Forging a Sword for Civilization

Before long, Wang Xundao saw Fang Yu and Wang Mo out of the restaurant, and a private car took them back to school.

"What do you think?" the burly bald man, "Uncle Gu," asked.

"He's a very shrewd, very greedy little fellow, but he's also very candid," Wang Xundao said with a smile. "Gu Qing, this is the preliminary cooperation agreement he and I drew up. Take a look."

Wang Xundao handed him a handwritten sheet of paper.

Uncle Gu's real name was Gu Qing.

"Twenty million a year? And a compensation contract worth fifteen million in total?" Gu Qing glanced it over in surprise. His own annual salary was only twenty million star coins.

Of course, after spending many years on the Primordial Star, he had accumulated considerable wealth.

His current salary came with little risk and was basically a pension.

"He'll only get twenty million if he awakens an Upper Astral Aspect," Wang Xundao said with a sigh. "Fang Yu is very confident, and he's quite a gambler too. He even gave up the base endorsement fee. If he really can awaken an Upper Astral Aspect, I think he has a chance of becoming a second Wang Heng."

"Comparable to Wang Heng? Him?" Gu Qing was somewhat skeptical.

Wang Heng, the strongest junior college student in history,

had become a legendary martial artist recognized throughout Xia Nation.

"As long as he achieves a fifth of what Wang Heng did, Shengchuan will profit," Wang Xundao said calmly. "If he makes it into the Alliance Martial Arts Tournament and his fame soars, we'll have a chance to quickly expand awareness of many of our businesses throughout the province."

Having grown the group's revenue to billions within a single city, Wang Xundao was naturally full of ambition.

"But he only signed for five years," Gu Qing said with a frown.

"That's why there's a second contract as a safeguard," Wang Xundao said with a smile. "The exclusive endorsement within Wuling City is for ten years."

"Aren't you afraid he won't awaken an Astral Aspect?" Gu Qing asked.

"If he doesn't awaken a star sign, I'll only lose five million star coins," Wang Xundao said with a smile. "In any case, he can at least become an Advanced Martial Artist."

"That's true." Gu Qing nodded.

He wasn't particularly skilled in business, but he trusted Wang Xundao's judgment.

Wang Xundao hadn't explained everything.

He had another reason for investing in Fang Yu-Wang Mo.

If Fang Yu really grows strong enough to become an Earth Martial Artist or even a Sky-Roving Martial Artist, my son will have another layer of protection, Wang Xundao thought. That kind of brotherly bond is hard to buy at any price.

If he awakens an Astral Aspect, this deal will be hugely profitable.

If he doesn't awaken a star sign, spending five million star coins to give my son another close friend who'll be an Advanced Martial Artist in the future won't be much of a loss either. Wang Xundao saw the situation clearly.

It was difficult to win the genuine loyalty of a martial artist hired purely with money.

By contrast!

Most martial artists valued keeping their thoughts unburdened. Fang Yu would owe him a favor and had a brotherly bond with Wang Mo. If Wang Mo ran into trouble in the future, Fang Yu would most likely help.

Unless he's an exceptionally selfish, heartless man with no sense of loyalty, Wang Xundao thought.

In the car back to school.

"Lao Mo, your dad and I..." Fang Yu began.

"Fang, you don't need to tell me the details. I don't need to know, and I don't want to know," Wang Mo said, shaking his head. "Honestly, I don't really want you getting involved with my family. If too many other things get mixed into our friendship, I'm afraid it'll change."

"I don't have many good friends," Wang Mo said with a sigh.

Fang Yu looked at Wang Mo.

Wang Mo had plenty of shortcomings, but no one could fault how he treated his friends and brothers. The way he had handled things with He Jiyu showed as much.

During their three years at junior college,

Wang Mo had rarely thrown money around and had been considerate of Fang Yu's and He Jiyu's pride.

"But there's something else I know even better.

"You still need money right now." Wang Mo looked at Fang Yu. "You're different from me. I know my own limitations. I have too many distractions, my talent is average, and I'm not that passionate about martial arts... Of all the people our age I know, you train the hardest and have the purest devotion to martial arts."

"And you have the greatest talent for technique," Wang Mo added. "All you lack is an opportunity. The golden years only last so long, so you have to make the most of them."

"Wang..." Fang Yu couldn't help saying.

"Fang, let me finish." Wang Mo shook his head. "That's why I didn't outright object when my dad told me he wanted to sign you. You haven't officially signed yet, have you?"

"Not yet," Fang Yu said.

"Good." Wang Mo stared at Fang Yu and said seriously, "Fang, just remember one thing: Shengchuan Group isn't mine. You need to assess your own value objectively."

"My dad thinks like a pure businessman. If you give him an inch, he'll take two. Don't hold back on my account."

"Take whatever you should get. I'd be unhappy if you took less. If you think my dad's terms are too harsh, don't sign. Anyway, I meant to help you, not make things difficult for you." Wang Mo grinned. "I don't have any hope of becoming an Earth Martial Artist or a Sky-Roving Martial Artist in this lifetime."

"But!

"If my good brother can one day roam the heavens and earth under his own power, even journeying among the stars beyond the sky... that'll give me something to brag about for the rest of my life." Wang Mo's eyes shone.

In the end, Fang Yu didn't tell Wang Mo the details of the contracts.

Just as Wang Mo had said, he had only meant to help Fang Yu... Back at the dormitory, Fang Yu thought for a moment, then messaged "Martial Uncle Jiang Wei" about signing with Shengchuan Group.

Fang Yu didn't have to wait long.

"Good news. Don't worry. Once you arrive at school tomorrow, I'll make the arrangements... The school is happy to see students receive sponsorship and training from major groups and companies while they're enrolled," Jiang Wei replied.

Fang Yu finally felt completely at ease.

Leveraging influence works both ways, Fang Yu thought. If Shengchuan Group sees how much Huguang Martial Arts University values me, they'll be even more certain that I can rise.

Likewise, if Martial Uncle Jiang Wei sees that a major group is investing in me, he'll value me more too.

Should I tell Father? The thought had only just occurred to Fang Yu when he pushed it aside.

His mind grew calm again.

There's no rush.

I'll only get the five million star coins after we officially sign tomorrow. Only after I awaken an Astral Aspect will I have a chance of getting the ten million from the supplementary agreement and the first year's endorsement fee from the main contract, Fang Yu thought. For now, everything is uncertain.

I don't want Father getting his hopes up for nothing.

I'd better wait until the money actually arrives before telling him. Fang Yu understood one principle: plans succeeded in secrecy and failed when word got out.

It was best not to talk too much about things that weren't settled.

First, fist practice. With his mind calm, Fang Yu went straight to the communal martial arts room on the dormitory's second floor and began practicing the Twenty-Four Basic Fist Forms.

He practiced to refamiliarize himself with his dramatically strengthened body.

He continued training until after ten before returning to his room to rest.

August 17, eight in the morning.

Seen off by a group of teachers, Fang Yu, Wang Mo, Zhang Tao and eight others boarded the car arranged by the school and headed straight for Huguang Province's capital, Xingsha City.

Several hours later.

The car reached the outskirts of Xingsha City. The area was sparsely populated, with few pedestrians, and every so often they saw patrols and sentries of heavily armed soldiers.

Even though their car had been registered in advance, it still underwent two inspections.

"Is security at Huguang Martial Arts University really this strict?" Zhang Tao couldn't help asking.

"Yes.

"There are only two martial arts universities in all of Huguang Province: Huguang Martial Arts University and Jingchu Martial Arts University," explained Yan Fu, the teacher accompanying them. "Each university brings together a province's future martial arts powerhouses, including many future Advanced Martial Artists, Earth Martial Artists, and even Sky-Roving Martial Artists."

"If powerful aliens launched a surprise attack or carried out some covert sabotage, the losses would be staggering, so naturally security is tight," Yan Fu said with a sigh. "Junior colleges like ours don't have to worry about that."

"Powerful aliens?"

"Can powerful aliens attack all the way to Blue Star?" Fang Yu, Wang Mo, and the others were shocked. It was something they had never considered before.

They had occasionally heard of powerful aliens in the past.

But that was all.

"Never mind Blue Star, there are even some on New Moon. Crescent Moon Martial Arts University, for example, has been attacked by powerful aliens before, and a large number of students were killed or injured," Yan Fu said with a sigh. "We didn't talk about it at school because most martial arts junior college students will never encounter a powerful alien in their lives. But you're all undergraduates now, and quite a few of you will soon be going to the Primordial Star to fight, so it's time you knew."

"Why do martial artists have such high status?"

"For no other reason.

"Without the sacrifices of martial artists, how could Blue Star's old lands and New Moon enjoy peace?" Yan Fu sighed, seeming to recall something. Suddenly, he pointed into the distance. "We're almost at the school gate."

Fang Yu and the others looked where he pointed.

After the car turned another corner, they saw a remarkably distinctive building standing at the end of a straight, broad avenue. At first glance, it looked like a divine sword buried halfway in the earth.

It stood over a hundred meters tall.

Across the front of the building were fifteen large characters: "Forge a sword for civilization, hone a blade for humanity; martial artists are the Great Wall."

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PS: After midnight, there'll be two more chapters released together.

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