Chapter 262: Fusion Degree 20%
"Lin Qi, I know quite a lot about the Tenth Institute’s internal affairs."
"Feel free to ask me for any information in the future. Of course, you can also give me a little news every now and then."
Wan Ming said with a smile, his eyes sincere.
’Isn’t this just gossip?’ Lin Qi thought to himself.
He had heard from Guo Heng that back at Tianhai No. 1 Middle School, Wan Ming was the biggest gossip. He loved digging up dirt, not for any particular reason, but purely as a hobby.
"Lin Qi, let me tell you something."
"Your teacher, Mu Hong, was supposed to become a Spear Technique instructor here at our Tenth Institute."
Lin Qi’s brow furrowed upon hearing this. It actually involved his teacher.
"He could have chosen a Spear Technique prodigy as his disciple, but unfortunately, he was on the battlefield at the time, and someone else snatched the opportunity."
"You should know that instructors at the Martial Arts Universities also have a need for resources, right?"
"The resources they need can’t be bought with simple money. They require a special channel, and that channel only uses Teaching Points."
Lin Qi nodded. He had guessed as much.
A school is a place for teaching and nurturing talent. There were definitely benefits to instructing a prodigy; otherwise, who would want to be a teacher?
"And being a teacher to one of our Tenth Institute prodigies grants the most Teaching Points."
"And now, this High Realm Martial Artist has a bit of a grudge with your teacher," Wan Ming said with a smile.
Lin Qi’s brow furrowed, and his mind instantly raced with possibilities.
So he asked, "Who is the student he’s teaching?"
A smile immediately spread across Wan Ming’s face.
"That would be Xiang Long, who’s ranked third in comprehensive strength. He’s incredibly powerful. I’m no match for him!"
"Xiang Long. I’ll remember that name!"
"Thanks for the information!" Lin Qi said with a nod.
"You’re welcome!"
Then, Wan Ming watched the backs of Lin Qi and the others as they left on the tram.
"It really is better when things are a bit more lively!"
"Lin Qi’s Talent is amazing. If he awakens a Special Ability, our school will have three SS-level prodigies. Now *that* would be truly lively."
...
「On the way back」
Jiangtao suddenly spoke up. "Even though Wan Ming, Han Zhen, and the other three were all nice, the way everyone else looked at us was really irritating."
Guo Heng shook his head. "After some people awaken a Special Ability, they think they’ve ascended to another level and don’t want to associate with us much."
"And there are quite a few people like that. I heard that many of the second and third-year prodigies from the Tenth Institute are the same."
Everyone fell silent at that. This was reality.
"Brother Qi, when you get the chance, you have to slap them in the face, hard," Jiangtao said.
Lin Qi laughed and replied, "Don’t worry, there will be a chance."
...
A few minutes later, Lin Qi returned to his Martial Arts Room, ready to begin his daily Cultivation.
He sat down cross-legged and recalled the birthday party from earlier.
This was his first time interacting with so many prodigies from the Tenth Institute. Although they hadn’t fought, he could sense through his Heart Eye Talent that they were all experts.
As expected of the one ranked last, Han Zhen’s aura was the weakest among the group.
Even Xia Lian was stronger than him.
’Their strength isn’t just from the unique aura of their Special Abilities, but also from the oppressive feeling generated by their high Qi and Blood Values and physical conditioning.’
’That Pei Jiu is the strongest. His Spiritual Power is a whole tier higher than mine, and his Qi and Blood Value isn’t low either. It’s definitely approaching the peak.’
Lin Qi let out a breath.
Every single one of the Tenth Institute prodigies had a higher Qi and Blood Value than him. He needed to work even harder.
’Give me a few more months, and my strength will transform again, enough to surpass all of them.’
Lin Qi exhaled, his thoughts turning back to his teacher, Mu Hong.
He never expected his teacher to have such a history with the Tenth Institute, getting his opportunity snatched away like that. Just thinking about it was upsetting.
’If it were me, I’d definitely make them pay for it in the future.’
Then again, if the opportunity hadn’t been snatched away, Mu Hong wouldn’t have become his teacher.
As Mu Hong’s disciple, he would inevitably be compared to Xiang Long in the future.
If he could defeat Xiang Long, it would be a way to get some payback for his teacher, Mu Hong.
With that thought, he now had one more reason to strive harder.
Thinking of this, his gaze locked onto his status panel.
[Template: True Monarch Erlang Yang Jian]
[Fusion Degree: 19.8%]
...
’My Fusion Degree is just 0.2% away from hitting 20%.’
’I’ll be able to get a new Talent soon. Any new Talent would be enough to give my combat power an explosive boost.’
Lin Qi clenched his fists, thinking to himself.
...
Time flew by. In the blink of an eye, ten days had passed since his teacher, Mu Hong, left for the Otherworld.
The year 2047 was drawing ever closer, and the global situation was getting worse and worse.
Meanwhile, the students of the Martial Arts Universities worked diligently within their Ivory Tower, frantically improving their strength.
...
On this day, the weather was frigid, and a cold wind howled.
The Azure Sky Sixth Institute was blanketed by countless snowflakes, while smart robots on the paths cleared away the accumulated snow.
Lin Qi slowly stepped off the tram, carrying his backpack and a black Metal Cylinder. Heat radiated from his body, and his every exhale turned into a plume of white vapor in the air.
"BEEP!"
He entered his private villa, and a wave of warm air washed over him.
The heating was on full blast throughout the entire villa, keeping the temperature at around 25 degrees Celsius.
Lin Qi watched the falling snow outside the window and sighed internally. As a child who grew up in the south, he had never seen such heavy snow.
If he hadn’t practiced Martial Arts, the temperature in the Imperial Capital would have left him shivering uncontrollably.
He returned to his Martial Arts Room, sat down cross-legged, and consumed an Energy Potion.
He had just returned from the Gravity Room and felt exceptionally exhausted, but he couldn’t rest yet.
He looked at his status panel, where the Fusion Degree for his Template Talent had reached 19.9%.
’These past few days, I’ve been working hard. Now I’m just 0.1% away.’
’The year 2047 is almost here. My Talent’s Fusion Degree should reach 20% by then.’
He had a premonition that the breakthrough would happen today.
So he exhaled a breath of stale air, began to clear his mind of distracting thoughts, and threw himself wholeheartedly into Source Energy Cultivation.
"ROAR~"
In his Consciousness Space, a vivid and colossal Level 8 Golden Gang Tiger threw its head back and roared. It opened its cavernous mouth and, just like usual, began inhaling the surrounding Source Energy Particles using the Gale Technique.
"WHOOSH~"
A fierce gale stirred within the Martial Arts Room.
Lin Qi felt a vast surge of Source Energy Particles entering his body. His cells were ravenous, as if they had been starved for ten days and ten nights.
They frantically devoured the Source Energy Particles flooding his system.
The effects of cultivating a Source Energy Skill were always exceptionally good after returning from the Gravity Room, as his cells had consumed a massive amount of energy to counteract the gravity.
It was just like how an ordinary person’s appetite would skyrocket after intense exercise, requiring them to replenish more energy.
He was in the exact same state right now.
He controlled the Source Energy Particles and began the Refinement of his skin and membranes, slowly causing his body to transform.
At the same time, a powerful gale gathered around Lin Qi’s body, drawing in Source Energy Particles.
「Two hours later」
Lin Qi’s eyes snapped open, glowing with a golden light.
"ROAR~"
A tyrannical aura erupted from him, and an invisible shockwave stirred up a fierce gale.
[You have completed a session of Source Energy Cultivation. Qi and Blood Value breakthrough. Qi and Blood Value +0.3]
[You have completed a session of Source Energy Cultivation. Template Fusion Degree +0.1%]
[Qi and Blood Value: 79.7 → 80]
[Template: True Monarch Erlang Yang Jian]
[Fusion Degree: 19.9% → 20%]
...
Lin Qi’s spirits lifted. He had finally reached 20% Fusion Degree.
He slowly stood up, stretching his joints.
"Little Chan, is everything ready?"
"Everything has been prepared!" Little Chan replied with a smiling nod.
In the Martial Arts Room, the smart robot had already prepared large cases of sports drinks and a hot Level 4 Nutritional Meal.
It had even prepared a towel for Lin Qi’s personal use.
Lin Qi nodded. It was time to obtain his new Talent.
...