Su Yu couldn't be bothered to pay any more attention to the women. After passing through the gate check, he made his way toward the designated location—the Secret Character Hall.
Along the way, he ran into another acquaintance.
Or rather, someone he wasn't particularly familiar with.
Zheng Hong!
Previously, Su Yu hadn't paid him much heed. But after learning he was Elder Zheng Yuming's grandson, Su Yu had begun keeping an eye on him.
Zheng Hong was very low-profile in class, and crossing paths with Su Yu now, he remained just as discreet.
He gave Su Yu a slight nod, offered a brief smile, and silently walked ahead.
Su Yu nodded back in greeting.
He never took these monstrously talented students lightly; no one knew just how much they were hiding.
Or perhaps, at this stage, none of them could be bothered to reveal anything.
They hadn't even challenged the Top 100 Rankings yet, so there was no need to show their hands.
Behind him, another figure appeared. Today, all the students of the advanced class had gathered. Wan Mingze spoke in a soft, genial voice, smiling as he said, "Su Yu, if I take first place, what do you say I sell you that scroll?"
Su Yu turned back and laughed. "That would naturally be great, but if the price is too high, I won't be able to afford it."
"Do you lack the confidence to take first place yourself?"
Wan Mingze smiled like a friendly boy next door. "I thought you would say you planned to claim first place on your own!"
"My willpower isn't strong enough. That's a fact," Su Yu replied. "Having weaknesses is completely normal. After all, it hasn't been long since I entered the Yangxing Realm."
"True enough. It's a bit of a pity, but after some time, I believe you'll catch up."
With that, Wan Mingze fell into step alongside him. "Within the academy, the infighting between the Divine Character factions is the fiercest. In fact, over the past few years, it has already started disrupting academy operations. In my view, part of the reason Principal Wan introduced myriad races students was precisely to divert that hostile fire away from internal conflict."
Su Yu looked at him with a puzzled expression. Wan Mingze spoke softly, "I know you're very talented, and this year's batch has many gifted individuals. Frankly, I would much rather see everyone present a united front against external threats, setting our sights on the myriad races students rather than fighting among ourselves..."
Su Yu nodded. "I'd like that too! I'm not someone who goes looking for trouble. Cultivating quietly is what I want, but some people insist on giving me grief..."
With that, Su Yu looked at him and asked, "If someone slaps your left cheek and tells you to turn the right cheek so they can hit it too, would you agree?"
Su Yu chuckled. "I know what you're trying to do. You want to play peacemaker... No offense, but you really aren't qualified! Besides, talking to me is useless. If you can convince those people to stop targeting me, I wouldn't bother crossing swords with them either."
Wan Mingze nodded slightly. "I understand. All beginnings are hard. That's fine; we can take it slowly. Su Yu, the current situation of the human race actually isn't very optimistic. On the All-Heavens Battlefield, although mankind can still withstand the onslaught, our ranks are showing signs of a generational gap. The young and middle-aged generations are gradually falling behind the older generation..."
Su Yu frowned. "Isn't the Great Xia Mansion no longer waging war?"
"It isn't that they aren't fighting, but merely cutting down on unnecessary conflicts," Wan Mingze explained. "The battles are still ongoing. A few days ago, the powerful races of the gods, fiends, and demons convened an alliance conference on the All-Heavens Battlefield, with powerful human experts participating as well! An expert from the Primordial God Race proposed establishing a joint central trading realm for the myriad races!"
Wan Mingze ground his teeth. "They proposed turning the Human Realm into the trading hub of all realms! Gathering resources from across the cosmos right in the Human Realm, developing this place into the central hub, the core territory! Meanwhile, the major races—gods, fiends, demons, immortals—would each carve out self-governing territories within the Human Realm... as so-called leased concessions!"
Wan Mingze clenched his jaws!
Su Yu's face flushed with anger!
He was an educated man and understood all too well what that meant.
What a fine "leased concession"!
"The human race will never agree!" Su Yu gritted out.
Wan Mingze nodded. "Of course we won't! They're slicing our flesh with a dull blade, trying to erode our fighting spirit and pry open the gates of the Human Realm through alternative, so-called peaceful means!"
Wan Mingze added angrily, "Yet on that day, more than half of the races voted in favor of the proposal! Peace, no more war—just ceding a portion of the Human Realm's territory to let the myriad races enter, building prosperity together! They make it sound wonderful, claiming they're even willing to pour massive resources into it..."
Wan Mingze sneered. "Unfortunately, some ignorant bastards—or bastards pretending to be ignorant—are now vigorously preaching and promoting it everywhere. No more war, no more bloodshed, make the Human Realm richer, an end to bloodshed for all!"
"The All-Races Sect?"
"Exactly!"
Wan Mingze nodded. "The All-Races Sect! Within the borders of the Great Xia Mansion, their strength is limited because the Manor Head's ironfisted policies have suppressed their living space. But in several other mansions, their power is far from weak!"
Wan Mingze scoffed coldly, "Recently, high-ranking leaders from several branches of the All-Races Sect sent letters to the War God Hall and the Quest Realm, hoping to obtain the approval of the two sacred grounds to designate a demonstration zone within the Human Realm! They want self-governance to test the results, claiming in sweet words that it leaves a way out for the human race to see whether a so-called economic trade zone could work..."
Su Yu furrowed his brow, remaining silent.
After a long while, he spoke. "They should open one!"
"Huh?"
Wan Mingze froze. Su Yu said calmly, "Since they want to show themselves, why not give them the chance? Herd them all into their so-called demonstration zone, then wipe them out in one fell swoop. Wouldn't that be great?"
"..."
Wan Mingze laughed despite himself. He gave Su Yu a deep look and said meaningfully, "It isn't that simple! The higher-ups of the All-Races Sect aren't fools. Even if people show up, they'll just be minor pawns; the true powerhouses will never reveal themselves. Once that precedent is set, there will be no end of trouble!"
"Then why did our academy establish the Myriad Races Academy?"
Wan Mingze smiled. "Those two things are fundamentally different. Principal Wan's goal in building the Myriad Races Academy is to win over smaller races, redirect internal friction, and unite against common external foes..."
Su Yu fell silent for a moment and nodded without saying more.
Those matters were still far too distant from him.
As if reading his thoughts, Wan Mingze said, "Su Yu, I'm telling you all this because I don't want us—the hope of the future—to engage in internal strife and needlessly squander our strength! To be pragmatic, if it were anyone else, I wouldn't say this much. But your progress is remarkably fast..."
The implication was crystal clear: because you possess great talent.
That was why he was saying all this.
Su Yu asked quizzically, "Do you represent Principal Wan?"
"No!"
Wan Mingze shook his head. "How could I possibly represent Principal Wan? I don't have that kind of standing! I come on behalf of the neutral divine character faction!"
"What?"
"You surely don't think that aside from the Multiple Divine Characters Faction, everyone else in the academy belongs to the Single Divine Character Faction, do you?"
Wan Mingze laughed. "The divine character stream is vast, with many people! The so-called single divine character and multiple divine character factions are only parts of it. Tell me, do people like Xia Yuwen and Wu Qi belong to the Single Divine Character Faction? Yes, some of them don't have divine character battle techniques, but does that automatically make them part of the Single Divine Character Faction?
"Some don't even have a master's lineage, yet merely because they lack a divine character battle technique, they're labeled single divine character?"
Wan Mingze explained, "Within the Divine Character College, there is a third faction! In fact, the majority belongs to this third faction. They don't care who is stronger, who is weaker, or who dominates the college or the academy; none of that matters to them!
"Your aptitude is exceptional, your talent is immense, and your progress is swift. That is why the third faction is now extending an invitation to you, asking you to withdraw from the internal strife between the single and multiple divine character factions..."
"What do you mean by that?"
Wan Mingze said earnestly, "It means protecting you! Allowing you to grow smoothly! You will no longer participate in the feud between the two factions. We aren't asking you to defect from the Multiple Divine Characters Faction; we're merely asking you not to involve yourself in their struggles. With the third faction guaranteeing your neutrality, the Single Divine Character Faction won't implicate you either..."
Su Yu frowned. "You mean... in name, I'd still belong to the Multiple Divine Characters Faction, but I wouldn't be allowed to participate in many matters? For instance, when Huang Qifeng injured my senior sister, I shouldn't bother getting involved?"
Wan Mingze hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "It's not that you can't get involved at all; normal spars or formal competitions are entirely fine! You just can't maliciously target the Single Divine Character Faction. That is also the prerequisite for keeping you protected."
Wan Mingze said sincerely, "Actually, you aren't the only one. Many within the Single Divine Character Faction have also received our invitation! To step away from sectarian squabbles, concentrate on cultivation, and strive to become strong."
"Who, for instance?"
"Many people. Including Researcher Huang Yao, who invited you before, and Researcher Hu Wensheng's eldest disciple, Han Chen... They have all joined the third faction to focus on cultivation. Internal conflict ultimately just consumes our own side's strength."
Su Yu said thoughtfully, "So, if I join you, you will protect me so the Single Divine Character Faction no longer targets me, and in return, I cannot target them either. Each minding their own business—is that what you mean?"
"Yes!"
"Then my teacher, senior martial uncle, and grandmaster won't be angry about it?"
"They might be!" Wan Mingze said seriously. "However, they ought to understand your choice. As good teachers, they shouldn't drag people like you into the quagmire in the first place. That includes Wu Jia—someone invited her before as well, but she refused."
"If this third faction is so formidable, why don't you persuade the Single Divine Character Faction to stop targeting the Multiple Divine Characters Faction? After all, there are barely any of us, and we haven't seized their resources. Everything we obtain is what we rightfully earned; we haven't taken a single extra copper from anyone!"
Wan Mingze smiled wryly. "That is still a bit difficult. It mostly involves grudges from the older generation, which aren't easily resolved. That's why our goal is to start with the younger generation, putting an end to this cycle of conflict. Even with Huang Qifeng, we're currently reaching out and doing groundwork..."
Su Yu's expression shifted. "You're inviting him too?"
"Su Yu, it's better to dissolve enmity than foster it..."
Su Yu nodded and said nothing more, continuing to walk forward.
Fine words indeed!
Better to dissolve enmity than foster it!
In his eyes, this so-called third faction was simply the next Single Divine Character Faction in the making.
These people were dissatisfied with the present situation and wanted change, but once they grew powerful, they would likely end up the exact same way.
All this striving in cultivation ultimately boiled down to resources, status, reputation, and authority.
If Wan Mingze and his circle didn't harbor such ambitions, would they bother concocting a so-called third faction?
Of course, this certainly wasn't Wan Mingze's doing alone; he was merely a freshman, and there were bound to be elders backing him.
Su Yu neither supported nor opposed it.
However, he could never accept standing in the same camp as Huang Qifeng!
He had been itching to deal with that guy for a long time.
Besides... Wan Mingze and the others were indulging in wishful thinking!
Huang Qifeng was Elder Zheng Yuming's disciple. There, he enjoyed resources, status, guidance, and countless benefits... Why on earth would he join some third faction?
The same applied to Su Yu himself!
In the Multiple Divine Characters Faction, Bai Feng might be hands-off, but without Bai Feng, where would he have gotten Mountain-Breaking Ox blood essence? Without Bai Feng, where would he have gotten his divine character battle technique framework?
Without Bai Feng, on the day he unleashed Wanshi blood essence, he probably would have been hauled off by someone to have his background thoroughly investigated!
Without Chen Yong and Hong Tan backing him, would Liu Hong have spat back so many merit points after embezzling them?
Would Zheng Yunhui have politely negotiated the ownership of *Sky-Breaking Slash* with him, let alone collaborated to scheme against others?
The Multiple Divine Characters Faction was a burden, but it was also a shield.
Without that backing, even if Su Yu reached the Qianjun Ninth Layer, he wouldn't dare reveal it; he would have to worry about attracting unwanted attention and dying without even knowing how.
Now, with an eighth-layer Shanhai expert standing behind him, no one dared to resort to underhanded measures.
If he joined this third faction, would they back him so wholeheartedly?
Su Yu didn't believe it for a second!
*Huang Yao... so he belongs to this faction too. The so-called commoner faction and noble faction are just a facade!*
Wan Mingze was part of it, so how could it possibly be called a commoner faction?
As for Xia Yuwen, Wu Qi, and the like... Perhaps they simply wanted an easy life or couldn't be bothered to participate, so they were lumped into the third faction. None of it meant anything solid.
...
Su Yu paid no more heed to Wan Mingze. Wan Mingze let out a sigh and said nothing further.
Geniuses were inherently proud!
Since Su Yu hadn't agreed, it was an outright refusal.
Slowing his pace slightly, Wan Mingze let Su Yu pull ahead. Soon after, Hu Qiusheng caught up from behind and said with a faint smile, "Turned down?"
"Yeah."
Hu Qiusheng wasn't surprised at all. He smiled. "Normal! He hasn't suffered any major setback, so why should he back out of the Multiple Divine Characters Faction for no good reason? Not only would he lose Bai Feng and the others' trust, he might also end up with fewer resources—all just to avoid potential targeting. It's a net loss."
Wan Mingze frowned. "I know, but I'm doing it for his own good! The Single Divine Character Faction clearly intends to target him now. His talent is immense, and I simply don't want to see a genius's cultivation derailed!"
"For his own good..." Hu Qiusheng chuckled. "Don't say that anymore. To put it bluntly, you aren't him, and he has his own thoughts. Do you think he'll just accept what you deem to be for his own good?
"Perhaps... he'd rather enjoy fighting them!"
Hu Qiusheng laughed, then quickly added, "In truth, these matters aren't important! It doesn't matter which faction one belongs to. Once the day comes that we head to the All-Heavens Battlefield, someone will naturally keep things in check. Our immediate priority remains the Top 100 Rankings."
Wan Mingze said nothing more.
He felt somewhat regretful.
After walking for a while, he spoke up again. "I just hope he can understand and bow out of this vortex in time! In other academies, the heritage of the Multiple Divine Characters Faction has already been completely snuffed out. Within the Single Divine Character Faction, experts at the peak of the Sun and Moon Realm have already emerged. The moment an Eternal Realm expert appears, it will prove that the Multiple Divine Characters Faction has stepped off the stage of history once and for all!"
"You mean that person from the Great Zhou Mansion?"
"Yes!"
Wan Mingze nodded. "Right there! The Multiple Divine Characters Faction in the Great Zhou Civilization Academy has already formally announced the disbandment of their department and stopped admitting new students! They opened up their battle technique wall, and the Multiple Divine Characters Faction has been absorbed into the general Divine Character stream..."
Hu Qiusheng turned solemn. "It's connected to that person?"
"Yes!"
Wan Mingze sighed. "That guy is simply too monstrous! Cultivating only a single divine character, he defeated several teaching assistants from the Multiple Divine Characters Faction at the same cultivation stage. The sole elder of the Multiple Divine Characters Faction at the Great Zhou Civilization Academy personally oversaw the battles, only to watch his students defeated cleanly and thoroughly. In his utter disappointment, combined with long-accumulated exhaustion, he announced on the spot that they would no longer recruit freshmen. The Multiple Divine Characters Faction... has become history in the Great Zhou Mansion!"
Hu Qiusheng felt a heavy gloom, his heart somewhat bleak as he sighed. "What a pity!"
"It truly is. The Multiple Divine Characters Faction still has its merits..." Wan Mingze said wistfully. "Unfortunately, the dispute has dragged on for too long! Right now, that person is traveling across the Human Realm, visiting various academies to challenge experts of the Multiple Divine Characters Faction at the same cultivation level, proving that the Single Divine Character Faction is superior and that he is invincible among his peers!
"Just a few days ago, at the Great Shang Civilization Academy, a sixth-layer Tengkong expert from the Multiple Divine Characters Faction fell by his hand!"
Wan Mingze remarked with emotion, "Sixth-layer Tengkong! That guy only enrolled last year, yet even peers from the Multiple Divine Characters Faction are no match for him. In martial techniques, divine characters, and willpower, he outmatches them across the board—he's no mere paper tiger! At nineteen years old... once he reaches the eighth layer of Tengkong, he will inevitably come to our academy to challenge Assistant Bai. If Assistant Bai loses... the final shred of dignity belonging to the Multiple Divine Characters Faction at the Great Xia Civilization Academy will be thoroughly wiped out!
"When that day comes, it will mark the end of the line for the Multiple Divine Characters Faction!"
Wan Mingze sighed. What was the foundation upon which the Multiple Divine Characters Faction rested?
Invincibility among peers of the same realm!
At the seventh layer of Tengkong, Bai Feng had defeated Hu Wensheng in a single blow, allowing the Multiple Divine Characters Faction to claim that for geniuses at the same stage, theirs was the most suitable path!
You, Bai Feng, are a genius, but that person is a genius as well.
At the same stage, when you've cultivated longer than he has, if you end up losing while he relies on only a single divine character, what will you have left to say?
Would there still be any reason for the Multiple Divine Characters Faction to exist?
Squandering massive resources only to produce people inferior to others at the same stage—how could they have the face to continue recruiting students?
"He's already at the sixth layer of Tengkong. Breaking through to the seventh might take a little time, but within a year at most, that guy is bound to come to the Great Xia Civilization Academy!" Wan Mingze looked toward Hu Qiusheng. "By then, the Multiple Divine Characters Faction will be completely abolished. If Su Yu forms too deep a grudge with them now, it will be difficult for him to integrate later. Tell me, wasn't I acting in his best interest?"
Hu Qiusheng frowned.
After a moment, as they arrived outside the Secret Character Hall, he said slowly, "The Great Zhou Mansion is overstepping boundaries with their arrogance. Our Great Xia Mansion might not necessarily humor them! If that guy truly dares to come, I reckon others will cause him trouble before Bai Feng even takes the stage."
Wan Mingze said no more. That was indeed possible, but... who among them could actually match that guy?
...
Inside the Secret Character Hall.
The moment Su Yu stepped in, he felt several gazes fall upon him.
Wearing an honest, simple smile, he glanced forward. Quite a few researchers were present; some he recognized, others he did not.
Su Yu didn't mind. Smiling amiably, he gave a slight bow toward the researchers and walked toward the student gathering area off to the side.
Seeing him, several researchers began conversing via voice transmission.
"Is he Bai Feng's student?"
"That's him—Su Yu, the one who beat Hu Wensheng's disciple earlier!"
"He looks rather honest and unassuming. Far more pleasing to the eye than that fellow Bai Feng."
...
On the other side.
Wu Lan was complaining, "Sister, that's him! He's stronger than me. Sister, how can I become stronger than him?"
Wu Qi said indifferently, "Defeat him!"
"..."
Wu Lan felt stifled and asked with some annoyance, "If I could beat him, would I need to ask you?"
Wu Qi said calmly, "Since you can't beat him, he'll always be stronger than you. What else is there to say?"
"..."
Faced with her younger sister, Wu Qi felt rather helpless too. After a moment, she spoke. "If you want to become stronger than him, then be ruthless with yourself! Cultivate twenty hours a day, read for two hours, eat in ten minutes, and use the rest of the time to rest. Sooner or later, you'll surpass him!"
Wu Lan hesitated, then whispered, "Can I cultivate for eighteen hours? Read for one hour, and spend the rest of the time sleeping?"
"*Cough, cough...*"
Off to the side, Liu Hong choked on his tea. Seeing Wu Qi look over, he gave a dry laugh. "The tea was a bit hot! Actually, surpassing Su Yu isn't difficult..."
Wu Lan immediately looked over at him, her face filled with doubt.
Not difficult?
Then why are your students so weak?
Liu Hong seemed to read her thoughts. Feeling somewhat speechless, he didn't bother to defend himself, merely smiling as he said, "Lanlan, your talent is very good. You're no worse than him, and you're willing to work hard, which is wonderful! Where you fall short is that you've got your priorities backward."
"What do you mean?"
"He cultivates the physical body because his willpower isn't strong enough. He had no choice but to bolster his physical strength so he wouldn't fall behind others! I heard that you're currently focusing on physical cultivation as well, Lanlan, which is actually neglecting your willpower cultivation. That's playing to your weaknesses while abandoning your strengths... You should focus primarily on willpower, enter the Tengkong Realm as soon as possible, and only then cast your physical body..."
Wu Lan looked toward her sister. Wu Qi said calmly, "Walk your own path! Other people's opinions are just opinions; they cannot represent you. If your path goes smoothly, walk it further; if it doesn't, then stop right there!"
"Sister!"
Wu Lan felt rather disgruntled. Her sister gave this same answer every time; she felt her sister's teaching was terrible, not even as good as Liu Hong's!
Wu Qi paid her no more attention.
Her sister was an adult who had read plenty of books; aside from lacking real-world experience, she understood everything she needed to. When it came to cultivation, Wu Qi only helped supervise; she wouldn't meddle in the rest. How far Wu Lan could go depended entirely on her own abilities.
Shifting her gaze to Su Yu, watching him chat quietly with the classmates around him while maintaining a perpetual smile, Wu Qi frowned slightly, turning her head to glance at Liu Hong.
At that moment, Liu Hong also had a smile on his face as he conversed with a nearby researcher.
Wu Qi looked back at Su Yu, suddenly feeling an uncanny sense of familiarity.
She turned her head toward Liu Hong again...
A moment later, both Su Yu and Liu Hong seemed to sense her gaze.
...
In the distance.
Su Yu looked up toward that direction and saw a spirited, heroic young woman watching him, with Wu Lan standing beside her. Having roughly guessed her identity, he offered an honest smile and shifted his gaze away.
At the same time, Liu Hong also turned toward Wu Qi, flashing a brilliant smile...
Wu Qi felt an odd sense of bafflement!
She looked back and forth between Liu Hong and Su Yu, leaving Liu Hong somewhat dazed. Suddenly, Wu Qi pointed at Su Yu. "A spy you planted?"
"Huh?"
"Your younger brother by blood?"
"What?"
"What's your mother's maiden name?"
Liu Hong finally understood!
His face darkened, feeling quite annoyed as he said in a low voice, "He has nothing to do with me!"
*Damn it, believe it or not, I'll challenge you to a duel... Never mind, I probably can't beat you.*
*My old mother's surname isn't Su!*
Wu Qi ignored him, turning her eyes back to Su Yu, blinking. Suddenly, she turned to her sister. "Stay away from him! You'd be better off mingling with useless trash than spending time around him. I'm afraid that if he sells you out, I won't even be able to find you."
Wu Lan was completely bewildered.
Unbothered, Wu Qi pointed at Liu Hong and said to her sister again, "Back then, I broke his legs! Many in the academy know about that! But nobody knows the truth behind it. This fellow made a deal with the All-Races Sect, selling me out to use as a stepping stone so he could smoothly infiltrate them..."
Wu Lan was even more stunned!
Liu Hong's expression changed, and he quickly cupped his hands in surrender, begging for mercy!
His face was flushed with awkwardness!
Ignoring him, Wu Qi continued telling Wu Lan, "He managed to break through to Tengkong precisely by selling me out! First, he sold me, then he notified your grand-aunt to rescue me, drawing away several powerful experts from the All-Races Sect. Meanwhile, he turned around and went on a killing spree at their branch altar, seizing a vast fortune of resources to successfully break through. That's why, the moment I returned, I broke his legs!"
Wu Lan was dumbfounded as she stared at Liu Hong!
Then she looked at her sister. *You were sold out just like that?*
*Were you really that stupid?*
*Weren't you supposed to be brilliant?*
Wu Qi remained thoroughly composed, saying flatly, "Back then, he smiled so brightly and looked so honest that I thought he was a good person and treated him like a friend. When he sold me out, he didn't hesitate for a single second!"
Looking terribly embarrassed, Liu Hong explained in a hushed voice, "A misunderstanding, truly a misunderstanding! Wu Qi, it's been so many years—why won't you believe me? It was a huge misunderstanding! I saw you fall into a trap, so I turned right around to inform Elder Wu, risking my life to save you! Taking down that branch altar along the way was purely incidental. Don't go talking nonsense in front of the kid..."
Wu Qi ignored him, pointing toward Su Yu again, and said coolly, "Remember this: that fellow... is cut from the exact same cloth as this bastard named Liu! I'm now suspecting he was intentionally planted on Bai Feng's side by Liu!"
Wu Lan protested, "Sister, this is the very first time you've ever seen him. How could that be!"
Wu Qi said nothing.
*Believe it or not; I believe it.*
*My judgment of people is sharp... Well, it wasn't back then, but after being conned by Liu Hong once, my eyes became razor-sharp.*
Beside them, Liu Hong wore an innocent expression.
Honestly, he had already explained it was a misunderstanding.
Why did she insist on not believing him!
Back then, it was truly an accident. It was just that after the accident... didn't he spot an opportunity?
Her grand-aunt had rushed over on a slaughterous rampage, so she was obviously going to be fine. That was why he went to scavenge the spoils!
Liu Hong sighed, feeling utterly wronged.
*I risked my life to notify your grand-aunt to rescue you, and not only are you completely ungrateful, you've treated me like a villain ever since. Where on earth can I even air my grievances?!*
Looking toward Su Yu in the distance again, he let out another sigh. *I already told you your smile looked superficial, and now look what happened—someone saw right through you!*
The next moment, Liu Hong stood up, cleared his throat, and bellowed, "Students, silence!"
"The Divine Character Competition officially begins!"
"Lots will be drawn for the matchups; an odd participant will receive a bye!"
"The rule is that there are no rules! Willpower will immerse into the secret realm for one-on-one clashes, and the victor is king! The process does not matter; what matters is the outcome! The rewards have already been announced. Furthermore, winning a round awards five merit points!"
Liu Hong looked down at the students below and projected his voice: "This is the freshmen's first collective battle in the Civilization Academy! Whether from the Divine Character College or the Divine Pill College, unleash your full strength and display your worth! For the victors, beyond the stated rewards, there will be other gains—such as the academy's recognition and the notice of researchers! Some of you lack teachers, or perhaps you weren't favored before; now... this is your opportunity!
"This is the starting point of your fame. Playing the pig to eat the tiger or feigning weakness is entirely unnecessary! Either refrain from acting, or strike to win! Any student who doesn't strive for victory shouldn't even participate—you'd just be wasting everyone's time!"
With those words concluded, he turned his gaze toward Su Yu and said indifferently, "Su Yu, you claimed that you would definitely take the *Seeking the Secluded in Mountains and Seas Scroll*. Do you have the confidence?"
Su Yu looked at him, the smile on his face gradually fading.
At this moment, all the students in the venue turned their eyes toward Su Yu. Those who didn't recognize him began asking around.
Taking a deep breath, Su Yu said calmly, "I will exert my utmost and do everything in my power! I will not disappoint Teacher Liu. Regrettably, physical strength cannot be employed today. I hope to have the chance next time to experience the prowess of Teacher Liu's prized disciple! Unworthy though I may be, I would also like to see whether Teacher Liu's ability to teach and educate is as formidable as certain other aspects of his!"
On the stage, several researchers revealed intriguing expressions.
Quite interesting!
Below the stage, Lin Yao maintained an impassive expression, secretly filled with admiration. *Are Brother Su and Teacher playing a double act?*
*This 'prized disciple'... he probably doesn't mean me, but Senior Brother Yang Sha, right?*
*Does Brother Su plan to spar with Senior Brother Yang?*
*Intentionally putting on a confrontational front before outsiders?*
Lin Yao felt he had seen through it all!
Looking at the others around him who had taken it completely seriously, he felt a surge of secret pride. *The world is drunk, and I alone am sober!*
*Everyone thinks Su Yu and Teacher are at odds, but who would have guessed the two made amends long ago?*
Lin Yao felt a slight urge, wishing he could step onto the stage right now to play a part too—standing tall with righteous indignation, berating Su Yu, and challenging him on the spot...
Never mind. The Divine Character Competition was about to begin; today, he would let Brother Su and Teacher perform on their own.
Chapter 144