Luoying City, First High School.

In the classroom of Grade 11, Class 7,

"Li Qingshan, do you also want to join the Martial Arts Class?"

A voice of surprise rang out, and several classmates looked up, their gazes converging on a figure by the window.

Brilliant sunlight poured in from outside, illuminating the young man writing with his head down. His profile shone with a radiant glow against the golden light.

Li Qingshan stopped his pen, turned his head to look at the classmate who spoke, and chuckled lightly:

"The Martial Arts Class has no entry barriers, why shouldn't I go?"

The person who spoke was momentarily stunned. Although the other classmates looked at him strangely, they returned their attention to the application forms in their hands, hesitating.

Boom!

A sonic boom exploded in the sky outside,

Yet, there was no reaction in the classroom, as if it was a common sight.

Only Li Qingshan looked up towards the window.

A ring of white airwaves lingered in mid-air, and a black humanoid mecha reflected metallic light as it sped away.

The Sky Patroler, affiliated with the Wuyi Province Inspection Bureau, patrolled the skies over various cities daily.

"Common sight? This is a mecha!"

Li Qingshan rubbed the application form in his hand, his expression inscrutable.

Having crossed over for two years, his understanding of this world was still full of contradictions.

The interstellar era... Chihong Starfield... Ziying Star...

Starships... Mechas... Martial Artists...

Star Realm Beasts... Evil God Cultists... Pollution...

These were just pale words in textbooks.

Indeed, even in the interstellar era, education on Ziying Star still used paper textbooks.

After two years of living here, he hadn't even seen a single hover car.

The most sci-fi item Li Qingshan could touch was a communicator on his wrist that could project images.

Only the mechas occasionally flying across the sky and the martial arts he practiced daily reminded him that this was an interstellar era.

Mechas!

Martial Artists!

The only two manifestations of those pale words in the textbooks!

"In such a splendid interstellar era, how could I miss out?"

Li Qingshan smiled slightly and continued filling out the application form.

On the podium, the homeroom teacher adjusted his glasses, his expression complex.

Every three years, this scene would play out again, but the path of martial arts was not easy.

"Classmates, although the Martial Arts Class has no entry barriers, I must remind you."

"Even if you truly enter the Martial Arts Class, only a handful can make it to the New Continent."

"Even putting aside talent, the cost of nutrient solutions alone is not low. I hope you all consider carefully."

The somber words were like a bucket of cold water, causing most to sigh helplessly and put down their application forms.

Even a few students who were filling out their applications gripped their pens tightly, faces showing struggle, and eventually stopped with reluctance.

The homeroom teacher's words were harsh but true.

Ziying Star is divided into the New Continent and the Old Continent, and they were on the Old Continent.

The New Continent is the center of this planet; only by entering the New Continent can one truly touch the vast interstellar era.

A vast ocean separates the New Continent and the Old Continent, but it is not insurmountable.

Talent is the ticket to the New Continent!

However, the selection for talent had long begun.

Among all the students present, from elementary to middle school, almost every year, one or two classmates were sent to the New Continent.

Those who remained here were undoubtedly the large denominator left after the selection.

Entering the Grade 12 Martial Arts Class and getting into the New Continent Martial Arts University was their last chance to enter the New Continent.

But rather than a chance, it was more like a distant dream.

In Wuyi Province, where Luoying City is located, only a handful of students get into the New Continent Martial Arts University each year.

As the students' spirits sank, the classroom grew increasingly quiet, with only a few "rustling" sounds standing out.

Unconsciously, the classmates turned their heads, their gazes gathering on the three who hadn't stopped writing.

"Jia Jiang, Zhao Hongzhou... Hmm? Li Qingshan wants to go to the Martial Arts Class too?"

At that moment, almost all eyes were on Li Qingshan.

"Why is Li Qingshan even applying for the Martial Arts Class?"

"Yeah, Jia Jiang's family runs a logistics company, so he can afford to be carefree. Zhao Hongzhou, although his family conditions are average, has grown stronger over the past two years, so it's normal for him to give it a shot. But Li Qingshan..."

The speaking boy hesitated, and someone immediately chimed in:

"What's there to hide? Isn't he from the 'Public Nurturing Center'? Mentioning 'public nurturing' isn't discrimination."

Public nurturing, a product of the declining birth rate in the interstellar era.

The Public Nurturing Center, where all children come from the federal embryo bank, with no parents.

Before the age of 15, they receive a unified education at the Public Nurturing Center.

After turning 15, everyone faces a choice.

Continue with the Public Nurturing Center's arrangements until they start working, signing a minimum ten-year work contract.

Or leave the Public Nurturing Center and fend for themselves.

Almost every class in the school has two or three students from the Public Nurturing Center, so it's not uncommon.

As the words fell, the surrounding classmates relaxed and continued:

"Even if the school covers tuition and accommodation, the nutrient solutions for training aren't included. Without parental support, how can Li Qingshan dare?"

"Not necessarily. I heard he started working part-time to earn money before even entering high school and doesn't live on campus."

"Ha, how much can you earn from part-time work? Probably not even enough for a month's worth of nutrient solutions."

"Exactly, if Li Qingshan had talent, he would have been sent to the New Continent from the Public Nurturing Center. Why would he be at our school?"

"No talent, no family support, what's the point?"

Many students began shaking their heads and sighing, adopting a knowing posture.

With most having given up, abandoning the Martial Arts Class became the "wise" choice.

And with Li Qingshan's conditions worse than anyone else's, his "stubbornness" was seen as the most unwise.

"Li Qingshan..."

On the podium, the homeroom teacher frowned but said nothing more.

The earlier cold water was just to prevent too many students from exhausting their family's savings and achieving nothing.

The Grade 12 Martial Arts Class was ultimately a strategy set by the federation, a ticket to the New Continent.

Though the chances were slim, he couldn't forcefully stop them.

"At most, it's just a waste of time. He probably left the Public Nurturing Center just to apply for the Martial Arts Class."

The thought crossed his mind, and the homeroom teacher shook his head, giving up on persuading him.

Without family support and insufficient resources, even if Li Qingshan entered the Martial Arts Class, he wouldn't last long.

Amidst the noisy chatter, Li Qingshan frowned slightly, pausing his pen.

"Hmm? Has he come to his senses? Is he giving up?"

"Definitely, after hearing our analysis, even if he's stubborn, he should give up."

Many students, feeling satisfied, smiled, thinking they had finally persuaded a stubborn classmate to abandon his "unwise" behavior.

Several students who had half-filled their applications and then abandoned them walked over to Li Qingshan.

They looked at the application form in Li Qingshan's hand, their lips curling into smiles.

Good, although he had filled it out, he hadn't signed it yet.

Yes, they had all given up, so why should Li Qingshan persist?

"Li Qingshan, choosing to give up is the right decision, nothing to regret."

Someone reached out, lightly patting Li Qingshan's shoulder, speaking earnestly:

"We're all the same, we understand you."

"Brother Shan, don't listen to them, let's go to the Martial Arts Class and give it a shot."

A loud voice rang out as Zhao Hongzhou submitted his application and walked over.

"Zhao Hongzhou, don't speak without understanding!"

"Exactly, you have family support, so you can try. Li Qingshan doesn't even have parents, what can he rely on?"

"What, are you going to pay for his nutrient solutions?"

For a moment, the crowd was agitated, as if Zhao Hongzhou's words had incited "public outrage."

"You guys..."

Although Zhao Hongzhou was tall, he was still immature, and faced with the crowd's accusations, he didn't know what to do.

"Since when did I realize you all cared so much about me?"

Li Qingshan chuckled, turning his head to look around, noticing many were staring at him.

To be precise, they were staring at the application form in his hand.

It seemed they were waiting for him to crumble the paper and "blend in."

It's funny,

He had been busy with part-time jobs and was somewhat of an invisible person in the class, not familiar with his classmates.

Only Zhao Hongzhou, with whom he occasionally worked, had a relatively good relationship.

Unexpectedly, today, because of a piece of paper, he became the "focus" of the entire class.

"You know nothing!"

Li Qingshan chuckled, picked up the pen, and signed his name.

A virtual screen, visible only to him, unfolded before his eyes.

[Li Qingshan]

[Realm: Body Refinement 9/100]

Theft is never good, try looking at [ pawℝead.com ].

......

......

Behind the screen were faces.

Shock, frowns, regret...

A true display of the myriad expressions of life!