High-Level Martial Era

Perhaps to protect Li Yuan, the Left Hall Master ordered two spider combat robots to follow him all the way, only leaving his side as he was about to enter the school.

As for the school's interior? In large cities nowadays, places like schools, research institutes, government buildings, and mega-malls are all stationed with combat robots.

There are also numerous combat robots patrolling along the streets and through the residential areas.

This is precisely why, despite some casualties, small-scale Star Realm Creature attacks are quickly exterminated once they are detected, and they hardly ever cause any significant commotion.

This has become the urban defense system gradually established over the past hundred years, accompanied by the advancement of human civilization's technology and the accumulation of experience.

Entering the school, it was nearly seven.

Li Yuan headed straight for the cafeteria.

Despite the turmoil outside, it didn't affect the cooks from preparing the meals on time.

"Brother Yuan, over here." Zhou Qi called out to Li Yuan.

Li Yuan bought soy milk and two bowls of hot dry noodles and sat down with his classmates.

"Li Yuan, I've noticed that you've been arriving later and later these days," Lǐ Tianyou said while taking big bites of his food.

"Isn't it because of the Star Realm Creature attack warnings? I only came out after the alerts were lifted," Li Yuan said with a smile. "Aren't you the same?"

"I also waited for the alert to be lifted."

"My dad drove me to school, afraid of running into danger," others chimed in. "I heard that last night, a lot of people died on Binhu Road."

"Sigh!"

"Hopefully none from our school."

While his classmates sighed over a Star Realm Creature attack that caused dozens of casualties, happening right in Guan Mountain District, they have also grown somewhat accustomed to it.

The frequency was just too high.

"Li Yuan," Lǐ Tianyou said seriously, "It's not just today, but for the past two months you've often arrived later in the morning than even me."

"Are you slacking off a bit?"

"Tired of studying, huh?" Li Yuan replied jokingly. "You're the real study bug of our class."

Ever since signing with Starfire Martial Hall and learning two Second Rank secret manuals, Li Yuan often practiced his Spear Technique and movement technique late into the night in the virtual internet.

Therefore, he no longer arrived at school before five every day, and occasionally it would even be past six.

"Tianyou, who do you think you are, waking up earlier than chickens and sleeping later than donkeys?" Zhou Qi teased. "Look at you, you've become thinner than when school started. Take it easy."

"Yeah, Tianyou, you're pushing yourself too hard. Remember to eat more vitality and blood potions. In Martial Arts Cultivation, that's an expense you can't skimp on," Yan Zhou added.

"Yes, I know," Lǐ Tianyou replied softly, his head lowered as he ate.

Li Yuan casually glanced at Lǐ Tianyou.

He could clearly see the Physical Quality Level of the other party...Lǐ Tianyou's training was indeed intense, but his physical quality hadn't improved much.

It was clear his nutrition was lagging behind.

Li Yuan would occasionally give a side comment or two, but Lǐ Tianyou only took it to heart in words...after enough times, Li Yuan chose to stay silent.

Each person has their own fate, and one can only be responsible for oneself.

"Brother Yuan, the January exams are coming up soon, and there'll be another Spiritual Aptitude Test," Zhou Qi said, putting down his cutlery. "What do you think about it?"

"Spiritual Aptitude Test?" Li Yuan was taken aback, soon shaking his head, "I don't know."

The other students had already begun discussing it.

The Spiritual Aptitude Test adds 10% to the total score of the Martial Arts exam, which is enough to change one's destiny and potentially allow students with no previous hope for Martial Arts University to reach its gates...

In this era, unless one's cultural exam scores could challenge the top universities, most students are well aware that the path of the Martial Path holds more promise than that of cultural studies.

It's just that Martial Arts University is extremely hard to get into.

"[You have slain an Entry Rank creature and obtained Spiritual Nutrients, achieving a Spiritual Awakening Level of 0.6%]" Li Yuan quickly finished his breakfast and was engrossed in the recent message that appeared on his Mind Spirit Divine Palace panel.

This notification.

He received it after killing a member of the Fish Spirit Clan, and it even brought changes to the Divine Palace panel.

——

[Life Level: Level 7.8 (Unranked)]

Physical Quality Index: 81 (Evaluates explosive power, endurance, speed, physique, spiritual power, and many other aspects.)

Fist Strength: 732 kilograms

Speed: 17.4 meters per second

Spiritual Power: Level 14.2

Spiritual Awakening Level: 0.6% (Current upper limit: 20%)

Physical Body Cultivation Method: "Solid Rock Cultivation Method"

Mind Cultivation Method: "Observing the Great Sun Starry Sky Scripture"

Skill Realm: Spear Technique (Third Stage 88%), Body Technique (Third Stage 65%), Fist Technique (Third Stage 99%)

[Note: When the Spiritual Awakening Level reaches 25%, 50%, 75%, 100%, 125%, you will gradually receive Spiritual Guidance.]

——

"Spiritual Awakening Level, what is that?" Li Yuan mused silently, "Is it related to how well-aligned it is with High Rank Cultivation Methods?"

The Divine Palace panel did not offer an explanation.

Or rather, ever since he became aware of the Mind Spirit Divine Palace, Li Yuan had hardly received any explanations.

Most of his understanding came from his own interpretations.

"Judging by the last sentence on the Divine Palace panel, if my Spiritual Awakening Level reaches 25%, will I receive Spiritual Guidance?" Li Yuan frowned, "But my current limit can only reach 20%."

What is Spiritual Guidance? Li Yuan wasn't sure.

However, Li Yuan had a hunch that the high-level Spiritual Nature shown on the Divine Palace panel, and the Martial Spirit valued by human civilization, didn't seem to be the same concept.

"If I want to increase the Spiritual Awakening Level." Li Yuan thought reflectively, "Do I have to kill Entry Rank Star Realm Creatures? To obtain Spiritual Nourishment?"

"Nourishment, is it to nurture my own Spiritual Nature?"

With only one example, Li Yuan had no way to verify his guess.

Nevertheless.

With a Spiritual Awakening Level of 0.6%, Li Yuan felt as if he hadn't changed at all.

"Most likely, I need to raise the awakening level to 25% before any significant change occurs, and maybe I will receive benefits similar to the 'Observing the Great Sun Starry Sky Scripture'." Li Yuan also held a sliver of hope in his heart, "But how do I increase the upper limit of Spiritual Awakening from 20% to 25%?"

"Physical Quality? Or is it spiritual power?"

"Or is it a breakthrough in Martial Arts Skills?"

Li Yuan knew nothing.

...

Regarding changes on the Divine Palace panel.

After pondering without result, Li Yuan decisively ignored it.

Up to this point, the Divine Palace panel had only recorded his Martial Arts Cultivation, it had never directly increased his strength... power still had to be obtained through Li Yuan's step-by-step cultivation.

"Regardless of what Spiritual Awakening is."

"For now, I'll follow the set routine for cultivation, and maybe I'll understand when I am stronger," Li Yuan thought silently.

Conducting experiments by killing Star Realm Creatures? Li Yuan dismissed this idea instantly.

This time, the killing of the Fish Spirit Clan was partly because of Li Yuan's strength and partly because of luck, as the enemy was injured.

If he encounters an uninjured Entry Rank Star Realm Creature, even just level 11 or 12, Li Yuan would almost certainly lose, given their absolute advantage in Physical Quality.

Moreover.

Even if Li Yuan wanted to kill, where would he go?

"No rush, I'll think of a way when the upper limit reaches 25%," Li Yuan was very calm.

...

"I have a piece of bad news to share with everyone."

"Last night, the Star Realm Creatures attacked, and one student from both Senior Year 2, Class 16 and Senior Year 3, Class 8 has been confirmed dead," the cultural class head teacher, Mr. Chen, stood at the lectern and announced solemnly.

Silence fell over the room.

Even a few students who had been whispering stopped.

It wasn't the first time, and those who passed weren't classmates... but belonging to the same school was enough to touch all the students.

"Star Realm Creatures," Li Yuan's gaze sharpened as he subconsciously clenched his fists.

Since childhood, almost everyone had lost friends and classmates to such incidents.

"The school will initiate a fundraising activity. The supervisory account has been published on the school's website," continued Mr. Chen, "The amount is not tallied, donor names will not be disclosed, no third parties are involved, and after the deadline, the funds will be directly transferred to the families of the two students."

"Please donate according to your own situation, there is no obligation."

"Alright, let's continue with the lesson."

"Everyone, look at the second-to-last major problem. This question is a popular type this year and is definitely going to appear in the college entrance exam. I have explained it many times, and many students are still getting it wrong. Today I will explain it one last time, it's fifteen points I'm giving you, so listen carefully..."

...

"About this Star Realm Creature attack."

"The two students who passed away." Inside the Martial Arts classroom, the teacher Xu Bo, stood like a tower, his voice resounding like a bell, "I hope you understand."

"This world has never been peaceful."

"I don't expect all of you to get into Martial Arts University, nor do I force you to join the army and go to the frontline, but I hope you don't slack off in your Martial Path."

"Be a little stronger."

"In the future, if you encounter similar dangers, the hope of surviving will be a bit greater."

...

The Star Realm Creature attack in Jiang City ultimately left eighty-six people dead.

But it didn't cause much of an uproar, and it didn't even stay on the hot search list of Xia Country's virtual networks for a full day.

Because.

At the Rob Sea, another unprecedentedly large battle erupted anew, with Star Realm Creatures attacking like a tide, and in just one day, the military reported over three thousand deaths...

...

January 3, 2043, Jiang City, the January Mock Exam for Senior Year 3, was held as scheduled.