Capital City Airport.
Arrival gate.
Ling Yiyi gave a grudging humph. “I refuse to receive the guys from MCMAU later. You do it!”
Han Xu nodded dumbly. Whatever you say.
“No... I will receive the guys from MCMAU. I’ll arrange the worst room for that bastard Fang Ping!”
Han Xu continued to nod dumbly. Whatever you say.
“That’s not good either. There are the others too. Should we arrange the worst room for Fang Ping alone?”
Still, Han Xu nodded. Anything you want.
“That can’t do either... That bastard will definitely refuse to comply...”
Han Xu could no longer take it. He said resignedly, “Senior Ling, the room is not a big deal. Besides, MCMAU doesn’t lack any money for accommodation. Don’t make a fool of yourself...”
Perhaps it was better if he had kept his mouth shut. As soon as he responded, Ling Yiyi pounced on the opportunity to vent her frustration. She immediately snarled, “Just look at yourself. Last time, the two of you led your respective teams to participate in the first championship. What now? He’s leading a team to fight in the second batch, while you’re here receiving guests...”
Han Xu was stupefied. ‘We’re on the same boat. You cut me to the quick, but aren’t you cutting yourself too?’
Ling Yiyi did not feel at all like she had been out down because she was also participating in the competition.
However... What infuriated her was that CCMAU for some reason put her in the reserves team. This made her blood boil!
‘How dare they look down on me!’
‘What was up with Upper-stage and Peak Rank-4?’
‘Although I am only a Middle-stage Rank-4, I’m not someone to be pushed around. If I was not held back from killing those bastards, I would have no problem joining the first team.’
After putting Han Xu in his place with her words, Ling Yiyi’s anger had dissipated considerably.
Her eyes were fixed at the arrival gate. Fang Ping, that bastard, what right did he possess to lead a team to fight in the championship? Was there really no one else in MCMAU for the job?
...
Outside the airport, other than the CCMAU team that was responsible for receiving guests, there were large groups of media reporters too.
At this moment, they were raising their cameras, looking as excited as anyone.
“The guys from Beijiang Martial Arts University have arrived!”
As soon as the sound fell, everyone surged forward together.
They had just pounded forward on one side when someone yelled on the other side, “Donglin Martial Arts University has arrived too!”
The first teams to arrive seemed to have a connection. All of them boarded their flights and arrived at Capital City at the same time. Almost all of them arrived today.
Following the arrival of these two universities, other universities had also started arriving one after another.
At this moment, someone screamed, “Magic City Martial Arts University has arrived!”
The next second, the entire place was enveloped in silence.
Fang Ping was seen leading MCMAU’s team. The instructors were not with them.
More than ten Rank-4 martial artists were currently unleashing Vitality Force, bearing down on the crowd to the point that they were nearly suffocating.
Only then, someone noticed more than ten youths clad in military uniforms tailing Fang Ping’s group.
The team from the First Military School!
...
“Cocky bastards!”
Within the First Military School team, there were people who were seething in anger.
The guys from MCMAU were too arrogant!
Everyone got off the plane at the same time, though via a different airline.
Unexpectedly, the moment they disembarked, the MCMAU team immediately started picking on them. The leader, Fang Ping, even employed his Mentality to intimidate them. Or more accurately, he was intimidating Yao Chengjun!
This powerhouse who had an anomaly was already expelling his Mentality at entry-level Rank-4. By the time he achieved Peak Rank-4, his Mentality would become even stronger.
Fang Ping was undoubtedly provoking Yao Chengjun.
Right now, Yao Chengjun put on a grave expression, not uttering a word. In reality, there was nothing he could say.
Fang Ping’s Mentality was nowhere close to weak. It was even more powerful than his by a hair’s breadth.
Of course, the disparity between them was not too great.
As a military student, Yao Chengjun had gone through grueling training in the Military Department all year round. With his deathly aura, he was no weaker than Fang Ping.
Even so, Yao Chengjun could sense the pressure too.
A pressure coming from MCMAU!
MCMAU Fang Ping had also broken through to Peak Rank-4!
Both of them confronted each other with their Mentalities, while the others confronted each other with their Vitalities. As they walked, both parties’ thriving force gradually peaked.
In front of the crowd, Fang Ping looked completely indifferent. As soon as he walked out of the airport, he opened his mouth for the first time, saying loudly and clearly, “First Military School, you’re pretty good. I hope we can meet in the finals!”
Behind him, everyone from First Military School exploded with rage.
Yao Chengjun, on the other hand, remained dignified. Fang Ping... still had plenty of energy left!
This fellow was much more powerful than he had expected.
Last time, he had equated Fang Ping with Chen Wenlong. This was already a generous appraisal for Fang Ping, he felt. After all, Fang Ping had just broken through. Treating him as a top powerhouse of the Rank-4 ranking list was enough to show that he held him in high regard.
However, when Fang Ping’s Mentality clashed with his, he looked indifferent and at ease. This was to say that his Mentality advantage had practically faded into nothing when faced with Fang Ping.
“But... without Mentality superiority, I can defeat you as well!”
Yao Chengjun whispered in his heart. The words stuck in his throat.
...
After making the condescending statement, Fang Ping strode toward Ling Yiyi. Without waiting for her to speak, he said blandly, “Lead the way to the hotel!”
“I...”
Ling Yiyi nearly cursed out loud!
‘You bastard. Are you treating me as your servant now?’
“What’s wrong? CCMAU didn’t arrange any accommodation? Forget it, we’ll go to the hotel ourselves!”
Han Xu replied hurriedly, “Everything has been arranged. Your transportation is waiting outside.”
“Thanks. Lead us there.”
“Alright. Please follow me, everyone.”
As Han Xu spoke, he wanted to stretch out his hand to pull Ling Yiyi. However, Ling Yiyi glared at him like a tiger. Why don’t you try pulling me and see what happens?
Han Xu sighed. ‘Motherf*cker. How did I end up receiving guests with this lady!’
Without looking at Ling Yiyi, Han Xu motioned for the others to receive the other universities. He then escorted Fang Ping’s group in person.
Although the surrounding reporters intended to interview them, all of them gave up after witnessing the situation.
MCMAU looked patronizing and it seemed better not to mess with them.
They might as well just interview others.
The First Military School was the same. Right now, not many reporters were brave enough to confront them for an interview.
Their expressions seemed to say: ‘I’ll bash you up if you come any closer’. This terrified many reporters, who cleared the path. People always said that the folk from the military schools were pleasant to talk to. Why did striking up a conversation with them feel like a daunting task?
Everyone from the First Military School could not care less what the people thought of them. Pleasant to talk to, my ass. They were provoked as soon as they arrived. It would be crazy for anyone to be happy with that.
Other Martial Arts Universities like Donglin were surrounded by the reporters. Some students were rather aggrieved. If they had known earlier, they would have followed the lead of those two universities. If they tried unleashing outbursts of force to pressure the reporters now, it would be inappropriate.
...
The transportation provided was a bus.
The instructors did not walk with them. Upon getting off the plane, the instructors left respectively, letting the young people handle themselves.
When Fang Ping’s group had boarded the bus, Han Xu followed suit. Seeing that Ling Yiyi wanted to get on as well, Han Xu instinctively muttered, “Senior Ling, why don’t you go with the other teams...”
“What do you mean?”
Ling Yiyi was irritated. “I will get on this bus. Do you think you can stop me?”
Han Xu sagged his shoulders. ‘Next time, I swear, even if I am bashed to death, I will never ever team up with this lady again!’
Ling Yiyi ignored him. After getting on the bus, she sat directly in front of Fang Ping, fixing her glare at him.
Fang Ping looked relaxed and contented, without a care in the world. He intentionally glanced at her chest a few times. This ticked off Ling Yiyi, who looked like a volcano about to erupt.
Beside them, Qin Fengqing was constantly sniggering. “Small Bra-ther Ling, I heard you couldn’t make the first team?”
“Qin Fengqing!”
Ling Yiyi nearly gnashed her teeth to powder. Clutching her fist, face flushing red with anger, she yelled, “What did you call me?”
“Small Bra-ther Ling. Are you hearing things now?”
Qin Fengqing scoffed and said, “How pitiful. Such a young age. Sigh. I recall those days when you were just behind me, Qin Fengqing. Didn’t expect to see you in such dire straits now, lagging behind me, smelling my farts...”
“Say one more word, there’s no need to wait for the competition. I will beat you to death right now!”
Ling Yiyi’s lungs were about to burst from the anger. In her heart, she was screaming continuously, ‘I must control myself. I must control myself!’
Qin Fengqing wanted to provoke her further. Fang Ping kicked him gently. ‘She screams one more time and there really will be a fight.’
Qin Fengqing pouted. Then, he smiled again, “Small... Sister Ling, why isn’t that kid, Li Hansong here?”
Ling Yiyi let out a humph, answering with disdain, “You’re not qualified to meet him!”
As for being called ‘Small Sister Ling’, though she was still unsatisfied, she was previously acquainted with this sluggard, Qin Fengqing. If she continued to take him seriously, it was really hard to tell who was the more annoying one. The guys from MCMAU were much harder to deal with than her.
“Tch!”
Qin Fengqing said spitefully, “If it is not for Li Hansong’s rocklike head, learning that bit of a Headbutt Technique, I would have hacked him to death a long time ago.
“Ask him to come if he’s so capable. I don’t believe that his head is as hard as my saber.”
Ling Yiyi ignored him. MCMAU had more bastards than CCMAU, without a shred of elegance. She had thoroughly realized this fact now.
They said that people from the south were slightly more polite; people from the north slightly cruder.
The south bred gentlemen; the north bred gallants.
However, CCMAU and MCMAU seemed to be the other way around.
CCMAU’s martial artists were more refined, while the bastards of MCMAU looked like thugs.
Seeing that Ling Yiyi was ignoring Qin Fengqing, Fang Ping chuckled, “Yiyi...”
“Don’t address me so intimately!”
“Small... Sister Lin...”
Ling Yiyi glared at him. ‘Do you not know which of us is older?’
As if he did not notice her annoyance, Fang Ping gave her a bright smile. “You have Middle-stage Rank-4 ability, no weaker than other Upper-stage Rank-4. The reason you didn’t qualify for the first team... Is it because Li Hansong suppressed you?”
Ling Yiyi did not hesitate to use the opportunity to vent. She spat, “It’s all because of you, bastard!”
Fang Ping raised his brows, saying, “This has something to do with me too? Yiyi, you can’t say things as you like!”
“Humph!”
Ling Yiyi was terribly indignant. Who else could it have been?
According to Li Hansong, she would get riled up very easily if she met Fang Ping. In order to stop her from running into Fang Ping, she would be placed in the reserves team first. It was actually the same. When it was time for her to go into the arena, she would not even flinch.
Truthfully, the main reason was to avoid losing their imposing status. After all, Ling Yiyi was defeated in Fang Ping’s hands. This was proof that CCMAU had lost to MCMAU.
Li Hansong did not want the spectators to begin discussing this matter, so he put her into the reserves team.
Seeing that she made no reply, Fang Ping continued, “Has Li Hansong broken through Rank-5? I plan to compete with him while we’re still the same rank, help him come to terms with reality. If he’s afraid of me and chooses to breakthrough, then that’s a real pity.”
“Just for you?”
Ling Yiyi let out a humph. She seemed to have realized something suddenly and frowned. “You’re a Peak Rank-4 now?”
“Something like that.”
“What do you mean by something like that?”
“I’m afraid what I say will be a blow to you.” Fang Ping chuckled. “Both of us used to be the same rank. How long has it only been? I’m afraid I’ll hurt your self-esteem.”
Ling Yiyi: “...”
This time, her pride had really been wounded!
Qin Fengqing added salt to the wound, saying, “I won’t say that I’ve also broken through Upper-stage Rank-4 either. Otherwise, it’ll hurt your self-esteem too!”
Ling Yiyi continued gritting her teeth. ‘You’ve just said it, asshole!’
Ling Yiyi pride was stung again and again. Beside her, Han Xu started admiring the scenery, not joining the conversation.
Peak Rank-4... Upper-stage Rank-3.
No one would have called Han Xu weak!
Sophomore year. Upper-stage Rank-3. This progress was not any slower than Nanjiang’s Wang Jinyang.
However, the fellow in front of him... In January of Year 09, they were in the same league, both of them were Peak Rank-1 martial artists.
It had only been a little over 10 months now!
As expected, it was exactly like what Ling Yiyi said. He, Han Xu, was truly down and out now.
He was also a thrice-honed martial artist. What a blow to the gut.
At this moment, both of them were slightly regretful. If they had known earlier, they would not have gotten on this bus.
Fang Ping did not continue pricking them. Taking a look outside, he sighed softly, “It’s a shame.”
“What is?” The question had just fallen out of Ling Yiyi’s mouth when she regretted her decision. ‘Why did I even respond?’
“Sigh, Capital City is your territory, but MCMAU will snatch away your title of being the number one martial arts university, which you’ve been holding for 80 years. Isn’t that regretful? If you lose in Magic City, at least you have an excuse that you’re competing on foreign turf. But, losing in your home arena, that’s really quite a shame.”
“Fang Ping, watch your stinking mouth!”
“I’m serious. Don’t be offended.” Fang Ping laughed. “Work hard to fight for second place. Don’t let First Military School take that away from you, or else it’ll be really embarrassing. First Military School was established much later than us.”
Ling Yiyi decided to ignore him. Han Xu kept his mouth tightly sealed too.
Fang Ping was picking a fight on purpose!
Fang Ping, however, did not believe he had such intentions. He was only doing a good deed in reminding them. If they could not secure second place in their own territory in CCMAU, they would be barely able to live down the shame.
...
Not long after the guys from MCMAU had left.
Capital City Airport.
Leading a few guys off the plane, Wang Jinyang saw the many reporters outside the airport. He released a small amount of Vitality Force, keeping the reporters back.
The reporters simply took a few photographs and stayed away on their own accord.
These martial artists from the south did not seem friendly. The martial artists from the north were relatively better. Look, until now, the Beijiang Martial Arts University’s guys were still being pestered and had not left yet.
As for how the guys from Beijiang Martial Arts University were holding a grudge in secret had nothing to do with everyone else.
The weak were afraid of the powerful; the powerful afraid of foolhardiness. Beijiang Martial Arts University insisted on acting refined, so it was only normal for them to be pestered.
...
When someone from CCMAU had turned up to receive them, Wang Jinyang asked while they walked, “Has everyone else arrived?”
“MCMAU, First Military School, Nine States Military School, Beijiang Martial Arts Universities... these universities have arrived. Only a few more have not touched down yet.”
Saying that, the CCMAU student thought for a while before continuing, “Earlier, MCMAU seemed to have a conflict with First Military School...”
“Oh? Must have been Fang Ping who started it?”
Wang Jinyang laughed. The CCMAU guy shook his head, replying, “I’m not sure about this. But the guys from First Military School looked rather furious. Leader Yao was looking somewhat grim too. MCMAU’s ability is not weak at all. President Wang, don’t let them provoke you...”
Wang Jinyang burst out laughing, ruminating as he said, “CCMAU should stop pulling this trick. It’s meaningless. If I truly encounter them, would I, Wang Jinyang, ever go easy on them?”
CCMAU guy did not mind either. He chuckled. “President Wang, please don’t misunderstand us. That’s not what we’re trying to say at all. We just can’t stand pompous people. Recently, MCMAU has been too condescending, looking down on everyone...”
“Ability is everything. With ability, some arrogance is to be expected.” Wang Jinyang chuckled, shaking his head slightly.
After they boarded the bus, within the team, Lan Wufeng said under his breath, “It’s best if we can fight MCMAU the first round itself...”
Wang Jinyang shot him a glance, saying mildly, “You’ll fight against Chen Wenlong, how’s that sound?”
Lan Wufeng clammed up instantly.
Facing Chen Wenlong, he would definitely not be his match.
Wang Jinyang noted his silence and explained in a low voice, “It’s best if we don’t encounter CCMAU, MCMAU and First Military School. Otherwise, we can forget about making the top ten elite universities.”
This was different from Normal Martial Arts University’s championship.
Even if he, Wang Jinyang, had gone all out to fight Yao Chengjun and the other hotshots, how much combat strength would he have left?
Would people like Lan Wufeng be a match for the other team members?
When the time came, team strength was still a determining factor.
As for NMAU, their team ability was very weak. Other than Lan Wufeng and himself, the rest were all Rank-3 martial artists.
These guys were more suitable for fighting other martial arts universities. In the top ten, most of them served only as a stopgap.
In the top ten elite universities’ fight, except for seven universities, themselves included, the rest of the universities were all wholly Rank-4s.
Hence, it was best for them to fight the Eight School Alliance in the first round.
The seven Normal Martial Arts Universities had a lower probability of facing each other. Based on Wang Jinyang’s prediction, the seven Normal Martial Arts Universities would all fight against the universities that had never participated before.
The top ten elite universities was a fight of ability, a fight of status, and a fight of benefits.
This time, they must eliminate the weak.
To have MCMAU and CCMAU fighting each other in the first match, no doubt, something like that would never happen.
At this moment, Wang Jinyang was only hoping that they would not come face to face with the three most imposing universities. If they were up against other universities like Nine States Military School, it would be no cause for concern.
“Fang Ping...”
He mumbled in his heart. A smile flashed across Wang Jinyang’s face. ‘I hope we can meet in the finals.’
However, whether they could meet each other or not would be dependent on luck.