Chapter 329: The Other Future Emperor, Flexing in Gu Yuexi’s Face?
The disturbance at Central Plaza came to an end in an utterly absurd, yet deeply shocking, fashion.
Gu Yuexi and the mosquito on her shoulder—one human, one beast—were like a pair of precise scalpels, dicing up the twenty-eight challengers into a scattered mess in no time at all.
Even the most resentful onlookers, upon seeing the miserable sight of people searching for their teeth on the ground, had no choice but to swallow their doubts.
She was no soft target.
She was a diamond, hard enough to shatter a mouthful of teeth!
With that, the three-person roster for Jing University’s team in the International Youth Martial Dao Tournament was set:
Fourth-year Shen Yixuan, second on the Celestial Pride List, from the Martial Arts Academy.
Fourth-year Luo Qingyu, fourth on the Celestial Pride List, from the Martial Arts Academy.
And finally, first-year Gu Yuexi, from the Beast Taming Academy.
...
「One day later.」
Inside a stately building in the heart of Kyoto, the headquarters of the Great Xia Education Bureau.
Ten high-spirited young men and women stood in a spacious and brightly lit waiting hall.
A total of ten people would represent Great Xia in the upcoming competition.
The three from Jing University had arrived.
The three from Huaqing University had also arrived.
The remaining four spots were given to the top prodigies from other Top Notch institutions like Modu Martial Arts University and the military academies.
They were all young, and each had emerged from their respective universities bearing the halo of a "prodigy." Before they could even exchange pleasantries, the air was already crackling with gazes sizing each other up and making comparisons.
This was especially true for Huaqing and Jing University.
As the two top universities in Great Xia, they had been fighting over the title of "Number One" for decades, and their students couldn’t stand the sight of one another.
At that moment, a tall, skinny young man from Huaqing University with a sinister look in his eyes swept his gaze over the Jing University trio, finally letting it rest on Gu Yuexi.
As if he had discovered a new continent, the corner of his mouth curled into a sneer of undisguised mockery.
"Well, well. So this is Jing University’s team?"
"I can accept Shen Yixuan and Luo Qingyu. They’re familiar faces. But this third one..."
The young man pointed at Gu Yuexi and turned to his companions with an exaggerated laugh.
"A Sixth-Grade Early Stage?"
"Is Jing University fresh out of people? Or after Qin Wudao got crippled, you had no choice but to drag a first-year along to fill the spot?"
Gu Yuexi hadn’t deliberately concealed her aura. Among a team composed mostly of cultivators at the Peak of Sixth-Grade or even Seventh-Grade, her realm did indeed seem a bit "out of place."
Perched on Gu Yuexi’s shoulder, Chu Sheng couldn’t help but roll his eyes as he listened to the familiar, taunting opening line.
BUZZ. ’Can these villains get some new lines? It’s always the same thing. Lord Mosquito is getting sick of hearing it.’
Gu Yuexi didn’t even bother to lift an eyelid, as if she hadn’t heard a thing.
But just because she said nothing didn’t mean others would tolerate it.
CRACK!
Luo Qingyu fiercely cracked the long whip in her hand, making the air snap.
Her slender, phoenix-like eyes narrowed, carrying a fiery, killing intent as she shot back:
"I was wondering who was spewing all that nonsense. Turns out it’s just one of Huaqing’s losers."
"Zhao Cheng, if I recall correctly, during the exchange tournament two years ago, Senior Lin Ze slapped you hard across the face three times. You cried so pathetically back then, not even daring to make a peep."
"What’s the matter? Now that Senior Lin Ze has gone to the Outer-Domain Battlefield, you think you’re all that? You dare to come bark like a dog in front of us Jingda Students?"
Lin Ze!
The moment this name was spoken, the air in the waiting hall seemed to freeze for an instant.
For the students of the past few years, the name Lin Ze was a legend—a great mountain looming over everyone’s heads.
Back when he was a student, he not only suppressed his peers at Jing University to the point they couldn’t hold their heads high, but he also single-handedly swept through all of Huaqing’s prodigies with his sword, making Huaqing avoid Jing University in every competition for years.
The young man named Zhao Cheng’s face instantly turned the color of beetroot.
This was the shame of his life. Now that Luo Qingyu had publicly torn open his old wound, he was trembling with rage.
"You! Luo Qingyu, stop living in the past!"
"Lin Ze is Lin Ze, and you are you! Jing University is nothing without him! Now that Lin Ze is gone, you have to drag some piece of trash along to fill the roster, is that it?"
Flustered and enraged, Zhao Cheng was about to curse again.
Just then, a young man who had been standing in the middle of the Huaqing trio with his eyes closed and an indifferent expression, suddenly spoke.
"That’s enough, Zhao Cheng."
His voice wasn’t loud, but it carried an unquestionable authority.
Upon hearing him, Zhao Cheng actually shut his mouth instantly. He even took a respectful half-step back, completely yielding the center position.
The young man slowly opened his eyes. His gaze didn’t hold the usual domineering arrogance, but rather... an extreme conceit.
It was as if nothing in the entire world was worthy of entering his sight.
He looked at Luo Qingyu, his tone haughty.
"Lin Ze?"
"Heh, he was just born a few years earlier than me, that’s all."
"If he and I were in the same generation, I’d like to see who would be sweeping who."
The entire room was stunned by his words.
What incredible arrogance!
To dare to so brazenly state that he looked down on the legendary Lin Ze?
Chu Sheng fluttered his wings on Gu Yuexi’s shoulder, sizing up this character with great interest.
BUZZ? ’Who’s this kid? Is he an even bigger poser than Qin Wudao?’
This was none other than the other "Emperor" of the so-called "Future Twin Emperors" who had been mentioned alongside Jing University’s Su Yingxue some time ago—Huaqing University’s Xiao Tian!
It was said that Huaqing University had spared no top-tier resources to cultivate him. Even their former headmaster, who now held a high position in the Great Xia Education Bureau, was personally giving him private instruction.
In less than two months, he had forcefully advanced by nearly two full Grand Realms!
Both had been top prodigies during the summer break.
Now, Su Yingxue, the original Future Empress, had been completely eclipsed...
While Xiao Tian’s prestige had only grown!
The fact that a fourth-year senior like Zhao Cheng was so respectful toward him, a first-year, was enough to show Xiao Tian’s status at Huaqing University.
...
After saying his piece, Xiao Tian ignored Luo Qingyu completely, as if she wasn’t even worth his notice.
He strode directly over to Gu Yuexi.
He stared straight at her, his eyes filled with a mixture of scrutiny and disdain.
"So you’re the new Future Empress who defeated Su Yingxue?"
"That woman, Su Yingxue, had talent but a poor temperament. It’s no surprise she lost to you."
At this, he shook his head and wagged a finger in front of Gu Yuexi’s face.
"But I want you to get one thing straight."
"Although the outside world mentions us in the same breath as the ’Future Twin Emperors’ or the leaders of the new generation..."
"But you... and I."
"We are not in the same league."
"Understand?"
Xiao Tian’s voice was calm, as if he were stating an absolute truth.
This was the inflated ego of a top prodigy.
Ever since he was young, he had always been "that other family’s perfect kid." While his peers were still playing in the mud, he had already begun body tempering. While his peers were worrying about getting into university, he had already been specially recruited by Huaqing and designated a core prospect.
In his worldview, he was the protagonist, destined to dominate the era.
As for Gu Yuexi?
She was just a gimmick that Jing University had forcefully pushed forward to save face.