Chapter 82 - 81: Post-Game Routine, The Tin Territory

October 3. Ranking competition. Jiang Shu reached the top spot! The official website announced that Shang Jibei, after stepping into the Dark Force phase as number one, had suffered internal injuries and was unable to participate in the competition. Countless people felt pity for Shang Jibei. They were surprised at Jiang Shu’s luck. The University Martial Arts Genius Competition officially came to an end. "Did he go there?" Wu Zhiming took a few steps forward, his expression complex. "Yes." Jiang Shu nodded. After the top ten places were confirmed in yesterday’s resurrection match, they entered a special room that night. They listened to a mysterious elder lecturing about when the rifts between heaven and earth had first appeared, what lay within the Heaven and Earth Secret Realm, and which channels were predicted to gradually stabilize in the future. A whole new world was officially unfolding before them. The appearance of the rifts between heaven and earth also had a huge impact on Xuanxing. An unknown factor in the air was subtly altering various organisms. Humans, however, could enhance themselves further through Martial Arts. Perhaps one day, once the Martial Arts Realm reaches a certain level, one could fully sense this mysterious factor, absorb it into one’s body, and undergo a true qualitative transformation. Of course, this was just a current speculation. In today’s world, many powerful nations were researching environmental changes and human genetic changes. Freedom Country seemed to have obtained some key items in a Secret Realm, refined numerous genes, and had successfully developed the first batch of Genetic Potions early on. After taking these enhancements, ordinary people could possess the combat strength of a Bright Strength Martial Artist! Now, they were even progressing to the third stage. Of course, this genetic enhancement had significant flaws. Firstly, there was an excessive dependency on the potions. Without new potions being developed, one could not improve their strength. Secondly, these potions had some negative side effects, occasionally affecting the emotions of Genetic Evolutionists. In Freedom Country, each Genetic Evolutionist was assigned a standard contact person who monitored and soothed their emotional fluctuations throughout. Both in terms of upper limit and freedom, they were inferior to the Martial Artists of Xia Country. This was also the reason why, although Xia Country was also developing Genetic Potions, they never fully committed to them. If Martial Arts could really rise, the prospects would undoubtedly be far more useful than the current stage of Genetic Potions. Bright Strength, Dark Force, Transformative Strength. Bright Strength Martial Artists could only become Arena Martial Artists, becoming Star Martial Artists. They participated in a series of martial arts competitions held in the provinces and cities of Xia Country, winning prize money—as much as 10,000,000, as little as several hundred thousand. For example, in terms of prestige, there was the just-concluded national University Martial Arts Genius Competition. Jiang Shu, who won first place, received 30,000,000 in prize money! However, in the genius competition, all the students who made the top ten, without exception, chose another path. No matter how famous a Star Martial Artist was, they were just Bright Strength! Only by stepping into Dark Force and entering the Heaven and Earth Secret Realm! That was what they truly desired! And now, Shang Jibei was undoubtedly ahead of everyone else. After leaving Shengjing Sports Hall, Jiang Shu unusually did not rush to practice Martial Arts. He went back to Ji City with his parents and sister and used the prize money to buy two apartments in the city center. 10,000,000, like running water, was spent quickly in two or three days. "Mom and Dad, I bought you the sixth floor; mine is on the first floor. I’ve already hired the renovation company. Dad, if you get bored, you can come over and supervise the work." "In my suite, except for the load-bearing walls, demolish everything. We don’t need a kitchen; just leave a bathroom and a bed. Everything else should be cleared out to make space for my Martial Arts practice." "I originally wanted to buy a suite for little dumpling too. But then I thought she’s just in high school, it’s too early to buy her an apartment, so I just opened an account and put 3,000,000 in it. When she goes to university, she can just spend it freely without having to save too much. Here’s the passbook; the password is her birthday." "Don’t skimp on the Blood Flower Pig meat. Blood Flower Pig meat only costs one school credit per pound. Your son won first place in this competition, and the academy rewarded him with 8,000 school credits, so we really aren’t short of these." Jiang Yongyi and Xu Lizhi felt as if they were living a dream these past days. After their son began practicing Martial Arts, he was first admitted to Jiangnan Academy, one of the most prestigious academies in Xia Country, on a recommendation from the worst high school in Ji City. Afterward, in the University Martial Arts Genius Competition, he boldly seized first place. Although there was an element of luck involved, isn’t luck a form of strength? A pure gold trophy and a prize of 30,000,000. If it hadn’t been for the government’s intervention, the family would still probably be surrounded by reporters! He stayed with his parents for a few days. Before leaving, Jiang Shu went to the Fifth High School to meet Principal Zhang and Teacher Yan, and then sat in Zheng Yanbo’s office for a while. These people had all provided some help during his Early Stage of Martial Arts training. Jiang Shu naturally didn’t put on any airs, casually chatting about recent events before officially setting off for Jiangnan Academy. Dormitory. Jiang Shu closed his eyes. Since he started practicing Martial Arts, he had become increasingly grateful that he had grasped the One Bowl Water Method early, allowing him to enter a state of meditation anytime, anywhere. Once a Martial Artist of the Bright Strength Realm becomes a star, all sorts of temptations come flooding in. There were corporations offering endorsement fees as high as 50,000,000. Countless beautiful girls were adding his WeChat, wanting to contact him. Classmates looked at him with admiration, running over to take photos together. If he were to casually post an update on social media now, he could directly receive tens of thousands of likes and shares. No wonder the mysterious elder, while teaching them that day, had repeatedly and with extreme caution emphasized the distinction between Star Martial Artists and Secret Realm Martial Artists. He explicitly stated that these were two different paths. If one chooses the former, it becomes very hard to become the latter. Indeed. While Star Martial Artists enjoy expensive endorsements, adoration from girls, and all sorts of luxury cars and houses, in reality, they can no longer calm their minds. They are unable to devote their hearts fully to the martial path, lacking the possibility of further advancement. Perhaps, one day, by chance, they may become Dark Force Martial Artists. But by then, will they still have the heart to enter the Heaven and Earth Secret Realm? At most, they could only eat mutant beast meat in the academy to maintain their vitality without decline. But the mutant beast meat from the academy, after all, is just meat cultivated by the government using high technology. In terms of energy, it’s far inferior to real Mutant Beasts. Just like when buying chicken, duck, or fish: one is farm-raised, one is wild. The difference in quality is naturally not the same. To truly advance further, one must step into the Dark Force Realm and enter the Heaven and Earth Secret Realm! Jiang Shu’s spirit was resolute. He calmed his mind as the Famished Tiger Roar Mountain Strength slowly circulated within him. In his mind, he kept recalling the battle with Shang Jibei. In this battle, Shang Jibei might have gained a lot, advancing from the Bright Strength to the Dark Force Realm. But his gains were certainly not small either! After all, Shang Jibei had been the one pressing the fight against him, truly feeding him moves. Just like when he was still in the Niu Pi Realm, trading blows with Qi Yuan. All his Martial Arts skills had significantly improved in that battle. The Famished Tiger Roar Mountain Strength, which he had originally estimated would take half a month to thoroughly achieve Great Success with, had, after just three days, naturally progressed into a new realm. His skin was refined again, smooth and as hard as iron. He felt no great joy. Jiang Shu looked back. Moonlight, like a layer of gauze, shone through the window, draping over him. A thought flickered through his mind. The next instant. 「Pingling County.」