“Everyone, just twenty-four hours ago, the Shenzhou Supreme Command issued a top-level emergency order,” Zhang Xian’s aged voice echoed through the massive meeting room via the speakers, carrying a texture like metal scraping against metal. “The Shenzhou Academy League, the nation’s highest-level competition originally scheduled for next autumn, has been forcibly moved forward to the beginning of next month.”
Although the audience had some inkling of this, the moment the news was officially confirmed, an uncontrollable wave of low gasps filled the room.
“Quiet!” Zhang Xian slammed his hand onto the lectern and barked sharply.
The meeting room fell silent instantly.
Zhang Xian took a deep breath, his eyes sweeping like torches over the hundreds of young faces present. He said slowly, “I know what you’re all thinking. The league involves too many interests; moving it forward by a year is no different from forcibly disrupting the operational rhythm of the entire country. You’re wondering what kind of situation could compel the higher-ups to make such a decision?”
He turned around and pointed to the holographic screen above him.
“This is the SPACO Central Mainframe. It has reached a final conclusion after three months of continuous deduction and calculation, combined with the efforts of the only Star Initiation rank Punisher with an Abyssal rank divination-type ability in SPACO.”
The image on the screen switched instantly, becoming a 3D holographic map of the entire Blue Planet, with the territory of the Republic of Shenzhou highlighted. However, what made everyone’s skin crawl was that the map was densely covered with crimson light-dots.
Those red dots represented fluctuations in space rifts, as well as energy residues from high-level Heterosequences and mutant beasts.
“You should all be very clear about what is eroding our world. Space rifts—these special phenomena that distort physical space and hatch mutant beasts—have existed for the past few centuries, but their frequency and scale have always remained within controllable limits.”
“And Heterosequences—those enemies born from the distorted energy sequences of fallen Punishers—though troublesome, usually require a long period of energy accumulation to manifest.”
Zhang Xian’s finger slid across the console. The red dots on the map began to multiply and spread at a desperate speed, like a giant blood-colored spiderweb about to completely devour the entirety of Shenzhou and its surrounding regions.
“However, the Central Mainframe’s calculations indicate that within Shenzhou and the surrounding areas, the frequency of space rifts, the hatching speed of high-tier mutant beasts, and the activity of the fallen Punishers’ grudges transforming into Heterosequences on old battlefields are all skyrocketing at a geometric rate, far exceeding any period in human history!”
“In certain areas, we have even observed signs of energy reactions suggesting the revival of ‘Throne-class’ or even ‘Sovereign-class’ mutant beasts!”
A trace of uncontrollable hoarseness and trembling crept into Zhang Xian’s voice.
“Our so-called ‘stability period’ is over. The sea of energy we rely on for survival is boiling. According to current calculations, Shenzhou will face an unprecedented catastrophe in five years. With our existing defensive forces and our current academy system—which takes eight years to produce a batch of mature combatants—we are moving as slowly as if we were waiting for death in the face of imminent destruction!”
The world was undergoing a terrifying, irreversible change.
“Therefore, we need stronger combat power, sharper blades, to defend the survival of Shenzhou!” Zhang Xian turned around abruptly, like an enraged old lion. “This league, moved forward as it is, is no longer a game for rankings, honor, and resources!”
“It is a ‘life-and-death contract’ jointly issued by SPACO, the Shenzhou military, and the High Council of the Punisher Association.”
The blood-colored map on the holographic screen quietly faded, replaced by the phantom of a magnificent base floating among the clouds, forged from a weave of pitch-black and dark-gold metal.
That building exuded an absolute pressure that transcended all worldly power.
“The sole purpose of this league is to select the first batch of peerless geniuses truly qualified to push open the doors of the ‘Kindle Temple’—the newly established supreme Punisher academy born only for war and slaughter!”
“Those who enter these doors will receive the full weight of Shenzhou’s resources. Even if we have to pile up heavenly treasures to do it, the higher-ups will force-ripen you into the ultimate weapons for slaying high-tier Heterosequences and mutant beasts in the shortest possible time.”
Zhang Xian’s gaze scraped across Qiu Shubai’s face like a knife, then across the tense faces of every elite student present.
“To ensure the smooth formation of this new academy and to guarantee that the selection is absolutely brutal and authentic, SPACO has issued an ironclad order. From today onward, the interests of all secular institutions, military units, major financial groups, and even hidden clans within Shenzhou must unconditionally make way for it!”
“Everyone, prepare to face your trials. Because from this moment on, the glass of the greenhouse has been completely shattered!”
...
While Zhang Xian was delivering his impassioned speech in the meeting room, Luo Yang, who had already returned home, was lying comfortably on the sofa. He was glancing sideways at an anime playing on his tablet while pouring ice-cold Coke into his mouth.
On the other side, Yan Zhi was very curious about this black liquid. She tried taking a few small sips, and as she felt the cool, sweet taste and the carbonated bubbles bursting on the tip of her tongue, her eyes instantly lit up.
“Do you like it?” Luo Yang gently rubbed her small head.
“Mhm!” Yan Zhi blinked her large black eyes.
“It’s very sweet, icy-cool, and delicious!”
“If you like it, drink as much as you want. My house might not have much else, but we have plenty of happy water.”
“Okay!”
Luo Yang didn't worry that this girl would get diarrhea or cavities from drinking too much. How could someone who had been dead for who knows how many years get sick? That would be a huge joke.
But still...
He looked at the girl before him, who was watching anime and drinking Coke just like him.
This little girl, who had been physically shrouded in deathly aura, seemed to have become a bit more vivid after returning to the world of the living.
Before Luo Yang could feel too gratified, his phone suddenly vibrated.
It was a message from Zhang Xian.
He informed Luo Yang in detail about the reasons and goals for moving the league forward, as well as the modified rules for this session. At the end, he didn't forget to add a sentence.
“You can just treat this as news.”
“This old geezer...”
Luo Yang smiled helplessly.
He didn't know what that old fox Zhang Xian was plotting every day, but it was definitely nothing good.
But compared to speculating about Zhang Xian’s thoughts, Luo Yang had a more important task to complete right now.
He was close to a breakthrough. He needed to head to the docks for some fries... wait, no, he meant head to the Punisher Association to get some support materials.
Rate on N.U.
