CSMCDB - Chapter 62
Chapter 62
As for the final opponent, they didn't pull out any new tricks. Coupled with the characteristic of Wen Yuncheng's title, she defeated them with ease. She beat four students from Yaoxing in a row, single-handedly securing 12 points for Star Academy and allowing them to hold their heads high.
During the team battle, Wen Yuncheng sent Number One out to lead the charge. The mark on its body had already recovered—such was the benefit of the Abyssal Crystal. Moreover, the specialized paint from the system store didn't fade. Even if a piece was knocked off, the interior was still black. Its true composition could only be revealed by washing it with a special liquid.
In the team match, Di Yuanhao's injuries had not yet recovered, significantly weakening Yaoxing's strength. Although they managed to knock two of Star Academy's opponents off the stage, the score gap widened considerably.
The third-years won their individual arena match, but it only earned them one point. During the team match, Yao Mu's injuries hadn't healed, and he was forced to use his Jade Transformation combat technique prematurely, which led to their defeat. But even so, Star Academy still shot up to first place with 134 points.
Yaoxing Academy, in second place, had only 112 points—a gap of 22 points!
Furthermore, the point difference between Yaoxing and the third-place Breeze Academy was a mere 3 points!
Yao Mu's injuries were still unhealed, and losing a match would mean a five-point deduction. The third-year bracket's multiple losses made him too embarrassed to take the risk—after all, if he lost those points, he would be dragging down the second-years. He couldn't bring himself to do it.
Lin Jinyu's injuries, on the other hand, were mostly healed, and she planned to enter a solo match to test her recovery. Wen Yuncheng naturally intended to participate as well.
However, after they submitted their names and the lists were compiled, the second-years who had previously expressed interest in competing all withdrew. The judges issued multiple warnings, but since the matches hadn't begun, withdrawing beforehand incurred no point penalty; it simply meant forfeiting the opportunity.
"Did the students from Yaoxing withdraw as well?" Wen Yuncheng couldn't help but ask.
"Di Yuanhao pushed his strength to the third layer of Star Master using the Blood Demon Transformation. If he were to challenge the solo matches now, he'd probably only be able to exert eighty percent of his power. Li Yiyu was unwilling to give up, but unfortunately… the point gap between Yaoxing and Breeze is too small. Their instructor felt that being matched against you two would be a certain defeat. With the other academies withdrawing one after another, they decided to forfeit as well."
The solo matches were suddenly thrown into turmoil, something not even Tan Qing had expected. With their competition ending prematurely, Wen Yuncheng invited everyone to a restaurant for a celebratory meal on Lin Jinyu's birthday. That evening, she presented Lin Jinyu with a custom-made starry sky cake and even sang a song for her Little Ice Mountain.
"This time… we've been competing constantly, so I didn't have time to prepare a special gift. Can I make it up to you next year?" Wen Yuncheng asked, a little nervously, as she held the cake out to Lin Jinyu. In truth, she hadn't been able to decide on a gift. She had looked at many things but hadn't found anything that felt just right.
"There's no need. I love your gift," Lin Jinyu replied. "The Star Academy second-years took first place. That's wonderful."
"Mhm!" Wen Yuncheng nodded emphatically. "Yes! And not just the second-years. I'm sure we'll be first in the overall score, too!"
Lin Jinyu smiled and simply nodded. Then came the customary making of a wish and blowing out the candles, and thus she spent her birthday amidst the Academy Exchange Tournament.
A few days later, the final results of the exchange tournament were announced. Star Academy took first place, followed by Yaoxing. Xuancheng Academy surpassed Breeze Academy to claim third, pushing Breeze to fourth. With that, the exchange tournament finally came to a close. What followed were the rewards from the Empire. Besides the expected resources and Star Stones, there was also access to a secret realm, opened specifically for outstanding students under the age of eighteen.
The secret realm was under the Empire's jurisdiction. To ensure its sustainability, the number of entry spots awarded after each tournament was fixed. One set of spots was for the Academy Exchange Tournament, and another for the Sect Exchange Tournament. Participants could only choose one; since Lin Jinyu had competed in the academy tournament, she was ineligible for the sect tournament.
The first-place academy received three spots for the secret realm, the second-place academy received two, and the third-place academy received one. There were no spots for fourth place.
Wen Yuncheng, however, felt that this kind of secret realm wouldn't be of much use to her. She had already received her reward for the exchange tournament: fifteen thousand experience points and five hundred system points.
Host: Wen Yuncheng
Race: Human
Age: 17
Class: Mechanical Master
Level: 31
Experience: 4255/18000
Points: 1184
【You need the medicinal pills or some of the forging materials inside the secret realm! Although a realm of this level won't contain any peerless treasures, it will still be a decent harvest for you at your current stage.】
Before their departure, all the academies held a large joint dinner. As the first-place winners, Star Academy naturally had to attend—which basically amounted to a free meal. After the gathering, the instructors and the students who had earned spots from the top three academies traveled together to the Imperial Capital. The teleportation array to the secret realm was managed by the Imperial family and required the academy tokens to be used in unison to activate it.
"A secret realm is a small world unto itself, and teleportation into it is random. Upon entry, you will each be given a token that will protect you for a maximum of two months. After two months, you will be forcibly teleported back. Don't waste any time once you're inside. How many opportunities you can seize will depend on your own fortune." Star Academy's three spots had all gone to the three youngsters from the S-Class, as they had contributed the most. As for the A-Class students, the academy would naturally provide them with their own rewards. Taking advantage of a break in their journey, Tan Qing called the three of them aside to give them detailed instructions.
"Teacher, will there be any danger in the secret realm?" Wen Yuncheng asked curiously. In all the novels she had read, secret realms were incredibly perilous places where you even had to guard against possession attempts from the remains of long-dead seniors.
"This is a secret realm specifically meant to reward juniors like you, so of course it isn't dangerous," Tan Qing said, shaking his head with a smile. "What you're describing are likely natural secret realms or the tombs of powerful experts. Speaking of which, the last time one of those was discovered was eight years ago. Who knows when the next one will be found."
Wen Yuncheng nodded, only half-understanding. Then, she spoke to 1947: You hear that? When are you going to arrange a secret realm for me?
【…I'm just a system. All I have are various templates. Don't make things difficult for me.】 1947 was utterly helpless. It wasn't a scriptwriter; it couldn't just conjure up a secret realm on demand. That sort of thing depended on luck and destiny!
But other Long Aotians! One moment they stumble upon a hundred-year secret realm, the next a once-in-a-millennium one, and then a once-in-ten-millennia one, and then…
【Stop!】 1947 felt a headache coming on. 【You'll get one! You'll encounter one! You can even change maps in the future! You might end up punching dragons and kicking phoenixes, subjugating Dragon Island, dominating other continents, shattering space, and escaping the cycle of reincarnation…】
Wen Yuncheng: Say no more. I concede. I'm not that shameless yet.
"You can also start preparing for next year's Youth Tournament," Tan Qing continued, unable to hold back a smile. "By tradition, the top fifteen finishers will earn an opportunity to cultivate in the Xingyan Pool. Of course, if you don't want that opportunity, you can exchange it for a Profound-rank Spirit Treasure from the Empire's treasury. After all, the Empire is quite invested in nurturing you all."
Wen Yuncheng's eyes lit up. If she remembered correctly, the starting bid for a Profound-rank Spirit Treasure at auction was at least ten million Star Stones. The price would fluctuate depending on its effects and type, with no upper limit.
As for being nurtured… in any competition, the victors would receive a greater share of the Empire's resources. It was simply one of the ways the Empire screened for exceptional talent.
One day later, in the Imperial Capital.
As soon as their Gugu Bird entered the city, Wen Yuncheng saw a large crowd gathered at the flight station. "Why are there so many people? Are they all just here to watch the spectacle?"
Being stared at by so many people made Wen Yuncheng slightly uncomfortable. She instinctively sat up straighter, watching as the Gugu Bird slowly descended toward the flight station. Then, she heard the crowd start to chant: "Star Academy is number one! Star Academy is number one!!" Focusing her gaze, she recognized a few familiar faces from the second year… they were all students from Star Academy! Now that the second and third-years had returned, it was only natural that some would be there to welcome and congratulate them.
Tan Qing was grinning from ear to ear. The instructors from Yaoxing and Xuancheng, however, looked rather uncomfortable, merely letting out a sour snort. In previous years when Yaoxing had won, there had been no one to welcome them in the Imperial Capital—after all, their academy wasn't located here. This was Star Academy's home-field advantage, and all the others could do was feel bitter about it.
The other students from Star Academy headed directly back to the academy to claim their rewards. Meanwhile, Wen Yuncheng, Lin Jinyu, and Yao Mu, accompanied by Tan Qing, joined the groups from Yaoxing and Xuancheng and made their way toward the Imperial Palace in the center of the capital.
Yaoxing's two spots went to Di Yuanhao and a third-year student. Xuancheng had a difficult time allocating their single spot and ultimately had to resort to drawing lots, which a second-year at the first layer of Star Master was lucky enough to win.
"Everyone, please follow me." At the gates of the Imperial Palace, a man in armor who had been standing silently for some time stepped forward upon seeing them and made a welcoming gesture.
What followed were the usual pleasantries.
Wen Yuncheng followed them inside and saw the Emperor, as well as the First Princess. The First Princess stood quietly to one side. When Wen Yuncheng glanced her way, the princess noticed and offered her a faint smile. Wen Yuncheng was stunned for a moment before returning the smile.
…She had thought she might get to see what a Protector of the Nation looked like. Not Di Yuanhao's father, of course. The Empire had three Protectors of the Nation: Di Feng, Chu Han, and Mo Dingtian. The one who had taken action in the Demonic Beast Great Forest back then was Chu Han, who was stationed in the Imperial Capital year-round. Wen Yuncheng had assumed he would be the one she would see.
After the encouraging speeches concluded, they were led away for a simple meal and then shown to their quarters within the Imperial Palace to rest. The teleportation to the secret realm would be activated the next day.
The layout and furnishings within the Imperial Palace were vastly different from those at Star Academy. The academy liked to flaunt its wealth—a fact made obvious by the fire crystal stones at the main gate. The various crystals embedded at the base of each building and the materials used for the door plaques all exuded an air of opulence.
【You could just say one is a nouveau riche and the other has understated, sophisticated taste,】 1947 commented, its head aching from Wen Yuncheng's mental fluctuations. 【Someone is at your door.】
Someone? Wen Yuncheng paused, halting her admiration of the luxurious guest room. Her gaze shifted away from a painting on the wall, one whose value in Star Stones she couldn't begin to guess. The next second, a knock sounded at the door.
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