200: Chapter 20 Winter Break!!

Initially, he was somewhat worried about whether his body could withstand it, but he soon discovered that the powerful recovery ability brought by the third grade far exceeded his expectations.

Paired with a reasonable diet and ensuring about four hours of deep sleep each day, he could fully support this ultra-high-intensity training rhythm, and his mental state remained quite good.

Every day, without fail, he spent sixteen hours practicing with the spear.

The remaining time was used to handle miscellaneous tasks and study the necessary theoretical knowledge.

And at the end of each day's training, watching the steadily increasing 4 Skill Points on his panel was the most fulfilling moment of Qin Yan's day.

He was not stingy at all, investing all the Skill Points he obtained into the Blood Refining Chapter of the 'Nine Revolutions Golden Body Spear'.

Relying solely on hard training for cultivation is naturally not enough; the assistance of resources is crucial.

Qin Yan also did not forget to utilize his substantial reserve of academic credits.

He carefully studied the resources suitable for the Blood Refining Realm in the Reserve Resource Vault and did not blindly pursue the most expensive or highest-grade ones.

After screening, he chose two basic resources with relatively high cost-effectiveness.

One was the Blood Refining Pill, a standard third-grade basic elixir. A bottle contained ten pills and was worth 50 academic credits.

Its medicinal properties were mild and mellow, with the main effect of assisting in stabilizing qi and blood.

It promoted the continuous improvement of blood purity, was easy to absorb, and suitable for long-term use.

The other was the 'Hundred Herbs Tempering Body Liquid', an external-use resource.

It was extracted from the essences of dozens of herbs that promote blood circulation and unblock meridians.

Diluted and used for medicinal baths, it could be absorbed through the skin, gently stimulating blood circulation. One portion was worth 12 academic credits.

These two resources were the most conventional choices for Blood Refining Realm martial artists to lay a foundation and advance steadily.

They were relatively affordable and had stable effects.

As for the precious 'grandmaster true blood' gifted by Her Highness Anya and Senior Brother Ancient Yue, Qin Yan had no intention of using it at all for now.

He planned to save it for when he reached a higher revolution in the Blood Refining Chapter of the 'Nine Revolutions Golden Body Spear' and when his body's endurance and conversion capabilities were stronger.

This was to ensure that every bit of the precious medicinal potency could be maximally absorbed without waste.

'Good steel should be used on the blade.'

Qin Yan understood this principle well.

Time, in the day-after-day of arduous cultivation, slipped away quietly like sand between fingers.

The campus of Modu University of Martial Arts also quietly changed its appearance with the changing seasons and the rhythm of the academic year.

The hustle and bustle of New Student enrollment was gone, and the pervasive tension and excitement during the Exchange Competition had diminished.

Walking on the tree-lined paths, one could see more and more figures dragging suitcases.

Relaxed and expectant smiles lit up the students' faces as they greeted each other, discussing their travel plans home and vacation arrangements.

Winter vacation was approaching.

Many courses had already ended, and martial arts cultivation shifted more towards personal arrangements.

The hearts of those who had left home for half a year had long flown back to their warm harbors.

But the No. 11 Manor where Qin Yan resided seemed isolated from this 'homecoming tide'.

In the training room, the whistling of spear wind and the steaming sound of qi and blood continued daily until late at night.

...

January 3rd, evening.

No. 11 Manor, third-floor training room.

'Huu—Ha!'

With a final steady exhalation, Qin Yan slowly retracted the long spear after executing the last stance of his practice.

Steam rose from his entire body, and sweat streamed down like small rivulets from his temples, hairline, and neck.

It quickly soaked his already drenched training tank top, clinging tightly to his well-defined muscles.

His chest rose and fell powerfully with his breathing, his skin flushed a healthy red from the rapid circulation of qi and blood.

However, neither sweat nor fatigue could conceal the bright, sharp light in his eyes, shining like stars!

From January 21st when he broke through to the third grade, to today, January 3rd, a full nine days had passed.

Nine days, with sixteen hours of arduous cultivation each day, unwavering.

Nine days, with a stable harvest of 4 Skill Points daily, never interrupted.

In total, a full 36 Skill Points had been poured by him into the Blood Refining Chapter of the 'Nine Revolutions Golden Body Spear'!

At this moment, with a slight stir of his mind, the panel clearly appeared:

[Nine Revolutions Golden Body Spear Blood Refining Chapter - Fourth Revolution (17%)]

From the initial entry into the Blood Refining Chapter at the Second Revolution (84%), it had advanced triumphantly.

Crossing the Third Revolution, reaching directly to the Fourth Revolution, and stabilizing at a 17% progress!

This progress was truly astonishing!

His control over qi and blood, and his understanding of the power of the Blood Refining Realm, had risen correspondingly.

Accordingly, the clear blood within his body, under the influence of abundant resources, had gradually gained some vitality.

He was not far from the third grade mid-stage, the Living Blood Realm.

After resting for a moment, waiting for his breathing to completely calm and his sweat to dry slightly, Qin Yan left the training room.

He did not immediately proceed with his medicinal bath or summarize the day's gains and losses as usual. Instead, he went up to the second floor and returned to his living quarters.

He took out a suitcase from the storage cabinet, opened it, and began packing methodically.

A few sets of casual clothes for changing, several martial arts theory notes he was studying, and the summary materials about 'Canglin Ancient Peak' given by Anya.

Some commonly used resources, and some Modu specialties exchanged with academic credits, as well as mild supplements suitable for nourishing the bodies of ordinary people, specially prepared for his family...

His movements were neither hurried nor slow, but a trace of warmth and anticipation, hard to detect, was in his eyes.

Yes, the New Year was approaching.

Winter vacation had arrived, and he too needed to prepare to go home.

From that hot summer day on July 2nd last year.

When he left the small town of Linhai City where he had lived for eighteen years, carrying his admission letter and infinite aspirations.

Boarding the train bound for Modu, to today, a full seven months had passed.

Seven months might not seem too long in the grand span of life.

But for Qin Yan, it was a legendary period condensed with sweat, blood, battles, breakthroughs, and transformation.

In seven months, he had gone from a high school student who had just awakened his qi and blood, both apprehensive and yearning for the future, a 'non-martial artist'.

Sprinting all the way, experiencing the three realms of Skin Tempering, Bone Forging, and Blood Refining, enduring the baptism of blood and fire in the Exchange Competition.

Standing at the peak of first-year students nationwide, he had now become a veritable Third-Rank Martial Artist!

A Third-Rank Martial Artist was no longer considered weak, even in the talent-filled Modu.

And if he returned to his hometown, Linhai City...

Qin Yan knew very well that the strongest in that city was only at the fourth grade.

A Third-Rank Martial Artist was enough to become a local powerhouse, Respected, and possess significant influence.

With his current strength returning, it was enough to make his parents proud and gratified, make his younger sister look up to him with admiration, and make all his former Classmates, relatives, and friends view him with new respect.

However, Qin Yan did not feel much of the elation of returning home in glory.

What he felt more was longing for his family.

Home was the harbor of the heart, and also the reminder of his original purpose—why he fought and why he sought to become stronger.

After carefully packing the suitcase and fastening the locks.

Qin Yan stood by the window, looking out at Modu's dazzling myriad of household lights.

The vacation was not only for rest but also a good time for summarization and planning.

The countdown to the Hidden Dragon Assembly was quietly approaching, and the path after the third grade also needed clearer planning.

'Going home.'

He murmured softly, the light in his eyes firm and warm.

The destination of the journey is home, but the path of cultivation has no end.

A brief respite is for the next, farther voyage.

(Going to eat~)