53: Chapter 53 Entering the Capital, One Glance Makes the Staff-wielding Guy Kneel

Lin Qi didn't even stop for Li Shaobai's harsh words.

Just the whining of a defeated dog.

Carrying the metal box with the weighted suit, he crossed the noisy streets and returned to the cheap rental room near the school, less than fifteen square meters in size.

The furnishings were simple: a hard board bed, a desk with peeling paint, and a few dumbbells piled in the corner.

This had been his shelter for the past three years, and also the dojo where he polished his body every night.

Lin Qi stuffed the metal box under the bed and placed the sandalwood box containing the dragon blood grass on the table.

Opening the lid, the crimson herb emitted an intoxicating scent of blood.

"The key to Flesh Refining Major Achievement."

Lin Qi's finger lightly brushed the leaves; they felt warm, like touching a living blood vessel.

With this, combined with the military-grade nutrient solution Instructor Su Qing gave him, reaching Flesh Refining Major Achievement within half a month wouldn't be a problem.

He didn't plan to linger in this "newbie village."

That night, steam rose in the rental room's bathroom.

Lin Qi cut a small piece of dragon blood grass, crushed it, and threw it into the bathtub, then poured in two bottles of highly concentrated nutrient solution.

The water instantly turned a scalding deep red.

He sat in naked; the scalding medicinal power seeped through his pores, feeling like countless ants gnawing at his muscles.

It was painful, but also exhilarating.

Lin Qi closed his eyes, his breathing long and steady, guiding this violent medicinal power to wash through every inch of muscle fiber.

...

The next morning, Tianhai City Maglev Train Station.

A giant silver train lay on the tracks like a giant python, its side printed with a ferocious Dragon head emblem—the symbol of the Longya Academy special train.

The platform was crowded, mostly parents seeing their children off, eyes red, wishing they could stuff their whole houses into their children's suitcases.

Carrying his faded white backpack, Lin Qi stood at the edge of the crowd, looking somewhat out of place.

"Brother Qi!"

A shrill howl broke the sorrow of parting.

Zhang Wei rolled over like a meatball, carrying two large bags of snacks, his face a mess of tears and snot.

"If you can't get used to the food in the Capital, call me and I'll send you some!" The fat guy forced the bags into Lin Qi's hands. "And don't be afraid to use that card; the password is your birthday!"

Lin Qi took the bags; they were quite heavy.

"Alright, don't act like I'm going to my death." Lin Qi pushed the fat guy away with feigned disgust. "Practice your alchemy well. I'll need you to fence the Materials I get later."

"Definitely! I'll always be Brother Qi's exclusive recycling station!" Zhang Wei sniffed hard.

Instructor Su Qing stood a few meters away, arms crossed, not coming forward.

She wasn't wearing her combat uniform today, but casual clothes, with less Killing Intent and more cold elegance.

Seeing Lin Qi look over, Instructor Su Qing took two steps closer.

"When you get there, restrain your temper." Instructor Su Qing's voice was still cold. "The Capital is different from Tianhai; it's the center of federal power and a meat grinder for various Family forces. That reckless fighting style of yours in the dungeon will easily get you targeted."

"I know what I'm doing." Lin Qi nodded.

"Also." Instructor Su Qing paused, took out a small notebook from her pocket, and handed it over. "These are some of my old notes from when I was there, about the backgrounds of several old-line families in the Capital. Read them when you're free to avoid accidentally stepping on a landmine."

Lin Qi took the notebook; the cover was old but well-preserved.

"Thanks, Instructor."

"Come back alive." Instructor Su Qing waved her hand and turned to leave, crisp and neat.

The boarding announcement sounded.

Carrying his bag and snacks, Lin Qi strode toward the train.

The interior of the carriage was extremely luxurious, with leather seats, a climate control System, and even specialized service robots serving tea and water.

Many people were already seated.

These were specially recruited candidates from several surrounding cities, all dressed smartly, wearing the latest tactical watches, their weapons and equipment emitting impressive magical fluctuations.

As soon as Lin Qi entered, the originally lively carriage went quiet for two seconds.

Dozens of gazes fell on him, then swept over his street-stall sportswear and the worn backpack printed with "Tianhai No. 3 High School."

"Who's this?"

A boy in a mage robe in the back row sneered, his voice not loud but particularly piercing in the quiet carriage. "Since when did the Longya Academy special train start selling standing tickets? How can they let just anyone in?"

"Shh, keep it down." A companion nudged him. "Everyone on this train is either a special recruit or has an S-Rank talent or higher."

"Him?" The mage boy looked Lin Qi up and down. "Everything on him doesn't even add up to two hundred bucks, and he doesn't even have a decent weapon.

Probably some strength-type brute from a mountain gully who got lucky and Awakened an A-Rank talent."

A few low laughs came from around them.

In this era where data was paramount, equipment and profession Rank were symbols of status. Lin Qi's appearance was like a janitor wandering into a high-end party.

Lin Qi ignored these comments.

He walked straight to the only empty seat in the corner, threw the two large bags of snacks onto the luggage rack, pulled down his hat, and closed his eyes.

In his mind, the golden figure appeared again.

Tiger-Crane Double Form.

This was a set of boxing techniques he suddenly recalled during his medicinal bath last night.

Tiger form trains bones, crane form trains essence.

Although he had reached Flesh Refining Minor Achievement, he was still one step away from "Tendon Refining." Rather than bickering with these kids, it was better to spend time deducing his next Cultivation path.

This attitude of ignoring them made the mage boy feel like he had punched cotton, making him even more annoyed.

"Acting all deep." The boy snorted coldly. "You'll be crying when the entrance exam comes."

The train started slowly, and the scenery outside receded rapidly.

Five hours later.

A giant steel jungle appeared on the horizon.

The Capital.

This heart of the Federation was shrouded in a giant pale blue energy shield. Countless aircraft shuttled through the air, and towering buildings looked like swords piercing the sky.

Longya Academy was located deep in the Yanshan Mountains in the northern part of the Capital.

The train stopped at a dedicated platform at the foot of the mountain.

The doors opened, and a rich wave of Spiritual Qi hit them. The concentration of essence in the air here was at least three times that of Tianhai City.

"Such dense energy!"

The mage boy who had mocked Lin Qi took a deep breath, the tip of his staff glowing faintly. "Meditating here for an hour is worth half a day outside!"

Hundreds of candidates swarmed out of the station.

Before them was a magnificent school gate a hundred meters high.

The entire gate was carved from two giant pieces of obsidian, with complex defensive array runes flowing on it. On the lintel, the two large characters "Longya" exuded a sense of slaughter, as if they would turn into a giant Dragon and devour people at any time.

This was the Holy Land that countless professionals dreamed of.

Lin Qi stood at the back of the crowd and looked up at those two words.

"Interesting."

He could feel that those two words contained some kind of mental pressure; those with weak willpower might feel their legs go soft if they stared for too long.

"Make way, make way!"

A noisy sound came from behind.

The mage boy led several people and squeezed forward arrogantly, holding an A-Rank staff inlaid with a ruby, which was his capital for showing off.

"You in front, don't block the way!"

He reached out to push the figure in front of him.

As luck would have it, that figure was Lin Qi.

Lin Qi didn't budge.

Instead, the boy who pushed felt like he had pushed against a piece of raw iron; his wrist throbbed with pain, and he couldn't help but take two steps back.

"Are you deaf?"

The boy became angry from embarrassment, raising his staff to point at Lin Qi's nose. "Didn't you hear me tell you to move? This is Longya Academy, not a place for you to block the way!"

The surrounding candidates stopped their steps, faces full of anticipation for a good show.

Seeing a conflict on the first day of enrollment was something everyone enjoyed.

Lin Qi slowly turned around.

Under the brim of his hat, those eyes were terrifyingly calm.

He didn't speak, just quietly looked at the staff pointing at him, then followed the staff's line of sight to the boy's face.

That kind of look.

It was like looking at a dead pig, or a target whose weakness had already been marked.

That was the Evil Qi etched into his bones after killing over a hundred monsters in the catacombs and personally smashing the mutated spider queen.

Although he didn't release any skills or have any data fluctuations.

But the mage boy suddenly felt a chill all over, as if his throat were being throttled by an invisible Vicious Beast.

"You..."

The boy opened his mouth, but the harsh words he had prepared were stuck in his throat, unable to come out. Cold sweat broke out on his forehead, and the hand holding the staff began to tremble uncontrollably.

A fear born of biological instinct told him:

Move, and you die.

Lin Qi took a step forward.

Whoosh.

The crowd that had gathered to watch the show subconsciously backed away, creating a large open space.

The boy was so scared his legs went soft, and he slumped directly to the ground, his A-Rank staff falling with a clang.

"A good dog doesn't block the way."