Divine-level Base

The Dragon Pavilion of Flame Dragon Manor was the residence of Azure Dragon High School’s prodigies.

Twenty young men and women, each with an extraordinary air about them, sat in a spacious hall within the Dragon Pavilion. These were the current generation of prodigies from Azure Dragon High School.

A defiant-looking young man with a short crew cut, Gao He, spoke up. "Sheng Hu from Cedar High School has gone to challenge Shuijing High School! Boss, do you think he can take down their Three Heroes and Seven Prodigies?"

All eyes immediately focused on a tall, handsome young man wearing an Azure Dragon High School uniform. He carried himself with the refined air of someone from a Noble Family. This was Mu Tianlong, the head of Azure Dragon High School’s Seven Prodigies.

Azure Dragon High School’s prodigies were as numerous as clouds, and this era was hailed as a golden age. Every one of the Azure Dragon’s Seven Prodigies had reached the Great Spirit Master Level. Mu Tianlong himself had already reached the Great Spirit Master Peak and was just one step away from becoming a Spirit Sect.

Spirit Saint Wu Zhongchao himself had once remarked that if Mu Tianlong reached his full potential, he was certain to become a Spirit Venerable, and possibly even a Spirit Saint.

"Sheng Hu is a notch above Mu Mu and Shen Xuan, but he’s still a notch below Ning Bufan. Of Shuijing High School’s current Three Heroes and Seven Prodigies, only Ning Bufan has any hope of reaching the Spirit Venerable Realm in the future."

"Besides Ning Bufan, only four others from Shuijing High School show decent potential and have a shot at becoming a Spirit Venerable: Li Xuan Yi, Zhao Zixing, Luo Feng, and Shu Feng," Mu Tianlong commented coolly.

Everyone present seemed convinced, as Mu Tianlong’s assessments were almost never wrong. He was a man of extraordinary perception and unparalleled talent—a prodigy among prodigies, a monster among monsters.

In a corner of the hall sat an exceedingly handsome, middle-aged man in black. He had an extraordinary air and a charming smile that few women could resist. He was Lie Nan Kong, the principal of Azure Dragon High School.

"Lie Nan Kong! I’ve brought someone to challenge your school! Don’t tell me Azure Dragon High School is too scared to answer?"

An incredibly domineering voice boomed from outside the Dragon Pavilion. The villa’s main doors shattered into a million pieces, and through the splintered remains stepped Fang Yao, her expression one of supreme arrogance. Following right behind her was none other than Shu Feng.

"Yao Yao, Juanzi has been dead for ten years. Haven’t you let it go yet?"

Watching the supremely domineering Fang Yao, Lie Nan Kong frowned slightly. A complex look flickered in his eyes as he let out a slow sigh.

"I’m a petty person. I’ll remember what happened back then for the rest of my life. Lie Nan Kong, she never would have died if you hadn’t been so heartless!"

"I wish I could kill you with a single strike. And since you’re the principal of Azure Dragon High School, I’m going to make sure your current generation of students tastes nothing but bitter defeat."

Fang Yao glared daggers at Lie Nan Kong and shouted, then gave Shu Feng a hard clap on the shoulder.

A look of resignation flashed in Shu Feng’s eyes. He raised his voice and announced, "I am Shu Feng of Shuijing High School, here to issue a challenge. I hope the prodigies of Azure Dragon High School will grant me their guidance!"

Gao He rose to his feet, staring fixedly at Shu Feng. A fiery glint flashed in his eyes as he declared in a heavy voice, "I, Gao He, one of Azure Dragon High School’s Seven Prodigies, accept your challenge!"

"No, Gao He. You’re no match for him. I’ll take him on."

Mu Tianlong gave Shu Feng a long, hard look, his gaze sharp and focused. He then rose to his feet and walked toward him.

"Yes!"

Gao He had always trusted Mu Tianlong’s judgment, so despite his reluctance, he stepped back.

Mu Tianlong smiled faintly. "Shu Feng, how about we settle this in a dreamscape?"

At these words, even Lie Nan Kong couldn’t help but give Shu Feng a few extra glances.

Mu Tianlong’s suggestion implied that in a fight between them, neither could afford to hold back; the slightest misstep could be fatal.

"Fine!" Shu Feng said.

Mu Tianlong turned and said, "Principal!"

Lie Nan Kong declared, "Let’s go! To the Martial Arts Arena!"

On all of Blue Star, the only one capable of summoning the Original Dream Tree at will was Spirit Saint Wu Zhongchao. Anyone else had to be at a designated location to do so.

The Martial Arts Arena at Flame Dragon Manor was one such place, and it also served as the venue for the National High School Spiritual Martial Arts Tournament.

"That’s Mu Tianlong from Azure Dragon High School! He’s one of the two top seeds favored to win the championship!"

"Mu Tianlong from Azure Dragon High School and Jiang Chao from Xuanwei High School are widely recognized as the strongest geniuses. I’m curious to see just how powerful he really is!"

"..."

Many talented young Spiritualists from the various major Noble Families and Clans were sparring in the Martial Arts Arena. The moment they saw Mu Tianlong, their eyes lit up, and they quickly gathered.

"Azure Dragon High School needs to use the Martial Arts Arena. We ask all students to please clear the floor!"

Lie Nan Kong glanced around and offered a gentle smile as a Spirit Venerable-level Spiritual Pressure emanated from him, spreading in all directions.

The bodies of the students from the various Extraordinary Academies wavered for a moment before they all leaped into the spectator stands, sitting down to watch the unfolding events with keen anticipation.

For Azure Dragon High School to borrow the Martial Arts Arena, it could only mean one thing: a dream battle using the Original Dream Tree. Such battles were the closest thing to real combat and were by far the most spectacular to watch.

More than a few students pulled out their phones, quickly telling their friends to come watch the fight.

Two students from Azure Dragon High School came forward and placed two chairs in the center of the Martial Arts Arena.

Shu Feng and Mu Tianlong took their seats in the chairs.

Fang Yao said, "Lie Nan Kong, how about we make a bet? If Shu Feng defeats Mu Tianlong, you resign as principal of Azure Dragon High School and never hold public office again! If Shu Feng loses, I’ll resign as vice principal of Shuijing High School and never hold public office again."

Lie Nan Kong refused, "The stakes are too high. No bet!"

Fang Yao sneered, "What a spineless coward!"

Lie Nan Kong acted as if he hadn’t heard. He had his sights set on becoming Prime Minister, and his position as principal of Azure Dragon High School was a crucial stepping stone. It allowed him to cultivate countless students and disciples, building his own power base. No matter what Fang Yao said, he refused to make that wager.

Fang Yao snorted. "Hmph. How about five Top-grade Spirit Stones, then? I’ll bet on Shu Feng. You bet on Mu Tianlong. What, have you no confidence in your own student?"

Lie Nan Kong considered it for a moment. "Fine! Five Top-grade Spirit Stones it is!"

A single Top-grade Spirit Stone could be exchanged for more than one hundred Middle-grade Spirit Stones, and the official price was twenty billion apiece. Five of them were worth a staggering one hundred billion. Even for Lie Nan Kong, this was not a small sum. More importantly, Top-grade Spirit Stones had a price but no market; they were a rare resource that money alone couldn’t buy.

A flicker of movement, like a residual shadow, appeared in a corner of the spectator stands. A young man with a wild, unrestrained air about him materialized and looked down at the arena.

This young man with the wild and unrestrained air was Jiang Chao, the head of Xuanwei High School’s Ten Prodigies.

Jiang Chao’s gaze swept over the scene, his eyes narrowing slightly. He muttered to himself, "That’s Mu Tianlong... and the one sparring with him is Shu Feng, the Qianyuan Republic’s eighth Heaven-level Spirit Ability User. They actually have to use the Original Dream Tree. Looks like this Shu Feng’s no weakling."