I became a martial arts saint while playing games.

Gu Yan exited the game.

I've finally finished the main storyline of Qingxi.

This time, the grind lasted quite a while, and he almost ran out of Qi and Blood Restoration Elixir. The continuous fierce battles in the game, along with the constant use of the most energy-consuming skill, the mana bar burned quickly, and naturally, he used up his potions just as fast. Gu Yan hadn't expected that the Qi and Blood Restoration Elixir he had just bought would be gone in the blink of an eye, like drinking water.

In addition, he spent the entire time in the Gathering Yuan Room. Although his villa was rent-free, the energy consumption was still considerable.

Practicing martial arts really costs money... even playing video games costs money.

The next step should be to go with Fu Qinghe and the others to the location of the Xuanzhou Demon Suppression Division.

Gu Yan logged out of the game to rest for a while, and also prepared to go out for some exercise and buy more medicine.

Looking at his increasingly empty wallet, Gu Yan sighed inwardly. He'd only been rich for a short time, and now he was broke again...

However, at this very moment, the wallet had a turning point.

The phone rang. Gu Yan answered it; it was Professor Zhong Ding calling.

Professor Zhong Ding cut to the chase: "Gu Yan? Come here for a moment, your paper has been accepted by 'Martial Arts Profound Pivot'!"

Gu Yan was stunned.

A paper? What paper? Didn't I only send the teacher a draft?

I haven't even started writing my thesis yet, how did I get accepted?

Upon asking, Professor Zhong Ding replied, "Your idea is excellent... no, it should be said to be unparalleled. I had met some friends from 'The Profound Pivot of Martial Arts' at an academic conference before, and I sent it to them."

They were also very interested in your work and promised that although they hadn't seen the finalized paper, the innovation alone was enough for admission.

Gu Yan was surprised. Could it be done like this?

In his past life, when he wanted to publish a paper, he would always submit it and receive it again and again, requiring major revisions until he was exhausted, mentally and physically drained, to the point that even his own mother wouldn't recognize it before it was barely accepted for publication.

To have something innovative listed and get published in a top journal is unheard of... Is this the treatment of a big shot?

There's a feeling that I used to beg low-quality journals to let me publish my papers in a past life, and now top journals are begging me to publish my papers.

Zhong Ding said, "The Martial Arts Profound Pivot is taking this very seriously. A high-ranking official came directly to see you today. Come to my office; she's here right now."

Gu Yan was even more surprised, not expecting that it would directly alarm the editorial department, so he replied, "Okay, teacher, I'll go right now."

He left the dormitory and headed straight for the teaching building. Once upstairs, he found Zhong Ding's office, paused outside the door, and gently knocked.

Zhong Ding's voice rang out: "Come in."

Gu Yan pushed open the door and entered. As expected, besides Teacher Zhong, there was another voluptuous woman in the office.

This woman possesses a full and mature figure. Her features are delicately beautiful, exuding elegance without sacrificing grace. Her shoulders are graceful, her waist is full yet not bulky, and even the loose fabric cannot conceal her voluptuous and proud figure, radiating an air of refined nobility.

She is probably the kind of slightly chubby person who is so thin you can't see her toes when she looks down.

"They've arrived." Zhong Ding stood up and introduced, "Gu Yan, this is Liu Qingwan, the vice dean of the Martial Arts Profound Pivot, and the vice dean of the Martial Arts Research Institute."

The Martial Arts Research Institute—that must be a very important person. Gu Yan was slightly surprised; he hadn't expected such a big shot to come.

Moreover, she looked to be no more than thirty years old, which was quite young for her status and position, suggesting that she must be a highly talented martial artist.

Liu Qingwan smiled slightly and said, "Is this our little genius?"

Zhong Ding said, "He is my student Gu Yan, and he was the one who proposed the innovation."

Gu Yan also greeted her at the opportune moment: "Hello, Vice Dean Liu."

Liu Qingwan's admiration was undisguised: "No need for formalities, Gu Yan. I have carefully reviewed your optimization of the 'Zhengyuan Foundation Technique.' I can say with certainty that the optimization of the internal energy flow and the ingenuity of the technique's operation are revolutionary, not only for the 'Zhengyuan Foundation Technique,' but for all first-level martial arts mental cultivation methods."

After reading it, I was truly amazed and immediately called Mr. Zhong back. I was a little curious, "Gu Yan, how did you come up with these brilliant ideas?"

Gu Yan said, "Vice Dean, you flatter me. I was merely flipping through the 'Foundation-Building Technique of Zheng Yuan' and, in light of the difficulties and confusions I encountered during my own cultivation, I just let my imagination run wild. It's just a wild idea, and I hope you'll forgive my folly, Vice Dean."

"Wishful thinking, hahaha, I think so too."

Liu Qingwan laughed out loud, her laughter gentle and soft, her eyebrows curving into crescent moons.

"I think so too. But true innovation in martial arts requires the courage to innovate and to forge paths that no one else has walked before. This is especially true in the new martial arts era, where many old methods have been lost or discontinued. If it weren't for people like you and me who dare to think outside the box, how could the path of new martial arts have been so smooth?"

She leaned forward slightly and said in a gentle tone, "I came to Linjiang University today for two reasons. First, I'm curious to see what kind of person the student who came up with such an innovative idea is. Second, I'm here because of an invitation, specifically to see you."

Gu Yan asked curiously, "An invitation?"

He subconsciously looked at Professor Zhong Ding, but quickly realized from the other's expression that the other was probably just as bewildered as he was, and knew nothing about the invitation that Vice Dean Liu had mentioned.

Liu Qingwan spoke solemnly and sincerely, enunciating each word clearly: "Gu Yan, on behalf of the Martial Arts Profound Pivot Bureau, I formally extend an invitation to you—would you be willing to join the Profound Pivot Bureau, to delve into martial arts theory with us, and to work together for innovation in the new martial arts era?"

Although he had already vaguely guessed it, Professor Zhong Ding still couldn't help but open his mouth slightly wide upon hearing this, his expression seemingly speaking volumes.

Holy crap!

The Martial Arts Profound Pivot Bureau? My student is going directly into the Profound Pivot Bureau?

What kind of organization is the Xuan Shu Bureau?

This is the highest-level institution in Dongxia for the research, development, and innovation of martial arts. However, compared to some other martial arts departments of the same level that focus on combat, the Xuan Shu Bureau does not place much importance on the cultivation level of its members. Instead, it values ​​the talent for applying knowledge to new situations and innovating techniques in martial arts.

Although it is said that realm is not highly valued, in Zhongding's conventional understanding, a national institution of the level of Xuan Shu Bureau, one must be a Grandmaster to get in, right?

Even someone like Zhong isn't qualified to apply to join.

Is it a newly admitted freshman? Or someone who just transferred from the humanities?

Zhong Ding felt a little dizzy and needed to calm down.

Liu Qingwan said, "Of course, it's rare to invite a current student to join. But the Xuan Shu Bureau has always valued innovation rather than hard power, and there are precedents for this."

There are a very few people in this world who, while not necessarily possessing exceptional natural talent for cultivation, have extraordinary abilities in comprehending techniques and applying them in new ways. These are known as "Martial Arts Prodigies." This talent is innate and extremely difficult to replicate through later learning.

Xiao Zhiyuan, the world's top martial arts expert, possessed this talent and was also a member of the Xuan Shu Bureau. He was the only genius in history before you to join the Xuan Shu Bureau during his undergraduate studies.

Even he only joined in his senior year. As for joining the Xuan Shu Bureau in his freshman year, if you agree, then you would probably be the only one of its kind, unprecedented and likely to remain so.

Gu Yan pondered.

Having received the invitation, he was already inclined to accept it. A normal person wouldn't refuse, after all, it was a top-tier national institution, with unparalleled benefits and prestige.

But what he hesitated about was that since there were benefits, shouldn't there be corresponding obligations?

If the benefits and status would simultaneously force him to go to dangerous places or perform high-risk tasks, then Gu Yan felt he needed to think twice.

For ordinary martial artists, risk is unavoidable. High risk is accompanied by high reward, but he's different. He can increase his cultivation level rapidly simply by sitting at home and playing games. The cultivation resources he can obtain with low risk can certainly greatly accelerate his progress and make his game journey easier, but it's unnecessary if it requires taking risks in real life.

So Gu Yan asked, "Then, as a member of the Xuan Shu Bureau, what are the obligations and requirements?"

Seeing that he was young but asked about obligations first instead of benefits, Liu Qingwan was quite impressed and smiled, saying, "As for requirements, there are naturally some. If you join the Xuan Shu Bureau, the bureau will do its best to train you, but it will definitely not be for free."

As I just mentioned, the core mission of the Xuan Shu Bureau is martial arts innovation. Members who fail to produce results worthy of publication in the *Martial Arts Xuan Shu* within three years will be expelled and stripped of all resources, benefits, and status.

Gu Yan asked, "So, all you want to do is publish papers? Nothing else?"

Liu Qingwan said, "That's all."

Professor Zhong Ding listened from the sidelines, his eyes widening in surprise.

What do you mean by "it's all about publishing papers"? Listen to yourself, is that even human language?

This is a paper from "The Profound Pivot of Martial Arts," not just a couple of low-quality papers from a third-rate conference!

Even for someone as old as Zhong, he has only published two papers in "Martial Arts Profound Pivot" in his entire life. And that's enough for him to brag about for a lifetime in academic circles.

It takes at least one article to be published every three years. Even for big shots in the Xuan Shu Bureau, not everyone can handle it with ease.

However, upon hearing this, Gu Yan felt reassured.

It's alright, it's just a matter of publishing papers on time, that's easy to handle.

Doesn't that mean there are only benefits and no risks?