Chapter 518: Conflict and Retribution
Chapter 518: Conflict and Retribution (Requesting Monthly Votes)
Lin Qi stared at his rank—3,580th place on the overall leaderboard. The bottom twenty positions were largely occupied by fresh Seventh Realm martial artists who had just arrived at the battlefront.
Looking closer, he noticed that cultivators from Xia Kingdom dominated the rankings. It made sense—most were awakened prodigies who’d broken through to the Seventh Realm, their strength undeniable. Even ordinary geniuses who’d arrived early had accumulated significant Merit Points before reaching this stage.
The ranking system prioritized total Merit Points amassed over time. Even if points were spent, historical totals determined standings.
He switched to the base-specific leaderboard.
#80: Xu Qin (Woodland Sword)
#100: Gu Cheng (Blazing Dragon Saber)
...
Gu Cheng had already cracked the top hundred. Lin Qi’s own rank—404th—felt embarrassingly distant.
As a top-tier genius, his goal was clear: first place among Seventh Realm cultivators. It was only day one. With months ahead, he was confident he could break top fifty, maybe even top ten.
He skimmed the War Base Companion’s ranking module. The system featured multiple leaderboards, most notably the Nine Stages Rankings, which tracked both individual base standings and the overall hierarchy. Martial artists often adopted nicknames—Gu Cheng was known as "Blazing Dragon Saber", while his master, Mu Hong, bore the title "Blood Shadow Spear." At Azure Firmament Martial Academy, Lin Qi had been called "Mountain King", but he hoped for something less cringeworthy here.
"Please don’t let mine be something ridiculous", he thought.
---
"Breaking news: Bei Jiang Province’s Black Dragon Base has repelled another massive Disaster Beast Tide!"
The evening news broadcast at seven o’clock, as usual, reported on war base updates. Black Dragon Base featured prominently—a routine occurrence. As long as the base held, citizens slept soundly.
---
Outside Black Dragon Base’s battlefront, the war had entered its final phase. Artillery had fallen silent, leaving martial artists to hunt stragglers.
Gu Cheng, clad in a crimson battle suit wreathed in flames, swung his saber coated in blazing blade essence. His strike cleaved through a towering Grade 7 mighty ape’s neck, sending it crashing down in a spray of blood.
He surveyed the battlefield—only scattered Grade 7 beasts remained. Holstering his weapon, he smirked. "Another 7,000 Merit Points."
Back at the base, he checked the rankings—still #100. His rivals had barely budged. Even Xu Qin remained at #80.
"Not bad for a dual-awakened genius", he muttered. They’d arrived the same day, but Xu Qin’s Merit Points far outpaced his own.
He opened Weixun to catch up on messages. Among them, a report from his younger brother, Guming, darkened his mood.
A fellow Sixth Realm martial artist greeted him mid-stride, but Gu Cheng ignored him, storming straight to his luxury suite.
Guming limped in, recounting his humiliation at Lin Qi’s hands. "He forced me to kneel in front of everyone! You have to help me!"
Thanks to premium healing elixirs, his broken bones had mostly mended overnight. But the shame lingered. As a Gu family heir, he’d always been the bully—not the bullied.
Gu Cheng watched the video footage, face hardening. "Lin Qi knows you’re my brother and still dared this?!"
Guming nodded. "He’ll apologize. I’ll make him come here personally."
---
Back in his apartment, Lin Qi dismissed Senior Disciple Liang Tai, Wang Zhi Xuan, and Xiao Yu. His AI assistant Xiaochan prepared dinner as he checked his Merit Points.
Gu Cheng’s Weixun message arrived:
Gu Cheng: "Junior Lin Qi, your actions today were unacceptable. While my brother may have erred, public humiliation was uncalled for. Meet us at Myriad Beast Restaurant to apologize to Guming."
Lin Qi scoffed. "Apologize? How absurd." He replied, then blocked the number.
---
Gu Cheng reassured his brother: "He’ll apologize face-to-face at the restaurant."
"An apology? That’s too lenient!" Guming fumed.
Gu Cheng smirked. "He’s an Sss-Rank genius and Mountain River King’s disciple. What more do you want?"
Suddenly, Lin Qi’s reply flashed:
Lin Qi: "You’re dreaming if you think I’ll apologize to that jester, Guming! I haven’t even demanded your apology yet!"
Gu Cheng’s face contorted with rage—only to find himself blocked.
"Insufferable!" Guming spat.
Gu Cheng’s lips curled into a sinister grin. "We’ll teach him a lesson then."
---
At Myriad Beast Restaurant, Lin Qi sat across from Pei Yi Qing and her older brother, Pei Hongfeng. The latter radiated Eighth Stage power—a mountainous presence reminiscent of Mountain River King.
"Grateful for saving Yi Qing", Pei Hongfeng said, shaking Lin Qi’s hand. "I’ve wanted to meet you for years."
Pei Yi Qing leaned in. "Heard about your spat with Guming. Need help? My brother’s ranked #15 on the Eighth Stage leaderboard here."
Pei Hongfeng chuckled. "Modest, but I’ll lend a hand if needed."
Lin Qi felt a chill run down his spine. The Pei family in the Xia Kingdom was no minor clan—they were wealthy and powerful, boasting formidable martial arts strength, including a Nine Realms Martial Artist. Pei Jiu’s uncle was none other than this Nine Realms expert, and Pei Hongfeng’s strength was nothing to scoff at either.
The War Base Companion’s major leaderboards cataloged nearly all the geniuses of each realm, especially the Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth Realms. While rankings didn’t always reflect absolute power, those at the top were undeniably strong. Pei Hongfeng’s fifteenth place was proof of his might—a peak Eighth Stage expert on the verge of breaking through to the Ninth Realm. Within the Black Dragon Base, he was among the absolute elites.
Faced with Pei Hongfeng’s goodwill, Lin Qi smiled.
“No need to trouble Brother Pei. Gu Cheng won’t dare do anything to me anyway.”
Pei Hongfeng nodded, smirking. “Right, your teacher is Mu Hong, and the Mountain and River King is your grandmaster! No one in the Black Dragon Base would be foolish enough to target you.”
“But if you ever need help, contact us anytime.”
Lin Qi nodded. “I won’t hesitate if that day comes.”
Pei Hongfeng laughed heartily. “Then eat up! The owner of this Wild Beast Restaurant is an old veteran—the chefs are all retired soldiers from the base. Their cooking skills are top-notch!”
…
An hour later, Lin Qi returned to his room, his belly full. He immediately entered the Martial Arts Training Hall, changed into his training robes, and sat cross-legged to cultivate.
He’d eaten his fill. That evening, he’d cooked 200 kilograms of Grade 8 Disaster Beast flesh, intending to feast. But after receiving Pei Jiu’s message and adding Pei Yi Qing on Weixun, he’d joined them at the Wild Beast Restaurant. There, he’d devoured over a hundred kilograms of Grade 7 Disaster Beast flesh without waste.
This meal had earned him two powerful allies—Pei Yi Qing and Pei Hongfeng, the latter a peak Eighth Stage expert. In just two days at the Black Dragon Base, he’d already befriend two geniuses. His circle of friends was growing rapidly.
Sitting in meditation, he cleared his mind and began circulating the Golden Emperor’s Secret Canon. His Consciousness Realm expanded, visualizing the Golden Emperor Tiger, as waves of Primordial Energy surged into his body.
“Today’s battles against the Grade 7 Disaster Beasts—the Adamantbone Colossus Tiger and Ironclad Rhinoceros—have invigorated my body,” he mused. “The energy I’ve consumed today will bring significant progress.”
He could keenly feel his body’s energy depletion, voraciously digesting the essence of the beast flesh. The energy burned through his system, far exceeding the consumption of ordinary training. This was true physical and spiritual refinement. Those who survived prolonged stays on the battlefield and had sufficient resources inevitably became stronger.
Two hours passed in a flash.
“Hoo! Hoo!”
“Roar!!”
Within his Consciousness Realm, the towering Golden Emperor Tiger roared, its aura dominating the space before gradually dissipating. Lin Qi opened his eyes, a satisfied smile on his face as he felt his body brimming with power.
The storm of energy dissipated, and his gaze fell on his Status Panel.
[You consumed large amounts of Grade 8 Disaster Beast flesh. Completed one Primordial Energy cultivation session. Physical strength improved. Closer to Third Blood Transfiguration. Vital Energy Stat +80]
[Vital Energy Stat: 5,150 → 5,230]
…
Lin Qi slowly stood, surprised by his rapid progress. He was only 270 points away from the Third Blood Transfiguration. At this rate, staying a few more days in the Black Dragon Base would suffice. If his progress continued, he might begin preparing for the Eighth Stage breakthrough within a year—a pace so fast it bordered on absurd.
Back when he was in senior year, his Vital Energy Stat had only increased by 2 points per month. The contrast was staggering.
“Buzz!”
As Lin Qi pondered, his phone vibrated. Xiaochan projected a screen—a call from his teacher, Mu Hong. When he answered, both Mu Hong and Dean Liu appeared on the screen, sitting in an apartment.
Dean Liu spoke first, his tone warm.
“Lin Qi, we’ve heard about your conflict with Guming. You did nothing wrong—he provoked you first!”
“Don’t fear the Gu family. We’ve got your back, and so does the Mountain and River King.”
Mu Hong nodded. “That’s right. You’re an Sss-Rank Genius. They can’t openly harm you, but they might resort to underhanded tactics.”
“The Gu family isn’t ordinary—they’re tied to the Qingxian Clan, carrying their bloodline. They’ve always been domineering, but they’re also geniuses of the Minghai Martial Arts Pavilion.”
“If they target you, the Crimson Vault Martial Arts Pavilion won’t stand idly by.”
Lin Qi smiled. “I’m not afraid. If Gu Cheng dares to act against me, that’s one thing—but if he harms my family…”
His expression darkened. “I won’t hesitate to kill him.”
But he doubted Gu Cheng had the guts.
…
In a luxury apartment within the residential district, Gu Cheng’s AI Companion chimed as he entered his bedroom in pajamas.
“Master, you have a call.”
A large screen lit up, revealing a middle-aged beauty in a crimson silk nightgown, seated in an opulent room.
“Mother.” Gu Cheng greeted her.
She frowned. “I’ve heard about your brother Guming. He was wrong to provoke you, but humiliating our Gu family cannot be tolerated.”
“Lin Qi must pay!”
Gu Cheng clenched his fist, recalling Lin Qi’s message. The words now seemed laced with mockery. How dare this brat look down on him?
His mother continued, “Lin Qi dares this much because he’s backed by the Mountain and River King. Against any other Nine Realms expert, we wouldn’t flinch—but challenging the Mountain and River King? The Black Dragon Base is full of Crimson Vault Martial Artists. We can’t act covertly; the consequences would be catastrophic.”
“We must confront him openly.”
“There’s only one way—challenge him to a duel under the Xia Kingdom’s Genius Arena regulations.”
Gu Cheng’s eyes lit up. Direct and brutal. At the same realm, age meant nothing. He wouldn’t be accused of bullying a junior.
“Mother, I understand.”
His mother nodded. “Lin Qi’s undefeated streak must end. Defeat him publicly, humiliate him before all!”
After the call, Gu Cheng rushed to share the news with Guming.
“Brother, crush him! Make Lin Qi kneel in defeat!” Guming shouted through the screen.
…
On August 19, 2048, the massive Disaster Beast Tide had waned, leaving only scattered remnants. The Black Dragon Base mobilized, transporting corpses for dissection. Beast flesh would be consumed by martial artists or sold nationwide, while rare organs became elixirs.
Most martial artists rested or cultivated, preparing for the next tide. Lin Qi did the same. With Grade 7 beasts nearly eradicated, he focused on cultivation.
He repaid his 1,000 Merit Point debt and purchased another 1,000 kilograms of Grade 8 flesh before resuming training.
By noon, he withdrew from cultivation, sweat dripping as he sheathed his long spear and gulped down an Energy Brew.
“Buzz!”
“Master, Senior Disciple Liang Tai is calling!” Xiaochan projected a green screen.
Liang Tai’s anxious face appeared. “Little Junior Brother, trouble’s brewing!”
…
(End of Chapter)
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