169: Before the match

Just as all the participating Trainees were checking in.

Jingdu Prefecture, Supernatural Education Bureau.

A conference room.

Three people sat at the head table.

From left to right, they were Xia Sheng, the Headmaster of Great Xia Academy and an Eighth Realm Powerhouse; Minister Lu Youlin, the Minister of the Supernatural Education Department and a Seventh Realm Powerhouse; and Dongfang Shou Zheng, a high-ranking member of the Demon Suppressing Army and a Seventh Realm Powerhouse.

Below them sat more than a dozen people, all headmasters or vice-headmasters of the Eight Great Academies.

"Dong, dong!~~"

"Enter."

Ning Xing pushed the door open, entering with Zhong Wen.

"Ning Xing is here, please take a seat quickly."

Xia Sheng spoke first, "We have received notification that the Azure Dragon Academy Trainees will arrive tomorrow morning and attend the opening ceremony in the afternoon. Their Trainees' strength should not be underestimated. What are your thoughts?"

The headmasters of the various academies fell silent, looking at Ning Xing.

Helplessly, none of their academies' Level 6 Extraordinary Talent Trainees had opened their Third Dantian, giving them no advantage against the Azure Dragon Academy's people. They were likely not opponents.

They could only pin their hopes on Dongfang Xuan and Xiao Weiqing.

Ning Xing said solemnly, "Xiao Weiqing will take first place."

"Ning Xing, are you serious?"

The headmasters were shocked. A month ago, after the Civilization Relic No. 1, they all knew that Luo Jiang Academy had produced a Prodigy who had suppressed many other Geniuses and won the final reward of the Relic.

At that time, Xiao Weiqing was Second Realm Three Dan, but with Dongfang Xuan also breaking through to Second Realm Three Dan, it remained to be seen who was stronger.

Xia Sheng said, "Xiao Weiqing merely opening his Third Dantian is not enough. Azure Dragon Academy has two Level 6 talents, both of whom have opened their Third Dantian. In the same Realm, Xiao Weiqing is probably not their opponent."

Ning Xing said, "Xiao Weiqing obtained a companion weapon in the Relic. Half a month ago, I gave him 200 units of divine charm to nourish the divine weapon."

"So that's how it is," Minister Lu Youlin nodded.

Second Realm Three Dan, plus a companion weapon, could indeed contend with the Geniuses of Azure Dragon Academy.

Minister Lu Youlin added, "The Azure Dragon Divine Hall is being so high-profile this time, I'm afraid they have ulterior motives. We cannot lose the Exchange Competition to them, otherwise, they might use the opportunity to cause trouble."

"How dare they? Don't they see where this is?"

Dongfang Shou Zheng, at the head table, spoke with a booming voice, naturally commanding respect without anger.

Xia Sheng said, "We must be vigilant. I suspect they are here for the azure dragon divine stele. There are only a few years left until the eighty-year period is up."

At this moment, Dongfang Shou Zheng said, "The azure dragon divine stele cannot be returned."

"Of course, the azure dragon divine stele won't be returned, but now that Great Xia no longer has Dongfang Hao, we need to find a solution," Minister Lu Youlin's words carried a hint of helplessness.

Dongfang Shou Zheng frowned and fell silent.

Minister Lu Youlin said, "Shou Zheng, how is Bai Chen doing now?"

Dongfang Shou Zheng replied, "Ninth Brother is preparing for his second attempt to Break through to the Ninth Realm."

"Tell Bai Chen not to rush, take it slow."

"Alas, it's us old guys who are useless, putting too much pressure on Bai Chen."

Xia Sheng and Minister Lu Youlin were both nearly hundred-year-old elders, two generations older than Dongfang Shou Zheng and Ning Xing. They had fought their entire lives, suffering from injuries and illnesses that damaged their foundation, preventing them from advancing further in strength.

Nowadays, more and more Demon Realm entrances appeared, and the Demon Realm entrances from decades ago had gradually stabilized. The Yao Race would attack Blue Star sooner or later, and with the Azure Dragon Divine Hall emerging now, they didn't believe it was a coincidence.

"Elder Lu, please don't say that. It is us Juniors who are ashamed. The Cultivation conditions are so good now, yet no one has broken through to the Ninth Realm."

"It's not your fault. A hundred years after the Spiritual Qi's resurgence, only Dongfang Hao broke through to the Ninth Realm. Besides the great divine halls, no one knows how to Break through to the Ninth Realm."

Speaking of which.

Dongfang Shou Zheng also frowned. Their Dongfang Family could become the undisputed number one Family in Great Xia, and even on Blue Star, precisely because of Dongfang Hao's rise.

That man, originally unknown, who suppressed all Prodigies after his Supernatural Awakening, broke through to the Ninth Realm at thirty, and even fought his way to the divine halls, remains a mystery to this day.

Even the Family records had only sparse mentions of him, because Dongfang Hao grew too fast and disappeared too suddenly.

Only Xia Sheng and Minister Lu Youlin's generation knew some of Dongfang Hao's deeds and confirmed that he had indeed broken through to the Ninth Realm. Otherwise, even Dongfang Shou Zheng himself would doubt whether his great-grandfather had truly entered the Ninth Realm.

For a moment, the atmosphere in the conference room became solemn.

"Everyone, there's no need for this. In Jingdu Prefecture, these people can't stir up any trouble," Minister Lu Youlin said. "However, we can't let the Azure Dragon Academy people be too high-profile, as this is detrimental to our subsequent plans. If they behave themselves, it's fine, but if they try to cause trouble, they're probably miscalculating. Great Xia is no longer the Great Xia of a hundred years ago."

"Let's not talk about this anymore."

"By the way, Ning Xing, do you need to comprehend the azure dragon divine stele this time?"

Ning Xing shook his head, "Comprehending the azure dragon stele holds little significance for me now."

Minister Lu Youlin nodded, "Alright, if you need to, let me know in advance."

"Thank you, Elder Lu."

Then, everyone discussed some details of the Exchange Competition and dispersed... January 14th.

Afternoon.

Outside the Great Xia Academy entrance.

It was packed with people.

"Damn it, are you kidding me? So many people?" Fei Xiaobao complained.

Qin Tian said, "Stop complaining, hurry up, we'll take the contestant channel."

"The organizers should have just arranged for us to stay inside Great Xia Academy."

"Fatty is right, it saves us from running back and forth," Zhuang Yu echoed.

Fei Xiaobao said, "You misunderstood my meaning. Staying at Great Xia Academy allows me to meet more senior sisters."

"…"

Normal channel.

"Hey, don't push, don't push, you're stepping on my foot."

"The Young Miss is here, everyone move aside!"

"I'm from the Ye Family, let me go first."

"Get lost!"

"My father is Zhang Sanhe, let me pass first."

"…"

Countless children of prominent families came to join the fun.

The National Exchange Competition had always been private, but this time it broke precedent, not only broadcasting live across all Supernatural Universities nationwide but also allowing ordinary people to enter the competition venue.

However.

While they said 'ordinary people,' those who could truly enter were all well-known, with backgrounds and connections.

After enduring great hardship, the few people from Luo Jiang Academy finally squeezed into the contestant channel, a distance of less than five hundred meters.

In front of the contestant channel.

All participants scanned their passes, and the passage speed was much faster than the ordinary channel.

"Huh? Are those two also participants?"

Fei Xiaobao was scanning his pass to enter when two people suddenly cut in line from the adjacent channel and went straight in.

These two were clearly much older than them, nearly 30 years old.

It was important to note that even Jiang Peng could only use other ordinary channels.

The Fubing (Prefecture Soldiers) maintaining order nearby turned a blind eye, though a hint of indignation flashed in their eyes.

Fei Xiaobao asked, "Aren't they going to do anything about this?"

The Prefecture Soldier looked a bit awkward and smiled, "This contestant, I apologize, we were unprepared. We have already reported it, and this situation will definitely not happen again."

Xiao Weiqing led everyone to scan their Wristbands and said to the staff, "Thank you for your hard work."

The Prefecture Soldier was taken aback, then replied, "It's no hardship, no hardship at all."

"Let's go."

The group passed through the Great Xia Academy gate, and a girl led them to a suspended train.

"You can get off at the final stop."

"Thank you."

Xiao Weiqing said.