High-level martial arts: Starting with a heart of steel, stats crush everything.

Of course, while tempering his muscles, Chen Mo did not neglect his academic studies.

Humanities subjects are much easier than that damn math. You can at least pass humanities subjects by rote memorization, but with math, if you don't know it, you really don't know it.

However, there are also those who are not smart enough to learn even by rote memorization.

For example, Gu Feng.

"The little textbook is quite conscious of intellectual property protection; it couldn't steal even a tiny bit of my brain!"

Gu Feng was scribbling and drawing in his notebook as if he were possessed, muttering some incomprehensible nonsense.

Do you think I have some kind of unspeakable problem regarding my intelligence?

"Or perhaps studying just isn't for me; I think sleeping is more suitable for me."

"Are you going to take the exam without any preparation, Gu Feng?!"

"That's right! I'm the chosen one; I can pass the exam even without any preparation!"

"Or, I could just blow up the Mountain City Martial Arts Academy, then I wouldn't have to take the exam!"

"Oh my god! I'm the ultimate exam king!!!"

Yang Zuo, who was comprehending the divine power of heaven and man, opened his eyes. His originally calm state of mind was broken by Gu Feng's wonderful little words.

"Is he crazy?"

Yang Zuo turned to look at Chen Mo, who was tempering his muscles, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes.

"I think it's possible."

Chen Mo glanced at Gu Feng. It seemed like this guy was communicating with himself.

No, it seems like I'm trying to convince myself to use my brain more?

"It shouldn't...bite, right?"

Although there are only three days left until the test, the pressure shouldn't be this great, right?

The knowledge itself is quite simple; it's just that the Abyss language is a bit difficult to learn.

Shaking their heads, Chen Mo and Yang Zuo ignored the madman Gu Feng and continued doing their own thing.

As the energy liquid exploded, was absorbed, and fused within his body, Chen Mo successfully completed the first side quest.

Muscle tempering progress successfully reached 50%, side quest one completed.

The reward "Final Reserve BUFF" has been issued. No need to actively use it; this BUFF will automatically activate when the host's health reaches zero.

Exhaling a breath of stale air, Chen Mo glanced at his sculpted body.

"Not bad, both strength and defense have increased significantly."

The improvement in attributes from muscle tempering is not a one-time event, but rather increases as one's martial arts realm advances.

Chen Mo had seen Zhu Long's attribute values ​​before; his full-power burst and his normal state were completely different people.

However... his blood and qi did not decrease or increase due to muscle tempering.

Furthermore, my situation differs from that of my senior brother Zhu Long, who described "qi and blood stored in muscle cells." The cells I've refined store energy particles...

Regardless of whether energy particles or blood and qi are more advanced, these two types of energy can be completely transformed into each other.

The efficiency of converting energy particles into blood and qi can reach 1:1.2.

In other words, after Chen Mo had fully tempered all his muscles, he would have at least 50% more reserve blood and qi in his body.

However, how to utilize these energy particles after they are converted into qi and blood is a problem.

Currently, these energy particles can only enhance Chen Mo's strength and physical conditioning.

[Side Quest 2 released: Increase Muscle Tempering progress to 75%. Quest completion reward: 'Random Warrior Hero Template' x1, and unlock the next stage of the quest.]

"Random Warrior-type Hero Templates?"

Chen Mo was taken aback. He did remember that the lottery system had a hero template feature, but he had never drawn one...

"System, what is a hero template?"

[Hero Templates: You can choose to materialize the hero's backstory or directly obtain the hero's skill set + six additional core items, lasting for one hour]

The randomization range for warrior-type hero templates is limited to warrior-type heroes only.

"Background story!?" Chen Mo's pupils shrank. Compared to the six-item equipment and skill set, Chen Mo was more concerned about this background story.

It's important to know that some of the heroes in the League of Legends lore are capable of destroying the world.

For example, the Dragon King...

Unfortunately, the random warrior-type hero template this time is only for warriors. If he had the chance to draw the Dragon King, Chen Mo could have wiped out the entire Abyss all by himself.

However, there are also extremely powerful warrior-type heroes, such as Aatrox, the Darkin, and Volibear, the demigod.

I wonder which is stronger: a demigod, a darkin, or a grandmaster...

Folgo is also an option. Despite his somewhat clown-like persona in the story, his strength is genuinely world-destroying.

"Forget it, there's no use thinking about it now. I'll just take a bath and burn incense when the lottery is announced, and hopefully I'll draw a really awesome hero."

Chen Mo shook his head. His immediate priority was the assessment in three days. If he failed, he would have to stay here and listen to the old professors' nagging.

...

The next day, Chen Mo and his friends went to the lecture hall for class as usual.

When Chen Mo arrived at the classroom door, he saw someone who shouldn't have been there.

Wu Yaozu and Liu Yun.

"Principal Wu, what are you doing here?"

Wu Yaozu hasn't shown his face for almost a month since Chen Mo and his group arrived. Why is he here today?

"It's nothing, I just wanted to say a few words to Professor Liu."

Wu Yaozu shook his head and handed a sealed envelope to Liu Yun.

"Please hand this over to the Martial Arts Education Bureau. I am no longer suitable to be the principal of Shancheng Martial Arts Academy."

"But before I leave, I want to go and see the Abyss Rift, to see the place where the old headmaster led us in battle."

Somewhat disappointed, Wu Yaozu patted Liu Yun on the shoulder and nodded to Chen Mo.

"What's going on?" Chen Mo asked curiously as he approached and glanced at the envelope in Liu Yun's hand.

"Old Wu realized that his academic style was no longer suitable for the current Shancheng Martial Arts Academy, so he voluntarily gave up the position of principal."

Liu Yun shook the envelope in her hand and smiled.

"He realized that all of this was the will of those above, and that it was much better to withdraw voluntarily than to be purged."

"If he quits now, he can find a sinecure elsewhere."

"If you don't understand the situation and continue to cling to your position as principal, the consequences will be..."

Liu Yun knew very well that these academics were kept there to deal with various problems in human society.

This gave them enormous power, but it was also a heavy shackle on their bodies.

Most martial artists from academic schools are just pretty faces with lots of energy and vitality, but they have little actual combat ability.

All their rights were granted by their superiors. If those rights were taken back, then the martial artists from the academy would be nothing.

In contrast, combat-oriented martial artists do not need the approval of others or superiors; they are pure power themselves.

Not to mention that the higher-ups rely on these combat-savvy martial artists to stabilize the Abyss Rift, and they wouldn't touch the interests of combat-savvy martial artists no matter who they touch.

That's how it is now, at least for now.