Stepping on the Demoness to become the strongest

"You've got some capable backers, stirring up such a big commotion." Qi Changping chuckled over the phone, "Who made that video?"

"I had someone make it," Yan Yu said nonchalantly, "Why, is there a problem?"

"No, there isn't," Qi Changping replied, "It's all cut from publicly available materials online, so there's no issue with leaking secrets. The commander's intention is for you to make more videos like that, preferably for the other members of your team as well."

"That might be a bit difficult," Yan Yu fell silent for a moment, "After all, they're not like me; they don't have any impressive achievements to show."

Ah! You've let slip and boasted again!

Qi Changping was speechless, and after a long pause, he said:

"It's not that you have to make a video right away, just that it's general guidance. As long as you grasp the spirit of it, that's fine."

"Got it," Yan Yu nodded, "I'll just grasp the spirit. Whether I'll do it is another matter."

Qi Changping didn't dare to pursue that comment and changed the subject:

"What did you call me for?"

"I've discovered a talent for spiritual cultivation," Yan Yu reported, "I'm looking to get her registered."

"Couldn't you have just taken her directly to the hospital?" Qi Changping asked in confusion.

Most of the current university-level cultivators come from the blood tests carried out during the college entrance examinations in May, but not all of them.

Some hospitals with a national defense background also have the capability to test for spiritual energy. As long as you have the information and connections, you can go to them and get a special blood test done to find out if someone has a Spirit Root—this was precisely the route Chen Lingyun had taken to get Zhao Yuanzhen tested.

As for why this is not open to the public, of course, it's because once it's made available, thousands of people would flock to get tested, and these hospitals would be overwhelmed and paralyzed, not to mention the discontent of those unable to get tested.

The problem is not scarcity but inequality; more precisely, it's keeping the inequality from becoming evident to those on the lower rungs. This is true both in ancient and modern times.

Of course, given that the number of Transcendents in Lu Country is significantly lagging behind neighboring countries, this situation might not last long and will undoubtedly need significant changes soon.

But at least for now, the process is relatively simple: Yan Yu takes the person to the special hospital affiliated with the Zhendong Army, gets a blood test done, and if spiritual energy is found, it's reported to the Zhendong Army, who will then send someone to take them in.

"No," Yan Yu clarified, "I don't want her to become a military cultivator; I want her to enter the school, to join my team."

"Uh," Qi Changping began to feel a headache coming on.

It's easy to enter the military as a cultivator, but it's far harder to be accepted into a scholar program. Why? Because the latter has limited spots, and the allocations are tied to the supply of Elixir Medicines.

The current production count for Foundation Establishment Pills is fixed. First priority is given to academic cultivators, with the leftovers being divided among military cultivators. Each pill less can lead to complaints.

If you want to secure a spot in the academy for someone, you're taking away one Elixir Medicine, meaning one less for the military. How do you explain that when asked? It's all about breaking the rules, although this could be resolved with just a word from the commander-in-chief. But why should the commander-in-chief do that for someone recommended by you, Yan Yu? Do you think too highly of yourself?

Qi Changping shifted the conversation:

"Isn't your team full already?"

"Being full doesn't mean we can't accept new people," Yan Yu argued, "For domestic matches, we could have her as the sixth player, a substitute; for international ones, we just bring her along—more people, more power."

"No, 'more people, more power' presumes they have the necessary strength, doesn't it?" Qi Changping sighed, "What's the person's name, are they male or female, and how old are they?"

"Xie Ruoxi, female, 18 years old, just graduated high school this year."

"Didn't pass the spiritual test during the college entrance exam?"

"Didn't go for the test."

"Then just take her to the hospital for a test; once you have the results, come back to me."

"She has already refined True Qi," Yan Yu said, "Looked at the textbook once, and completed the Grand Circulation directly."

"No, how can you just show the textbook to outsiders..." Qi Changping started to lecture about "keeping a firm hold on confidentiality," but then suddenly, he jolted, "She understood the textbook after just one glance?"

"She probably didn't even memorize the circulation path and acupoints," Yan Yu sighed deeply, "Just followed the book and directly refined True Qi."

Qi Changping: ...........

This was like glancing at the blueprints for a nuclear weapon and then immediately handcrafting a nuke. If he were talking to anyone other than Yan Yu, he would have hung up the phone right then and there.

Although Yan Yu always liked to brag, he had always delivered on his tall tales, and even military orders were honored without fail. He wasn't the type to joke about serious matters.

"You... bring the person over for me to see," Qi Changping struggled to calm his emotions.

At any rate, it was better to meet first and take it from there.

If she really was a prodigious talent for cultivation, it would be worthwhile to seek special permission from the commander-in-chief.

After hanging up, Yan Yu went upstairs to Chen Lingyun's bedroom and knocked on the door.

After a moment, Chen Lingyun's voice came from within:

"Come in."

Why "after a moment"?

Because the girls were imparting critical knowledge to Xie Ruoxi.

With Ruoxi's cultivation talent, becoming a cultivator was a natural course of events. Yan Yu's decision to bring her over was mostly to have her join the Zhenhai Team—this was official business rather than personal, so it was pretty much a done deal, irreversible.

Given that, why not welcome the new sister's joining and simultaneously pull her into a united front against a common foe?

Normally, the four of them together couldn't bring down the team captain, but with Ruoxi's strong support, perhaps they could reverse the tide during practice and end up pressing the captain down!

Great! Let Chen Lingyun teach her strategies and tactics, let Su Yunjin instruct her in True Yuan manipulation, let Lin Ning pass on to her the secrets of adaptability, and have Zhao Yuanzhen instill in her courage and passion. With this, they would have Xie Ruoxi, a mighty warrior opposing Yan, determined to avenge the humiliation suffered by her sisters in the past!

Yan Yu, upon entering the room, although unaware of what they were concocting inside, wasn't worried they would lead Xie Ruoxi astray.

Hilarious, were the efforts of the previous life's Annan Army to make her stand out a success? A supervisor had to oversee her daily Qi Refinement practice, otherwise she would slack off and lie about having practiced... The title of 'Waste Emperor' wasn't for nothing.

If it wasn't something she was really interested in, she absolutely wouldn't put her heart into it.

"Xie Ruoxi, come with me to the school," Yan Yu ordered calmly, "You all have had enough rest since returning from the South Sea, right? Then gather at the school's training ground later."

"Okay," the girls stood up one after another, shooting meaningful glances at Xie Ruoxi.

Don't be scared, Ruoxi! We've got your back!

If the captain bullies you, just tell us!

Soon, everyone arrived at the school. The girls went to stay at the training ground, while Yan Yu brought Xie Ruoxi to find Qi Changping.

By this time, Qi Changping had already reported to Li Weiguo, and the Commander-in-chief's directive was as follows: If this girl truly has a talent for cultivation, then the special channel could indeed be opened for her. But remember, it can't just be opened for anyone; otherwise, Yan Yu might start thinking he's got special privileges.

This could foster his arrogance, which is definitely not acceptable.

Little Qi, give the boy a bit of a hard time first to rein him in, then agree to his request!

"Xie Ruoxi, right?" Sitting in front of the computer, Qi Changping clicked the mouse, connecting to The Judicial Department's household registration database, "Give me your ID number."

Xie Ruoxi reported her ID number truthfully.

"You're from Jingnan?" Qi Changping turned around, surprised after seeing the results of the citizen information query, "You're working in Jinling?"

"I'm working for Yan Yu," Xie Ruoxi admitted honestly.

"Jingzhou's northern and southern provinces are under the jurisdiction of the Annan Army, right?" Yan Yu inquired.

"Yeah," Qi Changping replied with a slow nod, then spoke deliberately, "So it's going to be complicated. A resident of Jingnan is applying for citizenship in the Zhendong Army's region, the Annan Army will surely have objections."

"Then let's have her voluntarily transfer her registration to Jinling first," Yan Yu immediately suggested, "Then 'by coincidence,' the Zhendong Army discovers her cultivation talent, and we can admit her to our academy."

"Do you think the Annan Army is foolish?" Qi Changping laughed, "Her registration can be transferred, but can the record of the transfer be erased? If someone determined looks into it, won't we be the ones embarrassed?"

"For the sake of talent, what's the harm in losing a little face?" Yan Yu retorted confidently.
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He was right, and that was precisely the intent of the Commander-in-chief: If she is indeed exceptionally talented, even at the risk of offending the Annan Army, she must be recruited first.

However, since Qi Changping had received orders to discipline him, he certainly wouldn't admit that and simply said with a smile:

"It's not like the periods of the Three Kingdoms where the origins of heroes weren't questioned. Even when poaching talents, we have to follow the system and rules. Or else, what do you think the reason is for the court to establish four armies to govern the east, south, west, and north?"

Yan Yu couldn't agree at all—for someone with talent as great as Ruoxi's and a nature so indolent, she definitely needed to stay close to me to utilize her fullest potential.

If she were to be returned to the Annan Army, wouldn't she just walk the same futile path as in her previous life? Does the Annan Army have the capability to properly train her?

"How about this," Yan Yu gritted his teeth, murmured begrudgingly, "I'll sacrifice myself and marry her in name, so she can join my household registration. With a marriage relationship transfer, the Annan Army shouldn't have anything to say, right?"

Marital registration transfer is a powerful tool; no matter where you are from, whether you reside long-term, or own property, marrying a Jiang Hai person gets you a Jiang Hai registration, marrying a Pingjing person gets you a Pingjing registration. This foolproof strategy is backed by the simple ethical beliefs of ordinary people — you can't separate a married couple, can you?

The Annan Army would surely have no grounds to object.

Yan Yu suggested this purely in the public's interest, even willing to sacrifice his own reputation, but Xie Ruoxi failed to grasp his deep consideration and her eyes suddenly widened in shock:

Could it be that it's happening? I knew it, Yan Zhanlong isn't smitten with my talent but my beauty! He wants to tie me to his side with a marriage certificate right now…

Before her thoughts could wander further, Qi Changping was already taken aback.

Wait, why are we suddenly talking about a fake marriage?

With your current status, popularity, and age, Yan Zhanlong, just showing up at the civil affairs office would instantly cause a media frenzy, you know?

Instinctively, he waved his hands and said:

"That's unnecessary. Besides, neither of you is of legal marriageable age yet. There's no need to resort to a fake marriage for this matter…"

"If there's another way, then I'll leave it in your hands, Instructor Qi!" Yan Yu immediately stood up joyfully.

Qi Changping: ......

Wait, did I just fall for one of his tactics?