Chapter 149 Cultivation Revealed, Signing Ceremony

[After receiving the notice, your eyes flicker slightly.]

["Has it finally come?"]

[You did not delay and hurried over immediately.]

[You push open the mahogany doors of the Principal's office.]

[You find that Principal Liao Xianyu is not the only one inside.]

[On the leather sofa nearby...]

[...sits an "old friend" you are very familiar with.]

[He is somewhat stout and wears gold-rimmed glasses.]

[He looks like a successful businessman who values harmony and wealth.]

[The behind-the-scenes boss of the Black Gold Chamber of Commerce.]

[Grandmaster Xu Liang.]

[Seeing this man, scenes from the fourth simulation uncontrollably flash through your mind.]

[That dark, underground demonic den.]

[You held a bone dagger and stabbed this Old fellow right through the heart.]

[Using his blood to complete the so-called "Body Cleansing."]

["Boss Xu, we meet again."]

[You sneer coldly in your heart.]

[On the surface, however, you put on a puzzled and innocent expression.]

[You look toward Principal Liao Xianyu.]

["Principal, you were looking for me? This gentleman is..."]

["Li Ang, come, have a seat."]

[Liao Xianyu warmly invites you to sit and points to Grandmaster Xu Liang to introduce him.]

["This is a famous philanthropist and entrepreneur in our Longnan City."]

["President Xu of the Black Gold Chamber of Commerce."]

["He came today specifically to see you."]

[Grandmaster Xu Liang stands up with a smile and proactively extends his hand to you.]

["I have heard much about you, Student Li Ang."]

["The title of 'Little Grandmaster' is now famous throughout Longnan."]

[In reality, Grandmaster Xu Liang's visit today...]

[...was entirely under the instructions of the high-level members of the Heart-Eroding Cult.]

["Student Li Ang, I'm a straightforward person."]

["I'm here today to provide unconditional support to the young talents of our Longnan City."]

[Grandmaster Xu Liang says with a genial face.]

["To put it bluntly, I want to invest some money in you."]

["You don't need to do anything for the Chamber of Commerce right now."]

["As long as you sign your name..."]

["...you can directly receive a scholarship of 1.2 million federation coin from the Black Gold Student Aid Fund!"]

["Furthermore, after you successfully pass the exams for a Martial Arts University next year..."]

["...our Chamber of Commerce can provide you with a top-tier endorsement contract worth millions."]

["At that time, we can directly sign a long-term cooperation agreement."]

[As Grandmaster Xu Liang dangles this bait, he feels quite smug in his heart.]

[He has seen your personal profile and knows that a few months ago...]

[...because you were buying potions...]

[...you owed a massive debt of 1.2 million to a loan shark company under the Black Gold Chamber of Commerce.]

[But he is a man of high emotional intelligence, an old fox who has navigated the business world for many years.]

[He doesn't say a word about your past history of borrowing from loan sharks.]

[Lest he wound your pride as a martial arts Genius.]

[He simply adopts the posture of someone admiring a talent and presents this money to you as a scholarship.]

[However...]

[As you look at this "old friend" whose heart you had gouged out in the last simulation...]

[...a meaningful smile curls at the corner of your mouth.]

[You do not reach out to take the check.]

["President Xu, I appreciate the sentiment."]

[You lean back against the sofa.]

["However, there's no need to be in such a hurry."]

[You look at Grandmaster Xu Liang and speak slowly.]

["How about this: come find me again next week."]

["I believe by then, you will be offering a much more valuable contract."]

[These words, of course, are not from your own arrogance.]

[This is a script that Great Grandmaster Grandmaster Zhao Zongtian wrote for you long ago!]

[He previously had you participate in those commercial competitions to crush the competition...]

[...precisely to lay the groundwork for this massive demand!]

[Hearing this, Grandmaster Xu Liang is clearly stunned.]

[He is obviously a bit confused.]

[A high school student at the Ninth Stage of Qi and Blood actually thinks 1.2 million is too little?]

[Thinking you are trying to raise the price, he tests you half-jokingly.]

["Haha, Student Li Ang."]

["It's not possible that you're about to Breakthrough to the Origin Opening Realm next week, is it?"]

[Facing his probe, you simply maintain a smile, neither confirming nor denying.]

[Afterward, you, Grandmaster Xu Liang, and the preoccupied Liao Xianyu chat for a bit longer.]

[Seeing that you are giving nothing away, Grandmaster Xu Liang uses the excuse of not wanting to disturb your Cultivate...]

[...and soon stands up to take his leave.]

[Watching Grandmaster Xu Liang's departing back, your eyes narrow slightly.]

[In fact, this old fox guessed correctly.]

[Your scheduled 'Breakthrough' to the Origin Opening Realm is indeed within this week!]

...

[Three days later, late at night.]

[Teachers Apartment.]

[You have the curtains drawn tight.]

[After confirming the door is locked, you sit cross-legged on a yoga mat.]

[You take out that top-grade water-attribute kaiyuan stone kept in a special metal box.]

[You grip it tightly in your hand.]

[On the surface, you close your eyes and concentrate, your breathing deep and long.]

[As if you are performing the most critical energy accumulation before breaking through the bottleneck.]

[But in reality...]

[...you don't need to go through the process of breaking through to the Origin Opening Realm again at all.]

[Directly in the depths of your Sea of Consciousness...]

[...you awaken that dormant...]

[...golden card representing the Regret of a Thousand Autumns (Gold) Talent!]

["Invoke the scene records of when I broke through to the Origin Opening Realm in the last simulation!"]

[As your intent is issued...]

[...the golden card instantly erupts with brilliant light.]

[The next second...]

[...everything will be a perfect one-to-one replica!]

[The Qi and blood in your body begin to vibrate wildly according to the frequency of the Breakthrough.]

[Fine beads of sweat ooze from the surface of your skin.]

[Your bones emit a tooth-aching "creaking" sound.]

[Even the violent convergence of water elements in the surrounding air and that mysterious fluctuation of "newborn Divine Thought"...]

[...are simulated flawlessly!]

[And at this very moment...]

[...within a hidden shadow just outside your apartment window...]

[...Grandmaster Zhao Zongtian and Cold Kite are observing the entire process of your Breakthrough.]

[Watching your Breakthrough process, Cold Kite's cool face is filled with surprise.]

["Such a fast rate of progress! Such a solid Foundation!"]

[Cold Kite cannot help but suck in a breath of cold air.]

["Elder Zhao, this kid's talent is simply high to an unreasonable degree."]

["Even those geniuses from great families who Cultivate in piles of resources would be at this level at most."]

[At this point, Cold Kite changes the subject...]

[...and brings up a question she finds completely baffling:]

["But Elder Zhao, since Li Ang's talent is so high..."]

["...why is it that during his first and second years of high school..."]

["...he had such massive records of borrowing and debt?"]

["There are even so many consumption receipts for purchasing low-quality Qi and blood potions?"]

[As the Deputy Director of the Investigation Bureau, Cold Kite had already investigated Li Ang thoroughly.]

["Although these debts were later paid off by Li Ang using the money Wu Changhe lent him..."]

["...this still doesn't make sense logically."]

["With the talent he has displayed during this period..."]

["...he would definitely be considered top-tier even in a large city."]

["How could he have been stuck at the lower stages of Qi and blood for so long..."]

["...to the point of being forced to borrow from loan sharks?"]

[Grandmaster Zhao Zongtian strokes his white beard, his deep gaze piercing through the curtains.]

[He watches you as you "Breakthrough."]

["That is indeed a suspicious point."]

[Grandmaster Zhao Zongtian says slowly.]

["I suspect that perhaps because he was at the end of his rope..."]

["...it allowed him to accidentally come into contact with the mysterious existence behind this incident."]

["He received some invisible help, which allowed him to break his shackles and soar to the sky."]

["This is also why I want him to make such a big splash during this time."]

["First, naturally, it's to attract the attention of the Heart-Eroding Cult."]

["Second, I also want to see, when Li Ang, this bait, is deep in the center of the storm..."]

["...whether that so-called god behind him will appear to protect him? Or..."]

["Or, whether Li Ang, Liao Fan, and that Liu Qing..."]

["...have already lost their utility value after completing the task of delivering intelligence."]

["...and are no longer being watched by that god behind the scenes?"]

["Then what is your conclusion?"]

[Cold Kite asks.]

["I believe it is the latter."]

[Grandmaster Zhao Zongtian's tone is certain.]

["Because from what I've observed during this period..."]

["...whether it's Li Ang, Liao Fan, Liu Qing, or Liu Yiyi..."]

["...none of them have had anything suspicious planted on them."]

["This shows that the existence behind the scenes..."]

["...most likely just treated them as one-time mouthpieces."]

["Discarding them after use."]

["However, even so..."]

[Inside the room, as your aura gradually stabilizes...]

[...and you successfully "step into" the Origin Opening Realm, a hint of admiration flashes in Grandmaster Zhao Zongtian's eyes.]

["This kid is also a talent."]

["After all, with the Heart-Nature and talent he has shown, I won't say he'll become a Grandmaster in the future..."]

["...but at the very least, becoming a Soaring Realm Martial Artist like you should be no problem."]

["Our Investigation Bureau needs fresh blood like this."]

...

[With that, your perfect Breakthrough performance officially concludes.]

[You slowly open your eyes and clench your fists.]

[Feeling the surging elemental energy within your body...]

[...a perfectly timed look of joy appears on your face.]

["Success!" you shout.]

[In the void...]

[...Cold Kite and Grandmaster Zhao Zongtian, seeing your joyful expression...]

[...actually feel quite happy in their hearts as well.]

["Let's go."]

[Grandmaster Zhao Zongtian waves his hand, and the figures of the two gradually fade.]

[Disappearing completely into the night sky.]

...

[The next day.]

[Following the requirements of Grandmaster Zhao Zongtian's script, not only did you not hide it...]

[...but you instead broadcast the news of your successful Breakthrough to the Origin Opening Realm with great fanfare!]

[An eighteen-year-old in the Origin Opening Realm!]

[Once this news broke, it caused another massive earthquake in the martial arts and education circles of Longnan City!]

[Countless training institutions nearly blew up the phone in the Principal's office at the No. 1 High School.]

[And after learning of this news...]

[...that Black Gold Chamber of Commerce boss, Grandmaster Xu Liang, who previously thought you were too ambitious...]

[...called you three times overnight!]

["Li... Student Li Ang! No! Brother Li!"]

[Over the phone, Grandmaster Xu Liang's voice was trembling with excitement.]

["You really kept your old brother in the dark!"]

["Origin Opening Realm! An eighteen-year-old in the Origin Opening Realm!"]

["What we agreed on before, this weekend!"]

["At the Sky Restaurant in the Chamber of Commerce headquarters building!"]

["We will hold a formal signing ceremony!"]

["I have prepared a top-tier contract for you that will absolutely satisfy you!"]