Chapter 605: Can

After hearing this, Lin Qi suddenly realized:

"So that's how it is; that explains it."

"I had originally wanted to keep a low profile."

"Lin Qi, you did nothing wrong by doing that."

A deep, resonant voice came from behind. Lin Qi turned his head to look; it was his grandmaster, King Shanhe.

King Shanhe looked around and said, "This is not the place to talk. Let's go somewhere quiet."

……

"Is 99th place Lin Qi's limit? I wonder if he can continue to climb higher?"

"For a genius from a small civilization, 99th place is already very impressive. If he climbs any higher, how are the geniuses from other civilizations supposed to feel?"

Shortly after the group left, Liu Ming exited Mount Lieyang.

As soon as he came out, he heard a familiar name. He couldn't help but look at the Lieyang Ranking, where the highlighted position was visible at a glance.

"Lin Qi!"

"It really is him. To think he's ranked 99th on the Lieyang Ranking—his strength is indeed even more formidable than I imagined!"

Liu Ming nodded secretly. He was currently stuck at 120th place and had been unable to make any further progress.

On the Lieyang Ranking, at this level, every single rank gained is extremely difficult.

He had to admit that in terms of talent and combat power, he was no longer a match for his opponent.

"But 99th place should be his limit, because everyone ahead of him is a monster!"

Liu Ming suddenly thought.

……

In the Universal Virtual World, within the personal space.

At a black table in the martial training ground, Sun Sheng, Li Tianxing, King Shanhe, and Lin Qi sat in a circle.

King Shanhe began, "Lin Qi, Sun Sheng, Li Tianxing, your talents are considered top-tier even within the Lieyang Elder Xing Yu."

"On the Lieyang Ranking, you are capable of challenging for higher positions."

Lin Qi asked, "Wouldn't that be too high-profile?"

King Shanhe nodded, "We originally wanted to keep a low profile, but during the Fire Seed Trial, we defeated the Liuren Civilization."

"That has made it impossible for us to keep a low profile in the Triangulum Galaxy anymore."

"However, we should still keep a low profile whenever possible, such as by hiding our civilization!"

"Deliberate low-key behavior and wanton publicity have different scopes of influence."

"Besides, you aren't the number one on the Lieyang Ranking, so you won't attract too much attention."

Sun Sheng added from the side:

"But the Mansion Master reaching the top spot in the Void-Surpassing Realm is already common knowledge at the Lieyang Dao Academy."

King Shanhe said awkwardly, "That couldn't be helped; the Red Emperor's strength cannot be hidden."

"We can only choose to hide our civilization and stay low-key."

"However, the Red Emperor will soon break through to the Universal Second Realm, and with his combat power significantly increased, our Blue Star Civilization can be a bit safer."

"Moreover, since the Red Emperor has attracted everyone's gaze, you can all improve in peace."

Lin Qi nodded; that was true.

King Shanhe continued, "Next, what you need to do is train hard and improve yourselves!"

"Once you break through to the Ninth Realm, the overall strength of our Blue Star Civilization will also see a huge increase."

"Oh, right, there is one more thing!"

"The support group from the Liuren Civilization will arrive at the Blue Star Civilization within a week!"

"By then, there is a high probability that we will be able to open a channel for exchanging Merit Points and Deep Space Coins."

The eyes of the three—Lin Qi, Sun Sheng, and Li Tianxing—lit up.

Sun Sheng smiled and said, "In the universe, wanting to earn Deep Space Coins is just too difficult."

"I am currently in the Universal Martial Arena, earning Deep Space Coins by achieving 500 wins!"

Lin Qi asked curiously:

"You've been fighting in the Universal Martial Arena for a week, why haven't you achieved 1,000 consecutive wins?"

Li Tianxing added, "The system specifically arranges powerful opponents in the matches leading up to a win streak."

"He lost his match at 999 wins due to carelessness."

"The win count was reset to zero, so he has to start calculating all over again."

Sun Sheng couldn't help but say, "Tianxing, didn't you lose yourself?"

Li Tianxing shook his head, "Mine was different. My opponent was a Spirit Reader who used extremely powerful illusions and mental skills that I had never encountered before."

"I fell for it instantly!"

"So Lin Qi, you must be very careful!"

Lin Qi nodded, "I understand, thank you for the reminder!"

Then Li Tianxing spoke again:

"By the way, there is a lecture tomorrow by a teacher from the Universal Second Realm. Do you want to go listen together?"

Lin Qi nodded, "Let's go together then!"

He clicked on his personal panel and entered the official website of the Lieyang Dao Academy.

He searched for learning, retrieving 【Spear Technique】 【Universal Second Realm】.

The screen refreshed, displaying 200 teachers from the Universal Second Realm who teach spear techniques.

"Currently, there are 200 teachers from the Universal Second Realm at the Lieyang Dao Academy who teach spear techniques. How should I choose?"

Lin Qi looked at this number and asked curiously.

King Shanhe spoke up at this moment:

"Actually, every martial artist's teaching method is different, but some are quite skilled at teaching spear techniques, while others are a bit lacking."

"You can find the answer to this on the forum!"

Li Tianxing nodded, "I've browsed the discussions at the Lieyang Dao Academy, and among them, 8 teachers from the Universal Second Realm, including Li Ang, Austin, and Fu Quan, have the most positive reviews."

"If you don't mind, you can come listen to Teacher Fu Quan's class with me."

King Shanhe nodded, "I'll go along as well."

"My current spear technique realm is almost about to be surpassed by you all."

"In the past, we were all on our own, and it was only through mutual exchange that we were able to improve our spear techniques."

"Now that there are people serving as teachers, my spear technique might also be able to improve."

Lin Qi nodded secretly. King Shanhe and the others had never received systematic guidance in the past, yet they were still able to walk step by step to where they were today.

If they had someone to guide them, they might be able to quickly break through to the Sixth-Stage Spear Technique.

……

A moment later, King Shanhe, Sun Sheng, and Li Tianxing left.

Only Lin Qi remained, and he entered the official website.

【Teacher: Fu Quan】

【Martial Path Course: Spear Technique】

【Deep Space Coins: 1,000/class session】

……

【Book a session with "Fu Quan"?】

【Please pay 1,000 Deep Space Coins!】

【Payment successful! Please arrive on time for the lecture!】

……

Lin Qi took a look at his own assets.

【Account Balance: 18,900】

……

In one day, aside from the 100 Deep Space Coins spent entering Mount Lieyang and the 1,000 Deep Space Coins spent on tomorrow's class.

A total of 1,100 Deep Space Coins were spent, which is not a small amount.

If he went to Mount Lieyang to hone his skills every day, his Deep Space Coins would be consumed at an alarming rate.

"I still need to earn money!"

Lin Qi sighed, then chose to log off.

……

Universal Virtual World, Lieyang Dao Academy.

In the top-floor luxury office of the Yanwu Building, a massive ancient bronze halberd-shaped structure.

This was a spacious office built from expensive alloys. In the very center, the floor was paved with mysterious tiles, and a person sat cross-legged.

He had a tall, robust physique, bronze-colored skin, and was covered in mysterious fire patterns.

His facial features were rugged and three-dimensional, his aura heavy, and several large screens were projected in front of him.

"Dean, today, Lin Qi of the Blue Star Civilization successfully entered the top 100 of the Lieyang Ranking!"

Beside him, a woman with slightly blue skin, wearing a white robe, with delicate features and a black single horn on her head, spoke slowly.

The burly man nodded:

"This Blue Star Civilization is indeed extraordinary!"

"I originally thought they were just a lucky civilization that obtained a trial planet, but now it seems they have some substance."

The single-horned woman said:

"Among small civilizations, being able to give birth to a genius like Qin Ling is truly rare."

The burly man said, "Although rare, it is not as if it hasn't happened before."

"In my life, I have seen such geniuses—enough to count on two hands—all of whom broke out from weak civilizations."

"But 7 of them perished before they could grow up, and only three eventually became top-tier powerhouses!"

"And once Qin Ling breaks through to the Universal Second Realm, he will be considered fully grown."

The single-horned woman said, "Dean, you are also one of those people."

"Back then, it was you who joined forces with the Deep Space Academy to establish the Lieyang Dao Academy, allowing countless geniuses born from ordinary civilizations to change their own destinies and those of their civilizations."

"Take the Liuren Civilization, for example; it was because of you that they successfully rose from the exploitation of the Black Water Civilization."

"In the future, they also have a chance to be promoted to a medium-level civilization!"

The burly man nodded after hearing this and continued:

"However, giving birth to one Qin Ling is not the end; to have another genius capable of reaching the top 100 is what is most surprising."

"And today, three more top-tier geniuses appeared, all in the top 150!"

"So many geniuses, it really is not simple."

"And they even have the Liuren Civilization as their supporting civilization; it's truly interesting."

"Perhaps in the future, the Blue Star Civilization will have even more geniuses appearing at the Lieyang Dao Academy."

……

The next day, Black Dragon Base.

On the chaotic battlefield of a super-large disaster beast tide.

"Boom!!"

"Puff, puff~~"

A figure wearing black-gold battle armor shuttled across the battlefield like lightning, frantically killing eighth-level disaster beasts.

One hour later.

"Roar~"

As the eighth-level disaster beast, the Earth-Splitting Dragon, its massive body like a mountain range, crashed to the ground and died, hot blood splashing onto the earth, Lin Qi glanced at the time.

"Two hours until class, it's time to go back!"

Lin Qi looked around; the efficiency of the entire base in hunting the disaster beast tide had improved again.

After saying this, he turned and left.

The current disaster beast tide could no longer cause much damage to the base.

Whether he was there or not didn't make much of a difference anymore.

……

Room 206, Lin Qi sat cross-legged, eyes closed, waves of cool sensation surging into his consciousness.

Strands of mental power were constantly dividing, finally rapidly weaving into a massive mental web.

The mist in his consciousness space was constantly compressed, condensing into countless liquid droplets; the mist clusters became smaller and smaller, while the liquid became more and more abundant.

A moment later, Lin Qi opened his eyes.

【You consumed Soul Marrow, gained new insights into "Thousand Threads of Divine Thought," mental power increased, Mental Power +500】

【Mental Power: 38,500 -> 39,000】

……

Lin Qi looked at his increased mental power and immediately smiled.

"Sure enough, facing the mental shock of the Zerg Mother Empress and holding on for several hours was also a tempering for my mental power!"

"Once my mental power breaks through to the Ninth Realm, there's a high probability I'll be able to clear the third gate."

Lin Qi made his judgment; perhaps clearing a dozen more acupuncture points would be enough.

Let his physical fitness improve further, so the efficiency of hunting Zerg warriors would also increase.

"Beep!"

After thinking simply, he opened his virtual bracelet, logged into the Universal Virtual Network, and entered the Lieyang Dao Academy.

……

"Hum!"

Lin Qi opened his eyes, woke up from the bedroom, and opened the door to walk out.

A moment later, he arrived downstairs, where Li Tianxing, dressed in a red robe, and King Shanhe had already arrived.

The three of them headed toward the Yanwu Building together.

Along with them were many other geniuses, all heading toward the academy.

Soon, they saw the Yanwu Building, which looked like an ancient halberd stuck upside down.

Entering the building, there was a spacious corridor, with different room numbers marked on each door.

【Yanwu Room A-6】

"This is the one!" King Shanhe nodded.

The three of them entered one after another.

【Identity verification passed!】

The moment he entered the door, Lin Qi felt something quickly scan his body.

If he hadn't paid, he probably wouldn't have been able to get through the door.

After entering the main gate, he suddenly felt a sense of openness, as if he had entered a martial training ground, the size of a basketball court.

The floor was made of smooth silver alloy.

At this time, hundreds of people were already waiting inside, chatting among themselves.

Some were even practicing spear techniques, with rich domain power radiating from them!

"Your spear technique is very exquisite; it actually involves 3 types of force-exertion methods, but the force-exertion method within it has some problems!"

"Also, your cell mobilization frequency is wrong. Use the waist to drive the force, the spine is the key, let the cells move at the same frequency!"

"The domain needs to be retracted and released at will; it's not that the bigger it is, the better. If you can shrink it to the extreme and condense it on a killing move, you can strengthen the lethality……"

Everyone was exchanging spear techniques, and the air was filled with a rich learning atmosphere.

Lin Qi and the other two also looked at the person speaking. This person was tall and straight, with bronze skin and a sharp aura, but spoke with great patience.

They couldn't help but gather around.

King Shanhe looked at the other person and said, "This person has such high attainments in spear technique."

"Although his realm might not be as high as mine, his accumulation in spear technique, force exertion, and the use of domains is stronger than mine in every aspect!"

"If I were to fight him at the same realm, I feel I would suffer a huge loss!"

Lin Qi nodded. The martial artists of Blue Star, because they often fight to the death with disaster beasts, are not inferior to other civilizations in terms of martial path realm.

But the disadvantage is that they have seen too little; the universe is too vast, with all kinds of combat methods and force-exertion techniques.

Against opponents they don't understand, it's easy to suffer a huge loss.

The reason they were able to defeat their opponents in the Fire Seed Trial was thanks to their sufficient understanding of their opponents.

This is the gap brought about by information!

"Hobbs is still the best, worthy of being a genius ranked third in the Lieyang Ranking's Aperture-Training Realm."

"I didn't expect him to have such a deep understanding of spear techniques. Listening to him say this, I have gained new insights into spear techniques!"

"I often see Hobbs in Teacher Fu Quan's class, and he answers whenever others ask for advice."

"Because Hobbs was also born into an ordinary family, from a weak civilization; he should be considered the strongest in his entire civilization."

"Hobbs is already in the top three now, maybe in a while, he might be able to break through to the Void-Surpassing Realm."

Listening to everyone's discussion, Li Tianxing said, "I didn't expect him to be Hobbs."

"Ranked third on the Lieyang Ranking, he is among the strongest group of geniuses in the entire Lieyang Elder Xing Yu!"

Lin Qi nodded secretly; Hobbs was his goal, the goal he wanted to surpass in the future.

"What's so great about him? Give me another five years, and I'll be able to become number one on the Lieyang Ranking too."

In the distance, a burly man with his arms crossed, wearing black battle attire, said disdainfully.

His voice was not loud, but many people heard it.

"It's Lei Ze, a top-tier genius ranked 70th on the Lieyang Ranking. It is said that he is one of the sons of some powerful existence, sent to the Lieyang Dao Academy for training."

"A week ago, he stated on the forum that he was only 28 years old and had only opened 95 acupuncture points!"

"Once he opens more than 100 acupuncture points, he might really be able to challenge for the top ten."

"If I had his talent, I would be just as arrogant as him."

Lin Qi looked at Lei Ze and had to admit that the other person's aura was indeed extraordinary; he was another top-tier genius.

Having opened 95 acupuncture points, he already possessed combat power in the top 70; Liu Ming was definitely no match for him.

"Clang!!"

Just then, a loud bell rang.

"Class is starting!"

Then, at the entrance, a strong fluctuation was released, and everyone quieted down.

"Teacher Fu Quan is here!"

Lin Qi looked at the door and saw a man in a blue robe floating in the air, flying in.

The person was over two meters tall, wearing a custom-made slim-fit robe, with broad shoulders, a straight posture, long blue hair, and fair skin.

His features were handsome, like a wealthy young master.

But the invisible aura on his body proved his strength.

Someone next to Lin Qi introduced:

"It is said that at the Lieyang Dao Academy, as long as you break through to the Universal Second Realm, you can serve as a teacher, so you can be both a student and a teacher, possessing a dual identity."

"And teachers from the Universal Second Realm will also go to listen to the classes of teachers from the Universal Third Realm."

"Teacher Fu Quan is a top-tier genius ranked in the top 10 on the Lieyang Ranking. He is not only a genius, but his teaching ability is also first-class."

"So everyone is willing to take his class!"

The three of them looked at each other, seeing the surprise in each other's eyes. Can it be done like this?

Being a teacher yourself to earn Deep Space Coins, and then spending Deep Space Coins to listen to the classes of martial artists from the Universal Third Realm.

In that case, if the Red Emperor breaks through to the Universal Second Realm, there is a high probability that he will also be able to become a teacher.

Sure enough, if you are strong, earning money is simply too easy.

Fu Quan looked around and slowly smiled as he spoke:

"Class time has arrived!"

"In every class, I can see many unfamiliar students!"

"I teach Fifth-Stage Spear Technique in every class. If you are a martial artist who hasn't broken through to the Fifth Stage, you might not be able to understand!"

His voice was crisp and his articulation clear, yet it was as if he had a loudspeaker, allowing everyone to hear clearly.

"In terms of human physique, among the myriad races of the universe, our human race is innately at the bottom."

"But we know how to use external objects, use hard metals, craft various weapons, and unleash greater destructive power."

"The so-called spear technique is to use the body's strength, at all costs, to unleash greater destructive power and kill the opponent!"

"Spear technique from the first to the fifth stage is divided into: Basic, Proficient, Perfect, Artistic Conception, Domain!"

"At each stage, the mastery of the body goes up a level."

"Fifth-Stage Spear Technique: master the body's cells, cells exert force simultaneously, the life force field resonates with heaven and earth, forming domain power, suppressing the opponent, and enhancing oneself."

"The human body has tens of billions of cells; with the improvement of the realm, the cells transform, capable of erupting with greater power."

"The difficulty of control will also continue to rise. Wanting to control the whole body's cells, the difficulty will be very high!"

"When you master 50%, it is enough to make your skills reach a qualitative change, breaking through to the Sixth Stage!"

"How to improve martial path skills faster, which is controlling body cells, actually has methods."

When Fu Quan said this, many people's eyes lit up.

King Shanhe also couldn't help but feel excited in his heart; he had a premonition that this concerned the future of his spear technique.

Lin Qi also nodded secretly; worthy of being a genius of the Universal Second Realm, the first lesson hit the key point.

……

(End of chapter)