451: The increasingly rampant apocalypse cult

Shen Bei and Principal Qin had met several times, so they were old acquaintances.

The two drank tea and ate some small desserts, chatting like old friends:

"Principal Qin is a man of his word; this Junior still admires him," Shen Bei began.

Principal Qin didn't quite understand, leaning back on the sofa, and asked with a hint of confusion, "What makes you say that?"

"Back in the Luan County Earth Cave, you said you would take up the post at Beijing Martial Arts University, and now you're sitting in that very position," Shen Bei clarified.

Principal Qin smiled knowingly, quite candid, "It's all because my peers weren't up to par, so I had no choice but to step up. Who knew... being the Principal of Beijing Martial Arts University is no different from being the Principal of Shen City Martial Arts University."

Not humble at all.

Shen Bei shrugged.

"Are you interested?"

"In what?"

"The position of Principal of Beijing Martial Arts University."

Shen Bei was stunned for a moment, then frankly said, "Bai Wei of the Northeast Military Region even wants to make me her successor."

Principal Qin didn't think Shen Bei was bragging.

Most people might not know about Shen Bei's achievements, and those who do only know about a few competitions, challenges, or the Zha Tian Gang in the Earth Cave.

However, the hype had long since faded.

The entertainment section was the evergreen, and it was said that an artist's finger got cut, and it still topped the hot search.

"It seems you haven't agreed," Principal Qin said softly.

Shen Bei smacked his lips, "Actually, the Earth Cave is still more interesting."

"Speaking of that..." Principal Qin stroked his chin, "Teacher Professor Gu Xinrou came once, working on some odd object mask, pulling a few Martial Arts University teachers and forming a research group with the military. It seems to be having some effect. Was it your idea?"

Shen Bei didn't deny it, "It was luck. I inadvertently got this information in the Earth Cave, but I have to say, to get the odd object mask, I almost died there."

Shen Bei spoke lightly, but Principal Qin could sense the hardship and danger of the process and said, "The younger generation is formidable. If there were more iron-blooded Martial Artists like you in the country, it could ensure national security."

"Just doing my duty," Shen Bei replied concisely.

"You can go to the military to see Professor Gu Xinrou's results when you have time."

With that, Principal Qin changed the subject, "Let's talk about something else. Before you came, did you hear about some things happening in Shen City?"

"The Apocalypse Cult?"

"Yes."

"It seems they're harming Martial Artists, creating some new-style Martial Artists, Mind's Eye Potion and such. I'm not very clear about it."

Principal Qin nodded gently, his voice imbued with a cold, stern authority, "These people, if they don't cause trouble for a day, they'll always think they can do whatever they want in the country."

"Let me put it this way," Principal Qin paused for three seconds before, like a machine finally starting, he raised his face, "This trend abroad is already unstoppable. Martial Artists are killing each other, just to devour each other and raise their own rank."

Saying 'devour' was just Principal Qin's concise description; in reality, it also required the Alchemy of the Mind's Eye Potion upon the Martial Artist's death.

But one can imagine, this is like a greedy fish. Martial Artists no longer rely on Cultivating to genuinely improve their attributes, but instead adopt the more convenient Mind's Eye Potion.

It has a strong sense of 'winner takes all' deja vu.

It would inevitably turn into a tangled mess.

"Our country still has iron-fisted measures against this, but ultimately, it's still impossible to eradicate it," Principal Qin sighed, "To put it bluntly, three students from Beijing Martial Arts University have already died after leaving the campus."

Shen Bei pondered for a moment. Students of Beijing Martial Arts University must at least be rank six to be admitted. It seems the scum of the Apocalypse Cult are becoming increasingly rampant.

Principal Qin changed the subject, asking with a smile, "Shen Bei, do you have any plans here at Beijing Martial Arts University? What courses do you want to take?"

Shen Bei hummed.

This...

He enrolled in the Martial Arts University simply to accompany Jian Tong.

In other words, current Martial Artist students all have their own established Cultivation methods, and Beijing Martial Arts University's guidance in this regard isn't very significant.

Beijing Martial Arts University mainly teaches various auxiliary professions, such as the grafting of herbs. In provincial Martial Arts Universities, they only Cultivate herbs; grafting is still a brand-new course.

There's also Alchemy. Provincial Martial Arts Universities only perform Alchemy according to recipe charts; they just follow the instructions.

However, Beijing Martial Arts University begins to explain the ratios of Medicinal Pills and why such ratios are used, what the principles and guidelines are, and how to use one's brain to develop new Medicinal Pills.

And so on.

In short, what is learned at Beijing Martial Arts University is more complex and systematic.

It's equivalent to... students used to just be workers on a production line, but now they're striving towards becoming developers.

Another thing is that Beijing Martial Arts University offers an opportunity to meet the nation's elites, which is a rare chance to expand one's network.

Facing Principal Qin's question, Shen Bei didn't hesitate, stating frankly, "Studying... I'm not very good at it."

Principal Qin smiled, "Wouldn't that be very boring? Do you only want to socialize every day? Do you still need such connections?"

Principal Qin was right.

With Shen Bei's achievements, he didn't need anyone else's connections; others would be eager to curry favor with Shen Bei.

Shen Bei stroked his chin and said, "But Liu Hanfeng doesn't seem convinced. I'll find a chance to beat him up."

Principal Qin: ...

"Focus your energy outwards. The two of you are just sparring in Martial Skill," Principal Qin said meaningfully.

Shen Bei also understood the hidden meaning in the other's words, "Principal Qin, why don't you just get straight to the point? It'll be lunchtime soon, and I get terribly hungry if I miss a meal."

Principal Qin coughed awkwardly a couple of times and didn't speak. Instead, he rummaged through the bookshelf behind him for a long time, taking out a small wooden box.

He opened it and took out some old phone components, a handheld game console, and a radio.

"The difference between people, I prefer to call it an advantage."

Principal Qin disassembled the game console and radio, continuing, "For the same task, some people can do it, while others can't, no matter how hard they try, right?"

Shen Bei nodded in agreement.

This is particularly prominent in the sales industry.

With the same product and the same price, some salespeople can sell to customers, but if you switch to another person, it just won't work.

Of course, when it comes to wooing girls, the difference in people's performance is even more obvious.

Principal Qin arranged all the various parts on the table and began assembling them onto a phone. He tinkered for about fifteen minutes, and because his movements seemed rusty, he wasted at least ten minutes in the middle before finally reassembling a phone.

Principal Qin held the phone in his hand and smiled, "I haven't used this 'work phone' for a long time."

"Huh?"

Shen Bei pointed at the phone, which didn't even have a screen, "Isn't your work phone a Huawei?"

"No."

Principal Qin's eyes sparkled, as if a flood of memories surged into his mind, "When I was young, I wasn't a teacher. I was assigned to the 'Dark Division.'"

Dark Division?

What kind of department was that? This was the first time Shen Bei had heard of it.

"Actually, 'Dark Division' is just a name I came up with myself; there's no official term for it. If there had to be a name, it would be 'informant.' But I think 'Dark Division' sounds better."

Principal Qin explained.

Shen Bei understood.

After all that, wasn't this just Yun Zhiyi!

"From the Southeast Military Region?" Shen Bei asked tentatively.

Principal Qin was surprised, "It's not simple that you could associate it with the military region."

Shen Bei twitched the corner of his mouth, revealing a somewhat forced smile, "In the Northeast Military Region, Bai Wei also had informants, but in the end... it's hard to say if they betrayed her or not, but they stopped following orders, anyway."

"That is betrayal!" Principal Qin said emphatically.

Shen Bei nodded seriously, "That's also true. Anyway, I caught them, and they're still locked up in the dungeon."

Principal Qin nodded in agreement while charging the phone.

Shen Bei then asked, "So... what is Principal Qin going to do?"

Principal Qin wasn't in a hurry, "Wait five minutes. Once this work phone turns on, I'll make a call, and you'll understand what's going on as soon as you hear it."