Translator: CinderTL
Dongchuan Province, Tianchuan City.
A colossal circular platform hovered above the entire city, its vast expanse capable of accommodating over a million spectators.
This was the venue for the Great Stellar War's live audience, and also the entrance to the 'Civilization Ruins'!
Over half a million spectators had already gathered in the stands, with the crowd continuing to swell, their voices rising in a deafening roar.
Rumble...
Rumble!
Aircraft descended onto the platform, and combatants from various provinces emerged, heading toward the staging area.
Whenever a participant appeared, a miniature drone would fly over, hover above their head, and project a holographic display.
This was exactly what happened when Jiang Ye and Chen Zilu arrived.
Participant: Jiang Ye
Participant: Chen Zilu
Two massive projections materialized above their heads.
"Jiang Ye!!!"
"Look, it's that guy! He's here!"
"So that's Jiang Ye? He's so handsome."
"He actually dared to enter the Great Stellar War? Isn't he afraid of running into Zhou Xingkong?"
"This is going to be good."
"Has no one noticed Chen Zilu beside him? They say she has an invincible dao bone." The audience erupted into a frenzy, their gazes converging on Jiang Ye.
The Great Stellar War was still some time away.
Only a handful of participants had arrived so far.
Thus, Jiang Ye's sudden appearance immediately drew the attention of the hundreds of thousands of spectators present.
"Jiang Ye," Chen Zilu said with a smile, sending him a telepathic message. "You've become quite famous."
"Senior sister's reputation isn't exactly low either," Jiang Ye replied with a faint smile.
"I can't compare to you anymore," Chen Zilu said, shaking her head.
Over ninety percent of the audience was focused on Jiang Ye.
As for Chen Zilu? Less than ten percent paid her any attention, and even that was only because she was standing next to Jiang Ye.
It couldn't be helped.
Transcendent Aptitude was what made a genius truly shine in the Great Stellar War.
The news of Jiang Ye's challenge to Zhou Xingkong had sent shockwaves through the crowd, naturally drawing immense attention.
"Let's go to the waiting area," Jiang Ye said, unfazed by the crowd's scrutiny.
Soon, Jiang Ye led Chen Zilu to the waiting area to await the start of the Great Stellar War.
As soon as Jiang Ye entered the waiting area, he suddenly spotted a familiar figure.
It was a young woman in a snow-white dress, sitting cross-legged in a corner of the waiting area. Sensing Jiang Ye's gaze, she looked up.
"Jiang Ye?" the snow-clad girl murmured in surprise.
"Senior Zhao," Jiang Ye greeted her telepathically with a smile. "Long time no see."
The girl in the white dress was Zhao Jingxue, Zhao Qingli's cousin. She was also the top genius cadet at Penglai University, currently at the peak fourth-breakthrough realm.
"Long time no see," Zhao Jingxue nodded in acknowledgment.
Neither said much more; their relationship had never been particularly close.
When Jiang Ye was still at Penglai University, his realm was only at the first or second breakthrough, a vast gap compared to Zhao Jingxue's. Naturally, they rarely interacted.
After he transferred to White Dragon University, opportunities for contact dwindled further.
Zhao Jingxue's understanding of Jiang Ye was limited to what she had heard from Zhao Qingli.
"Just a year has passed," Zhao Jingxue murmured, watching Jiang Ye's figure. A complex emotion flickered in her eyes. "Yet he has already become so powerful."
She sensed an unfathomable aura emanating from Jiang Ye.
Even she felt a pang of unease.
A year ago, Jiang Ye had only achieved his second breakthrough, while she had already reached her fourth.
Now, after a year, Jiang Ye had surpassed her, while she remained stuck at her fourth breakthrough.
Qingli's judgment is far better than mine, Zhao Jingxue sighed inwardly.
Back then, she hadn't recognized Jiang Ye's potential.
But now? She realized how terribly wrong she had been.
Jiang Ye remained oblivious to Zhao Jingxue's thoughts.
As he and Chen Zilu entered the waiting area, they spotted several familiar faces.
A group of young men and women were gathered in a corner.
"Jiang Ye, over here!"
"It's Jiang Ye and Chen Zilu!"
"You're finally here!" The group greeted them warmly.
"Hello, seniors," Jiang Ye replied with a smile.
These were the genius cadets from White Dragon University.
White Dragon University, ranked among the top three of the ten great schools, sent a large contingent of students to each Great Stellar War. For White Dragon cadets, reaching the fourth breakthrough by their junior year was standard, with the latest being their senior year.
In this waiting area alone, Jiang Ye counted over a hundred White Dragon students.
"Jiang Ye."
"My name is Song Xuan." A voluptuous young woman approached, smiling. "When the Great Stellar War begins, if we happen to meet, why don't we team up and defeat the other teams first?"
"Alright," Jiang Ye nodded in agreement.
Song Xuan was a sixth breakthrough powerhouse.
Since she had sincerely invited him to team up, Jiang Ye saw no reason to refuse.
"Jiang Ye, we're here too. I'm Song Gang."
"I'm Li Chao." Several other White Dragon University cadets crowded around.
This scene drew curious glances from the surrounding participants, their expressions strange.
The reason was simple: Jiang Ye had only displayed the strength of a fifth breakthrough.
Yet these White Dragon University cadets were all at least sixth breakthrough, with the burly Song Gang being a peak sixth-tier master!
Yet they were all eagerly inviting Jiang Ye to join them.
"Is the atmosphere at White Dragon University really this good?"
"I'm so envious."
"I'm also at the fifth breakthrough, so why isn't anyone inviting me?" Many participants sighed inwardly.
In truth, Jiang Ye himself found the situation somewhat baffling.
What's going on here?
Could these people know my true strength? Jiang Ye wondered, puzzled. He had never revealed his full combat capabilities.
What Jiang Ye didn't realize was that these people weren't inviting him to join their team because of his strength.
There was another reason entirely.
"Jiang Ye is the face of White Dragon University," Song Gang transmitted telepathically. "We can't let him get eliminated in the first-tier. At the very least, we need to get him to the second-tier."
"Understood," Song Xuan, Li Chao, and the others nodded in agreement.
Jiang Ye was the champion of the Ten Schools League!
While the Ten Schools League might not be well-known outside academic circles, it held immense prestige among the ten great schools.
After Jiang Ye's victory, he had unofficially earned the title of White Dragon's chief among the ten great schools.
Whether White Dragon University acknowledged it or not, the other prestigious institutions certainly did.
If Jiang Ye were eliminated too early, it would bring shame upon White Dragon University.
"Jiang Ye has accepted Zhou Xingkong's challenge. Should we intervene?" Song Xuan asked telepathically.
"No need," Song Gang replied, shaking his head. "This is their personal matter. Let him handle it himself."
In truth, Song Gang didn't have much faith in Jiang Ye's chances.
Challenging Zhou Xingkong?
Even at the same realm, Song Gang wasn't confident he could defeat Zhou Xingkong, let alone Jiang Ye.
Jiang Ye remained unaware of the thoughts of Song Gang, Song Xuan, and the others.
He sat beside Chen Zilu, waiting for the Great Stellar War to begin.
(End of the Chapter)
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