Shock

This battle wasn't widespread but was quite shocking. Several individuals possessed the strongest combat power within the academies, a level of fighting rarely seen even in the Great Yu Empire's various academies.

Granny, an elite of the academy, couldn't even get involved.

This battle made Lu Yin recognize his own strength; he possessed the combat power to suppress even Willow, the strongest in the academy.

Seeing Bailie and Willow lying on the ground, Zhang Ding Tian raised his saber, intending to finish them off.

Lu Yin quickly stopped him, "These people can be used as bargaining chips in the future."

Zhang Ding Tian asked doubtfully, "Bargaining chips? Negotiation?"

Lu Yin nodded, saying gravely, "You should know that the purpose of these students coming to Earth is for trials. While trials don't forbid death, the students who dare to participate have no simple backgrounds. This involves a lot. We can use their lives to negotiate with the higher-ups of the Great Yu Empire."

Bai Xue looked at Lu Yin, her eyes cold, "Use their lives to exchange for Earth's freedom?"

Lu Yin nodded, "The so-called Planet Evolution is meant to improve humanity, but in reality, it's a way for the Great Yu Empire to recruit soldiers. Evolvers on Earth, if not deemed valuable, will be sent to the battlefield, whether it's between the Great Yu Empire and other empires, or the human outer-space battlefield. Those places are countless times more brutal than trials. There, even those who can roam the starry sky might not survive. These students can allow more people on Earth to survive."

Zhang Ding Tian fell silent and sheathed his saber.

Bai Xue's cold gaze flickered with a trace of sadness. Originally, they thought Earth was the only intelligent life in the universe. But after discovering a corpse on Neptune, everything changed. Earth was merely a primeval planet under the Great Yu Empire's surveillance. What was the point of exploring space? They had only just learned to walk, and everything was under surveillance.

Now, they were facing the most terrifying doomsday, not from mutant beasts or zombies, but from the Great Yu Empire. After the trials ended, who knew how many would be sent to the battlefield? Even beings like the Seven Saints might just be slightly higher-ranking soldiers.

Granny looked at Lu Yin in surprise. She hadn't expected him to have such a plan. It was more than just "dealing with a tiger for its skin." Daring to negotiate with the Great Yu Empire's high command was unheard of. Since the empire's founding, no native had ever dared to make demands of the empire. This was suicidal, but she had to admit it might work. She didn't know about others, but Willow had a significant background; someone in his family even served in the Imperial Thirteen Teams.

"Cough, cough, you, you're thinking too simply. The Great Yu Empire is known throughout the universe for its iron-fisted military. They won't accept threats from natives," Bailie mocked.

Lu Yin looked at him, "You don't need to worry about that. Just stay alive. You are all bargaining chips."

Bailie sneered. These natives had no idea about the situation in the Great Yu Empire.

Bai Xue looked at Lu Yin with confusion. Using students to threaten the Great Yu Empire might work, but doing so would put this person in the spotlight, making him absolutely intolerable to the Great Yu Empire. Did he have any backing? No one would sacrifice themselves for others without reason. Bai Xue was secretly wary of Lu Yin.

BOOM

A loud noise suddenly came from the north. Zhang Ding Tian looked north, his expression changing, "Science and Technology Institute, this is bad." He then rushed north at full speed.

Just then, two figures flew westward in the sky.

Bailie looked up at the sky, gritting his teeth, "Ede, Heidian."

Zhang Ding Tian soared into the sky and saw the two flying west. At the same time, two more people took to the air from another direction, flying west, closely following Ede and the other.

Zhang Ding Tian's eyes turned icy. The energy radiating from his body formed visible ripples that spread outwards. He raised his saber, the vibrating energy in the sky disappearing. At this moment, his saber made countless people's scalps tingle. A sharp aura, emanating from the depths of their hearts, rose up, as if it were about to cleave this world in two.

The clouds in the sky tore open invisibly, and the world fell silent.

Lu Yin was shaken. A battle skill? No, this was the strongest saber strike.

To the west, Ede and the others looked back, their expressions changing. Zhang Ding Tian had hidden his strength. This strike was terrifying. Although not a battle skill, it was extremely close.

"Don't hesitate, hurry!" Ede shouted.

Not far away, Gulles and Balaro were shocked. "This native is defying heaven! Run!"

A cold glint flashed in Zhang Ding Tian's eyes. He swung his saber fiercely. Under the horrified gazes of countless people in the Capital City, a massive slash spanning the city swept westward. The sky was cut open, the air distorted. The sharp energy force made everyone hallucinate, as if the sky above had been severed.

Ede, Heidian, Gulles, and Balaro all turned back simultaneously, directly facing the slash.

In an instant, the slash was torn apart, dispersing into five energy waves that vanished into the sky.

Ede's expression was grave, his eyes filled with disbelief.

Heidian's black robe was torn open, revealing a scaled upper body. A trace of blood at the corner of his mouth was dazzling in the sunlight.

Gulles panted heavily, looking at Zhang Ding Tian in surprise.

Balaro was the most miserable. He spat out blood. His already green skin became even greener, and there were even slight cracks on his body.

"Go!" Ede shouted again, charging westward.

Heidian cast a resentful glance at Zhang Ding Tian and also flew west.

Gulles and Balaro didn't say a word, closely following Ede and the other two.

Zhang Ding Tian stood tall in the sky, exuding dominance. One man and one saber silenced the four directions, and countless people cheered in admiration.

Granny was stunned. There was such a strong person among the natives, a cross-realm expert, definitely a cross-realm expert. This monster, within the Great Yu Empire's Probe Realm students, there were probably very few who could compare to him.

Lu Yin narrowed his eyes. Zhang Ding Tian's strike made Lu Yin's heart surge. He wondered how strong his Heavenly Star Palm would be if he channeled three stars, and if it could defeat Zhang Ding Tian.

Bai Xue let out a sigh, a smile appearing on her face. As expected of the leader of the Seven Saints.

Bailie and Willow were shocked. This was a cross-realm expert. They had underestimated Zhang Ding Tian. If they had known he had this kind of strength, they would never have fought in the Capital City.

Zhang Ding Tian turned and flew north. That was the Capital City's Science and Technology Institute, one of Huaxia's most important places.

Lu Yin and Bai Xue hurriedly followed.

Granny also grabbed Bailie and the two and followed.

The Science and Technology Institute was located north of the Capital City. The corpse brought back from Neptune was handed over to the Science and Technology Institute for safekeeping. However, for some unknown reason, it needed to be transferred. At the moment of transfer, Huaxia's top management, including Number One, were present. Only they had the authority to issue orders, but a great explosion occurred, leading to doomsday.

It could be said that the Science and Technology Institute was the origin of everything.

Bailie and Willow were only thinking of going to Zhang Ding Tian's residence and Number One's office to search. They never thought of the Science and Technology Institute. Only Ede had thought of it.

When several people arrived at the Science and Technology Institute, they saw ruins everywhere and many corpses.

Zhang Ding Tian clenched his fists, ordering the Army to seal off the surroundings and search for Survivors.

"Hua Sheng, Dean wants to see you," a soldier reported.

Zhang Ding Tian was surprised, "The Dean is alive?" He then told the soldier to lead the way.

Several kilometers away from the Science and Technology Institute ruins was a hollow area. This was the underground entrance to the Science and Technology Institute, also sealed off by the Army. An old man in a white lab coat leaned tiredly against the ruined wall, drinking water. Beside him was a beautiful woman in a black professional suit.

"Huan Sha, how is the Dean?" Zhang Ding Tian asked urgently upon arrival.

The woman named Huan Sha said, "He's fine, just a little shaken."

"Shaken? I just sprained my ankle, I wasn't shaken at all," the old man said unhappily.

Huan Sha chuckled, "Yes, yes, you just sprained your ankle."

Zhang Ding Tian looked at the old man. "Dean, what happened?"

Lu Yin and the others appeared simultaneously.

Bai Xue looked at Lu Yin strangely. Just now, Lu Yin had searched through Bailie and Willow's Void Rings right in front of her, taking everything he could, which she found quite peculiar.

Lu Yin felt it was justified. He had contributed to this battle, and he was very poor; he couldn't let any opportunity go to waste.

Bailie and Willow's Star Energy Crystals combined made up one cubic meter. He could roll the dice again. Thinking of this, Lu Yin became excited. He wondered what he would roll, he was really looking forward to it.

Dean Lian asked Zhang Ding Tian to disperse the Army. Zhang Ding Tian waved his hand, and Huan Sha was also sent away, leaving only Bai Xue, Lu Yin, and Granny.

Lu Yin asked Granny to leave. Granny was quite reluctant. Ede had rushed west after leaving here, clearly having discovered something, and she wanted to know what it was.

Lu Yin glared at her fiercely, and only then did Granny reluctantly leave.

Beside them, Bai Xue stared at Lu Yin, her expression suggesting she wanted Lu Yin to leave.

Lu Yin ignored her completely and looked curiously at Dean Lian.

"And who is this?" Dean Lian asked Lu Yin.

Lu Yin replied, "I'm here on behalf of Zhou Shan to listen."

Bai Xue was speechless.