Chapter 73: Installing the Spirit-Gathering Device

The next second, a middle-aged man appeared before Jiang Yan.

His features were quite handsome, worthy of the title “middle-aged handsome uncle.” He wore a blue-gray checkered shirt, with a bit of stubble on his face that he hadn’t had time to tidy up. If he hadn’t suddenly descended from the sky, Jiang Yan would never have recognized his true identity.

Qin Wufeng immediately placed both hands on Jiang Yan’s shoulders, his fingers trembling and his knuckles turning white from the grip. His eyes were fixed intently on Jiang Yan’s.

“What you just said is true!”

Jiang Yan smiled faintly and replied calmly, “Of course it’s true. It’s just a pity that those above the 50,000th rank are too strong for me to defeat.”

“That’s not how you should think about it, not at all! You’re only eighteen… no, you haven’t even reached the Inner Astral stage yet. How could you… how could you…”

Qin Wufeng released Jiang Yan’s shoulders and began pacing back and forth, his words stumbling incoherently from shock.

“Show me your student card. It’s linked to your Myriad Realms Ladder account as a student of Divine Capital Martial University.”

Finally regaining his composure, Qin Wufeng urged Jiang Yan to hand over his student card.

He simply couldn’t believe it. Having lived for over a hundred years, how could something so absurd happen?

It didn’t make sense! It made no sense at all!

How could a third-rank Martial Artist, not even nineteen years old, surpass those senior students who had struggled for years on the ladder, defeat all those monsters in the Myriad Realms Ladder, and reach the top 50,000 among billions of beings on the very first day?

If this is true, I’ll eat my hat.

It wasn’t until Jiang Yan handed his student card to Qin Wufeng and he saw the ranking on the account that he was completely unable to stay calm.

“It’s actually true!”

Qin Wufeng grabbed Jiang Yan’s shoulders and shook him back and forth.

His strength was so immense that even Jiang Yan found it hard to bear.

“Principal Qin, if you keep shaking me like this, I might just die right here in front of you.”

Jiang Yan said calmly.

“Oh, sorry, I got carried away.”

Qin Wufeng released Jiang Yan again, straightened his hair, and regained his composure.

However, the uncontrollable curve of his lips betrayed his current mood.

Rubbing his hands together, he smiled warmly at Jiang Yan, like a shady uncle trying to lure a child.

“Student Jiang Yan, I wonder how you managed to reach the 50,000th rank?”

Jiang Yan shrugged and replied frankly, “It was simple. I just kept matching and climbing.”

“Ah… this…”

Qin Wufeng wanted to say more, but then he remembered Jiang Yan’s astonishing performance during the entrance exam. Could it be…

“Does such a freak really exist in this world?” he thought to himself.

“By the way, didn’t you say the Spirit Gathering Device wasn’t enough? I’ll have someone install one in your dormitory right away. From now on, as long as you’re at my Divine Capital Martial University, you can use the Spirit Gathering Device as much as you want.”

Jiang Yan: “Deal.”

For a genius, having some privileges was only natural. Installing a Spirit Gathering Device for a single student was unprecedented in the entire Divine Capital Martial University.

“Also, you’re now ranked 50,000th on the ladder. In another year or two, you should steadily break into the top 10,000. During this time, just focus on staying at my Divine Capital Martial University. Don’t even think about going out on missions just because you’re short on credits—it’ll only delay your cultivation. If you lack resources, just tell Old Qin here. Even if it’s a star from the sky, Old Qin will pluck it down for you.”

Qin Wufeng grew more and more excited as he spoke, as if he could already envision Jiang Yan, this rising new star, leading the Human Race to glory.

Ranking fifth on the Heavenly Ladder at eighteen—such an achievement would likely shake the entire Blue Star if word got out.

“Not good. I need to find time to discuss with those old-timers. This bleeding can’t be borne by Divine Capital Martial University alone.”

Qin Wufeng came quickly and left just as fast, his figure vanishing in the blink of an eye.

That same day, the construction crew arrived at Jiang Yan’s villa. When they saw a young man still living inside, they all looked as if they’d seen a ghost.

“Bro, since when did Spirit Gathering Devices become private property?”

Privilege?

Capital?

Foul play?

One after another, suspicions flashed through the workers’ minds. Only after repeatedly calling to confirm multiple times did they dare to start construction.

“Damn connections!”

That’s what the workers thought.

The villa echoed with the sounds of clattering and banging.

A few hours later, the construction was complete. In the cultivation room on the first floor, the ceiling was carved with holes identical to those in the Spirit Gathering Chamber. As long as the room’s switch was pressed, filtered Qi would be delivered inside.

Late at night, the more Jiang Yan cultivated, the more something felt off.

“What’s going on? Why does this Spirit Gathering Device feel several grades inferior compared to the one in the Spirit Gathering Chamber?”

The amount of Gengjin Qi Jiang Yan absorbed visibly shrank, a world of difference compared to the Spirit Gathering Chamber.

What he didn’t know was that in the past, when absorbing Qi in the Spirit Gathering Chamber, he alone had used six Spirit Gathering Devices. Now, with only one, how could it possibly be enough?

Jiang Yan was unaware of the hidden circumstances, but adhering to the principle of troubling others rather than tormenting himself, he decisively dialed Principal Qin Wufeng’s number.

Why had he come to Divine Capital Martial University? Wasn’t it for unlimited resources? If he encountered trouble, should he endure it alone like a fool?

“Hello, Principal Qin, is this Spirit Gathering Device malfunctioning? I feel like it’s not quite enough.”

“A Spirit Gathering Device not being enough?” In bed, Qin Wufeng got up from his lovely wife, walked to the balcony, lit a cigarette, and asked with some confusion.

“I’m not sure, but I’m planning to Breakthrough to Inner Astral, and currently, the Qi provided by the Spirit Gathering Device is far from sufficient. Sigh, if I can’t Breakthrough, who knows when I’ll be able to break into the top ten thousand on the Heavenly Ladder~”

As soon as these words were spoken, Qin Wufeng exploded.

If he can’t Breakthrough, he can’t reach the top ten thousand on the Heavenly Ladder. How could I, Qin Wufeng, allow such a thing to happen?

“I’ll arrange another one for you!”

The next day.

“Principal Qin, this Spirit Gathering Device still feels a bit insufficient…”

“Say no more. I’ll have another one installed for you.”

That afternoon.

“Principal Qin…”

Qin Wufeng finally felt the sweat pouring down his back.

Seriously, three aren’t enough? What kind of Qi-devouring beast is this?

Qin Wufeng suddenly regretted his promise of unlimited resources.

“Damn it, you have to give to receive. Besides, Jiang Yan’s matter concerns all of humanity. I can’t be the only one getting fleeced.”

After agreeing to install another Spirit Gathering Device, Qin Wufeng called up those old-timers.

Afterward, he sensed something was off and called Zhao Gongming from the previous control room to inquire about what exactly was going on with Jiang Yan.

“Principal, I’ve been meaning to discuss this with you for a long time. Even if that child is your relative, you can’t keep letting him damage the Spirit Gathering Devices at our Divine Capital Martial University. Before the semester started, it was manageable, but now that classes have begun, everyone wants to use the Spirit Gathering Chambers. That kid alone occupies six devices, with unlimited time! As someone who opposes favoritism, I, Old Zhao, will not stand for this!”

Qin Wufeng quickly picked out the key points from this lengthy complaint.

His eyelids twitched slightly, and a sense of foreboding rose in his heart.

“Wait, how many Spirit Gathering Devices did you say he’s using alone?”