Chapter 70: The Top Scholar Secret Realm Where Everyone Has an Immortal Body

The corners of Hu Weng’s mouth twitched slightly.

His intuition told him that if not for the reward, Ye Lin probably wouldn't even be willing to pay him any mind.

The moment the two shook hands, the photographer nearby hurriedly snapped photos, and Wei Benlu appeared once again, flashing a sweet smile at the lens.

"Dear viewers, as we can see, City Lord Hu is having a friendly exchange with our top scholar, and City Lord Hu has high hopes for this year's Qingcheng top scholar..."

Ye Lin cooperated fully, wearing a polite smile for the camera while asking in a low voice.

"By the way, City Lord, how will the five million be paid? Into my card or in cash? I don't even have a bank card yet."

Hu Weng was caught between laughter and tears: "Rest assured, student Ye Lin, this money will not be shorted."

"City Lord Hu, you don't know, I've lived in the slums for over a decade, I'm terrified of being poor!" Ye Lin said sincerely. "I won't feel at ease until the money is in my hands!"

Hu Weng: "..."

Five million was not a small sum, but as the dignified City Lord of Qingcheng, could he really stiff someone out of five million?

"Little Lu, speed up the process, let's go straight to the awards," Hu Weng said helplessly.

"Understood, City Lord Hu." Wei Benlu obediently complied, skipping the tedious preceding steps and moving straight to the award ceremony.

Three hostesses wearing qipaos walked over gracefully, each carrying a tray.

"The first reward is five million yuan in cash. This is an encouragement from the Qingcheng authorities to you. We hope student Ye Lin will remain humble and prudent, and create further brilliance."

Hu Weng smiled and handed a large sign inscribed with "Five Million" to Ye Lin. The photographer snapped away, and only after the photos were finished did Hu Weng hand a card to Ye Lin.

"The second reward is a bundle of Epic-grade self-selection skill scrolls!"

As soon as these words were spoken, many people’s pupils constricted sharply.

A self-selection skill scroll, and an Epic-grade one at that—this reward was nothing short of generous!

This meant that no matter what your profession was, you could choose an Epic-grade skill suited to you.

Yet when Hu Weng handed such a precious scroll to Ye Lin, Ye Lin’s mouth twitched at the sight. As a Forbidden Spellcaster, skill scrolls were useless to him; they were too stiff even to use as toilet paper.

But he still reached out to accept it; he wouldn't be foolish enough to embarrass Hu Weng in front of everyone.

"The third reward is an entry quota for the Top Scholar Secret Realm."

Hu Weng handed a token to Ye Lin and then began to explain.

"The Top Scholar Secret Realm is only accessible to the top scholars of each city. This secret realm is extremely special; everyone who enters it possesses an immortal body!"

"Holy crap?" Guo Qin, standing to the side, exclaimed upon hearing this. "Doesn't that mean in that secret realm, you can ignore everything else and just focus on grinding monsters?"

"Yes, those who emerge from the Top Scholar Secret Realm are never lower than level 20," Hu Weng nodded.

"Then why not just keep grinding inside until level 99 before coming out? Since you can't die anyway," Guo Qin asked, puzzled.

"Because the monsters in the Top Scholar Secret Realm are limited. It takes a year of nourishment before it can be opened again," Zhuge Qianxing explained, then looked at Ye Lin. "This secret realm is extremely suitable for you."

Ye Lin nodded, a flicker of heat flashing in his eyes. If he could go all out, then he wouldn't be holding back!

Hu Weng also patted Ye Lin’s shoulder firmly and said in a loud voice.

"Ye Lin, keep up the good work and strive to bring back the title of National Top Scholar for our Qingcheng!"

"There's such a thing as a National Top Scholar?" Ye Lin asked.

"Of course there is. The person with the highest level upon exiting the Top Scholar Secret Realm is the National Top Scholar!" Hu Weng explained.

"And what is the reward for the National Top Scholar?" Ye Lin pressed, as this was what he actually cared about.

"I'm not clear on that, after all, our Qingcheng has never produced a National Top Scholar! But one thing is certain: it is definitely more generous than the reward for the Qingcheng top scholar."

Hu Weng explained patiently. With Ye Lin’s existence, this year was undoubtedly Qingcheng’s most promising year.

"Got it!"

With Hu Weng saying that, Ye Lin was much more interested.

After Hu Weng left, Zhuge Qianxing called Ye Lin into a room alone.

"Ye Lin, you must remember one thing: do not use forbidden spells that consume your lifespan inside the Top Scholar Secret Realm."

"Is it because although the Top Scholar Secret Realm grants one an immortal body, it cannot delay the aging of the human body?" Ye Lin countered.

"Correct, you are very clever. Also, return to Qingcheng as soon as possible after coming out of the Top Scholar Secret Realm."

Zhuge Qianxing looked out the window, where a large green mantis leaped up and clamped its prey tightly with its pincers.

"Those people might find the Gate of Apocalypse very soon."

"Understood, Master."

Ye Lin touched his stomach, where a key lay quietly inside.

Early the next morning, Hu Weng appeared again. He brought Ye Lin to the core of Qingcheng, where a teleportation array lay quietly.

All cities within the Great Xia territory were interconnected by teleportation arrays. After all, the areas outside the cities were filled with terrifying monsters; the high-speed trains and planes of the past were simply unviable, as they would be intercepted by monsters halfway through.

Every activation of a teleportation array consumed a massive amount of resources, so not to mention ordinary people, many class-changers never left the city they were born in their entire lives.

If not for Ye Lin, the top scholar, Hu Weng would not have been willing to activate the teleportation array.

"Student Ye Lin, keep up the good work!"

Amidst Hu Weng’s words of encouragement, the teleportation array lit up with a brilliant, dazzling glow.

The scene before Ye Lin shattered like a puzzle. He felt as if he were soaring through the air, experiencing an intense sense of weightlessness that made him extremely uncomfortable.

When the scene before his eyes pieced itself back together, Ye Lin had arrived in a completely unfamiliar place.

Having been in this world for so long, this was the first time Ye Lin had left Qingcheng.

Ye Lin blinked and looked up. In his line of sight appeared a towering city wall, reaching into the clouds, as if a massive mountain range stood across the horizon.

On the wall, flags fluttered, embroidered with a fierce giant dragon, ferocious and domineering.

Outside the wall was an endless sea of monsters, hissing and roaring, constantly crashing against the wall, yet unable to cross the line by even a step.

Ye Lin stood frozen in place; he had never seen such a magnificent sight. This was a world he had never imagined while in Qingcheng.

The prosperity of the big city, the terror of the monsters, and that strange aura rushing toward him all left him feeling shocked.

He took a deep breath, calming his surging emotions.

Just then, a gentle voice sounded behind Ye Lin.

"You must be Ye Lin, the top scholar from Qingcheng this year, right? Welcome to Shencheng. Come over here and register."