Chapter 870 - 865: Methods of Proving Value
Bai Pu, along with Rein, did not return to their room; instead, they contacted Master Bo Xuan’s disciple—Venerable Envoy Li Yan.
Venerable Envoy Li Yan was the one who suggested Bai Pu participate in the combat assessment.
She once said that placing in the top ten in the combat assessment could earn Bai Pu the group’s attention and protect Earth.
This actually hinted at the matter of the "Extraordinary Seed Quota" to Bai Pu in a veiled manner.
Upon meeting Venerable Envoy Li Yan, Bai Pu was straightforward:
"Thank you, Venerable Envoy, for your guidance last time. I have already signed up for the Major General assessment. However, the Yazd people’s starship is already on its way to Earth and will arrive in a few days. But the Major General assessment starts in 13 days, and I don’t know when it will end..."
Li Yan nodded slightly: "There is indeed a time discrepancy, and the timing for the Ascension Plane assessment is unpredictable. If it takes too long, it might even last for months."
After a pause, Li Yan said: "Actually, as long as you can secure a top ten spot, it doesn’t matter if the Yazd people temporarily occupy the Cyan Dragon 287 planet. Eventually, the group will intervene and return the planet to you."
"I can hardly imagine what sort of atrocities the Yazd people might commit in my homeland given their extreme nature."
Bai Pu shook his head, "I want to ask the Venerable Envoy to intervene and protect Earth during the Major General combat assessment, to alleviate the participants’ worries."
Li Yan hesitated and said: "There is no precedent for this... And it is unclear whether you will ultimately secure a top ten spot. It is not appropriate for me to intervene."
Rein whispered from the side: "There are numerous factions within the Gaia Group, and the Venerable Envoy’s status is indeed too elevated to intervene... Maybe I can consult with our Furnace Star executives to see if we can form an alliance with Earth."
Leia quietly raised an objection: "Earth’s overall level is too low, and in the eyes of the high-levels, there is simply no value in forming an alliance, nor is it worth provoking the Yazd people."
Rein sighed: "I think that Gangxin’s potential value alone is enough."
Leia shook her head: "Those old men only invest in the past and present; how could they possibly invest in the future?"
"Rein, I appreciate your goodwill. But... I have a way to prove my value before the Venerable Envoy."
Bai Pu unleashed his Prismatic Demon Fighting Qi, showcasing his Five Elements Combination, Four Symbols Mystical Arts!
A blurry green, red, white, and black 3D silhouette simultaneously appeared behind Bai Pu.
"Earth, Water, Fire, Wind, and Space... Five Elements Mystical Arts Combination?!"
Venerable Envoy Li Yan was astonished.
Rein and Leia were dumbfounded.
Bai Pu retracted his Fighting Qi and said to Venerable Envoy Li Yan:
"The reason Gaia’s Will delayed the combat assessment by 13 days and forced us into the Ascension Plane of the Dark Tide, is likely to align with the invasion schedule of the Otherworld Travelers, right?
"Venerable Envoy, my current strength is already capable of playing an important role in this war! Relieving my worries will allow me to fully commit to this Spirit Realm war, which will be meaningful for both Gaia Group and Gaia’s Will!"
Li Yan was stunned for a few seconds, then exhaled deeply and said:
"You’re right. The combination of Five Elements Mystical Arts and the condensed True Intent Prototype is at least Second Grade, possibly even Strong Second Grade... The key is that your progress was achieved in less than a month, which is truly remarkable. Maybe you really can achieve ascension with the Second-Grade True Intent Prototype!"
"So the Venerable Envoy means..."
Li Yan thought for a moment and said: "Gangxin, I will meet with Vice Admirals Xi Li and Mata and ask them to consider the bigger picture and postpone the plan to attack Earth’s Spiritual Energy Protective Membrane."
Bai Pu cautiously said: "Venerable Envoy, sometimes the Red Race can be unreasonable, if they agree in public but secretly accelerate the attack... By the time we receive the news, it might be too late."
Bai Pu’s concern was well-founded, he has always been unafraid to suspect others with utmost malice.
Especially the Red Race, notorious for being violent and extreme.
If the Red Race pretends to agree on the surface but violates the agreement, invading Earth then massacres its billions of inhabitants—by then, it would be too late.
Li Yan was not as cautious by nature, but having confirmed Bai Pu’s potential and his ability to realize that potential, she already decided to stand by Bai Pu.
"Your concerns are valid. Gangxin, I will consult with my master to lend you a Forbidden Curse Replica from the Tower of Babel."
"The Tower of Babel Forbidden Curse?"
Bai Pu recalled the flowing liquid metal talismans surrounding the Tower of Babel in the outside world, faint yet full of inviolable majesty.
"Yes, the Tower of Babel Forbidden Curse is crafted by a Great Power. And the Forbidden Curse Replica is a protective spell created by my master using rare materials after achieving enlightenment in the Forbidden Curse!"
Li Yan said earnestly: "Don’t underestimate it because it is a ’replica.’ As long as it is embedded in the Earth Battleship’s Earth Core Space, the defensive level of Earth’s Spiritual Energy Protective Membrane will rise to Level 19! It can withstand bombarding from starships at Vice Admiral Level without any issue."
A great weight was finally lifted from Bai Pu’s heart.
He bowed deeply, using the Earth Huaxia etiquette, to thank the Venerable Envoy willing to lend a hand.
Bai Pu also developed a sense of belonging towards the Gaia Group.
He felt grateful once again that he didn’t choose the Divine Camp, but rather opted to "take the civil service exam" and join the Gaia Group.
...
"Rein, Leia, I need to return to my home planet for a while."
Bai Pu caressed the antique bronze defense talisman in his hand.
Venerable Envoy Li Yan was reliable. She immediately applied to Master Bo Xuan, and after obtaining his approval, she rented this piece of the Forbidden Curse Replica to Bai Pu.
The surface of this replica emanated a radiant gaseous glow, with symbols emerging and then gradually fading as the radiance flowed.
Bai Pu held this Forbidden Curse Replica, yet couldn’t receive any alert message! This indicated the replica’s grade far exceeded Bai Pu’s level.
Rein and Leia silently nodded.
"I didn’t expect this to be a simultaneous Ascension and Spirit Realm war. Nor did I expect to wait 13 days for the assessment," Leia sighed.
Rein said: "Gangxin has already mentioned the reason, the 13-day wait is to match the Otherworld Travelers’ invasion timetable... Gangxin, which side do you think the Otherworld Travelers are from?"
"The Demon Race, to be precise, the Sea Race."
Bai Pu unhesitatingly gave his speculation.
The reason is the Sea Race has been actively invading the Galaxy Star System, previously with Yazd Star and Earth as affiliated Spiritual Ability Planets.
This time, the Sea Race’s plan is evidently much larger! They are invading the Ascension Plane of the Silver Heart Great World, who knows what further actions they might take.
It can be expected that this combat assessment, or this ascension...
Will be very lively!