When Li Chen returned to his dormitory, he immediately saw Su Zhe eating skewers.
He's quite something, still finding time to go shopping while he spent half the day flying in the sky.
The students from this academy today are quite formidable, except they aren't celebrities, but rather figures everyone wants to challenge.
Those Special Class students who didn't have Forbidden Object to return to the academy are probably already dead.
Beep beep~
Just then, Li Chen's Student Badge rang.
It was a phone call from Yu Qingnian.
"Hello, Instructor Yu, what's up?"
On the Yu Qingnian, holding a fountain pen, sat on the sofa he hadn't been on in a long time. His brows were furrowed as he said, "Your team members need to hand in their pens as soon as possible."
Li Chen hummed in agreement.
After all, he still doesn't know who else to invite.
Although he really wanted Su Zhe to come in and make up the numbers, his abilities and strength were really not up to par.
Almost everyone in the team can now fight Eerie Monsters at the Withered Sea Realm, but Su Zhe can't. His physical body is powerful, but he has too few attack methods.
Su Zhe seemed to have heard this too, and asked, "Chen-ge, aren't you only participating in the individual competition?"
"Why are you participating in the team competition too?"
"Do I even have a chance to get in?!"
Li Chen remained silent. He didn't want to discourage Su Zhe. His abilities were indeed impressive, with room for growth, but there was no time left for him to improve.
In other words, he has no chance in this Academy Tournament unless he can reach the Withered Sea Realm.
Li Chen knew how strong the Withered Sea Realm physical body was; it was at least enough to rank in the top 20 in Canglan.
Of course, the standard for everything is whether Su Zhe can reach it.
Li Chen pursed his lips, looking at the expectant Su Zhe, and said, "Baozi, if you reach the Withered Sea Realm, you can participate."
"But at your current level, you should be aware of your shortcomings."
Su Zhe was stunned.
Indeed, what Chen-ge said is correct. His victory in the Canglan Tournament was entirely due to the entire team.
In fact, he never contributed anything.
His ability might have been really good in the old Magic City, but the Academy Tournament Competition is full of geniuses, each of whom is a prodigy of their academy, and their strength and abilities are not weak.
Besides his own cultivation level, what else does Su Zhe possess that allows him to suppress those prodigies?
Combat awareness? Physical body?
He experienced a lot during this training and learned a lot, but he had already noticed the Academy Tournament and wanted to participate.
After all, he had once said in the Secret Realm that he wanted to become a strong person like his father, a person of great renown, and someone who would make his father proud.
Su Zhe pondered for a long time.
Li Chen's call was not actually disconnected; Yu Qingnian the other end was also listening to their conversation.
Yu Qingnian had actually watched the two of them grow up step by step, but he understood even more clearly what Su Zhe was lacking now.
He wasn't worried about Li Chen, but he never really commented on Su Zhe.
At that moment Yu Qingnian's voice came from the Student Badge.
"Su Zhe, it wasn't a coincidence that your father was once called 'Su Fengzi,' but rather an inevitability."
"In that era Human Race needed heroes and strong individuals, and your father was one of those strong individuals. Your wings have already grown strong; if you don't spread them now, you will live under your father's protection for the rest of your life."
"The title of a strong person is never earned through praise, but through their own beliefs and dreams, built up little by little."
"Your father would be very happy to see you at the Academy Tournament."
Hearing Yu Qingnian's words, Su Zhe was stunned. In fact, he had never realized his own strength, simply because he was surrounded by freaks like Li Chen.
What he lacks is courage and ambition.
Su Zhe looked at Li Chen, his eyes resolute, and said, "I understand, Chen-ge."
"Give me a week, and I will definitely reach the Withered Sea Realm!!"
"Save me a spot in this Academy Tournament!"
Li Chen smiled and nodded.
Su Zhe then walked out of the room.
Yu Qingnian's voice was still coming from the other end of the Student Badge, but the listener had already embarked on his path.
Li Chen said, "Instructor Yu, there's no need to say anything more, Su Zhe has already gone."
Yu Qingnian was silent for a few seconds, then suddenly laughed and said...
"He's not entirely stupid, just not as straightforward as his dad."
"He won't know how strong his abilities are unless you push him a little."
Li Chen naturally knew he was referring to Su Zhe, but wondering why Yu Qingnian would make such a comment, he asked, "Instructor Yu, isn't Su Zhe's ability Get Stronger by Eating?"
On the other end, Yu Qingnian shook his head, seemingly recalling events from that era, and slowly said, "Li Chen, do you really think that's all a growth-oriented ability can achieve?"
"Su Zhe has great potential, a lot of potential, but he doesn't realize it himself. He's always been living in the present and hasn't encountered the motivation that will allow him to keep going."
"Your abilities and strength are too great. In fact, it has made Su Zhe feel a sense of alienation, and he has begun to feel a little inferior. Perhaps you can't notice it, but Su Zhe himself can feel that the gap between his strength and yours is getting wider and wider."
"If this continues, his confidence will be subtly eroded by you, which is why you see Su Zhe grinning every day. He does this to maintain distance between you."
Li Chen fell silent. He had never known any of this, because he simply couldn't believe that his relationship with Su Zhe could be broken up for such a reason.
Yu Qingnian's voice continued to come through.
"Li Chen, guide Su Zhe onto the right path, because you are the person he trusts most."
"If he can reach the Withered Sea Realm within seven days in this Academy Tournament, I will directly add his name to the list."
"I still really hope that you two little ones can bring glory to the Magic City and Canglan Academy."
"..."
Li Chen hummed in agreement, looked up at the sunset outside the window, and fell into deep thought.
Su Zhe is holding back a lot, but everything will have to wait until seven days later. Since he said he could reach the Withered Sea Realm within seven days, he probably wasn't lying.
He believes that's enough.
Inside the office.
Yu Qingnian sat next to Faluo; the two hadn't seen each other for some time.
However, Faluo put on an eyepatch.
"The team from the Imperial Capital has been selected for this Academy Tournament," said Faluo.
"Seven holy sons and daughters from various prominent families."
"Everyone among them possesses exceptional strength and talent."
Yu Qingnian nodded slightly, his eyes calm, and slowly said, "I am not afraid."
"In the end, they are all students who have never experienced a life-or-death battle. How can they possibly fight against the students I have trained?"
"The experience at the checkpoint has already elevated them."
"The fuse has been lit; we're just waiting for the fireworks to explode. It's also time to clean up the inland areas."