Chapter 2: Chapter 2: Nine Turns Sky Plundering
Shi Hao raised an eyebrow, somewhat in disbelief.
He and Song Tianming had indeed always been rivals, and it was he who had surpassed his opponent last year, securing the sole spot as the representative for fifteen-year-olds from Starwind Academy to participate in the martial arts competition in the Imperial Capital.
But was it a fair competition to incite a murderous intent in Song Tianming?
He took a deep breath; why it had happened was not important anymore, the important thing was how he was going to resolve this crisis.
The Nine Revolutions Sky-Plundering Scripture!
This was the mystical cultivation technique that Yuan Chengmie had obtained, which had even led to the demise of this powerful individual, and now it was Shi Hao's only lifesaver.
At Starwind Academy, and even throughout the entire Hua Yuan Nation, martial artists could only rely on body techniques, pushing past the human limits time and again through arduous training, elevating their strength to inconceivable levels.
As a result, Shi Hao's injured leg and arm meridians rendered him unable to cultivate, turning him into a crippled man.
However, the Nine Revolutions Sky-Plundering Scripture, plundering the spiritual energy of heaven and earth for one's own use, was infinitely mysterious.
Even Shi Hao saw in Yuan Chengmie's memories that cultivating with cultivation techniques was the true path; body techniques were merely a supplement.
Yet, the martial arts of Hua Yuan Nation had mistakenly taken the supplement for the true path, unaware of the existence of cultivation techniques, for reasons unknown.
Shi Hao's mind flashed with the mnemonic of the Nine Revolutions Sky-Plundering Scripture. Yuan Chengmie had merely recorded this technique, without actually having the time to cultivate it, so Shi Hao could only attempt to recover the technique. However, understanding the cultivation techniques was something he had no clue about.
In fact, this mnemonic couldn't be called a mnemonic at all, but a series of symbols, utterly mysterious. Yet, when these symbols passed through his mind, Shi Hao astonishingly discovered that he knew what to do.
According to Yuan Chengmie, the more profound the cultivation technique was, the more difficult it was to cultivate—yet Shi Hao had grasped it effortlessly. Could it be because this technique was too rudimentary?
But could a technique that caused Yuan Chengmie's death be considered rudimentary?
Nine Revolutions, Sky-Plundering!
Shi Hao tried operating the cultivation technique, and immediately, his consciousness extended beyond his body, forming tendrils that spread around him.
He saw another world.
Energy teemed throughout heaven and earth; it resided in the air, the earth, the sunlight, and in the plants and trees that stored energy but shed a small amount of it. Even every person did the same.
With a thought, his soul turned into a net, drawing the surrounding energy back to him.
Boom!
This energy surged inside him, coursing through his blood and swiftly fortifying his body.
Once all the energy was absorbed, his consciousness once again formed tendrils that spread out around him.
Shi Hao understood that this retraction and extension was one revolution.
In this process, his body was strengthened, and in exchange, there was a consumption of his Soul Force.
"You have fifteen left!" Bu Bowen's voice rang in Shi Hao's ear, clearly trying to provoke him.
Shi Hao paid him no heed and operated the Nine Revolutions Sky-Plundering Scripture once again.
Boom, a vast amount of energy was intercepted by him again to fortify his body.
"Fourteen left," Bu Bowen's voice sounded once more, full of petty-mindedness.
The third revolution, the fourth revolution… the ninth revolution!
"Five left."
Shi Hao stopped operating the Nine Revolutions Sky-Plundering Scripture because his Soul Force had been depleted.
No wonder it was called Nine Revolutions; it could only be performed nine times before one would have to wait for the Soul Force to recover.
Shi Hao clenched his fists, feeling the immense power within his body.
Although he had not tested himself yet, he had a feeling that his progress was significant!
"Bu Bowen, are you really determined to continue down this path of self-destruction?" Shi Hao said indifferently. Having absorbed Yuan Chengmie's memories, he also possessed the composure of a powerful individual.
In his eyes, Bu Bowen was nothing more than a lapdog.
"Haha, you dare to threaten me?" Bu Bowen laughed, spreading his hands to the crowd around him in apparent astonishment, "Listen to this, Genius Shi is actually threatening me!"
Some people started to laugh, but most of them just shook their heads, feeling that Bu Bowen was going too far, especially the female students, whose glances at Bu Bowen were as sharp as swords.
"Shi Hao, don't you forget, you're already a cripple!" Bu Bowen, without any self-awareness of being a clown, reveled in the feeling of trampling the old boss underfoot, his heart swelling with delight.
"Let's make a bet." Shi Hao spoke up, "If I pass the annual test, you'll kneel on the ground and shout 'Song Tianming is a bastard' three times, how about that?"
Bu Bowen sneered, "Shi Hao, even now, you're still daydreaming? Fine, I'll take the bet, you're bound to lose anyway!"
He didn't even mention what Shi Hao would have to sacrifice if he lost because, in his eyes, Shi Hao was as good as dead.
"Shi Hao, step forward for the test." Just then, a voice came from up ahead.
Shi Hao took a deep breath and strode forward.
Outside the crowd, a Strength Testing Device was set up, with three teachers from the academy beside it, one was in charge of recording the results, and the other two were supervising.
"Identification confirmed," one teacher nodded.
"Begin," said the teacher holding the record book to Shi Hao.
Shi Hao approached the Strength Testing Device, which was quite simple; all that was needed was a punch on the force sensor. The transmitted force would turn the gears, and the needle would stop at the corresponding strength level.
He took a deep breath and then swung out a fierce left punch.
——His right fist wouldn't work, the meridians in his arm were damaged, and he couldn't muster any strength.
Bang!
His fist struck the force sensor and the needle immediately began to move, then slowed down, and finally stopped on a number.
"One thousand nine hundred and seventy-seven pounds," the record teacher read the number aloud, waiting for confirmation from the other two teachers, before adding, "Last year's annual test was one thousand five hundred and six pounds, an improvement of just over thirty percent."
"Pass."
He looked at Shi Hao with a surprised expression on his face because he was well aware of Shi Hao's condition.
——He may not remember other students, but Shi Hao was once a genius of the academy, and he was quite handsome too, an unforgettable sight for anyone who glanced at him once.
"What, one thousand nine hundred and seventy-seven pounds?"
"Impossible!"
The students exploded into discussion, one after the other in disbelief.
"Even though Shi Hao could still cultivate for three more months after last year's test, he couldn't cultivate for the following nine months, his strength must have regressed."
"Even if it didn't regress, if you're telling me he increased his strength by thirty percent in three months, I wouldn't believe it even if you beat me to death."
"Right, that's impossible!"
"The Strength Testing Device must be broken!"
But the female students bloomed with joy; Shi Hao had passed the test, so at least he would stay in the academy for another year, giving them an extra year to capture the heart of this handsome idol.
Immediately, they clashed with the male students, each erupting with astonishing combativeness.
Bu Bowen was also stunned, not expecting this outcome, and quickly exclaimed, "The Strength Testing Device must be broken, the result is inaccurate!"
"Teacher Liang, could it really be a malfunction of the Strength Testing Device?" one of the supervising teachers asked the recording teacher.
The teachers were all very clear about Shi Hao's situation.
"I will test it myself." The record teacher reset the needle to zero and then punched the force sensor. The needle spun for a while and stopped at the five thousand five hundred pound mark.
"It's not broken," the record teacher stated, his strength had always been around five thousand five hundred pounds.
Not broken!
The Strength Testing Device wasn't broken!
The crowd was in an uproar again, absolutely dumbfounded.
Chapter 3: Chapter 3 Song Tianming
Shi Hao was also filled with surprise.
No one could possibly understand better than him how his strength had plummeted to just a little over 1,000 jin. This meant that he had increased his strength by nearly 1,000 jin by cultivating the Nine Revolutions Sky-Plundering Scripture just once.
It was too astonishing, too terrifying.
Moreover, according to Yuan Chengmie's words, the location of cultivation greatly affected efficiency, for the energy of heaven and earth varied from place to place.
So what if he found a place rich in energy and cultivated the Nine Revolutions Sky-Plundering Scripture there again?
To what degree would his strength increase then?
He suppressed the excitement in his heart and strode back with composure, facing the stunned and irritated gazes of the male students, while the female students looked on with adoring eyes.
The annual trial continued, and everyone was abuzz, still astonished by Shi Hao's performance.
However, after the time of an incense stick had passed, the annual trial ended.
This time the majority had done well, with only one person failing to meet the requirement of a thirty percent improvement. They would need to pack up and leave upon return.
"Those who passed, do not become arrogant or careless. In the new year, you must continue to strive even harder," said the record-keeping teacher before departing with the other two teachers.
A buzz of conversation followed among the crowd as they prepared to leave.
"Wait!" Several girls stepped forward and stopped Bu Bowen in his tracks.
How dared he bully their male god?
"What is it?" Bu Bowen said with a dark face, extremely displeased by the fact that Shi Hao hadn't been expelled from the academy.
"You lost the bet to Shi Hao, now are you trying to renege?" the girls demanded one after another.
Shi Hao had wanted to find Bu Bowen as well, but since these girls were taking care of it for him, he stood by to enjoy the spectacle.
He had long grown accustomed to the special treatment by women, knowing a refusal would only anger them.
So it was best to just silently accept.
Watching these enraged girls, whose fighting spirit was soaring, the male students felt as if their hearts were being carved with knives.
—So what if he's just a bit better looking?
This pretty boy, still so dazzling even after becoming debilitated, was intolerable.
With the mindset that a good man does not fight with women, Bu Bowen tried to slip away. Besides, these were not ordinary girls but female martial artists, not to be underestimated.
But he really shouldn't have provoked Shi Hao!
"Hit him!" A girl shouted, and in an instant, all the girls surged forward, overwhelmed by emotion, and quickly submerged Bu Bowen.
To enter Starwind Academy, one either belonged to a family with power, wealth, or prodigious talent.
—Students from the People Character Courtyard were the poor kids who got in through their talent, unlike those from the Heaven Character Courtyard and Earth Character Courtyard who were children of either the mighty or the wealthy.
Even if Bu Bowen had talent, he couldn't withstand the onslaught of a group of equally talented girls and, worse, they were enraged like tigresses.
Not a single male student intervened.
First, it wasn't their business; second, there was no sense of achievement in fighting with women and losing would be embarrassing; and third, the most important reason, what good would it do for one or two to step in when they couldn't win against this group of women?
They all glared at Shi Hao, gritting their teeth.
—So what if he's just a bit better looking?
But after taking another look, they sighed in defeat; this guy was truly good-looking, surpassing the usual definition of handsome by countless times.
A while later, Bu Bowen lay on the ground like a dead dog, his head swollen as a pig's.
"The loser admits defeat!" The girls were relentless, forcing Bu Bowen to kneel on the ground, insisting he keep to the terms of the bet—some with an excited expression, not yet satisfied from the earlier bout of violence.
Bu Bowen trembled with fear. These women had been too ruthless; he did not want to go through that again, as it might actually kill him.
With no other choice, he mumbled, "Song Tianming is a bastard."
"Louder!"
"Can't hear you!"
The girls got energized and shouted loudly in unison.
"Song Tianming is a bastard!" Bu Bowen raised his volume.
"Even louder."
"Song Tianming is a bastard!" Bu Bowen shouted loudly, and as he did, tears streamed down his face.
This was too humiliating, being bullied by women like this!
Only then were the girls satisfied. They let go of him and once again became the picture of ladylike grace, smiling coyly at Shi Hao as if the fierce shrews from moments before were completely different people.
Bu Bowen took the opportunity to slip away. When he was being beaten earlier, he had protected his head with his hands and curled up his body, avoiding serious injury to any vital areas.
Thus, although his whole body ached terribly, it didn't affect his ability to move.
"Shi Hao, you just wait!" After running a good distance, he dared to turn back and shout at Shi Hao, before hastily running off again.
He hadn't gone far when he stopped, turned around, and came back.
By his side stood another youth of about fifteen or sixteen, dressed in brocade and adorned with jade, looking extremely lavish.
That youth was also quite handsome, but compared to Shi Hao... the difference was quite significant.
"Not good, Song Tianming is here!"
The students of the People Character Courtyard immediately showed nervous expressions.
It was unavoidable. Song Tianming was from the Heaven Character Courtyard, and those who could enter the Heaven Character Courtyard were descendants of the great families of Mengyang City—people the students of the People Character Courtyard dared not provoke.
Even the women who had just acted like fierce tigresses showed fear. Bu Bowen they could bully at will, but with Song Tianming, who would dare to be presumptuous under the title of the Song Family's Seventh Young Master?
Song Tianming looked at Shi Hao with undisguised loathing.
He was not only born into a powerful family, but his martial arts talent was also outstanding, and he was handsome to boot. He should have been the brightest star at the academy.
But then, there was Shi Hao.
The same age, yet stronger than him, more handsome than him, even the female students of the Heaven Character Courtyard were enamored with him.
Last year, Shi Hao had even beaten him and won the right to represent the academy in the martial arts competition at the Imperial Capital.
All these things made him hate Shi Hao to the bone.
He had been waiting for this day when, once Shi Hao was expelled, he would have someone kill Shi Hao.
Although the death of a person would be a serious incident, if Shi Hao was no longer a disciple of the academy, just a nobody, who would die; who would bother to investigate thoroughly?
It would surely end up unresolved.
However, he had just received news that Shi Hao had somehow managed to scrape through!
He couldn't believe it and had come here in person to check, only to encounter Bu Bowen and learn about the bet.
"Shi Hao, you've got some nerve!" he said darkly, his aura intimidating.
Even though the girls from the People Character Courtyard all wanted to protect their male god, under Song Tianming's oppressive presence, they didn't dare raise their heads.
"Moderately," Shi Hao responded indifferently. Since Song Tianming harbored killing intent towards him, why should he remain polite?
"You're nothing but a crippled waste. Where do you get the courage?" Song Tianming stepped assertively towards Shi Hao, his heavy footsteps tremoring the ground.
Watching this scene, the boys displayed expressions of schadenfreude, while the girls were incredibly anxious.
Song Tianming, after all, had demonstrated a strength of 2,800 pounds in the exam the day before yesterday and was on the verge of becoming an intermediate martial disciple.
The difference in strength was too great.
Gifts
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received Weekly Power Status
200+ Power
Ranking 
30 Power
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