Chapter 127: Business Comes Knocking
“Special grade potential?”
“How did you do it?”
After hearing this, Xia Ling’s voice rose an entire pitch. The way she looked at Lin Qi was filled with disbelief.
Although she had long known that Lin Qi’s potential was not low, that his improvement speed was incredibly fast, and that he could even take down someone like Watu, an intermediate martial artist, making it very likely he would become a genius martial artist in the future,
in her view, that still was only a possibility.
Across the entire City of Light Chasing, only a few genius martial artists emerged every three years, each one like a sun hanging high in the sky, utterly out of reach.
And to become a genius martial artist, besides mastering cultivation methods of extremely high difficulty, there were also various powerful martial skills. One had to practice those skills to the point of perfection, thereby strengthening the body, enhancing physical potential, all backed by a massive amount of resources.
She had carefully investigated Lin Qi’s situation. His origins were extremely mysterious; there was no way to find any records of his past, as if he had suddenly appeared in the City of Light Chasing. As for the Obsidian Martial Arts Hall he founded, that was also very mysterious. From time to time, a group would appear who were clearly not vagrants of the City of Light Chasing, yet none of them could be underestimated.
It was evident that behind Lin Qi, there was definitely a major power from outside the City of Chasing Light supporting him, so he probably did not lack resources.
But improving physical potential required personal effort and talent. Leaving aside the risk of mastering those profound cultivation methods, simply honing martial skills to the point of consummate mastery, reaching the rumored perfection realm, truly required not only talent, but also vast amounts of grinding effort, day after day, to have any chance of accomplishing it.
Yet Lin Qi was just an ordinary person who had become a martial artist in such a short time. Simply pushing his physical fitness desperately was already not enough; where would he find the time to polish his martial skills?
Moreover, those who became genius martial artists often had several martial skills cultivated to perfection, not just one. Otherwise, in a city of tens of millions like the City of Light Chasing, there would not be only a few emerging every three years.
“It’s nothing, just familiarity of the hand,” Lin Qi said without hesitation.
“Still about practicing more?” After hearing this, Xia Ling could not help falling into thought, deciding that after going back she needed to practice her martial skills even more diligently.
Previously, she only slept four hours a day. Now, after hearing Lin Qi’s words, she decided from today on to sleep only two hours a day, so she would have more time to practice martial skills.
Lin Qi nodded, feeling that Xia Ling was not wrong. Although her understanding was slightly different from what he meant, overall it was not wrong.
Very soon, Feng Ge Lin led Lin Qi and Xia Ling to the front hall. With Steward Feng Ge Lin’s status, the working efficiency of the Martial Artist Association’s front desk was exceptionally high. What normally required an hour for the application process ended up being settled in just a few minutes.
“Xia Ling, the registration and review have been completed. You must work hard from now on.” Feng Ge Lin, seeing Xia Ling’s close relationship with Lin Qi, spoke with concern. “If you can take the chance of the Five Cities Competition to break through and become a martial artist, this year you might still have a chance to enter the Genius Training Camp.”
“Lord Feng Ge Lin, I understand. I will work hard.” Xia Ling nodded. A trace of ambition burned in her beautiful eyes.
The application deadline for the Genius Training Camp’s assessment was after the Five Cities Competition. If she could break through to become a martial artist after the competition and her potential reached high grade, she might indeed have a chance to enter the Genius Training Camp.
And once she entered the Genius Training Camp, it would be like a carp leaping over the dragon gate, with the vast sky open for her to soar.
“You still do not understand what I mean.” Feng Ge Lin rolled his eyes at Xia Ling, then walked to her side and whispered, “Right next to you is a genius martial artist. This is your opportunity. If you can ask him for guidance more, learn some skills, getting into the Genius Training Camp will be a sure thing.”
Xia Ling suddenly reacted, her eyes lighting up. She looked at Feng Ge Lin gratefully. “Thank you for the reminder, Lord Feng Ge Lin.”
Previously, she had been too many times shocked by what had happened with Lin Qi and completely forgot that Lin Qi himself was a treasure mountain. As long as she dug well, she might really get into the Genius Training Camp, completely throwing off life in the suburbs and entering the high-level circles of the city proper.
“Hall Master Lin, I heard that the Obsidian Martial Arts Hall also teaches others martial skills. I wonder if I may hire Hall Master Lin to personally teach me the Obsidian Martial Arts Hall’s martial skills. As for the price, I am willing to pay ten times the market rate.” Xia Ling looked at Lin Qi, her tail unconsciously flicking on the floor, clearly both excited and nervous in her heart.
Although relearning the martial skills of the Obsidian Martial Arts Hall would certainly cost her a lot of time just to catch up with what she currently mastered, if she could be taught by a genius martial artist like Lin Qi, it would definitely be much better than hiring those martial artists from suburban halls.
“Hire me to teach you?” Lin Qi shook his head and declined directly. “I am afraid I will have to disappoint Miss Xia. The Obsidian Martial Arts Hall currently has too many matters that require my attention, and for a long period it will not be possible. If Miss Xia is interested in our hall’s martial skills, we have quite a few capable disciples who are very good at teaching martial skills. They can all teach Miss Xia very well. I believe they will not disappoint you.”
Having him personally teach others was completely a joke.
If it were only teaching some beginner or intermediate apprentices, that would be one thing, but if he had to instruct a quasi-martial artist like Xia Ling, his results would definitely not match those players who had personally gone through various problems.
And it was obvious that Xia Ling’s requirements for martial skill proficiency were not low. Otherwise, she would not think of asking him to teach her. It would be better to directly go to suburban halls and invite those martial artist coaches.
Now among the players of the Obsidian Martial Arts Hall, more than one person had already cultivated Crushing Stone Fist and Leopard Shadow Steps, first level, to the perfection realm. Letting those players teach would undoubtedly be better.
“I understand. During this period Hall Master Lin must focus on preparing for matters of the Genius Training Camp.” Xia Ling could not help but smile, as if she did not mind being tactfully refused. “But since Hall Master Lin has said so, in a few days I will certainly come to the Obsidian Martial Arts Hall to give it a try.”
“Alright, when the time comes I will have the best disciples teach Miss Xia.” Lin Qi nodded, pretending this really was all for the Genius Training Camp, although he himself had never planned to enter that so-called Genius Training Camp.
The Genius Training Camp of the City of Light Chasing might be a major opportunity in life for martial artists of the city, but for him joining it would only be a waste of time. Improving the hall and improving the players was the king’s way.
This time he came for martial artist certification only for the B4-level long sword and the permissions of the Martial Artist Association, so that afterward the players of the Obsidian Martial Arts Hall could develop better inside the City of Light Chasing.
Xia Ling then left the Martial Artist Association with Lin Qi and went straight back to the Obsidian Martial Arts Hall.
“Miss, this is a pity,” the butler old man driving the luxury sedan sighed. “If we could have invited Hall Master Lin to instruct you, you might have achieved a very good ranking in this Five Cities Competition. Otherwise, should we inform the master and take out the B2-level battle armor that was prepared for you before?”
“No need. Even if we bring out the B2-level battle armor, Hall Master Lin would not value it. It would be better to spend that time improving myself. Once I enter the Genius Training Camp, will I lack anything there?” Xia Ling shook her head, gazing out the car window at the Obsidian Martial Arts Hall with a smile. “Although we did not manage to invite Hall Master Lin to personally teach me this time, he did not refuse my going to the Obsidian Martial Arts Hall to learn. As long as I go often enough, I will definitely find an opportunity.”
“Miss, you truly are impressive,” the butler old man praised. “Now that you have tied a connection with Hall Master Lin, even if the other young masters make connections with those martial artists in the suburbs, in the family no one will be able to shake your position in the future.”
“Alright, hurry back. Just as Hall Master Lin said, from today on I want to spend more time on training,” Xia Ling ordered.
As for mere family status, she no longer cared. Her sights were now set on the Genius Training Camp. Internal family struggles were nothing but a joke.
Obsidian Martial Arts Hall, sunset.
In the hall master’s lounge, Lin Qi kept flipping through the various goods listed for internal sale by the Martial Artist Association on his smart watch, and the more he checked, the more he felt like a poor ghost.
“A bottle of type II healing potion that helps martial artists recover from injuries costs two million Bit, with a limit of five bottles per month. A bottle of Type 2 Energy Potion that helps martial artists promote absorption costs one million Bit, with a limit of ten bottles per month. A set of B2-level battle armor has an internal purchase price of eighty million Bit. The price is quite a bit cheaper than outside, but I still cannot afford it. No wonder martial artists all go to the suburbs to start enterprises, reselling city goods. Becoming a martial artist is really money-burning.” Lin Qi looked longingly at that set of B2-level battle armor, his heart stirred, but unfortunately he was too poor at the moment.
Previously he had worried about not having the chance to purchase one. Now that he held a status equivalent to an association steward, he could buy a set, but eighty million Bit was not something he could gather in a short time.
Even those old-brand beginner martial artists had to brave life-and-death danger in the wilderness and hunt thirty to forty low-level monsters to afford one set.
And according to the internal information of the Martial Artist Association, for a beginner martial artist to hunt thirty to forty low-level monsters, it was almost impossible without at least two years.
Monsters were numerous in the wilderness, but beginner martial artists could only deal with the weakest ones. They usually had to team up with other martial artists to safely hunt low-level monsters. But teaming up meant splitting profits. And martial artists typically stayed in the wilderness for a period, then returned to rest for a period.
Without two years, it was truly difficult for one person to gain the profit from thirty to forty low-level monsters.
As for beginner martial artists who did not dare to take risks, they could only make money by opening company enterprises of their own. Although their earnings were not as fast as hunting, they won in safety and stability.
Just as Lin Qi was continuing to organize the internal information of the Martial Artist Association, there was a knock on the lounge door.
“Master of the pavilion, Miss Luo Qi has brought a group of people, saying they have urgent matters with you.” A newbie player entered the room and reported.
“Luo Qi is here with people? Alright, let them all come in.” Lin Qi nodded.
These days Luo Qi was in charge of matters of the suburban shops. Under normal circumstances, without a major issue, she would not come to him personally.
After a short while, Luo Qi entered the room with three people wearing black cloaks, completely concealing their figures and appearances.
Once the three stepped into the lounge, they took off their cloaks one after another, revealing human race appearances. Two of them already had qi and blood at the level of limit quasi-martial artists, and the middle-aged man at the front was an intermediate martial artist. All three wore B1-level battle armor. At a glance their backgrounds were clearly not simple.
“Lin Zi, this is Meng Wei, vice gang leader of the Iron Heart Gang in the suburbs,” Luo Qi said excitedly, pointing at the middle-aged man in front as she introduced. “They did not have your contact information, so they came to me for an introduction.”
“I wonder what business Vice Gang Leader Meng Wei has with me?” Lin Qi nodded and looked directly at the middle-aged man in front.
The Iron Heart Gang counted as a major gang in the suburbs, but unlike others, it was a gang formed by the human race and had considerable influence among humans in the suburbs. Luo Qi had often mentioned them to him before.
As for Vice Gang Leader Meng Wei, more than ten years ago he had been a legend of the wilderness. As an unregistered nomad, he had fought his way up with nothing but a single axe to become a martial artist, becoming a legend in the hearts of many human vagrants in the City of Light Chasing.
Now, in terms of strength, Meng Wei was probably only a step away from becoming an intermediate martial artist, but his age was too high, and breaking through that line would not be easy.
“Hello, Hall Master Lin. I only learned of your great name yesterday. Seeing you in person, you are indeed extraordinary. Your qi and blood are likely superior even to mine,” Meng Wei said. Though around fifty, he was still very bold and hearty. After taking a good look at Lin Qi, he could not help saying, “Since Hall Master Lin has this strength, I will get straight to the point.”
“After learning that Hall Master Lin led the Obsidian Martial Arts Hall to wipe out the Great Ape Gang, our Iron Heart Gang intends to join forces with the Obsidian Martial Arts Hall. With the strength of our two sides, we should be able to take back the management rights of Nanxing Street in the suburbs.”
Hearing this, Luo Qi looked at Lin Qi in some astonishment. From Vice Gang Leader Meng Wei’s words, in just a few days, not only had Lin Qi become a martial artist, but he had even wiped out the Great Ape Gang, which had a great reputation in the wilderness.
This sounded like a joke, but Luo Qi knew that a figure like Meng Wei would not joke about such things.
Lin Qi did not explain to the stunned Luo Qi. He simply looked at Meng Wei and asked with a smile, “Nanxing Street? Is that not the territory of the Two-Headed Gang?”
He had some impression of Nanxing Street. It was not far from his current abandoned area, a fairly prosperous commercial street.
“There are over a thousand merchants in the Nanxing street block. The management fees collected each month exceed twenty million Bit. It was originally managed by our Iron Heart Gang, but previously we fought fiercely with another gang and lost many people. As a result, it was taken over by the Two-Headed Gang of the Lizardmen race.” Meng Wei nodded and explained. “Now our issues with that other gang have been resolved, but dealing with the current Two-Headed Gang is not easy, so we are here to invite the Obsidian Martial Arts Hall.”
“As long as we seize back the management rights of Nanxing Street, our Iron Heart Gang is willing to give thirty percent of the monthly management fees.”
“Thirty percent of the management fees is indeed a lot.” Lin Qi nodded as well.
He had not expected that the fame of the Obsidian Martial Arts Hall would bring such benefits. If they could now take the management rights of Nanxing Street, they would have more than six million Bit in stable monthly income in the future. For someone currently short on money like him, without selling those energy ores, this was undoubtedly the fastest way to gain funds.
“If Hall Master Lin is satisfied, we can sign a contract agreement right now,” Meng Wei said, seeing that Lin Qi was quite tempted, and wanted to set the matter immediately.
“If this thirty percent management fee is merely for inviting me to act personally, I have no problem,” Lin Qi shook his head. “I just do not know if Vice Gang Leader Meng Wei intends to cooperate with me personally, or if you came today seeking cooperation with the Obsidian Martial Arts Hall?”
“What difference is there?” Meng Wei looked at Lin Qi in surprise, completely not understanding what he meant.
“There is a big difference. If this cooperation is just me acting personally, we can sign the contract agreement right now,” Lin Qi explained. “But if you want the Obsidian Martial Arts Hall to act in cooperation, then this price is not suitable.”
“Hall Master Lin, do you think it is reasonable for one person to take thirty percent of the management fees?” The young man standing beside Meng Wei stepped forward. His B1-level battle armor fully activated, a wave of heat surging in all directions. He clearly meant to show that a beginner martial artist was not worth thirty percent of the management fees.
“Truly worthy of B1-level battle armor, the boost is impressive.” Lin Qi looked at the young man whose danger level had sharply risen, not the least bit angry. He simply took a Martial Artist Certification Card from his pocket, placed it on the table with a smile, and asked, “I wonder if this is sufficient qualification?”
“A Martial Artist Certification Card? What does that prove?” The young man’s heart was full of disdain.
What could a Martial Artist Certification Card prove? At most that Lin Qi was a martial artist.
But Meng Wei, standing to the side, glanced at the card on the table, and his expression instantly changed. He could not believe his own eyes.
“Special grade potential!”
