CHAPTER 6: CHAPTER 6: SPECIAL TUTORING

"So father has been leaving early and returning late these days because he’s looking for a job?"

Jiang Ye stood in front of the wall.

Due to his enhanced physique, his hearing improved, and combined with the poor soundproofing of the old house, he could vaguely hear the conversation in the next room.

"Dad is actually going to apply for a night security position at the Shadow Hunting Bureau?"

Jiang Ye frowned deeply.

The Shadow Hunting Bureau is an extremely special organization in this world.

It exists specifically to deal with the ’Shadow Disaster’.

The shadow disaster has been around for a long time.

Hundreds of years ago, after Blue Star connected with the starry sky, people discovered a kind of eerie creatures that could attach themselves to shadows.

Through the host’s shadow, they suck the host’s life force.

These eerie creatures are called the ’Shadow Race’.

Once targeted by the ’Shadow Race’, unless one is a martial arts powerhouse, there is little hope for escape.

This kind of thing cannot be killed by technological means, only with the help of Star Sky Martial Arts is there a chance to eradicate them.

And the Shadow Hunting Bureau is the organization specifically for hunting the Shadow Race.

The majority of the martial arts powerhouses in An City are stationed there.

As Jiang Dahai said, it is the safest place in the whole city.

But once a ’Shadow Disaster’ occurs, the Shadow Hunting Bureau will also become the most dangerous place.

"Dad applying to the Shadow Hunting Bureau is also out of desperation."

Jiang Ye understood his foster father’s helplessness too.

Middle-aged, with the elderly above and children below, one cannot be without a job.

Especially since Jiang Ye’s martial arts training requires large expenses.

Not to mention, at least he needs to have meat to eat every day.

The ’Shadow Disaster’ not only endangers humans, but it also affects animals, causing meat prices to rise year after year.

Ordinary pork goes for 50 units per pound.

Not to mention martial arts special supply pork, at least two hundred units.

Special supply beef, mutton, these cost more than five hundred units.

Yet, martial arts cultivation cannot do without eating meat.

"Martial arts improvement cannot do without dietary supplements, eating meat is just the most basic part of dietary supplements." Jiang Ye sighed inwardly.

He heard that those students from well-off families not only eat large portions of meat every meal, but also supplement with rare martial arts ingredients like Martial Ginseng, whale eyes, tiger gallbladder, etc.

These are all very expensive, often costing thousands.

The saying that "literature is poor, martial arts is rich" is not just talk.

Jiang Ye’s family doesn’t have such financial conditions; his foster parents’ combined annual salary is less than a hundred thousand units.

Even so, they ensure he can eat meat every day.

"I must get into Martial Arts University."

Jiang Ye’s gaze grew more determined.

It’s not just about repaying kindness, but at least, he doesn’t want to let his parents’ expectations fall short.

His current goal is to break through to Perfection in the Star Martial Cultivation Technique before the college entrance examination.

"Continue cultivating."

Jiang Ye returned to his place, assuming his fist stance again.

Normally, he would cultivate until one in the morning before falling into a deep sleep.

Today, of course, was no exception.

...

Early the next morning.

Jiang Ye woke up from the bed, clutching his groggy head.

"Another nightmare?"

Recently, he has been having the same nightmare repeatedly but can’t remember its content upon waking.

Jiang Ye rubbed his head, unconcerned.

He looked at the panel.

[Cultivation Technique]

Star Martial Cultivation Technique: Minor Success (2%)

"A whole night’s cultivation actually improved by 1%."

Jiang Ye was somewhat surprised.

Improving by 1% overnight, this efficiency far exceeded his previous levels.

"My cultivation speed seems to have increased... Could it also be the effect of the enhanced physique?"

Physique enhancement can also improve martial arts aptitude?

Could it be... that this so-called physique actually refers to martial arts talent?

This speculation is astonishing.

It indicates that Jiang Ye’s martial arts talent has indeed been enhanced!

"After Minor Success, each subsequent upgrade becomes more difficult, but I will break through to Great Success sooner than planned." Jiang Ye thought silently.

The Star Martial Cultivation Technique has four stages; each breakthrough to a new stage doubles the difficulty.

The difficulty from Minor Success to Great Success is twice that of the entry stage!

And the difficulty from Great Success to Perfection will increase even more drastically.

Jiang Ye originally thought he would break through to Great Success in his third year of high school, but now, he feels confident about reaching this goal by the end of his second year.

"Time for breakfast."

Jiang Ye got up and walked outside.

After breakfast, Jiang Ye took his sister Jiang Ting to school.

They arrived at the gate of An City Primary School where Jiang Ting studied.

Before leaving, the little girl looked at him eagerly and said, "Brother, I’ll miss you."

Jiang Ye patted her head and said, "I’ll bring you candy after school."

"Mm-hmm, thank you, brother!"

Jiang Ting happily walked into the school.

Jiang Ye also headed towards An City No.3 High School, beginning another day of cultivation and study.

...

Time flew by.

In the blink of an eye, a month had passed.

Jiang Ye continued his routine of living between two points.

Aside from eating, sleeping, and culture classes, he spent all his time in continuous cultivation.

During this time, he hasn’t unlocked any new achievements.

According to his speculation, he must reach a certain level of strength, or trigger some bugs, to unlock new achievements.

For instance, ’Ancestor’s Friend’ was achieved by exploiting a bug.

But so far, Jiang Ye hasn’t triggered any new bugs.

Fortunately, his strength has increased rapidly.

Following the physique enhancement, Jiang Ye’s martial arts aptitude improved, and his cultivation speed increased slightly.

Additionally, his perception improved by 30% in Chen Zilu’s class.

Of course, the most crucial part was his tireless practice day and night.

Jiang Ye’s Martial Arts prowess was growing at a visibly fast pace.

...

March 30th.

During the Culture class.

As the top student in the culture class, Jiang Ye sat in his seat.

He looked at his own panel.

[Cultivation Technique]

Star Martial Cultivation Technique: Minor Success (40%)

"In one month, the path to Great Success is already halfway."

Jiang Ye felt satisfied inside.

If this were before, he might not even have been able to increase 10% in a month.

Lower Talent is just like that.

Most students in the regular class achieve Minor Success by the second semester of their sophomore year, and with the remaining one and a half years, they need to fully commit to cultivation to possibly breakthrough to Great Success.

This month of cultivation also helped him to summarize a pattern.

"Every 10% increase, the difficulty of cultivation rises a notch. Up till now, it takes two days to improve by 1%."

Jiang Ye was not disappointed, on the contrary, he was filled with anticipation.

His cultivation speed was already very fast.

Perhaps in less than a semester, he might breakthrough to Great Success.

"In this class, let’s discuss the grading of talents."

At this time, the teacher’s voice caught Jiang Ye’s attention.

The culture class teacher was a glasses-wearing female teacher in her thirties, dressed in a tight black skirt, with a curvaceous figure.

She explained:

"Martial Arts talents are approximately divided into four levels."

"Original, Newborn, Tao Bone, Extraordinary."

"According to the Star Sky Martial Arts, there are even higher levels, but on Blue Star, we mainly have these four kinds."

"Among which, Original Talent, also commonly known as Lower Talent, more than 70% of people on Blue Star possess this type of talent."

"Talent not only relates to the strength of one’s physique but also affects the cultivation of Star Sky Martial Arts. For example, with Original Talent, it is even more challenging to embark on Star Sky Martial Arts..."

Jiang Ye’s heart was slightly stirred.

Listening to the teacher’s explanation, Martial Arts Talent isn’t entirely equivalent to physique?

This contradicted some of his previous assumptions.

"Hmm?"

At this moment, Jiang Ye suddenly noticed a new line on his panel.

——Grounded Martial Arts Achievement System——

[Name: Jiang Ye]

[Physique: Mortal Body (C-Level)]

[Talent: Original]

[Cultivation Technique]

Star Martial Cultivation Technique: Minor Success (40%)

[Achievements]

Martial Arts Master, Ancestor’s Friend

——

"The system also separates physique and talent, it seems the two are indeed different."

Jiang Ye thought to himself.

"The second level of talent is called Newborn."

The glasses-wearing female teacher in black tight skirt said: "Newborn signifies the rebirth of Martial Bone, a physique far stronger than Original Talent."

"These individuals often possess stronger Martial Arts talent, cultivating at half the effort for double the result... like students from the elite classes, they are all of this kind of talent."

The glasses-wearing female teacher continued her introduction.

It was Jiang Ye’s first time learning what students with Newborn Talent were like.

"Newborn Talent, achieving perfection in cultivation techniques in sophomore year and possibly becoming a Star Sky Martial Arts in junior year?" Jiang Ye was shocked.

Star Sky Martial Arts require breaking the Life Shackles.

That level was too far-reaching for the current Jiang Ye.

No wonder the school separates regular and elite classes.

The gap between them is tremendous!

"Newborn Talent is already this strong, what about the higher Tao Bone and Extraordinary?"

Jiang Ye pondered in his mind.

The satisfaction he felt earlier was entirely swept away at this moment.

The path of Martial Arts is long and arduous.

The Grounded Martial Arts Achievement System is just a tool to help improve.

But to surpass those geniuses and become a true powerhouse in Martial Arts, ultimately, it still requires his own efforts.

...

In a blink, it was time for Martial Arts class again.

"Whoosh!"

As Jiang Ye stepped into the classroom, he saw not far away Li Zhichao holding a "Dragon Pill" and injecting it into his arm.

"So rich."

Jiang Ye thought with feeling.

This month alone, Li Zhichao had injected medicine ten times.

At the price of three thousand yuan per bottle, that’s thirty thousand yuan.

This kind of expense was unimaginable in his family.

While Jiang Ye was secretly feeling,

A pale-faced Chen Zilu wearing white shoes and socks walked in to start the Martial Arts class.

Jiang Ye studied diligently, daily his greatest improvement was during the Martial Arts class.

Hours slipped by.

Before this Martial Arts class ended, Chen Zilu suddenly said:

"Jiang Ye, come to my office after lunch."

Jiang Ye was taken aback upon hearing it, but he quickly responded: "Alright."

Chen Zilu left gracefully.

Meanwhile, classmates around cast slightly envious glances at Jiang Ye.

"Now even Teacher Chen is taking the initiative to give him private lessons?"

"Last time I went to seek guidance, but the teacher told me to just go back and watch the recordings myself. Why does Jiang Ye get such good treatment?"

"Chen Zilu is really good to him, maybe he has some leverage on the teacher?"

"Don’t be jealous, Jiang Ye is handsome and diligent in cultivation, you’re not even worth a strand of his hair."

"I’m for early morning classes."

"Wang is also a hot horse."

"..."