Chapter 31: Han Wenqing Challenged Again, Searching for Teammates

Chen Xiaohu, who had been pretending to cultivate in the blood pool, immediately opened his eyes upon hearing this and started protesting indignantly!

"Lin Laotou, you've gone too far! Fooling me into joining this crummy Academy where people call me 'King Loser' is bad enough, and now you want someone to throw me out as a Shield?!"

"No way! Impossible!"

"There's no way I could ever agree to such a demand!"

Just getting punched by someone of the same realm already hurt him unbearably, let alone the Divine Image Realm and Earth Martial Realm — that would probably hurt even more than stuffing a big yellow cucumber into his 'back door'!

However, Lin Lao merely gave him a casual glance.

"If you're afraid of pain, why be a Martial Artist? Let me be blunt with you — even though you have SSS-Class Talent, the Academy alone can only nurture you up to the Divine Image Realm. If you want to break through to the Law Realm, you'll still need to rely on official organizations like the Zhenling Bureau."

"That's the Law Realm we're talking about — a realm even I, an old man, couldn't reach after a lifetime of cultivation. You can imagine how many resources it would take."

"If you don't show some value, why would they invest in you?"

"Because you know how to play poor?!"

The old man's words left Chen Xiaohu silent; he couldn't argue back.

The Law Realm — even across the entire human race, those who reached it were absolutely top-tier powerhouses, and the resources consumed were incalculable. The birth of every single Law Realm Martial Artist represented the convergence of favorable timing, location, and people.

Jiang Qin also crossed his arms and spoke up at this moment: "Carrying out missions will definitely come with danger. No matter how capable I am, I can't guarantee your safety, and I don't want to look after deadweight. So if you really want to join my team, I hope you can embrace the resolve to face death."

"Think it over before you give me your answer."

"9 AM tomorrow morning, I'll wait for you at the school gate. I won't wait if you're late."

A meat shield that could take hits from an Earth Martial Realm Martial Artist would indeed achieve decent results in battle, but a Martial Artist who feared pain and was timid would only distract him.

He wouldn't put himself in danger just because this guy had called him 'boss' twice.

Then, leaving Principal Qin to watch over the blood pool, Jiang Qin followed Lin Lao toward the exit.

They entered the elevator.

Jiang Qin said softly: "Please recommend someone else for me. I don't think he'll take the risk."

"What makes you so sure?" Lin Lao was curious. In his view, the path of a Martial Artist was one of advance or retreat — as long as he wasn't a fool, Chen Xiaohu shouldn't pass up such a great opportunity.

Jiang Qin answered calmly: "Someone accustomed to comfort won't actively step out of their comfort zone to take risks. As time goes on, cowardice will only be carved into his bones, never to be erased."

Lin Lao pondered, feeling the words made some sense.

So, he changed the subject: "Actually, there might be one person who'd suit your taste — one of the new students in your cohort, a little girl. But I can't guarantee she'll join your team either, since not everyone is as aggressive as you."

Less than half a year after enrollment and already wanting to carry out garrison missions.

Since the founding of Zhenling Academy, Jiang Qin was the first such case.

After getting the information about that student from Lin Lao's mouth, Jiang Qin headed straight for the school's Martial Arts Arena. Lin Lao watched his retreating figure, shook his head, and walked toward the school gate with his hands behind his back.

…

The Martial Arts Arena was a venue used by Zhenling Academy's students for sparring.

The layout was similar to an ancient fighting arena — a dueling platform thirty meters in diameter at the center, surrounded by rows of seats for students to observe and learn.

At this moment, the Martial Arts Arena was abuzz with noise.

"This batch of new students are all monsters. First there was Ghost Slash Jiang Qin, who went head-to-head with Han Wenqing right after enrollment. Now another female new student has popped up, wanting to challenge Han Wenqing over 'protection fees.'"

"Haha, in previous years the protection fees were handed over obediently, but this year they're all troublemakers."

"What's the background of this female new student? She only enrolled not long ago and has already reached Yinling Jiuzhong — she's a freak too."

"I know her — she should have some connection to Lin Lao. He personally tutored her, and she only just reached enrollment age this year."

After a third-year senior who had just completed a mission explained, the crowd finally understood.

No wonder she was so fierce.

If she was trained by that eccentric old man, it was acceptable.

After all, when that eccentric old man went crazy sometimes, he even took the principal down a peg.

On the dueling platform, two figures stood facing each other.

Han Wenqing listened to the surrounding chatter, his heart full of unspeakable bitterness.

When he was a new student, he had also been taught a lesson by seniors. After finally enduring his way to becoming a second-year and wanting to collect some Contribution Points, why were all the new students troublemakers?

Troublemakers would be one thing, but their backgrounds weren't simple either.

If he had known this girl had connections to Lin Lao, he wouldn't have let his subordinates touch her no matter what. Now he was stuck on the stage and couldn't back down!

The uninformed Student Union members beside him were still cheering:

"Go for it, President! Show this little girl what she's dealing with!"

"She thinks she's Jiang Qin, that freak? She really thinks just anyone can provoke our President. We have to give this new student a profound lesson! Otherwise how will our Student Union survive in the Academy?"

"End the fight with one clean punch, President! Go for it!"

"President is sure to win!"

Han Wenqing had already cursed these people bloody in his heart. His gaze turned to the girl standing not far away, upright like a lofty mountain, and he forced a strained smile onto his face.

"Junior Su, I'm only a year older than you, so this duel isn't fair. How about we just forget about the Contribution Points? We're all classmates, no need to fight. What do you say?"

"No!"

Su Lingwei's expression was utterly serious as she said firmly:

"New students of the same realm aren't my opponents — I'm afraid I'll hurt them if I fight them. I want to test where my limits are, so I have to trouble Senior Han."

That attitude clearly marked her as a promising seedling who loved combat.

Meanwhile, Han Wenqing had already started cursing in his heart.

You damn well want to test your limits? Then go cause trouble for that monster Jiang Qin! Why the hell are you picking on me?!

What if I hurt you and Lin Laotou gives me a hard time behind the scenes?

Seeing that he was about to refuse again, Su Lingwei spoke up quietly:

"Are you scared? There have long been rumors in the Academy that you actually lost to Jiang Qin that day, so you don't dare fight me, afraid of losing again?"

"I... fine! Don't regret it later!"

Hearing those words, Han Wenqing finally couldn't hold back any longer.

Being provoked to this extent and still having to endure it—what kind of Martial Artist would he be then!

The atmosphere around them grew more and more heated, with cheers rising without end.

A figure quietly arrived at a corner of the Martial Arts Arena, silently watching the battle about to begin. Everyone's attention was on the dueling platform; no one noticed his arrival.

On the platform, Han Wenqing's Spirit Energy erupted around his body. Looking closely, one would notice that the Spirit Energy spilling from him was several degrees more condensed than usual.

"Junior sister, if you can't take it later, you have to say so in time."

"Don't worry, I won't."

But this indifferent attitude made Han Wenqing think she was still provoking him. Immediately, disregarding any senior's bearing, he took out a pitch-black spear from his Space Ring.

Su Lingwei, on the other hand, took out two Flying Knives.

The battle was about to erupt!