Chapter 270: Enormous Scholarship

Chapter 270: Chapter 270: Enormous Scholarship

[Student Lin Qi, for ranking first in the Sixth Academy during the Azure Sky Martial Arts University 2046 first semester final examinations, you have been awarded a scholarship of 5,000,000 Xia Country Coins.]

[For ranking... first among all new students in the first semester final examinations, you have been awarded 8,000,000 Xia Country Coins.]

[For ranking... ninth in the Tenth Academy’s first semester final examination rankings, you have been awarded 25,000,000 Xia Country Coins!]

...

Lin Qi’s eyes lit up as he read the three scholarship award messages.

His heart began to pound uncontrollably.

’The scholarships for the final exams really are generous, outrageously so. First place in the Academy gets a 5 million reward, and first place among new students is even crazier—a straight 8 million Xia Country Coins.’

’In other words, a top-ranked new student can earn 13,000,000 Xia Country Coins in rewards just for the first semester.’

Lin Qi let out a breath. This amount was already comparable to the prize money from the Disaster Beast Trial Tower.

And it was only mid-January, so the rewards from the Disaster Beast Trial Tower would still be paid out on schedule.

That meant he could still expect to receive several million more Xia Country Coins in prize money.

Finally, his gaze locked onto the scholarship for the Tenth Institute rankings. He sighed in admiration upon seeing the 25,000,000 prize:

’These geniuses in the Tenth Institute really have it good.’

’Good thing I joined the Tenth Institute’s ranking competition, otherwise this prize money would have had nothing to do with me.’

Lin Qi marveled to himself. ’If I get 25 million for ninth place, the prize money for first must be astronomical.’

’Now I can profit from both sides. Next semester, I’ll be able to get even more scholarship money.’

Furthermore, these final exams alone had netted him 38,000,000, which was even more than his winnings from the National Freshmen Competition.

By now, his total balance had exceeded 50,000,000 Xia Country Coins.

’With this money, I can buy a huge amount of Cultivation Resources when I get back. By the time the semester starts, my Qi and Blood Value can increase dramatically again.’

With that thought, Lin Qi started packing, getting ready to head home the next day.

...

「Somewhere in a secret base in the Xia Country」

Inside a spacious Martial Arts Room, a burly man, his face obscured by a mask and hat, stared at a projected screen before him.

The person on the other side of the screen was just as heavily concealed.

"I’ve just received news. We may need to change our stance on Lin Qi of Azure Sky Martial Arts Academy."

"In their final exams, Lin Qi made it into the Tenth Institute’s rankings. Out of fourteen people, he ranked ninth overall."

"Excluding Special Abilities, he has already surpassed five Awakened geniuses."

"This is an unprecedented situation."

The man on the other end of the screen was silent for a moment before speaking, his voice just as hoarse and grating as before:

"The higher-ups only target geniuses with Awakened Special Abilities. Lin Qi isn’t on the target list."

"However, our organization has decided to act preemptively and eliminate him."

"I will arrange for someone to handle it!"

The burly man clenched his fists.

"Unfortunately, the Xia Country is hunting us down at all costs, and we’ve lost too many of our people."

"We, the Insect God Association, have the fewest personnel in the Xia Country. Our operations here are the most difficult, and we don’t get many chances to act. We must seize every opportunity."

"Lin Qi isn’t Awakened; he’s currently just a Third Realm Martial Artist. I already have someone in mind."

"They’ll be more than enough to eliminate him completely!"

...

「Martial Arts Calendar, Year 2047, January 15th – Cang Province, Celestial Sea City, Red Dome Martial Arts Dojo」

The Spring Festival was approaching, and the weather remained clear and sunny.

In the plaza in front of the Martial Arts Dojo, a group of middle-aged men and women waited with eager anticipation.

At the very front of the crowd stood the tall figure of Yue Feng, dressed in a black suit.

WHOOSH!!

A fierce gust of wind blew against the crowd as a massive shadow fell over them.

"It’s here!" someone shouted.

A colossal red-and-white Frost Sparrow transport aircraft slowly came to a stop in front of them.

VMMMM!

The huge cabin door slowly opened, and figures began to emerge one after another.

"Dad!"

"Mom!"

The students found their parents, and after brief exchanges, they all began to depart.

Finally, Lin Qi’s figure emerged from the aircraft.

Yue Feng watched the handsome, distinguished young man approach, exuding a powerful aura.

His gaze was bright and profound, and his entire being radiated with an immense Life Force.

He carried a backpack, and a peculiar black Metal Cylinder was clipped to his waist.

"Lin Qi!"

"Uncle Yue!"

A smile appeared on Lin Qi’s face when he saw Yue Feng.

Yue Feng clapped Lin Qi on the shoulder, sighing with a laugh.

"Kid, I haven’t seen you in months, and you’ve gotten so much more impressive. I’ve heard all about your exploits, even here in Celestial Sea City."

"I bet the folks at the Chongming and Black Brilliance Martial Arts Dojos are kicking themselves right now."

Lin Qi smiled. Last year, only Yue Feng had been bold enough to offer him a better contract.

He had endured a great deal of criticism for it, but now all that gossip had likely turned into admiration for his foresight.

Lin Qi had even heard he received a commendation from the Imperial Capital Headquarters for it.

"Little Qi!"

Just then, another figure appeared before Lin Qi. It was his father, Lin Zhen, with his burly build and resolute face.

"Uncle Yue, I’m heading off!"

"Go on," Yue Feng said with a nod.

After Lin Qi and Lin Zhen left, Yue Feng returned to his office and gave a command to an intelligent lifeform.

"Alpha, have the Celestial Eye System closely monitor Lin Qi’s movements. If anything happens, notify me immediately."

"Understood, Master," the metal sphere beside him replied.

...

An all-blue sedan sped down the streets of Celestial Sea City.

Lin Qi gazed out the window at the bustling streets, feeling a sense of unreality. At Azure Sky Martial Arts Academy, he had shut out the world, focusing only on his desperate Cultivation.

He hadn’t seen such a lively scene in a very long time.

He then looked at his father, Lin Zhen, who was in excellent spirits, his Qi Blood surging within him.

He had already recovered to the Third Realm, and his left arm had been replaced with a brand-new, flesh-colored prosthesis that was nearly indistinguishable from a real arm.

"Little Qi, when we heard you won the National Freshmen Competition, your mother and I were so shocked we couldn’t even speak," Lin Zhen remarked from the driver’s seat.

He and Fang Huiyi had also participated in the National Freshmen Competition back in their day, but both had been eliminated in the first round.

They knew full well how many geniuses competed in that tournament; they had merely been cannon fodder.

But their son had defeated every single opponent, even a legendary genius with an Awakened Special Ability.

He was so astounded he didn’t know how to describe the feeling.

It was just too incredible!

"Dad, you’d better get used to it. There’ll be a lot more of this in the future," Lin Qi said with a smile.

"Your mother and I really do need to get used to it!" Lin Zhen laughed.

A short while later, the car entered the Imperial View Mansion District.

It pulled to a stop in front of a detached villa.

Lin Qi and Lin Zhen got out. As they stepped into the villa, a fragrant aroma washed over them.

In the living room, his mother, Fang Huiyi, was coming out of the kitchen with a bowl of rice. The dining table was already laden with several different dishes—all of his favorites.

"You’re back! Time to eat!" Fang Huiyi said with a smile.

The three of them sat down and began to eat. Lin Qi dug in heartily.

Although the school’s nutritional meals didn’t taste bad, they couldn’t compare to a home-cooked meal.

"Dad, Mom, how have you two been?" Lin Qi asked.

...