"What do you need to know about admissions for? I can't promise to pull strings for you."
Lin Xiaohan's expression suddenly turned serious. He said sternly:
"You can throw little tantrums and act spoiled now and then. That's harmless.
"But the Education Department is one of Eastern Xia's Three Departments. Selecting talented students and teaching them is a matter of state.
"Qiguang Hengda University serves the countless students across the cities of Hengzhou. They've studied hard for years and developed their Life Force just to reach this threshold.
"I can't abuse my position for personal gain."
As the director of Qiguang Hengda University's General Affairs Office, Lin Xiaohan wielded considerable influence.
He was someone the teachers in every department wouldn't dare offend and would want to befriend.
After all, the so-called "General Affairs Office" handled all logistical matters!
From managing documents and personnel assignments to distributing salaries and arranging all kinds of receptions and other miscellaneous tasks.
Lin Xiaohan had the final say in all of it.
The administrative departments and logistics often clashed, much like soldiers serving in a unit who managed to get on the wrong side of the cooks.
It wouldn't be a matter of life and death, or even leave them crippled, but they could forget about having an easy time of it.
"What kind of person do you take your own little sister for?"
Facing the imposing Lin Xiaohan, who seemed to have a halo of holy light around him, Lin Yunqing pouted in displeasure:
"Even if you didn't help, I'd never ask Mom and Dad to pull strings for me, even if they were teaching in the Imperial Capital.
"Brother, do you remember what I told you yesterday? About that exceptionally gifted high school senior?"
Lin Xiaohan furrowed his brows, unconvinced.
"You mean you really found a high school senior with Spirit-Flesh Union and balanced talent? What's his name?"
Lin Yunqing proudly presented her discovery.
"Qin Shi!"
"His surname's Qin? Is he from Smoke City?"
"Old Factory Street!"
Lin Xiaohan's brows drew together even more.
"Old Factory Street hasn't produced a high school senior who got into one of Hengzhou's top universities in nearly a decade. A few days ago, the local Education Department held a meeting to discuss shutting down the Cadre School and converting it from public to private."
He wasn't one of those "elitists" popular in the Imperial Capital who believed Life Force Development was closely tied to bloodlines and genetics.
In other words, the wealthier your family, the more likely it was to produce a rare genius.
People like Qi Wuxiang, one of the First Generation Ten Prodigies, and even Lian Yixing were examples.
Especially the so-called successors, the Second Generation Ten Prodigies, who emerged after the millennium of the New Calendar.
Almost all of them came from top-tier administrative planets like the Imperial Capital and Haizhou.
That had revived the trend of worshipping noble bloodlines and insisting that some genes were superior to others.
But in all fairness, no matter what career path you chose, developing your Life Force did require resources and connections.
So Lin Xiaohan couldn't help feeling surprised when he heard Lin Yunqing say "Old Factory Street."
"Life Force of fifteen? Mental Strength of fifteen? Not yet eighteen? And he follows the Old Martial Arts path?"
He asked his sister to confirm once more.
Lin Yunqing raised the data report in her hand.
"Would I lie to you, your own little sister? Talent can be dressed up, but how could anyone fake the kind of monster that would make the Four Great National Universities jealous?"
Lin Xiaohan took the report and flipped through it carefully. Page after page of graphs representing Life Force and Mental Strength, along with muscle scans and brainwave analyses, came into view.
It took him a full seven or eight minutes to look through those few pages.
Only after a long while did Lin Xiaohan look up. He picked up the thermos beside him, took a sip, and composed himself.
"Getting into the Metropolitan Area's New No. 1 Middle School from Old Factory Street, then becoming a Hongzhi Class commuter student—just that alone speaks to his perseverance.
"If, as you say, he only recently started developing his Life Force and embarked on the Old Martial Arts path, then there are probably two possibilities. Either he has an impressive teacher,
"or he's had some extraordinary stroke of fortune, spent years building up his strength, then suddenly soared to success."
Lin Yunqing nodded.
"I guessed the same. I think the first possibility is more likely. Think about it, Brother: when the Martial Arts Association was founded, it wiped out the various sects and crushed illegal organizations. Countless people were killed, and plenty of Old Martial Arts factions were caught in the crossfire.
"Maybe Little Qin Assistant Teacher is the sole heir to some hidden great sect!
"As for why he's working part-time at the Youth Palace? It must be because, like me, he's traveling through the mortal world to temper his Dao heart!"
Lin Xiaohan automatically filtered out the rest, pretending he hadn't heard it.
His little sister liked reading martial arts novels from the Old Era and online fiction. Her thought process was out of the ordinary.
"I'm inclined to think it's the latter. The sea of stars is vast, and there's no shortage of miracles and legends. Which of the First Generation Ten Prodigies hadn't earned the favor of a god, or had fortune on their side?
"Especially those who rose from humble beginnings and fought their way up through blood and fire. Their lives were as tumultuous and magnificent as epics."
Lin Yunqing blinked.
"Brother, you're not thinking of killing him and stealing his treasure, are you? Taking Little Qin Assistant Teacher's—ow!"
Lin Xiaohan flicked a finger. The air made a soft pop, like a plastic pellet hitting Lin Yunqing's forehead, and she cried out in pain.
"Stop talking nonsense! The Lin Family is a Pioneer Family, after all. Since when have we lacked our own adventures and opportunities? Why would we envy an ordinary boy from Old Factory Street?
"Besides, the price of fate's gifts is already marked. You just can't see it clearly while you're caught up in the moment.
"A stroke of fortune doesn't necessarily lead to a good outcome!"
Pioneer families were Eastern Xia citizens who had willingly accepted a "Pioneer Order" during the development of new planets.
They often leased spaceships, oversaw massive migrations, and headed to administrative planets still in the frontier stage, where they began construction and planned for the future.
The descendants of each generation of pioneers saw their heritage as a badge of honor, believing their ancestors had built everything they had today.
The Chen, Lin, Qin, and Zheng families were the four most prominent and powerful Pioneer Families.
They had existed for as long as this planet had been developed.
Of course, most Pioneer Family descendants who truly achieved something chose to keep heading into the sea of stars and ride the wave of the Great Expansion.
Most of the people bearing those Pioneer Family surnames now were just trading on their ancestors' prestige.
Rubbing her smooth forehead, Lin Yunqing said ingratiatingly:
"Brother, I found you such an impressive talent. Even if I don't deserve credit, I've certainly worked hard.
"Please, have a heart and give him a spot in Qiguang Hengda University's support program.
"You've seen Little Qin Assistant Teacher's talent. He absolutely deserves it!"
Lin Xiaohan considered it briefly, but still shook his head.
"He hasn't enrolled yet, so he isn't a new student at Qiguang Hengda University and isn't eligible to apply for the support program.
"No matter the specifications or the amount of money, the funding has to come from the Education Department and go through public accounts.
"If I don't follow regulations as director, people will have grounds to criticize me."
Lin Yunqing looked disappointed. She knew that no matter how much her big brother spoiled her, once he made a decision about something important, he wouldn't change it lightly.
"Little sister, I was transferred here from Yazhou. I'm new, so I have to be cautious.
"Besides, I've disagreed with some of the professors and the so-called 'Ancient Tomb Sect' conservatives. Things haven't been pleasant.
"If I recommend Little Qin, it might not do him any good."
Lin Xiaohan glanced at Lin Yunqing, who had gone quiet, and smiled.
"How about this? Bring him to meet me sometime, and let me see just how monstrous his talent really is.
"If he's as outstanding as you say, I'll find him a good teacher at Qiguang Hengda University to help him develop his Life Force.
"He shouldn't be opposed to New Martial Arts, should he?"
Lin Yunqing thought it over.
"Little Qin Assistant Teacher doesn't seem like a stick-in-the-mud. The dividing line between New Martial Arts and Old Martial Arts isn't that clear-cut anyway. Our family's Three Emperors Cannon Fist came from Old Martial Arts, too."
Lin Xiaohan nodded.
"Fine. If this works out, I'll credit you for it. Another day, I'll ask Dad to transfer you back from the Youth Palace."
Lin Yunqing wasn't very concerned about herself. She said vaguely:
"I'm happy working at the Youth Palace. Oh, what if that Qin guy won't take no for an answer?
"You know I can't stand self-important jerks who love showing off!"
Lin Xiaohan's expression turned displeased, and he scolded her.
"Can't you act like a proper young woman? You're always getting into fights. What's the point?
"As for Qin Lihao, don't bother with him. Their ambitions have gotten too big lately. They want to swallow up the Dangyang Eastern Suburbs in one bite.
"Qin Lihao is hot-tempered and arrogant, and Qin Zhijie is no threat. But their eldest brother, Qin Renying, and that Qin Yixiong are another matter. One's as sly as a fox, the other's highly capable, and they've made Smoke City as secure as an iron fortress.
"Let them have their fun for now."
Lin Yunqing wasn't interested in any of that. She held out her hand for a reward.
"You can't give him a spot in the support program, but you can't skimp on the benefits either.
"Brother, how about a bottle of high-grade Energy Liquid? Give me a little something to sweeten the deal."
Lin Xiaohan chuckled.
"You think Energy Liquid grows on trees? Every time, I have to submit a request to the research institute and get it approved. It's a hassle."
Lin Yunqing grumbled to his face.
"Director Lin is so stingy!"
Lin Xiaohan sighed.
"I'll see what I can do. Since he's in the new-student stage after breaking through his limits, Level 6 Energy Liquid should be enough."
Even someone with the Life Force required to reach amateur rank seven would have a hard time absorbing all of it.
If his little sister Lin Yunqing hadn't vouched for Qin Shi, calling him a monster, Lin Xiaohan wouldn't have wasted resources like this.
"Remember, he's several years younger than you. Don't go starting some teacher-student romance and giving Mom and Dad a shock."
Director Lin reminded her.
He felt his little sister was paying a bit too much attention to the boy.
"Mind your own business!"
Lin Yunqing huffed.
"You were the one who taught your wife back when she was your student!"
Lin Xiaohan awkwardly defended himself.
"My feelings were sincere, but I kept things proper. It was a serious relationship. That's different.
"Besides, your sister-in-law's family and Mom and Dad were old friends."
Lin Yunqing curled her lip.
"Anyway, you'd better handle that Qin guy and make sure he doesn't bother me or Little Qin Assistant Teacher.
"If he really gets on my nerves, I'll call in backup, stuff him in a sack, and throw him in the river!"
After issuing her warning, Lin Yunqing quickly left.
She got into her car and re-added [Lightning Whirlwind Chop] as a friend, then sent her a photo she'd just taken of the nameplate outside the General Affairs Office director's office.
[Super Invincible Tyrannosaurus God of War: [Image]]
[Super Invincible Tyrannosaurus God of War: Director Lin is going to personally pick a major teacher to privately nurture an Old Martial Arts prodigy. What do you think?]
[Lightning Whirlwind Chop: Once I meet him, we can talk! I just got promoted to department head at work, and I've got loads of authority over the funds!]
[Super Invincible Tyrannosaurus God of War: Then make some time to come to the Metropolitan Area. I'll show you what a monster looks like!]
In the bedroom, Qin Shi opened his eyes and reached over to stop the alarm the moment it rang.
[Intermediate Achievement—Deep Sleep (12/30)] [Intermediate Achievement—Muscle Memory (11%)] Old Martial Arts Cultivation Method Level 2 (27/30) Old Martial Arts Fighting Style Level 2 (19/30) Body 15.1→16 Mental 14.9→15.2
After habitually checking his stats, Qin Shi felt refreshed. He put on a short-sleeved shirt, got up, and went to wash.
"Brother, why don't you make a sound when you walk?"
The youngest, Qin Lan, was making porridge. She turned and saw Qin Shi suddenly appear, and jumped in fright.
The startled Qin Lan dropped the spoon in her hand. In that instant, Qin Shi's perception of his surroundings seemed to slow down.
It was as if an ordinary movie had gone into slow motion, each frame moving forward one by one.
"What's this..."
Qin Shi was puzzled. Acting on instinct, he reached out and caught the falling spoon.
Whoosh!
The next moment.
The world's flow of time returned to normal in the blink of an eye.
[Basic Achievement—Super Sensory Perception activated]
A line of illusory text flashed across his vision and flowed into the depths of his consciousness.
Before you continue