35: Chapter 35 Before the game

On the day of the first round of the semi-finals, Shen Ye woke up very early.

Liu Yang's snoring was still resounding from the upper bunk, and the sky outside the window was just beginning to brighten.

He didn't wake Liu Yang up, washed up on tiptoe, and pushed the door open.

The contestant village was very quiet in the early morning, and only his own footsteps echoed in the corridor.

The cafeteria had just opened, and the auntie serving the food was pouring freshly steamed spirit plant buns into the warming tray, steam rising.

Shen Ye ordered a portion and sat in a corner to eat it slowly.

When he walked out of the cafeteria, sunlight was just leaking from the edge of the gymnasium dome, dyeing the entire building orange-red.

The wall engraved with names was still on the side of the square, and the names of Fang Zhen, Gu Yan, and He Man gleamed with a grayish-white light in the morning sun.

Shen Ye didn't walk over, just took a look from afar, then turned and walked towards the gymnasium.

There were already people in the preparation area.

The association staff were making final equipment adjustments, and the buffer patterns of the Law Stone Slabs were lighting up and extinguishing one by one.

A few early-arriving contestants were warming up in the corners; some were loosening their wrists, others were muttering with their eyes closed.

Shen Ye found his seat, sat down, and closed his eyes.

His consciousness sank into the Cultivation Divine Kingdom.

In the Cultivation Divine Kingdom, the first batch of retainers had already broken through to the early stage of Foundation Establishment.

It wasn't Jin Lin, Mu Sheng, or Elder Quan, those three who had awakened "self"—they had long since established their foundation.

It was that batch of newborn retainers who had existed in the Divine Kingdom since the first day of awakening; they had cultivated in the Divine Kingdom for countless days and nights, walking step by step from the early stage of Qi Refining to today.

The Gold Spirit Root Sword Cultivator hundred-man team had all established their foundation, and when their flying swords were unsheathed, the sword radiance extended several inches from the sword tip, which was a sign of solidified sword intent.

The Wood Spirit Root Array Master hundred-man team had all established their foundation, the small white flowers at the ends of their vines had changed from one to three, and the imprint of the Law of Life had been superimposed three times.

The Water Spirit Root Mage hundred-man team had all established their foundation, and the water flow extending from their fingertips no longer required hand seals for assistance; it could take shape with a single thought.

The Fire Spirit Root Artificer and Earth Spirit Root Miner had also all established their foundation, the temperature of the Earth Fire Furnace had been raised by an entire level, and the spirit vein branches deep in the mine had extended forward by a large margin.

Shen Ye's consciousness flowed over them.

Jin Lin was leading the Gold Spirit Root Sword Cultivator hundred-man team to practice the cone formation for the last time in front of the sword stele, the sound of flying swords piercing the air uniform and consistent.

Mu Sheng was checking the vine network nodes of the Wood Spirit Root Array Master hundred-man team for the last time by the spirit field; twenty-one vines extended from her arms, connecting simultaneously with the vines of the hundred array masters, like the root system of a large tree connecting countless rootlets.

Elder Quan was deducing the three-dimensional water network of the Spiral Water Curtain for the last time by the Twilight Spirit Spring; a hundred streams of water rose from the fingertips of the Water Spirit Root Mage hundred-man team, weaving into a water net without dead angles in the air.

They were preparing.

It wasn't nervousness, but like a sword polished for countless years, being wiped one last time before being unsheathed.

Shen Ye's consciousness continued to sink, passing through the boundary of the Land of Cultivation, and entered the Land of Gods and Demons.

The fog was still the same fog, but the area of the Divine Kingdom within the fog had expanded by a circle compared to when he awakened.

Shen Ye's own level had not yet broken through, the boundary of the Divine Kingdom was locked at one hundred square kilometers by the level of the divine creatures, but the space utilization rate inside the Divine Kingdom was completely incomparable.

The number of angels had increased from five hundred at the time of awakening to three thousand.

Two-Winged Angels were the main body, and they had expanded a third circle of camps around the Holy Light Altar.

The crystal houses had increased from the initial dozens to hundreds, arranged in neat concentric circles.

There were over two hundred Four-Winged Angels, each leading a small team to perform different tasks in different areas of the Land of Gods and Demons.

The number of Six-Winged Angel had increased from five to ten. Chen stood by the Twilight Spirit Spring, her six wings fully unfurled behind her, holy light flowing down from the feathers and injecting into the spring water; the nine Six-Winged Angel behind her stood in order, wings retracted, holy light restrained.

The number of succubi had also increased from five hundred to three thousand.

Newborn succubi were the main body, wandering in the fog around the Abyss Altar.

There were over two hundred Charm Envoys and over two hundred Shadow Succubi.

The number of Succubus Queens had increased from three to ten. Ye stood on the other side of the Twilight Spirit Spring, abyss patterns extending from her fingertips and injecting into the spring water; the nine Succubus Queens behind her stood in order, abyss patterns circulating on their bodies.

The number of Twilight Spirit Spring had increased from five to ten.

The twilight light bands wove into a net over the Land of Gods and Demons, and holy light crystals and abyss crystals were suspended at the nodes of the net.

The spirit fields had expanded from five hundred mu to twelve hundred mu, and the figures of angels and succubi working in the spirit fields formed a complete assembly line—turning soil, fertilizing, sowing, covering with soil, watering, weeding, harvesting, sorting, each process having a dedicated person responsible.

The fifty stone slots of the sword stele were all filled with long swords with circulating twilight patterns, and a dozen small sword steles had been newly erected around the sword stele, built spontaneously by the sword technique instructors among the angels and succubi for the tribesmen who were beginners in long swords to practice here.

The five floors of the Scripture Pavilion were all filled, the newly stocked books piled up to the stairs, and the authors among the angels and succubi were expanding the sixth floor.

The twilight sword qi of the Five Elements Array Eye: Metal had been rotating stably for countless days and nights, and the twilight patterns on the tower body and the original golden patterns of the metal element array eye were completely intertwined into a complex net.

The fusion energy stored deep in the heavenly tribulation platform was already overflowing, and the Divine Kingdom core fragment in the center of the platform base emitted a stable twilight light from within.

Every building that had triggered Gain Without Labor was operating in the Land of Gods and Demons at this moment.

The Holy Light Altar had risen from Mortal-grade High-quality all the way to Fine-grade High-quality, as had the Abyss Altar; the Twilight Spirit Spring had risen from Fine-grade High-quality to Rare-grade Low-quality, the spirit fields had risen from Fine-grade High-quality to Rare-grade Low-quality, the sword stele had risen from Fine-grade High-quality to Rare-grade Low-quality, and the Scripture Pavilion had risen from Fine-grade High-quality to Rare-grade Low-quality.

At the time of awakening, he only had two prototype altars of Mortal-grade Low-quality, but now Fine-grade buildings were popularized in the Land of Gods and Demons, and Rare-grade buildings were being completed one after another.

Chen and Ye stood on both sides of the Twilight Spirit Spring and raised their heads at the same time, looking at the sky—looking at the direction where Shen Ye's consciousness was.

They didn't speak, just pressed their hands to their chests at the same time and bowed slightly.

Shen Ye opened his eyes.

There were more people in the preparation area.

Liu Yang had arrived at some point and was sitting next to him with a data board spread on his lap, watching the recording of Zheng Chuan's group match.

Seeing Shen Ye open his eyes, he handed the data board over: "Zheng Chuan posted another update yesterday."

On the screen, Zheng Chuan's social media account had updated late last night: "Tomorrow, everyone will see that speed is the answer to the City-level Competition."

The attached picture was his back standing on the battle platform of City No. 3 High School, with the blue-gray trajectory drawn by the Wind Elemental Warriors behind him.

There were already thousands of comments below.

Shen Ye glanced at it and returned the data board to Liu Yang.

"No need to look."

Liu Yang opened his mouth, put the data board away.

The staff walked into the preparation area, holding a schedule confirmation board, checking every contestant about to go on stage.

Shen Ye's name was scheduled for the morning session, third battle platform.

After confirming, the staff ticked off Shen Ye's name and walked towards the next contestant.

The audience in the stands began to enter.

The light gray school uniforms of Nanjiang No. 7 High School gathered in the spectator area to the left of the battle platform, the number of people double that of the group stage.

Liu Yang didn't know where he had produced a red banner, and together with a few boys from No. 7 High School, pulled it open, with a few gold-stamped characters printed on it—"Shen Ye, Nanjiang's S-rank".

Shen Ye took a look and averted his gaze.

It wasn't embarrassment, but fear of laughing out loud.

Liu Yang had run to the advertising shop several times for this banner.

The dark blue school uniforms of City No. 1 High School gathered to the right of the battle platform.

Su Wanqing sat in the front row, holding a data board.

Beside her was Lu Chuan, his hands in his pockets, staring straight ahead as if all this clamor had nothing to do with him.

The dark red school uniforms of City No. 3 High School occupied the central area of the opposite stand, no fewer in number than No. 7 High School.

They didn't pull banners, but they brought drums and horns, the drumbeats dense like war drums, the horn sounds high-pitched and ear-piercing.

Zheng Chuan's cheering squad.

Zheng Chuan himself had not yet entered, but the drumbeats in the City No. 3 High School stand were already making the Law Stone Slabs resonate slightly.

In the last row of the stands, all four metal emblems had arrived.

Golden Divine Domain, Silver-White Firmament, Dark Blue Myriad Phenomena, Ink Green Eternity.

The four admissions officers sat side by side, data boards already open.

Shen Ye stood up from the preparation area and walked towards the preparation room.

Qin Shu was waiting for him at the door of the preparation room, didn't follow in, just pressed on his shoulder.

"Finish it with the fastest speed."

Shen Ye nodded.

Qin Shu let go, and Shen Ye pushed the door into the preparation room.

The door closed behind him, the drumbeats and horn sounds were isolated outside the Law soundproof wall, quiet as if sinking to the bottom of the water.

Shen Ye sat down on the bench, didn't look at the data board, didn't warm up.

He closed his eyes.

His consciousness sank into the Divine Kingdom.

Jin Lin sheathed his sword in front of the sword stele.

The Gold Spirit Root Sword Cultivator hundred-man team sheathed their swords behind him, the sound of the scabbards uniform.

Jin Lin turned around, his gaze sweeping over every face of the hundred-man team.

He didn't speak, just nodded.

The sword cultivators pressed their right fists against their chests, saluting their instructor.

Mu Sheng put away the vine net by the spirit field.

Twenty-one vines separated from the vines of the hundred-man array masters and retracted onto her arms, winding into two circles of emerald vine rings.

She stretched out her hand, her fingertips gently touching the small white flowers at the end of each disciple's vine.

The white flowers touched lit up slightly, as if something had been transmitted.

The array masters simultaneously retracted their vines into their sleeves and bowed to Mu Sheng.

Elder Quan clasped his palms together by the spirit spring.

A hundred streams of water were retracted from the fingertips of the Water Spirit Root Mage hundred-man team, and the area by the spirit spring returned to calm.

He stood up, his white hair tied loosely behind his head with a water grass, and his hands were tucked into his sleeves.

The mages stood up simultaneously and cupped their fists to Elder Quan.

Chen and Ye opened their eyes at the same time on both sides of the Twilight Spirit Spring.

The Angel Legion and Succubus Legion behind them had finished forming, but had not received a summons.

They just stood there, like dawn and midnight descending on the same sky at the same time.

Shen Ye opened his eyes.

The door of the preparation room opened.

The staff stood at the door, holding a schedule board.

"Shen Ye, third battle platform, prepare to enter."

Shen Ye stood up.

In the corridor, the drumbeats and horn sounds seeped in through the gaps in the Law soundproof wall, muffled like thunder in the distance.

He walked through the contestant passage, and the photos of past City-level Competition champions hanging on the wall receded rapidly in his peripheral vision.

The light at the end of the passage was getting closer.

The horn sounds of City No. 3 High School, the shouting of No. 7 High School students, and the noise of neutral spectators mixed into a huge wave of sound that rushed towards him.

Shen Ye walked into the light.

The third battle platform was already in front of him.

The grayish-white Law Stone Slabs gleamed under the lights, and the buffer patterns were all activated.

Zheng Chuan stood on the other side of the battle platform, in the dark red school uniform of City No. 3 High School, his arms crossed over his chest, his signature smile hanging on the corners of his mouth.

Seeing Shen Ye, his smile deepened a little.

In the stands, the light gray phalanx of Nanjiang No. 7 High School erupted with deafening cheers, and the gold-stamped banner glittered under the lights.

The drumbeats of City No. 3 High School suddenly accelerated, and the horn sounds raised a pitch.

Liu Yang stood at the very front of the No. 7 High School team, cupped his hands around his mouth, and shouted with all his might, his voice drowned out by the sound wave, but his lip-reading was very clear—"Beat him."

The referee walked to the center of the battle platform and raised his right hand.

Both contestants are in position.

Deploy Kingdom Projection.

Shen Ye deployed the Land of Cultivation.

There were no three hundred retainers.

He only summoned three.

Jin Lin.

Mu Sheng.

Elder Quan.

The three of them walked out of the Kingdom Projection and stood in front of Shen Ye.

Jin Lin had his hand on the sword hilt, a small golden dragon slowly wandering on his shoulder, its dragon whiskers swaying gently.

Mu Sheng had her hands hanging by her sides, twenty-one vines extending from her cuffs, with three overlapping small white flowers blooming at the tips of the vines.

Elder Quan had his hands tucked into his sleeves, water mist condensing and not dispersing around him, and the phantoms of three spiral spirit springs slowly rotating in the water mist.

Three people.

Early stage of Foundation Establishment.

Opposing Zheng Chuan's Wind Elemental Warriors legion.

The stands went quiet for a moment.

Zheng Chuan's smile froze at the corners of his mouth.

He looked at the three retainers opposite, his pupils contracting slightly.

In the group stage, Shen Ye had fought Fang Yan, fought He Shuping, fought eleven opponents, and the retainers used in every match were different.

But he had never used these three people.

He had repeatedly watched all of Shen Ye's match recordings and remembered the faces of every retainer who had appeared.

None of these three.

"You—"

Zheng Chuan's voice came from the other side of the battle platform.

Shen Ye did not answer.

The referee's hand fell.

"Start."