Chapter 96: Chapter 96: Return Journey

The bus heading back to Jinchuan City was only about half full. The atmosphere was much less anxious than on the way there, replaced by a sense of ease and anticipation. Of course, this was also mixed with the disappointment of those who had failed the exam.

Hu Jiasen still sat next to Fang Chen. Unable to calm his excitement, he kept rambling about how thrilled his family would be when he returned and how the clan would reward him. His face beamed with high spirits as he repeatedly thanked Fang Chen.

Fang Chen listened and calmly interrupted him. "This is the result of your own hard work and choices. It doesn’t have much to do with me. However, this is only the beginning. Entering the academy is where the gap truly begins to widen."

Hu Jiasen nodded vigorously. "Yes! I understand! But just thinking about having the chance to become a High Martial Realm Martial Artist in the future... Wow, I couldn’t have even imagined this before!

"It’s just that I heard from the academy staff that the management during the four years of school is extremely strict," he added, a little confused. "Going out requires multiple layers of reporting and approval. Unless it’s a school-organized trip to gain experience outside or compete for resources, it’s very difficult to move about freely."

"That’s normal," Fang Chen said indifferently. "If High Martial Realm Martial Artists were allowed to roam freely around the city without restrictions, there’s no telling what kind of trouble they might cause. The authorities and the academy are likely worried about their power spiraling out of control and endangering normal social order."

Hu Jiasen was still somewhat puzzled. "But we still have to graduate in four years. Our realms will be even higher then. Wouldn’t that be even more terrifying?"

Fang Chen glanced at him, his gaze eventually drifting to the scenery flashing past the window as he explained. "Didn’t you hear Director Chen from the academy mention it? Whenever a student officially steps into the High Martial Realm, their family or registered residence will receive an official certification plaque designating them as a ’House of Martial Merit’.

"This means your family has produced an expert in the High Martial Realm. Even if your family had enemies or hostile factions in the past, most of those grudges will temporarily subside or even be actively resolved when they see that plaque. A single High Martial Realm Martial Artist is enough to make the vast majority of people carefully weigh the consequences. Out in society, people will be falling over themselves to curry favor with you, which naturally reduces many unnecessary feuds.

"Furthermore, even if there is friction and hostility in the future, your opponents will mostly be disciples from the academy or other families, just like you. Those grievances will either be settled through mediation under the academy’s internal rules, or resolved on the spot while exploring Secret Realms and competing for resources. They will rarely spill over into ordinary society.

"Not to mention, after graduation, the main stage for most high-level Martial Artists is the border battlefield. To a certain extent, this also separates the active sphere of high-level Martial Artists from ordinary society."

"That’s true... I understand now," Hu Jiasen said, suddenly realizing the logic.

Fang Chen said no more, closing his eyes to rest.

Occasional whispers from classmates reached his ears. They were discussing who had passed the exam and chosen to stay directly in Cyan Yang City instead of returning. After all, even with a military escort, the wilderness was not safe. Some families had simply instructed their children not to make the exhausting trek back home if they passed.

However, most admitted students still chose to return, taking the opportunity to resell and cash in the Enhancing Potions they had obtained in Cyan Yang City to subsidize their families or exchange for other resources.

The return journey was not particularly smooth. Along the way, they occasionally encountered harassment from small packs of roaming Tier-2 Demon Beasts and minor wild beast tides. But with the escort of several High Martial Realm military officers stepping in, these incidents were resolved without any real danger. The convoy arrived safely back in the Jinchuan City territory.

Company Commander Jia was in charge of this escort; Huai Yongge did not travel with them.

Upon arriving at the Jinchuan City bus station, Company Commander Jia gathered all the returning candidates and announced loudly. "Alright, kids, you’ve all made it home safely! Remember, next month, on August 15th, our unit will organize another special escort. Gather here at exactly seven in the morning. We won’t wait for latecomers!

"If you miss it and still want a military escort, it’ll cost a hundred thousand yuan a ticket, and the vehicle won’t leave until it’s full. Plus, there won’t be nearly this many experts coming along. Keep that in mind!"

"Understood!" everyone replied in unison.

Fang Chen looked at the familiar streetscape of Jinchuan City but did not linger. Carrying his bag, he first went to the Iron Hand Sect martial arts center.

As soon as the center’s owner, Luo Wu, saw Fang Chen, he rushed over excitedly and called out to all his disciples. "Hurry over, everyone! Greet your Grandmaster!"

Although the disciples were a bit confused, seeing their master acting so solemnly, they all bowed respectfully. "Greetings, Grandmaster!"

Fang Chen waved his hand somewhat helplessly. "There’s no need for that. A normal address will do. I will come and give everyone some pointers in a few days."

Fang Chen and Luo Wu went to his private room. Cutting straight to the chase, Fang Chen took a jade bottle from his coat and handed it to Luo Wu. "Here, take this."

Luo Wu took it in confusion. The moment he popped the cork and looked inside, his hands began to tremble with excitement. "T-This is...?"

Although he didn’t recognize it, the pungent medicinal aroma and the faint energy fluctuations clearly indicated that this was no ordinary item.

"A Realm-Breaking Pill," Fang Chen said.

"A Realm-Breaking Pill?!" Luo Wu cried out, his eyes widening into saucers. "This... I heard this stuff is even more expensive than a Qi Blood Needle on the black market! They say a single one costs over one hundred and eighty thousand!"

Fang Chen’s tone remained placid. "I had to bring you a souvenir from my trip to Cyan Yang City. Find a quiet time to refine it. I can see you’ve been stuck at the Late Stage of True Martial Realm for a while now. This Realm-Breaking Pill is enough to help you break through to Perfection."

Holding the jade bottle like a peerless treasure, Luo Wu was moved to tears. "Thank you, Master!"

Fang Chen nodded. "Hold off on the thanks for now. I need your help with something else today."

"Just say the word! What is it?"

Fang Chen took out two more small bottles and several sealed syringes from his bag. "I have two more Realm-Breaking Pills and three Qi Blood Needles here. I need to offload these as quickly as possible. Take me to the underground trading channels you’re familiar with."

Luo Wu gasped as he stared at the pile of highly valuable hard currency before him. "Wow! So many! This... This could sell for at least six or seven hundred thousand, right!"

Fang Chen shook his head. "It’s hard to say. The market for people in Jinchuan City who have the financial means, happen to be at the True Martial Realm, and have an urgent need for these isn’t actually that large.

"Recently, many returning martial arts exam students from Cyan Yang City have brought back similar resources. This concentrated influx will definitely shock the market and cause prices to drop. Therefore, I need to sell them quickly to avoid any unforeseen complications."

Luo Wu suggested, "Then there’s no need to rush, Master! These are all hard currency. If we wait half a year for the market to digest this wave, the prices will definitely bounce back up!"

Fang Chen shook his head again, his tone resolute. "I am in urgent need of money right now. Let’s go. Lead the way."

Seeing that Fang Chen had made up his mind, Luo Wu said no more and immediately instructed his disciples, "Continue training according to the schedule on your own. I’m going out with my master for a while."

Afterward, he led Fang Chen out and they got into his car.

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