The Strongest Talent Tree

Chapter 52: Chapter 50: Tier 2 Talent

Zhao Hao looked miserable. He knew Feng Hao would definitely refuse, but he still wanted to try.

After all, the Academy Competition was imminent. With Feng Hao’s terrifying combat power, he could undoubtedly distinguish himself and win supreme honor for Rongcheng Academy.

Unfortunately, the Student Federation’s requirements for the competition had always been strict. Only officially enrolled students were eligible to participate, which was why Zhao Hao went to such lengths to persuade Feng Hao.

"Feng Hao, are you sure you won’t reconsider? There are many benefits to enrolling. It will make everything much more convenient for you in the future," Zhao Hao pleaded earnestly.

"I already told you I don’t want to enroll. Are you ever going to stop?" Feng Hao said, exasperated.

Zhao Hao had no intention of giving up. He pressed on, "The Academy Competition is right around the corner. Are you really going to let your spot go to Zhou Chen?"

"What’s the connection?" Feng Hao asked, confused.

Hearing this, Zhao Hao sensed an opening and quickly explained, "According to the Student Federation’s rules, only officially enrolled students can compete. You took first place in the trial assessment, so logically, you should be the one to represent us, but..."

"Fine, I get it." Feng Hao frowned and nodded, showing he understood.

"Does that mean you agree?" Zhao Hao’s eyes lit up.

"You’re getting ahead of yourself. I have no interest in the competition. Whoever wants to go can have the spot." Feng Hao’s gaze was mischievous. "However, since the spot is technically mine, shouldn’t the academy compensate me for it?"

Zhao Hao was rendered speechless. He pointed a finger at Feng Hao, fuming with such rage that he was practically bristling.

"Ahem, if there’s nothing else, Dean, you should head back. I still have to train!" Feng Hao smirked, then turned and walked back to the training pod. "Oh, and don’t forget my compensation!"

"You—!" Zhao Hao sputtered with rage. He could only watch as Feng Hao entered the training pod, then left with a frustrated flick of his sleeve.

Inside the training pod, Xi Yueyao was sullenly cursing Dean Zhao Hao. She had been enjoying the story he was telling her, only to be suddenly interrupted.

Seeing Feng Hao return, Xi Yueyao delightedly clung to him. "Quick, quick! What happened to Cinderella after that?"

"I’m not in the mood right now. I’ll tell you later," Feng Hao teased with a smirk.

"No way! I want to hear it now!" Xi Yueyao pouted.

"I said no, and I mean it. I need to train hard and try to reach the Second Order as soon as possible." Feng Hao deliberately left her hanging. He ignored her, sat down cross-legged in the training pod, and began to cultivate.

Xi Yueyao was having none of it. She pounced on Feng Hao, flailing and throwing a tantrum. "You jerk, Feng Hao! You rotten jerk! If you don’t finish telling me the story, you can forget about training today."

"Oh-ho, you’re really asking for it now, aren’t you?" Feng Hao let out a wicked laugh and, in one smooth motion, pulled her down onto his lap. He was well-practiced in how to handle this girl. He raised his hand and brought it down on her round bottom.

SMACK!

"That’s for being disobedient. Still want to cause trouble?" Feng Hao asked menacingly.

By now, Xi Yueyao was long used to Feng Hao’s tactics. She lay silently over his lap, her lips forming a hurt pout. "It’s not fair. I want to hear the story."

"All you think about is stories. Why aren’t you this motivated when it comes to training?" Feng Hao snorted irritably and raised his hand for another smack.

Xi Yueyao let out a muffled grunt and, in a fit of pique, bit down hard on Feng Hao’s thigh.

"Hiss—!" Feng Hao sucked in a sharp breath, the pain nearly killing him. "What are you, a dog?"

"I want to hear the story!" Xi Yueyao let go, huffing indignantly.

"..." Feng Hao was at a complete loss with her. He could only give a wry smile while continuing to smack her bottom in frustration.

In his defense, he had started this whole storytelling business himself. Some time ago, because training had gotten too tedious, he told her a few fairy tales from Earth.

Who would have thought that after hearing them, Xi Yueyao would become hopelessly addicted, pestering him for a story almost every single day.

It was fine at first. After listening to her daily story, the girl would obediently train with him. But a problem had arisen in the past few days.

Feng Hao didn’t have that many fairy tales stored in his head to begin with, and by now, he had basically run dry. He had no choice but to cut back on the length and frequency of his stories, which in turn caused this girl, Xi Yueyao, to start throwing fits.

"Hmph! Is that all you can do, spank me? Let me tell you, it doesn’t even hurt one bit!" Seeing Feng Hao’s troubled expression, Xi Yueyao couldn’t help but feel smug.

"Alright, you win!" Feng Hao shook his head in defeat. Steeling himself, he had no choice but to finish telling her the story of Cinderella.

...

The next day, after getting Yao Girl settled, Feng Hao went to the Dance Team to fulfill his coaching duties as promised.

Miao Feng, that good-for-nothing disciple of his, was just leaving the Dance Team with a blissful look on his face. When he saw Feng Hao, he rushed over to greet him. "Master, you’re finally here! The senior girls were about to tear me limb from limb!"

"Serves you right. That pack of female hooligans aren’t even human when they go wild," Feng Hao said irritably.

"You’re right, Master." Miao Feng nodded in solemn agreement. "But, Sister Zhenzhen is still very gentle."

Feng Hao broke out in a cold sweat. ’That’s 10,000 points of emotional damage right there.’ "Alright, alright, go on and do what you need to do."

"Understood." Miao Feng quickly bowed and turned to leave.

"By the way, how’s the research on the Experience Pill coming along?" Feng Hao asked.

"Same as always," Miao Feng said with a wry smile. "I’m trying to figure out how to modify the formula, but I don’t know if it’ll be successful."

"It’s a good idea. Keep up the hard work!" Feng Hao nodded in approval.

After seeing Miao Feng off, Feng Hao strode resolutely into the Dance Team’s club room. In the past, he would never have dared to barge in so brazenly. After all, the room was full of female hooligans who would eat you alive.

But things were different now. Ever since he’d become the Dance Team’s coach, the female hooligans’ attitude toward him had done a complete one-eighty. They were as respectful and obedient as could be.

After all, Feng Hao’s coaching was highly technical. By combining skill rotations from various games on Earth with all sorts of flashy, badass martial arts moves, he had quickly improved the female hooligans’ "Dance Arts." Not only were they now spectacular to watch, but their practical combat effectiveness wasn’t half bad either.

Of course, Dance Arts were still just Dance Arts. Compared to a true combat Secret Technique, there was still a significant gap.

"Coach Feng is here!"

The moment Feng Hao stepped through the door, he was mobbed by the female hooligans, who all started chattering and asking questions:

"Junior Feng, I’ve perfected the moves you taught us the day before yesterday. Do you see anything that needs improvement?"

"And me! And me! I can never get that turning sword-draw right. Quick, come and help me with it!"

"Big Brother Coach, I still haven’t learned the new version of the Flying Flower Swordsmanship."

"Are we learning a new Dance Art today? I’m so excited!"

The chatter gave Feng Hao a headache. He barked, "Everyone, quiet down! Get into formation and run through the new version of the Flying Flower Swordsmanship from the top. I’ll point out any problems I see."

"Okay, okay." The female hooligans immediately fell silent. Laughing, they got into formation and began their drills without the slightest hint of protest.

...

Leaving the Dance Team, Feng Hao felt as if he had just escaped with his life. Fortunately, that gang of female hooligans was quite generous, allowing him to make another tidy profit.

It was still early, so Feng Hao made a special trip back to the Class One classroom. He basked in the feeling of being the center of attention, checked up on how his three underlings were doing, and finally asked Yue Linglong a few questions about Demon Patterns.

His three underlings had been doing well for themselves lately. After demonstrating impressive strength during the trial assessment, their newfound popularity was only natural.

Zhang Meng was quite talented when it came to Demon Pattern studies. He spent all day in the Magic Pattern Academic Society debating theory with people. Rumor had it he was undefeated in debate and was emerging as a contender for the society’s presidency.

Tu Xiaoshan had also joined a club—the Fighting Club, it seemed. In any case, it was one of those clubs where everyone just beat each other up.

As for Li Mufeng, he had joined the Gun Club. Unlike the other two, the Gun Club was known as the most high-end club on campus, a paradise for all firearm enthusiasts. They mainly researched gun maintenance and modification, and its most defining feature was that it burned through money like it was water.

After exchanging a few pleasantries with his three underlings, Feng Hao returned to the training pod early and started to train.

That girl Xi Yueyao had run off to who-knows-where to cause trouble again. Feng Hao couldn’t be bothered with her; she would definitely be back before dark anyway.

Closing his eyes, he sat cross-legged on the floor. Aided by the training pod’s enhancements, Level 1 Magic Crystals were absorbed by him at a rate visible to the naked eye. The energy flowed through his entire body, finally converging in his sea of consciousness, where it was devoured and absorbed by the Genetic Tree.

At last, under his constant nourishment, the Genetic Tree grew to level twenty. Ten milky-white "Gene Primes" rapidly condensed. At the same time, Feng Hao continued to absorb Magic Crystals until the Genetic Tree extended a second branch.

"Whew, I finally advanced to Second Order Mage!" Feng Hao opened his eyes in delight. He soon perceived a genetic message coming from the second-order Talent Branch:

[Meridian Root System gains +8 Magic Power.]