultivation.*
Yet, a single bottle still cost two thousand Blue Star Coins.
Li Yuan consumed one bottle every three days during his training.
Within a month, his expenditure on Basic Vitality Medicinal Liquid alone reached twenty thousand Blue Star Coins.
Including daily food expenses.
Li Yuan's monthly spending on training resources came to nearly thirty thousand Blue Star Coins.
This didn't account for clothing, class fees, and other costs.
And then there were Qian Qian and Muhua… his uncle and aunt's financial burden was unimaginable.
"I'm due for one today," Li Yuan said to himself as he gently popped the cap off.
An unusual fragrance began to fill the room.
"Gulp." Li Yuan proficiently tilted his head back and downed the entire bottle of Basic Vitality Medicinal Liquid.
Ensuring every last drop was consumed.
Only then did he return the empty vial to the box.
Soon, Li Yuan felt waves of warmth radiating throughout his body, gradually spreading to every corner, eagerly absorbed by his muscles and bones.
It felt wonderful.
*"After three days of intense training, the effects of the last vitality liquid have mostly worn off. My body is eager for nourishment,"* Li Yuan thought, satisfied with its efficacy.
"Hmm."
"Past midnight—it's time to train the 'Observing the Great Sun Starry Sky Scripture,'" Li Yuan muttered as he sat cross-legged and closed his eyes.
Gradually, his mind emptied, his spirit withdrew inward.
His consciousness focused on his mind's domain.
Boom!
Silent yet momentous, his awareness entered a mysterious realm.
This realm housed a floating, otherworldly palace.