54: Chapter 54 Rising to Fame (Part 1)

Walking closer, it turned out to be a middle-aged man.

He had seen this person's photo while wandering around Yan University.

The Dean of Yan University's Mecha Academy, Huangfu Wuwei.

"Greetings, Dean Huangfu."

"You know me?"

"I've seen your photo!"

Huangfu Wuwei nodded and asked:

"Were you practicing National Martial Arts just now?"

"Yes. This is the Guoshu Academy; what else would I practice if not National Martial Arts?"

Lu Qingfeng looked at him with confusion.

Is this Huangfu Wuwei some kind of foolish Dean? He doesn't even know the answer to such a simple question.

Huangfu Wuwei: ... He thought to himself:

This kid is quite the troublemaker; it must be him.

Troublemakers are good. That old fellow Xiao Jingdao is probably going to have his hands full.

"Where is Dean Xiao? I have some business with him."

"I don't know."

After saying that, Lu Qingfeng walked toward his residence.

Huangfu Wuwei was speechless. This young man certainly has personality.

So he opened his bracelet and called Xiao Jingdao.

Learning that he was fishing by the lake, he walked over.

Before long, he reached the lakeside.

"Old fellow, you've been fishing for hundreds of years. Don't you ever get tired of it?"

Xiao Jingdao looked back at him and sneered:

"You've been eating rice for hundreds of years. Are you tired of that?"

Huangfu Wuwei was instantly choked up.

As expected... like Dean, like student.

"Alright, don't just stand there like a fool. Speak up, why have you come to see me so late? My Lord Dean..."

Huangfu Wuwei smiled and crouched down.

"Old fellow... old friend, let me ask you something.

Did you apply to the higher-ups to model a mecha for your Guoshu Academy at the Mecha Training Base, called 'fishing old man'?"

"Don't... look at you, then look at me. How do we look like old friends? You look so young, while I look like an old man at first glance."

Huangfu Wuwei: ... This old brat is still the same.

"Cough... I have no choice. I'd love to be like you, a wild crane in the clouds, so carefree. Sigh... is that mecha from your Guoshu Academy?"

Xiao Jingdao turned his head and looked at him seriously, saying:

"Do you really want to know?"

Huangfu Wuwei nodded. "I do."

"Fine... then let the Guoshu Academy become independent, truly forming its own system."

This was a thorn in Xiao Jingdao's side. Although the Guoshu Academy had been established, it was still subordinate to the Mecha Academy.

Without true independence, Xiao Jingdao believed that the National Martial Arts Department should be the National Martial Arts Department, and the Mecha Department should be the Mecha Department.

Although both involved piloting mechas, the cultivation process and methods were completely different.

"Old Xiao... this isn't my decision to make. You have to talk to the President."

"Besides, even though the Guoshu Academy is under the Mecha Academy, I haven't interfered with you or restricted you. It's just a matter of reputation; why are you being so petty?"

Hearing this, Xiao Jingdao became even angrier.

"Huangfu Wuwei... back then, you were the one who opposed the establishment of the Guoshu Academy the most fiercely.

'Just a matter of reputation'? What do you know? Reputation is the greatest wealth. We are educators; if we lose our reputation, what's the point of anything else?"

"And... the Guoshu Academy, I've persisted for so many years.

I spent several hundred years of my own time building this up.

Yet you insisted on placing it under your Mecha Academy back then.

And now you have the nerve to call me petty? Huh? Is everyone in the Huangfu Family this shameless?"

Huangfu Wuwei didn't get angry. He remained silent for a moment before saying:

"Old Xiao... you're always so stubborn. Think about it, do you really think it's possible for you alone to establish a department at Yan University?"

"Without being attached to the Mecha Academy... without using that gimmick, the Guoshu Academy wouldn't have been able to stand.

You can become independent in the future. Just like now—the opportunity has arrived."

Xiao Jingdao sighed.

He actually knew this, but he was just unhappy about it.

But hearing there was a chance for independence, he quickly asked:

"What opportunity?"

Huangfu Wuwei smiled. "The 'fishing old man' mecha."

"I set that up..."

Seeing him admit it, Huangfu Wuwei became excited. He had seen the battle videos.

It was simply too broken. He couldn't imagine how high the mecha Fusion rate must be to operate a mecha with such fluid grace.

"That one and only student... the top scorer of the College Entrance Exam in Jiangyou Province, Lu Qingfeng?"

Xiao Jingdao nodded. He was a bit curious; why look for that kid?

Suddenly, his heart skipped a beat. No way? It couldn't be, right?

"Why are you looking for him?"

"You don't know?"

"Should I know?"

Well... it seems this old man Xiao really doesn't know.

He tapped his bracelet and opened the projection.

A video of Lu Qingfeng's battle began to play.

Xiao Jingdao saw that it was a battle against a Level 6 mecha. What rank was that kid at?

He couldn't have actually reached Great Master rank, could he?

In the video, Lu Qingfeng swiftly and fluidly defeated the opposing Level 6 mecha.

Then Huangfu Wuwei opened the rankings.

The striking score made Xiao Jingdao's heart boil with excitement.

Rank 49, Supreme King, 6666 points.

He stood up quickly and hurried toward the courtyard.

"Old Xiao, where are you going!"

"To find that kid."

Huangfu Wuwei quickly followed.

Before long, they arrived at Lu Qingfeng's door and knocked a few times.

"Coming..."

Lu Qingfeng was a bit annoyed. He was just about to sleep. Why were they bothering him in the middle of the night?

Opening the door, he saw Old Xiao, with Dean Huangfu following behind.

"Dean Xiao, Dean Huangfu, is something wrong?"

"Let me ask you, what rank are you at now?"

Xiao Jingdao asked impatiently.

"King. Why? Don't disturb my rest. I'll get you first place tomorrow, just so you won't say I used your Nutrient Solution for nothing."

Xiao Jingdao: ...

Huangfu Wuwei: ...

First place????

They were quite excited; someone from the academy taking first place had never happened before.

If he really took first place, Yan University's status as the number one institution in the Human Alliance would be unshakable.

"Can you really take first place?"

"Just wait... I'll handle it."

"Then get some good rest!"

"Okay..."

After saying that, Lu Qingfeng closed the door and went back to rest.

Leaving the two of them looking at each other in dismay.

"Can he really take first place?"

"Probably. Don't let his brashness fool you; he's quite reliable when he speaks."

Huangfu Wuwei was incredibly excited. Nominally, Lu Qingfeng was still part of the Mecha Academy.

The Guoshu Academy was still under him.

It wasn't that he didn't believe he could get first place; after seeing the video, it was basically a sure thing.

He was just feeling uncertain.

Now that the person was found, he was considering how to reply to the various Legion Commanders.

This was a headache-inducing problem.

And most importantly, National Martial Arts had truly been developed by Xiao Jingdao.

"Old Xiao... congratulations. After all these years, your dream has finally come true. I was blind and looked down on National Martial Arts back then; I sincerely apologize to you."