33: Undercurrents

"Give up."

"They can form their own teams. It's best if they get something, but if not, then forget it. If their strength is insufficient, feeding the Dragon Fish fry would actually be better; they could still earn ten or twenty points a day."

Qin Sheng frowned slightly. "We need to discuss..."

"What about those from the Prefecture City?" Xiao Weiqing interrupted Qin Sheng and asked.

Fang Lingyun praised, "Xiao Weiqing, you really did notice. That's exactly why I'm here."

"We have news that the people from the Prefecture City have already made a plan to demarcate areas. Tomorrow, following the 'Pocket Plan,' they will corral the vast majority of Dragon Fish under three feet."

"You have to understand, there are over 5,000 people from the Prefecture City in total. Both in terms of strength and numbers, they are above us. Moreover, they are more united than we are, unlike us, who are a loose mess spread across more than thirty cities."

"Once they succeed, we'll have almost no chance of catching any Dragon Fish in the following days."

"Dragon Fish over three feet long aren't something just anyone can catch."

Xiao Weiqing nodded. "Fine, but we need to calculate the specific numbers."

Fang Lingyun said, "Alright. When we left this afternoon, we already scouted a place that's very suitable for executing the Pocket Plan. You'll probably need to provide 15 people. Also, Xiao Weiqing, if a conflict breaks out in the next few days, we need you to take action."

Xiao Weiqing frowned slightly.

"Helping us is also helping yourself. Having no friends in Luo Jiang Academy... I even suspect they'll come for you first."

"Why?"

"Your points are high right now. Even if you don't fight for them, someone will, and they'll try every means possible. People are greedy."

Xiao Weiqing shook his head. "I still don't understand. Our enemies should be the Yao Beasts, right?"

"I believe you when you say there will be conflict, but isn't this getting a bit serious?"

Fang Lingyun sneered, "Xiao Weiqing, you underestimate the despicableness of human nature. I heard about your clash with Zhou Ming that day. What do you think would have happened to you, Qin Sheng, and Anqiu City if you hadn't been there?"

Xiao Weiqing fell silent.

Then he asked again, "How do you know all this? And how are you so certain?"

"It's not exactly a secret. Of course, I have some conjectures of my own as well."

"Do you know Xie Jun?"

"Xie Jun?"

Qin Sheng said, "Are you talking about Xie Jun from Hengze City?"

Xiao Weiqing also remembered. When they first arrived, Xie Jun from Hengze City had been defeated in a single move by a Prefecture City Genius.

"That's right."

"What happened to him?"

Fang Lingyun said, "He already withdrew from the assessment this morning."

"What? He withdrew?!"

Xiao Weiqing was also shocked. "Why did he withdraw?"

"He was heavily injured by Zhong Chen and was destined to miss the assessment. He had no choice but to withdraw."

With a Level 4 Extraordinary Talent, the Upper Academy might be difficult, but entering the Middle Academy would have been very easy.

"F*ck! This is goddamn...!"

Qin Sheng couldn't help but swear. He remembered that day when Zhou Ming forced him to kneel. If it hadn't been for Xiao Weiqing, he would have been forced to kneel or even pushed to withdraw from the assessment and slink off to the Lower Academy.

"Incredible, isn't it? When I heard the news, I was also shocked and found it hard to believe."

Xiao Weiqing said, "Does no one care about this?"

Fang Lingyun shook his head. "This isn't high school. As long as things don't get out of hand and no one dies, they generally won't interfere."

"Don't feel it's unfair. If you have the ability, you can also organize the Geniuses from various cities to oppose the Prefecture City. But people's hearts aren't united; it's too difficult. As long as it's not happening to them, most people choose to stay silent."

Xiao Weiqing nodded. "I understand. If there's a conflict tomorrow, I will act."

When the nest is overturned, no egg stays unbroken. He understood this principle.

"It's not 'if'; there will definitely be a conflict," Fang Lingyun said with certainty.

Qin Sheng asked, "Why are you so sure?"

"Because tomorrow at noon, halfway through the entrance assessment, the points rankings will be announced."

"They will do everything they can to drive people from other cities out of the Upper Academy, and even the Middle Academy, leaving only their own people," the representative from Yueshan City said.

"Fine, we'll cooperate!"

After discussing the details, they each went their separate ways.

Afterward.

Qin Sheng summarized Luohe's Fang Lingyun's words and sent them to the group.

"What? How could this be?"

"Unbelievable. I thought coming to Luo Jiang Academy and stepping into the extraordinary would make me a superior person, but now it seems I'm at the bottom of the ladder."

"The old saying is right: when you're out in the world, what use is talent? What matters most is your background."

"..."

Qin Sheng, helpless, asked, "Is anyone in the group from a major Family?"

"Yeah."

Zhu Dong asked, "Who?"

"You and Qin Sheng."

Zhu Dong: "..."

Qin Sheng: "..."

After a round of questioning, no one in the group had a background. After asking around, Qin Sheng counted as one and Zhu Dong as another, but they didn't have older brothers in Luo Jiang Academy.

"In any case, everyone stay together tomorrow. If anything happens, report it in the group immediately."

Afterward.

Xiao Weiqing closed the group chat.

"Cultivating... one's own strength is what matters most."

Adjusting his breath, he circulated the Samadhi True Fire Spirit Refining Art, and Spiritual Qi surged continuously through his body.

Outside the window, the moon rose and set.

Not until his Qi Fire was refined to 210 strands did Xiao Weiqing stop. The Spiritual Qi in his shenque acupoint had unknowingly exceeded 1/5... Building L1.

First-floor lobby.

At this moment.

Twenty-six new Trainees of Luo Jiang Academy were gathered here.

If any Trainees from the Prefecture City were here, they would be surprised, because these were all people who had Awakened a Level 5 Extraordinary Talent, and several of them were of the 'Technique' type.

"Tomorrow at noon, the assessment will be halfway through. The real-time points rankings will be announced then. What are everyone's thoughts?"

"What thoughts could there be? Just beat them up."

"Exactly. If those from the other cities don't know when to advance or retreat, just beat them directly and force them to withdraw from the assessment."

"Xue Cheng, what do you think?"

A thin young man with single eyelids leaned back in his chair, looking as if he hadn't fully woken up. Upon hearing his name, he opened his eyes.

"Me? I'm fine with whatever."

"Sigh, Xue Cheng, can you open your eyes when you speak? It's very impolite, and it makes you look like you think you're some big shot."

Xue Cheng sat up straight. "I've goddamn opened them as wide as they'll go."

"Oh, is that so? Sorry, I didn't notice."

Xue Cheng: "..."

"Duan Shuyu, if you weren't a Level 5 'Technique' user, see if I wouldn't mess you up."

The young man named Duan Shuyu had a baby face. He shrugged at Xue Cheng's words.

"Blame me, then."

"Humph!"

Xue Cheng possessed a Level 5 'Spirit' talent—mental attacks. There weren't many present who could make him feel fearful.

Duan Shuyu smiled and said, "Qin Tian, what do you say?"

Upon hearing this.

Everyone looked toward the young man in the main seat. He had short hair, wore white clothes, had a dark complexion, and looked quite ordinary, but all the Level 5 Extraordinary Talent Trainees present followed his lead.

Among so many Level 5 Extraordinary Talents in Luo Jiang Academy, Qin Tian's talent was only 'Body,' but his talent was the Five-Turn True Body, which was comparable to Level 6.

Qin Tian spoke, "Give them 20 spots for the Upper Academy and 600 spots for the Middle Academy."

"Actually, let's give 30 spots for the Upper Academy."

Xue Cheng: "Fine, we'll do as you say."

Qin Tian smiled bitterly. "Sigh, it's the old man's order. There's no choice. After all, we are the beneficiaries of these interests."

"But Zhong Chen, you were too ruthless yesterday. It's expected that the Trainees from other cities will resist. Try not to hurt them if possible."