Chen Yan won't join the Town Martial Class, I'll eat!

Luoshan County, Town Martial Division.

In the square before the building, a majestic male statue stood silently, a longbow in its hand pointed straight at the azure sky.

Behind it, in the highest-floor office.

Luo Puxin, dressed in casual clothes, opened the door and walked straight in.

"Yo, what brings a busy man like you here?"

Behind the desk, a middle-aged man in a suit and leather shoes sat, looking somewhat surprised at Luo Puxin.

"Old Yin, have the Town Martial Class quotas been decided?"

As the Town Martial Division Chief of Luoshan County, Yin Yanjun gave Luo Puxin a speechless look and tossed a file over to him:

"Shen Yiwei made you the head instructor of the Town Martial Class, not me. Why do you have to come to me for the quotas?"

Luo Puxin casually sat down on the sofa, lit a cigarette, and took a slow drag as he looked over the file:

"Hey, I'm here to help you keep the Chu Family in check, not to instruct some Town Martial Class. Old Shen is locked in a fierce struggle with Gong Hengwen over in Yunmeng City right now. If something goes wrong here, it'd be like cutting off one of Old Shen's arms."

Yin Yanjun nodded but pressed on:

"Then why are you asking me for Town Martial Class quotas now?"

"I spotted a seedling, from Green Mountain Town. His foundation's a bit weak, but his character and wits are pretty good." Luo Puxin flicked his ash:

"The Town Martial selection for Green Mountain Town hasn't come out yet?"

"The three county high schools have all been decided. Out of the twenty-three township high schools, only Green Mountain Town's five spots are still pending, but it'll be settled in a few days." Yin Yanjun explained, not paying much attention to the seedling Luo Puxin mentioned.

He knew Luo Puxin was originally from Green Mountain Town and had a special attachment to it, so it was understandable he'd want to promote someone from his own town. Besides, as the Town Martial Division Chief of Luoshan County, Yin Yanjun had seen too many seedlings over the years, even some truly extraordinary ones.

Seeming to notice Yin Yanjun's gaze, Luo Puxin quickly said:

"Don't look at me like that. I'm not going to pull strings for that kid."

"I get it." Yin Yanjun smiled.

"You get it, but you..." Luo Puxin pursed his lips and said:

"Let's put it this way: if this kid can't get into the Town Martial Class on his own, I'll..."

"You'll what?" Yin Yanjun grinned mischievously.

Luo Puxin was speechless. Why did Yin Yanjun have to latch onto that one sentence?

He finally blurted out:

"I'll eat it!"

"Fair enough!" Yin Yanjun gave a thumbs-up:

"What's his name? I'll note it down."

"Chen Yan."

As Luo Puxin said this, watching Yin Yanjun write the name in his notebook, his heart suddenly sank.

What if Chen Yan really couldn't get in?

Would he actually eat it?

No way, he should be able to make it.

Luo Puxin flipped through the file, scanning it briefly, when his eyes stopped on one name:

"This Chu Xuansheng from the Chu Family... With talent this good, why isn't he going to Yunmeng City?"

Yin Yanjun let out a cold laugh:

"The Chu Family has developed quite well in Yunmeng City. Leaving this Chu Xuansheng in the county is just to keep the younger generation in check, isn't it?"

Luo Puxin nodded, closed the file, and said:

"The Chu Family's influence has grown too strong these years. From what I can see, big and small families in Luoshan County all have some connection to them."

Yin Yanjun was taken aback and quickly said:

"That's enough already. We just removed that Chu Family member from the position of County Town Martial Deputy Commander not long ago. If we keep targeting them, the higher-ups will apply pressure. Shen Yiwei can't help me out right now."

Luo Puxin shook his head and said:

"It's not enough."

"Not enough?"

"Mm." Luo Puxin said:

"In the past few months, cases of missing youths have been popping up in nearby counties. Added together, it's damn near two hundred people. Luoshan County has the fewest, but that's exactly what makes it more suspicious. I suspect someone's planning something."

Luo Puxin recalled the car accident involving Chen Yan's sister, Chen Yu.

There were strange signs everywhere.

Yin Yanjun narrowed his eyes; he was naturally suspicious of this as well:

"What are you planning to do?"

"I'm going to clean up the Chu family, starting with this Town Martial Class quota!" Luo Puxin raised the documents in his hand:

"I just took a look—at least twenty of these people didn't earn the Town Martial Bonus. Most of these backdoor entries are connected to the Chu family.

Twenty young people have been stripped of their fairness. They really think the Town Martial Division is just for show."

Luo Puxin laughed:

"As long as the Chu family exists, there's no fairness in Luoshan County!"

Luo Puxin's words rang with conviction, but Yin Yanjun sighed and rubbed his brow.

He knew the Town Martial Class quota was problematic, didn't he?

But those who came through the back door were all tied to the various wealthy families of Luoshan County. To make a move would mean offending too many people.

"You need to think this through. Behind the Chu family stands Gong Hengwen," Yin Yanjun said with a sigh.

"And behind me stands the entire Town Martial Division, the whole of Qin Prefecture. What do I have to fear?" Luo Puxin took a drag of his cigarette, flashing a mouthful of white teeth:

"If it really comes down to it, I'll just have Old Shen arrange for me to run."

Qingshan High School.

Principal's Office.

Chen Yan, Yu Zhiwen, and Gao Yuan stood before the desk. On the sofa by the door sat a middle-aged man wearing sunglasses, who had come from the county.

"First, the Town Martial Bonus includes a cash reward of twenty thousand yuan."

Zhang Yue placed three red packets on the table, handing one to each of Chen Yan, Yu Zhiwen, and Gao Yuan.

Holding the thick red packet in his hands, Chen Yan's expression remained unchanged, but inwardly he was filled with joy.

"Aside from the cash reward, the Town Martial Bonus also includes four external rewards. You can only choose one of these four."

Chen Yan listened attentively, while Yu Zhiwen and Gao Yuan beside him also showed faint smiles.

"First, a basic Qi and Blood Potion, valued at sixty thousand.

Second, a basic weapon, valued at fifty thousand. You can choose the weapon's design yourself, but the materials used must not exceed fifteen kilograms.

Third, a twelve-hour teaching session on a basic Hard Body Martial Arts breathing technique, valued at seventy thousand. But note, this is only the breathing technique instruction, not the external training.

Fourth, the choice most people go for, valued at seventy thousand: a twelve-hour teaching session on a basic Qi and Blood Cultivation Method."

Chen Yan stood quietly, his mind beginning to weigh the options.

The first thing he ruled out was the weapon.

He had no weapon martial arts skills at all; using a weapon would only get in his way.

As for the Qi and Blood Potion and the Qi and Blood Cultivation Method, he was a Limit Breaking Awakening—too many restrictions.

"You should think carefully. These are the internal prices of the Town Martial Division. In reality, both Qi and Blood Cultivation Methods and Body Refinement Breathing Techniques require high-level martial artists to nurture Origin Crystals. The prices far exceed what Principal Zhang has listed."

A somewhat lazy voice rang out. The man in sunglasses sitting on the sofa spoke indifferently.

Earlier, the principal had introduced him to Chen Yan and the others: Chu Feiyuan, a Second-grade Martial Commander of the Luoshan County Town Martial Division.

A Second-grade Martial Commander meant he had a clearly defined rank—at least the strength of a Blood Qi Martial Artist above the Five Viscera Realm.

"I'll take the basic Qi and Blood Cultivation Method," Yu Zhiwen spoke up first, a hint of excitement in her voice.

"I'll take the Qi and Blood Cultivation Method too." Gao Yuan rubbed the back of his head, grinning sheepishly.

Principal Zhang Yue nodded. Most students would choose the Qi and Blood Cultivation Method; it was the most normal thing.

"I'd like the basic Body Refinement Breathing Technique," Chen Yan said with a smile.

"Body Refinement Breathing Technique?" Principal Zhang Yue nodded. It seemed Chen Yan had taken his earlier advice to heart and was giving up on the Qi and Blood Path: "If you practice the Body Refinement Breathing Technique, you'll need to find a corresponding external training method later to fully leverage the advantages of Hard Body Martial Arts."

At this moment, including Chu Feiyuan, Yu Zhiwen, and Gao Yuan, all turned to look at Chen Yan, somewhat surprised by his choice.

Body Tempering was grueling—far more so than the Qi and Blood Path.

But since Chen Yan had defeated Zhang Qingsi relying on his own technique and strength, everyone could understand after some thought.

He felt he had no talent on the Qi and Blood Path, so he was throwing himself entirely into Body Tempering.

"Mm." Chen Yan nodded.

"Alright then." Zhang Yue smiled. There was nothing wrong with Chen Yan taking the Body Tempering Path. It was tough, yes, but having a direction to work hard in was better than having none.

"Since that's settled."

Chu Feiyuan, sitting on the sofa, stood up and said.

Chu Feiyuan took a metal box the size of a baseball from a leather case beside the sofa, his gaze landing on Chen Yan as he said:

"Chen Yan, this is the Origin Crystal of the Crimson Gang Body Tempering Canon."

Chu Feiyuan then produced a slightly smaller metal box, the Origin Crystal of the Qi and Blood Cultivation Method, and smiled at the three of them:

"I'll give you three days. You can study at any time within these three days, but you only have twelve hours total. You can choose when to start."

Chen Yan's eyes gleamed as he looked at the two metal boxes in Chu Feiyuan's hands and said:

"I want to start now."

Chen Yan spoke.

"I want to start now too." Gao Yuan grinned naively.

"I'll start tomorrow." Yu Zhiwen spoke calmly instead.

"Alright."

Chu Feiyuan smiled faintly, then looked at Zhang Yue.

"I'll make the arrangements." Zhang Yue smiled.

At the top floor of the Teaching Building, inside an empty classroom, Chen Yan walked in. Zhang Yue placed the metal box in Chen Yan's hand and said: "Once I leave, the timer will start. Take the Origin Crystal and feel it carefully. If you can't absorb it right away, give up for now and come back tomorrow." Zhang Yue pulled all the curtains down in the classroom, then turned on the light and spoke.

"Alright."

"Absorb it well." Zhang Yue patted Chen Yan on the shoulder and said:

"Your Head Teacher Wang Yang thinks highly of you. I didn't understand before, but now I do."

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