197: Why didn't you say so sooner?

Tang Tianxun sighed:

"Currently, within the Ruins, there are known remnants of the Three Star Civilization, the Yao Race, an unknown faction of the Human Race, and us. That makes four forces in total, and there might be others."

"They are all contenders."

"However, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us."

Upon hearing this.

Everyone swallowed hard. Good heavens, they had entered the Civilization Ruins of entire worlds before, but if they managed to seize the Civilization Ruins of a recently defeated civilization, Blue Star's strength would rapidly increase.

But inside, there were not only the native Three Star people, but also the Yao Race, and the Human Race faction of unknown origin. The danger was clearly immense.

Speaking of this, Tang Tianxun suddenly bowed while looking at the three hundred young faces.

"I apologize."

"This journey is extremely dangerous. It is highly likely that none of you will return."

"After the Spatial Rift disappears, you can only return to Blue Star if you reach the center of the Ruins. In short, the dangers are manifold."

"Whether you go or not, we will not force you."

"I will give you one minute to consider."

Tang Tianxun finished speaking.

Nearly 300 people looked at each other and began discussing in low voices.

"What should we do?"

"Should we go?"

"I'm not going, anyway. It's too dangerous. How is this different from throwing ourselves to death?"

"If you don't go and I don't go, and our ancestors were all like you, the Human Race would have been wiped out by the Yao Beasts long ago."

"You make it sound so noble, why don't you go then!"

"I..."

Silence was the majority response, though naturally, some were eager to move. Great Xia never lacked brave individuals.

"Li Yue, are you going?"

"Zhang Lei, are you going?"

"If you go, I'll go."

"Fine. The timid starve, the bold feast. Let's charge in together. If we die, at least we'll have company on the Yellow Springs road."

"Get lost! Can't you say something auspicious? This is for Blue Star, after all. Even if we die, we should ascend to heaven and become Heavenly Soldiers and Generals."

"You two idiots, I'm definitely not going."

"Are you really not going? If we seize control of the Ruins, we'll be Blue Star's heroes, getting a dedicated page in the Family Genealogy. Maybe the entire world will erect statues for you."

"Heh heh... They'd probably just erect a Monument for you."

Half a minute passed.

Those who decided to go remained a minority, fewer than thirty people. Only a few were still wavering, while most remained indifferent.

In the crowd.

Xiao Weiqing noticed Ning Xing's gaze and his heart skipped a beat.

"Why are you looking at me?"

I just broke through the barrier, alright? I'm your Disciple! You aren't sending me to my death, are you?

Ning Xing looked at his Disciple, remained motionless for a long time, and then shifted his gaze.

He didn't know why.

Xiao Weiqing clearly sensed some inexplicable emotions in Ning Xing's eyes: a trace of reassurance, and a trace of disappointment.

This made Xiao Weiqing feel uneasy.

He looked at the other Powerful Experts around him.

Every one of them was covered in blood, severely wounded. Some were blind in one eye, others were missing an arm... In the crowd, Xiao Weiqing also saw Zhong Wen. The usually gentle and refined Zhong Wen was now in a sorry state, with a hideous, unhealed scar across his face.

These Powerful Experts ignored their injuries, simply standing quietly and looking at the group of young people who had just turned 20.

Their eyes held expectation.

But.

The few people who stood out greatly disappointed them.

But even so, they did not say anything more.

For some reason, seeing these Powerful Experts made Xiao Weiqing feel increasingly uncomfortable and choked up.

Time passed bit by bit.

He noticed Ning Xing's gaze sweeping over him several times.

Xiao Weiqing felt an indescribable taste in his heart.

"Shit!"

"I'm the guy with the System Panel! This isn't a crisis, it's my opportunity!"

"What the hell is there to be afraid of?"

"I'll go!"

Xiao Weiqing suddenly stepped forward and roared.

The other Geniuses were startled by Xiao Weiqing's shout and were a little confused.

"Who is this?"

"I don't know."

"Look at him showing off. Does anyone know him?"

"Don't know him. He's not in the top hundred of the Sky Ladder."

"Heh... What a clown."

"You're the clown! He's a first year who just took first place in the Exchange Competition." After saying this, the person stepped forward, "Count me in too!"

"Count me in as well. At worst, we die."

"I'll go too. I want to see if those punks from the other world truly have three heads and six arms."

"I'll go too!"

"Add me."

"..."

Whether they were provoked by Xiao Weiqing or simply unwilling to fall behind, dozens of people suddenly stepped forward, all stating their intention to go.

At least half of the top hundred on the Sky Ladder stepped forward, including seven of the top ten.

"Good, good, good!"

"With you in Great Xia, why should we fear the Yao Race?"

At this moment, Xiao Weiqing drooped his eyelids, wanting to cry without tears. Hearing more and more people shouting 'I'll go' and 'I'll go too' felt awful.

Why the hell didn't you guys say so earlier?

If you had said so earlier, I wouldn't have gone.

NND!

Can I back out now?

The team, originally fewer than fifty people, instantly broke one hundred.

"Time's up!"

"Those who decided not to go, please return first."

A group of Powerful Experts led away their students and juniors. Although they didn't say anything, everyone saw the disappointment in the eyes of these Powerful Experts.

Minister Lu Youlin said:

"On behalf of Great Xia, I thank everyone for their courage."

Minister Lu Youlin waved his hand, and staff members brought over several boxes.

"Level 5 Qi Gathering pills, Muscle Regeneration Pills, and Spirit Gathering Pills—two bottles of each per person."

"Wow, we're rich."

Everyone exclaimed in surprise.

They had only heard of Level 5 Medicinal Pills, never used them. Because a single Level 5 Medicinal Pill costs five thousand points, who could afford to consume Level 5 Medicinal Pills for daily Cultivation? Unless their family owned a mine, but even then, it shouldn't be wasted like this.

Now, they were being given two bottles for free, with ten pills per bottle. This meant that every Genius present received 300,000 points for free.

A grand gesture.

108 Geniuses lined up, collected their Medicinal Pills in sequence, and stood before the Spatial Rift.

Among them.

Twelve were in the Fourth Realm.

Sixty-nine were in the Third Realm who had Broken Three Barriers.

Twenty-six had Broken Two Barriers.

And there was one Anomaly: Xiao Weiqing, who had just broken through the barrier.

"You're Xiao Weiqing, right? You're a man, unlike those weaklings," praised a woman with a ponytail.

Xiao Weiqing turned his head and replied awkwardly:

"Senior Sister, you flatter me."

"Hey, Xi Xiaolan, when you call them weaklings, don't include me," said a Buzz-Cut Youth.

Xi Xiaolan, who ranked in the top three of the second year's Sky Ladder, possessed Level 6 Extraordinary Talent and immense strength.

"Hmph, you're all the same, weaklings!"

Xi Xiaolan raised her fist at the Buzz-Cut Youth, making him feel helpless. He had experienced Xi Xiaolan's fists before; she was a complete Violence Freak.

"Time's up!"

"May all of you return victorious!"

Facing the Spatial Rift, everyone showed no hesitation.

"The wind whistles and sighs..."

"Get lost!"

"Wang Chenghao, can't you say something auspicious for once?"

"Oh, fine. Today is a good day, everything goes as planned..."

"You better shut up. Your singing is worse than crying."

"Tch, you guys should cherish the time you spend with a Great Xia hero. Once this lord comes out of the Ruins, you'll need an appointment to see me."

"If you seize the Ruins, I'll shit while standing on my head."

"Hahaha... It's a deal. See you in the Ruins."

The first Genius stepped into the Spatial Rift.

Next.

Everyone no longer hesitated.

They stepped in one after another.

As the last one, Xiao Weiqing was still full of regret, wailing internally, "Why didn't you guys say so earlier..."

"The Fourth Realm experts will be suppressed somewhat due to the divine charm, and few in the Third Realm are my opponents. So the stage is huge. Don't panic."

Xiao Weiqing comforted himself.

He stepped into the Spatial Rift neither quickly nor slowly.

Two hours after everyone entered the Spatial Rift.

The Spatial Rift slowly closed.

Tang Tianxun said, "Leave one Demon Suppressing Army Legion here, and the rest of you return and wait for news."

"I hope it's good news."

"Whether it's good or bad, what we fear most is no news."

Indeed, no news is the most terrifying news, as it would mean that all the Geniuses who entered from Great Xia were completely wiped out...