This Martial Saint's Health Bar is Too Thick!

"Thank you for your high regard, Senior Bian, but I'd like to take some time to think about it."

Li Fei gave Bian Songnian the same response.

A flash of displeasure crossed Bian Songnian's eyes, but he quickly concealed it.

He nodded at Li Fei:

"You should indeed think it over carefully, I'll await your answer."

After saying that, he too turned and left.

After Bian Songnian left, the third person to approach Li Fei for recruitment was Tang Lun, the president of the 'Feng Society.'

Tang Lun was tall and built like a raging inferno, clearly a Martial Artist of explosive strength!

He was the only son of the Chief of the Zhi Ge Department in Feng Province.

The Da Lan Dynasty divided administrative regions as 'Province—Prefecture—City—Town.' The lowest tier, the town level, did not have a complete administrative structure, while the city level's administration consisted of the 'Six Institutes.' At the prefecture level, it upgraded to General Hospitals, such as Zhi Ge General Hospital, Inspection General Office, and Inspection General Bureau...

Moving up was the provincial level, where 'Institutes' changed to 'Departments,' such as the Zhi Ge Department, Inspection Department, Monitoring Department, and so on, taking charge of all the related affairs in a province.

Above the 'Departments,' there was the Central Cabinet, comprising the Internal Affairs Pavilion, Judicial Pavilion, Monitoring Pavilion, Inspection Pavilion, Righteous Law Pavilion, and Zhi Ge Pavilion, which together formed the 'Cabinet.'

The Chief of the Zhi Ge Department in Feng Province oversaw all Zhi Ge Courts and all matters related to Martial Artists in the entire province.

As the only son of the Chief of the Zhi Ge Department, his father held an even higher office than Bian Songnian's father!

However, this was at Wuda, within Datong Prefecture territory, so his 'Feng Society,' founded by a bunch of powerful scions from the provincial city, was somewhat weaker than Bian Songnian's 'Martial Arts Club.'

"Junior Brother Li, I, Tang Lun, am a straightforward man and won't beat around the bush, so I'll speak plainly."

Tang Lun walked up to Li Fei and spoke in a resounding voice:

"Bian Songnian only has clout within the confines of Datong Prefecture. Once you leave, his influence means nothing. A prodigy like you, Junior Brother Li, shouldn't be confined to a small place like Datong Prefecture; you need to look further into the future. I won't say much else, just that if you're willing to join my side, you'll be my brother, Tang Lun! How I treat my brothers, you can ask around."

"Alright, I'll consider it."

Li Fei nodded to Tang Lun.

After Tang Lun had left, representatives from the remaining seven major clubs also came to recruit Li Fei, but none were the club presidents.

These seven clubs were well aware that in terms of money or influence, what they could offer Li Fei at this stage was not on par with the previous three clubs, so they didn't harbor much hope.

It was only after people from all ten clubs had left that the crowd around began to disperse slowly.

Li Tianyu approached Li Fei with a helpless look on her face.

"Brother, you're not going to tell me you're here to recruit me too, are you?"

Li Fei asked with a smile.

Li Tianyu sighed and nodded:

"Yeah, acting as a go-between for our Women's Club."

She then told Li Fei the terms offered by Du Ya.

"Xiao Fei, from what I know of Du Ya, she is quite sincere. If she says she will let the position of president go to you, she's not just talking. If you join another club, you'll always be working for someone else, but if you come to the Women's Club, you'll be the one in charge, and that's a significant difference. I think you should consider it. As for everything else, don't worry about it – even if I can't recruit you in the end, Du Ya won't think any less of me."

Li Tianyu spoke earnestly to Li Fei.

Li Fei looked at his sister, seemingly surprised, "I didn't expect you to think so deeply."

"Damn!"

Li Tianyu kicked Li Fei without holding back, "What's that supposed to mean? Can't your sister use her brain?"

"Ha ha ha, I didn't mean it that way."

Li Fei laughed as he walked down the shaded path with Li Tianyu, chatting as they went.

"Overnight you've become a peerless genius. I'm still trying to adjust to it."

Li Tianyu looked at Li Fei with a complicated expression.

Li Fei smiled, "Talent is just talent; it doesn't determine the future. Being less talented now doesn't mean you'll achieve less in the future. Don't lose heart, Sister."

Li Tianyu's entrance qualification test yielded a Grade A comprehensive evaluation, earning her 18 Academic Points.

This evaluation was actually an improvement over her results in middle school, but paled in comparison to Li Fei's.

In the past, Li Tianyu had always been better than Li Fei in every aspect. Now, suddenly finding her brother surpassing her significantly, she didn't feel jealousy but inevitably her mindset was somewhat thrown off balance.

"Of course, I won't lose heart!"

Li Tianyu regained her confident smile, lifting her head towards Li Fei:

"Someday, Sister will become a female General!"

"Mm."

Li Fei nodded vigorously.

"So, what are your thoughts about joining a club, Xiao Fei?"

Li Tianyu asked.

Li Fei looked ahead and said indifferently:

"Sister, did you notice how polite everyone was when they came to recruit me today, each promising better conditions than the last. But do you believe if I choose to join one of those clubs, the others will definitely try everything to eliminate me?"

"Ah?"

Li Tianyu was taken aback, hurriedly looking around. Seeing that there was no one nearby, she whispered:

"That can't be, right? This is Wuda, after all; would they dare to cause trouble here?"

Li Fei shook his head, "Maybe not in the school, but once outside, it's a different story. After all, I'll have to go out and complete missions in the future."

"Could it go as far as killing?"

"Sister, why do so many people want to come to university? Because it offers resources that can't be obtained outside. People would fight tooth and nail over a little money, let alone more precious cultivation resources."

"..."

"If I don't join a club, it's fine, but once I join one side, to the others, I become a competitor. The pie that is Wuda is only so big; if one person gets more, it definitely means someone else gets less. If you were in their shoes and had to deal with a competitor with huge potential, what would you do?"

"... I would find a way to eliminate them before they could grow strong."

"Yes, no one will wait foolishly for a competitor to grow strong only to be trampled underfoot in the end."

"No wonder Wang Fengqing didn't join any club; she's already seen through it all."

"Actually, although there are risks in joining a club, there are also plenty of benefits. The reason I don't want to join isn't because I'm afraid of those people targeting me; I'm mainly afraid that they will target you, and Uncle Li."

"Ah?"

"Do you think that the only way to deal with someone is to strike at them directly? There are plenty of dirty tricks in this world! For instance, if I choose to join Duanmu Weicai's Weicai Association today, do you believe that Bian Songnian could prevent Uncle Li from becoming a tenured Inspector General for ten years, and in the end, he might even be demoted!"

"..."

Li Fei's words completely tore off the superficial veil of warmth and harmony on campus, making Li Tianyu realize that she had been too naive. The power struggles within Wuda were more naked and cruel than she had imagined!

"So, as long as I keep to myself, all factions will give me some face and be willing to establish good karma with me."

Li Fei said calmly.

"I understand."

Li Tianyu nodded her head and looked at Li Fei seriously, "Xiao Fei, you see more clearly than I do. Follow your own thoughts, and if there is anything you need help with in the future, just tell me directly. I will also try my best not to hold you back!"

Li Fei turned his head to look at her and smiled, "Sister, you and Uncle Li will never be a burden to me; you are my motivation to move forward."

Li Tianyu's face also broke into a smile, and she nodded vigorously.

Afterward, the two parted ways. Li Tianyu went to inform Du Ya that Li Fei would not join the Women's Club, while Li Fei walked in another direction.

He looked back at the figure of Li Tianyu, his eyes resolute.

With his current display of stunning talent, he had only added a layer of protection for himself. In the end, he still needed to navigate carefully through the gaps between the various powers and grow slowly.

To completely take control of his destiny, to live according to his own will, his current strength was still far too weak.

"I won't make you wait too long."

Li Fei smiled and muttered to himself.

Then he walked towards the southwest.

Soon, a city wall appeared in front of him.

The city wall, built of black stone bricks, formed a circle, looking like a 'city within a city.'

As Li Fei approached, he saw three big characters on the plaque above the city gate — Arena.

This 'city within a city' was the special arena of Wuda's Zhi Ge Department, used for students to spar and compete.

But although it's called sparring, lives are sometimes lost here!

Because the transition from the Body Breaking Stage to the Qi Change Stage requires life-and-death training to strengthen one's Mind Power, students are required to sign a life-and-death waiver before entering the arena—no regrets in life or death.

Even though there are instructors present at the arena, there could be situations where rescue comes too late.

Every year, no less than ten students from the Zhi Ge Department of Wuda die in the arena!

Despite this, the arena is still hugely popular; the truly formidable students of Wuda all come here to make their name and strive to leave their mark on the combat power rankings.

Li Fei walked through the city gates and entered the arena.

The inside structure was very similar to the Inner Village of Qingyuan Fist Village, consisting of combat grounds surrounded by wooden walls.

At the city gate, many students were looking up at the city wall.

Li Fei also turned and looked up.

There, hanging on the wall, were three long scrolls with blood-red characters listing names.

This was the combat power ranking!

The list in the middle was for Refining Strength Martial Masters, with martial masters on the left and martial artists on the right.

Each list only had ten names from top to bottom.

Li Fei looked at the middle list and saw that at the very top, the name ranking first was Wang Fengqing—327 points.

The rule of the arena was, for a martial artist to win a match, they gain 1 point and lose 1 point for a defeat.

For martial masters, winning earns 5 points and losing deducts 5 points.

For Refining Strength Martial Masters, winning earns 10 points and losing deducts 10 points.

Moreover, the difference in points between the two competitors cannot be too great, or else they cannot fight.

Martial artists' points cannot differ by more than 10, martial masters' by more than 50, and Refining Strength Martial Masters' by more than 100.

On the list, the first-ranked Wang Fengqing had 327 points, while the second-place competitor only had 205 points.

Thus, Wang Fengqing currently couldn't find a match in the arena.

In reality, with her Tao Foundation Stage cultivation, there really was no match for her among the students of Wuda.

She had been riding solo at the top of the combat power ranking for nearly half a year already.

Li Fei was at the arena today to fight.

His revealed realm to the public was the Body Breaking Late Stage but he also wanted to reveal his Qi Change Stage cultivation. However, he couldn't explain it clearly.

It was too shocking for someone to advance from an ordinary person to the Qi Change Stage in just half a year; even Wang Fengqing had taken nearly a year.

Also, because his current cultivation was still at the Body Breaking Stage, the outside world had never suspected his connection with the Green-faced Ghost.

The moment he exposed his Qi Change Stage cultivation, combined with both possessing Geng Metal True Qi, his identity as the Green-faced Ghost would be at risk of exposure.

So, Li Fei's initial plan was to wait until he arrived at Wuda and then 'legitimately' make a breakthrough.

And to break through to the Qi Change Stage would naturally require a life-and-death struggle.

Hence, the arena was the most suitable place.

Only when he 'legitimately' made his breakthrough to the Qi Change Stage could he conveniently seek guidance on how to solve the problem with his Heart Realm so as to break through to the Qi Change Middle Stage.

Additionally, Li Fei came to the arena to further stand out, increasing his importance in the eyes of the various powers.

Everyone now knew his potential was astounding, even higher than Wang Fengqing's.

But potential was just potential. Whether he could turn it into combat power remained to be observed further.

Wang Fengqing had made her mark in the arena during her freshman year.

Now Li Fei naturally wouldn't fall behind!

Inside the arena, Li Fei stepped forward.

The sunlight shone on him, casting a long shadow.

...

Requesting monthly tickets.