Stronger with More Jobs-Chapter 268 - 177: Hidden Dragon Plan, Power of Nature

Chapter 268: Chapter 177: Hidden Dragon Plan, Power of Nature

A slight mistake, and it’s an eternal disaster, without even a chance to see my great-grandmother.

A strong sense of lingering fear mixed with a cold shudder quietly swept over the heart.

This was definitely the most perilous and craziest journey since Fang Qingyu stepped into the Extraordinary World.

"Knock, knock, knock."

The gentle knock on the door interrupted Fang Qingyu’s thoughts.

The door was pushed open, and Wei Banmeng’s cold silhouette appeared at the entrance.

Still that neat appearance, the dark purple battle suit had been replaced with simple sportswear, hair tied up high, revealing a smooth forehead and those clear, sharp eyes.

"Awake?"

Wei Banmeng walked in, her movements crisp, her gaze lingered on Fang Qingyu’s face for a moment, seemingly confirming his state.

"Mhm." Fang Qingyu nodded slightly, gesturing for her to sit.

Wei Banmeng did not stand on ceremony, sat on the chair by the bed, and got straight to the point, "You’ve broken through to the Profound?" Her eyes were sharp, with a hint of inquiry.

Fang Qingyu nodded again, speaking no more.

He didn’t want to deliberately boast, especially in front of this equally talented rival.

However, to Fang Qingyu’s surprise, Wei Banmeng, after hearing the confirmation, showed no trace of disappointment or frustration on her face; instead, the corners of her cold lips slightly curled up into a barely noticeable arc, revealing a hint of... was it a relieved smile?

Then, she deftly took a special material, metal card with intricate dark patterns and the Federation emblem from her chest pocket and handed it to Fang Qingyu.

"Congratulations." Her voice remained clear and cool, but less icy than usual, "You have been selected to join the ’Hidden Dragon Plan.’

Fang Qingyu was slightly startled, taking the card that felt cool to the touch.

The front of the card displayed the emblem of the Federation and the soaring dragon-shaped dark pattern, while the back had a numeric code and the two ancient seal characters for "Hidden Dragon".

"Hidden Dragon Plan?" Fang Qingyu repeated the unfamiliar name.

"Yes." Wei Banmeng nodded in explanation, speaking quickly but clearly, "The Federation’s highest-level elite cultivation program for martial artists. There is only one goal: to concentrate the top resources and environment, to allow these talents to reach Tier Two as fast as possible, with the highest probability!"

"It’s a place every martial arts genius wants to get into, held once a year with extremely rigorous selection. This session starts in a month." She paused, looking into Fang Qingyu’s eyes, "Your performance in the pit, especially the final... hammering down Sikong Zhen, made my mentor personally nominate you."

Fang Qingyu caressed the card’s patterns, lost in thought.

Martial Arts Grandmaster... an aspiration for innumerable martial artists.

But opportunities often come with unknown challenges and constraints.

Wei Banmeng seemed to have other matters; seeing Fang Qingyu lost in thought, she stood up: "Keep the card safe, the detailed information and gathering location will be sent directly to your phone. Gather in a month, now take care and heal." With that, she promptly turned and left the hospital room, her movements remaining as soldierly brisk as ever.

The room became quiet once more, leaving only the cool touch of the metal card between Fang Qingyu’s fingers and the heavy weight of the words "Hidden Dragon".

"Knock, knock, knock."

The knocking sound rang again.

Today... it seems many have come to see me.

Fang Qingyu looked up; this time, it was Su Wanqing at the door.

She seemed to have just come from some formal occasion, or perhaps it was her usual habit.

A figure-hugging burgundy velvet long dress outlined her breathtaking curves, with chestnut long hair casually draped, setting off her snow-like skin.

Those enchanting peach blossom eyes held a smile as she gracefully walked in.

She was also carrying a familiar silver briefcase, the same as the one used as the "deposit."

"How does it feel, great hero?"

Su Wanqing casually placed the case by the wall, walked to the bedside, and naturally sat down, close enough for Fang Qingyu to catch a faint, cool scent of her perfume.

She slightly tilted her head, smiling teasingly at Fang Qingyu.

Fang Qingyu tugged at the corner of his mouth, "What great hero?"

"The great hero of Songdu City." Su Wanqing’s red lips parted slightly, her smile was radiant, "The forums are blowing up about it, delving deep into despair, bravely fighting the fierce beasts, turning the tide, hammering the traitorous Divine Chosen... Without you, the four of us might truly have been trapped inside, unable to wait for the Martial Saint to arrive." Her words carried sincere gratitude.

Fang Qingyu chuckled, not replying.

He knew in his heart that the final victory of this war still relied on the containment by the four Tier Two powerhouses in the core area and the thunderous methods of the two Martial Saints.

What he did was more about playing a pivotal role at the desperate grinder, a turning point in the early stages and a desperate struggle in the later stages.

Crucial, yes, but not the decisive "hero."

Su Wanqing inadvertently glanced at the "Hidden Dragon Plan" card placed carelessly by Fang Qingyu’s pillow, a trace of understanding flashing in her eyes.

She raised her long legs wrapped in see-through black stockings with interest, the tip of her high heels lightly tapping the ground, exuding a lazy yet inviting charm.

"What’s the matter?" She raised an eyebrow, looking at Fang Qingyu, "Struggling with whether to join this Hidden Dragon Plan?" Her tone carried a knowingness.

Fang Qingyu hadn’t expected her to see through his thoughts at a glance, nodded honestly.

Su Wanqing’s smile faded slightly; she stood up, walked to the hospital window, and with a swish, drew open the heavy curtains.

The bright afternoon sun instantly flooded in, illuminating the suspended dust.

Outside, Songdu City was slowly coming back to life; in the distance, traces of walls and ruins left by the earthquake were vaguely visible, but pedestrians and vehicles had resumed their flow on the streets nearby, carrying a sense of peace and resilience after surviving the disaster.

Back turned to Fang Qingyu, she gazed out the window, her voice distant, as if she were recounting some ancient secret:

"Fang Qingyu, do you know what the key is for a martial artist to break through to Martial Arts Grandmaster?"

Before Fang Qingyu could answer, she continued speaking on her own accord, her voice not loud, yet every word clear:

"It’s not the extreme of techniques, not the comprehension of the True Meaning of Martial Arts, not even the complete accumulation of energy... but rather, ’Power of Nature.’"

"Have you ever felt like this? In extreme weather like howling winds, pouring rain, your blood inexplicably boils, your spirit becomes extraordinarily excited? That’s not an illusion."

"Because such weather is the most intense signal of natural imagery between heaven and earth. Gale and torrential rain, snow-covered mountains, crashing waves... they erode away your perception of human social order in a most tyrannical manner."

Su Wanqing slightly turned her head, the sunlight outlining the contours of her exquisite profile, her gaze seemingly piercing through the glass, seeing far into the distance:

"In that moment, your field of vision becomes invisibly enlarged. You will clearly realize that you are not trapped in a prison of reinforced concrete, but truly existing on this vast planet, within this vast universe. Your heartbeat will resonate with Wind Thunder, your breath will synchronize with the mountains and rivers... only then will you genuinely establish the most direct, most primal connection with the ground beneath you, the sky above you, this world’s Origin.

Her voice carried a unique infectious charm:

"What people are fascinated by might not be the storm itself. But when the seemingly indestructible order of daily life is torn open, the wind rushing through the cracks, carrying the earthy scent of fresh grass and soil. That moment of clamor and excitement is the soul finding a wild cavern in the concrete jungle. All the cheers are soaked with rainwater, like some ancient yet fresh ceremony... that is ’Nature’ calling, giving."

Su Wanqing turned around, leaning against the window frame, the sunlight gilding her entire body with a golden edge, her enchanting peach blossom eyes shimmering with profound light as she gazed at the contemplative Fang Qingyu on the hospital bed:

"The meaning of the Hidden Dragon Plan is to let you truly feel nature, its core, to send you ’Hidden Dragons’ into the ’Abyss’ that best stimulates this ’Natural Sensing.’ That is a place of cruelty that man-made environments cannot compare."