At the same time.
Capital City.
Liu Dali’s expression was conflicted.
‘Should I go or not?’
It was the National Rank-1 Martial Arts Grand Competition, a grand competition with tens of thousands of martial artists. If he did not join in the commotion, what kind of reporter was he?
‘But he’s already Rank-4!’
Liu Dali was a little regretful. Previously, Fang Ping had only been Peak Rank-3. If he had cheated Fang Ping then, that was that; what was he afraid of?
However, that punk had entered Rank-4 already. This gap...was a little bigger now.
‘How much stronger is a Rank-4 martial artist compared to an Upper-stage Rank-3?
‘With so many people, he probably won’t notice me, would he?
‘Not to mention that I’m only taking what I should. There’s no need to be afraid of him.
‘With so many martial artists there, I don’t believe nobody would stand up for me. Could Fang Ping still kill me then?
‘I’ve already spent all my money anyway. I don’t have any money now either, so it would be useless if he beat me up.
‘...’
His thoughts ran wild. Suddenly, Liu Dali gritted his teeth. “The bold will be full whereas the timid will starve. If I don’t go to such a hyped event, how can I still call myself a reporter?”
Having made up his mind, Liu Dali no longer hesitated and left for Magic City!
Even if he did not have sole broadcasting rights this time, with his eye, he could pick out a few key people to report on. If these people entered the top hundred in the end, his reporting would then have value, and he could earn big.
...
Currently, many people were rushing to Magic City.
Even Sun City’s Fang Yuan could not sit still.
The Fang Yuan who had completed bone-honing once had increased her Vitality again in recent times. Although it was still far from twice-honing, Fang Yuan felt that now was really great too.
If not for the fact that one had to be a Rank-1 martial artist in order to sign up for the Rank-1 competition, she would have signed up too.
Scenic Lake Gardens.
Fang Yuan was a little anxious and could not resist saying, “Dad, let me take a few days off. I want to go to Magic City.”
The opening ceremony of the National Rank-1 Competition was set on October 10th, but Fang Yuan had class then, so she could not go.
“No can do.”
Fang Mingrong shot her down in one breath, only saying after a while, “This competition will take quite long. When it’s the final hundred’s competition, we’ll see when that is and revisit this.”
For the early stage’s qualifier, watching television was enough.
They could go personally spectate the top hundred’s matches later.
Fang Mingrong actually wanted to go to Magic City to see his son too. Ever since Fang Ping went to Magic City, he and Li Yuying had never even been there once.
“I’ll have to wait for the top hundred’s competition...”
Fang Yuan’s face was wistful. After she thought a while, she said regretfully, “It seems Brother can’t enter this time, and I’m not Rank-1 yet either. It’s too bad someone else will take the first place among Rank-1s.”
Fang Mingrong rolled his eyes. His daughter had a very inflated ego lately.
‘So, if you had reached Rank-1, you would’ve been able to take first place?’
Where did that confidence come from?
There were countless Rank-1 martial artists in the nation. There were plenty of Grandmasters’ grandkids and descendants. What did the little girl take the national martial arts competition for?
Fang Yuan continued sighing. “There are so many prizes. The first-place prize is nearly ten million. It’s no wonder Fang Ping had said before that improvement of strength is money. I really feel that I’ve missed out on so much this time. Otherwise, this ten million would be mine.”
“Enough!”
Fang Mingrong could not really stand this girl’s chatter and said helplessly, “It’d be the best thing if you don’t stir things up for me or your brother. Nobody in the family is counting on you to earn money.”
Fang Yuan was reluctant and immediately said, “Dad, you can’t say things like that. Martial artists must fight...”
“Stop!”
Fang Mingrong could not take it. ‘Can this brat not use these words to vex me?’
“You should focus on properly studying and reading at this time; catch up to your studies. When the time comes for the top hundred’s competition, I’ll ask for a few days off for you to go to Magic City. Your brother has bought a house there. You can go visit it too.”
“Really?”
“Uh-huh.”
Fang Mingrong added after he said this, “Brat, disband that what club of yours now while it’s still early. Also, return those membership fees or something that you collected.”
“Dad!”
Fang Yuan pursed her lips and mumbled, “It’s just 10 bucks for a year. I still have to rent the location and teach everyone pole-standing for free. It’s not expensive at all, alright? Last year, I divided 10 thousand... No, over 9000 bucks of the membership fees.”
Fang Yuan felt it was already a waste. Before this, she had opened a pole-standing class and collected individual fees, but Fang Ping later said that pole-standing could not be practiced too deeply as most people could not afford how much it cost, so she was not teaching classes anymore now.
It was just a group of core members in Yuan Ping Club. The wealthier members were practicing actual pole-standing already now.
Since she did not pay these core members any wages, teaching them pole-standing was their wage. She would feel bad collecting fees too.
Fang Yuan currently felt that the more people there were, she earned even less. It was not worth it at all.
Fang Mingrong’s head hurt. He did not say anything more, getting up and said, “Do as you see fit. Later, I’ll tell your brother that you have close to ten thousand people now.”
“Since when!”
Fang Yuan retorted at once, saying as if she was wronged, “It’s just five or six thousand. Since when was it ten thousand!”
Fang Mingrong’s face was dark, but he did not object. ‘Sun City is so big. A little brat like you has recruited five or six thousand people. Is that still little?’
There was no way to discipline this daughter now. He would have to ask Fang Ping to whip her into shape later.
...
October 8th.
It had been 6 whole days since Fang Ping entered the Energy Room.
The Energy Room concourse.
Lu Fengrou furrowed her brows slightly and asked, “He still hasn’t come out?”
“Not yet.”
Song Yingji smiled bitterly, then coughed lightly. “Instructor Lu, Fang Ping has now used up 2880 credits. He gave 1500 credits in advance. It’s still lacking some, can you...”
Lu Fengrou slid him a look and said plainly, “What are you trying to say?”
Seeing Lu Fengrou look like she was going to take action with just a single disagreeable word, Song Yingji was weary and said after a pause, “Nothing.”
Fang Ping owed him 1380 credits already!
This account was really not great to have anymore.
If it was less, that would still be fine, but more than a thousand credits... Song Yingji now started to consider if he should prepare to take any coercive measures.
Just as they finished talking, in the passageway, a slovenly Fang Ping made his way out.
His previously squeaky-clean face had stubble all over.
Six days and six nights!
This time, he had cultivated for a whole six days and six nights. If it had been somebody else, they would have fallen apart long ago.
Fang Ping relied on continuously replenishing his Mentality to force himself to maintain consciousness.
Finally, in the six days he spent, he had cleared the gap between his atriums and ventricles, completing the honing of his heart as a whole.
Currently, he had gone very far down the road to Upper-stage Rank-4, and only one last stretch was left. He just had to connect his heart’s bridge and officially turn his heart into an engine that was a source of power.
Distractedly glancing at his stats, Fang Ping was pretty satisfied.
Cultivating in the Energy Room this time, he had not spent many Wealth points.
Wealth: 375 million
Vitality: 1800cal (2090cal+)
Mentality: 520Hz (699Hz)
Bone-honing: 177 bones (100%), 29 bones (30%+)
“Still not bad. With the transformation of my heart, the driven physical qualities have become stronger too. My limit increased too. I can continue increasing my Vitality now.”
For a while already, Fang Ping’s Vitality and Mentality’s limit did not budge.
Because he had reached a stage limit.
Now, with the nearly-completed transformation of his heart, he could continue increasing his Vitality’s and body’s limits.
Thinking of these, Fang Ping raised his head and just happened to catch sight of Lu Fengrou. He smiled at once and asked, “Teacher, why are you here?”
Lu Fengrou glanced at him and nodded slightly. “Not bad, but don’t rush to succeed. You have to eat rice one bite at a time. You’ve cultivated for so long this time. Properly gather yourself later. Don’t be too hasty. You haven’t broken through Rank-4 for long.”
Fang Ping had broken through Rank-4 on August 18th and had gone straight to Middle-stage Rank-4.
Only 50 days had passed currently.
Toward a lot of Rank-4 martial artists, 50 days might not be enough to complete the building of a single Celestial Bridge.
“Uh-huh. I know, but I’ve stayed at Middle-stage Rank-4 for quite a while now. Going into Upper-stage Rank-4 a little earlier is not a big problem.”
Beside him, Song Yingji lifted his head to the ceiling.
‘You’ve stayed for quite a while?
‘Why do I remember that it hasn’t been so long since you last broke through?’
This was a middle-ranked cultivation, and it involved the transformation of the heart. How much time had he spent on this process?
A year?
No, two years?
It seemed like it was close to three years.
Yes, it was close to three years!
Song Yingji remembered it. From Middle-stage to Upper-stage Rank-4, he took about three years.
All the stages of Rank-4 took him around 8 years in total.
The stages of Rank-5 were not short either. He spent around 10 years for them.
That was already considered fast. He had just reached 50 this year and had entered Rank-6. In the Sino Nation, he was a king among men.
Previously, Song Yingji had been quite pleased.
But now... He really felt that he was old now.
‘But I’m only 50!’
“Teacher, let’s go.”
As Song Yingji was still doubting life, Fang Ping called Lu Fengrou and left.
Song Yingji felt that Fang Ping’s mind might not be very clear as he had been cultivating for so long, so he had to remind him. “Fang Ping, you’ve cultivated for six days and six nights. It’s the seventh day now!”
“Oh, thank you for your concern, Teacher Song. I’m fine.”
Song Yingji’s expression darkened. ‘Is this concern? I’m reminding you!’
‘You brat, you’re acting dumb?’
“You’ve cultivated for so many days. The credits you gave in advance...”
“There aren’t any left, are there?”
“Fang Ping!”
Song Yingji, with his face black, was ready to explode. ‘I just knew you would try to get out of footing the bill, you punk!’
Fang Ping was a little sheepish and said awkwardly, “Teacher, I didn’t think I’d have to cultivate for so long this time. How about I don’t come to the Energy Room anymore...”
‘You really thought I forgot?
‘The main thing is it’s too expensive!
‘I had thought the 1500 credits I gave in advance would’ve been enough.
‘That’s tens of millions. How can it not be enough for a few days’ cultivation?
‘Who knew that honing the heart would be so hard? It took me six, seven days to complete the unification of my atriums and ventricles. Now you’re asking me to top up the payment; isn’t this kicking when I’m down?’
Of the 15500 credits he had received previously, only 14000 credits were left now.
If he made Fang Ping pay up any more credits, he would fall apart.
Song Yingji said without any courtesy, “That’s your own problem.”
‘You punk, did I force you to come here?
‘When you came in, you were yelling “Old Song Old Song” with your ego inflated to its limit, arrogant to the max, and now you wilt when it’s time to pay up?’
Fang Ping was helpless and spoke after half a beat. “Teacher, give me a discount then. I’ve cultivated for so long this time, you have to give me a discount, right?”
“Apologies, there’s none.”
Song Yingji denied him immediately. ‘Where did a discount for you come from?’
Fang Ping looked at Lu Fengrou. Lu Fengrou looked as if she had not heard the two of them talking. It was not like Fang Ping had no money. There was no need to worry about him.
“30 million cash should be enough, shouldn’t it?”
Fang Ping felt like vomiting blood. ‘Cultivating here is too expensive. Next time, I wouldn’t come here even if you beat me to death.’
If he used his own Wealth points to replenish his Vitality, he might not have spent so much. No, he definitely would not have spent so much.
Of course, cultivating here at the Energy Room was not entirely without benefits. The overflow of energy honed the entire body.
Still, it was too expensive.
“1380 credits. 30 million isn’t enough.”
“Now, the credit currency has inflated, it’s not worth it...”
“Then go look for the school board and discuss the exchange rate with them.”
“In that case, Teacher, put up 10 million you owed me before. This should be close then...”
Song Yingji was dumbfounded. ‘When did I motherf*cking owe you 10 million?
‘You will just say whatever you want, Fang Ping?’
Fang Ping did not say anything else. He brought out a silver card and threw it onto the table, saying quickly, “There’s 30 million in it. The password is written on the back. Teacher, I’m leaving first.”
This time, Fang Ping ran as fast as a thief, without a single moment of hesitation.
“Fang Ping!”
Song Yingji shouted, then looked at the still-remaining Lu Fengrou and said helplessly, “This punk, Instructor Lu...”
Lu Fengrou dissolved into laughter and opened her mouth to say, “I still have cultivation time this year, don’t I?”
“Uh-huh. You still have quite a bit.”
“If it’s not enough, cover with it that. I won’t use that much anyway.”
The current Lu Fengrou had already passed this stage. The effectiveness of the Energy Room for her was limited.
Unless it was an energy mine, there was not much difference.
However, as a Peak Rank-6 instructor, she would get quite a bit of free cultivation time every year.
Hearing this, Song Yingji did not say anything else. Lu Fengrou did not natter on either and quickly left the Energy Room.
...
Outside the Energy Room.
Fang Ping was peering around. When he saw Lu Fengrou come out, he swiftly said, “Teacher, Old Song didn’t come chasing me. Have you stopped him?”
When he finished saying this, Fang Ping said with mirth, “I thought he would come chasing me with the intent to kill. I had thought I’d just owe him first. I didn’t think Old Song wouldn’t come chasing me. Doesn’t this mean Old Song gave me a discount?”
Lu Fengrou gave him a look. ‘Discount. Discounting your leg is more like it!’
She stared at Fang Ping for a moment before saying, “Counting every single penny, are you saving so many credits to eat them like rice?”
“I have to prepare for the future. Cultivating costs too much.”
Fang Ping sighed. ‘I thought my ten thousand credits could last till Rank-6. Who knew it was not worth much?’
“It’s not that cultivating costs too much, it’s that you spend too much.”
Lu Fengrou shook her head lightly. This brat had treated the Energy Room like a guesthouse to stay in and stayed in it for six, seven days. How could it not be expensive?
Even the instructors could not bear to do what Fang Ping did.
However, in a few days, Fang Ping’s four heart chambers had been unified. This speed was extremely shocking.
“About how much longer will take you to reach Upper-stage Rank-4?”
“Three to five days fastest; ten days to half a month slowest,” Fang Ping replied before saying, “Teacher, the martial arts grand competition is going to start soon. You have to help me control the crowd this time, or I’m afraid I won’t be able to hold them.”
“Ask Wu Kuishan.”
“Vice-chancellor isn’t willing.”
“I’m not willing either.” It was rare that Lu Fengrou did not badmouth Wu Kuishan this time, and she said helplessly, “Your Martial Arts Society has collected five or six billion, yet you’re just going to keep it this way? If the Martial Arts Society isn’t going to spend it, give it to the school then. Keeping money this way makes it just a number.”
“Vice-chancellor has designs on my money?” Fang Ping was shocked and paled.
“The Martial Arts Society’s money, not yours.” Lu Fengrou corrected him.
“Same concept.”
Fang Ping muttered. Wealth moved people’s hearts. The Martial Arts Society had saved up so much, but he did not think it would move Wu Kuishan’s heart. He had to spend it quickly.
“I got it. This money will be spent quickly. I’ll distribute everyone’s wages first and then we’ll talk...”
Fang Ping had already properly considered it. He would give everybody a year’s worth of wages first later, including his own.
The Martial Arts Society’s wealth, based on the current circumstances, was close to 3 billion.
If the leftover money was used to subsidize the new students a little, there would be not much leftover.
Lu Fengrou did not object. ‘You’re really capable. Distributing wages a year early, do you not feel any shame?’
Fang Ping did not think so much. In the Martial Arts Society, he could get 6000 credits a year.
He could have another 120 million Wealth points.
When the time came, he would have twenty thousand credits. He would see if he could sell them. Could he think of a way to collect 1 billion Wealth points and see if the system could be upgraded?
‘I’m not asking for much. It’d be fine if you just gave me a Storage Ring or a Storage Warehouse. Without this, it’ll be too bothersome.’
Fang Ping was a little helpless. If he had something like the Storage Ring previously, he and Qin Fengqing’s gains would not be just this much.
Those things in the big ceremonial hall could all be moved.
Including those tables and chairs. Those were valuable too.
Things like Energy Lights would not have had to been taken apart to take back either. They could have just taken the whole thing, and its value would have increased too.
‘1 billion Wealth points... The gap is still a little too wide. I haven’t honed my skull yet either. Forget it. I’ll put aside the skull-honing for now and save up that 1 billion Wealth points.”
The Rank-4 Fang Ping’s self-recovery rate had increased and decreased his usage of Wealth points quite a bit.
Perhaps it would not be long before he could save 1 billion.
Lu Fengrou did not care what he was thinking and said after walking a while, “Nanjiang’s Zhang Dingnan is looking for you. He asked you to call him back, so call him yourself later.”
“What’s Governor-General Zhang looking for me for?”
“I don’t know, but it doesn’t seem like something good. Relax a little. If there’s anything, you can contact me.”
“Uh-huh, got it.”
Fang Ping did not ask further. He would call him back to ask later. Could it be that Nanjiang’s Catacombs were about to open?