The Principal’s Office.
After listening to Zhou Yun and Wang Wenhai’s report, Principal Zhang Qiming shot up from his chair.
"The True Intention of Martial Arts? Are you sure?" Principal Zhang’s voice carried a rare hint of urgency.
Although he had seen the recording of the sparring session, the True Intention of Martial Arts was a spiritual concept, sothing that couldn’t be discerned from a video.
"I’m certain!" Wang Wenhai said decisively. "It’s still very faint, but that kind of explosive power isn’t sothing an ordinary Martial Technique can achieve."
"Good! Good! Good!"
Zhang Qiming repeated the word "good" three tis, his face glowing with excitent as he paced back and forth in his office.
"With the True Intention of Martial Arts, his score in the combat exam is guaranteed to get a huge boost!"
He clapped Wang Wenhai forcefully on the shoulder. "Wenhai, Zhou Yun, you’ve both done an incredible job nurturing such a fine talent!"
"Principal, it’s the result of his own hard work," Zhou Yun said humbly, though her face bead with gratification.
"His Basic Body Refining Technique and Spear Technique have both reached Minor Achievent, and now he’s grasped the True Intention of Martial Arts. Even if he can’t compare to Yu Peiling yet, he has a great shot at one of the Three Greats," Wang Wenhai added.
Zhang Qiming mulled it over for a mont, a sharp glint in his eyes. "Keep this information confidential. Don’t spread it around. With the joint exam just around the corner, I want to see just how big of a surprise he can give us!"
The True Intention of Martial Arts was a trump card. When revealed at a critical mont, it could completely turn the tide of battle.
This tri-school joint exam was the perfect opportunity to play that trump card.
In the actual college entrance exams, no one would know their opponents beforehand, so the value of such intelligence would be diminished.
After discussing a few more details, Zhou Yun and Wang Wenhai took their leave.
The office fell silent once more.
Zhang Qiming contemplated for a mont, then turned and sat back down in his office chair. He picked up a virtual access patch from his desk and applied it to the spot between his eyebrows.
This was a high-end virtual connection device, the likes of which an ordinary student had probably never even seen.
This was not only because of its price tag, which easily ran into the millions, but also because it was restricted to those at the Martial Master Level or above, requiring a minimum Spiritual Ability Level of 25.
His consciousness connected, and he entered the Star Martial Battle Network.
Zhang Qiming teleported directly to a private eting space, its style simple and elegant.
A mont later, another figure materialized. It was a middle-aged man in a suit with ticulously combed hair and a lean face—Principal Han Shiwen of United Middle School.
"Old Zhang, why the sudden call? Getting cold feet about the joint exam?" Han Shiwen asked with a grin, his tone familiar and teasing.
"Don’t you worry. I’ve got a way to deal with that little fatty from Silver Port. You guys at Red River can just stick to cheering from the sidelines this ti."
Although Honghe First Middle School and United Middle School were rivals, both principals were High-Tier Martial Artists and had been friends for decades.
Zhang Qiming snorted, putting on a stern expression. "Cut the crap, Big Head Han. That bet you proposed a few days ago? I’m in!"
Han Shiwen’s eyes lit up. "Oh? You really dare to accept? The stake is that thirty-year-old jar of ’Red Blood Brew’ you ntioned!"
"Of course!" Zhang Qiming said, full of confidence. "We’ll bet on which school gets the better results in this tri-school joint exam! If I win, you have to lend your rare copy of the Starfall Boxing Manual to study for a month."
"You’ve got a deal!" Han Shiwen laughed and extended his hand.
"Old Zhang, you seem pretty confident this year, huh? But let remind you, even without Peiling participating, we still have a few other excellent prospects."
"We’ll just have to wait and see."
Zhang Qiming gave him a virtual high-five, but inwardly, he was smirking.
The two exchanged a few more pleasantries before logging off.
...
Two days passed in the blink of an eye.
The Red River City Comprehensive Martial Arts Center was buzzing with activity.
The third-year Martial Arts Students from Honghe First Middle School, United Middle School, and Silver Port First High School—along with their supervising teachers, school leaders, and invited observers from the Provincial Martial Arts Association—had nearly filled the audience seats.
In the center of the venue were several standardized alloy arenas, reflecting the cold glare of the powerful lights overhead.
This was the site of the tri-school joint exam’s martial arts test. The written exams had already concluded half a month prior, following the sa format as the college entrance exams.
For Martial Arts Students, they first had to et the minimum score on their written exams before they could even participate in the martial arts test.
Xu Wuyi, dressed in a standard-issue Martial Arts Uniform, stood in his designated area.
He could clearly feel gazes sizing him up from the other two directions.
In the United Middle School team, Zhao Ding, a practitioner of the Iron Wall Technique, stood at the very front. His burly fra and steady presence made him look like an iron tower.
Su Yueling, who was rumored to be skilled in the Shadow Sword Technique, was nowhere to be seen, hidden sowhere among the crowd.
At the front of the Silver Port First High School team, Li Mo’s tall figure was particularly conspicuous.
With his arms crossed, he scanned the ranks of Honghe First Middle School, his eyes quickly locking onto Xu Wuyi.
He grinned, a provocative smile spreading across his face, and actually strode directly toward the Honghe First Middle School area.
"Xu Wuyi!"
Li Mo’s voice was loud, causing many people nearby to turn and look. "You got lucky on the Battle Network last ti! We’ll fight again today, and I won’t give you a single chance! Just you wait!"
Xu Wuyi chuckled, finding himself at a loss for words. Li Mo’s taunt didn’t sound threatening at all; instead, it was as amusing as a child picking a fight.
Just as he was about to respond, a cool, clear female voice ca from behind Li Mo.
"Little Mo, get back here."
Everyone looked over and saw a tall woman approaching. Her features bore a slight resemblance to Li Mo’s.
Hearing her voice, Li Mo instinctively flinched, and most of the arrogance on his face vanished in an instant. He mumbled reluctantly, "Sis, I was just saying hi..."
"Provoking others privately is forbidden during the exam period. Have you forgotten the rules?" the woman said coolly, reaching out and grabbing Li Mo’s ear. "Get back over there. Don’t embarrass yourself here."
"Ow, Sis, be gentle, be gentle... I’m going, I’m going, alright...?"
Wincing in pain, the tall Li Mo was easily dragged away by his sister, scurrying back to the Silver Port First High School team in disgrace.
This dramatic scene made many of the surrounding students unable to stifle their laughter. At the sa ti, their curiosity was piqued by the woman who could so easily subdue Li Mo.
"That’s Li Mo’s sister, Li Shuang. She’s a forr genius from Silver Port First High School and should be studying at the Starry Sky Martial Arts Academy now. I didn’t expect her to be back," Zeng Bonan whispered to Xu Wuyi.
Star Martial University was one of the Three Greats. If one had to describe its status simply, a single sentence would suffice.
The Star Martial Battle Network is a subsidiary of the Star Martial Group, and the Star Martial Group was founded and is controlled by Star Martial University.
In the Age of Martial Arts, the concept of a top-tier university was far beyond anything comparable to the old era.
After graduation, a large number of outstanding students wouldn’t enter various industries. Instead, because they were all Martial Artists, they would spontaneously band together.
Star Martial University’s Star Martial Group, Black Stone Academy’s Sky Tower, and Starry Sky Martial Arts Academy’s Galaxy Company are all similar entities.
They are filled with martial arts elites, and many graduates of the Three Greats directly join one of them after finishing their studies.
Their financial power and influence are colossal within the Federation; perhaps only the military can definitively hold them in check.
Xu Wuyi nodded, his gaze sweeping over Li Shuang. The latter seed to sense his stare and turned her head, giving him a slight nod.
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