"Since the 28th century, spiritual energy has revived, demonic beasts have run rampant, and the world has undergone earth-shaking changes. Blue Star's volume increased as much as tenfold, and cities whose territories once bordered one another were separated by stretches of wasteland. This formed fortresses consisting of clusters of anywhere from a few cities to dozens."
At that moment, the projection screen displayed a total of 49 fortresses, spreading outward from Fortress No. 1 at the center and encircling it ring upon ring, five layers in all.
"Fortress No. 1 is the largest, most densely populated, and most economically prosperous center in all of Great Xia. The strongest Martial Artists gather here, and it has social resources that many other fortresses cannot enjoy."
Listening to Wei Cangyue's introduction, almost everyone fixed their eyes on Fortress No. 1, their faces filled with boundless longing.
Fortress No. 1 was not only the most prosperous; more importantly, it was the core of their Great Xia, its administrative hub, and its safest place.
Because on the entire map, beyond Great Xia's territory lay the vast wilderness zones where demonic beasts ran rampant.
This was especially true for the outermost fortresses. Although protected by high walls and shields, if a beast tide struck, these outermost fortresses would still be the first to suffer.
Fortress No. 31, where Ancheng was located, belonged to the outermost, fifth ring.
Of course, that did not mean there were no demonic beasts between fortresses. After all, wilderness zones lay between every fortress.
These wilderness zones were called the "Inner Wilderness Zone," while the wilderness beyond Great Xia was called the "Outer Wilderness Zone."
After years of hunting and culling, the demonic beasts inhabiting the Inner Wilderness Zone were nowhere near as dangerous as those in the Outer Wilderness Zone.
The closer one got to Fortress No. 1, the fewer demonic beasts there were in the Inner Wilderness Zone, so fortresses in the inner concentric rings were relatively safer.
"Your teachers have probably mentioned these things in class before, so I won't say any more. I only arrived in Ancheng today and need to settle in. Go train on your own. I'm leaving."
With that, Wei Cangyue waved and left without wasting even a second.
The class ended after just twenty minutes in total. Had it been anyone else, the students might have grumbled a little, saying their instructor was lazy and irresponsible.
But with Wei Cangyue being a Divine Wind Guard, and a second-rank one at that, these students did not dare utter a peep.
"Oh, right." Halfway out, Wei Cangyue stopped and took 21 Qi and Blood Raw Stones from his pocket.
"These Qi and Blood Raw Stones were issued by the higher-ups. Every student preparing for the martial exams gets one. Martial Artists get three."
The students were thrilled by this, because some of those sitting here came from ordinary families that were not well-off. Although they could afford to buy a few, cultivation resources were sometimes things money alone could not buy.
After receiving his Qi and Blood Raw Stone, Jiang Fan thought there was little point in keeping it. After all, with his current constitution, forcibly increasing his qi and blood would be difficult.
Right, today happens to be Tang Guo's birthday. I can give this to Guoguo as a birthday present.
"Hey, Jiang Fan, you only have 81 N of qi and blood anyway. No matter how much you cultivate, you won't get very far. Why not sell me your Qi and Blood Raw Stone? I'll offer twice the market price. How about a hundred thousand?" Wei Qi blocked Jiang Fan's path as he spoke.
Jiang Fan looked at Wei Qi as though he were an idiot. "You think Qi and Blood Raw Stones are goods in a shop you can buy whenever you want? Sure, their price is fifty thousand, but they aren't something ordinary people can just buy. You want one for a hundred thousand? I might as well sell it on the black market."
"I'll add another fifty thousand. A hundred and fifty thousand," Wei Qi said, flaunting his wealth.
Jiang Fan held up five fingers. "Five hundred thousand. Pay up, and I'll sell."
The figure left Wei Qi speechless. "Five hundred thousand? Ten times the price? You really dare to dream!"
"Why all the bullshit? Are you buying or not? If you're not, I'm going to absorb it. I have 81 N of qi and blood right now, and this will be my first time absorbing a Qi and Blood Raw Stone. Barring any surprises, I should gain 5 N, bringing me to 86 N. That's a huge boost in strength." Jiang Fan said this deliberately to provoke Wei Qi.
When Wei Qi heard that, although 86 N of qi and blood was still very low in his eyes, he simply could not accept Jiang Fan gaining that much qi and blood all at once.
Because this was long past his own first time absorbing a Qi and Blood Raw Stone. Not only was it not his first time, but he had already done it more than ten times.
So absorbing this Qi and Blood Raw Stone would increase his qi and blood by only 1-2 N at most.
Of course, the main reason Wei Qi could not accept Jiang Fan's strength advancing by leaps and bounds was Tong Shuyao.
At that thought, Wei Qi gritted his teeth. "Fine, five hundred thousand! Give it to me!"
Jiang Fan froze for a moment. He had deliberately quoted such a high price purely to put Wei Qi in an embarrassing position. He had not expected a student like him to actually agree to pay five hundred thousand.
It seemed Wei Qi's family was far wealthier than he let on at school.
"Are you sure?" Jiang Fan asked again.
"No shit! You think I'm some broke bastard from the slums like you?" Wei Qi folded his arms across his chest smugly.
Smug as he was, and rich as his family was, he was still only a student. His family gave him a limited amount of money, and five hundred thousand was a sum that pained him greatly, too.
"Looks like you're pretty impressive. Then if I have more Qi and Blood Raw Stones, will you buy those too?" Jiang Fan asked.
Wei Qi paused, looking at the lone Qi and Blood Raw Stone in Jiang Fan's hand. "Don't you only have one?"
Jiang Fan said, "Never mind that. I'm just asking, if I have more, will you buy them or not?"
Wei Qi was certain Jiang Fan had no other Qi and Blood Raw Stones and was only saying this to provoke him. Once he refused, Jiang Fan could turn it around on him and say something like, "You're just a broke bastard yourself."
"Fine! As long as you have them, I'll buy them."
No sooner had Wei Qi said that than he saw Jiang Fan stop another student.
"I'll buy that Qi and Blood Raw Stone you're holding."
The student: ??
"Not selling."
"A hundred thousand. Twice the market price."
The student frowned and was just about to speak.
"Two hundred thousand," Jiang Fan continued bidding.
The student's brow gradually relaxed. "But this-"
"Three hundred thousand!"
That price won the student over.
"Are you serious?" The student stared at Jiang Fan with wide eyes.
"A gentleman's word cannot be overtaken even by a team of four horses," Jiang Fan said.
"All right, then. Hand over the money."
Jiang Fan looked at Wei Qi behind him. "Two stones, one million. Seven hundred thousand for me, and the remaining three hundred thousand for him."
Wei Qi was stunned.
Wei Qi was furious.
Wei Qi bellowed in rage, "Jiang Fan!"
His shout sent echoes reverberating through the gymnasium, showing just how badly Wei Qi wanted to tear Jiang Fan to pieces.
Jiang Youtian walked over.
"Jiang Fan, you're really short of money right now, aren't you? Seeing as we once lived together for a while, I'm willing to lend you a hand. I'll offer thirty thousand. Sell me your Qi and Blood Raw Stone."