Chapter 163

"Young Master Ying, Zhou Yuanchen's side isn't easy to settle. He rejected our first-round quotation, saying there's no sincerity."

After the talks, Luo Bing immediately contacted Ying Lin, who was far away in Hengzhou, via Haizhou's relay station.

After a delay of several minutes, Ying Lin in Xiao Hong Lou finally received the news.

He frowned and asked:

"The Ying Clan's quotation of 1.2 billion can't move him? You must know, this is only the first round. After signing the contract, with pleasant cooperation, we can keep raising the stakes."

"No matter how talented a genius is, there should be a normal price. Asking for too much, no one will nod."

Yu Li, the current first place in the Star Cup Youth Group, who has taken the championship title.

The first-round bid he received for signing with Tomorrow Group was only around 6 billion.

This kind of bidding competition similar to a "Seed Round" mostly just indicates intent.

Only when both sides have considerations or plans for cooperation will they layer upon layer raise the stakes.

No matter how rich a financial conglomerate or giant enterprise is, sitting on mountains of gold and seas of silver, they are unwilling to waste resources indiscriminately.

On the contrary, every genius's potential data and growth space must be quantified.

If they don't meet the standards, or the risk is too high, they will be decisively abandoned immediately.

Even if Ying Lin spends his entire fortune and throws money wildly, it's because he has no choice when facing Nanhuang Dao Guan.

Maximum respect must be given to that elderly Grandmaster whose qi and blood are withered, like a candle in the wind!

"He probably thinks the quotation of 1.2 billion hasn't reached his psychological expectation."

Luo Bing analyzed calmly:

"But Young Master Ying, I think if you plan to completely crush the Nanhuang Dao Guan's successor, plus add another investment, it's very worth it!"

Ying Lin frowned even tighter and asked:

"Why? 1.2 billion isn't a small sum. It's enough for him to be a highest-grade guest of United Pharmaceutical for five consecutive years. I don't believe that, besides the Ying Clan, there are other big companies and great powers in Hengzhou that can offer a higher price!"

Luo Bing organized his words and said slowly:

"The intermediary I found is relatively reliable. According to the video materials and conversation content reports he sent back, Zhou Yuanchen already possesses the combat power of a Reverse Strike Professional Level!"

Ying Lin raised his eyebrows, half-believing and half-doubting:

"I remember he hasn't reached Professional Level yet, stuck at the bottleneck, his Qi Life Force unable to break through the Hundred Point Threshold."

Luo Bing sent the relevant materials he had long prepared to Ying Lin's terminal, and then said:

"Young Master Ying, there's on-site recorded video, including having the intermediary hire a professional team to comprehensively assess the traces of destruction at the scene and the opponent's strength."

"Zhou Yuanchen's coach is Song Haifeng of the Center City Education Bureau, a genuine certified Professional Martial Artist with rich teaching experience, good at fist techniques and body techniques. In the video, their sparring absolutely shows no signs of holding back..."

Ying Lin listened while opening the video. The camera shook, and the view was rather blurry.

But the sense of power and destructive force from their clashing fist blades was quite intuitive!

"The formidable combat power of a Reverse Strike Professional Level..."

Ying Lin hesitated slightly, thought for a moment, and said:

"Talk to Zhou Yuanchen again, probe his psychological bottom line. If it doesn't exceed 1.8 billion, we can consider it."

As a direct line of the Ying Clan, using the family foundation, mobilizing 10 billion isn't difficult.

On one hand, it's business. For things like investing in projects, you can't just not consider expenditure and returns because you have money. That would be a spendthrift.

On the other hand, if it's just an intent signing for a "Seed Round," the binding force isn't great.

In other words, if Zhou Yuanchen feels unsatisfied and doesn't want to cooperate, he can withdraw at any time.

Only upon reaching the third round does the company possess "Personal Control" over its signed athletes.

So, a Seed Round quotation that's too high is meaningless. It will most likely be wasted.

"Alright, Young Master Ying."

Luo Bing nodded. He thought that around 1.7 billion might match Zhou Yuanchen's psychological expectation quotation.

"The successor of Nanhuang Dao Guan is truly extraordinary! Only such a huge investment can guarantee kicking him out completely..."

"Teacher Liang, how is this move of mine?"

Behind the playground of Zi Fu No. 9 Middle School on Old Factory Street, Qin Shi waved the Perfect Grade Electric Shock Military Saber. Its blade flashed like lightning, winding and flowing through the air.

"This saber technique is concise yet not lacking in variation. It's genuine skill."

The sun set in the west. Old Liang sat on concrete steps, with two cans of iced drinks beside him, as well as braised dishes packed in plastic bags.

He tilted his head to take a sip, then pinched some peanuts and threw them into his mouth to chew, praising quite appreciatively:

"You have a fine saber, paired with such extraordinary saber technique. You finally have a bit of the bearing of an Old Martial Arts successor."

Qin Shi repeatedly practiced "Dragon Roll Stance" and "Prairie Fire Stance." Turbulent Qi Life Force poured into the Perfect Grade Electric Shock Military Saber, giving the illusion that it had come alive.

His body and mind gradually merged with the weapon, as if it were an extension of his limbs, operating smoothly, extremely handy.

"It seems to resonate with my breath frequency. Every flash of electric light matches my breathing rhythm."

Qin Shi took his waist as the axis, spun rapidly, and the saber edge cut through the air, bringing up a violent dragon roll.

When this saber stance focused on killing was unleashed, it was truly like flying sand and rolling stones, obscuring the sky and covering the sun.

"Teacher Liang, do you think I have a chance of winning against a Professional Martial Artist while wielding a weapon?"

After practicing hard for forty minutes, Qin Shi calmed his boiling, scorching Furnace Method and asked.

"Good kid, so arrogant!"

Old Liang almost choked on his soda. Normally, an Amateur Level person would consider how to escape from a Professional Martial Artist's hands.

But his disciple actually thought about how to win!

"The strength of a Professional Martial Artist doesn't lie in the difference between 'ninety-nine' and 'one hundred.' It represents the human body crossing into another limit, a complete transformation from flesh to spirit, and a comprehensive enhancement of Qi Life Force."

Lao Liang chewed on a chicken foot, crackling sounds coming from it, and said indistinctly:

"For example, back when I entered the Professional Martial Artist level and fought on the fighting stage, I ran into a ruthless opponent who cut off one of my hands. Look here, right here, it was torn straight off from here, flesh and blood ripped apart, nearly crushed to pieces.

But later, Master Uncle treated me with medicine, and combined with the Hong Sheng Sect's special secret technique for stimulating Qi Life Force, I healed, and my severed arm regrew!"

Qin Shi leaned over, saw a very faint red line on Lao Liang's left elbow joint, and clicked his tongue:

"An arm can be broken and still grow back. This kind of Qi Life Force intensity is too Fei Yi Si Si! Senior Brother Liang, does that mean Professional Martial Artists don't have that weakness anymore?"

His thoughts diverged, thinking of the imperial era of Ancient Dongxia, when professions like "eunuchs" were prevalent.

"What on earth is in your head!"

Lao Liang was speechless, then wiped his hands and said:

"I asked Master Uncle this question back then, and got a rap on the head for it, nearly knocked into an idiot. But Master Uncle did answer in the end: the higher the ranking of a Professional Martial Artist, the stronger the concentration of Qi Life Force, and limb regeneration, wound healing, even surviving decapitation could all be possible.

But once that thing below is castrated, once it's gone, it's gone. Master Uncle said it's 'tied to essence and blood,' very hard to restore yang and regrow."

Qin Shi put the Perfect Grade Electric Shock Military Saber aside, picked up an iced drink, and gulped it down.

He thought, the strongest thing about Professional Martial Artists is that their Qi Life Force concentration crosses a limit and transforms into a "non-human level."

No longer as fragile as Amateur Level martial artists—not to mention hot weapons, even cold weapons are feared.

"Therefore, in the army, many soldiers of war corps undergo 'Glory Evolution' and receive transplant surgery, with the standard being Professional Martial Artist level. This can guarantee a higher survival rate."

Lao Liang spat out a chicken foot bone, his eyes carrying a touch of nostalgic remembrance.

"I've seen some Spiritual Paths where, because of special inheritance, they cultivate pupil techniques, which easily lead to overload, so in the tactical equipment boxes they carry, they place seven or eight Biological Prosthetic Eyes, ready to plug and play."

Qin Shi's mouth corner twitched, listening like it was some kind of evil little ghost race.

"In short, Professional Martial Artists crush Amateur Level ones, simply by raising Qi Life Force concentration by a great limit. But this isn't a problem for you."

Lao Liang glanced at his disciple's weapon, pulled his mouth corner into a smile, and said:

"Your saber is high-grade, it even gives me a vague sense of threat. I'd guess it's a Divine Weapon with an attached 'Trait.' If it were an ordinary Professional Martial Artist, they might not be able to withstand it."

Qin Shi thought, indeed, the Perfect Grade Electric Shock Military Saber was jointly forged by the four Divine Spirit Pillars; the "Golden Traits" surely wouldn't be few.

If it came with "Slaying," "Bloodsucking," "True Damage," it would be invincible!

"But you must especially guard against those martial artists whose own flesh has fallen into depravity and been contaminated and mutated. They are willing to pay a huge price in exchange for a violent surge in Qi Life Force.

Unless you can pierce their heart and blast their head, completely destroying their body, otherwise, their self-healing and regeneration abilities will give you a terrifying surprise."

Lao Liang reminded him with a serious expression.

When he served in the military, he had dealt many times with these depraved, Aberration flesh-path martial artists.

Combat regulations had to be strictly followed: burn the corpses on the spot, completely crush bones and scatter ashes.

"Okay, I remember."

Qin Shi nodded. If he encountered a Professional Martial Artist he could beat, he would definitely go all out on funeral one-stop service, from death to cremation, arranged clearly and properly.

"Senior Brother."

Lao Liang turned sideways, looking back at that brilliant red setting sun.

"Fight well in this Top Hundred competition. Let everyone in Hengzhou know that Old Factory Street has produced a Youth Genius."

He pointed at this Zi Fu No. 9 Middle School that was about to be demolished, and said softly:

"You went from here to the Taian Metropolitan Area, taking over ten years. But with your current ability, stepping out of the Urban Circle from Hengzhou and heading toward the Star Sea won't take nearly that long.

As for me, or the Nanhuang Dao Guan, these are all stepping stones for your ascent to heaven, so you can go forward boldly and assuredly."

Qin Shi nodded heavily, his tone firm:

"Senior Brother Liang! Senior Brother Ren of the Nanhuang Dao Guan said your reputation was no small thing. I will definitely make the Hengzhou Martial Association shake and tremble at your name again! Who says a Physical Education Teacher can't teach a peerless genius!"

Lao Liang's lips trembled, and he gently turned his face away:

"You kid, nothing but sweet talk... Go on. Back when I was in Jingzhou, I often heard a saying: an old dog can't teach wolf cubs.

This lame old dog of mine, however, insists on teaching a striped tiger-leopard with the aura to devour an ox!"

Center City, one week later.

Zhou Yuanchen, wearing a bulletproof vest and fully armed, boarded the helicopter coming to pick him up.

This time, the Top Hundred competition's location was set in the "Pollution Zone" several hundred kilometers from Yincheng.

Song Haifeng, wearing sunglasses, sat opposite and said in a deep voice:

"Yuanchen, just as the intelligence the Education Bureau previously received, the Hengzhou Martial Association has restarted the Wilderness Trial. You will be randomly dropped into this 'Ghost Crying Great Rift Valley,' which stretches over a thousand kilometers and is a sawtooth-shaped canyon."

Zhou Yuanchen watched the holographic map projected in Song Haifeng's palm intently, frowned, and asked:

"A survival test? Similar to past Wilderness Trials, allowing each participant to carry only one or two days of supplies, then they must last half a month? Or a month?"

Song Haifeng shook his head, his expression very solemn:

"Not that simple. The Ghost Crying Great Rift Valley was the site of the first Follower War during the Great Expansion period. Because of the high-intensity war, nearly seven hundred thousand lives are buried there, and it is especially favored by Cultist Faction members and depraved martial artists.

It maintains extreme weather and harsh environments year-round, and there are even rift entrances leading to the Netherworld... Not just a simple survival test, it is said that the Hengzhou Martial Association has prepared a 'surprise' for you."

Zhou Yuanchen asked in surprise:

"Playing this big? Too many deaths, aren't they afraid of being warned and punished by the Martial Arts Association Headquarters?"

This wasn't the imperial era anymore, where lives were as cheap as grass.

Those who could participate in the Top Hundred competition were all the elites of various universities or government units.

Under such cruel competition, how many could survive?

"The Martial Association dares to do this, naturally there are protective measures. The Terminal Wristwatch sponsored by Tomorrow Group can use a powerful signal flare once to pierce through the Electronic Blockade. If you encounter danger and want to give up, it will immediately activate a barrier, and the Rescue Team will come to pick you up."

Song Haifeng explained.

"I don't need to worry about the Martial Association anyway; this makes it more interesting! If everything goes smoothly, the opportunity to enter the door of the Professional Martial Artist level might just be in this Top Hundred competition!"

Zhou Yuanchen's mouth corner hooked; as long as he settled that Nanhuang Dao Guan Disciple, his seventeen billion debt could be cleared to zero, and he could continue taking loans to raise his strength and impact the Star Cup.

"Hmph, those mediocre 'goods', how are they qualified to be called geniuses like me! They don't even understand the most basic rules; on the new generation's Martial Path, only those who dare to spend money, who dare to shoulder loans, have a future!"

Zhou Yuanchen was full of confidence; in his cognition, the resources and funds mediocre goods could consume amounted at most to millions or tens of millions — they fundamentally had no prospects.

Only an existence like himself, who spent seventeen billion clean through, letting all funds transform into strength, was worthy of being called a genius!

Every punch he threw, every battle he fought, was filled with a fierce desire to win and an unshakable belief that he must win.

That was not merely sweat and effort; it also contained the wonderful smell of vast sums of money burning intensely.

It was precisely because of this that Zhou Yuanchen dared to challenge the professional-grade Coach Song Haifeng.

That punch of his was not only twenty-two years of struggle, but also seventeen billion of cultivated power!

"I don't believe any opponent in the Top Hundred tournament can block it."

Two hours passed in a flash; the helicopter landed, Zhou Yuanchen strode out, jumped down, and stepped onto solid ground.

He lifted his eyes and swept a glance across; the broad lawn teemed with people, all young faces.

The Top Hundred participants would board those transport planes in the distance in batches and be dropped into the "Battlefield".

Zhou Yuanchen, being among the last batch, attracted a large amount of attention the moment he appeared.

He was regarded as the top favorite to win the championship, and with his resounding fame, he was undoubtedly a "star figure".

"Sure enough, just as I thought."

Zhou Yuanchen shoved his hands in his pockets, tilted his head back slightly, and with a scrutinizing and overlooking gaze, watched those rows of queues.

"Never mind my seventeen-billion-power punch; opponents who can force me to use over one hundred million power are very few.

If goods like you are called geniuses, then what am I? A Martial God Seed!"

(Chapter End)