Fierce Beast News!

"No, that's not right. It's not an 'if.'"

Li Qingshan shook his head, speaking with certainty:

"Since the Status Panel gave a Progress Bar, it means it can definitely be ground to perfection. The Stars Are Calling absolutely has a fifth level!"

He had absolute faith in the Status Panel.

But then...

Li Qingshan's gaze dropped to the Martial Arts Space section, where a cold string of numbers sobered him up.

Code
[Available Time: 150 days]

A 3000-proficiency Progress Bar, with only 150 days to work with—it was like trying to put out a blazing cart with a cup of water.

"To increase the Available Time in the Martial Arts Space, I'd have to kill monsters. But right now, there's not a single Fierce Beast left to hunt in the Old Continent!"

Li Qingshan shook his head helplessly and looked away.

Cao Shaoyu finished his last move, collapsed onto the floor, and gasped for air.

"Coach, you awake?"

"What?"

Li Qingshan lifted his eyelids slightly, glancing at the chubby kid.

"Haven't had enough training today?"

"No, no!"

Cao Shaoyu smiled ingratiatingly, waved his hand, and shuffled over to sit beside Li Qingshan.

His mouth opened and closed several times, like he wanted to say something but couldn't.

"Spit it out if you've got something to say!" Li Qingshan said impatiently.

"Coach, I'm not coming to class tomorrow."

"Got it. Tomorrow's the weekend. Spend some time with your parents."

Li Qingshan waved dismissively, unconcerned.

Cao Shaoyu had taken leave a few times before. His parents lived in the provincial capital and only had weekends to come back to Luoying City to see him.

"Coach, this isn't a leave request." The chubby kid explained, his voice trailing off.

"My parents said that since I have talent, I can't waste it. They're taking me to the provincial capital to hire a Martial Arts Teacher from Wu Yi City to train me."

"Huh?" Li Qingshan's gaze sharpened. He turned to look at Cao Shaoyu and asked seriously:

"You want a refund on the Class Fee?"

Because of the previous leave requests, Cao Shaoyu still had six days of unpaid classes.

"No, that's not what I meant!"

Cao Shaoyu's face flushed red, his voice even lower.

"Coach, I'm leaving tomorrow. Don't you..."

"Just messing with you." Li Qingshan shook his head with a chuckle and ruffled Cao Shaoyu's hair.

"Wu Yi is the provincial capital. Your parents can get a Martial Arts Teacher from there to train you—that's a huge stroke of luck."

"Be a man. Don't be all wishy-washy. When you make it to the New Continent later, we'll meet up again!"

Cao Shaoyu had talent to begin with. With a better teacher, he might master the third level of The Stars Are Calling in less than a year and head to the New Continent.

The chubby kid, spurred by the words, puffed out his chest and declared loudly:

"Yeah! Be a man, keep your word. Coach, I'll work hard and make it to the New Continent for sure."

Li Qingshan smiled, lightly patted the back of the chubby kid's head, picked up his Chopping Knife, and turned to leave the training room.

But as soon as he turned, a hand grabbed the hem of his shirt.

Li Qingshan looked back to see the chubby kid, who had just been brimming with bravado, now wearing a fawning grin.

"Coach, I'm leaving tomorrow. Can you take me out to see the sights?"

"Huh?"

Li Qingshan's expression shifted. He looked the chubby kid, who had just turned thirteen, up and down, a dangerous smile creeping onto his face.

"What sights do you want to see?"

"Coach, do you know the Silver Glow Hotel?" Cao Shaoyu rubbed his hands together and lowered his voice.

"I heard it's pretty wild inside!"

"Oh? Tell me what's so wild about it." Li Qingshan's smile grew more dangerous.

He'd heard of the Silver Glow Hotel, but only as a luxury establishment.

He hadn't expected the chubby kid to be so well-informed—and to actually want to "see the sights."

Li Qingshan's right hand caressed the knife handle. He felt it was necessary to give the chubby kid one last lesson in moral education.

Cao Shaoyu was completely oblivious, rubbing his hands red with excitement as he said:

"I heard the hotel's basement level three regularly hosts a fighting tournament, and there's one today. Coach..."

"Not interested!"

Li Qingshan's smile stiffened, and he turned to leave.

What was there to see in an underground boxing match?

"Huh?" Cao Shaoyu's excitement froze on his face. He lowered his head in disappointment and said:

"I just wanted to see what the Fierce Beasts from the textbooks look like..."

A gust of wind hit his face.

Cao Shaoyu looked up blankly, only to see the coach, who had already walked out the door, standing before him as if by Teleportation.

"Next time, get straight to the point!" Li Qingshan's expression was stern.

Cao Shaoyu's mind went blank, and he stared dumbly, asking:

"What point?"

"The Fierce Beasts!" Li Qingshan prompted, then inquired, "Can we see Fierce Beasts at the Silver Glow Hotel?"

"Yes, yes, yes!" Cao Shaoyu snapped out of it and nodded repeatedly. "I got a tip that tonight the Silver Glow Hotel has brought in a Fierce Beast and is planning a Beast Battle."

"A Beast Battle?"

Li Qingshan pondered for a few seconds, then met Little Fatty's gleaming eyes and nodded.

"Alright, I'll take you."

According to Wan Keshan, every Fierce Beast that flows into the Old Continent has its own purpose and must undergo strict review.

A "Beast Battle" in an Underground Boxing ring was clearly not a legitimate use, and the Silver Glow Hotel shouldn't have that kind of pull.

Otherwise, when he'd asked a month ago, Wan Keshan wouldn't have kept it from him.

Li Qingshan didn't know where Cao Shaoyu had heard this rumor, nor was he sure if the info was reliable.

But that didn't stop him from "taking a look." It was just a bit of time wasted, and if there really was a Fierce Beast...

At that thought, Li Qingshan's lips curled into an unconscious smile.

"Coach, your smile is terrifying," Cao Shaoyu said, shrinking his neck.

"Stop blabbering, hurry up and hail a cab!"

Li Qingshan grabbed Little Fatty by the back of his collar and quickly headed downstairs.

The Silver Glow Hotel was located in the southwest of Luoying City, over a dozen kilometers from the city center. Since the area was still under development, most of it was unfinished construction sites, making the night feel a bit desolate.

Only the hotel building stood brightly lit, towering in the darkness.

In front of the hotel lobby, a taxi slowly pulled up.

The doorman smiled, stepped forward quickly, and opened the door.

Cao Shaoyu couldn't wait to jump out, saying excitedly:

"We're here for the fighting tournament. Where's the venue?"

The doorman's face stiffened for a moment, then he put his professional smile back on.

"Kid, we're a legitimate hotel. There's no fighting tournament here like the one you're thinking of."

"How could there not be!" Cao Shaoyu immediately grew anxious, spittle flying. "I've done my research. It's in your hotel's basement level three."

"Kid, you might have the wrong place." The doorman's smile remained fixed. "Our hotel's underground parking only has two levels. There's no third level."

"Impossible! You're lying to me!"

Cao Shaoyu stomped his feet in frustration, but the doorman seemed to have his smile carved into his face, impervious to persuasion.

A clang of metal rang out as a half-drawn Chopping Knife extended from the car door.

Li Qingshan got out of the car unhurriedly, turned his head, and looked at the doorman whose smile had frozen stiff.

"Lead the way."

"Yes, sir!"

The doorman gave a slight bow, didn't waste a single word, and quickly turned to lead the way.

"What the hell? How can he be like that?"

Cao Shaoyu was dumbfounded, his face reddening at a visible rate as he fumed:

"That snob! Why wouldn't he listen to me earlier!"

"Enough, hurry up and follow. If just any middle schooler could waltz in, this place would have been shut down long ago."

Li Qingshan lightly patted Little Fatty on the back of the head and started walking.