Chapter 324: White Eagle Empire, International Youth Martial Dao Tournament
"Huh? That’s strange..."
A boy’s confused voice rang out,
"I clearly sensed an extremely powerful Demon Beast aura erupt from this direction a moment ago. How did it disappear in the blink of an eye?"
"I sensed it too!"
Another girl chimed in, her voice tinged with a hint of nervousness.
"That aura... It was definitely from a Sixth-Grade Demon Beast or higher, maybe even a Seventh-Grade!"
"But how could there be such a powerful Demon Beast in the outer area of Secret Realm Six?"
Several Jing University students cautiously approached, weapons clutched tightly in their hands as they warily scanned their surroundings.
However, after searching the area, they found nothing.
Their tense nerves gradually eased, and they sat down under a tree to rest and chat.
Chu Sheng had been about to use Instant Teleportation to leave, but he stopped when he overheard their conversation.
"Hey, have you guys heard? The school’s Secret Realms have been really weird lately."
The boy took a sip of water and spoke in a secretive tone.
"How so?"
"I heard that students doing missions in Secret Realm Eight and Secret Realm Seven all said the Demon Beasts inside were acting like they were on drugs—listless and sluggish. Some even fainted mid-stride!"
"I heard that too! The university administration is taking it very seriously and investigating thoroughly. They suspect some new type of virus is spreading."
"Pfft—"
Chu Sheng, who was in the tree, almost burst out laughing.
’A new virus, my ass!’
’That’s called "Chu’s Anemia Syndrome"!’
"Oh, right, let’s not talk about that."
The girl was clearly not interested in sick Demon Beasts. She changed the subject, her face alight with excitement.
"Did you guys know? Our school’s second-ranked prodigy, Senior Shen Yixuan, is coming out of seclusion today!"
"Senior Shen Yixuan?!"
Hearing this name, all the students’ eyes lit up.
"Whoa! Senior Shen is my idol!"
"Of course! Senior Shen has always been the pillar of our Jing University. Not only is he powerful, but he’s also exceptionally elegant and easygoing. Much better than that..."
The boy lowered his voice.
"...much better than that Qin Wudao, who walks around with his nose in the air all day!"
"Shh! Keep your voice down! Do you dare provoke the Qin Family?"
The girl shot him a glare before saying excitedly,
"Senior Shen must be coming out of seclusion for the ’International Youth Martial Dao Tournament,’ right?"
"The International Youth Martial Dao Tournament?"
"Yeah! The one held in the White Eagle Empire! It’s a global event!"
Up in the tree, Chu Sheng had been listening to the gossip out of sheer boredom, but when he heard the words "White Eagle Empire," his ears instantly perked up!
’White Eagle Empire?’
’Isn’t that on the other side of the planet?’
"I heard the country is placing huge importance on it this time. Great Xia only has ten spots in total."
The boy was clearly well-informed and began to explain,
"Huaqing University got three, and our Jing University also got three. The remaining four spots are divided among the other schools."
"If you can represent the country and win some honors, not only will you get generous international rewards, but our university will also give an extra bonus of several hundred thousand credits!"
’Sev... several hundred thousand credits?!’
Chu Sheng’s eyes instantly turned into the shape of gold coins!
’Isn’t this the perfect case of someone giving you a pillow just when you’re getting sleepy?’
’Didn’t that woman, Gu Yuexi, say she needed a million credits to go to Secret Realm Zero?’
’If I can snag this spot, take a trip abroad, and drain those foreign devils’ Demon Beasts too...’
AHEM!
’I mean, go and win glory for the country!’
"So one of those three spots is definitely for Senior Shen, right?"
"Absolutely! Senior Shen is the face of our university right now!"
"What about the other two?"
"Qin Wudao would have secured one for sure, but didn’t he have an accident in Secret Realm Nine a few days ago? I heard he was badly injured, even his Origin was damaged. His chances are probably shot."
"So two of the top three prodigies are accounted for. What about... the number one prodigy?"
"Tch! Are you stupid? The number one prodigy was specially recruited by the Military Department a year ago. He’s out on the outer-realm battlefields killing enemies. How would he have time to come back for a competition like this?"
"Oh, right..."
The students were still enthusiastically discussing who could take Qin Wudao’s place.
But Chu Sheng, still in the tree, could no longer contain himself!
’The White Eagle Empire... now that’s a "good place"!’
’Fleecing the sheep in Jing University’s Secret Realms requires caution, lest I fleece the "pasture" bald and attract the school’s attention.’
’But if I go abroad...’
Heh heh heh...
’Then I could do whatever the hell I want! I’d be as free as a bird in the sky or a fish in the sea!’
’The Demon Beasts of the White Eagle Empire... draining them would be a free-for-all, right?’
’When the time comes, I won’t give a damn about your rare species or ecological balance. I’ll just send in the Insect Race army for a one-wave rush and drain you all into endangered species!’
’This is basically an all-expenses-paid business trip, and a golden opportunity to make a fortune on the side!’
’Nope, I have to get one of these spots!’
At this thought, Chu Sheng could no longer stay put.
With a single use of Instant Teleportation, he vanished from the treetop and zipped back to his dormitory at lightning speed!
He himself was a Contracted Beast, so he obviously couldn’t participate.
But he had a tool!
Gu Yuexi!
’I haven’t seen this woman for over a day. I wonder how her absorption of that Emperor’s Soul Profound Crystal is going.’
When Chu Sheng returned to the dormitory, Gu Yuexi was still sitting cross-legged in the Cultivation Chamber, her body enveloped in a faint blue halo—a manifestation of her Mental Power, refined to its absolute peak.
Her aura was much stronger than before!
The Emperor’s Soul Profound Crystal truly lived up to its name as a treasure left by an Emperor Realm expert. Even absorbing just a small fraction of it had allowed Gu Yuexi’s cultivation to advance by leaps and bounds, breaking through the barrier from the Peak of Fourth-Grade and stepping right into the Fifth-Grade Early Stage!
And her momentum was still steadily climbing!
Perhaps no one understood how to efficiently utilize such a treasure better than she did.
"BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ! (Stop cultivating! Wake up! We’ve got big business!)"
Chu Sheng buzzed right in her ear.
Gu Yuexi slowly opened her eyes, a flicker of confusion in her cool gaze.
’Where did this damn mosquito go gallivanting off to this time?’
When she finished listening to Chu Sheng’s explanation about the international tournament and the several hundred thousand credits, a ripple finally appeared in her eyes, which were usually as still as an ancient well.
Several hundred thousand credits!
For her plan to open Secret Realm Zero, which required a million credits, this was undoubtedly like receiving charcoal in a snowstorm!
"I’ll go."
Gu Yuexi agreed with a nod, showing almost no hesitation.
It wasn’t just about the credits.
In her rebirth plan, the White Eagle Empire was the third destination after her trips to Hong Kong University and Jing University.
Going earlier than planned would be a bit of a stretch, but it wasn’t impossible!
But a problem quickly arose.
"These spots seem to be directly appointed by the university. Is there no open selection tournament?"
Chu Sheng froze.
It was true. From what he’d heard from those students, it sounded like the spots were internally decided by the university.
Although Gu Yuexi had made a name for herself recently, she was still just a freshman. The chances of her being chosen seemed slim, didn’t they?
The thought of all the Demon Beasts on the other side of the world, "crying out to be drained," made Chu Sheng impatient.
’No, I have to go!’
’If I can’t be chosen, I’ll force my way in!’