Chapter 270: Life-Saving Equipment
Chapter 270: Life-Saving Equipment (Requesting Monthly Vote)
Ten Institute
With so few participants, their Final Exam concluded quickly, but the results hadn't been released yet, leaving Wan Ming anxious.
He sat alone in the living room, eating dinner while scrolling through short videos, waiting impatiently.
"Master, the results are out."
The blue metallic orb beside him suddenly announced.
As it spoke, a green holographic screen materialized, displaying a ranking list of just 14 names.
[Final Exam Rankings (Ten Institute)]
[1st: Yu Zhuoran (Ten Institute)]
[2nd: Pei Jiu (Ten institute)]
[3rd: Xiang Long (Ten institute)]
...
[9th: Lin Qi (Sixth institute)]
...
[13th: Huo Wanyang (First institute)]
Seeing that he remained 6th, Wan Ming shook his head and muttered, "Climbing even one spot feels impossible now. I might be stuck here permanently."
Then he frowned. "Actually, once Huo Wanyang improves further, I might drop to 7th."
As he thought about 7th place, he continued scanning the list and suddenly noticed a familiar name.
"Lin Qi, 9th place?!"
Wan Ming froze. Lin Qi had made the rankings too?
More importantly, Lin Qi had jumped another position.
Suddenly a single thought dominated his mind: "Lin Qi's progressing again!"
Scrolling further, he saw that SS-Rank Genius Huo Wanyang had only just surpassed Han Zhen to claim 13th.
In comparison, Lin Qi seemed more like the awakened SS-Rank Genius.
Realizing this, Wan Ming immediately shared the results in their Ten Institute group chat.
Moments later, Pei Jiu was the first to respond.
[Pei Jiu: Lin Qi's impressive. I just heard his Vital Energy Stat broke 90 - knew he wouldn't rank low.]
[Xia Lian: Hissing sound, this Lin Qi must be special? His Vital Energy Stat's almost at my level.]
Other geniuses were shocked too, especially the four who'd been overtaken.
Most stunned of all was Huo Wanyang, who was also in the chat.
His expression darkened. He'd expected his awakening would let him quickly surpass Lin Qi, then others.
But now, Lin Qi was progressing faster.
It made him wonder if his awakening was somehow fake.
Or was Lin Qi simply that exceptional?
...
Azure Firmament Six Colleges, Azure Whale Mansion
It was already 3 PM, snowflakes dancing in the wind. The Final Exam had ended, and Azure Firmament Martial Academy officially began its holiday.
The entire teaching building felt unusually empty and quiet.
Lin Qi stepped from his black electric car, entered the building, took the elevator, and arrived at the vice-dean's office on the top floor.
He'd received a message from Dean Liu at lunch, asking him to stop by.
"Beep!"
The office doors slid open, revealing an oceanic deep-blue interior.
Dean Liu, with his large earlobes, sat on the sofa wearing a white robe, projecting a screen before him.
On the jet-black table rested two silver-gray metal cases of different sizes.
"Lin Qi, you're here!"
"I didn't expect you to surprise us again this time!"
"You placed 9th in Ten Institute? If other students heard that, they wouldn't believe it!"
"You're the first genius we've encountered like this at Azure Firmament Martial Academy." Dean Liu smiled.
Upon entering, Lin Qi saw the rankings too, especially his 9th position, which stirred his heart.
Another jump. His progress over these past ten days had been significant.
"Dean, you flatter me!" he said, settling comfortably onto the sofa.
Dean Liu handed him a cup of hot tea. "When do you plan to return to Tianhai City?"
Lin Qi sipped his tea. "Tomorrow."
After five months away, everyone at Azure Firmament Martial Academy longed to return home, himself included.
"You're completely different from ordinary geniuses now. Returning to Cang Province, Tianhai City won't be as safe as school."
Dean Liu's tone turned serious. "I'm saying this because someone might target you."
Lin Qi furrowed his brow. "Dean, you think someone's coming after me?"
Dean Liu explained, "Even without awakening a Special Ability, you're stronger than most geniuses."
"The Vermin God Cult might take action against you. Better safe than sorry."
"That's why I called you here - to give you something for protection."
With that, he opened the larger silver obsidian steel case, revealing its contents.
It was a smooth, reflective silver metal sphere, even larger than his Xiaochan.
"What is this?"
Lin Qi's eyes widened with curiosity. Xiaochan floated closer, equally intrigued.
"This is a mechanical body equipped with a defense module", Dean Liu explained.
"It's essentially giving your artificial intelligence a new vessel."
"A defense module?"
Lin Qi sensed its power without fully understanding.
"With this module, your artificial intelligence gains enhanced scanning capabilities, monitoring surroundings up to 100 meters away."
"It also has defensive capabilities - its surface contains high concentrations of Delta Alloy, capable of withstanding attacks from 5th-6th realm Disaster Beasts."
"In emergencies, it can even self-destruct to protect you." Dean Liu continued.
Lin Qi's eyes lit up at its capabilities, but suddenly a thought struck him. "Wait, what happens to the chip after self-destruction?"
"Backup records for all artificial intelligences exist at Crimson Vault Martial Arts Pavilion. Damaged chips can be restored from backups."
Lin Qi frowned. "Would that restored data still be... my Xiaochan?"
Dean Liu replied calmly. "That depends on how you see it."
Looking at the floating blue metal sphere, Lin Qi silently vowed not to use Xiaochan's self-destruct unless absolutely necessary.
He carefully transferred Xiaochan's core module into the new metal body.
"Buzz!"
Though larger, it felt familiar and comfortable.
"There's something else", Dean Liu said, opening another black metal cylinder.
"Artificial intelligences belong to the school, but this is my personal item. I can only lend it to you temporarily."
"It was something your teacher, Mu Hong, specifically reminded me about before leaving."
As the cylindrical obsidian steel case opened, a cold glow surged forth.
Lin Qi focused and saw a spearhead - a silver tip gleaming with deadly sharpness.
The entire spearhead was polished to a mirror shine, radiating chilling menace.
Lin Qi could easily imagine this piercing through his body in an instant.
"Dean Liu, this spearhead...?"
Lin Qi asked, puzzled. Was this a gift?
"This is indeed a spearhead, but not just a simple one", Dean Liu smiled, holding it up.
"Activate Long Spear mode!"
At his command, the silver cylindrical base of the spearhead transformed instantly, shifting from solid to liquid state, flowing rapidly while expanding.
It stretched and solidified, becoming a two-meter-long black spear.
Lin Qi watched in astonishment as the transformation completed.
"This... is liquid metal?"
Dean Liu swung the black spear, creating gusts of wind. "Precisely. It can shift between liquid and solid states, crafted using both Delta and Omega alloys."
"You can issue commands to your artificial intelligence, which controls the liquid metal transformations."
"We've granted your artificial intelligence access, so you can use it now."
With that, he handed the spear to Lin Qi.
"Hum!"
Curious, Lin Qi accepted the spear. It felt cool to the touch. He channeled his Vital Force through it, feeling it flow effortlessly.
This felt even better than his third-tier Taiyue Great Spear, making him reluctant to let it go.
Seeing Lin Qi's expression, Dean Liu sat back down. "You know, as a martial artist, having a weapon makes all the difference."
"You can't always carry this spear outside school, but now it's different."
"With liquid metal, you just need to carry the spearhead. Activate Long Spear mode when danger comes."
Lin Qi nodded, appreciating the convenience.
"The spearhead is forged from fifth-tier Delta Alloy. The liquid metal itself is even more extraordinary - nothing below the Seventh Realm can destroy it completely."
"This was something your teacher Mu Hong worried about regarding your safety. He asked me to arrange this before leaving."
"As the spearhead and liquid metal are extremely valuable, their cost exceeds one hundred million."
"So you can only borrow this during winter break. You must return it after the new semester."
After explaining everything, Dean Liu picked up his teacup for a sip.
Lin Qi felt touched that Teacher Mu Hong had cared so much about his safety.
Still, gripping the black spear, he realized - of course such an expensive weapon wouldn't be given freely.
"Thank you, Dean!" he said sincerely.
Dean Liu waved him off. "You're our Sixth Institute's genius, a special case."
"The school hasn't decided how to handle you yet. In many ways, you've already become an SS-Rank Genius, so safety is crucial."
"These precautions are necessary. After all, even Ten Institute's geniuses have extensive defenses."
"Oh, and early New Year wishes to you!"
Lin Qi nodded.
...
Minutes later, Lin Qi left, leaving Dean Liu alone in his office.
He projected the Ten Institute rankings again with a sigh. "We've never seen a genius like this before."
"Without awakening, his innate talent surpasses even Ten Institute's geniuses. It defies logic."
"But perhaps something illogical is exactly why our Sixth Institute could obtain him."
"With Vital Energy Stat at 90, just 5 points from 95. He'll reach it after this winter break."
"Old Xie will probably be stunned."
"I hope he and Lao Mu are doing well in the Otherworld."
...
Fifteen minutes later, Lin Qi returned to his villa, holding the metal cylinder.
Sitting in the living room, he held the cylinder while recalling Dean Liu's words.
"Xiaochan has a defense module now, I have liquid metal as a new weapon, plus my Defense Vest."
"My safety has improved dramatically." Lin Qi exhaled.
"Beep!"
"Master, there's a message for you - your Final Exam scholarship has been credited."
The blue-clothed Xiaochan announced, projecting a screen.
Lin Qi's eyes lit up. He was eager to see how much his scholarship would be.
...
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
