Chapter 182

Lao Chen is truly incredibly cunning!

Fang Butang held his enamel cup, expression calm, not immediately biting on this pie-in-the-sky offer.

Betting on youth geniuses is something every official unit does.

Take the Taian Metropolitan Area — the Patrol Department, the Education Committee, even Qiguang Heng University and Jia Kai University of Technology.

They are all quite willing to tilt resources, cultivate talent, help them reach higher positions, and gain brighter prospects.

This model is called "City Hematopoiesis".

Because Administrative New Stars have very high independence, they need a constant influx of new blood into the system to fill vacancies.

From Central City to the Urban Circle, and the Barrier Cities in the Border Region.

All are the same.

"A Supernova is different from cultivating talent, Lao Chen. You know full well the weight of a Supernova. The Taian Metropolitan Area is a second-level administrative region with only one Supernova slot, unlike Central City, which can put forward several, with ample resource quotas."

Eyeing Chen Ruofu, who looked like a salesman, Fang Butang, the Education Committee's top leader, said leisurely:

"You want to prop Xiao Qin up as the Taian Metropolitan Area's Supernova, which equals letting him alone eat up all the resource quotas. The Education Committee side might not agree, after all we still answer to the Central City Education Bureau."

Chen Ruofu was also smiling, wearing a confident "stop acting, I saw through you long ago" expression:

"Lao Fang, cut the act. Just tell me — does Xiao Qin's performance not qualify him to be the Taian Metropolitan Area's Supernova?

If the Education Bureau weren't so deeply entangled with the Ying Clan, Central City would have come poaching him long ago. Would it be our turn? You picked up this bargain with Xiao Qin, so be secretly happy about it. Why keep up the pretense here!"

Fang Butang, his thoughts exposed, coughed twice to mask his embarrassment:

"Lao Chen, let's discuss properly. Xiao Qin indeed has ability, but on the Martial Path, the Ying Clan is a stumbling block lying across the road. The Education Bureau definitely won't lose face over it. When it comes down to it, the Taian Metropolitan Area is just a second-level administrative region — the arm cannot twist the thigh. Wanting to clash with the Ying Clan and the Education Bureau, we still have to look to the Nanhuang Dojo."

Chen Ruofu narrowed his eyes, studying Fang Butang seriously. He and Lao Fang had built a leadership team together, collaborating for over a decade. He knew the other's working style well — often planning before acting, meticulous in thought, very good at leveraging borrowed strength.

"Lao Fang, speak directly, no beating around the bush!"

"My meaning is, since we're on the same boat, preparing to forge Xiao Qin into the Taian Metropolitan Area's Supernova, we must unite every force that can be united, to face Central City's subsequent suppression and constraints. As long as your Xiao Qin steps onto the Star Cup arena and achieves a good result."

Fang Butang sipped his tea, saying blandly:

"Then he won't just be the Taian Metropolitan Area's Supernova, but Hengzhou's pride, the blazing sun our local talent has produced. This isn't the imperial era anymore — the Ying Clan can't cover the sky with one hand, and neither can the Education Bureau. Lao Chen, under the Star Sea, if one is dazzling enough, who dares crush them? Dongxia urgently needs a new generation of Ten Outstanding!"

Chen Ruofu tapped his fingers on the tabletop. He had thought so before too, but couldn't help recalling He Lanchan's fate.

From Nanhuang Dojo's Lao Zhang, this Patrol Department head had learned quite a few dust-sealed secrets.

"Besides the Nanhuang Dojo, is there any other backing?"

Chen Ruofu lowered his eyelids, asking softly.

"The Nanhuang Dojo can represent the Martial Association, suppressing discordant noise. As for us, we can barely guarantee Xiao Qin gets the resource quota he deserves. If we further pull in the consortium forces controlling production materials, plus a sufficiently hard official background, I think the Ying Clan would retreat knowing the difficulty."

Fang Butang envisioned.

Lao Fang, are you making wishes here?

Chen Ruofu laughed.

Xiao Qin isn't some Nine Surnames Direct Line, First Sequence Inheritor.

Where would so many heaven-reaching connections come from?

"Let's take it one step at a time. Winning the Top of the Hundred Strong Competition is already a huge breakthrough. Even Professional Second Rank Zhou Yuanchen couldn't stop Xiao Qin — the Ying Clan doesn't have many cards left to play."

Chen Ruofu slowly frowned. Chatting with Fang Butang made him gradually calm down from the good news of Qin Shi's victory.

The Top of the Hundred Strong Competition requires going to Central City to accept the Planetary Governor's public commendation.

That might be a challenge even more dangerous than the Wilderness Trial!

……

……

Central City, Education Bureau.

The silver-gray building complex presented a nine-grid structure, several "high towers" emitting cold metallic light guarding the core area — the administrative main building.

Its exterior was covered in countless hexagonal scales, these intelligent modules capable of autonomously adjusting light transmittance now shifting to a semi-transparent amber color with the sunrise.

In the West Wing's ecological garden, a ring-shaped viewing platform held a large amount of Haizhou's unique Purple Cloud Vine, dense as a waterfall, emitting a fragrance that aids mental activity, swaying gently in the nano-level airflow control system.

Education Director Mo Qihuan, nearing eighty, came here every day to drink a cup of coffee alone and admire the distant scenery.

This habit was immutable, persisted for over thirty years. During this time, many ambitious young people deliberately created opportunities to show their faces and make an impression.

"Director, your coffee."

At the viewing platform's exclusive seat, a steaming cup of coffee was placed on the table. The one serving as waiter was a tall, young woman.

The Education Bureau's office uniform outlined her already exaggerated curves even more clearly. Even wrapped up tightly, not revealing any skin, it only amplified her allure.

This young woman had her hair pinned up. She set the coffee on the coaster, unintentionally letting her chest tremble slightly, then smiled sweetly at Mo Qihuan, who was old enough to be her grandfather:

"I suggest waiting about eight minutes. Tasting now might be a bit hot."

Mo Qihuan's gaze was calm, his eyes like a deep ancient well. He did not spare half a glance at this young woman whose every move bore careful design.

To ordinary people, eighty might be very old, but for a Professional Second Rank Martial Artist, the vigorous Qi Life Force in his body contended with the washing of years, allowing him to maintain the appearance of around fifty. Aside from his temples white as snow and a few knife-carved wrinkles at the corners of his eyes, no other traces of vicissitudes could be seen.

"Ying Yun, don't let anyone disturb me."

Mo Qihuan's voice was very steady, like a hard boulder in the river center.

The Active Consciousness Entity Ying Yun, responsible for handling Education Bureau internal affairs, like an invisible avatar, closed off the entire ecological garden's entrances and exits.

That young woman who intended to use her youthful, vibrant body to seduce a man several cycles older than her, old enough to be her grandfather, also quietly fell asleep in the diffusing Purple Vine fragrance.

The other waiters and service staff were the same. Quiet as water flooding this place.

"Connect Ying Lin's call."

Mo Qihuan spoke again.

The mobile terminal lit up slightly, the speaker automatically opening.

From it came Ying Lin's voice containing rage:

"Mo Shu Shu! Zhou Yuanchen already broke through to Professional Grade! How could he lose to Qin Shi! You Education Bureau's Supernova, so easily crushed? And you still have the nerve to offer a sky-high price of seventeen billion!"

Mo Qihuan remained silent, waiting for Ying Lin to finish venting, then said unhurriedly:

"Ying Lin, don't use this interrogative tone with me. Just this once, not to be repeated.

Zhou Yuanchen's ability is beyond doubt. Since he lost to that Nanhuang Dojo Disciple, it shows Qin Shi is indeed above him.

Gaining He Lanchan Transmission's recognition, and being favored by Nanhuang Dojo, he is inevitably a one-in-ten-thousand Good Seedling.

The help I should give, I've already given. Ying Lin, for your father's sake, I used eighty-five percent of Central City's Iron Curtain resources to guarantee you won't be killed by Nanhuang Dojo — that is already the utmost benevolence and righteousness."

Ying Lin said in a low voice:

"This Hundred Strong Competition, I've already put all my chips on the line. Mo Shu Shu, I'll say the same thing again — you can't always make me do the dirty work and hard labor, then stand on the shore watching yourself!"

Mo Qihuan said expressionlessly:

"Ying Lin, don't make any more moves. Believe me, if you don't hold back, continue targeting Qin Shi, with that Nanhuang Dojo person's temperament, he will definitely attempt to Drive Divine Machine, break through Iron Curtain Defense, and forcefully kill you. A First Generation Ten Greats period Grandmaster going all out, the destructive power they can cause is beyond your imagination."

Ying Lin gritted his teeth:

"What about Qin Shi! After he seizes the Hundred Strong Competition Champion, the next step is the Star Cup!

These years, all sides have been guessing — He Lanchan hid things on that Heavenly Road, his Inheritance 'Void Meditation Method' is the key to opening it!

Damn it, the Four Great National Universities have so many proud sons of heaven, and the Nine Surnames' First Sequence Inheritors — who hasn't tried cultivating? Yet in the end, a poor student from Old Factory Street got it by a fluke!"

This Young Master Ying was anxious and frantic to the extreme. Back then Shen Zhangyuan stumbled upon it by accident, approaching He Lanchan's Tian Yu Mi Zang.

To strangle that Trace of possibility, the Ying Clan even risked offending Nanhuang Dojo, ruthlessly sending Killers.

Let alone Qin Shi, this kind of 'Dangerous Target' already labeled as He Lanchan's Disciple!

"Stay put in Red Tower. As for Qin Shi."

Mo Qihuan pursed his lips tight, his full head of silver hair combed meticulously, his back ramrod straight.

His gaze passed over the viewing platform; beneath the boundless sea of clouds lay high-rise buildings and ceaseless traffic.

"Zhen Ting is coming back to visit relatives. Let him personally put a period on past grievances."

Ying Lin on the other end of the Terminal seemed stunned, then wild with joy.

Mo Zhen Ting! The rising General Star of the Seventh War Corps!

If he steps forward...

"I've prepared a Spaceship for you. The day Qin Shi arrives at Central City to accept the Governor's Commendation, you do nothing — leave Hengzhou."

Mo Qihuan finished his instructions and hung up the call.

He took a sip of warm coffee — not some high-end brand for enjoyment, just the cheap instant kind he used to drink when he was a Clerk.

"It's going to rain."

Mo Qihuan looked toward the city edge, at the vast gloom slowly rolling in.

He dreamily recalled, back when he was a Clerk, he once asked an old Leader a question.

Many people regard entering the Education Bureau as reaching the shore.

So what about the current me — am I on the shore, or in the water?

The old Leader laughed hehe and said, entering this Door isn't called reaching the shore, it's just seeing the 'shore'.

To truly reach the other shore, you must endure until peaceful retirement, the day your reputation before and after death is both preserved.

"Decades of walking on thin ice."

Mo Qihuan's gaze was deep and distant:

"Just one step short, and I'll reach the shore."

(Chapter End)