262: Summit

Haoyue City.

The heads of the three major powers gathered, and the atmosphere in the room was extremely oppressive.

Thump, thump, thump…

After a long period of silence, Li Yue, the Guild Master of the New Moon Guild, suddenly tapped the table.

"You two, I invited you here not to watch you space out!"

"The Secret Realm dispute tomorrow must have a clear plan set."

Li Yue's gaze swept over Zhao Kaishan, the Alliance Leader of the Berserker Alliance, and Zhang Boyu, the Chief of the Arcane Secret Society.

"We already discussed the matter before…"

Zhao Kaishan heard this and said with a hoarse voice:

"I don't think there's any need to discuss it again now."

"That was the previous plan!"

"The current situation is completely different from what we anticipated."

Hearing his words, Li Yue looked over with an aggressive gaze.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Kaishan's expression choked, and Zhang Boyu, the Chief of the Arcane Secret Society beside him, sighed even more.

"Indeed…

"Previously, we only expected Wushan University and one of its allies to contend with us for the Secret Realm's ownership."

"But who would have thought that for a Silver-Rank Secret Realm, Wushan University would even bring in Blazing Dragon University."

Zhang Boyu's face showed helplessness, and a hint of speechlessness flashed in his eyes.

The four top universities can be said to be the most powerful behemoths under the Dragon Kingdom's official authority, holding a transcendent status and a unique level of strength.

To act for a Silver-Rank Secret Realm, their conduct was truly unsightly.

Moreover, for the three major powers of Haoyue City, this was a dimensionality reduction strike.

The wager they had made with Wushan University was for each side to send Rank 3 Awakeners into the Secret Realm to compete for the final Secret Realm Key.

In the estimation of Zhang Boyu and others, when comparing the strength of low-Rank Awakeners, the three major powers would still hold an advantage.

Although the Rank 3 Awakeners they sent might not have the same talent and potential as the students of Wushan University, they were more experienced, had stayed at Rank 3 longer, and had refined all aspects of their skills to the extreme.

Furthermore, to be even more cautious, Zhang Boyu and others even proposed a rather excessive request to Wushan University: only new students from this year would be allowed to participate.

They had already inquired and learned that although the new students of Wushan University this year were of good quality, the students they could send to participate would have only just entered the Rank 3 Ranks when the Secret Realm opened.

At that time, the people they sent would have an advantage in experience and Rank, making it easy to deal with a group of youngsters.

For this, Zhang Boyu and others even actively suggested that Wushan University could find another helper.

After all, in their view, any helper Wushan University found would basically be one of the universities of the same caliber.

With such a strength comparison between the two sides, it would be impossible for them to lose.

But the result…

News that arrived not long ago revealed that the helper Wushan University found was none other than Blazing Dragon University!

They had confidence in facing off against new students from first-tier universities, but a top-tier university? That left them feeling helpless.

After Zhang Boyu's words fell, the atmosphere in the meeting room became oppressive once again.

Blazing Dragon University had regained the top spot among Dragon Kingdom universities, and the quality of their new students this year was astonishingly strong, especially with Wang Chen, who was like a monster among them.

"What's the use of thinking about this?"

After a moment, Zhao Kaishan said somewhat dejectedly:

"Allowing Wushan University to find a helper was something we actively proposed at the time."

"If we go back on our word now, even if the approaching Blazing Dragon University doesn't care, do you think Wushan University will let us off?"

"The reason we can compete for the Secret Realm's ownership in such a peaceful manner is because Wushan University is willing to abide by the rules; otherwise…"

As he spoke, Zhao Kaishan gave a self-deprecating smile.

"In their eyes, we are nothing."

"As long as they wish, they can crush us without even using their full strength."

As Zhao Kaishan's words fell, Zhang Boyu and Li Yue couldn't help but sigh at the same time.

Although these words were hurtful, they were a fact they had to accept.

The three major powers of Haoyue City, even combined, were not on the same level as a first-tier university.

"What?"

"Are you just going to give up like this?"

After a moment of silence, Li Yue suddenly spoke:

"This is our best opportunity to expand our power. By taking down the Secret Realm Dungeon, the Awakeners of our respective powers can grow faster, and we can obtain trade permits sooner."

At this moment, Li Yue's dignified face showed a ferocious expression, and her eyes were filled with extreme unwillingness.

"What can we do?"

Zhang Boyu spread his hands, saying helplessly:

"We agreed that each family would send ten Awakeners into the Secret Realm. We've already found out about Wushan University, and as for Blazing Dragon University, the people they send will definitely be the most outstanding from their first year, maybe even their top ten!"

"Each one of them could probably sweep through Wushan University's team. What do our people have to resist them?"

"Exactly."

Zhao Kaishan nodded from the side, fully agreeing with Zhang Boyu's words.

"To deal with the people from Blazing Dragon University, Rank 3 Awakeners are definitely not realistic. At least a few Rank 4 Awakeners would be needed to have a chance of winning."

"But…"

As he spoke, Zhao Kaishan gave a bitter laugh.

"We've already agreed with Wushan University to use Rank 3 Awakeners to compete for the Secret Realm's ownership. If we change that now, Wushan University will likely flip the table directly."

"The wrath of a first-tier university is not something we can bear."

Hearing his words, the ferocious expression on Li Yue's face eased slightly.

Don't think that they can now sit at the negotiating table, contend with Wushan University, and even pull some small tricks.

But all of this…

It was all based on both sides operating within the allowed rules.

Once they violated the rules, Wushan University could completely cut them out, and even their centuries of accumulated wealth would be burned to ashes under the other party's wrath.

Three Seven-Turn Professionals, while lofty to ordinary Awakeners, were just a matter of course to Wushan University, which was in the Ranks of a first-tier university.

Which first-tier university doesn't have an Eight-Turn or even stronger Awakener overseeing it?

"So, your meaning is?"

Li Yue was silent for a moment, her ferocious expression receding, and she asked in a calm tone:

"To give up this opportunity that could allow us to advance further, and let Wushan University and Blazing Dragon University take this Secret Realm?"

"Besides that, do we have any other choice?"

Zhang Boyu and Zhao Kaishan exchanged glances, saying helplessly in unison.

"Not necessarily!"

Hearing this, Li Yue suddenly smiled mysteriously.

"If Wushan University can ask Blazing Dragon University for help, why can't we find helpers?"

"Although the rule we set is for Rank 3 Awakeners to compete for the Secret Realm's ownership, it doesn't necessarily mean that our own people have to participate!"