Chapter 148: All Below The First Place Are Garbage (1)
After a long while, Bai Feng walked back downstairs. He had regained his calm, as though the person roaring earlier wasn't him.
Looking at Su Yu, Bai Feng said, "Apart from your teacher, tell no one about your cultivation. Regardless of whether it is about your Divine Characters or cultivation method, unless you're asking for guidance, don't tell anyone anything!"
Su Yu nodded.
Bai Feng warned, "This is a cultural research academy. Cultural researchers are too mysterious. Any carelessness would result in a leak of secrets. If your enemies discover your weakness, you would die without even knowing what happened. Pack up and come with me."
Su Yu had nothing to pack. He picked up his yellow-grade saber and followed Bai Feng out of the research center.
...
Outside, the sky was clear and bright.
The weather was good today.
While walking, Bai Feng said, "For now, focus on cultivating. When something feels wrong about your sea of willpower, stop immediately."
"Alright."
"Remember to tell me when you reach the Mental Tempering Stage."
"Alright."
Su Yu did not say much. After a while, he softly asked, "Teacher, about the advanced War God Art..."
"Be patient. If everything goes well, you will get it in the afternoon."
Inwardly, Bai Feng grumbled that he didn't even have that cultivation method himself. If he couldn't defeat Hu Wensheng, Liu Hong would not pay up. But after kicking Hu Wensheng's ass, he would be able to ask for anything!
As he mused, he couldn't help but to think about Su Yu again. This kid was very fast when it came to forming Divine Characters and growing his willpower. And from the looks of it, his acupoint opening speed was very fast as well.
In that case, about challenging the Top 100 Ranking in one year...forget it. He would wait and see.
...
Su Yu followed Bai Feng deep into the academy. As they went deeper, there were less and less pedestrians around them. Ahead of them, one villa after another appeared. Su Yu knew where they were. This was the residential area of the teaching and administrative staff. It was actually not that far from the Mental Tempering Garden, but it looked far because of how big the Mental Tempering Garden was. And behind the staff residential area was the foreign students residential area.
"Is he going back home?"
Su Yu wondered to himself. Was Bai Feng going back to his home?
Bai Feng continued walking forward silently. When he walked past the gate, he indifferently said, "We have a few opponents in the academy. This is not a conflict of life and death, but if there is a chance to make them suffer, grab it. That is how they are treating us too.
"Generally speaking, only those in the same realm will compete against each other. The one to rise on top will gain more resources. The resources here are limited. At times, there is only a drop of divine or devil blood available. I want it and he wants it too. Even if we both have enough merit points and total earned merit, you might not be able to get it. In that situation, a conflict would erupt.
"Our faction is known as the multiple character faction. There aren't a lot of us around. Our faction is probably on the verge of extinction. However...we are strong. Each of us is strong! You're not at the Mental Tempering Stage yet, so if those at the Mental Tempering Stage and above act against you, I will handle them for you."
"But when you reach the Mental Tempering Stage, I won't do anything if those in the same stage act against you. Those would be your opponents to deal with. You will understand more in the future. Personally, I have a few rivals in the academy as well."
"Liu Hong?" Su Yu asked softly.
Bai Feng smiled, "Liu Hong? Perhaps. But he ranks lower than me. Since he's weaker than me, I don’t really consider him a rival. Do you know Hu Wensheng?"
"I read about his introduction in the student manual." Su Yu nodded.
"He's a ninth-stage Skysoar cultivator, a student of a vice principal, and joined the academy at the same time as me. Back then, he occupied the second place of the Top 100 Ranking. During that year, Xia Yuwen held the first place while I held the fourth place. Wu Qi held the third place."
Bai Feng took a deep breath and said, "I have been competing against him for many years. We competed to become teaching assistants, we competed for divine and devil blood to forge our bodies, we competed for the opportunity to be promoted into a full researcher, we competed for chances to enter the secret grottos, and so on. This has been ongoing for many years.
"At this point, I can't be bothered to keep competing against him anymore. To speak the truth, I have always been looking down on him. Ultimately, that person is not a true genius. He cultivates in a textbook-perfect manner with no unique characteristics of his own."
Su Yu was somewhat surprised. Those were some arrogant words. After all, that person was a ninth-stage Skysoar while his teacher was only a seventh-stage Skysoar. And back then, that person held the second place of the Top 100 Ranking while Bai Feng only held the fourth place. With that result, Bai Feng was actually looking down on that person?
Bai Feng seemed to know what Su Yu was thinking. He smiled and said, "Unless you get the first place, the second, third, and fourth places are the same. I don't really care that much about that. Only the first place is worth fighting for."
"Since I couldn't beat Xia Yuwen, I couldn't be bothered to compete against the others anymore. I only needed to do enough to get into the top four and get the benefits reserved for the top four students."
Su Yu didn't know enough about the ranking to say anything.
Bai Feng continued, "If I had not accepted a student this year, I would have continued ignoring him. I can always fight him again when the time comes for us to be promoted into a full researcher."
Su Yu couldn't help asking, "Teacher, you mean..."
"I accepted you this year, right?" Bai Feng sighed, "I'm already a seventh-stage Skysoar. Some of the academy benefits are no longer as important for me. But that's not the case for you. I need to fight for some resources for you. Sigh. I can only give it a try and reduce some pressure on you. It's no big deal even if I lose. I would only embarrass myself, suffer heavy injuries, and end up bedridden for half a year or so..."
Su Yu was confused. What was his teacher saying?
Bai Feng continued, "Don't feel indebted to me. I am fighting for you, but it doesn't matter. This is my duty as a teacher."
Su Yu wanted to say something, but he didn't know what to say. His teacher was fighting for him? He was dumbstruck. He had no idea what his teacher was talking about.
Bai Feng sighed and said, "If you can reach the Skysoar Realm in a year, then the blood I shed today would be worth it."
...
What the hell was Bai Feng on about? Su Yu was totally confused. His teacher was acting as though he had just created some trouble. But he hadn't done anything at all! He had been maintaining a low profile since entering the academy. Even when Liu He was shouting at him, he had not uttered a single word.
Meanwhile, Bai Feng continued walking with the expression of a heroic soldier that was on the way to his final battle. Slowly, his face turned solemn and a heavy aura descended around him.
"Su Yu, for your sake, your teacher will fight Hu Wensheng once. If I win, everything will be fine. If I lose, it doesn't matter. I would be the one who had overestimated myself. It has nothing to do with you."
Su Yu was going crazy. His teacher was saying all that, but Bai Feng was clearly acting like this was all done for his sake. Just what was his teacher trying to say?
"If you can't reach the Skysoar Realm in a year, it doesn't matter. At that time, I'll go challenge a Mountainsea expert and try to fight for an opportunity for you to enter the Skysoar Realm."
Su Yu wanted to tell Bai Feng to stop talking with such a sorrowful tone. He kept having a feeling that his teacher was still bluffing. Su Yu was truly speechless. He had no idea what Bai Feng wanted to do.
But...it felt like his teacher was trying to give him some pressure. At the same time, his teacher was also trying to make him feel sorry? But he hadn't done anything!
...
Bai Feng naturally ignored Su Yu's expression. Since he had said all that, Su Yu only needed to work hard after this. Just look at his pitiful teacher. Wouldn’t he feel guilty if he didn’t work hard after this?
As for reaching the Skysoar Realm in a year...cough, cough. That was merely a random rambling of his. It wasn't like he was forcing Su Yu to reach that realm in one year. Then again, that kid was quite talented. He should be able to get into the Top 100 Ranking in a year, right?
Despite all the thoughts racing in Bai Feng's mind, he could no longer spare Su Yu any attention. A new villa entered their vision. Facing that villa, Bai Feng's presence surged as he roared, "Hu Wensheng, your grandpa Bai Feng is here! Get your ass out here!"
His voice resounded all over the residential area.
Next, a figure appeared. A youth clad in a green robe walked out of the villa and looked at Bai Feng.
With a frown, Hu Wensheng coldly said, "Bai Feng, are you seeking death?"
All around them, numerous figures appeared in the air. None approached them. Instead, they all landed on the balconies of the nearby villas.
...
"Why is Bai Feng looking for Hu Wensheng?"
"Are they going to fight?"
"Those two have been competing against each other for many years. But Hu Wensheng is already a ninth-stage Skysoar. He is far ahead of Bai Feng. Don't tell me Bai Feng is here to challenge him."
...
The researchers started talking among themselves. They weren't that surprised. These two had been at odds for many years.
But at the same time, they were also quite surprised. Bai Feng had been stuck at the sixth-stage two years ago and had been silent since then. He had been keeping to himself while Hu Wensheng was the one who would usually be on the offensive.
Eventually, even Hu Wensheng lost interest in Bai Feng and had Liu Hong deal with Bai Feng instead. In their faction, Liu Hong was the main person in charge of dealing with Bai Feng.
As for Hu Wensheng, he had been focused on reaching the Cloudbreach Realm. If Bai Feng left him alone, he wouldn't have bothered to do anything. What was going on with Bai Feng today?
...
In a villa nearby.
Wu Qi walked out into the balcony with Lin Qing and Wu Lan following behind her.
Looking at the two who were in a standoff, Lin Qing softly said, "Teacher, why is Assistant Bai looking for Assistant Hu?"
Wi Qi did not answer.
As for Wu Lan, she was busy glaring at the person behind Bai Feng, Su Yu, while gnashing her teeth. That fellow was here as well!
...
Even further away, Liu Hong stood with his arms crossed. As he looked at the two, a smile formed on his face.
Behind him, Liu He said impatiently, "Big Brother, is Bai Feng courting death?"
Liu Hong glanced at his little brother and said, "Shut up. If he hears you and breaks your legs, don't blame me for not giving you any warnings."
"Fine." Liu He exhaled deeply. But he still spoke with an unhappy tone, "Is he here to challenge Assistant Hu? He is beneath Assistant Hu. Bai Feng truly overestimates himself too much. Even if he's going to challenge someone, he should be challenging you instead."
Hearing that, Liu Hong cursed inwardly. If Liu He had nothing to say, he should just shut up. Bai Feng was overestimating himself by challenging Hu Wensheng and should have challenged Liu Hong instead? What was that supposed to mean? Was his little brother trying to say that he was worse than Hu Wensheng? Was he really worse than Hu Wensheng? Why could Bai Feng challenge him and not Hu Wensheng?
He couldn't be bothered to say anything else about that. But after some thought, he said, "You! Work harder! Don't think that you're a big deal after entering the top 100. Be careful lest you suffer a defeat in a moment of carelessness!"
"Defeat?" Liu He hesitated and asked, "Big Brother, are you talking about Xia Chan or the other freaks?"
...
Liu Hong couldn't be bothered to say anything else. He only needed his little brother to stay cautious. His gaze shifted from Bai Feng to the young man behind Bai Feng. Was this the new student?
Su Yu? Was he very talented? But from afar, the kid looked completely inconspicuous. He lacked the arrogance of those freaks, and he looked completely unremarkable standing near Bai Feng.
...
More and more people gathered in the area.
In front of Hu Wensheng's villa.
Bai Feng snorted coldly and said, "Hu Wensheng, if you're really such a big deal, come after me yourself. Why are you sending your lackey Liu Hong after me instead? Are you looking down on your grandpa? It doesn't matter if you want to compete against me. You dare to send your dogs after my student? How dare you? Su Yu is a new student. He isn't even at the Mental Tempering Stage yet you sent Liu Hong's little brother after him? Do you really think I'm a pushover?"
...
Hu Wensheng frowned.
He had no idea about any of that. But there was no need for him to explain himself either. His faction had never gotten along well with Bai Feng's faction. It was normal for them to suppress the other faction.
Liu He bullied Bai Feng's student? He did not seek any clarification. That was most likely true. But it didn't really matter. For people like them, if they really wanted to create trouble, they could create an excuse out of nowhere. Even when they were drinking a glass of water, they could simply claim that the water had been poisoned and the other person was the culprit.
The moment he saw Bai Feng appearing before him with such great fanfare, he knew that things wouldn't end silently today.
He did not waste any time and said, "Bai Feng, stop wasting your breath. Get to the point. What do you want?"
"Sure." Bai Feng went straight to the point, "Since your guy bullied my guy, pay up. Face me in a ring. If you win, I'll forget everything. If I win, pay me 1,000 drops of Great Strength blood essence from top 100 races."
Hu Wensheng raised his brow and looked at Su Yu before saying, "You're trying to get him some blood essence to forge his Great Strength body? You won't need that much. A hundred drops would suffice."
"Why do you care? Are you accepting this challenge or not?"
Hu Wensheng coldly said, "Bai Feng, do you take me for a fool? If you lose, you won't lose anything. If I lose, I need to pay up. Are you dreaming?"
"What do you want?"
"That's simple. If I win, I want 100 drops of the blood essence you used at the Heart Cultivating Pavilion."
Bai Feng's expression changed.
He coldly said, "Hu Wensheng, you're asking for too much."
"No. You're the one coming after me. Bai Feng, I have been focused on cultivating for the past two years to get into the Cloudbreach Realm. I have no interest in competing against you. You're not my match...A weakling needs to pay a price when challenging a strong person."
Bai Feng smiled and said, "I don't have 100 drops. I only have 1 drop. If you win, you can have it. Feel free to study it as much as you want if you think you can really do it."
"Are you serious?"
Hu Wensheng's interest was finally piqued. In truth, he did not look too highly upon Bai Feng who was only a seventh-stage Skysoar. Of course, it wasn't like he was completely looking down on Bai Feng either. This fellow must have at least some confidence or he wouldn't be standing here.
A drop of blood essence with a racial ability in it...that was something Hu Wensheng needed. A drop of blood like that was very valuable.
"Fine. But forget about 1,000 drops of Infinite Strength blood essence from the top 100 races. I don't have that. If I lose, you can get 100 drops of Great Strength mountainbreak bull blood essence. What do you think?"
"Mountainbreak bull?"
Bai Feng seemed unhappy, "That race only occupies the 99th place in the top 100 races. Are you not embarrassed to take something so cheap out?"
Hu Wensheng frowned, "That is the best Great Strength body forging blood essence. The mountainbreak bulls have powerful bodies and their blood is suitable for body forging. Don't get too greedy, Bai Feng..."
In the villa behind Hu Wensheng, the expression of a youth changed. That was Hu Wensheng's student. The 100 drops of mountainbreak bull blood essence were actually something Hu Wensheng had prepared for him. He was a seventh-stage Great Strength cultivator. Before reaching the ninth-stage, he could forge his body at any time.
Even someone like Hu Wensheng had taken a year to gather 100 drops of Great Strength mountainbreak bull blood essence. That was something that you might not be able to buy even if you could afford it. Since that was a top 100 race, it was very hard to see their Great Strength cultivators on the battlefield.
Most of them would only enter the Allheaven Battlefield upon reaching the Skysoar Realm. And to get 100 drops of their blood essence, they had to kill at least 10 Great Strength mountainbreak bulls.
Thus, this was an extremely rare blood essence. Strictly speaking, the Great Strength version was even rarer than the Skysoar version. He had been happily waiting for his teacher to break through before helping him with his body forging.
All of a sudden, Bai Feng came looking for his teacher. But soon, he heaved a breath of relief. It would be fine. His teacher was a ninth-stage Skysoar cultivator. Bai Feng was only at the seventh-stage. There was no need for him to be too worried about this.