Chapter 219: Shi Caiming

May 21st, the first day after Li Fei came out of seclusion.

Early this morning, Li Fei went to the cafeteria for breakfast as usual.

Not long after he sat down, Li Tianyu walked over quickly.

"I heard your Aunt was arrested; is it true or false?"

She asked with a worried look.

Li Fei looked up at Li Tianyu and sensed the aura on the other party, startled:

"You broke through?" 【

Li Tianyu nodded: "Yes, I just broke through a few days ago. Because you were in seclusion the whole time, I couldn't tell you right away."

More than two months ago, when she and Li Fei returned to Xingcheng together, she was at the late stage of Body Breaking.

At that time, Li Fei had even taken her to Chen Family Village, where she went through some trials and triggered a core-level extraordinary ability: 【Berserk Battle】.

Now, more than two months later, Li Tianyu has successfully broken through to the Qi Transformation stage.

Going from the late stage of Body Breaking to the Qi Transformation stage requires strengthening one's power of will through life-and-death tempering. That Li Tianyu could break through so quickly shows she has experienced quite a lot during this time.

"Congratulations."

Li Fei was genuinely happy for her.

Li Tianyu only received her implant last September and embarked on the path of martial arts cultivation. In less than a year, she has already become a martial artist.

Judging by the aptitude she tested for when school started, this speed is already very fast—far exceeding expectations!

"Is what they said about your master's sister true?"

Li Tianyu continued to ask.

"Yes."

Li Fei nodded.

"Then what are you planning to do? They say this matter is deeply involved, and even the Tiefeng Sect has been wiped out."

Li Tianyu asked anxiously.

She joined the Women's Society, and the president, Du Ya, is the daughter of the Du family head, Du Changhe. Naturally, she can learn a lot of inside information, so she heard all of this from Du Ya.

Li Fei thought for a moment and smiled at Li Tianyu:

"Sister, don't worry, I know my limits."

Li Tianyu understood what Li Fei meant: "In other words, you still intend to intervene in this matter?"

"Yes."

Li Fei did not lie to her, because perhaps after today, everyone will know.

Li Tianyu was silent for a moment, then said: "If you want to communicate with the Du family, I can help you talk to Du Ya."

"Okay, if I need to, I will find you."

Li Fei did not refuse.

"Alright, you must be careful."

Li Tianyu looked at Li Fei deeply, then stood up and left.

Du Ya had made it very clear to her that this matter involves the entire officialdom of Datong Prefecture. Only if she were already a Foundation Establishment powerhouse would she have a chance to help Li Fei.

A martial artist who has just broken through is still too weak.

So she could only leave silently and continue her cultivation.

Li Fei, meanwhile, was calculating in his heart whether it was possible to borrow strength from the Du family. In the end, he decided to wait until he had seen the Wu Da President, Shi Caiming, before deciding.

After eating, he walked straight to the Academic Affairs building and arrived at Wen Ke's office once again.

This time, there was not only Wen Ke in the office, but one more person.

This person looked to be in his thirties, wore his hair long, and sat on the sofa with his waist and back as straight as a green pine in a mountain stream.

"You're here."

Wen Ke greeted Li Fei, then pointed to the man sitting on the sofa and introduced him:

"This is Professor Qin Zhen."

Qin Zhen!

Upon hearing this name, Li Fei couldn't help but take a few extra looks at the man.

Number one on the Feng Province Wind and Cloud List, at the peak of Foundation Establishment, and on the candidate list for the overall Wind and Cloud List.

He is the second person in the Feng Province martial arts world in many years, after Hao Yi, to make it onto the candidate list for the overall Wind and Cloud List.

"Greetings, Professor Qin."

Li Fei bowed to Qin Zhen.

Qin Zhen nodded and examined Li Fei earnestly: "Wen Ke says you have already broken through to Foundation Establishment?"

Li Fei: "That's correct."

"When did you break through to the late stage of Qi Transformation?"

"March 18th of this year."

"You completed your breakthrough yesterday, with a total time of 63 days for 'Returning to One,' nearly 30 days faster than the all-time record. Can you let me examine you?"

Qin Zhen asked.

"Yes."

Li Fei said candidly.

Qin Zhen stood up, walked in front of Li Fei, and reached out to gently tap Li Fei's dantian.

The next second, a neutral and peaceful breath entered Li Fei's body.

Li Fei did not resist, letting this breath probe his dantian.

Qin Zhen did not probe other parts of Li Fei's body; he only used his innate Qi to check Li Fei's dantian, finishing in just a few seconds.

He stepped back and nodded at Li Fei: "You received your implant on July 18th of last year. From stepping onto the path of martial arts to breaking through to Foundation Establishment, you only used ten months. This speed is also the fastest in history, more than two months faster than the previous record! You are worthy of being a student of Senior Hao Yi."

Li Fei heard the hint of respect in Qin Zhen's voice when he mentioned Hao Yi's name, and couldn't help but ask:

"Does Professor Qin also know my teacher?"

Qin Zhen shook his head: "I've heard of him, but I've never met him."

"So, will the President see him?"

Wen Ke, who was on the side, asked.

Qin Zhen glanced at Li Fei: "With the fastest breakthrough speed in history, the President will naturally want to see such a student."

"Then I'll leave him to you."

Wen Ke said.

Qin Zhen turned to Li Fei and said:

"Follow me."

Li Fei then followed Qin Zhen out of the Academic Affairs building, walking all the way toward the exotic beast breeding area.

First walking through a forest, then across the ice field he had visited before, Qin Zhen finally brought Li Fei to the foot of a small mountain.

The mountain was not high, with lush vegetation and a staircase leading straight to the summit.

"The President is waiting for you on the mountain."

Qin Zhen turned and said to Li Fei.

It seemed he would not be going up the mountain with Li Fei.

"Thank you for leading the way, Professor Qin."

Li Fei bowed to Qin Zhen.

Qin Zhen's expression softened.

To be a peerless genius who had set the fastest record in history, yet remain so humble and polite—this was truly rare.

Qin Zhen asked himself if he could have done the same when he was young, and couldn't help but feel a sense of favor toward Li Fei.

"Go on."

He nodded at Li Fei.

Li Fei began his ascent.

During the climb, he recalled the information he had gathered about Shi Caiming the previous night:

The man had been a martial arts master for over thirty years, the number one person in the Feng Province martial arts world, with students and disciples all over the province, and was highly respected.

Seventeen years ago, when Wu Da University was founded, Shi Caiming had already reached a higher level, becoming a Grandmaster of martial arts, and was invited by the imperial court to serve as the first president of Wu Da University.

Seventeen years have passed, and Shi Caiming remains the undisputed number one martial artist in Feng Province, and the only martial arts Grandmaster in the province!

Every martial arts Grandmaster is a living legend, and Li Fei was about to meet this legend.

A few minutes later, he reached the summit. What came into view was a large lawn, and not far away, a courtyard.

Beside the courtyard was a cliff, and at the edge of the cliff were two chairs and a wooden table.

An old man in a white lab coat was lying on a lounge chair, smoking leisurely.

Li Fei bowed from a distance:

"Student Li Fei, greetings to the President."

The old man was naturally the president of Wu Da University, Shi Caiming.

He turned his head to look over and waved at Li Fei with a smile.

Li Fei walked over, and in the process, he got a clear look at the Wu Da President.

The man was bald, his eyebrows were completely white, and his face had obvious wrinkles. He looked like a thin, withered, and very elderly little old man.

A martial artist's physique is different from an ordinary person's, and even their lifespan is strengthened.

In this world, the average lifespan of an ordinary human is about 70 years. For every implant a martial artist receives and trains to the Qi Transformation stage, their lifespan increases by about 10 years.

Therefore, a Foundation Establishment powerhouse with five implants has a theoretical lifespan of 120 years.

Even subtracting the effects of injuries and illnesses, they can live to at least 110.

This is why people like Shangguan Xiao and Hao Yi, who are in their fifties or sixties, look like they are only in their early thirties.

And once a martial artist achieves the Foundation of Martial Arts and becomes a martial arts master, their lifespan immediately increases by 60 years!

Moreover, after achieving the Foundation of Martial Arts, the body will no longer age; even on the day they pass away, their appearance will be the same as it was on the day they broke through.

Although Shi Caiming is ninety-one years old this year, he was only in his fifties when he became a martial arts master. At that time, he looked at most like he was in his early thirties.

Normally, his appearance should have remained locked at that time and should not be as aged as it is now.

"President Shi is in poor health and has been in seclusion for years."

Li Fei recalled this sentence Wen Ke said in the car yesterday, and he was lost in thought.

"President."

Soon, Li Fei reached the cliff edge where Shi Caiming was.

"Hmm, want one?"

Shi Caiming held up the lit cigarette in his hand and asked naturally.

Li Fei did not expect that the first sentence upon meeting the man would be this.

"Wu Da student Li Fei, greetings to Lord Yan."

Li Fei stood up and bowed to Yan Shijin.

Yan Shijin stepped forward to help Li Fei up and smiled: "Let me get a good look at our Feng Province's peerless genius."

"Oh no, I can't say Feng Province, I should say the genius who is first in history!"

Li Fei bowed again: "Lord Yan, you flatter me."

"Eh, your record isn't fake; first in history is first in history, why say it's flattery."

Yan Shijin grabbed Li Fei's hand affectionately, "Come, sit and chat."

"It's just that the speed of breaking through to Foundation Establishment is first, not really the peerless genius first in history."

Li Fei said modestly.

In fact, what he said was also the truth, because breaking through fast doesn't mean the final ceiling is necessarily high.

To be a true peerless genius first in history, one must at least wait until Li Fei reaches the peak of martial arts before a conclusion can be drawn.

Seeing that Li Fei was so young yet so humble, Yan Shijin couldn't help but think even higher of him:

"I heard President Shi Caiming took you as a student?"

Li Fei: "The President just asked me to go to him once every week from now on."

"Then that is taking you as a student."

Yan Shijin patted his own thigh, "President Shi is a Grandmaster; since you have become his student, you must cherish it well. Your future will be boundless!"

"Yes, thank you for your instruction, Lord Yan."

Li Fei bowed again.

"Haha, what kind of instruction is this? You child, you are too polite."

Yan Shijin looked at the upright Li Fei and said with a smile.

Next, he chatted with Li Fei about things in Xingcheng before, and then talked about family matters.

For a big shot like him, at the critical moment when Datong Prefecture was about to close the case, he was actually willing to spend so much time sitting down to chat with Li Fei about these things, which could be said to be giving a lot of face.

Li Fei was not in a hurry either, just accompanying Yan Shijin to chat unhurriedly, occasionally saying "Lord Yan is right," "Lord Yan speaks well," and "Thank you for your instruction, Lord Yan."

After chatting for nearly ten minutes, Yan Shijin couldn't help but doubt:

"Is this child really only eighteen?"

After taking another sip of tea, Yan Shijin smiled:

"Xiao Fei, I still have some official business, so I won't stay long."

"Lord Yan, actually I came to see you today because there are some things I want to talk to you about."

Li Fei said.

"Oh?"

Yan Shijin looked at Li Fei with a smile.

"Shangguan Xiao, the head of the Xingcheng Stop-Goe Academy, was officially detained the day before yesterday on charges of conspiring with others to murder Zhang Zongyang, the helmsman of the Datong Prefecture Stop-Goe General Academy."

Li Fei said.

"Hmm, I have already heard about this, and the people from our investigation team also participated in the interrogation of Shangguan Xiao and the related evidence collection work."

Yan Shijin nodded.

"Doesn't Lord Yan find it strange? Zhang Zongyang is Shangguan Xiao's biological father."

"Xiao Fei, you are still young. In this world, there are many examples of killing fathers and brothers for the sake of profit."

"But as far as I know, the reason why the key witness of this case, Zhang Shiwei, was exposed is because Shangguan Xiao set a trap to lure him out. If Shangguan Xiao is really the mastermind, why would she expose herself?"

"This official also has doubts about this matter. I think that after the people in Datong Prefecture finish their investigation, they will give this official a reasonable explanation."

Yan Shijin's self-reference had changed from "I" to "this official."

"Lord Yan, forgive me for being blunt, but the officials investigating the case in Datong Prefecture are probably not thinking about how to find the real culprit, but how to close the case quickly."

Li Fei said.

"Presumptuous!"

Yan Shijin suddenly slapped the table heavily.

He looked at Li Fei majestically: "Do you know that just because of this sentence you just said, this official could punish you!"

Li Fei did not change his expression, looking at Yan Shijin calmly:

"Lord Yan, I think that you and the other lords of the investigation team came to Datong Prefecture this time with only one purpose: to find out the truth. Since that is the case, why can't you spend more time and try different methods?"

Li Fei emphasized the words "spend more time."

Because if he wants to break the trap set by the person behind the scenes, what he needs most is time.

And for the investigation team, staying in Datong Prefecture for one more day is a good thing.

"But this official heard that Shangguan Xiao is your master's sister. Even if you really want to try different methods, how can you use your methods?"

Yan Shijin asked.

"Lord Yan..."

Swish—

Before Li Fei could finish, Yan Shijin suddenly stood up and looked at Li Fei seriously:

"Alright, since you have this relationship with Shangguan Xiao, you should avoid suspicion even more, instead of actively getting involved. You have a bright future, and this official hopes you do not ruin yourself!"

After saying this, he turned and left directly.

Li Fei sat alone in the hall, frowning slightly.

He had originally thought that with the momentum he had created and the support given by Wu Da, it would be a very good bargaining chip for the provincial investigation team, and the two sides could fully cooperate, and everyone's stance should be consistent.

But Yan Shijin's attitude completely broke Li Fei's expectations.

"Where did something go wrong?"

Li Fei narrowed his eyes and muttered.

Requesting monthly votes

(End of chapter)

With this token, what he wanted to do next would be easier to accomplish.

Qin Zhen then took him away from the exotic beast breeding area.

After bidding farewell to Qin Zhen, Li Fei first went to the Academic Affairs building to re-register his cultivation realm.

After he left the Academic Affairs building, the news of his breakthrough began to spread at a terrifying speed!

Li Fei then headed toward another building.

A few minutes later, he arrived at Wu Da's Security Department.

This place is responsible for the security work of the entire Wu Da.

"Hello, I would like to see the person in charge of the Security Department."

Li Fei made his request.

Soon, he successfully met the person in charge of the Security Department, who was a Foundation Establishment powerhouse.

"Student Li Fei, is there something you need?"

The person in charge of the Security Department was very polite to Li Fei.

He had already learned of Li Fei's breakthrough and that Li Fei had just been to see the President.

Li Fei looked at him and said calmly:

"Half a month ago, I was attacked outside the school, and I will be leaving the school frequently in the future. I would like to apply for the school to protect my personal safety."

Requesting monthly votes

(End of chapter)