43: Chapter 43 Tianhe City, A Lively Crowd

December 31st, the end of the year.

Early in the morning, the competing students from the Four Great Academy Departments boarded the Interstellar Train bound for the competition.

At the same time, Chen Xing also set off on his exclusive train.

"The location of the Exchange Competition is not fixed every year; it rotates among the Four Great Departments. But that's just on the surface; there's a hidden rule behind it," Li Qingyi explained to him.

"The venue for each year's competition is actually the home of the previous champion. Last year, Su He from our academy showed her prowess and defeated strong enemies to take the championship, so this year it's being held in Tianhe City of the Tianhe System."

As for larger competitions, such as those involving experts in the Divine Ability Realm and Spirit Seed Realm, they have to be held on other occasions.

Those kinds of competitions are generally only held once every five or ten years; it's not time for them yet.

However, just participating in this Exchange Competition is quite a challenge for now.

...

Tianhe Academy Train, A-class carriage.

"Tianhe City... back here again." Qin Feng stared blankly as the city in the starry sky grew larger in the distance.

"What, were you very happy to leave me there?" Lin Qingyao leaned in and whispered in his ear.

"No... no." Qin Feng shook his head repeatedly.

Outside Tianhe City, more than one Interstellar Train entered the orbital tracks; some were tourists, some were cargo.

But some Interstellar Trains were the most eye-catching. They belonged to the other three Great Academy Departments, arriving with banners draped over the trains, proclaiming bold words.

Especially Niliu Academy; they were bold enough to hang a banner with only two large words: Champion.

"This is too arrogant!"

"Has Niliu Academy always been this arrogant?"

"Yes, you freshmen don't understand. Which year are they not like this? If Sister Xing hadn't slapped their faces last year, they'd probably be even more arrogant."

"..."

On the train, a group of students began to discuss.

"Those who don't know would think they were the previous champions. Sister Xing is still here this time, let's see how they win!" someone snorted coldly.

"It's more than that. At the beginning, the battlefield will be divided into the Light Opening Realm and the Divine Sea Realm, and they will only slowly undergo Fusion later."

"What are you trying to say?"

"The S-class! Have you forgotten this year's S-class freshman? He can definitely dominate the entire Light Opening Realm battlefield!"

"Oh, right! Then we've gained another advantage!"

"..."

Amidst the laughter, the crowd mentioned the King of Light whom they had never met, which made Qin Feng unable to suppress a smile.

"What's wrong? Do you think the S-class can't win?" Lin Qingyao whispered.

"No, I just think that person is unlikely to take the field," Qin Feng shook his head.

"Why? He's not coming to compete?" Lin Qingyao was surprised.

Qin Feng smiled. "The person who was behind me yesterday, do you remember him?"

Lin Qingyao thought back. There did seem to be such a person. At the time, she had realized late that there was another handsome guy behind Qin Feng.

"He is at the fourth level of the Divine Sea Realm. I don't know if you noticed," Qin Feng said.

"I noticed. He didn't intentionally hide his cultivation, so I didn't even need to probe," Lin Qingyao said.

"Exactly. He's already in the Divine Sea Realm, so how could he possibly enter the Light Opening Realm battlefield?" The corners of Qin Feng's mouth curled up.

Hearing this, Lin Qingyao's expression froze.

...

The competition organizers showed full sincerity by setting up the venue right in the center of Tianhe City. Before their arrival, the large screens on the tall buildings had already switched to highlight reels of the Four Great Academy Departments.

Some popular figures favored to win were also displayed on the big screens, such as Zhang Zhiyu from the Shengyuan System and the three veteran S-classes from Niliu Academy.

When it came to the highest popularity, it had to be Su He from the Tianhe System and Chu Li from Niliu Academy.

The fact that these two were beautiful was just an embellishment; the main point was that they were only one year apart—one in third year and one in second year—both still belonging to the "young" stage.

As for the other S-classes, they were at least in their fourth or fifth year and had already appeared many times, making them old acquaintances to the audience.

"Why am I involved in this too?"

When Chen Xing arrived overhead, he found that the organizers had very thoughtfully reserved a panel for him.

However, since they didn't have his personal information, there was no portrait; it only revealed that he was the new S-class freshman from the Tianhe System.

Even if it was in an inconspicuous corner, once the term 'S-class' was involved, it would definitely be a major topic.

Li Qingyi said softly, "The status of an S-class has always been like this. Generally, major forces select people starting from D-class. C-class is considered excellent, and B-class is already very rare."

Chen Xing shook his head slightly. "Let's go to the competition site."

At the same time, there were movements among various parties.

From Niliu Academy, a crimson train emblazoned with the totem of the Divine Beast True Phoenix was also very eye-catching, even without banners.

On the train, a red-haired woman sat by the window. Her long red clothes could not hide her tall figure. Against the backdrop of the starry sky, she looked like a ball of fire.

"Chu Li, after we go in, the organizers will definitely separate us. You have to be careful; you absolutely can't be caught by anyone," a male voice rang out from the communicator.

"What are you worrying about? I say, Chu Li, why don't you just fight everyone you see once you get in?" At this moment, another male voice interrupted him.

"That's an idea." The corners of Chu Li's mouth curled up slightly.

"I'm talking about a 'what if.' What if you have bad luck and run into those two from the Tianhe System? Two hands can't fight four."

"Give it a rest. Everyone will be scattered then anyway. You're just worrying for nothing."

The two speakers were Wu Hang and Shangguan Xu; one was an S-class Heavenly Martial Armor user, and the other was an S-class Divine Ice System user.

There was also an S-class Divine Earth System user, Chang Qinian, who said, "Prepare to land. Do you want to go to the arena first to see some old friends?"

Shangguan Xu immediately got excited. "Sure."

"Whatever you guys want." Chu Li glanced at the communicator on the table and reached out to hang up.

...

Inside the train.

Ding!

The optical computer flashed. Someone had somehow gotten his number and actually pulled him and another person into an academy meeting.

Looking at these two strings of unfamiliar numbers, Chen Xing answered the call with a skeptical attitude.

"Hello, is this Chen Xing?" A coarse voice came from the other end of the phone.

"It is," Chen Xing replied.

"Then I've got the right person. Let me introduce myself, I'm Li Baxian."

Unexpectedly, this was another S-class Ability User from the same academy who had actually reached out.

Thinking of this, Chen Xing looked at the other person; that person should be the S-class Su He.

He was actually meeting the famous 'two heroes' of the academy in this manner; it was truly unexpected.

"What do you want with me?" Chen Xing asked.

"Nothing much, just reaching out as fellow S-class students. For tomorrow's competition, the Light Opening Realm battlefield is in your hands," Li Baxian said.

"I can't enter it," Chen Xing shook his head.

Li Baxian was stunned. "You didn't sign up for this Exchange Competition? That's impossible; the Dean already told me."

Chen Xing said seriously, "I'm participating, but I can't enter the Light Opening Realm battlefield."

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone. Finally, Li Baxian seemed to realize something.

"You're in the Divine Sea Realm?"