Chapter 310: Return

Chapter 310: Chapter 310: Return

Everyone had a complex expression at the mention of the Global Freshman Tournament.

Wan Ming continued in a loud voice,

"The Global Freshman Tournament is a competition for all freshmen from every Martial Arts University in every country."

"Our Xia Country is the most powerful nation on Blue Star, and our Azure Sky Martial Arts Academy is the strongest Martial Arts University in Xia Country."

"I’ve looked at the data from previous years. With only a few exceptions, Azure Sky Martial Arts Academy has represented Xia Country and won the final championship most of the time."

"This year’s Global Freshman Tournament will be no exception!"

Everyone agreed as soon as he said it. That much was true!

Yu Zhuoran suddenly spoke up. "Azure Sky Martial Arts Academy will definitely take the championship this year!"

Pei Jiu also said with a smile,

"That’s right. Not only do we have to take the championship, but the rest of us need to fight our way into the finals and semifinals."

"The majority of the Top 32 and Top 64 will be from Xia Country, or even from our academy."

Lin Qi nodded along with the others. This was the confidence of Xia Country’s strongest Martial Arts University.

The tournament hadn’t even begun, yet they were already acting as if the championship was in the bag.

Of course, he was certain that Xia Country would win the championship. As for *who* would win it, that was an internal matter for Azure Sky Martial Arts Academy.

"Then let’s make a toast! To everyone achieving a good rank in the Global Freshman Tournament, and to giving the freshmen from other countries a taste of Azure Sky’s power."

Wan Ming said, raising his glass high.

"Cheers!"

"CLINK!"

Everyone raised their glasses, filled with various drinks, and clinked them together before downing them in one go.

They sat down and began to chat idly while enjoying the delicious food, their relationships growing closer without them even realizing it.

Lin Qi nodded to himself. ’Everyone is usually focused on their own Cultivation. Parties like this really are a good way to bring people closer.’

「An hour later.」

Many people had left, and more than half the food was gone.

The table was tidied up, leaving only Lin Qi, Wan Ming, Pei Jiu, and a few others—five or six people in total. Huo Wanyang was among those who had stayed.

"GURGLE~"

The group started eating hot pot, the spicy red broth bubbling furiously.

Lin Qi and the others continuously dropped slices of meat and vegetables into the pot.

Wan Ming’s face was slightly flushed, as he had drunk quite a bit.

He sighed. "It’s a shame. We haven’t been to the Wilderness Area at all since coming to the Otherworld."

"I’d love to go to the Wilderness Area and search for Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures with everyone."

Xia Lian retorted, "Forget it. We can’t even think about going into the wilds until we break through to the Sixth Realm."

"Otherwise, who knows what could happen? You have to watch out for assassination attempts by the Insect Race!"

Pei Jiu nodded. "My family told me the same thing. To assassinate our Awakened geniuses, the Insect Race will dispatch their most elite Insect Race Warriors."

"Not only are their bodies far superior to an Ordinary person’s, but they’ve also awakened Special Abilities."

"We don’t have much of an advantage against them. Plenty of geniuses have been assassinated in the past."

"The academy is just looking out for us. We’re too weak right now, so we’d better stay out of the wilds."

Everyone nodded at Pei Jiu’s words.

Lin Qi recalled the assassin who had tried to kill him during the Spring Festival. His opponent had only been an Ordinary Modified Martial Artist, yet his strength had already been a cut above that of Martial Artists in the same realm.

To say nothing of a true Insect Race Warrior—he had yet to even see one, and their strength would undoubtedly be even greater.

...

「April 22nd.」

On the airfield, a deep crimson fighter jet was already poised for takeoff.

Teacher Yi Wei, with his sharp, defined features, stood on the tarmac. The fierce wind buffeted his face as he waved goodbye to everyone in the window.

"ROAR!"

The Sparrowhawk Fighter slowly ascended and flew off into the distance.

’Time really flies. A month passed in the blink of an eye.’

’But this trip has been an eye-opener. To think a genius like Lin Qi actually exists.’

’I wonder how far he’ll go in the future!’

’Still, the more geniuses like him, the better. Only then can we achieve ultimate victory in this long war.’

Yi Wei mused with a sigh.

...

「Blue Star. On the vast plaza in front of the Azure Sky Sixth Institute’s dormitory area.」

It was now April. The weather had grown warm, and the sun shone brightly overhead as a group of people waited in the plaza.

"Brother Tao, the Dean has been in the Otherworld for a month now. I wonder how much stronger he’s gotten?"

"Besides, the Otherworld is full of geniuses from the Tenth Institute. They wouldn’t gang up on the Dean, would they?"

A girl with a sweet, girl-next-door air about her curiously asked Jiangtao, who stood at the front of the group.

Jiangtao, a tall, dark-skinned young man standing at the center of the crowd, looked to the sky and said confidently,

"With Brother Qi’s Talent, he’s bound to have gotten incredibly strong. I bet he’s one of the top dogs in the Tenth Academy by now. Who would dare bully him?"

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Jiangtao, however, was muttering to himself. ’I have faith in Brother Qi’s Talent, of course.’

’But all the geniuses from the Tenth Institute have an Awakened Special Ability.’

’This isn’t a virtual match. Since Brother Qi hasn’t awakened a Special Ability, he’s at a huge disadvantage.’

"Don’t worry, Brother Qi is doing great in the Otherworld."

"He’s a total beast now. My sister told me he defeated Xiang Long, the third-ranked student in the Tenth Academy, while he was there."

Guo Heng, who was standing nearby, suddenly spoke up.

"They had a match with special rules, like in the national tournament. Xiang Long was forbidden from using his Special Ability, and Brother Qi was forbidden from using his Little Divine Power."

"The two of them fought, and Xiang Long ended up losing."

"All the geniuses at the Tenth Academy of our Azure Sky Martial Arts Academy know about it now."

Everyone was stunned by this revelation.

"For real?"

"Doesn’t that mean Brother Qi is strong enough to be in the top three of the Tenth Institute now?"

"As expected of our Dean! He’s amazing!" the girl with the girl-next-door air said admiringly.

Guo Heng shook his head at their stunned reactions. He’d been just as shocked when he was talking to his sister yesterday.

His sister, Guo Yi, had been incredibly surprised. He could still clearly recall her astonishment, shock, and utter disbelief as she recounted the event.

As for him being friends with someone like Lin Qi, his sister had said it was like smoke rising from their ancestral graves—a sign of incredible good fortune.

"It’s here!" Li Zhou shouted, looking at the sky.

"WHOOSH~"

A red dot in the sky rapidly grew larger, transforming in the span of a breath into a saucer-shaped, crimson fighter.

"RUMBLE!"

Amidst a furious gale, the fighter jet slowly came to a halt.

"WHIR!"

The cabin door slid open, and a tall figure appeared in their line of sight.

"Brother Qi, welcome back!"

"Dean!"

Seeing that it was Lin Qi, everyone greeted him enthusiastically. Someone even set off a party popper, creating a festive atmosphere.

Lin Qi slowly walked out, a domineering aura radiating from him and washing over Jiangtao and the others at the front.

Jiangtao was inwardly stunned. ’What a powerful aura. Brother Qi’s gotten even stronger.’

For a split second, he thought he saw a colossal platinum tiger over a hundred meters long, radiating a palpable Evil Qi.

Lin Qi looked at the crowd and smiled. "Long time no see, everyone!"

Just as an automated robot began to bring out the luggage, several people instantly rushed forward to grab the bags, eager to help.

"I’m back. You can all head out now!"

Lin Qi said, and the crowd slowly dispersed, leaving only a dozen or so close acquaintances to accompany him back to his private villa, Number 01.

"Let’s all grab a meal together. I’ve been gone for a month, and I’d like to hear what’s been going on at the academy."

As Lin Qi spoke, Jiangtao immediately nodded. "I’ll order the food right away! This meal’s on Brother Qi!"

"Thanks, Brother Qi!" everyone chimed in.

A few minutes later, over a dozen nutritious meal packs were delivered to the villa, and everyone sat in the living room, eating and chatting.

Jiangtao and the others gave a brief update on the academy’s situation—nothing major had happened.

Then, it was Lin Qi’s turn.

...