"Director Lin, feel free to speak your mind. If I can help, I will."
Wang Xiao's tone was calm and composed.
'I've lived in the Martial Arts World for thirty years,' he thought. 'While I spent most of that time researching Martial Arts, I still understand basic human interaction.'
The director of the Life Evolution Institute was a Tier Three Citizen himself.
He might need the man's help with something in the future.
So there was no reason to push him away.
Of course,
Wang Xiao didn't agree outright, leaving himself some wiggle room.
Seeing how young yet composed Wang Xiao was, and how gracefully he handled himself, Lin Zhiqiang felt a sense of admiration. He smiled and said,
"Actually, this shouldn't be difficult for you, Mr. Wang. According to Federation regulations, you are now required to either assist in the capture of a Tier Three Mutant Beast every two months or provide materials from a Tier Three or higher mutant beast."
"My hope is that you'll consider selling the Exotic Beast Materials, blood, and other such things from the beasts you kill to our Evolution Institute first. Of course, our Evolution Institute will pay the full market price."
Wang Xiao heard this and nodded.
"If it's just that, then I have no problem with it."
'I have to sell it somewhere anyway,' he reasoned. 'Might as well be the Evolution Institute. It's a good way to earn a favor.'
Besides, he felt that Lin Zhiqiang wasn't just trying to buy Exotic Beast Materials from him.
It was more likely an attempt to build a relationship with him.
Lin Zhiqiang's smile was warm. "Excellent! Brother Wang, you're a straightforward man. You haven't eaten yet, have you? Shall we find a place for a meal?"
Now that Wang Xiao had agreed, Lin Zhiqiang's attitude grew more familiar, and he even changed how he addressed him.
Wang Xiao politely declined. "My apologies, Director Lin, but I already have plans. I'll treat you to a meal another day."
He had just received a message. The founder of the Martial Arts forum, Yunzhong Monarch, was about to arrive at the World Martial Arts Hall.
This was the perfect guinea pig, one with a huge interest in Martial Arts.
Wang Xiao was counting on them to test out his Martial Arts and see if they were worth promoting.
Lin Zhiqiang didn't press the issue. He smiled and said,
"Alright, Brother Wang, go on if you have business to attend to. Next time, I'll choose a place to celebrate with you. I can also introduce you to some other Tier Three Citizens. We can all help each other and progress together."
Wang Xiao nodded. "No problem, Director Lin."
Lin Zhiqiang added, "And about that Biological Pod, it will be delivered to your residence within three days. That would be the World Martial Arts Hall, correct?"
"Yes."
"I wouldn't have guessed you knew Martial Arts, Brother Wang. Fewer and fewer people practice it these days."
"My grandfather used to run a Martial Arts Hall, and I was always interested, so I started training when I was young. After my parents passed away, the hall was left to me. I can't let my family's legacy be ruined on my watch, right, Director Lin?"
"Yes, absolutely. I'm sure that once word gets out about you being a Tier Three Life, people will be lining up to enroll in your Martial Arts Hall."
Lin Zhiqiang wasn't optimistic about the future of Martial Arts, but he offered the compliment anyway.
"Heh, one can hope."
Wang Xiao exchanged a few more pleasantries with Lin Zhiqiang before being warmly escorted out of the Life Evolution Institute.
In fact,
Lin Zhiqiang even had a private car waiting for him.
Wang Xiao didn't refuse, simply following the driver to the car.
The car was a special Anti-gravity Flying Vehicle. With a blast of air from its chassis, it lifted straight into the sky and shot off toward the World Martial Arts Hall like a streak of light.
「After Wang Xiao left」
Lin Zhiqiang turned to Pei Shiqi, who was standing by the door, and chuckled.
"Xiaopei, he's gone. What are you still looking at?"
Pei Shiqi blushed slightly.
"It's not every day you see a Tier Three Life, and one so young at that. Director Lin, this Mr. Wang isn't even thirty, is he?"
Lin Zhiqiang said,
"Not even thirty? He's only twenty-two, a recent college graduate."
Pei Shiqi's mouth hung slightly open.
"To be that powerful at such a young age… he must be the young master of some great family, right? But… I don't think there are any great families in Dachang City!"
Those great families were almost all concentrated in places like Shanghai and the Capital City.
They wouldn't come to a backwater place like this.
Besides, even a young master from a great family wouldn't come to their Evolution Institute to have his Life Tier evaluated.
Lin Zhiqiang said,
"According to his personal record, Wang Xiao's background is quite ordinary. I can't figure out how he managed his Cultivation to become a Tier Three Life either. I can only say that a true dragon has emerged from the shallow pond of our Dachang City!"
This was the first time Pei Shiqi had heard her director praise someone so highly. She couldn't help but say,
"In that case, our institute should do everything we can to get on his good side."
Lin Zhiqiang glanced at Pei Shiqi.
"That Wang Xiao runs a Martial Arts Hall on Zhongshan North Road. You could sign up, Xiaopei. You'd have the inside track, so to speak. It would also stop your dad from pestering me to find you a boyfriend."
Pei Shiqi pursed her lips.
"Uncle Lin, what are you talking about? I'm not planning on dating right now."
Lin Zhiqiang said,
"This Wang Xiao has extraordinary strength and a graceful demeanor. He is bound to achieve great things. If you don't make a move, plenty of others will."
"Also, remember to use titles at work."
"Otherwise, people will think you got in through connections."
Pei Shiqi enunciated heavily, "Yes, Director Lin."
...
Wang Xiao stepped out of the Anti-gravity Flying Vehicle and let out a soft sigh.
He had to admit,
the Anti-gravity Flying Vehicle was incredibly fast. With its own dedicated routes, there was no traffic at all.
The twenty-kilometer trip from the Life Evolution Institute to the World Martial Arts Hall had taken less than ten minutes.
As Wang Xiao walked up to the entrance of the World Martial Arts Hall, he saw a woman in a baseball cap, leather jacket, and jeans standing at the door.
The woman was tall, but what was most striking were her legs—long and straight, they seemed even longer than a supermodel's.
She leaned against the main entrance, idly tapping on her phone.
Wang Xiao walked over, his tone tinged with suspicion.
"Are you… Yunzhong Monarch?"
The woman looked up, revealing an exquisite face with almond-shaped eyes, long lashes, and irises the color of azure, like a still autumn lake.
She looked at Wang Xiao, smiled, and extended a hand.
"Hello, One Sword Soars into the Heavens. I'm Yunzhong Monarch."
"One Sword Soars into the Heavens" was the cringey screen name Wang Xiao had come up with back in middle school.
When he later registered on Martial Arts forums and message boards, he just kept using it.
Wang Xiao was stunned for a moment.
"I didn't expect you to be a woman."
Yunzhong Monarch shrugged.
"I never said I was a man, did I? What, is it strange for a woman to practice martial arts?"
Wang Xiao smiled.
"Not at all. Women can be just as capable as men, as the old saying goes. I'm just curious about your skill level."
Yunzhong Monarch said,
"I've been studying in my spare time for about a dozen years. I've dabbled in the Ancient Martial Arts of various schools, but I feel most of them are just for show and aren't very useful."
"Your Sword Technique, on the other hand, looked flawless and natural. It has a certain... indescribable quality. That's why I came here specifically to learn from you."
Wang Xiao smiled faintly.
"Then you've come to the right place. I was just looking for someone to test my Sword Technique on. Shall we go into the Martial Arts Hall and have a friendly spar?"
A light gleamed in Yunzhong Monarch's beautiful eyes.
"I'd be delighted."