Chapter 171: 158, Feng Shao, you are so awesome (asking for subscription monthly ticket).
"Lu Lin! Lu Lin!"
Zuo Yiming yelled at the top of his lungs when he saw Lu Lin emerge. He kept introducing Lu Lin to the people around him, "This is my buddy! My brother!"
Long Qianli had also come to spectate today, primarily to cheer Lu Lin on. Additionally, she wanted to scout for any promising talents to recruit into the Star Investigation Office.
Long Qiansu expressed the same sentiment. Her main purpose was to support Lu Lin, and incidentally, to see if she could recruit Hang Jianshe into the War God Alliance. This kid was Iron Blood University’s top genius, yet the new semester had begun, and he still hadn’t joined the War God Alliance. It truly worried Sister Long.
「In the principal’s office of Mingli Academy.」
Xiao Ru sat on the sofa with Han Ya, watching the broadcast. When Lu Lin appeared, stars seemed to glitter in the young girl’s eyes. She was even more thrilled than when she had seen Wang Chunyu earlier.
"Brother Lu Lin~"
「On Saturn.」
Lu Ping and Meng Yu, despite their busy schedules, gathered to watch the challenge. However, when Lu Lin emerged representing Luse Alliance College, both Lu Ping and Meng Yu’s expressions changed drastically.
"That rotten kid! Didn’t he say he applied to Iron Blood College?" Meng Yu fumed.
"Just wait until he gets back; I’ll deal with him then!"
Lu Ping secretly commended his son. Good job! He definitely couldn’t have told Meng Yu about this beforehand. Otherwise, this period would have been unbearable.
「At the Saturn Governor’s Mansion.」
Bai Jingwei, having just returned to East Forest Continent from Green City, smiled as she watched Lu Lin appear on the screen.
The others don’t stand a chance against Lu Lin.
In Mingze City, Maolin Training Base, Linbei City, and Tata City—everywhere Lu Lin had set foot—people were tuned into the live broadcast.
Upon seeing Lu Lin, some would exclaim in pleasant surprise, "That’s him! He’s the one who guided my Star Skill before! Go, Lu Lin!"
「At the North Capital University Affiliated Hospital.」
The doctor who had delivered Li Yinuo’s wife’s baby had just finished her morning shift. As she changed out of her white coat, she watched the day’s match on her Personal Terminal. Just as her fine figure came into view, Lu Lin appeared on screen. Her jaw dropped in surprise. "Isn’t that the handsome young man who performed the baptism for the twins?"
「At Tongyuan City’s Golden Sword High School.」
The principal was addressing the new students when, for some unknown reason, the large screen behind him switched to the scene of Lu Lin’s entrance. The principal, initially annoyed and about to reprimand someone, saw Lu Lin on the screen and instead announced to the students, "Everyone, do you see him? That is your senior, Lu Lin, who just graduated this year."
"Today, let’s skip the formalities. Let’s see if Lu Lin can succeed in this challenge!"
"Everyone, join me in cheering for Lu Lin!"
「At an Alien Star Power Portal garrison base.」
Secretary Hou—no, Hou Jin—had just donned a crisp, dark green military uniform. A sudden thought struck him. He opened his Personal Terminal, navigated to the news feed, and clicked. The broadcast was showing Lu Lin’s entrance. Visibly excited, Secretary Hou strode quickly to Song Qianjun’s office. "Commander, it’s that kid, Lu Lin! Look!"
「At the Combat Arena of Iron Blood University on an Alien planet.」
Zheng Yulong silently observed the radiant Lu Lin, a whirlwind of emotions stirring within him.
His heart was filled with mixed emotions.
He turned to Guan Yue beside him.
"President, do you see him? It’s Lu Lin."
Guan Yue nodded without a word, his eyes unblinkingly fixed on the figure in the arena.
Wang Chunyu clearly hadn’t expected the student with Third-Level abilities to be so strikingly handsome.
He might not be quite as handsome as me, but he’s not far off.
"Welcome, challengers from Luse Alliance College! I hope you achieve your desired results today."
"Now, I declare this year’s Challenge Match officially open! Will the first challenger please select their opponent?"
Wang Chunyu’s gaze shifted towards Lu Lin.
Lu Lin didn’t need to look back; he knew he had to be the one to start the first challenge.
He took a step forward. "I, Lu Lin, challenge Iron Blood University’s..."
Lu Lin’s eyes swept over the fifty students from Iron Blood College, finally landing on Feng Yuanyu, who was desperately trying to shrink back.
With a slight smile, Lu Lin pointed at Feng Yuanyu. "I challenge him, Classmate Feng Yuanyu."
"Alright. Classmate Feng Yuanyu, please come up to the arena. The rest of the students, please return to the waiting area below the arena for now."
"This challenge will be refereed by Wu Hongming, a three-star mentor from Iron Blood College’s Combat Department and a martial artist at the Seventh Level Golden Body Realm."
After Wang Chunyu finished his announcement, he invited a calm-looking middle-aged man onto the arena and then left with the other students.
"Classmate Feng Yuanyu, please come to the arena."
Wu Hongming stepped forward, surveyed the grounds, and inspected Lu Lin’s equipment, confirming he only carried a Ping Liao sword provided by Iron Blood University. He then turned and called out again.
So much time had passed, yet Feng Yuanyu was still dawdling below.
He shows none of the Iron Blood College spirit. What will the Federal Citizens watching think?
At that moment, the arena beneath their feet began to rise slowly. The outer sides of the arena’s support pillars displayed the two contestants’ basic information.
"Lu Lin, eighteen years old, Earth-based, Third Level."
"Feng Yuanyu, eighteen years old, Earth-based, Zero Level."
Only then did everyone realize that this Lu Lin was that peculiar student.
He looks perfectly normal, though. Why grandstand about being Third Level? He should just state his actual level.
Wu Hongming also inspected the items Feng Yuanyu carried: only an alloy long stick, no prohibited items.
After confirming with both parties, Wu Hongming waved his hand, signaling them to take their positions.
The challenge would begin in one minute.
During this waiting period, Lu Lin had the right to forfeit the challenge; however, doing so would mean permanently losing his eligibility to challenge. This one-minute hesitation period was granted only before a martial artist’s first appearance in the arena.
"Lu, don’t push your luck! Let me tell you, I’ve been practicing a special move these past few days, though I haven’t quite mastered it yet."
"If you push me too hard, be careful, or I might drag you down with me!"
"Even if I lose, my family is still behind me. But if you lose, you’ll have nothing left!"
Lu Lin smiled faintly but didn’t say anything, quietly waiting for time to elapse.
Seeing Lu Lin’s silence, Feng Yuanyu grew even more anxious.
If I lose my status as an Iron Blood College student, even if my talent remains, I’ll be looked down upon wherever I go. But now, with everyone watching, I can’t make any promises to Lu Lin. He could only fret.
The hand gripping the long stick trembled slightly.
I can’t possibly beat Lu Lin, but I can’t admit defeat either. Students from Iron Blood College must unconditionally accept a challenger’s invitation. If I disgrace Iron Blood College in this, expulsion would be the least of my worries.
"Lu Lin, we’re both from Saturn, right? That makes us practically half-compatriots."
"Fellow countrymen are dear, like family. And the waters of home are the most... ahem... beautiful."
"When we fight later, could you... go a little easy on me? Please?"
"Time’s up!"
"The match begins!"
Just as Feng Yuanyu finished speaking, Wu Hongming announced the start of the competition.
Without a word, Lu Lin, Ping Liao sword in hand, executed Inch Step and charged towards Feng Yuanyu.
He had learned from his previous battle against Mi Yan and the other two.
When facing an enemy, strong or weak, one must give it their all. So many had been caught off guard and defeated; I won’t be one of them.
BANG!
Feng Yuanyu raised his long stick to parry. A harsh clang echoed as the sword and stick collided.
Feng Yuanyu felt an immense force slam into him, nearly making him lose his grip on the alloy long stick.
I can’t believe I still underestimated Lu Lin, even after specifically choosing this long stick to counter his monstrous strength!
Immediately after the impact, Lu Lin pressed his attack. He used only techniques from the Ten Steps Kill, without augmenting them with Star Power.
Otherwise, if one strike split Feng Yuanyu in two, it would be indefensible.
BANG!
Feng Yuanyu blocked the strike again. This time, however, he experienced what Lu Lin must have felt when fighting the artist; his arms felt detached, aching immensely. A violent energy coursed relentlessly through his arms.
Although Lu Lin hadn’t used any Star Skills or Star Martial techniques, when he attacked, the Star Power within his body inevitably flowed along familiar pathways. With this strike, Lu Lin had unconsciously channeled a trace of the Earth Shattering effect.
"I..."
"Me what?" Lu Lin sneered.
"The Seven Great Families of East Forest? So impressive!"
"Countless martial artists in the East Forest Club? So impressive!"
"Casually assaulting starship attendants? So impressive!"
As Lu Lin spoke, his sword strikes quickened, each blow aimed at the long stick in Feng Yuanyu’s hands.
Before her Personal Terminal, Li Na, the waitress from Starship C0977’s restaurant, watched Lu Lin’s heroic display and listened to his words, tears streaming down her face.
"You’re from a prestigious family? So impressive!"
"You’re a super genius? So impressive!"
"Your name is Feng Yuanlin? So impressive!"
"I have a little brother named Xiao Wu, he’s so impressive!"
"Damn it, you’re truly impressive, aren’t you?"
Lu Lin recalled how this Feng Yuanyu had mocked him at the Iron Blood University recruitment point, right after he disembarked from the starship. Mocking me was one thing. After all, I was ignorant and had been misled by those online university guides. But then he contacted people from the East Forest Club to teach me a lesson. That, I cannot tolerate. Back on Saturn, Wang Shao threatened me. Later, the Jin Hao Group even ended up with the Lu name! Now, just after arriving on this Alien planet, another ’Young Master Feng’ shows up, not just threatening but ready to act. If I were just an ordinary Awakened student, the consequences would be unthinkable. These people are too tyrannical, too domineering!
BOOM!
A muffled thud. Feng Yuanyu’s arms went numb; he could no longer lift the alloy long stick.
However, the spectators in the arena and those watching the live stream could piece together what had transpired between the two from Lu Lin’s words.
「Walker Airlines, Starship C0977.」
The captain immediately reported the information to his superiors. Although he had previously received a call from the Saturn Governor’s secretary, he hadn’t released the video footage from that incident.
Lu Lin is clearly on the ascent. If I continue to suppress this... when he eventually remembers and decides to settle scores with Walker Airlines, no one will be able to bear the consequences.
The captain simultaneously contacted Li Na, the attendant who had been slapped, and the manager who had been beaten by Xiao Wu that day, hoping they would come forward to testify on Lu Lin’s behalf. Both readily agreed.
Soon after, Walker Airlines released the video on the QingShan Network, tagging the Iron Blood University Challenge Match and Lu Lin. They announced they would provide Lu Lin with appropriate compensation to atone for their dereliction of duty.
At the same time, the captain and three first officers of Starship C0977 were ordered to be suspended from duty for three months for reflection due to mismanagement.
The internet was in an uproar.
"When Lu Lin was a nobody, you ignored him, paid him no mind!"
"Now that the matter has blown up, known to all Federal Citizens, you finally crawl out of the woodwork!"
"Walker Airlines, truly masters of opportunism!"