CHAPTER 50: CHAPTER 44 ODD BODY

Hu Yi, his face flushed, raised his glass high and loudly said, "Come on, everyone, a toast to Zhou Leng, the recipient of the ’Zhou Leng Progress Award’!"

Next to Hu Yi was Feng Wenhao, and next to Feng Wenhao was an empty chair.

On the other side of the empty chair, Xu Qingjin picked up a glass filled with beer, stood up with a smile, and handed it to Zhou Leng.

"This is for you."

Zhou Leng took it, raised it to everyone, and said, "Just finished sending someone off, I’m late, I’ll punish myself with a drink."

With that, Zhou Leng drank the whole glass in one go.

"Come, come, we’ve all been waiting for you." Hu Yi swayed slightly as he walked over, held Zhou Leng by the shoulder, and guided him to the empty seat.

Xu Qingjin also sat down next to him, with a close female classmate on her other side.

In front of Zhou Leng, the bone plate, bowl, and chopsticks were neatly arranged.

Mo Hai, sitting at the main seat, smiled and said, "We’ve given all the awards that needed giving, and there’s nothing more to say to you, except this."

As he finished, Mo Hai gave a thumbs-up.

Most of the people had a slightly flushed face from drinking, and those who hadn’t drunk were more excited than usual, nodding lightly with bright eyes.

Zhou Leng poured himself another glass of beer, stood up, and raised his glass in a circle to everyone around, saying, "Thank you all for taking care of me these past days. This glass represents my gratitude. May our friendship last forever and ever!"

As Zhou Leng spoke, he downed the second glass.

Then, Zhou Leng raised the third glass and said, "This last one is to wish every classmate, no matter what path they take, to thrive and get better and better!"

After saying this, Zhou Leng finished the third glass and sat down.

The classmates looked at Zhou Leng with increasingly friendly eyes.

Xu Qingjin whispered nearby, "You’re very happy today."

Zhou Leng nodded.

Everyone chatted politely for a while, and Mo Hai said, "We all shared our feelings about starting school earlier; Zhou Leng, what do you have to say about the recent military training?"

Zhou Leng thought for a moment and said, "I don’t know how you all feel elsewhere, but in the Martial Arts Hall, my biggest feeling is that our Martial Arts Hall isn’t really like a school. It’s more like we’re preparing to be Martial Guards or soldiers."

"These past few days, all of us at the Martial Arts Hall have changed noticeably. In the past, we relied more on teachers, parents, and schools."

"But as we kept cursing the instructors and the Martial Arts Hall, we gradually realized that cursing was useless. This world doesn’t change with our will. No matter how harsh the instructors or the Martial Arts Hall are, can they be harsher than demons or sea sirens? So, our mindset quickly changed."

"Yesterday was the last day of military training, and it was particularly noticeable. The looks in our classmates’ eyes were more steadfast. Despite the cursing, no one slacked off in practice. In general, we’ve matured a lot mentally."

"Yes, that’s exactly it; Zhou Leng summarized it better." Feng Wenhao nodded.

Mo Hai sighed and said, "It seems the Martial Arts School students and the Martial Arts Academy students are really different. When you weren’t here, Feng Wenhao and several other classmates talked about the Martial Arts School’s military training, which shocked us. The Martial Arts Academy students don’t have it as tough. Non-Martial Arts students are still at the stage of ordinary military training, mostly marching, with little outdoor exercises."

"The military students must be stricter," Zhou Leng said.

Mo Hai said, "Of course. Several top students got into military school. After school started, other than their names on the freshman list, they can’t be reached at all. Roughly calculated, the intensity of Martial Arts Academy students’ military training is about five times that of non-martial students. Martial Arts School students, again, are twice that of Martial Arts Academy students. Military students are at least twice the Martial Arts School students."

"About right." Zhou Leng had seen the training of Ruda’s freshmen, far less intense than Martial Arts School students.

"How’s it on Yunhua’s side? Did Zhang Xinglie say anything?" Mo Hai asked.

All classmates looked at Zhou Leng curiously.

Zhou Leng thought that was their point of interest, so he shared some information from Zhang Xinglie.

"Yunhua Jinjing is completely different from us."

"Martial Arts Academy students participate in high-intensity training before the start of school, with innate guidance, and daily pills and meat herbal cuisine."

"After school starts, the intensity of military training isn’t high, but personal training is extremely intense. Except for a few students who slack off, over 90% are highly self-disciplined."

"Zhang Xinglie says that joining Yunhua Martial Arts Academy made him realize that his past efforts and talents were only passable."

"Zhang Xinglie’s level at Yunhua is roughly considered above average. He’s already started training with a daily weight of 500 kilograms without True Qi. Some classmates stronger than him start at no less than 800 kilograms, all striving for 1000 kilograms."

Everyone was filled with emotion.

Feng Wenhao said, "Can we say that our highest strength limit is just part of their daily training? Maybe even less than that?"

"That’s exactly it." Zhou Leng looked at Mo Hai again, "How about the Mountain and River Origin?"

Mo Hai smiled wryly and said, "He’s practically become a myth at West Sea Martial Arts Academy. The ordinary Martial Arts Hall we use isn’t suitable for him. He goes directly to the Teacher Martial Arts Hall for training, and even the daily weight training of Vitality Stage experts doesn’t compare to him."

"Truly a fierce person."

"His only flaw is poor True Qi control, but with that strength and vast amount of True Qi, why bother controlling it in battle? Just go all in. A Body Refining Stage teacher sparred with him and when he punched, the teacher’s forearms shattered, not just fractured, but shattered."

The classmates shook their heads gently.

"Giant Bloodline is really fierce, humanity can’t compare," Feng Wenhao said.

Mo Hai countered, "Don’t think like that. Humans may be average physically, but in wisdom and acquired learning, they can make up for various deficiencies. Our teacher said that Giants have the advantage before becoming a Grandmaster, but after that, humans can catch up. Do you know why?"

"Odd Bodies?" Zhou Leng asked.

"Yes. Those Grandmasters will try to cultivate one or even all of the four Odd Bodies: Qi, Blood, Body, and Power. Grandmasters who master Body Odd seem will only be a line weaker than a Giant of the same rank physically and will not be at an absolute disadvantage. Combined with True Qi and Body Refining techniques, a few can even surpass them."

Feng Wenhao exclaimed, "No wonder some battle videos show Human Race Grandmaster Martial Saints tearing demons with their hands and stomping on Giant Dragons."

"It’s a pity that the cultivation method for Odd Bodies hasn’t been publicized so far."

Mo Hai said, "Can’t be helped. The cultivation of Odd Bodies is rare, dangerous, hasn’t been systematized, and lastly, possibly fiercely competitive. If one person gets it, another can’t, so those with the information like Martial Aristocratic Families keep it hidden."

"Hopefully, in future Ten Realms Wars, humanity can acquire more Golden Crystals, unlock them, and gain more cultivation systems."

"Thanks to those mysterious Golden Crystals, the development of the human Martial Arts System wouldn’t have accelerated so fast without them."

Everyone chatted for a long time.

Seeing it was about time, Zhou Leng secretly sent a message to Feng Wenhao.

Feng Wenhao immediately stood up and said it was getting late and he had things to do at home, so he bid farewell first.

Zhou Leng also took Xu Qingjin, and the four left together.

Mo Hai watched the door slowly close, his gaze darkened, and he raised his glass to the remaining classmates, saying, "Tonight, we won’t stop until we’re drunk..."

On the road, Zhou Leng and Xu Qingjin chatted in front.

Hu Yi and Feng Wenhao were behind, their faces red, walking arm in arm, swaying as they went.

They occasionally glanced at Zhou Leng and Xu Qingjin in front, showing mischievous smiles.