You're My Beloved Disciple, Aren't You?!

On the third day after practical training ended, their break came to an end as well, and Xinhang Martial University's campus returned to its usual bustle.

Chu Wen and the others also received the rules for the next assessment.

[Arena Battle Registration Notice: According to Xinhang Martial University's arena rules, all trainees whose practical training results were rated as passing meet the registration requirements. Trainees may decide for themselves whether to register. Registration deadline...]

[Trainee: Chu Wen. Requirements met. Registration available.]

Without the slightest hesitation, Chu Wen selected the registration button. Only after filling out a series of liability waivers did he see the preliminary date.

The preliminaries would determine one hundred contestants who would enter the final advancement battles.

The preliminaries used a points system, and every contestant would spar against the others.

Based on previous years, there should be around six hundred registrants.

This arena battle did not count toward the overall rankings. Instead, it concerned slots for exchange visits.

Those slots were utterly useless to mid-tier trainees. They would be taking a beating purely for "love." Only the top few hundred geniuses longed to cross blades with stronger opponents.

There were still three months until the preliminaries began. During that time, the registered contestants would likely begin preparing for battle.

Chu Wen also saw the message Lin Wei had sent. Lin Wei actually wanted to participate in the arena battle too...

But judging by the timing, three months from now, Lin Wei might be able to recover eighty percent of her strength.

Through his optical computer interface, he opened the Western European Alliance marketplace.

Chu Wen's gains this time totaled 1.2 billion Blue Star credits, all of which had been deposited into his account.

Balance: 1,204.13 million

[Combat Sabers]

S-rank: 100 million

SS-rank: 2 billion

He could only stare greedily at the SS-rank sabers again. The S-rank combat saber had been a gift from Deputy Hall Master Zhuge, and its feel in his hand truly was unmatched.

Even after fighting beast soldiers and beast generals, it had not suffered the slightest wear!

Had it been an A-rank combat saber, it would probably have turned into scrap metal after this beast tide.

[Combat Suits]

C-rank: 1 million

B-rank: 30 million

A-rank: 500 million

S-rank: 3 billion

Combat suits were priced at astronomical levels. Lin Wei had been able to keep her arm this time largely thanks to the S-rank combat suit she wore.

Otherwise, during the final stage when her strength was exhausted, the force of the demonic beasts might have torn her arm right off!

The flesh separating from the bone had already been thanks to the suit's cushioning. It was clear that a good combat suit could greatly increase one's margin for error.

Previously, Chu Wen had relied on his movement technique and worn a B-rank combat suit. Now, he bought an A-rank one without hesitation.

Martial artists earned money quickly, but they earned it with their lives. A life-saving combat suit was even less something an ordinary martial artist could afford.

Even a single mistake in the wilderness could leave one, like Lin Wei, facing the risk of amputation!

If the Lin Family had not been able to apply for special medical resources, an ordinary martial artist's career would have ended right there.

During this practical training, 126 Xinhang students had suffered severe injuries. Among them, nineteen had their martial paths cut off forever...

The academic affairs office had notified every Xinhang student of this information. While enjoying Xinhang Martial University's resources, they also had to pay the corresponding price.

Balance: 704.13 million

Chu Wen continued browsing the Western European Alliance marketplace. There were many novel little items there that he had never been willing to even look at before.

Two-Hundred-Year-Old Fo-Ti: 200 million/gram

After consumption, it can promote the transformation of connective tissues throughout the body, depending on the martial artist's individual compatibility.

Seven-Desert Scorpion Poison Liquor: 100 million/catty

Can improve physical constitution. Long-term consumption can allow ordinary people to advance into martial masters.

Yak Beast Soldier Jerky: 2,000/catty

A delicious food. Greatly beneficial to beginners of the martial path; specific effects depend on individual constitution.

"Jerky?"

Chu Wen's eyes lit up. He wondered whether this jerky could increase blood vitality values.

On further thought, perhaps he could use this method to earn some extra money?

If the hypothesis of "martial sense granularity" was valid, then with the insect queen's saliva and Teacher Yuchi's preservation technique, he could get some chunks of meat, make them into jerky, and sell them. That would be a huge business.

As he continued scrolling down, none of these jerkies had clear research proving their value. They merely spoke ambiguously of how they benefited martial practitioners, but there was no research to substantiate exactly what benefits they offered!

If it worked, this would definitely be a great opportunity to seize the market.

By then, jerky would truly become a necessity for those who practiced martial arts!

"Hello, Teacher Yuchi, are you free? I have something I'd like to discuss with you."

"Brat, is that any way to speak to me? I'm busy. Say what you need to say."

"This month's subsidy will be issued in a few days. I don't have time to go over to finance and sign for it."

Yuchi Yu had clearly stayed awake for days, and his temper was especially foul.

"Cough, cough. Teacher Yuchi, I have something tricky in my hands. You know about Blood Bodhi fruit, right?"

"Brat, don't tell me the tricky thing you have is that." Yuchi Yu was speechless, so angry that he laughed.

But silence greeted him from Chu Wen's end of the call.

The two fell into an eerie calm.

"Your optical computer just went offline, didn't it?"

After quite a while, Yuchi Yu's resentful voice suddenly came from the other end.

"I turned it off. I called your office's private line."

This was a research institute at Xinhang Martial University, after all. Naturally, its communication lines were encrypted from start to finish!

"You're really my living ancestor. Hurry over and let me take a look. Don't ruin it, you really are..."

Yuchi Yu nearly jumped to his feet, and his tone became much gentler.

Chu Wen slung on his backpack and swiftly arrived at the research lab in Zone C.

Yuchi Yu had long been waiting at the entrance. This was probably the first time this old man had stood at the door waiting for someone outside of teaching.

"Where is it? Where is it?" Yuchi Yu's fox tail had long since shown itself.

Chu Wen hefted his bag. "Teacher, let's go inside and talk."

Suppressing the urge to knock Chu Wen flat, Yuchi Yu patiently waited for him to take a Blood Bodhi fruit from the small jar in his backpack.

Yuchi Yu cursed, "You've really desecrated it! What is this wrapped around it?"

"It's preservation saliva I got from an insect queen."

Yuchi Yu was just about to reach out and take it when Chu Wen stuffed it back into the jar.

"Teacher Yuchi, you've seen the goods. Can we talk now?"

Yuchi Yu cleared his throat. "Brat, do you know that concealing your gains will result in punishment?"

"Everyone agrees there were only two fruits. This third one was obtained by me during the beast tide, so it should rightfully count as my own gain."

Yuchi Yu looked at Chu Wen suspiciously. The eager green gleam in his eyes was impossible to hide.

"This one is priceless despite being available nowhere on the market. You brat really are lucky." Yuchi Yu held out a hand and spread five fingers. "Five hundred million. I'll take it."

Chu Wen hugged the jar and turned to leave. "Not selling. It's not like I don't know what this thing is worth."

"Hey, hey, hey, you really are my living ancestor! Fine, stop messing around. We'll talk, we'll talk properly."

Seeing that he could not bluff Chu Wen, Yuchi Yu could only pull over an armchair and hurriedly drag Chu Wen down into a seat.

"As long as what you ask isn't too excessive, everything can be discussed."

"We're practically family, aren't we? You're my beloved disciple, after all."

Chu Wen pursed his lips. "Your beloved disciple whom you've known for only a month and met just three times?"

"I only discuss business, not feelings."

Yuchi Yu looked thoroughly deflated. He knew just how high the price of this thing had been driven now!

His grandson Rox had gotten two, but one belonged to the Chaos Martial Arts Hall, while the Yatu Family held the priority purchase rights for the other. As a professor with only the strength of an elementary battle king, he might not actually be able to secure one!

He gritted his teeth. "Fine! As long as I can afford it! Name whatever conditions you want!"