Chapter 188: What Choice, the Four Great Nations!

Hey!

How can it end here!

Qin Shi called out inwardly, hastily operating the Xu Kong Meditation Method, his nearly exhausted spiritual force barely squeezing out strand after strand, like a great net catching the faint, long-lingering fluctuations.

But Qin Shuai's voice grew lower and lower, hard to hear clearly, that heroic figure draped in a military greatcoat gradually blurring and fading.

"Only remember one-third, an incomplete version of the Martial God Art!"

Qin Shi felt great regret; although he might not necessarily use it, coming from the hand of Qin Shuai, Dongxia's Supreme Meritorious Subject and the top combat force among the Nine Commanders, getting his hands on it certainly wouldn't be wrong.

The rift in the Xu Kong Space slowly closed, the celestial light that had bombarded continuously for a month finally ceased, gradually returning to calm.

Qin Shi still sat cross-legged on the Lotus Stone Seat; this trip he had gained immensely, apart from making a great leap in spiritual cultivation and condensing the prototype of the Holy Embryo.

He also cleansed his mortal body, enhanced flesh vitality, and stabilized the rebirth transformation of the Fourth Great Limit.

And he had eaten his fill of gossip!

Regarding the past between Deputy Commander and Commander, and why He Lanchan died mysteriously young, Qin Shi roughly sorted out some context.

"The key lies in that thing the Deputy Commander brought out from the Imperial Capital. It definitely involves a huge secret, making even the Nine Commanders who shine like the great sun over Dongxia unable to remain indifferent."

Qin Shi pondered; he had received He Lanchan's inheritance from the Yincheng Qin Family.

Afterward, he was targeted by the Ying Clan, who spent heavily to eliminate him.

"Is the 'Xu Kong Meditation Method' the key to opening something?"

Qin Shi thought of the widely spread Tian Yu Mi Zang, a great treasure left behind by He Lanchan before his passing.

"Old He finally got that thing the Deputy Commander brought out; no one knows where he put it. The descendants of the Nine Commanders, namely the current Nine Surnames, have been watching."

The reason the 'Xu Kong Meditation Method' was spread was probably because they tried it but couldn't get started, so they simply used it as bait.

The Yincheng Qin Family planned to give it to Old Chen, originally with no good intentions, but by a twist of fate it fell into my hands……

Qin Shi's thoughts diverged, and he couldn't help but raise a hand to rub his temples.

Fortunately, the Nanhuang Dojo backed him; otherwise, relying only on Chen Ruofu, he probably couldn't withstand the Ying Clan's pressure.

"Deputy Commander, if you have any conscience, give me some benefits! Otherwise, this pitiful, weak, and helpless high school student facing the Nine Surnames nobles who cover the sky with one hand in Dongxia—how could I endure such bullying!"

Qin Shi muttered to himself.

He thought so, but it couldn't be called panic or fear; ever since the Spirit Gate opened and he broke through the Heart Obstacle and Prison Gate, that deeply hidden killing intent was buried in his heart.

If he inherited the Nanhuang Dojo and became Executive Deputy Dean under Old Zhang, once he got the permit, wearing armor and wielding weapons, he would have no taboos.

Even if they were Ying Clan descendants, he'd still punch them dead!

"Upgrade for now, develop a bit more, then step into the professional domain……"

Qin Shi calculated, pushing the Ru Shen Ti to the tenth layer, fully opening the Universe Secret Treasure, plus the Wu Lin Huo Shan of Hundred Aspects Refining Momentum, cooperating with the monster talent spanning two great paths, his combat power would definitely not be bad.

He asked Old Ren of the Nanhuang Dojo and heard that the Ying Clan descendants' security team had extremely high specifications; the money and resources they spent annually could be called astronomical.

Without some skill, you indeed couldn't even get close to them.

"Old Zhang with such a violent temper could endure for so many years—that's enough to show the Ying Clan's foundation."

Qin Shi shook his head; don't look at Old Zhang being in his declining years, old and feeble, cooped up in a wheelchair all day—he had seen the other's fierce appearance of brutally beating Netherworld Creatures, a proper Grandmaster Level.

If he couldn't handle the Ying Clan, Old Zhang probably would have stormed their door long ago and turned them to ashes.

"A whole month, practicing until I'm almost numb."

Qin Shi left the Lotus Stone Seat; he stood where He Lanchan had once stood, walking separately toward Deputy Commander's and Commander's positions.

"I hope that one day I can also become a legend like you."

He said softly, taking out a card token, wanting to leave this Small World.

The Stele Panel jumped suddenly, several lines of text swept across his retina.

【Automatic Pickup Judgment Successful】

【Within Suitable Range】

【Picked up Relic……】

……

……

Xu Sheng, who had inexplicably been on a business trip for a month, seeing Qin Shi walk out of the Ruined Temple, almost had tears in his eyes.

He had been waiting for stars and moons, finally waiting for this Nanhuang Dojo Disciple to finish his "secluded cultivation."

Speaking of which, it was absurd—where was there an Amateur Level guy who could stay for thirty days, eating and drinking nothing, peacefully cultivating?

Such an inconceivably strong vitality could only be achieved in the professional domain!

"Little Qin Classmate, you……are you alright?"

Xu Sheng was like seeing a relative, almost wanting to hold Qin Shi's hands.

As the final Chief Examiner of the Top Hundred Competition, he had to stay here to ensure the champion's personal safety.

This was responsibility, and also obligation.

"Never better. The celestial light tempering benefited me immensely; Brother Xu, please convey my thanks to the Martial Association."

Qin Shi smiled and nodded.

"What a pity; originally you won the Top of the Hundred Strong Competition, taking down Zhou Yuanchen as a dark horse, igniting all the major cities of Hengzhou! Outlook Weekly even planned to give you an exclusive interview, written by the famous Editor-in-Chief Kang Yun'er!"

Xu Sheng's tone carried regret; if Qin Shi hadn't chosen to seclude himself for a month, he could have fully used this championship victory to enjoy fame in Hengzhou, with unmatched limelight.

Now it was hard to say.

Even the most explosive news has a time limit.

As people's discussions decreased, the heat would surely fade.

"Mere empty fame, not worth mentioning."

Qin Shi's mindset was very calm, smiling as he said:

"Whether it's the Urban Circle or the Martial Association, the standard for measuring resource investment lies in results and performance. As long as they recognize my results and performance, nothing else matters."

Xu Sheng's eyes showed surprise; he had been serving as an Inspector in the Martial Association for quite a while and had seen no few genius boys.

Someone as low-key as Qin Shi was truly the first he had ever met.

At seventeen or eighteen years old, who wouldn't like being courted, being noticed, being worshipped as an idol?

The feeling of becoming the focus of the world, a prominent figure, was simply like floating in the Cloud, incomparably comfortable.

Within the Martial Association, many genius boys who fell into Mediocrity couldn't bear the huge gap between past and present, choosing Self-abandonment.

"Taian Metropolitan Area has already decided on you, recommending you as a Supernova. You can even skip the college entrance exam and be directly specially recruited into Qiguang Heng University. Of course, with your performance, the Four Great National Universities will also extend olive branches to you; this depends on your own choice."

Xu Sheng's eyes carried a trace of envy; don't look at him being an internal Inspector of the Martial Association, a system employee eating public rations, and a full-time expert, his identity and status were not ordinary.

But he deeply understood that everything he currently possessed was the ceiling of his own life, and it was very difficult to advance further.

Qin Shi was different; possessing the titles of Champion of the Hengzhou Hundred Strong Competition and Supernova of the Taian Metropolitan Area, if he were recruited into the Four Great National Universities, his future would at least be a top-tier Administrative Star, a Martial New Rich among the Three Departments and Nine Bureaus, with a rank that wouldn't be low.

If unwilling to take the system path and impact the Star Cup, he might have a chance to enter Grandmaster Level, hold down one region, and establish a Dao Guan.

No matter what, Qin Shi had many life choices.

This was the privilege possessed by a Martial Prodigy!

"I'll go back and discuss it with Teacher Zhang."

Hearing that the Four Great National Universities, once thought unattainable, Qin Shi's heart had no ripples.

In this regard, he still had to respect and refer to the opinions of Old Zhang, Old Chen, and Old Liang.

In the past, the Four Great National Universities would definitely be the first choice, but after learning of the relationship between the Deputy Commander and He Lanchan, it was not necessarily so.

Leaving the Nanhuang Dojo's caretaker and Old Zhang's line of sight, his own personal safety would probably be hard to guarantee.

"Fine, the airplane is waiting for you. The Predecessor just left yesterday; he should have guessed you were about to leave seclusion, and the Taian Metropolitan Area can't wait to welcome you, this Supernova!"

Xu Sheng said happily.

This month of official business travel was finally over.

Staying in the bird-shit Great Rift Valley had bored him to death.

……

……

Nanjiang District Villa, Lin Xiaohan came knocking again; after changing his shoes and stepping out of the entryway, he glanced at his sister Lin Yunqing, who was wearing a Face Mask, and sighed:

"For so many years, Elder Brother has never asked you for anything; can't you help out?"

Lin Yunqing turned her face away and hummed:

"When I first took a fancy to Assistant Teacher Qin and made an investment, you weren't like this. Back then, Assistant Teacher Qin was working part-time at the Youth Palace, and any price could be negotiated.

Now, people have already seized the Top of the Hundred Strong Competition, and Zhou Yuanchen is a defeated subordinate under him; Brother, the things you offer truly have no attraction."

Lin Xiaohan was full of helplessness; he never expected that a High School Student from Old Factory Street would actually show a black horse posture crushing the Center City Education Bureau.

"Is it because my eyelids are shallow? Otherwise, how would it show your unique vision."

Lin Yunqing removed the Face Mask and hehe laughed:

"This is called the intuition of a genius Angel Investor!"

I see you're moved by lust!

Lin Xiaohan slandered in his heart.

Our Old Lin Family's teacher-student romance tradition is indeed maintained excellently.

"But this request of yours is really hard to handle. The Four Great National Universities and Qiguang Heng University; if you randomly find ten people on the roadside, they will definitely choose the former.

Not to mention education resources, cultivation resources, various channels for advancement; just the hidden benefits of becoming a student of the Four Great National Universities, such as Citizen Permit improvement, priority selection for Dongxia's national-level projects, like the list of Outstanding Young Men, and various Class A fund support, even being able to receive guidance from top scholars..."

Lin Yunqing counted on her fingers, enumerating the pros and cons.

Lin Xiaohan's face grew darker the more he listened; Qiguang Heng University was at least a First-Rank Academy, and his sister was belittling it as worthless.

"Alright, alright. We definitely can't compare with the Four Great National Universities, but speaking of which, I think your Little Qin might not be single-mindedly aiming high. You don't pay much attention to news from Center City; Little Qin has some unpleasantness with the Ying Clan."

Center City?

Ying Clan?

Lin Yunqing slightly frowned; she had recently been busy looking for Angel Investors and her own spiritual cultivation, indeed neglecting her attention to Assistant Teacher Qin.

"Mo Qihuan of the Center City Education Bureau is a top figure in Hengzhou. He is very close with the Ying Clan; Zhou Yuanchen is the Supernova he selected, but in the end, Little Qin single-handedly killed his way out."

Lin Xiaohan was after all the Director of General Affairs of Qiguang Heng University, belonging to the education system; he said in a deep voice:

"Mo Qihuan's rise is inseparable from the Ying Clan's secret help, allowing him to sit firmly in the position of Education Director. His son Mo Zhen Ting and Shen Zhangyuan of the Nanhuang Dojo are known as the Two Gems of Hengzhou.

At that time, the Seventh War Corps was selecting elites; there was a Special Recruitment Quota for a National Defense Student. Shen Zhangyuan broke through to the Full-time field first but disappeared for no reason, allowing Mo Zhen Ting to take his place.

Your Little Qin is both a successor of the Nanhuang Dojo and has received He Lanchan's Inheritance; he is destined to oppose the Education Bureau and the Ying Clan."

Lin Yunqing widened her eyes, her mind seemed a bit confused; after a long while, she finally figured it out.

"Brother, you mean Assistant Teacher Qin going to the Four Great National Universities might not be the most suitable choice."

Lin Xiaohan nodded:

"Our dad and mom are both from the Academic Circle; don't they know what the Four Great National Universities are like? That place is not an ivory tower; someone like Little Qin, with no academic background and no family connections, will either be eaten clean or used as cannon fodder."

For most people, especially students still in school, the Four Great National Universities are the most beautiful Longing.

In their fantasies, the Four Great National Universities have free air, an active Atmosphere, learned teachers, and highly respected professors...

The reality is not so.

Lin Xiaohan also came from an academic family and knew very well what the Four Great National Universities were like.

Academic Cliques were rampant, seniority was strictly enforced, exploitation was everywhere; senior Senior Brothers casually ordered around junior younger brothers, Instructors treated students like slaves who sold themselves in the Ancient Era... Especially those who longed for progress, they almost lived in a painful hell, enduring the status quo while being unable to adapt.

"That's true. The Four Great National Universities have indeed been messed up these years; even Dad is unwilling to go lecture there."

Lin Yunqing deeply agreed; after the Education Bureau's reform, it had been continuously infiltrated by the Nine Surnames, the academic atmosphere worsened, forming mountain-top forces similar to ancient aristocratic clans.

He still remembered his father specifically saying not to be too biased toward scholars.

They were ordinary people too, and even because of their vast knowledge and superior cognition, they often found it harder to feel sympathy and pity, and instead advocated the law of the jungle.

"Let me talk to Assistant Teacher Qin; he has his own ideas, and he should consider these issues too."

Lin Yunqing thought for a moment and decided to still help her older brother Lin Xiaohan.

She had originally wanted to lure him into Qiguang Heng University to challenge the New Martial Arts Ben Ying Camp.

"By the way, what are the conditions Qiguang Heng University offered? Assistant Teacher Qin has already won the Top of the Hundred Strong Competition and is a Supernova of the Taian Metropolitan Area, so funding and support must be plentiful."

Lin Yunqing triggered her financial instinct and decided to settle accounts clearly with her own brother.

She went all in with the pocket money she had saved for so many years, hoping to get a high return rate from Qin Shi and achieve financial freedom in one go!

"Except for the special recruitment exemption from exams, the treatment in all aspects won't be bad, and we can discuss the details then. I've communicated with the school side; he is a Nanhuang Daoist Hall Disciple and has permission to wear armor and carry weapons."

Qiguang Heng University can apply for a Military-grade Divine Machine for his training."

Lin Xiaohan said confidently, even students from the Four Great National Universities must participate in relevant assessments, then submit an application report, and wait in line to drive a Military-grade Divine Machine.

(Chapter End)