High-Level Martial Era

It was like being suddenly knocked out by happiness.

After all, even after making it onto the Blue Star youth leaderboard, there had been no word from the Starfire Martial Hall or the Martial Arts Hall, with the only interest coming from the Starry Sky Martial Hall.

And even then, after half a month of hesitation, the best they were willing to offer was a D-level contract.

The difference between a D-level contract and a B-level contract was not a tiny bit.

Whew!

Li Yuan took a deep breath and did not let his head be swayed by the excitement; he instantly recalled the teachings of his uncle, Li Changzhou, from when he was young: "Even in overwhelming joy or anger and pain, before making a significant decision, you must calm down and ask yourself three questions."

What is it!

Why is it!

How to do it!

Four words in summary—steady! Don't be rash!

In just a few seconds, Li Yuan had calmed down again and identified the core question, "Why?"

Why would Lord Wan offer me a B-level contract? It was a contract worth tens of millions, with nearly ten million in Blue Star Coins provided in cash alone.

I am not Lu Bu; I do not have that many adoptive fathers to love me.

"Lord Wan."

Li Yuan said calmly, "A B-level contract is very good, better than I expected... but why would you offer me such a contract, Lord Wan? I haven't even awakened my Martial Spirit."

There must be something abnormal when things deviate from the norm.

Because of my good physical quality? There are not too few elite class students who are better than me.

Martial arts skills? I'm not bad, but not to the extent of being unparalleled in the world.

"The boy is steady, not blinded by benefits," Lord Wan smiled at Li Yuan, raising his opinion of him another notch.

Lord Wan smiled and said, "I don't want to hide it from you. I am willing to offer a B-level contract because you have strong spiritual power, which can probably compete with that of a First Rank Martial Artist."

Spiritual power? Li Yuan was inwardly startled.

The other party can sense the strength of the spiritual power?

Yes, I have been practicing the 'Observing the Great Sun Starry Sky Scripture' every day, continuously enhancing my spiritual power, which has reached level 13.2, not too weak even among Martial Artists.

Usually, the spirit is enhanced in tandem with the body.

"Of course, I can only feel it vaguely, and my judgment is not precise," Lord Wan continued. "Technological instruments can't directly test spiritual power. To detect it, you generally need a Third Rank Martial Artist to do it personally... I am just a Second Rank Prime Warrior, with a special method of cultivation.

Plus, your weak strength means you can't fully conceal your spirit, which is why I could sense a bit."

"If you were a Martial Artist, with your spiritual power contained in the sea of consciousness, I would have difficulty sensing it." Lord Wan spoke very frankly, displaying none of the airs of a superior.

He treated Li Yuan as if they were chatting casually, which felt very comfortable.

Lord Wan's words cleared many doubts in Li Yuan's mind but also raised new ones.

"Strong spiritual power is enough for a B-level contract?" Li Yuan couldn't help asking.

Li Yuan knew the importance of spiritual power but wasn't clear on just how important it was.

There was no detailed information available online.

"Whether it's important depends on the person," Lord Wan smiled and said. "If you want to become a Second Rank Prime Warrior, then spiritual power is essential. But if you're just a First Rank Martial Artist... whether your spiritual power is a bit stronger or weaker isn't a big deal."

"After all, no matter how strong your spiritual power is, if someone chops off your head with a sword, you're still going to die."

Li Yuan nodded slightly, thinking to himself, "Prime Warrior? So Lord Wan is a Prime Warrior? Indeed stronger than Teacher Xu."

A First Rank Martial Artist?

A Second Rank Prime Warrior?

The classification of ranks among Martial Artists was not entirely secret in society, and students like Li Yuan, about to graduate from high school, also took a keen interest in it and mostly understood it.

Martial Artists are classified by their physical quality.

Levels 1-9.9 are considered ordinary people.

Levels 10.0-19.9 are known as Entry Rank Martial Artists or First Rank Martial Artists.

Levels 20.0-29.9 are called Second Rank Martial Artists.

Prime Warrior is a term of respect for those above Second Rank Martial Artists.

First Rank Martial Artists, with physical qualities between levels 10-19, often need to use hot weapons to contend with Star Realm Creatures.

Prime Warriors, with at least level 20 physical quality and the ability to wield the miraculous Origin Power, are incredibly strong; ordinary hot weapons are nearly useless against them.

They use cold weapons combined with Origin Power to fight powerful Star Realm Creatures... but Prime Warriors are exceedingly rare.

At least, in the past decade or so, Li Yuan had never encountered a Prime Warrior in real life, only through various videos and images.

Lord Wan was the first.

"The rapid recent improvement in your martial arts skills and physical quality must be directly related to your spiritual power," Lord Wan said with a smile. "Spiritual power is challenging to measure directly, and those with exceptional spiritual talent are extremely rare... For instance, among the twenty million people in Jiang City, not even one emerges in a year."

"Therefore, assessments like the college entrance exams or even special admissions at other times do not include spiritual power in their testing scope."

"Moreover, generally speaking, even if we don't go testing for it, those with exceptional spiritual talents will gradually reveal themselves in university, where they can then receive specialized training without delay."

Li Yuan suddenly understood after a little thought.

Testing for spiritual power? You'd generally need a Third Rank Martial Artist, but even Second Rank Prime Warriors are extremely rare.

The strength of a Third Rank Martial Artist...is beyond the comprehension of ordinary people. How could such figures have the time to do such things?

Input and reward are not proportional.

"And you, Li Yuan," Lord Wan smiled, "are one of those with spiritual power talent one in a million."

Li Yuan was speechless.

Spiritual power talent? He feared he was not.

"However, I can cultivate the 'Great Sun Starry Sky Scripture'. My limit, compared to those with natural talents, will only be stronger." Li Yuan muttered to himself.

From Lord Wan's attitude,

Li Yuan had realized just how precious the 'Great Sun Starry Sky Scripture' was—could it directly enhance spiritual power? It definitely belonged to that category of inconceivable methods.

Just that, Li Yuan hadn't intended to expose it yet.

Because, from his own experience, having the method seemed useless.

"Every time I can cultivate, it is when my consciousness is focused on the Great Sun Jade Platform in the Mind Spirit Divine Palace," Li Yuan thought: "If I hand over the method? It is very likely to jeopardize my safety first."

"How do I explain the origin of the method? Say that I awakened it?"

Who would believe that?

Would he be taken by powerful figures for experiments? Entirely possible.

Only two seconds.

Li Yuan had already made up his mind, before he understood the real secret of the 'Great Sun Starry Sky Scripture',

before he had sufficient strength to protect himself, he mustn't reveal the secrets of the Mind Spirit Divine Palace.

"In the future, when I cultivate the 'Great Sun Starry Sky Scripture', I'll have to be careful not to be detected by anyone." Li Yuan resolved privately.

"Li Yuan."

"How do you feel?" Lord Wan smiled, "A Grade B contract is the highest authority I can offer, a cash payment of 9 million Blue Star Coins, resources and treasures worth a total of 9 million Blue Star Coins, plus a total value of '18 million Blue Star Coins' in mentorship, Spear Technique Manual, and Origin Power Manual."

"Granted in six increments over six years."

"If you're still not satisfied, I am willing to personally sponsor you a one-time cash bonus of one million." Lord Wan smiled at Li Yuan.

Li Yuan held his breath, suspecting he had heard wrong.

He had thought a Grade B contract would be good, but never imagined it would be this good.

The value of 18 million Blue Star Coins in mentorship guidance and manuals not to mention, those things aren't tangible and their value is quite abstract.

But just cash + treasures alone already amount to a total value of 18 million Blue Star Coins.

It's three times that of a Grade D contract!

Even if it's spread over six years, it's still incredibly extravagant for Li Yuan, a high school senior.

Moreover, is Lord Wan willing to provide a personal sponsorship of one million Blue Star Coins? In cash?

Even more unbelievable to Li Yuan.

Right.

With a Grade B contract worth tens of millions of Blue Star Coins, that's what the Martial Hall offers, not Lord Wan spending his own money.

But personal sponsorship means Lord Wan is really forking out his own cash.

"Phew!"

Li Yuan took a deep breath, finding it hard to calm down for a long time.

It wasn't that Li Yuan wasn't steady; rather... the offer was simply too generous.

Lord Wan wasn't in a hurry either, watching Li Yuan with a smile.

"Lord Wan."

Li Yuan finally spoke, "The conditions you offer are indeed so favorable I can't refuse... It's just that I still need to discuss it at home."

"No problem, you're not of age yet, and to sign the contract early on, your guardian's signature would be needed anyway," Lord Wan nodded in agreement.

"Additionally," Li Yuan hesitated, then said: "The Starry Sky Martial Hall approached me two days ago with an early contract signing as well, but it's just a Grade D contract, I haven't agreed."

"I was planning to go talk to them this weekend." Li Yuan chose to tell the truth without exaggeration.

"The Starry Sky Martial Hall?"

"Approached you for an early contract signing? How did they?" Now it was Lord Wan's turn to be stunned.

Only a second.

Lord Wan seemed to realize something.

"Li Yuan, wait a moment." Lord Wan raised his hand to activate his smart ring, quickly searching for something.

Soon, Lord Wan stopped scrolling through the light screen.

"So that's how it is."

Lord Wan suddenly smiled: "Li Yuan, you have already entered the Blue Star Youth Ranking, I just took office, I didn't know about this document before."

"The Blue Star Youth Ranking, originating from the Starry Skies Fighting Network... The Starry Sky Martial Hall really played a good game."

"They must have discovered it."

"But with your qualifications, even if you sign early, they should at least offer you a Grade C contract."

"A Grade D contract? That's simply an insult to a Martial Path genius like you." Lord Wan shook his head slightly.

"An insult to me?" Li Yuan was astonished.