93: More people, more power

In the mall, what the quasi-master unlocked was actually a Huanpo Lotus.

It costs 3000 points for one!

That's too expensive, Gu Xiaoyue thought; even if she signed in and did tasks every day for a month, she would only get 1000 points.

She would need to save up 3 months' worth of points for one Huanpo Lotus!

However, Huanpo Lotus is an excellent item; if it's mature, from third-tier to sixth-tier, using it can directly raise one's major rank.

Almost no one sells them on the market; if a Huanpo Lotus were to be sold, it wouldn't be less than 360 million star coins!

Her previous points were exchanged for God Rank pet food and a heavenly crafting stone.

Even if she didn't exchange for attribute jewelry now, she would still need to save for nearly a month to get one.

Gu Xiaoyue calculated that it would be more cost-effective to use the Huanpo Lotus when Xiao Qi reached mature fourth-tier.

And since Xiao Qi still had some time to reach mature fourth-tier, she would just save her points for now.

Gu Xiaoyue saw Ye Wanrou return from the training ground and made a face at her.

"Ye Wanrou, I have a surprise for you."

Ye Wanrou wiped her sweat and asked enthusiastically, "Oh my goodness, Xiao Yue, what surprise do you have for me this time?"

Gu Xiaoyue told Ye Wanrou about Principal Zheng giving them the opportunity to go to the Graduates Secret Realm.

Ye Wanrou was stunned; wasn't this like a pie falling from the sky!

Gu Xiaoyue saw her stunned for a long time and nudged her, "You won't blame me for acting first and reporting later, will you? I should have told you beforehand."

"No, no, I just feel like I'm about to become a rich woman and reach the pinnacle of life!"

Ye Wanrou immediately called Chen Yixuan to tell him the good news.

Gu Xiaoyue then remembered that she hadn't told Fang Xiaoyu yet, so she quickly called Fang Xiaoyu to inform him.

Everything had been arranged, and Gu Xiaoyue hadn't expected Sun Jian and Zhao Huaiyao to cause trouble.

They even dragged Zhuang Yanxin along and made a scene at the Principal's office.

"We're all going to the National Competition together, so why are only Gu Xiaoyue and Chu Li allowed into the Graduates Secret Realm, and we can't go?"

Sun Jian said, somewhat unconvinced.

Principal Zheng still looked smiling, "Sun Jian, you have an opinion? I'll call Gu Xiaoyue over, and you can talk to her."

Gu Xiaoyue arrived at Principal Zheng's office and saw Sun Jian and Zhao Huaiyao standing angrily to the side.

Zhuang Yanxin, on the other hand, looked a bit at a loss.

"Principal Zheng, did you need me for something?"

Before Principal Zheng could speak, Sun Jian cut in, "Gu Xiaoyue, the Principal said you and Chu Li can go to the Graduates Secret Realm. Why aren't you taking us with you?"

Zhao Huaiyao chimed in from the side, "Exactly, we all contributed to the National Competition, so why aren't you taking us!"

During the training at Lianxin Waterfall, Gu Xiaoyue feigned deafness and stayed in Lianxin Waterfall with Chu Li for seven days.

Their pet beasts had all advanced, but Sun Jian and Zhao Huaiyao's pet beasts hadn't.

This made Sun Jian and Zhao Huaiyao extremely jealous, but they couldn't beat Gu Xiaoyue.

Now that they had a chance to enter the Secret Realm, how could Sun Jian and Zhao Huaiyao let it go!

Gu Xiaoyue turned to Zhuang Yanxin, "Do you think so too?"

Zhuang Yanxin was almost in tears, "I tried to persuade them. The National Competition relied on you and Chu Li, so naturally, the decision about going to the Secret Realm should be yours.

I came over because I was afraid they would be too difficult for you."

Gu Xiaoyue knew Zhuang Yanxin was soft-hearted, so she probably couldn't stop Sun Jian and the others.

"I don't care, you must take us in!"

Sun Jian stuck out his neck, looking like a hooligan.

Gu Xiaoyue paused for a few seconds and asked Principal Zheng, "Principal, can I add more people to the list I submitted earlier?"

"Of course, you can."

Principal Zheng looked at Gu Xiaoyue with a smile, but there was a hint of helplessness in his eyes.

Someone came to make trouble, so she had to compromise?

"Then help me add — Zhuang Yanxin."

Gu Xiaoyue said slowly, completely disregarding the angry expressions of Sun Jian and Zhao Huaiyao.

She had originally thought of bringing Zhuang Yanxin, but generally, a team consists of five or six people; seven would be a bit too many.

The distribution of resources would also be significantly less.

Her words directly ignited Sun Jian and Zhao Huaiyao.

They started arguing recklessly, acting as if they wouldn't leave if they weren't allowed into the Secret Realm!

Principal Zheng still smiled and tried to calm the two, but it had no effect until Gu Xiaoyue said, "Inside the Secret Realm, the lowest-tier fierce beasts are mature second-tier. Are you sure you want to go?"

Sun Jian and Zhao Huaiyao immediately quieted down.

Mature second-tier?

And that's the lowest—

Then, if they went in, there was an 80-90% chance that they would be forced out of the Secret Realm by fierce beasts before they even found any rare treasures.

"That's why we're asking you to take us!"

Sun Jian shouted shamelessly!

"I don't owe you anything."

Gu Xiaoyue gave them an eye-roll, too lazy to bother with them.

Zhao Huaiyao rolled his eyes, "How do you not owe us? We sold you Golden Herb; you got a bargain!"

"Is that so?"

Gu Xiaoyue sneered, "I gave each of you ten million star coins less, but what about the crystals?

How about this, return the crystals to me, and I'll give you back the ten million star coins."

Now Zhao Huaiyao was silent; they had already used those crystals, and at market price, mature crystals were worth nearly twenty million star coins.

Strictly speaking, they were the ones who took advantage of Gu Xiaoyue.

With things escalating like this, Gu Xiaoyue wasn't going to indulge them.

"If you insist on going, then ask Principal Zheng; if he agrees, no one else will have anything to say.

But don't think about me taking you; the team members are already set!"

Sun Jian and Zhao Huaiyao exchanged glances; Gu Xiaoyue was right, as long as Principal Zheng agreed, it would be fine.

But what if they got the qualification to enter? None of the seniors would take them.

Among the new students, they were considered outstanding, but compared to fourth-year students, they weren't particularly brilliant.

Now, they were in a dilemma: to enter—or not to enter—.

Gu Xiaoyue ignored them, bowed to Principal Zheng, and turned to leave.

She even regretted it a bit; if she had brought Ye Wanrou and Chen Yixuan to the National Competition from the start.

Not only would this not have happened today, but perhaps Ye Wanrou's kidnapping wouldn't have occurred either.

But now that things were like this, she knew what to do for next year's National Competition.

Zhuang Yanxin followed Gu Xiaoyue out of the Principal's office.

"Xiao Yue, if it's inconvenient, don't take me.

I know you've already made your arrangements, don't just take me to spite Sun Jian and them."

Zhuang Yanxin thought Gu Xiaoyue had only said that to the Principal to spite them.

She also knew that one more person meant one less share.

Gu Xiaoyue stopped and raised her hand to pat Zhuang Yanxin's head.

"I originally wanted to take you, but I was afraid that with too many people, everyone's gains would be less. However, conversely, one more person also means one more strength!"

Zhuang Yanxin was a little touched; she was very firm when it came to pet beast growth and training.

That's why she practiced both combat and healing, and could still make it into the top ten of the new student rankings in Nanya.

However, Zhuang Yanxin's personality was very soft, and perhaps it was a common trait among healers; she always hoped to be thorough in everything.

But often, there is gain only with sacrifice, and human relationships are no different.

One cannot make everyone like them, and her personality should be more resolute.

They hadn't walked far when Gu Xiaoyue and the others ran into Chu Li and Fang Xiaoyu, who had just arrived.

"Xiao Yue, who bothered you?"