Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Among those that could advance in their respective kingdom and dukedom’s qualifying rounds to make their way here, which one of them wasn’t proud and lofty?
How would they possibly be able to tolerate such provocation that was almost no different from humiliation?
“Aren’t they just Empire-Affiliated Academy Contestants? What’s the big deal about them? Come forward and fight one-on-one with me if you’re that strong!”
Unable to stop himself, a contestant from the Black Dragon Kingdom stepped forward and glared furiously at the Empire-Affiliated Academy Contestants.
“Exactly! A barking dog never bites. If you’re that capable, then let us take a gander at your skills! What does shooting your mouth off even count as?”
“Have the great Empire-Affiliated Academies groomed only a bunch of braggarts that only know how to talk big?”
The contestants from the other kingdoms and dukedoms also spoke up one after another—the Empire-Affiliated Academy Contestants had completely riled up all of them.
“Oho!”
The Empire-Affiliated Academy Contestants were greatly amused by the sight of the mounting public indignation among the contestants from the kingdoms and dukedoms. As if they’d just witnessed a bunch of infuriated country bumpkin dogs barking madly, they burst into uproarious laughter.
One of them snorted in derision and sneered. “Country bumpkins, I wish I could rip your foul mouths apart and show you what we city-dwellers are capable of, but unfortunately...”
He pointed at the ground right underneath his feet and continued. “Do you have any idea where you currently are? This is Dragon God Academy, the most sublime, most excellent, and noblest education institution in the empire! It’s not a place that your little colleges in the countryside can compare to, much less somewhere that you can act atrociously at will.
“Dragon God Academy prohibits private fights.
“Country bumpkins, you don’t need to be in such a hurry even if you’re looking for a thrashing. You’ll be so sorry when the exchange competition comes around tomorrow!”
“Hmph! Why bother waiting till tomorrow? I’ll show you a thing or two right away today. Which one of you wants to fight one-on-one with me?!”
The Empire-Affiliated Academy Contestants’ cockiness and contempt had thoroughly infuriated the contestants from the kingdoms and dukedoms. All of them stepped forward one by one, the aura around them fired up and the fight in them rushing straight to the skies.
“Do you think we’re scared of you, country bumpkins?”
Not intimidated in the least, the Empire-Affiliated Academy Contestants released their auras as well. At once, the atmosphere turned into one where they were ready to jump at each other’s throats.
“What are you doing? What are all of you doing?”
It was at this moment when a group of teachers-in-charge walked out of the teaching faculty building. As they did, a terrifying wave of vast, widespread aura also went crushing toward the contestants.
Boom!
All the contestants felt as though someone had just delivered them a crushing blow. Everyone turned as pale as a sheet, and alarm and fear surfaced in their eyes.
Even Meng Lei was filled with fearful apprehension, despite being a Saint Domain—because all the teachers-in-charge that had just arrived were Saint Domains.
All of them, Saint Domains!
There were as many as several hundred Saint Domains!
Just how fearsome of a force was that?
“What are all of you trying to do, being so presumptuous here?”
One of Dragon God Academy’s vice-presidents rebuked them coldly, “Do you know what this place is? What a bunch of scoundrels!
“The exchange competition only commences tomorrow. No matter how great your fury is, all of you’d better suck it up until tomorrow comes!”
All the contestants hung their heads at once, none of them daring to meet his eyes.
“Hmph! It’s the same kind of behavior from them every year. In the end, more than half of them croak even before the end of the exchange competition.”
The same vice-president snorted coldly. It was only then that his countenance mellowed a little, and he announced, “After much discussion among various parties, the exchange competition’s schedule has been finalized. We’ve decided to adopt the same round-by-round elimination system like what we’ve done in the past.
“Everyone is to assemble at the Dragon God Cathedral at 8 a.m. tomorrow morning. All those that do not arrive by 8 a.m. will be regarded as having voluntarily forfeited the competition! Is this understood?”
“Understood!”
“Great!”
The vice-president nodded lightly. Then, he said, “All of you may move about freely now. You can take a look around the campus as you wish, or you can also head out of the academy to have a taste of the delicacies here. You just need to assemble at the cathedral by 8 a.m. tomorrow!”
At his words, all the contestants’ eyes from the kingdoms and dukedoms immediately lit up, and their gazes shifted to their respective teachers-in-charge. Meng Lei and the rest also looked at President Fred’s group of six.
“All of you may move about freely today. Just remember to return to the inn by 9 p.m. tonight. Remember, do not make any trouble, and do not do anything that violates the law and discipline.”
“Yes, President!”
All the contestants looked as though they had been granted amnesty, and the group dispersed and disappeared in the blink of an eye. Almost all the contestants from the 15 kingdoms and 48 dukedoms were asking around about the Dragon God Tower’s location, all of them wishing to head over and challenge it. Meng Lei was naturally no exception.
At this point, with friendly and enthusiastic smiles, Joel Elton and a few other contestants came over and asked, “Lord Meng Lei, we’re free to do anything we want today. Do you want to head over to the Dragon God Tower for a look?”
“Sure!” Meng Lei nodded lightly and asked, “Do you know how to get to the Dragon God Tower?”
Joel nodded incessantly and replied, “Yes, I do. I’ve been to Dragon God Academy and visited the Dragon God Tower once in the past.”
“Lead the way.”
“Alright!”
The group of them charged toward Dragon God Tower enthusiastically. Before long, a tall, lofty, and majestic gigantic tower that stretched all the way into the sky entered their sights.
Contrary to what Meng Lei had imagined, Dragon God Tower didn’t possess any characteristics related to the Dragon God or the Dragon race at all, and it sported a very odd and peculiar appearance.
On the pitch-black tower exterior were engravings of the sun, stars, and the moon; mountains, rivers, the forests, and the woods; birds, animals, insects, and fishes; thousands upon thousands of different races...
It emanated an aged and boundless, mysterious and lofty vibe that involuntarily arose a feeling of insignificance and astoundment within one.
As he gazed at the gigantic tower that reached all the way into the sky with its peak out of visibility’s range, a hint of puzzlement couldn’t help but well up within Meng Lei—was this gigantic tower really forged by the Dragon God?
Meng Lei knew from great experience just what kind of sense of beauty the Dragons had.
And the gigantic skyscraping tower in front of him at the moment was anything but reminiscent of the Dragons. There wasn’t even the slightest bit of the Dragon race’s distinct characteristics.
It wasn’t the golden color that the Dragons loved!
There were no Dragon scales or claws, let alone their horns and head!
Was this really the Dragon God Tower?
“As expected of the Dragon God Tower. It’s majestic and domineering indeed!”
“Tsk, tsk! To think we can’t see to the top of it even with our eyesight. Just how tall must it be?”
“Probably at least 100 kilometers...”
All the contestants seeing the Dragon God Tower for the first time were astounded by it, and they let out exclamation after exclamation of astonishment and marvel!
Then, Joel pointed at a magic screen at the base of the tower and said, “Lord Meng Lei, look. That’s the Dragon God Genius Ranking.”
“Hmm?”
Meng Lei looked over—true enough, he noticed a huge magic screen that reached as high as 1,000-feet-tall. On it was a densely-packed record of numerous names.
And at the very top was an exceptionally eye-catching name:
“No. 1: Timon Barton, Human, 25 years old, Level 78”
“To think he’s actually a human!”
Meng Lei was amazed by the fact. Then, his gaze continued downward.
“No. 2: Augustine Kroc, Human, 30 years old, Level 76”
“Augustine Kroc...” Meng Lei was startled. “Kroc? This last name looks so familiar to the eye...”
“That’s the last name of us, Krocs!”
Ol’ Amos’ voice rang out in his ear. Meng Lei turned to see that the old man had suddenly emerged and spoken.
“In other words, this ferocious guy ranked second is actually from the Kroc clan?” Meng Lei was astonished.
Ol’ Amos replied softly, “Augustine is my father!”
“Y-your father?”
Meng Lei’s mouth fell open as he asked, “Ol’ President, the Augustine that’s ranked second is your father?”
“Yes! That’s my father, indeed!”
Ol’ Amos’ countenance was filled with pride as he said, “I told you, my father was a cultivation genius!
“He started his cultivation journey at 10 years old, became a Ninth-Grade Warrior at 16, and even successfully promoted to a Saint Domain when he was 26!
“Before this little fellow named Timon Barton had appeared, Father was Dragon God Empire’s number one genius in history!”
“Wow, my Ol’ President’s dad is way impressive!”