84: Chapter 84 The Scramble!

Li Menger's Soul Dream Whisper was the most bizarre; she didn't even have to do much, relying on her illusions to make the Puppets on the 29th floor kill each other.

When she reached the 30th floor, however, she encountered a Vicious Beast with a firm will; her illusions were completely ineffective, so after trying a few times, she knew when to retreat.

There was still a hint of curiosity in her eyes, as if she were studying the other's mental defenses.

Wu Xuan's Profound Iron Bones couldn't hold up on the 29th floor; the arrows from those Puppets made his arms go numb, and at this moment, the gap between his A-rank talent and S-rank talent was finally revealed.

Wan Hao's Wood Leaf Pupil could predict attacks, but it couldn't handle the poisonous miasma on the 28th floor; his vision was obstructed by the miasma, causing his predictions to fail repeatedly, and he had to withdraw early.

When everyone came out of the tower, the gazes in the square all turned towards them.

Yet, they simultaneously drifted towards the static "60th Floor" at the top of the screen.

Zhao Ya walked over to Ji Changkong and wiped the sweat from her forehead. "Tell me, how exactly did Zhang Wen manage that?"

Ji Changkong glanced at the screen, his tone uncharacteristically fluctuating.

"Either he has hidden his cultivation, or... his Nine Heavens Tribulation Thunder is even more terrifying than we thought."

No one noticed that in the shade of a tree not far away, Zhang Wen was gnawing on some sweet and sour pork ribs he had just snatched.

He looked at the floor numbers of Zhao Ya and the others on the screen, lost in thought.

"For the Crimson Flame Dancer to hold out on the 40th floor for so long, Zhao Ya's control over flames is stronger than I thought."

"Ji Changkong is calm enough to know when to stop while ahead."

"Qin Huang's reckless streak... I'll have to remind him not to always take things head-on next time."

He chewed the ribs, suddenly recalling the scene of storming the 60th floor seven days ago.

The giant beast on that level was indeed troublesome, especially the backlash from the final Tribulation Thunder, which almost shattered his Meridians.

At the time, he gritted his teeth and released his ultimate Move, forcefully using his Forming Realm spiritual power to unleash power beyond his Realm; thinking about it now, his arms still felt numb.

"If I had known they would be so lively, I should have gone to storm it later."

Zhang Wen smacked his lips, finished the last rib, and clapped his hands, preparing to return to his villa.

Just as he turned around, he bumped into Zhao Ya standing behind him, holding a handkerchief, looking at him with sparkling eyes.

"Zhang Wen, you've hidden yourself quite well."

Zhang Wen raised an eyebrow. "What have I hidden?"

"The 60th floor!"

Zhao Ya waved the handkerchief in her hand. "Don't tell me you don't know that the outside world is about to explode; everyone is guessing whether you broke through to the Subtle Realm long ago."

Zhang Wen smiled, neither admitting nor denying it, only asking, "What about you? The Vicious Beast on the 40th floor wasn't easy to deal with, right?"

Zhao Ya's attention was diverted, and she immediately began to complain.

"Don't mention it; that Vicious Beast's cold air could freeze flames. I almost thought I was going to fall there..."

As the few left, the discussion on the square behind them about "whether Zhang Wen is truly in the Subtle Realm" continued.

Sunlight filtered through the leaves onto them; one figure was dazzling at the top of the screen, while another was chattering away about the fun incidents of storming the tower.

It was as if that 60th-floor record was nothing more than a very ordinary, trivial matter.

And no one knew that the name being placed on a pedestal was currently thinking: I wonder if I'll be able to snatch a second serving of sweet and sour pork ribs at the Canteen tomorrow.

The clamor in the square had not yet subsided, and several figures had already gathered on the terrace of the top floor of the teaching building.

Zhao Shanhe, Dean of the Elemental Academy, stroked his beard, gazing at the static "60th Floor" at the top of the screen, his eyes hiding hard-to-conceal joy.

Beside him, Lei Zhan, Dean of the Combat Academy, could no longer hold back, his copper-bell-sized eyes wide open.

"Old Zhao, this student of yours is hiding deep! The 60th floor, Lightning attribute, and the one guarding it is the Thunder Jade Beast! That beast is covered in thunder-patterned jade armor and can draw on the backlash of heaven and earth's Thunder Power."

"Even someone at the Peak of the Subtle Realm would get a headache encountering it; how did he, a Forming Realm cultivator, manage it?"

Lin Mo, Dean of the Formation Academy, pushed up his glasses, his mild voice carrying persistence.

"Dean Lei only knows one part of it. The Thunder Jade Beast's jade armor contains a natural Formation, and every pattern is a node for the flow of Thunder Power."

"That Zhang Wen can find the flaws shows his perception of the rhythm of Formations is far beyond ordinary people; coming to my Formation Academy is the right path."

"Hmph, flashy tricks!" Lei Zhan sneered, his fist slamming into his palm with a dull thud.

"To be able to withstand the Thunder Jade Beast's Reverse Thunder Domain head-on, and to unleash power beyond his Rank—this ruthlessness is simply a waste if he doesn't come to the Combat Academy to practice body techniques! I will mentor him personally!"

Liu Ruyan, Dean of the Beast Taming Academy, holding a snow-white Spirit Fox, chuckled.

"Dean Lei is still so impatient. The Thunder Jade Beast is best at using Thunder Power to disrupt the mind. That Zhang Wen can remain clear-headed in its Domain shows his Mental Energy resilience; it is most suitable for contracting a Spirit Beast."

"The Thunder Phoenix that just hatched at my place is a perfect match for his Nine Heavens Tribulation Thunder."

The four Deans each held their own views, their gazes clashing in mid-air, only Dean, the Dean of the General Studies Academy, was holding an ancient book and slowly turning the pages.

Lei Zhan couldn't help but ask, "Old Dean, aren't you going to get involved?"

Dean raised his eyelids. "My academy only teaches theory. However, this child does have talent."

"Just now, while commenting on others storming the tower under the tree shade, he said that Zhao Ya's control over flames was stronger than expected, and that Ji Changkong was calm enough; every point he made was spot on. He is material for studying theory."

These words made the others even more anxious. Zhao Shanhe smilingly blocked the hand Lei Zhan reached out to pat him.

"Zhang Wen is currently a student of my academy; whether he stays or not is up to him."

"Besides, his Nine Heavens Tribulation Thunder belongs to the Elemental lineage, and suppressing the Thunder Jade Beast's natural Thunder Power just goes to show his unique insights into Elemental control. Keeping him here is the proper thing to do."

Just as they were arguing incessantly, Dean suddenly closed his book and pointed downstairs: "Speak of the devil, and he shall appear."

Several people leaned over to look, only to see Zhang Wen being dragged by Zhao Ya towards the Canteen, mumbling: "I didn't snatch enough sweet and sour pork ribs today; I'll have to go to the small shop later to see if there's any sweet and sour dried fish..."

While the argument on the terrace was in full swing, a crisp laugh suddenly came from downstairs.

Just as Zhang Wen impatiently reached the entrance of the Canteen, he saw Ding Siyi standing at the bottom of the steps, holding two plates of sweet and sour pork ribs.

The cuffs of her white shirt were rolled up, and sunlight fell on the tips of her hair, shining as if sprinkled with gold dust.

"I knew you didn't snatch enough."

Ding Siyi handed one of the plates over, her fingertips inadvertently brushing against the back of his hand.

"I just went to the back kitchen to help the auntie wash three plates and traded for a special serving."

Zhang Wen's eyes lit up; he took it and stuffed it into his mouth, saying vaguely: "You really understand me."

Ding Siyi smiled as she watched him wolf it down, then took a pack of tissues from her pocket and handed it to him.

"Eat slowly, no one is snatching from you. By the way, is the Thunder Jade Beast on the 60th floor harder to deal with than the rumors say?"

Zhang Wen nodded while chewing the ribs: "That beast's Reverse Thunder Domain can disrupt spiritual power, and the final backlash almost shattered my Meridians."

He suddenly remembered something and looked up at her: "You retreated when you reached the 35th floor; did you encounter trouble?"

"Yeah, the Vicious Beast on the 35th floor can mimic Moves. I tried three times and was hit by my own fireball every time."

Ding Siyi shrugged, though a sly look was hidden in her eyes.

"However, I discovered that it can't mimic spiritual power that carries emotion—just like you taught me last time, pouring the thought of 'wanting to win' into the spiritual skill."

Zhang Wen raised an eyebrow: "So you won?"

"No," she said, her eyes curving even more as she smiled, "but I've figured out its weakness; I'll definitely pass next time."

As the two walked side by side towards the dormitory, Ding Siyi suddenly kicked his heel.

"Those Deans upstairs are almost staring holes through you, especially Dean Lei; just now on the terrace, he was staring at the ribs on your plate with a gaze even fiercer than when he looks at the Thunder Jade Beast."

Zhang Wen was stunned, and when he looked up, he happened to meet several gazes from the terrace, scaring him so much he almost dropped his ribs.

Ding Siyi pulled him, lowering her voice with a laugh: "Don't be afraid; if they want to snatch you, they'll have to ask Dean Zhao if he agrees first."

On the terrace, Lei Zhan was spitting as he talked about "the Combat Academy has plenty of sweet and sour pork ribs."

Suddenly seeing Zhang Wen and Ding Siyi chatting and laughing together, with the ribs on their plates still steaming, he immediately choked on his words.

"This little girl is from your Elemental Academy, right?" Dean asked.

"Yes!"

Liu Ruyan hugged the Spirit Fox and chuckled: "It seems there's no need to argue anymore."

Zhao Shanhe's hand, which was stroking his beard, paused, then he laughed out loud: "That's why I say, the sweet and sour pork ribs in our academy's Canteen are the most reliable."

Lei Zhan rubbed his nose and suddenly snorted: "Forget it, no matter how fragrant the Combat Academy's ribs are, they can't compare to the jealousy of young people."

Zhao Shanhe looked at the figure downstairs and suddenly felt that even if Zhang Wen really wanted to transfer academies one day, as long as Ding Siyi was still in the Elemental Academy, this kid would sooner or later obediently come back.

After all, there aren't many people in this world who can make him willingly give up the last piece of ribs.