Chapter 76: Gathering of Geniuses in Huizhou Province

“Heh.” Zhou Xianlong replied to him with the classic two-syllable word.

“You didn’t ask what kind of inheritance he had?” Even though Governor Gao didn’t play League of Legends, he could tell something was amiss and immediately leaned over to whisper. He glanced over to see Mayor Zhao barely suppressing a laugh, his shoulders visibly shaking.

A stifled snort slipped from his lips, but upon hearing the governor’s question, his expression instantly straightened. He cleared his throat. “Sir, I didn’t expect this either… I’m not familiar with these matters. Back then, it was Mr. Liu Qing who was responsible.”

From the audience, Liu Qing could only sigh inwardly.

He hadn’t expected this at all! At the time, he hadn’t even asked—when dealing with underworld inheritances, if it wasn’t terrifying, that was already a blessing. Who could have imagined something this bizarre?

While the main stage was mired in awkwardness and the audience in front of their televisions was in uproar, a man in a black suit hurried to the podium, leaning in to whisper to Zhou Xianlong, “Sir… if possible, please continue as planned.”

“After monitoring twelve pilot sites, the live responses… are very positive.”

“How is that possible!” Zhou Xianlong turned to glare at the man, lowering his voice. “This is supposed to be a Summoning Lineage, invoking a deity—there should be a physical transformation. What was that just now?”

“Sir… as unbelievable as it seems, the vast majority of young people at the pilot sites are cheering. And… frankly, the overly solemn atmosphere has been greatly relieved…”

Zhou Xianlong took several deep breaths, then turned to face the screen. “Everyone, that was just a little joke. Now, let’s proceed to the reading of Order Number Two.”

He turned and shot a fierce glare at Qin Ye: Get off the stage, now!

Having Qin Ye demonstrate on site had a deeper purpose—the opening of the University of Cultivation and the recruitment of students required role models. Firsthand accounts from peers were far more effective than lectures from this group of old men.

Who could have foreseen that the impression left would be so deep, but not in the way he intended?

Qin Ye wanted nothing more than to cover his face and flee the stage. The shame was unbearable.

Whenever he recalled it late at night, he wanted to bury his head under the covers and scream with mortification!

“Arthas Menethil! You’d better give me a good explanation for what just happened!” He didn’t return to his seat but instead rushed to a restroom nearby, gritting his teeth as he spoke to the Soul-Sealing Orb.

To call the Prince of Lordaeron by his full name—he was clearly incensed.

“How should I know!” Arthas sounded equally bewildered. “In theory, as long as your concept isn’t too far removed from reality, it should convert into another form! What exactly did you envision just now?”

Qin Ye suddenly fell silent, glaring at the orb.

He had envisioned Sun Wukong: brave, clever, unstoppable.

Yet what manifested was Teemo…

Timid, cautious, sneaking about planting mushrooms and farming, and watching teamfights from afar…

Reality’s slap comes with such cruel swiftness…

“Don’t worry… I’d sooner die than ever wear that outfit in public again!” he ground out a few seconds later. Then he added, “Unless it’s do-or-die, never again!”

He spent several minutes composing himself before returning to the venue, only to find the audience had already dispersed.

Strictly speaking, the bigwigs on the main stage hadn’t left. The reconstruction of the entire city center, the resettlement and reassurance of millions, endless details to be handled—even with contingency plans, Zhou Xianlong’s announcement alone would take six or seven hours to explain fully.

At least those offstage no longer had to sit through it.

Just as he reached his car, someone called out to him.

“Mr. Qin.” The speaker was a man in his early thirties, with the polite demeanor of a secretary. “I’m Assistant to Deputy Prosecutor Zhang Baoguo. If you’re available, the chief would like to invite you to lunch.”

“I’m still recovering from my injuries,” Qin Ye replied solemnly. “Please let Mr. Zhang know I’ll visit once I’m better.”

How could he show his face anywhere right now?

If he walked down the street, he’d probably be pointed at everywhere—“Look, that’s Teemo!” “Oh, him, the one who did the legendary Teemo cosplay. Can I get an autograph?”

Just thinking about it was enough to make his heart ache.

“…Seeing you’re in such low spirits, how about I share some good news?” Arthas’s voice sounded oddly cheerful.

“…Go on.”

Arthas grew serious. “I’ve thought about it for a while. That wisp of yin energy earlier wasn’t a living thing.”

Qin Ye forced himself to focus on something other than Teemo, though the image still danced in his mind. “I guessed as much… but the sense of terror was so real.”

Even now, his eyelids still twitched at the memory. He whispered, “A ghost of that level would never stop hungering for flesh and blood—if that thing was in Baoyuan City, no living person would remain.”

“But what was it, exactly? Baoyuan City… did we overlook something?”

At that moment, a voice came from behind. “Mr. Qin.”

It was Su Feng.

“This is the arrangement for the First University of Cultivation. In one week, there will be a pre-service training for teachers, lasting a month. In other words, we have a week.”

“What do you mean?” Qin Ye frowned; the statement was too abrupt.

Su Feng adjusted his glasses and said softly, “Do you remember… your unusual reaction earlier?”

A sharp glint flashed in Qin Ye’s eyes. “Now?”

“Come with me,” Su Feng said, tilting his head.

They didn’t take an official car but hailed a taxi straight to a restaurant.

It was an unremarkable place; the only advantage was decent décor and private rooms, though the food looked less than promising.

Su Feng gave the name of a private room. As soon as the door opened, a lively voice greeted him. “Hey, Teemo.”

I swear, if I could fly, I’d kick him right now!

Rage flared in Qin Ye’s chest. He gritted his teeth. “Looking for trouble?”

Inside, an Eight Immortals table sat three people. The one who’d spoken was a young man nearly 1.9 meters tall, about twenty-six or twenty-seven, and precisely the type Qin Ye disliked most.

Handsome.

Very handsome.

Not the delicate, pretty-boy kind, but like a hunting leopard: athletic and striking, with sword-like brows and star-bright eyes, clad in camouflage and combat boots. What’s more, the strength of his True Qi was nearly on par with Qin Ye’s.

To the young man’s left was a bald, heavyset man in camouflage, a white mouse perched on his shoulder. He smoked a cigarette and fiddled with his phone.

On the right was a short-haired woman, also around twenty-six or twenty-seven, with sharp, severe features. She wore a beige trench coat over a white wool sweater, a silver knife dancing like lightning in her hand. She glanced at Qin Ye.

“How could I dare mess with the man who soloed nine bosses in one night?” the young man said roguishly, raising his brows in mock secrecy. “I just wanted to ask…”

“What rank are you?”

Qin Ye fought the urge to kick him under the table. Would this joke ever end?

Clang! Before the young man could finish, five silver knives slammed into the table. The woman arched her brow. “Lin Han, are you looking to get yourself killed?”

“What, you got a problem? If you do, let’s take it outside—whoever backs down calls the other ‘Daddy.’” Lin Han shot her a sidelong glance and sneered.

Silence fell. The air suddenly tensed. Qin Ye noticed all five knives had ring-shaped handles, each attached to a string. In an instant, the short-haired woman’s expression didn’t change, but her fingers gave a subtle tug, making the knives leap up like vipers, aiming for Lin Han’s throat.

“Damn, I was just joking! Is that really necessary?” “Enough!”

The first line was Lin Han’s; the second, Su Feng’s.

The short-haired woman snorted and, with a flick, the five knives vanished into her coat. Only then did she look at Qin Ye.

“Professor Qin…” she said meaningfully. “With the new semester starting, I hope you’ll guide me well.”

“This is Li Runxue. That fat guy is Zhuo Qinfen. Ignore the madwoman,” Su Feng said, gesturing for Qin Ye to sit. “Before you arrived, she was the top S-grade in Anhui Province. It’s natural she feels a bit unsettled.”

“I’m not unsettled,” Li Runxue said, admiring her well-maintained hands. “I just don’t acknowledge it.”

“I never believe in things I haven’t seen with my own eyes.”

Qin Ye glanced at her calmly.

The room was filled with Soulbinders.

Things quieted down. Su Feng cleared his throat and began. “All S-grade Soulbinders in Anhui Province under thirty are here, and there aren’t many of us. S-grade talent is extremely rare. To introduce formally: I’m Su Feng, from a family of Network Masters.”

Li Runxue’s lips moved, and she finally spoke. “Li Runxue. No inheritance.”

The fat man finally set down his phone. “Zhuo Qinfen, nothing special in the way of inheritance. Born into the Special Investigation Department, following in my father’s footsteps.”

Lin Han grinned. “Executioner. You could say it’s the family trade.”

“Qin Ye, no inheritance,” Qin Ye said, raising his teacup with a smile. “Mr. Su, I thought our business was for our ears only.”

Su Feng replied with a smile, “Before officially joining the Special Investigation Department, there’s a selection camp for new recruits. We were all in the same group, and only our group made it through. These are people I trust absolutely. Besides, just the two of us wouldn’t be enough for what’s ahead.”

“Get to the point,” Lin Han interrupted impatiently.

Su Feng nodded, signaling to Zhuo Qinfen, who promptly closed the window. Su Feng then took a deep breath and produced a sheet of paper.

“The four of us work in different places. Lin Han and I are at the Paranormal Research Institute. About a week ago, we received a blueprint.”

He didn’t open the carefully folded paper right away but said gravely, “It’s a blueprint for a building. All such blueprints are sent to us for review before being reported upwards. But… my supervisor withheld this one.”

“As it happens, I’m his first assistant, so I caught a glimpse. Usually, there are two reasons for withholding a blueprint.”

He raised a finger. “First: Non-compliance, failed review, rejected.”

“Second…” He glanced around and lowered his voice. “The matter is too important and requires further discussion.”

“This blueprint was so strange that I copied it. Only then did I realize… it’s the plan for the main building of the First University of Cultivation!”

He gently unfolded the paper. Qin Ye glanced at it, and his gaze trembled.

“This… this is the main building of the First University of Cultivation?”

It wasn’t disbelief, but rather… the structure was supported entirely by bones!

The architecture was in the ancient Huaguo style, the bones enormous and of unknown origin, seven stories in all. From the outside, there was no sign at all; the sweeping eaves were exquisitely crafted. Yet for some reason, just looking at it sent chills down Qin Ye’s spine.

“What is this…” At that moment, a faint voice piped up, “The Seven-Star Soul-Suppressing Pagoda?!”

“They’re building the Seven-Star Soul-Suppressing Pagoda in Baoyuan City? What are they trying to suppress? Or have they discovered something here? Such a grand undertaking!”