"Phantom Step is finally mastered!"

Li Qingshan murmured softly, his eyes scanning the panel.

[Li Qingshan]

[Realm: Body Refinement 15/100]

[Techniques:

The 36th Set of Radio Gymnastics: 'The Stars Are Calling' 52/1000 (Proficient)]

[Martial Skills: Phantom Step 1/3000 (Mastered), Wind Shadow Blade 112/1000 (Proficient)]

[Function: Martial Arts Space Lv1 (1/100)]

[Available Time: 335 days]

[Time Flow Rate: 1:10]

His Body Refinement progress had reached 15/100. According to previous tests, 9 points equaled one stage. He was just 3 points away from the 2nd stage of Body Refinement.

The Stars Are Calling had only increased by a few dozen points in proficiency, not much. However, Wind Shadow Blade had been practiced in the Martial Arts Space, directly advancing to proficiency.

"Phantom Step requires 3000 proficiency to reach perfection?"

Li Qingshan raised an eyebrow, not too surprised. Although 3000 is a lot, it's not outrageous.

His gaze continued downward, finally landing on the [Available Time] section of the Martial Arts Space. Compared to when it was first unlocked, the available time had decreased by 30 days.

"30 days! So, I only spent a month to master Phantom Step?"

Li Qingshan murmured, somewhat dazed. According to Wan Keshan, it would take at least two years to master Phantom Step from the basics. Of course, this didn't mean he had become a martial arts genius. In reality, the Martial Arts Space ignored physical exhaustion, and with the presence of Langdu, he trained tirelessly without sleep. Calculating this month, it was no less than the two years Wan Keshan mentioned.

"I've worked so hard!" Li Qingshan sighed softly. He might not be a genius, but he certainly deserved the title of hard worker. In just a month, he had covered the training path that would take an ordinary person two years. Moreover, the projection of Langdu had accompanied him throughout the training. Heaven knows how many times he had been bitten to death by Langdu!

"Phantom Step is mastered, it's time for revenge!"

A fierce glint flashed in Li Qingshan's eyes as he gripped the knife handle and closed his eyes. When he opened them again, the familiar circular platform came into view. Li Qingshan moved his feet, turned his body, and charged forward without hesitation.

"Langdu!"

Roar!

Langdu roared and leaped forward. The two charged towards each other, the distance between them closing rapidly. Just as they were about to collide, Li Qingshan's right foot moved, stepping out with incredible precision. In the blink of an eye, he appeared behind Langdu, striking with a backhand slash.

Roar~~ Gah!

Langdu's roar rose sharply, then abruptly stopped. Upon landing, its two hind legs clamped together, its blood-red eyes glaring at its opponent.

"Haha, it seems you've forgotten how you got here? Let me help you remember."

Li Qingshan laughed heartily, twirling his knife in his right hand, and charged at Langdu once more.

Roar!

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Langdu roared in anger, its claws striking out. But the human who had been in front of it just a second ago suddenly vanished. Agonizing pain shot up from its lower body, the hateful laughter echoing from behind.

"Hahaha, you're too slow!"

Langdu stomped its four limbs fiercely, leaping high to pounce behind it. But there was nothing there, it had missed again.

"Are you looking for me?"

The voice came from behind, followed by another slash between its legs. The blood-red eyes flared with madness as Langdu went completely berserk. Its limbs moved like phantoms, constantly changing positions, trying to find that hateful human. But no matter how it shifted, it couldn't catch a trace of him. Only the repeated agony in its lower body reminded it that the enemy was right behind.

Like a trapped beast, Langdu flailed around like a headless fly. Behind Langdu, Li Qingshan followed closely, swinging his knife leisurely. At this moment, he finally understood what the instructor in the Phantom Step tutorial video meant by "the cicada senses the autumn wind before it moves."

In terms of speed and strength, Langdu surpassed him by far, comparable to the 5th stage of Body Refinement. But combat isn't just a race or a comparison of stats. No matter how great the strength, if it can't hit the enemy, it's wasted.

Just like now, every attack from Langdu was anticipated by him. He didn't need to be faster than Langdu, just to be in the right place ahead of time. If it were a 5th stage Body Refinement practitioner who had learned martial skills, Li Qingshan might not be able to respond perfectly. But Langdu was just a Ferocious Beast, acting purely on instinct, unable to escape his predictions.

As time passed, Langdu's roars grew weaker, its lower body a bloody mess. Finally, with a "pfft," the long knife pierced its abdomen, and its organs spilled out. Langdu shuddered violently, collapsing to the ground. In its dying moments, that devilish figure finally appeared before its eyes.

"I said I would kill you a hundred thousand times. Remember, this is just the first time; there are 99,999 more to go."

Li Qingshan watched as Langdu's body disappeared, holding a blood-dripping machete. At the same time, a two-meter-tall sculpture of Langdu appeared out of thin air at the edge of the circular platform, lifelike. With a thought, Li Qingshan made the sculpture disappear.

Roar!

The familiar roar sounded again. Li Qingshan turned around, licking the corner of his mouth.

"It's still early, I'll kill you nine more times."

......

......

Half an hour later, Langdu collapsed to the ground for the tenth time. Li Qingshan discarded the machete, stretched his limbs, and began practicing The Stars Are Calling. In the Martial Arts Space, physical exhaustion was ignored. Li Qingshan continued tirelessly, one repetition after another, until his spirit couldn't take it anymore, and he lay down to sleep. After waking up, he continued his practice.

Ding ding ding!

Buzz buzz buzz!

The alarm rang, and Li Qingshan opened his eyes, glancing at the panel.

[The Stars Are Calling 52/1000 (Proficient)] → [The Stars Are Calling 72/1000 (Proficient)]

"Twenty points in one night, at this rate, it will only take a little over a month to master!"

Li Qingshan stretched lazily, feeling refreshed.

"Finally, things are on track."

This was his original training plan.

......

Afternoon, First High School.

After completing a day of training, the students of the Martial Arts Class were devouring their meals in the cafeteria. After clearing two trays, Li Qingshan took a sip of soup and looked at Zhao Hongzhou.

"Hongzhou, where are you working part-time these days?"

Zhao Hongzhou's family was average, and he had always liked working part-time to earn pocket money. After joining the Martial Arts Class, he never stopped taking part-time jobs.

Zhao Hongzhou quickly swallowed his last bite of food, surprised:

"Brother Shan, are you looking for a job?"

"I have the idea." Li Qingshan nodded. After paying the rent, he only had a few thousand left in savings, and only 20 bottles of Nutrient Solution, so he needed to plan ahead.

Yu Lei, sitting across from Li Qingshan, looked up in surprise at his words.

"You still have time?"

She was already done with her two Body Refinement sessions by 10 PM. Li Qingshan did four sessions every night, which meant he wouldn't finish until after midnight.

"Time can be squeezed..."

Yu Lei's expression darkened visibly, and Li Qingshan quickly changed the subject.

"Savings can always be made."

Now that he could rest in the Martial Arts Space, he wasn't afraid to train late into the night.

"Brother Shan, I'm back at Yinghai Gym, want to join?"

"Yinghai?"

Li Qingshan frowned slightly, puzzled:

"Didn't you say the pay was too low before? Why go back?"

Last year, both he and Zhao Hongzhou had worked at Yinghai Gym. But the pay was too low, so they didn't stay long.

"It's different now, I'm not doing odd jobs this time."

Zhao Hongzhou smiled proudly, boasting:

"I'm a personal trainer now, earning 500 per session, with two sessions a day."

"That high?"

Li Qingshan looked at Zhao Hongzhou with suspicion, sizing him up. If it weren't for the youthful innocence still evident on his face, he might have suspected Zhao Hongzhou had gone down a questionable path.

Zhao Hongzhou was still basking in his own pride, while Yu Lei, seeing what Li Qingshan was thinking, said exasperatedly:

"Don't get the wrong idea, the reputation of the Martial Arts Class is still impressive."

"Parents of middle schoolers can't afford martial arts teachers, so they turn to students from the Martial Arts Class."

"Even freshmen?"

Li Qingshan raised an eyebrow, feeling a bit guilty about earning money this way. Those middle schoolers hired personal trainers mainly to practice The Stars Are Calling. But this technique depended entirely on personal insight, and no amount of teaching could guarantee success.

Just like in their class, a month had passed, and no one besides him had broken through the third stage.

"Brother Shan, you don't want to go?" Zhao Hongzhou sensed Li Qingshan's hesitation and said regretfully:

"What a pity, you're the top freshman in Luoying City this year, you could easily charge 1000 per session."

As soon as he finished speaking, Li Qingshan grabbed Zhao Hongzhou by the shoulder and pulled him up forcefully.

"Let's go, don't be late for work."