Chapter 28 Talent Acquisition

Originally, Zhang Chu sought out Zhou Chuanxiong to ask if he knew of any reliable channels for buying a car. But as soon as he entered the office, Zhou Chuanxiong, with enthusiastic fervor, began recommending the Non-Official Warrior Tournament.

This so-called Non-Official Warrior Tournament was an initiative for “introducing social talent,” hosted by the Binzhou Martial Arts Institute and approved by the Warrior Administration Bureau. There were several requirements for participating in this competition:

1. The warrior must be at least level 2.
2. They must have mastered at least one intermediate-level martial skill.
3. The age limit is 40.
4. Most crucially, participants must be flexibly employed—individuals with official positions or students at the Martial Arts Institute are not eligible.

The aim of bringing in social talent was to invigorate the operational mechanisms of the Martial Arts Institute, foster healthy competition among instructors, and drive institutional reform.

Glancing over the eligibility criteria, Zhang Chu realized it was almost tailor-made for him.

“Brother Zhou, is this information reliable?” he asked, intrigued after Zhou Chuanxiong explained the rewards.

“Absolutely reliable, Brother Zhang! I’m one of the officials in charge of the tournament. I called you right after the meeting—an official announcement will be out in three days,” Zhou Chuanxiong replied with a smile.

The reward structure was truly impressive, with prizes for first, second, and third place:

First place: Ten million yuan, thirty Vitality Pills, and entry into the Martial Arts Institute as a counselor through the talent introduction plan.
Second place: Five million yuan, fifteen Vitality Pills, and a place in the Institute’s talent reserve, with access to borrow books at any time.
Third place: Three million yuan, five Vitality Pills.

Enterprises, groups, and individuals who met the criteria could all register. The Institute would conduct a first-round selection based on the applications, with only ten advancing to the finals, where the top three would be determined through direct competition.

“Brother Zhang, the competition isn’t too fierce this time. It’s a real opportunity,” Zhou Chuanxiong urged.

“Brother Zhou, with such good news, how could I not support your work? Of course, I’ll give you face,” Zhang Chu replied, pulling out his Warrior Card and handing it over. “Please sign me up. The ranking isn’t important; it’s about participation.”

Zhou Chuanxiong swiftly helped him register. Placing the Warrior Card on the scanner, Zhang Chu’s electronic information appeared on the computer.

“Level…level 3?” Zhou Chuanxiong, seeing the yellow card indicating Zhang Chu’s rank, got visibly excited. “Brother Zhang, your advancement is incredible—even the Institute’s students can’t keep up with you! I have a feeling you’ll take first place in this tournament!”

“All thanks to your support these past days, Brother Zhou,” Zhang Chu replied with a smile.

Zhou Chuanxiong was a reliable man, destined for leadership in the Warrior Administration Bureau. Building this friendship would only be beneficial in the future.

The two exchanged compliments as Zhou Chuanxiong completed the registration. With the annual University Warrior Examination approaching, the tournament’s preliminary results would be announced in fifteen days, and the finals would take place in a month.

“Brother Zhou, there’s one more thing. I want to buy a car for easier travel to the Exotic Beast Reserve for hunting. You know a lot of people—could you recommend someone trustworthy?” Zhang Chu asked.

“You’ve come to the right person! My wife works at Thunderstrike Motors. I’ll get off work early this afternoon and take you there. We’re all family—the price will be negotiable!” Zhou Chuanxiong assured him.

Zhang Chu hadn’t expected such luck. They agreed to meet at four o’clock in front of the Warrior Center, after which Zhang Chu headed to the twelfth-floor Virtual Hunting Grounds.

He was out of prize money, but the virtual grounds were still excellent for honing his martial skills. Keeping a low profile, he selected level-2 exotic beasts and began grinding through waves of enemies.

After several rounds, Zhang Chu had mastered the first eight forms of the “Thirteen Flaming Swords,” and was ready to put his skills to the test in the real Exotic Beast Reserve.

As Zhou Chuanxiong’s quitting time approached, Zhang Chu was exhausted. He bought a sweet fermented milk tea across the street, sat on a bench in the plaza, and took out his phone to browse the forums.

“Ding!” As soon as he opened the Warrior Forum, a message popped up on his Penguin account—it was from Liu Daming.

Liu Daming had been Zhang Chu’s roommate, the classic ingrate. Now, seeing Zhang Chu had become a level-2 warrior, he sent a private message: “Zhang Chu, I’ve got a secret for you. Last night, while browsing one of those shady sites, I think I found some photos of Su Mingyue. They don’t look photoshopped.”

He attached a photo of a woman in black lingerie—the face was indeed Su Mingyue’s, and the figure was stunning.

“What does that have to do with me?” Zhang Chu replied curtly, then immediately blocked Liu Daming.

Scum like that was no better than Su Mingyue herself.

“Brother Zhang, have you been waiting long?” Just then, Zhou Chuanxiong hurried over, briefcase in hand.

“Milk tea,” Zhang Chu said, handing over a cup.

Zhou Chuanxiong drove a modest sedan, taking Zhang Chu to the Thunderstrike Motors dealership.

As they left, a middle-aged man in a black suit entered the Warrior Center, showing his credentials at the front desk. “Hello, I’m here on behalf of the Warrior Administration Bureau’s Exotic Beast Reserve to retrieve someone’s file. Please cooperate.”

…

When they arrived at the Thunderstrike Motors dealership, Zhang Chu was surprised to discover that the stunning woman in black stockings was not only the dealership manager but also Zhou Chuanxiong’s wife, Qin Lu.

No wonder there was talk of an internal discount.

With the manager herself providing the reception, the staff couldn’t hide their curiosity. When they saw Zhang Chu was a handsome young man, the saleswomen were instantly eager to get his contact information.

Anyone coming to buy a Thunderstrike car at just over twenty years old was either a prodigy or the child of a martial arts family.

It was Zhang Chu’s first time hearing of this brand. “Sister Qin, I couldn’t find this car on Car Guru. The design is pretty aggressive.”

The vehicle looked like a cross between an off-roader and a tank—two meters tall, with a matte black finish exuding a sense of raw power.

“Brother Zhang, this car is sold officially and isn’t available to just anyone,” Qin Lu explained. “You need to be a level-3 warrior or part of a warrior family with a purchase quota.”

After a few minutes, Zhang Chu understood. This was the dream car he’d been searching for.

Thunderstrike Motors was an official brand, and had been incorporated under the Warrior Administration Bureau just last year. Qin Lu, it turned out, was technically a civil servant with an official post.

The car boasted powerful performance, a 1,000-kilometer range, and ran on nitrogen—zero emissions. Most importantly, its entire body was constructed from carbon composite and reinforced with special exotic beast materials, providing formidable defense.

The dealership offered four models, each representing a different level of defense. The Thunderstrike L4 had the highest protection, able to withstand a level-5 beast’s attack for ten minutes, but was priced at thirty million—well beyond Zhang Chu’s means.

He ultimately chose the entry-level Thunderstrike L1, which could withstand attacks from a level-2 beast. The price was 4.5 million, with a discounted rate of 4 million.

Zhang Chu opted for installment payments, put down a one-million deposit, and was told he could pick up the car in three days.

He calculated his finances—spending a couple of days at the Exotic Beast Reserve should easily earn him three million.

By the time he left the dealership, dusk had fallen. He hailed a cab home. No sooner had he lain on his bed than Huang Lili messaged him: “Zhang Chu, on behalf of my grandfather, I’m letting you know—there’s a mobilization meeting for the Warrior Exam tomorrow at 10 a.m. Don’t be late.”