Chapter 274: I Don’t Think Anyone Knows of My Dark Past

　　Nanjiang Governor’s House.

　　Even though Zhang Dingnan was extremely busy, when he heard Fang Ping was coming for a visit, he decided to take some time to meet him.

　　…

　　Governor’s office.

　　Zhang Dingnan raised his brows, and chuckled. “How interesting, you have unified your essence, spirit, and soul!”

　　The facade of a Rank-3, to Zhang Dingnan, did not mean much.

　　The so-called invincible front was what these Grandmasters liked to call the collective state of essence, spirit, and soul.

　　‘A Rank-3 martial artist like Fang Ping was unable to actively control his essence, spirit, and soul. Even for a Rank-6 powerhouse, it was not an easy task.

　　‘Therefore, they had to rely on fighting, on other’s approval, on their own beliefs. Only then can such a state emerge.

　　‘When they have fought until everyone on the same level thinks that they’re the best, and they have fought until they’ve gained everyone’s approval, then they will be invincible on that level.

　　‘Fang Ping had only just defeated Ling Yiyi, and he had already achieved that?’

　　“Fang Ping, the road to Grandmaster is wide open to you.”

　　Zhang Dingnan smiled, and it seemed to hold malicious intent.

　　Fang Ping did not look at him directly and did not see the malice in his smile. He asked, “After achieving invincible Rank-3, the path to becoming Grandmaster is now opened?”

　　“Being an invincible Rank-3 does not mean anything. What is the point of becoming invincible? It’s to unify your soul, spirit, and essence. Understood?

　　“To pursue the state of invincibility is to pursue your perfection.

　　“Your teacher is pursuing this state as well. She wants to fight all the Rank-6s. But to achieve true invincibility, you have to overcome the obstacles in your heart. There is an obstacle in hers, a big one.

　　“Therefore, she’s only relying on herself to achieve that collective state. That’s difficult, extremely difficult!

　　“Only when you have gained everyone’s approval, and your approval, then only can you take the shortcut, and reach the peak to become a Grandmaster.

　　“Of course, there are many ways to get there. This is not the only path, and not all Grandmasters have to go through the path of invincibility.

　　“Your teacher wants to defeat all Rank-6s and become invincible, but I’m afraid it cannot be done. We have to see if she can overcome her obstacles, abandon her miscellaneous thoughts, achieve the collective state, and enter the realm of Grandmasters.

　　“As for you, just because you say you want to be a Grandmaster, it does not mean it can be done. You have to keep up this front, all the way to peak Rank-6, then you will naturally be able to enter the realm of Grandmasters. This is the reason why when Rank-3 martial artists start on their journey of combat, most places are relatively cooperative.

　　“You should know this quite well. No matter who you decide to challenge, almost no one will get in your way.

　　“This is because you’re not the only one who wants to be invincible, others are pursuing the same thing too. Once you’ve completed the path to invincibility, then it will be so much easier for you to become a Grandmaster.

　　“It’s the same for others.

　　“All the top ten martial artists on the Rank-3 ranking list wish to take this shortcut. Of course, those who can do it might only be one or two people…”

　　Fang Ping said hurriedly, “I’m already invincible, how do they still plan on going down that path?”

　　Zhang Dingnan laughed and said, “You said you’re invincible, but have you gone to fight the two people from the Military Department? No.

　　“They have yet to fight you, and they have yet to be defeated by you, so of course they would think they’re invincible too. Why wouldn’t they continue going down that path?

　　Moreover, even if they get defeated, as long as they have enough faith, they can preserve that state too.”

　　“Oh, self-hypnosis, got it.”

　　Fang Ping knew that. ‘I understand that. Just now, when I saw that guy, he was only an upper-stage Rank-4, yet he was already trying to hypnotize himself into thinking he was invincible.’

　　Zhang Dingnan laughed but did not say anything. ‘Are you kidding me? Do you think self-hypnosis is all it takes?

　　‘If they did not have true strength, if they did not have invincible faith, their empty words would mean nothing. Did you think he could achieve invincibility just by saying so?

　　‘This boy is way too ignorant!’

　　Naturally, Fang Ping was not aware of his thoughts. If he were, he might have risked his life for a few taunts. ‘Ignorant? Look who’s talking!’

　　However, he did not have to bother. Fang Ping asked, “Governor, is there hope for my teacher to breakthrough to Grandmaster?”

　　Fang Ping knew of Lu Fengrou’s psychological obstacles.

　　But to overcome these obstacles…it was hard.

　　Zhang Dingnan groaned. “There is hope, and it’s not little.

　　“Actually, regarding your teacher’s breakthrough to Grandmaster, some people support it, some don’t.

　　“Of course, there are some who are neutral.

　　“As for several people in MCMAU, they do hope that she can achieve that breakthrough. Such as…”

　　Zhang Dingnan said in a sly tone, “Huang Jing.”

　　Fang Ping gave him a curious look. ‘Huang Jing hopes that Lu Fengrou can achieve a breakthrough?

　　‘But Lu Fengrou had told him before, MCMAU’s Grandmasters do not wish to see her achieve a breakthrough.’

　　“Does Bai Ruoxi know?”

　　“She does.”

　　“If she knew that, then why did she want to send Vice-chancellor Chen’s granddaughter to Lu Fengrou?”

　　Zhang Dingnan seemed to be very familiar with the situation in MCMAU. He chuckled and said, “Because Chen Yunxi resembles Lu Fengrou’s daughter, that includes her personality, her family, her background.

　　“Bai Ruoxi had sent Chen Yunxi to Lu Fengrou in hopes of helping her face the truth about her daughter’s death.

　　“From there, she can overcome her psychological obstacles!

　　“But Chen Yunxi is Chen Yaoting’s granddaughter, how could Bai Ruoxi just simply make such arrangements?

　　“If I’m not mistaken, Huang Jing was behind it too.

　　“Fang Ping, you come from Nanjiang, that’s why I’m telling you all these things. Understanding MCMAU’s situation a little bit more will be helpful to you.

　　“Out of the four High Grandmasters of MCMAU, Old Zhang had fallen. Now all there’s left is Wu Kuishan, Huang Jing, and Senior Liu Polu who is currently stationed at Nanjiang.

　　“Old Liu who is currently at MCMAU remains neutral.

　　“Wu Kuishan and Huang Jing belong to two different factions. Even though everyone seems to agree with one another, there are still internal disputes and different ideas.

　　“As for what are their differences, I won’t say.

　　“Either way, things are very complicated on the inside, you don’t have to know everything. If you want to have an easier time at MCMAU, you have to be like a fish in the water[1], and don’t expose any problems prematurely.

　　“Don’t think that just because Wu Kuishan is Lu Fengrou’s husband, you want to side with him.

　　“Also, don’t think that just because Huang Jing is your vice-chancellor, that you want to side with him.

　　“As for you, you might not have been anything special in the past, but you are now an invincible Rank-3, and you’re almost at Rank-4. You have infinite Vitality, and your bone marrow is like mercury. Truth be told, the Grandmaster’s door is now open to you.

　　“At this point, you are no longer expendable.

　　“These people too will be betting on you

　　“Peak Rank-6 powerhouses like Lu Fengrou and Li Changsheng, some Rank-4, Rank-5 instructors, and even some Grandmasters will be betting on you.”

　　Fang Ping suddenly asked, “What about you, governor? Are you betting on me too?”

　　Zhang Dingnan laughed and said, “I suppose I am. I hope you can have an even better time at MCMAU, and obtain great status and power.

　　“For example, if you were to obtain control over the MCMAU Martial Arts Society, then things would be different.

　　“Possessing control over a school’s Martial Arts Club comes with a lot of perks.

　　“The Martial Arts Club, the student representatives, and some of the instructors that come from the Martial Arts Club will all follow the Martial Arts Club.

　　“Once a battle breaks out in Nanjiang, will no one send reinforcements to Nanjiang, but you?

　　“You can use your power and summon some powerhouses to assist Nanjiang!”

　　Fang Ping raised his brows slightly, and said with a smile, “But governor, I think it’s better to become the vice-chancellor. Once I become a Grandmaster, wouldn’t it be better if I had control over the entire MCMAU?”

　　Zhang Dingnan could not help but laugh!

　　“How long would that take…”

　　“Ten years at most, three to five years at the very least…”

　　Zhang Dingnan laughed again. “It’s not easy to become the vice-chancellor. You have to be able to convince the public, you have to have the capability, and you have to make MCMAU stronger.

　　“It’s not a position of power, but one of social obligations and responsibilities.

　　“Grandmaster Old Zhang had dedicated his entire life to MCMAU. In the end, he died in battle in a foreign place.

　　“Since I’ve mentioned it, then allow me to say a few words. The dispute regarding MCMAU’s path is related to this. Wu Kuishan’s philosophy is raising crickets!”

　　Fang Ping was slightly surprised, and quickly asked, “Raising crickets?”

　　“That’s right. He recruits a large number of students, every semester he recruits from five or six thousand to tens of thousands! He would train them until Rank-1, then throw them into the catacombs to kill, to train, to fight, the strong ones survive. If you came out alive, then you would be a powerhouse, the hope of the future!

　　“Huang Jing’s philosophy was inherited from the late vice-chancellor. The strong will fight first, the weak will then be trained and grow slowly behind them.

　　“He wants Lu Fengrou to achieve a breakthrough to Grandmaster because he’s still holding onto the philosophy of the strong fight first. But Lu Fengrou is a double-edged sword. I’m afraid Huang Jing is hesitating too. All in all, these are some of MCMAU’s internal affairs. Even the government is in a dilemma.

　　“Was Wu Kuishan wrong? Not exactly.

　　“Was Huang Jing wrong? That’s not the case either.

　　“In conclusion, if you want to take over MCMAU, you’re still a bit too inexperienced. You should think it through, and think about whether the dispute between Huang Jing and Wu Kuishan will affect you.

　　“Of course, from your perspective, as someone close to Rank-4, you should support Wu Kuishan. After all, you’re not the one being thrown into the catacombs…

　　Zhang Dingnan said it so casually, but Fang Ping was speechless. “Then what happens when my sister goes to university?”

　　Zhang Dingnan almost laughed. ‘This kid considered so many things!’

　　“It’s up to you, how you want to pick. I’m just letting you get a clearer idea of what goes on within MCMAU. After this Magic City’s catacombs incident ends, there should be some dispute happening within MCMAU, this might even affect the students. Those of you who are powerhouses among students might even be forced to fall in line.”

　　Fang Ping said dismissively, “We’ll see how it goes. They wouldn’t force us, otherwise…”

　　Fang Ping suddenly shut his mouth, he coughed and did not continue.

　　‘Otherwise, we would switch schools. I almost spilled the beans. Keep a low profile, it’s better to keep a low profile.’

　　If Zhang Dingnan had exposed his true intentions, people like Lu Fengrou and Old Man Li would hunt him down and kill him. Even if he wanted to vote to change schools, it would have to come from a greater moral standpoint…such as helplessly being forced to do so, how they were reluctant to leave, how they had no choice but to do it…

　　Zhang Dingnan gave him a long, hard look, but decided not to bother about it. He said, “After you graduate, there’s no reason for you to stay in school. Fang Ping, if you’re interested, you should come back to Nanjiang.

　　“If you are a Rank-5 or Rank-6 martial artist by the time you graduate, it’s possible that you could be the vice-governor of Nanjiang!”

　　Fang Ping laughed quickly. “Oh governor, you flatter me. I’m only at Rank-3, and I’m still a freshman, I have not made plans about my future yet.

　　“Governor, the reason I came here this time is to ask for your teachings, regarding the cultivation of Manic Explosion…

　　Zhang Dingnan was not surprised and did not mind Fang Ping’s evasion. He smiled and said, “The cultivation of this combat technique, is not merely a matter of a few words. I will give you some tips, but they are to be mainly used as a reference for your thinking.”

　　“…”

　　Zhang Dingnan spoke briefly, but Fang Ping felt that he had learned a lot.

　　The creator of the combat technique would naturally be the one who understood it the most.

　　Having said that, without pulling out his sword, Zhang Dingnan’s arm suddenly shot towards Fang Ping.

　　At that moment, Fang Ping only felt as if he had nowhere to run, and would die!

　　“This is the collective technique.”

　　Zhang Dingnan withdrew his arm and chuckled. “How did you feel?”

　　“Like I couldn’t escape!”

　　“That is correct. What’s an ultimate move? And the ultimate move is the finishing move. If the person manages to escape, would it still be an ultimate move? Now, the ultimate moves cultivated by lower Rank-3 martial artists like you are very flawed.

　　“As for the real middle-stage Rank-3 powerhouses, and I mean powerhouses, the ultimate moves cultivated by them are different.

　　“With one strike, it will be either life or death!

　　“Including the locking of your aura, the unification of your strength, they have already reached a certain limit.

　　“You now have killed middle-stage Rank-4 martial artists from the catacombs, you might even be able to kill someone in the upper-stage…

　　“But, those are weaklings. Weaklings of the catacombs, just like the casual martial artists we have here.

　　“When you meet the real powerhouses of the catacombs, then you’ll understand. Killing beyond your level…it’s difficult, as difficult as rising to the skies!

　　“If a Rank-3 martial artist ever meets a top-tier Rank-4 powerhouse, and he locks onto your aura, the moment he unleashes his ultimate move, in one blow. It wouldn’t matter how many tricks you had up your sleeve. If you can’t make a move, it would be pointless.”

　　Upon hearing that, Fang Ping pondered for a moment. “These powerhouses, are there many of them?”

　　When he was in the catacombs, he had never met anyone like that.

　　If he had, he would have been dead already.

　　Including the Rank-6 martial artist he had met back then, of course, not dismissing the probability that the opponent did not want to use such a move on Fang Ping, it seemed that it was highly unlikely to meet someone like that.

　　“There are not many…” Zhang Dingnan chuckled. “Moreover, there are rarely around the borders. The catacomb’s martial artists are training too, going deeper into the catacombs as they do. They’ll head deeper into the wastelands, and towards places where no one goes. To them, human strongholds lacked this sort of opportunity.

　　“Maybe one day when you enter the catacombs, you might run into one of them. Please be careful.”

　　“Thank you for your reminder, governor.”

　　“You’re welcome, the instructors of MCMAU are aware of this. One day when you’re going in deep, they will remind you too.”

　　“Going deep into the catacombs…”

　　He said in a low voice. So far, the deepest he had gone to was the Jiao’s Forest, which was no further than a 100 li from Hope City.

　　‘How big were Magic City’s catacombs?’

　　From East to West, it spanned nearly 5000 km, it stretched far and wide!

　　From North to South, it spanned 2000 li, and this was only where the thirteen cities were located.

　　A world that was half the size of Huaxia and Fang Ping had only partaken in activities within one city so far, which was still far away from the deeper ends.

　　And in such a small place, he had already met a Rank-9 powerhouse and the Jiao.

　　As he spoke, Fang Ping realized that it was probably time for him to leave. But Fang Ping thought of something again, and asked suddenly, “Governor, in the catacomb’s language, what does ‘Naya Gukali’ mean?”

　　Zhang Dingnan chuckled. “So you’ve met them.”

　　Fang Ping was confused. ‘Met what?’

　　“The general meaning behind it is, ‘I’m weak, the strong do not kill the weak. Please spare me.’”

　　Fang Ping was stunned. He gulped and whispered, “They were asking for mercy?”

　　Zhang Dingnan smiled and nodded. “You can say that. But usually, this would not be said between opponents of the same level. Unless the one you met was a Rank-1 or Rank-2 catacomb martial artist, then they might say something like this. According to their philosophy, it was not shameful to surrender to a stronger opponent.”

　　When the catacombs’ martial artists ran into human martial artists, it’s usually a fight to the death, but that did not mean they were not afraid of death.

　　When a Rank-3 ran into a Rank-7, it would be pointless to not fear death.

　　According to the ancient laws, they will beg for mercy. The strong did not kill the weak.

　　Fang Ping’s asked stiffly, “Can it also be understood as ‘I’m useless, let me go’?”

　　Zhang Dingnan laughed and said, “If you’re willing to think that way, then yes, it can. But don’t pay it too much mind. Just kill them. All of the catacombs’ martial artists can be killed.

　　“As for those who the Grandmasters meet, it depends on their moods. Sometimes Grandmaster powerhouses would not intentionally kill citizens of the catacombs.”

　　Fang Ping stayed quiet. ‘Old Man Li, you did that!

　　‘No wonder I’ve been looked down upon so many times!

　　‘But…all the martial artists I’ve met are either Rank-4 or Rank-5, cough cough…that’s not too shameful.

　　‘Moreover, no one saw it either, and no one heard anything. Those catacombs’ martial artists who did have all perished.’

　　“Eradicate the witnesses…no one would know.”

　　Fang Ping felt a bit reassured. Otherwise, he would never be able to wash away that shame.

　　…

　　Before he left, Zhang Dingnan told Fang Ping that the Military Department and the Linguistics Research Institute had some breakthroughs. He was told that if he was free, he could go learn some common phrases in the catacombs’ language. It would not be long before MCMAU would begin extending their studies in this direction.

　　After Fang Ping said his thanks, he realized that human martial artists were quite lucky.

　　Or more accurately, the geniuses were lucky.

　　When he came to ask for the Grandmaster’s advice, he did not seem to hide anything and answered whatever Fang Ping asked.

　　His instructor was also a peak Rank-6 that would soon become a Grandmaster powerhouse.

　　Old Man Li too, was a peak Rank-6, and so was Big Lion. Whenever Fang Ping had any questions regarding martial arts, they would answer him.

　　Then there was also the vice-chancellor of MCMAU, Huang Jing, who was the same way too.

　　Human martial artists were a lot luckier compared to the catacombs’ martial artists.

　　As for the only catacombs’ phrase that Old Man Li had told him…Fang Ping knew the meaning behind his words, but he still felt ashamed!

　　“The catacombs’ people involved in this matter have already been eradicated by me. As for Old Man Li’s side, I’d rather die than tell him what happened! Otherwise…how can I show my face in front of that person!”

　　Fang Ping did not remember if he had told Old Man Li what he said to the catacombs’ humans.

　　But…he’ll just pretend he had not.

　　[1] Metaphorically, it refers to individuals who are well suited to each other or a beneficial environment. In this context, the author most likely meant that Fang Ping has to find people who go well with him or are beneficial to him.