Chapter 126

Chapter 126

“I’d like to exchange points for a weapon in the armory,” Xie Qingling said.

The Technology R&D Department staff member sat at a computer and asked without looking up, “Name? ID number?”

She gave them.

A flurry of typing followed. Before long, the staff member said, “Xie Qingling. Fifty-six thousand points in total. What weapon would you like?”

“There’s a tablet over there. Every weapon available in the armory is listed on it. Open the fifty-thousand-point section. You can afford the weapons listed there.”

“Come back to me once you’ve decided.”

The staff member seemed very busy. After indicating the tablet with a glance, they went back to looking down at the computer, unable to spare any attention for anyone else.

Xie Qingling picked up the tablet and opened the section for items available at fifty thousand points. Scrolling continually, she found that this amount could get her quite a lot.

Weapons, protective gear, and poisons.

Tools of every sort. Everything was there.

She found the tool she wanted, but unfortunately, it did not quite suit her needs.

So she asked, “Could I change a tool’s properties, or its appearance, or something like that?”

“You mean customization? Of course.” The staff member still did not look up. “But modifications take more time and effort, so they cost more points. Having enough points for a tool doesn’t necessarily mean you can afford to modify it.”

Xie Qingling nodded to show she understood.

She took out all the mysterious items she had prepared in advance.

Zhuyu, a Migu branch, the Painted-Skin Ghost’s shed skin, the red bridal veil with mandarin ducks playing in water, and the three-inch embroidered lotus shoes.

These were all spoils Xie Qingling had collected. Now she wanted to exchange them for a weapon that was very important to her.

“Can I exchange these for it?”

Seeing the mysterious items and cursed objects she had laid out, the staff member paused. “I see. You want to barter. We welcome that in the Technology R&D Department. There’s a form over there. Write down the name of the item you want modified and your requirements. I’ll enter it into the system and arrange a suitable artisan for you.”

Headquarters’ entire system was well developed and highly efficient. All she had to do was follow the procedure.

Xie Qingling took the form, entered the item she had chosen, listed several changes she wanted, then handed it to the staff member.

The staff member looked down at her application, then looked up and studied her for a few moments. “This… You’ll have to go to the Director for this.”

They pushed the application back and pointed out the way. “Go straight ahead, then turn left. The innermost room is the Director’s office. Talk to her yourself. Only she can do it.”

“…All right. Thank you.” What a hassle.

Following the directions, Xie Qingling soon reached the Technology R&D Department’s Director’s office.

The door was closed. She knocked, and a man’s voice soon came from inside. “Come in.”

Huh?

A man’s voice?

It sounded quite familiar too.

Puzzled, Xie Qingling pushed the door open.

The first person she saw was…

Yang Baduan, seated upright at the desk.

Gold-rimmed glasses. Black clothes.

She paused, wondering whether she had come to the wrong place.

She deliberately stepped back out to check – this was indeed the Technology R&D Department.

But wasn’t its Director Wangsun Huahua?

Xie Qingling went inside again.

Holding a gold pen, Yang Baduan was writing busily with his head down. He did not look up, as though unaware that someone else had entered the office.

As he worked, stacks of processed documents piled up beside him. He worked like an unfeeling machine.

Only his tightly knitted brows betrayed a little frustration.

“What can I do for you?” Wangsun Huahua’s voice suddenly rang out.

Following it, Xie Qingling discovered Wangsun Huahua herself half reclining on the sofa, her long legs propped over its back, a cat still in her arms.

“Hello, Director Wangsun,” Xie Qingling said. “I’ve come to ask you to modify a weapon.”

She had not expected to find Yang Baduan here.

Still less had she expected Wangsun Huahua to be resting on the sofa while Yang Baduan sat at the Technology R&D Department’s Director’s desk, apparently working.

“…” It was hard to imagine what was going on here.

Xie Qingling thought she had better not ask too much.

She did not ask, but Wangsun Huahua volunteered an explanation with a broad smile. “Don’t mind our capable Director Yang, taking on extra work. He’s helping me. Hehe.”

“Director Yang is so capable! Not only did he get good grades as a child, he’s a great worker as an adult, and kindhearted too. Unlike me. I never liked studying, my grades were poor, and I’m not much good at work either. Without Director Yang, I really wouldn’t know what to do!” Beaming, Wangsun Huahua generously gave him a thumbs-up and praised him loudly.

Yang Baduan shot her an icy, dagger-like look, but ignored her.

Xie Qingling: “…”

“Director Wangsun, here’s my application.” Xie Qingling decided it was best not to get involved in the two Directors’ dispute. She stepped forward and handed Wangsun Huahua the completed form. “The staff member at the front desk said only you could make the modifications.”

Wangsun Huahua took it. Once she saw the weapon Xie Qingling wanted and her requirements, she suddenly exclaimed, “Wow!”

“You’ve got ideas, newcomer! Are you planning to use this in the tournament? Don’t worry. Even if I don’t sleep tonight, I’ll get it made for you.” Growing excited, she immediately flipped up off the sofa.

Clear bells jingled. Wangsun Huahua was eager to begin.
Seeing this, Yang Baduan remarked with chilly sarcasm, “You still haven’t finished this quarter’s paperwork.”

“What does that matter? Aren’t you here?” Wangsun Huahua patted the cat’s head. “Dadan, go soothe our hardworking Little Ba.”

The cat jumped down from her arms, stretched, and slowly walked toward Yang Baduan.

Yang Baduan: “…Don’t call me Little Ba!”

“All right, Little Turtle.”

“…”

Too angry to say anything more, Yang Baduan sulked in silence and continued processing the documents.

Xie Qingling took the chance to interject. “Um… Director Wangsun, I’ll come get it from you tomorrow morning.”

“Come get it when the Selection Tournament begins,” Wangsun Huahua said.

“All right.”

Escaping the Director’s office, Xie Qingling immediately ran back to her dorm room and went to sleep.

The second round began tomorrow. She needed to be well rested.

After all, the second-round competitors were the best of those who had won the first round. They would not be as easy to handle as the earlier opponents.

–

The next day, Xie Qingling and Shen Huaizhou went to the cafeteria together and bought breakfast. Only after finishing it did they go to the arena and take their seats in the stands.

There were already quite a few people there.

Xie Qingling looked around, then turned her gaze toward the dais.

Today, the same two people sat there – Wangsun Huahua and Yang Baduan.

Wangsun Huahua looked as though she had not slept enough. Her eyes were a little red, with faint dark circles beneath them.

Yang Baduan was the same, low on energy and looking rather unwell.

It seemed both had stayed up late last night.

Deeply grateful to Wangsun Huahua, Xie Qingling walked up to the dais to collect her weapon.

Wangsun Huahua gave a huge yawn. Seeing Xie Qingling, she immediately handed her a palm-sized wooden box. “Here. Your weapon.”

“Thank you, Director Wangsun.” Xie Qingling took it and quickly left the dais.

When she returned to Shen Huaizhou, he asked, “What weapon did you get?”

“Secret.”

“Oh.”

Since she would not say, he did not ask further.

They simply watched quietly as the second round of the Selection Tournament began.

Qi Tiansheng jumped into the arena and read out two names. The second round was underway.

The first match featured the defensive fighter whose weapon was a shield. Xie Qingling remembered him. Ling Fang had specifically told them to pay close attention to him.

His name was Jing Yixuan.

His opponent was also a defense-oriented fighter with a steady, methodical approach.

Jing Yixuan was likewise steady and methodical, seeking victory through caution rather than reckless advances.

Their approaches were the same. The probing exchanges alone numbered in the dozens.

They clashed again, probed again, and finally decided the outcome after about half an hour.

Jing Yixuan won.

In the final exchange, his heart had almost been torn out. But he used Golden Body. The skin all over his body turned the color of gold, shielding every part of his body and leaving no vital point exposed. At the same time, he counterattacked and won the match.

But he had been forced to reveal his last-resort, lifesaving skill. The final third round would probably not be easy for him.

“Jing Yixuan is really difficult to deal with,” Shen Huaizhou said.

Xie Qingling nodded in agreement.

His strong defenses and toughness were already troublesome enough. Who would have thought he was also the Vajra Arhat’s Chosen and could use Indestructible Vajra Body?

It was a very powerful lifesaving skill.

But…

“There must be a limit on using his Golden Body. My guess is once per match at most. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have held off for so long,” Xie Qingling said quietly.

Shen Huaizhou nodded in agreement.

Such an extraordinary divine ability could not possibly be unrestricted.

Next came the second match.

Yang Ruoyu faced the Medical Department’s Spirit Wielder who could make plants grow.

The match ended quickly. Wind countered plants, and Yang Ruoyu had a very easy fight.

Yet she looked grim as she left the arena. She knew she had won entirely through luck. It did not mean she was particularly strong.

The third match would be very difficult for her.

For one thing, she had already revealed her divine ability. For another, she did not have many points to exchange for a powerful weapon.

If… if she could not win this time…

Yang Ruoyu closed her eyes, seeming to see that lovely hair flying proudly in the wind once more… If she could not win the tournament and receive a second blessing this time, who knew when she would be able to smash those people’s heads with a single punch?

The first day’s Selection Tournament ended quickly.

Neither Xie Qingling nor Shen Huaizhou had entered the arena.

Nine people had yet to compete.

They looked at each other, both realizing that their chance of facing each other had increased considerably.

In truth, neither would be afraid even to face the difficult Jing Yixuan.

But there was one exception…

Facing each other.

For both professional and personal reasons, it was a situation neither wanted to confront.

Xie Qingling smiled wryly. “If we’re unlucky enough to meet in the arena, let’s have a good, all-out fight. I haven’t actually fought you properly yet.”

Shen Huaizhou nodded. “Yes.”

Amid their waiting, the second day’s Selection Tournament began.

That day brought good news and bad news.

The good news: Xie Qingling would fight the opening match, and her opponent was not Shen Huaizhou.

The bad news: nine people remained in the second round, so to make up the numbers, the ever-capable Director Yang had personally entered. And his opponent happened to be Xie Qingling.