Chapter 295: Third in the Tenth Institute

Chapter 295: Chapter 295: Third in the Tenth Institute

"The school has discussed the matter and decided to add Lin Qi to the Tenth Institute’s rankings."

"We hope this puts a bit more pressure on all of you."

Xu Wenji’s tone was calm, but an air of authority still emanated from him.

The students’ expressions soured.

The Vice Principal’s words were a clear jab at them. Why add Lin Qi? It was as good as saying the geniuses of the Tenth Institute weren’t working hard enough.

That their competitive edge was lacking and they needed a ’catfish’ like Lin Qi to stir things up.

"All of you, go back now. Rest well for a day. The day after tomorrow, we will head directly to the Otherworld for Cultivation."

"Oh, right. Lin Qi and Huo Wanyang will be going as well," Xu Wenji added.

A few minutes later.

Riding in the car back to the Tenth Institute, all the students felt an inexplicable pressure.

Xiang Long, in particular, frowned, his rugged face etched with frustration and unwillingness to accept this.

He had actually been surpassed by Lin Qi.

’However, on this trip to the Otherworld, I’ll prove that I’m the stronger one. He just got lucky.’

...

In the Otherworld, within a certain fortress in Xia Country’s largest War Base—Azure Sky Base.

On a wide-open plaza, a dark red fighter jet slowly descended onto the landing strip.

VMMMM!

The cabin door slowly opened, and a figure was the first to step out. He wore a black robe, with an upright posture, well-defined features, and a thick beard.

He set foot on the concrete ground.

"We’re finally back!" Mu Hong said, letting out a breath.

"Yeah, we’re finally back!"

"This trip was far too dangerous!"

Behind him, a woman in her early thirties with delicate features, a tall figure, and a white and green Combat Suit spoke up.

"Old Mu, congratulations on successfully breaking through to the Eighth Realm!"

"What are your plans now?"

Mu Hong could feel the power surging endlessly within him, a state completely different from that of a Seventh Realm Martial Artist.

He felt like a god on earth. If he were to face an Eighth-Level Calamity Beast again, he could have killed it long ago instead of being forced to flee!

"I plan to return to the academy. I’ve been away for too long, and my students are waiting for my guidance."

Mu Hong replied with a smile.

The woman in green congratulated him with a smile:

"It seems that top-level genius of yours, Lin Qi, brought you good luck."

"Now that you’ve broken through, everything’s looking up!"

After hearing this, Mu Hong also sighed with emotion, "Yes, perhaps my disciple really did bring me good luck!"

...

Ever since purchasing the Intermediate Source Energy Technique, Lin Qi had also been preparing for the trip to the Otherworld.

He used up all his time in the Refining God Tower and the Gravity Room ahead of schedule.

At the same time, he was constantly studying the Evolution Technique, gaining new insights each time he reviewed it.

「In the blink of an eye, the 22nd had arrived!」

On the plaza in front of the dormitory area of Azure Sky Sixth Institute.

"Brother Qi, remember to tell us what the Otherworld is like when you get back."

"Once I break through to the Fourth Realm, I’m also going to the Otherworld to cultivate an Intermediate Source Energy Technique."

Jiangtao said from the side.

Lin Qi and Jiangtao chatted idly while waiting for the fighter jet.

Lin Qi nodded. With Jiangtao’s Talent, he should be able to break through to the Fourth Realm after the Global Freshmen Competition.

He would also be able to earn enough money from the competition to go to the Otherworld for Cultivation.

By then, his strength would see another huge improvement.

WHOOSH!!

RUMBLE!!

The next moment, a gust of wind swept the area, and a massive, dark red fighter jet appeared in their line of sight.

"It’s the Sparrowhawk Fighter!" Jiangtao recognized the aircraft.

Finally, the fighter slowly descended, and its massive cabin door opened.

A figure appeared in everyone’s view, dressed in a long white robe, with a pair of unusually large earlobes that were quite conspicuous.

"Dean Liu!"

The students recognized the person in the fighter jet as Dean Liu.

"Lin Qi, come on up!"

Dean Liu said with a cheerful laugh.

Lin Qi nodded, turned to his friends with his backpack and a large suitcase in hand, and said:

"I’m off!"

Jiangtao and the others nodded, watching as Lin Qi carried his luggage into the fighter jet.

After boarding, Lin Qi looked around and saw that more than a dozen people were already seated inside.

It was a large hall furnished with tables and chairs. The white tabletops were adorned with various fruits, drinks, mineral water...

Arranged around the room were over twenty silver ergonomic chairs, all of which were occupied.

"Lin Qi!"

The rather handsome Wan Ming greeted him enthusiastically, while Xia Lian, Han Zhen, and Pei Jiu all nodded in greeting.

Lin Qi nodded. Everyone here was a genius from the Tenth Academy.

Familiar faces like Huo Wanyang were all present.

BEEP!

An intelligent robot walked over and extended its hands.

"Lin Qi, give it your luggage so it can stow it for you!"

Dean Liu patted Lin Qi’s shoulder and helped him place all his luggage onto the intelligent robot.

Then, he led him to one of the intelligent chairs.

RUMBLE!!

The dark red fighter jet started up, but aside from a slight vibration, the cabin was exceptionally stable.

"Dean Liu, why are you here?"

Lin Qi asked, quite curious.

Dean Liu nodded, poured a cup of hot tea from the teapot, and handed it to Lin Qi, saying:

"I have some business to take care of in the Otherworld as well."

"Alright, I’m heading to the cockpit."

With that, he walked towards the door at the front. It opened to reveal another spacious area.

Lin Qi took the teacup, sipped it, and began to survey his surroundings.

The interior space was very large. Although the fighter was much smaller than a normal transport plane, it accommodated fewer than fifty people, leaving plenty of open space.

He looked at the thirteen Awakened geniuses; it was the first time he had seen all of them together.

The aura of each person was completely different: scorching, fierce, cold, gentle, full of Life Force, spiritually active...

To a certain extent, each person’s aura reflected their Special Ability.

"Lin Qi!!"

Wan Ming stood up from his seat and sat down next to him.

"I knew you’d be coming with us to the Otherworld! After all, you’re now ranked third in our Tenth Institute, even surpassing me."

Lin Qi asked in confusion, "Third? What third place?"

Wan Ming projected a ranking list and said:

"The Disaster Beast Hunting Competition! Your and Huo Wanyang’s rankings were added. You’re third, and Huo Wanyang is ninth."

Lin Qi looked at the ranking list. He was indeed third, and the previous third-placer, Xiang Long, had been pushed down to fourth, just over 7,000 Points behind him.

He glanced over at the distant Xiang Long, with his rugged features and wild aura. The other boy shot a rather gloomy look back at him.

Lin Qi then looked at Pei Jiu in first place and Yu Zhuoran in second.

Both of them were more than 20,000 Points ahead of him.

Their strength was as formidable as ever.

"Lin Qi, you’re really something else now. The Vice Principal even used you to give us a talking to."

"If we don’t work harder, you’re going to surpass all of us."

The pretty Xia Lian, dressed in a special green school uniform, came over with a beaming smile.

The gentle-mannered Pei Jiu and the round-faced, burly Han Zhen came over with her.

Lin Qi took a sip of tea and said calmly, "I was just lucky."

"Why are you so modest, just like Brother Jiu?"

"Excessive modesty is just another form of pride!" Xia Lian said, shaking her head.

Lin Qi and Pei Jiu looked at each other and smiled, sharing a sense of mutual appreciation between kindred spirits.

"Let’s talk about the Otherworld instead!" Wan Ming interjected.

Lin Qi looked at Wan Ming curiously; he was full of curiosity about the Otherworld.

Seeing this, Wan Ming began to speak slowly, "My parents both work in the Otherworld."

"They even participated in the great pioneering efforts in the early days, so I know a fair bit about it. I also looked up a lot of information yesterday."

"Just get on with it. We know you’re good at gathering information," Xia Lian teased.

Wan Ming paused for a moment and then began:

"In the early days of the Martial Arts Calendar, we didn’t have Space Gate technology yet."

"There were only what we called ’space rifts.’ Calamity Beasts would descend, and the Disaster Beast Tides were a shadow hanging over humanity."

"Even back then, we humans wanted to enter the Otherworld."

"In the year 2008 of the Martial Arts Calendar, we acquired Space Gate technology through a trade with the Insect Race."

"Then, around 2019 of the Martial Arts Calendar, Emperor Red rose to prominence, breaking through to become the first Ninth Level Title Martial Artist."

"Once we stabilized the situation, we began to formulate the Otherworld Pioneering Plan."

Lin Qi nodded. Seeing everyone’s calm expressions, he knew they were already aware of the Insect Race’s existence.

"The great pioneering in the early stages was the most dangerous. War Bases were built from scratch, and countless Martial Artists died in the process."

"But the Otherworld is a massive treasure trove, filled with an astonishingly high Source Energy Concentration."

"The Source Energy Concentration in our Tenth Academy is already among the highest in Xia Country, but in the Otherworld, it’s considered very Ordinary."

Wan Ming’s words made Lin Qi extremely curious just how high the Source Energy Concentration in the Otherworld really was.

Wan Ming took a sip of his hot tea and continued:

"During the early pioneering efforts, anyone who didn’t die struck it rich. Or rather, their Martial Arts strength would advance by leaps and bounds."

"Some people found an Awakening Fruit and directly awakened a Special Ability."

"Some found a Mortal Transformation Fruit and their Comprehension increased dramatically."

"Some even found a Supreme Treasure, their bodies transformed, and they broke through several Great Realms in a row."

Lin Qi’s heart pounded as he listened.

Every single one of those items was extraordinarily valuable, practically priceless.

"The Otherworld is filled with Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures. Leveraging this great treasure trove, countless people came to the Otherworld to pioneer!"

"All sorts of Cultivation Resources were researched and developed."

"By combining certain materials with Calamity Beast Flesh and Blood, Potions could be created."

"With the help of the Otherworld’s great treasure trove, humanity’s overall Martial Arts strength advanced by leaps and bounds."

"Even several Ninth Level Title Martial Artists emerged one after another," Wan Ming said animatedly.

As the others listened, it was as if they could see a magnificent and turbulent history of pioneering unfolding before them.

Lin Qi was suddenly reminded of his teacher, Mu Hong, and the director, Xue Zhou.

His teacher, Mu Hong, had gone to seek an opportunity to break through to the Eighth Realm.

There had been no news of him to this day.

Wan Ming took a sip of his drink and continued speaking:

"Even now, the Otherworld is still a great treasure trove, and there are still many Martial Artists who go there to pioneer."

"It’s just that the areas near the War Bases have all been explored. If you want to find treasures, you have to keep pushing further out."

"But the level of danger also increases!"

"In those regions, Level 7 or even Level 8 Calamity Beasts could appear at any moment."

"Without immense strength, there’s simply no escape."

"Pioneering is trading your life for wealth, and the death rate remains incredibly high!"

...