Chapter 29: Yang Lei's Challenge (Please keep reading)

"Boom!"

"Splash~~"

The sky over Tianhai City was shrouded in dark clouds, as an endless torrential rain poured down.

Silver streaks of lightning slashed through the sky, dancing wildly.

"Drip~"

Lin Qi closed his umbrella. Rainwater dripped onto the ground as he walked into the third floor of Building 4, carrying the dampness with him.

"Click~"

As he opened the door, a wave of alcoholic scent rushed toward him from the living room.

Lin Qi looked closer and saw a familiar figure.

"Uncle, why are you here?"

The living room table was covered with dishes, and a pile of empty wine bottles sat beneath it.

In addition to his parents, there was one more person. The man was tall with well-proportioned features, in his thirties, and quite handsome.

He was dressed in a black suit.

This was his mother Fang Huiyi's eldest brother, Lin Qi's uncle—Fang Zhe.

Compared to his burly father, Lin Zhen, Uncle Fang Zhe possessed a more scholarly temperament.

"Xiao Qi is back!"

Fang Zhe set down a wine bottle and sat on the sofa with a slightly flushed face, offering a smile.

"I haven't congratulated you on entering the Elite Class yet. This is a gift for you."

Fang Zhe stood up and handed over a box.

"These are refreshing potions. You're in your senior year now, working hard every day. The mental exhaustion is too great to be solved by just a few cups of coffee."

Lin Qi saw that the box contained three vials of refreshing potions, worth 3,000 Xia Country yuan.

"Uncle, this is too precious."

"Thank you, Uncle!" Lin Qi did not refuse, because he knew his uncle's personality.

If he refused, the other party might actually take it back.

"Xiao Qi, sit down too. Let's hear your thoughts," Lin Zhen said.

Fang Zhe's expression also turned serious.

"Xiao Qi, besides coming to see your mother, I have something else to discuss."

"I plan to head to Linhai No. 1 War Base to serve as a Meat Divider. Linhai hasn't been peaceful lately; Disaster Beasts have been continuously descending through the Spatial Gates."

"I'm going to work as a Meat Divider for a while. The pay is substantial, and besides, I want your father to go with me."

Lin Qi fell into deep thought after hearing this.

Disaster Beasts had invaded Blue Star. They were massive in number, and their carcasses were enormous. Because of their hardened bones, using mechanical cutting was too time-consuming.

Thus, the profession of "Meat Divider" was born. They were martial artists skilled in blade techniques, using superior swordsmanship to decompose Disaster Beast carcasses in the shortest time possible, greatly increasing efficiency.

The salary for every Meat Divider was quite high.

Especially when a Spatial Gate opened and a Disaster Beast tide erupted, there would be a massive shortage of Meat Dividers.

Some martial artists in need of money would take it as a part-time job.

Although the wages were high, the working environment was dirty, exhausting, and dangerous. It was easy to contract various infections; if one wasn't careful, the money earned would all go toward medical bills.

Unless they were desperate for money, many martial artists would not choose this path.

Lin Qi understood why Fang Zhe wanted to become a Meat Divider. His cousin, Fang Lin, would be a senior next year and would need money to purchase resources to build a foundation.

Furthermore, his own family had borrowed a large sum of money from them, which had depleted their savings.

A sense of guilt rose in his heart.

"Xiao Qi, there's no danger in your father going. My health has recovered well, and I don't need much care anymore," his mother, Fang Huiyi, interjected to persuade him.

The three of them looked at Lin Qi, seeking his opinion.

"I have no objection!" Lin Qi looked up and smiled.

The three finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"When are you leaving?" Lin Qi suddenly asked.

"The day after tomorrow!" Uncle Fang Zhe said.

...

Ten minutes later, Uncle Fang Zhe took his leave.

Lin Qi returned to his room. Although his mind was still fatigued, he did not forget his stance training.

After taking a few blood-qi capsules, he assumed the correct posture and began practicing the "Round Stance."

In a short while, his face was flushed and he was sweating profusely.

Lin Qi's spine was lifted, his shoulders retracted, his elbows dropped, and his neck was held with spiritual lightness...

His body trembled slightly as his blood-qi surged through him, tempering every muscle.

Lin Qi felt an invisible pressure.

"Going to be a Meat Divider, while not dangerous, is extremely exhausting. Dad's health issues are increasing; this will be a great test for him as well."

Although Lin Qi did not want his father to work so hard.

But he knew that besides earning more money, his father also wanted to pay back Uncle Fang Zhe's family as quickly as possible.

It was all because of money!

"I need to become stronger and earn more money."

"The second-tier student loan and the 500,000 yuan reward from the Star Rank activity—I must get both."

Lin Qi hardened his resolve. A sudden surge of power erupted within his body, his blood-qi exploding and circulating to every part of his frame.

【Through "Round Stance" training, your blood-qi has achieved a breakthrough. Blood-qi +0.2】

【Blood-qi Value: 6.7 → 6.9】

...

"Not enough. I need to break through even faster."

Lin Qi clenched his fists and shook his head, dissatisfied with his rate of improvement.

But in the next second, a wave of intense fatigue washed over him.

"The mental consumption is too high. I'm too tired. Even refreshing potions can't fully restore me."

Lin Qi shook his head.

...

In the living room, Lin Zhen and Fang Huiyi were cleaning the table together.

Fang Huiyi said softly with concern, "Even if there's no danger at the War Base this time..."

"The environment is harsh. The accumulated organs and blood of some Disaster Beasts are corrosive, and there are various toxic liquids."

"You must be careful. Don't push your body to the breaking point."

Lin Zhen nodded and smiled. "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

"I'll just work part-time for a while and then come back."

"Mhm!" Fang Huiyi nodded.

...

Two days later, Lin Qi's father, Lin Zhen, and Uncle Fang Zhe set off for Linhai No. 1 Base.

Lin Qi followed his routine of attending classes and practicing martial arts.

One day, after class in the evening, in the Elite Class

"Kang Feiyue, let's go to the martial arts classroom after class for a duel. Do you dare!"

"Whoever doesn't dare is a grandson!" Kang Feiyue responded loudly.

In the classroom, two students were challenging each other.

"Brother Qi, Kang Feiyue is from our old Class 3. We should go support him. Want to head to the martial arts classroom during evening self-study?"

Jiang Tao asked, and Lin Qi nodded.

Lin Qi was used to such challenges. Everyone was a martial artist with abundant energy, and since they practiced with weapons, they were all geniuses who refused to back down from one another. Thus, challenges were common.

"Ring~"

When evening self-study ended, a group of students swarmed toward the martial arts classroom.

By then, Zhang Cheng was already standing in the classroom, grinning.

"I heard there's a challenge, so I'll serve as the referee."

Soon, the two challengers equipped their weapons and faced off in the classroom.

"The rules are: the match ends if either side admits defeat, or if I decide. During the fight, do not strike vital points. Now, begin the match!"

Zhang Cheng announced, raising his right arm.

Kang Feiyue and his opponent immediately engaged, their weapons clashing rapidly across the floor.

Watching from the crowd, Lin Qi's mind raced, performing mental simulations of how he would respond if he were in the ring.

The two combatants were ranked 22nd and 18th in the grade, making them very closely matched.

Lin Qi silently compared their spear techniques to his own. Others didn't have a status panel; unlike him, they couldn't quantify their progress to confirm every bit of improvement.

He was certain that in terms of spear techniques, the gap between himself and these geniuses had narrowed infinitely.

Not far away, Yang Lei was also watching the duel, his eyes flickering uncertainly, as if he were brewing something.

A few minutes later.

"Bang~"

"I won!"

As his opponent fell to the ground, Kang Feiyue pressed his battle saber against the other's neck, declaring the end of the match with an excited expression.

"Kang Feiyue wins!" Zhang Cheng also announced loudly.

The crowd erupted in cheers.

"Not enough, fight another round!" someone suggested.

"Is there anyone else who wants to challenge?" Zhang Cheng asked.

"Me!"

From within the crowd, Yang Lei raised his hand.

"Who do you want to challenge?" Zhang Cheng inquired.

"I want to challenge Lin Qi!"

Yang Lei pointed at Lin Qi. Many people began to jeer, and a large number of gazes turned toward Lin Qi simultaneously.

Lin Qi remained expressionless, exchanging a glance with Jiang Tao.

"Lin Qi, do you dare to accept my challenge?" Yang Lei asked, raising his voice.

Lin Qi sensed Yang Lei's malicious intent. If he didn't agree, wouldn't that prove he was afraid?

He had long since forgotten this person, but he hadn't expected him to jump out again.

Then he would give him a profound lesson.

"Yang Lei, I have a proposal. If you lose, how about you give Lin Qi 50,000 yuan?"

"Similarly, if Lin Qi loses, he gives you 50,000," Jiang Tao suddenly said.

"50,000!"

The crowd was thrown into an uproar. 50,000 was no small sum.

"This..."

Yang Lei hesitated. Even for a relatively well-off family, 50,000 yuan was a significant amount.

"What, no confidence in your own strength? You don't dare?" Lin Qi finally spoke.

His expression was serious, his gaze piercing as he stared at Yang Lei, an invisible aura spreading from him.

Provoked like this, Yang Lei felt a surge of irritation. In a moment of heatheadedness, he said

"Who says I don't dare? 50,000 it is!"

...

(End of Chapter)