Chapter 79: A Frenzied Ascension!

Old Li has left.

Fang Qingyun’s summoned beast, Little Black, had demonstrated astonishing power. At the same time, Fang Qingyun’s own strength was equally impressive. In this situation, as long as he was careful, facing the attacks from the Institute of Scientific Research would not pose much of a problem.

Most importantly, the Institute was now overwhelmed. Fang Qingyun’s actions this time were far too audacious, and with Old Li’s help, the damage inflicted upon the Institute was beyond their imagination. Many critical locations now required powerful guardians. In other words, the Institute no longer had the spare strength to deal with Fang Qingyun, unless they were willing to let the City Guard occupy several key points. The interests involved were too great; the Institute would never agree to that. Moreover, once the City Guard were stationed, the Institute would lose much of its authority in those areas.

Helpless, no matter how much they hated Fang Qingyun, they would have to wait at least a month, until they had stabilized the situation, before planning their next move. Old Li was certain that not only he would count this time, but so would everyone else with a grudge against the Institute; none would miss such an opportunity.

In this situation, how could the Institute spare a general-level warrior to deal with Fang Qingyun? Could they squeeze out a few high-level fighters? Unless they were foolish enough to have forgotten the last lesson.

Old Li’s departure meant that the feeling of being watched vanished, and Fang Qingyun could finally breathe easy. This time, he could once again savor the intoxicating scent of poison and joyfully enhance his power.

Without hesitation, Fang Qingyun plunged into the toxic mists of the swamp, greedily absorbing the poison like a glutton.

[Origin +1]
[Origin +1]
...

He started in the shallow layers and gradually went deeper. Whenever he was poisoned, he would stop, and when he could not endure, he would retreat from the depths of the swamp. His constitution now allowed him to slowly neutralize the toxins within his body. When he truly couldn’t hold on, he would increase his speed to remodel his body. Only in dangerous moments would he enhance his constitution.

However...

[Origin -200]
[Origin: 789]
[Speed +1]
[Speed: 32]

Fang Qingyun was dumbfounded on the spot. He had increased his speed by a single point, yet his origin had dropped by 200. Was it because the speed attribute was reaching its limit, making further increases more difficult? Fang Qingyun’s head throbbed. Now his original plan would have to change once again.

“Why are all of them so greedy?” Fang Qingyun sighed.

...

Three months later, Fang Qingyun rode Little Black, carrying a large bundle, bursting out from the toxic swamp and collapsing onto the ground, gasping for breath.

“The third layer of the toxic swamp is truly unfit for humans,” he muttered. “But leaving it like this, I almost feel nostalgic.”

He looked up at the sky. Without any extra movement, his body was automatically expelling toxins. His constitution was now so strong that he was immune to almost all poisons. The poison of the first layer was entirely ineffective against him. Only in the second layer would his origin points activate, not to mention the most violent third layer.

If not for his reporting to the Northwest Military Academy, he would never want to leave this place. He felt that if he continued training here, he could keep growing stronger without end.

Fang Qingyun waved his hand, summoning his attribute panel:

[Host: Fang Qingyun]
[Strength: 31 (+)]
[Speed: 32 (+)]
[Constitution: 31 (+)]
[Mental Power: 31 (+)]
[Psionic Power: 51 (+)]
[Shooting: Intermediate (+)]
[Blade Technique: Beginner (+)]
[Psionic Control: Beginner (+)]
[Summoned Beast: Dragon King Lion (+)]
[Origin Points: 35293]

Strength and mental power had increased the most, and through these two attributes, Fang Qingyun realized that once any attribute surpassed 30, the cost for increasing it using origin points would rise from 100 to 200.

As his attributes advanced, the required origin points would certainly grow. But, the greatest improvement was still the origin points themselves. Gazing at the thirty thousand points, Fang Qingyun couldn’t stop himself from grinning.

Unprecedented prosperity!

“What are you laughing about?” Fang Qingyun muttered to himself. “Only by using them to improve psionic power can I reach the third tier. Just think—a single tier of psionic power requires 10,000 origin points.”

But he couldn’t help but laugh!

“Hahaha!”

Unable to control himself, he laughed heartily.

The Institute of Scientific Research? Ha! With these attributes now, the Institute is nothing!

Fang Qingyun suppressed his laughter, a fierce gleam flashing in his eyes. Should he try challenging the Institute? Level up Little Black again, push all his attributes to the limit—could he destroy the Institute?

He took a deep breath.

No, his strength had indeed increased, but he was far from invincible; a single general-level warrior could still take him down. Now was the time to keep a low profile. Being too extraordinary would only land him on the operating table.

The Institute in Flower City was only the lowest level; above it were the Institute in Greenwood District, then the provincial Institutes, and even the Deputy and Main Institutes.

Just thinking about it made his scalp tingle!

He couldn’t treat them all as enemies, but neither could he see them in too rosy a light.

“But it’s not like I should do nothing,” Fang Qingyun thought, mounting Little Black and heading towards Flower City.

Three months! Over these three months, he hadn’t stayed in the toxic swamp the entire time. Every so often, he would secretly return home to rest for two days and prepare enough food and water.

This time, he wouldn’t be so cautious—he swaggered back into the city.

Old Li, Principal Sun, and Zhao Junhong had clearly received word of his return and were now waiting for him at his house.

“Greetings, all!” Fang Qingyun, riding Little Black, looked down at the three, waving his hand and greeting them with a lift of his nose.

The three: “...”

Three months gone, and he seemed even more brash!

“Judging by your appearance, you must have had quite the harvest,” Principal Sun smiled. “The timing is just right. Prepare for two days, then you and Zhao Junhong can report to the Northwest Military Academy.”

His gaze was somewhat complicated. “Fighting the Institute is nothing. Once you reach the Northwest Military Academy, you’ll be on a real battlefield, facing those monsters. Fang Qingyun, I leave you with this: only warriors who slay monsters are true warriors!”

“I’ll remember that!” Fang Qingyun smiled. “To be a warrior, one must focus on killing monsters. Being strong only at home is not true strength. I’ll become the monsters’ nightmare.”

Principal Sun and Old Li exchanged smiles.

They could see Fang Qingyun’s seriousness as he spoke those words.

Good! Their efforts these past months, constantly troubling the Institute, were not wasted. The Institute probably wanted nothing more than to drink their blood.

“What’s your rank?” Zhao Junhong asked.

“Tier One Warrior!”

“What?”

Everyone was stunned.

With Fang Qingyun’s confident demeanor, they assumed his rank had grown substantially—yet he was still Tier One.

Fang Qingyun smiled slightly and didn’t explain. “What about you, Zhao? Judging by your look, you’ve made good progress.”

“Of course!” Zhao Junhong replied confidently. “I returned to my family, trained in the chamber prepared for me, and after three months, advanced to Tier Four Warrior.”

Fang Qingyun’s eyes widened instantly. “Damn, you advanced a tier a month?”

He must be joking!

He remembered Old Li saying that at the early stages, warriors found it easiest to improve their strength, and some geniuses could advance a tier in a year. Three years to reach intermediate level, meaning Tier Four. The top geniuses could reach Tier Four in two years.

Compared to Zhao Junhong now—what was going on?

Fang Qingyun couldn’t help but mutter: Did Zhao Junhong also have a system? He remembered having this suspicion back in the secret realm.

Zhao Junhong’s face showed no pride, only a gentle sigh. “My family has prepared for over a hundred years, and... Well, not to dampen your spirits, but at this rate, I may advance to general-level in a very short time!”

Fang Qingyun was even more amazed.

This guy was even more ruthless than himself!

“All right!” Old Li shook his head at Fang Qingyun and said quietly, “When he’s feeling better, you two can chat. Now, let’s tell you what you need to know about reporting to the Northwest Military Academy.”

He knew both had their own secrets.

Zhao Junhong’s speed in improving his psionic power was astonishing; Fang Qingyun’s physical growth was equally rapid. Neither would want to divulge too much, and in any case, even if they wanted to, Old Li and Principal Sun weren’t keen to hear it. They weren’t curious young people.

Better to have less trouble than more!

“Do you still remember Zhou Yaohuo?”

“Of course, that guy who liked to look at people through his nose!”

Both replied with matching disdain.

They remembered him well.

“Now, he probably isn’t our match, right?” Fang Qingyun shot Zhao Junhong a sideways glance.

Zhao Junhong grinned viciously. “If we get the chance, let’s bag him!”

“Quiet!” Principal Sun cut him off.

“Zhou Yaohuo belongs to a pure warrior university,” Old Li continued. “Universities are divided into three types. Ordinary universities primarily train regular students who go on to work in various departments. Of course, there are warriors among them, but they are rare.”

“The second type is pure warrior universities, where all students are warriors. Graduates enter city management, take high-level positions, or may become officers on the battlefield. Usually, they take on various tasks, like Zhou Yaohuo—helping a city clear out stray monsters.”

“The third type is the military academy you will attend!”

Old Li became serious. “Unlike the first two, the military academy sends its people directly to the battlefield. Although they help deal with monsters within cities, their primary focus is combat.”

“After entering a military academy, there is only a one-year adjustment period, then you must go to the battlefield. The Northwest Military Academy is even more special—after you arrive, you have only two weeks to adjust before being assigned tasks.”

“Two weeks?”

Fang Qingyun and Zhao Junhong were dumbfounded.

That was awfully short.

Old Li explained, “Everyone admitted to the Northwest Military Academy is already a warrior. The Snake King believes that a warrior not fighting is a waste.”

“So once you step into the Northwest University, you must be ready for the battlefield.”

“Also, you should know that military academies are not fixed in location. Many are established near the front lines for easier combat.”

“The Northwest Military Academy is just so—congratulations, your dorms will have a clear view of the shelling!”

“Enough already!” Fang Qingyun was exhausted.

He knew military academy meant the battlefield, but he never imagined it would be so relentless, so intense—especially the Northwest Military Academy, which seemed to treat the battlefield as home.

“Adjust your mindset. Don’t worry, the Northwest Military Academy won’t send students to die, especially geniuses like you. They want to mold you into powerful warriors, able to slay more monsters.”

Old Li smiled at them.

Fang Qingyun rolled his eyes and suddenly asked, “By the way, Old Li, how are the other students from our class doing?”

Old Li gave him a strange look. “I suppose you mean Xu Tao and his cronies?”

“What of it?” Zhao Junhong scoffed. “I want to know what happened with Zhou Yi, too.”

Old Li thought for a moment. “As for Xu Tao, I advise you not to bother him. He’s miserable enough.”

“Hm?”

Fang Qingyun and Zhao Junhong’s eyes lit up. “What happened? Tell us so we can enjoy it.”

Old Li chuckled at their eagerness. “Qingyun, remember how you attacked Xu Tao in the secret realm...”

“Retaliated! That was retaliation!” Fang Qingyun hastily corrected. “He attacked me first, and I struck back.”

“All right, retaliation!” Old Li rubbed his brow. “He used a secret treasure to save his life, and it was that treasure that ruined him.”

“That was his father’s—a one-time life-saving artifact, stolen by Xu Tao and used, reaching Tier Three.”

Old Li took a deep breath. “Imagine Xu Tao’s father’s fury upon learning his precious artifact was stolen.”

“If Xu Tao had become a warrior, all would have been forgiven. But you expelled him from the secret realm.”

“Thus, his father ordered him to attend a technical university; after graduation, he would work for his father’s company for life.”

Fang Qingyun sneered.

That’s it?!

“Don’t be so dismissive!” Old Li said. “You know, if a student fails to meet the warrior standards in the secret realm, they can apply to undergo a test in the spirit pressure chamber and maybe qualify. But Xu Tao’s father was so angry he never allowed him to try.”

“You didn’t see him being dragged away by his father’s bodyguards—the screams, the despair in his eyes.”

Zhao Junhong interjected, “I bet Xu Tao hates you to death now.”

“Oh!” Fang Qingyun narrowed his eyes.

Old Li looked helplessly at Fang Qingyun and Zhao Junhong. Were these two still not ready to let Xu Tao off?

Well, it was none of his business!

Xu Tao’s actions in the secret realm were indeed reprehensible. You sow, you reap.

“By the way, I can also tell you about Zhou Yi!” Principal Sun chimed in. “You’ll be dealing with him in the future.”

The two were immediately intrigued.

“Zhou Yi’s school is very close to the Northwest Military Academy!”

Principal Sun said solemnly, “I can tell you with certainty, any school established near the battlefield is powerful. The Northwest Military Academy is such; Zhou Yi’s Sacred Mountain University is the same!”

Old Li added, “Among all pure warrior universities, Sacred Mountain University ranks in the top five!”

“Zhou Yi performed well this time, breaking fifty in psionic power. He’s a noble, and his family pulled many strings to get him into Sacred Mountain University.”

“Sacred Mountain University and the Northwest Military Academy are only three kilometers apart!”

“Both schools depend on each other and compete fiercely on the battlefield!”

“You will inevitably collide!”

Zhao Junhong sneered, “All the better. Where’s the guy with the heavy machine gun?”

“The heavy machine gun? Luo Yuxin?”

“Yes!”

“You’re lucky—all those people got into Sacred Mountain University,” Principal Sun replied. “The top geniuses from Greenwood District were all admitted to Sacred Mountain this year.”

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