Chapter 9: Qi and Blood Elixir

Logically, high school seniors are already under a lot of pressure and shouldn't be asked such sensitive questions now.

Moreover, there are still nine months until the college entrance exam.

However, since Li Changzhou was about to embark on a long journey and he believed that Li Yuan wouldn't be affected, he decided to ask.

Aunt Chen Hui couldn't help but look at Li Yuan. She had been taking care of his daily life for a long time and naturally cared about him.

"College entrance exam志愿 (volunteer)?" Li Yuan thought for a moment and said, "Uncle and Aunt, I still plan to become a full-time martial artist. My first goal is to get into one of the top five martial arts universities."

"If I can't get in, I'll try to enter the 'Martial Artist Class' at Jiangbei Martial Arts University."

Full-time martial artist?

Li Changzhou and Chen Hui exchanged a glance, a hint of worry passing between them.

Graduates from martial arts universities are not necessarily full-time martial artists.

For example, Li Changzhou, who attended a martial arts university and had decent grades, eventually pursued other majors.

Martial artists have a comprehensive advantage over ordinary people. Even in daily work, their energy and thinking speed far exceed those of ordinary people, making it more likely for them to achieve great success.

However, full-time martial artists, as the name suggests, devote themselves entirely to martial arts, striving to advance further in the field, but it is more dangerous.

Because, the further a martial artist cultivates, the more they need to undergo various life-and-death battles to improve...

"Xiao Yuan, can't you pursue another major? After graduation, you could become a civil servant or a martial arts teacher, which are both good options," Chen Hui couldn't help but say.

In her eyes, Li Yuan and Li Muhua were no different.

She was like a mother, most concerned about Li Yuan's safety.

In her view, becoming a civil servant or a martial arts teacher was the best job.

"Full-time martial artist?" Li Changzhou didn't object, but pondered, "Can you get into one of the top five martial arts universities? Your school only has a few students who get in each year. Did you awaken your martial spirit today?"

Li Changzhou was well aware of the difficulty of getting into the top five martial arts universities.

Jiangbei Martial Arts University admits 10,000 students each year in Jiangbei Province.

The top five martial arts universities combined admit around 10,000 students nationwide each year.

In Jiangbei Province, they only admit a few hundred students each year.

"No, I haven't awakened," Li Yuan shook his head.

"No awakening, then what about you..." Li Changzhou frowned.

"But today, during the school's small test, my physical fitness was rated at 6.5 levels," Li Yuan said, "and my martial arts skills scored over 360 points."

Li Changzhou's eyes lit up, and a hint of excitement was evident on his face.

He understood the significance of Li Yuan's scores.

"Really?" Chen Hui was also quite surprised.

She remembered that Li Yuan's performance at the end of last semester, though excellent, was far from what it is now.

Especially his physical fitness, which improved by 0.5 levels in a short time, was quite astonishing.

"Mr. Xu Bo personally tested me, and the martial arts skills score is based on the college entrance exam standards," Li Yuan added.

Mr. Xu Bo tested him?

Li Changzhou nodded slightly.

He knew Mr. Xu Bo, who was somewhat famous in the entire Guanshan District.

Previously, when Li Changzhou heard that Mr. Xu Bo became Li Yuan's martial arts class teacher, he was very happy, thinking Li Yuan had a good teacher.

"Great!"

"Xiao Yuan, if you keep this up, even if you don't get into the top five universities, you have a good chance of entering Jiangbei University's 'Martial Artist Class'," Li Changzhou smiled, this was the best news he had heard today.

Li Yuan looked at his uncle and aunt, sighing inwardly.

He originally planned to surprise them at the January adjustment exam.

Now that his uncle was about to leave, Li Yuan thought it would be better to let him leave with some peace of mind.

As parents, they are most concerned about their children's safety and future.

"College entrance exam志愿 (volunteer) can wait. Whether you become a full-time martial artist or not, you can decide after you get into a martial arts university," Li Changzhou advised, "for now, focus on your studies."

"I understand," Li Yuan nodded firmly.

"About my trip to the northern border, just keep it between us for now," Li Changzhou added, "in the future, when I'm not around, help your aunt take care of your younger siblings... You've had a long day, go back to your room and rest."

"Okay." Li Yuan thought for a moment and ultimately didn't mention the third-class scholarship.

He got up and left the master bedroom.

The door closed.

"Old Li." Chen Hui looked at Li Changzhou, her tone filled with anger, "Did you just support Xiao Yuan becoming a full-time martial artist?"

She was indeed angry.

"Didn't you hear his scores?" Li Changzhou shook his head, "Over 360 points in martial arts skills, this rate of improvement... even my brother's college entrance exam martial arts score wasn't this high."

"You still remember your brother," Chen Hui gritted her teeth, "your brother and sister-in-law, they saved us back then..."

"Stop it," Li Changzhou frowned.

"You won't let me speak, but I will," Chen Hui suddenly stood up, staring at her husband, her eyes slightly red, "your brother and sister-in-law helped us so much, leaving only Xiao Yuan. Do you know how dangerous it is to be a full-time martial artist?"

"How many of your former classmates who chose the full-time martial artist path are still alive?"

"I know what you mean," Li Changzhou looked at his wife, sighed, and pulled her to sit down.

"But the child is growing up and has his own will."

"We can only advise, not force," Li Changzhou said, "after I leave, you can slowly persuade him."

"Besides, the path of a full-time martial artist isn't easy."

"How many students who get into martial arts universities really want to become full-time martial artists? But in the end, very few take this path."

"Once he gets into university and realizes there are many others, even if we don't persuade him, he will calm down," Li Changzhou said.

Chen Hui reluctantly nodded.

"Wife, stay with me a bit longer," Li Changzhou hugged his wife.

Chen Hui calmed down, leaning against her husband's chest.

Time passed.

It was almost midnight.

"The children should be asleep," Li Changzhou finally got up, speaking softly, "wife, I need to go, or I'll miss the high-speed train."

"Once I get to the northern border, the 500,000 yuan subsidy promised by the state will be transferred to you."

"The house... is in your hands."

...

In Li Yuan's room.

The lights were off, with only the faint streetlights and moonlight shining through the window.

In the less than 20 square meter room, there were two wardrobes and a miniature home virtual network cabin occupying about two square meters.

The rest of the space was empty.

One of the wardrobes in Li Yuan's room was designed as a foldable Murphy bed.

The purpose was to save space and allow him to do simple cultivation at home.

However, since he awakened his mental palace in his sophomore year, Li Yuan rarely used the Murphy bed, preferring to sit directly on the wooden floor.

Today was no exception.

"Hmm?" Li Yuan, sitting on the floor, twitched his ears.

His strong physical fitness gave him superior hearing, and the deep silence of the night made him very sensitive to any movement.

"Uncle left?"

Li Yuan heard the slight sound of the door closing and, like a cat, got up without making a sound.

He went to the window.

Half a minute later, Li Yuan saw his uncle Li Changzhou carrying a suitcase, hurriedly walking out of the building.

After a few steps, Li Changzhou paused, looked up at the building, and then continued, disappearing around the corner.

Li Yuan stood by the window for a long time.

"Uncle, are you really willing to go to the northern border?" Li Yuan sighed inwardly.

Uncle's words, "someone has to go," deeply touched him.

From a young age, Uncle had a strong sense of patriotism and had always guided Li Yuan.

However, in Li Yuan's view, the situation in the northern border didn't seem to have reached that point yet.

"Uncle's decision isn't just about the national call, it's probably also for the high subsidy," Li Yuan's eyes dimmed, "Muhua and I practicing martial arts put a lot of financial pressure on the family."

He raised his hand.

Buzz~ Silently, a beam of light shot out from Li Yuan's wrist, forming a transparent light screen projection in front of his chest.

On the screen, there were numerous war reports about the 'Lobu Sea Star System,' including news about 'participation subsidies' and 'support subsidies.'

"I must get into one of the top five martial arts universities," Li Yuan murmured, his resolve growing stronger.

Huff!

Li Yuan went to the wardrobe by the window, gently pressed it, and the door opened.

In front of Li Yuan, besides clothes, there was only a special metal box. The box's exterior was adorned with a pattern of the endless starry sky, shining brightly.

This was the symbol of the 'Starry Sky Martial Hall,' one of the three major martial halls.

He opened the box.

"Basic Qi and Blood Elixir." Li Yuan stared at the two rows of ten bottles of elixir in the box, nine of which were empty, leaving only one intact.

He took out the last bottle, holding it in his hand.

"Two thousand yuan per bottle." Li Yuan stared at the exquisite bottle, which was nearly transparent, smooth, and gave a slight chill when held.

This was a specially designed bottle that could maintain the efficacy of the medicine for a long time.

Through the bottle, one could see the flowing crimson liquid, which, under the faint moonlight, appeared slightly red and gave a sense of vitality.

This was the general-purpose basic Qi and Blood Elixir.

Like ordinary meals, even nutritious meals, could only ensure that the body's Qi and blood wouldn't be depleted during high-intensity training.

But to accelerate the body's evolution? Various precious elixirs and treasures were needed.

According to Li Yuan, many precious medicines had better effects than the general Qi and Blood Elixir, but they were much more expensive.

In terms of cost-effectiveness, the basic Qi and Blood Elixir was the highest among auxiliary cultivation medicines.

Even so, it cost 2,000 blue star coins per bottle.

Li Yuan's cultivation required one bottle every three days.

In a month, he would spend about 20,000 blue star coins just on the basic Qi and Blood Elixir.

Including daily meals.

In a month, Li Yuan would spend nearly 30,000 blue star coins on cultivation supplies.

Not to mention clothing and class fees.

Including Li Xixi, Li Muhua... the financial pressure on Uncle and Aunt was evident.

"According to the schedule, I need to drink one bottle today." Li Yuan gently pulled out the stopper.

A strange smell spread.

"Swallow." Li Yuan tilted his head and drank the entire bottle of basic Qi and Blood Elixir.

Making sure not to leave a drop.

He then placed the empty bottle back in the box.

Soon, Li Yuan felt a warm current spreading from his body, gradually diffusing throughout, being greedily absorbed by his muscles and bones.

It felt very comfortable.

"Recently, after three days of intense cultivation, the effects of the last bottle of Qi and Blood Elixir have almost worn off, and my muscles and bones are thirsty." Li Yuan was satisfied with the medicine's effects.

"Hmm."

"After midnight, it's time to cultivate the 'Great Sun Starry Sky Sutra.'" Li Yuan sat cross-legged and closed his eyes.

Gradually, his mind emptied, and his spirit focused.

His consciousness concentrated in his mind.

Boom!

Silently, his consciousness arrived at a mysterious place.

Here, a strange palace floated.

(End of Chapter)