Qing Yu spoke coldly, "The original deal was for you to exchange my item for Huo Xiaoling. Since you didn't bring it, what right do you have to ask me to release her? Get lost."
Yan Gang was furious, but in the face of Qing Yu, he knew he wasn't a match. Seeing the increasing chill in Qing Yu's eyes, Yan Gang quickly retreated, afraid he might be captured as well.
Huo Xiaoling sat bound in the snow, her eyes flickering as she stared at Qing Yu's back. If this man really belonged to the White Night Clan, then none of the trial students could possibly be his match. The transaction in eight days was completely under his control. To him, this was all just a game.
At the base of Zang Peak in Tianzhu, more and more students began to appear—almost all from the second batch of trial participants.
Most of these students had removed their personal terminals to avoid their locations being exposed and went into hiding.
Mono had also arrived and gone into hiding.
Besides Mono, there was another sealed Fusion Realm expert who had also concealed himself.
Only the true elites dared to appear here now.
Eight days passed in the blink of an eye. During this time, Lu Yin had been continuously studying the star map, observing the movement of the stars. The fourth star was becoming increasingly distinct, but it still hadn't fully manifested.
He sighed. The further he progressed, the harder it became to simulate new stars. He could feel that adding a new star wasn't something simple. The "Heavenly Star Art" was more like mimicking the creation of an entire stellar system in the universe. It was a grand technique—just simulating four stars was already this difficult. According to his current understanding, the maximum number he could simulate was eight stars. He had no idea when he'd be able to complete it.
As for breaking through to the Fusion Realm—it wasn't going to happen in the short term.
Achieving a breakthrough wasn't as simple as just molding the body. Everyone had different physical constitutions, and the challenges of reaching the Fusion Realm varied as well. What was required was a specific feeling—a signal from the body itself. Only upon receiving this signal could one prove their body was ready to break through. Otherwise, even if they forced a molding attempt, it would fail, and Lu Yin had no desire to experience the consequences of that failure.
If breaking through to the Fusion Realm were that easy, people like Ras, who weren't short on star energy crystals, would have long succeeded.
Everything the body had mastered would impact the breakthrough, including cultivation techniques.
Lu Yin looked at his palm, uncertain what kind of influence the Heavenly Star Art would have on his advancement to the Fusion Realm.
He flipped his hand, and the die appeared. Lu Yin crushed another cubic star energy crystal, and the die began to absorb madly, soon returning to normal.
Lu Yin was overjoyed—the die had recovered. Doing a quick mental calculation, he figured that after using it five times in a row, he'd hit his limit and fall asleep, and the die would also go dormant for ten days. This meant, generally, he could only use it four times in one sitting, and should rest for a few days afterward.
He was itching to use it now—he still had plenty of star energy crystals in his void ring. But time was up—it was time to head to Tianzhu.
He left the bedroom and soared into the sky. Not far away, Zhang Dingtian and the others were already waiting for him. There were five of them: Zhang Dingtian, Bai Xue, Granny, Gules, and Bararo. Including Lu Yin, that made six. Zhou Shan and Wu Sheng remained behind in the capital.
Behind Zhang Dingtian and the others, a group of students was tied up. Each looked emaciated, obviously starved for days. Though they lacked the strength to resist, they still glared angrily at Lu Yin—especially Ras and Jenny Onar. One was the son of the Deputy Minister of Finance, the other heir to the Onar family. When had they ever suffered such humiliation?
At this point, someone like Willow was nothing special.
"Let's go," Zhang Dingtian said in a deep voice, rising into the air. A rope in his hand dragged forty-two students behind him, like hauling a string of discarded wine barrels. They all flew westward. These students couldn't be left here—Zhou Shan and Wu Sheng wouldn't be able to guard them.
Lu Yin was momentarily stunned. The scene was quite spectacular. He wondered what the other students would think if they saw it.
Granny was dumbfounded. She was one of the most ordinary among the trial students, and any of the captured students could easily have crushed her before. Now they were being treated like this—her worldview was shaken.
Gules, on the other hand, was excited. She taunted Erd, Ras, and the others, while also provoking Jenny Onar, who was so angry she looked ready to bite someone.
Lu Yin greeted Bai Xue, but she gave him a cold shoulder.
Lu Yin also knew why. He had already heard the rumors circulating within the city. Bai Xue being angry was normal—even he was somewhat irritated. What did it mean to be "rejected"? Was he really that bad?
Meanwhile, high above Tianzhu, countless survivors from Tianzhu stared blankly upwards. Qing Yu had tied all the captured students with a single rope and was dragging them to the foot of the Tibetan Peak, exactly like what Zhang Dingtian had done. Many students were so furious they nearly spat blood—they were elites, and now their dignity was utterly destroyed.
Huo Xiaoling's face flushed red with anger. She hated Qing Yu, and also resented Lu Yin. Wouldn't it have been better to just make a fair trade? Why did it have to be an exchange involving them? Damn it. If it weren't for the trial restrictions, she would have broken through her seal and fought Qing Yu to the death.
Outside Earth, Xiken Maldo and the others wore equally grim expressions. Mira, on the other hand, was smiling brightly as she watched the light screen. It eventually switched to the base of the Tibetan Peak in Tianzhu—that was the location of the final battle. No one believed this would be an ordinary trade; a fight was inevitable.
Qing Yu had departed a day earlier. When he arrived at the foot of the Tibetan Peak, Lu Yin and the others had yet to arrive, but numerous students waiting there were treated to quite a spectacle.
The once high-and-mighty elite students were being so thoroughly humiliated—among them was even Huo Xiaoling. Many students took a malicious delight in it.
Yan Gang trembled with anger. Huo Xiaoling was the fiancée of the young lord of the Lianyan Star. This scene wasn't an insult to Huo Xiaoling alone but a blow to the young lord of Lianyan Star's own face.
Qing Yu casually threw the captured students on the ground, yawned, and looked toward the towering Tibetan Peak not far away. His expression was relaxed, revealing nothing of the fugitive status he carried.
Half a day later, Lu Yin and the others arrived.
At the sight of Lu Yin and his group, the hidden students were shocked again. The number of students Lu Yin had captured exceeded Qing Yu's, forming a spectacular line hanging midair. Even Yan Gang was stunned, but his shock quickly turned to fury. The Lianyan Star had a close relationship with the Onar family, and his arrival in the Great Yu Empire had been arranged by the Onar family. Yet, Jenny Onar was being treated so poorly—sharing the same fate as Huo Xiaoling. He was so enraged he nearly lost control.
In secret, the students protecting Jenny Onar trembled with anger as well. It was foreseeable that once this scene spread back to the Great Yu Empire, the Onar family's reputation would be utterly destroyed.
Compared to these two women, Ras seemed insignificant.
Qing Yu's eyes gleamed as he looked at Lu Yin and the others. His gaze swept over them before finally fixing on Lu Yin. "So you're the one who negotiated with me."
"How do you know?" Lu Yin asked, puzzled.
Qing Yu smiled faintly, "Just a feeling."
Lu Yin waved his hand. Zhang Dingtian tossed the forty-two students to the ground, landing not far from the thirty-two students Qing Yu had tied up. The two groups stared at each other, an awkward atmosphere especially between Huo Xiaoling and Jenny Onar. The Huo family and the Onar family didn't have a great relationship, but they were on the same level and had known each other since childhood. Neither expected to meet under these circumstances.
"All the students are yours—thirty-two in total. Where's my item?" Qing Yu asked, hands clasped behind his back as he looked at Lu Yin.
Lu Yin took out the stone and casually tossed it to Qing Yu.
Qing Yu caught it, staring at the sixteen-faced ancient stone. His eyes flickered with a burning light before he looked at Lu Yin in surprise. "You don't want to know what this thing's for?"
"No," Lu Yin replied coldly. Facing this person, he didn't want to reveal the White Night Fist. Who knew if it would leak to the White Night Clan? He didn't want to be hunted. It was better to get rid of such things sooner rather than later.
Qing Yu admired this. "Very smart, and sensible. You didn't try to fool me with a fake. It's a pity—if you hadn't threatened me, I could have offered you a bright future."
Qing Yu's words made Lu Yin's eyes turn cold. Zhang Dingtian stepped forward a few paces to face Qing Yu directly, his gaze flickering with killing intent.
"Did you have something to do with the Earth's evolution?" Zhang Dingtian said in a deep voice.
Qing Yu glanced at Zhang Dingtian and sneered. "Who do you think you are, daring to question me?" His gaze then landed on Zhang Dingtian's long blade, laughing mockingly. "My sword, given to trash like you—it's an insult. Give it to me." Saying this, he vanished and charged straight at Zhang Dingtian.
Zhang Dingtian raised his blade to strike. The blade vibrated sharply as he swung with full force, the slash slicing through the sky directly aimed at Qing Yu.
Qing Yu was surprised. "Cross-border combat strength? Interesting." He then drew an iron rod and smashed it down. Zhang Dingtian's slash was effortlessly crushed. The iron rod pierced the void, blocking out a patch of sky as it struck down. Not only Zhang Dingtian, but Lu Yin, Bai Xue, Gules, and several others were all caught within this strike.