During this week, Ethan Brooks spent most of his time practicing martial arts.

He didn’t know how many times others practiced the Benlei Thirty-Six Forms each day, but he practiced at least fifty times a day, sometimes as many as sixty.

He couldn’t help it—his recovery ability was too strong. If he didn’t practice fifty or sixty times, he had no idea what his limits were. In fact, if he slowed down, before his stamina was exhausted, he’d already fully recovered. How could he push himself to the limit like that?

He felt helpless. He felt despair.

Fortunately, the results of practicing dozens of times a day were quite good. He could clearly feel his body absorbing the medicinal effects of the Nourishing Essence Bath, and his blood had become forty percent thicker than before.

The change in his blood was just a surface phenomenon; more fundamentally, it was the overall strength of his body that had changed. For example, with the Benlei Thirty-Six Forms alone, he could now complete four rounds in thirteen minutes—just three minutes away from the four rounds in ten minutes required of a level-three martial artist.

As the week passed, Ethan Brooks welcomed the start of the new school term.

Ethan Brooks was determined to be an outstanding student, excelling in both character and academics, and well-rounded in moral, intellectual, and physical development.

In terms of character, he possessed a sound outlook on life and values. Although he hadn’t fully accepted the world view yet, he could still be considered a robust and growing successor to the nation.

Intellectually, he ranked in the top ten of the college last semester, and his grades spoke for themselves. This year, he was even considering applying for several scholarships.

As for physical fitness...

He was about to become a level-three martial artist. His strong physique and vigorous energy were enough to make ordinary students tremble.

But even though he was already so outstanding, it still wasn’t enough.

His ultimate goal for himself was to be named one of the Top Ten Outstanding Youths of Shenzhou in terms of character, to usher in the atomic age for the world in terms of intellect and bring about global nuclear peace, and physically...

He would take it step by step, starting with earning the War-Class certificate.

After saying goodbye to Henry Brooks, Ethan Brooks took the bus to the riverside ferry, then took a boat across the river to Xiaya City.

Xiaer University was located at the foot of Qingyuan Mountain in the new development zone of Xiaya City, facing Wuhe City across the river. The straight-line distance was less than ten kilometers, and it was only fifteen or sixteen kilometers from the old city where Ethan Brooks lived, so he didn’t need to set out days in advance like other students from far away.

Recently, Xiaya City, centered around Xiaer University, Blue Sea Music Academy, and Lanying Art Academy, was developing its new district into the largest university town in the south, while also promoting the integration of Xiaya, Wuhe, and Kanon cities. If this development plan was truly completed, a super-large urban cluster would rise south of Xiya, and the integrated population of Xiaya City would soar to the tens of millions.

“Qingfeng.”

After Ethan Brooks got off the boat and headed toward the school, he suddenly heard someone calling his name: “Over here.”

Ethan Brooks looked in the direction of the voice and saw a young man about his age with bronze skin greeting him.

Gale.

After being rejected by the girl he pursued after high school graduation—she said she didn’t like pale, delicate boys—he worked hard and tanned himself for two months. Unfortunately, by the time he went to pursue her again, she was already dating another tall, handsome classmate.

It turned out that being dark or fair wasn’t the key—the key was being handsome.

“You really cut it close, huh? School starts tomorrow. Hey, I haven’t seen you all summer, you look a lot taller! And more energetic, too.”

Gale sized up Ethan Brooks.

“I’ll go put my things away first.”

Ethan Brooks said.

“I’ll go with you. The other two are already here, especially Morris. Can you believe it? Over the summer, that guy actually got engaged! And his fiancée is a freshman girl from this year!”

Ethan Brooks smiled.

He got along well enough with his roommates, but...

It was just “well enough.”

With different mindsets, it was impossible to truly open up to each other.

Since he was already a sophomore and familiar with the campus, Ethan Brooks and Gale took a shortcut, walked through a small alley, and after another ten meters or so, reached the main street, which was nearly a hundred meters long.

“Hey, there’s actually a musical instrument store here?”

Ethan Brooks looked up to the side.

The shop was located in a small alley, not on the main street, so the rent wasn’t expensive. The instrument store was quite large, with three or four hundred square meters over two floors.

“Qingfeng, I remember you said you know how to play instruments? There are plenty of artsy girls at our school—if you know a thing or two about music, your chances of finding a girlfriend go up exponentially.”

“I know a little, just a little.”

Ethan Brooks said, “Let’s go put our things away first.”

“You only have that small suitcase...”

“A suitcase is still luggage. I just feel uncomfortable carrying things in my hand.”

Gale shrugged. “Suit yourself.”

“Wooo... woo...”

At that moment, a melodious sound of the xiao flute drifted down from upstairs in the instrument store.

Ethan Brooks paused, surprised, and stopped in his tracks.

He could tell that this performer...

Was quite skilled.

Definitely not just an amateur hobbyist.

But just as Ethan Brooks was quietly listening and enjoying the music, the sound of the xiao stopped.

Ethan Brooks glanced up at the second floor where the sound had come from and could vaguely see the hem of a sky-blue dress.

Ethan Brooks hesitated for a moment, as if he had a premonition, and, almost involuntarily, said, “Let’s go take a look.”