Shi Ruyu, the boxing instructor invited in by Wanhua High School.
She glanced around, and saw that only Lu Chenzhou was present.
Shi Ruyu smiled helplessly and said:
"The second monthly exam is coming up soon, and fewer and fewer people attend class. Fortunately you're here, otherwise it would be pretty awkward teaching to the air. Thanks for coming.
But I see you spend so much time on martial arts training every day—aren't you afraid it'll affect your academic classes? After all, for most of you, studying liberal arts might actually be the real path forward."
Lu Chenzhou stood up straight and first bowed to his teacher.
"Good afternoon, teacher."
He said earnestly:
"I don't think martial and cultural studies conflict."
He truly had always been passionate about martial arts.
But that never stopped him from being first in his class academically every time.
Academic classes came easily to Lu Chenzhou, something he picked up along the way. He was at a cultural school, but the only thing his heart longed for was Martial Arts University. Martial arts was his lifelong pursuit. He had no ulterior motive—he simply enjoyed it. He relished the feeling of getting stronger.
Shi Ruyu looked at Lu Chenzhou's earnest face.
He didn't show a hint of pride or arrogance.
It had been two months since Lu Chenzhou enrolled, and through her interactions with him, she could feel that this boy was truly devoted to martial arts.
In ancient times, he would be called a "martial arts fanatic."
"What a pity..."
She couldn't help but sigh.
"Teacher, what's a pity?"
"If only you had intermediate root bone, you wouldn't have to waste nine years in this place."
Lu Chenzhou was silent for a moment, then said:
"There's nothing to regret. There are plenty of martial artists who came from cultural schools. I believe that as long as one is willing to work hard, breaking through the First Shackles isn't impossible."
Born as he was, he wasn't the type to complain about fate.
"That may be true, but there's still survivor bias..."
Shi Ruyu didn't want to discourage Lu Chenzhou too much.
She admired this boy.
She'd heard from other students that Lu Chenzhou had been getting up to practice boxing every morning since elementary school; in nine years, apart from the teacher being absent, he hadn't missed a single day.
This kind of perseverance was truly rare.
In the old days, people spoke of "waking at the crow of the rooster to practice martial arts."
It sounded simple, but very few could stick to it for nine years.
After waiting a while longer, Shi Ruyu said:
"Looks like no one else is coming. Let's start class."
Lu Chenzhou thought to himself that he'd gained something, being the only student with the teacher. Shi Ruyu was at the peak of the Dark Force Realm, Sixth Rank—just a step from entering the Power Transformation Realm. You had to know, the buzzcut coach who charged him 300 per class was only Second Rank.
"Lu Chenzhou, show me a set first."
Shi Ruyu clasped her hands behind her back, speaking seriously.
"Alright."
Lu Chenzhou immediately set his stance, then performed his Basic Boxing at Great Success Level smoothly, waiting for Shi Ruyu's critique.
Shi Ruyu's eyes were sharp, and she instantly saw what was different about Lu Chenzhou today.
Previously, Lu Chenzhou had said he'd achieved Small Success with his boxing in junior high. For a while he'd been stuck at the edge of Great Success, unable to progress, but unexpectedly, he'd broken through today.
Still, the old saying goes—
Boxing requires persistence; success comes naturally with time.
She smiled and clapped:
"Not bad, quietly making it to Great Success."
Now, she was starting to believe Lu Chenzhou might one day become a martial artist.
Lu Chenzhou: "It's all thanks to your teaching, teacher."
Being praised by a student, Shi Ruyu enjoyed it inwardly.
"There's no need to be modest. For someone with low class root bone to achieve Great Success in Basic Boxing in high school—it's rarely seen. It shows you work hard and have decent comprehension."
Of course, compared to students with intermediate or higher root bone, it was still quite a gap. Those prodigies who'd been attending martial arts classes since childhood mostly reached Great Success or even Perfection in Basic Boxing by middle school. Some demon evils had perfected it by elementary. But she didn't mention this to Lu Chenzhou; there was no point. Their innate conditions and resources simply weren't comparable to his.
Remembering something, Shi Ruyu reminded him:
"From Great Success to Perfection is the hardest step in Basic Boxing. You need to really focus now. If you can achieve Perfection before turning eighteen, you'll have a chance at special admissions exams at regular Martial Arts Universities... I think you've got a decent shot."
That's how she'd gotten into Pingjiang Martial Arts University four years ago.
Basic Boxing at Perfection was only one of the requirements for special admissions. To pass, you needed the right rank and other achievements—the earlier you reached Perfection, the better.
However, Pingjiang Martial Arts University was a first-class school, only outranked by the twenty-four top universities; their requirements were higher, with Perfection in Basic Boxing needed before age seventeen. As for the top universities, the standard was fourteen or fifteen—Lu Chenzhou no longer had a shot at those.
She'd seen his file: Lu Chenzhou's birthday was January 1.
Of course, rules are dead things.
If Lu Chenzhou were to awaken a Martial Bone Dao Body in the future, or display astonishing comprehension through deep accumulation and late blooming, these top universities would fight over him like beasts smelling fresh meat. But that was like winning the lottery.
Low class root bone all the same.
She understood how hard it was for Lu Chenzhou.
Her student had broken through—Shi Ruyu was in a good mood today, and said:
"You've hit Great Success now, so there's not much more I can teach you about cultivating Basic Boxing... Today I'll teach you some other knowledge and cover practical combat training."
Lu Chenzhou immediately stood straight and listened attentively.
Shi Ruyu began:
"Basic Boxing traces its roots to the Elephant Form line. Elephant Form has a long history, said to go all the way back to ancient times, though it's hard to determine exactly when. But the one who truly popularized and perfected it was Master Ling Kong of Wutai Mountain.
After the founding of New Da Xia, in order to promote martial arts among the people, the Martial Arts Association invited several Martial Arts Grandmasters of the Elephant Form Sect to write the Basic Boxing curriculum, tailored to the Da Xia population.
Therefore, the principles and techniques of Basic Boxing and Elephant Form Fist are quite similar, emphasizing eight words: [Six Books for battle, Eight Techniques to injure]. If you can fully understand these, you'll be able to adapt your boxing to any situation in combat and face any opponent..."
Lu Chenzhou had a good memory, but just to be sure, he took out his phone and started recording every key point in his notes.
Much of this information might exist somewhere online.
But without a guide, it was hard to collect it all.
Seeing how serious Lu Chenzhou was, Shi Ruyu was happy as a teacher.
"The Six Books are: Elephant Form, Pictographic, Loan Character, Transfer Notation, Indicative, Phonetic Compound... The Eight Techniques are: Grasp, Pounce, Shake, Lift, Cut, Hang, Extend, Soften..."
Shi Ruyu explained while demonstrating her punches.
Her fist struck out, like clouds stirring in the wind.
Lu Chenzhou noticed the calluses covering her fist.
Unlike many of his female classmates with pale, smooth skin.
This was the badge of honor for a martial artist.
Shi Ruyu lunged forward, spanning a distance of more than three meters to appear in front of Lu Chenzhou. The wind from her fist actually stung his face a little. Lu Chenzhou nimbly dodged, parried her arm with his palm, and raised his right arm into a defensive pose as he landed.
But his whole demeanor showed a moment of being flustered.
Shi Ruyu frowned slightly and said:
"At any moment, don't instinctively show fear or panic, even if you're at your wits' end. Never let the enemy see that you've lost your cool!
Of course, unless you're deliberately tricking them into being careless, but that's a petty gambit—true martial artists aren't fooled by such tricks."
Lu Chenzhou learned something new.
"Thank you, teacher, for your guidance."
After her criticism, Shi Ruyu finally showed approval:
"Your reactions are quite good overall.
Pictographic and Elephant Form aren't just about learning your master's techniques, moves, or attack patterns. You must also learn their spirit, presence, and bearing. For a martial artist, no matter your cultivation or where you are, always demonstrate your martial presence!
The pinnacle of martial arts is surely Spirit, Energy and Essence Combined. The battles of those great martial artists are not just about the body, but a clash of Qi Po too! Of course, all this is a long way off for both of us... That's just something I picked up in university and am showing off in front of you."
Seeing Lu Chenzhou's half-understanding expression, Shi Ruyu smiled and said:
"Don't worry if you can't learn everything I've shown you today—most of it's advanced material anyway. I'm only teaching it because I feel a connection to you. If you ever join a real martial artist's school, you'll understand... Now, continue training!"