Chapter 158

In the autumn examination secret realm of the Great Chen State Academy, after seeing Xu Jin, Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao returned, his expression slightly gloomy.

Left Libationer Meng Yanhui had already sensed that something was wrong and asked softly, "Grand Master, what happened?"

"It's nothing, it's just that someone has started to stretch out their dog claws; I'll just chop them off when I'm done," Cheng Yuexiao said extremely easily, but Meng Yanhui was slightly startled upon hearing this, yet he wisely did not ask again.

Half a quarter of an hour later, Du Tingyun, the Great Chen Star Lord of the Tianyang Star Palace, arrived with several people, and a few breaths later, Zhang Zhen, the Great Chen Star Lord of the Cangming Star Palace, also arrived with several people.

The Left and Right Libationers present stood up to welcome them, but Cheng Yuexiao remained motionless.

"Everyone is here, so let's begin."

Cheng Yuexiao looked at the jade tablet hanging high in the autumn examination secret realm and suddenly asked.

"Grand Master Cheng, is your Great Chen definitely using the B-type plan this year?" Du Tingyun, the Great Chen Star Lord of the Tianyang Star Palace, confirmed again.

"Does Star Lord Du disagree?"

"No, just confirming."

Cheng Yuexiao smiled, reached out, and the jade tablet hanging high in the void flew in front of him, then he sent it to the two Star Lords and said, "The two of you, please verify whether the seal is intact."

"Intact."

"Intact."

"That's good."

After verification, the Grand Master waved his hand, and in an instant, the list inside the jade tablet was projected.

A total of seven names.

The moment he saw the names, Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao frowned slightly, but Left Libationer Meng Yanhui said, "Eh, this isn't right. According to the document issued by the Yanzhou Branch of the Tianyang Star Palace, Yanzhou is not in the Selection of the Best list this year; this was confirmed at the last meeting."

Du Tingyun, the Great Chen Star Lord of the Tianyang Star Palace, glanced at the list and said leisurely, "Yanzhou is indeed not within the Selection of the Best scope of our Tianyang Star Palace."

"The Selection of the Best quota for Yanzhou is used by our Cangming Star Palace this year," said Zhang Zhen, the Great Chen Star Lord of the Cangming Star Palace.

Meng Yanhui frowned again, "That's not right!"

"Star Lord Du, Star Lord Zhang, according to precedent, this year's Yanzhou Selection of the Best quota should belong to the Tianyang Star Palace and has nothing to do with the Cangming Star Palace.

Exchanging quotas like this is not in accordance with the rules."

"You Great Chen can change plans at will, so why don't you allow us to change the place of selection? If we're talking about it, it was you who changed the plan first this year," Du Tingyun sneered.

"That's right, you changed the plan this year, so us exchanging the place of selection can be considered fair, right?" Zhang Zhen also smiled.

Left Libationer Meng Yanhui couldn't help but look at Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao, intending to ask for instructions.

Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao smiled, "It should indeed be fair; let's do as the two Star Lords said."

Meng Yanhui nodded and said again, "Two Star Lords, since there is no problem with the list, then it's time to lock in the cultivation bases."

With a wave of his hand, the list of disciples selected for the Selection of the Best changed again, and Xu Jin's name was prominently on the list.

【Dachen Wan Yi: Especially Ji Hongli, fourth Refine Star layer】

【Songzhou: Take Ying Ge, fourth Refine Star layer】

【Leizhou: Bu Qinyu, third Refine Star layer】

【Yanzhou: Xu Jin, third Refine Star layer】

【Jingzhou: Niu Ju, third Refine Star layer】

【Xihai Prefecture: Yin Mingzhang, third Refine Star layer】

【Danzhou: Wang Jiugao, third Refine Star layer】

One person per prefecture; counting Dachen Wan Yi, a total of seven people were selected.

Originally, Yanzhou had avoided being selected through Dong Zhao's prior maneuvering, but under the unreasonable arguments of the two major Star Lords, plus the fact that Great Chen had indeed changed the plan this year, Yanzhou was selected again.

But it was selected by the Cangming Star Palace.

However, regardless of which Star Palace they were selected by, it was not a good thing for these disciples.

Their path of cultivation might even be interrupted.

They might even die!

"Only two at the fourth Refine Star layer; your Great Chen State Academy shouldn't be hiding the cultivation bases of these disciples, right?" Du Tingyun smiled.

"Whether they are hidden or not, we will know tomorrow. But it is also possible for them to break through after today.

However, according to the rules, when they go to battle tomorrow, the disciples sent by your two Star Palaces can at most have one layer of cultivation higher than these corresponding disciples.

This is a dead rule!" Meng Yanhui said.

"Naturally, but it doesn't count as breaking the rules if they break through after entering the Star Domain," Zhang Zhen said.

"Also, there are no changes to the requirements for carrying items when going to battle, right?" Meng Yanhui was still very cautious in doing things.

"No changes."

"I will still confirm with the two Star Lords again: all disciples can carry at most two third-tier star weapons inside; besides each being granted one third-tier speed-type emblem for saving their lives, they are allowed to carry at most three third-tier emblems; there is no limit on pills. No problem, right?" Meng Yanhui said.

"No problem."

"No problem."

Seeing the two Star Lords agree at the same time, Meng Yanhui said again, "Then only one last question remains: which third-tier Star Domain will they go to battle in? According to past years' practice, this target third-tier Star Domain is designated by our Great Chen."

"No, no, no, that's when implementing the A-type plan; the third-tier Star Domain is designated by your Great Chen. You changed to the B-type plan this year, so the third-tier Star Domain naturally cannot be designated by your Great Chen; it must be designated by our two major Star Palaces," Du Tingyun objected.

"This is absolutely impossible."

Right Libationer Song Bing spoke, his attitude extremely firm.

"Absolutely impossible," Meng Yanhui also expressed his position.

Du Tingyun and Zhang Zhen looked at each other, and then Zhang Zhen said, "How about we use a compromise plan? Each of our three parties provides one Star Domain, and then we draw lots to decide. That's fair enough, right?"

"This method is good; it depends on luck, each family has a one-third chance, fair," Du Tingyun immediately spoke in favor.

Meng Yanhui thought it sounded good and was about to agree when Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao spoke, "Each party provides three target Star Domains, and then we draw lots to decide. That's even fairer, right?"

After being stunned for a few breaths, Du Tingyun suddenly laughed, "The Grand Master's decision is fair, fair enough, agreed!"

"Indeed fair, agreed."

"Then let's meet again tomorrow evening."

"See you then!"

After speaking, the people from the Tianyang Star Palace and the Cangming Star Palace disappeared simultaneously. In the entire autumn examination secret realm, only Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao and the Left and Right Libationers remained.

"Grand Master, regarding this year's Selection of the Best quota, except for Xu Jin and Especially Ji Hongli who were slightly unexpected, the others from each prefecture are all the first in the autumn examination of their respective prefectures and have long been preparing for battle.

Calculated based on the results of the last time the B-type plan was implemented, we should be able to retain half of the disciples; retaining at least three should be no problem," Song Bing said silently.

Xu Jin was originally not in the quota, and they originally thought the selected candidate for Dachen Wan Yi would be Meng Qingqiu or Yan Chen.

These two are considered the top two from Dachen Wan Yi.

But no one expected it would be Especially Ji Hongli.

However, Especially Ji Hongli's cultivation base didn't fall behind either. As for Xu Jin, his first-place ranking on the Killing God Battlefield proved his strength.

The only thing that needs to be worried about is the elite disciples sent by the two major Star Palaces.

To talk about strength, there is actually a gap.

The geniuses of each prefecture in Great Chen are limited to within the Great Chen country, but the disciples of the two major Star Palaces are selected from the best of the best among the three great empires of Great Chen, Great Chu, and Great Hong, not to mention that they are a step ahead of Great Chen in terms of star arts, star patterns, and resources.

Based on this point, no matter who it is, there is a great risk.

"Grand Master, should we temporarily improve their strength again?" Meng Yanhui asked suddenly.

"What arrangements do you have?" Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao asked.

"Directly open the fourth-tier star power secret realm to them; with another day and night, it should also be able to improve their cultivation bases," Meng Yanhui said.

"Hmm, open it!

Besides that, distribute a bottle of top-grade Refine Star Pills to each person, and distribute a Mind-Calming Golden Pill to each person; even if the medicinal power is wasted, it can improve their strength by one or two points.

In addition, let them choose third-tier star weapons themselves; as long as they return alive, these third-tier star weapons will be theirs.

This is about the greatest help the Academy can give them, right?"

Cheng Yuexiao smiled bitterly, his expression somewhat heavy, and suddenly sighed, "It is also my incompetence as Grand Master; for so many years, this Selection of the Best has not been abolished."

"The Lord Lingji Star Palace has been destroyed! Grand Master, you alone facing the two major Star Palaces and still being able to make the Great Chen's power flourish is already exhausting your efforts," Meng Yanhui said.

"If not for the Grand Master's desperate struggle, this Selection of the Best quota would be seven people per year for each of the two major Star Palaces!

And they would be chosen arbitrarily from the disciples of the entire year.

Now, choosing only from the autumn examination disciples has already significantly preserved the vitality of our Great Chen," Song Bing also said.

Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao smiled bitterly, "Explain it clearly to these disciples! Let them leave their wills. If they return successfully, there will be rewards; if they die in battle, there will definitely be heavy compensation!"

"Grand Master, rest assured, it will be arranged well."

Upon hearing this, Song Bing suggested again, "Grand Master, should we let these disciples gather in advance to let them get familiar with each other? If they have some luck and can accompany each other, perhaps they can return with one or two more."

"Yes, tomorrow morning, gather them together to cultivate."

After speaking, Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao disappeared.

Xu Jin, who was cultivating in seclusion in the small courtyard, suddenly received a starlight message from the External Affairs Hall, the kind that was urgent and shook three times.

The urgent starlight message from the External Affairs Hall was only slightly inferior to a military order in terms of timeliness, so Xu Jin immediately put down his cultivation and rushed to the External Affairs Hall.

When Xu Jin arrived, Especially Ji Hongli was already there.

"Eh, Senior Brother Xu also received the emergency notice?"

"You received it too. Do you know what it's about?"

Subsequently, Xu Jin saw Take Ying Ge and Bu Qinyu, whom he had met during the autumn examination; all four were somewhat surprised.

"It is very likely the Selection of the Best."

Seeing the others who arrived later, Take Ying Ge's expression became solemn.

A few breaths later, in the flower hall where the seven people gathered, Left Libationer Meng Yanhui appeared with the External Affairs Hall Master Chu Xuan and announced the matter regarding the candidates for the Selection of the Best.

As for Xu Jin's doubts, Meng Yanhui specifically explained it.

Xu Jin was selected as the Yanzhou quota for the Selection of the Best and was selected by the Cangming Star Palace.

Meng Yanhui explained a lot, fearing that Xu Jin would be dissatisfied.

But Xu Jin didn't care; he just felt that the painstaking efforts of the Academy Head Dong Zhao were in vain.

As for the Selection of the Best battle, Xu Jin didn't have any fear, but instead had an inexplicable sense of excitement.

Of course, all of this, in the final analysis, stemmed from Xu Jin's confidence in his own strength.

"Regarding this, the Grand Master is also very sorry. Twenty years ago, the Lord Lingji Star Palace was destroyed, and the former Grand Master Pei fought to the death, sacrificing his life to force back the two major Star Palace Masters and sign the Blood Star Covenant.

And the Grand Master has been trying to change it all these years, but with the power of our Great Chen country alone, we ultimately cannot resist the two major Star Palaces and overturn the Blood Star Covenant.

Next, we can only rely on you all to have a bloody battle," Meng Yanhui said.

"We have already tried our best to improve your strength! Since you are going to battle tomorrow, the Grand Master has temporarily decided to distribute a bottle of top-grade Refine Star Pills to each person, and distribute a Mind-Calming Golden Pill to each person; even if the medicinal power is wasted, it can improve your strength by a few points.

At the same time, we are directly opening the fourth-tier star power secret realm to you; your cultivation at the third Refine Star layer is already enough to enter the fourth-tier star power secret realm to cultivate.

From this moment on, as long as you are willing, you can enter the fourth-tier star power secret realm to cultivate until you go to battle," Meng Yanhui said.

"Besides these, each of you can carry two third-tier star weapons into the battle. The Grand Master has ordered that you all be provided with top-tier third-tier star weapons.

The more than one hundred top-tier third-tier star weapons that our External Affairs Hall has treasured over the years are yours to choose from.

And if you return alive, these top-tier third-tier star weapons will also belong to you for your use, without needing to be returned," External Affairs Hall Master Chu Xuan said.

This series of benefits made all the disciples feel relieved.

Although they had to risk their lives, the State Academy did not treat them unfairly.

Finally, mentioning the will and compensation made the group of disciples silent for a while again.

"In addition, you can discuss it! Although the third-tier Star Domain is vast and your entry is randomly dropped! But if you are lucky and can accompany each other, the probability of survival will increase exponentially.

Although you cannot locate each other, there are some methods that can be used.

In short, as long as it is a method not prohibited by the rules, it can be used!

Everything is for the sake of letting you return alive," Meng Yanhui said.

As soon as these words were spoken, the people present began to discuss noisily; some suggested moving towards a high mountain in one direction, some suggested firing signal flares, and some suggested gathering at the highest point.

Various methods were proposed, but were also rejected.

The third-tier Star Domain is extremely vast; this kind of simple method is somewhat useful, but most of the time, it still depends on luck.

Xu Jin had been listening, but another method emerged in Xu Jin's mind.

And the possibility of it being useful was extremely high.

The possibility of facilitating accompaniment was extremely high.

But it was still too early; perhaps there was a possibility of a leak.

After thinking about it, Xu Jin temporarily suppressed it, and would decide tomorrow depending on the situation.

"Come, follow me, first choose your star weapons, then get familiar with them, cultivate, and it's best to have a few more actual battles in the Killing God Battlefield and the Practice Arena Secret Realm! But before tomorrow evening, you must restore your state to the extreme!

This concerns the life and death of each of you!" Meng Yanhui said.

Just as Meng Yanhui and Chu Xuan were taking the group to choose star weapons, in the Danxia Academy, Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao suddenly spoke, "Peng Lao, it's about time, right?"

"There is half a quarter of an hour left until the agreed time." Speaking to this point, Manager Peng suddenly said, "Palace Master, this Zhaoxing Tower, how about I go?

If I go, I can still leave some room for maneuver."

"Why leave room for maneuver? I'll go!"

While speaking, Grand Master Cheng Yuexiao had already stood up and, with one step, stepped out of the State Academy.

(End of chapter)