Chapter 269 It’s all because of childishness

The reports on the fusion runes from the Holy Sanctuary have been decreasing recently. It is evident that the Holy Sanctuary is intentionally downplaying the impact of this matter and using the Light of the Holy Sanctuary to divert people's attention with other gossip news, such as the sudden return of the prince who had been missing for half a year in the Dragon Moon Principality, or the apparent intention of an alliance through marriage between the Dragon Moon Principality and the Ice Spirit Principality, or the escalating conflict over the Dragon City and the Soul Void Realm.

Clearly, the Holy Sanctuary intends to completely 'hide' the fusion runes, indicating that their effects must be quite significant. The 'hiding' is mainly aimed at the Nine Gods. Although the Blade understands that once this technology is made public, it cannot truly be hidden, buying some time is still valuable.

Li Sitan has repeatedly expressed that the Rose faction still wishes for Wang Feng to assist in further research on the fusion runes, but Old Wang has politely declined for various reasons.

What a joke, there are countless jobs in this world, but being a researcher is not one of them. The Snow Queen is meant for saving lives; handing her over would mean losing control. Whatever the Blade and the Nine Gods want to do with her, they can do as they please.

Now, in Aurora City, few dare to provoke Wang Feng. The sea folk and the beastmen consider him family, and even the human nobles of the city and the Rose faction treat him as a distinguished guest. Recently, even Daga has been more amiable towards him, though not as close and ambiguous as when they were at sea, it’s certainly better than the constant bickering and fighting of the past.

With respect on his face and money in his pocket, he is treated with reverence wherever he goes, living a life of comfort.

At the Rose training ground, Fantasi was 'battling' with Mo Tong.

Calling it a battle might be too generous to Fantasi; in fact, he was being thoroughly beaten.

His left cheek was swollen, and his eye was black from several heavy blows. His soul almost flew out of his body. He tried to get closer to Mo Tong, but to no avail. The speed of the other was much faster. While he felt he had grasped the close combat techniques taught by Hei Wukai, his limbs simply couldn’t keep up, and the gap in strength was too great. Understanding the techniques was useless if he couldn't apply them.

"Faster, faster, idiot, you're still so slow! Take my punch!"

Boom!

Another heavy punch landed on his back, causing Fantasi's body to bounce off the ground before collapsing like a dead fish, motionless.

"Hey, are you okay?" Mo Tong asked smugly, but received no response.

"You're done for, Mo Tong, you killed him," Winnie said, sitting with her legs crossed and eating an ice lolly, gloating. "Fatso is a person too, your hands are too heavy. Old Black, Old Black, you better hurry up and help your disciple take revenge! Finish off this black-hearted guy!"

Hei Wukai smiled faintly.

Mo Tong was startled and bent down to check the situation, but as soon as he leaned over, he saw Fantasi's swollen eyes suddenly snap open.

He grabbed Mo Tong's outstretched arm and, like an octopus, his plump body coiled up.

Mo Tong was furious, struggling with all his might, but to no avail. In the blink of an eye, Fantasi climbed onto his back, using both hands and feet to instantly lock Mo Tong's arms and neck.

"Ahahaha!" Fantasi's eyes blazed with rage, his soul power bursting forth in an instant, exuding a rather domineering aura, though his voice sounded a bit odd, as if he had lost a tooth and it was whistling: "It's my turn to win this time!"

"Pah! You? Wait for the next life!"

Mo Tong's eyes widened, and his muscles swelled instantly, tearing a 'crack' in Fantasi's tight grip. Then, with a fierce burst of soul power, he violently shook off the restraint, the force multiplying tenfold in an instant.

The two were vastly different in strength, and when Mo Tong unleashed his full power, Fantasi could no longer hold on. He was forcibly pushed away, and then Mo Tong's elbows slammed into his stomach like smashing a watermelon, sending him crashing to the ground.

Boom...

The entire training ground seemed to tremble, the loud explosion making Fantasi's eyes go wide. Even with his thick layer of fat, his back ached intensely, nearly causing him to spit out a mouthful of foam.

Mo Tong was about to strike again, but Fantasi quickly spread his limbs in a surrender pose: "I surrender! I surrender!"

"Surrendering still means getting hit!" Mo Tong was displeased: "You dared to trick me just now!"

"Alright, Mo Tong." It was Hei Wukai who finally intervened, pulling Fantasi up from the ground with a smile: "Not bad, you're learning to use your head. Whether it's deception or anything else, don't worry too much about the process; catching someone is a good strategy."

"It didn't work anyway," Fantasi looked dejected, having given up his dignity and principles, yet still failing to subdue Mo Tong, who easily broke free: "I caught him, but couldn't beat him..."

Hei Wukai laughed heartily: "Don't set the bar too high. Just now, Mo Tong even used the breathing technique of the Mahoraga. Do you know the former head of your Martial Dao Courtyard, Luo Lan? When Mo Tong faced him last time, he didn't even bother to use the breathing technique."

Mo Tong looked embarrassed, while Fantasi was both surprised and delighted, turning to look at Mo Tong: "You used a secret technique just now? That's cheating!"

"That's called the Hundred Battles Breathing Technique! A regular combat skill, and even a secret technique... Secret technique my sister, do I need a secret technique to beat scum like you?" Mo Tong’s face turned red with anger as he glared at Hei Wukai: "Hei Wukai, you’re exposing my secrets again!"

"Got a problem with that? Want to go one-on-one?" Old Black said with a calm demeanor.

Mo Tong choked for a moment, then said resentfully: "One-on-one, sure, but don’t act like I’m scared of you... Besides, I have something at the Rune Academy this afternoon. I need to help Old Li set up the venue, so I can’t afford to get bruised up. Another day!"

Everyone laughed, and Wu Di joined in, but after the laughter, he felt a bit melancholic.

Old Wang’s team had five members. The captain and Winnie were no question, and Kela, ever since her awakening, had seen her strength grow rapidly. Only he and Fantasy remained novices.

But recently, even Fantasy seemed to have found his groove, improving at an astonishing rate, earning constant praise from Hei Wukai.

All the team members were making progress, and Wu Di was genuinely happy for everyone, but the problem was, he showed no signs of improvement. Even though he had reduced his sleep to less than four hours a day and put in ten times more effort than before, awakening still seemed far off.

Am I really just a waste of space?

Listening to everyone’s cheerful laughter, Wu Di felt himself becoming increasingly invisible.

Boom! Boom!

The sound of a flashy motorcycle came from the entrance, and everyone knew who it was.

Sure enough, less than five seconds after the motorcycle noise stopped, the training ground’s door was kicked open. It was none other than President Wang Feng, who had reclaimed his motorcycle from Old Wang. After all, a president needs to maintain his image.

Old Wang appeared at the door in a colorful outfit, looking like he was on vacation, carrying a large bag of breakfast: "Hey, everyone’s here? I only bought enough for five people, so whoever grabs it first gets to eat!"

"Wow, Dinxinji’s vine-baked bread!"

A flash of light, and Winnie dashed to the front, leading the charge. Old Wang was indeed becoming more generous, buying branded breakfasts. It made sense; the Autonomous Association was now rolling in money, and as president, he could spend public funds freely. Why leave the public money for Karida to use during the New Year?

Fantasy also wanted to rush forward but was pulled back by Mo Tong.

"Relax, they won't finish it," Mo Tong chuckled. This fat guy actually dared to trick him; he wouldn't get breakfast: "Your move just now was pretty good. Come on, let's practice some more! Practice enough before you eat!"

Old Wang had seen the progress of everyone in the team, even the most useless Wu Di was full of energy and improving quickly. It was a good thing that they were progressing fast; the faster they improved, the safer the captain would feel!

Old Wang felt gratified. No matter where he went in the future, with the Eight Protectors on his left and the Old Wang Team on his right, his personal safety would be as solid as a rock, as stable as Mount Tai.

As for setting an example, that didn't exist. He was known as the lazy-winning insect god species. If he kept this up, who knew, maybe one day he would suddenly become awesome. As for the Black Hole Syndrome... Ah, right, he still had the Black Hole Syndrome! That meant he couldn't be diligent; diligence could kill!

After a few leisurely days, the news on the Holy Light of the Sanctuary was all about Dragon City, that Soul Illusion Realm. The Holy Light of the Sanctuary hyped it up to the sky, seriously tracing the various Soul Illusion Realms that had appeared in the past, which were capable of changing the continent's landscape or even influencing the course of history, mentioning dragon-level beasts, even gods, and even claiming that the runes invented by the Supreme Saint were enlightened from the Soul Illusion Realm... Anyway, all sorts of legends, making it sound grand and mysterious, exciting countless disciples of the Rose Holy Sanctuary, as if entering it would truly transform them.

But in Old Wang's eyes, this thing was purely a transparent piece of glass.

What transformation, what earthly paradise? Don't talk nonsense. Isn't it just a broken instance, a random wild map? Of course, there are benefits, but I can't be resurrected. Why go to such a place? Even if there is a Heavenly Soul Pearl... I won't consider it!

It's said that not only Blade and Nine Gods, but many mysterious forces on the continent are watching that place. Regardless of what opportunities lie within, it will inevitably be a peak confrontation among experts from all sides. I'm just a disciple of the Holy Sanctuary; do I need to worry about such trivial matters? With this time, I might as well watch Fantasy and Mo Tong fight naked, tease little Winnie, and casually check if Kela has grown again. Aren't these things important?

Speaking of which, the orc's figure is really unscientific. Before Kela awakened her soul power, her figure looked tall and plump. Logically, she should have become stronger and bulkier, but instead, she slimmed down... Her waist seems to be only as thick as Mo Tong's leg, while her bust is incredibly full, and her buttocks so firm that someone could sit on them. Once you get used to it, it's fine, but if someone sees it unexpectedly, they might think it's a high-level creation.

The powerful strength after awakening, the devilish figure, the more three-dimensional features compared to humans and the Eight Protectors, plus her current position as the head of the Gun Institute, Kela has leaped from being a lowly orc in everyone's eyes to the new favorite of the Rose Holy Sanctuary. No one dares to roll their eyes at her anymore, but no one pursues her either.

An awakened orc is still an orc, after all. People can be intimidated by her power, respect her, and even admire her beauty secretly, but when it comes to being with an orc, very few people dare to cross that line openly. After all, not every man has the courage to bear the world's condemnation. The only exception is Mo Tong; this guy can't hide anything from my experienced laser eyes.

"Kela! Look at my punch!"

Fantasy screamed, his left cheek swollen, as Mo Tong flexed his biceps.

"So what?" Kela's gaze was intense, and she threw a fierce punch: "I can do it too!"

Fantasy's right cheek swelled again.

Mo Tong's face was full of admiration: "That punch wasn't bad; Xi didn't even react, just a bit weak. Watch me give you a good one, Xi... Huh?"

Before Mo Tong could finish his sentence, Fantasy had already run off like he was fleeing for his life.

These two were competing, using me as a punching bag, and they called it training to improve my endurance?

Train my ass! The key is that these two hit harder than the other, aiming to knock me out, as if not being able to instantly kill this fatso with super defense means their strength isn't enough...

Fantasy was so angry he could grind his teeth, but what could he do? If he could beat them, he would definitely give them both a good thrashing.

Old Wang, however, saw everything clearly and laughed slyly.

Although Xi suffered, he was becoming more spirited recently. Not only did his skills in Dark Grappling Technique improve, but the advantages of his Tai Chi Tiger soul seed were also beginning to show. Now, even if Mo Tong went all out and landed a few solid blows, Fantasy could endure them. This soul seed really was forged through hardship.

As for Mo Tong and Kela? One a Mahoraga noble, the other a low-ranking beastman, one born into privilege and always showing off, the other from humble beginnings and meticulous, one ugly, the other beautiful—honestly, they have nothing in common.

Mo Tong still thinks he likes Yin Fu, but whenever he sees Kela, he wants to show off. Kela, on the other hand, thinks Mo Tong is deliberately picking fights. Tsk tsk, young people, all because of immaturity.

These two often use Xi for practice, then fight every three days and have a big brawl every five days. They both favor close combat, so physical contact is inevitable. Both are in the prime of their youth, and who knows, maybe one night they'll end up fighting together.

Good times also have their little hitches. The Autonomous Council had a minor conflict over the 'Holy Sanctuary Servant Scholarship.'

A few who didn't make the cut were unhappy and demanded that the Autonomous Council disclose the selection criteria and the entire process, making everything transparent. They also accused Wang Feng of misusing public funds for lavish feasts... These Holy Sanctuary disciples were from wealthy families in Aurora City, used to having power and money, and were accustomed to getting their way. They went straight to the Autonomous Council to cause trouble, which amused Old Wang.

I pay for your scholarships out of my own pocket, and now you want to dictate how I distribute them? All the money in the Autonomous Council comes from my donations, and you accuse me of misusing public funds for feasts? Are you trying to find something to complain about in my toilet?

When the tiger doesn't show its might, it's taken for a sick cat. Old Wang immediately ordered Mo Tong to give them a thorough beating, almost crippling them, and then he casually mentioned it to Clara.

Clara had been eagerly awaiting Wang Feng’s magic potion, so naturally, she was ready to comply with any request. The Jin Beibei Auction House, besides organizing auctions and trading goods, was also the largest maritime merchant in Aurora City. There was no way around it; they simply had more ships and people! They were just that domineering!

At least half of the city's merchandise was transported by Jin Beibei. Without hesitation, Clara immediately notified all the docks to cut off the maritime supply to those wealthy merchant families, scaring them into rounding up the few troublemakers—still wrapped in bandages—and bringing them to Old Wang’s quarters, where they were beaten again, right in front of him...

It was such a trivial matter, almost a form of entertainment, that it even made Old Wang feel a bit nostalgic.

Being invincible was so lonely!

The old days with the roses were much more fun, with Luo Lan and Ma Tan, and that pile of shit that had already been sent back to Phoenix City...

For many days, life was leisurely. Just when Old Wang thought he could graduate peacefully like this, his tranquility was shattered by an unexpected event.

In the meeting room of the Seer Tower...

When Karida had someone summon Wang Feng earlier, Old Wang thought it was about punishing those wealthy merchants' disciples. Could it be that he had been taking such good care of Sister Karida lately that she was bored and decided to take charge of these minor issues that no one complained about?

"Sister Karida!"

As soon as Old Wang pushed open the door to the meeting room, he immediately sensed that the atmosphere inside was different from usual.