Chapter 453: Officially Beginning

With one hour remaining until the official start of the Grade Competition, everyone gathered once more under the instruction of Vice Dean Suxin to summarize the final intelligence.

The group from the First Star Grade huddled together.

Everyone looked at Yu Lang; after all, as the intelligence gatherer, all the information was in his hands, and he had just finished exchanging intelligence with the scouts from the other grades.

"Ahem."

Being the center of attention for the first time, Yu Lang felt a bit smug. He gave a dry cough, wanting to say some opening remarks, but Bai Doudou frowned and urged, "Stop the nonsense, get straight to the point."

Yu Lang felt very aggrieved; after working hard for half a year, he was still being bossed around. This Bai Doudou was truly too difficult to please.

In the end, however, he obediently conceded. He took a stack of slips from his robe and said, "I have gathered quite a bit of intelligence, and what everyone is most concerned about should be which top students in the First Star Grades of the other Saint Academies need to be watched out for."

"Although intelligence can be true or false, there is a consensus on three favorites to win the championship; these three need extra attention."

Lu Qinger asked curiously, "Is Li Luo among these three?"

Yu Lang curled his lips and said, "No Li Luo, so Student Li Luo, I hope you reflect well on your own shortcomings."

Bai Mengmeng smiled and said, "That's just because the Captain hides his strength well."

Seeing these pretty girls all defending Li Luo, Yu Lang felt a bit weary and could only continue, "These three are Jing Taixu of the Saint Mingwang Academy, Sun Dasheng of the Saint Mountain Academy, and Lu Ming of the Skyfire Saint Academy. According to speculation, the three of them may have already reached the third transformation of the Phase Transformation stage."

"These three are in a league of their own. If we encounter them alone during the Grade Competition, the smartest method is to flee immediately and not be picked off individually."

Hearing this, Li Luo narrowed his eyes slightly.

These three had already reached the third transformation of the Phase Transformation stage? They were truly ahead of everyone, including him.

The current Li Luo was at the second transformation of the Phase Transformation stage. However, it was worth mentioning that his second phase, the "Wood-Earth Phase," had just completed its evolution the day before entering this space, successfully advancing to the sixth grade.

So now he had a lower seventh-grade "Water-Light Phase" and a sixth-grade "Wood-Earth Phase."

His strength at the second transformation of the Phase Transformation stage should be at the top tier of all First Star Grades in the Eastern Divine Continent. Jing Taixu and the other two were clearly a notch higher; obviously, the academies they belonged to had tilted massive cultivation resources toward them. Of course, given their talent, they were indeed worthy of such investment.

This made Li Luo sigh; sure enough, under the stimulation of the Holy Grail War, every academy was willing to spend a fortune.

This massive investment of cultivation resources resulted in the strength level of this year's students in the Eastern Divine Continent far exceeding the previous three years.

"Besides these three, I organized the intelligence and finally selected the eight people who appeared most frequently. These eight should also be considered popular candidates. Of course, this is only a portion of those exposed; the number of people who have truly reached this level will be higher..."

"Saint Treasure Academy, Zang Mei, possesses an upper eighth-grade Fire Phase, strength likely at the second transformation of the Phase Transformation stage."

"Green Forest Saint Academy, Lu Qingmu, possesses an upper eighth-grade Wood Phase."

"Saint Wolf Academy, Ao Fei, possesses a lower eighth-grade Thunder Wolf Phase."

"..."

Yu Lang read through the slips one by one. Soon he reached the last one, and his expression became somewhat complicated.

"Saint Profound Star Academy..."

Hearing this familiar opening, Lu Qinger, Bai Mengmeng, and the others immediately perked up. Sure enough, it was here.

Under their smiling gazes, Yu Lang bit the bullet and read on: "Saint Profound Star Academy, Yu Lang."

Pfft.

Everyone widened their eyes, and Bai Doudou rolled hers: "Yu Lang, don't mess around at a time like this!"

Yu Lang wore a mournful face: "I'm not fucking messing around! It's really written like this on the intelligence. Which bastard is trying to screw me over like this?"

He handed the slip out, and when everyone looked, they were also stunned. It was indeed written: Saint Profound Star Academy, Yu Lang.

But Yu Lang was the bottom-tier student of their First Star Grade; what qualification did he have to be ranked alongside these tough guys?

Everyone looked at each other, feeling completely speechless.

If this intelligence hadn't been compiled by the scouts of the four grades, they would have suspected Yu Lang was deliberately playing a prank. But what was the point of such a prank? Since they could get this intelligence, other academies would surely be able to collect it too. Once they entered the Grade Competition, these people might all be targeted.

Being targeted because one had strength was one thing, but with Yu Lang's level of strength, wouldn't he just collapse if he were targeted even slightly?

They could even imagine Yu Lang being chased by a group of people in the Grade Competition, crying for his parents.

Amidst everyone's bewilderment, Li Luo looked at his nose and heart, and thoughtfully patted Yu Lang on the shoulder, saying sincerely, "Don't worry, good brother, I will protect you."

Faced with his sincere tone, Yu Lang felt a bit moved for a moment.

A good brother was indeed someone one could rely on.

Dong!

And it was at this very moment that a loud bell chime suddenly resounded through the heavens and earth, directly entering everyone's ears.

All discussion ceased.

Vice Dean Suxin stood up, her expression stern: "This is the bell for the start of the competition. All students, prepare immediately."

Five minutes later, outside the energy vortex pool in front of the tower, Li Luo and the others were gathered.

The four grade teams lined up in order.

Vice Dean Suxin stood before them and said, "Students, I have basically made the information regarding this 'Grade Competition' very clear to you. Please remember again: the first half of the Grade Competition requires relying on collective strength. A lone wolf will only be surrounded and suppressed by other academies. I think that even if it were Jing Taixu of the Saint Mingwang Academy, once he falls into the encirclement of two or three Purple-Gleam squads, his result can only be elimination."

"Therefore, put away all individual heroism and set your hearts on 'Dragon Bone Island'; that is where your stage for performance will be."

Vice Dean Suxin's voice was somewhat severe, showing how seriously she took this.

"Additionally, each of the four grade teams will appoint one General Captain to command the overall situation. All other teams must obey the General Captain's command."

"Li Luo, Zhu Xuan, Jiang Qing'e, Gong Shenjun."

"The four of you will each be responsible for your respective grade's team."

The four people standing at the very front of the four teams all nodded in agreement.

Vice Dean Suxin raised her hand, and streams of light flew out from her sleeves, drifting toward the crowd.

Li Luo looked curiously at the two light orbs in front of him. Inside one was a white gourd with peculiar patterns engraved on it, emitting a faint glow; the other was a circular crystal compass.

"The function of the Spirit Gourd is to collect Heavenly Spirit Dew, while the crystal compass is a sensor. Teammates of the same grade will appear as a light dot on it, and you can use this to determine each other's position and quickly converge."

Vice Dean Suxin waited for everyone to store their items away, then she looked at the young, vibrant faces before her, a gentle smile appearing on her face.

"I won't say any more unnecessary words. Students..."

"I look forward to your performance."

Dong! Dong!

As Vice Dean Suxin's words fell, two more loud bell chimes resounded simultaneously within this space.

These were the bells announcing the official start of the competition.

"All students, take your respective squads as a unit and enter the arena in batches through the energy vortex. Remember, after entering, your first goal must be to converge."

"Move out!"

Following Vice Dean Suxin's light shout, the four General Captains all stepped forward simultaneously. Li Luo turned his head, his gaze crossing past Zhu Xuan to meet Jiang Qing'e's eyes, and both saw encouraging smiles in each other's eyes.

Then Li Luo leaped out, jumping directly into the surging energy vortex.

Behind him, Xin Fu and Bai Mengmeng, who were in his squad, immediately followed.

At the same time, in front of each tower, countless students leaped into the energy vortex. Suddenly, rays of light shot into the sky, illuminating this space brilliantly.

The Holy Grail War, at this point, had finally truly raised its curtain.