Cosmic-Level Demon God-Chapter 57 - 53: Battle Room, Fish Pond Bureau

Virtual Combat Room?

Qin Shi’s eyes revealed anticipation. He had heard in the advanced class of the New First High School that elite universities not only had strong faculty but also comprehensive advanced equipment.

With student ID recognition, one could access the school’s intranet and, depending on their level of authority, use a variety of functions.

"What good is my senior student ID card if I don’t even have the privileges to mute, delete posts, or ban accounts in a chat room? Bro, lend me your director’s badge. Let me wreak havoc with Assistant Professor Qin!"

Lin Yunqing playfully reached out as if to ask for it:

"Win if you can, boot them out if you can’t, I guarantee to rush to the top of Qiguang Heng University’s power ranking within half a week!"

Lin Xiaohan couldn’t be bothered with his amusing sister. He just smiled at Qin Shi:

"The admission threshold for Qiguang Heng University this year is slightly higher, around just over 800 points.

In addition to the basic scores for each semester, exams like the Life Force Grading Exam, Meditation Master Qualification Exam, and Mechanic Certification Exam can all add points as long as you pass."

Yunqing has high hopes for you. Her standards are usually very picky, and it’s rare for her to approve of someone like this. You need to work hard and not disappoint her expectations.

"Understood, Director Lin."

Qin Shi nodded obediently, thinking to himself:

"Director Lin’s eyes looked at me strangely, giving me a weird feeling as if he were saying, ’I’m entrusting my sister to you.’"

Could it be that I really have to become a live-in son-in-law of the Lin family?

But I am carrying Old Liang’s great hopes to revive the glory of the Old Martial Sect!

Qin Shi silently reaffirmed his resolve, ignoring the strong temptations of villas and luxury cars, and his soon-to-be powerful brother-in-law.

Lin Xiaohan, usually busy with important matters, didn’t stay long.

Before leaving, he only said:

"Uncle Chen’s birthday is coming up, it’s at the Golden Radiance Mansion. Remember to attend the dinner."

Lin Yunqing’s eyes lit up. Such occasions with plenty of wealthy people would be a perfect chance to attract investment, right?

Compared to the often ostentatious young masters of the Imperial Capital and the elite sons of Hai Province,

the rich boys of Heng Province’s Urban Circle are currently a bit behind, still stuck in the "showing off" and "pretending to be mature" phases, easy to manipulate as high-quality leeks.

"Got it! Bro, I promise to be on time. I won’t be late!"

Lin Yunqing readily agreed.

"Behave yourself. After a while, when mom cools down, I’ll ask Zhenzhen to get you some supplements and put in a good word for you. Stop wasting time at the Youth Palace, it’s delaying your thesis and research."

Lin Xiaohan advised with concern.

Being limited by her own mediocre talent, Lin Yunqing had chosen the ancient history major in Qiguang Heng University’s Spiritual Ability System due to the slow growth of her Life Force.

But she had been obsessed with martial arts, watching Star Cup competition videos repeatedly since she was a child, and pestering their dad to teach her New Martial Military Boxing.

When her Life Force reached seventeen or eighteen points, she became overconfident, picking fights everywhere and causing trouble, epitomizing someone who is weak yet loves to fight.

If it weren’t for the Lin family’s connections in Heng Province’s New Star, she would have suffered many losses by now.

"I won’t. I wasn’t wrong. It was that Qin guy who was blind, treating me like one of those money-grubbing goldfinches, flaunting his wealth as soon as he met me."

Lin Yunqing said angrily:

"If this were the Imperial Capital or Hai Province, I could yell once and have a dozen underlings tear him apart!"

Lin Xiaohan shook his head helplessly. His sister had inherited their mom’s temper and their dad’s hobbies, truly a headache.

As he left the villa area, Secretary Xu, waiting outside, parked the car by the road.

He bent down to open the door and let Director Lin in.

"Ah, Heng Province, Heng Province, so many historical issues. I don’t even know where to start."

Leaning back in the rear seat, Lin Xiaohan thought of the conversation with his little sister, his eyebrows gradually knitting together.

Before leaving Yazhou, he had a serious conversation with his father.

Among the Three Ministries and Nine Departments of Dongxia, the Education Department had the largest structure, the most bloated staff, and the slowest promotion rate.

For the young faction to rise to power, they must overthrow the entrenched conservative faction who were like undead guardians of ancient tombs.

The northern Imperial Capital had strong gate valves that were brittle due to their rigidity; the somewhat less restrictive Hai Province and Jing Province had tightly-knit cliques and numerous factions, making it hard to break in.

To step into the red building of the Education Department and become a top official before the age of fifty, one must have outstanding political achievements.

"Heng Province has been marginalized for many years. If the Chen and Lin families join forces to govern and eradicate chronic problems, there might be a chance."

Lin Xiaohan took off his glasses and gently wiped them.

He hadn’t inherited his father’s nonchalant and conflict-free attitude. Instead, he was more like his mother, with a strong desire to win and a refusal to be left behind.

"Secretary Xu, any news from the Qin family?"

"Qin Lihao used to invite Director Lin to meals and meet-ups daily, even sending gifts several times. Following your instructions, I replied that you were too busy to meet."

Secretary Xu drove the Lingyun A6, a symbol of the system, smoothly:

"But they’ve been quiet these past two days."

Lin Xiaohan put his black-rimmed glasses back on:

"The decision-maker in the Qin family is Qin Renying. Now that Qin Lihao has gone quiet, his elder brother should step in."

Chen, Lin, Qin, Zheng.

During the Great Expedition, the Fourth Battle Group incorporated Heng Province into Dongxia’s territory. The first pioneers to arrive were these four families.

There is no denying that they invested a massive amount of manpower and resources in the early stages, with many bloodline descendants falling in the thorny path of border exploration, forging the tragic songs of their family history.

But the first batch of rich rewards had already been seized and digested by them, allowing their families to multiply, grow branches and leaves, forming the strongest-rooted tree on this land.

"A millennium has passed, and the four great families should have left Heng Province with their gains. But that great explosion... made Heng Province Dongxia’s eighth administrative planet to undergo ’electronic blockade’ and ’energy restriction,’ making it hard to leave."

Lin Xiaohan unconsciously tapped the armrest, seemingly hearing his unreliable father’s words:

"Different people have different ways to advance. The first step often depends on how far you can see.

Some people need to constantly emphasize their background, region, and surname, expressing their desire to be selected and cultivated; others should wash away the imprints that have accompanied them since birth to prove their insight."

...

...

"Come on, come on, Assistant Qin! I’ll help you register a user account for the Virtual Combat Room!"

Lin Yunqing eagerly dragged Qin Shi into an elevator, leading him to a bright and spacious basement.

She brought out an old computer about the size of a washing machine, with transistors as components.

Its surface was etched with complex and exquisite streamlined text, resembling mysterious symbols.

Qin Shi, who mastered five commonly used regional languages, couldn’t understand it and felt it was strange.

It didn’t seem like a technological creation, more like a religious ceremonial object.

"Do you Dongxia people always have such a ritualistic way of surfing the net?"

Setting aside his doubts, he took the thing Lin Yunqing handed him.

It looked like a motorcycle helmet, and when connected to power, its goggles flashed with continuous data streams.

The matte black material felt lightweight and exuded an air of luxurious "unaffordability."

"This is the ’Spiritual Realm Series’ developed by Santang Heavy Industry. It’s much better than ugly, tight combat suits with poor synchronization VR equipment. Unfortunately, the latest portable model hasn’t been released yet..."

Lin Yunqing’s explanation was filled with unfamiliar terms that Qin Shi half understood.

This might be the gap and generation gap brought by family background.

The wealthy kids in New First High School’s elite class might not even afford such "toys."

"Are there similar symbols on the helmet?"

Qin Shi asked directly, weighing it in his hands.

"Lin, what are these?"

"You can think of it as Santang Heavy Industry’s unique design style. As for their function, you can think of it as ’warding off evil spirits.’"

Lin Yunqing replied.

Warding off evil spirits? What, are there ghosts in the electronic network? Will they eat people?

Absurd thoughts popped into Qin Shi’s mind. He looked at the helmet again.

It indeed resembled old Daoist talismans.

He wanted to understand it more closely, but Lin Yunqing was vague.

No longer asking more questions, Qin Shi familiarized himself with the operation process and then put on the gaming helmet connected to the computer.

The identification card representing Qiguang Heng University’s Spiritual Ability Domain senior student status swiped into the slot on the goggles with a "beep."

"I’ll create your character image."

Somehow, Lin Yunqing joined Qin Shi in the same virtual space.

She excitedly scanned his body data, then adjusted his face, selected clothes, and set appearance effects.

Half an hour later.

The novelty of Qin Shi’s first contact with the virtual world had completely faded, leaving only sleepiness.

"Alright, alright! Qiguang Heng University’s Old Martial Sect genius is freshly baked!" freёweɓnovel.com

A few more minutes passed before Lin Yunqing finished tinkering.

"Handsome guy, who are you?"

Qin Shi activated the third-person view, examining his bizarre appearance.

Wasn’t this white long hair too pretty?

Why were there several pairs of glowing wings on his back?

And was a long black robe that almost drags on the ground really suitable for fighting?

"An outer disciple from New First High School being so ostentatious in a top sect like Qiguang Heng University might just attract some true inheritor to stomp on you hard!"

Qin Shi silently fumed, realizing all the time wasted was just to give him a character that resembled Sephiroth from "Final Fantasy."

Remember this debt!

I’ll repay it with a punch later!

"Wait, what’s with this ridiculous name?"

Qin Shi looked at the text above his head.

[Nine Heavens Thunderbolt Foot Stance]

"No time to explain, initiating the combat room!"

Facing Qin Shi’s increasingly dangerous gaze, Lin Yunqing, feeling guilty, quickly clicked to enter.

...

...

"Lin, you know, when I first met you, I thought you were quite strong."

Qin Shi said gloomily, flaunting his flashy Sephiroth look.

"Are you implying I’m weak?"

Lin Yunqing got anxious.

"I’m very strong! I once ranked in the top ten of my system’s combat ranking!"

Qin Shi fiddled with a menu interface and opened the personal information of the user named [Super Invincible Tyrannosaurus Battle God].

[System’s Power Ranking: 8]

[School’s Power Ranking: 89235]

[Rank: Resilient Black Iron]

"Lin, I think your strength lies in being unable to degrade from this rank.

Considering Qiguang Heng University has less than ninety thousand students, you’re almost at the very bottom."

Qin Shi almost couldn’t hold back his laugh. Turns out, the self-proclaimed New Martial Sect elite Lin Yunqing was a Spiritual Ability System weakling.

Moreover, one from the least combat-capable ancient history major.

This minor major had no more than thirty students.

"I thought I needed to face the elite of a top university, but instead, I joined a fish pond bureau."

Ignoring the flushed and agitated Lin Yunqing, Qin Shi silently switched from [Nine Heavens Thunderbolt Foot Stance] to the Martial Arts System channel.

[Pei Tugou: 1v1 solo match, loser calls the winner ’dad’. Anyone unsatisfied, welcome to challenge offline in real life!]

[Three Jugs of Wine: Main cultivator of ’Titanium Golden Body’, seeking strong, aggressive, fast, and enduring hunks to pamper me!]

[Little No Books: Extreme Stream, ’Electric Current Propulsion Path’, seeking a Military Martial Arts Stream for a beatdown.]

"So this is the aura of university-level strong martial artists in a top sect."

Browsing the array of messages in the public channel, Qin Shi started to pick from the numerous portals, flashing like light and shadow.

"It’s you!"

After a moment, his gaze locked in.

Initiating match invitation!