Chapter 45: The Provincial Government and the Jingzhe Guild Are Here?

At the entrance to the Black Stone Secret Realm was a vast plaza constructed from a special alloy.

In the center of the plaza stood a hundred-meter-tall spatial fissure, constantly twisting and rotating, emitting heart-pounding spatial fluctuations.

At this moment, the plaza was teeming with people.

All the third-year students of Jiang City Lingwu High School had arrived.

The majority of students were from the two mainstream departments: Martial Arts and Beast Taming.

In the corners of the plaza, however, students from less popular majors were scattered about.

Several students from the Array major were squatting on the ground, outlining a miniature enhancement array with a special powder while muttering incantations.

Meanwhile, the few students from the most mysterious and smallest major, the Spiritual Mind Masters, sat cross-legged with their eyes shut. Like old monks in meditation, they seemed completely unaffected by the noisy surroundings as they adjusted their spiritual states.

Just then, a small commotion suddenly rippled through the crowd.

Gu Yuexi was seen walking slowly into the ranks of Beast Taming Class Eight, her steps cool and detached, accompanied by several guards from the City Lord’s Mansion.

The moment she appeared, she immediately captured everyone’s attention.

"Holy crap... She actually came?"

"No way, she’s serious about this? The City Lord personally promised her guaranteed admission, yet she’s still here for the combat assessment? What’s she trying to prove?"

"Hiss... I don’t get it, but I have to admit, I kind of admire her now. If I had that kind of privilege, I’d have started slacking off on the spot!"

This time, the way the crowd looked at her was no longer just for entertainment; their gazes now held a trace of genuine admiration and confusion.

Standing in the ranks of Class One, Li Yueyao’s gaze was similarly complex.

She truly couldn’t understand Gu Yuexi’s choice, but she had to admit that such a disposition was indeed extraordinary.

However, admiration was one thing.

In her opinion, with Gu Yuexi’s strength as a First-Grade Late Stage Martial Artist, she might be able to place in the top twenty in this assessment, but she posed no threat to her whatsoever.

’There’s no need to pay her too much attention...’

And on the other side.

Zhao Qingtian’s eyes narrowed slightly, a trace of admiration for Gu Yuexi inevitably creeping into his gaze.

’So she really came...’

’Good. Now I can take back the spotlight she stole from me three days ago.’

He would use his absolute strength to take first place in this assessment!!

It wasn’t just about reclaiming the spotlight...

It was about proving to everyone that he, Zhao Qingtian, could get into a top-tier Lingwu University without relying on luck or any special privileges!

He just couldn’t accept it! He refused to accept someone who could ascend to the heavens in a single step through sheer luck!

’It’s just too unfair...’

Zhao Qingtian gritted his teeth, his gaze subconsciously sweeping over Gu Yuexi’s shoulder.

But when he saw the ferocious-looking Molten Fire Blood Mosquito, his brow couldn’t help but furrow slightly.

’What’s going on?’

’Is it just my imagination?’

’I keep getting the feeling that this mosquito’s aura... is a little stronger than it was three days ago?’

’Impossible, right?’

Zhao Qingtian quickly shook the thought from his head.

’What a joke.’

’Three days ago, this mosquito was only at the First-Grade Early Stage. It’s only been a few days, how much stronger could it possibly get?’

’After all, it had taken his Cyan Armored Wolf an entire year—his whole first year—to cultivate from the First-Grade Early Stage to the First-Grade Middle Stage!’

’And that was only achieved because my family spared no expense piling on resources!’

’If it was like that for my own High-Level Bloodline Contracted Beast, how could a mosquito with an Inferior Bloodline possibly grow faster than mine?’

’Obviously impossible.’

Zhao Qingtian mentally shook his head and quickly adjusted his mindset.

’Let’s be clear. In this combat assessment, Gu Yuexi and that mosquito aren’t even worthy of being my opponents.’

’My real opponents are Zhou Kai from the Martial Arts Department, Li Yueyao from Beast Taming Class One, and those other tough characters in the top ten of our year!’

’First place in this assessment is mine for the taking!’

But what Zhao Qingtian didn’t know was...

At that very moment, Chu Sheng, who was perched on Gu Yuexi’s shoulder, was also staring intently at his Cyan Armored Wolf with his compound eyes.

’A High-Level Bloodline...’

Even from such a great distance, Chu Sheng could clearly perceive its rich and pure Qi Blood through [Blood Food Tracking].

’It’s a little bit weaker than the Azure Flame Flying Lion’s, but it’s still a High-Level Bloodline. Plus, it’s not a cub, so its Qi Blood concentration is even higher...’

The more Chu Sheng thought about it, the more he coveted it.

’With my current blood-sucking efficiency, if I could just get one good bite of this wolf, I might be able to gather the 500 Qi Blood points I need to break through to the Second-Grade Early Stage!!’

’Maybe... I should just charge in and bite it now?’

The moment this thought arose, a powerful impulse surged through him.

However, just then.

As if sensing something, Gu Yuexi’s cool, clear voice echoed in his mind through their Blood Covenant link.

"Don’t be reckless!"

"If you attack before the assessment begins, you’ll be disqualified immediately."

"Once we’re inside the Secret Realm, there’s only one rule: you are responsible for your own life and death."

"Then, you can suck as much as you want."

Hearing this, Chu Sheng could only helplessly suppress the desire in his heart.

’Fine, fine... I’ll just have to bear with it for a little longer!’

He obediently settled back down, but his compound eyes continued to sweep back and forth over the Cyan Armored Wolf with ill intent, as if searching for the best place to bite.

After pacifying the restless mosquito, Gu Yuexi’s gaze inadvertently swept toward the grandstand at the highest point of the plaza.

With a single glance, her cool eyes narrowed slightly.

On the grandstand, besides the familiar faces of the principal and City Lord Lin Zhennan, there were several unfamiliar figures.

These people had a calm and steady demeanor, faintly exuding the dignified air of superiors. Some even wore the uniforms of the Provincial Government, clearly indicating they were leaders from there.

Gu Yuexi wasn’t surprised by this; after all, the discovery of her "Divine Mosquito" was enough to attract the attention of the provincial higher-ups.

But what truly concerned Gu Yuexi was that in a corner of the grandstand, the president of the Jingzhe Guild and that man, Leng Yan, who seethed with killing intent towards her, were also seated!

’Why are they here?’

A trace of vigilance instantly rose in Gu Yuexi’s heart.

’They... aren’t planning to use this assessment as an opportunity for revenge, are they?’

’But the assessment has rules. No outsiders are allowed to enter the Secret Realm, only the candidates.’

’With the leaders from the Provincial Government present, they would never dare to openly defy the rules.’

’So what are they here for? Just to observe?’

Gu Yuexi’s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. In the memories of her past life, this assessment hadn’t been such a grand affair.

’It seems my rebirth has already created a considerable butterfly effect...’

’Whatever. If I can’t figure it out, I won’t dwell on it.’

Gu Yuexi quickly reined in her thoughts, her heart remaining calm.

’Whatever they’re planning, as long as they can’t enter the Secret Realm, no one can threaten me in a place that only contains the candidates.’

’With my current realm at the Peak of First-Grade, a combat power comparable to the Second-Grade Early Stage, and this mosquito which is also at the Peak of First-Grade, I’m strong enough to sweep the entire examination field!’

Just then, on the grandstand, a middle-aged man who looked like a leader from the Provincial Government stood up.

His authoritative gaze swept over the entire plaza, and his voice, amplified by a sound system, reached the ears of every student clearly.

"Silence!"

The noisy plaza fell silent in an instant.

"The Black Stone Secret Realm is about to open! I now declare the assessment officially begins!"

"All candidates, enter in batches according to class order!"