High Martial Arts: Grinding for the Supreme Talent

Chapter 46: Chapter 46: Negotiation and C-level Contract

Chongming Martial Arts Dojo, one of the three top dojo branches in Celestial Sea City.

The building featured a streamlined design, resembling a blue warship poised for launch.

The office floor in the middle of the building was elegant, with an all-blue decor that made one feel as if they had arrived at the ocean.

The spacious floor was divided into dozens of office areas.

In the central area, over a dozen employees in blue and white work uniforms bustled about.

Dozens of holographic screens floated in the air, with massive streams of data flowing across them.

”Cheng Minghui from Tianhai No. 3 Middle School has been assessed as a C-level Talent. We can send someone to discuss a contract with him tomorrow!”

”Zou Jun from Tianhai No. 8 Middle School, D-level Contract.”

Ding Liang, the Vice Manager of the contract department, reviewed the materials submitted by his subordinates and finalized the results.

”Lin Qi... C-level Contract, with B-level potential?”

”Hm?”

Ding Liang frowned as he looked at the projected information.

”Little Jiang!”

He called out, and a young, inexperienced-looking man from a nearby desk came jogging over.

”Did you review this file?” Manager Ding asked with a frown.

”Yes, Manager.”

”I analyzed this Lin Qi’s file carefully. His growth is rapid, and his Talent is good.”

”Don’t just look at his rank of 288th in the Celestial Sea Monthly Exam. His Red List ranking is 50th! He has immense potential. I think we should take a gamble and offer him a B-level Contract,” Little Jiang said after his earnest analysis.

Manager Ding didn’t answer, instead focusing on the file.

Every Martial Arts Dojo collected exceptionally detailed information on all students.

After reading it, his decade-plus of experience told him that this student, Lin Qi, was a genius.

”Alright!”

”He’s worth the gamble. He has B-level potential. I’m going to see Manager Guu now,” Ding Liang said.

At Chongming Martial Arts Dojo, he didn’t have the authority to directly approve B-level or higher contracts.

The manager’s office was a luxurious room, its background simulated to look like a sunny beach.

On the ”beach,” a woman with exquisite makeup leaned back in an ergonomic chair, looking perfectly at ease. Seeing Ding Liang, she spoke unhurriedly:

”Vice Manager Ding, is something the matter?”

”Manager Guu, there’s a file that needs your review. I’ve already sent you the email.”

”He’s a genius worthy of a B-level Contract. His name is Lin Qi...”

As Ding Liang launched into his enthusiastic introduction, Manager Guu projected the file, took a leisurely sip of her coffee, and began to read.

When Ding Liang finished, he looked at Manager Guu with an expectant expression.

Manager Guu began leisurely:

”I’ve read the file. However, I don’t believe this Lin Qi is worthy of a B-level Contract.”

Ding Liang’s heart sank when he heard that.

”Your reason?”

”My uncle once said that results from the Red Realm’s arena can be used as a reference, but they can’t be fully trusted.”

”The focus should still be on school assessments. That’s the most authentic and reliable data. While this Lin Qi’s Talent is decent, a C-level Contract is sufficient.”

”A B-level Contract? He doesn’t qualify for it right now,” Manager Guu explained dismissively.

”Alright, was there anything else?”

Ding Liang had wanted to argue, but after seeing Manager Guu’s expression, he just sighed and said, ”No.”

He turned and left. Once outside the office, he thought to himself:

’If I were the manager, I would definitely give Lin Qi a B-level Contract. But I’m not.’

’My position was taken by this Manager Guu, who was just dropped in from above.’

”Sigh...” Ding Liang let out a breath and got back to work.

Inside the office, Manager Guu shook her head and muttered to herself, ”Old Ding is getting senile. This Lin Qi looks like he’s improved a lot, but that’s only because he started from a low point and had a lot of room to grow.”

’So it gives everyone the wrong impression. In reality, giving him a C-level Contract is already pretty good.’

’If I gave him a B-level Contract and it turned out to be a mistake, the responsibility would be all on me. I’m not taking that risk.’

’Play it safe, and you can’t go wrong. Being a manager is so comfortable, why should I stick my neck out?’

...

Red Dome Martial Arts Dojo, Office Floor

”Manager Sunx, things are progressing smoothly. We’ve successfully signed one genius to an A-level Contract, and nine other talented students from various schools have decided to sign B-level Contracts. The rest are still considering.”

Manager Sunx nodded as he listened to his subordinate’s excited report.

”Very good. Keep up the great work!”

”Our next key targets are the talents for the C and D-level Contracts.”

”Review every file carefully, especially those who have advanced to the Star Rank. Try not to let a single talented student slip through.”

”Manager, I have three prospects here that I’m not sure about. I need your judgment.”

The subordinate projected three files, representing three students.

Manager Sunx’s eyes quickly scanned the three files, and he immediately made a decision:

”Give these two C-level Contracts. For the last one, Lin Qi, I need to consult the Vice Hall Master. I’m not sure about him either.”

”The Vice Hall Master will be back in a few days. I need to ask for his opinion.”

”Understood!” the subordinate nodded.

...

At the Obsidian Martial Arts Dojo, the manager of the contract department in charge of signings was a middle-aged man with a beer belly.

He glanced at the file sent by his subordinate and quickly made his judgment.

”Lin Qi... just a C-level Contract. Another one of *these* types. What a headache. A few of them pop up every year.”

”The characteristic of this type of ’genius’ is a sudden, huge leap in progress at some point during their senior year of high school.”

”It gives people the illusion that they’re a true genius, but the vast majority just fizzle out into mediocrity.”

”Nine out of ten are fakes, and only one is the real deal. Unfortunately, I don’t dare to take that gamble anymore.”

”We at the Obsidian Martial Arts Dojo have been burned too many times. There were three the year before last, and a full four last year. It always gets my bonus docked.”

”Hmph. These ’geniuses’ are just scammers, out to cheat their way into a contract.”

”This time, let him go be a headache for Red Dome and Chongming. We at Obsidian will sit this one out,” the manager muttered to himself.

...

「That day, at Tianhai No. 2 Middle School」

”DING!”

As Lin Qi, Jiangtao, and Chen Zichuan walked out of the office, all three of their phones chimed, one after another.

[Your bank card ending in xxx has received a deposit of 800,000 Xia Country Coins!]

Lin Qi smiled as he saw the 800,000 Xia Country Coins that had arrived in his account.

Although he hadn’t gotten the special genius loan, he was still very satisfied.

The money he had on him now exceeded one million Xia Country Coins.

”Haha, with an extra two million Xia Country Coins, I’m in no rush to sign a contract with a Martial Arts Dojo either,” Jiangtao said with a grin.

Chen Zichuan was also happy for them.

...

During lunch, Lin Qi was on his phone while eating. He transferred 300,000 Xia Country Coins to his mom, Fang Huiyi, on WeChat.

He told her to use it to pay back their loans.

Fang Huiyi sent a message back telling Lin Qi that she had discussed it with his dad and his uncle, Fang Zhe.

She would use the money Lin Qi transferred to pay back their loans first, while the money his dad, Lin Zhen, earned would be used to pay off his own loans.

They would prioritize paying off the family’s loans, and then, without affecting Lin Qi’s own Cultivation, they would slowly pay back his uncle’s family.

”Phew...”

Lin Qi took a sip of soup and sighed in relief. His family’s life was finally getting back on track.

Things would only get better from now on.

”BUZZ BUZZ!!”

His phone vibrated. Someone had added him as a friend on WeChat. The other party’s note read: [Chongming Martial Arts Dojo] · Dongfang Qi

Someone from Chongming Martial Arts Dojo? ’Are they here to talk about a contract?’

Lin Qi accepted the request and immediately started chatting with this Dongfang Qi.

It was just as he had guessed. The other party was indeed representing Chongming Martial Arts Dojo to discuss a contract with him.

「Ten minutes later」

Tianhai No. 2 Middle School, in a small private room at a coffee shop just off campus.

A beautiful woman in a black pantsuit, her curvaceous figure on full display, greeted him with a smile:

”Hello, Lin Qi.”

She took a document from her bag to prove her identity.

Lin Qi opened his phone, went to the official website, and found Dongfang Qi’s information. Only after confirming she wasn’t a scammer did he nod and begin the conversation.

”Lin Qi, after careful consideration, we at Chongming Martial Arts Dojo think very highly of you. We would like to sign you and invest in you,” Dongfang Qi said, getting straight to the point.

...