What's Wrong with the Countryside?

9:00 AM.

After being put through nearly two hours of fuss, Lin Mo was escorted by the principal and the entire Martial Arts Training Class to the entrance of the Martial Artist Building, drawing the attention of many martial artists there once again.

"Whoa, such a big show? Who is it?"

"Lin Mo? Martial Alliance Elite Camp? Damn, that's huge!"

"Our River City actually produced someone who can enter the Martial Alliance Elite Camp? Awesome!"

When they saw the two banners, the martial artists roughly understood the situation and started asking around for Lin Mo's details.

Wang Xiao had long been standing at the entrance to personally welcome them, but seeing Yang Ziqing's spectacle, he was utterly speechless.

Yang Ziqing, you old fool, don't you know the meaning of keeping a low profile?

Don't you know there's an organization in this world called the Heretics?

Are you afraid they won't notice Lin Mo or what?

Seeing Wang Xiao's stern face, Yang Ziqing froze for a moment. Though he hadn't figured out why Wang Xiao was like this, he still let out an awkward laugh.

At this point, he was completely swept up in joy.

The thought of the Heretics hadn't even crossed his mind.

To put it bluntly, River City was such a small place that the Heretics probably wouldn't even bother with it.

After all these years, River City hadn't produced a single noteworthy powerhouse.

Besides, now that Lin Mo was about to enter the Martial Alliance Elite Camp, why fear the Heretics?

In his mind, Wang Xiao was probably just unhappy with him for being too flashy.

But who cared? When it was time to show off, you showed off. Miss this chance, and there might not be another.

Last night, he'd had the time of his life.

He'd dragged a few principals out to dinner, insisting on treating them.

And what happened? Naturally, he spent the whole meal bragging, making everyone's teeth ache from the cringe!

Martial Alliance Elite Camp, an Awakened!

Either term alone was enough to make other principals green with envy.

The principal of No. 1 High School had gritted his teeth the entire time.

The show he'd put on a few days ago was perfectly countered by Yang Ziqing's double blow at that dinner.

Critical hit!

"Alright, time to head out."

Unable to stand Yang Ziqing's flamboyance any longer, Wang Xiao couldn't help but speak up.

"Ah? Okay, then I'll leave the rest to you, Director Wang."

Although Yang Ziqing's martial artist rank was higher than Wang Xiao's, Wang Xiao's position demanded respect, so Yang Ziqing was still very polite.

Lin Mo, for his part, hurried over to Wang Xiao's side as fast as he could.

The whole way, he felt like a monkey on display, utterly miserable.

"Hello, Lin Mo. We meet again."

Suddenly, a voice like a lark rang out, making Lin Mo turn his head.

Behind Wang Xiao, a girl in a light yellow dress was smiling at him.

Her slightly wavy long hair swayed gently in the breeze.

"You are..."

"..." Hearing this, the girl's expression stiffened. "You... forgot me that fast?"

"Huh?"

Lin Mo was taken aback, thinking, This girl talks weirdly. Should I remember you?

"I was the one who processed your Martial Artist Certification application form yesterday."

The girl was a bit upset. She'd only handled Lin Mo's certification form yesterday, and he'd already forgotten her.

She wasn't bad-looking, was she? Her pursuers numbered at least eighty or ninety.

How could Lin Mo be so forgetful?

"Oh! It's you!"

At that, Lin Mo finally recalled there was such a person.

But yesterday, when he came, this girl had kept her head down, so he hadn't really gotten a good look at her face.

Suddenly asked like that, how was he supposed to remember?

"She's called Lu Yingying, Commander Lu's granddaughter."

At that moment, Wang Xiao also began to introduce her.

"Ah? Commander Lu?"

Hearing this, Lin Mo looked at Lu Yingying again, sizing her up.

He hadn't expected this girl to be Lu Li's granddaughter.

"Haha, Miss Lu, I've long heard of your name. No wonder you looked so familiar—so Commander Lu is your grandfather, you really resemble him... uh, ahem~ well... Director Wang, shouldn't we be on our way?"

Mid-sentence, Lin Mo realized he'd said something off, and Lu Yingying's expression had turned sour, so he quickly coughed a couple of times to change the subject.

Wang Xiao listened, torn between laughter and tears.

Lu Yingying's face dropped even further.

Long heard of my name? Familiar? Then why couldn't you recognize me just now?

Resemble my grandfather? My grandfather has a horse face—how is that like me? Like your sister!

This bastard was just spouting nonsense.

But just as Lu Yingying was about to lose her temper, Lin Mo grabbed Wang Xiao and bolted off in a flash.

"Lin Mo, you just wait for me!" Lu Yingying hadn't expected him to run off so abruptly, shouting at his retreating back.

"Wishing Lin Mo a triumphant return!"

Suddenly, a thunderous cheer erupted from behind, startling Lu Yingying.

It was the teachers and students from Second School, shouting for Lin Mo.

"Whew!" Once he got on the car and it started moving, Lin Mo finally let out a breath.

How damn awkward!

Wang Xiao looked at him with a half-smile, as if wanting to say something but holding back.

"Director Wang, sorry you had to see that."

"Haha, it's nothing. After all, you're the pride of Second School."

"Don't tease me, please. Pride of Second School? I was gawked at like a monkey all morning, didn't even have time for my morning exercise."

"Oh? You still do morning exercise every day?"

"Of course. I've kept it up for over ten years—if I skip a day, I feel all out of sorts."

Hearing Lin Mo's words, Wang Xiao nodded inwardly.

Good talent and such diligence—no wonder he was so impressive.

"Where are we going now?"

"Naturally, to Lingjiang Base City. Once we get there, we'll gather with the other trainees and head over together."

"Oh? The Elite Camp isn't in Lingjiang?"

"Of course not. The Martial Alliance Training Camp has a base in every province. But the Elite Camp—there's only one in all of Huaxia."

"Oh, so we're going to the Capital City?"

"No, don't ask. You'll find out when we get there. It's still two hours to Lingjiang—you can catch a nap if you want. Didn't sleep well this morning?"

Seeing that Wang Xiao didn't answer directly, Lin Mo didn't press further.

"Yeah, I didn't sleep well. Woke up early from all the noise. I'll get some rest."

Lin Mo was straightforward, lying down and falling asleep immediately.

Two hours later, they arrived at their destination: South Province Military Base.

Lin Mo followed Wang Xiao to a plaza, where hundreds of people were already standing.

Both boys and girls, each one just like Lin Mo, only eighteen years old.

"This is your number tag, South 666. Go line up first, find a spot inside to stand, and Commander Lu will arrange everything for you later."

After handling the formalities for Lin Mo, Wang Xiao handed him the tag.

"Damn, this number's something else!"

Seeing the tag, Lin Mo couldn't help but find it amusing. 666—truly fitting!

As for the "South," it probably meant South Province.

Tag in hand, Lin Mo entered the plaza, found an empty spot in the back row, and stood there.

Those who had arrived earlier all turned to look at Lin Mo.

Their gazes ranged from curious to disdainful, provocative to outright dismissive.

"Hey, buddy, how's it going? I'm Lin Dabao, just call me Dabao. I'm from Sucheng—where are you from?"

As soon as he settled in, a chubby teenager beside him patted him familiarly and introduced himself.

"Hi, I'm Lin Mo, from River City."

At the mention of River City, several people nearby glanced at Lin Mo, a flicker of doubt in their eyes, but mostly contempt.

"River City? Sounds like a nice place. Is it far from here? What's the local specialty?"

Lin Dabao, however, showed no reaction to the name River City; instead, he looked genuinely intrigued.

But his words made Lin Mo roll his eyes.

Calling it a nice place, then immediately asking how far and what the specialty was—acting like he knew River City well, when in fact he knew nothing at all.

"Uh, not too far. As for specialties... does rice count?"

After a moment's thought, Lin Mo replied.

River City was, after all, a small border Base City.

Still, it was a major rice-producing area—much of Huaxia's rice came from there.

"Rice?" Lin Dabao was visibly taken aback.

Among the surrounding people, someone let out a sneer, their contempt deepening.

Some even began to mock openly. "I can't believe this year's Elite Camp is recruiting country bumpkins. Really drags down my standards."

To those from big cities, a small border Base City like River City was nothing more than backwater countryside—beneath notice.

In fact, the geniuses in every Elite Camp almost always came from major Base Cities.

You'd hardly ever see a martial artist from a small border town.

"What's wrong with the countryside? If we didn't grow rice, you'd be eating air." Frowning at the remark, Lin Mo shot back.

He wasn't about to indulge some arrogant young master.

"Kid, what did you say?"

Hearing this country boy dare to talk back, the speaker's face twisted with anger as he turned to glare at Lin Mo.