Low Tier Martial Artists have only one chance per month for free level certification at the association; any extras will cost fifty Spirit Stones each.
It's like having plenty of spaces in a free parking lot but choosing a paid one; it's not that you can't afford it, but it feels unpleasant.
Wouldn't it be better to use those fifty Spirit Stones to buy toys for your daughter Xiaoyue, gifts for your wife, or Qi Blood Supplements for yourself?
Noticing Su Mu's slightly displeased expression after the test, the staff at the association were again surprised.
Already at the Third Level Middle Stage and still not satisfied?
"Mr. Su Mu, based on your measured Qi Blood Value, the association will certify you as a Third Level Middle Stage Martial Artist. Your Warrior Badge will be remade, please kindly wait a moment."
Unconsciously, the staff's tone became more courteous, a change in attitude brought about by strength.
"Alright, thank you."
Having experienced the ups and downs of human relations during this period, Su Mu also sensed the change. He couldn't help but reflect, in the High Martial World, the strong are revered!
"Since I'm already here, I might as well test everything that can be tested."
Though the small association doesn't have precision instruments for testing the extent of bone tempering, it does have standard instruments for testing things like strength and speed.
Su Mu approached a red wall, which served a similar purpose to a sandbag in the previous life but was inadequate for the testing needs due to the astounding punching power of Martial Artists.
"I reached my peak five years ago; my punching power was 1315KG, and my speed was 28.1M/S, declining each year thereafter."
Now that the path of Martial Artists is relatively perfected, there are relatively clear data standards for strength and speed at each level.
The extreme punching power of a First Level Martial Artist is 900KG, speed is 25M/S.
The extreme punching power of a Second Level Martial Artist is 2000KG, speed is 40M/S.
The extreme punching power of a Third Level Martial Artist is 4000KG, speed is 60M/S.
The official reference is for those who completed Secondary Bone Tempering before becoming Martial Artists, using their average extreme data at each level as a benchmark.
This means that Sun Mu, previously at Second Level Peak, had a significant gap compared to the extremes of a Secondary Bone Tempering Second Level Martial Artist; based on data, his punching power was only 66% of standard, and speed was 70%.
This is the gap between an ordinary person who has done only one Bone Tempering and a Secondary Bone Tempering genius; such a gap in the early stages of Martial Arts only widens in later stages. In fact, for ordinary people, there's no possibility of later stages.
As for Celestial Pride who have undergone three Bone Temperings, the gap is only greater.
"Now, I can also be considered as having undergone Secondary Bone Tempering. Currently, I am at the Third Level Peak; although my Qi and Blood are only at the Middle Stage, I wonder what my punching power can achieve?"
Su Mu couldn't help feeling a bit eager.
Immediately, he took a deep breath, and his Qi and Blood gradually gathered in his arms, the muscles in his right arm tightening and solidifying.
Whoosh!
Three consecutive punches broke through the air; the wind from the punches sounded, and the wall rippled like water, dissipating the impact. Then a set of data appeared on the screen.
First: 2579KG
Second: 2505KG
Third: 2501KG
Average Punching Power: 2528KG.
Whew.
This data was even higher than Su Mu expected; he couldn't help but show a joyful expression, exhaling lightly. Although there was still a long way to go to reach the extreme punching power of a Third Level Martial Artist, a person's true opponent is themselves.
Compared to his former self, his punching power increased by more than 1200KG overnight, nearly doubling from before!
Moreover, he still had plenty of room for improvement; presently his Qi and Blood were holding him back, and he hadn't mastered any Martial Techniques, still using the most basic fighting skills.
Next, let's test speed.
The testing room had a standard kilometer track; with the strong physique of a Martial Artist, the four-hundred-meter standard track from the previous life was completely insufficient here, and even the kilometer track wasn't quite enough.
But, after all, this was just a small association's testing room, with limited conditions. It's said that the large association's testing room is only bigger.
After a simple warm-up, Su Mu took the starting position.
In the next second.
His figure shot forth like an arrow leaving the bow; the fastest land-running cheetah in the past world was no match for this world.
Quickly, after one lap of a thousand meters, the speed results were out.
Lap Time: 22.624S
Average Speed: 44.2M/S
In terms of speed, there was an increase of 16.1M/S, a nearly sixty percent increase. Although this might seem smaller compared to strength, Su Mu knew that speed is much harder to improve than strength, as speed is the essence of all martial arts techniques.
Thereafter he also did simple tests for long jump, high jump, etc., all showing significant improvement. Su Mu felt very satisfied and gained a whole new understanding of his own strength.
Soon, a female staff member at the front desk came to the testing room again, now accompanied by an additional middle-aged man.
"Mr. Su Mu, from now on, you have been certified as a Third Level Martial Artist by the Martial Artist Association. In the future, your monthly Martial Arts allowance will be distributed according to the Tier Three Martial Artist standard, which is five hundred Lower Grade Spirit Stones per month."
"The association will also give you a fifty-thousand Spirit Stone bonus, which is a reward for your promotion to Third Level Martial Artist."
"You may keep your old badge. Here is your Third Level Martial Artist badge. I wish you success in your martial endeavors!"
The monthly 500 Lower Grade Spirit Stones of Martial Arts allowance is as much as five times that of a Second Level Martial Artist. It's comparable to his salary when he was a squad leader.
As for the fifty-thousand Spirit Stone promotion bonus…
Su Mu was stunned; he almost forgot that there was a substantial bonus to be claimed upon level promotion, because it had been ten years since he last claimed a bonus.
Ten years, such a long time. In recent years, he had been quite disheartened, thinking he would remain a Second Level Martial Artist for life, to the point that he completely forgot about this great benefit.
A full fifty-thousand Spirit Stones; this amount of money would take five to six years to save up, without spending on anything else, at his squad leader salary.
Now, not only could he pay back the money he owed Zhou Lei, but he could also afford to activate his superpower next month and subsidize his household expenses with Spirit Stones.
A Martial Artist of the First Level represents a First Heaven, perfectly reflected in the aspects of benefits!
Once he regained his composure, Su Mu was a bit excited; a few months ago, he couldn't even think he would reach today's achievement. He stretched out his hands to receive the badge and Spirit Stone check.
"Thank you."
Martial Artists are divided into three tiers, nine levels. First to Third Level Martial Artists are Low Tier Martial Artists; their badges are circular, cornerless, and made of bronze, mixed with metals rarer than gold.
Fourth to Sixth Level are Middle Tier Martial Artists; their badge is a circular base with a star of many angles, made of silver. On close inspection, one can find the flags of several major countries on them, symbolizing unity and external focus. Each angle of the multi-pointed star represents a level; for example, a Sixth Level Martial Artist badge is a silver six-pointed star.
From the Seventh Level onward starts the High Tier Martial Artists, also referred to as Grandmaster Realm; the badge for a Seventh Level Grandmaster is a gold seven-pointed star, and for an Eighth Level Great Grandmaster, it's a gold eight-pointed star.
As for the Ninth Level, it has a unique name, the Martial Saint!
The Martial Saint badge is an extremely prestigious Crystal Diamond Nine-Pointed Badge. Each nine-pointed badge is uniquely customized, even considered as a powerful piece of equipment.
Whether there is a road beyond that, Su Mu is unclear.
Online, there's extremely scarce information about the Grandmaster Realm; it's said that there are only about a dozen or twenty Ninth Level Martial Saints worldwide. At such a level of strength, one stands at the peak of humanity, even beyond the state level. There's already no need for consideration of badges.
"I wonder if I'll have the chance in this life to become a Martial Saint?"
This sudden thought made Su Mu startle himself. It seemed he was a bit out of sorts; someone stuck at the Second Level for ten years dared to imagine about becoming a Martial Saint.
"Having some thoughts is okay. Without dreams, what's the difference between a person and a salted fish?"
Su Mu laughed heartily as he pocketed the badge and walked out of the association, feeling the sunlight especially bright.
"Yesterday, Miaomiao said she was taking Xiaoyue to grandma's house; they should be awake by now, right?"
Better give a call to the wife and daughter.
With anticipation in his heart, the ringtone echoed for a few seconds, and the video call just started.
"Honey…"
The next second, the phone screen turned black and shut off.
Wanting to share his joy, Su Mu stood frozen in place, his excitement halved, perhaps it was because he forgot to charge it yesterday.
He smiled bitterly and turned back into the association.
On the other side, in the conference room, Sun Jianren had a gloomy expression. He intentionally arrived late, but now he was here, and the person he specifically informed to arrive early was nowhere to be seen.
"Is everyone here?"