High Martial Arts Era

Chapter 15: The Goal of 860 Points

Li Yuan's heart raced.

Entering the top ten would mean a first-class scholarship of 100,000 Blue Star Coins?

Top five, a special scholarship of 500,000 Blue Star Coins?

That's Blue Star Coins!

If Li Yuan remembered correctly, his aunt, as a high school teacher, earned around 100,000 Blue Star Coins a year.

His uncle, unless stationed in some dangerous place, would also earn only a few hundred thousand Blue Star Coins a year.

"Teacher, really?" Li Yuan asked instinctively.

It's understandable for Li Yuan to react this way.

No matter how mature and well-disciplined he was.

After all, he was still a seventeen-year-old boy. In his understanding, 100,000 Blue Star Coins was already a significant amount of wealth.

"Would I lie to you?" Xu Bo's voice remained cold. "The rewards are real, but don't even think about the top five. Can your martial arts grades break into the top ten during the January exams?"

Li Yuan also calmed down.

Yes!

No matter how good the reward is, you have to be able to get it first.

If it were the top twenty in the grade, Li Yuan believed he still had a chance. But the top ten? The chances were indeed very slim.

The most important reason is martial arts aptitude... Students who have awakened their aptitude receive a 10% score bonus in martial arts, which is a significant advantage.

If Li Yuan scores 900 points, an elite class student would only need a raw score of 820 to surpass Li Yuan's total score.

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

"Additionally, I've also worked hard with the principal to secure this: even if you don't make it into the top ten, as long as your raw score reaches second in the grade," Xu Bo said, looking at Li Yuan, "you will still receive some additional support, though it won't be as good as the scholarship."

"Raw score, second in the grade?" Hope reignited in Li Yuan's heart.

In the last final exam, his raw score was already sixth in the grade.

Second in raw score? That seemed more hopeful than making it into the top ten overall.

"Thank you, teacher," Li Yuan said sincerely. He felt that while Teacher Xu Bo seemed cold, he was actually warm-hearted and treated him very well.

"It's late, go home and rest."

"Starting tomorrow, you'll have access to the private martial arts room. You'll receive the specific room number tomorrow," Xu Bo waved his hand.

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

Listening to the faint sound of Li Yuan's footsteps fading away, a slight smile appeared on Xu Bo's usually cold face. "Aim high and you'll reach the middle; aim for the middle and you'll reach the bottom; aim for the bottom and you'll achieve nothing."

"Kid, don't blame me when you find out the truth."

Xu Bo had observed Li Yuan for a long time and knew he was steady in temperament and diligent in his training.

But Xu Bo also understood human nature well. A certain amount of pressure and temptation was needed to inspire greater motivation.

In short—dangling a carrot!

However, the carrot shouldn't be dangled too high; otherwise, it would be out of reach and cause discouragement. That's why Xu Bo ultimately set a more attainable goal for Li Yuan: "second in raw score."

"Three goals."

"Kid, if you can just reach the middle target, it will actually be top-notch," Xu Bo thought to himself. "I hope you don't disappoint me."

Among the two thousand students in this cohort, Li Yuan was the second to catch his eye.

....

Wanhua Platinum Residence, Building Two.

"Mu Hua, you need to spend 20,000 Blue Star Coins this month?" Li Yuan was in his room.

His heart felt heavy.

Although his aunt, Chen Hui, had intentionally avoided talking in front of Li Yuan and quietly discussed it with his younger brother Li Mu Hua in the master bedroom, not wanting Li Yuan to overhear... Li Yuan's hearing had become too good.

Standing in the living room, he still faintly heard some of it.

"I need at least 30,000 a month, Mu Hua also needs about 30,000, and Qian Qian nearly 20,000. Plus daily expenses..." Li Yuan had mentally calculated this budget countless times.

The household expenses totaled at least 90,000 Blue Star Coins a month.

In reality, if the three children weren't training in martial arts, their uncle and aunt could fully support the family... But the cost of various supplements and potions for martial arts training was truly staggering.

"Moreover, Qian Qian and Mu Hua aren't like me."

"I have awakened the Mind Palace, and the 'Observation of the Great Sun Starry Sky Sutra' provides relaxation and therapeutic effects for my body, equivalent to advanced therapy costing tens of thousands of Blue Star Coins a month," Li Yuan understood clearly. "But Qian Qian and Mu Hua, especially Mu Hua."

"If they want to achieve great success in martial arts, the current resources invested are not enough."

"This scholarship is worth 100,000 Blue Star Coins."

"Over the weekend, I must reach 500 points in the gold rank and get an additional 50,000 Blue Star Coins," Li Yuan resolved.

As for the three promises made by Teacher Xu Bo?

On the tram ride home, Li Yuan had calmed down and thought it through.

"500,000 Blue Star Coins!"

"If I can get it, the financial pressure on my family will be greatly alleviated."

"But, top five in the grade?" Li Yuan thought about it, and his heart sank.

On the way home.

Using his smart ring watch, Li Yuan reviewed the rankings from the final exam of his sophomore year.

His total martial arts score was 802, with a raw score ranking him sixth in the grade and a total score placing him twenty-ninth.

The top five students in the grade were all from the elite class, and their raw scores alone exceeded 800. Including the bonus points... the total score of the top student in the grade reached an astonishing 962.5!

"Without awakening martial arts aptitude, my raw score is my total score."

"The top student in the grade is too incredible; I have no hope there."

"To break into the top five in the grade, my raw score needs to be at least 860 to have a slim chance," Li Yuan thought. "Even for the top ten, the raw score needs to be around 840 or higher."

A raw score of 840.

In the context of the final exam of his sophomore year, a raw score of 840 would have already been the second-highest in the grade.

"Work hard."

"By the January exams, aim to get over 410 points in physical fitness, over 375 points in martial arts skills, and over 75 points in cultural subjects," Li Yuan set three specific targets for himself.

He needed to achieve all of these.

Only then would he have a slim chance of reaching the top five in the grade.

...

In the master bedroom, Chen Hui was on a video call with Li Changzhou.

"Honey, did you receive the money?" Li Changzhou's face appeared even darker.

"Yes."

"Don't worry, I'll manage things at home," Aunt Chen Hui nodded. "This 500,000, along with what we had before, will be enough until February or March next year."

"Alright." Li Changzhou smiled, "Don't worry too much, dear. There will be another bonus from the company at the end of the year, and my salary as well... Once Little Yuan finishes his college entrance exams, things will get easier."

Chen Hui nodded, trying to smile and appear more relaxed.

Suddenly,

"Buzz~" The video call on the other end started vibrating, and Li Changzhou, who had been sitting in a chair, suddenly stood up.

"Bang!" The door in the video, which had been slightly ajar, was suddenly thrown open, and the faint sound of a massive explosion could be heard outside.

"Manager Li, hurry! Hurry!" A worker covered in dirt rushed in, urgently saying, "We're ordered to end our break and get back to work immediately."

"Alright."

Li Changzhou nodded repeatedly, then turned to Chen Hui on the video call, "Honey, I need to work overtime. I'll call you back later."

Buzz—the video call ended.

"Old Li," a trace of worry appeared on Chen Hui's face. She then closed her smart ring watch and closed her eyes.

Opening her eyes again, Chen Hui had regained a relaxed expression on her face as she walked out of the master bedroom. "Qian Qian, Mu Hua, it's time for bed."

"Little Yuan, don't stay up too late."

"Okay, Mom!"

"Got it, Aunt."

....

The next day at noon.

In the school cafeteria, students were eating and occasionally looking up at the news on the electronic screen.

"...last night, intense conflicts erupted again at the Luo Bu Sea in the secondary Star Realm of Beijiang Province. Our national defense forces and allied support troops fought bravely and fearlessly..." the news continued to broadcast.

"They're always fighting."

"Yeah, it hasn't stopped for a while. I heard a lot of people have died, and some star realm creatures even broke through the defense line."

"Hope they can hold the line," the students murmured quietly as they ate.

Li Yuan sat next to Zhou Qi, silently watching the news occasionally, a trace of worry flashing in his eyes.