Chapter 101 Attention

Because the main entrance of the State Religion had just experienced a terrorist attack, the entire State Religion base remained in a state of high alert, and all Cultivators were strictly forbidden from entering or leaving at will, as if they were under house arrest.

Even more frustratingly, for the sake of safety, the flow of spiritual energy within the State Religion had been temporarily locked by a grand formation, making it impossible for everyone to properly Cultivate or regulate their breathing.

Consequently, the idle Cultivators could only gather in twos and threes; some sat in meditation in boredom, some whispered and chatted, and others even took out the spirit jade chess sets or divination lots they carried with them, starting their pastimes right there.

"Tsk, what's up with that kid? Why can he come and go as he pleases, while we have to be trapped here like prisoners?" A voice rang out with obvious dissatisfaction, glancing toward the direction where Yun Bai had disappeared.

"Exactly! Supervisor Zhou is being way too biased! Is it just because he's some kind of 'Genius'?" another person chimed in, their tone sour.

At this moment, a Cultivator who seemed to recognize Yun Bai spoke up: "I know him. His name is Yun Bai. It is said that he performed amazingly in the Cang Plains trial, hunting many demonic creatures. He's a seed that the higher-ups have specifically named for key cultivation, so it's normal for him to have some special treatment."

"Hmph, the Cang Plains trial? Him? With First Realm Mid-stage cultivation?" A sarcastic voice immediately cut in. The speaker was named Zhao Qian, a close friend of Wang Er, who had a grudge against Yun Bai.

He had personally seen Wang Er suffer a setback at Yun Bai's hands, and at this moment, his heart was full of resentment. "In my opinion, it's just some people trying to build momentum for their own kin, forcibly shoving the credit onto him! 'Hunting demonic creatures'? I'm afraid someone just delivered a roasted duck straight to his mouth! I've seen enough of these Young Master tricks!"

Zhao Qian naturally knew that Yun Bai was just from a humble background, but that didn't stop him from making up stories.

Zhao Qian's words immediately drew low murmurs of agreement from the surrounding Cultivators, who also felt that their talents were being unrecognized.

Everyone watched as Yun Bai went in and out, several times in a row.

"What on earth is that kid doing?" everyone wondered.

Soon, news from the outside began to trickle in through various channels.

When everyone finally saw the casualties caused by the terrorist attack outside, especially the perilous situation at Qingya Academy, the atmosphere suddenly changed.

"Qingya Academy?! My little sister is still at the academy and hasn't finished classes today!" A Cultivator stood up abruptly, his face turning deathly pale in an instant.

"My younger brother is there too!" another person exclaimed, their heart tightening immediately.

Just as everyone was burning with anxiety, they saw through water mirror techniques or transmitted images a figure fearlessly step forward, using thunderous means to slay the rampaging demonic human, then rushing into the academy without hesitation, and finally charging out while carrying an unconscious young girl—when the crowd dispersed and the person's face became clearly visible, everyone was stunned.

"It's Yun Bai! It's actually Yun Bai!"

For a moment, many Cultivators who had relatives at the academy breathed a sigh of relief, followed by a surge of complex gratitude.

As for Zhao Qian, who had just been mocking Yun Bai heavily, his face became extremely ugly—his most beloved younger brother happened to be at Qingya Academy today!

The person who saved his brother's life was precisely this "poor kid" whom he despised immensely and thought had just gotten lucky!

An extremely awkward, even somewhat humiliating feeling spread in his heart, making him feel stifled and uncomfortable.

Just at this moment, a commotion suddenly erupted at the entrance of the martial arts training space!

Yun Bai had returned, his eyes blood-red, his entire body suffused with a nearly tangible Killing Intent and madness. His appearance caused even the guards at the entrance to subconsciously grip their weapons, almost thinking another demonic human had attacked!

The people restricted from moving were already bored, and seeing Yun Bai rush in looking like this, they all immediately turned their heads in curiosity, whispering among themselves. However, Yun Bai turned a blind eye to everything around him; his gaze was locked tightly onto the towering, silent Black Tower in the distance, as if it were the only way out in the world.

"What is he trying to do?" someone whispered in confusion.

"It looks like... he's heading for the Black Tower? Challenging the tower at a time like this? That's too strange, right?" another person chimed in.

Soon, Jiang Shuanger, Captain Zeng Fu, and others also chased in anxiously. Cultivators who were familiar with them immediately surrounded them to ask: "Miss Shuanger, what is going on? What happened to Yun Bai?"

Jiang Shuanger looked at Yun Bai's back as he ran resolutely toward the Black Tower, her eyes reddening. With a choked voice, she explained: "At the academy, the only one who was seriously injured is Yun Bai's younger sister, Yun Qian... She was attacked by Devilish Qi, her Sea of Consciousness is shaken, and she urgently needs a soul-stabilizing pill to save her life. Yun Bai broke into the State Religion several times just to beg Supervisor Zhou for help, trying to find a way to raise the Spirit Stones to buy the Medicinal Pill... But, but that Medicinal Pill is too expensive... He tried every method, but couldn't raise enough..."

"A soul-stabilizing pill? How much does that cost?" someone asked curiously.

Jiang Shuanger was silent for a moment, as if using all her strength, before sadly spitting out the number: "Fourteen... fourteen million Spirit Stones."

"14 million?!" Upon hearing this, everyone gasped, their faces full of shock and disbelief. Then, it was followed by deep sympathy—this was simply a number that brought despair!

"The Black Tower... is he trying to rely on challenging the Black Tower to obtain the Spirit Stone reward?" Someone with a quick reaction immediately understood Yun Bai's intention.

"Challenge the Black Tower? Good heavens, to reach a reward of over ten million, he would at least have to pass the third level, right? But he... he is only at the First Realm Mid-stage! How is this possible?" Someone immediately started calculating, then shook their head, feeling this was simply a fantasy.

A Cultivator who prided himself on being knowledgeable stroked his non-existent beard and shook his head: "As far as I know, in our Chu Prefecture city, in the last thirty years, those who could pass the third level of the Black Tower under the bone age of thirty, besides Great Elder Xu Antong who naturally goes without saying, are only a few people like Supervisor Zhou Shengtai and Enforcement Elder Yin Xin—you could count them on one hand! How could a young kid like Yun Bai, with no Foundation, possibly achieve this?"

"Then... then how do we know which level he has reached? We can't see the situation inside the tower from the outside." Someone impatient to see the outcome asked.

The previously "knowledgeable" Cultivator heard this, and a look of pride immediately appeared on his face, as if he had been waiting for someone to ask this: "Hehe, you guys don't know about this, right? In the Holy City, there is an authoritative 'hidden dragon ranking' that specializes in recording Geniuses under thirty years old who have successfully passed the second level of the Black Tower and above, and who have signed a contract with the State Religion! The ranking list is maintained by the Holy City's secret arts and is updated in real-time! If that Yun Bai really has ability, his name will surely appear on the list in a while!"

He paused, enjoying the curious gazes cast upon him, and added slowly: "Coincidentally, I, Zhou Lei, have some connections in the Holy City and can get the first-hand updates on this ranking list."

"Really? Brother Zhou Lei is truly well-connected!"

"Quick! Brother Zhou, let us see!"

"Please, Brother Zhou, use your methods and let us broaden our horizons!"

For a time, various flattery and bootlicking came one after another. Zhou Lei, full of himself, no longer kept them in suspense; he waved his hand, took out a small projection Formation Plate, and skillfully operated it a few times.

Suddenly, a light screen was projected onto the empty wall on one side of the martial arts hall. At the very top of the list, names that were like thunder to the ears shone brightly: First place, Yun Xian-; Second place, ; Third place, ...

Everyone gasped, their eyes attracted by those legendary names.

"Quick! Brother Zhou, scroll the list to the very bottom!" someone shouted eagerly.

Everyone came back to their senses—if Yun Bai made the list, it would certainly start from the very end!

Zhou Lei, operating the Formation Plate, immediately adjusted the light screen, directly displaying the very end of the list, the area with the newly added names, clearly before everyone's eyes.

The entire martial arts hall suddenly fell silent, and everyone's eyes were fixed tightly on the bottom of the light screen, anticipating, or rather, waiting for the appearance of a certain name or failure.