This was not the behemoth headquarters located in the core of human territory, but just an ordinary branch established in the small city of Bluestone County.

Li Wen stood at the edge of the plaza, looking up at the two words overhead, a complex light flickering in his eyes.

If schools were the cradles that nurtured students, sowing the seeds of the Martial Dao and the fire of civilization, then the Fire Hall was the crucible of war for all of humanity.

Its doors were always open—whether you were a young student or a middle-aged person supporting a family; whether you were an ordinary person with a clean record or an exile burdened by your past—as long as you paid enough money, you could step inside for a chance to access basic Martial Dao cultivation and hire someone for guidance.

Of course, every service here was built on the foundation of money.

Want to privately hire a senior Martial Artist for meticulous guidance? You could, as long as your wallet was deep enough.

Want to use the top-of-the-line immersive cultivation pods? No problem—the price was top-of-the-line as well. But there were a few exceptions.

First, becoming an official member of the Fire Hall.

This was no easy feat. It represented an acknowledgment from the core forces of the human faction, and it also came with the responsibility of being deployed to the most dangerous front lines at any moment.

Second, securing an early contract from the Fire Hall.

This meant being seen as a "seed" with extraordinary potential, worthy of having resources poured into your development. It was the ladder to the heavens that countless geniuses from humble backgrounds dreamed of.

Third, being an impoverished student currently enrolled in school, like Li Wen.

This was the faint but incredibly precious glimmer of hope the Fire Hall offered to the hard workers at the bottom of society.

During the long winter and summer holidays, by presenting proof of school enrollment and poverty certification, one could enter the Fire Hall for free and use the basic Martial Arts Rooms for cultivation.

This didn’t include the expensive food service, let alone the professional Martial Dao courses that required additional payment.

Only those with the first two statuses could enjoy the luxurious, all-inclusive treatment which provided completely free access to nearly all core resources.

Li Wen had also heard that even official members were divided into various ranks.

From the lowest-ranking ordinary members to the high-and-mighty senior members, there was a world of difference in resource allocation, access to trading for Cultivation Techniques and Secret Techniques, mission rewards, and logistical support.

That was the true path of the strong, where every promotion had to be earned by proving one’s worth through blood and fire.

Unfortunately... ’A Martial Artist’.

The lowest requirement to become an official member, and the first threshold Li Wen was aware of, was that one had to be an official Martial Artist.

And not just an ordinary Martial Artist who had barely crossed the threshold, but a skilled expert, or even an elite among them.

For him, still struggling with a physical body at level 6.3, this path was far too distant—like trying to reach for a sea of stars.

’Compared to waiting until I become a Martial Artist to join... maybe,’ Li Wen clenched his fists. He felt the rough texture of his backpack strap digging into his palm, his gaze turning sharp as a knife.

’Taking the early contract route, leveraging the terrifying boost to my comprehension from [Absolute Focus], would actually be... faster for me!’

Lv. 4 was already in sight, and Lv. 5 would be attainable soon.

’Once [Absolute Focus] undergoes a fundamental transformation, what incredible heights will my aptitude for techniques reach?’

’After mastering the basics of a top-tier technique comes Minor Achievement, then Major Achievement, then Perfection... and what comes after that? The legendary Secret Techniques? The Unity Realm? *This* is the true weapon I can rely on, the perfect tool to shatter the barriers of social class!’

’In comparison, raising his physical body level—a slow process requiring the step-by-step tempering of qi and blood, the forging of muscle and bone, and the endurance of tearing pain—was the true impenetrable wall for someone as resource-starved as him.’

Poverty made even the simple act of running feel arduous. His father’s grave illness was an even greater weight, a boulder dragging him down and halting his progress.

Money. Resources. Power! The three words seared themselves into Li Wen’s mind like a brand.

He took a deep breath of the cold air, dispelling the chaotic thoughts churning in his mind. His gaze refocused on the magnificent hall before him, a place that represented both "opportunity" and "challenge." With steady, powerful strides, he walked resolutely toward the heavy, cold doors of the Bluestone County Fire Hall.

’The first step starts here.’

’I have to make good use of this hard-won access to the free cultivation rooms. I need to completely solidify my newly advanced [Rainbow Light Saber Skill], and maybe even... find an opportunity for another breakthrough.’

...

The winter sun filtered through the high, expansive glass dome, casting rays of light into the grand first-floor lobby of the Bluestone County Fire Hall. It brought a hint of warmth, but it couldn’t dispel the thick scent of qi, blood, and sweat that permeated the air.

The arrival of the winter break made this Martial Arts Holy Land—a place open to all—even more bustling than usual.

People of all kinds streamed in and out. Some walked with upright postures and steady steps, while others hurried along, their faces filled with anticipation. A palpable desire to grow stronger and a sense of hope for the future flowed through the air.

Li Wen tightened the strap of his backpack—which contained a few cheap energy supplements—took a deep breath, and stepped inside.

The hall’s domed ceiling was high and the space was open, clearly divided into different functional zones.

His gaze swept over the floor directory by the entrance. Its massive, fifteen-story framework symbolized a staircase to the higher realms of the Martial Dao.

However, for someone like him, who only had temporary access as an impoverished student, only the first three floors—the basic levels—were open.

"Li Wen?" A vaguely familiar voice called out.

It was Wang Chao, from another third-year class at his school. "Wang Chao? You’re here too." Li Wen recognized him and nodded in greeting.

"Yeah, my family pulled some strings to get me a basic access card. I figured I’d use the practice rooms in the basic area during the break."

Wang Chao explained, looking a bit sheepish. He then spotted two other familiar faces from Third Middle School and exchanged greetings with them.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Li Wen parted ways with them and headed straight for the cafeteria on the second floor.

Besides the large cafeteria, the second floor was lined with a dazzling array of shops like apothecaries and physical therapy clinics. The price tags on the Qi and Blood Potions displayed in the windows, easily running into the thousands or even tens of thousands of Huaxia Coins, made Li Wen quicken his pace—his pockets were empty, and what the eye doesn’t see, the heart doesn’t grieve for.

The midday lunch rush was over, so the cafeteria wasn’t crowded. That suited Li Wen just fine—he hated wasting time in line.

He quickly swiped his temporary student card at an automated ordering kiosk, picked up a large but ordinary nutritional combo meal, and found a quiet corner by a window to sit down. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

He had just started eating when the conversation between two young men nearby drifted over to him.

"This morning was super effective. I bit the bullet and hired a level 2 training partner for two hours. The results... Tsk, tsk. Totally worth it!" a guy with a buzz cut said in a boastful tone.

"Holy shit! A level 2 partner? That’s two thousand an hour! Qin, your family is damn generous with their money! I can’t even afford a level 1!"

His companion’s eyes went wide, his voice thick with a mixture of envy, jealousy, and resentment.

"Heh heh, it was effective, alright. My wallet’s just feeling the pain. But hey, it’s money well spent, right?"

The young man called Qin was clearly enjoying the reaction. Though he complained with his words, the smug satisfaction on his face was impossible to hide.