CHAPTER 364: CHAPTER 235: HUGE CHANGES IN XUANXING IN HALF A YEAR!

In the pitch-black universe, Jiang Shu stretched his body, his powerful Primordial Power and spiritual power sweeping around, blocking all detection.

After six months, the azure-colored Xuanxing planet seemed to display a brand-new vitality. Even from a distance, Jiang Shu could still distinctly feel the increasingly rich Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi on the planet’s surface.

"I don’t know what Xuanxing looks like now after half a year."

Jiang Shu muttered to himself, stepping toward the direction of the Xia Country.

「Ji City.」

The time had just passed December in the year 2030.

A new year had arrived. Under a clear sky as blue as a jewel, buildings in Ji City were being constructed fervently. Jiang Shu’s presence had directly caused Ji City’s fame to skyrocket, transforming it into a world-renowned metropolis.

Many industries from Jiangnan City were slowly migrating to Ji City.

Moreover, there were even plans from the higher-ups to move the provincial capital to Ji City.

「Fifth High School.」

"Sigh, I used to envy Martial Artists. Now it seems Martial Arts really isn’t for just anyone. The effort involved is just too much! And that’s not even mentioning having to eat Mutant Beast meat every day. It’s a good thing I got into Fifth High School and we have the school’s subsidy; otherwise, I wouldn’t even be able to afford the meat."

"Tell me about it! The meat is a minor issue; it’s the schedule that’s too packed. Six or seven Martial Arts classes a day—who can stand that? I really want to attend a cultural class just once! Back in elementary school, my older brother and sister used to say middle school and high school would be exhausting, with huge academic pressure. But their academic pressure was definitely not as intense as our Martial Arts classes. This horse stance training is relentless!"

"Cultural class? What cultural class are you talking about? The Freedom Country language course has been canceled. Arts and sciences aren’t separated anymore; they’re all lumped together into a single ’cultural class.’ There’s way more to learn now than before. Of course, the value of a university degree has also increased, and many universities have converted into Martial Arts universities. I’d be satisfied if I could just get into an undergraduate Martial Arts university."

"As long as you become a Martial Artist, you have a chance to be a coach at a martial arts gym. Plus, with the Martial Artist maintenance allowance, you could easily earn twenty to thirty thousand a month. That’s much better than an ordinary job."

"You can’t really look at it that way. A Martial Artist might easily earn twenty to thirty thousand a month, but after leaving school, the price of Mutant Beast meat is extremely high. I once read an informational post by a Martial Artist who said he spends nearly fifteen thousand a month just on food and supplies. What’s left is only a few thousand, same as an ordinary salaried worker. That’s why I’m now wondering if I should just switch to cultural classes."

"That’s true. Previously, the Xia Country promoted Martial Arts because Mutant Beasts were rampant in the Heaven and Earth Secret Realms. To encourage Martial Artists to enter these Secret Realms, their social status had to be elevated. But now, many Heaven and Earth Secret Realms have merged with Xuanxing. The Xia Country’s national power has already surged, making it the top nation on Xuanxing. Whether there’s one more or one less ordinary Martial Artist doesn’t really make a difference anymore."

"Exactly! The most important thing is to have top-tier combat power like Jiang Tian. I really don’t know if Jiang Tian will ever return to Xuanxing. Could he actually be out there in the universe, searching for other Life Planets? Maybe one day we’ll really immigrate to another planet."

"Isn’t that the truth? A few years ago, before the Yuan Qi revived, they were encouraging people to have three children. Now, with these dramatic changes, my parents are talking about trying for a third child themselves! I’m seriously fed up."

On the playground, hundreds of students either stood in horse stances or chatted during rest periods.

Jiang Shu walked past leisurely. With his strength, naturally, no one would notice him.

It seems the Xia Country officials haven’t yet fully revealed the existence of the Inner Strength Method. However, a series of government decrees already indicates that this step is approaching quickly. It probably won’t be long before it’s rolled out, starting with the Martial Arts universities.

Casually manipulating the Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi, streams of pure energy, like trickling brooks, imperceptibly seeped into the pores of the students on the playground.

Some students, who had been on the verge of collapsing—large beads of sweat rolling to the ground, their bodies swaying—suddenly felt as if a spring breeze had caressed them. They regained some strength and gritted their teeth, persisting once more. Many students might complain, but having chosen this path, most intended to see it through to the end.

After all, in their hearts, there was always this unbeatable figure.

He had become famous in the university Martial Arts genius competition. At the age of eighteen, he stepped into the Transformation Realm and became a young Grandmaster. Afterward, he fought across thousands of miles, single-handedly capable of holding off a million soldiers, earning him the renowned name Jiang Tian.

Walking past the campus where he had spent nearly three years, Jiang Shu returned to Zhen Shui Mansion.

Perhaps finding staying at home too boring, within the hundred-square-meter room, Jiang Shu did not sense the presence of his parents.

Glancing at the clock—it was already three in the afternoon—he sat down on the sofa. He casually turned on the television to a news channel and, at the same time, took out his tablet to search for recent, relevant information.

"The contest between the East and West is becoming increasingly obvious. The news from both sides is like they’re constantly trying to outdo each other. When the Xia Country promotes its number of registered Martial Artists, the Freedom Country claims a ninety percent success rate for its First Rank Genetic Potion. When the Xia Country releases news congratulating Wang Yan on breaking through his realm to become a Celestial, the Freedom Country announces a new type of Mecha."

"They even re-analyzed the original Orochi battle, claiming the previous failure wasn’t because the genetic supreme was too weak, but because they hadn’t accounted for spiritual attacks. The current Mecha are supposedly highly perfected; even a Fourth Rank Genetic War General in a Mecha can allegedly withstand attacks from a Sixth Rank Mutant Beast. There’s even a video online with over ten billion views as proof."