Chapter 324: Battle Between the Top Ten Elite Schools

　　After visiting the two instructors, Fang Ping brought his family to his dormitory.

　　The couple was satisfied with his single-person dormitory, but Li Yuying admonished him at the sight of his mess of a room and his clothes strewn all over the floor. He was worse at this than Fang Yuan.

　　It was Fang Yuan’s turn to be proud.

　　She kept her room clean and pretty!

　　After enduring a scolding by his mother, Fang Ping clarified. “I don’t live here, actually. I live somewhere else. I have an office in the Martial Arts Society office, and it’s very clean. You can even use the floor as a mirror!”

　　Li Yuying laughed. She helped tidy the room up for a while before she asked, “Do you have a girlfriend?”

　　“A girlfriend…”

　　Fang Ping sighed. It seemed so far away from him.

　　At a time when all humanity was endangered and the Catacombs in chaos, how could he build a family?

　　As a man, he should give his all to the country. How could he be burdened by matters of love?

　　Before Fang Ping could say that, though, Fang Yuan said, “Mom, Fang Ping can’t find one, because he’s always beating up girls. It’s all over the Internet right now.”

　　Fang Ping’s face went dark. ‘I don’t have a sister like you!’

　　…

　　On the 20th, Fang Ping brought his family along to visit his mentors, on a tour of the school, and also to the new house.

　　The huge villa surprised them. They did not expect Fang Ping to buy a house like that one.

　　On the 21st, his parents and sister went to watch the competition, while he himself did not.

　　…

　　The Vice-chancellor’s office.

　　Fang Ping took a seat opposite Huang Jing. The two of them looked at the rules and regulations of the Martial Arts University Interschool Championships, newly sent down.

　　After a while, Fang Ping furrowed his brow. “If we do this, the competition this year is going to be more merciless than before.”

　　Huang Jing nodded. “It is, yes. The government wants to set everything in stone this year. We don’t know how the situation is going to be in the future, and we can’t just waste our time.

　　“If we finalize the main timeframe this year, the championships after this one can be held at a smaller scale.”

　　The government intended for the 99 martial arts universities this year, plus the Three Military Schools, to participate in a championship, not unlike the Rank-1 National Championship Fang Ping had organized.

　　102 universities would be ranked, and the Top Ten Elite Schools would finally be confirmed. The name was of value; those schools would be awarded by the Department of Education.

　　And there would be two levels.

　　Elite schools, and non-elite schools.

　　The 92 non-elite universities would be ranked as well. The two universities or military schools at last place for three consecutive years might no longer be acknowledged as a martial arts institution.

　　When the next year came, the non-elite schools had a lot of options to improve their rank. The top ten elite schools had the right to challenge the elite schools.

　　They must form a team of 5 middle-ranked martial artists before they could do that, though.

　　Middle-ranked martial artists were not easy to nurture. Throwing money at the students was not the way to go.

　　One only had four years in university. Martial artists could chow down so many pills until their lives were risked, but the human body needed time to absorb and digest the nutrients. There was a limit to the human body’s capabilities.

　　One only required resources enough to support his personal cultivation. Giving him more than that was pointless.

　　If one became a Rank-4 martial artist after four years of gorging on pills, it did not mean that he was talented. Gorging on pills alone did not a Rank-4 artist make.

　　This meant that the non-elite schools would find it difficult to challenge the elite schools.

　　After the ten elite schools were set this year, it would become more difficult for other schools to fight for the ten seats during the next few years.

　　It could be said that the ten schools would practically be dead set this year.

　　Of course, if another school was strong enough to nurture five middle-ranked martial artists, they still had the right to challenge the ten schools.

　　This rule could minimize infighting between humans.

　　After thinking about it for a moment, Fang Ping said, “This is not very fair. Take NMAU for instance. Wang Jinyang’s extremely strong, but NMAU still can’t become one of the ten elite schools…”

　　Huang Jing laughed. “Wang Jinyang would still have to graduate, wouldn’t he? If NMAU can’t catch up, and other schools have nurtured many talents, NMAU will fall off the top ten eventually. How is it unfair?”

　　“You have a point. Wang Jinyang’s already in junior year…”

　　Fang Ping nodded. He then sighed. “But if everything is done as planned, everything will be challenging this year. Not only are the top ten elite schools set in stone, but a threshold is also erected for other schools. Training a Rank-4 powerhouse is easy, but training five is not.

　　“All schools should be hurling all sorts of resources on their best students right now if I’m not mistaken.

　　“If they’ve really discovered a talent and they have enough resources, a Rank-4 powerhouse is not that difficult to nurture…

　　“If a Rank-4 martial artist goes against a Rank-3 martial artist, he can kill his opponent in seconds most of the time. Not everyone is like us, killing people above our ranks…”

　　Huang Jing looked speechless. ‘Can you be humble for a while?’

　　“Everything is more challenging this year, but MCMAU has nothing to do with it. MCMAU’s goal is the first place, not the top ten!

　　“The Department of Education has also sent a message. The Big Two, the Eight School Alliance, and the Three Military Schools don’t have to take part in the early stages of the competition.

　　“Seven among the average martial arts universities will be chosen, and they will be added to the aforementioned schools to form a roster of 20 schools.

　　“The top ten will be from these 20 schools, so we only have to fight a few rounds.

　　“After the top ten is determined, it will be our time to strike! Our goal is first place!”

　　“How much subsidy does the school receive if we get first place?”

　　“30 billion yuan at least!” Huang Jing said. “40 billion, maybe. Second place will receive 5 billion fewer or more! The government’s resources are limited, and they cannot increase the amount they’re spending on this. When one receives more, others will naturally receive less.

　　“This is also to put on some pressure on the universities and inspire competitiveness between us. The situation is direr than before. Some policies, slow as they are, are in the process of being altered.

　　“The government won’t give us martial arts universities so much pressure, under normal circumstances.

　　“But now the Catacombs are opening. In Magic City, and other cities. This is not a good sign.

　　“Although the situation isn’t so dire that we have to accept a high number of students and send them to the Catacombs in order to pick out the talented ones, as the Vice-chancellor has suggested, appropriate pressure is necessary.”

　　Fang Ping exhaled. He nodded. “I understand. It’s still the same as before: five starters and five reserves. Rest assured, MCMAU will definitely win first place this time!”

　　According to the government’s policy, the ten elite schools could only challenge the university ranked before them the next year.

　　If MCMAU won first place this year, they would not need to take part in so many battles.

　　They would only have to wait for second place to challenge them, and the university in question might not do so.

　　This was also to minimize casualties. Most of the top ten school team members were middle-ranked martial artists. It would be a huge loss if one of them died during the championships.

　　Everyone would not be content if the schools were not ranked somehow.

　　‘What right do they have to receive more support, while we only get so little?’

　　In the past, martial arts universities were not ranked. The Big Two was only by word of mouth. They did not inherently enjoy more privileges than others.

　　After the government determined the ranks once and for all, there would be less dissent between schools.

　　The other schools would not be indignant because they felt that the elite schools received more resources.

　　Huang Jing was not as optimistic. After some consideration, he said, “We’ll fight for first place on the basis of third place!”

　　“Third place?”

　　“CCMAU and FMS are both difficult opponents. Be more careful.”

　　First Military School. That was Yao Chengjun’s school.

　　From its name, it was evident how tyrannical and confident the school was.

　　It was also the first military school opened by the Military Department. Yunmeng Military School and Nine States Military School were both opened later.

　　Fang Ping laughed. “Dean, be assured that MCMAU is not weaker than any other school! I’ve wanted to fight Yao Chengjun and the others for a while now…”

　　Huang Jing warned sternly. “I’ll tell you this earlier. It is possible that they’ll break through to Rank-5 soon. Fang Ping, don’t be too arrogant or too careless!”

　　“Rank-5…”

　　Fang Ping furrowed his brow. That was true.

　　They had all advanced into Peak Rank-4. There should be a lot of time until the battle between the top ten elite schools.

　　Even if they were not at Rank-5 now, it would not be surprising if they broke through to Rank-5 during that period of time.

　　Fang Ping, on the other hand, would find it daunting.

　　Peak Rank-4 was his limit. Even if he could break through, it was best if he did not. He was improving too fast, spending too little time at each rank. His control over his strength would be weaker and weaker until he eventually lost control.

　　“I know. I won’t be careless. Do the battles between the average martial arts universities start next month?’

　　“Yes. Seven will be chosen from 89 schools. It would require a month, at least.”

　　“That is to say, the battle between the top ten elite schools will start in December?”

　　“Approximately.”

　　“We don’t have much time.”

　　Fang Ping exhaled again. It was only a month to December.

　　He had only entered upper-stage Rank-4 recently, while people like Yao Chengjun had been on the Peak for more than half a year. The odds of them advancing into Rank-5 was high.

　　He, an upper-stage Rank-4, would need to battle against Rank-5 opponents. Strong ones at that. This rank-transcending battle between geniuses would be doubly difficult to win.

　　Huang Jing said, after consideration, “You can put matters regarding the Martial Arts Society aside for now, including the Rank-1 championship. You have to focus on your self-enhancement.

　　“You, Chen Wenlong, and Zhang Yu are definitely shoe-ins for the championship.

　　“Three starters. The other two, you choose from people like Qin Fengqing and Xie Lei.

　　“The other Rank-4 students will enter the reserves team.”

　　“I know. Also, Dean, is Zhang Yu not back yet?”

　　“No, he went to the Beijiang Catacomb. I heard from the people in Beijiang news of him advancing to upper-stage Rank-4 as well.”

　　Fang Ping’s brow rose. It was not a surprise. Zhang Yu was quite talented; he would not succeed in entering Rank-4 during junior year otherwise.

　　A year and a couple of months later, he was now at upper-stage Rank-4. His progress was not going that fast.

　　“Where did that guy Qin Fengqing go?”

　　“Him?”

　　Huang Jing suddenly wanted to laugh. He coughed. “He’s always been on campus. Didn’t he earn a sum of credits before? He was rich, so he went to cultivate in the Vitality Pool. And… He didn’t come out for more than half a month. He spent all his credits and owes the school even more.

　　“Now he’s working at the Vitality Pool to clear his debt. Haven’t you come across him?”

　　Fang Ping froze.

　　What kind of joke was that?

　　Qin Fengqing had earned more than ten thousand credits. All of them were gone?

　　Ten thousand credits were the equivalent of hundreds of millions. He, a mere Rank-4 martial artist, spent every single one?

　　It was impossible to spend so much money in the Vitality Pool, regardless of how expensive it was.

　　“Didn’t he earn more than ten thousand credits?”

　　“Oh, he went to buy a set of Rank-6 beast skin armor, spending half of it…”

　　Fang Ping surrendered!

　　This guy was even more extravagant than him, wasting his money on Rank-6 beast skin armor?

　　Fang Ping could not bring himself to buy one and had only settled for a middle-stage Rank-5 set.

　　That was why his credits were not enough!

　　Wait. This guy did not come to the Martial Arts Society for his salary even after owing so much money. That was unlike him.

　　“Has he entered the upper-stage, after spending so many credits?”

　　“He didn’t.” Huang Jing shook his head. “He’s just doing everything wrong and wasting his credits. Normally, three to five days is the limit. Staying longer won’t be of any use to him.

　　“But he’s stubborn. He didn’t want to come out, saying that he wouldn’t until he had reached the higher-stage.”

　　Huang Jing laughed. “Actually, I shut it down afterward. He has a lot of credits in his account there. I did this on purpose so that he can tune it down. He’s being arrogant after earning a few credits!”

　　Huang Jing was looking at Fang Ping while he said that.

　　‘This applies to you too.’

　　Fang Ping was speechless. ‘I’m not as stupid as him.’

　　Qin Fengqing was also crazy. He knew that he could not break through, yet he stayed there. Did he not feel guilty while he wasted all his credits?

　　“He should be able to enter the higher-stage after a month or two.”

　　“Mm. Noted.”

　　Fang Ping nodded. Qin Fengqing had failed to enter higher-stage even after spending thousands of credits. He should be so fed up now. ‘Whatever. I’ll stop thinking about him.’

　　Huang Jing inferred that he could enter higher-stage Rank-4, so Fang Ping would reserve a seat in the starters team for him.

　　After they finished talking about the championship, Fang Ping suddenly asked, “Dean, can you help me sell something?”

　　Huang Jing’s expression darkened.

　　“A heart marrow. You know many Grandmasters. 50 million…”

　　Huang Jing’s brow furrowed slightly. “Grandmasters have little use for heart marrow, especially those from unknown sources. You have to know… Sometimes the heart marrow of humans is extracted too!”

　　Fang Ping’s pupils dilated. He did not ask for more information, saying instead, “But it doesn’t mean that no one would use it, does it?”

　　“There are people who would use it…” Huang Jing could not help but chuckle. “How about this, I’ll ask around on your behalf.”

　　“Sure, thank you, Dean.”

　　Fang Ping got up and turned to leave. He walked for a while, but then he turned back and asked, “Dean, what’s Instructor Li’s deal?”

　　“Who?”

　　“Old Man Li.”

　　Huang Jing eyed him. ‘Can’t he just say he’s asking after Dean Li?’

　　“About Old Li…”

　　“Tell me. He said he’s stronger than you and that he can kill a Rank-8 with a sword move!”

　　“Cut that out!”

　　Huang Jing scolded. Did this kid think he was stupid enough to be riled up by his words?

　　After consideration, Huang Jing finally said, “He’s suffering from some old injury that makes his advance to Rank-7 difficult. There’s nothing else wrong about him. Don’t disturb him that much, you.”

　　“An old injury…”

　　Noticing Huang Jing’s silence, Fang Ping did not ask for more.

　　…

　　While Fang Ping was walking out from the Dean’s office, he was thinking about the sum needed for the system to upgrade: 50 million.

　　He might not be able to sell his heart marrow.

　　Where else could he get the 50 million he needed?

　　He could sell his B-grade yanyuedao. It had added 50 million to his Wealth before; could he acquire a further 100 million after selling it?

　　His company? Forget about earning money from it. It needed money from him instead.

　　“Right! Liu Dali!”

　　Fang Ping thought of someone. Would that guy be in MCMAU right now? If he was, and Fang Ping got a hold of him, he must think of some way to finagle some money from him.

　　…

　　“Achoo!”

　　The MCMAU stadium.

　　Liu Dali sneezed. Fang Yuan asked curiously, “Brother Liu, are you having a cold?”

　　“No, I’m a Rank-3 powerhouse. How can I have a cold? Some bastard must be thinking of me. I have a rival here in MCMAU. That guy is not only shameless, he’s also underhanded and thick-skinned… He’s so evil that malice bleeds from his pores.”

　　Liu Dali cursed him for a while before his face broke out into a grin. “Girl, you’re doing well in MCMAU! The patrolling squad doesn’t bother you. Is your dad an instructor in MCMAU?”

　　“No, my brother’s here.”

　　“Oh, then your brother’s doing good for himself. I’ll interview your brother and write an article about him. He’ll become popular soon. Everyone I interview becomes popular!”

　　“Brother Liu, let’s not talk about this first. Help me take some photos of them, I want some of their signatures.” Fang Yuan ignored his proposition for an interview.

　　He would not interview Fang Ping. That guy was popular enough.

　　He should take photos of the contestants first and ask for their signatures. As for whether he would sell them, that was for the future him. The signatures of Rank-1 martial artists were not too valuable, but he could hang them in his office, put up appearances.

　　The little girl in question had already planned everything. This time she could ask for more signatures, maybe take some photos together too. She could bring them back to Yuan Ping Club and let everyone see for themselves how far-reaching their president’s network was.

　　Liu Dali nodded jovially. This was nothing.

　　A few photos for the MCMAU people leaving him alone. He would not need to hide himself every so often.

　　He eyed the girl from the corner of his eye. Her brother was in MCMAU, and the Martial Arts Society members were all courteous to her… Maybe he could make some friends through her. If the friends in question were Fang Ping’s rivals, all the better.