Chapter 65: Realization and Advancement

"Well, he asked me to get on the martial arts stage with the people from the Martial Arts Association to demonstrate the True Self Heart Scripture."

Qin Zhe replied without concealment.

"That makes sense then. As one of the three major cultivation associations in the Dragon Country, the influence of the Martial Arts Association cannot be underestimated. Since they sent people this time, the news has already spread widely within the circle, and martial artists across the entire Dragon Country are paying attention. It has almost become a current hot topic. Under such momentum, naturally, there will be people who don't want to see you have an easy time."

Yao Jing spoke eloquently, her beautiful eyes glancing at his expression, which was gradually turning into one of a stomachache, and she smiled.

"I bet the President certainly didn't tell you that this matter has already made the news, nor did he tell you that many media reporters will be present at the time, right?"

With that, Yao Jing added with an "I understand you" look.

"From my personal perspective, the President most likely kept a lot of things from you. Otherwise, given your personality, you would have chosen to refuse nine times out of ten when encountering something like this."

...

Qin Zhe was speechless, his expression as ugly as it could possibly be.

The Martial Arts Association coming to the academy had become a hot topic and received nationwide attention—Wang Chongguo hadn't mentioned any of this at all! He hadn't even mentioned that media reporters would be present!

One had to admit that the older the ginger, the spicier it was!

Qin Zhe originally thought he had profited by negotiating a good price, but he hadn't expected Wang Chongguo to keep a card up his sleeve.

This wave had resulted in a massive loss for him!

A "appearance fee" of three hundred top-grade spiritual stones, plus a "bonus" of one hundred for winning the duel, could hardly be described as ungenerous.

Converted into Dragon Coins, that was a full forty million, enough to buy a super luxury mansion in Sea City.

However, making a public spectacle of oneself in front of everyone across the entire Dragon Country clearly outweighed the gains!

Just becoming famous within the academy had already made Qin Zhe's daily life quite uncomfortable.

People discussed him whenever he came and went, and students from the Martial Arts Department frequently ran over to consult him on martial arts.

With his actual cultivation being only at the first tier, what kind of martial arts attainment did he have? How could he possibly instruct others?

If he became a sensation on a national scale, how was he supposed to live his life?

Silently cursing the cunning Wang Chongguo, Qin Zhe instantly lost his appetite for a midnight snack.

Seeing Yao Jing amused to the point of seeming to have found something entertaining, obviously about to deliver a finishing blow, Qin Zhe forced a bitter smile.

"Stop talking, I want some quiet."

"Wanting me? Why? Am n't I right beside you?"

Yao Jing giggled, stroking the phantom cat lying on the table, and said.

"Don't take it too hard. No matter what, this is a good thing. Martial arts is the national essence of the Dragon Country. A hundred years ago, before the spiritual Qi recovery, martial arts was even the foundation of the Dragon Country's prosperity. If martial artists can rise because of this, it will undoubtedly be a historic event, and by then, you will be the greatest contributor to changing the status of martial artists."

After finishing, Yao Jing added.

"Besides, this is also a great opportunity for fame. Do you know how many people dream every day of becoming famous and sought after by others?"

"Whoever loves fame can go be famous; I'm just an ordinary student, and I just want to live a relatively ordinary life."

Qin Zhe said with a dark face, supporting his throbbing temples, and asked.

"Tell me... do you think it's still timely for me to go back and refuse the President?"

"You've already agreed. Do you think he would accept it?"

Yao Jing propped her delicate chin with one hand, revealing a charming smile as she spoke.

"You have to understand, your combat power is at most peak fourth-tier, and the President is sixth-tier."

So what if he's sixth-tier?

Qin Zhe very much wanted to say that.

Yet he had to admit that the sixth-tier was definitely not something he could currently resist.

Even with the peerless Blood-Burning True Self Art and the heaven-defying counter-shock talent, which allowed him to go toe-to-toe with fifth-tier experts, he wasn't arrogant enough to challenge the sixth tier.

The sixth tier—that was a top-tier powerhouse reputed to be capable of destroying heaven and earth!

...

This night was very long.

Yet time never stopped. As the radiant sun slowly rose, the academy became exceptionally lively.

After all, apart from Qin Zhe, who paid little attention to current news, most people had already learned through the internet and other channels that the Martial Arts Association was sending people over.

With top-tier powerhouses from the Martial Arts Association arriving and the chance to witness them in action with one's own eyes, who would be willing to miss it?

In the current world, it was true that martial artists were relatively weak.

However, a fifth-tier martial artist could be said to be invincible among peers!

Being able to observe their prowess on-site would not only help understand the might of martial arts masters, but it might even provide a lot of cultivation inspiration!

The students of the Martial Arts Department were extremely excited, and those from the Immortal Cultivation Department and Demonic Cultivation Department were also unwilling to miss the opportunity to witness such a grand event.

However, compared to the experts of the Martial Arts Association, the person who undoubtedly attracted the most attention was Qin Zhe, currently dubbed the "Number One Martial Artist" in the academy.

Everyone was extremely curious whether Qin Zhe had the ability to go up against a fifth-tier powerhouse and whether he could win the duel.

Early in the morning, many nosy students gathered at the academy gate, waiting for the arrival of the Martial Arts Association experts while engaging in heated discussions in groups of three or five.

"Hey, do you guys think... Qin Zhe can win today?"

"I think there's a chance, after all, he is our academy's number one martial artist. Judging by his previous moves, every single time he easily defeated his opponents. Who knows, maybe his attainment in martial arts has already reached the fifth tier!"

"Fifth tier? That's just absurd. How old is Qin Zhe this year? Reaching the fifth tier in his early twenties—wouldn't that make him even more talented than Student Council President Li Zongheng?"

"I'm not sure if he can compare to Li Zongheng, but I know that aside from the True Self Heart Scripture, he also has a bizarre counter-shock martial skill. The people coming from the Martial Arts Association might not understand him, and it might have a miraculous effect once they get on the martial stage."

"I actually feel that the chances of Qin Zhe winning the duel aren't high, but he won't be defeated all that quickly; at least he'll be able to put up a fight."

"I agree with that. Setting aside Qin Zhe's actual strength, his physical body is simply too formidable. He's basically carrying an invincible turtle shell around, and so far, nobody has ever seen his expression change from taking a beating."

...

Discussions could be heard everywhere in the academy, while the person at the center of it all, Qin Zhe, was currently lying on his bed like a salted fish, feeling completely lifeless.

He had already felt terrible about realizing things too late, and last night he had been repeatedly cut down by Yao Jing; needless to say, his mood upon returning was thoroughly depressed.

After suffering from mental agony the entire night, the next day arrived so quickly that Qin Zhe had the urge to fake illness and hide in his dorm.

But obviously, not getting up was out of the question...

Casually pulling a spiritually dense spiritual fruit out of his ring, Qin Zhe took a crunchy bite, and immediately received a prompt from the status bar: Essence conversion completed, Potential Point +1.

As the saying goes, no matter how fierce the wind and rain, life must go on.

Though he harbored resentment about being tricked by Wang Chongguo, Qin Zhe had no alternative.

Running away was impossible, and hiding was out of the question.

Since he had to go up there, naturally he had to bring his best state forward.

At the very least, today was an opportunity to exchange blows head-on with a fifth-tier expert.

Having stayed awake all night, Qin Zhe stubbornly munched through most of the spiritual fruits he had purchased yesterday, specifically picking the best ones to eat, all for the sake of accumulating potential points.

Upon receiving the prompt of Potential Point +1, Qin Zhe did not hesitate and decisively chose to add a point to Spiritual Qi.

To his utter surprise, the moment he chose to allocate the point, the status bar underwent a sudden change.

Race: Human (30% Atavism)
Talents: Counter-Shock, Essence Conversion (0%), Heaven-Man Unity
Potential Points: 0
Divine Sense: 1
Spiritual Qi: 2
Realm: Immortal-Martial Second Tier
Divine Ability: Blood-Burning True Self Art

Scanning the status bar over and over again with his mind, Qin Zhe was completely dumbfounded.

He was at the second tier just like that?

Why didn't he feel anything?

And speaking of which... his realm had improved, so why wasn't there any prompt from the status bar?