It was really hard to earn money.
When Fang Ping brought up the topic of financing to Li Chengze. Li Chengze told him this was not a suitable time yet. Besides, even if they had financing, it would not be much anyway. Fang Ping could only eliminate the idea.
As for completing missions... MCMAU Catacombs had been sealed off. Other MCMAU missions were not too big of a deal. Not only were they time-wasters, but the return was also average.
Going to other Catacombs...
Fang Ping almost got lost in the Catacombs that he was more familiar with. The chances of him losing his way after going into other unfamiliar Catacombs were dangerously high.
Unless he familiarized himself with it for a period of time, or move together with others.
“I can’t complete missions, can’t go into the Catacombs, can’t get financing...”
Fang Ping’s head was throbbing. What should I do then?
Honestly, 35 million was enough for him to breakthrough.
But, Old Man Li just had to tempt him by mentioning about building five bridges in a one-off to achieve Middle-stage. This made Fang Ping slightly reluctant to build internal and external bridges one step at a time.
“Zhang Yu spent a year to complete building five bridges.”
“Actually, Wang Jinyang had also spent quite a bit of time.”
“These guys had spent a long time in building five bridges. They are all geniuses too. I, too, may have to spend half a year or even more.”
“If I could complete building in a one-off, then I can challenge Zhang Yu with my abilities as a Middle-stage Rank-4. It’ll be so much more exciting to bash him up as a same-rank peer.”
“Of course, the key is still to close up my distance with Old Wang. He’s only an Upper-stage Rank-4.”
Fang Ping thought for the longest time. Finally, he clenched his teeth. He would shoot commercials!
Using his somewhat decent reputation, before the middle-ranked ranking list was released, he was still the most famous actual combat martial artist below the Grandmaster rank.
Shooting a few commercials would perhaps earn him some money!
...
To earn enough Wealth, Fang Ping had gone all out.
He put Li Chengze in charge of contacting relevant parties. While he was still a renowned figure, he would earn as much as he could before thinking of the next course of action.
...
It did not take long before Fang Ping received a few advertisement offers.
Today, Fang Ping was still a famous figure, one that was rather prominent too. This was something that even the investors were well-aware of.
Taking advantage of this period of time when Fang Ping was still considered famous to churn something out and to shoot a few commercials to be released immediately. This would still produce a certain effect.
...
Hence, after only four to five days.
Fang Ping’s advertisement was broadcasted!
“Fang Ping teaches you how to bash up monsters. No matter how strong the monsters are, they will die in one slash. Welcome to The World of Little Monsters!”
“A man like the wind. You can walk in midair after putting on Dike sports shoes!”
“This is how confident you’ll get after using Soft Shampoo!”
“...”
On the Internet, Fang Ping’s advertisement was all over the place.
Many people could not take it.
...
CCMAU
Martial Arts Society.
Ling Yiyi and the guys were watching the advertisement on the screen, each and every one of them was left speechless.
Han Xu sighed. “First in Rank-3, yet he has gone to hit little monsters now. I can’t put this feeling into words at all!”
Ling Yiyi’s teeth were about to break from gritting too hard. “I actually lost to this brat?”
It was not like everyone looked down upon stars of the showbiz.
Certain pop kings and queens did not show a hint of mercy when they killed in the Catacombs.
Yet you, Fang Ping, could you not damage your own reputation? You should have taken up on big brand advertisements offers. Why were you also accepting advertisements from random companies!
...
Sun City.
Fang Yuan had also freaked out.
“What’s Fang Ping doing?”
Fang Yuan was at a loss. Was big brother so desperate for money?
Once the advertisements were broadcasted, everyone’s head became slightly cluttered.
“Is he so short of money?” Fang Ping mumbled. She could not do anything though. Even if she had quite some money in her cash reserve, for her, that was quite some money. Brother would easily need tens of millions right now. That was something that she could not assist in.
“Should I recruit more club members?”
Fang Yuan held her head in her hands, racking her brains. She could collect fees by recruiting club members.
...
Meanwhile.
SCMAU.
Chen Yunxi empathized instead. “Fang Ping really needed money.”
A number one powerhouse in Rank-3 had even stooped so low as to shoot mini advertisements now. How much money exactly did he need?
Chen Yunxi sighed softly. Perhaps this was precisely why Fang Ping had grown more and more powerful.
So what if his family was not wealthy?
So what if it was embarrassing?
As long as he could walk further in martial arts, even if he had embarrassed himself today, these would all become legends when he stepped into Grandmaster one day.
In those days, Grandmaster Fang did not come from a well-to-do family, yet he still achieved Grandmaster. What a model of inspiration.
...
MCMAU.
Facing Old Man Li’s deadly eyes, Fang Ping explained helplessly, “Instructor, big brand advertisements are not easy to shoot.
“I’m counting on myself anyway. I’m not stealing or robbing anyone.
“I did not accept offers for fake medicine advertisements or deceiving training classes advertisements.
“I think it’s fine to shoot a few games, sports shoes, and shampoo advertisements, right?”
“I am someone who cares about my reputation!”
Old Man Li spoke through gritted teeth!
‘Do you think that none of us cared about our reputation?
‘Isn’t it degrading for you, a number one powerhouse in Rank-3 actual combat, to shoot these mini advertisements?’
Fang Ping answered shyly, “My reputation is nothing compared to money. These companies may seem insignificant, yet they pay up unhesitatingly. Try guessing, I’ve shot 12 advertisements, how much did they pay me?
“I shot four to five advertisements a day. In just three days, I am paid a minimum of 2 million and a maximum of 5 million per advertisement!
“They are all rich. Paying up to their hearts’ content too.
“In three days, I’ve earned 42 million.
“Tell me, instructor, if I were to complete missions, how long would that take me?”
“42 million?”
Old Man Li froze up as well, mumbling, “It’s so easy to earn money now?”
Fang Ping chuckled. “All I’m trying to do is to make full use of what’s left in me. Earning a few million per company isn’t much actually. Besides, I can only earn quick bucks. After the shoot this time, I’m afraid no one will come looking for me anymore. My potential has been completely utilized.”
Old Man Li let out a humph. After a while, he asked, “You’re so desperate for money?”
“What to do. It’s because of my family’s financial situation...”
“Knock it off!”
Old Man Li let out a humph again, and continued, “If you really need money, I can lend you some...”
“Forget it. Save it for your old age.”
Fang Ping rejected it straightaway. Actually, it was not money that he was lacking in, but Wealth.
Although money could also be converted into pills and other things, there was an additional procedure in between. Breaking it down into ability would require time as well.
Actually, what Fang Ping needed was time.
The money that he borrowed was not counted as Wealth.
Old Man Li did not mind after his offer was rejected by Fang Ping. Staring at him for a while, he asked, “After delaying for so many days, are you ready to breakthrough?”
As he spoke, his eyes turned menacing, saying, “Forget about me, I’m not your instructor anyway.
“However, when Lu Fengrou comes back, realizing that you’ve shot so many trashy advertisements, for someone like her who cares for her reputation, do you believe that she will hammer you to death?”
“Though if you become a middle rank, she would most probably forget about this.”
Lu Fengrou, a person who was about to achieve the Grandmaster rank, would surely be beyond humiliated having her own student shooting mini advertisements.
Of course, not to the extent that she would get rid of him yet.
Still, Fang Ping would not escape without taking a beating, at least.
Even so, ability was the determining factor for martial artists. If Fang Ping achieved the middle-ranked stage, Lu Fengrou would probably have nothing more to say about it. Her student had achieved four ranks in a year, what was up with shooting a few mini advertisements!
Fang Ping’s purpose for shooting these advertisements was to breakthrough. How could she say no?
Hearing those words, he answered quickly, “Of course I’ll breakthrough. I have even planned to challenge Zhang Yu to a duel after breaking through.”
“I don’t know what to say to you.”
Old Man Li shook his head helplessly. Facing students like Fang Ping could be a real headache.
Even so, there was no use crying over spilled milk. The advertisements were already airing.
This kid had set his heart on earning money. Perhaps he was really lacking in these resources. Though, seeing that he was a Rank-3, wielding B-class changdao, and wearing a Middle-stage Rank-5 leather armor, Old Man Li had no idea how he could link the concept of him not having enough money.
Without narrating further, Old Man Li led Fang Ping to the Vitality Pool in no time.
Fang Ping did not refuse, though using the Vitality Pool would cost a lot.
Even so, he probably needed the Vitality Pool to assist him. He did not want to use Wealth unless there was absolutely no way out. Right now, his Wealth was insufficient too.
Although he had earned over 40 million, it was spent rapidly too.
Right now, he had not even honed his skull and whatnot.
...
Vitality Pool.
Though it was called a Vitality Pool, its setup was actually similar to that of the Energy Room.
Fang Ping looked inside for a moment, turned his head around, and asked the instructor who was in charge of the place, “Instructor, what should I do if Vitality is not rich enough when I cultivate?
“The Vitality Force inside doesn’t seem too rich?
“Will it replenish in time once I’ve completely absorbed it?”
The instructor in charge forced a smile, and replied, “I heard that your bone marrow is like mercury and you can employ Mentality to move particles around. Perhaps you can really deplete the Vitality in it. However, the amount of Vitality Force supplied here is fixed. Though we claim that we charge by the hour, we are really charging by the amount.”
Fang Ping hurriedly asked, “Then, for certain seniors who can’t absorb them completely, can they pay less?”
“Of course not. It’s their problem if they can’t finish it.”
The instructor chuckled. “Don’t get any ideas. It’s really difficult to get Vitality Force supply.
“We need to carry out energy ore conversion, converting energy ores into Vitality Force. Also, in order to maintain activity, we’ve also drawn on the Catacombs powerhouses’ energy hearts.”
As he said those words, the instructor said flatly, “The Catacombs powerhouses’ beating hearts!”
Fang Ping’s pupils contracted. Old Man Li, on the other hand, was nonchalant about it. “When the Catacombs martial artists die on earth’s surface, they will resurrect.
“But, they can’t resurrect if they’re not dead.
“Powerhouses may not even die even after their hearts have been cut out.
“Kid, the cost of building Vitality Pool is beyond imagination. It is not easy for MCMAU to build a Vitality Pool. You should just stop thinking of ways to take advantage of the university.”
Fang Ping exhaled, asking, “They’re not dead even after their hearts have been dug out?
“Who said anything about digging?”
Old Man Li chuckled lightly. “I said that they may not die even after cutting them out, but that doesn’t mean that we are really cutting them. There’s a building underneath the ground. Why else do you think Old Liu was constantly watching over the southern area. What was he guarding over?”
Fang Ping was shocked once again. Underneath the Vitality Pool were live Catacombs powerhouses!
How risky!
“Don’t worry. They’re all Rank-4 and 5 martial artists. There used to be Rank-6. After Old Liu is gone, they are all brought back into the Catacombs to be killed.”
Liu Polu’s going to Nanjiang was actually a tremendous loss for MCMAU.
At least, a few Rank-6 Catacombs powerhouses had to be killed to prevent anything from going wrong.
In MCMAU, even if Rank-4 and 5 martial artists had caused any trouble, they would not stir up a storm.
Fang Ping asked no more. These were actually MCMAU’s classified information. It was already not easy for Old Man Li to tell him that much.
With no credits left, Fang Ping paid 5 million cash, striding into the Vitality Pool.
Once he had entered, the instructor in charge spoke under his breath, “That’s fast.”
“It’s fast alright. It’s just really hard to tell whether he can building five Celestial Bridges in a one-off. Oh right, initiate Rank-5 Vitality supply.
The instructor in charge chuckled softly, saying, “You must really think this through. If he drained this Rank-5 to death, you are responsible for capturing another.”
“Cheh, only a Rank-5 bastard.”
Old Man Li answered nonchalantly. The instructor in charge did not respond to that. Killing and capturing alive were two different concepts.
Old Man Li slaughtered Rank-5s like he was having fun.
However, capturing one alive and bringing one back to earth’s surface was not as easy as he claimed to be.
If Fang Ping had exceeded the amount of Vitality Force that he could draw out, draining the Rank-5 Catacombs martial artist’s Vitality reserve, his energy heart collapsed, then the other party must die.
Unless Vitality supply was cut off in between. However, this was something that must be avoided when cultivating halfway.
Without saying any more nonsense, the instructor in charge tweaked the controls, informing the powerhouse in charge who was guarding underground to switch the Vitality-supplying Catacombs martial artist.
...
In the Vitality Pool.
Fang Ping checked his stats:
Wealth: 41.54 million
Vitality: 1420cal (1420cal+)
Mentality: 579Hz (579Hz+)
Bones honed: 177 bones (100%), 29 bones (30%+)
“I wonder if Vitality Pool can keep with the rate of my consumption speed”
“Building five Celestial Bridges is not exactly easy.”
In the last few days, Fang Ping had roughly cultivated the Methods of Honing – Internal Organs. It was actually quite similar to the last few breakthroughs.
The breakthrough of three lower ranks required merging a few meridians and minor vessels.
Whereas Rank-3 breaking through Rank-4, building bridges was said to create a few meridians out of nothing.
These meridians did not exist initially. Right now, it was fully dependent on the martial artist’s own Vitality Force to develop and to strengthen.
“If I can’t complete building five bridges, I’ll be embarrassing myself for nothing this time.”
Fang Ping was actually ashamed for shooting these mini advertisements as well.
This will definitely become a dark history.
Although he claimed that he did not mind, he was someone who cared much for his reputation, how could he not mind?
“Everything for ability. Actually, it’s just like the celebrities. It’s nothing.”
After a round of self-comforting, Fang Ping emptied his thoughts.
In the next moment, Fang Ping started switching his Vitality around based on Internal Organ, started pounding against the heart bridges.
Vitality was also being consumed at full speed.
...
Outside.
Old Man Li and the instructor in charge watched intently without blinking.
Going from Rank-3 to Rank-4 was actually a qualitative change too.
Even if Middle-ranked martial artists did not depend on pills to replenish Vitality, did not depend on bone marrow like mercury to accelerate replenishing speed, did not depend on Mentality to capture energy particles, they could still accelerate Vitality replenishing speed.
Actually, a martial artist’s cultivation mainly depended on the world’s free-moving energy particles when one started honing the vital organs.
The Methods of Honing – Internal Organs actually involved the capturing of particles, instead of depending mainly on pills to cultivate as the three lower ranks would.
“Dean Li, this kid can build five Celestial Bridges?”
“I don’t know.”
“Why did you encourage him to try then...”
Old Man Li gave a snort of contempt and said, “What do you know. This kid won’t be motivated without some pressure. With pressure comes motivation. I’m only saying. If it comes true, then it will be an unexpected surprise.”
The instructor in charge did not know whether to laugh or to cry, saying no more. The result would be revealed soon.
Once Fang Ping truly transcended Early-stage Rank-4 and entered Middle-stage Rank-4 directly, then that would be incredible.
In this golden cultivation period for Fang Ping and the rest, even if he needed to spend some time to stabilize and fix things after omitting one small step, the advantages still outweighed the disadvantages.
“Once it is successful, this kid will truly become MCMAU’s pacesetter.”
The instructor in charge mumbled. Today, the strongest powerhouse in MCMAU was only an Upper-stage Rank-4. There was not even a Peak Rank-4.
If Fang Ping became a Middle-stage Rank-4 martial artist this time, perhaps in the next two years, a Rank-6 student would appear in MCMAU!
Since the founding of the university, there had never been any Rank-6 students. CCMAU had one, though.
MCMAU, who had always desired to surpass CCMAU, was itching to outperform the other party in every aspect. Breeding Rank-6 students was perhaps the hardest yet. Right now, there might just be hope.