Do You Need My Help?

Swish, swish, swish!

Zhang Xiaofeng swiftly filled in Hua Qiang's information on the form, then handed him a cyan six-pointed star badge representing a Martial Artist's identity.

He handed him a black smart card as well.

"Welcome to the ranks of Martial Artists. You have been certified as a low-rank Martial Artist.

"Twenty thousand yuan will be deposited into this card every month as your living expenses.

"This month's payment has already been deposited. Once you link your phone number, you'll be able to check it.

"A three-bedroom, two-living-room, two-bathroom, one-kitchen apartment in the Black Tortoise Residential Complex has been assigned to you as a welfare residence. This smart card is also the access card for the apartment.

"Additionally, with this card, you can claim one cultivation technique and one combat skill from the third floor for free!"

Faced with Zhang Xiaofeng's overwhelming enthusiasm, Hua Qiang was almost flattered.

His eyes flickered, but he still asked the question he cared about most.

"Um, Chief Examiner..."

"Call me Brother Feng!"

Zhang Xiaofeng interrupted Hua Qiang, pretending to be displeased. "Brother, if you think highly of me, Zhang Xiaofeng, then from now on, we'll address each other as brothers."

"If you ever need help, as long as Brother Feng can handle it, just say the word!"

Mei Ting sat there, rolling her eyes repeatedly. This kid had no martial virtue—he had made his move far too quickly.

"Alright, Brother Feng!" Hua Qiang did not stand on ceremony with him.

The other man had practically come knocking at his door to curry favor. How could he not seize the chance and ride the momentum?

Besides, Zhang Xiaofeng worked at the Martial Arts Association.

Zhang Xiaofeng threw an arm around Hua Qiang's shoulders and laughed heartily.

"Straightforward, brother! Come on, I'll treat you to a meal. Let's go to Fengwei Tower."

Alright, the words on the tip of his tongue went back down into his stomach. He would ask during the meal later.

"Brother Feng, I'll go claim my cultivation technique and combat skill first. Those are important!"

"No problem. I'll go with you and give you some advice while I'm at it!"

"That would be great. Thanks, Brother Feng!"

"Now that's where you're wrong, brother. Between us, you're not allowed to say thanks anymore!"

The two walked out of the testing room arm in arm, chatting and laughing. They passed through the waiting room outside, then headed upstairs via a stairway around the corner.

Everyone in the room stared wide-eyed at the sight of them.

What was going on?

They had all seen that examiner when they were certified. He had been cold and even somewhat arrogant.

Why was he so warm and approachable now?

At his age, he was getting along so well with a young man that they practically wished they could wear the same pair of pants and piss... into the same chamber pot.

"Do those two know each other? Or are they relatives?" someone asked suspiciously.

"They definitely know each other, and their relationship must be unusual. Otherwise, how could they be so chummy?" another person chimed in.

"Guys, did you notice? Examiner Zhang seemed like he was trying to please that fat guy."

"Now that you mention it, you're right. That guy never gets up early without profit—there's definitely something fishy going on."

Murong Qingya watched Hua Qiang and Zhang Xiaofeng's backs disappear onto the second floor, utterly bewildered.

What was going on? How could this be happening?

That trash knew the chief examiner. No wonder that trash had appeared here.

Wait, could that trash's results just now have been tampered with by the chief examiner? Could he have faked them for him?

A piece of trash, a simp who had chased after her for two years, someone she had looked down on and cast into the dust.

Suddenly, he had risen above her. Not only had he successfully become a certified Martial Artist, but his results were so dazzling that they far surpassed hers.

How could she accept that willingly? How could she not be furious?

Earlier, she had flaunted herself before him, interrogated him harshly, and humiliated him. Now, all of it seemed like a farce, while she herself had become the clown in everyone's eyes.

Suppressing her rage, Murong Qingya walked to one side, picked up her phone, and dialed a number.

The call was answered quickly, and a middle-aged man's voice came through.

"Baby, are you calling to tell Dad the good news that you've been certified? What was your blood vitality? How much strength did you have?"

"Dad, I've successfully been certified as a Martial Artist. As for my blood vitality and strength, I'll tell you when I get back. I need to ask you something first."

The man's voice came through. "What is it?"

"You don't sound happy. Did someone offend you?"

"Which blind fool was it? Tell Dad, and I'll go find him and vent your anger for you!"

"How dare anyone make Murong Jiangshan's daughter suffer? I'll beat him half to death!"

"Dad, someone did offend me, but let's not talk about that first."

"I just want to ask you something. Can those testing machines make mistakes? Can they be falsified? Can the data on them be altered?"

"Make mistakes? Falsified? Alter the data?"

Murong Jiangshan muttered the words to himself, then said, "Well, it's not impossible!"

"If the testing equipment is used at a high frequency, there is a chance of deviations and inaccurate measurements."

"If the equipment has aged, then errors are even more likely!"

"As for altering the data, hehe, aside from the person undergoing certification and the two chief examiners, there's no one else present during the test."

"If they wanted to fabricate false results, it would still be very easy!"

Upon hearing what her Old Man said, a trace of delight immediately appeared on Murong Qingya's face.

"Oh... just as I thought. That simp's results must definitely be fake!"

"What? Someone really falsified the results?"

Murong Jiangshan's voice on the phone rose two octaves.

"Baby, hurry and tell Dad who it was!" As the deputy director of the Martial Arts Bureau, he absolutely would not allow something like this to happen.

He would never allow a black sheep to mingle among the ranks of Martial Artists.

On the third floor was a very large room.

Rows upon rows of cabinets stood inside. Many cultivation techniques and combat skills were displayed on the counters, but every item was isolated and protected by a Protective Shield.

To take out any of the books, one had to use special equipment to open it.

Hua Qiang declined Zhang Xiaofeng's company and told him to go take care of his own business.

Of course, the two had added each other's contact information and WeChat, making it convenient to get in touch if anything came up later.

Next, he needed to carefully choose cultivation techniques and combat skills that suited him.

According to the Martial Arts Association's regulations, Martial Artists could claim one Yellow Grade low-level cultivation technique and combat skill for free.

Martial Masters could claim Yellow Grade mid-level martial arts for free.

Grand Martial Masters corresponded to Yellow Grade high-level martial arts.

Only upon reaching Martial Sect could one qualify to study Mysterious Grade martial arts. All of these were free benefits granted by the country to those who walked the path of martial arts.

Of course, one could also purchase them with money, or exchange supplies or contribution points for them.

However, that was not something ordinary people could afford, and there were many restrictions as well.

The truth was that Modu Base had extremely few martial arts manuals, and the grades it possessed were rather low.

It was not just Modu Base; the entirety of China was like this.

On Blue Star, martial arts were divided into Yellow, Mysterious, Earth, Heaven, and Divine Grades.

Each grade was further divided into low, mid, and high levels.

Whether cultivation techniques or combat skills, they were also divided into four stages: beginner, minor accomplishment, major accomplishment, and perfection.

Hua Qiang kept walking between the counters, looking at the ancient-looking books. The names of the various cultivation techniques in particular immediately left him struggling to choose.

"Do you want me to give you some advice?" A clear, lively voice came from behind Hua Qiang.