Cataclysm Hunter: I Have an Experience Points System - Chapter 43 - Ascending Once More, Blue Planet's Hundred Seats Congressman

In the courtyard, barrels lay scattered, bodies strewn about like a battlefield.

Helping the staff, Lin Xiao sighed as he assisted the last batch of students back to their dorms.

How did they dare challenge his drinking capacity?

Military University typically prohibited alcohol, but during the inter-class gatherings, students were allowed to indulge.

After all, they were all adults in their twenties.

Last night, a group of students from Class F, unable to best Lin Xiao in combat, decided to challenge him in drinking.

Seeing the commotion, Class C students couldn’t resist joining in, determined not to be outdone.

They surrounded Lin Xiao, trying to outdrink him.

Their plan was ambitious, but they had no idea how formidable a 25-point constitution truly was.

Beer, red wine, white spirits-Lin Xiao downed them all.

The alcohol barely had time to take effect before his body metabolized it, easier than drinking water.

At least water could make him feel bloated.

Eventually, they all succumbed, sprawled on the ground, more neatly than they had been during the day.

In the end, it was Lin Xiao, the staff, and students like Fang Wen who didn’t drink, who took turns helping them back.

There was also a female teacher, apparently the class advisor for Class F.

She joined the fun too, and Lin Xiao almost couldn’t keep up with her.

Thankfully, class advisor Wu Qinghua intervened, dragging the woman away; otherwise, Lin Xiao might have been drinking with her until dawn…

After taking another shower, he headed up to the rooftop alone.

The cool breeze was refreshing.

The sky was like a vast, sparkling canvas, dotted with stars, the bright moon hanging low, weaving a tapestry of light and shadow.

This was the closest spot in the school to the starry sky.

Lin Xiao took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and began vitalis refinement.

Above the dome, the vast galaxy flowed down.

Nebulous light points formed a colorful stream, cascading from the sky, converging into a pillar of light, surging into Lin Xiao’s body, seemingly endless.

His mind ascended, becoming ethereal.

When Lin Xiao opened his eyes again, he was no longer on the rooftop balcony but amidst the boundless starry sky.

Once more, he had reached Above the Cloud.

Grain-like light points floated around, varied in color, scattered and disorderly, filling every dark corner.

Lin Xiao observed these “sprites,” a hint of surprise in his eyes.

It was certain that these nebulous light points were the so-called “vitalis.”

They were everywhere, limitless.

Usually, when Lin Xiao operated the refining method, he would draw vitalis from the dome, as the energy concentration in the sky was much higher than on the ground.

These things Lin Xiao understood well.

But what intrigued him was that this time, the vitalis gathered around him seemed… skewed?

There was an abundance of white, with other colored points seemingly pushed aside, gradually spilling to the outer layers.

Ah… no.

Lin Xiao’s eyes narrowed as he realized he had overlooked something.

Amidst the white light points, many pure black grains were interspersed, their color blending with the starry sky, making them hard to notice at first.

…Why was this happening?

Lin Xiao didn’t know.

But these interwoven white and black, lively light points, evoked a strange sense of closeness.

He reached out, intending to touch these charming little things.

But… his consciousness fell, the starry sea vanished.

Coming to his senses, Lin Xiao was back on the rooftop.

He had fallen from Above the Cloud.

Rubbing his eyes, Lin Xiao felt a bit unwilling, so he resumed the refining method.

But this time, the starry sky did not open its doors to him.

As usual, everything was as it had been…

In the morning, before those still groggy classmates could wake up, Lin Xiao, Zhao Siya, and their group had already descended the mountain.

After completing his daily training back at school, Zhao Siya left with a casual remark, “I’m off to work!” and disappeared swiftly.

Chen Feifei also made her exit, apparently having plans with friends to visit the library. Lin Xiao was surprised to discover she was a literature enthusiast.

“Lin Xiao, do you have any plans for the weekend?” Fang Wen’s question caught Lin Xiao off guard. Apart from training, his life seemed to be… quite uneventful.

Fang Wen brushed her bangs aside and smiled lightly, “How about visiting the Fierce Fight Arena in the city? It’s quite interesting there.”

“Fierce Fight Arena?” Lin Xiao scratched his head awkwardly. He was truly a novice, having spent all his time on campus since starting college, knowing little about the outside world.

Understanding his confusion, Fang Wen kindly explained, “The Fierce Fight Arena has training facilities, combat arenas, and the like. The members there are quite diverse, including warriors preparing for Social Recruitment, senior military students, and even active-duty soldiers and hunters.”

“On weekends, many military students mingle there too.” Fang Wen pointed to herself, her face showing a subtle smile, “Like me, I go there almost every week.”

Lin Xiao asked curiously, “Is it because it’s easier to find opponents there?”

Fang Wen nodded slightly. “Not just that, you can also witness real hunters in action. I find it quite beneficial for myself.”

Lin Xiao was intrigued, mainly because he had been cooped up in school for too long and was curious about the outside world.

“Can anyone go to this Fierce Fight Arena?”

“As long as you pay the membership fee, anyone can go!”

Membership fee! Lin Xiao’s eyes widened, his mind instantly alert, and he cautiously asked, “How much is the membership fee?”

Fang Wen blinked and raised a finger. “One thousand yuan¹ a month.”

Oh my! Lin Xiao gasped, feeling a bit overwhelmed. The outside world seemed dangerous; everything required money! Unlike school, where food, clothing, and shelter were all free.

Training at school wasn’t bad either; all the facilities were available, and if he needed opponents, he could always spar with Bai Shan!

School was home! He planned to stay until graduation! This was a matter of principle, and even Fang Wen’s invitation couldn’t sway him!

“Sorry, I think…”

“You can earn money by fighting in the arena, you know,” Fang Wen interjected, her hands clasped together, her smile unexpectedly mischievous. “I made over ten thousand last month.”

Lin Xiao immediately showed respect, his tone sincere, “Please, you must take me to see the world.”

He was tired of this dull school! He wanted to experience the beauty of the outside world!

“But before that, Fangwen-Jie²!”

“Huh!? Fangwen-Jie…?” Fang Wen blushed, a bit flustered.

Lin Xiao placed his hands on Fang Wen’s shoulders, looking directly into her eyes. “Could you… lend me a thousand yuan?”

“…?”

The Top Student scholarship wouldn’t be disbursed until the 5th, and Lin Xiao only had 600 yuan in his pocket, truly strapped for cash.

…

The two left the school and boarded the subway Line 3. During the ride, Fang Wen introduced Lin Xiao to the origins of the arena.

The Fierce Fight Arena was founded by an S Rank hunter, supported by the government, and was a semi-public project.

Like military ranks, hunters also have a hierarchy. From D to A, each level has strict strength standards.

Above A Rank is S Rank, the highest level Lin Xiao could comprehend.

To date, only 105 S Rank hunters have emerged across the Five Nations Federation.

Each S Rank hunter is officially documented and referred to as a “one hundred seats congressman” on the Blue Planet.

They represent the true pinnacle of human martial prowess, each possessing immense strategic value.

When mutant beasts, capable of ignoring firearms and nuclear weapons, descend upon human territories like natural disasters, these hunters are the brave souls who face the calamity head-on. Their victories or defeats determine the survival of entire cities, affecting the fate of millions.

Thinking of this, Lin Xiao couldn’t help but feel a surge of excitement.

His desire to become a hunter was sparked by a childhood video of a warrior slicing through a hundred-meter mutant beast.

That strike, which cut through the heavens and earth, not only eradicated the disaster but also etched deeply into Lin Xiao’s heart.

He… wanted to unleash such a strike himself.

Footnote:

1. Yuan(元): Yuan (yuán) is the basic unit of currency in China. The symbol for yuan is ¥, 1 yuan ≈ 0.15 USD.
2. Jie(姐):In Chinese culture, using “xx姐” (pronounced as “xx jie”) to address someone is quite common, especially in Mainland China and other Chinese-speaking communities. The term “jie” means “older sister” and, when used in this context, typically carries a sense of affection and friendliness. It indicates respect and amiability towards the person, similar to calling someone “sis” or “big sister” in English.