Buzzing...

When Jiang Xiao finished washing up and came out of the bathroom, he saw a message from Han Jiangxue on his phone: "Get up and wash up."

It seemed that he had exposed his waking time by replying to her Weibo post.

The quartet gathered at the door of their room and headed to the cafeteria for breakfast.

At 6:50 a.m., the hotel cafeteria was already full of students, their youthful faces hiding a variety of emotions: excitement, anxiety, fear, and agitation.

Jiang Xiao ran into that jealous woman again and learned her name; her teammates kept calling her "Xiao Qi."

Jiang Xiao hadn't specifically investigated her; clearly, she wasn't a standout among the 800 contestants. Otherwise, Jiang Xiao would have studied her information repeatedly.

In the crowded hotel cafeteria, quite coincidentally, a seat next to "Xiao Qi" became vacant. A staff member, clearing the table, gestured for Jiang Xiao and his group to sit down.

"Xiao Qi" seemed to be going to the front of the restaurant to get some breakfast. Seeing Jiang Xiao's team approaching, especially Han Jiangxue and Xia Yan carrying their trays, "Xiao Qi" reluctantly sat down.

After Jiang Xiao's team sat down, "Xiao Qi" finally got up to get food...

To be honest, her height was within the normal range, and she was quite cute, the kind that would be popular in school. Jiang Xiao didn't know why she had such a peculiar mindset.

Jealous and resentful of anyone with longer legs than her?

How was she going to live her life like that? Not to mention others, just among the contestants eating in the cafeteria, there were plenty taller than her. This was...

Jiang Xiao was holding a small spoon, drinking the scalding hot soy milk, and secretly glancing at "Xiao Qi," only to discover that this "Xiao Qi" was really a ruthless person!

When someone with long legs approached, Xiao Qi lowered her head and brushed past.

When two people with long legs approached, Xiao Qi turned her head away, pretending to admire the scenery.

When a group of people with long legs approached, Xiao Qi found the nearest seat, quickly sat down, and even picked up chopsticks to pretend to eat...

"Pfft..." Jiang Xiao spat out a mouthful of soy milk and quickly lowered his head.

Han Jiangxue hurriedly patted his back, pulled out a napkin, and said with concern, "Slow down, slow down."

"Wow..." Xia Yan looked at Han Jiangxue's scolding expression and her gentle actions. Little stars sparkled in Xia Yan's eyes, her face full of envy.

Jiang Xiao knew he had lost, truly lost.

The world is vast and full of wonders. For every interesting soul, there are just as many strange ones.

Suddenly, Jiang Xiao felt a little relieved. Who doesn't have their quirks?

Jiang Xiao felt like he was the pot calling the kettle black!

Didn't he also have a bold idea?

Jiang Xiao looked up at Han Jiangxue on his left, then turned to look at Xia Yan on his right. Alas... it was hard to put into words, a long road ahead!

Thousands of words turned into a cup of soy milk!

I'll raise a toast, you two do as you please.

Jiang Xiao threw away the spoon and drank the soy milk in one gulp.

Only one thought in his head: That's freaking hot!

"Want more? I'll get you another cup?" Han Jiangxue didn't know what her brother was up to again. It was just a bowl of soy milk, but he managed to drink it with heroic spirit and soaring passion.

Regarding this point, the Zhu brothers had witnessed Jiang Xiao's ability. No matter what he was drinking—soy milk, juice, or mineral water—Jiang Xiao could drink it with passionate fervor and inspiring enthusiasm.

Having filled his belly with soy milk, Jiang Xiao felt full of energy and milkiness.

Under the leadership of Hai Tianqing, the team boarded bus number 3 at the hotel entrance and headed to the designated competition venue.

The competition venue for this National High School League was located 40 kilometers outside of Chang'an City. When Jiang Xiao and the others arrived by bus, they saw not only rows of students with different expressions but also a solemn military camp.

Under the guidance of military officers, the students were divided into several groups and stepped into the military camp.

How could everyone's hearts be calm at the thought of entering the unique ancient imperial mausoleum?

However, it should be mentioned that under the objective rule that only the top eight could enter the rematch, some teams were self-aware. Although this was a group of children who wouldn't submit to anyone, some contestants clearly knew that they were playing the role of accompanying the crown prince.

So their mentality was relatively better, but only relatively. After all, even if it wasn't for the rankings, they were about to face the terrifying creatures inside the ancient imperial mausoleum. A moment of carelessness could lead to death.

Within the vast military camp, under the temporary command platform, 200 teams were on standby. At 9:00 a.m., a middle-aged man in a suit walked onto the command platform.

The man didn't introduce himself, didn't even offer a preamble, and went straight to the point: "At 9:30 a.m., collect, wear, and inspect team props. At 10:00 a.m., each team will follow staff members into the arena."

"In addition, contestants Ying Xi from Didao No. 32 High School, Wenren Mu from Hai Su Normal University Affiliated High School, and Han Jiangxue from Beijiang Jiangbin No. 1 High School, the above three students need to have their storage spaces additionally checked. There must be no prohibited items, otherwise, their qualifications to participate will be directly revoked."

Even though the students knew through the contestant information and combat video materials that these three students possessed space-type Star Techniques, when these words were spoken in this setting, a "buzzing" discussion immediately arose from the 800-person formation.

What is a true pride of heaven?

The identity of an Awakened? Indeed, compared to ordinary children, you are somewhat rare, but that's not enough.

When you are still singled out for your uniqueness in the highest national high school competition, among the top contestants from all provinces, then you are a pride of heaven.

On the command platform, the man extended a finger and said: "Competition rules, 1: Survive for 72 hours. Those who withdraw from the competition midway will have their competition results canceled. Reasons for withdrawal include, but are not limited to: students actively applying to the referee to withdraw, the teacher leading the team announcing withdrawal, the team's camera equipment being damaged and forcibly recalled by the referee, participating students voluntarily or passively withdrawing due to injury, etc."

"In addition, the event organizer has the right to forcibly recall any team or student. Those who are requested must obey orders and follow instructions. The event organizer will provide corresponding explanations after the competition. Any violation will result in the participating student being prohibited from participating in the college entrance examination for three years, and the participating school will be prohibited from participating in provincial and national high school leagues for five years."

Instantly,

Wasn't this a bit too overbearing? Were they not treating them like human beings?

They didn't need any reason, and if they told you to stop, you had to stop? If they told you to withdraw, you had to withdraw?

Wouldn't it be too easy to "fix" a person or a team with a "dark plot"?

Of course, for this kind of top-level competition organized by the state, dirty things were relatively rare. After all, people all over the world were watching, and in addition, the National Star Warrior Association was not to be trifled with, and their public reputation was very good.

Most importantly, since a scandal occurred in the National Competition fifteen years ago, the country had made great efforts to rectify it, and there had been no such accidents for many years.

Jiang Xiao thought in his heart: So, this competition has nothing to do with speed. We have to survive for 72 hours surrounded by strong enemies to be considered qualified? To be eligible to participate in the rankings?

"Competition rule, 2: Regardless of the reason, if the miniature camera worn by the contestant is damaged, 100 points will be deducted, and it may lead to you and your team being forcibly recalled to Earth. The final score will be directly related to the team's final ranking."

Regardless of the reason?

So it was the same as the provincial league? The competition didn't prohibit fighting between teams?

The members of Jiang Xiao's team looked at each other. They had reason to believe that teams like "Gao Junwei" might reappear in this competition.

What changed were the people, but what remained the same were the goals, the mentality, the tactics, and the personalities.

In other words, we not only have to resist the hunting of the ancient martial arts legion, but also be careful of our compatriots stabbing us in the back?

The man in the suit suddenly blurted out: "In addition, the event organizer strictly prohibits the killing of human compatriots. Violators will not only face the penalties imposed by the event organizer as mentioned above, but will also be subject to social and legal sanctions. Please be mindful of your actions, every participating student."

This sentence almost made Jiang Xiao laugh.

Be mindful of your actions? This was simply a joke.

Encourage fighting, prohibit killing.

The organizers were exactly the same as the provincial high school organizers. Did they really think that these children were ordinary students fighting and brawling here?

Even for ordinary students, it was difficult to be mindful of their actions when they really fought.

These Awakened children who were specially trained every day to kill creatures from other dimensions, how could they restrain themselves if they encountered someone of equal strength?

Could it be that after I cleaved Gong Yuge with a knife, causing him to cough up blood and twitch his limbs, I would have to kneel on the ground and beg him not to die?

I would have to... eh?

Wait a minute...

I seem to be a healer? I seem to be able to save him?

Cut him until he's dying, then give him a heal?

Cut him until he's on the verge of death, then give him a boost?

Cut him until his life is in danger, then give him a heal?

How did that song go?

Jiang Xiao scratched his head, suddenly remembered the lyrics, and couldn't help but sing softly: "Just let you stay on the edge of reincarnation, waiting for a ray of light? Seeing a certain year, a certain month, between us, the jumping bells and longing..."