Chapter 515: The Content of the Mixed-Grade Match

On the first-floor hall, voices surged like a boiling sea, as students from all four academies gathered here.

Li Luo squeezed through the crowd and made his way to the side of the First-Star Academy students.

"Luo Ge."

As he stepped over, Seeing Yu Lang appeared, gripping Li Luo's hand excitedly: "Luo Ge, I always thought you were ordinary—aside from being just a tiny bit more handsome than me, you were basically the same as me—but this time, you've truly surprised me."

Then he winked and grinned, the kind of look every man understands.

Li Luo gave him a blank look, sneered softly, and ignored the clueless fool.

Seeing Yu Lang was about to ask more details when Bai Bai Doudou shot him a cold glare: "Shut up. If you keep talking about Senior Jiang in that sleazy way, I'll cut out your tongue."

Seeing Yu Lang's smile froze; he shrank his neck and cast a pitiful glance at Bai Bai Doudou.

My team captain is terrifying!

Nearby, Bai Bai Mengmeng smiled gently at Li Luo and lifted the bag dangling from her slender fingers: "Captain, have you had breakfast? I still have some here."

Li Luo smiled and replied: "I already ate. Qing'er brought me something earlier."

Hearing this, Seeing Yu Lang stared at Li Luo as if he were a god—what kind of life winner was this? Senior Jiang spent the night in his room, and now Lü Qing'er was bringing him breakfast for nutrition—this was peak life.

Bai Bai Mengmeng nodded with a smile and tucked the bag away.

At the same time, she lightly sniffed with her upturned nose and keenly noticed there was not a trace of any other scent on Li Luo—her eyes flickered. Clearly, last night, Li Luo and Senior Jiang had not done anything; otherwise, after all that close contact, some faint body fragrance would have lingered.

Could the captain really be this restrained?

Even with Senior Jiang's unparalleled beauty, he sat through the night without moving?

At this thought, even Bai Bai Mengmeng couldn't help but feel a flicker of admiration for Li Luo.

No wonder he's the captain.

While they were lost in their own thoughts, the hall's noise suddenly fell silent—Vice Dean Su Xin stepped out and ascended a set of steps, looking down upon them all.

She wore a gentle smile and clapped lightly, drawing everyone's attention: "Everyone, the official details of this Cup War's mixed-grade match have arrived."

Upon hearing this, the students present immediately turned curious eyes toward her.

"For this mixed-grade match, each academy may send only two teams."

When Vice Dean Su Xin repeated this information everyone already knew, though they had prepared themselves, disappointment still showed on their faces—after all, for these young people, the Cup War was the best place to gain fame, and it came only once every four years, a rare opportunity. Even if they didn't expect to stand out, just participating and gaining experience would make the journey worthwhile.

But now, with only two team slots, it crushed the hopes of nearly ninety-nine percent of them.

"Vice Dean, why are so few teams allowed to participate this time? In past editions, there were at least four or five." Someone couldn't help asking.

Vice Dean Su Xin smiled faintly: "Naturally, because this year's mixed-grade match will be far more dangerous."

Hearing this, everyone grew uneasy—would this year's mixed-grade match really be dangerous?

Vice Dean Su Xin didn't drag it out: "This year's mixed-grade match differs from past ones—it is no longer a competitive tournament, and the venue is not within the Cup Space."

The crowd exchanged glances—outside the Cup Space?

"And this year's mixed-grade match..."

Vice Dean Su Xin said calmly: "It is related to the Aberrants."

The moment "Aberrants" was spoken, the atmosphere turned deathly silent; many students' faces twisted with fear—they had all entered the Dark Caves and fought the Aberrants, and knew well how horrifying these strange beings were.

But how could this year's mixed-grade match be related to the Aberrants?

A speck of spiritual light rose from Vice Dean Su Xin's fingertip, rapidly expanding into a vast map.

Li Luo gazed at the map—it felt utterly unfamiliar; clearly, this was not the territory of Great Xia.

"This is the Black Wind Empire, located in the far north of the Eastern Shenzhou. Its territory is vast, comparable to our Great Xia, and its power is formidable, making it somewhat renowned in the Eastern Shenzhou. But three years ago, the Black Wind Empire suffered a catastrophic disaster, collapsing entirely and ceasing to exist."

"The cause of this was the Black Wind Holy Academy within the empire—more precisely, the Dark Cave it had been suppressing."

"For reasons unknown, the seal on the Dark Cave cracked. The Black Wind Holy Academy failed to notice in time, allowing the Aberrants within to burst forth and flood the empire, triggering a Catastrophe of Aberrants."

"The Black Wind Empire no longer exists. Across this land, the Aberrants roam freely; wherever they pass, all life perishes—ten thousand miles of corpses, no sign of vitality."

As Vice Dean Su Xin spoke in her calm tone, a chill rose from the hearts of everyone present.

The Dark Cave sealed by the Black Wind Empire's Holy Academy had surfaced...

They were all elite students who had encountered the Aberrants—they knew well how terrifying these beings were. If they were allowed to run rampant in the world, it would mean utter devastation.

A vast empire had been toppled in such a short time.

They could not imagine what chaos and despair now reigned over that land.

"After the Black Wind Catastrophe of Aberrants erupted, neighboring kingdoms and powers rushed to resist the Aberrants, and the major Holy Academies there also aided in purification—but eradicating so many Aberrants is no easy task, so progress must be slow."

"So Vice Dean, are you saying we must go into the Black Wind Empire to purify the Aberrants?" A voice rose—everyone turned to see Gong Gong Shenjun, his face solemn.

Others swallowed hard—they finally understood why only two teams were allowed to participate: this mixed-grade match was too dangerous!

Facing their fearful gazes, Vice Dean Su Xin slowly nodded.

"Correct."

"This year's mixed-grade match requires entering the Black Wind Empire to purify the Aberrants," Vice Dean Su Xin did not deny it.

At this, everyone's expression changed.

The Black Wind Empire was now a land of Aberrants—no Marquis-level cultivator could guarantee safe passage through it. What use could students like them be there? Wasn't this just suicide?

"Vice Dean, the area we'll be sent to must have been screened, right?" Li Luo asked thoughtfully.

The Black Wind Empire had become a land of Aberrants; some regions were simply beyond the reach of students like them. He trusted the Academy Alliance wouldn't send them to die—so the only possibility was that their mixed-grade match zone had been carefully selected.

Vice Dean Su Xin nodded, then pointed to a spot within the Black Wind Empire: "This is 'Hongsha County,' a region of the Black Wind Empire and the venue for your mixed-grade match. It has been surveyed; the strongest Aberrants there are likely at the Minor Catastrophe level."

"Minor Catastrophe level."

Hearing this, Li Luo and the others breathed a slight sigh of relief—the Minor Catastrophe level corresponded to the Tian Zhu Jing of the Tian Gang General rank. Gong Gong Shenjun and the Princess were both top-tier at this level, so if they fought as a team, they should be able to handle such Aberrants.

"Once the match begins, your competing teams will be teleported to the four corners of Hongsha County. You will receive a detailed map of Hongsha County. The objective of this mixed-grade match is to slay the Aberrants within and purify its towns."

"Scoring will be calculated accordingly."

"In truth, this process should not be unfamiliar to you—each time the academies enter a Dark Cave, it's nearly identical."

"And your final destination is the city of Red Sand Prefecture, Red Stone City."

Vice Dean Su Xin pointed to the very center of Red Sand Prefecture, where there was a skull emblem.

"Once you purify Red Stone City, that will mark the end of the Mixed-Grade Tournament."

Vice Dean Su Xin cast her gaze toward Gong Gong Shenjun, Li Luo, and the others, and said slowly, "However, I must warn you in advance—Red Stone City is the most heavily polluted place in Red Sand Prefecture. It's possible that a Greater Calamity-class aberration has already been born there. That will be your greatest obstacle and danger."

At these words, even Gong Gong Shenjun and the Eldest Princess narrowed their eyes sharply.

A Greater Calamity-class aberration.

Equivalent to Tian Xiang Jing strength.

This Mixed-Grade Tournament is truly thorny!