Broken Tail (4)

Indeed, this was it.

Xu Zhong couldn't help but marvel. Was this the halo of a protagonist?

He remained silent, waiting for Xiang Zhen to continue.

"After joining, the Elephant Dojo will provide you with a complimentary small villa. Additionally, we'll supply you with a monthly allotment of supplements for cultivation. If you accrue enough contribution points, you'll gain access to our specialized martial arts tower, where you can select the martial arts you desire. Rest assured, contribution points are relatively easy to earn. You needn't worry."

Hmmm, it sounded quite similar to the offer from the Lin Corporation. However, according to Xu Zhong's estimation, the Elephant Dojo might be a purer institution than the Lin Corporation.

Xiang Zhen paused, then continued, "However, with such privileges come certain responsibilities. The martial arts school frequently undertakes special covert missions. Some involve battling demons and might require cooperation with the Red British Alliance or be a direct obligation of our martial arts school. In such cases, our martial artists are dispatched to eliminate these threats."

"A mandatory mission?" Xu Zhong inquired.

After a brief hesitation, Xiang Zhen nodded.

At least he had a sense of ethics.

Xu Zhong was beginning to form a preliminary assessment of Xiang Zhen's character.

If it was obligatory, it meant he'd be a hired hand, working for someone else. The crucial factor was determining who someone else was.

Moreover, these missions couldn't be declined.

He might face formidable demon beasts during certain demon incidents. There was a real chance that these creatures could kill him directly.

It was worth noting that although martial artists held a lofty status, countless martial artists met their demise annually, both on the frontlines and within the mystic realms.

It was undeniably a high-risk profession.

Despite the numerous perks, martial artists often found themselves on the frontlines during dangerous missions.

Furthermore, signing the contract might entail undergoing regular tests, potentially exposing the rapid progression of his strength to others.

It was something Xu Zhong was not keen on.

"Of course, from the perspective of the martial arts school, I would prefer that you join us. However, it's advantageous to attend a martial arts university first. These institutions boast top martial artists in Hua Country as instructors and provide access to premium resources. Most graduates eventually join the Red British Alliance. Despite the formidable influence of the Elephant Dojo and Lin Martial Arts School, we are still subject to restrictions imposed by the Red British Alliance in many aspects, even the chief curator."

In reality, Xu Zhong knew that there was only one officially recognized martial artist organization in Hua Country, which was the Red British Alliance.

The Red British Alliance was analogous to Hua Country's military, possessing substantial power, including a license to kill. They could take preemptive action, eliminating perceived threats without prior authorization.

"In any case, I respect your decision."

"Yes, I intend to weigh my options after the martial arts examination," Xu Zhong responded, offering an apologetic nod.

"Understood," Xiang Zhen replied with a nod, though a tinge of disappointment was evident on his face.

Upon entering the Elephant Dojo, Xu Zhong noticed it was only 8.15 am. Throughout the entire dojo, numerous students were already engaged in training.

Every second of a martial artist's training was precious, a testament to the importance of consistent effort and practice.

Xu Zhong got the secret manual to gradually bask in the sun and jerk off to increase his vitality.

To other martial artists, talent represented only the most basic requirement. They still needed to toil and sweat to achieve anything significant. Vitality points could only be gradually enhanced through consistent daily cultivation.

Within the dojo, there were a total of two buildings. One stood at the far left, designated for training martial artists who had not yet achieved martial artist status or were E-rank and below. The one to the right was for those above D-rank.

These two buildings resembled two massive spheres, somewhat akin to giant eggs.

Although they weren't particularly tall, consisting of only three floors, their interiors were quite spacious. A tall tower occupied the center, the Exquisite Martial Building of the Elephant Dojo, housing a variety of cultivation techniques and martial skills.

As the three structures were positioned together, Xu Zhong couldn't help but wonder if this resulted from Master Xiang's peculiar taste.

Xiang Zhen appeared to be quite a serious individual…

Soon, Xu Zhong entered the building on the left.

Sigh, why can't they teach outdoors? I-I can't even bask in the sun!!!

The first floor served as the training ground for beginner students, those who hadn't yet reached 100 Vitality and hadn't attained martial artist status.

On the second floor, there were several individual training rooms.

Today, the students from Luo City High School's martial arts class gathered there.

There were over ten students in the room, all meeting the Vitality requirements of Luo City High School.

However, a quick scan revealed that Xiahou Chi, Lin Miaozhen, and the other scions of influential families were conspicuously absent from the martial arts class. Their families had far superior resources than what the martial arts class provided.

Nevertheless, the remaining students appeared in high spirits, their imaginations running wild with thoughts of their future.

Conversations revolved around specialized training and the prospect of university life.

A martial arts arena took center stage inside the room, with shelves full of knives, spears, swords, and staff. There were 18 different types of weapons and various fitness apparatuses.

In one corner was an archaic Vitality-testing device, presumably for students to assess their vitality without charge.

However, the dozen or so students present were divided into two distinct groups.

A glance sufficed for Xu Zhong to discern the basis of this division.

One group was adorned in opulent attire, clearly of higher means. While they couldn't compete with Lin Miaozhen and Xiahou Chi, they fared relatively well among their peers. Some of them had even consumed high-level supplements.

In contrast, the other group was less affluent but had reached the vitality standard through relentless cultivation and innate martial talent.

Furthermore, the less affluent group seemed to harbor a distinct aversion toward the wealthier students. After some contemplation, Xu Zhong understood.

Those with talent believed that the others relied on supplements to accumulate their vitality, hence looking down on them. Conversely, those with financial means were disinclined to associate with the less affluent crowd.

Xu Zhong thought, "Yes, even though my sister is wealthy, it's her money, not mine, to squander. As for my aptitude, it may be lacking, but with the system, I should belong to the third category."