Sponsorship

"Lost! Qian Biao couldn't even last a few moves!"

"No wonder Master's eye is so sharp. Cheng Yang's strength is the real deal. He must have trained at least two stance arts, otherwise he couldn't have crushed him so thoroughly."

"I'm convinced. This time, I'm truly convinced."

The discussion beneath the arena burst forth like floodwaters released from a dam.

After this battle, most of the disciples were finally wholeheartedly convinced of Cheng Yang's status as a core disciple.

"He has trained another martial academy's martial art to the Minor Accomplishment realm..." Chen Feiyi narrowed his eyes slightly, seeing through the foundation of Cheng Yang's move at a glance.

"What a disgrace." Yang Zheng coldly commented inwardly, neither approving nor disapproving.

"Fuck, useless trash! You swallowed so many of my resources for nothing!" Cai Qingwen's face was dark enough to drip water, and he wished he could rush onto the arena and drag the man down himself.

"He has some skill..." Chu Yunjiang clicked his tongue twice, amusement curling at the corner of his lips.

Cai Qingwen really couldn't keep his composure. Given his nature, he would probably make another move later. It seemed Chu Yunjiang needed to find a chance to warn Senior Brother Cheng.

"All right, disperse." Chen Feiyi called out, and only then did the crowd gradually scatter.

Qian Biao returned to Cai Qingwen's side with guilt written all over his face. Lowering his head, he stammered, "Brother Wen... I..."

Cai Qingwen did not even glance at him. With a sweep of his sleeve, he turned and strode away.

Qian Biao gritted his teeth and hurried after him.

Cheng Yang returned to Chen Feiyi's side, where six figures were already standing beside him.

"Come, these are your senior brothers and sister." Chen Feiyi smiled and patted Cheng Yang's shoulder. "Eldest, introduce yourself to your Seventh Junior Brother first."

Eldest Senior Brother was an honest-looking man. Grinning wide and revealing a row of white teeth, he said, "Seventh Junior Brother, I'm Xiong Shan. Please guide me in the future."

Second Senior Sister Chen Kaiyu nestled against Eldest Senior Brother's arm with intimate gestures. Her voice was sweet as she said, "Seventh Junior Brother, I'm Chen Kaiyu. Just call me Senior Sister Chen. It's nice to meet you."

She had another identity as well: the academy master's daughter.

And Eldest Senior Brother Xiong Shan was naturally the academy master's son-in-law.

Next came the burly Yang Zheng, with a leopard's head, ringed eyes, and a fierce appearance. "Yang Zheng."

After him came Fourth Senior Brother Bao Shun, Fifth Senior Brother Zhang Huaizhen, and Sixth Senior Brother Yan Ze.

After the introductions, Cheng Yang had formed an initial impression of his senior brothers and sister.

"This is the core disciple identity plaque." Chen Feiyi took a token from his robes and handed it to Cheng Yang.

Cheng Yang replaced his ordinary disciple identity plaque with it and put it away in his clothes.

"Xiaoyu, tell your Seventh Junior Brother about the privileges of a core disciple at the martial academy," Chen Feiyi instructed.

"All right, Father." Chen Kaiyu's beautiful eyes settled on Cheng Yang as she began in a clear voice, "First, as a core disciple, Seventh Junior Brother will no longer need to pay tuition. The martial academy will also subsidize you with ten taels of silver every month."

"Second, anything you purchase at Spring Renewal Hall will be half price. But remember, you must not resell those goods outside. Once discovered, you will immediately be expelled from the martial academy." Her tone grew more serious as she said this.

She then added several more benefits, one after another: free meals, free lodging, and so on.

"Thank you, Senior Sister, for explaining." Cheng Yang clasped his fists in thanks.

"No need to be so polite, Junior Brother. It is what I should do." Chen Kaiyu smiled, her eyes curving like crescents.

"All right, go attend to your own affairs." Chen Feiyi waved a large hand. "Don't forget to gather at Drunken Immortal Tower tonight. Your master has already reserved a private room."

Taking in a core disciple was a joyous occasion, so naturally they had to celebrate properly.

Bao Shun licked his lips, his face full of craving. "We're really benefiting from Seventh Junior Brother's good fortune. We get to have another feast at Drunken Immortal Tower."

Drunken Immortal Tower was one of Qinglin County's top-class restaurants. A meal there cost at least a dozen taels and could run to over a hundred. He spent all his usual silver on martial training and simply could not afford such a place.

Just as the group was about to leave, Sixth Senior Brother Yan Ze suddenly stopped Cheng Yang. "Seventh Junior Brother, no noble family has sponsored you yet, right?"

"That's right." Cheng Yang turned his gaze toward Yan Ze. This senior brother wore the martial academy's training uniform, yet he was adorned with quite a few gold and jade ornaments. From head to toe, he exuded a bold air of wealth.

He truly was in urgent need of sponsorship now. The small privileges of a core disciple were merely a drop in the bucket compared to his consumption.

Only sufficient resources could fully unleash the power of Peerless Bearing.

"Seven is Master's lucky number, so he was exceedingly cautious in choosing the seventh core disciple.

"Since he chose you, it proves that your talent far surpasses that of ordinary people." Yan Ze spoke unhurriedly, but his words carried weight. "My Yan Family is willing to sponsor you with ten jin of meat every month. Would Junior Brother be willing?"

"Senior Brother, is this ten jin of meat from exotic beasts, or ordinary meat?" Cheng Yang confirmed.

"Naturally, it is exotic beast meat." Before Yan Ze could answer, a voice cut in from the side.

Cheng Yang turned to look. Fourth Senior Brother Bao Shun had somehow sidled over, grinning playfully as he said, "Seventh Junior Brother, your Sixth Senior Brother's family runs a blacksmith shop. They're rich enough to oil the sky. How could he fob you off with ordinary meat?"

Exotic beast meat! Cheng Yang's eyes lit up.

Ten jin of exotic beast meat every month was worth more than a hundred taels of silver.

What a generous offer. Poverty truly limited his imagination.

Bao Shun sidled up beside Yan Ze with a shameless grin. "Xiao Ze, when will you be generous to your Senior Brother too?"

Yan Ze rolled his eyes at him and ignored him, turning back to Cheng Yang. "Seventh Junior Brother, what is your choice?"

"Senior Brother Yan, after accepting the Yan Family's sponsorship, can I still accept sponsorship from other families at the same time?" Cheng Yang first made sure to clarify the matter.

He still planned to participate in the Ascending Dragon Conference more than twenty days from now. The Yan Family alone would not even be enough to fill the gaps between his teeth.

The more sponsorship, the better. As for owing favors? Once he became invincible beneath the heavens, those favors would be magnified a hundredfold, a thousandfold. He would not need to repay them at all; merely basking in a trace of his glory would be enough for those noble families to soar skyward.

He had that confidence.

Yan Ze's mouth twitched slightly. He gave Cheng Yang a deep look, surprise in his voice. "Junior Brother, what an enormous appetite you have. Ten jin of exotic beast meat a month still cannot satisfy you? But my Yan Family has always believed in sharing the rain and dew throughout Qinglin County. After accepting my Yan Family's sponsorship, you may naturally seek sponsorship from other families as well."

"Thank you, Senior Brother! Senior Brother is truly generous. I am willing to accept the Yan Family's sponsorship." Cheng Yang agreed without hesitation.

Bao Shun swallowed greedily from the side. Had he known, he would have shamelessly asked for some too.

"Tomorrow, I will deliver the meat to you." Yan Ze turned and left after saying that.

"Senior Brother is righteous!" Cheng Yang thanked his departing back, his favorable impression of this Sixth Senior Brother instantly rising to the maximum.

After bidding farewell to Yan Ze and Bao Shun, Cheng Yang had barely taken a few steps when someone else blocked his path.

"Senior Brother Cheng, my name is Chu Yunjiang. There is something I must remind you of." Chu Yunjiang's tone was sincere. "There is a fellow in the martial academy named Cai Qingwen. He may use some underhanded tricks against you in the future, so Senior Brother must be careful."

Cheng Yang could not help agreeing with this. He asked,

"What is the relationship between the man who sparred with me just now and Cai Qingwen?"

"His name is Qian Biao. He is Cai Qingwen's little lackey. He most likely challenged you to a spar on Cai Qingwen's orders."

"Is the reason Cai Qingwen is causing me trouble because I took the position of seventh core disciple?"

"Senior Brother's guess is correct." Chu Yunjiang nodded in confirmation.

"Then why are you telling me this? We did not know each other before." Cheng Yang stared directly at Chu Yunjiang.

"First, I dislike him. Second, I want to form a good connection with Senior Brother." Chu Yunjiang answered bluntly.

"I will verify this myself. If he truly intends harm against me, I will owe you a favor." Cheng Yang paused. "Junior Brother Chu, you know Cai Qingwen well? Why not tell me about his specific circumstances?"

Being called "Junior Brother" by someone who had only entered the martial academy two days ago felt somewhat strange to Chu Yunjiang, but he quickly composed himself and began to explain in detail.