Gao Wu: From a poor man in the outer city to a martial saint of the ten directions

Li Bulong and Wei Xiu stared at each other for a moment, and finally, he lowered his head and sighed first.

"Actually... based on the potential and mentality you showed tonight, you are among the top in the entire history of the martial arts school, and you should have received more generous resources."

"But due to certain special circumstances, this is all I can give you for now..."

Some special reason?

Could it be that Huo Quan, or some other student with connections, received some kind of promise?

Thinking of this possibility, Wei Xiu suddenly felt relieved.

It doesn't matter. As long as I can become stronger, what am I afraid of not getting?

I never need to give alms. If there is any injustice, I will wait until I am strong enough to uphold justice myself!

And now, these boxes of nutrient solution are the foundation for my becoming stronger!

"Instructor, this is more than enough for me." Wei Xiu nodded and thanked him, his expression unchanged.

"It's good that you think that way." Li Bulong nodded with satisfaction and glanced at the clock on the wall.

"Alright, it's almost midnight. You're injured, and it's inconvenient for you to carry so much IV fluid."

"Let's go, I'll drive you home myself!"

……

At the same time that Li Bulong drove Wei Xiu away from the martial arts school.

The rooftop of the domed martial arts gym, an open-air, independent rooftop terrace.

The night wind howled, bringing with it the chill unique to the high altitude.

Inside the luxurious pavilion in the center of the rooftop, the owner, Zhao Jiuhai, sat in a rattan chair, holding a cup of steaming tea.

Opposite him stood Hongyu, the special envoy from headquarters, still dressed in a sharp black business suit, her face cold and stern, never smiling.

Meanwhile, Li Tian, ​​known as the number one genius, stood quietly in the shadows inside the pavilion, arms crossed.

Outside the pavilion, Xiaoling, dressed in a white tracksuit, was giving a presentation on a tablet computer.

"...That's the situation."

"Tonight's group stage saw six of our team members advance," Xiaoling said crisply.

"Among them, Huo Quan and Wei Xiu both received the highest possible rating of three points from the judging panel!"

"Yes, I know. These kids all did a commendable job today."

Zhao Jiuhai nodded in satisfaction, then picked up his teacup and took a sip.

Those eyes, with their drooping corners but clear, unblurred pupils, were drifting intentionally or unintentionally toward Hongyu opposite her, a smug smile playing on her lips.

"Commissioner Hongyu, what do you think of our seedlings at the Dome?"

"Especially that kid named Wei Xiu, not only is he tough, but his comprehension is also top-notch!"

"Given time, it might very well become the face of our martial arts school!"

As soon as Zhao Jiuhai uttered those words, Li Tian, ​​who was standing beside him like a sharp sword being sheathed, twitched his brow almost imperceptibly...

But Hongyu sat upright in the chair, not even lifting her eyelids, and her voice was as cold as ice.

"It's just a bit of cleverness and brute force. Without the accumulation of vast resources, ordinary people are destined not to go far."

"Master Zhao should focus more on Li Tian; he's the one headquarters truly values."

Upon hearing this, Li Tian, ​​who was standing in the shadows, finally managed a proud smile.

"Thank you for your kind words, Commissioner. I am not particularly gifted; I have only worked harder than others."

Zhao Jiuhai was rebuffed, and he lost face somewhat.

Glancing around, he noticed that Xiaoling was still standing there after finishing her report, so he changed the subject and asked:

"Xiaoling, is there anything else?"

Xiaoling bit her lower lip, her originally calm expression becoming somewhat complicated.

She raised her head, her gaze passing over Zhao Jiuhai and looking directly at Hongyu sitting next to her.

"Mother……"

Xiaoling's voice carried a hint of resentment.

"When are you planning to go home for a visit? Grandpa... he hasn't been feeling well lately."

However, he was faced with the call of his biological daughter.

Hongyu, sitting opposite him, showed no emotion whatsoever.

She slowly raised her eyelids to look at her daughter, her slender fingers waving indifferently in the air.

"Go back and tell your grandfather that what I'm doing here is very important and I'm very busy."

"Once I'm done with this busy period and have finished what I need to do, I will naturally go back."

A hint of sadness flashed in Xiaoling's eyes, and she opened her mouth as if to say something.

"Alright, stop standing there."

Hongyu suddenly frowned, and a hint of maternal sternness finally appeared in her tone as she urged, "It's getting late, hurry home!"

"The world is in turmoil these days. Things in Xishan can't be contained anymore. Even if you're a quasi-martial artist, it's not safe for you to wander around outside in the middle of the night. Go back immediately!"

Feeling the absolute command in those words, Xiaoling could only lower her head helplessly.

"Yes... Mother, I'll go back right away."

With a sigh, Xiaoling, holding her tablet, turned and walked towards the elevator leading to the lower floor.

When Zhao Jiuhai, who was sitting in the pavilion, heard the words "Xishan," his hand holding the teacup paused slightly involuntarily.

A heavy, ominous cloud flashed across those deep eyes.

"Commissioner Hongyu, you just mentioned Xishan... what's the situation there?"

Having said that, it seems time to discuss the huge dark cloud that has been hanging over Linghai City.

Hongyu did not answer directly, but looked at Li Tian first.

"Li Tian, ​​how many points are you still away from breaking through the thousand Yuan Power barrier and opening your meridians to become a true martial artist?"

Upon hearing this, Li Tian immediately stepped forward, bowed his head respectfully, and said:

"Aunt Hong, we only need thirty more points to reach one thousand!"

"Thirty points...that's about right." Hongyu nodded slightly, a glint of light flashing in her eyes.

Only then did she turn her head to look at Zhao Jiuhai, whose expression was solemn, and said in a voice as cold as a knife:

"Master Zhao, the Xishan defense line is now completely engulfed in chaos!"

"What? You mean...!" Zhao Jiuhai's pupils shrank.

No way? Could this be the worst-case scenario I've been hoping for?!

Hongyu seemed to have seen through Zhao Jiuhai's thoughts, and then gently shook her head and said:

"No, it hasn't come to that yet. However... the garrison commander of the West Mountain defense line has already abandoned the outer defenses and led his team into the heart of the restricted area to investigate the source of the fissure!"

But even though these words weren't the worst-case scenario they had anticipated, they still shocked both Zhao Jiuhai and Li Tian!

A martial arts master leading a team into the heart of the restricted area? That's tantamount to gambling everything!

"Aunt Hong, has the situation really escalated to this point?" Li Tian couldn't help but ask, his voice trembling slightly!

"Has the situation escalated to an orange alert?!"

Orange alert! This means a level-one alien beast has appeared!

That's a terrifying existence equivalent to a human martial arts master, possessing devastating power capable of easily destroying a village or town, or even threatening the city's defenses!

Linghai City hasn't issued an orange alert for nearly ten years!