Chapter 14: Specially Recruited Student

"Thank you, Grandmaster, for saving us. May I ask your name?" Chu Tianlong stepped up to Lin Shaofeng, bowed respectfully, and spoke.

Lin Shaofeng replied, "Lin Shaofeng."

An eighth-rank Grandmaster—such a figure stood at the pinnacle of the Dragon Nation, each one renowned throughout the land. The moment Lin Shaofeng revealed his name, Chu Tianlong immediately recognized his identity.

"So it is Director Lin from Jiangnan Martial University. My apologies for not recognizing you sooner," Chu Tianlong said. "If it weren’t for Director Lin’s presence today, we would not have lasted until the beast horde controlled by the Beast Tamer attacked. Without reinforcements, Blue Crystal Outpost would have been reduced to ruins."

Others echoed, "Indeed, thank you, Director Lin."

Martial artists respected strength, all the more so when that strength belonged to a savior such as Lin Shaofeng. The soldiers, whose lives had just been saved by him, regarded him with utmost reverence.

Lin Shaofeng nodded slightly, tossing the strange man he held onto the ground. "His cultivation has been crippled and his meridians sealed by me. Hand him over to your military for disposal. I have matters to attend to, so I’ll take my leave."

Chu Tianlong replied, "Safe travels, Director Lin."

A fighter jet landed at the outpost. Lin Shaofeng boarded, and soon after, the jet soared into the sky, departing Blue Crystal Outpost.

Aboard the jet, Lin Shaofeng had already stowed away his Blood Phoenix Sword and Obsidian Battle Armor, resuming his seat on the main sofa.

Xiao Yang looked at Lin Shaofeng with deep respect. "Director Lin’s strength is truly formidable. To charge into a horde of beasts as though walking through an empty field—it's inspiring."

Xiao Yang, himself a martial artist, deeply revered the strong. Lin Shaofeng’s might had left a profound impression on him.

Lin Shaofeng smiled mildly. "You have great potential. Work hard at your cultivation. Perhaps one day your achievements will surpass mine."

Xiao Yang’s ambition was to become a Martial King—a figure on par with the Director General of the Tiance Martial Hall. Confident in his path toward becoming an eighth or ninth-rank Grandmaster, he smiled and nodded.

Remembering the bizarre man Lin Shaofeng had captured, Xiao Yang asked curiously, "Director Lin, who was that man you brought back? He looked so strange."

Lin Shaofeng answered, "A half-demon, a Beast Tamer."

Xiao Yang was taken aback. "What... what is that?"

Though little known among ordinary folk, the existence of half-demons and Beast Tamers was no secret among martial artists. Lin Shaofeng explained:

"They are martial artists who have undergone demonization. In the earliest era, during the war between humans and demon beasts, demon beasts held the upper hand. In order to counter them, humanity initiated the ‘Demon Martial Artist’ project.

They fused martial artists with the flesh and blood of demon beasts, granting them the beasts’ powers and rapid strength. At first, this yielded results in the battles with demon beasts.

Unfortunately, as the Demon Martial Artists grew stronger, they became increasingly unable to restrain the beastly nature within. They began to see themselves as beasts, not humans, eventually taking the side of the demon beasts in the conflict.

Demon Martial Artists turned on humanity, slaughtering their own kind and hunting martial artists. They became allies of demon beasts and enemies of mankind. Thus, the project was eventually terminated and banned.

Still, some martial artists, unable to resist the lure of power, secretly fused with the blood and flesh of demon beasts. These individuals are despised by all, enemies of humanity, to be slain on sight.

Among martial artists, they are collectively known as half-demons. Some of them possess the ability to control demon beasts—they are called Beast Tamers. Beast Tamers can incite beast hordes, making them the most terrifying half-demons of all."

Xiao Yang struggled to understand. "They’re human, yet they turn themselves into these half-human, half-demon monsters. Why would they do such a thing?"

Lin Shaofeng replied, "Ordinary people would find it hard to comprehend. But power and wealth can corrupt, and so can raw, unbridled strength. Some martial artists, dissatisfied with their lot—superior to commoners, yet lacking in talent and stuck at the bottom among their peers—seek any shortcut to power. To them, fusing with demon beast flesh is the quickest path."

Xiao Yang recalled Earth, where some people, knowing the harm, still succumbed to the temptation of drugs, destroying their families and severing all ties for a fix.

Perhaps the half-demons on this star were cut from the same cloth. No ordinary person would ever make themselves half-human, half-demon. It was an act against humanity, a truly heinous crime.

As the jet sped away from Blue Crystal Outpost, Xiao Yang asked, "That half-demon, he attacked Blue Crystal Outpost with beasts as a way to take revenge on humanity?"

Lin Shaofeng mused, "Perhaps. Or maybe there was something in Blue Crystal Outpost he wanted. In any case, let the military interrogate him. Handling half-demons is their direct responsibility."

In this world, there were martial artists, demon beasts, and the half-human, half-beast half-demons...

As the saying goes, reading ten thousand books is no substitute for traveling ten thousand miles. Xiao Yang, having left Yuezhou this time, found his horizons greatly broadened.

The jet flew southward.

Crossing the Southern Ridge, the mountains gradually gave way to plains, the terrain flattening until not even a hill interrupted the vast expanse.

A great river flowed from north to south, emptying into the sea. On its banks stood a sprawling city, its skyline bristling with towers.

Jiangnan City—they had arrived.

As a first-tier metropolis, Jiangnan City dwarfed Yuezhou in size, home to more than twenty million people. South of the Yangtze, only the Magic Capital at the river’s mouth could compare.

Jiangnan Martial University was located in this city, named after it.

The university itself sprawled across the eastern part of Jiangnan City, extending beyond the urban boundaries and occupying a vast tract of land—almost a small satellite city beside Jiangnan.

The campus was divided into several areas. In the freshmen division, over twenty thousand new students, admitted that year, were organized into neat phalanxes on a massive training ground.

Each class consisted of one hundred students, each forming its own block. Over two hundred blocks stood in perfect order.

The first days of enrollment were spent dividing students into classes and drilling them in military discipline.

After a few days of such training, even the most unruly students—future martial artists all—had acquired a touch of military bearing and a sense of strict discipline.

Today was the official welcome ceremony for the new students. President Zheng Jianting and Vice President Dong Chengdu were both present to address the assembly.

Tens of thousands of new students stood together. To ensure order, the school had drilled them mercilessly these past few days, resulting in the orderly ranks and tranquil atmosphere of today’s event.

Both the President and Vice President were ninth-rank Grandmasters, the highest level short of a Martial King. Their status was extraordinary.

Ordinarily, even upperclassmen, let alone mentors, rarely saw these august figures. It was only on this day, welcoming the new students, that both would appear and speak, making this the only chance for freshmen to see two ninth-rank Grandmasters together.

This day, then, was of monumental significance—more splendid than even the grand tournaments of the seven colleges.

Upon receiving word from Yang Zhen, Lin Shaofeng immediately set about securing a special admission slot for Xiao Yang.

He then traveled in person to Yuezhou to bring Xiao Yang, all so that—on this grand occasion—Yang Xiu could make a high-profile appearance.

He wanted the directors of the Dragon Soar and Hero martial departments to see that the Tiance Martial Hall, too, had produced an extraordinary talent this year, no less gifted than any other.

As a high-ranking figure in Jiangnan Martial University, Lin Shaofeng’s jet passed unimpeded over the campus and headed straight for the freshmen training ground.

The round trip from Jiangnan City to Yuezhou, even by jet, had consumed considerable time. By now, the welcome ceremony was nearing its end.

The President and Vice President had finished their speeches. A department director took the stage to commend several outstanding students, making special mention of Ling Dufei.

The student union had also arranged for Ling Dufei to perform, demonstrating to the freshmen the power one could achieve as a martial artist who had mastered the unity of strength and energy.

To perform before tens of thousands of peers was a tremendous honor.

On stage, Ling Dufei gathered his qi, unified his strength, and struck out with fists, palms, and legs—breaking thick planks and bricks with ease.

The new students watched with wide-eyed amazement and longing.

Though Ling Dufei had yet to learn a true legacy technique and his power still fell short of a seasoned first-rank martial artist, he was more than formidable compared to the freshmen, who had not yet awakened their qi.

Especially since Ling Dufei was himself a freshman, of similar age, his performance ignited a competitive spark among the new students. Watching him, many resolved to strive hard, hoping one day to shine before their peers.

This motivational effect was precisely what the school intended by arranging Ling Dufei’s demonstration.

Ling Dufei, enjoying the admiration and reverence in the eyes of his peers, relished the moment.

As his performance concluded and the students below still buzzed with excitement, a fighter jet suddenly hovered above the training ground.

With a thunderous roar, the jet drew every gaze upward—students, faculty, and school leaders alike.

"Such ostentation," one director, himself an eighth-rank Grandmaster, snorted from the dais, recognizing Lin Shaofeng’s jet at a glance.

President Zheng Jianting and Vice President Dong Chengyun exchanged helpless glances. They were well aware Lin Shaofeng had requested the special admission, and they knew exactly whom he was bringing.

The jet hovered ten meters above the ground, the hatch opened, and Lin Shaofeng appeared at the entrance, his laughter ringing out.

"President, Vice President, I have brought the special candidate!" Lin Shaofeng announced, his voice amplified by the Lion’s Roar technique—clear and commanding for all to hear.

The directors and faculty looked at one another in surprise. Special candidate? What was this about?

Only the two ninth-rank Grandmasters had been privy to Lin Shaofeng’s plans—everyone else was completely in the dark, bewildered.

On the field, the students were equally astonished.

A special candidate? Who could it be?

Every eye turned to Lin Shaofeng.

Xiao Yang stepped out from behind Lin Shaofeng, who grasped his arm and leaped down in a graceful arc, landing before the dais.

In the crowd, Xu Ruqing’s gaze followed Lin Shaofeng—and then fell upon the youth at his side. She was instantly stunned.