Star Martial Era: From Mortal to Emperor

Chapter 72 Points Donation: Parting Words

After his special recruitment qualification was confirmed, Lin Chen did not return to the guesthouse, but went directly to the merit exchange office.

The exchange counter was located on the east side of the first floor of the command post. It had originally been a conference room, which had been temporarily converted. There were more than a dozen people lined up at the entrance, all soldiers and martial artists who had come to exchange items. Lin Chen stood at the end of the line and waited for about ten minutes. When it was his turn, the bespectacled staff member behind the counter was eating a boxed lunch, with chopsticks still in his mouth.

"Exchange what?" The staff member didn't even look up, tapping the terminal twice with his finger.

"Battle merit points." Lin Chen handed over the bracelet.

The staff member took the card, swiped it, and his eyes widened in surprise. He put his chopsticks on the lunchbox, counted the numbers on the screen twice, looked up at Lin Chen, and his expression changed: "12700 points? You're that Lin Chen who guards the seal?"

"Um."

The staff member swallowed hard, his attitude immediately changing as he sat up straight: "Lin Chen, what would you like to exchange for? We have everything here—natural treasures, martial arts techniques, weapons and equipment, even military ranks and official positions."

Lin Chen took out a folded piece of paper from his pocket and unfolded it on the counter. The paper contained a list he had written at the guesthouse; the handwriting was a bit messy, but every item was clearly listed.

"Three Mind-Concentrating Pills, five Healing Pills, ten high-grade Exorcism Talismans. And a fine steel longsword."

The staff member took it, tapped away on the terminal for a while, and looked up to say, "A total of 1500 points. You have 11200 points remaining."

"Give me another million in cash." Lin Chen handed over another slip of paper with Su Muyue's bank account number written on it. "Transfer it to this account."

The staff member paused, looked at the account, then at Lin Chen, opened his mouth as if to ask something, but didn't say it. He lowered his head and typed on the keyboard for a while: "1000 points. 10200 points remaining."

Several people waiting to redeem their points quietly gathered around to watch the spectacle. One recognized Lin Chen and whispered, "Over ten thousand points, this young man's going to be rich!" Another chimed in, "I heard he single-handedly guarded the seal; these points are rightfully his."

Everyone assumed Lin Chen would exchange his points for a top-tier cultivation technique or a top-tier weapon. Ten thousand points, if converted to cash, would be enough to buy two apartments in the city center.

Lin Chen looked up and saw a donation notice posted on the wall. The notice, written in black and white, stated that the Qingyang City Temporary Hospital urgently needed medical supplies. He looked at it for a moment, then turned to the staff and said, "Exchange the remaining 10200 points for medical supplies and donate them to the Qingyang City Temporary Hospital."

There was a two-second silence behind the counter.

The staff member thought he had misheard: "All of them? Lin Chen, wouldn't you like to reconsider? That's over ten thousand points, no small amount."

"No need." Lin Chen put away the list and account slip. "Many classmates and soldiers are injured; they need these things more than I do. Without them, Qingyang City cannot be defended."

The staff member looked at him, his lips moved a few times, but he didn't say anything in the end. He lowered his head and started operating the machine. His fingers pressed harder on the keyboard than before, as if he wanted to press every single number into the machine.

"Okay, I'll process it for you right away."

The news spread faster than the wind.

Before Lin Chen even left the command building, news of the merit exchange office had already spread throughout the entire building. Everyone he encountered in the corridor looked at him; some gave him a thumbs up, some nodded, and several people in military uniforms stopped and saluted him.

A soldier with a bandage wrapped around his arm stood at the corner of the corridor. When he saw Lin Chen coming, he straightened up and called out, "Thanks, Lin Chen." His voice was not loud, but it was very solemn.

Lin Chen nodded to him, said nothing, and continued walking.

When they returned to the guesthouse, the door was open, and Su Muyue, Zhao Lei, and Su Qingyue were all there.

Zhao Lei was sitting on the edge of the bed changing his shoes when he saw Lin Chen come in. He jumped up immediately: "Lin Chen, did you really donate all your points? More than 10,000 points! Are you crazy?" His eyes were wide open and his mouth was agape, looking like he was in a lot of pain.

Lin Chen took off his coat and hung it on the hanger without turning his head: "Points can be earned again. But human life is precious. Those wounded soldiers and classmates were injured while defending Qingyang City. We can't forget them."

Su Muyue sat in a chair by the window, holding a cup of tea that had gone cold. She looked at Lin Chen, her eyes filled with a soft light, and her lips curved slightly, but she didn't say anything.

Su Qingyue stood by the window, leaning against the wall, her hands in her pockets, and nodded: "You did the right thing." Just four words, but her tone was much softer than usual.

As the group was talking, footsteps echoed down the corridor.

Master Xuanchen and Chen Feng walked in one after the other. Today, the master wasn't wearing his usual gray robe, but rather a dark blue casual outfit, his hair still neatly combed. Chen Feng followed behind, carrying a black backpack.

"They're all here." Master Xuanchen smiled, took out a brocade box from his sleeve, and handed it to Lin Chen. The brocade box was dark red, with a smooth surface and copper-bound edges, clearly indicating that it was an old item.

"This is a gift for your enrollment. Inside are some exorcising talismans and healing pills, as well as a letter of recommendation to Professor Li of the Array Formation Department at Xingwu University. You can go find him when you get there; he's an old friend of mine and will help you."

Lin Chen accepted the brocade box with both hands; it felt quite heavy. He bowed to the Taoist priest and said, "Thank you, Taoist priest."

Chen Feng handed over the black backpack he was carrying: "Inside are Xingwu University's school uniform, school badge, and admission instructions. There's also a bank card with your first scholarship payment of one million."

Lin Chen took the backpack, unzipped it, and glanced inside. There were indeed several dark blue clothes folded up, embroidered with the Xingwu University emblem—a five-pointed star surrounded by fine patterns.

Chen Feng sat down on the edge of the bed, his expression turning serious. He glanced at Lin Chen, then at Su Muyue and Su Qingyue, as if considering how to begin.

"Lin Chen, there's something I must tell you beforehand." He lowered his voice slightly, "Star Martial University has been established for almost a thousand years, and the First Martial Emperor was its first principal. The forbidden area of ​​the university is the tomb of the First Martial Emperor."

He paused, then tapped his fingers lightly twice on his knee.

"In recent years, there have been many disappearances at the school. Students have gone missing, and teachers have gone missing too. I suspect that an undercover agent from the evil race has infiltrated the school's upper echelons and has been secretly causing trouble. When you get there, you must be very careful, especially with those teachers and students surnamed Qin."

A scene suddenly flashed through Lin Chen's mind—the last half-sentence of the first Martial Emperor's guardian spirit before it dissipated: "Be careful of Qin..."

Now he knows what that half-sentence means.

"I understand, Teacher Chen." Lin Chen nodded, tightening his grip on the backpack strap. "I'll be careful."

The sky outside the window darkened, and one of the lights in the guesthouse corridor came on, its dim yellow light seeping in through the crack in the door.

Master Xuanchen stood up, brushed off non-existent dust from his trousers, and cupped his hands in a respectful gesture to the group: "Alright, the goods have been delivered. I'll be going now. Lin Chen, have a safe journey."

Chen Feng also stood up, patted Lin Chen's shoulder hard with his thick, strong hand, and paused on the shoulder for a moment: "Call me when you arrive."

The two walked out one after the other. The footsteps in the corridor gradually faded away, finally disappearing at the top of the stairs.

Lin Chen placed the brocade box and backpack on the bedside table, turned around, and found Su Muyue still sitting in that chair. The tea had gone completely cold, but she was still holding it and hadn't put it down.

Zhao Lei muttered to himself, "Over ten thousand points... I haven't even accumulated a hundred points..."

Su Qingyue turned around at the window, glanced at Lin Chen, and her lips twitched as if she were smiling, but it didn't seem like it.