paranoianovel Chapter 71 Multiple Parties Compete for Chen Feng's Identity
Chapter 71 Multiple Parties Compete for Chen Feng's Identity
The temporary command post was located on the first floor of the Demon-Suppressing Tower. Originally a secret room for storing array plates and talismans, it had been hastily converted into an office area. A faint smell of blood and burnt food still lingered in the air. Several emergency lights hung on the walls, casting long and short shadows in their dim yellow light.
As Lin Chen followed Jiang Chen through the door, the previously noisy room fell silent for a moment. A dozen or so middle-aged men in uniforms from different universities sat around several makeshift desks, each holding a thermos or a folder. Upon seeing Lin Chen enter, these usually aloof admissions directors stood up as if they had discovered a rare treasure, their faces beaming with eager smiles, their eyes filled with affection as if they were seeing their own son.
"This must be Lin Chen, right? Truly a young hero, so imposing and spirited!"
"I'm Wang Qiang, the admissions director of Tianlan Martial Arts University. Hello, Lin Chen! Our school is the closest to your home, making it convenient for you to go home!"
"I am Li Tao, the admissions director of Jiangnan Martial Arts University. I've long admired your reputation! Jiangnan is a place of beautiful scenery and abundant spiritual energy!"
The admissions officers jostled forward, handing out business cards like snowflakes to Lin Chen, instantly surrounding him. Jiang Chen smiled and waved his hand, tactfully stepping aside and leaving this "battlefield" to them.
"Lin Chen, if you come to our Tianlan Martial Arts University, we will give you a full scholarship, starting at 50 yuan per year! You will also be assigned a doctoral supervisor for one-on-one guidance, and we will even give you a 150-square-meter fully furnished school district apartment next to the school, with a parking space!" Wang Qiang shouted first, his face flushed, afraid that someone else would beat him to it if he was even a second late.
"Our Jiangnan is even better!" Li Tao retorted, squeezing half a body aside from Wang Qiang. "We'll provide you with a private, exclusive cultivation room, with a high-concentration spiritual energy supply around the clock! Plus, permanent priority access to the Jiangnan Secret Realm! And two publicly funded exchange opportunities to top overseas martial arts academies every year!"
"Our Yenching Martial Arts University will directly help you obtain a Beijing residency permit, guarantee job placement upon graduation, and you'll be directly appointed as a battalion commander in the military!"
"Although our Northwest Martial Arts University is remote, we offer cash! A one million yuan settlement allowance is given upon enrollment!"
The admissions officers presented increasingly outrageous and shocking conditions, leaving the surrounding soldiers and staff dumbfounded, their jaws practically dropping to the floor. Any one of these conditions would be enough to drive any martial arts student mad, or even change the fate of an entire family.
But Lin Chen stood quietly, listening calmly. These conditions were indeed extremely tempting: a mansion, residency, money, status… but he knew very well that these external things were not what he urgently needed at the moment. What he lacked was a life-saving medicine, an opportunity to defy fate—Star Marrow Liquid and the Fountain of Life.
Just as the situation reached a stalemate, a middle-aged man in a black uniform slowly emerged from the back of the crowd. His face was resolute and chiseled, with three gleaming gold stars on his epaulets, and he exuded an aura of battle-hardened iron will. He was Chen Feng, the director of the Qingyang City branch of the Martial Arts Supervision Bureau.
Chen Feng walked up to Lin Chen, stopped, and gave him a standard and solemn military salute before speaking in a deep voice: "Lin Chen, please introduce yourself. In addition to being the director of the Qingyang City branch of the Martial Arts Supervision Bureau, I also have two other identities—the chief person in charge of this Northwest Forest Area assessment point, and the deputy director of the admissions office of Xingwu University."
Lin Chen suddenly raised his head, his pupils contracted slightly, and his eyes were full of shock.
The admissions officers around him fell silent instantly. Although they had expected it, they still felt powerless when Chen Feng stepped forward in person.
Chen Feng looked at Lin Chen, a faint smile playing on his lips, but his eyes were filled with utmost seriousness: "My trip to Qingyang City this time is ostensibly to cooperate with the military in investigating the movements of the evil race, but in reality, Star Martial University sent me to personally assess you. Back during the Great Battle of Suppressing Evil, I received a secret report from Daoist Xuan Chen, knowing that you had awakened your Star Martial Core and killed Liu Kun, the vanguard of the Black Crow Legion. In the past two weeks, I have witnessed every battle you have fought and every decision you have made."
He paused, his gaze becoming incredibly sincere and fervent: "You defended the Evil-Suppressing Tower in dire straits, purged the traitors, slew the fourth-tier Evil Scale Black Bear, and single-handedly saved millions of citizens of Qingyang City. Your talent and your character perfectly align with Xingwu University's admission standards of 'fighting for the future of human martial arts.' Therefore, on behalf of Xingwu University, I formally extend an invitation to you for exceptional admission."
"You don't need to take any further cultural exams; you'll directly enter the core class. I can assure you that on the day of enrollment, I'll apply for Star Essence Liquid and the Fountain of Life for you. All the school's resources, including secret realms, mentors, and cultivation techniques, will be given to you with priority. In addition, I will personally serve as your mentor."
These words were powerful and resounding, each word striking the hearts of the crowd like a heavy hammer blow.
This offer is more favorable and more domineering than all the offers from all the other schools combined.
Wang Qiang and Li Tao exchanged a glance, then shook their heads with helpless smiles, silently putting away the brochures in their hands. They knew they had no chance. Star Marrow Liquid and Spring of Life were unique treasures of Xingwu University, the university's prized possessions; other schools simply couldn't offer them, nor were they qualified to.
As Lin Chen looked at the powerful man in front of him, the image of the pale-faced, frail figure with dark lines spreading across her arms outside the door flashed through his mind.
He took a deep breath, a look of unprecedented determination flashing in his eyes.
He reached out and firmly grasped Chen Feng's hand, his voice steady and powerful: "I am willing to join Xingwu University."
Inside the temporary command post, enthusiastic applause erupted instantly.
All the admissions officers applauded sincerely. Although they hadn't managed to snag Lin Chen, this prodigy, they were all happy for the young man. They knew that for a genius as brilliant as Lin Chen, Xingwu University would be his best destination, the stage where he would truly take flight.