Chapter 130: Receiving Equipment, Body Tempering Furnace

Blood conflict?

Qin Shi nodded, not finding it strange either.

Whether the Old Era or the new generation.

Martial Artists making a name for themselves and establishing sects inevitably led to disputes, broken harmony, and fist fights.

Running into a master with a fiery, violent temper indeed made accidents likely.

Otherwise, the Dongxia Republic wouldn't have rushed to establish the Martial Association, inviting several Marshals to preside over the overall situation and integrate and absorb this group of overbearing figures who loved to use martial arts to disrupt prohibitions.

"Above Professional Level One Segment, one can be called a Grandmaster. A Grandmaster who opens a dojo with countless disciples has immense influence; if a grudge forms and enmity arises, it accumulates generation after generation, a feud without rest."

Chen Yun had read several important files and understood part of the inside story.

"Before the Martial Association was planned, tragedies of master sect revenge bringing disaster to the whole family were frequently seen. To establish a new order, stability must come above all, and thus the Martial Association arose."

Qin Shi sucked juice, blowing in the air conditioning; the mildly sour-sweet taste put one in a pleasant mood.

He held a temporary certificate and possessed partial enforcement authority.

He just hoped trouble would come knocking, so he could practice his hand.

Moreover, Lao Liang, Lao Chen, and Lao Ren—three great mountains—were behind him backing him up.

Whatever Crossing River Dragon or Seat Mountain Carve came running over, they'd have to honestly lie flat.

"Let's go, I'll take you to get equipment. The Patrol Department's things are all purchased from San Tan Heavy Industry, uniformly top-grade goods, far more cost-effective than buying through other channels."

Chen Yun held coffee, took the elevator downstairs, and headed across.

Compared to the bright and transparent Patrol Department, it was solemn and grand.

The Equipment Department was a very standard Brutalist style, giving a heavy and solid industrial aesthetic.

"Xiao Qin, let me tell you, the Equipment Department is filthy rich; apart from the General Affairs Department, it's the place with the most approved budget and most frequent purchases."

Chen Yun strode forward, short hair fluttering, heroic and dashing; as a prominent figure of the Patrol Department, she had striking looks, meritorious deeds, and background connections harder than alloy steel, able to pass through unimpeded just by flashing her face.

Qin Shi followed behind, incidentally becoming the focus of attention, inexplicably feeling like a pretty boy.

The two soon went down to basement level two, during which they passed repeated identity verifications, iris recognition, fingerprints, and life force fluctuations.

The last item mainly targeted mental control of Esper criminals, to prevent Patrol Personnel from accidentally falling victim and causing huge losses.

"Inspector Chen is here! Lao Tan greeted me!"

The Equipment Department's Old Huang was about forty years old, with a noticeable belly, carrying a thermos, and smiling amiably as he said:

"This young man's temporary certificate is Third-Tier Credential; apart from hot weapons, he can pick one item from other protective gear."

Old Huang unlocked the metal round door several meters thick, pushed it open with effort; inside was a spacious space with several sturdy racks standing close to the four walls.

Stacks of black boxes were placed on top, with relatively detailed classification labels.

"Level One stab-proof vest, very thin, high strength, wear-resistant, and can block knife stabs and slashes, and can also immune to explosive shrapnel injuries."

Old Huang, like a salesperson, introduced to Qin Shi:

"But its main value is still that the Lotus Emblem of San Tan Heavy Industry is drawn inside; it can effectively alleviate some external invasions, such as mental hypnosis and the like.

Security Company standard issue; to get the goods, the starting price is at least thirty thousand."

Old Huang nimbly opened the bottommost black box, took out the stab-proof vest like a shirt, and handed it to Qin Shi.

The latter glanced and indeed saw the Lotus Emblem of San Tan Heavy Industry at the collar and cuffs.

Roots and stems in water, green leaves hanging to the ground, petals flying across the sky.

Representing the meaning of traversing the Three Realms and dominating sea, land, and air.

"Give me one!"

Chen Yun waved her hand, like a rich lady happy to spend money buying buying buying, and immediately made the decision to buy it.

"This is a Level 3 Bulletproof Vest; according to your certificate, young man, you can at most use Level Two, but Lao Tan guarantees for you, plus Inspector Chen's face, in principle it can be accommodated."

Old Huang chose his words carefully; obviously he was also a slippery character.

"The Level 3 Bulletproof Vest belongs to individual equipment; a layer of alloy steel is embedded inside, combined with biological materials, forming a composite protection structure, able to absorb extremely strong kinetic energy."

"The specification reaches Level Three; as long as the head and feet are covered, it doesn't fear machine gun fire head-on; at critical moments it's a life-saving essential."

"It's said the bulletproof vest's highest is Level Six; the main material is Tao Steel favored by the War Group Powered Armor; it can block anti-aircraft guns."

Chen Yun explained from the side.

Her father Chen Ruofu climbed to the position of top hand, just qualified enough to wear a Level Five bulletproof vest.

All good equipment!

Qin Shi's eyes lit up; the stab-proof vest was like a neatly ironed shirt, plus a bulletproof vest similar to an outer vest; worn inside and outside, safety was simply maxed out.

Unless a sniper rifle headshot from a kilometer away, otherwise there was no worry about life.

"The Equipment Department's good things are really too many."

Qin Shi's gaze toward Old Huang changed, as if facing an NPC in a mall, wanting to loot him clean.

After picking the stab-proof vest and bulletproof vest, he asked again:

"Brother Huang, do you have any handy weapons?"

Old Huang felt embarrassed, shook his head and said:

"Kinetic weapons, charged weapons, must require a legal weapon permit. Young man, you don't have the qualification."

Qin Shi regretted, thinking whether he should get on good terms with Old Ren, striving to become a True Disciple of Nanhuang Dao Guan.

But even if it was a Martial Association certified dojo force, there were only two legal weapon and armor permit documents.

One belonged to the Dao Guan Master, one belonged to the Successor.

No matter how you looked at it, it wasn't his turn!

Putting the stab-proof vest and bulletproof vest back into the box, Qin Shi carried them with both hands, satisfied, and left the storeroom.

"Brother Huang, what's that placed over there?"

The storage room on the second basement level was huge; within a corridor wide enough for several people to walk abreast, several rooms were sealed off with metal round doors.

Qin Shi turned his head toward the far end, like a radar sensing, catching an extremely faint yet extremely surging energy fluctuation.

"That's the 'Arsenal,' where charged weapons are stored. Little brother, if you're willing to join the Action Division, you'll naturally get weapon-carrying permission—let alone carrying swords and blades, even firearms are no problem."

Lao Huang said with a laugh.

"The Action Division... being an auxiliary member is fine, but for a formal position, there are too many rules."

Qin Shi instinctively resisted; like the vast majority of Old Martial Arts practitioners, he didn't like being constrained.

His thoughts flickered, his brow twitched slightly, and the mist-like spiritual power unconsciously spread out, but soon shrank back.

The Equipment Department had clearly considered espers probing them, and had specially arranged countermeasures.

On the second basement level, mental power was suppressed and severely weakened.

"Wanting a weapon permit, earning a few more merits isn't without opportunity."

Chen Yun said with a smile:

"Minister Chen is preparing the 'Hengjian Operation,' to further sweep the illegal zones in the outer city district of Taian."

During work hours, she always addressed people by their positions and strictly observed system rules.

"Hengjian Operation?"

Qin Shi was somewhat curious, but since the occasion wasn't right, he didn't ask further.

……

……

Leaving the Patrol Division, Qin Shi carried two long black cases into a taxi, thinking he should buy a car to get around.

Running back and forth between Old Factory Street and the Urban Circle all day, not having a vehicle was very inconvenient.

Returning to the Talent Apartment, Qin Shi practiced as usual, consuming and digesting one-third of today's mineral essence.

Then, choosing 【Muscle Memory】 to imitate the previous force-operating movements, his body was like a burning furnace, his breath gradually boiling and scorching.

Two hours later, the Life Seed was full again, feeding back strands of surging energy, nourishing every inch of flesh and blood.

"Once this bottle of mineral essence is all drunk, I should be able to reach around forty-seven points."

Qin Shi took a deep breath; flesh vitality filled his hundred bones, emitting a refreshing qi.

He deeply realized how easy and refreshing cultivation was with sufficient resource supply.

This was only the treatment of a genius boy in Taian.

If replaced by the top Martial Arts New Star of Hengzhou, or the level of Imperial Capital Haizhou, how terrifying the resource investment they enjoyed would be.

"As long as I become strong enough, the whole world will make way for me... Qi Wuxiang's famous saying never goes out of style."

Qin Shi finished cleaning up, dried his hair, and rushed to Old Factory Street again.

His "Internal-External Divine Courageous Qi Art" had already been mastered; he should proceed to the next stage of cultivation.

……

……

Walking to the open space where the dojo was being built, Qin Shi keenly discovered that the construction crew bearing the "Yu Hai Construction" sign was gone.

He thought for a moment and understood this was Old Ren's doing; the Nanhuang Dao Guan was an Old Martial Arts faction dominating Hengzhou, and though its influence and prestige might not be what they once were, a dead camel is still bigger than a horse—enough to make the Taian Education Bureau and the Patrol Division give it respect.

"The world is making way for me, at least Taian is."

Qin Shi sighed; he had never mentioned his grievances with the Qin Family, nor expressed any displeasure, but once Old Ren noticed, he directly canceled the cooperation with Yu Hai Construction and drove them out.

"No wonder everyone wants to hold power, to be held aloft by all the stars. Being cautious and watchful may not be satisfying, but being served attentively and meticulously is indeed wonderful."

Qin Shi stepped into the accommodation beside the Nanhuang Dao Guan; as soon as he crossed the threshold, his spirit rippled slightly.

That active consciousness body Xuan Ming, like an invisible existence, quietly contacted him.

Like a scan, confirming his identity.

The next moment, Qin Shi heard a mellow and gentle man's voice:

"Hello, Qin Classmate, I am Xuan Ming of the Nanhuang Dao Guan, very happy to serve you.

On the table in the Main Hall is a Bluetooth headset; you can use it to converse with me."

Qin Shi looked at the speaker under the eaves; that active consciousness body spoke through this object.

He walked to the Main Hall, picked up the brand-new Bluetooth headset, and put it on as Xuan Ming said.

"Where is Ren Laoshi? Isn't he here?"

Xuan Ming said:

"True Disciple Ren just went out; today's teaching lessons will be assisted by me."

Qin Shi nodded; it was his first time dealing with this kind of electronic consciousness, and he felt quite novel.

"How do you plan to teach me?"

Xuan Ming guided him, one cursor arrow after another suddenly projected, bringing Qin Shi to the vacant room from the previous assessment.

"Please get started with the Entry Level of the Nanhuang Dao Guan's 'Body Cultivation Furnace' within twenty minutes, then begin the challenge..."

Light flashed, particles flowed, slowly condensing into a youthful image with black long hair disheveled over his shoulders, a figure burly and strong to the extreme.

The other's gaze was contemptuous, mighty and fierce, emitting the arrogant aura of "looking down on everyone as vegetable dogs, come single combat if you disagree."

(Chapter End)