Ufei looked at Xu Wuyi with some anxiety, her hands unconsciously fiddling with the hem of her clothes, but her voice was clear. "G-Greetings, Senior Xu."
Tana added, "Her goal is Star Martial University. She wants to go to the same school as me. Her academic grades are fine, it’s just that her Martial Arts score isn’t quite a sure thing."
Xu Wuyi looked at the girl before him, who was about the same age he had been back then, and his tone softened slightly. "What’s your Life Energy Level right now?"
"Level 13.2," Ufei said in a small voice. "My instructor says that if I can reach Level 14 before the Martial Arts College Entrance Examination, I’ll have a good shot at Star Martial University."
This year, due to the war, the Martial Arts College Entrance Examination had been postponed slightly. Instead of late June, it would begin in mid-July, which was still more than half a month away.
Xu Wuyi nodded.
Seventeen years old, Level 13.2. Those were excellent results for an ordinary student. But to get into one of the Three Greats, it wasn’t a sure bet. A lot would depend on her performance on the day of the exam.
Tana then introduced the remaining dozen or so people. Most were younger members of the Royal Family, with Life Energy Levels between 10 and 20.
After the introductions, she stepped back to Xu Wuyi’s side and said in a low voice, "That’s everyone. How do you want to instruct them?"
Xu Wuyi scanned the group, his gaze passing over one young face after another.
There were over thirty of them, and while the looks in their eyes varied, they all shared a sense of anticipation.
He pondered for a moment, then asked, "Does the Training Ground have Battle Network access devices?"
"Yes," Tarun answered immediately. "There are twenty standard units over there. If you need more, we can have them brought over."
"Get some more," Xu Wuyi said. "Everyone, log into the Battle Network and enter the same training room."
He paused, then added, "I will suppress my Life Energy Level to 10 and only use the Basic Body Refining Technique. Anyone below the rank of Martial Artist is free to challenge me, one-on-one. Whoever beats me will get extra instruction."
As his words fell, an uproar broke out in the Training Ground.
"Level 10? And only using the Basic Body Refining Technique?"
"H-How could we possibly beat him?"
"Isn’t Senior Xu being a bit too overconfident?"
Tana was stunned for a moment, but she quickly recovered, her eyes lighting up. "Everyone, stop the chatter and do as Senior Xu says."
The thirty-plus people all walked toward the Battle Network access area and put on the sensor helmets.
Xu Wuyi chose the nearest device. Before putting on the helmet, he glanced at Tana. "You too?"
Tana grinned. "Of course. I can’t pass up an opportunity like this."
...
「Battle Network Space.」
A standard circular training ground, a hundred meters in diameter, with a floor of hard, bluish-gray stone slabs.
Xu Wuyi’s virtual avatar materialized in the center of the field.
As promised, he adjusted his Life Energy Level to 10, selected "unarmed" as his weapon, and restricted his Martial Arts to the Basic Body Refining Technique.
Soon, figures began to appear one after another at the edge of the Training Ground.
Tana, Tarun, Ufei, and the other young Martial Artists of the Royal Family.
Xu Wuyi stood in the center of the field and spoke calmly, "Who’s first?"
After a brief silence, a young man who looked to be eighteen or nineteen stepped forward. "I’ll go first."
Tana leaned in and whispered to Xu Wuyi, "That’s Taji, my cousin. He’s 19, with a Life Energy Level of 22. He practices the Royal Family’s standard Flame Fist."
Taji walked to a spot ten meters in front of Xu Wuyi and assumed a stance.
He clenched his hands into fists, and a faint red glow appeared on his knuckles—a characteristic of the Flame Fist technique activating one’s Qi and Blood.
"Senior Xu, please guide me." After speaking, Taji pushed off with his feet and charged forward, taking the initiative to attack first.
Normally, for someone with a Life Energy Level of 22 to fight someone at Level 10, the gap in Energy Levels was not only enormous, but he had also crossed the threshold of a Martial Artist. The difference was like heaven and earth.
Against anyone else, the match would probably be decided with a single touch, but Taji still didn’t dare to be arrogant and went all out.
This was only because his opponent was Xu Wuyi, the Innate Martial Artist known as the "Federation’s number one genius."
His speed was not slow. He crossed the ten-meter distance in three steps, his right fist hurtling toward Xu Wuyi’s chest, trailing a wave of scorching air.
It was a standard straight punch, delivered with smooth power and unimpeded Qi and Blood circulation. For someone at Level 22, it was a respectable level of skill.
But Xu Wuyi simply sidestepped slightly.
The fist grazed the corner of his clothes, and the resulting airflow rustled his hair.
Taji’s first strike missed. He immediately changed his move, swinging his left fist in a horizontal arc toward Xu Wuyi’s ribs.
Xu Wuyi didn’t block. Instead, his feet executed the simplest of step techniques—the ’Basic Step’ that accompanied the Basic Body Refining Technique.
With a single step back, he perfectly avoided the fist.
With two consecutive strikes missing, Taji grew a little impatient. He gave a low shout, and both his fists flew out, a torrent of fist-shadows blanketing Xu Wuyi like raindrops.
This was a technique from the Flame Fist called ’Raining Fire,’ which used rapid, continuous strikes to suppress an opponent and was suited for close-quarters combat.
However, Xu Wuyi’s figure weaved through the storm of fists, each step perfectly timed to evade an attack.
His movements didn’t look fast, they even seemed a bit slow, but Taji’s fists always missed by a hair’s breadth.
Thirty seconds later, Taji’s assault began to slow.
Continuous bursts of power consumed a great deal of Qi and Blood. A Level 22 Martial Artist couldn’t maintain such high-intensity output for long.
In the instant Taji paused to catch his breath, Xu Wuyi moved.
He didn’t use any complex techniques. He simply took a step forward, his right hand forming a blade with his straightened fingers, and pointed it at Taji’s throat.
The movement was clean and decisive, the timing impeccably precise. Even with only the strength of a Level 10, a direct hit to a vital point would be enough to kill a Martial Artist.
Taji froze on the spot, his Fist Momentum coming to an abrupt halt.
"You lose," Xu Wuyi said, withdrawing his hand.
Taji’s face flushed red, but he quickly calmed down. He took a step back and bowed. "Thank you for your guidance, Senior."
"Your Flame Fist is practiced well. Your power delivery is correct, and your Qi and Blood circulation is smooth," Xu Wuyi said slowly. "But the problem is also obvious: you’re too impatient."
He walked up to Taji. "Your first punch should use seventy percent of your strength, leaving thirty percent in reserve to change your move. You used one hundred percent. When the first strike misses, your follow-up adjustment will be half a beat too slow."
Taji listened intently.
"Second, your step technique is disconnected from your fist technique. You haven’t properly trained the ’Firewalk Step’ that accompanies the Flame Fist. Your center of gravity is unstable when you move, which affects the fluidity of your punches."
"Third, and most importantly," Xu Wuyi said, looking him in the eye, "you want to win too badly. You have too many distracting thoughts during a fight, and it clouds your judgment."
Taji was taken aback for a moment, then understanding dawned on him. "I understand. Thank you, Senior."
Xu Wuyi nodded. "Go back and practice the ’Firewalk Step’ by itself a thousand times. Every step must be solid. When you can throw a punch without your footwork falling into disarray, then you can come find me again."
"Yes, sir!"
Taji stepped back, his eyes full of excitement.
The first match ended. The Training Ground was quiet for a few seconds, then a low murmur of discussion arose.
"Taji lost..."
"He dodged ’Raining Fire’ using only the Basic Step Technique. That’s just incredible."
"He’s worthy of being called the Federation’s once-in-a-century genius!"
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