217: Chapter 217 Let's do it together, it'll save time.

Early the next morning.

When Lu Cheng woke up, the daylight outside was already shining into the room.

Snow Spirit was curled up in her little nest, her two tails wrapping her into a white furball, sleeping splayed out in all directions.

Lu Cheng sat up and rubbed the space between his eyebrows.

He hadn't slept very well last night.

He took a deep breath, forcing down those chaotic images.

"Cultivate."

"Only cultivation is the Righteous Path."

Just as he finished speaking, the System notification lit up in his mind.

[The Hextech for the new week has refreshed]

[Ascension (Gold): After ten minutes of combat, all attributes are enhanced by 35%.]

[Description: Once combat ends, this enhancement immediately disappears.]

Lu Cheng's eyes lit up.

"Another combat Hextech?"

Adding his previous combat power, it was hard for Lu Cheng to imagine who at the same stage could possibly defeat him.

He didn't get out of bed immediately; the Source Power began to slowly circulate within his body.

The Four-Luminary Holy Meridian lit up simultaneously, and the fifth node, after this period of accumulation, finally showed signs of loosening.

Lu Cheng closed his eyes, mobilizing his blood vitality and Source Power to surge toward the Fifth Luminary.

The Wood Luminary was like some deep-seated life force within his body being awakened.

The Source Power seeped into his bones.

Then into his meridians.

Finally spreading to every inch of flesh, blood, and cells.

Lu Cheng could clearly feel that his body's capacity was being pushed higher bit by bit.

His bones became even more imbued with Perseverance.

His meridians became wider.

His cell activity was like being completely ignited.

If his body was previously a furnace about to be burst by Source Power, now, this furnace was actively expanding.

It could hold more Source Power.

And withstand stronger bursts.

Boom!

A pale green glow emerged on Lu Cheng's body.

The glow spread all the way along his spine, shoulder bones, arms, and chest.

Tiny but dense popping sounds echoed from within him.

Like spring thunder falling on dead wood, all things sprouting.

[Fifth Luminary: Wood Luminary Meridian]

[Ability: Physical Body carrying capacity increased; bone, meridian, and cell activity enhanced]

[Effect: Can withstand stronger Martial Skills and higher-intensity Source Power bursts]

Lu Cheng slowly opened his eyes.

A flash of pale green flickered in the depths of his eyes.

Previously, when he activated the Holy Dragon Armament and Flame Demon Transformation simultaneously, the pressure inside his body was immense.

Coupled with the Fire Luminary Meridian, the circulation of Source Power throughout his body felt like it could tear his meridians apart at any moment.

Now, with the Wood Luminary Meridian open, the pressure was instantly distributed.

Lu Cheng nodded in satisfaction.

Just then, his terminal buzzed.

[Director Wang: Student Lu Cheng, what we discussed last night still stands. There is a competition among the junior students at Magic City Martial Arts University this afternoon. If you have the time and interest, I hope you can come and offer some guidance.]

[Director Wang: The learning permissions for several of Shanghai Martial Arts' Cultivation Techniques and Source Skills have also been applied for in advance.]

Lu Cheng glanced at the message and quickly replied.

[Lu Cheng: I'll be there.]

Not long after, Director Wang sent over a set of coordinates and access permissions.

Just as Lu Cheng put away his terminal, there was a knock at the door.

He opened the door.

Xu Xinglan was standing outside, wearing the school uniform jacket of Magic City Martial Arts University, her long hair tied up, her expression as calm as ever.

Next to her was Tang Zhiwei.

Tang Zhiwei was actually dressed quite normally today.

Wearing a light-colored top, a black long skirt, and a thin coat draped over her shoulders, she stood smiling beside Xu Xinglan.

"Morning, Brother Lu."

Lu Cheng glanced at her.

"Why haven't you gone back yet?"

Tang Zhiwei blinked.

"I still need to coordinate the Tang Family's data with you."

"Besides, the Shanghai Martial Arts school competition is so lively, I want to watch too."

Xu Xinglan said flatly:

"The others have gone back one after another."

"Heavenly King Lin went back to the Lin Family to report."

"Gu Changqing went back to the Imperial Capital Martial Arts Academy."

"Ye Beihan was picked up by his Northern Border mentor early this morning."

"Jiang Xuance was dragged back to the Southern Wasteland by the Jiang Family, apparently because the Red-Armored Zheng ate too much at the hotel and the hotel complained."

Lu Cheng fell silent for two seconds.

"Very reasonable."

At this moment, Snow Spirit poked her head out of the room.

"Ying?"

Tang Zhiwei looked down at her and waved with a smile.

"Morning, little Snow Spirit."

Snow Spirit stared at her for two seconds, then suddenly hugged Lu Cheng's calf.

"Daddy, she's here again."

Lu Cheng: "..."

Tang Zhiwei smiled even more happily.

Xu Xinglan pinched her forehead.

"Let's go."

"Before the competition this afternoon, I'll show you around Shanghai Martial Arts first."

...

Magic City Martial Arts University.

As one of the top martial arts universities in the Dragon Country, Shanghai Martial Arts' campus was indeed staggeringly massive.

Entering from the main gate, towering source energy stone tablets stood on both sides.

Every stone tablet was engraved with the names of past powerhouses from Shanghai Martial Arts.

The campus roads were wide, the trees lush green, and in the distance, one could see training halls, combat buildings, Source Array Towers, and Martial Arts Plazas.

The concentration of source energy in the air was clearly a notch higher than in the outside world.

As soon as Lu Cheng entered the school gates, he felt several searching gazes.

Today, the academy-wide competition was open for spectators, drawing many people from both inside and outside the school.

Seeing Xu Xinglan, many students greeted her one after another.

"Junior Sister Xinglan is back?"

"Xu Xinglan? Didn't she go to participate in the exchange competition?"

"Who is that guy next to her?"

"That's Lu Cheng! Didn't you watch the live stream of the match?"

"Holy crap, the one who blew up the Eagle Country cyborg with a single punch?"

"What is he doing at our school?"

The chatter quickly spread.

Walking beside Lu Cheng, Tang Zhiwei chuckled softly:

"Brother Lu is the focus of attention wherever he goes now."

Lu Cheng was expressionless.

"I'd prefer to keep a low profile."

Xu Xinglan glanced at him.

"You don't have much connection to the word 'low-profile'."

Lu Cheng: "..."

The three of them soon arrived at the main Arena.

Inside the Arena, the crowd was boisterous.

The spectator stands were packed with students.

On the central stage, two junior students were currently fighting.

One used a spear, the other used fists.

Both of their auras were at the Early Stage Hua Hai Realm.

As their Source Power collided, the protective barrier of the stage constantly rippled.

Lu Cheng watched for a while and nodded.

"The quality is indeed quite good."

Xu Xinglan said:

"Those from Shanghai Martial Arts juniors who can make it onto the main stage are basically the top ranks of the school."

"The Early Stage Hua Hai Realm is not uncommon among them."

Tang Zhiwei smiled and said:

"Under normal circumstances, if someone in the Meridian Opening Realm came to offer them guidance, they would probably be laughed to death."

Lu Cheng rubbed his nose.

"Sounds like I'm here to crash the party."

Director Wang quickly came over to welcome them.

He smiled exceptionally warmly today.

"Student Lu Cheng, you've arrived."

"Xinglan, Student Tang, you're here too."

Xu Xinglan nodded.

"Director Wang."

Director Wang led Lu Cheng to the side of the stage.

"Today is mainly the competition for the junior students."

"If you're willing, you can go up and give them some guidance for a few matches later."

Lowering his voice, he asked with a smile:

"How many matches would you be willing to do?"

Lu Cheng looked at the stage, then at the excited students in the spectator stands.

"Whatever you arrange."

Just as Director Wang smiled, Lu Cheng added another sentence.

"If you aren't afraid of their Dao Hearts shattering, you can also have them all come up."

Director Wang's eyelid twitched.

The expressions of several teachers nearby instantly became subtle.

Director Wang originally wanted to say a few words to smooth things over, but the image of Lu Cheng suppressing the geniuses of several nations single-handedly on the exchange competition stage flashed through his mind.

He fell silent.

Forget it.

These words sounded arrogant.

But coming out of Lu Cheng's mouth, they actually carried a hint of objective description.

Director Wang coughed dryly.

"Let's forget about all of them."

"Although our school's infirmary is decent, it can't handle that much trouble."

This sentence happened to be overheard by a young man nearby.

The young man was tall and slender, wearing the Shanghai Martial Arts Student Union uniform. His features bore some resemblance to Xu Xinglan's, but his temperament was sharper.

He had been arranging the student union to maintain order, but upon hearing this, his footsteps halted.

"Director Wang."

"Aren't these words a bit too much boosting others' morale while undermining our own prestige?"

Xu Xinglan turned her head to look at him.

"Brother."

The young man looked at her and nodded.

"Xinglan."

Then he looked at Lu Cheng again.

"Xu Ze, President of the Shanghai Martial Arts University Student Union."

Lu Cheng nodded.

"Lu Cheng."

Xu Ze sized him up. His tone was reasonably polite, but clearly carried a hint of defiance.

"Brother Lu is very strong, I admit that."

"I watched the exchange competition too."

"Even two of me combined might not necessarily be able to beat you."

"But asking all of us to go up, isn't that a bit too arrogant?"

He pointed at the spectator stands and the waiting area.

"This year's youth representative team is indeed strong."

"But in the end, you are still only freshmen."

"Among the juniors and seniors of Shanghai Martial Arts, nearly half have already reached the Hua Hai Realm."

"Over a hundred in the Hua Hai Realm, and even some in the Late Stage Hua Hai Realm."

"Under these circumstances, for Director Wang to actually say such a thing, I really find it a bit hard to accept."

Hearing this, several Shanghai Martial Arts students nearby also looked over.

"The President is right."

"Lu Cheng is powerful, but we at Shanghai Martial Arts aren't bad either, right?"

"Do they really think of us as some ordinary martial arts university?"

Director Wang glanced at Xu Ze.

These guys usually strutted around Shanghai Martial Arts and indeed hadn't been humbled much by outsiders.

It was normal for them to have some pride.

But on the path of martial arts, sometimes having too much pride makes it easy to lose sight of the gap.

Director Wang suddenly smiled.

"Since you have such ideas, then give it a try."

Xu Ze was stunned.

"Director Wang?"

Director Wang looked at Lu Cheng.

"Student Lu Cheng, feel free."

"Just mind your limits."

Lu Cheng understood Director Wang's meaning.

He was planning to use his hand to teach these Shanghai Martial Arts students a lesson.

Lu Cheng turned to look at Xu Xinglan.

"You don't mind if I deflate their morale a bit, do you?"

Xu Xinglan pinched her forehead.

"Do as you please."

"Just don't hit them too hard."

"Medical bills are quite expensive."

Xu Ze: "..."

Is she really his biological sister?

Standing nearby, Tang Zhiwei couldn't help but burst out laughing.

"President Xu, take my advice."

"It's still not too late to back out now."

Xu Ze took a deep breath.

Of course he believed his sister.

Xu Xinglan would never talk nonsense about such matters.

But he really refused to buy into this.

No matter how strong Lu Cheng was, could he really single-handedly tear through a whole group of Shanghai Martial Arts' Hua Hai Realm students?

He turned and walked toward the host's platform.

Before long, the broadcast inside the Arena rang out.

"Temporary Challenge Match."

"An open sparring session between Lu Cheng, a core member of the Dragon Country representative team in this International Youth Martial Arts Exchange Competition, and Shanghai Martial Arts students."

"No limit on registrants."

"No limit on Realms."

"No limit on the number of people."

As soon as the broadcast was made, the entire venue went into an uproar.

Within a short ten minutes, Xu Ze had led over thirty Hua Hai Realm students to the vicinity of the stage.

There were juniors as well as seniors.

Some were in the Early Stage Hua Hai Realm, others in the Middle Stage Hua Hai Realm.

There were even two in the Late Stage Hua Hai Realm.

These people all had unfriendly expressions.

"I heard Lu Cheng wants all of us to go up?"

"A bit arrogant."

"Winning the international exchange competition is impressive, but this is Shanghai Martial Arts."

"Let's show him some pressure."

Standing in front of the crowd, Xu Ze turned back to look at Lu Cheng.

"Brother Lu, are these people enough?"

Lu Cheng stepped onto the stage.

He warmed up his wrists, his expression very calm.

"They'll do."

"We won't bully you either. We can't bring ourselves to do something like many-against-one, but a gauntlet match is inevitable."

Xu Ze spoke.

Lu Cheng shook his head.

"Let's go together."

"It saves time."