They talked and chatted. Under Fang Ping’s insistent invitation—they were also rather exhausted— they went to Fang Ping’s house together.
Midway, Fang Ping encountered a few Sun City martial artists, asked for a military coat, and wrapped himself up tightly and securely.
He wore leather gloves on his hands too.
Fang Ping could not do anything with his horrifying look. Whilst going upstairs, he said rather enviously, “Zheng Minghong is really something. He was smacked into a skull-head, yet he can still recover just like that.”
“You can also do it when you achieve Rank-8.” Wu Kuishan said simply.
Fang Ping teased, “Instructor Li can’t do it.”
Old Man Li did not utter a word. He stretched out his hands and stroked Fang Ping’s head “gently”, pinching Fang Ping’s head to the point that it was creaking.
The others were not surprised. Fang Ping asked for it.
With nothing better to do, he just had to poke fun at Li Changsheng.
Fang Ping knocked on the door. His family members were not asleep yet, nor were they in any mood to.
Seeing that Fang Ping had returned, his parents heaved a long sigh of relief. Fang Yuan was also twirling round and round Fang Ping joyfully.
His family members did not recognize the rest of them. They had met Old Man Li before, though. So they were considered acquainted.
When they saw Old Man Li, they could roughly guess that their son’s university’s instructors were here. Li Yuying greeted them in a hurry, entered the kitchen, and began cooking the dishes.
There were many leftovers from the New Year’s Eve dinner. Actually, they had not eaten until now.
Wu Kuishan and the rest did bother showing much reservation. Everyone on the scene, except for Wang Jinyang, was older than Fang Ping’s parents, Tang Feng included. Though he seemed young, he was already 50 years old.
Seeing that Fang Yuan was still twirling around nonstop, Fang Ping giggled softly all of a sudden. “Honestly, the Species Conservation Plan doesn’t sound so bad actually.”
Wu Kuishan cast a quick glance at him.
Fang Ping muttered, “When the time comes, I want my family to go along too.”
He would not escape himself. But, his family... who would not be selfish?
Did he not hope for his family to be safe?
With regard to Wu Kuishan’s resentment earlier, Fang Ping was actually unhappy about the entire matter too.
However, thinking about it now, if he did not give himself some reward, he might not be able to fight steadfastly until the end.
Wu Kuishan whispered, “Even if it’s executed, only your sister may be able to stand a chance, the rest however...”
He did not say any further. It was impossible to bring so many people away.
Fang Yuan still had a chance. Fang Ping’s parents were old now. They would not be taken away.
Fang Ping smiled in response without saying anything.
As they chatted, Li Yuying served the dishes. Fang Ping asked suddenly, “Dad, do we have wine at home?”
“Yes. I’ll go get it.”
Feeling slightly constrained, Fang Mingrong quickly got up to fetch the wine. Fang Ping did not stop him either. When his father was gone, he sighed again. “Forget it. I’ll drink some wine. I wonder if it’ll leak.”
“Cough, cough...”
When the rest recalled of his circumstances, they tried very hard to stifle their laughter.
Fang Yuan, who had just come nearer, asked with a face full of curiosity, “What will leak?”
Fang Ping jerked his head at Wang Jinyang, chuckling. “I’m talking about Brother Wang. There’s a huge hole in his stomach, food will leak when he eats.”
Wang Jinyang did not utter a word. ‘We’re all the same.’
After teasing for a bit, Fang Ping put on a serious look, saying, “Vice-chancellor, Brother Wang has resuscitated his imperishable substance earlier.”
“Hmm?”
The powerhouses’ directed their gazes at Wang Jinyang instantly. Wang Jinyang was still holding his tongue.
Wu Kuishan asked in a low voice, “It has really resuscitated?”
“Yes.”
“Now this is interesting!”
Wu Kuishan frowned, saying, “If that’s what happened, the ancient powerhouses have truly resuscitated!”
Chen Yaoting did not quite understand what was happening. Fang Ping saw him looking unsure and explained it to him.
After hearing his explanations, Chen Yaoting was stunned. “Ancient powerhouses resuscitated?”
He had learned more and more things after making this trip here today.
Certain things that were not confirmed earlier were now.
Certain things that he was completely unaware of were now known to him too.
As Chen Yaoting said those words, he exclaimed suddenly, “There are peculiar martial artists in SCMAU too!”
Everyone turned their gaze toward him. Chen Yaoting sighed. “It’s an instructor. Rank-5 instructor. He has a localized peculiarity. Hand bones peculiarity. Similar to Fang Ping, he has produced golden bones.”
“Golden bones?” Wu Kuishan pondered. “Only the hand bones are golden?”
“Yes, localized golden bones are actually really rare.” Chen Yaoting explained. “I still had doubts earlier. Under normal circumstances, golden bones definitely happen throughout the entire body. Turning individual bones golden like this doesn’t seem to make sense at all. After all, the skull isn’t a golden bone, how can it be a peculiarity alone?”
“Thinking about it now...” Chen Yaoting tapped on the table, pondering. “Perhaps it’s the effect of the imperishable substance. In nature, they’re golden body powerhouses, hence it’s not odd to have localized peculiarity.”
“Rank-5...”
Wu Kuishan asked, “These people’s peculiarities don’t happen at the same time. Are there any differences between them?”
Wang Jinyang and Li Hansong seemed to have their peculiarities at a young age.
Yao Chengjun was probably the same. It was just that his ability to expel Mentality was only highlighted at Rank-4.
Huang Jing continued, “Is there anything to do with their abilities in their past life?”
“It’s possible.”
“Wang Jinyang and a few of them experience peculiarity as a whole. Does that mean that they’re stronger than Rank-8 in their past life?”
“Is Fang Ping a bit stronger in his past life?”
“...”
They were engaged in a lively discussion. Fang Ping and Wang Jinyang were both completely speechless.
Stop using ‘past life’, could you?
Those who did not know might think that they had already died.
Fang Yuan was befuddled, completely at a loss at what they were talking about. She nudged Fang Ping gently, asking softly, “Brother, what are they talking about?”
Fang Ping laughed all of a sudden, replying in an equally soft voice, “They’re talking about my ability to make more money[1]. It’s my ability to earn money. Your brother’s ability to earn money is the strongest, do you understand now?”
Fang Yuan seemed to understand, though she did not ask about the details. She asked again, “Brother, can I break through as a martial artist right now?”
Fang Ping grimaced. He chuckled, “There’s no hurry. Do you really want to keep staying so tiny?”
While he was still talking, Wu Kuishan explained suddenly, “Actually, it’s possible to break through in advance. When the bones in the body have retained some Energy Essence, one can continue growing the bones even after breaking through.
“Fang Ping, you might not know that many young people of the Species Conservation Plan are nurtured this way.”
Fang Ping chuckled after hearing those words. “What a luxury.”
In order to break through martial artists a few years earlier, they used Energy Essence to maintain their bones!
This was also because these guys’ ancestors were supreme powerhouses. In order to comfort these supreme powerhouses, the government spared no effort.
Of course, the government might not be the one supplying them.
These powerhouses might have supplied them themselves.
“Won’t they blow up?”
“The Energy Essence is very gentle. High ranks can typically seal and conceal these essences into their bones. When the time is right, they will naturally seep out to continue maintaining their bones.”
While Wu Kuishan said those words, he added, “Of course, the consumption is high. It’s not quite worth it.”
Breaking through a few years earlier might not bring too great of a benefit.
However, the rich were stubborn. Sometimes, Rank-9 paragons could obtain huge amounts of Energy Essence.
It would not actually be difficult for these powerhouses to kill Rank-9 monster plants.
Fang Ping cast a quick glance at Fang Yuan and chuckled. “Let’s talk about this some other time. There’s no hurry. Oh right, vice-chancellor, those guys, are they strong?”
“They’re alright.”
Wu Kuishan did not actually know much. Nevertheless, he still said after a moment’s hesitation, “I’ve met a few before. How should I say this, certain senior powerhouses have never had a shortage of natural resources and treasures. That and their advanced breakthrough. Hence, their ranks were not considered low at all.
“It’s not rare to see Rank-5 and 6 at the age of 20 or so.
“Of course...”
Wu Kuishan smiled. “Don’t worry, no matter how talented they are and how hard the seniors nurture them, Rank-7 isn’t that easy to achieve. Even attaining Mentality-Vitality fusion proves to be a challenge.
“When they encounter guys like you, you can hack a few of them at Rank-6s easily.
“Don’t take it too seriously. Before Rank-7, even though they had attained Mentality-Vitality fusion, it will be nothing. Tang Feng alone can annihilate the entire group.
“But, the only thing that these guys are lacking in is actual combat experiences. Actually, certain powerhouses aren’t willing to see their future generations becoming Vitality martial artists. A portion of them is training in the Catacombs.”
As he said that, Wu Kuishan said indistinctly, “I even suspect that a portion of them are training in the Restricted Area!”
Fang Ping’s eyes moved when he heard those words. Beside him, Wang Jinyang could not help but ask, “The Restricted Area?”
Fang Ping turned his head to look at him with the most pitying look, sighing. “Brother Wang, NMAU is really pitiful. Forget it, I’ll send you some information later.”
Wang Jinyang’s face turned green. Was it necessary to send him a blow like that?
But... NMAU was truly pitiful.
Out of all the things they discussed, he had no idea what most of them meant.
He was not even sure what the Restricted Area was.
After talking for a moment, Fang Mingrong heaved out a box of wine. Typical low-ranked martial artists did not drink wine. Aspiring martial artists did not even eat certain snacks.
However, at the stage Fang Ping and the others were at, it did not matter anymore.
After his internal organs had been honed to such an extent, even steel was something that he was brave enough to eat.
Although they had already reached the stage whereby they would not grow hungry even if they did not eat, right now, none of them cared about this at all.
As they ate and drank, Fang Ping stood up, raising his cup, saying, “I want to give a toast to all of you, instructors! Just for me, all you instructors traveled so far to come to my aid. I, Fang Ping, will never forget your deeds!
“I hope that every year, we can all celebrate New Year’s reunion and eat New Year’s Eve dinner!
“Mankind... Will surely win!”
Everyone raised their glasses, each lost in their own thoughts.
As for Fang Ping, after giving a toast to his instructors, he gave another toast to his parents.
Finally, he raised his glass and clinked it with Wang Jinyang’s. He chuckled. “You’ve risked your life to save me today. I’ll spare the formalities.
“When Tiannan Catacombs opens, I’ll accompany you!”
“Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it.”
Their glasses clinked. Beside them, Fang Yuan raised her small wine glass as well, its content was fruit juice. Whilst clinking her glass with Fang Ping’s, she asked, “Brother, what’s a Catacomb?”
Fang Ping let out a faint smile. “That’s the evil sect martial artists’ base camp! These bastards attacked me this time. I, your brother, am not someone who can be easily provoked. When my abilities grow in the future, I’ll kill them until their blood turns into streams!
“Oh right, don’t reveal this to anyone, got it?”
“Mm!”
Fang Yuan nodded firmly. Then, she clenched her jaw and said, “I’ve become stronger. I want to go into the Catacombs and kill them too!”
The words had just left her lips when Fang Ping smacked her head and groaned, “Just stay at home and feel at ease will do. Who are you going to kill? I, your brother, am still alive. Do I even need you to fight on my behalf?”
At this moment, he did not mind revealing certain information to his parents and sister.
At this point, Fang Ping thought that in no time, the entire nation would know.
He claimed that it was the evil sect’s main camp. Perhaps the government might even publicize it that way too.
Right now, even Fang Ping had started doubting whether the evil sect still existed, or if they were just used as a scapegoat.
The Catacombs powerhouses had made their way out, destroyed the city, and killed civilians. Evil sect’s fault.
The Catacombs’ appearance. Evil sect’s fault.
All in all, evildoings and matters that were difficult to explain were all the evil sect’s fault.
With that, many issues had been simplified.
Fang Ping figured that it was highly possible for the government to publicize it that way when the time came.
Incidentally, they could find the evil sect members to aid some of the Rank-1 and 2 martial artists’ training. Killing them was easier than killing Catacombs martial artists.
There was a moment that even Fang Ping had bred a slightly more profound way of thinking.
Evil sect... did anyone intentionally bring them up?
Classifying a few impure martial artists as evil sects, creating a base camp for them to eliminate impurities.
Honestly, Fang Ping had always thought that human martial artists were unbelievably pure.
Whether they were martial arts university powerhouses, Military Department powerhouses, or certain powerhouses from other circles, most of them were kind people.
With everyone united, even if there were internal conflicts, there were rarely cases of large-scale tangled warfare or internal conflicts.
Not only because of the Catacombs’ existence. Perhaps, but the evil sect’s existence had a certain effect too.
Perhaps the evil sect had even gotten rid of some of the ill-intentioned martial artists.
“If that was the case, this would be interesting.”
Fang Ping mumbled in his heart. Perhaps the government was currently holding the most detailed name list of the evil sect martial artists.
When a great war broke out, the government would take immediate action to wipe out all evil sect martial artists.
At that time, there was no need to worry about having internal conflicts between humans.
Perhaps some evil sect higher-ups, who thought that they were well-hidden, were already being watched a long time ago.
Thinking a little deeper about it, what if they claimed that the Patriarch was actually a spy sent by human’s higher-ups in the end... Motherf*cker. Just thinking about it was upsetting.
“It may be possible!”
Fang Ping shook his head. The moguls’ ideas were exceedingly complicated.
Compared to them, he was only an inexperienced kid.
Even if he had some experience in his past life, there was no way he could compete with these people. If these high-status bigshot figures carried out plots and schemes, Fang Ping would never be their match.
Tonight, Fang Ping drank a lot of wine.
It did not leak!
His internal organs were still there. The wine entered his stomach and digested automatically.
Fang Ping was slightly drunk now. The evil sect martial artists’ attacking him this time had involved many things.
Certain information that he did not understand earlier had unfolded in front of his eyes one after another.
This included Wu Kuishan’s might.
According to Old Man Li, who had too much to drink, Old Wu, this shady man was much stronger than Zhou Dingguo.
Whereas for Zhou Dingguo, although he fought one against three in the Catacombs and was nearly killed, he did last a very long time after all.
There were a few Rank-9 Military Department Deputy Commanders as well. With his ability as a Rank-8, Zhou Dingguo had become a Deputy Commander too. He was truly not to be underestimated.
And Wu Kuishan was much stronger than Zhou Dingguo!
In the previous Global Golden Body Ranking, Wu Kuishan was ranked in 129th place, whereas he was ranked 12th in Sino Nation Golden Body Ranking.
This ranking was considered quite high now.
On the other hand, Zhou Dingguo’s previous ranking was 62th globally and 8th nationally.
If Wu Kuishan was much stronger than him, did that not mean that he was the kind who was at least in the top five in Sino Nation Rank-8?
CCMAU vice-chancellor was only third in Sino Nation ranking right now.
Old Wu would not be higher than the other party, would he?
While Old Man Li said these things, Wu Kuishan ignored him, pretending like he did not hear a thing.
No matter how powerful a Rank-8 was, one was only a Rank-8.
Besides, so what if one was the first in Rank-8?
Yes. The first in Rank-8 might be able to go up against a typical inferior Rank-9.
Even so, defeating did not mean killing.
Having a slightly more powerful ability did not mean that one could kill a Rank-9.
For a Rank-8 powerhouse to kill a Rank-9, it would be as difficult as going to heaven!
Chen Yaoting was the first seed in Rank-7. However, asking him to kill a Rank-8 powerhouse was as difficult as going to heaven. Even a rookie like Old Man Li might not be able to kill one.
But... taking down Zheng Minghong might be possible.
Old Zheng might not be very weak, but really, not many Rank-8s were truly weak. Even so, Zheng Minghong had not entered the Catacombs for many years now. He was either in the company or in Capital City on a leisure stroll. He rarely had a chance to fight in the last few years.
On the other hand, old man Chen Yaoting often took leisure strolls in South Capital Catacombs. He had even ambushed a few Catacombs Rank-7 before.
If it was not because of that, it would be difficult for him to become the first in Rank-7.
Other things aside, a few of the vice-chancellors in other martial arts universities owned Divine Weapons, so did he.
A few of the vice-chancellors in other martial arts universities owned egg-sized energy stones and could take them out whenever, unless it was the university’s public funds, they did not have too many private funds. Old Chen was the same.
As for Old Wu, Fang Ping paid more attention to him. This white-haired old man, should he desire to perform, he could amaze the world with a single feat.
He had to be slightly careful next time.
“Snake King...”
Fang Ping mumbled in his heart. He could not get his head around this pseudonym back then. Right now, he had a rough impression now.
“Mad Lion, Longevity Sword, Snake King, Unconquerable Wu...”
Fang Ping started to recall more of them. These fellows all had peculiar pseudonyms. What pseudonym should he give himself to make him seem domineering enough?
“Celestial Emperor?”
“Saber King?”
“Battle God?”
“...”
The words Fang Ping said at the back were said aloud over and over again. Beside him, Wang Jinyang who was equally drunk grinned half-soberly. He suggested, “A pseudonym? What about Skull Ping?”
“F*ck off!”
Fang Ping hissed. ‘You’re Skull Wang!’
Then again, who exactly was Old Wang in his past life?
At this moment, Fang Ping believed that these guys were all resurrected ancient powerhouses too.
“I wonder if they’re ancient resurrected powerhouses with a pseudonym.”
Fang Ping shook his head. At this moment, the sky had turned bright. Firecrackers pierced the air once more. Everything that happened last night just seemed like a dream.
[1] In Chinese, “past life” sounds like “make money”.