Chapter 22

After leaving Instructor Carter's office, Sun Yan went straight to his best friend Mu Tong's dormitory, not even bothering to go to class. Since the homeroom teacher Li Gang had even invoked the [Teacher Protection Measures], there was no need for him to go to class and invite humiliation.

Sitting cross-legged on the bed, Sun Yan's thoughts were in turmoil, unable to calm down for a long time.

He had a moment of clarity. Instructor Carter's change in attitude was because he recognized Sun Yan's martial arts talent, which was why he cast the decisive opposing vote.

Regardless, Sun Yan was filled with gratitude for Instructor Carter's help. This was the first time in his life that a teacher had taken him seriously, and it felt wonderful.

Because of his strength?

Clenching his fists, the feeling of the power surging within him made Sun Yan's gaze increasingly confident and bright.

At the same time, thinking about how the Qian family had used underhanded tactics to activate the [Teacher Protection Measures] to punish him for beating up Qian Lin, Sun Yan's anger flared. If it were another student, their life would be ruined, which was truly malicious.

There are less than 9 days left, huh! The Qian family, we'll see how you handle the martial arts test then!

Sun Yan sneered, then his expression turned solemn. He immersed himself in his thoughts and began to circulate the inner essence within his body. He still didn't have absolute confidence that he could achieve three A- ratings on the martial arts test, so he needed to train harder.

Inside his body, the inner essence flowed slowly, as thick as a little finger, starting from the dantian, rising to the top of the head at the Baihui point, and descending to the soles of the feet at the Yongquan points. In an instant, it spread throughout his limbs and bones, then returned to the dantian. With each circulation of the inner essence, Sun Yan could feel a slight, almost imperceptible increase in its power.

This was not an illusion but a real sensation. Sun Yan's skin also rippled and glowed with a strange luster as the inner essence circulated.

This was the process of tempering the body and gathering the inner essence, a sign that the inner essence of a first-level martial artist had stabilized and was refining the body from the outside in, with the essence penetrating the skin and muscles. This was the realm of a first-level martial artist nearing the peak of inner essence.

From this point on, a martial artist's body would truly be strengthened. According to Sun Yan's knowledge, when the inner essence fully refines the body from the outside in, it reaches the realm of a seventh-level martial artist. At that point, they can be called a high-level martial artist, possessing immense power.

Ordinary martial artists usually take 5 years or more to condense their inner essence and reach the peak of inner essence. For example, the elite students in the A-class of the third year at Nan Ying Academy, some of whom were already first-level martial artists when they entered the academy, but after 3 years, only a few have reached the peak of inner essence and advanced to the second level. In total, there are only a dozen or so in the entire A-class of the third year.

Most people become first-level martial artists around the age of 18. After that, each major advancement in inner essence cultivation takes a very long time. In today's society, the average martial realm is that of a third-level martial artist. This means that for most people, once they reach the third level, they will have difficulty advancing further in their lifetime.

Martial artists are divided into ten levels, also known as the ten levels of martial realm. The third level is a critical point, the sixth level is a major threshold, and the ninth level is a significant barrier.

Among the countless martial artists, those who can break through the third level of martial realm are known as intermediate martial artists. These martial artists have the qualifications to enter the upper echelons of society and become social elites. The so-called martial arts geniuses, with their extraordinary talent, are certain to break through the sixth level of martial realm and have the potential to reach the ninth level, thereby transforming and becoming martial arts masters.

Sun Yan's progress in inner essence cultivation is incredibly fast, a testament to his genius.

Time passed, and Sun Yan trained tirelessly, circulating the inner essence within his body without stopping. When his dantian was completely saturated and he felt mentally exhausted, he fell into a deep sleep on the bed.

...

In the evening, Sun Yan woke up from his deep sleep, squinting to check the time, which was 17:15.

He turned over and groaned, "Hmm, let me sleep a bit more. I won't go back tonight."

Mu Tong's voice, as if a thunderclap, rang out, "Ayan, you pig! You're just a stupid pig."

"What's wrong now?" Sun Yan sat up, rubbing his ears, which were ringing, and said helplessly.

"Do you know what you missed last night? Shui Meimei came looking for you, and you said you were too busy? In that situation, you should have come back even if you had to crawl."

Mu Tong stood by the bed, glaring at him with extreme disdain and scolded him with a tone of deep regret, "You're a pig, with no brains at all. Was that the time to act cool?"

"I really had something important to do last night." Sun Yan stretched his limbs and suddenly looked at Mu Tong in surprise, noticing that his friend seemed different today.

Wearing a neatly pressed silver suit, his messy hair was now slicked back, and his thick black-rimmed glasses had been replaced with gold-rimmed ones, giving him a scholarly air.

In short, he looked like a well-dressed beast!

Sun Yan looked him up and down, "Are you going on a date with a girl? What a wolf in sheep's clothing."

Mu Tong snapped his fingers, "Not quite, but close enough!" He waved a golden invitation, "Tech Elite Exchange! I hear there are a lot of beautiful women there. I really wanted to bring you, Ayan, but the entrance requires answering three academic questions randomly. If you fail, you're out."

"Typical of academics, always making things complicated." Sun Yan was uninterested, but then his expression changed, "Date!"

He suddenly remembered the 7 PM meeting with Feng Lingxue on the roof of the C-level teaching building, and his face fell. It was truly a death date!

"OK! I might not come back tonight, don't wait for me." Mu Tong blew a kiss, spun a dance step to the door, and turned the handle. Suddenly, his body stiffened, and he couldn't move.

"What's wrong?" Sun Yan turned his head in surprise and was also stunned. Standing at the door was a beautiful girl, the class president, Shui Lianqing.

Her wavy aqua hair was tied in a ponytail, her school uniform pants were tight, showing great elasticity, and her black school uniform top clung tightly to her body, outlining her attractive curves, making her look very beautiful and cute.

Mu Tong, blocking the door, stared with wide eyes and stammered, "Shui, Shui... Shui Lianqing."

"Good evening, Mu Tong." Shui Lianqing smiled, her gaze passing over Mu Tong and landing on Sun Yan, frowning, "Sun Yan, you're skipping class again."

Mu Tong looked at his friend and then at Shui Lianqing, suddenly feeling that the evening exchange was a complete waste. He wanted to stay, but such a heartless act was not what friends do.

So, Mu Tong waved his hand gracefully, "I have a gathering tonight, talk later!" and rushed out the door, his heart bleeding.

The door closed again, and Shui Lianqing stood by it, looking at Sun Yan, who was deep in thought. She felt nervous and extremely shy. This was the first time she had ever gone to a boy's dormitory.

"How can he not even say hello? How rude! Does he dislike me for coming? Never mind, there are only 9 days left until the final exam, and I must find a way to break through."

Shui Lianqing's face showed determination as she said softly, "Sun Yan, can you practice with me tonight?"

Sun Yan was still worried about the death date and was surprised to hear her, "Practice?" Thinking of the 7 PM date, he shook his head, "Not tonight, I have a date."

Another date? You had a date last night and tonight too, what a lie!

Shui Lianqing's hands, behind her back, were tightly clasped together. She naturally thought Sun Yan was making an excuse. With her usual pride, she wanted to turn and leave. But thinking of the final exam, if she couldn't break through the third level of the [Weak Water Technique], her chances of getting into one of the top 20 higher academies in the Nanfeng region were slim.

"Sun Yan, just one night of practice will help me break through the third level of the [Weak Water Technique]," Shui Lianqing's voice carried a hint of pleading.

Thinking of the 7 PM meeting with Feng Lingxue, Sun Yan felt a headache. He frowned, "I really have a date." Looking up, he was surprised to see tears streaming down Shui Lianqing's face.

Shui Lianqing sobbed, "Wah... wah..."

"What's wrong? What's the matter?"

Sun Yan quickly stood up, panicking. It was the first time in his life that he had seen a girl cry in front of him, especially a beautiful girl like Shui Lianqing.

"Shui Lianqing, don't cry! What's wrong?" Sun Yan was at a loss.

Leaning against the wall, Shui Lianqing looked very weak. She glared with tearful eyes and shouted, "Do you know how hard we work? We train day and night just to get into a better higher academy. And you? You sleep in class, skip classes, and are half-hearted in martial arts classes, but you can achieve in one day what we take a month to do. You learn any martial technique instantly, and you can perform [Inner Essence Stimulation] at the first level."

"Do you geniuses have to be so arrogant? I just want to break through before the final exam and get into one of the top 20 higher academies in the Nanfeng region, wah... wah..."

Seeing the crying girl, Sun Yan was speechless. He finally understood why Shui Lianqing had come to him. He thought back to his own past, when his feelings were much like hers.

Sun Yan walked closer and said gently, "Don't cry, Shui Lianqing. We have 9 days left. I'll practice with you until you break through."

"Really?" Shui Lianqing looked up in surprise, her beautiful face tear-streaked, looking very touching. She couldn't believe Sun Yan had really agreed to practice with her until she broke through the [Weak Water Technique].

Seeing the girl's tears turn to a smile, Sun Yan felt relieved, "Don't waste time, let's start now." As for the evening date, since it was a matter of life and death, he would pretend he never saw the message.

Sun Yan's personality was straightforward, and he immediately pulled Shui Lianqing into practice. Although the dormitory space was not spacious, Shui Lianqing's goal was to stimulate the [Weak Water Technique] through [Inner Essence Stimulation], so the size of the space was not an issue.

They took off their coats, sat cross-legged facing each other, and placed their palms together, the standard position for [Inner Essence Stimulation].

"Start!"

Sun Yan said, and Shui Lianqing nodded in understanding, then activated her inner essence, which flowed out through her palms.

"Such a supple inner essence, is this the effect of the [Weak Water Technique]?" Sun Yan frowned and quickly activated his inner essence, adjusting it to the same level to counter it.

From his previous knowledge, the unique techniques of martial arts families were very powerful