Chapter 253: Forty Million
Chapter 253: Forty Million (Requesting Monthly Votes)
Tianhai City, Crimson Vault Martial Arts Pavilion.
"Huff...huff..."
As the year approached December, the southern city of Tianhai began to feel the winter chill. The wind howled through the streets.
In the Deputy Pavilion Master's office on the top floor of the Martial Arts Pavilion, Yue Feng was still working at seven o'clock in the evening. Dressed in a black suit with a muscular build and sharp features, he leaned back in his smart chair, gazing at the neon-lit night skyline while thinking about Lin Qi.
"Time really flies. It's already December."
"Lin Qi entered the Azure Firmament Martial Academy back in July. It's been nearly five months now. With his talent, he should've advanced further."
"They're probably holding the National Freshman Competition right now. I remember making it to the Top 68 back in my days."
Sitting up straight, Yue Feng activated a projection to log in to the [Crimson Heaven Residence] forum to check the National Freshman Competition news.
"Lin Qi ranked tenth in the National College Entrance Exam. Making it into the Top 9 of the National Freshman Competition shouldn't be a problem."
"He could even make it into the Top 5. That's reasonable for someone with his talent."
"If he gets a bit lucky, reaching the semifinals isn't impossible either. Then who would dare question my judgment?"
"Huh? Champion?"
Yue Feng suddenly straightened his posture, leaning his face close to the screen to confirm he wasn't mistaken.
There on the forum's trending post was clear text stating Lin Qi had made history by winning the championship.
"Champion? And he defeated a genius who awakened a Special Ability to take the title!"
Yue Feng's mouth fell open in shock. Just five months ago, and this is what he's achieved? What the hell is going on in this world?
His signed prodigy had become the strongest among his peers?
And he had defeated a genius with a Special Ability? That phrase felt so foreign.
At the same time, his heart started pounding wildly.
...
Martial Dao Calendar 2046, November 30th - the final day of November.
The day after the National Freshman Competition ended, life had returned to normal for the freshmen.
"Boom!"
That afternoon, Lin Qi stepped out of his black electric vehicle.
"Beep!"
The door automatically opened after facial recognition, allowing him to enter his luxurious mansion.
In the spacious living room, a white lunch box sat on the sleek black table.
Lin Qi sat on the sofa and opened it. A delicious aroma wafted out, revealing a balanced meal of meat and vegetables, with three times the normal portion.
This was his ordered Level 4 Nutritional Meal, made from the meat of Level 4 Disaster Beasts and specially cultivated vegetables rich in nutrients.
"After breaking through to the Third Stage, Skin Tempering Stage, my Vital Energy Stat keeps increasing, and my appetite has grown significantly."
"Level 3 Nutritional Meals can't satisfy my daily needs anymore. I need Level 4 Nutritional Meals now."
Lin Qi dug in hungrily. A single Level 4 Nutritional Meal cost 15,000 coins, but for him, this was nothing.
He spent 250,000 Xia Kingdom coins just on Vital Energy Pills, and each jar of Skin Tempering Balm cost a million coins.
"Master, you have messages!" Xiaochan's projection appeared, displaying several text messages floating in front of Lin Qi.
Lin Qi's heart stirred. This must be about his rewards. He quickly browsed through them.
[Dear Lin Qi, a new month is approaching... Based on your excellent performance in the Disaster Beast Trial Tower and being ranked first among the Six Colleges of Azure Firmament, we will award you a bonus of 2 million Xia Kingdom coins.]
[As the top-ranked freshman, you will receive a bonus of 4 million Xia Kingdom coins.]
[As the first freshman to pass the third trial layer, you will receive a bonus of 3 million Xia Kingdom coins.]
...
Lin Qi's eyes lit up. The Disaster Beast Trial Tower always settled accounts at month's end, and this time was no exception.
The three bonuses added up to 9 million coins, nearly reaching ten million.
At this rate, in another two or three months, his accumulated bonuses would surpass tens of millions.
This was more than what the three major martial arts pavilions could offer.
The messages continued.
[Congratulations, Lin Qi, your Six Colleges of Azure Firmament ranked first among the nine academies in the National Freshman Competition. Your current rankings remain unchanged.]
[Congratulations on winning the National Freshman Competition for Azure Firmament Martial Academy. You will receive a bonus of thirty million Xia Kingdom coins!]
[As recognition for winning the championship, Azure Firmament Martial Academy will grant you an additional six hours of training time for each of your three main training facilities, effective today.]
[Training Arena: 30 hours/month, remaining: 6 hours]
[Gravity Chamber: 27 hours/month, remaining: 6 hours]
[Disaster Beast Trial Tower: 27 hours/month, remaining: 6 hours]
...
After reading the messages, Lin Qi broke into a smile.
The rewards for winning the national championship exceeded his expectations.
He recalled that making it to the semifinals had only earned him ten million coins, but winning the championship now gave him thirty million.
"In the previous Freshman Competition, all the rewards combined were only about thirty million coins."
"This time, just winning the championship alone got me thirty million, plus the rewards from the Disaster Beast Trial Tower, totaling thirty-nine million coins. That's even more than last time."
Lin Qi exhaled deeply. While the rewards were substantial, the gap to afford the Elixir of Regeneration seemed to be widening.
To save up fifty million coins without affecting his cultivation was extremely difficult.
Over the past three months, he had spent Xia Kingdom coins like water on Vital Energy Pills, Skin Tempering Balm, Revitalizing Elixirs, Nutritional Meals, and other cultivation resources.
Currently, he had less than ten million coins left.
He had two choices - either save slowly, setting aside two or three million coins each month from his Disaster Beast Trial Tower bonuses, which would take over a year to accumulate enough.
Or wait for a major competition with an astronomical reward that could quickly help him reach fifty million.
Currently, he was adopting the first method - saving slowly. This approach gave him something to look forward to.
"Master, there's a call from Dean Liu!" Xiaochan's blue-robed projection appeared, displaying a green screen.
The portly Dean Liu appeared on the video call. He smiled broadly.
"Lin Qi, I haven't had the chance to congratulate you on winning the National Freshman Competition. You've brought great honor to Azure Firmament Martial Academy."
"Alright, come to my office in two days. The Dean wants to see you, and there might even be more rewards!"
Lin Qi was taken aback. The Dean?
Liu Jing was just the deputy dean. The one he referred to as "the Dean" could only be the head Dean of the Six Colleges of Azure Firmament - Dean Xue Zhou, an 8th Stage martial artist.
So far, the only 8th Stage martial artist he had met in person was Deputy Principal Xu Wenji.
The Dean wanted to see him?
Lin Qi felt a surge of curiosity.
...
Meanwhile, in a martial arts training hall of a villa within the Six Colleges of Azure Firmament.
Yu Jing, who looked quite handsome, was staring at the projection screen in front of him.
On the other side was a burly figure wrapped in a heavy coat, wearing a black mask and a black baseball cap that covered his entire face.
His fierce gaze made Yu Jing feel as if he were being watched by a terrifying beast.
"You asked me to monitor Lin Qi's situation... He just won the National Freshman Competition championship."
"Not only that, but he has also mastered a Minor Divine Ability. Even an S-Rank genius who awakened a Special Ability couldn't defeat him."
Yu Jing quickly reported the situation to the figure.
(End of Chapter)
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