Dawn of a New Era

On the road, after dawdling for half a minute, Chen Shouyi finally walked to the group of Martial Artists.

The surroundings immediately fell silent.

Even though Chen Shouyi's archery skills were a bit lacking, he was still a top-tier Martial Artist, a figure at the pinnacle of the pyramid, not someone ordinary Martial Artists could look down upon.

Moreover, when Zhu Xueqing spoke just now, she didn't intentionally lower her voice, so all the Martial Artists heard it clearly.

The opponent's strength was clearly still hidden, his true power even more terrifying.

Wang Lie took the initiative to smile and reach out his hand: "My name is Wang Lie, pleased to meet you! Pleased to meet you!"

Chen Shouyi shook his hand, exchanging pleasantries: "I'm Chen Shouyi, I've long heard of your great name!"

Immediately, the other Martial Artists also came over to greet him.

Maintaining the basic formalities.

After experiencing a bout of awkward yet polite socializing, Chen Shouyi followed the staff to the photo room, took a picture, quickly obtained a nationally certified Martial Arts Instructor Certificate, and then left the Martial Arts Bureau.

Sitting in the car, Chen Shouyi was flipping through this real Martial Arts Instructor Certificate in his hand, feeling that there wasn't much difference.

It's just that the stamp changed from the Provincial Government to the Martial Arts Bureau.

At this moment, Chen Shouyi raised his head and asked Sun Jianhua: "Who is that Wang Lie? He seems quite imposing?"

Sun Jianhua's eyelids flickered imperceptibly, thinking inwardly that he had just said he had long heard of him, and now he was asking who he was. He quickly said: "Wang Lie is one of the top four Martial Artists in the Capital City, alongside Liang Tianyu, Zhang Wenlong, and Luo Jingwen."

Speaking of Wang Lie, there's a funny story.

It's rumored that Wang Lie is most afraid of his wife.

It's said that once, when having an affair, he was caught by his wife in the hotel. Wang Lie was so scared that he jumped directly from the seventh floor without wearing clothes and hid outside for several days before daring to go home.

Of course, this is just gossip.

He naturally didn't dare to mention it!

Chen Shouyi nodded upon hearing this, stopped talking, and looked out the window, letting out a barely noticeable sigh.

Originally, today he wanted to show off, but unexpectedly, in trying to show off, he ended up losing face completely.

Who knew the Martial Arts archery assessment would be at such a distance!

"Once I get back, I must settle down and practice my archery diligently!" Chen Shouyi made a firm decision in his heart.

Bai Xiaoling, listening, was also shocked, not expecting that the middle-aged man she had scolded earlier had such a significant identity.

"By the way, at eight o'clock tomorrow morning, someone will pick you up to go to the Beijing Conference Hall!" Sun Jianhua said at this time.

"Is there anything I need to prepare?" Chen Shouyi asked.

"No need, someone will prepare everything for you. Oh, and don't bring your sword!" Sun Jianhua said.

"Yeah, I know." Chen Shouyi naturally understood this.

...

Chen Shouyi opened the door, walked out of the room, and then closed it.

The bed was scattered with small clothes everywhere.

He lifted the quilt and saw the Shell Lady hiding inside, completely naked, clutching a little dress tightly in her hands, her body taut, eyelids twitching slightly, occasionally peeking through a slit to observe.

Chen Shouyi could tell at a glance that she was pretending to sleep.

He angrily lifted one of her feet with his fingers.

The Shell Lady immediately began struggling violently like a salted eel, her body writhing, jumping around, shouting loudly: "Put Little Dot down, you bad Giant!"

"Why aren't you asleep yet?" Chen Shouyi put the Shell Lady down and asked.

The Shell Lady carefully tidied her disheveled short hair, knowing she was at fault, hummed, and turned her head: "Little Dot hasn't finished organizing yet, you gave Little Dot too many clothes, I'm exhausted from all the work!"

Chen Shouyi had a moment of speechlessness; so it's my fault now.

Who needs to try on every outfit when organizing clothes?

"Hurry up, how much is left?" Chen Shouyi asked testily, seeing her looking so lively, he realized that unless he forced her into a briefcase against her struggles where he couldn't see her, it was impossible to make her sleep.

"Little Dot will be quick, there's only one left now…" She flipped her bare little butt over to a small mountain of clothes, picked one up, and counted one with a serious face.

Chen Shouyi listened to the Shell Lady count for a minute, and the small mountain of clothes decreased by only half a circle, making his face turn dark.

Things really haven't gone smoothly today, and the Shell Lady isn't behaving either.

This life is really unbearable!

Really want to give her a good spanking!

After a long while, Chen Shouyi finally suppressed his pent-up feelings.

Ah, forget it, for this Little Dot, even if she doesn't sleep for two days and nights, it's just like a regular person pulling an all-nighter.

Out of sight, out of mind.

Chen Shouyi took off his clothes and went into the bathroom to shower.

...

Early the next morning, a set of shirt and suit was delivered by the dormitory service staff.

After changing, Chen Shouyi checked himself in the mirror again and again, feeling that wearing a suit made him look the most handsome and matched his temperament best.

"How do you do this?" Chen Shouyi asked the young waiter beside him while holding the tie.

He knew how to tie a red scarf, but had never tied a tie before.

"Mr. Chen, may I help you with your tie?" A young, pretty waitress beside him said with a shy smile.

Chen Shouyi hesitated for a moment and handed over the tie, saying, "Alright!"

The waitress took the tie and gently stood on tiptoe.

Chen Shouyi's body was tense and motionless, letting the waitress do her thing, and after several minutes of busy work, she finally finished tying the tie, panting slightly, her face flushed.

Finally, it was done!

Chen Shouyi silently breathed a sigh of relief.

He hadn't expected tying a tie to be so complicated.

He decided never to wear a tie again.

Then he thanked the waitress, saying, "Thank you, it was really a bother to you."

"Mr. Chen, you're too kind. It's my honor to serve you!"

Chen Shouyi looked at himself in the mirror and indeed appeared more handsome.

Next, he went to the dining room in the guesthouse to have breakfast with Bai Xiaoling and Zhang Miaomiao.

Before long, a car came to pick him up.

Others naturally couldn't come along this time; only Chen Shouyi alone.

After driving for over ten minutes.

The car stopped at the entrance of the conference hall. After a careful inspection, Chen Shouyi followed the staff to an award hall.

There were already quite a few people inside.

"Chen Shouyi!" Luo Jingwen called out, standing up from his seat and warmly welcoming him.

As soon as the venue heard this, buzzing sounds came forth, and many people curiously and respectfully looked over, but now he could easily handle such big occasions and never again be awkwardly unsure of what to do.

Chen Shouyi looked at Luo Jingwen and smiled. The last mission had forged a deep friendship between them: "Long time no see."

"Yesterday you took the Martial Arts Instructor assessment, I planned to come and watch, but things got delayed. By the way, how did the assessment go?" Luo Jingwen patted Chen Shouyi's arm and asked.

Actually, these days, he had been trying the tiresome force of will in a quiet room, completely detached from outside affairs. Had no one invited him to this award ceremony, he would have forgotten about it.

Chen Shouyi's smile froze upon hearing this. It's just the thing he'd rather not be asked about, and he simply said, "Not bad!"

"Not bad" is a word with rich meanings.

It can be understood literally or as modesty, almost like a universal answer.

Soon after, Zhu Xueqing also arrived.

Fortunately, Zhu Xueqing did not mention yesterday's assessment.

...

Aside from these two Martial Artists, very few others showed up; the award ceremony was mainly attended by government officials or military personnel.

But on reflection, it made sense. Martial Artists are proud people, and if there's no particular camaraderie, who would come here just to give their support?

Yesterday's presence was merely out of curiosity; since witnessing the assessment, there's no need to come again.

Led by the staff, Chen Shouyi took a seat in the front row.

The time reached nine o'clock.

The host came onstage, first describing the difficult situation facing Great Xia Country today, as well as the central government's resolve to stand against the other world and firm belief in victory, along with technological advances and breakthroughs in various areas.

After half an hour of speaking, they finally got to the main topic Chen Shouyi was anticipating.

"Martial Artists are one of the forefront forces resisting the other world. In our most challenging times, powerful Martial Artists have emerged from various places, writing admirable and touching stories, especially some outstanding tales teaching us that even a Barbarian God is merely a powerful being and humans can indeed become Godslayers..."

Chen Shouyi felt a bit embarrassed listening, his body involuntarily sitting upright.

"Now let's welcome Mr. Chen Shouyi!"

Amidst a burst of enthusiastic applause, Chen Shouyi stood up amidst the focus of the crowd, striding to the award platform, receiving a red certificate and a medal from an elderly gentleman he vaguely recognized from TV.

The two shook hands afterward.

"Xiao Chen, do you mind if I call you that?" The old man asked with an affable attitude.

"Of course not," Chen Shouyi quickly replied.

"You're excellent, the future is yours, but practice archery more!" The old man said with a kindly smile.

Chen Shouyi's face immediately became a bit awkward.

Can we please not mention archery!

Fortunately, the old man said a few more words and then hurried away.

Officially, the award ceremony ended quickly, but for Chen Shouyi, it felt like just the beginning and was the most anticipated part.

Soon, a neatly dressed staff member led Chen Shouyi to a small conference room. After some pleasantries, the staff immediately presented a document with unusual politeness, saying, "Mr. Chen, here are your merits, and the list of resources available for exchange by the nation. Please take a look."

Flipping through a few thin pages, he glanced over it: "Fifty merit points!"

The staff promptly explained, "Merits for slaying a Demigod are one hundred, but because the Demigod you defeated was severely wounded by the army, you are only awarded a quarter of the merits, and additionally with the Divine Corpse, as a principle to further strengthen human Martial Artists' power, it cannot be privately owned, therefore you are compensated with twenty-five more merit points, making a total of 50 points. Are you satisfied?"

Chen Shouyi nodded.

He felt it was quite reasonable; the Demigod he slew wasn't even a tenth of its full strength state, earning a quarter of the Demigod's merits was indeed a lucky gain.

His heart then pounded as he started going through the list of exchangeable resources.

PS: Lately, my state seems off, perhaps I've encountered a bottleneck in my cultivation. I promise to release two chapters tomorrow, or else I'll eat excrement!