Chapter 217: 218. Chapter 218: Soul Traveler

218. Chapter 218: Soul Traveler

When Li Yi walked into the Investigation Bureau again, he discovered that Zhang Lei, as the Captain, was already waiting at the entrance.

"Li Yi, Zheng Gong has already told me about your situation. It's just right; we were also waiting for you to wake up to discuss the quota for the Golden Academy. This matter is indeed very important and has great implications. Resolving it early is good for everyone. Follow me to the conference room."

Zhang Lei said straight to the point, while his gaze looked behind Li Yi.

Determining that Li Yi's mother hadn't appeared, his heart felt a little more at ease.

"Okay," Li Yi nodded.

Soon, Zhang Lei brought Li Yi to the conference room of the Investigation Bureau. In the conference room, there were also several high-level officials of the Investigation Bureau, looking somewhat solemn.

After exchanging greetings, Zhang Lei signaled for Li Yi to take a seat.

"Li Yi, let's keep it short. The quota for the Golden Academy was actually decided while you were in a coma. Currently, there are three people in the Investigation Bureau qualified to obtain these two quotas: one is Daoist Priest Peter, one is you, and the other is Gu Mengping, who joined the Investigation Bureau very early and became an external combat personnel."

"However, Daoist Priest Peter has the oldest seniority and the greatest contributions, so his quota is almost locked in and will not have any changes. The only controversy is between you and Gu Mengping as to who will take the quota to enter the Golden Academy."

"It is precisely because of this controversy that the Investigation Bureau has kept the matter of the quota confidential and has not made any publicity to this day."

Zhang Lei was very direct, bringing up the matter of the Golden Academy quota right from the start.

Li Yi's expression shifted, and he looked at Zhang Lei, but before he could speak, a high-level official said, "Gu Mengping wins on seniority, and your advantage, Li Yi, lies in the many contributions you've made recently. But the disadvantage is that you are only at the Inspiration Realm now, and your strength is a bit weak. If you enter the Golden Academy, it will be a very stressful thing for you. There are too many freaks there, and with your realm, it's very easy to be excluded and oppressed. Considering everything, I am inclined to let Gu Mengping go to the Golden Academy; it's safer."

"If the Investigation Bureau has already decided, then why specifically find me to discuss these things? Isn't this superfluous?" Li Yi frowned at this moment.

At the same time, he expressed his dissatisfaction.

If making many contributions couldn't secure a quota, then who would be willing to put in effort during missions in the future?

"Li Yi, don't be angry. There are still quite a few people in the Investigation Bureau who feel you should go to the Golden Academy."

Zhang Lei said, "It's just that everyone has their own considerations. Some feel that a Spirit Perception Realm external combat personnel going to the Investigation Bureau would be better, as it's less likely to cause controversy. However, I support you going to the Golden Academy."

"In my opinion, Gu Mengping's potential is not as good as yours, and his role after going to the Golden Academy won't be great. It's just that he has joined the Investigation Bureau for a long time and has indeed done a lot for the Investigation Bureau, participating in every mission. It's just a pity that he has made fewer contributions in these few missions, which is why there is controversy."

"Zhang Lei, whether there is controversy is not important. What is important is what the Investigation Bureau's decision is. However, from what I've seen just now, it seems the Investigation Bureau is more inclined toward Gu Mengping. If that's the case, then what about the previous missions? Were they just drawing a pie? This method looks very good from your perspective, but what I want to know is, the next time a city crisis occurs, will the cultivators still be willing to cooperate with the Investigation Bureau?"

Li Yi then stared at the several high-level officials, his words very sharp.

The several high-level officials fell silent immediately.

Li Yi then said, "I understand the Investigation Bureau's meaning a bit now. You want me to voluntarily give up the competition and let Gu Mengping take the quota, to take care of the emotions of the older generation in the Investigation Bureau, and at the same time reduce the impact on the outside world, right? If that's the case, then I have nothing to say, but I will resign immediately, abandon my status as an external combat personnel, and at the same time disband the team."

As soon as these words were spoken, the expressions of the several high-level officials changed immediately.

The strength of Li Yi's team now could not be underestimated. Besides him, there was also Lin Yue, a Spirit Perception expert, and several Inspiration Realm cultivators.

If Li Yi resigned, the strength of the Investigation Bureau would drop by a large margin, and the impact would also be very bad. It might even trigger a chain reaction, causing many external combat personnel to leave one after another.

After Li Yi finished speaking, he didn't give the high-level officials a chance to think and immediately got up, intending to leave.

"Li Yi, wait."

Zhang Lei's expression also changed, and he hurriedly stopped him: "Don't be so impulsive, sit down and discuss it further."

"Didn't we already discuss it just now? One quota cannot be given to two people. Since the Investigation Bureau chooses Gu Mengping, then I am a loser in the competition, and resigning is only natural. Alright, Zhang Lei, you don't need to persuade me, so as not to hurt our harmony. I have things to do, so I'll be going first."

Li Yi acted very decisively. Since he couldn't get the quota, there was no point in him staying in the Investigation Bureau.

Zhang Lei didn't dare to stop him again.

Because Li Yi at this moment was not an ordinary Inspiration Realm cultivator; even he was no match for him. If he really forced a stop and they started fighting, the impact would not only be bad, but it would also cause unpredictable results.

"Li Yi, calm down, things haven't reached that point yet."

"It's not that we don't support you, but there are some things that must be considered."

"Li Yi, we can compensate you in other places. Zhang Lei, hurry and stop him."

The several high-level officials in the conference room also panicked.

The result they least wanted to see had happened after all. Once Li Yi left, many things would trigger a chain reaction.

However, Li Yi didn't pay attention at this moment and still pushed open the door of the conference room, striding away.

"Li Yi, to tell you the truth, the real reason we didn't choose you is not Gu Mengping's seniority, but that during the ten days you were in a coma, that Gu Mengping passed the test of the White Bone Mural illusion and successfully broke through by taking advantage of that opportunity. He is no longer a Spirit Perception Realm cultivator now, but a powerhouse who has condensed a soul."

At this moment, Zhang Lei gritted his teeth and revealed a secret.

He had to say it now, otherwise if Li Yi really walked out of the Investigation Bureau, everything would be too late.

Hearing this news, Li Yi's footsteps stopped immediately. He turned back and said, "What? That Gu Mengping has become a powerhouse in the Soul Realm?"

"That's right."

Zhang Lei took a deep breath and said, "It is precisely because he broke through that the Investigation Bureau had to let him take the quota to enter the Golden Academy. If we don't do this, then no one knows what a powerhouse in the Soul Realm will do if he stays in Tianchang City. In case he holds a grudge against you, Li Yi, because of this, then you will be in danger. The Investigation Bureau has no other way but to let him take the quota and send this guy away."

"Now I understand why the tone of all the high-level officials in the Investigation Bureau has changed and why they are all willing to support Gu Mengping. It turns out his strength has broken through." Li Yi's expression shifted; the doubts in his heart were now resolved.

He really didn't expect that this Gu Mengping would have such luck, actually successfully condensing a soul and breaking through his cultivation within these ten days with the help of the White Bone Contemplation mural.

But thinking about it carefully, this was also normal.

This Gu Mengping was originally a long-famous Spirit Perception expert in Tianchang City, just like Yang Yi Long and Li Shaoqing. He had been stuck at the peak of the Spirit Perception Realm for a long time, so it wouldn't be strange whenever he suddenly broke through.

It was just unexpected that Gu Mengping would break through at this juncture, which immediately caused the quota that originally belonged to Li Yi to be changed.

It had to be changed.

The entire Tianchang City had only him as a powerhouse in the Soul Realm. Not sending him to the Golden Academy but sending Li Yi, who was only at the Inspiration Realm, really couldn't be justified.

The influence of a powerhouse in the Soul Realm was too great, and no one could restrain him. The Investigation Bureau giving the quota might not be without a bit of flattery.

To put it bluntly, everyone was afraid to offend Gu Mengping.

Zhang Lei said, "Now you understand the Investigation Bureau's difficulties, right? It's just that this news is still being blocked until now. Except for a few of us, people outside don't know that Gu Mengping has broken through. We didn't say it before because Gu Mengping requested confidentiality, so we had no choice. We originally wanted to discuss it with you first, but we didn't expect your reaction to be so big."

"Of course, I also understand. After all, your recent mission completion is indeed excellent. If even you can't get the quota, I believe there must be many people who are unconvinced. But a powerhouse in the Soul Realm also needs to be taken care of, otherwise, causing any trouble would be a big problem. The current Gu Mengping is not Yang Yi Long; with Li Shaoqing, me, and Daoist Priest Peter restraining him, he can almost walk sideways now. If he causes any trouble, we can only watch helplessly and can't do anything."

Speaking of this, he also felt very aggrieved.

This world had changed after all.

Whoever was strong was the boss, and even he had to compromise.

"Now that you've said this reason, I can understand the Investigation Bureau's difficulties," Li Yi said. "It's just that the Investigation Bureau previously promised that quotas would be based on contributions, not seniority or realm. If I had known it would be like this, perhaps I shouldn't have participated in the mission and should have honestly stayed at home to cultivate and break through. Would that have been better?"

Zhang Lei fell silent at this moment.

Because Li Yi's words were indeed correct, and it was right to be dissatisfied.

At this time, a high-level official gritted his teeth and said, "Li Yi, why don't we take a step back? You give up the quota for the Golden Academy, and I will let you become a cross-dimensional traveler. After that, everything will be as usual. How about that?"

"Hmm?"

Li Yi's gaze condensed immediately, and he looked at that high-level official: "Can one become a cross-dimensional traveler without entering the Golden Academy?"

"Of course, the Investigation Bureau has internal channels, and stuffing one person in is no problem," that high-level official said seriously. "Li Yi, if you believe me, I will handle this matter. Moreover, there is a cross-dimensional operation recently. As long as you agree, I guarantee there will be a result within ten days."

Zhang Lei also looked at that high-level official with surprise at this moment.

Even he didn't know about this matter.

However, the Investigation Bureau had a far-reaching influence, and the Investigation Bureau was behind everything. The probability of securing a cross-dimensional quota was still very high.

Li Yi's eyes revealed a look of contemplation at this moment.

To be honest, he also knew in his heart that once Gu Mengping broke through, entering the Golden Academy was a certainty. He couldn't possibly have the nerve to squeeze out Daoist Priest Peter's quota. After all, in terms of seniority and contributions, he was not as good as Daoist Priest Peter, which was why he was eliminated.

But what surprised him was that the Investigation Bureau actually dared to offer a cross-dimensional traveler quota as compensation.

After all, many people entered the Golden Academy just to cross dimensions and leave Earth, seeking a better world to live in and avoiding the Heaven Tilting event.

"I need to think about it," Li Yi didn't agree immediately, but he also indirectly loosened his stance.

"No problem, you can consider it," that high-level official said.

Li Yi nodded, and only then did he stride away from the Investigation Bureau.

Seeing Li Yi leave, everyone present breathed a sigh of relief.

"That Gu Mengping is truly hateful. Why did he have to break through at this time?" Subsequently, that high-level official slammed the table and said very angrily, "The quota was already decided that Li Yi and Daoist Priest Peter would go to the Golden Academy. Now he has intervened, making our Investigation Bureau look bad from both sides."

"There's no way, many things are unpredictable," another high-level official sighed and said.

Zhang Lei said, "Li Yi's existence is very special. His importance is no less than a soul powerhouse. Actually, I still insist on my previous opinion, feeling that it is better to let Li Yi go to the Golden Academy and let Gu Mengping become a cross-dimensional traveler."

"The quota for the Golden Academy is a matter on the surface. Letting a soul powerhouse go will convince everyone, while the quota for a cross-dimensional traveler is an internal favor. The two are different. Let's leave it at this for now and see if Li Yi will agree. I hope he can understand our difficulties."

"That's the only way."

With the end of this meeting, the matter of the quota temporarily came to an end. ===== CHAPTER 218 =====