151: First battle failed

An illegitimate child?

Good heavens, is this something she can listen to without paying?

"So, you never wondered why Vincent is participating in the competition with us."

"Wasn't it said before that we just happened to be selected for the sophomore competition group?"

"So they unified you all and arranged you into the sophomore competition team."

Gu Xiaoyue had never considered that they were the same age.

She just assumed it was arranged by the Duke and the Dragon Kingdom, and they only needed to accept it.

But according to Charlie's explanation, everything made sense.

Why Vincent's attitude was so high and mighty.

Perhaps he didn't believe at all that his father would pass the title to an illegitimate child.

Since his inheriting the title was a done deal, coming to the Dragon Kingdom was just a formality.

Or perhaps the Sun Never Sets royal family arranged for them to scout the Dragon Kingdom's strength.

Preparing for the World Championships a year and a half later.

So it wasn't just the three young masters of the Howard Duke's family, but also the two young ladies from the Lothian and Arundel families, all came to the Dragon Kingdom as exchange students.

And choosing the sophomore competition group specifically, likely wasn't just about the age of the exchange students.

Coach Huo must have played a part in it too.

After all, no matter how many schemes there were, nothing was more shocking to these noble exchange students than showing the true strength of the Dragon Kingdom.

Gu Xiaoyue felt a sense of humiliation at being plotted against again.

At the same time, she was a little glad that Charlie had chosen her.

Only when two people who were equally desperate to become stronger met could sparks fly.

If Harry had chosen her, she probably wouldn't even have seen a shadow of the Hanxing Grass.

Everything seemed like a coincidence, yet also like destiny.

The next day, all the participating academies for the National Competition arrived.

Gu Xiaoyue began to fulfill her duties as captain—drawing lots to select groups.

This year, she drew Group A, and the other captains who drew Group A were all frowning.

"Wow, I'm actually in a group with the Cold-Faced Witch!"

An academy captain held his head and wailed.

Cold-Faced Witch?

Who is that?

Gu Xiaoyue was still wondering who would be given such a melodramatic nickname.

He Zhichen squeezed through the crowd to her side.

"Xiao Yue, I'm in Group C this year."

Gu Xiaoyue nodded politely and said that was good.

Not long after, another wail sounded.

"What's wrong with them?"

She asked He Zhichen, puzzled, "Do you know the situation?"

He Zhichen chuckled, then gave a tactical cough.

"They aren't in their right minds, don't pay attention to them."

Although he spoke seriously, his expression of suppressed laughter betrayed him.

Gu Xiaoyue realized.

"Wait, the Cold-Faced Witch they're talking about, wouldn't that be me?"

She admitted that her emotions didn't fluctuate much, but the nickname Cold-Faced Witch didn't suit her.

He Zhichen didn't answer, just covered his mouth with his hand, suppressing his laughter.

Gu Xiaoyue glanced at him and pointed at the few captains who were wailing earlier.

"You guys just wait!"

As soon as she said this, the wailing grew even louder.

It could almost be described as one after another.

Gu Xiaoyue shook her head and rolled her eyes.

She wouldn't tell them that she wouldn't be participating in the preliminary rounds at all.

With the strength of Chu Li, Charlie, and Fang Xiaoyu, entering the finals with a clean sweep shouldn't be a problem.

Even if it wasn't a clean sweep, losing just one match would still get them into the finals.

And she herself needed to cultivate her shared skills.

Xiao Mo's Yuan Absorption was already proficient.

Originally, Xiao Mo had been practicing Hallucination and Stealth, and Hallucination was almost proficient.

Later, after Gu Xiaoyue discovered the miraculous effect of Yuan Absorption, she had him switch to practicing Yuan Absorption.

And now, Gu Xiaoyue's points were simply not enough to exchange for a heavenly crafting stone.

She had to save them to exchange for a shaping flower for Little Bear!

Because Qingqing and Fire Phoenix had already transformed together, Little Bear felt even more aggrieved.

What could she do?

When the system stuffed so many pet beasts to her, she hadn't vehemently opposed it.

If she had known there would be such a day—storing pet beast eggs in the Yu Beast Space—she wouldn't have contracted them one by one!

Once the groups were decided by the draw, the schedule for the preliminary rounds was arranged by the official brain.

The captains just needed to wait for the group information to be released and go pick it up.

Gu Xiaoyue waited for a long time, and by evening, she received the schedule.

She even specifically held a meeting for her team members.

"Tomorrow, we are facing the Anhuai Academy, ranked thirty-second in the country.

I won't be participating, you guys handle it.

Chu Li and Charlie's high-rank pet beasts don't need to fight either, hide your strength."

During last year's National Competition, Jiang Yi's mature first-stage mid-tier pet beast led his team into the finals.

Chu Li and Fang Xiaoyu's mature third-stage pet beasts should be enough.

Originally, Gu Xiaoyue thought she had arranged everything properly and could safely cultivate skills in the dormitory.

She didn't expect that just after Nanya's match ended, Ye Wanrou rushed into her dormitory.

"Xiao Yue, we lost!"

Gu Xiaoyue's Yuan Absorption skill had only reached 2% progress when it was abruptly interrupted.

She was very puzzled, how could they lose?

"What about Chu Li and Charlie?"

As soon as she finished speaking, the others also arrived at Gu Xiaoyue's room.

"Tell me in detail, what's the situation?"

The atmosphere was a bit oppressive, and everyone found a place to sit down.

Ye Wanrou continued: "There was a girl in the Anhuai Academy team who summoned two pet beasts as soon as the match started.

One was a big turtle, and its tail was actually a snake head!

There was also a big white tiger of the ice element, and we couldn't scan either of the pet beasts with our brain!

These two pet beasts were too powerful, they knocked us all down in a few moves."

According to Ye Wanrou's description, the girl must have contracted a Black Tortoise and a White Tiger.

But since they hadn't transformed, they shouldn't be mature fifth-stage yet.

"With just two pet beasts, how could you lose?

What about Fire Phoenix and Hydra?"

Gu Xiaoyue was a bit puzzled; even if the Four Gods were God Rank, if their level wasn't mature fifth-stage, three mature sixth-stage pet beasts shouldn't be without a chance to fight.

Charlie said pitifully: "Yue, didn't you say to hide our strength before?"

Gu Xiaoyue rubbed her forehead; so it was them, they hadn't let the mature sixth-stage pet beasts fight at all!

Losing one match didn't matter.

Her concern now was that this girl had also hidden her strength.

And to prevent such incidents from happening again, she had to step in to stabilize the situation.

"I have already sent people to investigate the background of this girl, there should be results soon."

Chu Li looked serious; it was also the first time he had encountered someone who gave him such a sense of oppression, other than Xiao Yue.

The girl's two pet beasts had no data recorded in the brain, and their levels couldn't be judged.

It wasn't that he didn't summon Fire Phoenix, but he had a feeling that even if he summoned Fire Phoenix, it would be of no use.

Gu Xiaoyue nodded thoughtfully.

"Xiao Yue, it's all my fault, I held everyone back!"

The oppressive atmosphere was broken by Ye Wanrou; she furrowed her brows, and her little face was almost wrinkled into a bun.

Gu Xiaoyue raised her hand to rub her head and comforted her.

"How can I blame you, blame Chu Li!

I told him not to summon Fire Phoenix, and he actually didn't summon it!"

Chu Li looked embarrassed, and just then, the notification sound of the brain rang.

The information on that girl from Anhuai Academy had arrived!