Realm-Hopping Martial Master
Chapter 56 - 55: Jiangnan Academy! First Encounter with Xie Feichen!

Chapter 56: Chapter 55: Jiangnan Academy! First Encounter with Xie Feichen!

"All right."

After hesitating for a while, Jiang Shu replied with a message.

Teacher Yan had always been good to him. Therefore, despite his average relationship with his high school classmates, out of respect for Teacher Yan, he felt he should make the trip.

No rush, there are still four days left.

Enough time to deal with some matters first.

After clearing some messages on his phone, Jiang Shu pondered for a moment, then dialed Zheng Yanbo’s number and said directly, "Uncle Zheng, I have reached Clear Strength."

Jiang Shu’s voice was crisp and clear. Though he had reached Clear Strength and become a Martial Artist, he knew that in the face of the nation’s true power, he was merely a slightly larger ant. Weaponry and equipment aside, even in terms of Martial Arts Realm... The mentors in the academies possess Dark Force. Experts within the imperial guards start at Transforming Strength, at least. There might even be those beyond Transforming Strength! Therefore, the first thing he had to do after becoming a Martial Artist was to join the official ranks!

Jiang Shu’s hand held the phone steadily. On the other end, the breathing grew increasingly rapid.

After a long moment, he heard Zheng Yanbo’s voice, unable to hide his excitement, "Really... really?"

"Mm." Jiang Shu nodded in affirmation.

BANG.

It sounded like the phone had fallen. Hasty voices arose, followed by Zheng Yanbo’s voice once more, "Jiang Shu... where are you? I’ll send someone to pick you up."

「...」

In Ji City, the June weather was cloudy, turning clear.

On the overpass, a Magotan traveled at a constant speed of 100 km/h from Ji City towards Jiangnan City.

In the back seat of the car, Zheng Yanbo, dressed in a black jacket, kept looking over at Jiang Shu, as if seeing him for the first time.

A Clear Strength Martial Artist... He had never imagined it. The little youngster he’d whimsically decided to meet at Ji City’s Fifth Middle School... In just a few short months, he had progressed from Qi Blood Transport to Clear Strength. Such talent! It was shocking! It was just a pity the martial arts promotional video had already been released. If it were published now, what a storm it would create! Not yet eighteen, and already a Martial Artist.

"Jiang Shu, if you had known you could break through and become a Martial Artist so quickly, would you regret not going to Shengjing Academy?" Ten or so minutes after getting in the car, Zheng Yanbo finally couldn’t help asking.

If he had known this day would come, he would never have recommended Jiangnan Academy to Jiang Shu. The college entrance examinations had concluded only a few days prior, yet Jiang Shu had already become a Martial Artist. Among all the students in Shengjing, aside from those privy to insider information, how many could become Martial Artists relying solely on their own talent?

Had Jiang Shu gone to Shengjing Academy, not only would his brilliance have remained unobscured, but it would have shone even more dazzlingly! Instead, at Jiangnan Academy, although he might stand out for a while, over time, compared to the students of Shengjing Academy, he might fall somewhat behind.

"Why would I regret it?" Jiang Shu looked out the window. Having come to this world, this was his first time leaving Ji City, and he was inevitably curious about the scenery beyond it.

Gathering his somewhat distracted thoughts, Jiang Shu calmly replied.

Zheng Yanbo didn’t know how quickly he would break through to become a Martial Artist. Teacher Li from Jiangnan Academy, who was responsible for admissions, didn’t know either. But I have a crystal-clear understanding of my own situation. I chose Jiangnan Academy because, in the agreement, it offered me freedom and sufficient early-stage resources. Before becoming a Martial Artist, I could borrow a thousand academic credits. And now that I’ve become a Clear Strength Martial Artist? Perfect. I was getting a bit tired of Blood Flower Pig meat anyway. It’s time to switch to the taste of Red Armored Tiger meat. He couldn’t help but smile faintly.

As one of the Four Great Universities of Xia Country, even if Jiangnan Academy has fewer resources, it still ranks fourth nationally. That’s by no means a small amount. Besides, I’m not just any ordinary Jiangnan Academy student. I’ve signed an agreement; as long as my Martial Arts Realm progresses quickly enough, I can obtain sufficient resources from Jiangnan Academy. What difference does it make which academy it is?

"Uncle Zheng, your guess and mine were that Jiangnan Academy would find it difficult to transition, but that’s a matter for later. Right now, it’s still an academy, and the resources available are plentiful—enough for me to get started."

"Mm. It’s good you don’t feel any imbalance. An academy is an academy, after all. No matter how difficult the transition, its foundation isn’t something even key universities can compare to. Jiang Shu, if you proceed steadily, your achievements might not be inferior to those of the Shengjing Academy students."

"Also, as far as I know, academies might use competitions to determine resource allocation in the future. With you here, Jiangnan Academy might not necessarily end up at the bottom. Resources go to the capable; that’s the coming trend." Zheng Yanbo spoke casually, yet he revealed quite a bit of insider information.

At that moment, the Magotan moved from the overpass to the freeway, its speed increasing as the scenery outside whizzed past.

Without stopping at any service area, the vehicle came to a smooth halt at the gates of Jiangnan Academy in just under three hours.

"I won’t see you in. I wish you all the best, Student Jiang Shu," Zheng Yanbo said, smiling at Jiang Shu.

Xia Country’s Martial Arts were still in their infancy. A second-tier city like Ji City didn’t yet have an institution for certifying Martial Artists. Therefore, the fastest way for Jiang Shu to enjoy the benefits afforded to a Xia Country Martial Artist was to come to Jiangnan Academy and register as an official Martial Artist through its channels.

"Thank you for everything, Uncle Zheng." Waving at Zheng Yanbo in the Magotan, Jiang Shu turned and stepped into Jiangnan Academy.

Jiangnan Academy occupied a vast area, its campus roads lined with lush camphor trees. He moved amidst the crowd of students. Following the directions on his phone’s navigation, Jiang Shu headed straight for the newly built Martial Arts building.

On the second floor, it was the first classroom around the corner.

Having confirmed his destination, Jiang Shu pushed the door open and entered.

Suddenly, a fierce gust of fist wind assaulted him!

He dodged to the side, executing the Tiger Style Three Forms—Lift! Pounce!

Before he could clearly see his attacker, Jiang Shu reacted instinctively, his moves flowing without hesitation as Clear Strength crackled in the air.

A voice remarked, "Indeed, you’ve already achieved Clear Strength."

Jiang Shu’s limbs and core vibrated, channeling all his strength into a single punch. However, this fist, capable of sending an ordinary person flying, seemed insignificant to his opponent.

Speaking lightly, the attacker changed fist to palm, and in an instant, Jiang Shu’s punch felt as if it had sunk into a quagmire. The thousand-jin force vanished completely.

Jiang Shu turned his head. Standing before him was none other than Xie Feichen, the Jiangnan Academy Martial Arts instructor he had been seeing in videos!

"To grasp the Guiding Skill in merely twenty days showcases a level of talent that would be deemed exceptional even at Shengjing Academy," Xie Feichen remarked. "Of course, since you chose to come to our Jiangnan Academy, we will certainly not disappoint any Martial Arts genius."

"The school will provide you with credits," he continued. "All I can pass on to you is Martial Arts."

"Since you’ve already achieved Clear Strength, you must have a grasp of the ’Innate Guiding Skill’s’ first thirty-six forms. Come, perform them. Let me see."