Chapter 167: The Grand Gift

Chapter 167: Chapter 167: The Grand Gift

Lin Qi looked at the application form on the large screen: [Azure Sky Martial Arts Academy] → [Sixth Institute].

He then clicked "Confirm."

[Application Successful]

A moment later, the page refreshed, loading a new screen.

The emblems of the nine institutes appeared on the screen.

[Institute: Sixth Institute]

[Dean: Lin Qi (Ranked 10th Nationally)]

[Enrollment: 78/1000]

...

Lin Qi glanced at the time. An hour had passed since applications opened, yet only 78 people had signed up.

He then checked the enrollment for the First Institute. It had already surpassed 600, and the number was climbing at a visible rate.

’At this rate, they’ll be full in another hour.’

The Ninth Institute’s Dean was Ao Feng, ranked fourth in the nation. He was a true master, and their enrollment had already hit four hundred.

The Second Institute, led by the sixth-ranked Duan Chuchu, had over 300 applicants.

Meanwhile, his own Sixth Institute was squarely in the middle of the pack.

Lin Qi knew that the higher-ranked the Dean, the more—and better—talented students they would attract, giving them a significant advantage moving forward.

But Lin Qi’s expression remained calm. ’The real competition begins after we get into the university.’

...

The application window was three days long. Everyone was considering their options carefully, as once an application was submitted, the decision was final.

"Damn it, I applied to the First Institute at Azure Sky Martial Arts Academy, but I got kicked out! A notification on my desktop is telling me to pick another institute!"

Someone posted the question online, only to be met with a wave of ridicule.

"You’re just too weak. Once the First Institute hits a thousand applicants, they start admitting based on merit. If someone with a higher national rank applies, they automatically kick out the lowest-ranked person."

"Unfortunately, you were one of them."

"You’d better apply to another institute while you still can."

...

In a room somewhere in Celestial Sea City.

Wang Qiufeng stared at the screen, hesitating. Finally, he made up his mind. He looked at the option for the Azure Sky Sixth Institute and clicked "Confirm."

He muttered to himself, "Choosing Huo Wanyang would be the better option, but my gut tells me to go with you, Lin Qi."

...

Inside a villa.

"Little brother, I suggest you apply to the First Institute. I’ve heard the academy’s leadership praise Huo Wanyang. They say his Talent is absolutely incredible."

"Even among the geniuses of past generations, he’s considered top-tier."

"If I hadn’t Awakened my Special Ability, I’d be no match for him."

"And if he awakens a Special Ability, he could very well be considered an SS-level genius."

The powerfully built Guo Heng sat on the sofa, two screens projected in front of him. One of them was a video call.

On the call was a woman with short hair and beautiful, well-defined features—his sister, Guo Yi.

Despite his sister’s advice, Guo Heng’s hesitation quickly gave way to resolve.

"No. It doesn’t matter how great Huo Wanyang’s Talent is. I have more faith in Lin Qi."

"I want to compete alongside him against the other institutes. Beating the First and Ninth Institutes—that’s what I’m after," Guo Heng said with a smile.

Without another moment of hesitation, he selected the Sixth Institute on his other screen.

Guo Yi sighed on the other end of the call. "Alright, it’s your decision. I just hope you don’t regret it."

Guo Heng shook his head. "I will never regret this."

...

For the three days that applications were open, Lin Qi kept a close eye on the enrollment numbers.

The First, Ninth, Second, and Fourth Institutes filled up the fastest. His Sixth Institute was still about a hundred or two short.

’Looks like we’ll only just make it by the deadline tonight.’

Lin Qi closed the screen, left his bedroom, and went downstairs to the entrance of the villa.

As the family car pulled out, Jiangtao and Jiang Miaoyin rushed over from next door.

"Brother Qi, we couldn’t possibly miss your acceptance and birthday party!" Jiangtao said with a laugh.

Lin Qi said, "Let’s go!"

The five of them piled into the car, leaving Imperial View Mansion and heading toward their destination.

Lin Qi gazed out the window. Today was his joint acceptance and birthday party, a celebration for becoming the top student of Cang Province.

It was also a joint celebration for his birthday.

...

「Xingyao Restaurant」

It was one of the most famous restaurants in all of Celestial Sea City, available for booking all sorts of events: weddings, acceptance parties, and more.

A curtain of light hung at the restaurant’s main entrance, automatically flashing a welcome screen whenever someone walked through.

The floor of the reserved hall was made of a transparent, glass-like material, with countless projections of light and shadow dancing across its surface.

The tables and chairs were immaculate, and service was provided by smart robots.

Students, teachers, and administrators from Tianhai No. 2 Middle School streamed in, along with quite a few individuals who radiated powerful auras.

Qiu Jie sat down with a few classmates and glanced around. Only a dozen or so students from the Elite class of No. 2 Middle School had come; the rest were from his original Class 3.

There weren’t that many students—just a few dozen in total. Most of the guests were school administrators.

"Lin Qi, congratulations!"

Jiang Zhiguang came over with a group of school leaders. Yan Hong and Zhang City were also by their side.

Wu Kang was there as well. As the Martial Arts Instructor who had taught Lin Qi for two years, he watched the young man with a complex expression.

’Who would have thought that an Ordinary student of mine would not only become the top scorer in Cang Province but also rank 10th in the entire country?’

It completely shattered his worldview.

"Holy crap, is that Yue Feng and Lu Wei from the Red Dome Martial Arts Dojo? Both Vice Hall Masters are actually here!"

"And Director He from the Martial Arts Education Bureau! Lin Qi has some serious clout; these are all major figures in Celestial Sea City," Li Shaodong from the original Class 3 said excitedly.

Looking around, they saw important figures everywhere. None of them had ever witnessed such a grand occasion.

Meanwhile, Lin Qi had no choice but to smile and greet all the important guests.

His parents, being ordinary people, looked completely overwhelmed by all the attention.

They were pulled into conversation by the parents of Li Zhou and Qi Yuelin.

They had all reached out in the last couple of days, hoping to build a good relationship with him now that he was on the rise.

Lin Qi’s gaze fell on an incredibly burly man in the distance. He stood over 2.3 meters tall and looked like a brown bear.

The man’s aura was immense; he was at least a High Realm Martial Artist. This was Li Zhou’s father.

There were many others like him in attendance. Very few of the top students in Celestial Sea City came from Ordinary families.

The acceptance party lasted until the afternoon.

...

「That evening.」

Imperial View Mansion, Lin Qi’s new home.

The spacious living room was piled high with gift boxes of all sizes—birthday presents for Lin Qi.

Lin Qi and his parents unwrapped the gifts together. Nearly everything was valuable: Energy Potions, Stimulant Potions, Martial Arts Uniforms, Martial Arts Shoes, various high-tech gadgets, and more.

An hour later, the table was covered in a mountain of items.

"Mom, Dad, feel free to take and use anything you think is useful."

Lin Qi said. He hadn’t expected to receive so many gifts, their total value easily reaching several million Xia Country Coins.

Some items were especially precious, like Cultivation resources such as Qi and Blood Pills.

Lin Zhen and Fang Huiyi didn’t refuse. They nodded and said,

"We need to use these resources to quickly recover our Qi and Blood Values, too."

A few minutes later, in the Underground Martial Arts Room.

Lin Qi took out a cylindrical metal box. It was a gift from Principal Jiang Zhiguang.

It was the "grand gift" he had been promised.

He slowly opened the box, revealing a vial of pale yellow liquid nestled inside.

Beneath it was a slip of paper that read: *Spirit Potion*.

Lin Qi raised an eyebrow. ’A Spirit Potion!’

’Principal Jiang Zhiguang really went all out with this gift.’

...