Chapter 119: A Common Man's Fury, Like an Old Friend (First Update!)

Chen Yun leaned against the elevator's inner wall and smiled at Qin Shi: 【2】 "You really want to do this job well? Xiao Qin, don't take it too seriously. I applied for this temporary patrol certificate for you because I learned from my father that you have some conflicts with the Qin Family." 【3】 She fiddled with the sunglasses hanging from her chest, as if recalling something unpleasant, and sighed softly: 【4】 "Chen Lin Half Day Down, Qin Zheng Full Street—an old rhyme passed down among the older generation of Hengzhou. I come from the Chen Family and have benefited from it. I know that these powers bearing the names of Pioneer Families, rooted in the big cities, have many ways to suppress or crush whoever they wish to target." 【5】 Qin Shi had just finished the third-tier temporary patrol certificate exam and hadn't expended much physical ability or Qi; his expression looked relaxed. 【6】 He listened attentively to Chen Yun. In the Great Universe Era's Dongxia, relying solely on individual might to shake the Star Sea would require starting at the level of Martial God. 【7】 Below Martial God, one ultimately cannot escape beyond the rules. 【8】 "Hengzhou has been developed for several thousand years, producing many geniuses, even Chaoyang Level ones, but none made too big a splash. Ultimately, upper-level resources are firmly held by Center City and the four Pioneer Families. Their predecessors established the order of this land beneath their feet, allowing the juniors to occupy too many advantages." 【9】 Qin Shi nodded. Through searching online and fragments from history-related books, he learned that the Pioneer Families were a system inherited from the Ancient Era to the present. 【10】 The original purpose was to curb the vast roots of the great clans, "exiling" them to the Borderlands Lands to perform extremely dangerous reclamation work, while granting huge gains as a carrot dangling before their mouths, making them willingly serve as expendables. Moreover, over time, high-intensity gu-raising competition often produced a few fierce individuals among the collateral branches, who would then suppress the main line. 【11】 Dongxia used this open method to turn the great clans into blood-producing machines for the empire's territorial expansion, from which emerged tens of thousands of military merit nobles and Administrative Governors, thus creating the grand map unifying the Galaxy. 【12】 But with the unprecedentedly grand "Iron People Rebellion" and the apocalyptic "Star God Revival" disaster, those border planets instead became fiefdoms similar to regional warlords, no longer willing to accept the Dongxia Empire's conscription and dispatch. 【13】 This stage was called the Turbulent Era. 【14】 Until the flag of the Dongxia Republic was raised, and nine Marshals restarted the Great Expedition, recovering one lost and fallen old land after another. 【15】 During this period, the Pioneer Families were activated again, becoming an important link in the operation of the massive war machine. 【16】 However, restrictions were added: when a thousand years of reclamation ended, it was "Harvest Day," and each Pioneer Family had to leave and return to their ancestral lands. 【17】 "The main lines of Chen, Lin, Qin, and Zheng left a thousand years ago, but because of the Great Explosion in Dangyang East Suburbs, a high-level Electronic Demon was spawned, possibly even awakening the slumbering Star God, leading to Hengzhou being blockaded from the outside." 【18】 Chen Yun crossed her arms and said softly: 【19】 "My father thinks that some rapidly developing collateral forces of the Pioneer Families do not wish to return and hand over their gains, but plan to stay in Hengzhou as local emperors." 【20】 Sister Yun, just say Yincheng Qin Family's name directly! 【21】 Qin Shi's mouth twitched, and he hesitated to speak. 【22】 "In any case, the Qin Family is not to be trifled with. Over these years, they have absorbed collateral branches with extremely thin bloodlines, like Qin Renying's family from Mang Village, to strengthen themselves and accumulate a deep foundation. Poor, powerless clans without a true backer or background, facing them alone, are often in a passive position." 【23】 The elevator doors opened, and Chen Yun stepped out, suddenly turning her head: 【24】 "You must increase your permit authority in all aspects. Citizen treatment, resource channels, even status privileges. Only then can you avoid being manipulated and forced to submit." 【25】 Qin Shi nodded. Lin Yunqing had told him similar words, advising him to use the Hengzhou Martial Association's sponsorship quota as much as possible to raise resource purchase permit authority, striving to become a Senior Member of a giant corporation like United Pharmaceutical. 【26】 Chen Yun pushed open the office door, ignoring Wei Zheguang who hadn't left yet, and asked directly: 【27】 "Lao Feng, are the certificates done?" 【28】 "Fresh out of the oven, still warm." 【29】 Lao Feng handed something to Chen Yun, who then passed it to Qin Shi. 【30】 Black leather wrapped around a personal photo and identity information, foldable to palm size. 【31】 The ancient emblem of a rifle bayonet was extremely eye-catching, with the two gold-stamped characters "Patrol" printed below. 【32】 【Name: Qin Shi】 【33】 【Affiliated Unit: Taian Chenghua District Patrol Sub-Bureau】 【34】 【Certificate Code: xxxxxxxx】 【35】 "With this, if anyone wants to arrest or interrogate you, they must present a document stamped by the Patrol Department or a hand order." 【36】 Chen Yun was satisfied. Getting the temporary patrol certificate was like adding an extra layer of insurance for Xiao Qin, preventing the Qin Family from using dirty tricks and tripping him up in the future. 【37】 In an orderly society, big figures who control resources or the right to speak find it even more convenient to use rules to target people. 【38】 Charges like provoking trouble, illegal business operation, and abuse of power—these relatively broad crimes—can easily be pinned on any citizen's head. 【39】 "Thank you, Sister Yun, thank you, Brother Feng." 【40】 Qin Shi was very polite, thanking them separately. 【41】 As a high school student, even with Taian's top boss Chen Ruofu backing him, encountering hostile forces with similar backgrounds would still leave him at their mercy. 【42】 With this talisman in hand, at least trying to use procedures to suppress others by law would not work. 【43】 "What courtesy." 【44】 Lao Feng waved his hand: 【45】 "Xiao Qin, I've never seen an all-around talent like you before. Fighting, mechanical repair, mental control—you know everything, with no weaknesses. But whatever you do, don't be lured by professional teachers into choosing the Mechanical System; it's a definite pitfall!" 【46】 Before leaving, he didn't forget to remind Qin Shi. 【47】 "Alright. I'll focus on the Martial Path System, Brother Feng." 【48】 Qin Shi smiled and agreed. 【49】 The youngest wanted to take the exam for Jia Kai University of Technology and go down the Mechanical System path. 【50】 Who knows what he'll turn into in the future, something like a beautiful girl programmer? 【51】 From beginning to end, Qin Shi hadn't paid much attention to Wei Zheguang, treating him like air. 【52】 After Chen Yun and the others left, the latter gritted his teeth in secret anger: 【53】 "This kid is too arrogant! Isn't he just outstanding in talent and outstanding in strength? Besides these, what else does he have!" 【54】 Lao Feng said heartlessly: 【55】 "He's younger than you, Brother Wei." 【56】 Wei Zheguang glared: 【57】 "Get out! Single combat! Lao Feng!" 【58】 …… 【59】 …… 【60】 Returning to the Talent Apartment, it was already past eight in the evening.

"Do you really want to do this job well? Xiao Qin, don't take it too seriously. I applied for this Temporary Inspection Credential for you because I learned from my father that you have some conflicts with the Qin Family."

She fiddled with the sunglasses hanging from her chest, as if recalling something unpleasant, and sighed softly as she said:

"Chen Lin Half Day Down, Qin Zheng Full Street—an old rhyme passed down among the older generation of Hengzhou. I come from the Chen Family and have benefited from it. I understand that these forces, bearing the names of Pioneer Families and rooted in the great cities, have many ways to suppress or crush someone if they set their minds to it."

Qin Shi had just finished the third-tier Temporary Inspection Credential exam and had not expended much physical ability or Qi; his expression appeared relaxed.

He listened seriously to Chen Yun. In the Great Universe Era's Dongxia, relying solely on individual power to shake the Star Sea would require starting at the level of Martial God.

Below Martial God, one ultimately cannot escape the rules.

"Hengzhou has been developed for several thousand years, producing many geniuses, even Chaoyang Level ones, but none made too big a splash. Ultimately, upper-level resources are firmly held by Center City and the four Pioneer Families. Their predecessors established the order of this land beneath their feet, giving the juniors too many advantages."

Qin Shi nodded. Through searching online and fragments from history-related readings, he learned that the Pioneer Families were a system inherited from the Ancient Era.

The original purpose was to curb the sprawling root systems of the great clans, "exiling" them to the Borderlands Lands to perform extremely dangerous pioneering work, while granting huge gains as a carrot dangling before their mouths, making them willingly serve as expendables. Over time, high-intensity gu-raising competition often produced fierce individuals from the collateral branches, who would then suppress the main line.

Dongxia used this open method to turn the great clans into blood-making machines for the Empire to expand its territory, from which emerged tens of thousands of military merit nobles and Administrative Governors, thus creating the grand panorama of unifying the Galaxy.

But with the unprecedentedly grand "Iron People Rebellion" and the apocalyptic disaster of "Star God Revival," those Border Planets instead became like vassal states, no longer willing to accept the Dongxia Empire's conscription and deployment.

This stage was called the Turbulent Era.

Until the flag of the Dongxia Republic was raised, and nine Marshals restarted the Great Expedition, recovering one lost and fallen old land after another.

During this period, the Pioneer Families were activated again, becoming an important link in the operation of the huge war machine.

But with restrictions: when a thousand years of pioneering ended, it was "Harvest Day," and each Pioneer Family had to leave and return to their ancestral lands.

"The main lines of Chen, Lin, Qin, and Zheng left a thousand years ago, but because of the Great Explosion in Dangyang East Suburbs, a high-level Electronic Demon was spawned, possibly even awakening the slumbering Star God, leading to Hengzhou being placed under External Blockade."

Chen Yun crossed her arms and said softly:

"My father believes that some rapidly developing collateral forces of the Pioneer Families do not wish to return and hand over their gains, but plan to stay in Hengzhou as local emperors."

Sister Yun, just directly name the Yincheng Qin Family!

The corner of Qin Shi's mouth twitched, and he hesitated to speak.

"In any case, the Qin Family is not to be trifled with. Over these years, they have absorbed collateral branches with extremely thin bloodlines, like Qin Renying's family from Mang Village, to strengthen themselves and accumulate a rich foundation. Poor, thin-blessed cold clans without real backing or background, facing them alone, are often at a disadvantage."

The elevator doors opened, Chen Yun stepped out, then suddenly turned and said:

"You must increase your permit authority in all aspects. Citizen treatment, resource channels, even status privileges. Only then can you avoid being swept along and forced to submit."

Qin Shi nodded. Lin Yunqing had told him similar words, urging him to use the Hengzhou Martial Association's Sponsorship Quota as much as possible to raise resource purchase permit authority, striving to become a Senior Member of a giant corporation like United Pharmaceutical.

Chen Yun pushed open the office door, ignored Wei Zheguang who had not yet left, and asked directly:

"Lao Feng, are the credentials done?"

"Fresh out of the furnace, still warm."

Lao Feng handed an item to Chen Yun, who then passed it to Qin Shi.

Black leather wrapped around a personal photo and identity information, foldable to palm size.

The ancient emblem of a rifle bayonet was extremely eye-catching, with two gold-stamped characters "Patrol" printed below.

【Name: Qin Shi】

【Affiliated Unit: Taian Chenghua District Patrol Sub-Bureau】

【Credential Code: xxxxxxxx】

"With this, if anyone wants to arrest or interrogate you, they must present a document stamped by the Patrol Department or a hand order."

Chen Yun was satisfied. Getting the Temporary Patrol Certificate was like adding an extra layer of insurance for Xiao Qin, preventing the Qin Family from using underhanded tricks and tripping him up in the future.

In an orderly society, big figures who control resources or the right to speak find it even more convenient to use rules to target people.

Broad charges like Provoking Trouble, Illegal Business Operation, and Abuse of Power can easily be pinned on any citizen's head.

"Thank you, Sister Yun, thank you, Brother Feng."

Qin Shi was very polite, thanking them separately.

As a high school student, even with Chen Ruofu, the top hand of Taian, covering him, encountering hostile forces with similar backgrounds would still leave him at their mercy.

With this talisman in hand, at least trying to use procedures to suppress others by law would not work.

"What courtesy."

Lao Feng waved his hand and said:

"Xiao Qin, an all-around genius like you, I've never seen before. Fighting, mechanical repair, mental control—you know it all, with no weaknesses. But whatever you do, don't let professional teachers seduce you into choosing the Mechanical System; it's a definite pit!"

Before leaving, he didn't forget to remind Qin Shi.

"Alright. I'll focus on the Martial Path System, Brother Feng."

Qin Shi agreed with a smile.

The youngest wanted to take the exam for Jia Kai University of Technology and go down the Mechanical System path.

Who knows what he'll turn into in the future, something like a beautiful girl programmer?

From beginning to end, Qin Shi didn't pay much attention to Wei Zheguang, treating him like air.

After Chen Yun and the others left, the latter gritted his teeth in secret anger:

"This kid is too arrogant! Just because he's outstanding in talent and stands out in strength, besides that, what else does he have!"

Lao Feng said heartlessly:

"He's younger than you, Brother Wei."

Wei Zheguang glared:

"Get out! Single combat! Lao Feng!"

……

……

Returning to the Talent Apartment, it was already past eight in the evening.

After finishing the Temporary Inspection Credential, Chen Yun treated Qin Shi to a hot pot meal, then saw him back to his residence.

The whole process had quite the flavor of a date between boyfriend and girlfriend.

If you add the several messages received on the terminal.

That flavor seemed even stronger.

【Ruanruan Tu: Assistant Teacher Xiao Qin, are you done with school?】

【Ruanruan Tu: Want to come to my place? We just got two cases of new High-Energy Food Cans.】

【Ruanruan Tu: Haha, surely you're busy practicing, right?】

【Ruanruan Tu: What to eat tonight? I know a newly opened hot pot shop.】

【Ruanruan Tu: Hahahaha. JPG】

"The character played by Teacher Lin doesn't seem very positive."

Qin Shi walked into the elevator, lowering his head to reply to the message.

【Qin Shi: Just had something come up, already ate, thanks.】

Simple three-hit combo, direct and straightforward.

Qin Shi closed the communicator, swiped his card to enter the apartment, and began "after-school study."

The vast majority of people need schools and teachers to serve a restraining effect.

But he has the Stele Panel, this kind of more positive-feedback urging method.

Every bit of progress, every bit of return, clearly floats in his mind.

"Vitality 34 Points, still a considerable distance from catching up to the average level of Qiguang Heng University Martial Arts Department."

Qin Shi took out two bottles of Level 3 Energy Liquid from the refrigerator as today's consumption replenishment.

Then he continued honing his fighting style and practice method, assuming different Standing Post stances, guiding Qi Sense to circulate through his whole body.

As he immersed himself in practice, his forehead lit up once more, as if capturing stray strange energy in the air.

The Mental Space named "Spirit Sea" by Old Martial Arts had Qi Mist gradually thickening, as if it could spread outward through the brain.

"Crossing a small step in Mental Realm does have its benefits."

Qin Shi closed his eyes, but the pitch-black vision turned into a panoramic state with no blind spots in all 360 degrees.

Spiritual Field Power seeped outward like Qi Mist, covering a maximum range of seven or eight meters.

"Guarding against sneak attacks, very useful."

Qin Shi's head felt slightly dizzy, somewhat unaccustomed to this dynamic perspective like a panoramic map.

On one hand he cultivated Old Martial Arts to strengthen his Physical Body; on the other he nurtured spirit to nourish his mind.

The benefit was efficient use of time; the drawback was consuming double resources.

Glug glug glug.

Roughly every forty minutes or so of cultivation, Qin Shi had to drink a bottle of not-cheap Level 3 Energy Liquid to ensure the nutrition within his body remained abundant.

About three hours passed, the hand pointing toward Twelve Points.

Qin Shi stopped cultivating, throwing the sealed iron cans of three bottles of Energy Liquid into the trash can.

He opened the terminal again to handle the messages.

【Ruanruan Tu: Then rest early.】

【Ruanruan Tu: Good night. JPG】

【Chen Yun: I asked for you, the Patrol Department can issue an Electric Baton, handcuffs, or issue a piece of beginner bulletproof vest.】

After roughly scanning through, Qin Shi washed up, cleaned himself, and went to bed to sleep.

Although the 【Deep Sleep】 Achievement had transformed into the Legendary Talent 【Heart of Steel】, the habit of maintaining a regular schedule was still retained.

Before entering Dream, he chose the target as Qiguang Heng University Martial Arts Department's 【Long Whale Returns to the Sea】, then began Combat Retrospection, continuing to hone his attack and defense awareness.

"This time let's challenge no-damage clearance without dodging."

Qin Shi thought to himself.

……

……

Opposite the Talent Apartment.

Moving his gaze away from the telescope, the white-haired old man nodded approvingly:

"Ultimate self-discipline, sustained diligence, neither overdrawing his own potential nor failing to guarantee steady progress."

Ren You, serving at his side, twitched the corner of his mouth and couldn't help but say:

"Teacher, spying on others... isn't too good. If it gets out, it would damage the reputation of Nanhuang Dojo."

The white-haired old man raised his eyebrows and scolded:

"This is my future Disciple, the future Inheritor of Nanhuang Dojo, how can that be called spying? It's observation! Do you understand!"

Ren You was speechless; he never expected that the teacher had already taken a fancy to Qin Classmate, yet had not chosen to make it known.

Instead, he first sent one of the competitors, Education Bureau Supervisor Xu Bichang, to the hospital.

This style of action is too extreme!

"In the martial arts world of the Old Era, teachers bearing an inheritance, when choosing a robe and bowl, often must test multiple times, confirming the other's character, Talent Ranking, and Xinli, before making a decision."

The white-haired old man spoke righteously and with conviction:

"I am also observing! This child is not bad, very not bad; at an age of vigorous Blood and Qi, yet able to endure loneliness, truly rare. Not only walking the Old Martial Arts path, but also not forgetting to cultivate the mind; no wonder at such a young age he has already Broken Two Limits."

Ren You asked in confusion:

"Teacher, since you also think Qin Classmate is outstanding, why not directly recruit him into Nanhuang Dojo?"

The white-haired old man sneered:

"What do you know! Hengzhou claims to be promoting New Martial Arts and education reform, but actually there are too many conservatives using this as a pretext to suppress dissidents and eliminate rivals."

Hengzhou's previous products, such as Iron-Cracking Crocodile Meat, Yangshan Lingzhi, and Mud Fusion Grass, have all been monopolized by the Four Families of Center City; the younger generation probably hasn't even heard of them.

In the past, there were many Old Martial Arts schools, all needing product resources to strengthen themselves. After the New Martial Arts school took power, they banned various sects and confiscated many inheritances. These are just the surface; the real purpose is to reduce the number of Old Martial Arts practitioners and hold those product sources in their hands, so they can do business with the giant corporations and financial groups of the Vast Star Sea."

Ren You's eyes flashed with unwillingness. He had followed his teacher for a long time in Center City—how could he not know the faces of that bunch of New Martial Arts people? They were all the type who eat people without spitting out the bones.

The white-haired old man with failing qi and blood, like a candle in the wind, sighed deeply:

"Just Iron-Cracking Crocodile Meat is a main ingredient in various High-Energy Protein Bars. Just United Pharmaceutical's annual purchases let them eat with oil dripping from their mouths, let alone Yangshan Lingzhi and Mud Fusion Grass, the main ingredients of Level 4 Energy Liquid—a cake worth trillions upon trillions."

"Nanhuang Dojo growing larger and more Old Martial Arts disciples naturally means they want a piece from within. Would they be happy about that? So, I am a thorn in Center City's eye, a thorn in their flesh."

Ren You fell silent. Even in the Dongxia Republic, where artificial cultivation and breeding technology are highly developed, many spiritual substances, let alone heavenly materials and earthly treasures, simply cannot be replicated.

Iron-Cracking Crocodiles are fine—artificial breeding has already broken through the technical barrier and prices have been driven down—but Yangshan Lingzhi and Mud Fusion Grass have special growth environments, so perfect cultivation is temporarily impossible.

"Many conservative forces in Center City are unwilling to see the Old Martial Arts school produce talent. This kid has accepted He Lanchan's inheritance and has already entered the upper echelon's sight. Once he enters Nanhuang Dojo and obtains an Armed Permit, he will be a huge unstable factor."

"Don't forget what great things He Lanchan did back then. He used his actions to prove what 'Matchless Anger' means, and thus ended up with that fate."

The white-haired old man spoke earnestly, as if recalling some secret from the past.

Ren You's facial color also changed.

On administrative stars like Imperial Capital or Haizhou where the electronic blockade is not strict, network communications are highly developed. Once, some busybody, bored out of their mind, made a timeline sorting out the sudden illness and instant death of Yan Shaoqing, Honorary Chairman of the Dongxia Martial Association and leading figure of the New Martial Arts school, the complete withdrawal of the First Generation Ten Greats behind the scenes, and then He Lanchan's mysterious passing.

And thus arrived at a very absurd conspiracy theory.

The transition between New Martial Arts and Old Martial Arts was not peaceful; a bloody conflict of a very serious nature may have occurred.

That post was quite popular, but was soon deleted and banned.

"But this kid is smart enough; he knows to put a talisman on himself. For the time being, the big hands of Center City can't reach him, and cannot endanger him."

The white-haired old man glanced at the dense night color outside the window and said softly:

"The more those who enjoy the residual shade from their ancestors' merit roll and sit idle eating their fill, the more they fear those who hold weapons and wear armor and act lawlessly."

The Martial Association and the Education Bureau are both gradually reclaiming the permits they issued in the past; Nanhuang Dojo's is no exception.

"Unless you reach my step, it's very hard to hold onto it. Going against the great trend has never been easy since ancient times."

Ren You looked toward the Talent Apartment, the seventeenth floor already with lights out, and suddenly realized:

"So Nanhuang Dojo needs a true Solar Prodigy."

The white-haired old man shook his head:

"Wrong, it's beyond Solar. Back then I was far stronger than that so-called Martial Prodigy. I fought two-digit numbers of Chaoyang Level geniuses from the thirty-two administrative regions!"

Ren You's mouth corner twitched. Fine, the teacher is at it again.

As expected, the white-haired old man took out a cigarette and put it in his mouth.

While puffing clouds and spitting mist, he brought up the past:

"Hey, Xiao Ren, let me tell you, teacher..."

"Teacher, take care of your health."

"Don't worry. A Martial Artist who doesn't smoke, doesn't drink, and doesn't touch women usually dies quickly, like He Lanchan. Only those with all five poisons live long."

The white-haired old man coughed twice, his gaze hazy.

He thought of that clay tablet, and the bit of Qi Rhyme contained in that majestic spirit.

Just like you, damn He Lanchan!

(Chapter End)