Chapter 175: Climbing and Confrontation, This Mountain is Alive!

The representative Zhou wore a long face, as gloomy as the ceiling of Yuezhou during the returning-south weather, dark enough to drip water.

The inheritor of the Nanhuang Dojo, dropped into the Outer Area, was still nearly catching up to Zhou Yuanchen, whom the Ying Clan had pinned great hopes on.

For the Central City Education Bureau, this was undoubtedly a huge piece of bad news.

After all, Director Mo and the Ying Clan were on the same boat; the depth of their hatred for the Nanhuang Dojo could be summed up by a phrase widely spread in the Old Era Martial Arts World: "Die Without Rest."

Before Qin Shi appeared, Shen Zhangyuan was undoubtedly regarded as the True Disciple and mantle-bearer of that old Grandmaster of the Nanhuang Dojo.

Whether in the ancient ages of the Dongxia Empire or in the new generation of the current Republic.

Destroying the True Disciple and severing the seedling were blood feuds that could not be washed away even over dozens of generations and a hundred years.

"Fortunately, Ying Lin chose Zhou Yuanchen."

Representative Zhou's inner anxiety eased slightly; just as he was preparing to call Central City, he bumped into Fang Butang head-on.

"Yo, isn't this Representative Zhou!"

Fang Butang came over with a face full of enthusiasm:

"I just saw the results of the first round of the Top Hundred competition! Your Central City geniuses are indeed impressive! Zhou Yuanchen scored over thirty thousand, directly defeating several professional-level Foreign Race creatures, with a boundless future!"

Representative Zhou's expression was as uncomfortable as if he had eaten a fly; the Education Bureau had put in so much effort to help the Ying Clan.

Many Central City participants were willing to accept the conditions also because of their endorsement.

As a result, not only did they fail to stop Qin Shi, but they also lost a batch of promising seedlings who might have become the backbone of the Education Bureau in the future.

"Jinx!"

Representative Zhou cursed silently, but had to go through the motions, smiling perfunctorily:

"Qin Classmate's results are also quite good, suppressing many of the Hengzhou Hundred Strong; I heard he hasn't even taken the college entrance exam, and is definitely a pride of the Four Great National Universities' Youth Class."

He exchanged a few casual pleasantries, turned to leave, as Young Master Ying of Central City was still waiting for his reply.

"Hey, Lao Zhou, can second place compare to first place? Zhou Yuanchen leads Qin Shi by ten thousand points, opening up quite a gap!"

Fang Butang grabbed Representative Zhou, as if they were very close:

"I heard Zhou Yuanchen is a Supernova cultivated by your Education Bureau, Lao Zhou, hurry up and tell me, how did you discover him? We both work in the education system, don't be stingy, let's discuss, just consider it an exchange of experience."

Representative Zhou shook his hand several times but couldn't break free, helplessly saying:

"This child Zhou Yuanchen had rather ordinary talent early on, but in terms of diligence and hard work, I have never seen anyone stronger than him; the Education Bureau values him for this self-discipline... Committee Member Fang, I have some business to attend to!"

But Fang Butang would not let up, chattering on:

"These days, there are too few students willing to study diligently and build a solid foundation. Lao Zhou, don't be too modest; a student's excellence relies on their own efforts, but also cannot be separated from the teacher's guidance and cultivation..."

In the Red Mansion of Central City, Ying Lin sat in the living room, drinking cup after cup of expensive strong liquor, mixed with some stimulant drugs that excite the spirit.

His cheeks were slightly flushed, combined with the sickly pallor of someone who stays home all year and never sunbathes, giving him a peculiar excitement.

The mobile terminal kept vibrating; after various news sources from the outside world were aggregated, organized content was sent over one by one.

Although this Third Young Master of the Ying family was virtually "imprisoned," with the backing of the Ying Clan name, he could still mobilize massive resources and manpower.

Apart from the private fund managed by Luo Bing in Haizhou and the various companies, he also had several teams, each responsible for different tasks, such as gathering intelligence, contacting forces, collecting resources, and so on.

Even though Ying Lin never left his home, he was still well-informed; the vast majority of the slightest disturbances in Hengzhou could not escape his "eyes."

"What is that Zhou Shu doing? Making me wait so long. The elites of the Education Bureau have such poor quality!"

Ying Lin waited left and right, but still did not receive a call from Representative Zhou, who was on the frontline.

Twenty minutes had already passed since United Pharmaceutical released the results, and Tomorrow Media had already rushed out their press release.

He turned on the TV to watch the live broadcast of the Tai'an Channel; the extremely popular female editor-in-chief of Outlook Weekly, Kang Yun'er, was being interviewed.

The other party wore brown leather jacket and jeans, with ear-length short hair, looking heroic and spirited, appearing on the screen with a clean and neat image.

"Zhou Yuanchen is the big favorite of this Top Hundred competition; it is no surprise that he occupies the top spot on the first round's scoreboard. I think what is more worth noting is Second Place Qin Classmate Qin Shi; as far as I know, he is currently only a high school senior, and comes from a place almost forgotten by Hengzhou, formerly the Dongqiao Suburb of Dangyang in the Great Development Center.

From a worker's child of Old Factory Street, he has worked hard to get to this step; it can be said that the road was full of thorns and obstacles..."

Ying Lin became more and more irritated as he listened; if it were a news person from a domestic TV drama, he would have long made them shut up and correct themselves, but Tomorrow Media belonged to Tomorrow Group, one of the Superpowers, and moreover was a core industry.

They would fear the Ying Clan, but would not pay attention to someone like me, who is merely a direct descendant but not in the first inheritance sequence.

"What is the Public Relations Department doing! Clearly told them to lobby, mainly promoting Zhou Yuanchen... The Education Bureau is also a good-for-nothing; not tilting resources toward their own promoted Supernova, but instead letting Second Place steal the limelight!"

Ying Lin tilted his head back and finished the cup of strong liquor, like a traveler in the desert, exuding a strong thirst for water.

After waiting another thirty minutes, Zhou Shu, located on the frontline of the Great Rift Valley, finally called.

He provided more detailed details, such as Qin Shi collaborating with the Ying Clan, even slaying many promising seedlings who had signed contracts, and completing a breakthrough blockade alone, sweeping the Outer Area and killing his way into the Middle Layer Area.

"Young Master Ying, Qin Shi's current combat power exceeds the scores assessed by the Education Bureau, and even the Ying Clan."

Zhou Shu did not know what he had experienced, as if he was hiding somewhere, speaking in a suppressed voice.

"The Nanhuang Dojo is, after all, a famous Old Martial Arts sect of Dongxia. That kid walking the Limit Breaking Path, being formidable in actual combat is no surprise. Rest assured, with Zhou Yuanchen as a roadblock, he won't be able to get past."

Ying Lin tilted his head to look at the ceiling, both arms spread out resting on the back of the sofa, softly saying:

"You find a way, see if you can contact Zhou Yuanchen, and give him a message. If Qin Shi dies accidentally in the trial grounds of the Great Rift Valley, I am willing to be the guarantor, recommending him to enter the financial group of Haizhou, to obtain permanent residency rights, and Level Six Citizen Permit."

Zhou Shu seemed very embarrassed, opening his mouth to say:

"The electronic blockade intensity of the Great Rift Valley is extremely high, and it is also a High Pollution Zone; basically it is impossible to contact those inside from the outside."

Ying Lin put on a cold face, saying with a firm attitude:

"Is this something I need to consider? You Education Bureau are used to acting like masters, treating me as those lowly goods who have no ability, no insight, and have to bend their backs and lower their heads to beg you to handle things? If the inheritor of the Nanhuang Dojo makes it into the top three of the Top Hundred competition, then, without a doubt, they will enter the selection list of the Star Cup Youth Group, without needing to take the exam.

Those things left behind by He Lanchan—if he gets his hands on them, not to mention your Director Mo, but even his son Mo Zhen Ting, the entire Dongxia will be shaken! The Ying Clan has sacrificed a great deal for the overall situation over these years; my second brother Ying Qi is a direct descendant, belonging to the first inheritance sequence, yet he could still die in vain!"

Zhou Shu's throat rolled, looking very much like an ox or horse assigned an unreasonable workload, showing a constipated expression of discomfort; he still wanted to say something, but all he heard was the "beep beep" busy tone.

"Damn it!"

Zhou Shu, as a representative of the Education Bureau far away ten thousand li away, spat out a standard national essence with correct pronunciation and tone.

He stood up from the toilet with an expressionless face, pushed open the door, and saw Fang Butang's smiling old face:

"Old Zhou, you've been in the toilet so long, is your body not working? I know an old Chinese doctor, I can recommend him to you, to regulate your body afterwards."

Zhou Shu was like he was possessed by a fierce ghost, unable to shake off Fang Butang like dog-skin plaster wherever he went.

He silently clenched his fist, as a clerical worker, for the first time wanting to use violence so much.

……

……

"I'm second."

Qin Shi withdrew his gaze, the ranking order and names were displayed in the form of fireworks.

He looked carefully for a while, himself ranking second, Hammer Younger Brother Yan Ren following by killing monsters to farm points, also squeezing into the top fifteen.

Pei Han, who had shown kindness before the competition, was fourth, Ji Yuqi, whom he had once heard about in the Qiguang Heng University Virtual Combat Room, was third.

"It seems the foreign race creatures in the Core Area are truly powerful. Otherwise, those strongest batch of participants dropped into the Core Area should actively hunt, earn points to impact the rankings."

Qin Shi judged, if he hadn't killed that Evolution Stage Leader Level Iron Rust Beast, he should only be able to touch the edge of the top ten.

"Supermodel Brother, try to take down Zhou Yuanchen! I support you being the big shot of the Hengzhou Bai Qiang Sai!"

Yan Ren's skin was blood-red, as if splashed with paint, his whole person like crawling out of a mountain of corpses and sea of blood, his original honest smile now appearing sinister.

"Let's cross the Middle Layer Area's protective belt first before talking. The handbook says, it's nearly one kilometer long, a dense forest covered by giant mushrooms, with not small danger."

Qin Shi rested on the spot, absorbing Red Crystals to replenish energy, waiting until the sun gradually slanted west, he and Yan Ren set out for the destination.

Different from the barrenness of the Outer Area, the area of the Middle Layer Area close to the Core grew lush plant groups, and were exceptionally huge, like mushrooms thirty centimeters in diameter, like big umbrellas opened, densely spreading out.

"Supermodel Brother, this thing looks disgusting, will it be poisonous?"

Yan Ren shrank his neck and asked softly.

"Weak toxicity, affects the nerves, no direct harm."

Qin Shi said lightly.

These mushrooms' surfaces were covered with phosphorescent spots, the mushroom caps after being touched would expand and spread, releasing a faint fragrance, while the silver-white stems could secrete hallucinogenic spores, creating hazy mist.

"You holding your breath is meaningless, the smell containing weak toxicity can seep into your skin. This protective belt formed by 'Illusory Color Mushrooms' tests your Spiritual Field Power, if your Spiritual Field Power isn't strong enough, you're easily affected."

Qin Shi walked in front, Spiritual Field Power spreading, like a "Domain", making that blue-purple smell released by the mushroom caps unable to approach.

But Yan Ren obviously couldn't hold out, his eyes stung, snot and tears, crying without stopping.

"I want to confess! I made a mistake! I shouldn't have……"

Qin Shi was full of helplessness, that layer of "cap surface" of the Illusory Color Mushrooms covered with short fluff, said to be able to capture biological emotional fluctuations.

Hammer Younger Brother Yan Ren indeed fell for it, even though he held his breath, he couldn't withstand his pores opening and closing exchanging with the outside world.

"What I regret most, the most guilt-inducing thing! Is that I don't smoke, but often bum lighters from upperclassmen friends, they even fought over this, but never suspected me!"

Yan Ren walked forward quickly while crying and confessing, he had already been affected by the Illusory Color Mushrooms' hallucinogenic effect, immersed in that kind of inexplicable emotion.

"And! Several uncles insisted on taking me to a club, after I finished and came out, they added time, I almost couldn't hold back wanting to report them……"

Qin Shi listened with the corner of his mouth twitching, Hammer Younger Brother Yan Ren had thick eyebrows and big eyes, a very honest person, unexpectedly also somewhat bad, had done quite a few despicable things!

The two finally walked out of this protective belt, Yan Ren cried until his eyes were swollen, throat hoarse, tears almost dried up.

Most importantly, he said all the "regretful things" he had done since childhood.

Fortunately only Qin Shi knew, otherwise he would be socially dead on the spot.

"I'm tired from crying, more tiring than fighting."

Yan Ren panted heavily, lips dry and tongue parched, like a big dog about to die of thirst.

"Is this the Core Area? Our trial point is that Bronze Demon Mountain over there!"

Qin Shi used his utmost vision, vaguely seeing the outline shape of a huge object.

"Right. I estimate Zhou Yuanchen, Ji Yuqi, Pei Han they're all up there. Crossing this mountain, behind is the final point of the Great Rift Valley."

Yan Ren's eyes held longing, he had quite some self-knowledge, relying on the Physical Body of the Original Tempering Method, and the war hammer crafted by masters of the Craftsman Guild hired by his family, reaching the Core Area was about the limit, wanting to go further basically had no possibility.

……

……

Pa-da!

Bean-sized sweat drops fell on the bronze long steps, smashing into pieces!

Zhou Yuanchen's body trembled, as if bearing great pressure, every muscle fiber crazily shaking, squeezing out surging Qi Life Force.

His chest heaved like a bellows, spraying heat, steaming out large clouds of misty smoke, his Mortal Body strong enough to approach the Hundred Point Threshold of a Full-time Level actually made "crack crack" shattering sounds.

"This Bronze Mountain indeed has strong Magic Nature! Opposing it while climbing up is truly difficult!"

Zhou Yuanchen stopped on that Level One step, he looked back at Ji Yuqi more than ten steps behind him, and Pei Han catching up quickly.

"Can't go up, if physical energy consumption is too great, it's easy to be eroded by Magic Nature, becoming……"

Zhou Yuanchen's gaze flickered, he tilted his head looking at the bronze statues on the steps ahead.

This Bronze Demon Mountain would "Assimilate" every person who stepped on it, if Qi Life Force wasn't strong enough, it would let Magic Nature erode Flesh Vitality, finally solidifying into metal dead things.

"What this Demon Mountain tests is the participants' Qi Life Force activity level! And their grasp and understanding of their own Foundation! Blindly wanting to climb high, consuming too fiercely, will be taken advantage of!"

Thinking of this, Zhou Yuanchen no longer continued climbing, silently standing on that step, recovering physical energy.

He had only reached the third hundredth step, already feeling that strong Magic Nature, before his eyes from time to time flashing terrifying figures wearing bronze armor, beast-headed human-bodied.

Battle roars and howls impacted the soul, as if wanting to drag everyone into the ancient battlefield of the Great Reclamation Period of Hengzhou!

"This mountain is alive!"

Ji Yuqi, lagging behind Zhou Yuanchen, felt a chill in his heart, considering whether to continue climbing.

He saw at the front of his palm, a rust-green light had already appeared.

(Chapter End)