Chapter 645

Chapter 645: The Divine Game of Bicu City

After demonstrating her dream-like abilities, Aifina quickly brought them to an end.

The Shimmering Fairies draw power from the world when using their abilities, so when the fruit is unripe, the rationality of surrounding life is diminished. The longer they continue, the stronger this reduction becomes, until it reaches the limit of the fairy’s power.

Now, there was no need to do anything; continuing would only waste energy.

"How was that? Aifina is amazing, right? The professor said Aifina’s fairy garden is the most complete and can truly bear fruit!"

Aifina boasted with her hands on her hips.

"Legend has it that the earth once contained a special power capable of bringing about disastrous destruction. The world was plagued by such disasters until the Shimmering Fairies appeared and planted the World Tree, which supports the world, drawing out this power and ultimately transforming it into a divine aspect. This allowed the fairy queen to become a goddess, wielding godly power sufficient to rule the world."

"Aifina, if you grow up, maybe you can become the next fairy queen?" Zuo Ming teased.

"Oh dear, am I really that amazing…? Can Aifina really do it?" Aifina asked shyly.

"Of course! Zixue has countless secret techniques that can complete the foundation. As long as you cultivate in the Red Heaven system, surpassing the Spirit Goddess is absolutely achievable! This clan embodies the authority to rule the world; no wonder they are the top True Spirit race. Please let me contract with her!" Xie Jinglun exclaimed excitedly from the side.

"Your expectations are too high. The growth of True Spirits is not that easy. If she reaches that level, can’t you achieve it as well? Also, we are just here to observe, not to form contracts. You just entered the basics of Spirit control; what are you dreaming about?" Tiankai restrained the excited Xie Jinglun, showcasing a rare moment of rational professionalism that matched her abilities.

Then she turned her shining eyes towards Zuo Ming and said, "Professor Zuo, she’s so cute! I also want to form a contract!"

"…" The others.

"Other top True Spirit races are present as well, so let’s finish observing first. The Spirit control class doesn’t prohibit early contracts, and if you truly wish to contract later, that can happen," Zuo Ming smiled.

"Professor, you mentioned earlier that these fairies are individuals with low abilities. What about those with higher abilities?" Yun Ye suddenly asked.

Tiankai and Xie Jinglun reminded themselves of this question as well.

Indeed, what was the deal? Did these "subjugated" True Spirits have the right to hide their highly talented individuals?

Zuo Ming glanced at Yun Ye, noting that this robed youth left a deep impression on him. The sacred aura of nature radiating from him even worked in other worlds. What a powerful mental gift, truly born divine!

"According to the Celestial Empire’s heavenly laws, True Spirits and humans enjoy equal rights. Whether they are True Spirits of the Red Heaven realm or those from other worlds joining the Celestial Empire, they are regarded as citizens of the Celestial Empire. They naturally have the right to choose. The children who remain here are orphans, discarded by the True Spirit clan as they are deemed unnecessary; only these individuals are willing to be given to us."

"You must understand that the people of Red Heaven have serious biases against True Spirits. Becoming a contracted True Spirit among the humans of Red Heaven often indicates a life filled with difficulties, no matter how sincere, serious, or talented a person is. The True Spirit race would never contract with ordinary individuals because humans are adept at disguise and manipulation…"

Zuo Ming said lightly, his smile gradually fading.

Upon hearing this, the three did not get angry and continued to wait for him to finish.

What he was saying was about humans; what did that have to do with them as individuals?

Anyone can make broad statements; taking them seriously is a loss. Such ideas about racial inferiority are commonly seen, and instead of understanding, they were puzzled about who spreads such thoughts that worsen the relationship between True Spirits and humans.

"Then why do clans with good relationships with True Spirits exist?"

Xie Jinglun raised a very insightful question.

"Because clans can restrain members’ behaviors. Individuals without constraints can act freely, but those bound by clan rules, even if they find True Spirits unfriendly, must act kindly due to clan regulations; otherwise…"

"You see, I was once that type; now I can only teach in school, drifting through life, with no chance of progressing in cultivation, basically just waiting to die."

Nan Xi smiled shyly.

"Ah?"

Xie Jinglun was taken aback.

"The rights of True Spirits are equal to those of humans. What crime is it to harm a True Spirit?" Zuo Ming stated.

"Murder…?"

"And that means a century in prison, with the soul burning endlessly as firewood."

The others’ expressions changed.

It was incredible that Nan Xi had come out alive.

"Because a True Spirit died, Nan Xi could survive. Had it been a human, her chance of a reduced sentence would be zero… that’s probably how it works."

"Many people seem to misunderstand the heavenly laws regarding True Spirits, thinking they are just for show. But how could that be? Would the Divine Empress create heavenly laws just for appearances?" Zuo Ming shook his head.

"How can you say it’s murder? I was just fighting with everything I had, even though I still couldn’t win…" Nan Xi suddenly slapped her own face. "Okay, there’s no need to keep revisiting those past events. Just remember the significance of True Spirits; don’t let outside opinions blind you. True Spirits are not something that can be used at will. If you really try to do so, you will definitely suffer the consequences. If you can’t recognize this, I suggest you avoid contracting with a True Spirit."

"I’m sure I’ll be fine! Teacher, you should ask the Student Council President and the others," Tiankai replied first, her smile bright.

"…I will naturally treat True Spirits as companions; in my eyes, there is no difference between humans and spirits," Xie Jinglun paused for a moment as he spoke. He actually trusted True Spirits more than humans.

They both noticed this subtle difference.

Then, they looked at Yun Ye.

As the President of the Student Council, if this promising figure held even the slightest doubt about True Spirits, it would lead to disastrous outcomes.

"I’m very much in favor of uniting with True Spirits. Humans were once just one of the True Spirit races, and it was the efforts of many great ancestors that allowed us to take on a dominant role. By uniting with True Spirits, humans can become the eternal kings of True Spirits. Ultimately, True Spirits will fully integrate into the human race, while failing to unite with them will lead to endless battles, which is not a wise choice…" Yun Ye stated.

As for True Spirits taking the upper hand, that was indeed a possibility, but it would definitely be the result of internal corruption and weakness within the human race. Who could they blame?

(The Student Council President is impressive. I really don’t know where you came from, Qing Liu Sheng, with such talent and insight…) Nan Xi and Zuo Ming both had the same thought flash through their minds.

While the Heavenly Crown Artifact of the Red Heaven realm oversees everything, it is not without its loopholes. In some areas, it cannot intervene, such as the existence of deceptions to replace reality…

Humans recognize a person based on height, weight, appearance, and various other information; as long as one alters these, deception becomes possible.

The Heavenly Artifact is also a creation of humanity, and it has its own recognition system. As long as one can modify it, deception of the artifact can occur.

This modification involves replacing records in the world—whether names, height, weight, or memories, soul information, and spirit energy—all might be overridden by the present. The celestial clans used this method to grant Yun Ye an identity.

Many top-tier forces train their heirs outside the Red Heaven realm and will only conduct replacements when necessary to avoid exposing information and becoming targets.

Although this operation wasn’t perfect, without the Dao Artifact wielder actively checking, it would be impossible to discover anything.

As the Heavenly Crown Artifact is in the hands of the Divine Empress and each continent has its own independent Dao Artifact, the information doesn’t share common knowledge, so the chances of exposure are virtually nonexistent.

Thus, Zuo Ming and Nan Xi both believed that the records at the school did not present the whole picture.

The student Qing Liu Sheng was too unique; there had to be something hidden.

"Indeed, it seems all three of you are well-suited for Spirit Control class, not just randomly chosen electives. Let’s continue to see the next True Spirit race…"

"This is the Bloodfire Young Dragon and the Earth Beast."

Zuo Ming nodded and continued to guide the group around the garden, where they found two True Spirits fighting.

One was about the size of an adult cat, with small wings, a red body, and two tiny horns on its head burning with red flames. This was the Bloodfire Young Dragon, one of the two highest-level True Spirits.

The other fighter was a brown little beast resembling a pangolin, covered in scales and slightly larger than the Bloodfire Young Dragon, giving it an advantage in the battle.

"Unlike the Shimmering Fairy Clan, which has relatively good fertility, these two high-level True Spirits are rare. In the entire research institute, there are only these two. Their talents far surpass Aifina’s, and I highly recommend you contract with them," Zuo Ming said.

"What talents do these two True Spirits possess?" Xie Jinglun asked.

"The Bloodfire Young Dragon controls a fire made of burning blood; wherever it goes, all life turns to dried corpses. Moreover, its power after burning can heal itself and the Spirit wielder."

"The Earth Beast, on the other hand, is a True Spirit that governs the earth and can eventually evolve into a famous powerful monster in the Red Heaven realm, the Earth King, capable of treading the ground and lifting the heavens, rendering all domain-type powers ineffective."

"They excel in different areas, but either one is very powerful. With proper training, they can accompany you on long journeys, perhaps…" Zuo Ming hesitated to speak further.

How far could a genius of the unmatched and undefeated level of humans go on their own? Honored Position wasn’t even their limit; perhaps they could become quasi-Monarchs or even achieve Opening Heaven and Earth. What True Spirit could compare? Could there be a World Beast?

"I want to contract with the fairy; cuteness is all that matters!" Tiankai exclaimed, completely unconcerned about strength or abilities. Could anyone be stronger than her?

"Conflicted," Xie Jinglun fell into thought.

"I agree with Xiaoxiao," Yun Ye said.

True Spirits are not techniques; as long as there are enough resources, contracting several True Spirits is no problem.

Thus, Yun Ye didn’t care about strength; he saw it as a way to practice Spirit Control in advance. He would casually train some True Spirits to avoid being forced into groups with classmates later due to numbers.

Moreover, while it was said that True Spirits shared rights equal to humans, those that disobeyed had long been physically eliminated, so obedience should not be an issue. As Xie Jinglun thought, in most cases, they fought together as reliable partners.

"It’s still early; there’s no need to rush your decision. You can first explore this world and learn about the Bicu World," Zuo Ming said as he finished showcasing the three highest-level True Spirits and the ten upper-level True Spirits, then left with Nan Xi.

The remaining time belongs to the students themselves.

"What should we do? What actions should we take?"

Xie Jinglun asked the two.

"Let’s explore! This is a base for nurturing True Spirits, so there should be many True Spirits living here. Perhaps we can see them in action," Yun Ye suggested.

"Different races of True Spirits definitely have their struggles; let’s check that out," Tiankai agreed.

"Then let’s get moving!"

Yun Ye stated as he took the first steps out of the research institute, and as he exited through the main gate, he suddenly appeared on the city wall, taking in the entire city with his gaze.

Tiankai and Xie Jinglun quickly followed, looking around together.

This was a very prosperous medieval city, filled with dense buildings. Of course, it was the imagined kind; a real medieval city couldn’t possibly be so clean and tidy, radiating a sense of fantasy.

The city’s layout was chaotic; it seemed unplanned, with winding, complicated streets everywhere.

"Wow, it’s like a maze! Let’s play a game!"

Tiankai said, squatting like a cat on the pointed corner of a flag on the city wall. She rubbed her cheeks with the back of her hand, her pupils dilating into slits, full of excitement.

"Game…?"

Xie Jinglun was momentarily confused.

"Yes! A game! Speaking of mazes, we must compete to see who can get through the fastest, right? We’ll race to the city gate through the streets. The rules are: no flying, no walking through walls, no climbing over dead ends, and we can only use our physical strength without using the Three Major Techniques. What do you say? If you win, I’ll dress as a maid for you!"

Tiankai proposed.

"I agree."

Yun Ye immediately responded. He had always been taught the importance of participation, so how could he dampen Tiankai’s enthusiasm?

Tiankai in a maid outfit would be a spectacular sight. She was already the most beautiful girl in the first grade without even wearing a dress; in an actual uniform, she could charm countless men and women of all ages!

"…"

Xie Jinglun hadn’t fully processed what was happening and could only agree with a painful expression.

Since both the president and Tiankai had agreed, could he oppose them? His emotional intelligence wasn’t that low.

"But the problem is, we’ve completely memorized the routes. The shortest route is obvious; are we just racing in speed?"

Since Xie Jinglun had decided to participate, he wanted to clarify the situation.

"Ah, there has to be some variables; otherwise, what’s the fun of the game?"

Tiankai jumped up, landing perfectly beside the two like a gymnast.

Just as the two felt something was off and wanted to say something, Tiankai had already opened her eyes. Her pink irises displayed a kaleidoscope of shifting patterns. A surge of immense Divine Power erupted, enveloping the entire Bicu City, turning everything hazy and indistinct.

Both instantly sensed that the spatial arrangement of the city had undergone tremendous changes; the route they had just memorized now held no meaning.

"What’s happening? Why is there a Law Formation?!"

"Could it be an enemy invasion?!"

"Guards! Guards!"

The entire Bicu City erupted in chaos, the noise clearly heard by the three in the castle.

"Tiankai, you immediately want to cause a big fuss, huh…"

"President, you’re so dull! What does it matter? I already asked earlier. Besides the research institute, everything else is local. They don’t have heavenly laws to protect them. Even if I wiped them all out, it wouldn’t be a problem. Moreover, this is just a small surprise; once we finish the competition, they will naturally forget all about it and return to their mundane lives."

"The countdown has begun. A new world awaits us, let’s embrace it happily!"

Tiankai laughed joyfully, clapping her hands. Words and sounds built by Spirit Law immediately appeared, starting the countdown from ten.

"10…"

"9…"

"8…"

"President, you should get used to it. Tiankai is officially recognized as a troublemaker; as long as it’s not forbidden, she might do anything," Xie Jinglun shrugged.

"God knows why she is so reckless, causing such a big commotion for a little competition!"

Yun Ye complained, then pointed to the sky. "But, it’s indeed interesting. Since that’s the case, let’s all happily play this game together!"

"A game without worries will surely be fun!"

The immense Spirit Law spread out, restoring order. A flood of information rushed through the minds of everyone in the city, instantly clarifying what had just happened.

"‘Let’s all play a game together,’ with three participants: A, B, and C. Game assistants: all willing participants in the city."

"Victory condition: be the first to reach outside the city."

"Victory reward: confidential."

"Assistants’ task: fully stop the participants, using any means necessary."

"Assistants’ rewards: randomly receive money, treasures, and power based on performance. The better the performance, the better the rewards, with at least a participation prize."

"Participants’ message: Let’s all have fun playing this game together!"

In a corner of Central Bicu City, a silver-haired female swordswoman monotonously read out the game rules. Then she looked up at the terrifying power that enveloped the entire city, bewildered. "Is this… a god’s prank?"

In an instant, taking control of Central Bicu City and bringing it under its rule, such great power could only belong to a god. The defensive Law Formation was completely ineffective!

"Let’s all happily play this game together!"

The silver-haired swordswoman repeated the phrase, feeling the strong emotion behind it. This was indeed a god’s prank, but it held no malice. Just as the rules said, this was merely a joyful game, and those who performed well would be rewarded!

A god’s promise could not be false—money, treasures, and… power!

She needed power, no matter what!

"The three participants, A, B, C… pseudonyms? No matter who you are, I will do my utmost to stop you, I swear by the gods!"

The silver-haired swordswoman placed her palm on the hilt of her sword, her eyes shining with sharp sword intent. In a brief moment, she formed a swirling wind of sword energy, dispersing the surrounding air and dust. The nearby residents felt the fear of being targeted by a deadly enemy and quickly stepped back.

"President, impressive! I love you!"

Tiankai, eager for chaos, cheered and jumped with excitement, applauding her president, becoming even more enthusiastic.

Xie Jinglun, however, did not share Tiankai’s carefree confidence. He took a deep breath, and his fighting spirit surged within him.

With the whole city set to intercept them, the three of them couldn’t use any powers at all; they were relying solely on Physical Techniques. In this situation, the president remained invincible, but he might not be, as a Spiritual Law practitioner lacking advanced Physical Law training.

Bicu Central City was the center of the entire world, and even if its energy level was lower, there were surely Third Stage and Fourth Stage extraordinary beings present.

Facing interference from practitioners of that caliber with just their bodies?

That was no small challenge!

However…

"President, Tiankai, you truly deserve to be the first and second, so similar!"

Xie Jinglun’s fighting spirit soared.

He felt a long-lost excitement. At Zixue Academy, he had been focused on studying, studying, and studying—his battles had been entirely calm and rational, with little emotional fluctuation. But now, the limited conditions of this game ignited in him the desire to win.

Winning meant winning, and losing meant losing; performance wasn’t an issue for top elites like them.

How could battles, whose outcomes were known from the start, make anyone feel their blood boiling?

This was a game, but it also made the results uncertain!

He wanted to win!

"A genius is all about self-empowerment, right? Mastering power means bending others to your will, adhering to your philosophy. I’m no exception…"

"The countdown restarts; let’s play a game! The purpose of learning and practice is to create the freedom to play at any time!"

Yun Ye said with a smile.

"10!"

"9!"

"Whoosh…"

As the noise faded, images of the three appeared throughout the city, allowing everyone to see their positions in real-time, making it hard to hinder them.

Upon seeing the three’s appearance, the citizens of the city felt reassured. Just a few fallen fairies, so it shouldn’t be a big deal!

"There’s a chance! Let’s do it! How could such big shots trick us?"

"Just a few kids; I can handle this with one hand, no need for my brothers’ help. This reward belongs to our Storm Mercenary Corps!"

"Everyone, grab your gear and follow! You know there’s bound to be a struggle for position; let’s intimidate the others! If anyone dares to mess with us, without me saying anything, go all out, understood?!"

"Understood, boss!!!"

"Start!"

The countdown reached zero!

The three figures instantly vanished from their spots, signaling the official start of the competition.

Their movements were completely different. Tiankai, though small in stature, was terrifying in action. With her hands and feet gripping the ground like a hunting leopard, she soared over a hundred meters in an instant, then jumped straight off the mountain, diving into the city.

Without expending any life force or spirit energy, this speed showcased the extraordinary nature of Tiankai’s physique, completely unlike that of a Spiritual Law practitioner.

In comparison, Xie Jinglun was more ordinary. He pushed off the ground and flashed forward; once he gained speed, his feet barely touched the ground, as he raced through the air, muscles clearly defined, veins bulging—a true display of his full strength.

Yun Ye appeared the most graceful. He stepped out, shrinking the distance, seeming to take just one step. Yet, those watching him, whether normal citizens, mercenary members, or even skilled swordsmen with sharp eyesight, felt as if he was walking step by step, but in reality, he had crossed hundreds of meters without them even noticing.

Someone looked up in shock at the clock, noticing that the hand had only moved once.

"What kind of step is that…? No, what kind of magic is this?!"

Someone shouted.

The speed of his movement was unbelievable; while they could see the process, they utterly failed to react!

"Magic! Quickly use magic to stop him; don’t let him enter the city!"

"Boom!"

Someone struck the ground with their staff, chanting something, and flames erupted, forming a high wall to block the entrance to the city.