Chapter 864 - 859: The Oppressive Pressure He Gave Me
Bai Pu returned to his cabin, leaving Dong Bochengzhi alone, disoriented in the wind.
The Great and Little Witches greeted him as a wife would welcome her husband:
"Did you win the duel?"
Bai Pu nodded slightly, his eyes brightening as he looked at the two: "Have you both completed your enlightenment?"
"We have, and the progress is astonishing!"
Wu Mingyue and Wu Qingyun each showcased their cultivation achievements to Bai Pu.
Wu Mingyue’s Reversing Life True Intent Prototype.
Wu Qingyun’s Broken Vein Compound Secret Skill: Vein Cutting Needle.
Bai Pu gave the Great Witch a thumbs-up.
"Fourth Grade True Intent Prototype! Elder Divine Woman truly is formidable, still ahead of me..."
This "Elder Divine Woman" earned him a roll of the eyes from the Great Witch.
Wu Mingyue gave a sidelong glance and asked, "Is there still the Peak Title Battle in Huaxia?"
"Yes, there is."
Bai Pu had already confirmed with Gaia’s Will.
This seemed to be a privilege exclusive to Earth Huaxia; other planets didn’t have a "Peak Title."
Bai Pu said, "My Celestial Being title hasn’t been voided, which shows that the Huaxia Peak Title Battle won’t disappear. Previously, the Peak Title Battle was paused because Earth’s Cosmic Coordinates underwent a massive shift... now that reorientation is successful, the Title Battle will soon resume."
Wu Mingyue said, "Qingyun and I both plan to compete for the Peak Title."
"Of course, Sister Ming Yue’s strength is more than sufficient. As for Qingyun... she also has some hope."
Bai Pu laughed, "However, before competing for the Huaxia Peak Title, you two should prepare for another important assessment... the assessment of two newly appointed Major Generals!"
...
Time quickly passed, and two more days went by.
Silver Heart Great World, Lingshu City.
Gaia Group’s branch building.
More and more Major Generals of the Gaia Group returned to the building and settled into their residences.
Their goal was singular—
The Gaia Group Major General Combat Assessment!
This round’s Gaia Major General Combat Assessment was particularly crucial.
Because it concerned the "Extraordinary Seed Quota."
The Extraordinary Seed Quota was not something available every round.
The Awakened prodigies would often wait five or ten years for such an opportunity.
This time there were ten Extraordinary Seed Quotas available, but thousands of Gaia Major Generals were vying for them!
Therefore, before the assessment arrival, the entire Gaia Building was filled with undercurrents.
Some provoked and probed, some shut themselves away to cultivate hard, and many more were forming alliances.
Among them, those visited most frequently were undoubtedly the "S-level" Major Generals—
Those Gaia Major Generals who fought and killed their way out from the Spirit Realm battlefield and from life-and-death struggles with Otherworld Traveler prodigies!
The prodigies with material exchange privileges.
Inside a room in Gaia Building.
A golden-haired Alvarez stood there, just like an obedient schoolchild, with hands down.
Opposite Alvarez sat an imposing Awakened clad entirely in silver plate armor. He was also golden-haired, slightly resembling Alvarez.
He was Alvarez’s brother, Sardin, codenamed "Redeemer" in the Spirit Realm.
Sardin naturally sat on the sofa, yet it was as if he were seated on a Divine Throne encircled by people, exuding a condescending aura.
Especially those light golden eyes, with a faint golden light even spilling from the corners of his eyes.
Sardin spoke, "Alvarez, is this what you wanted to tell me? That some native who hasn’t even grasped a True Intent Prototype has such great prowess?"
Alvarez nodded heavily.
Sardin scrutinized him, his tone slightly sharp, "Is it because you’re afraid I’ll scold you as a waste, that you deliberately found an excuse?"
Alvarez suddenly raised his head, "No! Brother, I won’t object if you call me waste, but Tito, Bron, and so many Gaia Major Generals were all expelled or killed by Gangxin, are you saying they are all waste too?"
Sardin smiled and said, "In my eyes, they’re all the same."
Alvarez exhaled a long breath, "Brother, you are the Holy Covenant Hall’s current first Holy Son, much stronger than me, your incompetent brother. However, I suggest you pay attention to Gangxin! The pressure he gave me... really resembles you! Very alike!
"Gangxin also possesses a Purple Weapon! He is as strong as a monster, completely offsetting our advantage in True Intent Prototype with his superiority in Attributes and Equipment!"
Sardin laughed.
"How interesting, a remote native from outside the Silver Heart, unexpectedly having a Purple Weapon. It seems he is indeed something.
"Moreover, he must have gained substantial benefits in the Heart Demon World, potentially making him even stronger."
Alvarez solemnly said, "He is unquestionably your fierce rival in the Gaia Major General Combat Assessment! I suggest that our ’Holy Covenant Organization’s’ participants target him as much as possible! To prevent him from threatening your Extraordinary Seed Quota."
Sardin shook his head and said, "No need for me to target him... since Gangxin killed Bron, naturally some will target him."
"Those Red Race Major Generals? They’re far too inferior, not even as good as Bron, not at all Gangxin’s match." Alvarez asserted.
Sardin offered a mysterious smile, "Bron was indeed a rising star among the Red Race, but the first master among Red Race Awakened is still that lunatic ’Flame Dance’ Chi Lijia."
"’Flame Dance’ Chi Lijia?"
Seeing Alvarez’s puzzled expression, Sardin leisurely spoke:
"It’s normal if you don’t know. Chi Lijia is five years older than me, and along with Elder Elaros, Zorath Muji, Ye’an, and others, she is one of the ’Golden Generation of 04’s’ masters. She encountered a mishap while cultivating the Mystical Arts of the Mind, developing a dual personality, and when she goes mad, she even kills all her own side! Without this madness, she would have ascended long ago."
Alvarez suddenly understood, "No wonder the high-ranking Red Race sent Bron this time instead of Chi Lijia... but the problem is, will Chi Lijia participate in the Major General Assessment this time?"
Sardin said, "Competition for the Extraordinary Seed is a rare opportunity; she will surely come. Bron was her brother, what do you think she’ll do?"
Alvarez got the hint.
Sardin smiled and said, "In fact, Gangxin’s existence is a boon for me. Chi Lijia’s second personality is so fierce that even I would avoid her edge; let her and Gangxin mutually destruct. What I need to watch out for are those old rivals, like Steel Fist Carlos and Eternal Freeze Aileen. Also... that damned ’Shadow Mage’!"
When he mentioned the "Shadow Mage," Sardin’s tone noticeably turned serious and solemn.
Alvarez mumbled, "Shadow Mage Victor... has always been Brother’s old rival."
In his heart, he felt the two weren’t truly rivals, for every encounter his brother had with him resulted in being overpowered, far from being equally matched.
"I have a hunch that this should be my last encounter with Victor before I ascend."
Sardin said lightly, "Many of us whose power has long reached the threshold have continuously delayed ascending. Gaia’s Will is gradually losing patience with us. Starting with limiting Treasure Chest drop rates, then limiting task rewards, and then limiting the secret native rewards... the warnings are becoming increasingly clear."