Chapter 54: The Martial Arts School Actually Hasn't Kicked You Out

Kexiang Hotel, one of the largest hotels in Jiangcheng.

A meal here could easily cost several thousand yuan.

Jiang Changkong naturally couldn’t afford it, but Zhou Wen was footing the bill.

At noon, Zhang Xiaoyu, Liu Jun, Liu Ya, and Lu Hong arrived together.

Ji Ziling and the other two also came, though Tang Ruoxi looked excited while the two seniors appeared rather haggard.

She had eagerly pulled Tang Ruoxi to bed, only for Tang Ruoxi to spend half the day explaining armor manufacturing to her.

Everyone took their seats at a table laden with dishes.

Roast suckling pig, lobster, Nebula-level Star Demon meat, and the like—all expensive dishes.

Ying Yanxue had ordered them in advance, and Jiang Changkong only found out when he arrived.

If Zhou Wen hadn’t insisted that money was no issue, he would have taken out a few Star Stones to cover the bill.

“Should we have some drinks?” Jiang Changkong asked.

Everyone exchanged glances. “Let’s have a little.”

Zhou Wen ordered a few more bottles of wine. With no one holding back, they began drinking and eating.

“Jiang, top student, it’s a real shame you’re not coming to our Kexiang this time.”

Zhang Xiaoyu took a bite of food and couldn’t help saying.

Jiang Changkong could only laugh it off. “It’s all the same anywhere—we all belong to the Federation, so why make distinctions?

Don’t call me ‘top student’ anymore. We’re all friends—just call me Changkong.”

“Speaking of which, we owe it all to Changkong this time. If it weren’t for you, we might have been devoured by Star Demons.”

Liu Jun raised his glass. “I’ll toast you.”

“We’ll toast you too, to thank you for stepping in to save us.”

The others raised their glasses, and Ji Ziling, Ying Yanxue, and Tang Ruoxi did the same.

“No need to be so formal. Back then, it was you who opened the Protective Shield and let me rest inside.”

Jiang Changkong downed his drink in one gulp. “In a place overrun by Star Demons, we have to help each other.”

“Well said.”

Ji Ziling nodded in agreement. “It’s just a pity we didn’t get the Special Starstone.”

Tang Ruoxi sighed softly. “It’s all Zhang Hua’s fault. If he hadn’t brought out the Starlight Force Bomb, no one would have had the chance to take advantage.”

If it weren’t for the Starlight Force Bomb, whose power was so immense that it severely injured them all, Jiang Changkong would have found it difficult to succeed.

At the time, there were several Star Cloud Peak-level experts present. Jiang Changkong was confident he could seize it, but it certainly wouldn’t have been so easy.

Now that the Special Starstone was in his hands, and since he had taken it from Zhang Hua, he felt no guilt at all.

In that situation, he had originally planned to retreat, never expecting Zhang Hua to have another trick up his sleeve.

If Tang Ruoxi and the others had succeeded, he would have turned and left without a second thought.

“No one could have expected Zhang Hua to be so bold,” Ying Yanxue said softly.

“It’s a pity. That Special Starstone was a perfect match for Yan Xue.”

Ji Ziling lamented. “If Yan Xue, who practices the Flying Snow Art, could have obtained that Starstone, her strength would have advanced further.”

“Senior, the special skill of a Special Starstone is just one move. Although it can improve its grade, is it really that important?”

Jiang Changkong asked.

As top students from a Martial Arts School, would they lack martial techniques?

Once their strength increased in the future, they could acquire high-level martial techniques.

“The special skill, though only one move, is incredibly profound.”

Tang Ruoxi explained. “If it matches one’s own attributes, it can unleash immense power, even allowing one to challenge opponents above their level. How could it not be important?”

Jiang Changkong fell silent. This was a powerful ultimate move.

Even if it was a low-grade martial technique in reality, mastering a low-grade technique could still allow one to defeat higher-level opponents.

He is an example of defeating enemies above his level, having beaten a senior at the early Star Cloud stage when he was only at the peak of stellar qi.

“Let’s not talk about that anymore. We’re all about to graduate soon. Among the Thirty-Six Provinces of the Federation and the Eleven Overseas Islands, where do you all plan to go?”

Ji Ziling changed the subject.

She and Ying Yanxue had already completed four years of the college entrance exams, and the fifth year was approaching soon.

Tang Ruoxi belonged to Kexiang, where the one-year exam was simpler, so she was likely close to finishing as well.

It wouldn’t be long before they were all assigned jobs.

The Thirty-Six Provinces of the Federation and the Eleven Overseas Islands were the territories of the Earth Federation.

Provinces varied in strength. Major provinces had over a dozen cities, while ordinary provinces had seven or eight.

Smaller provinces only had four or five cities.

Jiangcheng was part of Jianghai Province, a small province within the Federation.

As for the Eleven Overseas Islands, he didn’t know much about them.

Jiang Changkong smiled and said, “Senior sisters, you’re probably planning to go to a major province, right?”

Most students from the two schools were assigned jobs within Jianghai Province after graduation, while a small number of exceptional talents would go to major provinces.

“We haven’t decided yet.”

Ji Ziling and Ying Yanxue shook their heads, turning their gaze to Tang Ruoxi.

Tang Ruoxi took a sip of wine. “I’d like to go to a major province, but they’re more dangerous, and opportunities for major achievements are scarce.”

“Isn’t that wrong? Shouldn’t major provinces offer more opportunities for major achievements?”

Jiang Changkong was puzzled.

“Major provinces have more opportunities, but would major achievements fall to us? We’re considered geniuses in Jiangcheng, but in a major province, we’d just be average.”

Tang Ruoxi shot him a glance and said, “I plan to go to Anding Province, which borders Jianghai Province.”

Anding Province had eight cities and was one of the largest ordinary provinces, much bigger than Jianghai Province, a small province.

Everyone laughed and said, “That’s still quite good. We wish you great success in the future.”

Tang Ruoxi looked at Jiang Changkong. “Changkong, what are your thoughts?”

“I don’t know. I’m only starting school the day after tomorrow,” Jiang Changkong chuckled.

“Even though you’re just starting, completing the college entrance exams won’t be easy,” Tang Ruoxi said with a smile.

Ji Ziling frowned. “With Changkong’s strength, if he could go to a major province and receive some support, his future would be limitless.”

Tang Ruoxi narrowed her eyes. “If he could get involved in a city-building project and earn credit for it, his future would be even brighter.”

“City-building credit? That’s difficult,” Ying Yanxue sighed.

Ever since the great upheaval in the world, when the Star Demons invaded and countless humans on Earth perished, survivors gathered together and developed into the Federation.

The ancestors studied the Martial Dao and delved into technology, gradually reclaiming territory and building cities, which led to the Federation as it is today.

But now, no new cities had been built for many years. Earning city-building credit was a difficult task.

Everyone fell silent. To build a city, the nearby Star Demons had to be cleared out.

Jiang Changkong was very strong, but how could he clear out all the Star Demons in a city?

Not to mention the countless Star Demons, just the powerful ones among them—those beyond the Star Sea—were innumerable. Jiang Changkong was only at Star Cloud Peak now.

“Indeed, selecting a location for city-building is also crucial. There must be a mineral vein nearby to support development.”

“Now, unless exceptionally powerful experts emerge or the Federation intervenes, building a new city is difficult.”

Zhang Xiaoyu and the others chimed in.

“These matters are too distant. Let’s eat and drink first.”

Jiang Changkong raised his glass with a smile. “We’re overthinking things. Let’s not talk about anything else today—just eat and drink.”

Tang Ruoxi said no more. As Jiang Changkong had said, these matters were still too far off.

Regarding what they said, Jiang Changkong was only somewhat tempted, not particularly concerned.

Building a city was too troublesome; the current priority was to enroll in school and then obtain the Starlight Meteorite Iron.

Next, he inquired about the Starlight Meteorite Iron, but unfortunately, it would take another month and a half before the competition began.

The school would notify them then.

The group ate and drank happily, not letting the future job assignments dampen their spirits.

After the meal, everyone headed home. Ji Ziling and Ying Yanxue pulled him aside: “Later, we’ll give you that bag of Star Stones from before.”

“Why?” Jiang Changkong was puzzled.

“Silly, of course to trick the school. There are rewards for completing tasks early.”

“The Star Stones you have now aren’t even enough for three years of college entrance exams. We’ll directly make up enough for four years for you.”

Ji Ziling whispered, “With your strength, the school will believe you no matter how many you produce. Once you get the reward, just return them to us.”

Jiang Changkong: “…”

Well, these two seniors are quite slick. It’s a wonder the Martial Arts School hasn’t expelled you yet.