"According to the latest news, the coastal region of Cang Province is about to be hit by a new typhoon."

"Citizens are reminded to monitor the weather and take precautionary measures in advance."

"The military has announced the eruption of an Ocean Calamity Beast Tide in the waters off Cang Province. A large Space Gate has opened, affecting nearby cities, which now face the potential crisis of an intensifying beast tide."

"We are now broadcasting from the waters off Bay Island in Cang Province. Let’s take a look at the situation on the ground..."

That day, during a break in the elite class at No. 2 Middle School...

Someone turned on the projector, displaying a news channel that immediately drew the attention of many.

On the projection was the coastal region, where a torrential downpour filled the sky.

In the downpour, a boundless sea churned with monstrous waves, and countless dark figures burst forth from the giant swells.

They were massive, ferocious Calamity Beasts. They had giant claws, sharp fangs, and their roars were deafening. Their eyes were bloodthirsty, radiating an aura of slaughter.

As if they had spotted food, they fearlessly charged onto the shore to attack.

At the far end of the video feed, a massive black ring pulsed with astonishing light.

Endless Calamity Beasts poured out of it, falling into the sea and surging onto the land.

"That’s a Space Gate. It’s huge! The Calamity Beasts use Space Gates to descend upon our Blue Star."

Someone couldn’t help but say it out loud, even though everyone already knew.

Endless dark figures, accompanied by fierce winds and a torrential downpour, rushed out. The scene was like the coming of the apocalypse.

"BOOM!!"

"BANG!!"

In the next moment, massive explosions roared out, like detonating gunpowder.

Beams of light in every color rained down from the sky like a volley of arrows.

Those were towering, steel behemoths that stretched for dozens of kilometers—a Steel Great Wall. They were the War Bases built to defend against the Calamity Beasts.

Atop the War Bases, huge, menacing metal cannons aimed at the ocean and fired devastating shots.

Like an unending fire, they continuously unleashed their fury.

Laser Cannons, missiles, Armor-Piercing Bullets...

Many advanced weapons, straight out of science fiction novels, appeared before their very eyes.

The Calamity Beasts that were hit were instantly blasted into bloody mist, while red and yellow mushroom clouds erupted from the ground.

Corpses of various Calamity Beasts were everywhere, a mountain of bodies and a sea of blood, yet endless beasts continued their relentless advance, one after another.

"ROAR~~"

A terrifying, colossal beast leaped high out of the water. It was a shark-type Calamity Beast, over forty meters long.

It had pitch-black skin and rows of massive, sharp teeth in a gaping maw that could tear anything apart, reflecting the light.

Its red pupils radiated killing intent.

"That’s a Seventh-Level Calamity Beast—the Ghost-toothed Giant Shark!"

"It’s so huge!"

A student exclaimed in shock.

"THUD! THUD!!"

"BOOM!!"

Countless laser cannons and missiles bombarded the Ghost-toothed Giant Shark in an unrelenting barrage.

However, they didn’t inflict much damage. The Ghost-toothed Giant Shark thrashed in the sea, creating giant waves and letting out a shriek as if mocking humanity.

"BOOM!!"

Just then, a massive blue saber light shot out from the distance, streaking through the air and cleaving down with lightning speed.

"ROAR~"

As the saber light struck, it caused a deafening explosion. An endless spray of blood erupted as fresh blood gushed out like a waterfall.

A massive gash was torn open on the Ghost-toothed Giant Shark’s body.

In the distant sky, a figure grew larger and larger. It was a burly man wielding a Battle Saber.

Clad in red Battle Armor, he hovered in the air, enveloped in blue light, like a Killing God.

"It’s Yue Feng, the Vice Hall Master of Celestial Sea City’s Red Dome Martial Arts Dojo."

"A Seventh Realm Martial Artist!"

"He just used his signature Secret Manual—the *Killing Whale Dominating Saber*!"

Someone shouted the man’s name.

The students erupted in excited chatter.

Lin Qi was just as excited, watching Yue Feng execute his fierce and domineering Saber Technique, killing the Ghost-toothed Giant Shark with three slashes from high in the air.

’So cool!’

The news segment ended with Yue Feng slaying the Ghost-toothed Giant Shark, and the classroom was in an uproar.

"I want to become a master as strong as Yue Feng in the future, invincible on the battlefield."

"Slaying Calamity Beasts like it’s nothing."

Someone couldn’t help but feel their blood boil with excitement.

"The *Killing Whale Dominating Saber* is so awesome. I’m going to learn that Saber Technique one day."

A student couldn’t help but say wistfully.

A look of longing appeared in the eyes of many. They were all geniuses of the Elite class, destined for extraordinary futures.

Jiangtao also felt his blood pumping with excitement as he watched.

"Brother Qi, Master Yue Feng is so strong! Maybe we’ll have a chance to join the Red Dome Martial Arts Dojo in the future."

Lin Qi nodded. Every time he saw news like this, he was stunned by the power of Top Level Martial Artists.

"We’ll get our chance!"

Lin Qi stood up and walked toward the door.

"Brother Qi, where are you going?"

"The homeroom teacher needs to see me!"

On the other side of the room, Chen Zichuan also stood up and went with Lin Qi to the office.

"Check the card number. If there are no errors, sign here."

As soon as they entered, Yan Hong, who was sitting in an ergonomic chair, got straight to the point and handed them each a form.

Lin Qi took it and checked it carefully. After confirming there were no issues, he signed his name.

Chen Zichuan, standing beside him, did the same.

Yan Hong took the forms and said, "The money will be in your accounts within an hour."

"Use this money to buy resources. Your Talent isn’t bad; you deserve a higher ranking."

"It’s just a pity. The school applied for the second-tier genius loan for you, but it wasn’t approved in the end."

"It’s fine. I’m satisfied with the third-tier one," Lin Qi said, unconcerned.

Chen Zichuan also spoke up, "Thank you, Teacher!"

"If you can get into the top thirty of your grade in the monthly exams, you might be able to successfully apply for the second-tier genius loan," Yan Hong suggested.

Lin Qi’s heart skipped a beat. ’A second-tier genius loan?’

The third-tier loan was 200,000 Xia Country Coins, but the second-tier loan was 500,000 Xia Country Coins—300,000 more than the third tier.

If he could get that money, it would be a huge help to his Martial Arts training.

They left the office.

"BZZT! BZZT!"

While walking down the hallway, Lin Qi felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. He took it out to look.

It was a text message about a bank transfer.

[Bank card ending in xxx received a deposit of 200,000 on September 16, 10:05. Current balance: 200,432 Xia Country Coin.]

Lin Qi’s face lit up with joy. The 200,000 Xia Country Coin genius loan had arrived.

Now he could buy more resources. He could even afford High Level resources he’d never used before.

He looked up and met Chen Zichuan’s gaze. The other boy was also looking at his phone; his money had arrived as well.

"Chen Zichuan, let’s work hard together!"

"Let’s get into the top thirty of our grade and get that second-tier genius loan!"

Lin Qi offered these words of encouragement before walking back into the classroom.

Chen Zichuan was slightly taken aback. It was the first time they had ever really spoken, but Lin Qi’s words made his blood pump with excitement.

Although breaking into the top thirty was difficult, with these 200,000 Xia Country Coins, it wasn’t impossible.

...

「After lunch, in the Martial Arts Room」

"Brother Qi, your appetite is getting pretty big. You can eat two whole nutritional meals now."

"And have you gotten bigger again?"

Jiangtao asked quizzically as he looked at Lin Qi’s physique while they were changing into their Martial Arts Uniforms in the locker room.

"I’m not 18 yet, so my body is still growing. I was just malnourished before."

Lin Qi looked at himself in the mirror. His height had already broken the 1.8-meter mark.

The muscles on his arms were more defined, his shoulders had broadened, and his physique was gradually developing a powerful build.

His frame was also growing, and his appetite increased day by day. He looked much stronger than before.

Lin Qi looked at his panel.

[Name: Lin Qi (17)]

[Template: True Monarch Erlang Yang Jian]

[Fusion Degree: 4%]

...

On the panel, the Fusion Degree for his Erlang God template had already reached 4%.

Every day, Lin Qi could feel his Martial Arts progressing: his Hunyuan Posture, his Tiger Form Fist, his *Mountain Shattering Spear Technique*...

With every 1% increase in his Fusion Degree, his body’s Talent and Comprehension both improved.

Of course, this improvement in Talent came at a price. The price was the need to supplement with more resources.

Nutritional meals, Qi and Blood Capsules, Qi and Blood Potions...

The amount he had to consume each day was increasing, and all of it cost money.

’The resources I bought last time are almost gone. Thank goodness the 200,000 arrived.’

Lin Qi could already foresee the huge expenses in his future. He needed more money.

...