134: Chapter 134 Heroic Spirit Contract, Opening Ceremony

"Thank you both for your kind intentions. However, I am accustomed to traveling alone. Cooperating with others might lead to oversights, which would be counterproductive."

Jiang Luoli nodded in silent agreement.

"Exactly. The situation within the Spirit Realm is unknown; we appreciate your kindness, but we must decline."

The refusal was crisp and decisive, leaving no room for negotiation.

A flash of astonishment and disappointment crossed the round-faced junior sister's face. Just as she was about to say something more, her senior sister gently tugged on her sleeve.

The senior sister took a deep look at Su Chen, but quickly returned to her calm demeanor.

"Since that is the case, we will not insist. I wish you both a victorious start in the Spirit Realm and that you find a good match."

Having said that, she pulled her somewhat reluctant junior sister and turned to leave the crowd.

When the two walked to a place some distance away from Su Chen and Jiang Luoli, the round-faced junior sister abruptly shook off her senior sister's hand.

"Senior Sister!"

"Our ancestor gave us repeated instructions to ensure this Xiao Yan is safely admitted."

"Now you've just let him walk away. If he really gets eliminated, the ancestor will vent his anger on us. Forget about rewards; we'll both be packed up and kicked out!"

"Calm down first."

The senior sister comforted the oval-faced junior sister.

"I am a Sixth-Rank Martial Artist, yet even I cannot see through the strength of that Xiao Yan and his female companion. Their cultivation levels are considered among the top tier of those attending the ceremony."

"As long as they don't court death, there is a high probability they won't be eliminated."

...

"They seem exceptionally enthusiastic about you."

Jiang Luoli watched the backs of the two women as they left and whispered to Su Chen.

"Unwarranted displays of courtesy always hide ulterior motives."

Su Chen said indifferently.

"Especially that junior sister; she has been overly proactive both times we met."

Just at this moment, the enormous water mirror in front suddenly flared with brilliant light.

An old man wearing the uniform of the Huaxi Hall of Heroic Spirits hovered in mid-air before the mirror, his voice booming like a bell.

"The time has come; the Spirit Realm is opening."

"Reiterating the rules: Those entering the mirror must be under twenty-five years of age."

"The world within the mirror is formed from ancient fragments, where reality and illusion coexist, and crises lurk everywhere."

"Killing the monsters manifested from spiritual energy within, searching for heavenly treasures, and completing specific tasks will all earn points."

"Your points will determine your priority in contacting the Heroic Spirits later."

"Everything within the mirror is at your own risk."

"If you feel you cannot hold on, you may crush the issued jade talisman to be teleported out, but this will be regarded as forfeiting your qualification."

"The bond of the contract relies on compatibility."

"Even if your points are the highest, without opportunity, it is difficult to gain the favor of the Heroic Spirits."

"I hope you all act according to your capabilities and conduct yourselves well!"

As his voice fell, the old man waved his sleeve.

In the center of the huge water mirror's surface, a silver-white vortex appeared out of thin air.

"Enter!"

At the command, the eligible participants at the very front took a deep breath and leaped into the vortex one after another, their figures vanishing instantly.

The queue began to move forward rapidly.

Su Chen and Jiang Luoli exchanged a glance and nodded at each other.

Following the flow of people, the two moved one after the other, approaching the huge water mirror vortex.

At the very moment before stepping in, Jiang Luoli whispered a reminder.

"Be careful. If things become impossible, prioritize your own safety."

"You too."

Su Chen replied.

The next second, their figures were simultaneously swept into the vortex, quickly separated, and vanished.

After a brief moment of weightlessness and dizziness, his feet touched solid ground.

Su Chen steadied himself and quickly looked around.

He was already in the middle of a boundless primeval forest.

"As expected, we were separated..."

Su Chen sensed for a moment; the faint connection between him and Jiang Luoli had been completely severed.

This Spirit Realm clearly possessed the characteristic of random teleportation to prevent large-scale team formation.

He clenched his fist, feeling the surging power within his body.

This counted as his first real battle on Blue Star.

With the cultivation of a Seventh-Rank Martial Artist, coupled with the rich foundation and combat experience from two investment worlds, he felt no great fear.

On the contrary, this dangerous yet opportunity-filled world made him feel a long-lost sense of excitement.

Investment worlds were virtual training grounds, while here, it was a trial ground in the real world.

Power, resources, opportunities...

Everything must be fought for by oneself.

"Killing monsters to gain points... priority selection..."

Su Chen repeated the rules in a low voice.

After a Heroic Spirit contracts with a martial artist, they will completely become a part of the martial artist's combat power.

Although he had the Angel Investment System, if he could gain the favor of a Heroic Spirit, especially those legendary Transcendent Heroic Spirits, it would seem quite good.

As for how to obtain points?

"The rules only mentioned obtaining points, but didn't say how."

He muttered to himself.

"Killing monsters myself and accumulating points bit by bit—even if my strength is a cut above others, it's very difficult to break out from a crowd of 'involution kings'..."

Deep in the forest, a shrill scream was faintly heard, followed by the sounds of weapons clashing and monster roars.

Clearly, someone had already encountered a battle.

Su Chen did not immediately rush toward the sound; instead, he silently blended into the dense forest shade.

He released his spiritual sense, and every movement within a few hundred meters was clearly visible to him.

Very quickly, he "saw" his target.

About two hundred meters away, three young martial artists were besieging a monster that looked like a leopard.

The monster was extremely fast with sharp claws and teeth, and its movements carried an earthy-yellow spiritual light; it was clearly not easy to deal with.

The three martial artists coordinated reasonably well, with two restraining it from the front and one maneuvering to attack from the flanks, gradually gaining the upper hand.

One of them, a youth holding a long saber, had a cultivation level that had reached the peak of the Sixth Rank; he was likely the main force.

Su Chen lurked quietly in the shadows of the tree canopy, like a patient hunter.

The battle quickly neared its end.

The Rock Leopard was covered in wounds, and its movements slowed down.

The saber-wielding youth saw an opportunity and slashed down with his blade.

Just at the moment the blade light was about to strike a vital spot.

A sharp stone shard from an unknown source, at an extremely tricky angle, arrived first despite being launched later, accurately piercing into the only remaining good eye of the Rock Leopard.

The already heavily wounded leopard naturally could not survive such a heavy blow. After a miserable howl, its huge body collapsed to the ground with a thud and dissipated into specks of spiritual light.

And those specks of spiritual light naturally flowed into the jade talisman in Su Chen's hand.

On the previously blank jade talisman, a number appeared out of thin air.

"3."

The three martial artists were stunned. The saber-wielding youth's blade froze in mid-air, his face full of astonishment.

"Who?!"

He shouted sharply, looking around vigilantly.

The other two also stood back-to-back, weapons drawn, nervously searching for the attacker.

Su Chen walked out slowly from behind an ancient tree, toying with the jade talisman bearing the number, and smiled faintly.

"Three of you, thanks for the hard work."

"I'll gladly accept these points."

"Bastard, you dare to snatch our spoils of war?"

The saber-wielding youth was furious. Seeing that Su Chen was alone and his aura did not seem much stronger than his own.

His courage grew instantly.

"You're courting death!"

He brandished his sword and rushed toward Su Chen.

The other two also flanked from left and right.

Intending to quickly finish off this ignorant snatcher.