28: Provocation, conflict

“Chen junior, you want to establish your own faction?” A sophomore student from below asked upon hearing this.

“Yes! I, Chen Qing, don’t want to join anyone else’s faction, so naturally, I want to establish my own. Senior, is there a problem?”

The person who asked the question had a gaunt face and now smiled, “Chen junior, do you know the requirements for establishing a faction at the university?”

Chen Qing had done his homework on this last night. He replied, “Gather five students, find a teacher willing to be a guarantor, and then you can apply to the university for approval of a venue.”

This was information from the university’s official website.

The method for establishing a faction at the university was not difficult because the university occupied a vast area and did not worry about a lack of bases.

Establishing a faction was not difficult, but developing one was a huge challenge.

Therefore, there were many factions in the university, but most of them belonged to the type where they couldn’t recruit people and were maintained by the initial few members themselves.

Many such factions would announce their disbandment after a period of time.

That person chuckled, “Chen Qing, although there are quite a few factions in the university, most of them are almost all established by seniors in their third or fourth year. Even if they graduate, they can still continue to serve as leaders of the faction. You’re the first one to want to establish a faction right after the start of the semester!”

As he spoke, he crossed his arms, looking as if he was watching a good show.

Chen Qing frowned slightly, “Senior, just because you don’t have the ability to establish a faction doesn’t mean others are as incapable as you. If I were you, and someone younger and more capable than me wanted to do something I dared not, I, Chen Qing, would certainly respect them, even if I wasn’t optimistic!”

His voice gradually grew colder, “Instead of standing here making sarcastic remarks, you should go back and Cultivate properly! You’re only a first-stage Martial Artist in your second year, what right do you have to point fingers at me?”

Chen Qing spoke very harshly. He rarely got angry and always treated people politely; if others respected him, he would naturally respect them.

But the attitude of the person below the stage made him very displeased.

In his opinion, a Martial Artist could be arrogant, but it should be the arrogance from the bones, like Li Tianyang, not someone who was inferior in strength yet spoke disrespectfully.

In his eyes, the person below the stage didn’t resemble a Martial Artist at all.

“Arrogant! Daring to clash with a senior right after entering the university? These new students are really trying to turn the world upside down! Last week, there was a troublemaker named Fu Mingyu, and today there’s you. Very good, I’d like to see how long you can remain so rampant!”

In the stands, Fu Mingyu was somewhat annoyed when he heard this. Damn it, if you’re going to scold Chen Qing, then scold Chen Qing, why drag me into it?

The next moment, Fu Mingyu shouted loudly, “What a load of damn nonsense! Chen Qing, challenge him! Make him shut his mouth. Do all sophomores like to talk so much nonsense? Who hasn’t been a freshman? It’s a joke for a Martial Artist to talk about age!”

“Damn it, it should have been like this a long time ago. I already said that resources must be fought for! Cultivating peacefully one by one, when will you ever get anywhere? Do the battles on the front lines wait for people?”

“Haha, well said! Fu Mingyu, I support you this time! Martial Artists should fight. If we don’t step on these sophomores, how will we new students stand out? How will we get more Cultivation resources from the university leaders?” Zhao Yuanyue was also a fan of Martial Arts. She had resolutely chosen to come to Jinling Martial Arts University despite her family’s strong objections, all for the sake of fighting on the battlefield sooner. At this moment, she was also desperately fanning the flames.

The Dao of Martial Arts was not only for men to pursue power and be moved by their nation and race; female Martial Artists were the same!

Tang Wu was also the same, smiling cheerfully, not feeling there was anything wrong with what they said.

“Arrogant! These new students are actually discussing how to deal with us right in front of us old students!” A sophomore student said indignantly.

“Exactly! How the university’s resources are allocated is not for a few new students to dictate!”

“They even want to step on us sophomores; do they really think we sophomores are easy to provoke?”

...“Tch, cowards! Only barking, if you have the guts, go up and fight him!” A girl’s voice suddenly rang out in the crowd.

“Wang Xiaomin! Whose side are you on? Don’t forget you’re also a sophomore!”

Wang Xiaomin put her hands on her hips and snorted, “What? I’m talking about you bunch of stinky monkeys who only bark but have no strength! If I were a Martial Artist today, I would have gone up and fought him a long time ago. Do you disagree?”

“You!”

Seeing them not reply, Wang Xiaomin looked around with some disdain, then shouted at Chen Qing on the stage:

“Chen Qing, if you really want to establish a faction, count me in!”

“Good!”

Chen Qing agreed loudly.

He looked at this righteous female sophomore with a slight smile. He still remembered this girl; she should be the troublemaker he saw in the Martial Arts Arena on the day of enrollment. At that time, she was also dissatisfied that many people only talked and didn’t practice, and she seemed to be at odds with many people.

“Joining a freshman’s faction, aren’t you ashamed!” The person who had initially provoked him muttered.

Chen Qing gave him a cold glance, then turned to look at a small stand next to the arena. A middle-aged man had been sitting there all along, and Chen Qing guessed that this person should be the referee for this arena.

“Referee, can I challenge a sophomore student?”

The referee was leaning back in a chair, resting with his eyes closed. Hearing his question, he became interested, opened his eyes, and smiled:

“Of course, you can. However, today is the university’s free challenge day for new students. Challenging new students is free. If you want to challenge an old student, it’s free for those below the ranking list, and 10 credits per challenge for those on the ranking list.”

A bit shady!

Chen Qing was helpless. So challenges cost money? He hadn’t paid earlier and thought it was always free.

“Don’t think it’s shady. This is also a form of protection for students on the ranking list. If challengers don’t have to pay any price, wouldn’t the people on the list be exhausted? Constantly facing continuous battles?”

Chen Qing nodded, that was true.

Chen Qing turned back to the person who had been provoking him and asked coldly, “What rank are you on the sophomore list?”

Before anyone else could speak, Wang Xiaomin snorted, “He’s no ranking list Martial Artist! His name is Wang He, first stage initial level. What right does he have to be on the list!”

Wang He glared at her, somewhat annoyed.

Oh, so this person is free? That makes it easy.

Chen Qing pointed at Wang He without ceremony, “You, come up to the stage!”

Wang He was provoked by a new student pointing at his face in front of a large crowd and was extremely angry. He was only a first-stage initial level. Although he had Cultivated several D-grade Martial Skills using credits, he had watched Chen Qing’s battle process up close just now and had no confidence in defeating him.

However, if he was humiliated like this today and retreated, not daring to go on stage, then he would have even less face to see people in the future.

“What? Scared?” Wang Xiaomin crossed her arms, her face full of disdain.

Around them, some sophomore students felt a bit embarrassed; this Wang He was clearly a little scared!

“Wang He! Go up quickly! Even if you can’t win, you can’t be afraid before the battle!” A young man next to him shouted.

Someone recognized this young man and said, “It’s Li Xiangnan from the Qian Xiu Hui (Secluded Cultivation Society). How does he, a junior, know Wang He, a sophomore?”

“Presumably, Wang He was noticed by the Qian Xiu Hui (Secluded Cultivation Society) and is being prepared for recruitment.”

“No wonder Wang He suddenly became so arrogant; it turns out he has a backer.”

Li Xiangnan stared at Wang He with a cold face, not saying a word.

How embarrassing, this Wang He actually dared to be afraid of battle!

At Jinling Martial Arts University, anything was acceptable, but if you were afraid of battle, afraid of fighting, you would be despised.

It seems I need to tell the president and let him handle it.

“Come up!” Chen Qing spoke coldly again.

Wang He was cornered and had no choice. Under everyone’s gaze, he jumped onto the arena.

Chen Qing smiled, looking at this sophomore student who showed fear.