Carrot and Stick (Please Follow)

"Qi Ge, you're out!"

Lin Qi soon came out as well, and Jiang Tao enthusiastically went up to greet him.

"Qi Ge, you're the best!"

Jiang Tao gave him a thumbs-up, then bumped fists with Lin Qi. The two exchanged smiles.

"Still, how exactly did Lin Qi win?"

"In terms of blood vitality, Lin Qi was inferior to Qiu Jie. And in spear technique, Qiu Jie seemed a little stronger too. Yet Lin Qi won in the end. That doesn't fit what I know."

Someone in the crowd suddenly shook his head and asked.

"I'll answer that!"

Zhang Cheng stood and spoke. Once everyone's eyes were on him, he began explaining.

"Blood vitality and skill are the main factors in battle, but they are not everything."

"Martial arts isn't a game. Having higher stats doesn't mean you'll win."

"In battle, your mentality, judgment, decisiveness, prediction, and other factors all affect the outcome."

"As for Qiu Jie, he didn't lose unfairly at all. It's useless even if you're unwilling to accept it."

"Your spear technique is decent, but your fundamentals aren't solid enough. Your hands aren't steady enough or precise enough. Lin Qi had several ways to defeat you in battle."

"In the end, he chose an ordinary thrust and broke your Killing Move."

"Tenth in the grade?"

"I said before that you didn't have to listen to my lessons. I thought you were something special, but this is it?"

"Ask Lin Qi yourself. Did he even use his full strength?"

Zhang Cheng sneered as he relentlessly tore into Qiu Jie.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, Qiu Jie's face flushed red. His blood surged, and a nameless rage rose in his chest. He wanted nothing more than to make a move.

Lin Qi watched from the side and had to admit that Zhang Cheng was truly formidable. He had seen through everything.

Qiu Jie's spear technique had not broken through to the Second Order. He was not even as good as Wu Feng had been before, so defeating Lin Qi had been even more impossible.

Facing Zhang Cheng, the furious Qiu Jie ultimately did not lose his reason and chose to turn around and leave.

"Alright. The ten people selected to compete, stay behind. Everyone else, return to the Martial Arts Classroom," Zhang Cheng suddenly said.

The others began to leave.

"Lin Qi is amazing. He's really risen this time. Who would've thought?"

As the others departed, their discussions drifted into Lin Qi's ears.

In everyone's eyes, Lin Qi had become a prominent figure among the third-years. He was no longer the unknown nobody he had once been.

Soon, only Lin Qi and the other ten remained in the Virtual Room.

"Lin Qi, you're very good!" Zhang Cheng looked at Lin Qi and rarely offered praise.

"It's all thanks to Teacher's guidance," Lin Qi said modestly.

Zhang Cheng nodded in satisfaction and looked around at the ten of them.

"One week from now, the ten of you will represent Tianhai No. 2 Middle School in battle."

"Your opponent will be Songbai Middle School from Bailu City. They are very strong, a formidable opponent. If you become careless because of that, lose your matches, and cause the school to lose the Exchange Tournament—"

"Heh, heh. Don't blame everyone for tearing you apart."

"Songbai Middle School is also one of Bailu City's ten key middle schools, but it is comparable to Tianhai City's second-tier middle schools."

"Their overall strength is greater than ours. Unfortunately, we were matched against them this time."

"I have only one requirement: achieve final victory."

Zhang Cheng's voice grew louder and louder as a tyrannical aura burst from him.

Everyone frowned, feeling a heavy pressure. Their opponent was comparable to a second-tier middle school. Winning would likely be very difficult.

"This Exchange Tournament will not only serve as training for you, but victory will also earn you prize money."

"Each participating school and the city Martial Arts Education Bureau will contribute five hundred thousand yuan. That makes a total of two million yuan."

"The winning side can take all two million yuan," Zhang Cheng added suddenly.

Lin Qi's eyes lit up. Two million yuan—even if it were split evenly, he could still get two hundred thousand yuan.

Of course, it was unlikely to be divided equally. The winners would most likely receive a larger share. Thinking of that, he felt even more motivated.

"Make the most of this week. Train desperately and strengthen yourselves."

"That's all I have to say. Dismissed. Lin Qi, stay behind," Zhang Cheng said.

This time, the other nine left, leaving only Lin Qi and Zhang Cheng.

Zhang Cheng looked at Lin Qi, growing more satisfied the longer he looked. He smiled.

"Lin Qi, I was right about you. You're even more outstanding than I imagined."

"How much of your strength did you use against Qiu Jie?"

Lin Qi pondered for a moment. "Seventy percent."

"You defeated Qiu Jie with only seventy percent of your strength. It seems there are very few among the top ten in the grade who are stronger than you."

Zhang Cheng praised him again, his tone even more emphatic.

"Have you signed with a Martial Arts Hall? A C-Rank Contract or a B-Rank Contract?" he suddenly asked.

Lin Qi shook his head. "Not yet. Chongming and Black Radiance Martial Arts Hall approached me, but they were only willing to offer a C-Rank Contract."

"I'm not sure about Red Sky Martial Arts Hall. They haven't contacted me yet."

Zhang Cheng frowned deeply. "That shouldn't be the case. With your talent, signing a B-Rank Contract should be no problem."

"It seems something has gone wrong somewhere. Wait a little longer. Red Sky Martial Arts Hall may have good news for you."

Lin Qi nodded. He was not in a hurry. If he could get the Exchange Tournament prize money, he would be even less pressed.

Back in his Martial Arts Room,

Lin Qi changed into his Martial Arts Uniform, drank an Energy Elixir, picked up his Long Spear, and began training.

"Whoosh, whoosh!"

The Long Spear shot out. Its tip trembled and its shaft vibrated, accompanied by a humming sound.

A fierce aura spread through the surroundings like crashing waves. One move followed another, forceful and domineering. Every thrust seemed capable of shattering a mountain peak.

Lin Qi controlled the muscles in his arms as he swung the Long Spear, fully bringing out the style, power, and precision of his Spear Technique.

He recalled the battle from earlier.

Qiu Jie had been even weaker than he had expected.

His Spear Technique Realm was quite high, but his fundamentals were not solid enough. His strikes were not steady enough, allowing Lin Qi to easily find his openings.

Still, it was understandable. Practicing fundamentals was the most tedious thing, and only Lin Qi had been able to persist, building the most solid foundation.

Then Lin Qi thought about the Martial Arts Exchange Tournament.

The Martial Arts Exchange Tournament a week from now would be against Songbai Middle School.

Their overall strength was greater, and their opponents would not be as weak as Qiu Jie.

Whether because of his opponents or for the prize money, he had to raise his strength further.

"I've already mastered the First Ultimate Move. It's time to develop the Second Ultimate Move."

Lin Qi thought to himself, setting his goals for the coming week.

Work hard to raise his blood vitality, strive toward the Second Order in Spear Technique, and begin comprehending the Second Ultimate Move.

That night, at Red Sky Martial Arts Hall,

In the underground parking garage, a burly man stepped out of a black luxury car. He radiated a powerful presence and had a wild temperament. Every movement carried an overwhelming aura.

"Finally back!"

The man stepped into his private elevator and rode directly to the top floor of the Martial Arts Hall.

When the elevator doors opened, they revealed a spacious office. A massive desk stood in the center, with a broad brown bookshelf behind it.

Just as he sat down, a chime sounded at the door.

"Come in!"

The office door opened, and Manager Sun, dressed in a black suit, entered.

"Welcome back safely, Hall Master!"

"Is this your welcome? Bringing me a mountain of work to deal with?"

Yue Feng looked speechless. This Vice Hall Master life of his was truly exhausting.

"Go on. What is it that made you seek me out so urgently?"

"There's a genius with a special situation. I don't know what contract to offer him, so I need you, Hall Master, to make the decision."

"Oh?"

"Let me see." Yue Feng curiously held out his hand.

Manager Sun took out a tablet and handed it to Yue Feng, projecting and enlarging the information.

"Lin Qi, student of Tianhai No. 2 Middle School..."

Yue Feng quickly scanned through the information, pondering for a moment before speaking.

"This really isn't easy to judge. Let me think about it. I'll give you an answer later."

"Understood!"

After Manager Sun left, Yue Feng frowned. "This kind of genius is a blind box. No one knows what they'll end up revealing."

"It wasn't as if such geniuses had never appeared before, but only a very small number were true geniuses. Most would soon sink into mediocrity."

"Didi!"

As he thought this, his phone rang. He took it out and looked at it.

"Zhang Cheng? Why is this guy calling me?" Yue Feng wondered, then answered the call.

A bit of a pity. After I mentioned it yesterday, the monthly votes still didn't reach fifty.

But I wrote an extra thousand words in today's update, so consider it half an extra chapter. (Laughs)

After it goes premium, I'll write a little more each day on top of the usual ten thousand words.