Shocking

The battle hadn't covered a wide area, but it had been deeply shocking. All of them had the strength of the strongest students in their academies. It was rare for such a battle to break out at any academy in the Great Yu Empire.

An elite student like Granny couldn't even get involved.

This battle had made Lu Yin recognize his own strength. He had the power to suppress Willow, one of the strongest students in the academy.

Looking at Bailie and Willow sprawled on the ground, Zhang Ding Tian raised his blade, intending to cut them down.

Lu Yin hurriedly stopped him. "We can use them as bargaining chips in the future."

Zhang Ding Tian looked puzzled. "Bargaining chips? Negotiations?"

Lu Yin nodded, his expression grave. "You should know that these students came to Earth for a trial. Although the trial doesn't forbid killing, the students who dare to take part all have significant backgrounds and far-reaching connections. We can use their lives to negotiate with the higher-ups of the Great Yu Empire."

Bai Xue looked at Lu Yin, her voice cold. "Trade their lives for Earth's freedom?"

Lu Yin nodded. "The talk of planetary evolution being about improving humanity is just a nice way of putting it. In reality, it's a way for the Great Yu Empire to recruit soldiers. Any Earthling evolver who doesn't catch their eye will be sent to the battlefield. Whether it's a war between the Great Yu Empire and other empires, or the human frontier battlefields, they're countless times more brutal than this trial. Even the powerful, who can walk through the stars, might not survive there. These students could help more people on Earth make it out alive."

Zhang Ding Tian fell silent and sheathed his long blade.

A hint of sorrow flashed through Bai Xue's cold gaze. They had once believed Earth was the only world in the universe with intelligent life. But ever since they'd found a corpse on Neptune, everything had changed. Earth was merely a Primeval Planet monitored by the Great Yu Empire. So what if they could explore space? They had only just learned to walk, and everything was under surveillance.

Now they faced the most terrifying apocalypse of all—not Mutant Beasts or zombies, but the Great Yu Empire. Once the trial ended, who knew how many people would be sent to the battlefield? Even beings like the Seven Saints might only be slightly higher-ranking soldiers.

Granny stared at Lu Yin in surprise. She hadn't expected him to have such a plan. This wasn't merely dancing with tigers; he actually dared to negotiate with the higher-ups of the Great Yu Empire. Since the Empire was founded, she'd never heard of a native daring to make demands of it. It was practically suicide. Still, she had to admit it might work. She couldn't say the same for the others, but Willow had a powerful background. Someone in his family even served in the Imperial Court Thirteenth Team.

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

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

Bailie smiled scornfully. These natives had no idea how the Great Yu Empire worked.

Bai Xue looked at Lu Yin with suspicion. Using the students to threaten the Great Yu Empire might work, but it would put him in the line of fire. The Empire would never tolerate him. What was he relying on? No one would selflessly sacrifice themselves for another. Bai Xue silently grew wary of Lu Yin.

Boom!

A sudden crash came from the north. Zhang Ding Tian looked that way, his expression changing. "The Science and Technology Institute! This is bad!" He rushed north.

At that moment, two figures shot across the sky toward the west.

Bailie looked up, his teeth clenched. "Ede! Heidian!"

Zhang Ding Tian soared into the sky and immediately spotted the two flying west. At the same time, two more people took off from another direction and followed close behind Ede and Heidian.

Zhang Ding Tian's eyes turned icy. Energy erupted around him, spreading in visible ripples. He raised his long blade, and the energy that had shaken the sky vanished. But the blade now sent chills through countless people. A fierce aura welled up from deep within, as if it would sever the heavens and earth.

The clouds above split apart without a sound. The world fell utterly still.

Lu Yin was shaken. A battle technique? No, this was his strongest strike.

To the west, Ede and the others looked back, their expressions changing. Zhang Ding Tian had been hiding his strength. This strike was terrifying. It wasn't a battle technique, but it came remarkably close.

"Don't hesitate. Move!" Ede barked.

Not far away, Gulles and Balaro were stunned. "This native is going to defy the heavens! Run!"

A cold glint flashed in Zhang Ding Tian's eyes. He swung his long blade. To the horror of countless people in the Capital City, an enormous slash swept across the city toward the west. The sky split open, the air warped, and its fierce energy made everyone hallucinate. It was as if the heavens themselves had been cleaved in two.

Ede, Heidian, Gulles, and Balaro all turned and braced against the slash.

In the next instant, the slash tore apart and became five waves of energy that vanished into the sky.

Ede's expression was grave. He looked disbelieving.

Heidian's black robe was torn open, revealing a scaled torso. A smear of blood at the corner of his mouth stood out in the sunlight.

Gulles panted heavily, staring at Zhang Ding Tian in shock.

Balaro had it worst. He spat out blood, his already-green skin turning even greener. A crack had even appeared on his body.

"Move!" Ede barked again, charging west.

Heidian looked back at Zhang Ding Tian with unwillingness, then flew west as well.

Gulles and Balaro said nothing. They hurried after Ede and Heidian.

Zhang Ding Tian stood tall in the sky, his domineering aura spreading. One man and one blade silenced the surroundings, and countless people cheered in admiration.

Granny was stunned. There was someone this powerful among the natives—a powerhouse who could fight across realms. He was definitely one. Among Probe Realm students in the Great Yu Empire, there were probably very few who could match this monster.

Lu Yin narrowed his eyes. Zhang Ding Tian's strike had stirred his blood. He wondered how powerful his Heavenly Star Palm would be with three stars in motion, and whether he could defeat Zhang Ding Tian.

Bai Xue let out a breath and smiled faintly. As expected of the foremost of the Seven Saints.

Bailie and Willow were stunned. So this was the strength of someone who could fight across realms. They had badly underestimated Zhang Ding Tian. If they'd known he was this strong, they never would have fought in the Capital City.

Zhang Ding Tian turned and flew north, toward the Science and Technology Institute, one of the most important places in China.

Lu Yin and Bai Xue hurried after him.

Granny also grabbed Bailie and Willow and followed.

The Science and Technology Institute lay north of the Capital City. The corpse brought back from Neptune had been entrusted to the Institute for safekeeping. For some reason, it had needed to be moved. The moment it was transferred, China's top officials, including the president, had all been present. Only they had the authority to order it, yet a massive explosion had occurred, bringing about the apocalypse.

In a sense, the Science and Technology Institute was where it had all begun.

Bailie and Willow had only thought to search Zhang Ding Tian's residence and the president's office. It had never occurred to them to look at the Science and Technology Institute. Only Ede had thought of it.

When they reached the Institute, all they saw were scattered ruins and numerous bodies.

Zhang Ding Tian clenched his fists and ordered the army to seal off the area and search for survivors.

"Commander Hua Sheng, Dean Lian wishes to see you," a soldier reported.

Zhang Ding Tian was delighted. "The dean's alive?" He told the soldier to lead the way.

Several kilometers from the ruins of the Science and Technology Institute lay a sunken area. This was the Institute's underground entrance, which the army had also sealed off. An elderly man in a white lab coat leaned wearily against a ruined wall, drinking water. Beside him stood a beautiful woman in a black business suit.

"Huan Sha, how's the dean?" Zhang Ding Tian hurried over and asked.

The woman named Huan Sha replied, "He's fine. He was just a little startled."

"What do you mean, startled? I only twisted my ankle. I wasn't startled at all," the old man grumbled.

Huan Sha smiled. "Yes, yes. You only twisted your ankle."

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

Lu Yin and the others arrived at the same time.

Bai Xue gave Lu Yin a strange look. Just now, right in front of her, Lu Yin had searched Bailie and Willow's Void Rings thoroughly, taking everything he could. It had struck her as rather odd.

Lu Yin thought it was only natural. He'd contributed to the battle too, and he was poor. He couldn't afford to waste anything.

Together, the Star Energy Crystals from Bailie and Willow had added up to one cubic meter. He could roll the dice again. The thought excited Lu Yin. He wondered what he'd get this time. He couldn't wait.

Dean Lian had Zhang Ding Tian dismiss the army. Zhang Ding Tian waved a hand, and Huan Sha was sent away as well. Only Bai Xue, Lu Yin, and Granny remained.

Lu Yin told Granny to leave. She was quite reluctant. After Ede left, he had clearly rushed west because he'd discovered something, and she wanted to know what it was.

Lu Yin glared at her, and only then did Granny leave, still unwillingly.

Nearby, Bai Xue watched Lu Yin, her expression suggesting she wanted him to leave too.

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

"Who is this?" Dean Lian asked, looking at Lu Yin.

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

Bai Xue was speechless.