This battle wasn't widespread, but it was incredibly shocking. The few individuals involved all possessed the strongest combat power in the Academy, a level of conflict rarely seen in the major Academies of the Grand Yu Empire.
An Academy elite like Granny couldn't even intervene.
This battle made Lu Yin clearly understand his own strength: he possessed the power to suppress Academy powerhouses like Willow.
Looking at Bailey and Willow lying on the ground, Zhang Ding Tian raised his blade, intending to strike them down directly.
Lu Yin quickly stopped him, "These people can be used as bargaining chips in the future."
Zhang Ding Tian was puzzled, "Bargaining chips? Bargain?"
Lu Yin nodded, solemnly saying, "You should know that the purpose of these students coming to Earth is for trials. Although trials involve life and death, these students who dare to participate have extraordinary backgrounds and wide-reaching connections. We can use their lives to negotiate with the upper echelons of the Grand Yu Empire."
Bai Xue's clear eyes looked at Lu Yin, and she coldly said, "Use their lives to exchange for Earth's freedom?"
Lu Yin nodded, "The so-called planetary evolution sounds nice, enhancing humanity itself, but in reality, it's just the Grand Yu Empire's way of conscripting soldiers. Evolved Earthlings, if not deemed important, will all be sent to battlefields, whether it's the battlefield between the Grand Yu Empire and other empires, or the battlefields outside the human domain, which are countless times more brutal than these trials. There, even Starry Sky realm powerhouses might not survive. These students can help Earth have a few more survivors."
Zhang Ding Tian fell silent, retracting his long blade.
A hint of sorrow flickered in Bai Xue's cold eyes. Originally, they thought Earth was the only intelligent life in the universe, but ever since a corpse was discovered on Neptune, everything changed. Earth was merely a primitive planet under the Grand Yu Empire's surveillance and control. What if they could explore the universe? They were just learning to walk; everything was under control.
Now, they faced the most terrifying apocalypse, not mutated beasts and zombies, but the Grand Yu Empire. After the trials ended, who knew how many people would be sent to battlefields? Even beings like the Seven Saints might just be slightly higher-ranked soldiers.
Granny looked at Lu Yin in surprise. She hadn't expected this person to have such an intention. It was more than "playing with fire"; daring to negotiate with the Grand Yu Empire's upper echelons. Since the empire's establishment, there had never been a native who dared to make demands of the empire. This was suicidal, but she had to admit it might be useful. Granny wasn't clear about others, but Willow had a significant background; his family even had someone serving in the Thirteen Royal Guard teams.
"Cough cough, you, you're thinking too simply. The Grand Yu Empire is renowned throughout the universe for its iron-blooded rule; it will not accept threats from natives," Bailey scoffed.
Lu Yin looked at him, "You don't need to worry about that. Just stay alive. You, all of you, are bargaining chips."
Bailey laughed disdainfully. These "natives" simply didn't understand the situation of the Grand Yu Empire.
Bai Xue looked at Lu Yin with doubt. Using students to threaten the Great Yu Empire might be useful, but by doing so, this person would be at the forefront of the storm, absolutely unacceptable to the Grand Yu Empire. What did he rely on? No one would selflessly dedicate themselves for others. Bai Xue secretly remained vigilant of Lu Yin.
Boom!
A sudden explosion echoed from the north. Zhang Ding Tian looked north, his expression changing. "The Institute of Technology, something's wrong!" He then swiftly rushed north.
Just then, in the sky, two figures flew westward.
Bailey looked up, gritting his teeth, "Erde, Haidian."
Zhang Dingtian soared into the sky, instantly reaching the two figures flying westward. At the same time, from another direction, two more figures also ascended, flying westward, closely following behind Erde.
Zhang Ding Tian's eyes were icy. His external energy erupted, forming visible ripples that spread out. He raised his long blade, causing the energy in the air to disappear simultaneously. At this moment, the long blade made countless people's scalps tingle. A sharp, inner qi surged forth, seemingly wanting to cleave this entire world in half.
The clouds in the sky were invisibly torn apart, and the world fell silent.
Lu Yin was shaken. Combat skill? No, this was the strongest slash.
To the west, Erde and the others turned back, their expressions changing. Zhang Ding Tian had hidden his strength; that single slash was terrifying. Although not a combat skill, it was extremely close.
"Don't hesitate, hurry!" Erde shouted softly.
Not far away, Gules and Ballaro were shocked, "This native wants to defy the heavens, run!"
A cold glint flashed in Zhang Dingtian's eyes. He fiercely swung his long blade. To the horror of countless people in the capital, a massive slash stretched across the city, sweeping westward. The sky was split open, the air warped, and the sharp energy made everyone hallucinate; this part of the sky seemed to be severed.
Erde, Haidian, Gules, and Ballaro simultaneously turned back, bravely facing the slash.
But in an instant, the slash was torn apart, transforming into five waves of energy that dissipated into the sky.
Erde's expression was grave, his eyes disbelieving.
Haidian's black robe was torn open, revealing a body covered in scales, a streak of blood at the corner of his mouth glaring under the sunlight.
Gules panted, looking at Zhang Ding Tian in astonishment.
Ballaro was the worst off, spitting out a mouthful of blood. His already green skin became even greener, and there was even a tiny crack on his body.
"Go!" Erde shouted softly again, rushing westward.
Haidian glanced at Zhang Ding Tian unwillingly, also flying westward.
Gules and Ballaro said nothing, closely pursuing behind Erde.
Zhang Ding Tian stood tall in the sky, his imposing aura radiating outward. One man and one blade silenced the four directions, and countless people cheered in reverence.
Granny was stunned. There was someone so strong among the natives, a Bridging Realm powerhouse, definitely a Bridging Realm powerhouse. This monster, looking at the Enlightenment Realm students of the Grand Yu Empire, perhaps very few could compare to him.
Lu Yin's eyes narrowed. Zhang Ding Tian's attack caused Lu Yin's emotions to surge. He wondered how strong his own Three Star Palm would be, and if he could defeat Zhang Ding Tian.
Bai Xue exhaled, a smile appearing on her face. As expected of the leader of the Seven Saints.
Bailey and Willow were shaken. This was a Bridging Realm powerhouse. They had greatly underestimated Zhang Ding Tian. If they had known he had this strength, they absolutely would not have made a move in the capital.
Zhang Ding Tian turned and flew north. That was the capital's Institute of Technology, one of Huaxia's most important locations.
Lu Yin and Bai Xue quickly followed.
Granny also took Bailey and Willow and pursued them.
The Institute of Technology was in the north of the capital. Previously, the corpse brought back from Neptune had been handed over to the Institute of Technology for safekeeping, but for some unknown reason, it needed to be transferred. At the moment of transfer, Huaxia's high-level management, including Number One, were all present; only they had the authority to give orders, but then a huge explosion occurred, causing the apocalypse.
It could be said that the Institute of Technology was the origin of everything.
Bailey and Willow only thought of searching Zhang Ding Tian's residence and Number One's office, never considering the Institute of Technology; only Erde had thought of it.
When the group arrived at the Institute of Technology, what they saw was a ground littered with skeletons and not a few human corpses.
Zhang Dingtian clenched his fists, ordering the army to cordon off the area and search for survivors.
"Saint Hua, Director Lian wants to see you," a soldier reported.
Zhang Ding Tian was overjoyed, "The Director is alive?" He then had the soldier lead the way.
A few kilometers outside the ruins of the Institute of Technology was a depression. This was the underground entrance to the Institute of Technology, also cordoned off by the army. An old man in a white robe leaned wearily against the ruined wall, drinking water, beside him a beautiful woman in a black professional suit.
"Huan Sha, how is the Director?" Zhang Ding Tian asked anxiously upon arriving.
The woman named Huan Sha said, "He's fine, just a little shaken."
"What shaken? It was just a trip, I wasn't scared," the old man grumbled.
Huan Sha chuckled, "Yes, yes, just a trip."
Zhang Ding Tian looked at the old man, "Director, what happened?"
Lu Yin and the others appeared simultaneously.
Bai Xue looked at Lu Yin strangely. Just a moment ago, Lu Yin had searched Bailey and Willow's Spatial Rings several times in front of her, taking everything he could, which made her feel a bit odd.
Lu Yin, of course, had also exerted himself in this battle, and moreover, he was very poor; he absolutely couldn't waste anything.
Bailey and Willow's Stellar Energy crystals combined were now enough for one cube, meaning he could roll the dice again! Thinking of this, Lu Yin felt excited, wondering what he would roll. He really looked forward to it.
Director Lian asked Zhang Ding Tian to dismiss the army. Zhang Ding Tian waved his hand, and Huan Sha was also sent away, leaving only Bai Xue, Lu Yin, and Granny.
Lu Yin asked Granny to leave. Granny was a bit reluctant; Erde had flown westward after leaving this place, clearly having discovered something, and she wanted to know too.
Lu Yin glared at her fiercely, and only then did Granny reluctantly leave.
To the side, Bai Xue stared at Lu Yin, her expression suggesting she wanted Lu Yin to leave as well.
Lu Yin completely ignored her, instead looking curiously at Director Lian.
"Who is this?" Director Lian looked at Lu Yin and asked.
Lu Yin said, "I'm here representing Chu Shan to listen in."
Bai Xue was speechless.