High Martial Arts Era 15

Chapter 15: The 860 Point Goal

Li Yuan’s heart thumped.

“Top ten, ten thousand Blue Star Coins in first-class scholarship?”

“Top five, five hundred thousand Blue Star Coins in special scholarship?”

“It’s Blue Star Coins!”

Li Yuan remembered his aunt was a middle school teacher and her annual salary was around one hundred thousand Blue Star Coins. His uncle, if he didn’t choose to be stationed in dangerous places, would make hundreds of thousands of Blue Star Coins per year.

“Teacher, is that true?” Li Yuan asked subconsciously.

He couldn’t blame Li Yuan. Even though he was mature and had a good temperament, he was still a seventeen-year-old boy. In his perception, one hundred thousand Blue Star Coins was already a large sum of money.

“Do I look like I’m lying to you?”

Xu Bo’s voice was still cold. “The rewards are real, but let’s not talk about the top five in the grade. Can your martial arts score even reach the top ten in the January exam?”

Li Yuan calmed down.

Yes!

No matter how good the rewards were, he had to get them first. If he was in the top twenty, Li Yuan believed he still had hope. But the top ten? It was indeed very small.

The most important reason was martial spirit… Students who had awakened their martial spirit had a 10% score bonus in their martial arts scores. The advantage was too big.

If Li Yuan scored 900 points, a student from the elite class only needed to score 820 points to surpass him.

“The top ten is indeed difficult, but you still have some hope.”

“Also, I’ve worked hard with the principal to get you some extra help. Even if you can’t get into the top ten, as long as your raw score reaches the second place in the grade,” Xu Bo looked at Li Yuan. “I’ll give you some more financial aid. However, it definitely won’t be as good as the scholarship.”

“Raw score, second in the grade?” Hope rekindled in Li Yuan’s heart.

In the last final exam, his raw score was already sixth in the grade. Second place in raw score? There was a better chance than the top ten.

“Thank you, teacher.” Li Yuan said sincerely. He felt that although Teacher Xu Bo seemed cold, he was actually kind and had always treated him well.

“It’s late, go home and rest.”

“Come to school tomorrow, and you’ll have access to the independent martial arts room. You’ll receive the specific number tomorrow.” Xu Bo waved his hand.

“Yes.” Li Yuan nodded and left the office, closing the door behind him.

As he listened to Li Yuan’s light footsteps fade away, Xu Bo’s cold face showed a slight smile. “If you strive for the best, you get something good. If you strive for something good, you get something mediocre. If you strive for something mediocre, you get nothing.”

“Kid, don’t blame me when you find out the truth.”

Xu Bo had observed Li Yuan for a long time. He knew Li Yuan was steady and diligent in his cultivation.

But Xu Bo also knew human nature. Only with pressure and temptation could he inspire greater motivation.

In short, he was dangling a carrot!

But the carrot couldn’t be hung too high, otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to reach it and would only get discouraged. Therefore, in the end, Xu Bo set Li Yuan a goal of ‘second place in raw score’.

“Three goals.”

“Kid, as long as you reach the middle goal, you’ll actually be at the top level.” Xu Bo thought to himself. “I hope you won’t let me down.”

Of the two thousand students in this year’s class, Li Yuan was the second one who caught his eye.

…

Wan Hua Platinum Residence, Building 2.

“Mu Hua, we have to spend twenty thousand Blue Star Coins this month?” Li Yuan was in his room, feeling heavy.

He had overheard his aunt, Chen Hui, talking privately with his younger brother, Li Mu Hua in the master bedroom. They deliberately didn’t want him to hear… but Li Yuan’s hearing was now too good.

Standing in the living room, he could still faintly hear a bit of their conversation.

“I have to spend at least thirty thousand a month. Mu Hua needs about the same, and Xi Xi needs nearly twenty thousand. Plus the daily expenses…” Li Yuan had calculated this account countless times in his mind.

Household expenses were at least ninety thousand Blue Star Coins a month.

In fact, if the three children didn’t cultivate martial arts, their uncle and aunt’s income would be sufficient… but at the same time, purchasing all kinds of supplements and potions to aid in martial arts cultivation was incredibly expensive.

“Moreover, Xi Xi and Mu Hua are different from me.”

“I awakened my Heart Temple and the Observing the Grand Sun Starry Sky Scripture’s relaxation and healing effects might be worth tens of thousands of Blue Star Coins a month in high-level physiotherapy.” Li Yuan knew this clearly. “But Xi Xi and Mu Hua, especially Mu Hua.”

“If they want to achieve great things in martial arts, the resources we’re investing now are not enough.”

“This scholarship is fifty thousand Blue Star Coins.”

“This weekend, I must reach 500 points in the Golden Rank and earn another fifty thousand Blue Star Coins.” Li Yuan made up his mind.

As for Teacher Xu Bo’s three promises?

On his way home by electric car, Li Yuan had calmed down and thought it through.

“Five hundred thousand Blue Star Coins!”

“If I can get it, our family’s financial burden will be alleviated by half.”

“However, the top five in the grade?” Li Yuan thought about it and his heart sank.

On his way home.

Through his smart ring, Li Yuan re-examined the ranking of the grade twelve final exam.

His martial arts score was 802 points, sixth in the grade for raw score and twenty-ninth in the grade for total score.

The top five students were all from the elite class. Their raw scores were all above 800 points, and with the extra points added… the first place in the grade even had an astonishing total score of 962.5 points!

“The top student is too strong, I have no hope.”

“Without awakening my martial spirit, my raw score is my total score.”

“To reach the top five in the grade, my raw score needs to be at least 860 points, only then will I have a slight chance.” Li Yuan thought. “Even for the top ten, my raw score needs to be over 840 points.”

840 points in raw score.

In the grade twelve final exam, that was already the second place in raw score.

“I have to work hard.”

“By the January exam, I have to strive to exceed 410 points in physical fitness, 375 points in martial arts skills, and 75 points in cultural studies.” Li Yuan set three targets for himself.

He had to achieve each one.

Only then would he have a glimmer of hope of reaching the top five in the grade.

…

Master bedroom, Chen Hui was on a video call with Li Changzhou.

“Wife, did you receive the money?” Li Changzhou’s face looked even darker.

“Yes.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll plan the household expenses.” Aunt Chen Hui nodded. “This five hundred thousand, plus what we had before, will last until February or March next year.”

“Ok, ok.” Li Changzhou laughed. “Don’t worry, wife. There’s a bonus from the company at the end of the year, plus my salary… After Xiao Yuan finishes the college entrance exam, things will be easier.”

Chen Hui nodded and forced a smile to appear relaxed.

Suddenly.

“Buzz” the other side of the video call vibrated. Li Changzhou, who was still sitting on the chair, suddenly stood up.

“Bang” the door on the other side of the video was knocked open, and a loud explosion could be faintly heard outside.

“Manager Li, quick! Quick!” A worker in a work uniform, covered in dirt, rushed in and said anxiously, “The higher-ups ordered our team to end the rest period and go up to help immediately.”

“Okay.”

Li Changzhou nodded repeatedly and turned to Chen Hui on the other side of the video call. “Wife, I have to work overtime. I’ll call you later.”

Buzz, the video call disconnected.

“Lao Li.” A hint of worry appeared on Chen Hui’s face, and she then closed her smart ring.

She closed her eyes. When she opened them again, her face had regained its calmness. She walked out of the master bedroom. “Xi Xi, Xiao Hua, go to bed.”

“Xiao Yuan, don’t stay up too late.”

“Okay, Mom!”

“Got it, Aunt.”

…

The next day at noon.

In the school cafeteria, students were eating their lunch, occasionally raising their heads to look at the news on the electronic screen.

“…Last night, the ‘Second-Level Star Realm Rob Sea’ in the Northern Frontier Province had another fierce conflict. Our National Defense Forces and the Alliance Support Forces fought bravely and fearlessly…” The news kept playing.

“They’ve been fighting non-stop.”

“It’s been going on for a while now. I heard a lot of people died, and even some Star Realm creatures broke through the defense line.”

“I hope they can hold on.” The students whispered to each other while eating.

Li Yuan sat next to Zhou Qi, silent, only occasionally glancing at the news, a hint of worry flashing in his eyes.

(End of chapter)

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