No one knew how much time had passed...
Cang Lao walked in with a serious expression and looked at the assembled Sequence Masters, remaining silent for a moment.
Only when the conference room fell quiet did he speak.
"I won't go into the reason for today's meeting." Cang Lao stroked his beard and said slowly, "A cult organization massacred the relatives of quite a few students. Naturally, you should know what to do."
"The Canglan Tournament will also begin before long, and we'll start selecting the participants for the Academy Tournament's team battle."
"..."
The meeting continued, and undercurrents had already begun to stir.
Many days passed in the blink of an eye.
Many people still remembered the Massacre Case that had taken place in Magic City.
Li Chen, Jianping, and the others walked along a street where preparations for the Canglan Tournament had already begun. Students were everywhere.
"Chen-ge, they're really making a big event of this Canglan Tournament!" Su Zhe said, a little excited.
Jianping also spoke up. "Of course they are. This is Canglan's annual tournament. Only Canglan and Imperial Capital Academy are qualified to hold a competition this large on their own."
Li Chen nodded slightly. Jianping was right. Of the known academies, only those two had the resources and qualifications. The other academies had neither the reputation nor the strength.
"Hey, I just realized, why aren't the senior students participating?" Su Zhe slapped his forehead, looking puzzled.
He had long since grown used to competing with people his own age, but that was exactly why he had noticed that Canglan seemed to have only freshmen like them. Where were the senior students?
"No idea." Li Chen shook his head. He had noticed it not long after entering the academy. Although there were senior students in the academy, they did not seem very strong. So where had the strong ones gone?
These things had puzzled him for a long time.
"Let's go look at the Canglan Tournament roster. We can just watch this time. It's not often we get a break." Li Chen put his earlier thoughts aside as he spoke.
He could not be bothered to think about it anymore. Fighting every day had already taken a lot out of him, and the truth would come to light someday.
Su Zhe laughed. "I finally have a chance to watch those people fight. Let me see just how strong the ones ranked above me really are."
They were all members of the Special Class, but although it was called a class, they actually had little contact with one another. They did not even know the names of half their classmates.
Li Chen was also looking forward to it a little. After all, he was the one standing on the Battle Platform every time. It was rare for him to have a chance to watch other people fight.
Just as they were all looking forward to the Canglan Tournament,
their Student Badges suddenly beeped.
A voice rang out: [You have entered the Canglan Tournament. Registration confirmed.]
"Huh?" Su Zhe hurriedly took out his Student Badge, bewildered.
They had not signed up! Besides, even if they had, they needed five people!
The Student Badge already displayed their information—the team they had formed in the Secret Realm: Li Chen, Jianping, Luo Lin, and Meng Xi.
Just then, Li Chen's Student Badge began ringing repeatedly.
It was a call from Instructor Yu.
Li Chen answered. He had a pretty good idea what was going on.
"Beep, beep, beep~"
"Li Chen, I signed you up for the Canglan Tournament."
Li Chen hesitated for a few seconds. "Actually, I don't really want to participate..."
But on the other end of the call, Instructor Yu seemed not to have heard him and continued, "Go to the Battle Institute later and draw lots to decide your match."
"All right, I'm hanging up. I just wanted to let you know."
Li Chen: "..."
Was this being forced to work?
Su Zhe had heard their conversation too and wailed, "Chen-ge, is this Instructor Yu's special care?"
"Alas... Let's go draw lots. Let Luo Lin know." With a sigh, Li Chen changed direction.
After all, they had already been signed up. They could hardly refuse to go; otherwise, Instructor Yu would probably use force and drag them there.
Elsewhere, Yu Qingnian smiled as he looked at the roster in his hand. "There aren't any Special Class students who aren't participating. Only that brat Li Chen is a little lazy. Everyone else is quite willing to take part."
Faluo's mouth twitched. He had seen Yu Qingnian write Li Chen and the others' names in the very first row with his own eyes.
Was this favoritism?
"The Canglan Tournament starts in a few days. It's time I went and picked out a suit." Yu Qingnian glanced at the clothes he was wearing and muttered to himself.
No one knew what Faluo was thinking. Perhaps he wanted to get himself a suit too, but his physique...
The entrance to the Battle Institute was already packed with students.
They were all teams that had come to participate in the Canglan Tournament.
Announcements sounded over the loudspeaker from time to time.
[Students, five team members are required to register. Students who have registered may proceed into the Battle Institute to draw lots and determine which day your team will compete!!]
Listening to the announcement, Li Chen and the others quietly entered the Battle Institute by an obscure path to the side.
Quite a few teams were already drawing lots inside, and Li Chen spotted several people who looked very familiar.
As if noticing Li Chen and the others looking at them, those teams all turned to look over.
"Hm? Those guys are participating too?" Di Li stood at the front of her team, with the same group of people behind him.
A trace of concern flashed in Lin Hua's eyes. His severed hand had long since healed, although it was now made from a special plant. Perhaps having his arm cut off that time had given him even greater strength.
The others watched Li Chen and his companions with a hint of imperceptible feeling.
The other teams had also spotted Li Chen and Jianping. The two often fought at the Battle Institute, and quite a few people knew how strong they were. Now that they had arrived, it meant that this Canglan Tournament could not possibly be simple.
"Hm?" Ji Shao, who had already finished drawing lots, was a little surprised to see Li Chen arrive, though her expression barely changed.
Although she had invited Li Chen, that did not mean she would not allow him to participate in the tournament. It simply meant one more opponent.
Li Chen's participation might just help keep Su Xian in check, though she would also gain another formidable opponent.
The little loli standing beside her looked at the figure in the distance and asked quietly, "Shao-jie, is that guy the Li Chen you personally went to invite before?"
Ji Shao smiled. "Yes. He's our opponent now."
The little loli beside her snorted and said haughtily, "What's so great about him? He's just a guy ranked eleventh."
Perhaps, in her eyes, rank was what represented strength.
But Ji Shao saw much further ahead. She knew that although the Canglan Tournament had yet to begin, the smell of gunpowder was already spreading.
Li Chen and Jianping were long accustomed to such attention, so their expressions naturally did not change. Su Zhe, on the other hand, looked thoroughly worried, because he had realized that everyone who had come here was strong.
"Let's go draw lots."