Chapter 481 480: I Don’t Believe It!

After leaving his contact information, Fenric departed the martial arts hall.

He was personally escorted out by Zohyan.

The moment Fenric left, Zohyan wasted no time. He hurried to the garage, started his car, and drove straight to his teacher's residence.

It was located in a high-end villa district.

By now, it was already noon.

—---

Xiao Ling'er hadn't gone home after school. Instead, she came here, as she often did. Spotting her grandfather lying on a recliner in the courtyard, basking in the sun, she called out cheerfully:

"Grandpa!"

"Oh? Ling'er, it's you!"

The vigorous old man brightened instantly at the sight of his granddaughter.

Ling'er skipped forward, pulled out a box of pastries from her schoolbag, and presented it like a treasure. "Grandpa, I made these myself before school this morning. Try them!"

The icy, aloof persona she carried at school was nowhere to be seen. Here, in front of her grandfather who had raised her since childhood, she was just a lively young girl.

"Good child. You're so thoughtful." The old man sat up with a smile. "Come then, give one to Grandpa."

Ling'er quickly opened the insulated box and offered him a golden tarte pastry—his favorite, which she always remembered.

The old man took a bite and praised her immediately: "Soft, fragrant, sweet but not cloying. Not bad at all!"

Even if it hadn't been delicious, he would have been delighted. After all, it was made by his beloved granddaughter.

Ling'er beamed, then took out an envelope and handed it to him proudly. "Grandpa, my admission notice arrived today."

The old man accepted it with a chuckle, already guessing what it was. When he saw the emblem of the War Academy, his smile widened.

"Excellent! My dear granddaughter, you've surpassed all my expectations. Far better than your father ever managed!"

His tone carried both pride and a trace of bitterness. Then he asked, "By the way, Ling'er, what's your current qi and blood value?"

"Not much… just over eight hundred," Ling'er replied humbly, though her eyes sparkled with pride.

The old man's cloudy eyes suddenly lit up.

"Good! Good! Good!"

Three goods in a row—proof of his overwhelming joy.

He had two sons, both uninterested in martial cultivation, preferring the world of business. They had talent there, yes, but it was not what he had hoped for.

For years, he thought his martial legacy would die with him. Unexpectedly, his granddaughter rekindled that hope. Since childhood, she had shown keen interest in martial arts and displayed remarkable talent.

That was why he doted on her so deeply.

His only regret was that Ling'er was a girl. If only she had been a grandson, it would have been perfect.

"Grandpa," Ling'er asked eagerly, "with my vitality level now, do I meet your standards? When will you pass on the Eight Trigrams Palm to me?"

She knew her grandfather's Eight Trigrams Palm was formidable, but it required strong qi and blood to wield properly.

The old man smiled, about to reply, when a guard's voice called from outside:

"Master Xiao, your disciple Lord Zohyan is here. Shall I let him in?"

"Oh?"

The old man paused briefly, then nodded. "Let him in."

Although Zohyan wasn't his direct disciple—and his talent was limited, likely never to reach the level of a true Grandmaster—the old man valued him for his sincerity and filial respect.

Upon hearing an outsider was coming, Ling'er quickly pulled back her lively demeanor, her expression reverting to cold composure.

Moments later, Zohyan entered the courtyard.

"Master, your disciple Zohyan greets you."

The old man chuckled. "Hah! You only come when you need something. Out with it—what's brought you here today?"

"Hehe," Zohyan scratched his head, smiling honestly. "Master, it's something good. I've discovered an extraordinary talent."

He then recounted in detail what he had witnessed from Fenric, and Fenric's request regarding the Martial Arts Conference.

The old man's brows rose. "A very young Innate Master? Just how young?"

"Probably not even twenty," Zohyan answered.

"What?!"

The old man was visibly shaken. Even Xiao Ling'er, usually calm, widened her eyes in disbelief.

She was a martial artist herself, trained personally by her grandfather. She knew very well what an Innate Master represented.

A twenty-year-old Innate Master? That's beyond genius—it's monstrous!

Her grandfather, at seventy-one, had only reached that level at his peak. Yet even that had made him a renowned figure in the city, respected to the point where even the city's head official would visit him during festivals.

"To think such a young man exists…" the old man murmured.

Ling'er leaned closer, ears pricked, unwilling to miss a word.

"It's true," Zohyan affirmed. "I saw it with my own eyes. Not only can he release true qi, but his control is flawless—beyond anything ordinary."

The old man fell silent for a moment, sighing inwardly. So this is what it means to be a genius. Ordinary men like us cannot fathom it.

Turning to his granddaughter, he said firmly: "Ling'er, did you hear your Uncle Zohyan? Remember this—there are always people greater than yourself. Do not become arrogant just because of your small achievements."

"Yes, Grandpa," Ling'er said obediently, though her heart still trembled at the thought.

The old man then asked, "Zohyan, if this young man truly is an Innate Master, why would he still need you to recommend him for the competition?"

Zohyan thought for a moment before replying, "I'm not certain, but… perhaps for fame?"

The old man nodded slowly. That explanation was reasonable.

The Martial Arts Conference was the grandest event of its kind, drawing the eyes of the entire world. Many sought to prove themselves there, to carve their names into history. It wasn't strange for even geniuses to use it as their stage.

After a pause, the old man said, "If that's the case, then I'll grant him the recommendation. To help the Martial Arts Association discover true talents is also part of our duty."

Zohyan bowed respectfully. He had expected no less.

"One more thing," the old man asked. "Zohyan, what do you know of this young man's background?"

"Master, I only know his name—Fenric Kline. The rest is still under investigation."

At that, Xiao Ling'er froze, her expression betraying a flicker of shock.

"…Fenric Kline?"

---

(Translator's Note: The rankings reset today, so we're back to square one. Let's aim for Rank 10 for 5 chapters a day. As long as we stay in Rank 10 or higher, I'll upload 5 chapters daily. If we reach #1, I'll upload 10 chapters. If we fall below Rank 10, updates will go back to 2–3 chapters a day. Good luck!)

Ps: I didn't read the origin of the Arc but here's the title; The Demon of the Heart / Cthulhu Martial World