High Martial Arts: Enlightenment after Practices

Chapter 158: Chapter 158: Someone from the Qin Family

His consciousness returned to reality. Xu Wuyi slowly opened his eyes, still absorbed in the news of Han Mo’s imminent departure for the Star Realm Battlefield, as well as the insights he had just gained.

However, just as he stood up to head to the underground Cultivation Room and digest what he’d learned, the doorbell rang unexpectedly.

’At this hour...’ Xu Wuyi was a little surprised.

Shen Wei and his friends wouldn’t normally show up unannounced.

He walked into the living room and saw an unfamiliar middle-aged man standing outside the gate on the smart-home system’s external monitor.

The man was dressed in a well-tailored, dark formal suit. His features were refined, and he carried himself with a calm, steady air.

Though the man wasn’t deliberately releasing his aura, Xu Wuyi could vaguely sense that he was a powerful individual—at least at the Martial Master Level.

”Who are you looking for?” Xu Wuyi asked through the intercom.

”Mr. Xu, my apologies for the intrusion.” The middle-aged man’s face broke into a warm smile as his voice came through the speaker. ”My surname is Qin, and I am from the Qin Family of the Central Province. I’ve come today on a special visit to discuss a matter of importance. Might I come in and speak with you?”

’The Qin Family from the Central Province? The same family as Qin Rui?’

Xu Wuyi’s gaze flickered. He’d never had any dealings with the Qin Family and had no idea why they would be seeking him out.

But they were on the Star Martial University campus; he wasn’t worried about any ill intent. After a moment of consideration, he opened both the courtyard gate and the front door of the villa.

”Please, come in.”

The middle-aged man strode gracefully into the living room. His gaze swept discreetly over the simple decor before settling on Xu Wuyi, his smile widening. ”It’s true what they say about heroes emerging from the younger generation. Mr. Xu, it’s been less than three days since you broke through to the Martial Artist realm, yet your aura is already so solid and stable. It’s no wonder you’re number one in your class.”

”You flatter me, Mr. Qin.” Xu Wuyi guided him to the sofa, and the smart-home system served tea. ”To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit today, Mr. Qin?”

”My name is Qin Yi.” Mr. Qin did not beat around the bush. He set down his teacup, looked Xu Wuyi in the eye, and spoke with sincerity. ”On behalf of the Qin Family of the Central Province, I am here to formally invite you, Mr. Xu. The Qin Family wishes to sponsor your Martial Arts training.”

He paused for a moment to gauge Xu Wuyi’s reaction. Seeing that the young man’s expression remained calm, he continued, ”The terms we’re offering are quite simple.”

”The Qin Family will provide you with twenty million Federation credits’ worth of resource support annually. You will have full discretion over these funds to exchange for any resources you need for your training.”

”Until you advance to the rank of Innate Martial Artist, the Qin Family will not ask anything of you, nor will we interfere in any of your choices.”

”The Qin Family’s only condition is this: after you successfully reach the Innate realm, should you enter the Star Realm Battlefield within the following ten years, you must do so as a Guest Minister of the Qin Family.”

Having said his piece, Qin Yi leaned back slightly, giving Xu Wuyi time to process the information. He wore a calm, confident smile.

The terms were nothing short of generous.

Twenty million a year until he reached the Innate realm. It was an enormous sum, enough to solve most of Xu Wuyi’s current resource problems.

Whether it was Earth Fire Marrow or other advanced resources, he could acquire them directly through the Qin Family’s channels, without having to rely on points.

And the price? Simply serving ten years in the Star Realm Battlefield under the Qin Family’s banner after becoming an Innate Martial Artist.

The Star Realm Battlefield was a vast and boundless place where various factions were deeply entangled. Participating as part of a family or organization was the norm.

For an Innate expert who aspired to enter the Star Realm Battlefield, this requirement was hardly a restriction. In fact, it would even provide a degree of protection and access to resource channels.

The Qin Family’s true objective, however, was the contribution points Xu Wuyi would earn in the Star Realm Battlefield.

To encourage Martial Artists to enter the Star Realm Battlefield, the Federation awarded contribution points for completed missions and slain members of the Alien Races.

Personal contribution points could be used directly to purchase resources or exchanged for other services. However, if an individual participated as a member of a family or faction, their points would also be added to that faction’s total.

Faction contribution points couldn’t be used as currency, but at the end of each cycle, the Federation would grant policy-based support to the factions with the highest totals.

This was what the Qin Family was after. They couldn’t touch Xu Wuyi’s personal contribution points anyway, so naturally, they wouldn’t meddle.

In other words, for Xu Wuyi, this sponsorship agreement was all upside and no downside.

This was precisely what the Federation intended, hoping that major factions would sponsor talented commoners to patch the holes in the Federation’s educational system.

Seeing Xu Wuyi’s silence, Qin Yi assumed he was weighing his options and added, ”Mr. Xu, you don’t need to decide right away. You can seek advice from others, or even approach other families and factions.”

”But I can tell you frankly, all things being equal, the Qin Family’s offer is in the absolute highest tier. We see your potential and are willing to make a long-term investment in it.”

A brief silence fell over the living room.

Xu Wuyi didn’t hesitate for long. He soon looked up, met Qin Yi’s smiling gaze, and after a moment’s thought, he spoke.

”Mr. Qin, if I accept your sponsorship and later face Qin Rui in an inter-departmental tournament or a youth championship, will you ask me to throw the match?”

Qin Yi shook his head decisively at the question. ”Of course not. As I said, we will not ask anything of you before you reach the Innate realm.”

”Even with our sponsorship, Qin Rui will certainly receive far more resources than you. If you can defeat him, it would only prove that we have a good eye for talent.”

Xu Wuyi remained noncommittal. ”And what about after I reach the Innate realm? What if I encounter members of the Qin family on the Star Realm Battlefield or elsewhere?”

”Well...” Qin Yi’s hesitation was fleeting before he smiled. ”Mr. Xu, that’s looking quite far into the future. When that time truly comes, there’s really nothing we could do to force your hand.”

”I understand.” Xu Wuyi nodded. ”Thank you for the Qin Family’s high opinion of me, but I do not wish to accept sponsorship at this time.”

A flicker of surprise crossed Qin Yi’s face, but his expression remained placid. He thought for a moment before saying, ”Mr. Xu, we respect your decision. Tell you what, we’ll keep this offer on the table for three days.”

”If you change your mind within these three days, feel free to contact me anytime. You can use this time to reconsider.”

Xu Wuyi gave a slight nod. ”Thank you. I’ll think about it.”

Qin Yi could see that Xu Wuyi’s mind was already made up. He could only sigh internally before taking his leave.

Xu Wuyi saw Qin Yi out, his mind untroubled by the exchange.

From a purely pragmatic standpoint, he absolutely should have accepted the Qin Family’s sponsorship.

Unlike the Lin Family, he had no grudge against the Qin Family. Moreover, hailing from a major province like the Central Province, their power far surpassed that of the Lin Family.

But Xu Wuyi had still refused. This was partly due to Chu Shanhe’s prior warning, but it was also a matter of his own core principles.

His Spiritual Sense, the instinct of a Martial Artist, was telling him that if he accepted this sponsorship now, it would inevitably interfere with his training one day.

’I don’t know what others think, but for me... the heart of Martial Arts must remain pure.’