Chapter 112

"So many people."

Lin Yunqing hung up the phone, scanning left and right; the spacious hall with a ceiling height of seven or eight meters was packed with heads, all dressed in the attire of social celebrities.

Everyone seemed to belong to the same circle, each knowing the others, and they quickly grouped into clusters of three or five, chatting away.

The most eye-catching was a grown man surrounded by stars, encircled in the middle.

He looked about twenty-seven or twenty-eight, with a square, guozi face; his every gesture was steady, like someone long accustomed to high position, exuding a heavy, forbidding aura that kept strangers at bay.

Qin Shi glanced twice and asked curiously:

"He looks a lot like Lao Chen — are they related?"

Lin Yunqing nodded, leaning in to tell him:

"Chen Uncle's eldest son, Xiao Yun's brother, Chen Zhou.

He used to run a company in Center City, doing business; he only came back recently.

I heard from Xiao Yun that his father-son relationship with Chen Uncle is rather cold."

Dad's an official, son's in business — a classic combination indeed.

Qin Shi silently slandered in his heart.

The administrative stars of the Dongxia Republic are relatively independent and autonomous, like a kind of atypical regional commandery.

The Administrative Governor is basically equivalent to a Provincial Governor; prominent officials at every post hold heavy authority.

Although the Three Departments check and balance each other, most still follow the rules and handle matters by the book, rarely tearing faces.

Someone of Lao Chen's level, placed in Tai'an, would be a local emperor.

Saying he covers the sky with one hand might be a bit much, but calling wind and rain is absolutely no problem.

"Chen Uncle originally wanted to arrange for Brother Zhou to enter a war regiment for tempering, but Brother Zhou wasn't willing; he preferred staying in Center City, partnering with a few friends to start a company. A couple of years ago he even joined the Donglin Chamber of Commerce. Because of this, he had a huge fight with Chen Uncle and they haven't had much contact since."

As Xiao Yun's close friend, Lin Yunqing knew the Chen family's affairs quite well, and she sighed:

"Xiao Yun being stuck in the middle playing peacemaker between her brother and her dad is tough too; she often complains to me."

Qin Shi shrugged — who doesn't have a hard scripture to recite in their own family.

"This birthday banquet is on such a grand scale — it couldn't be Lao Chen's son putting it on, right? Lao Chen's personality isn't that showy."

Lin Yunqing sat with Qin Shi in a corner, whispering:

"Brother Zhou's company took on two big projects, but they didn't go smoothly, and he fell out with his partners too. This return to Tai'an is probably an attempt to stage a comeback."

Sounds like he's coming back to fleece his dad.

Qin Shi's mouth corner twitched.

No wonder they say: fake freeloading is not going to work, staying home jobless, lying flat playing games;

real freeloading is postgrad exams, starting a business, opening a company, going bankrupt and being liquidated.

From Lin Yunqing's description, Lao Chen's son clearly belongs to the type unwilling to just be a second-generation heir, insisting on carving out his own piece of heaven.

"There sure are a lot of rich brothers and sisters in the urban circle."

Qin Shi sized up the crowd coming and going in the hall; quite a few young faces, probably all tagging along with their parents to broaden their horizons and see the world.

"You'll be a multi-millionaire rich brother too from now on, Assistant Teacher Qin.

If you get the Hengzhou Martial Association's recognition and the education fund quota passes, you can pull in eighty million in sponsorship!

Plus that Martial Arts New Star Plan where the investment amount is still unclear... hehe, a billionaire new rich!"

Lin Yunqing laughed hehe, her expression proud:

"Which student have you ever seen like you, becoming a billionaire new rich without relying on family help! One of a kind!"

She couldn't wait to cross her arms and announce to the world with a megaphone that her chosen financial project is super amazing!

"The eight characters don't even have a single stroke yet; the Hengzhou Martial Association's predecessors have encountered talents as numerous as cow hairs — they may not necessarily think highly of me."

Qin Shi said this with his mouth, but in his heart he was thinking how to perform, planning to shock the Martial Association people later and bravely seize the eighty million sponsorship.

As long as the salary is in place, he can have Super Xiao He go online for proxy training.

He Lanchan, this acknowledged monster, has talent ranking that can definitely enter the top ten of Dongxia Republic's nine thousand years.

No reason he can't convince those old martial veterans of the Hengzhou Martial Association!

"Eh, Elder Brother's come down."

Lin Yunqing suddenly stood up, waving at Lin Xiaohan walking out of the elevator.

Lin Xiaohan strode over, smiling:

"Chen Uncle had someone seal Jinhui's elevator; we can only go up to the sixtieth floor banquet hall. Looks like he doesn't like lively scenes much."

He turned his head to look at Qin Shi — the saying 'clothes make the man' is indeed correct.

The brand-new Qin Classmate, at a glance, looks quite like some big family's young master.

"Xiao Qin, long time no see. I heard from Yunqing that you've been making quite a splash in Qiguang Heng University's Virtual Combat Room, defeating quite a few Martial Arts Department students."

As Director of General Affairs, Lin Xiaohan doesn't directly handle teaching, so his relationship with teachers and students in the college departments is average.

So he hasn't yet received the news that lower-grade trainees from Qiguang Heng University's Martial Arts Department were beaten by Qin Shi until they collapsed completely.

Qin Shi smiled shyly:

"Just give and take, can't call it defeat. Teacher Lin's wording is a bit exaggerated."

Lin Xiaohan carefully sensed and found that compared to last time, Qin Shi's life breath has grown even richer, faintly possessing a heroic bearing like a cypress standing tall.

"The Old Factory Street incident a while back was also supposedly calmed by you, delivering a great merit to Chen Uncle's daughter. Young and promising, Xiao Qin!

Your Xin Yi High School starts soon; they're preparing to send elite class students over to Heng University for exchange. How about I talk to the leading teacher and have you participate too?"

Qin Shi glanced at Lin Yunqing, who was making a pitiful look, and immediately understood the dog woman hadn't come clean with Lin Xiaohan.

Based on his understanding of Lin Yunqing, it was definitely intentional concealment.

Planning to settle the Hengzhou Martial Association first, then put on another big show.

"Thank you, Director Lin, for your goodwill. This kind of event is usually only for the Elite Class; for me, a Hongzhi Class student, to go there would be inappropriate. Besides, I plan to settle down for a while and focus on the Rank Examination."

Considering how much he'd mooched internet and meals off her, Qin Shi smoothed things over for the dog-woman.

"A steady young man like you is truly rare."

Lin Xiaohan heard this, and appreciation instead appeared in his eyes.

"Good luck on your exam. If you have any difficulties regarding registration, you can come to me."

He finished speaking and looked toward Lin Yunqing:

"It's rare that you haven't been making trouble lately; hurry up and come up with me to greet Uncle Chen."

Lin Yunqing feigned obedience, took out his terminal, and typed secretly.

【Ruanruan Tu: Assistant Teacher Xiao Qin, wait for me at the Banquet Hall on the Sixty Floor first.】

Qin Shi nodded, entered another elevator; Secretary Huo's side should arrange special reception.

As expected, not long after he received a message.

【Xia requests to add you as a friend】

【Passed】

Qin Shi lightly touched the terminal.

The communication tool equipped by the Talent Cultivation Project was more usable than his old flip phone.

Mainly for browsing information, the network depth seemed higher.

【Xia: Hello, Qin Classmate. I am Xia from the General Affairs Office.】

【Xia: Secretary Huo asked me to be responsible for your reception work.】

【Xia: May I ask if you have arrived at Jinhui Building?】

【Qin Shi: I am at the Banquet Hall on the Sixty Floor.】

Xia Ke'er, her hair updo and dressed formally, was stunned.

"Eh, you came early!"

She anxiously rushed to press the elevator to go downstairs, but was stopped by an old man in a tailcoat.

"May I ask if you are a receptionist from the General Affairs Office?"

……

……

Qin Shi entered the Banquet Hall; it was relatively quiet here, not as noisy as the lobby below.

Soothing music flowed gently, creating a relaxed atmosphere.

His gaze swept over the rich and diverse buffet, and he shook his head:

"Low calories, few rich nutritional components; eating the whole table clean wouldn't match a can of High-Energy Food."

Since stepping onto the Old Martial Arts path, Qin Shi's thinking had transformed.

Whether food was good or bad depended on calories, nutrition, and satiety.

As for taste?

That wasn't important.

After all, he could eat boiled chicken breast heartily.

"Lobster, sea cucumber... these rich households really have money."

Based on the principle that since he'd come, he might as well, Qin Shi picked up his plate and knife and fork and walked toward the battlefield.

As a result, he was stopped halfway.

"Are you Qin Shi Qin Classmate?"

The old man in the tailcoat appeared before him and politely inquired.

"That's right, it's me."

Qin Shi silently stayed vigilant.

A strange face popping up at this kind of occasion.

Could it be someone from the Hengzhou Martial Association?

"Qin Classmate, your reception work will be handled by me."

The old man in the tailcoat had a kind smile, like a neighborhood elder from Old Factory Street.

"Uh..."

Qin Shi opened his terminal and glanced at the anime avatar of a cute cat:

"You are, Xia?"

The old man in the tailcoat remained expressionless:

"You can call me that."

Elder, you're quite trendy.

Qin Shi activated Super-Sensory Perception and found no malice hidden in the other party:

"Is there anything you need me to do?"

He was also curious how the Hengzhou Martial Association planned to assess his talent?

Go up and touch a stone to see its glow brightness?

"Let's chat simply first."

The old man in the tailcoat said with a smiling face:

"Qin Classmate, you're a high school senior this year, not yet eighteen, right?"

Qin Shi nodded:

"Sixteen this year, seventeen after my birthday."

The old man in the tailcoat praised him:

"It's exactly the golden age for developing Qi Life Force. May I ask, have you taken a Life Force Test recently? What were your results?"

Qin Shi answered frankly:

"Around thirty points."

The old man in the tailcoat praised him again:

"Very impressive. You already have the potential to apply to a First-Rank Academy, a standout among ten thousand. Qin Classmate, which university do you hope to attend?"

"For now, Qiguang Heng University."

Qin Shi replied.

Jia Kai University of Technology's signboard is its Mechanical System; its Martial Arts System is far inferior to Qiguang Heng University.

"Very good."

The old man in the tailcoat grew increasingly satisfied.

He finally asked:

"I heard you walk the Old Martial Arts Path, specifically Body Limit Breakthrough, which is gradually being lost today. If you can answer, roughly how many limits have you broken?"

Qin Shi thought there was nothing to hide here; he wouldn't have to wait until the Ranking Examination on the first day of school, and when applying for the Education Scholarship later, all of this would need to be truthfully reported in his personal file.

"I've reached the Second Limit: Tendon Gate and Spirit Gate."

The old man in the tailcoat's smile paused slightly, faintly showing a look of being moved.

"A hero, truly a hero. At such a young age, to break the Spirit Gate is truly rare. Even looking across Hengzhou, you are one of a kind!"

Based on this alone, you meet the enrollment standards of the Four Great National Universities."

He seriously looked at the boy before him for a few moments: upright posture, clear eyebrows and bright eyes, and with his Qi Life Force level raised, he gained an extra air of lofty bearing. Even in a banquet hall full of high officials and nobles, he stood out like a crane among chickens, extraordinary and unmatched.

"The Dongxia Education Bureau places great importance on selecting talent. Qin Classmate, a newcomer like you is exactly what First-Rank Academies need."

The old man was very good at giving Emotion Value, praising him without stopping from beginning to end.

Qin Shi held his plate, looking longingly at the lobster someone had forked away, and asked shyly:

"Xia... Teacher, is there anything else you want to ask?"

The old man in the tailcoat shook his head:

"Sorry to disturb you, Qin Classmate. I hope to see you in Central City someday."

He took off his top hat, bowed slightly, then turned and left.

That's it?

Qin Shi couldn't help but feel confused; he had thought there would be some classic challenge segment.

Like finding a Genius Boy from Qiguang Heng University or Central City.

And then competing with him...

"What a pity. I didn't even get to have Super Xiao He log on and amaze the whole crowd, after which I had all sorts of lines ready."

Qin Shi sighed inwardly and continued walking toward the dining table. The lobster was gone, but the Sea Cucumber would do.

"Huff... huff... Excuse me, are you Qin Shi Qin Classmate?"

Qin Shi hadn't even extended his knife and fork before he was interrupted by a Miss with an oval face and her hair up.

"Yes, it's me."

Qin Shi helplessly put down his plate.

"I'm Xia, responsible for receiving you. There was a small situation just now, sorry to keep you waiting."

The Miss with the oval face was panting, as if she had angrily climbed over ten floors in one breath, strands of hair stuck to her cheeks.

"You're Xia?"

Qin Shi was full of question marks.

Where did that tailcoat old man just now come from?

"Xu Duxue, you've made me search high and low."

Returning to the Seventy Floor, the old man in the tailcoat ran headlong into Chen Zhou, the organizer of this banquet, who said eagerly:

"My father is in poor health and unable to appear in person, but knowing that Xu Duxue had come from afar, he specifically instructed me to receive you well."

The old man in the tailcoat had a calm expression and nodded slightly:

"I came to Tai'an on official business; what need is there for reception or not? Chen General Manager, no need to accompany me. Today I followed Director Lin of Qiguang Heng University to many places and am already tired, preparing to take my leave."

Chen Zhou was stunned. He had heard Lin Xiaohan say that this Xu Duxue had come specially to preside over some important work and should stay in the Taian Metropolitan Area for a while.

"Xu Duxue, is there some discourtesy..."

"Chen General Manager thinks too much. I am indeed old, my body is failing, and I get sleepy when the time comes."

The old man in the tailcoat smiled and waved his hand:

"Next time I have free time, I will visit Minister Chen again."

After saying this, he left in high spirits.

"Supervisor, did you meet that boy who obtained the He Lanchan Transmission?"

In the corridor of the Seventy Floor, the accompanying Secretary received a call and rushed over.

The old man in the tailcoat had a calm expression; when not smiling, he even carried a chilling coldness.

He spoke slowly:

"Just spoke with him. It's rare among the Old Martial Arts school to find such a fine seedling—calm and deep, neither arrogant nor impetuous, without the sharpness of showing off too much, nor the wild arrogance of soaring to the heavens.

Nowadays, it's rare to see young people like this. Chen Ruofu's letter of recommendation was no exaggeration; he is truly a hero!"

The secretary lowered his head and asked:

"Supervisor, should we suppress him? Otherwise, once he receives the full support of the Hengzhou Martial Association..."

The old man in the tailcoat's gaze was sharp as he looked deeply at the secretary.

Until the latter realized he had misspoken and lowered his head.

"Following me for so long, yet no progress! Do you think the struggle between New and Old Martial Arts can be swayed by one or two geniuses? When has Dongxia ever lacked Heaven's Chosen? Not to mention anything else, just in the Star Cup, how many outstanding heroes are there?"

The old man in the tailcoat showed disappointment, speaking with his hands behind his back:

"The struggle between New and Old, we fight for the future, seeking to swallow the Hundred Meridians, devour a thousand doors, and forge a new era Martial God Path!

This is the general trend; let alone one or two Star-Ranked Geniuses, even if the First Generation Ten Greats came, they could not withstand the Era's Torrent rolling forward!"

"I personally came to see that youth: first, because I heard Zhang the Old Man, having been too still, was attracted by the 'Xu Kong Meditation Method' and went to Tai'an to trip him up;

second, out of curiosity, wanting to see what this 'successive-generation disciple' who inherited He Lanchan's legacy actually looks like."

The overbearing breath the old man in the tailcoat had unintentionally released just now made the secretary tremble in body and mind, nearly kneeling down.

This Xu Duxue, even in Central City, was a first-class full-time expert.

"That youth indeed has a bit of Stone Buddha Temperament, very calm, and has broken through the Spirit Gate.

At such a young age, his Spiritual Residence is in his Inner Landscape, containing all phenomena of the outside world; his Xinli must be excellent, and my trip was not in vain."

The old man in the tailcoat's eyes held approval, and he was quite recognizing.

"But with Zhang the Old Man's temper, I reckon he still won't look up to him. Back then, he stopped at the Top Sixteen every time, because every time he met He Lanchan and was beaten black and blue.

So he boasted, deciding to take in many disciples, so that his disciples could crush He Lanchan's successor at the Star Cup.

But it's too early to say this; he probably didn't expect that He Lanchan never passed down his Yi Ban until his death."

The secretary suddenly realized; it turned out there was such a past story.

"Speaking of which, it's funny; Zhang the Old Man spent most of his life taking in nine disciples. The result was either a spiritual master or a mechanical expert, each going down the wrong path. Those who truly walked the Martial Artist Path were few."

The old man in the tailcoat couldn't help but laugh.

The secretary, however, asked in great confusion:

"Old Zhang... Predecessor, since he wants to surpass He Lanchan in terms of disciples, why let his disciples walk other paths?"

The old man in the tailcoat laughed heartily:

"This is exactly what Zhang the Old Man has been brooding over. He considered himself exceptionally talented, unmatched in the world, born with a Martial God Physique, but unexpectedly, just as he was about to shine at seventeen, he met He Lanchan and suffered a heavy loss.

After five years of bitter cultivation, he ran into Lian Yixing, whose momentum was rising, and became a background board again.

He immersed himself in study and settled his strength, only to be stepped on by Qi Wuxiang, who had three crowns... of the First Generation Ten Greats, he alone tested the strongest few one by one."

What a legendary whetstone, the ultimate punching bag.

The secretary's eyelids twitched as he listened.

"So Zhang the Old Man made a heavy vow: the disciple he seeks must be a Martial God Seed who suppresses an era, making all Star-Ranked Geniuses dim and countless peers look up in awe. If this standard isn't met, he lets his disciples walk other paths.

I rushed here in a hurry, also worried that the youth was truly as Chen Ruofu's letter wrote—that He Lanchan, while alive, made Zhang the Old Man see a rabbit and chase it, taking him as a disciple.

Then he'd be just like him, with a bad temper, stirring up trouble everywhere, making Hengzhou a mess."

The old man in the tailcoat spoke lightly; ever since Zhang the Old Man extinguished his thought of fighting again at the Star Cup, he had become a great calamity of the Martial Association, a terrifying existence who upsets others' tables while they eat.

He never followed rules in doing things; what's hateful is that in seniority, strength, and connections, no one could suppress him.

They could only let him rely on the old to sell the old!

"Pity, that youth is only a bit like He Lanchan; compared to the standard Zhang the Old Man set, he's still far off."

The old man in the tailcoat was very certain.

He and Zhang the Old Man had a deep grudge.

As for what level of peerless Heaven's Chosen his mortal enemy wanted, he naturally knew better than anyone.

The secretary asked:

"Supervisor, the 'Xu Kong Meditation Method' is an SSS-Grade Textbook; according to the Education Bureau's regulations, it should be recovered..."

The old man in the tailcoat said in a deep voice:

"That youth has already entered the door, is a local student of Hengzhou, and even graduated from the Chanyang Dongjiao Suburban School. He fully meets the regulations for learning the textbook; why should we interfere?

The struggle between New and Old is the older generation competing with the younger; letting an innocent student suffer is putting private interests over public ones.

Only conservative elements who cling to power would do this. I will not."

He volunteered to come to Tai'an, also not wanting a small portion of conservative elements in the Education Bureau, because a student who obtained He Lanchan's inheritance came from the Old Martial Arts school, to deliberately suppress and target him, deepening the conflict between the two sides.

"Supervisor is broad-minded and open-hearted."

The secretary praised sincerely.

"Pay more attention; if Zhang the Old Man doesn't take a liking to that youth, you can make the decision for me and give him a chance to go to Central City.

The Old Martial Arts school's ways are too focused on formalities, clinging to outdated rules; how can they compare to the inclusiveness of New Martial Arts? I quite like that youth's talent and temperament; New Martial Arts needs such talent!

Their Old Martial Arts school takes in a hundred people, but only raises two or three seedlings; whereas our New Martial Arts has tens of millions learning, millions succeeding, everyone can ascend to heaven, and there will always be a few who can step onto the Martial God Path.

Perhaps that youth is one of the countless Chai Cai among whom a Martial God foundation is forged."

The old man in the tailcoat's gaze passed through the large floor-to-ceiling window, looking out at the Taian Metropolitan Area.

"The Martial God of the new generation will surely be born. The decline of Old Martial Arts is an undisputed fact.

I look forward very much to the upcoming Martial Arts New Star Plan; those New Martial Stars specially selected by the Education Bureau will completely shatter the fantasies of the Old Martial Arts school!"

"You're Qin Shi Qin Classmate?"

Brought to the Sixty-Eighth Floor, Qin Shi heard this question for the third time tonight.

He sighed, feeling like a panda on display.

"Yes, it's me."

Xia led Qin Shi to a Business Suite, where he saw an unremarkable middle-aged man.

The man's gaze burned, as if inspecting some dust-covered treasure, impatiently wanting to wipe it clean so its brilliance would show.

"Qin Classmate, hello. I am Ren You of the Nanhuang Dojo, representing the Hengzhou Martial Association, here to verify whether you have entered the Xu Kong Meditation Method and whether you meet the sponsorship standard of the Education Fund."

The middle-aged man introduced himself and stated his purpose.

Finally getting to the topic!

Qin Shi perked up; he was cooperating all for the Eighty Million sponsorship fund!

"I've long been prepared."

His eyes flickered as he observed his surroundings, waiting for some extraordinary youth genius to appear and issue a challenge.

"Please hold this Clay Tablet."

Ren You carefully took out the item his Master had given him from his bosom.

"... This is?"

Qin Shi took it and asked in passing.

Would he hear the other side announce something like "Power of Life, Third Stage" later?

"Item Number YC-522, also called the 'Cuiyu Book'; it has thirteen pieces in total, each recording extremely ancient true words."

The text written on this piece is "This is the Ancient True Words, smashing the firm and snapping the tough."

This object possesses two Rule Characteristics: first, it cannot be destroyed by simple Physical Attacks; second, it can absorb Spiritual Fluctuations and condense Heart Light.

Qin Classmate, you only need to aim at this object, punch with all your strength, and focus your mind to recite the words."

Ren You explained patiently.

This kind of special item is called a "Relic," also known as a "Containment Object."

They are "props" formed by Professional-Grade Experts of the Spiritual Ability Domain capturing anomalies from the Netherworld and then containing and capturing them.

They often possess all sorts of rules, distinguished by strength and weakness according to grade.

Later adopted by the Dongxia government, their most widespread application is for lie detection, torture, and suppressing Professional-Grade Experts of different paths.

"Is this enough?"

Qin Shi held the not very sturdy Clay Tablet, feeling it would split into four or five pieces if dropped on the Floor.

After receiving Ren You's affirmation, he took a deep breath and adjusted his Perfect Mortal Body State to its most perfect condition.

"Then I shall, not, be, po, lite!"

(Chapter End)