Chapter 207: First Sequence, The Storm Approaches!

The white-clad youth was Yu Li, who had come to Hengzhou several months earlier.

He also stayed at the State Hotel, usually keeping to himself and maintaining a low profile.

"Is the man surnamed Qin really that impressive?"

Chen Caier reluctantly reined in her emotions, gazing at Yu Li standing upright like a jade tree before the wind, little stars sparkling in her eyes.

"Just a Top Hundred Tournament champion—hardly worth the Governor's Mansion going to such lengths, delaying your return plans, Brother Yu Li."

Yu Li's voice was gentle and steady, like his walking pace:

"You don't understand Old Martial Arts, so naturally you don't grasp its value. Before eighteen, having broken through the Four Great Limits—if placed in the Ancient Era, this kind of seedling would be the robe and bowl fought over by all the Holy Lands.

The legendary Seven Great Limits—at his age he's already completed more than half; his future achievements are unimaginable."

Chen Caier parted her lips slightly, as if surprised. With her fan-filter for Yu Li, she found Qin Shi utterly ordinary no matter how she looked, truly unable to see anything extraordinary about him.

Yu Li smiled, his tone carrying undisguised admiration:

"Most importantly, he shattered the Professional Realm barrier and surpassed Zhou Yuanchen. This shows he's not only fast at cultivation but also not inferior in combat talent. A genius with almost no shortcomings and maxed-out growth potential is too rare. No wonder he has the arrogance to reject the Four Great National Universities."

The matter of Qin Shi ignoring the Four Great National Universities' admissions office spread quickly.

Center City was in an uproar, like a ladle of water poured into boiling hot oil, causing a huge commotion.

If it were any other Hengzhou student, the Education Bureau would surely send leaders in a hurry to interview and persuade him.

After all, there are only a few Four Great National Universities enrollment slots for Hengzhou New Stars each year, and every school's top student fights tooth and nail for them.

But Qin Shi rejecting the Four Great National Universities had been out for a long time, and the Education Bureau remained calm and silent.

"Not going to the Four Great National Universities, is he staying in Hengzhou?"

Chen Caier frowned and said huffily:

"My dad said, being willful in youth and looking down on others will eventually lead to a big loss."

Yu Li shook his head with a warm smile:

"I think he's very courageous. The Four Great National Universities are indeed lofty, holy lands yearned for by many students, but we must admit that in recent years the educational atmosphere has deviated, and those academic cliques are becoming increasingly arrogant.

Choosing another path outside the Four Great National Universities might be better."

Chen Caier followed Yu Li like a hanger-on:

"If not the Four Great National Universities, where else can he go? The faculty strength, including the foundation power, of Qiguang Heng University can't compare to the top four academies."

Yu Li strolled leisurely, relaxed in body and mind, speaking plainly:

"Wait and see. He inherited He Lanchan's legacy, so he has his own path. Next, as long as he keeps breaking limits, passing through the Professional Realm and touching the Heavenly Gate is no problem.

Speaking of which, this Qin Classmate should also be on the Sun list for direct entry into the Star Cup. I really hope to witness He Lanchan's supreme art."

Chen Caier said confidently, head held high and chest out:

"Brother Yu Li, you're the Youth Group first place, far ahead in points, truly a champion player! How can Qin Shi compare with you!"

Yu Li lowered his head and smiled; he had long been used to the flattery and praise from people around him.

It had been like this since childhood, so there was no inner turmoil.

"The person my teacher most revered in this life was He Lanchan. He called his 'Void Meditation Method' the first-rate cultivation path of flesh and spirit united among the Star Sea!"

After He Lanchan passed away, many Heaven's Chosen of the Four Great National Universities tried to accept his inheritance but returned empty-handed.

Not to mention anything else, Qin Shi receiving He Lanchan's 'Dharma' and gaining that Stone Buddha's recognition is enough to show his extraordinary talent."

Yu Li analyzed seriously. After the Top Hundred Tournament ended, Qin Shi won first place, and he had paid special attention to him.

The subsequent various actions made Yu Li raise his inner evaluation of him time and again.

Therefore, when Ying Lin actively came to the door, he chose not to meet him and directly declined.

"My teacher once said: a flood dragon coils and rests, but will eventually get the great rain to soar to the nine heavens. Among the myriad Supernovas under the Star Sea, those who break out of their cocoons, leap out of the sea of clouds, and see the rising sun in the east often lack just a thread of opportunity."

Yu Li returned to his room and boiled water to make tea by himself:

"I've surveyed my peers; currently, very few give me the feeling of a hidden dragon in the abyss that will surely soar to the sky. Qin Shi counts as half."

Chen Caier recalled the tall figure in a student uniform and cap at the State Hotel doorway, thinking to herself:

"This guy doesn't look like a potential stock that will transform into a dragon at all; he completely lacks the temperament of a genius."

As a deep star-chaser, Chen Caier always believed that true geniuses are like fireflies in the vast night; even standing in a crowd, they stand out like a crane among chickens, extremely eye-catching existences.

Like Brother Yu Li, with an otherworldly temperament, graceful as a banished immortal.

In comparison, Qin Shi seemed too ordinary; even though his appearance and figure were not bad, he lacked that powerful aura of commanding the entire room and being the focus of everyone's attention!

"Anyway, wait and see the show. The Ying Clan bowing to a youth from an Old Factory Street on a Border Xing Qiu and choosing reconciliation is, to some extent, more explosive than Qin Shi rejecting the Four Great National Universities' admissions."

Yu Li sipped his tea slowly. He saw very far; ordinary geniuses spend their whole lives just spinning around within Administrative Planets;

the slightly outstanding kind can probably stand firm through their own efforts in the Imperial Capital or Haizhou;

to step onto the main stage of New Dongxia, suppress the brilliance of the myriad stars, and become a blazing sun,

one must break through the Star Cup and step onto that Ancient Heavenly Road.

"Only by standing shoulder to shoulder with the First Generation Ten Greats and leaving one's name is there hope to touch the end of the path."

Yu Li chewed the bitter taste of the tea leaves, thinking to himself:

"The waves of a great era are nurtured by countless tiny ripples. Without challengers, my championship career would also seem very boring.

Qin Classmate, you who also inherited the robe and bowl of the Ten Greats—how far can you ultimately go? I look forward to it very much."

……

……

"The State Hotel's meal standard is indeed high-spec."

Qin Shi sat in the spacious garden restaurant, with vines hanging down around him, like a tropical rainforest.

The head chef introduced while cooking; the ingredients were rare species he had never heard of.

He could barely catch keywords like "extremely high nutritional components" and "rich in life breath."

"This treatment is too blissful!"

Xia Ying at the same table wore an expression of satisfaction, constantly snapping photos with his mobile terminal, racking his brain for captions, then uploading them to his social account.

"Brother Qin, I just heard that the Ying Clan wants to meet you?"

Xia Ying puffed his cheeks and asked vaguely.

"Xia, your news is well-informed. Where did you get it?"

Qin Shi was somewhat surprised; Huo Erwen had only mentioned it to him.

"I browse forums and saw someone saying that the spaceships landing at Center City's spaceport were sent by the Ying Clan."

Xia Ying handed over his mobile terminal and said:

"This is the forum I often visit, called 'Night Watchman Forum.' It has a section called 'Hengzhou Storms,' where you can hear plenty of gossip every day."

Qin Shi took the mobile terminal and casually swiped to browse for a few moments.

【Qin Shi, the top of the Hundred Strong Competition, has arrived at Center City; my friend photographed the pickup team at the airport...】

【The blockaded new district spaceport had a spaceship land today, bearing the Ying Clan's 'Three-Legged Bird Emblem'...】

【According to reliable intelligence, the Ying Clan is about to invite Qin Shi for a meeting; in my opinion, there's no need to make an enemy of such a promising Supernova...】

【Are you joking upstairs? Does a colossus like the Ying Clan need to care about the champion of the Hundred Strong Competition? Their ancestral foundation is unfathomable...】

【The lower-class people in the suburbs beyond the Fifth Ring outside Center City, even if they eat duck leg rice costing twenty per portion every day, will proudly puff out their chests whenever they think of the astonishing wealth of the Nine Surnames of Dongxia...】

Qin Shi opened several posts and found many people discussing him, even with four or five side-angle airport photos taken.

He couldn't help but be surprised; it seemed Center City's environment was completely different from the Taian Urban Circle, with a stronger surfing atmosphere and faster information exchange.

Thinking back, when he assisted the Patrol Department in apprehending wanted criminals and caused a huge commotion, few people knew about it.

"Center City has Iron Curtain Defense, and General Tai can mobilize vast resources to build a complete information field. Brother Qin, you wouldn't know; like when I used to stay in the mountains, my mobile terminal was useless, but now I swipe it every day, it's so interesting!"

Xia Ying shared excitedly:

"Brother Qin, look, not only can you enter the forum to chat, you can also watch livestreams. This is a Professional Martial Artist I follow; look at this figure, this outfit, this black silk..."

Qin Shi glanced at it; on Xia Ying's mobile terminal screen, a female livestreamer with an explosive figure was explaining fist techniques, claiming to be Professional Level and having won several competition certificates.

"Around Amateur Level Second Dan. Looking at the coordination of her movements, and the flexibility of her muscles and joints, her Life Force Development level is not high; she belongs to a relatively low tier."

Qin Shi commented.

He also secretly sighed; Center City was indeed fiercely competitive.

Amateur Level Second Dan placed elsewhere, even without practicing orthodox textbook martial arts, would far surpass ordinary people thanks to physical quality enhancements.

Only to end up as a suggestive female livestreamer?

"Brother, who watches this! Look at this outfit, the qipao slit goes all the way to the root of the thigh... ow ow, Sister, go easy!"

Xia Ying was speaking when his ear hurt; he turned back and saw Xia Hong looking at him with killing intent.

The latter grabbed him and scolded:

"Good-for-nothing! You just like watching these seductive cheap goods, neglecting your training; if this continues, I'll confiscate your mobile phone!"

Xia Ying begged for mercy repeatedly before narrowly escaping disaster.

Xia Hong said to Qin Shi:

"Qin Classmate, don't bother with A-Ying; he's always out of sorts, don't let him lead you astray. Center City's entertainment atmosphere is heavy, with various internet platforms rising, making things murky."

Obviously, Xia Hong, a traditional Restorationist Faction member, was not very adaptable to this environment.

"What's the deal with those female livestreamers?"

Qin Shi asked curiously.

Amateur Level Second Dan, even with the best educational resources of the Taian Urban Circle, requires much sweat and effort.

He had just roughly estimated that the female livestreamer who seemed to be teaching but was actually doing suggestive content was around twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old; being able to reach Amateur Level Second Dan Life Force meant her talent was quite outstanding.

"Qin Classmate doesn't know? This is the 'Speed-Growth Style' that has emerged from the New Martial Arts faction in recent years. Through high-priced customized training plans, consciously exercising certain muscle groups to awaken vigorous Life Force."

Xia Hong explained:

"This Speed-Growth Style basically has no combat ability; most rely on regularly taking medicine and injecting injections to maintain Life Force intensity. Once they stop taking medicine or break the dosage, they will decline back to their original level within a few months."

Qin Shi was slightly stunned and couldn't help but wonder:

"What is the meaning of them doing this?"

Xia Hong sneered:

"To serve as a vase. Whether male or female, the Speed-Growth Style's customized training plans all focus on body sculpting. As long as they maintain a standard Life Force intensity for a period of time, they can get a certificate to gild their reputation, then attract attention and earn money through livestreams. The Martial Path was originally a path of transforming oneself and pursuing oneself, but they've made a mess of it!"

Xia Hong, as a traditional person of the Old Martial Arts faction, naturally could not stand this situation.

Qin Shi could understand a bit or two; to achieve success in the Martial Path, one must inevitably undergo hardship, and even with some talent, no exception.

Any life likes to look for shortcuts; this is instinct.

The New Martial Arts faction producing the Speed-Growth Style just happened to match the internet-platform-developed Center City.

"Everyone has their own choice, I suppose."

Qin Shi shook his head and said.

He buried his head in clearing the unlimited supply of food on the plate, then returned to his room.

The State Hotel's independent villa, besides ensuring the space was large enough, focused more on the resident's privacy.

Setting aside the carefully designed decoration and finely polished furniture, it even had dedicated training grounds inside.

Such as meditation rooms for cultivating the spirit, gravity rooms for exercising physical ability, deep diving pools for improving the organs... it could be said to have everything.

"So wealthy and inhumane. I reckon even Qiguang Heng University would find it hard to put together such a complete set."

Qin Shi held the room card and entered the meditation room.

Sitting cross-legged on the cushion, he began to harmonize his body and mind, with his Spirit residing in his Inner Landscape.

Sitting cross-legged on the cushion, he began to harmonize body and mind, his Spirit dwelling in his Inner Landscape.

In less than half a minute, his spirit drifted with the waves into an excellent Spiritual Void State.

His thoughts were unusually active, allowing Qin Shi to calm down and consider many problems.

"The First Order Successor of the Ying Clan, Ying Huang, hopes to meet with me alone. It means the Ying Clan is preparing to push Ying Lin aside."

Qin Shi frowned; without the Nanhuang Dojo factor, reconciling with the Ying Clan would be a decent option.

The Ying Clan is an extremely powerful force, originating after the establishment of New Dongxia; as Supreme Meritorious Subjects and Nine Marshals, they radiate terrifying influence.

Seriously speaking, even if Qin Shi became a person of great weight, like He Lanchan, nearly reaching the level of Martial God, it would still be difficult to topple the Ying Clan and cause it to collapse.

"Reconciliation?"

Qin Shi lowered his eyelids, as if seriously considering.

"But I am already the Executive Deputy Dean of the Nanhuang Dojo; the score with Shen Shixiong hasn't been settled, how can it be wiped out? Besides, Lao Zhang is so old; if he doesn't get revenge, how can he close his eyes in peace?"

Super Xiao He under the tree shade raised his head, silently watching Qin Shi talking to himself.

The Inner Landscape is a space woven by spirit and forged by the heart; many subtle emotions invisible to the naked eye can be reflected and manifested.

And now, that boy who kept his head down and chattered on to himself.

In the depths of his heart surged a killing intent as thick as a tide.

"The more I look, the more familiar he seems."

Super Xiao He wrinkled his little face.

"It feels like I've seen this scene somewhere before."

(Chapter End)