Six cities on the move

In Linshui City, a luxury business vehicle sped down the road.

Luo Jinglin, the head of the Wansheng Potion Trading Company, sat inside, holding his phone face down against his knee.

The phone vibrated again.

He turned it over and glanced at it. It was an encrypted message from Wansheng's intelligence network in Jiang City.

"Genius pharmacist Lin Hao has been certified as a One-Star Martial Artist at the martial artist assessment center. Blood and qi: 2.79. Combat power: 9.21. Killed a Wind-Rending Swift Leopard in three moves."

"Intelligence received: Yan Rusong of Qingyang City has also set out for Lin Hao's home."

"Understood. I'm on my way to Lin Hao's home." He sent a voice message, his voice steady, without any audible inflection.

He watched the poplars racing backward outside the window, his fingertips lightly tapping the phone screen against his knee.

Yan Rusong, secretary-general of the Qingyang City Lord's Manor, had made his move too.

Still, given the amount of fiscal funding Qingyang City could allocate, Wansheng could grit its teeth and match the terms they could offer.

But Wansheng was a trading company. He could offer an annual salary of ten million, a dedicated laboratory, and equipment quotas.

He could not offer an official post like Qingyang City could, nor a political career track directly under the City Lord's Manor.

In other words, if it came down purely to bargaining chips, he would have a hard time beating Qingyang City.

Luo Jinglin's fingers stopped.

He lowered his head, picked up his phone, and sent another message. "Find out the exact details of Lin Hao's parents' relatives and friends as soon as possible. Didn't they say his father, Lin Rongshan, has had a lower-back injury for years?

"Get his previous diagnostic reports as soon as possible, and contact the best hospital in the Dragon Nation for treating lower-back injuries, along with the relevant top specialists."

Qingyang City, the City Lord's Manor.

City Lord Tao Jingtong had not even had time for lunch. He had been sitting at his desk for nearly half an hour since receiving Yan Rusong's encrypted communication.

Seemingly struck by a thought, he picked up the dedicated phone on his desk and dialed Yan Rusong's number.

"City Lord." Yan Rusong's voice came through the receiver.

"Listen carefully." Tao Jingtong's voice was steady, without any unnecessary inflection. "No matter how many parties show up, no matter what terms they offer, Qingyang City must not only offer more, but so much more that they feel powerless to keep competing."

On the other end, Yan Rusong did not answer immediately. After a moment's hesitation, he said, "Qingyang City has also produced a top genius among this year's high school seniors, Zhang Zhizhong. He's already a One-Star Martial Artist too. Should we stake so much on Lin Hao, a top genius from outside Qingyang City?"

"All our bargaining chips. No limit." Tao Jingtong offered no further explanation, simply repeating himself.

"Yes!" Yan Rusong hurriedly replied.

Only then did Tao Jingtong say, "Qingyang City has the strength to nurture both of these top geniuses. Judging everything together, Lin Hao's martial potential may not match Zhang Zhizhong's.

"But don't forget, the most terrifying thing about Lin Hao is his talent as a pharmacist-a talent that has astounded even the established pharmacists across the six cities.

"You should understand how much a top pharmacist can do for a city."

"Understood!" Yan Rusong immediately replied.

Tao Jingtong put down the phone, raised his gaze to the window, and sank into thought again.

At the foot of Building Four in the mining district's family housing compound.

When Qian Mingyuan jumped out of the car, his gleaming forehead was covered in sweat.

Not from running, but from anxiety.

On the way, he had seen quite a few cars heading here.

He looked up at the luxury cars parked below the building. There were probably more than the mining district's family housing compound had seen in decades combined.

Black off-road vehicles, dark blue business vehicles, white official cars-some with badges he recognized, others with badges he did not-stood bumper to bumper, hemming the old building in on every side.

"This has probably stirred up all six cities," Liu Wan said in amazement as she pushed open the car door and stood beside Qian Mingyuan.

"Not probably. Definitely." Qian Mingyuan swallowed and looked at Liu Wan. "When we go upstairs, we both need to keep our eyes open. With so many important people here, let's see if we can find a crack to slip through and settle Lin Hao's enrollment at No. 1 High School."

Liu Wan nodded earnestly. "Understood."

Qian Mingyuan thought for a moment, then added, "If Comrade Lin Qing is home, go over and talk to her. She's fond of you. We need to play that emotional card well."

Liu Wan's expression froze. She hesitated. "Principal Qian, I..."

"Ms. Liu." Qian Mingyuan lowered his voice. "You need to understand. He's the only prospect in nearly forty years from our No. 1 High School-no, from all of Jiang City-with a chance of getting into Jingwu. We probably won't see another in the next ten years."

Liu Wan fell silent for several seconds, but eventually nodded. "I understand."

Qian Mingyuan breathed a sigh of relief. But just as he was about to head toward the building entrance, another car pulled up beside the building.

The door opened, and the person who stepped out made Qian Mingyuan's expression change drastically.

It was none other than Zou Jianmin, principal of No. 2 High School, with Mr. Zhou Lie following behind him.

Zou Jianmin's eyes soon met Qian Mingyuan's, and the atmosphere instantly grew tense.

Qian Mingyuan straightened his back and fixed Zou Jianmin with a sharp, scrutinizing gaze. "What is No. 2 High School doing here at a time like this? If you've come to pester a student of my school, then as the principal of No. 1 High School, I would like you to leave immediately."

Zou Jianmin stopped. Rather than being provoked by Qian Mingyuan's tone, he put on a deliberate smile. "Principal Qian, the paperwork for transferring Lin Hao's enrollment out of No. 2 High School hasn't been completed yet. According to regulations..."

"Principal Zou," Qian Mingyuan interrupted. "You personally expelled Lin Hao. I hear you even used the Discipline Bureau matter to pressure him. After what you've done, do you think there's any chance Lin Hao would stay at No. 2 High School?"

"Yes, No. 2 High School did wrong Lin Hao." Zou Jianmin's expression was complicated, but he continued, "I acted foolishly in this matter. But Lin Hao spent all three of these years studying at No. 2 High School. We nurtured him..."

"Nurtured him?" Qian Mingyuan could not listen any longer and interrupted Zou Jianmin again. "Principal Zou, doesn't your face burn when you hear yourself saying that? You'd better go back. You'll never persuade Lin Hao with that argument."

Zou Jianmin gritted his teeth. "You needn't trouble yourself over that, Principal Qian. How will I know it's impossible unless I try?"

Their gazes clashed, neither giving an inch.

Just then, the front passenger door of the city lord's black sedan swung open.

A man in his early forties, wearing a dark gray jacket, stepped out.

He was Lu Ming, secretary to City Lord Wei Cang.

Lu Ming walked over to the two principals, his gaze falling first on Qian Mingyuan, then on Zou Jianmin.

"Principals." Lu Ming's voice was quiet, and a faint smile rested on his face, yet he carried an air of authority. "People from all sides across the six cities are making their way here, one after another.

"And Jiang City's two principals are squabbling down here. If people from Qingyang City, Linshui City, or the other five cities saw this, what would they think?"

Qian Mingyuan and Zou Jianmin both flushed at his words.

"Secretary Lu is right," Qian Mingyuan answered first.

"We've made fools of ourselves in front of you, Secretary Lu," Zou Jianmin hurriedly added.

Lu Ming looked at the pair, smiled, and gave a slight nod before turning and returning to the car.

The moment Qian Mingyuan saw Lu Ming get back into the car, he turned and headed straight for the building entrance.

Zou Jianmin moved at almost the same instant, his steps swift.

The two principals squeezed through the same entrance.

But the stairwell in the old building was pitifully narrow.

Their shoulders kept bumping on the stairs, yet neither yielded. They jostled their way upstairs, lurching from side to side.

Behind them, Liu Wan and Mr. Zhou Lie watched the scene, unsure whether to laugh or cry.