As Bai Muyu’s voice fell, the conference room went dead silent.
The Child of Fortune…
The ultimate authority…
Become a God of War within three months!
Any one of these statements would have been shocking enough on its own. Taken together and applied to the same person, they sounded more like an absurd joke.
But the person who had said them was Hengtian, the God of War.
Qin Lie knew very well that such a pinnacle powerhouse would never joke about something like this.
The previous record for becoming a God of War in the shortest time worldwide had been set by Ning Wuyue, the strongest person in all of Great Xia.
He had taken less than three years to progress from a first-tier class holder to the highest level!
And now, someone might compress that record down to three months!
The Child of Fortune was truly terrifying!
After Bai Muyu gave everyone time to digest the news, she shut off the projection.
“Now, let’s assign the tasks.
“First, our investigation team must be selected from the best of the best. Everyone involved will also have to sign a life-and-death contract. Anyone matching the prophecy’s description is to be placed on the watch list.
“Second, we must focus on young people who have recently displayed abnormal abilities, acquired abnormal wealth, or obtained high-grade items.
“Finally, once any of our comrades identifies a target, they are forbidden from contacting that person without authorization, and even more forbidden from forcibly taking them away for investigation!
“You are to report the matter to me instead!
“I will personally participate in this mission as well.”
At this point, Bai Muyu paused before continuing. “Do not overlook any clues, but be mindful of your limits. We are not trying to capture anyone for experiments, nor are we trying to restrict his freedom.
“The higher-ups’ position is very clear! Once we confirm that Pangu truly possesses the ability to guarantee a Mythic-grade reward, our nation will protect him and help him grow.
“When that time comes, even the nation’s strategic planning may be adjusted around him!”
…
Time passed swiftly, and six days vanished in the blink of an eye.
Lin Ye arrived at school as usual.
During those six days, he had opened several treasure chests at irregular intervals. Of course, they had been almost entirely Iron-grade chests.
The number of Mythic-grade items in his possession had increased considerably, though most of them were still the same familiar items.
Elemental Runes, Mythic-grade potions, various scrolls…
During this period, Lin Ye had also completely figured out how the color of the band of light around his wrist corresponded to the grade of the chest rewards.
Gray, white, green, blue, purple, orange, gold, red, black, and rainbow corresponded respectively to Iron, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Emerald, Diamond, Legendary, Epic, and Mythic.
The cycle of reselling items for cash had continued as well.
His assets had now quietly risen to more than five gold coins and three thousand four hundred silver coins.
Out of caution, Lin Ye had refused to accept any account transfers or online payments.
All the payment he requested came in the form of genuine physical currency.
He had specifically had Mengmeng verify that the gold and silver coins were merely ordinary currency, without any markings or tracking mechanisms.
That way, even if someone traced the transaction records, it would be difficult to connect the identity of Zhang Jiahao to him.
Mengmeng had also brought him some news.
The investigation team from Jiangnan Province had already arrived in Wanghail City.
However, their progress was slow, because all the investigations were being carried out in secret.
An investigation of this nature could not possibly be completed in a day or two.
Lin Ye was not in any hurry.
As long as he did not voluntarily expose any flaws, it would not be easy for the nation to find him among several million people.
As he was lost in thought, Feng Yuanshan’s voice suddenly rang out.
“Ye, hurry up and get on the bus! Let’s grab good seats!”
Lin Ye put his thoughts aside and followed his classmates onto the coach.
Today was their final real-world secret-realm training session before the college entrance examination—and the strictest one yet.
This time, teaming up was forbidden. Everyone had to enter alone.
One coach after another drove out through the gates of Wanghai No. 3 High School, leaving the city and continuing westward.
More than two hours later, the buses stopped beside a mountain cliff.
Lin Ye got off and stretched his stiff, sore limbs. Only then did he notice that a large crowd had already gathered in the distance ahead.
After forming up, the class teacher, Chen Cuixia, led everyone toward the crowd.
It was only when they drew closer that Lin Ye saw what the people were surrounding: a gigantic, three-to-four-meter-wide mass of blue light that was constantly rotating.
Swirls and ripples rolled across the light.
A faint golden glow flickered at its center, and people kept stepping into it and vanishing from sight.
Others emerged from the vortex, wearing all kinds of expressions.
This was the secret realm.
“Ye, I’m kind of nervous…” Feng Yuanshan said quietly.
Lin Ye rolled his eyes at him. “You’re dressed like that, and you’re still afraid of dying?”
Feng Yuanshan was once again wearing the full suit of armor left behind by his grandfather. Every step he took made it clang loudly, and quite a few nearby classmates were covering their mouths to keep from laughing.
Feng Yuanshan patted his breastplate. “What do you know? This isn’t being afraid of death. This is called being professional!”
While the two of them were talking, their class teacher, Chen Cuixia, picked up a megaphone and walked to the front of the group. After testing the sound, she spoke.
“Everyone, quiet down for a moment!
“The secret realm you’ll be entering today is called the Dawn Arena. It is the closest training secret realm to Wanghai City, and it also has the best conditions among the realms near the three surrounding cities.
“It is a medium-sized secret realm with a difficulty rating of Easy.
“There is almost no danger inside, and its native forces are relatively friendly toward the humans of Blue Star. You can read the secret-realm handbook in your hands for the specific details.”
Some of the students lowered their heads and began flipping through their handbooks.
“Under normal circumstances, entering a secret realm requires paying an admission fee to the Alliance. However, your situation is special. Since you are all students, you may enter free of charge.
“Your task is to complete as many secret-realm missions as possible, advance the realm’s progress, and strive for the highest rating.
“A higher rating means better rewards upon completion.
“Based on past experience, the highest rating this secret realm can offer has a high chance of rewarding you with a Silver-grade treasure chest!”
When Feng Yuanshan heard that, he swallowed hard.
He was clearly even more nervous now.
Only this time, he was not nervous about the dangers within the secret realm, but about whether he could obtain a treasure chest.
In this world, where treasure chests determined one’s future, such nervousness was unavoidable for everyone.
Even Lin Ye had only one thought at that moment.
Obtain the highest rating and get a Silver-grade treasure chest!
“Everyone, follow the instructions and enter in batches!”
A member of the Professional Alliance staff responsible for maintaining order approached and shouted loudly.
The Professional Alliance had dispatched personnel to the site, and numerous high-tier class holders were stationed at both the front and rear of the line, specifically to prevent anyone from causing trouble during entry.
Everyone formed orderly lines and slowly approached the entrance to the secret realm.
The closer he got, the more Lin Ye realized that the crowd gathered here was even larger than he had expected.
It was not just the high schools from Wanghai City. Students from several nearby cities had also come to participate.
Besides the students attending today’s field training, Lin Ye also saw a large number of unaffiliated class holders.
Some were calling out for temporary teammates. Others were holding signs offering to buy materials produced by the secret realm. Still others simply waited by the entrance, hoping to purchase other people’s clearance slots and rewards.
Some of these people were first-turn class holders.
Others, like Lin Ye and his classmates, were ordinary people who had yet to obtain a class or any skills.
Among the general public, they had a single, universally recognized name: Chest Hunters.
They didn’t care about leveling up or changing classes. They specialized in repeatedly farming low-risk secret realms for one reason alone—the treasure chests.
Most of the chests circulating on the market had been sold by these hunters.
“Next group: Wanghai No. 3 High School!”
A staff member called out.
Chen Cuixia waved her hand. “Students, enter according to your assigned numbers. Be careful, and good luck!”
Lin Ye followed the group toward the entrance.
“Good luck!”
Lin Ye turned around and saw Feng Yuanshan pumping his fist to encourage him.
Lin Ye nodded at him and wished him luck in return. Then, with one step, he entered the secret realm.