Gao Wu insists on cultivating immortality.

Chapter 108 Hidden Dragon, Do Not Use
Martial Arts Academy, Azure Dragon Branch, Qinghua Building.

The dining table by the window on the third floor offers a perfect view overlooking the beautiful, clean lawn outside, the towering blue dragon metal statue at the college entrance, and groups of students dining at Qinghua Building.

Qinghualou, as the branch's restaurant, has an interior decoration that is both classically elegant and modernly simple.

The dining tables are made of beautiful solid wood, and the solid wood chairs are covered with embroidered cushions.

Through the transparent window, you can see dozens of staff members busy preparing dinner. They are all wearing clean white work clothes, and there is no oil stain or dirt on their bodies.

They all seemed well-trained, busy but not chaotic. The students eating were also very quiet.

The huge cafeteria is like a high-end restaurant, exuding an upscale atmosphere from top to bottom and inside to outside.

It was Gao Wu's first time here, and he looked around curiously.

Fortunately, this was a private room, and no one outside could see what was happening inside. Therefore, they couldn't see An Ziru, the dean of the Qinglong Branch, personally attending to the young couple.

"Try this braised bear paw; it's one of our signature dishes at Qinghualou."

An Ziru, whose face was usually cold and stern like a man's, rarely smiled. She warmly invited Gao Wu and Song Mingyue to eat.

Although Qinghua Tower is the canteen of the Azure Dragon Branch Academy, its ability to process ingredients is exceptional. In particular, its handling of otherworldly ingredients is top-notch even in the Northern Continent.

The braised bear paw was kept intact, with a bright red and glossy appearance, a thick broth, and a rich aroma. Crucially, this bear paw was a full half-meter square, ridiculously large.

As the hostess, An Ziru took the first bite. Only then did Gao Wu and Song Mingyue pick up their chopsticks. This was not only out of respect for the martial arts master, but also as basic courtesy as guests.

The bear paw is tender and flavorful yet has a chewy texture, making it worth savoring.

"How is it?" An Ziru asked.

Gao Wu smiled and praised, "I don't know much, but I think it's fragrant, flavorful, and delicious!"

As a middle school student, he doesn't need to exaggerate so much. Judging from An Ziru's behavior, he wouldn't like that kind of thing. He should just express his true feelings.

Song Mingyue nodded, indicating that she would do the same.

An Ziru smiled and said, "If it's delicious, eat more. It's not difficult to make bear paw, the difficulty lies in using fresh ingredients. The seasons in this other world are different from ours, this bear paw is quite plump and delicious, it's the perfect time..."

Gao Wu didn't stand on ceremony. This bear paw was quite heavy and contained an exceptionally rich amount of source energy particles, which ordinary people simply couldn't digest.

Even with his appetite, he would need to eat his fill to finish it.

There was no need for him to put on airs in front of a martial arts master. He immediately started eating heartily, the dish was very flavorful and became more and more delicious with each bite.

"The bear paw has such a strong source of energy. I wonder what level of beast it is?" Gao Wu asked.

Level 5.

An Ziru's expression was somewhat complicated. "In recent years, the tide of otherworldly source power has become increasingly turbulent, and there are more and more level-five alien beasts. Some alien beasts even sneak into secret realms and take root and sprout there."

Speaking of these things, An Ziru was also filled with worry.

As a buffer zone between the two worlds, the secret realm has gradually been taken over by alien life forms.

If this continues, it won't be long before extraterrestrial life forms invade the real world, which would be a catastrophe for humanity.

An Ziru did not discuss these topics. For teenagers like Gao Wu and Song Mingyue, such topics were too heavy and too distant.

Young people rarely have this sense of responsibility. Too much lecturing can actually create a rebellious attitude.

A sense of responsibility lies more in the example set by leaders and in an individual's love for themselves, for life, and for the world. A sense of responsibility is not a burden, but rather an individual's most stable and powerful anchor in the world.

If this point cannot be understood, then the forced sense of responsibility will cause pain.

After Gao Wu and Song Mingyue had finished eating, An Ziru smiled and said, "I invited you two over for dinner because I wanted to chat with you."

"You two must both be interested in applying to our martial arts academy, right?"

The saying "You can tell what a person will be like at eighty" is a bit of an exaggeration. However, the saying "It's easier to change mountains and rivers than to change one's nature" is certainly true.

A person's fundamental personality traits are actually very difficult to change.

An Ziru certainly wouldn't dare say she could see through Gao Wu and Song Mingyue's true personalities. But she could at least get a general idea.

Both of them have clear growth trajectories. Gao Wu, in particular, has left many traces along the way.

An Ziru was deeply impressed by Gao Wu's performance in the preliminary round.

Song Mingyue is reserved and aloof, yet not deep or strange; Gao Wu is passionate and cheerful, yet tough and ruthless. The two present a very interesting correspondence in their personalities.

Not just in the Northern Continent, but throughout the entire Alliance, both of them deserve the title of genius. Now that she has discovered such geniuses ahead of time, she naturally cannot let them slip away.

Gao Wu and Song Mingyue both understood what An Ziru meant, and they nodded together.

Ankyo University's Martial Arts Academy is the strongest martial arts program in the Northern State, with four martial arts grandmasters and numerous martial arts experts in charge.

In terms of combat strength alone, Ankyo University is also incredibly strong.

Those who enter Ankyo University's Martial Arts Academy are all top-tier young elites. Their network of connections alone is a tremendous asset.

Becoming a disciple of a martial arts master is equivalent to joining a large faction. If you're lucky enough to become a disciple of a martial arts grandmaster, it's like rising to the top in one step.

As long as they study in Beizhou, Gao Wu and Song Mingyue will have no other choice.

An Ziru nodded and said, "Since you two are willing, I will give you special invitations. No interview is required. With this invitation, you can be directly admitted to Qinglong Academy."

"Thank you, Dean An."

"Thank you."

Gao Wu and Song Mingyue both expressed their gratitude, but Song Mingyue was more reserved, while Gao Wu smiled very brightly.

Song Mingyue asked softly, "Dean An, I heard that student admissions are divided into different levels, corresponding to different benefits. I wonder what level of benefits we two will receive?"

She and Gao Wu had an unspoken understanding: if Gao Wu said nice things, she would talk about interests with a cold face.

The martial arts academy will evaluate the students it recruits and classify them into four levels and twelve grades, A, B, C, and D. Different grades correspond to different cultivation resources.

There are four levels and twelve grades, with huge differences between the upper, middle and lower grades within the same level.

This concerns the path of spiritual cultivation, so we must get to the bottom of this.

An Ziru understood this perfectly. She said seriously, "Your grades are all at the highest level, A. You will be given 10,000 points each semester, which can be freely exchanged for corresponding resources."

"While being a student in the top tier is good, one must also bear corresponding responsibilities. There will be assessments every semester. Students must also complete the tasks assigned by the school."

Based on the exchange value, one point is equal to one thousand yuan.

Training a student at the top-tier level would cost the college 100 million yuan over five years. While it can't be directly converted into cash, it's not far off.

Having paid such a huge price, it is only natural to cultivate talents who are useful to the school and the league.

An Ziru softened her expression and said, "Each department has a limited number of resources, and the academy encourages healthy competition. You will all face tremendous competitive pressure, so be prepared."

Song Mingyue and Gao Wu exchanged a glance, and Gao Wu took the initiative to say, "Enjoying rights means bearing corresponding responsibilities. We both understand this principle."

"That's good."

An Ziru nodded with satisfaction. To become a strong person, one must face fierce competition. If you can't even beat your peers, what right do you have to be a strong person?

She said to Gao Wu, "Your advancement to warrior has reduced a lot of my stress."

The ranking of Gao Wujia was mainly based on his meritorious performance in the preliminary rounds. However, this matter was of great importance and could not be made public.

When others see that Gao Wu can be rated as top-tier, they will inevitably question the fairness of the academy.

This matter concerns resource allocation, and everyone wants to get more. An imbalance in distribution will inevitably lead to psychological imbalance among the group.

This contradiction is inherently unsolvable.

While the public outcry was unbearable for her, Gao Wu, who was the first to be affected, faced criticism and controversy and endured immense pressure.

Fortunately, Gao Wu suddenly advanced to the rank of Warrior in the past two days, saving him a lot of trouble.

An Ziru did not ask about the details of Gao Wu becoming a warrior. She had long seen that Gao Wu's blood and energy were exceptionally vigorous and that he also had a talent for mental power. It would be strange if he were not a warrior.

With a solid foundation in martial arts, one only needs a little stimulation or enlightenment to naturally advance to the rank of warrior.

An Ziru said, "You've just advanced to the rank of warrior, and your energy is overflowing and your sharpness is too obvious. This isn't a good thing."

She paused for a moment and then said, "I also have some experience with the Nine Forms of the Dragon Form. I can teach you one of the forms, Hidden Dragon, to help you gather your vital energy and adjust your body and mind."

Gao Wu was surprised by this good news. He immediately stood up, bowed, and said, "Thank you, Dean An."

"You helped me a lot by dealing with the demon god's followers in the secret realm. This is my way of expressing my gratitude."

As An Ziru spoke, she stood up and gently touched Gao Wu's forehead.

Gao Wu's vision went black, and then he saw a flying dragon spiraling into his spiritual world. The dragon continued to dive deeper and deeper, and the spiritual light shining around its body gradually subsided, eventually coiling into a ball.

The dragon's eyes were closed, and its coiled body was not tense, but rather exuded a long-lasting tranquility and relaxation.

With each breath, the dragon's body rose and fell slightly, its power restrained, deep, patient, and stable.

Just like a seed hidden deep in the soil, it quietly absorbs the energy of the land and rainwater, accumulating strength to take root, sprout, and break through the soil.

Just like a fetus in the womb, its vitality is hidden deep within, yet it is constantly absorbing energy and growing steadily, making full preparations to become an independent individual.

Gao Wu had always used the "Hidden Dragon" technique to achieve a deep sleep. He understood the meaning of "Hidden Dragon" very well: it meant concealing one's form and spirit to recuperate and accumulate strength and vitality in the darkness...

Understanding the principles is not difficult; what is difficult is integrating those principles into cultivation. What is difficult is comprehending the essence of the "Hidden Dragon, Do Not Use" technique. What is difficult is adjusting both body and mind to the corresponding state.

Martial arts master An Ziru directly transmitted the corresponding martial arts mark to him through spiritual power, saving him the process of enlightenment and learning.

This method is exactly the same as Song Chunqiu's, but the difference is that the secret technique of "Hidden Dragon, Do Not Use" is more complex and sophisticated than Zhanbingquan.

The Nine Forms of the Dragon are the foundation of cultivation, and each form is an extremely important secret technique.

Zhanbingquan is merely a fighting style, and it is not qualified to be compared with Longxing Jiushi.

Gao Wu comprehended the Dao in the river, grasped the transformation of the dragon leaping from the abyss, and brought the Nine Forms of the Dragon to a minor level of mastery.

This allows one to concentrate energy in their acupoints and advance to the rank of warrior.

Fundamentally, he had only reached the minor level of mastery in the "Dragon Leaps Over the Abyss" technique, and had not yet truly mastered the variations of the other eight dragon forms.

The spiritual imprint inherited by An Ziru put him on the fast track, and his understanding of "hidden dragon should not be used" reached an extremely high level, at least no lower than the level of "dragon leaping over the abyss".

Given time, he will surely be able to cultivate the "Hidden Dragon, Do Not Use" technique to an even higher level.

As Gao Wu continuously adjusted his body posture, breathing rhythm, and mental state, he entered a state of clarity and tranquility, and all distracting thoughts vanished without a trace...

When Gao Wu woke up from his deep and long sleep, he saw Song Mingyue sitting quietly to the side.

It was already pitch black outside the window.

Gao Wu smiled at Song Mingyue: "What time is it?"

"It's 9:30, and you've slept for two hours."

Song Mingyue looked Gao Wu up and down, then nodded slightly and said, "His essence is restrained and his source power is deeply hidden. Dean An's teaching of 'Hidden Dragon, Do Not Use' is indeed profound..."

(End of this chapter)