160: Chapter 160 The Cicada Awaits

"Captain, we've finished off another one!"

Shi Lei ran over to Wang Pingan, holding a Rank Five peak life crystal core the size of a human head that was still radiating incredible heat, his face beaming like a sunflower in full bloom.

"Not bad, not bad. You're quite quick."

Wang Pingan jumped down from the corpse of the Saber-Toothed Dragon-Tiger Beast, patted Shi Lei's shoulder—which was thicker than a city wall—and praised him in a patronizing manner.

"Hehe, it's all thanks to your great command, Captain." Shi Lei scratched the back of his head with a silly grin.

He was now completely and utterly convinced by Wang Pingan.

Hanging out with the Captain these past few days felt more exciting and wonderful than the previous dozen or so years of his life.

Every day, they were either robbing someone or on their way to rob someone.

This feeling of being a "bully" was just so damn satisfying!

"Alright, stop sucking up."

Wang Pingan waved his hand and took the Rank Five peak life crystal core from Shi Lei.

He held the crystal core before his eyes and examined it closely.

Within the vision of his [Eye of Truth], he could clearly "see" the violent yet pure energy inside the crystal core flowing slowly like magma.

"The quality is decent."

Wang Pingan nodded solemnly, and then, under everyone's "accustomed" gazes...

He opened his mouth.

*Crunch.*

As if biting into an apple, he took a large bite out of the incredibly hard crystal core.

"..."

The team members who were seeing this for the first time felt their eyelids twitching wildly, their own teeth aching in sympathy.

The Captain... was still the same Captain.

Just as fierce, and just as... inhuman.

"Hmm, tastes pretty good, a bit like spicy crawfish."

Wang Pingan smacked his lips with a reminiscent look.

Then he casually tossed the remaining half of the crystal core to Lei Qian nearby.

"Divide the rest among yourselves."

"Yes! Captain!"

Lei Qian and the others treated it like a priceless treasure!

This was a Rank Five peak life crystal core! The energy contained within was enough to further the cultivation of any one of them!

Just as everyone was joyfully preparing to divide the crystal core "left over by the Captain"...

Wang Pingan's brow suddenly furrowed slightly.

He looked up and cast his gaze toward a direction deep within the jungle.

"What's wrong, Captain?"

Lei Qian was the first to notice his abnormality and quickly asked.

"A big fish has taken the bait."

A playful smile appeared on Wang Pingan's face.

Within his spirit perception...

He "saw."

In a massive circular valley about fifty kilometers to their northeast...

A wave of energy, so immense it made even his heart race and filled with the most primitive and pure aura of life, was slowly "pulsating" rhythmically like a heartbeat.

With every "pulsation," the entire circular valley trembled slightly!

The source of creation!

No doubt about it!

That was definitely the ultimate goal of their operation!

"Finally... I've found it."

Wang Pingan felt a surge of heat in his heart.

His heart, which had grown somewhat numb from the continuous "robbing," began to throb violently once more!

However, he did not immediately order the team to advance at full speed.

Because his [Eye of Truth] had "seen" another, more interesting scene.

Around that circular valley...

There was more than just their team.

At least three other teams, equally powerful and fierce in aura, had also discovered the anomaly there!

Like three schools of sharks smelling blood, they were cautiously approaching the circular valley from three different directions.

One of the teams was very "familiar" to Wang Pingan.

It was the group of cold and aloof "fairies" from Guanghan Palace Academy, dressed in silver-white combat suits.

However, the figure of Saintess Tsukuyomi, who had been scared into a "vegetative state" by a single look from Wang Pingan, was no longer in their team.

Presumably, she had already been eliminated.

As for the other two teams, although Wang Pingan didn't recognize them...

From the iron-blooded and murderous aura they exuded, their strength was definitely not inferior to the previous Federal First Military Academy and Heisen Military Academy!

"Interesting, interesting."

"It seems all the big fish have arrived."

An inscrutable smile appeared on Wang Pingan's face.

He knew a truly great show was about to begin.

And he and his Xuanyuan University representative team would no longer be the "protagonists" of this show.

What they were going to be was the oriole hiding behind all the "mantises" and "cicadas," ready to deliver a fatal blow to everyone at the final moment!

"Captain, what do we do now?"

Shi Lei also felt the gravity of the atmosphere; he put away his playful grin and his voice became serious.

"Wait."

Only one word escaped Wang Pingan's mouth.

"Wait?"

All the team members were stunned.

They didn't understand; the ultimate treasure was clearly right before their eyes, so why did the Captain want them to wait?

"That's right, wait."

The corner of Wang Pingan's mouth curled into an arc full of "mischief."

"Wait for them to scout the path for us first."

"Wait for them to fight to the death over the 'source of creation' until both sides are wounded."

"And then..."

His gaze slowly swept across the face of every team member.

"We'll step out and pack them all up along with that 'source of creation' and take it all away."

"..."

Hearing these words, all the team members subconsciously shuddered.

They looked at their Captain's face, which was still so warm and harmless.

But in their hearts, there was only one thought.

The Captain...

His heart is so damn black!

...

The circular valley.

The atmosphere was tense and volatile.

Three elite teams from different top academies faced off from a distance at three different entrances to the valley.

Each of them had raised their aura to its peak.

Their eyes were filled with vigilance and hostility.

They all knew that everyone present was their most powerful competitor.

But at the same time, they also knew...

That hidden in the deepest part of the valley was a massive temptation that none of them could resist!

"Fairies of Guanghan Palace, I hope you've been well."

A voice full of arrogance and dominance broke the heavy silence.

The speaker was the captain of the Ba Huang Academy representative team, a burly muscular man carrying a massive battle-axe on his back.

His name was Xiang Kunlun, his strength had reached Rank Five peak, and his "Overlord Axe Technique" was peerlessly fierce; it was said he once split a small mountain with a single strike.

"Xiang Kunlun, put away that disgusting face of yours."

From the Guanghan Palace Academy side, a woman with an equally cold temperament and a beauty not at all inferior to the previous Saintess Tsukuyomi responded coldly.

She was the number two figure of Guanghan Palace Academy, Moonlight Yao.

After Tsukuyomi "accidentally" was out, she took over the position of captain.

"Hehe, Fairy Moonlight Yao is still as unromantic as ever."

Xiang Kunlun smiled nonchalantly.

Then his gaze turned to the other side.

There stood the representative team from Tianshen Military Academy.

Their captain was a mysterious man wearing a suit of silver power armor, with even his face hidden beneath a helmet.

"Hey, you Iron Can from Tianshen Academy."

Xiang Kunlun's tone was full of provocation.

"Stop hiding in your turtle shell."

"I know you're all here for that thing, just like me."

"How about... we go in first and rely on our own abilities."

"Whoever gets it, keeps it."

"As for those blind 'little troubles' we encounter on the way..."

A bloodthirsty glint flashed in Xiang Kunlun's eyes.

"How about we treat them as appetizers?"

The mysterious man known as Iron Can did not speak.

He only slowly raised his hand.

And made a universally recognized insulting gesture toward Xiang Kunlun.

Then, leading his team, he was the first to charge into the circular valley full of unknowns and dangers without looking back!