April 16th, two o'clock in the afternoon.
Li Yuan took a leave of absence. He was picked up from school by Wan Qinghe, who piloted a low-altitude flying vehicle heading towards the interview location.
"Uncle, the interview is set at the City Martial Hall?" As soon as Li Yuan settled into the vehicle, he was surprised by Wan Qinghe's words.
"That's right." Wan Qinghe smiled, "Because Elder Fei returned early today."
"Upon learning about this, he decided to set the interview at the City Martial Hall."
"So,"
"After the interview, we'll go meet Elder Fei," Wan Qinghe continued.
"Okay." Li Yuan's heart was filled with anticipation; the city hall master's status surely rivaled that of the provincial president.
In terms of position and strength, he might even be higher than President Li.
"Have you memorized the interview content?" Wan Qinghe casually asked.
"I've memorized it. Following your advice, I practiced in front of a mirror several times. I should be able to act naturally." Li Yuan replied, "Want me to show you a couple of lines?"
In truth, he had only skimmed the interview script that morning; there was no time to commit it to memory.
"Sure, let me see," said Wan Qinghe.
Soon, Li Yuan performed a rough rendition based on his memory.
"Not bad." Wan Qinghe was impressed by Li Yuan's 'acting' skills and laughed, "I went over the script; some parts were a bit too formal. Just be natural, don't worry about making it sound too polished, it feels more genuine when you speak casually."
"You improved it nicely."
"Mm-hmm." Li Yuan nodded repeatedly; could he not improve it? He hadn't fully memorized the lines.
"Also,"
"Song Yi has decided to donate ten million after tax to the association," Wan Qinghe casually informed.
"Ten million?" Li Yuan was astonished, doubting he had heard correctly.
"Yeah, she just sent me a V-Comm this morning."
"It should be because she learned that you scored over 300 points on the Falling Star and ranked in the top ten youth of Xia Country," Wan Qinghe chuckled, "You're quick with your moves; no doubt you've really scared her."
"Maybe she wants to befriend you."
"Befriend?" Li Yuan was bewildered; while he did not consider himself enemies with Song Yi, it surely couldn't be said they had a good relationship either.
Normally, given how he had taken a substantial amount of money from her, she should hate him.
"Enemies and friends, right and wrong, are never absolute," Wan Qinghe smiled. "You and Song Yi have no unresolvable grudges, so why can't you be friends?"
"On the contrary,"
"Becoming friends with Song Yi would enhance the authenticity of this event," Wan Qinghe said with a smile, "So I accepted her invitation for dinner. Let’s go eat together tonight."
"Dinner together tonight? Uncle, are you rushing this?" Li Yuan hesitated, "After all, she is the one organizing this show…"
"What show?" Wan Qinghe shook his head, "This program is run by me, intended to let your story be known widely and inspire more young people to cultivate. It has nothing to do with her."
"Her donation has no connection to you; the production and promotion of this show have nothing to do with her either."
"You having dinner with her tonight is purely coincidental."
"Do you understand now?" Wan Qinghe educated Li Yuan.
"Got it, Uncle!"
...
The interview took place in a conference room at the Starfire Jiang City Martial Hall, equipped with all necessary facilities.
The host was very professional, and the show was quite famous locally in Jiang City.
A professional audience was in attendance as Li Yuan performed excellently throughout the two-hour interview.
...
At five o'clock, Li Yuan and Wan Qinghe finally arrived at the central building of the City's Martial Hall.
As soon as they entered, Li Yuan couldn't help but admire the decor.
"These decorations, wow," he thought to himself.
Though he wasn't familiar with interior design, he could sense that the classical style decor appeared understated yet extravagant at first glance.
"Old-fashioned and elegant; it really shows taste," Wan Qinghe remarked lightly, "Elder Fei has been in charge of the City Martial Hall for twenty years, and he puts a lot of emphasis on such details."
Li Yuan nodded and couldn’t help but ask, "Uncle, how is City Hall Master Fei?"
"He should treat you quite well," Wan Qinghe smiled. "By the way, when you meet Elder Fei, address me as Hall Master Wan."
"Understood." Li Yuan nodded, contemplating the significance of the title change.
Before long, the two of them passed a security checkpoint and reached the top-level office of the City Hall Master.
The office was spacious.
As they entered, they found a black-robed elder leisurely practicing boxing, similar to a health exercise. However, the invisible aura he exuded was quite unique.
From afar, Li Yuan instinctively felt a thread of danger and heightened his vigilance.
It was the magnetic field of a powerful life form.
"Elder Fei, Li Yuan has arrived," Wan Qinghe announced respectfully at the door.
Li Yuan followed closely behind.
"You're here? Qinghe, bring Li Yuan in," Fei Qian said, turning to face them, his gaze landing on Li Yuan with a smile, "Li Yuan, hello."
Li Yuan felt the warmth of his gaze; it wasn’t sharp, but it felt as if he could see right through him.
So powerful.
"Hall Master Fei," Li Yuan greeted respectfully.
"No need to call me hall master; in terms of age, I could be your grandfather. Just call me Elder Fei or Grandpa Fei," Fei Qian smiled.
"Grandpa Fei." Li Yuan knew exactly what to choose.
The three settled down, and Wan Qinghe started by briefly reporting a few recent tasks; this was the necessary opening dialogue.
"Today, Li Yuan happens to be on the show. He said he has always admired you, and just now, before I even mentioned it, he brought up your name," Wan Qinghe chuckled.
"Ah, that shows he has a good heart," Fei Qian replied with a smile.
Li Yuan wore a modest smile on his face.
Admiration? He never said that. Uncle Wan was not following the usual script.
"I've heard about many of Elder Fei's deeds. My uncle has been mentioning you all these years, saying you are his savior." Li Yuan offered, "During the Xianghe Rebellion in '34, my uncle was maintaining a project around Xianghe when he encountered an attack from Star Realm creatures. It was you, Grandpa Fei, who led the team and arrived in time to save him and the others."
"My uncle often tells me and my younger siblings to remember you." Li Yuan spoke sincerely.
When praising someone, it's best to be specific about a good deed they've done; it easily earns their favor.
Wan Qinghe looked at Li Yuan in surprise. Turns out he had this connection with Elder Fei?
"The Xianghe Rebellion? That was nearly ten years ago. It was a great disaster; I saved a lot of people back then," Fei Qian said, a look of reminiscence in his eyes. "I didn't realize I had saved your uncle; it’s quite a coincidence."
"Speaking of which,"
"If you hadn't saved my uncle back then, I would have found it very hard to walk the martial arts path." Li Yuan said with a laugh, "And I might not have come to meet Elder Fei today."
"Now that you mention it, it’s not entirely wrong for Li Yuan to call Elder Fei a grandfather." Wan Qinghe chuckled.
Fei Qian humbly replied, "As a hall master, saving people is the least I can do."
Yet the smile at the corner of his mouth was very apparent.
The atmosphere turned warm and amicable.
Li Yuan's heart felt clear as a mirror.
His uncle? Nine years ago during the Xianghe disaster, his uncle was indeed working in the area, but several dozen kilometers from the eruption point.
In truth, Li Changzhou had not faced any danger that time.
However, over the years, Li Changzhou often commented while watching the news, "Fei Qian, that city hall master is incredible."
When Li Yuan learned he'd meet Fei Qian yesterday, he spent 15 minutes looking up the elder’s background.
He noted down many of his deeds, preparing various conversation topics.
"Li Yuan, I know about your uncle's matters," Fei Qian continued. "There indeed was a lack of handling at the front line about this matter. I will help look into it… Moreover, I coincidentally ran into a level 29 Origin Warrior on my return from Kyoto, who is very skilled in spiritual secret arts."
"I have already arranged for him to visit Jiang City in three days, where he will use the 'Consciousness Awakening Device' to perform an awakening on your uncle," Fei Qian said solemnly. "Let’s strive for success in one go."
"A level 29 Origin Warrior skilled in spiritual secret arts? Specifically for my uncle?" Li Yuan gasped.
"Li Yuan," Wan Qinghe quietly explained, "A level 29 Origin Warrior is a master of the fifth rank; they achieve a union of inner and outer power, able to gradually move the forces of heaven and earth."
"A master skilled in spiritual techniques can achieve a high success rate in awakening a comatose person, even without technological assistance," Wan Qinghe continued. "For Elder Fei to invite such a master, it is indeed a significant favor for him."
"Thank you, Grandpa Fei," Li Yuan sincerely expressed his gratitude.
Regardless of whether the elder was genuinely concerned or had ulterior motives, as long as the goal of waking his uncle was achieved, Li Yuan would remember it in his heart.
"Favors are nothing; heroes like your uncle deserve to be saved," Fei Qian remarked with emotion. "That determination and courage are beyond ordinary people."
"If everyone possessed your uncle's bravery and perseverance, many wars with the Star Realm would be much easier to deal with."
Li Yuan and Wan Qinghe couldn't help but nod in agreement.
That was true.
"Li Yuan, there is something else to inform you concerning the 'Star Core Crystal' promised by Province Master Yang." Fei Qian said gravely, "You must do everything possible to obtain it."
"Grandpa Fei."
"What exactly is the Star Core Crystal?" Li Yuan couldn't help but ask.
Wan Qinghe was also curious.
"It is a very special treasure related to the use of origin power," Fei Qian clarified. "With it, Li Yuan, your success probability in developing your technique can increase by at least twenty percent."
Fei Qian had only learned about the Star Core Crystal in Kyoto, having specifically gone to investigate it.
"Increase by twenty percent?" Li Yuan was a bit shocked.
According to President Li, given his talent, the normal success chance of developing techniques lay around 40-50 percent.
Yet this mysterious Star Core Crystal could actually boost it by another twenty percent?
That seemed too incredible.
"Province Master Yang has high hopes for you, which is why he made that promise," Fei Qian remarked with emotion. "Otherwise, even level 29 Sky-Reaching Warriors would find it hard to acquire such treasures."
"For you to get it,"
"There's just one condition: Before you turn twenty, you must reach the threshold of the fifth rank." Fei Qian looked at Li Yuan.
Li Yuan felt the pressure; the fifth rank?
Typically, that was a realm only level 29 Origin Warriors could attain.
Where was he? Just barely approaching the intermediate level of the fourth rank.
As he understood more about the gap between the fourth rank and the fifth, Li Yuan realized how challenging it would be to reach this goal.
"Step by step. Since the provincial master has made a promise, he undoubtedly sees hope in you."
"Your progress speed has been steadily increasing," Fei Qian smiled. "Here’s my private V number; if you have any cultivation questions going forward, you can directly message me."
"Thank you, Grandpa Fei." Li Yuan respectfully responded, and the two exchanged V contacts.
...
At dinner, Li Yuan had a delightful conversation with Song Yi. After the feast, Wan Qinghe and Li Yuan returned to Guanshan Martial Hall.
As Li Yuan headed back to his martial arts room, Wan Qinghe returned to his office on the top floor.
"Old Fei is truly Old Fei."
"I thought I would use sponsorship to get closer to Li Yuan," Wan Qinghe sighed inwardly, "but I never expected he would personally invite such a special level 29 Origin Warrior specifically to save Li Yuan's uncle."
"Indeed."
"Simply giving money and goods would not ensure Li Yuan would genuinely appreciate it at this stage." Wan Qinghe came to this realization, "Being overly deliberate in an attempt to win over someone might backfire."
Many things cannot be resolved merely with money.
It takes sincerity.
...
The Seven Star Alliance stands as the mightiest force of human civilization, rising above all nations.
Its headquarters is located on the Flying Star, the strongest among the seven planets for humankind.
In the early morning, in the grand floating city in the sky.
Looking down from the sky city, one could see an extremely towering volcano far away, perpetually capped with snow.
Inside a martial arts room,
"Swish!" "Swish!" A stream of sword lights sliced through the air, incomparably sharp.
"Sis, you’re up this early to practice? It’s only six o'clock," a black-robed figure walked into the martial arts room, slightly surprised while gazing at Lin Lanyue.
"Brother, it’s already six, isn't that early?" Lin Lanyue put away her sword and looked towards the entrance.
"Is six o'clock early?" The figure in black was stunned.
"If six o'clock is considered early, then what about those who start practicing at four or even earlier every day?" Lin Lanyue shook her head lightly, "Brother, do you need something?"
(The End of This Chapter)