Reunion with Sun Sheng, Jixing's Top Disciple

The Rong City Stadium.

Four helicopters hovered in the air above the green field, their cables slowly lowering a massive stone stage onto the expensive lawn.

The stage was 25 meters long and wide, and a meter and a half thick, carved from a single piece of granite. It was a standard martial arts arena.

"So extravagant."

Rong City's largest stadium had been closed for an internal training match between two martial arts halls, and was now exclusively open for them.

And the stone stage, flown in by air, was the same specification as the Youth Cup next week. All this back and forth was just burning through money.

Li Changqing and Kang Tianchen sat side-by-side in the front three rows, surrounded by Youth Cup participants and martial arts hall coaches.

In the distant stands behind them, the martial arts hall's apprentices filled every seat.

Li Changqing had only managed to get into the front section by taking advantage of Kang Tianchen's connections.

"What's so extravagant about this? Kid, you need to broaden your horizons." Kang Tianchen chuckled.

"We are Martial Artists, the reserves for Psionic Ascension, the future pillars against alien fleets. What's a little money? You'll understand when you officially register."

Li Changqing turned his head. "Do Martial Artists get a stipend?"

Kang Tianchen stroked his chin. "Either way, it's not like some people who have to live on a 5000 yuan relief payment."

"Can't even afford to buy medicine."

Li Changqing: "..."

"You've used up the Blood Qi Potion I gave you last time, haven't you?"

Kang Tianchen placed the cloth bag he'd prepared at Li Changqing's feet.

"I knew you wouldn't have the money to buy it. Here, take it." Before Li Changqing could speak, Kang Tianchen's brow furrowed.

"Hey, don't get worked up. I'm not giving it to you. You'll have to pay me back when you become a Martial Artist."

With that, Kang Tianchen didn't give Li Changqing a chance to refuse and pointed at the stage.

"Watch the match carefully. The hall master went to great lengths to invite people from Jixing Martial Hall. They call it a training match, but it's mainly to help our students. Watch closely, see if you can learn anything from them."

Li Changqing looked towards the stands opposite the green field.

"Coach, last time the hall master brought back a stone tablet for our three strongest senior disciples to study. Do you think they'll make any progress?"

"Hard to say." Kang Tianchen shook his head.

"The third and fourth seats sent by Jixing Martial Hall are both at the peak of Lower-Rank Six-Star, some even have physical functions close to Seven-Star.

Unless they truly grasp something, it'll still be difficult. We can only say they'll do their best."

Li Changqing's eyes darted around. "Coach, if we beat Jixing Martial Hall's chief, will we be guaranteed to win the Youth Cup this time?"

"The chief?" Kang Tianchen rolled his eyes. This kid really dared to dream.

"If you win, forget the Youth Cup championship. If you ask the hall master for a Psionic Divine Weapon, he'll immediately go back and break into his senior brother's house."

"Heh heh, that's an exaggeration, an exaggeration."

"If you know it's an exaggeration, then stop having wild thoughts all day. Beat the chief? First, you need to condense your Blood Essence." Kang Tianchen huffed and puffed.

"Kid, you haven't even learned to walk and you're already thinking about running? Don't aim too high. Focus on what's in front of you. Jixing Martial Hall cultivates geniuses, the kind people like Jiang He will be compared to in the future. You, on the other hand, should focus on our martial arts hall and strive to enter the Transformation Stage as soon as possible."

"Okay, okay, I get it." Li Changqing nodded repeatedly.

He glanced at his watch.

"Coach, the stage will take another half day to prepare. Can I go out for a bit?"

"Go on, go on. Don't be late."

"Will do."

Li Changqing left his seat and exited the venue through the passage behind him.

As soon as he stepped outside, Li Changqing instantly entered the Unity of Heaven and Man state.

Through the gentle breeze, he had a clear understanding of the entire stadium.

"Strange."

Just now, Li Changqing had sensed an extremely powerful Blood Essence from Jixing Martial Hall's group.

He had come out specifically to see who it was.

"This way."

Li Changqing moved along the wall, his steps light and quick.

With a few strides, he had circled to the other side of the stadium.

According to his senses, the owner of that powerful Blood Essence wasn't suppressing their strength. Their Blood Essence was as dazzling as a torch in the night.

He darted into the greenery, his mental strength in the Unity of Heaven and Man state making it impossible for anyone with weaker mental strength to detect his presence, even if they walked right past him.

At this moment, Li Changqing was truly one with nature.

Outside the waiting room of the Jixing Martial Hall, a robust figure in a white training uniform sat cross-legged on the ground.

Powerful Blood Essence roared within his body, his aura like that of a primordial beast.

It's him?

Li Changqing blinked in surprise. He hadn't expected to run into the other person here.

A familiar face, indifferent features.

Li Changqing stepped out from the greenery, releasing his Unity of Heaven and Man state.

"Sun Sheng?"

As he spoke, the man sitting cross-legged opened his eyes. Their gazes met.

"Li Changqing?"

Sun Sheng recognized the figure who had suddenly appeared before him.

The young genius he'd encountered in the Green Mountain Nature Reserve.

He stood up, glanced in the direction Li Changqing had come from, and understood.

"I didn't expect you to be from Chengtian Martial Arts School," he said, stroking his chin.

"That makes sense. I thought a genius like you wouldn't stay hidden in the crowd forever."

"And I didn't expect you to be from Jixing Martial Hall," Li Changqing said, walking forward slowly.

"Are you a participant in this training competition?"

"Jixing Martial Hall's Lower-Rank Chief," Sun Sheng replied nonchalantly.

Sun Sheng is the Chief? No wonder.

Li Changqing suddenly understood. It made sense that Sun Sheng's strength showed such a drastic difference compared to his own martial hall's Senior Disciple Brother.

So, the other party was Jixing Martial Hall's Chief. That explained everything.

Sun Sheng glanced at Li Changqing.

The latter was wearing casual clothes and didn't have an entry number displayed.

"What's your participant number? If you're competing below Lower-Rank Three-Star, no one from our martial hall can beat you."

"I remember when I first met you, you weren't even Lower-Rank Three-Star yet."

"A genius who became a Martial Artist right after graduating from university. I know very well what kind of strength such talent possesses. You don't need to be modest; they just can't beat you."

Sun Sheng spoke with certainty.

Facing Sun Sheng's admiring gaze, Li Changqing smiled.

"Sorry, I'm actually not representing our martial hall in this competition?"

"Not representing?" Sun Sheng frowned. "Is Chengtian Martial Arts School planning to hide their strength?"

"No," Li Changqing shook his head and pointed at himself.

"Because I'm currently just a Martial Arts Apprentice at Chengtian Martial Arts School and don't have the qualification to compete."

Sun Sheng fell silent. After a full five seconds, he spoke again, "That joke is a bit cold."

In response, Li Changqing directly tossed his identity token from his pocket to Sun Sheng.

"Look."

The word "Apprentice" stood out prominently on the token.

This time, Sun Sheng was silent for dozens of seconds.

"You have quite a lot of patience," he said, raising his eyes. "You must have registered yourself, right?"

"I registered for the individual event and still have to go through the preliminaries."

Li Changqing didn't explain. He hadn't intentionally hidden his strength.

It was mainly because the first time he met Kang Tianchen, he hadn't even passed the physical fitness test.

The second time he met Kang Tianchen, he had already become a Martial Artist. Given such a huge leap and no real need to mention it, Li Changqing hadn't said anything.

And so, it had dragged on until today.

He thought, Since I've already delayed it, why not delay it a bit longer? If I'm going to reveal myself, I might as well make it a big reveal.

Sun Sheng didn't comment on this. He glanced at his watch, his gaze fixed on Li Changqing, a faint flicker of interest in his eyes.

"Since you're not competing, you probably don't have anything to do later, right?"

"No, why?"

Sun Sheng took off his watch. "It's been a while. Your Blood Essence has become much richer; even I can't see through it clearly. Your Embracing the Core and Returning Strength technique is very well done."

He didn't hold back his praise.

"I wasn't mistaken. You truly are a genius who surpasses Jiang He. I saw him just three days ago, and he hasn't completed his Transformation Stage yet."

"You're about to start the preliminaries, and this is your best chance to make a name for yourself. I'll take some time to give you pointers, so you can break through the preliminaries and secure a ranking."

Li Changqing's eyes flickered.

"Aren't you competing soon? It wouldn't be good if it affected your performance."

"It's no trouble," Sun Sheng said with a calm and unruffled demeanor.

"There are still ten minutes until I'm up. That's enough time. As for training matches?"

"Of everyone in the Chengtian Martial Arts School, I only acknowledge your talent."

With such arrogant confidence, and a sense of entitlement in his disdain, Li Changqing didn't think Sun Sheng was just boasting.

He had seen the Senior Disciple Brother of his own martial arts hall and had to admit there was indeed "a tiny bit" of a gap between them.

"Come with me. It's too crowded and conspicuous here for you to perform well. Let's find another spot."

Sun Sheng beckoned to Li Changqing, then lightly leaped up and landed outside the surrounding wall.

Seeing that Sun Sheng didn't even give him a chance to speak, Li Changqing shook his head and then leaped over the wall.

"Coach Kang, I've taken care of the strongest people on the other side for you. This training match, you better not lose every single one."