The protagonist of the day was destined to be Su Bai; from the moment his grades were posted until he left the school, everyone's eyes were fixed on him.
Even the radiance of the little princess of the Xia Family, a great bloodline clan in Yang City, was eclipsed by his presence!
Born a commoner, first place in the Campus Tournament, record holder for the Yang City college entrance exam... every single halo made his fellow students feel out of reach.
"This is just insane!"
Su Bai, his clothes disheveled, fled the school with his backpack as his fanatical classmates nearly tore his shirt off.
"Heehee, you're a big celebrity in school now; of course they worship you," Xia Xueqing said with a playful smile.
It seemed she only revealed her true self when she was with Su Bai, shedding her usual quiet demeanor.
Su Bai offered a helpless smile, and just as he was about to speak, he saw Chu Yuan walking over.
"So, have you thought about it? Do you want to come with me to the Wasteland Zone?"
"Absolutely!"
Su Bai grinned, his eyes burning with longing!
"Teacher Chu, could you take me along too? I want to see the Wasteland Zone as well," Xia Xueqing suddenly interjected upon hearing their conversation.
Chu Yuan was stunned, then his face lit up with joy.
"Of course you can. Ninjas from the Xia Family are highly sought-after teammates in the base; ninja squads without strength can't even recruit a Byakugan user, but..."
"But what? Please, Teacher Chu, tell me," Xia Xueqing asked immediately, seeing the joy vanish from Chu Yuan's face.
Chu Yuan shook his head and gave a wry smile. "Your status is different. I don't think your family would agree to you joining us."
Although he desperately wanted a Byakugan user with such powerful reconnaissance skills on his team, the thought of Xia Xueqing's noble status forced him to suppress his desire.
This was the little princess of the Xia Family, after all. If anything were to happen to her while with his squad... it would be a disaster.
Xia Xueqing tilted her head and thought for a moment before speaking.
"I'll go back and ask right now. You guys wait for me!"
With that, she trotted away and was soon out of sight.
Chu Yuan sighed, then turned to Su Bai with a smile: "You've got quite the talent, kid, securing a Byakugan teammate in advance."
"Oh? Does that mean the Byakugan is very important?" Although Su Bai knew the reason, he wanted to hear the "professional's" take.
"You bet," Chu Yuan said. "The Byakugan can detect the traces of magical beasts from dozens of kilometers away, increasing the survival rate of the entire squad. You tell me, is that important or not?"
Good grief, dozens of kilometers?
Su Bai rolled his eyes at the thought.
This world was becoming increasingly absurd. What was the reconnaissance range of the eyes in the original work?
One kilometer? Or two?
He couldn't remember clearly, but it was definitely not as monstrous as the Byakugan on Blue Star.
However, he had already witnessed many absurd "things," so one more didn't really matter.
After they agreed to meet at a certain spot tomorrow, Chu Yuan drove off.
Su Bai didn't go straight home; instead, he took a bus to the city center and headed straight for the "Chakra Conductive Equipment Store" he had visited before.
The school had given him a scholarship of 100,000 Federal Coin, and he intended to turn that money into combat power to increase his survival rate in the Wasteland Zone!
Without hesitation, he spent 40,000 to purchase a long sword and a vest similar to a bulletproof vest, both of which were second-hand D-Class "Chakra Conductive Equipment" similar to what he had looked at before.
[D-Class Chakra Conductive Weapon, capable of piercing the defense of D-Class Magical Beast, price 20,000 Federal Coin. (Certified by Yang City officials as 40% damaged, functional)] [D-Class Chakra Conductive Armor, capable of significantly reducing the impact of attacks from D-Class Magical Beast, price 20,000 Federal Coin. (Certified by Yang City officials as 40% damaged, functional)]
Afterward, he went to a Ninja Sundries Shop to buy two Storage Scroll, something he had wanted for a long time.
He only bought standard Storage Scroll, each with 10 cubic meters of space. They were very convenient for storing items and were essential gear for a ninja's survival in the wild.
Storage Scroll were quite common and cost 10,000 Federal Coin each, which Su Bai felt was worth the price for two.
The reason he bought two was that there were many supplies to be found in the Wasteland Zone.
Whether it was gold and jewelry from before the apocalypse or the newly formed Chakra Conductive Metal Ore, everything was his target.
He needed money for too many things right now: money for his sister's medical treatment, money to move his family to a larger house in the safer city center, or money to purchase ninjutsu and equipment...
In short, without money, one couldn't take a single step.
After purchasing some Military Ration Pill to replenish his stamina and chakra, along with some basic survival supplies, Su Bai finally headed home.
Xia Family Manor.
In the largest room.
A graceful and luxuriously dressed middle-aged woman looked worried as she spoke to the middle-aged man sitting beside her.
"Husband, why didn't you try to persuade Xueqing? Isn't the Wasteland Zone too early for her?"
She was Wang Yan, Xia Xueqing's mother, the wife of the Xia Family patriarch Xia Hong, and also a powerful Jonin!
Xia Hong was tall and imposing, his long-held position of authority giving him an extraordinary aura. He sat there, commanding respect without even needing to speak.
However, his hairstyle ruined some of that aura; like his younger brother Xia Ling, he was also bald.
"Too early?" Hearing his wife's words, Xia Hong set aside his sternness and smiled gently. "We weren't even as strong as our daughter when we first went to the Wasteland Zone, so don't you worry."
"But I'm not just worried about those monsters... there are also those petty people who are constantly eyeing our family's Byakugan. I'm worried those people won't be able to resist making a move. Especially that organization... they have been salivating over the Byakugan for a long time."
The Byakugan, in addition to allowing for the cultivation of exclusive ninjutsu and taijutsu, was ridiculously strong in combat and reconnaissance, which is why it attracted many ninjas who "coveted" it.
"They wouldn't dare!" Xia Hong stood up with a "thud," his entire body radiating killing intent as he said coldly, "If they dare to tear up the agreement and lay a hand on Xueqing, then I will uproot them even if it means exhausting the entire family!"
"Alright, I was just saying that, why are you getting so worked up? Honestly."
"But we can't afford not to be on guard; after all, that organization is capable of anything. Last year, they even abducted a ninja with the Lava Release Kekkei Genkai, and they still haven't given the Federation government an explanation."
Wang Yan rolled her eyes at Xia Hong and pulled him back down to sit.
She knew their daughter was the apple of her husband's eye. The two of them had only this one daughter; they were afraid she would melt if they kept her in their mouths and afraid she would break if they held her in their hands. If anyone dared to target her, Xia Hong would absolutely go insane!
After sitting down, Xia Hong was silent for a moment before saying, "Wife, you're right. How about this: I'll swap Xia You out and have her second uncle make the trip himself?"
Xia You was Xia Xueqing's cousin, an elite Chunin who had been responsible for secretly protecting Xia Xueqing on her way to and from school for these past few years.
"Let Xia Ling go?"
"That works too. That way, I'll be at ease."
Xia Ling was the second strongest in the Xia Family, not much weaker than Xia Hong. Once Wang Yan heard this, she immediately set her heart at ease and began discussing other matters with Xia Hong.
Before long, a girl dressed in black tight-fitting leather with a military backpack on her back and a very capable appearance burst into the living room.
"Mom, Dad, take a look and see if there's anything else I need to prepare?"
"Hehe, Xueqing really looks like a ninja in that outfit." Xia Hong, who had been frowning over family affairs, immediately smiled and praised her as soon as he saw his daughter.
Xia Xueqing's pretty face flushed, and she acted spoiled: "Dad, we're talking about serious business, stop praising me all the time!"
"Haha, I'm just telling the truth."
Xia Hong patted Xia Xueqing's head, grinning from ear to ear, and offered her a few suggestions, which she gladly accepted.
After chatting for a while longer, Xia Xueqing hesitated. "Dad, is Su Bai's Sharingan really okay? I know you've always been sending people to protect me."
"It's fine. People avoid that unlucky thing like the plague; no one would voluntarily turn themselves into a lunatic," Xia Hong said calmly.
"Oh, that's good then. I'm relieved."
The bright and intelligent Xia Xueqing had long known how valuable her own eyes were, which was why she was worried that Su Bai's Sharingan might also be targeted.
Fortunately, because the side effects of the Sharingan were so terrifying—every ninja who awakened them eventually turned into a lunatic—the Sharingan had been abandoned by the ninjas on Blue Star decades ago. Since everyone avoided it, who would voluntarily "seek death"?
Just as Xia Xueqing was about to leave, Xia Hong spoke up suddenly, his tone serious.
"The Sharingan is such an overbearing Kekkei Genkai that even if he chooses to gouge out his eyes in the future to survive, the chakra in his body has already grown accustomed to this bloodline limit. The mental issues will still erupt."
"So, daughter... let's keep our distance from that Su Bai. I'm worried that once he goes insane, he might hurt you."
"Heehee, don't worry, I know what I'm doing."
Xia Xueqing giggled and turned to leave.
Left behind, Xia Hong and Wang Yan sighed, lamenting the bad luck that had led their daughter to meet Su Bai.
PS: A little whisper to everyone, Xiao Wang is very active. I take time every day to read the comments, and as long as I see your comments, I will definitely reply [doge]
Chapter 50: Setting off for Yangcheng Base
Early the next morning, Chu Yuan arrived at the gate of Yangcheng No. 1 High School. He, Su Bai, and Xia Xueqing lived in different places.
Su Bai's home was in the suburbs, the furthest away, so he arrived last. By the time he rushed over, Chu Yuan and Xia Xueqing were already waiting at the gate.
"Sorry, I'm late."
"It's fine, we haven't reached the agreed time yet." Chu Yuan shook his head, and after seeing the backpack on his back, asked, "How is it? Is everything prepared?"
"It's ready."
Su Bai patted his backpack, which contained the equipment and survival supplies he had spent a fortune to purchase.
"That's good, let's get in the car."
Chu Yuan called out to the two of them, and they immediately got into the vehicle and drove toward Yangcheng Base.
Yangcheng Base was the supply station closest to the Wasteland Zone and was also the source of the base city's name; most ninjas gathered there.
In the car.
Xia Xueqing and Su Bai sat in the back seat, their eyes filled with anticipation.
"Su Bai, you don't have to worry. I asked my father, and your Sharingan won't cause any trouble." Xia Xueqing stared at Su Bai with her Byakugan, looking serene. She was wearing the same black tight-fitting leather outfit that Chang Rui liked to wear, looking very capable.
Before Su Bai could speak, Chu Yuan, who was driving in the front, said without turning his head: "The girl Xueqing is right. The Sharingan is like a poisonous mushroom on the side of the road; although it's rare, every ninja knows about it. No one will have designs on you, so just rest easy."
Both of them knew that Su Bai possessed the Kekkei Genkai Sharingan. Chu Yuan had only just learned of it yesterday, and upon hearing the news, he felt a deep sense of pity for him, believing that a genius had fallen before he could even rise.
Su Bai breathed a sigh of relief after hearing this, "That's good, then I can rest easy."
At this moment, he was incredibly grateful for the side effects of the Sharingan; otherwise, as a Sharingan user who had yet to fully mature, he feared he would lack the ability to protect his own eyes.
Although the ninjas on Blue Star were not like those in the original work whose eyes could be "plug-and-play" and snatched by anyone with the skill, it was still possible to achieve through certain means.
Because his status was restricted, Su Bai could not find any information about the Sharingan online, but Chu Yuan could.
Yesterday, he had probed indirectly and discovered that the most advanced Sharingan recorded in this world had only reached the Three-Tomoe stage, and even then, the user had gone insane the moment they awakened it due to insufficient mental energy. As for the advanced Mangekyo, even Chu Yuan had never heard of it.
Su Bai thought to himself that his Yin Attribute must be kept under control relative to the side effects of the Sharingan, or else he feared he would become just another person in the records.
After driving for over two hours, Chu Yuan finally arrived at the base. As soon as they stepped out of the car, Su Bai and Xia Xueqing were stunned by the sight before them.
Directly in front of them stood a steel wall at least 150 meters high, stretching endlessly to both sides.
In the center, a silver-white gate over 20 meters tall stood wide open. Through the gate, one could see a vast expanse of emerald green in the distance, overgrown with wild grass, forming a sharp contrast with the rows of high-tech thermal weapons lining the wall—many of which even he couldn't name.
"How is it? Surprised, right?"
"I was just like you when I first came here, intimidated by these hunks of iron, haha!" Chu Yuan noticed their astonishment and chuckled as he explained.
According to Chu Yuan, this wall was built from a mixture of chakra-conductive metal and high-hardness alloys, and the thermal weapons on the wall represented the pinnacle of human technological crystallization.
Although ninjas were the main force in confronting high-level magical beasts, thermal weapons had not been phased out and remained effective against many low-level beasts.
The purpose of the wall was to prevent large numbers of magical beasts from sieging the city and destroying the infrastructure of Yang City.
According to Chu Yuan, the wall was only the visible defense; another layer of invisible barrier was the true priority, surrounding the entirety of Yang City, though he did not know what kind of barrier it was.
Chu Yuan led Su Bai and Xia Xueqing toward the assembly point of his ninja squad while introducing them to the surroundings, opening their eyes to a whole new world.