Offside game

"Master, after practicing the movements you described for a day, I felt a slight warmth along my spine, just like you said. At first, I thought it was my imagination, but I was still very happy and continued practicing. Then I felt that warm current flowing through more and more areas. This morning, when I practiced the movements again, I felt that warm current throughout my body. After finishing the movements, my whole body felt warm, like I had just taken a sauna. I was covered in sweat, and my whole body felt great. But the sweat smelled terrible, and I had to take several showers to get rid of the smell. But I feel like my body has become a new one. Master, are you sure what you're teaching me isn't some kind of 'Yi Jin Jing' or 'Xi Sui Jing' or something?" Ji Feng kept talking, his excitement overflowing.

Su Yi was astonished. According to him, this was a complete mastery of the introductory movements, indicating that he could begin cultivating the inner cultivation technique. If that were true, Ji Feng had reached this level in just three days, demonstrating exceptional talent in the Martial Arts Inner Cultivation Technique. Could he be the legendary martial arts prodigy?

He decided to test it out, so he said, "Xiao Feng, show me the movements now."

Upon hearing this, Ji Feng immediately began demonstrating the movements. Meanwhile, Su Yi secretly used his consciousness to connect with the Kosei-class destroyer to scan Ji Feng's physical condition.

Sure enough, I could sense the flow of energy within his body. However, it was only a primary form of energy, somewhat impure, and not as pure as Su Yi's. But after formally practicing the mental cultivation method, it would naturally undergo a qualitative change.

When Ji Feng finished his movements, he was covered in sweat again, as if he had just taken a sauna, but this time there was no foul smell. The first time this happened, it was because the initial energy flowed through his entire body, drawing out impurities and making his constitution purer. While he would continue to cleanse his body of impurities after reaching this level, it wouldn't be as extensive as the first time, when years of accumulated impurities were washed away all at once.

Another reason for the sweating is that he is currently passively promoting energy flow through movement, which is not very efficient. Therefore, he sweats a lot because some of the lost energy raises the skin temperature, stimulating his sweat glands. This is also a sign of maturity in the initial stages of practice. Once he begins to cultivate his inner energy and can actively circulate it, this situation will no longer occur.

"Master, what's wrong with me? Can you tell?" After demonstrating the movements once, Ji Feng looked at Su Yi anxiously and asked, "Is there anything wrong? I hope it's not some kind of qi deviation like in martial arts novels; that sounds terrifying."

Su Yi found it amusing to see the fear on Ji Feng's face and comforted him, saying, "You don't need to worry about that. Your current situation is perfectly normal, which is good. It's not a case of qi deviation. On the contrary, you have a great talent for cultivating the Martial Arts Technique. The heat you feel is a manifestation of energy operating automatically, which means you can now cultivate the technique."

"Really, Master? You mean I can learn internal energy cultivation? I can be as powerful as you, right?" Ji Feng asked excitedly.

"Yes, you can practice internal energy now, but you can't neglect this set of movements. You still need to do it at least once every morning and evening. However, because you started learning the mental cultivation method late, if you want to reach my current level, you need to practice continuously. That depends on your perseverance. But you have good talent, and as long as you work hard, your achievements will be quite good." To urge Ji Feng on, Su Yi had to use this kind of talk, but overall it was still quite correct. For Ji Feng, who couldn't undergo physical modification, as long as he could continue to practice the Martial Arts Mental Cultivation Method, he might not be unable to reach Su Yi's current level in terms of martial arts.

"That's great, Master. Don't worry, I'll work very hard." Feeling a bright future ahead, Su Yi said firmly. Then, he couldn't help but exclaim excitedly, "So I'm one of those martial arts prodigies like the protagonists in wuxia novels! No wonder I have such a good appearance!" Su Yi broke out in a cold sweat; facing such a disciple, he always suddenly felt this sense of powerlessness...

Next, Su Yi had Ji Feng sit down, placed his hand on Ji Feng's back, and used the manipulator technique to channel a wisp of energy into Ji Feng's body, saying, "Relax now. I will control your true energy and circulate it through your body several times. Remember the route, and follow this route to cultivate in the future."

After speaking, Su Yi controlled the faint energy within Ji Feng's body, circulating it within him according to the modified Martial Arts Technique. The first level of the Martial Arts Technique wasn't complicated; after Su Yi circulated it three times, Ji Feng had firmly memorized the route. He then had Ji Feng try circulating it himself, and once Su Yi confirmed it was correct, he considered it complete.

Of course, Su Yi didn't necessarily have Ji Feng use this posture, nor did he have to place his hand on Ji Feng's back to teach him. But considering that this was the general procedure from novels to television dramas, it would be easier for Ji Feng to accept, so he followed this method. After all, he wanted Ji Feng to perceive him as a reclusive martial arts master. Ji Feng was simply circulating an energy, and he didn't know if it was truly similar to that in martial arts novels, but this explanation was obviously easier for Ji Feng to accept.

Finally, Su Yi instructed Ji Feng to stay at his house for the next couple of days, and that Ji Feng should be by his side during the recent practice of the cultivation method. This would prevent Ji Feng from making mistakes and causing any problems. Ultimately, Su Yi wasn't entirely at ease, worried about whether the modified Wu Da cultivation method was truly suitable for humans, although now it seemed that this worry was somewhat unnecessary.

However, when speaking to Ji Feng, Su Yi couldn't help but use the well-known term "going astray in cultivation."

Next, Ji Feng described the wondrous sensations he experienced while practicing the mental cultivation technique. For anyone who grew up reading martial arts novels, such an experience is novel and exciting for the first time. Su Yi felt the same way the first time he practiced the manipulation technique. The difference was that he could only describe it to the Kosei, and the Mother Nest, lacking human emotions, naturally failed to provide the desired response to Su Yi's heightened emotions. Now, Ji Feng was speaking to Su Yi, so Su Yi fully understood his feelings and cooperated in the conversation.

In the following days, Ji Feng continued to stay at Su Yi's house, gradually calming down from his initial excitement and joy. However, practicing the Martial Arts Mind Technique gradually became an indispensable daily habit for him.

Su Yi couldn't help but secretly marvel at this guy's talent for the mental cultivation method. Judging from the progress, Ji Feng didn't seem to be much inferior to a genuine martial arts master. According to the calculations of the Kesai, when a human body runs the martial arts mental cultivation method, coupled with the difference in environment between Earth and the Martial Arts Planet, the average efficiency can only reach about 30% of the average martial arts master. That is to say, Ji Feng's speed is more than three times that of a normal person. This is indeed a remarkable achievement.

Ji Feng didn't return home until the day before the college entrance exam results were released, responding to his father's summons. The next day, Su Yi also learned his results immediately. Out of a total of 750 points, he scored 741. His perfect score in Chinese was a complete surprise, meaning his essay also received a perfect score. Although Su Yi had always been good at Chinese, and his essays were often used as model texts in class, achieving a perfect score was still a pleasant surprise. The rest of his scores were mostly within his expectations, but the fact that his score was close to the upper limit suggested that he might have been lucky.

Such results mean that even in Dongshan Province, where the college entrance examination scores are frighteningly high, one can freely choose a school.

Immediately, he received a call from the principal of No. 3 Middle School, who personally informed Su Yi of his college entrance examination results and that he had become the city's top science student this year. The principal, in high spirits, congratulated him and praised his achievement in bringing honor to the school. He said the city had decided to award him 30,000 yuan as a bonus, and the school had also decided to award him 10,000 yuan for his contributions. Finally, he expressed his hope to personally visit Su Yi's home with teachers when he had time… The principal's actions were understandable. Dongdu No. 3 Middle School was not a key middle school, yet the city's top college entrance examination scorer had emerged from this school—something unprecedented since its founding. Although the school had two classes designated as key city classes, the best students had always been snatched up by No. 1 and No. 2 Middle Schools, two other key middle schools. Now that the school's student had achieved such results, the principal received more than just superficial honor.

Just as Su Yi hung up the phone with the principal, the phone rang again. He answered, and a quiet, excited voice came through: "Yi, you scored 741 on the college entrance exam! Congratulations! You're now the top scorer in Dongdu!"

Su Yi also checked An Jing's college entrance examination score immediately—724 points, which would rank her among the top five in the entire Dongdu City, and was more than enough to meet the score requirements for her dream university, Beidu University. He smiled and said, "I didn't expect to perform so well. The school principal and teachers just called and said a lot of things, which was quite a headache. But Xiao Jing, you did very well too. Applying to Peking University is definitely not a problem for you."

A quiet, silvery laugh came from the other end of the phone. Su Yi could easily imagine her expression right now; she must be sticking out her tongue cutely again.

Anjing's voice, though quiet, carried a hint of joy: "The school called me too. I'm quite satisfied with my grades this time, but they're still not as good as yours." She paused slightly, then carefully asked, "Yi, which school are you planning to apply to?"