177: Chapter 176 [The Glutton] Past Events and the National Competition!!

The food at Prince Qin's Mansion has always been quite good, especially with a [ spirit meal ] included every day.

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Today's [ spirit meal ] is a white-quality carnivorous spirit meal called [ Charcoal-Grilled Wind Wolf Leg ]. It is said that eating it for the first time can slightly increase wind attribute resistance.

The chef's skill is quite good. Sun Po also gnawed on two of them, feeling that he had finally broken free from his weak state and his spirit had recovered a bit.

Liu Jianren was gnawing on a [ Charcoal-Grilled Wind Wolf Leg ], his mouth greasy from eating, and mumbled vaguely, "For the past few days, I felt like I just had a dream, but in the dream, there was a man whose face I couldn't clearly see who kept teaching me many things, and even said something about not letting down the last wishes of the original owner of this talent."

Hearing this plot, Sun Po really felt it sounded familiar. A man whose face couldn't be seen? Teaching things? Isn't this just an otherworldly version of the old man in the ring?

Moreover, does the original owner of the talent refer to [ Liu Bang, Son of the Red Emperor ]? Can the talents of their Liu family be swapped back and forth like that? And can they be resurrected through these crystals? It's really complicated.

Liu Jianren lowered his voice and continued, "That person was teaching me some kind of dragon-transformation technique, but it seems only my bloodline can learn it; otherwise, I would be able to teach it to you, Brother Po."

Sun Po waved his hand and said, "You don't need to worry about me. It's already great that you survived this time, and having this opportunity is an even more pleasant surprise. Just focus on practicing to increase your strength first. I heard from Li Tiance that this year's national tournament is expected to have some changes."

Liu Jianren asked, "Changes? I don't even know what the original national tournament was like, so what kind of changes have occurred?"

"The changes are huge. Since the three of you are all here, it wouldn't hurt to tell you about it."

Mancang the [ Taotie ] sitting at the head of the table looked at the empty table in front of him with lingering reluctance and said, "The reason I came to pick you up this time is, on the one hand, because I want to go back a few days later, and on the other hand, because this national tournament is special."

He glanced around somewhat dissatisfied. Li Tiance understood implicitly, waved his hand, and the servants in the grand hall closed the hall doors and retreated.

Mancang the [ Taotie ] had an even more dissatisfied expression. He wanted them to continue serving [ spirit meals ]! He didn't want the servants to withdraw!!

But indeed, he couldn't let eating delay important business. As the guide envoy for the contestants participating in the national tournament, he indeed had the obligation to explain things to the contestants.

Mancang the [ Taotie ]'s next sentence made both Sun Po and Li Tiance perk up.

Mancang the [ Taotie ] said, "This national tournament might be an unprecedented national tournament. The location of the competition is not in the secret realm within Shangjing City, but in the outer realms, the outer realm secret realm!!"

As he spoke, [ Taotie ] also looked at Sun Po teasingly and said, "This time it's useless for you kid to break through the inner-realm limit. Go and experience a real battlefield!!"

At this moment, Sun Po's first feeling was neither surprise nor fear, but excitement—unsuppressible excitement.

He knew that he had to go to the outer realms. The more he understood, the clearer it became to Sun Po that if he wanted to see the truth of this world clearly, he had to go to the outer realms.

Moreover, Lu Shan's blood feud, the images concerning Earth mentioned by [ Zhuang Zhou ] in Sun Po's dream, and what the authorities and aristocratic families were actually facing—all of this pointed Sun Po toward the outer realms.

It's just that Sun Po originally heard that one had to reach university and attain a certain level of strength before being approved to enter the outer realms. He didn't expect it to be brought forward.

At this time, Li Tiance asked, "Second Uncle-in-law, I remember that university students exploring the outer realms should at least possess orange-tier combat power to be approved for entry, right?

Could all the contestants in this national tournament reach this level of combat power?"

Hearing this, Sun Po also gasped a cold breath. Senior year of high school, orange card level? Have the authorities gone mad?

That was an orange card! Orange card combat power generally corresponds to the stage of high-level Card Makers to Master-tier Card Makers.

In other words, orange-card-tier combat power is the mainstream combat power of high-level Card Makers, and even some slightly weaker Master-tier Card Makers are nothing more than orange-card-tier combat power. And now, Sun Po and the others are going to a place where only this level of combat power can enter to compete?

For people like Sun Po and Li Tiance, naturally, it didn't matter. Sun Po had long possessed more than one golden card, and Li Tiance's current strength also seemed to have made great progress.

But even Li Tiance from not long ago had to have [ Yuchi Yigde ] and Qin Shubao fuse to reach this level of combat power. Although under the feature of Li Tiance's [ Xuanwu Gate ] where eight hundred beat one, purple-quality cards definitely had the strength to battle orange cards.

But who is Li Tiance? Li Tiance is the heir of the [ Five Surnames and Seven Clans ] aristocratic families, and he himself possesses outstanding talent. Such a figure only barely reached orange-tier combat power in his senior year of high school.

And how many heirs of the [ Five Surnames and Seven Clans ] are there in the entire country? How many exclusive talents can compare to the [ Heavenly Khagan ]?

And how many people can have a field card of the level of [ Xuanwu Gate ]? I'm afraid the champions of the previous few national tournaments might not even be able to reach orange-card-tier combat power, right?

[ Taotie ] continued to speak, "What you said is correct, but you can also be considered the proud talents of the [ Yanhuang Ancient Country ], the pillars of the future [ Yanhuang Ancient Country ]. It doesn't hurt to let you know earlier."

He paused and continued, "Humanity's current situation is not optimistic. The casualty rate of warriors in the outer realms remains high, and the previous mild training methods can barely hold on anymore. This is also an attempt."

Liu Jianren asked, "But hasn't humanity driven monsters back into secret realms over the past hundred years, and even actively opened up and explored secret realms? Isn't this our most prosperous era?"

[ Taotie ] did not answer. Sun Po and Li Tiance also fell silent. Liu Jianren didn't know much about many things, and his understanding of humanity's plight remained at the public level.

But Sun Po had long since glimpsed the leopard through a tube from the various events he experienced, understanding the terror of the outer realms and humanity's current pressure.

As for Li Tiance, it goes without saying. His father [ Li Yuan ] and most of the family's strength were still stationed in the outer realms to this day. Naturally, he knew very well what humanity's situation was like.

As he spoke, [ Taotie ] stood up. The big mouth on his belly opened and began to gnaw at the air in the sky.

Clearly there was nothing in the big mouth's mouth as it chewed, yet it made a crisp crunching sound.

Suddenly, a huge gap appeared in the space in front of the big mouth. Mancang the [ Taotie ] poked his head in to take a look, gave the big mouth on his belly a pat, and scolded, "You won't work unless you're full? You can't even dig a passage right? You deserve to starve to death!!"

That big mouth opened again and fiercely gnawed at the spatial gap. After a while, the gap became a bit larger. Mancang the [ Taotie ] crawled in, took a look, and then retreated with satisfaction, saying, "Someone over there will tell you more things. Next, I'll go inspect the spy infiltration situation of [ Wangfeng Tower ]. My secretary and the staff of the [ Secret Realm Management Center ] will take you over."

As he spoke, Mancang the [ Taotie ] pointed to several staff members in official uniforms standing beside his seat earlier.

Among them, a rather cute doll-faced young woman showed a troubled expression, seemingly wanting to say something, but Mancang the [ Taotie ] had already waved his hand in advance and said, "Wan girl, if you try to stop me, I'll head straight to the outer realms right now."

The woman was full of annoyance, but feeling helpless, she could only say, "Dad, come back early. Otherwise, Mom, Seventh Aunt, Eighth Aunt and the others will start worrying again."

Mancang the [ Taotie ] turned a deaf ear. The big mouth on his belly took another bite, directly biting open another gap in space, and he crawled in without looking back.

Sun Po couldn't help laughing nor crying at the sight. He always felt that this richest man among the five Titled Card Makers, the head of the [ Secret Realm Management Center ], was a bit childish—seemingly lacking some majesty, possessing a bit more cuteness, and also a bit more pitiful.

On one hand, Mancang the [ Taotie ] possessed the peak strength of the Card Maker system, held great power, and possessed countless wealth. He could be said to be a proper winner in life.

But on the other hand, Mancang the [ Taotie ] had also lost a lot: his bizarre appearance, freedom, and even his daughter had joined the authorities to keep tabs on him together.

As if knowing Sun Po's thoughts, Li Tiance's voice suddenly resounded in Sun Po's heart: "Do you think my second uncle-in-law is a bit pitiful?"

At first, Sun Po would be startled by the suddenly resounding voice, but now he was used to it. This kid Li Tiance seemed to really like using the communication method of spiritual arrows wrapped with spiritual power.

He replied, "As a dignified Titled Card Maker, no matter how important he is, is there really anyone within the [ Yanhuang Ancient Country ] who dares to forcibly make a move against an official Titled Card Maker? Does he truly need such tight protection?"

Li Tiance's voice sounded again: "Sigh, you can't blame the [ Card Association ] for watching him so closely. It's just that my second uncle-in-law is too special. His specialness is second to none even among the authorities' five Titled Card Makers."

That was true. Even through that terrifying big mouth on Mancang the [ Taotie ]'s belly, one could see his specialness.

Li Tiance continued: "Back then, the human world once had a rather special black-tier monster invade, named [ Taotie ].

This monster loved to swallow, had extremely low intelligence, and was a ferocious beast driven by the desire to devour. It swallowed more than a dozen cities in one go without the slightest sign of stopping.

Moreover, every black-tier monster is extremely difficult to kill and possesses extremely tenacious vitality. This monster named [ Taotie ] was no exception.

As long as its desire to devour does not disappear, it is immortal. At that time, the authorities and aristocratic families had no way whatsoever against this terrifying ferocious beast. Even [ Master Nanhua ], who was already a Titled Card Maker back then, made a move, yet after taking full three days and nights, he couldn't kill [ Taotie ]. Just when everyone was out of options, Director Man, who was still an ace Card Maker at the time, made a move. His exclusive talent was named: [ Infinite Hunger ]. As the name implies, the effect of [ Infinite Hunger ] was infinite hunger.

As long as Director Man was in a state of hunger, he would never die. And ever since Director Man was born, he had never been full, and no matter how much he ate, Director Man could never fill his stomach."

Sun Po exclaimed inwardly: "Truly an anomaly among anomalies! He won't die as long as he's not full, and no matter how much he eats he can never be full—isn't this purely exploiting a bug?"

Associating this with the big mouth on [ Taotie ]'s belly, Sun Po asked: "So Director Man—"

Li Tiance's voice continued to resound: "It's just as you thought. [ Director Man ] entered the game with his own body and was swallowed in one bite by that [ Taotie ], just to see whether Director Man's [ Infinite Hunger ] would fill up first or [ Taotie ]'s desire to feed would burn out first. The final result was that Director Man won.

He ate his way from the inside out of [ Taotie ]'s belly, and by the end, the massive [ Taoman ] was completely gnawed away."

Sun Po was even more puzzled: "If so, Director Man is truly a hero. But since Director Man is such a hero, and his exclusive talent is so adept at survival, why still restrict his freedom like this?"

Li Tiance replied: "Because [ Taotie ] did not completely die; its desire to devour is still alive, only it lives inside Director Man's body and has formed a bizarre combined state with Director Man's [ Infinite Hunger ], which is that big mouth on Director Man's belly.

It is precisely this big mouth that allowed Director Man's strength to reach the peak of the Card Maker system, earning him the title—[ Taotie ]. Although this big mouth possesses power far surpassing the original [ Infinite Hunger ], it is also a bomb that could explode at any time.

It is a collection of [ Infinite Hunger ] and [ Taotie ]'s desire to devour. Director Man needs to expend massive energy to suppress this power. Once it cannot be suppressed, [ Taotie ]'s desire to devour will instead devour Director Man. By then, a monster even more terrifying than the original [ Taotie ] will appear, and at that time, I'm afraid no one will be able to control it. Therefore, Director Man spends most of his time staying in a space specially crafted by the authorities. Only the authorities have methods to better help Director Man control this power within his body. After so many years, Director Man has gradually mastered some methods to control this power, allowing him to go out for a bit longer—"

Hearing all this, Sun Po couldn't help feeling a wave of emotion and sighing.

Director Man is indeed a "dragon-slaying hero," but the price is that the "dragon-slaying hero" has also grown scales, and if he isn't careful, he will turn into an even more terrifying "evil dragon."

Is this kind of power a blessing? A disaster? Or something else? Sun Po is not clear. This sort of thing is like drinking water—only the drinker knows whether it's cold or warm. Sun Po can only say it is admirable and lamentable.

Soon, the three of Sun Po had eaten almost enough. After packing up properly, the doll-faced girl named Man Wan and several staff members led the three of Sun Po into that spatial gap.

This time Sun Po didn't feel dizzy. He was still somewhat excited inside. Who would have thought that a little over four months ago, he was just an ordinary senior high school student with only a grey [ Spirit Monkey ], struggling over how to get into a junior college? Now, he has become one of the very top tier of the country's younger generation, and even the geniuses of the [ Five Surnames and Seven Clans ] aristocratic families are no longer his opponents.

He has walked onto the supreme stage that all [ Gaokao ] students dream of, and is about to compete on the same stage with the top talents of the country and even the world.

In about a minute, Sun Po had already walked through the colorful spatial passage, and a huge gap emitting light appeared ahead of Sun Po.

Obviously, passing through this gap is the entrance to the national tournament.

Sun Po clenched his fists, looking at the gap in front of him, full of confidence.

"Come on, let me see the brilliant talents of the world!!"