Getting Stronger By Fighting

There was a touch of trepidation on her face, but Wang Zhan felt her sincerity. Even though he knew she was the same woman with a troubled mind, he would be a fool to reject such a beauty standing before him.

"Um…"

For a moment, the air crackled with romance, sealed with a deep kiss.

Wang Zhan couldn't come up with a suitable way to handle his relationship with Qin Ying, but after all, he was just a young man. What young man isn't impulsive?

He'd just take things as they come.

After a long while, the two finally separated, Qin Ying's face flushed, nearly breathless.

Then, as she was about to kneel, Wang Zhan immediately shook his head and pulled her up, causing Qin Ying's face to turn pale.

"You... don't you like it? Or do you despise me? I've told you before, I have already separated you and Qin Yuan in my heart..."

Separating them in her heart didn't mean Qin Ying could let go. She was already mentally disoriented, a pitiful woman.

Wang Zhan's expression hardened.

"It's not about that. We have plenty of time; we should take things slow. Besides, I'm not really into that kind of thing. I still want to focus on getting stronger..."

Qin Ying's face turned cold, her eyes clouded as she gritted her teeth.

"You just hate me and despise me! What's wrong with this? Even I, a woman, don't mind, and it won't stop you from getting stronger. By stopping me, you're saying you don't like me, you bastard..."

Wang Zhan's head felt twice its normal size.

"I said I don't..."

"Yes, you do!"

"I don't..."

"Yes, you do!"

"Alright, I really don't. Come on then. Whatever you want to do, I'll put up with it, alright?"

Wang Zhan compromised. He must be crazy too, trying to reason with this madwoman.

Only then did Qin Ying's tears turn into laughter. Although she had settled on Wang Zhan, she also carried guilt towards Qin Yuan, making her extremely sensitive and easily triggered. Only after Wang Zhan agreed did she calm down somewhat.

But her actions carried an unconscious hint of retaliation.

"HISSS... Teeth!"

***

Only after it was over did Qin Ying look at Wang Zhan, her face full of pride. She hummed a little before changing the subject and saying to Wang Zhan, "Did you know about Yanjing Martial Arts Academy getting involved last night?"

"Yeah, I felt it. I forgot to tell you, ever since you taught me the "General Outline of the Supreme Pure Thunder," my mental energy can now extend for several kilometers."

Qin Ying was dumbstruck. How could that be possible? That was just a fragment, not the complete scripture! Even if Wang Zhan possessed the Five Thunder Deity Refinement Method, a branch technique of the Supreme Clear Thunder Summary, it couldn't be this outrageous.

He was just a Warrior! To achieve a range of several kilometers, one would need to be at least a Martial King.

"Have you had other fortuitous encounters? A perception range of several kilometers is outrageous! If the original organization knew about your situation, they would immediately take you away for dissection, unless it's a bloodline talent. Otherwise, no one could be this exceptional."

Wang Zhan's heart tensed, but he kept his expression neutral as he said, "I don't know either, but my mental energy has been growing rapidly recently. Who knows, it might be due to a bloodline talent."

So Qin Ying didn't even know the "General Outline of the Supreme Pure Thunder" was this powerful? It seems my guess was a bit off. Could it really be a bloodline talent? Besides the known bloodline talent from Wang Yidao, do I have other bloodline talents?

Qin Ying sighed in relief. That's also possible. But then she said seriously, "You absolutely must not let others know the range of your mental energy detection. Even if they find out, attribute it to a bloodline talent. Anyway, no one in the Federation currently understands the inheritance methods of bloodline talents, nor their capabilities. But, have you considered what price Chu State Military Academy will pay for Yanjing Martial Arts Academy stepping in to help you last night?"

Hearing this, Wang Zhan also fell deep in thought. Although Yanjing Martial Arts Academy has been good to me, their direct intervention is indeed a bit unusual.

"I'm not sure, but I guess... it won't be a light price."

"Indeed, it won't be light." Qin Ying gazed at Wang Zhan with a somber expression. "If I'm not mistaken, Chu State Military Academy will probably send you as an exchange student to one of the Federation's Four Greats—of course, the Royal Martial Arts Academy isn't one of them."

Wang Zhan's gaze sharpened. It seems the price is indeed worth it? But what does this mean for me…

"I think your situation as an exchange student will be completely different from those in the past. It's even possible that Chu State Military Academy will completely wash their hands of you."

Qin Ying glanced at Wang Zhan, wanting to gauge his reaction. However, after some contemplation, Wang Zhan showed no signs of anger or despondency.

"Can… you handle that?" Qin Ying asked softly.

Wang Zhan shook his head. "This isn't something I can decide. Although I know that given enough time and resources, I won't be inferior to anyone. But at their realm, I truly have no power to resist. Whatever they decide, I can only comply."

Wang Zhan was no longer the Wang Zhan he once was.

Though he felt helpless, frustrated, and also angry that Chu State Military Academy would abandon him so readily, in the end, it was because he himself was too weak, and Chu State Military Academy was too weak.

The tallest tree in the forest will be toppled by the wind. This law is an ironclad rule, no matter where one is.

A touch more joy appeared on Qin Ying's face, along with a hint of admiration as refreshing as a spring breeze. Qin Yuan had been a reckless fool, so even though her memories of him were deep, she truly didn't like that aspect of him.

Now, Wang Zhan has leaped from the realm of a fool to one where he could be a pawn in the schemes of those wily old foxes. This transformation is very good; it will allow him to survive longer.

"So, do you think this is a bad thing? As an exchange student, if you aren't accepted, you won't receive any resources or guidance. Perhaps your life will stagnate there."

Wang Zhan let out a chuckle. "You don't need to test me. If I really become an exchange student, I'll be fine. Whoever feeds me is my mother, right? I didn't understand this before, but I'm gradually starting to. If I remain this weak, I'll always be dependent on others, no matter what I do.

"That being the case, even if I become an exchange student, as long as there's a chance to become stronger, I'll definitely have a say in my future. Bending the knee is nothing; who doesn't know how to do that? Just wait until I have power. Then we'll see who's begging whom!"

The recent life-and-death battles had made Wang Zhan understand many things, and this was one of them.

If he were strong enough, all that nonsense from the original organization, the great families, the major factions, even the Federation's Four Greats—they could all step aside.

One king to rule them all, supreme and unchallenged; those who refuse to submit will be dealt with!

Since he couldn't do that yet, he should be more low-key and, if worst came to worst, develop stealthily. Change didn't happen overnight. Ever since the Eastern Battlefield, he had gradually come to understand this: relying on power to bully others wasn't a true skill; those who could fight head-on but also scheme from the shadows were the real masters.

No one knew that this war in the E7 District was merely a probe by Wang Zhan. The likes of Li Shiji, those Grandmasters—they were all just chips he used to test the reactions of the major powers.

Without strong backing, one ultimately cannot stand alone.

Qin Ying's expression grew more profound; moreover, deep down, she was truly starting to become captivated by Wang Zhan.

This is what a man should truly do, not act like a fool, recklessly rushing to the battlefield only to die. But Qin Yuan…

For some reason, she felt a pang of heartache.

***

Wang Zhan left. He departed as soon as he said he would, and Qin Ying didn't try to keep him. She simply kissed him again for a long time.

"Remember, even if you offend those big shots, you cannot offend them openly. If you have to offend them, do it behind their backs, offend them severely, and on the surface, ensure no one can guess it was you...

"If you really become an exchange student and enter the core of the Four Greats, seize the opportunity to snatch the title of the Death Expeditionary Force. That is the freest and most dangerous part of the Star War Battlefield, but also the most rewarding. The true geniuses among the Federation's Four Greats are, without exception, members of it. This is their foundation in the Military Department...

"Don't worry about me; I said I don't want official status, and I mean it. But don't be afraid of implicating me either. Whatever the difficulty, if you need to, contact me anytime. I have to go too. I'll miss you..."

These were Qin Ying's parting words to Wang Zhan, and they completely occupied a piece of his heart, a heart she had already managed to soften.

Even though I don't know exactly what our relationship is... I definitely won't disappoint you. Wang Zhan thought, his gaze complicated.

Much of the information Qin Ying had revealed was incredibly useful. So useful that, while it concerned matters seemingly far beyond his current reach, it could genuinely become part of his foundation, allowing him to advance rapidly.

With a woman like this, what more could a man ask for? But what about Yao Yao?

Wang Zhan mused, feeling both troubled and happy. He was finally experiencing what it felt like to have a foot in two boats. And he hadn't even found his balance on one before the other woman had practically claimed him.

What was he to make of this?

But for now, I need to figure out what kind of bloodline talent I've absorbed. Asking Li Chengyuan is out of the question. Although they treat me well, they definitely don't have good intentions.

Little did he know that by the time he returned to the Temporary Stadium and appeared before Lv Zhenglong and Liu Zhenfeng, a truth concerning a hero of the Federation had begun to roar and seethe across the internet. It tore away the last hazy veil, exposing every detail of Wang Zhan's past to the entire Federation.

***

"It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back."

Liu Zhenfeng's expression was complex, yet there was a rare look of gratification on his face.

No matter what path he takes in the future, Wang Zhan will always be a student from Chu State Military Academy, always a son of the Chu State land.

Wang Zhan grinned, looking at the people with their various expressions, and joked, "That's for sure! Let me tell you, Director, I've become much stronger while I was away. Do you know? This time, I've truly made my mark! Don't look down on me just because I'm only a level-eight Warrior now. Let me tell you, I wouldn't even flinch if I faced a Grandmaster!

"You know Grandmasters, right? Level nine, quasi-Grandmasters, the kind that can crush you with one slap? Me, Wang Zhan, with my own two fists and a knife, plus a Lean Against the Mountain, took him down! Beat him until his face was black and blue, until he didn't dare breathe! It felt great, HAHAHAHA..."

Watching Wang Zhan constantly showing off and shouting eccentrically, everyone could only manage a wry smile.

Seeing him act like this, Liu Zhenfeng and Lv Zhenglong felt a pang of bitterness in their hearts. Wang Zhan must have already learned the truth behind everything. He was clowning around like this merely to try and lighten the mood for everyone from Chu State Military Academy.