Chương 85: Don't Push Your luck

Chapter 85 Don't Push Your luck (5k) Watch the lanterns on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month!

As a historical and cultural city, Lincheng is definitely skilled at organizing these traditional festivals.

Langya Ancient Charm, Mountains and Rivers Adorn the City!

The glass lamps reflect the paper-cut dragon shadows, and the LED screen displays the poem "Shangyuan" (Lantern Festival). What a wonderful combination of ancient and modern, leaving everyone speechless upon seeing it.

Beneath the beautiful antique-style buildings, a young girl in Hanfu holds up a glowing sugar painting, her graceful movements seeming to transcend a thousand years of reincarnation, taking you back to the innocent days of the moonlit willow branches!

Zhao Rui naturally had invitations from others, and more than one.

Having failed to catch him throughout the winter break, Tian Yaru naturally wouldn't let such a good holiday pass by.

Anyway, she's bored staying at home anyway.

She arrived at Zhao Rui's house before 7 o'clock and even ate a meal there. I don't know if she didn't eat enough at home or if she just has a big appetite.

Anyway, the girl said that the cook at home doesn't cook as well as Aunt Xue Wenhui.

This delighted Xue Wenhui, who kept piling food onto her plate.

Before they had finished their meal, Yang Fan arrived with Sun Tiantian and Xiao Xue, and the group went to Langya Water Town for sightseeing.

A lively festival, happy people!

This also brought a rather happy end to this fairly fulfilling winter vacation.

The next morning, Zhao Rui took the high-speed train to Dongqi University.

Fortunately, no train hijacking occurred this time, and the train arrived safely at Jeju Station.

However, unlike in the past, security and identity verification have been significantly strengthened, and there are many more police officers patrolling the train.

Each of them was breathing deeply, indicating they were at least mid-level martial artists of level four or above.

After leaving the station, Zhao Rui hailed a taxi and headed straight to the school.

School starts on the 18th of the first lunar month. He arrived two days early, partly to tidy up the house, since he hadn't lived there for a month and needed to clean it up.

Secondly, it also allows me to get used to the university atmosphere; staying at home and going to school are two completely different experiences.

Pushing open the door to the rented room, a stuffy, oppressive atmosphere immediately hit me.

Zhao Rui hurriedly went to the balcony, opened all the windows, and then began to clean meticulously.

In the midst of his excitement, he would occasionally demonstrate his martial arts skills, showing off a couple of moves.

By the time we finished cleaning, it was already past four in the afternoon.

Zhao Rui was just about to take a stroll on campus when Li Xinran called to ask if he had arrived yet!

"Just finished cleaning up. What, are you treating, senior sister?"

Smart people always strike first.

"Damn, I was planning to let you treat me, but let's split the bill then."

Li Xinran couldn't help but scoff. This holiday, she would no longer be a member of the martial arts team, and she felt rather depressed.

He had hoped that Zhao Rui would treat him to a meal to make up for the lack in his fragile heart.

Who would have thought this kid was so cunning?

"Haha, let's split the bill, hehe. Wait for me for half an hour."

"You're not a girl, what are you dawdling for!"

"I'm taking a dump!"

"..."

Damn it, you don't treat me like a woman at all!

Li Xinran rolled her eyes and angrily hung up the phone.

At that moment, all he was thinking about was seeing Zhao Rui later and beating him up; he had no time to think about the frustrating thing of leaving the team.

More than half an hour later, at the Eighth Canteen, Zhao Rui, who arrived late, sat down opposite Li Xinran with a shameless grin.

"Senior, you've gotten even more beautiful since I last saw you over winter break."

Zhao Rui chuckled.

Li Xinran rolled her eyes at him and said irritably, "You're just deliberately trying to annoy me. Don't you know I can't join the martial arts team this semester?!"

"You didn't even try to comfort me!"

"Oh, then, I'll hug you for a bit, don't be sad."

"roll!"

"What do you want to eat?"

"Fish-fragrant eggplant rice bowl! A bottle of cola, and a plate of stir-fried shredded pork!"

"Are you a pig?!"

Li Xinran made a move as if to hit!

Zhao Rui chuckled, got up, walked to the food window, bought some food, and brought it over.

"I'm afraid you won't enjoy your meal, so I'll tell you something to cheer you up!"

"What is it?"

"I'll try to teach you when I have time this semester. Study hard, don't be discouraged, you might be able to pass the CET-9 exam in your junior year!"

Zhao Rui said seriously.

Hearing his words, Li Xinran was taken aback, then pouted in a slightly girlish manner and said, "You haven't even broken through to level eight yourself, and you're already worrying about others. I don't need you to teach me!"

Her words were clearly tinged with a touch of affection and a coquettish tone.

"Teaching a little karaomi like you won't take up any of my time at all, okay?"

"You're the one who's called Little Karami!"

Li Xinran snorted, her tone no longer as forceful as when they first met. Looking at the handsome young man before her, she couldn't help but say:

"Really, there's no need. I'll just follow the teacher's instructions step by step. Not joining the martial arts team won't affect my progress. Don't worry!"

"Zhao Rui, don't slack off either. Hurry up and break through to level eight. I'm still waiting for you to win an award in the competition!"

"knew!"

Zhao Rui didn't try to persuade her further; he would teach her a few martial arts techniques that could improve her skills when he had time.

The two chatted about their winter vacation experiences while eating. After finishing their meal, they took a short walk along the street before returning to their respective residences.

Nothing more was said that night!

After finishing his morning exercises early the next day, Zhao Rui washed up and then headed to Mingchan Courtyard with his backpack.

Beneath the bare hills and the pavilion standing tall against the wind, the dense forest has long since been reduced to bare branches.

Scattered leaves and unmelted snow huddled together beside the slightly muddy frozen earth, as if afraid that the warm sun in the sky would find their trace.

What a desolate sight!

Zhao Rui stepped into Mingchan Temple and soon encountered several team members who had also arrived early.

Everyone was in a good mood after the New Year, and they greeted each other and exchanged New Year's greetings.

"How was your training this winter break? Did you make any breakthroughs?"

"What breakthrough? You were too busy playing."

"Our team's Zheng Minghao has made a breakthrough. He is the fifth freshman to break through to level eight."

One of the new team members clicked his tongue in amazement.

"Really? Sigh, it's a tragedy to be surrounded by a group of geniuses."

"Don't be modest. I bet you'll make a breakthrough this semester too."

"No way!"

Everyone flattered each other, but when it came to themselves, no one told the truth.

Zhao Rui was also surprised that someone in the freshman year would break through to the eighth level so quickly.

As expected, the quality of this year's admissions is high.

After listening for a while, Zhao Rui went into the meditation room in the backyard of Mingchan Courtyard.

He found a quiet room and began his secluded cultivation.

After a winter break of copying, he has accumulated 16 advancement points.

Even landlords have never been this wealthy.

These advanced points certainly can't all be used to increase internal strength; a portion should be used to open up acupoints.

At the eighth and ninth levels, the focus shifts to the conversion rate and quantity of true qi.

Leveling up and accumulating internal energy have become less important.

Of course, for ordinary martial artists, each breakthrough in level will naturally bring changes to their true qi.

This is equivalent to indirectly increasing the rate and quantity of true qi conversion.

However, for some exceptionally talented or skilled martial artists, they may only be at level eight, but their internal energy contains a very high proportion of true qi, or a large amount of internal energy with profound true qi, which can still easily crush level nine experts.

Compared to ordinary level nine experts, they are more likely to break through innate barriers and transform internal energy into innate true qi.

This is the difference between a genius martial artist and an ordinary martial artist, and of course, the difference between top-tier martial arts and ordinary martial arts.

Zhao Rui is different from them. He has an external cheat that can continuously increase his internal energy reserves. At the same time, he can open up his acupoints, draw in innate true energy into his body, and use the power of heaven and earth for his own benefit.

However, it is impossible to generate true qi from within.

For him, the only difficulty in breaking through to the Grandmaster realm was to comprehend the true meaning of fetal breathing and to emulate an infant.

Then one returns to one's original nature and oneness!

This requires innate comprehension and martial arts cultivation.

It takes time to refine.

But it's not a big problem, since he has lived two lives and has no shortage of comprehension.

As for martial arts cultivation, I can just find a top-notch internal energy cultivation method, copy it, and that will be fine.

But before that, I should practice diligently and enhance my understanding.

The days of cultivation are short.

A day passes in the blink of an eye.

The next day.

The official start of the school year has arrived.

Zhao Rui first went to the School of Accounting to register and attend the first class of the semester.

Only then did I rush to Narumi-in.

As soon as I entered Mingchan Courtyard, I ran into Cai Zhengyang, who was beaming with joy and looked refreshed.

Two team members followed closely behind.

It's like something out of a triad.

"Zhengyang, you did a great job!"

Zhao Rui greeted him with a smile.

Upon hearing Zhao Rui's voice, Cai Zhengyang's old face stiffened, then he forced a smile, stepped forward, and said with a laugh, "Luckily, luckily."

"You're our team's future star, being modest isn't good. Let's go, we haven't even reported yet."

Zhao Rui waved his hand and walked into the courtyard with a smile.

"Talk to you later!"

After Cai Zhengyang finished speaking, his face fell, and his good mood vanished instantly.

What the hell is the use of being in the top 50? They still can't beat that bastard Zhao Rui.

Once he breaks through to level eight, won't I be even less of a match for him?

"I'm not going! I'm going back to practice!"

Cai Zhengyang turned his head, spat, and went back to Mingchan Courtyard.

The two followers behind him looked on in astonishment.

They exchanged a glance, both understanding what the other was thinking: It seems like the boss is a little afraid of Zhao Rui.

Although Zhao Rui is very powerful, he has previously fought to a draw or defeated many top freshmen such as Luo Min.

But after the breakthrough, they haven't fought each other, so they probably can't beat him anymore!

After all, they're a whole level apart!

The two couldn't understand it, and dared not ask, so they could only purse their lips and quickly follow.

Inside the training hall, many early arrivals were training diligently.

The howling wind echoed continuously in the hall, like a triumphant symphony.

Zhao Rui glanced around, preparing to look for Qin Rui and Cao Guannan.

Then I saw Miao Miaomiao sitting upright in the corner of the east wall, the sunlight streaming in through the window shining on her face.

It was as if she had been draped in a dazzling golden veil.

Zhao Rui strode over and sat down cross-legged a foot away from her.

Miao Miaomiao glanced at him sideways with her beautiful eyes and said calmly, "Your skills have improved quite a bit, but you'd better not push your luck!"

That makes sense. Yesterday we were a zhang away, today we're a chi away. Should we wait until we're skilled enough to hold each other in our arms?

"Uh! I just came to congratulate you, you did a great job!"

Zhao Rui said sincerely.

To be honest, Miao Miaomiao was very important to him. If he hadn't copied her unique skills, he wouldn't have been able to defeat Cai Zhengyang, easily learn the Xuan Yin Sword Finger, or survive the train battle.

If Zhao Rui's combat power was 1000 before he copied the Six-Character Enchantment Immortal Technique, then thanks to the series of benefits from this technique, his current combat power is at least 10000.

Therefore, Zhao Rui was grateful to Miao Miaomiao.

"If that's what you wanted to say, then you can get lost!"

Miao Miaomiao's face turned cold, a coldness more like a stinging sensation.

"What's wrong? We're practically friends, don't be so irritable!"

Zhao Rui asked curiously.

Without saying a word, Miao Miaomiao stood up gracefully and walked straight towards the door.

Zhao Rui was left behind with a group of surprised onlookers, all turning to look at him.

They all secretly gave Zhao Rui a thumbs up.

That's incredible! Miao Miaomiao is always the one who scares others away, this is the first time someone has actually chased her away.

Zhao Rui was a little confused. He hadn't done anything wrong, so what was wrong with this little girl?

Unable to figure it out, he got up and went to look in the direction where Qin Rui and the other person were.

Qin Rui and Cao Guannan were sitting cross-legged in meditation and did not see what had just happened.

Seeing Zhao Rui approach, she greeted him with a smile.

"Did you break through?"

Upon meeting, Qin Rui asked Zhao Rui about him out of curiosity.

"No, anytime is fine."

Zhao Rui smiled.

"Keep it up, but there are still two semesters left, don't rush it."

Qin Rui rolled her eyes at him and said softly.

"You look down on me that much? Two more semesters, and I'll probably be a Grandmaster by then!"

Zhao Rui smiled.

"You think you're so great? Coach Wang's coming over for a meeting later, probably to discuss the match!"

"oh!"

"You don't even watch our games, how do you know that!"

"Anyway, I'm just going there to buy soy sauce, what are you looking at?"

"you……"

Qin Rui angrily pinched his arm hard, but Zhao's skin was too tough, and she couldn't leave a mark no matter how hard she pinched.

The three chatted for a short while, and sure enough, Wang Zhanshan came over carrying a stack of documents.

"Snap, snap! Everyone assemble!"

As the applause rang out, the team members gathered opposite him and lined up in formation.

Miao Miaomiao was in a special situation; she was alone, leaning against the corner of the wall, and her complexion was not good.

"Everyone performed very well this time, and the results exceeded my expectations, especially Wang Dalong and Cai Zhengyang. With your abilities, keep up the good work, and you will definitely be able to get into the top 30 in the next competition."

Upon hearing this, the team members all exclaimed in surprise.

Top 30! That's a result that only a high-level ninth rank can achieve. Doesn't that mean that the two of them now have strength comparable to the ninth rank?

However, I must also offer some criticism. Ye Jingqiu, you've regressed a bit. This is your last year participating, and I'm still not entirely satisfied with this result.

..."

Wang Zhanshan talked for a long time, then asked several freshmen to bring over stools, and then turned on the projector and played the game recording.

This includes classic matches between several key players.

Zhao Rui watched with great interest.

He was familiar with the others, but he had never fought Wang Dalong.

Upon seeing it this time, I was immediately astonished.

This Wang Dalong has such profound internal strength that he can almost eliminate most level eight players with just his internal strength.

Zhao Rui beamed with joy.

This guy must have an extremely powerful internal energy cultivation technique.

I need to find an opportunity to quickly replicate this and enhance my knowledge base.

After playing Wang Dalong's condensed video, Miao Miaomiao's battle footage was projected onto the big screen.

In the footage, the girl was surprisingly different from her usual carefree and charming self, and she was clearly outmatched by her opponent's continuous attacks.

It was as if her charm had completely failed.

He was eliminated by his opponent in less than a hundred moves.

"Although it's true that having one trick up your sleeve can make you invincible, if you encounter someone who counters your technique and you don't have other means to defeat them, you'll be just like Miao Miaomiao, completely powerless to fight back. So..."

Wang Zhanshan said with some regret, "Xiao Miao, I'm not trying to put pressure on you, but as long as you don't resolve your charm technique, it will be difficult for you to make any breakthroughs in your martial arts."

Miao Miaomiao took a deep breath and, though she didn't want to admit it, she had no choice but to nod.

"Teacher, I will try my best!"

"Hmm, teacher, let's think of another way."

After Wang Zhanshan finished speaking, he started playing other people's videos.

"Is that why she doesn't want to talk about the competition?"

Zhao Rui frowned slightly; it seemed the little girl's Enchanting Fairy Technique had reached a bottleneck.

How could one not reach a bottleneck? To have mastered the half-finished book to this extent is already a testament to exceptional talent.

Wang Zhanshan spent the entire day analyzing video footage with his team members, and the session didn't end until 5 p. m.

As soon as the line was finished, Zhao Rui was about to turn around when he heard someone call his name.

The voice sounded slightly unfamiliar; it wasn't Qin Rui's or the others'.

He turned his head and saw that it was Han Xingyi calling him.

"What's up?"

Zhao Rui asked curiously.

"There are some things I don't understand about the Prajna Palm technique, and I'd like to ask you for guidance!"

Han Xingyi twisted the hem of her clothes, lowered her fair face slightly, and dared not look him in the eye.

"Forehead!"

"Where?"

Zhao Rui said casually.

"It's like this, this move, 'Wrathful Gaze,' I'm a girl, and I always end up making it look half-baked..."

Han Xingyi was genuinely asking for advice.

Seeing this, Zhao Rui didn't refuse her, since they were all classmates and he had been the children's teacher for a while, so he casually gave her a few pointers.

"The so-called wrathful Vajra is not about outward appearance, but about inner state, the aura within one's body... Here, one should gather one's energy, raise one hand diagonally downwards and then..."

"Thank you, Zhao Rui. I understand a little better now. You explained it very well."

Han Xingyi praised him generously.

"If there's nothing else, I'll be going now."

Zhao Rui smiled, glanced at Qin Rui and the other person who were already waiting at the door, and took a step to walk over.

"Let me treat you to dinner!"

Han Xingyi suddenly spoke up.

"No need, it's nothing."

Zhao Rui waved his hand, but did not stop walking.

After lunch, the evening free training continued.

However, not many people came, since it was just the beginning of the semester and everyone was still in the mood to have fun.

Zhao Rui arrived at the martial arts team as usual, found a quiet room, and pondered how to refine his martial arts skills.

He practiced until the temple closed before emerging from the meditation room, picking up his backpack, and leaving the school.

The cool moonlight shone on the quiet path outside the school, as if casting a silvery glow.

Zhao Rui strolled slowly, admiring the beautiful moonlight.

The way of martial arts emphasizes training, but even more so, it emphasizes cultivating the mind.

Whether you have good intentions, bad intentions, pure intentions, or ulterior motives, only with a single "heart" can you reach the pinnacle of martial arts.

Therefore, many practitioners like to go to famous mountains and rivers to cultivate their character and seek enlightenment by taking advantage of the natural beauty of the landscape.

Zhao Rui pondered slowly by the moonlight.

Just then, the faint sound of a zither, like a sudden rainstorm piercing through the forest, drifted from afar.

(End of this chapter)