Chapter Eight: Return to the Jiang Family

Qin Ming’s request was denied.

The actual combat assessment was standardized globally and could not be taken in advance. However, Zhuge Tao had said, “If you manage to reach the Warrior standard ahead of time, I’ll put in a special application for you—an individual assessment. At that point, you might even encounter an unexpected surprise.”

Qin Ming knew exactly what that “unexpected surprise” meant—training camp at the headquarters of the Limit Martial Arts Hall. Once there, becoming a Warrior would only be the beginning, and the path to becoming a War God would not be the end.

“Headquarters!”

On the way home, Qin Ming pondered ceaselessly.

How could he improve his strength as quickly as possible? The sooner, the better.

But he also knew that relying solely on the Gene Primal Energy Cultivation Method offered little assurance. Even with the addition of the Mysterious Dao Diagram, he had no confidence in reaching the Warrior standard within three months. He was no Luo Feng; once awakened to spiritual force, his strength would soar like a rocket.

Returning home, Qin Ming resumed his disciplined training.

Alternating between the Gene Primal Energy Cultivation Method and the Mysterious Dao Diagram, he also practiced Arrow Steps and a set of fist techniques called Impact Fist.

Impact Fist was a technique from the Jiang family of another world. When combined with the power cultivated through the Mysterious Dao Diagram, it could unleash terrifying might.

He also set aside time to train the basic blade techniques at the martial arts hall, laying groundwork for the future.

One day, Qin Ming sought out Wang Lang, asking, “Brother Wang, do you know where I can buy jade?”

“Jade? What do you want that stuff for?” Wang Lang replied. “Apart from being pretty, it’s useless. Only those who fancy themselves cultured bother with it!”

“I just like it and want to get some!”

“Money can’t buy taste—good excuse. Come on, I’ll take you there!”

“Alright! Brother Wang, the assessment next month shouldn’t be a problem for you, right?”

“I’ve been spurred on by you. I’ve doubled my efforts these days and improved a lot. Next month’s assessment should be fine. After the combat assessment, let’s team up and hunt fierce beasts together!”

“Agreed! Fierce beasts—I’ve long wanted to see them outside the city!”

Chatting, the two hailed a car and arrived at the entrance of an antique shop.

“Sir, you’re here, please come in!”

A middle-aged man stood at the door. Upon seeing Wang Lang, he respectfully bowed.

“This is your family’s?” Qin Ming asked, surprised.

“My mother can’t sit still, so she bought up lots of shops for pocket money. This antique shop happens to be one of them, and it has plenty of jade!” Wang Lang explained. “Pick whatever you like. It gives me a chance to curry favor with you!”

“Then I won’t be shy!”

“You could take the whole shop if you wanted!” Wang Lang said casually. “The real money is in being a martial artist. Kill a low-level beast soldier and you earn thousands; high-level beast soldiers, tens of thousands. As for beast generals—even the essential materials of a basic beast general start at five million!”

“Martial artists make money, but the risk of death is high!” Qin Ming nodded.

Fierce beasts were graded as beast soldiers, beast generals, and commander-level. Each grade had upper, middle, and lower tiers. Generally, beast soldiers matched warriors, beast generals matched warriors, and commander-level beasts matched the strength of war gods.

But humans, with their intelligence, martial techniques, battle gear, and weapons, could overwhelm fierce beasts of the same grade.

Typically, after passing the combat assessment, martial artists would join various organizations, continue their training, or team up to hunt fierce beasts outside the city.

Fierce beasts were treasures in themselves. The essential materials from a basic beast general started at five million, with the highest over ten million; a middle-level beast general started at ten million, with the top reaching more than a hundred million; and for higher beast generals, the minimum was fifty million, with the highest reaching over a billion—truly astounding.

Qin Ming walked along, surveying the surroundings as the middle-aged man introduced the wares.

As for calligraphy, porcelain, inkstones, and the like, Qin Ming merely glanced over them, finally stopping at the jade cabinet.

“If you see something you like, just take it!” Wang Lang said. “Uncle Liu, bring out the good stuff for my friend to pick from!”

“Certainly!” Uncle Liu replied, went inside, opened a safe, and carefully placed a box made of purple-gold nanmu wood on the counter. Opening it, he pointed to each compartment, introducing, “This is a set of Imperial Green Ice Jade—a pair of jade earrings, a jade bead necklace, a pair of jade bracelets, and a jade ring.”

“Exquisite!” Qin Ming praised.

With a glance, the array of green was pleasing to the eye.

Uncle Liu looked at Wang Lang.

“Qin Ming, I said you could pick whatever you like!” Wang Lang snorted. “What, don’t you trust your brother?”

“Brother Wang, I might need quite a lot in the future, so I need to know the price first,” Qin Ming said. “Uncle Liu, what’s the price for this set?”

“You rascal!” Wang Lang gestured for Uncle Liu to speak. “Uncle Liu, original price, sale price—tell us both.”

“Alright!” Uncle Liu grinned quietly but didn’t dare fabricate, replying honestly, “Before the Great Cataclysm, this set of fine jewelry would have been worth at least a billion. But now, with fewer admirers, it’s depreciated sharply—the purchase price is only one million, while the sale price is ten million!”

“Ninefold profit!” Wang Lang shook his head. “Qin Ming, I told you—today, whatever you want is free. Otherwise, we can’t be brothers! One million can’t even buy the essential materials of a basic beast general—it’s pocket change! If you see anything else, just take it.”

“I’ll start with this set,” Qin Ming said, not pursuing the matter further. “I might need more in the future, but next time it can’t be free, or I’d truly be embarrassed.”

Wang Lang laughed, “Fine! In future, you’ll get everything at cost. Whatever you need, just tell Uncle Liu so he can prepare in advance.”

“Master Qin, please instruct me!” Uncle Liu said respectfully.

“No, no, just call me Qin!” Qin Ming quickly waved his hand. “Prepare some top-quality diamonds, gemstones, and jades.”

After browsing a bit more, Qin Ming took the box, and the two departed.

On the way, Wang Lang joked, “You haven’t fallen for some girl, have you?”

“Romance can wait,” Qin Ming replied. “I want to experience the world beyond war gods, to see what manner of person a councilor is. I hope one day, we can drive all fierce beasts from our homeland.”

“Fine ambition!” Wang Lang said seriously. “The city seems peaceful, but outside, countless warriors shed blood to protect this land. Tens of thousands die every day. This peace is built on blood. If humanity’s progress can’t outpace the evolution of fierce beasts, one day we could face extinction. With your ambition, how can I resign myself to mediocrity? When we get back, I’ll intensify my training.”

“Let’s hope, someday, our names are among the war gods and above!”

“Hahaha, excellent!”

Facing the present, dreaming of the future, the two joked all the way home.

Back home, Qin Ming put away the box and once again immersed himself in training.

May fifth, nine at night.

He lay in bed, closed his eyes—and entered another world.