Celebrity

Gang Refining.

On Blue Star, it had already become a myth and legend, a figure akin to an earthly immortal.

Li Pin had spent more than a decade in the Martial World on Blue Star. He had heard of Gang Refining, but whenever he sought them out, he either could not meet a True Person, or...

They were nothing but fame-seeking frauds.

Yet even in this world, such figures still counted among the true upper echelon.

Star Refiners would come to their doors to seek advice on their Embrace Dan experience.

Some highly renowned Gang Refining practitioners would even be granted noble titles by the royal family, thereby gaining the qualification to enter local councils.

Even if they lacked renown, as long as they possessed Gang Refining cultivation, they could still easily attain extraordinary status by following the Martial World route.

Not to mention the president of a county-level Martial Arts Association—even becoming vice president of a city-level Martial Arts Association would be more than enough for a Gang Refining practitioner, so long as it was not a key city located along a vital route.

Canglong City had only one president, one honorary president, and three vice presidents. Without exception, all three vice presidents were merely at Embrace Dan.

From this alone, one could see the status of a Gang Refining expert.

Cao Tianyou was a genuine Gang Refining Grandmaster.

"Hmm!?"

Cao Tianyou studied Li Pin, then suddenly realized something and exclaimed, "You've achieved Embrace Dan!?"

The moment he said this, the attention of the people who had been speaking with him at the table was drawn over as well.

"Thanks to the profundity of the Five Elements Body Refining Technique and Grandmaster Cao's insights on Embrace Dan, I suddenly gained an insight over the past half month and luckily took that step."

Li Pin said.

"Good, good, wonderful."

Delight appeared on Cao Tianyou's face.

Li Pin had already signed with the Five Elements Sect. The stronger he became, the firmer the Five Elements Sect's standing in Canglong City would be.

"After three days apart, one must look at him with new eyes."

"Is this the Martial Master Li who recently joined the Five Elements Sect?"

At this moment, the elderly man who had been chatting with Cao Tianyou asked.

Li Pin glanced at him and vaguely felt that the man's bearing somewhat resembled Cao Tianyou's.

Then he seemed to think of something.

The president of the Martial Arts Association, Jiang Qingyue?

"He is Li Pin, Martial Master Li—the brightest star in Canglong City's Martial World."

Cao Tianyou said with a smile.

"Martial Master Li killed the Cat Demon in Liuchuan County and captured the evil-path martial artist Canglong City had been hunting for so long. I have heard his name more than once. Seeing him in person today... he is even younger than I expected. The young are truly formidable. Canglong City's future will surely be entrusted to people like you."

The elderly Jiang Qingyue wore a broad smile as well.

"You flatter me, President Jiang."

Li Pin said.

"I am merely speaking the truth."

Jiang Qingyue said.

"Brother Jiang may not know this, but Li Pin has registered for the Jiangzhou Martial Arts Tournament. Before, he had not yet achieved Embrace Dan, so he was still a little short of the mark if he wanted to secure a placing. But now that he has succeeded in Embrace Dan, he can rapidly raise his physique to the peak of Embrace Dan over the coming months. With his actual combat ability, the Jiangzhou top ten is well within reach."

Cao Tianyou smiled. "This time, it is not only Martial Master Fang Lingjue who has hopes of entering the Jiangzhou Tournament's top ten. Now we have Martial Master Li as well. If they truly seize two slots, President Jiang's record will undoubtedly gain a weighty stroke."

Jiang Qingyue smiled at this too, and his gaze toward Li Pin became even warmer.

Even if Li Pin failed to make the top ten this time, his age meant he would have great hope next time.

And if not next time, then the time after that. He was said to be only twenty-two and could still participate in four Jiangzhou Tournaments.

He could already foresee the many honors this young Martial Master would bring him in the future.

"Martial Master Li, would you be interested in joining the Martial Arts Institute of Canglong University? Once you graduate, Canglong University will pave a promotion path for you through associate professor, professor, and the corresponding positions of department director and dean of the Martial Arts Institute."

At this moment, another middle-aged man suddenly extended an invitation.

Some universities also had Martial Arts Institutes, but many Embrace Dan Martial Masters earned annual incomes of several million or even tens of millions. How could schools possibly offer such high salaries?

Therefore, for the martial arts departments of these schools, being able to hire one or two Level Three martial artists was already the limit. Aside from the country's top dozen or so universities, no university could attract an Embrace Dan Martial Master.

The relatively obscure Canglong University was no exception.

Li Pin glanced at the man, who was likely Canglong University's president, and declined. "My time and energy in the coming period should be focused on participating in martial arts tournaments."

"This is Mayor Tian Feiyu, who oversees culture, education, and publicity."

Cao Tianyou introduced him from the side, then smiled. "Mayor Tian wants Martial Master Li to participate in this martial arts tournament as a university student?"

"A university student's identity does not conflict with having come from a martial arts school."

Tian Feiyu said with a smile.

Cao Tianyou and the others nodded.

They knew that was indeed true.

Although Li Pin was only twenty-two, he was competing in the youth division, where his age advantage would not stand out.

But if he presented himself as a university student, even if he failed to enter the top ten of the Jiangzhou Tournament, as long as his performance was outstanding, using his student identity as a selling point would be enough to make him famous throughout Jiangzhou.

Once his reputation rose, Canglong City—and naturally, he himself as the official in charge—would catch the eyes of Jiangzhou's influential figures.

In the future, if he wished to take another step forward, rise from deputy to full office, or even head to Jiangzhou City, this would all be a brilliant achievement on his record.

"I'm afraid Mayor Tian will be disappointed on that point. Martial Master Li is no longer considered a student. He originally attended Hanyang University, but has now been expelled, and even his student records have been returned to the local authorities. If he wishes to attend Canglong University, he would likely need to retake the entrance examinations. He probably will not make it in time for this Jiangzhou Tournament, and by the next one, he will already be twenty-five... using a university student identity then would be somewhat inappropriate."

Zhao Yuan spoke from the side.

"Hmm? What happened?"

Cao Tianyou was somewhat surprised.

"When we invited Martial Master Li to join the Five Elements Sect, I specifically investigated this matter."

As Zhao Yuan spoke, he gave Li Pin an apologetic look. "My apologies, Martial Master Li. We needed to understand your character beforehand... but the facts have proven that Martial Master Li is indeed a man of lofty integrity."

Li Pin's expression was somewhat strange.

He always felt that Zhao Yuan and Cao Tianyou were playing off each other, one singing and the other accompanying.

"It is fine. The clear remain clear."

He replied.

"What a saying—the clear remain clear."

Zhao Yuan praised him sincerely. "Martial Master Li's actions are fully worthy of that phrase as well. Though he had suffered an unjust accusation, he did not rely on his martial strength to retaliate."

After saying that, he explained, "Several months ago, Martial Master Li was slandered and falsely accused at Hanyang University over a baseless matter. He endured the pressure of public opinion and, for a time, nearly did something foolish because he could not bear it."

"What exactly happened? If someone truly framed him and spread rumors, it must be investigated to the very end!"

Tian Feiyu said angrily.

"As for the course of events, we have already investigated it clearly. From beginning to end, someone was secretly stirring up trouble and fanning the flames."

Zhao Yuan sighed. "I had not wished to bring this up on such an occasion, but this matter involves a director on Hanyang University's board. If it is allowed to continue fermenting, then once Martial Master Li achieves fame and success, shines at the Jiangzhou Tournament, or even breaks into the National Tournament and becomes the focus of all eyes, everything he experienced will inevitably be dug up. When that happens..."

A worried expression appeared on his face. "It will not only affect Hanyang University. Mayor Tian may also be implicated and could even bear responsibility for inadequate oversight."

There were no sensitive words in this chapter, so why was it not posted?