High Martial Arts: I Awaken a Low-Tier Martial System Chapter 3: Ancestor’s Friend

In the arena, Jiang Ye stood facing Chen Zilu.

Hovering in the air surrounding the arena were two devices resembling cameras, designed to evaluate live combat scores.

"Begin."

Chen Zilu struck a fist posture, gesturing for Jiang Ye to come at her.

"Yes."

Jiang Ye gave a nod, shifting into his own battle stance.

Right as he prepared to launch the initial attack, a notification abruptly flashed before his eyes.

[Warning! Warning!]

[Presence exceeding the limit detected!]

[New achievement unlocked: Sparring with Martial Arts Ancestor!]

"..."

The system’s sudden appearance caught Jiang Ye off guard at this timing.

Once he read it clearly, shock overwhelmed him completely.

Exceeded the limit once more?

A Martial Arts Ancestor??

The system rated Chen Zilu, merely a high school instructor, as a Martial Arts Ancestor!?

This revelation left Jiang Ye in utter disbelief.

But moments later, a thought crossed his mind: "Completing this achievement—what rewards could it bring?"

Sparring with Martial Arts Ancestor.

Surely the prizes would be impressive, wouldn’t they?

On the other side, with Jiang Ye pausing instead of striking, Chen Zilu seized the moment to strike first.

Her leg shot forward abruptly, her movement swift as lightning, while a pale fist hurtled directly at Jiang Ye.

"Boom!"

A powerful aura surged toward him fiercely.

Jiang Ye’s heart chilled, fully aware that true martial experts infuse their strikes with aura.

The stronger the cultivation in martial arts, the more terrifying that aura grows.

Even with her power held back to Entry Cultivation Technique, Chen Zilu’s aura still stifled the breath.

Jiang Ye swiftly lifted his left arm to defend, sending his right elbow toward her in retaliation.

"Bang!"

Chen Zilu appeared to foresee it, grabbing his elbow firmly, and remarked, "Elbow Strike? Solid power, yet your force application is off."

Fist techniques form the core of the Star Martial Cultivation Technique.

'Elbow Strike' ranked as a standard technique within it.

"Legs, waist, shoulder, elbow—all channeling force in a line, striking with pinpoint focus!" Chen Zilu instructed.

With that advice given.

She executed an Elbow Strike herself, targeting Jiang Ye’s elbow.

"Boom!"

The strike’s power matched Jiang Ye’s, yet its impact differed greatly, echoing with a dull thud.

Jiang Ye threw up both arms to shield his front.

"Thunk!"

A raw force slammed into him, forcing him back several steps uncontrollably, nearly off the arena.

"Huff!"

Instantly, Chen Zilu bridged the gap once more, driving a straight punch downward with force.

For any regular fighter at the arena’s brink now, defeat loomed inevitable.

"Whoosh~"

Yet in the next instant, Jiang Ye twisted away like an eel, dodging in an improbable maneuver to reclaim the arena’s center.

"Good thing my body’s been fortified, granting far superior control than before—otherwise, that would’ve ended it."

Jiang Ye breathed heavily, sensing intense pressure even amid his relief.

Both at Entry Cultivation Technique.

Chen Zilu’s battle prowess and techniques far outstripped his own.

At the same time.

A flicker of astonishment appeared in Chen Zilu’s eyes upon witnessing Jiang Ye’s evasion.

"Huff!"

She advanced once again, launching strikes at Jiang Ye.

"Bang bang bang!"

Fists involving grabs, lunges, shakes, blocks, and more, with razor-sharp shadows, assailed Jiang Ye in a raging tempest.

"So strong!"

Jiang Ye kept evading and parrying, his arms growing numb from the relentless blows.

Before long, pressure pushed him back to the arena’s edge.

This round, Jiang Ye failed to retreat to the center, struck by Chen Zilu, and stepped beyond the boundary.

"Huff~"

Jiang Ye composed himself, bowed toward the platform, and stated, "Thank you, Teacher, for your guidance."

This sparring exchange truly enlightened Jiang Ye immensely through Chen Zilu’s instructions.

"Your real combat abilities have advanced notably since last semester. Looks like you trained hard over winter break."

Chen Zilu grinned and added, "Not bad, keep pushing forward."

As an educator, she appreciated hardworking pupils.

"Yes."

Jiang Ye nodded, heading back to his previous position.

Observing Jiang Ye’s retreating figure, a subtle shift occurred in Chen Zilu’s gaze.

She was familiar with this student; from high school’s outset, his training had shown remarkable intensity.

That commitment even exceeded the class’s top ten performers.

"What a pity..."

Chen Zilu lamented silently.

"If only this kid’s talent were better, they might enter the Twenty-Five Schools Alliance... Such effort, shackled by innate limits."

With mediocre talent, admission to an ordinary Martial Arts University stands as a remarkable feat.

As for the Twenty-Five Schools Alliance?

Virtually out of reach.

…

Back in the classroom, classmates around buzzed with surprise.

Jiang Ye endured in the ring this time as long as the class’s top ten!

Note that each top ten member had reached Minor Success of the Cultivation Technique half a year prior.

While Jiang Ye lingered only at Entry Cultivation Technique.

Achieving such combat endurance seemed downright miraculous.

Meanwhile, at the classroom’s rear, the digital screen revealed Jiang Ye’s combat evaluation.

"Rank 20: Jiang Ye."

Jiang Ye viewed this position without shock.

Practical combat ranks combined assessments of techniques, awareness, fitness, and more.

He merely dodged repeatedly to persist that long.

Yet his techniques lagged well behind the class’s top ten.

"Twentieth in combat ranking? Ye, you’re really concealing your true power, huh?"

Wen Yuehui beside him exclaimed in admiration.

Jiang Ye shook his head, replying, "You’ve progressed quite a bit too, climbing from tenth to eighth—admit it, you’ve been training in secret?"

"I never do such things," Wen Yuehui refuted.

Jiang Ye ignored him further, as a system alert materialized in his vision.

[You have unlocked a new achievement: Sparring with the Martial Arts Ancestor, maintaining composure despite a significant disparity in strength!]

[Title Unlocked: Ancestor’s Friend]

[Reward: Martial Arts Ancestor goes easy on you, and while she imparts martial arts, perception increases by 30%]

——

"..."

Gazing at the interface’s message.

Jiang Ye’s expression turned a bit grim.

Did this imply Chen Zilu had held back during their match?

It felt like no mercy; evidently, she deliberately curbed her power!

This idiotic system...

"Forget it, this system even misjudges the world’s framework, so mistaking this isn’t shocking."

Jiang Ye brushed it aside promptly.

Next, his gaze brightened faintly.

"Perception boosted by 30%!?"

For martial arts practice, talent matters greatly, with perception as another vital factor.

Perception holds utmost importance; even those with ordinary talent can excel in Starry Sky martial arts via outstanding perception.

A 30% perception gain proved hugely valuable.

Regarding the condition 'while she imparts martial arts'?

Perfect timing, since Chen Zilu taught Class Nine’s martial arts every session.

This afternoon featured her Martial Arts lesson.

"Let’s test its true effect this afternoon," Jiang Ye anticipated eagerly.

Now, all mock tests had concluded.

The electronic display presented the semester’s opening exam overall standings.

[Rank 25: Jiang Ye, 206 points]

"Rank 25?" Spotting his place, Jiang Ye nodded faintly, unsurprised.

Logically, top 30 should’ve eluded him.

His physique upgrade dramatically elevated his performance.

Upon the arena, Chen Zilu scanned the group with keen eyes.

"In this mock exam, I must highlight Jiang Ye’s jump from 40th last semester to 25th,"

Chen Zilu stated evenly, "He shares your average talent! Such progress demands relentless practice and grit..."

While Chen Zilu spoke on, numerous glances stealthily turned toward Jiang Ye.

Jiang Ye stayed composed.

Against last semester’s finals, his gains were substantial indeed.

This leap stemmed partly from physique boosts.

But chiefly from his steadfast effort.

"Without my intense winter break training, the system wouldn’t have awakened, nor would my rank surge like this," Jiang Ye reflected inwardly.

From the podium, Chen Zilu announced finally, "This afternoon brings the advanced Cultivation Technique lesson."

"Arrive in class promptly after lunch," she instructed before departing.

"Yes."

The class rose in unison, streaming out for lunch break.

Jiang Ye joined the flow, pondering Chen Zilu’s recent words.

"Advanced version technique?" Anticipation gleamed in his eyes.

The instructor had never covered this before; a debut session.

Ideal chance to gauge the perception boost’s impact.