14: People from Shenzhou Martial Arts School have arrived!

Wednesday, May 22nd.

A ringtone sounded.

Jiang Hao opened his eyes and looked at the Smart Wristband on his nightstand; it was only a little past nine.

He reached out, swiped the miniature window, and chose to answer.

Old Class Teacher's voice came through:

"Hello? Jiang Hao? It's Old Class Teacher. Someone came to the school early this morning—it seems to be a teacher from Shenzhou Martial Arts School. They're here specifically for you!"

"Are you at home? Hurry up, get ready, and come to school. The Mayor seems to be coming too. Get here fast!"

Old Class Teacher finished speaking hurriedly and hung up.

"Shenzhou Martial Arts School?" Jiang Hao was now fully awake.

Although Jiang Hao knew he could definitely take the top spot in the Yunxiao Prefecture Martial Arts Exam and enter Shenzhou Martial Arts School...

...he shouldn't have the qualifications for a teacher from Shenzhou Martial Arts School to visit him personally yet, right?

Jiang Hao got up to wash, wondering to himself what the teacher from Shenzhou Martial Arts School had discovered. Had the news of his meeting with Old Man Li been leaked?

Jiang Hao changed his clothes and rushed out of the residential complex without bothering with breakfast.

Once in a taxi, Jiang Hao sent a message to Grandpa Li:

[I Dont Eat Beef: Good morning, Grandpa Li. A teacher from Shenzhou Martial Arts School suddenly came to school to find me today. Am I so outstanding that people as far away as the Imperial Capital already know about me?]

[really want to retire: Ah, it's Jiang Hao. How is your practice of my Flying Firmament Void-Breaking Slash going? Are you completely clueless? As for the teacher from Shenzhou Martial Arts School, just perform as you normally would.]

[I Dont Eat Beef: I've already reached the entry level. It doesn't feel very difficult, but the consumption is too high—I run out of Yuan Qi after dozens of slashes in one breath. Just perform normally, right? Thanks, Grandpa Li.]

[really want to retire: ??? You've reached the entry level? And you can slash dozens of times in one breath?]

[I Dont Eat Beef: Yeah. Grandpa Li, do you have any channels for forging weapons? I want to customize a long saber with a price range of around 10 million.]

[really want to retire: A Martial Arts Prodigy? A God-given Wisdom Root? Or Dao Heart Clarity?]

Jiang Hao looked at the Light Screen and was about to explain that he had the Comprehension Ability talent when he saw Old Man Li say:

[really want to retire: Comprehension Ability talent, cultivation speed enhancement talent, spirit talent, physical body talent... Four cultivation-related talents? You kid are really going to be Heaven-Defying!]

[I Dont Eat Beef: I do indeed have the Comprehension Ability talent. So, Grandpa Li, do you have any way to help with the saber?]

[really want to retire: The saber is easy. I'll send it to you tomorrow; no need to pay. Just remember, after you Breakthrough to the Saint Rank or even become a 'Destiny Star', try to help Yunxiao Prefecture Cultivate one of its own Saint-rank Martial Artists. Logging off.]

Jiang Hao silently swiped away the Light Screen:

"Saint Rank or even 'Destiny Star'... Grandpa Li really thinks highly of me. Luckily, I'm using cheats; otherwise, I'd really feel the pressure."

...The taxi stopped at the gate of No. 3 Middle School. Just as Jiang Hao pushed open the car door and got out, he saw someone shouting:

"Jiang Hao! I've also broken through to the second rank. This time, I'm definitely winning back my honor! Yunlan City's number one Prodigy must be me, Zhang Jiangyou!"

Jiang Hao looked at the Soy Sauce Guy standing at the gate wearing a No. 1 Middle School uniform. Sensing the Yuan Qi fluctuations from his recent Breakthrough to the second rank, he said:

"Congratulations, Student Soy Sauce. Breaking through to the second rank is enough to get into Yunxiao Martial Arts School."

"Oh, the teacher from the Shenzhou Martial Arts School admissions office is still waiting for me. Let's save the sparring for after the National College Entrance Examination!" After speaking, Jiang Hao immediately turned around, not giving the other party a chance to respond.

Zhang Jiangyou stood frozen, muttering, "Shenzhou Martial Arts School... Is Jiang Hao going to Shenzhou Martial Arts School?"

Jiang Hao arrived at the reception room and saw Old Class Teacher and the Principal sitting upright, looking straight ahead.

On the sofa against the wall, a man wearing glasses, with meticulously combed hair and dressed in a professional suit, was checking messages on a Light Screen.

Seeing Jiang Hao arrive, he immediately stood up and extended his right hand:

"You must be Student Jiang Hao. I'm a teacher from the Shenzhou Martial Arts School admissions office. You can just call me Teacher Tang!"

Jiang Hao shook hands with him and then sat down next to Old Class Teacher.

"Hello, Teacher Tang. You came to see me today because...?"

Teacher Tang said, "It's like this: because of your outstanding performance in the combat certification video for your promotion to the second rank, the System automatically assigned it to our admissions office."

At this point, Teacher Tang paused and looked at Jiang Hao, saying seriously:

"The sales pitches I thought of before coming here are no longer necessary after seeing your current Realm."

"Uh, is this teacher always so direct?" Jiang Hao wasn't surprised; a teacher from Shenzhou Martial Arts School would be at least a seventh rank! It was normal for him to see that Jiang Hao was already at the Peak of the second rank.

"Student Jiang Hao, your excellence is indeed surprising."

Thinking about how the Eldest Young Master Zhou had personally called and instructed that Jiang Hao must be brought into the Weapon Combat Department...

...this Student Jiang Hao's own talent must surpass other Prodigies! For instance, Eldest Young Master Zhou was already a High-Rank Martial Artist at such a young age!

At this thought, the man looked at Jiang Hao with even more fervor—this was a walking gold mine!

Jiang Hao felt a bit uncomfortable being stared at and said, "So, Shenzhou Martial Arts School wants to sign a contract with me in advance?"

"That's correct, Student Jiang Hao. Our Shenzhou Martial Arts School Weapon Combat Department has decided to offer you an S-rank contract."

Teacher Tang brought out the S-rank contract directly, without testing the waters with B-rank or A-rank contracts. Increasing the offer step by step would have been an insult.

This was a Prodigy comparable to the Eldest Young Master Zhou!

Old Class Teacher and the Principal both looked at Jiang Hao in shock. Old Class Teacher even dug at his ear, doubting he had heard correctly.

How could the teacher from Shenzhou Martial Arts School offer an S-rank contract when Jiang Hao had barely said a word?

Damn! Did someone delete a segment of time?

Jiang Hao rested his chin on one hand, thought for a moment, and said:

"In principle, I will definitely enter Shenzhou Martial Arts School, but what are the general terms and benefits of an S-rank contract?"

Although Jiang Hao didn't really need to rely on resources to improve himself—after all, once he reached the Martial School and started the 5v5 team battle mode, he'd get 250 points a day!

Jiang Hao didn't consider the possibility of losing or his teammates stealing kills at all.

What a joke. A single slash resulting in a pentakill would be much more satisfying than smurfing alone like he was now.

"Of course. Let's first talk about the responsibilities of the S-rank contract: you cannot slack off in your Cultivate, Student Jiang Hao."

"You must participate in the 'Global Martial Arts School Freshman League' in the second semester of your freshman year, and participate in the 'Global Martial Arts School League' once during your four years of university!"

"Other than that, there are no conditions or responsibilities."

Of course, if your progress in becoming stronger is slower than expected or if you slack off in your Cultivate..."

"...all resource and benefit supplies from the S-rank contract will be stopped. Resources already distributed do not need to be returned."

"Mhm, very reasonable." Jiang Hao had no objections.

Besides, he had promised Captain Qin that after winning the 'Global Martial Arts School Freshman League' championship, he would praise Yunxiao Prefecture and Yunlan City more!

Teacher Tang nodded with satisfaction and continued:

"The S-rank contract benefits first include 600 million Xia Country coins in martial arts resource support every year. You can choose to exchange them freely, and any unused quota can be carried over to the next year."

"Second, you have priority access to Heaven And Earth Treasures every year. There is no upper limit on this; as long as you are using the resources to become stronger, the supply will continue!"

"Third, there will be two opportunities each year to seek guidance from a Saint Rank Expert, as well as unlimited opportunities to consult with the Dean, Vice Deans, and other High-Rank Martial Artists."

At this point, Teacher Tang pushed up his glasses and said, "The Weapon Combat Department is a bit special. The current Vice Dean is only at the Peak of the eighth rank."

"Although he comes from the Zhou Family of the Imperial Capital, everyone in the Imperial Capital knows he has a bad relationship with them. He never mentions his Family in school. You should keep that in mind."

"Except for the Qilin of this generation of the Zhou Family, Zhou Weifeng, if anyone else mentions anything related to the Zhou Family in front of him, he will immediately lose his temper and beat them up."

"As for the Dean, he is away from Blue Star for long periods, mostly on the front lines of various Otherworlds or in ruins, looking for an opportunity to Breakthrough to the Saint Rank."

???"

"What a classic start... Can I even go to this Weapon Combat Department?" Jiang Hao looked at Teacher Tang, speechless.

"Ahem, but if the Dean breaks through to the Saint Rank, then according to the contract, you can seek guidance from him an unlimited number of times, and it won't count toward the two times per year." Teacher Tang dangled a carrot in front of him.

Jiang Hao metaphorically caught it with tears in his eyes: "So you're saying the Weapon Combat Department has a bright future, right!"

"However, I have another question. My current Cultivation Technique is the Basic Body Refinement Method. Will the Martial School provide more Advanced Cultivation Techniques?"

The man nodded. "The current Basic Body Refinement Method of Xia Country has undergone countless reforms and updates."

"It was jointly modified by several Your Excellency Councilors. It can basically be converted into any Cultivation Technique currently on Blue Star without conflict."

"Once you arrive at the Weapon Combat Department, Student Jiang Hao, you can directly apply to switch to a ninth-rank Cultivation Technique."

"Then I have no more questions. Let's sign the contract now."

Jiang Hao opened the received Light Screen with satisfaction and wrote down his name and basic information.

He looked at the words "Contract Established" on the Light Screen.

Teacher Tang stood up and shook hands with Jiang Hao:

"Welcome to Shenzhou Martial Arts School, Student Jiang Hao!"