53: Chapter 53 The Eye of the Pre-Match Storm

The clamor in the hall of the Deity Association gradually faded away.

But the smell of gunpowder in the air grew even stronger, like water-soaked cotton, weighing heavily on everyone's hearts.

"Hunter Alliance."

Li Wei raised his arms and called out, and over twenty prodigies from all over Jiangnan Province rose in response, their spears pointed directly at one name—Jiang Xun.

This was no longer a simple pre-match demonstration, but a blatant declaration of a hunt.

"Jiang Xun, this is trouble."

Xu Qingran's brows furrowed, her cold eyes filled with worry.

Among those twenty-odd people, the weakest had a B+ grade talent, and several were A-grade. Combined with Li Wei, an S-grade, this force was enough to sweep through everything in the Realm of Oblivion.

Jiang Xun, on the other hand, remained very calm. He pushed up the thin-framed glasses on the bridge of his nose, the gaze behind the lenses showing not a single ripple.

"Just a bunch of rabble. No matter how loud they shout, it won't change their fate as mere filler."

He paused, his tone shifting.

"However, to shut these flies up, I need to prepare some insecticide in advance."

Old Baitou, standing beside them, hadn't spoken. His murky eyes watched the direction in which those prodigies left, as if he were watching a group of ignorant children making a scene.

Only after the crowd dispersed did he withdraw his gaze and speak to Jiang Xun and Xu Qingran.

"You two go back to your lodgings first and familiarize yourselves with the match data. Don't go running around."

"These old bones of mine need to get some exercise and meet a few old friends I haven't seen in many years."

With that, the old man straightened his faded Zhongshan suit, put his hands behind his back, and slowly walked into the crowds of Nanjiang City, soon disappearing from sight.

"Let's go as well."

Jiang Xun said to Xu Qingran.

"Back to the lodgings?"

"No, to somewhere more interesting."

There was a faint smile on Jiang Xun's face that felt somewhat familiar to Xu Qingran.

It was the expression he only wore before he was ready to "harvest."

Half an hour later, the two stood before the entrance of an abandoned underground railway.

The entrance was a dark maw, emitting the stench of rust, engine oil, and some unknown creature. The walls were covered in bizarre graffiti, and several semi-mechanically modified thugs leaned against the walls, scanning everyone who approached with scrutinizing eyes.

This was the largest underground trading center in Nanjiang City, known as the "Black Abyss."

Compared to the black market in Jiang City, this place was truly lawless.

Xu Qingran felt a bit nervous and instinctively leaned closer to Jiang Xun.

Jiang Xun gave her a reassuring look and led her inside as if he knew the way well.

The interior of the Black Abyss was a world of its own.

The abandoned subway tracks had been transformed into wide streets, lined with shops built from shipping containers and alloy plates. Flickering neon signs and holographic advertisements lit the place up like broad daylight.

The sounds of hawking, bargaining, and metal clashing merged into one. The items traded here were diverse, ranging from standard equipment of powerful God Kingdoms to forbidden dark magic scrolls, and even some people peddling God Kingdom core fragments of unknown origin.

Jiang Xun didn't linger at these stalls. His goal was clear; he walked straight to the deepest part of the Black Abyss, in front of a shop with a "Jack-of-all-trades" sign. The shop owner was a freak with six compound eyes, currently wiping a skull ornament.

"You two, looking for something? Information, or 'hard goods'?"

Jiang Xun was concise.

"Something to counter mechanical civilizations. The highest grade. As much as you have."

The Six-eyed Boss stopped what he was doing, all six eyes turning simultaneously to look at Jiang Xun.

"Oh? A big business. It seems you're after that kid from the Li family."

He chuckled, revealing a mouthful of metal teeth.

"Electromagnetic Pulse Ore, A-grade, can instantly paralyze mechanical units over a wide area, three hundred thousand a piece. Also 'Source Corrosion' Enchantment Blueprints, specifically for dissolving high-strength alloys, five hundred thousand a sheet."

The prices were terrifyingly high. Any ordinary prodigy wouldn't be able to afford them, but Jiang Xun didn't even blink.

"Ten ores and the blueprint. I'll take them."

He directly transferred three million Deity Coins—inheritance "inherited" from the Li family in Jiang City. The Six-eyed Boss's compound eyes suddenly lit up, and his attitude immediately became several times more enthusiastic.

"Splendid!"

He deftly pulled the items from under the counter and threw in a chip as a bonus.

"Friend, since you're so generous, I'll give you a piece of news for free. Besides Li Wei, there's another tough character in this competition: Long Ao from Winter City's S-grade 'Frost Dragon' civilization. That guy was last year's runner-up and is even harder to deal with than Li Wei. Be careful."

"Thanks."

Jiang Xun packed the items and turned to leave with Xu Qingran.

Watching his retreating back, the Six-eyed Boss stroked his chin and murmured.

"Interesting. Where did this formidable outsider come from? He talks even bigger than Li Wei. This year's Prodigy Championship is bound to be a good show."

...

At the same time.

Nanjiang City National Library, third floor, Ancient Book Restoration Area.

This place was sparsely populated, and the air was filled with the characteristic musty smell of old paper.

Old Baitou sat at a dust-covered table, opposite a nervous-looking middle-aged man with thinning hair.

He was the archivist here, and a student Old Baitou had taught thirty years ago.

"Teacher, what you wanted... is here."

The archivist quietly pushed over a document sealed in a kraft paper bag.

"These are internal documents and are strictly forbidden from being leaked. You... you must never say I'm the one who gave them to you."

Old Baitou didn't speak, just nodded and opened the file bag.

Inside was a list.

"List of Members of the Organizing Committee and Judging Panel for the 9th Jiangnan Province Prodigy Championship."

His eyes swept over the names, slowly and carefully.

When his gaze fell upon a certain name in the "Vice Chief Arbiter" column, his finger came to a sudden halt.

Deputy Chief Referee Sun Zhiyuan.

This name was like a poisoned needle, stabbing deep into Old Baitou's memories.

Ten years ago, the data of the Ancient God Civilization Research Institute was stolen, the project was halted, colleagues died tragically, and he was framed... And this Deputy Chief Referee Sun Zhiyuan was his most trusted assistant back then, and the first to stand up and testify against him.

Old Baitou's hand gripping the list turned white at the knuckles from the force, and a suppressed fire of rage and coldness from ten years ago ignited in his murky eyes.

He had thought this lead was dead.

He hadn't expected this venomous snake, hiding in the gutters, to not only be at large but to have climbed to such a high position.

Vice Chief Arbiter?

What a fine Vice Chief Arbiter!

Old Baitou slowly closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, all emotions had vanished, leaving only a bottomless calm and a killing intent that made the very air freeze.

He tucked the list away and stood up to speak to the trembling archivist.

"I was never here today."

With that, he turned and left, his hunched back appearing exceptionally heavy at this moment.

Night fell.

When Jiang Xun and Xu Qingran returned to their lodgings, Old Baitou was already waiting there.

He sat on the sofa, holding the list, and handed it over when he saw Jiang Xun return.

"Take a look. This time, besides your opponents on the field, you might need to watch out for those off it."

Jiang Xun took the list and immediately saw the name where Old Baitou's fingernail had left a deep indentation.

Vice Chief Arbiter, Deputy Chief Referee Sun Zhiyuan.

Though he didn't know this person, he instantly understood everything from Old Baitou's extremely grave expression.

This Prodigy Championship was likely not just a fierce struggle between geniuses.

It was a chess game already set upon the undercurrents.

And he was standing right at the eye of the storm.