Two Years Later
"... Even at a time like this, you still want to protect a useless older brother like me?"
Even if you are hated by the whole world, my respect for you will never change, just like when I was a child, I always followed behind you, watching your back.
"I see... So that's what you think..."
Lin Qingxiang's expression was like that of a child whose prank has been exposed and who has been forgiven by his mother; he was very relieved and seemed to have no regrets.
Liu Qingqing noticed that the other party's Primal Qi was rapidly declining, like a deflated balloon. No matter how much True Qi she transferred, it would be useless. She looked at Si Ming with a glimmer of hope, but Si Ming also shook his head helplessly.
"Si Ming, as long as you're here, my little sister will be alright... She won't turn into like Father, so listen carefully, never let go of her hand."
Lin Qingxiang took Liu Qingqing's hand and placed it in Si Ming's palm.
"Don't worry, I will never let go." Si Ming nodded firmly and promised.
"Okay, then I'm relieved... My eyelids are getting sleepier and sleepier. Maybe I can get a good night's sleep. This is the first time in more than ten years. You don't need to wake me up."
"Big brother..." Sensing that the other person's life was about to end, Liu Qingqing couldn't hold back her tears.
"Honestly, what's there to cry about? You haven't changed at all. I thought you'd grown up, but you're still the same crybaby..."
Suddenly, a childhood memory surfaced in Lin Qingxiang's mind: his younger sister crying because he had kicked her out of the house.
"Brother, do you really not want Qingluo anymore?"
--I told you, don't make that face. If you cry, I won't be able to be ruthless.
Let go of my hand! Stop following me, how long do you intend to drag me down?
That was a scene he had regretted countless times, but no matter how much he regretted it, the older brother could no longer stop his younger sister from crying...
Lin Qingxiang slowly closed his eyes. In his final moments, he saw himself in his memories sighing helplessly and reaching out to his little sister.
"Sigh, I just can't do anything with you. Stop crying and come home with me."
A large hand grasped the small hand that had been suspended in mid-air for a long time, gently enveloping the little sister's hand as if it were a precious treasure.
--Ah, I see... So that's what I've always wanted to do... But...
The person holding that hand now wasn't herself, but another man, and her younger sister, who had always followed behind her and cried incessantly, now had an expression as bright as if she were basking in sunlight.
--Alright then, at least that hand won't let go. You've finally found someone who can protect you. Now I can rest assured. I'll leave the rest to him...
Lin Qingxiang breathed a sigh of relief and left without looking back.
The author originally intended to write a short 2,000-word chapter and then move on to the next volume, but it ended up being a 6,000-word chapter. I just can't stop writing the side stories... Actually, this was the main plot that was originally planned in the outline, but it turned out that Liu Qingqing's level had risen too high, making it impossible to trigger this plot. So it had to be moved to a parallel world. The main plot has fulfilled the conditions of the IF scenario, and both the eldest brother and the second sister survived.
Volume Twelve: Neither Holy Nor Evil Nor Emptiness
Chapter 799 Two Years Later
The champion of this year's National Martial Dao League is— the Linked Mountains University Second Martial Arts Club!
As the host excitedly announced the acceptance, Si Ming received the Purple Gold Cauldron from the award presenter Yan Jinghong and held it high under the watchful eyes of the crowd.
Teammates crowded around, each reaching out to support the cauldron, and then, in unison, shouted the slogan that still ignited their passion, "We are the champions!"
Although the reporters had predicted before the competition that Linked Mountains University was likely to win, given their dominant strength, especially after the graduation of Dong Hanwen from Heavenly Black University and Wei Mengchen from Earth Emperor University, they were even more outstanding, with even the odds offered by outside casinos being extremely low, they still couldn't help but tremble with excitement upon seeing the scene before them.
"A three-peat! I never expected that, besides Heavenly Black and Earth Emperor, another team would achieve a three-peat in the Martial Dao League, tying the record for the longest winning streak in history... I remember that the Martial Dao League has a rule that teams that win three consecutive championships can keep the Martial Arts Golden Cauldron instead of keeping it for a year and then returning it to the organizers. So, this is the third Martial Arts Golden Cauldron to be given away."
"Not only that, but look at the main players on their team; they're all still quite young. Although they're already seniors and could graduate, if they're willing to stay and study, they can continue to represent the Second Martial Arts Club in future Martial Dao League. It's obvious the school would be happy to recommend them for the imperial examinations, after all, that's a priceless asset."
"In other words, they have a very good chance of breaking the three-peat record, or even extending it significantly. Theoretically, this group could fight for another three years... a six-peat!"
When this answer was given, everyone around was taken aback. Three consecutive championships was already an incredible feat. Heavenly Black and Earth Emperor achieved this only by fortuitous opportunity, and they had only done it once. Six consecutive championships was double that.
After all, the Martial Dao League has strict age restrictions. Once the main force that won the previous championship graduates and retires, and the new generation cannot take over in time, the overall strength can easily plummet. Age has a significant impact in the youth league. Two martial artists with similar talent, the 25-year-old will definitely have an advantage over the 20-year-old. Both cultivation and experience require time to accumulate.
After the initial shock, everyone carefully analyzed the situation of the Linked Mountains University Second Martial Arts Club and had to admit that a six-time champion was not just empty talk, but an achievable goal. They were even more shocked and speechless for a moment.
After a long while, someone finally said slowly, "Two years ago they were just the rising sun, but now they are at their zenith. Other teams can only sweat under the scorching sun and look up at the unattainable blazing sun... This is their dynasty."
"Indeed, Dong Hanwen and Wei Mengchen were incredibly unlucky. Despite advancing to the Spirit Transformation, they couldn't lead their team to victory and became mere foils for others. If this had happened in other years, their unique status as Grandmaster leading their teams to the top would have been a legendary achievement."
Some protested, saying, "A single dominant force in the Martial Dao League is not a good thing. If everyone knows who the champion is before the competition even starts, what's the point of competing? All the anticipation disappears. A diverse range of competitions is what makes the league truly attractive."
"Bullshit! I don't know how many people love watching the classic storyline of a chivalrous hero challenging Devil Master. The stronger the Linked Mountains University Second Martial Arts Club is, the more everyone expects others to defeat them. If they really can't win, they can just wait until these people reach the age limit. It's just a matter of waiting three more years. It's not like we can't wait. They won the championship with their own strength. If they have the ability, they should defeat them fair and square. What's the point of buzzing around like flies? Do they think they can disgust people and drive them away?"
There are opponents, and naturally there are supporters, especially the supporters of Linked Mountains University, who wish they could continue to win the championship. Three consecutive championships are not enough, six consecutive championships are not too many, and nine or ten consecutive championships would be even better.
While outsiders were discussing it with great interest, Si Ming person involved, handed the Purple Gold Cauldron to his teammates and then stopped caring. For him now, the process was more meaningful than the result. Last year, Heavenly Black and Earth Emperor could still be formidable opponents for Linked Mountains University and cause considerable trouble, but this year, with the "retirement" of Dong Hanwen and Wei Mengchen, two Spirit Transformation, the Second Martial Arts Club was completely without rivals and became Dugu Qiubai. The entire league was without suspense from beginning to end, and they advanced triumphantly to lift the Purple Gold Cauldron.
It was precisely because they won so easily that the media became worried. If the martial arts championship were to be monopolized by the Linked Mountains Street, its appeal would inevitably be greatly diminished.
As for the International Union Academy, their special abilities lost their element of surprise after being thoroughly studied by their competitors. At best, everyone had an extra special Cultivation Method, which was not a decisive factor. Their overall strength was only at the level of the top four, lacking a core combat force that could decide the outcome, and they could not win the championship.
Si Ming left the noisy players' lounge to see his master, Yan Jinghong. He knew very well that a busy man like his master would not waste his precious time on something as pointless as presenting an award for his apprentice. He must have something to ask him, and that's why he was just passing by as an award presenter, giving the media a hot topic of "master-apprentice succession."
Upon arriving at the private VIP lounge, Yan Jinghong, as expected, refrained from offering any pleasantries like "Congratulations" and immediately asked, "What level of Internal Cultivation have you reached?"
Si Ming truthfully replied, "Level 18."
He advanced three levels in two years, especially considering that his Internal Cultivation had already reached the Spirit Transformation stage. Such speed was enough to drive a group of Spirit Transformation Grandmaster had been stagnant for a long time envious and crazy.
However, Si Ming's rapid progress was not entirely due to the Vacuum Zero-Energy Furnace. At least, his ability to cross the threshold from level sixteen to seventeen was thanks to his dual cultivation with Si Huaruo and Yu Shuying.
Si Huaruo possesses an ice-attribute Cultivation Body, which is the exact opposite of his fire-attribute Cultivation Body. Yu Shuying's Reverse Countering Marvelous Art will transform into the opposite attribute no matter who she encounters. Stimulated by the two instances of dual cultivation, Si Ming finally crossed this Daoist Gate again.