Chapter 146 The Grandmaster's Gift, Old Wu's Thoughts

[Late at night, Longnan No. 1 High School Teachers Apartment.]

[Beside your desk stood a familiar figure.]

[His hair and beard were completely white, and he wore a loose white training suit without any markings.]

[Although he wasn't tall, as he stood there...]

[The Qi of this world seemed to stagnate around him.]

["Great Grandmaster?"]

[You appropriately showed a hint of surprise.]

[Your body tensed instantly as you stepped forward quickly.]

[You respectfully performed a Junior's salute.]

["Student Li Ang greets the Great Grandmaster."]

["No need for such formalities."]

[Grandmaster Zhao Zongtian slowly turned around, a kind smile on his wrinkled old face.]

[His deep gaze lingered on you for a moment.]

["Qi and blood restrained, condensed like mercury."]

["It seems you haven't slacked off during this time."]

["Good. You haven't become arrogant just because you achieved some results."]

[Grandmaster Zhao Zongtian nodded with satisfaction.]

["You have executed the tasks in the contract very well."]

["You haven't let this old man down."]

["The Great Grandmaster overpraises me. I have only been following the steps to Cultivate."]

[You lowered your head humbly.]

[You guessed in your heart that the Great Grandmaster's personal visit tonight...]

[Was likely because he judged you were not far from the Ninth Stage of Qi and Blood Perfection.]

[So he came to fulfill the promise in the contract.]

[As expected.]

["I came tonight to fulfill my promise,"]

[Grandmaster Zhao Zongtian didn't waste words.]

[He flicked his broad palm slightly within his wide sleeve.]

["Buzz—"]

[Two items appeared out of thin air, landing steadily on your desk.]

[One was a specially made metal box emitting a warm aura.]

[The other was a book bound in ancient leather.]

["Inside the metal box is a top-grade water-attribute kaiyuan stone."]

["As for this book..."]

[Grandmaster Zhao Zongtian pointed at the ancient text.]

["It is called the 'Heavenly Sea Vast Waves Body Spirit Seed Origin Art'."]

["This is a top-tier Origin Opening Dharma Gate I personally selected for you, which best fits your Physique."]

["Your road is still long. These two items can be considered my stepping stones for you."]

["Cultivate well, and don't forget your mission."]

[Looking at the two items on the table, you showed a look of joy.]

["It's done!"]

[The Heavenly Sea Vast Waves Body Spirit Seed Origin Art on you...]

[Finally received the Great Grandmaster's endorsement in this simulation!]

[From now on, you didn't need to hide it anymore.]

[You could openly display the characteristics of this top-tier Cultivation Technique.]

[This was also one of your purposes for choosing to enter the fray personally this time.]

["Thank you for the generous gift, Great Grandmaster! I will repay you even if it means my death!"]

[You bowed deeply, your voice trembling slightly with excitement.]

["You exaggerate."]

[Grandmaster Zhao Zongtian encouraged you with a few words.]

[After warning you to Cultivate calmly and avoid arrogance and impetuousness...]

[He didn't stay any longer and vanished in a flash.]

[Silently disappearing into the night.]

[After Grandmaster Zhao Zongtian left, you sat at your desk.]

[Gently stroking the rough cover of the Heavenly Sea Vast Waves Body Spirit Seed Origin Art with your fingers.]

[You silently pondered the next step of your plan.]

[To be honest, Grandmaster Zhao Zongtian's thoughts...]

[You still couldn't quite figure them out.]

[You mentally reviewed the situation.]

["I originally thought that after obtaining such detailed intelligence,"]

["And verifying it for nearly a month,"]

["The Great Grandmaster would choose to take more aggressive actions."]

["Like directly mobilizing the army to blockade Longnan,"]

["Or taking control of the Black Gold Chamber of Commerce in advance."]

["But he didn't."]

["He still chose to fish slowly here."]

["Is he afraid of alerting the enemy?"]

["Or is he playing a much larger game of chess?"]

[You shook your head.]

["But it doesn't matter."]

["For me right now,"]

["Time is my greatest friend."]

["I just need to continue refining my Yuan Power step by step."]

["And wait for things to unfold."]

["As long as I keep getting stronger and moving forward, that's enough."]

[Casting aside distracting thoughts, you put away the two items on the table.]

[Then you closed your eyes and began your cultivation for the night.]

[...]

[Time passed very quickly.]

[With sufficient resources and the Great Grandmaster's endorsement...]

[Over the next two months...]

[Your apparent cultivation level saw an explosive surge.]

[Naturally, in front of Wu Changhe...]

[You repeatedly displayed a terrifying speed of Breakthrough.]

[Finally, on the eve of the final examinations...]

[In front of Old Wu...]

[You successfully "broke through" to the Ninth Stage of Qi and Blood.]

[When that faint layer of Crimson Gauze appeared on the surface of your body...]

[Old Wu's hand holding the goji berry tea was trembling, and he kept calling you a Prodigy.]

[However, after the brief surprise and joy...]

[As Old Wu looked at you, his brow furrowed deeper and deeper.]

[His face was full of worry.]

["Li Ang..."]

[Old Wu paced back and forth in the office.]

[He let out a long sigh.]

["According to the progress you've shown now,"]

["You will definitely reach the Ninth Stage of Qi and Blood Perfection before the Martial Arts College Entrance Examination."]

["If you can participate in the Martial Arts College Entrance Examination with a Origin Opening Realm cultivation,"]

["Your future achievements will be even higher."]

["The gates of martial arts will be completely open to you!"]

["But... for someone with your talent to break through to Origin Opening,"]

["A kaiyuan stone goes without saying,"]

["But you also need a top-tier Yuan Wu Dharma Gate that matches your martial talent."]

["You're an orphan and have no Family background."]

["The common goods on the market aren't worthy of your talent."]

["This is going to be difficult..."]

[At this moment, Wu Changhe was already calculating...]

[Whether he should swallow his pride and beg his former superior in the military...]

[To help you get a better Origin Opening Realm dharma gate.]

[Seeing Old Wu so worried about you...]

[You decided not to hide it from him anymore.]

[This was also an action permitted by Grandmaster Zhao Zongtian.]

["Teacher, don't trouble yourself."]

[You pulled Old Wu to sit down and took a deep breath.]

[You said softly.]

["Actually... the matters of the Origin Opening Dharma Gate and the kaiyuan stone..."]

["I've already resolved them."]

["What?"]

[Old Wu was stunned.]

["You've resolved them? How did you resolve them?"]

["Teacher, to be honest,"]

["Actually, behind me... there is a hidden expert guiding me."]

[You looked at Old Wu and said seriously.]

["That's also why I've been able to progress so quickly over the past six months."]

["That expert took a liking to me. All the resources and Cultivation Techniques..."]

["He has already prepared them for me."]

["You don't need to worry about me anymore."]

["An expert?"]

[Old Wu obviously didn't believe it.]

[He became even more worried and stood up abruptly.]

["Li Ang! Don't let your desire to become stronger..."]

["Lead you to be fooled by some swindler or a chamber of commerce with ulterior motives!"]

["Tell me honestly, did you sign some kind of indentured contract?"]

[To dispel Old Wu's doubts...]

[You took out a silver six-pointed star badge from your pocket.]

[This was the token Grandmaster Zhao Zongtian had given you...]

[Specifically to dispel Old Wu's doubts.]

["Teacher, look at this."]

[Old Wu's gaze fell on the badge, and his pupils shrank suddenly.]

[As a veteran from the military, he naturally knew the weight of this badge.]

["A Mentor Badge from the Federation Martial Arts Association?!"]

[Old Wu was a bit excited.]

["This... this is a Recommendation Token that only a Martial Artist of the Soaring Realm or above..."]

["Is qualified to issue."]

[He carefully checked the special Yuan Power fluctuations for anti-counterfeiting on the badge.]

[Confirming it was undoubtedly genuine.]

["Now you can rest assured, right?"]

[You smiled and took back the badge.]

[*Hiss—*]

[Old Wu took a sharp breath.]

[Then he slapped his thigh in relief.]

["You brat... such Luck!"]

[After confirming you hadn't gone down an evil path...]

[Wu finally let go of the heavy stone in his heart.]

["I was wondering why you were progressing so fast."]

["It turns out you have a Martial Artist of the Soaring Realm guiding you!"]

[However, out of the caution of an elder...]

[He still asked one more question, just to be sure.]

["You... really didn't sign any strange contracts?"]

["No."]

[You shook your head firmly.]

["That Senior only took an interest in my Saber Technique talent."]

["He wants me to perform well in the College Entrance Examination."]

["Good! Good! Good!"]

[That night, the usually strict Wu Changhe rarely gave you a break.]

[And with great enthusiasm, he dragged you to the most high-end Zuixian Tower in Longnan City for a meal.]

[However, while ordering...]

[You smoothly picked out the most expensive Deep-sea Exotic Beasts.]

[And your experienced comments on each dish, as if you knew them by heart...]

[Made Old Wu unable to help but mutter:]

["You brat..."]

["No matter how I look at it, this doesn't seem like your first time here?"]