After the mission, Fang Ping and the others did not leave Gold City.

　　In that time, they went out of their way to meet up with Donglin Martial Arts University’s Chen Jiasheng once.

　　There was no bad blood between MCMAU and Chen Jiasheng. Chen Jiasheng had lost twice to CCMAU. MCMAU had defeated CCMAU, which could be considered avenging them.

　　Fang Ping and the others actually felt a fair amount of admiration toward Chen Jiasheng.

　　The Chen family all died in battle in ’96.

　　In ’96, the Sino Nation’s Catacombs had a large-scale riot.

　　The garrisons everywhere were nervous. There was no way they could rescue them at that time too.

　　Because of the worsening state at Donglin, the old patriarch of the Chen family made the grim decision to bring his whole family, young and old, together to the battlefield, where they perished in combat.

　　In that battle, the old Chen family patriarch single-handedly fought three large Rank-7 beings from the Catacombs.

　　If not for the old man holding back those three powerhouses, the outer peripheral garrison could have been broken through. The moment these beings entered the surface, all hell would break loose.

　　In that battle, many martial artists died.

　　However, a Grandmaster dying in battle was almost unheard of even in the Sino Nation.

　　Rarer still was a Grandmaster bringing an entire family of martial artists and dying together in battle.

　　Perhaps Chen Jiasheng could not bear to leave this place his forefathers laid down their lives to protect.

　　Even before the Gaokao, he had become a martial artist and chosen to go to Donglin Martial Arts University in the end.

　　…

　　Everybody was not actually very familiar with Chen Jiasheng. After having some tea together and chatting, they asked some simple questions about the Rank-3 martial artist’s deeds and quickly broke up.

　　Chen Jiasheng sighed a little over Fang Ping’s group’s decision to accept a Peak Rank-3 martial artist’s mission.

　　He did not regret staying at Donglin Martial Arts University. He just felt he was useless.

　　At the tournament, he was a Rank-2 martial artist. Even now, he had only honed 75 bones. Compared to Fu Changding and the others, he had unexpectedly fallen behind.

　　He was not a twice-honed martial artist. His cultivation progress was slower than Fu Changding and the others.

　　Coming out from the teahouse, Fang Ping shook his head and said, “We probably can’t find him. Donglin Martial Arts University here had used the government’s power and still couldn’t find him. The bastard has probably left Gold City.”

　　The person was just a business spy, strictly speaking.

　　Hence, a warrant was only effective here in Donglin. The other places’ Department of Defense and Department of Investigation Services would not use a large amount of manpower to investigate a mere spy.

　　Therefore, as long as the target escaped the influential places such as Donglin Martial Arts University’s boundaries, he was mostly safe.

　　Under these circumstances, the hope of finding him in Donglin was greatly diminished.

　　Fu Changding said with some regret, “What do we do now then?”

　　“I want to go to Nanjiang. What do you guys think?”

　　“Going to Nanjiang Martial Arts University?”

　　Everybody perked up from their previous dejection. Zhao Lei’s eyes lit up and he asked, “Can you call Wang Jinyang out to meet up?”

　　“You want to challenge him one-on-one?”

　　Zhao Lei’s expression darkened, and he said drily, “I just want to see him.”

　　He would be a fool to challenge him. It would be courting death.

　　“We’ll see how it goes. Brother Wang seems to be cultivating recently, so I don’t know if he has any free time.”

　　Nobody objected to going to Nanjiang.

　　It was getting more chaotic at Nanjiang as well.

　　Moreover, there were other goings-on at Nanjiang at the moment. River City had recently set up a martial arts competition. Local combat teams from all over the place were flooding in to join.

　　If they went to Nanjiang now, they could watch the show and see the standard of martial arts in Nanjiang.

　　Nobody was against it, so Fang Ping settled the itinerary.

　　They would go to River City first, make a round at Nanjiang Martial Arts University and see if they could meet up with Old Wang before paying a visit to Governor-General Zhang to see if there were any benefits they could take.

　　After that, they would accept a few missions, watch the martial arts competition, then they would return to school while Fang Ping went back to Sun City for a look.

　　After missions were done in March, everybody had to remain at school for some time and would not take up any missions for a while.

　　…

　　March 20th was not out of Fang Ping’s expectations. The target could not be found.

　　Everybody could not stay in Gold City, so they dashed to the next stop.

　　Walking and looking around more during missions was also beneficial to broaden everyone’s knowledge. Staying at Gold City for the long-term did not help them.

　　The car sped toward River City.

　　The distance between Gold City and River City was not too great—it was a journey of just over 300 kilometers. At a good pace, it was just a 3-hour journey.

　　“What do you guys think—where has Pan Xiaoyang gone?”

　　Fu Changding was still a little sore. They had wasted many days and could not even find his shadow.

　　“Who knows? Donglin is next to the sea. He may have left seaward.

　　“Even if he did not flee via the sea, transportation is advanced now. It’s not like Donglin is sealed off from the world. If he fled from Donglin, where could we look?

　　“Unless the whole nation wanted him…”

　　“Ah!”

　　Fu Changding sighed and said, “Fang Ping, you’re Peak Rank-2 now. When are you going to break through Rank-3?”

　　“I’ll see. Without enough resources, entering Rank-3 would only be serving as a stopgap.

　　“Compared to that, it’d be better to stay in Rank-2 for now and use less Vitality.

　　“Moreover, I haven’t resumed my combat techniques cultivation yet. The strongest Vitality outburst I can manage is not even 150cal.

　　“150cal is not even a third of my Vitality.

　　“Strictly speaking, it can only be considered a lethal move. It’s far from an ultimate move.

　　“Peak Rank-3 martial artists have near to 1000cal of Vitality. As long as they’ve mastered self-powering, any Vitality outburst could be 100cal.

　　“If they’ve grasped lethal moves, even if it’s just the beginning steps, they could have outbursts of 200cal and above.

　　“Once they’ve grasped ultimate moves, just one move could be three or 400cal of Vitality…

　　“What say you—if I enter Rank-3 now and meet a Peak Rank-3 martial artist who has grasped an ultimate move, isn’t it the same as the current situation where I’ll just have to suffer the blow?”

　　According to the definition of a Peak Rank-3 powerhouse with 1000cal of Vitality, mastering a move with a Vitality outburst of 100cal was considered mastering self-powering.

　　An outburst of 200-300cal of Vitality was considered mastering a lethal move.

　　Over 300cal, it would reach the ultimate move status. If the outburst reached more than 500cal, a martial artist like this would pretty much be invincible among their peers.

　　Provided that these people could not meet similar martial artists.

　　With the strongest outburst he could muster now, Fang Ping would be considered a small-fry in Rank-3. Any random Peak Rank-3 martial artist who had grasped a lethal move could mow him over in one move.

　　“We can’t even serve as stopgaps.”

　　Everybody sighed once again. Comparing one person against another really irked them.

　　Fang Ping spent only two months going from Peak Rank-1 to Peak Rank-2.

　　This speed was shocking.

　　On the other hand, Fang Ping felt this was just average. Old Wang seemed to have spent around 3 months. He had only broken through to Rank-2 at the beginning of ’08, in January.

　　When Fang Ping met him in the middle of April, he was already Peak Rank-2.

　　By the time May came, he was already Rank-3.

　　In October, he entered Rank-4.

　　He took 3 months from Rank-2 to Rank-3. Rank-3 to Rank-4 took him 5 months.

　　If Fang Ping wanted to enter Rank-3 now, it was actually doable. However, he had to hone 51 bones from Rank-3 to Rank-4 and prepare the resources needed for the breakthrough. 5 months might not be enough.

　　…

　　River City.

　　Nanjiang’s provincial capital.

　　This was the first time Fang Ping came to River City in his current lifetime.

　　Nanjiang Martial Arts University sat in River City’s suburbs. Although it was the suburbs, due to the existence of several universities, it was very lively here now too.

　　“Nanjiang Martial Arts University looks terrible.”

　　Yang Xiaoman’s mouth had no filter. Upon seeing the gates of Nanjiang Martial Arts University, she spoke without reservation.

　　The moment her words sounded, someone at the side suddenly scoffed. “Careless talk leads to trouble. If not for the fact that you’re a girl, I’d have you bedridden for months at least!”

　　Yang Xiaoman looked at the person and pursed her mouth, not saying anything.

　　The other person was not a martial artist—he was an aspiring martial artist.

　　An aspiring martial artist like this was threatening to beat her till she had to lie in bed for months—in MCMAU, it would only be the other way around.

　　Still, standing in front of others’ school gates and badmouthing the school was already a pretty bad idea. Having been overheard, Yang Xiaoman was not interested in picking a fight. Fang Ping and the others smiled apologetically. The man huffed once and left quickly.

　　Only after he left, Fang Ping snapped impatiently, “Can you shut up? Are you here to cause trouble?”

　　“I was just talking. It wasn’t for him to hear. Also, I already stopped talking if you didn’t notice…”

　　Yang Xiaoman was upset. “I’m Rank-2, for goodness’ sake. I’m already being generous by letting an aspiring martial lecture me.

　　“Also, it’s not like I was lying. It really does look terrible.”

　　“Shut up, you. If a Grandmaster hears it later and kills you with one slap, we won’t beg for mercy on your behalf.”

　　Yang Xiaoman’s neck shriveled. NMAU was a specialized martial arts university. The vice-chancellors of such places were normally Grandmaster powerhouses.

　　They did not continue on this topic. After standing at the door for a while, Wu Zhihao’s shadow suddenly appeared.

　　Upon seeing Fang Ping, Wu Zhihao jogged over, laughing as he said, “Fang Ping, you guys actually came to NMAU. What rare guests!

　　“When you said you were at the school gates, I thought I misheard you.

　　“Tsk tsk, the martial arts universities’ champion team have come together, such a big honor!”

　　Fang Ping light-heartedly rebuked him. “Stop this act. I have some matters at Nanjiang this time, and I just dropped by as it was convenient.

　　“How is it? Can we go in and walk around?”

　　“No problem. Just say you guys are my classmates later and it’ll be fine…”

　　Wu Zhihao laughed and led them inside.

　　When they reached the door, Wu Zhihao spoke a few sentences to the old man in the guardhouse. The old man craned his head to look at Fang Ping and the others before nodding, allowing them in.

　　Only after Fang Ping and the rest went in, the old man was thoughtful, mumbling, “Those are new students at MCMAU? How extreme—one Peak Rank-2 and five Rank-2. If we didn’t have Wang Jinyang here, NMAU couldn’t compete…”

　　Currently, among the new students at NMAU, there were less than 50 martial artists, and less than 5 were Peak Rank-1.

　　Only Bai Yin was in Rank-2.

　　However, Bai Yin was very far from Peak Rank-2. He might not become Peak Rank-2 even by the end of freshman year.

　　Bai Yin was the face of Nanjiang Martial Arts University’s new students, yet at MCMAU, a string of Rank-2 students casually arrived.

　　…

　　Naturally, Fang Ping and the others did not know what the old man said.

　　Currently, they followed Wu Zhihao, leisurely exploring the NMAU campus.

　　After looking a while, Fang Ping suddenly said, “There are differences between NMAU and Donglin Martial Arts University.”

　　It was an acceptable statement. Earlier, when Fang Ping had met up with Chen Jiasheng, he also stood a while at Donglin Martial Arts University’s gates.

　　Donglin Martial Arts University students were a little more bloodthirsty than NMAU and more anxious.

　　Hearing this, Wu Zhihao was a little irritated and said, “Everybody’s about the same, aren’t we?”

　　“Perhaps. NMAU said they were going to reform, but I see the effects are just average. NMAU has too many students.”

　　“Too many students?”

　　Wu Zhihao said wearily, “NMAU has fewer than 5000 students. How is that too many?”

　　“Yeah, there are less than 5000 students, but there are students strolling all over the school…”

　　This was the reason Fang Ping said there were too many students.

　　In MCMUA, of the 6000 students, half of them were not at school.

　　In NMAU, there were 5000 students but less than 1000 outside, maybe even less. This was including the senior-year students.

　　In Nanjiang, there were no Catacombs entrances and not too many missions either. They had quite a few now, but it was possible that there were very few who accepted them.

　　In the large campus, half of the students they passed in NMAU were not martial artists. The ones who were martial artists were mostly Rank-1.

　　Fang Ping pretty much did not see a single Rank-2 martial artist.

　　Let alone Rank-3.

　　Of course, Fang Ping’s purpose was not to hurt Wu Zhihao. After saying this, he sighed and said, “Last time, I didn’t feel it that much, but now I’ve noticed that powerhouses are really very strong. Old Wu, you have to work harder.

　　“If you don’t work harder, you’d be left even further behind.”

　　Wu Zhihao was a little confused. He mostly understood Fang Ping’s meaning but was unsure what he was trying to imply.

　　Fang Ping simply felt that MCMAU had a different atmosphere when compared to NMAU.

　　In MCMAU, becoming a martial artist was not a big deal. Only Rank-2 students could carry themselves with a bit of pride, and Rank-3 was the goal everybody worked toward.

　　Rank-4 was for the gifted, and Rank-5 was a dream for many.

　　However, in NMAU, many students’ goal was to become a martial artist by the time they graduated.

　　Perhaps not picking NMAU in the beginning was the right choice. For Wang Jinyang to have managed to become a powerhouse in this atmosphere, it really was no easy feat.

　　Speak of the devil.

　　Just as Fang Ping thought of him, Old Wang came walking over from afar.

　　Seeing Old Wang, Fang Ping was a little surprised. He walked up and smiled. “Brother Wang, how did you know I was here?”

　　Wang Jinyang smiled lightly. “The old man at the door told me to keep an eye on you guys and make sure you don’t do anything bad.”

　　After saying this, Wang Jinyang looked at Fang Ping before turning his attention to the others.

　　He suddenly smiled. “All Rank-2. Not bad.”

　　At the side, Wu Zhihao was stunned. They were all Rank-2?

　　“Interested in playing some meaningful games?”

　　“Huh?”

　　Zhao Lei’s eyebrows rose and he said, “President Wang’s meaning is…”

　　“Simple. Didn’t I challenge all same-ranked martial artists in the beginning?

　　“Many MCMAU students were not satisfied. With pressure and motivation, many of the Rank-1 martial artists then have pushed themselves and become Rank-2 or even Rank-3 now.

　　“Even quite a few Peak Rank-3 students appeared.

　　“Personally, I feel that I have contributed to MCMAU.

　　“Of course, I’m sure you guys don’t see it that way.

　　“With that in mind, didn’t Fang Ping just think NMAU had too many people?

　　“I feel the same too.

　　“Usually, if we only rely on our own desires, there isn’t much effect.

　　“Since you guys are here, if you don’t mind, help me out and let the NMAU students have a taste of humiliation!

　　“Losing in the championship did not make the NMAU students feel anything. After all, only one person from NMAU fought. Everybody lost—it wasn’t just NMAU.

　　“What do you think about facing NMAU’s Rank-2 students, similar to the championship?”

　　Fang Ping knitted his brows slightly and said, “Bro Wang, this isn’t appropriate, is it? What if we really get hurt…”

　　Wang Jinyang smiled. “One Rank-2 Vitality Pill per person.”

　　“That’s too little.”

　　“If you beat NMAU, 3 pills a person!”

　　Wang Jinyang gestured with his hands and said, “NMAU’s conditions have limits. This is the most we can offer.

　　“You guys sure you don’t want a shot at revenge?

　　“In the championship, it wasn’t any of you who defeated to NMAU’s Bai Yin.

　　“Now I’m asking you guys to let NMAU’s same-ranked martial artists challenge you MCMAU’s geniuses. Don’t tell me you don’t dare to accept?

　　“You should know, when I came to MCMAU that time, a Rank-1 had challenged a Rank-2…”

　　Before Fang Ping could open his mouth, Zhao Lei’s gaze sharpened and he said, “I have no objections!”

　　Yang Xiaoman smiled broadly. “I also feel it’s quite worthwhile.”

　　Fu Changding shrugged and said playfully, “I don’t mind, actually. Also, let a few Rank-3 students come and play with Fang Ping. What do you think of that, Fang Ping?”

　　Fang Ping glared at him before turning to Wang Jinyang again.

　　Wang Jinyang smiled wryly. “What do you think?

　　“If you agree, should you encounter a difficult situation in the future, I’ll help you out once for free no matter who the opponent is!”

　　“Brother Wang, is this necessary?”

　　“It is!” Wang Jinyang’s tone was heavy as he said, “NMAU’s reform, or should we say the martial arts university students’ attitudes, should all change!

　　“The three southern provinces aren’t safe anymore!”

　　Fang Ping understood this well.

　　How could the Nanjiang higher-ups not know something that even Bai Jinshang could foresee?

　　However, the attitudes of NMAU’s students really was not something that could be changed with just a few words of advice, not to mention that the Catacombs’ matters could not be shared with the public at the moment.

　　“Then our parts as villains are set?”

　　Wang Jinyang smiled. “Not necessarily. If you lose, you won’t be villains, you’ll just be MCMAU’s embarrassments.

　　“You have to win.

　　“Well, if you guys really lose, I’m afraid you’ll get the lecture of a lifetime when you return to MCMAU.”

　　“Lose?”

　　With a broad smile over his have, Fang Ping said, “Brother Wang, if you don’t interfere, I can level all NMAU’s students!”

　　“Tsk tsk, those are big words. Brat, you’re up!”

　　Wang Jinyang was not angry, grinning broadly. “Alright then. I’ll go arrange it now. We can still muster up five Peak Rank-2 martial artists.

　　“Let’s not waste time. See you all tonight at NMAU’s Martial Arts Society!

　　“Also, I’ll invite two Grandmasters, Governor-General Zhang and Vice-Chancellor Liu, to watch the battles.

　　“Since it’s convenient, we can let all the NMAU students currently at school come cheer too. You don’t mind, do you?”

　　“It’s that big a deal?”

　　Fang ping’s expression changed slightly. There were not many Nanjiang Grandmasters. The arrival of two Grandmasters coming to watch along with thousands of NMAU students was no small matter.

　　“It’s time to let people know the determination NMAU has to win!

　　“If five Peak Rank-2 martial artists can’t even beat five new students from MCMAU…

　　“What right do we have to ask for resources, what right do we have to yell about wanting to become strong, and what right do we have to hold against the dangers that are possibly coming to Nanjiang!

　　“Governor-General Zhang and Vice-Chancellor Liu are too soft. In my opinion, all martial artists should be thrown into the Catacombs for a walk! We can only become stronger if we survive!”

　　Wang Jinyang’s tone was full of depth. Ever since he suffered the worst ever defeat in his life in Tiannan’s Catacombs, Wang Jinyang completely understood that the strong truly dominated the weak in this world!

　　The way martial arts universities were grooming their students was too gentle!

　　His idea to make the NMAU martial artists challenge Fang Ping’s group was not a spur-of-the-moment decision. He had long had this plan. It just so happened that Fang Ping’s arrival coincided with it.

　　If this attempt still could not rouse the NMAU students to aim for the top, he still had other methods.

　　It was very tough for aspiring martial artists to become martial artists. Without resources, it was indeed very hard to cultivate.

　　However, if they did not have the resources, they could still fight for it!

　　Just because they were aspiring martial artists, did they not have any way to earn money?

　　As long as they had the heart to become stronger, there was nothing that was impossible. What NMAU lacked now was passion!

　　When he had been an aspiring martial artist, he did not have anybody supporting him either, so his cultivation then had been very slow, but no matter how slow it was, it was still a lot faster than other people.

　　When he had entered Rank-1, he immediately started claiming missions and went to all sorts of places.

　　When he had been Peak Rank-1, despite nobody pushing him on, he still prepared ways to earn the medicinal pills he needed for a breakthrough.

　　In the end, martial arts universities just so happened to have this demand. Wang Jinyang did not dally either and immediately agreed to it.

　　Step by step, he entered Rank-2, then Rank-3, and now that he was in Rank-3, he had multiple experiences of escaping death.

　　A lot of NMAU students just holed themselves up in the school, only doing the bare minimum of their responsibilities as martial artists!

　　Now, they were about to be challenged at their doorstep and have their faces trampled on. If even this was unable to rouse them, then what was the point of wasting resources on them? It would be better to groom some martial artists like Bai Yin—one of him was worth over a hundred others!

　　In the coming times, a Catacombs entrance might appear in Nanjiang. The future would be even more dangerous.

　　There were not many resources from the start. If these students did not work much harder, time would not favor them.

　　…

　　Wang Jinyang arrived quickly and left just as fast.

　　Fang Ping swept a gaze over the others, speaking after a pause. “If MCMAU is notified of our loss, you guys will be waiting for a thrashing when you get back!”

　　Fu Changding said sheepishly, “Doesn’t the same go for you…”

　　“Nonsense. I’m about to become Rank-3. How can it be the same?”

　　Wu Zhihao’s expression was disoriented. ‘Am I hearing things’

　　Wang Jinyang had shown up all of a sudden and given Fang Ping and the others a letter of challenge on behalf of Nanjiang Martial Arts University, and he was also going to invite two Grandmasters to observe the fight.

　　Now, Fang Ping had suddenly said he was about to become Rank-3. If this was not a dream, what was it?

　　‘Did I imagine him saying that or am I dreaming?’

　　While Wu Zhihao doubting his ears, Fang Ping and the others no longer had the notion to go sightseeing. They gave a parting greeting and left hurriedly.