Chapter 887: Ice Throne Secret Realm Opens
Time passed quickly.
Students from various Transcendent academies arrived at the Witch Academy one after another.
Even though it wasn't an official academy-organized activity, the pomp and ceremony were still present, though the overall format and process were of the semi-public type.
Students without some strength weren't even qualified to see where the entrance to the Witch's Secret Realm was.
After all, this dream exploration was not some so-called live-stream show, much less did it need to give an explanation to the so-called audience.
What mattered from start to finish was the [Transcendent Fragment] struggle itself.
It was an unsolvable straightforward plot; it was right here—if you didn't bring other fragments, you couldn't get it, but if you weren't strong enough... you couldn't even save your own life!
The Ice Throne Secret Realm was a secret realm jointly organized and opened by the Wan Shi Wu and the Witch's Secret Realm Club of the Witch Academy.
Registration for entry and exit was very strict.
However, they unconditionally welcomed anyone holding a fragment as a ticket to enter the secret realm.
And they signed Witch's Contracts stating they wouldn't forcibly seize fragments outside the secret realm.
Students without "tickets" who wanted to enter needed to arrive at the Witch Academy in advance for qualification screening.
After all, the danger of the secret realm was obvious to everyone; as the initiators of this expedition, they needed to be responsible for these people's safety.
Naturally these claims were entirely polite formalities, high-sounding, and essentially a disguised form of screening.
No matter what was said, this was the witches' home field; in many matters, they were the ones who had the final say.
With the "official" opening of the Ice Throne Secret Realm, exploration teams composed of other academies also arrived at the Witch Academy one after another.
They were discerning people and had learned quite a bit of intelligence regarding that secret realm.
Naturally, they didn't care about things like rushing in first.
This secret realm belonged to the Witch Academy side; before they came, heaven knew how long they had been exploring inside.
There was no need to fight for half a day or two.
As students from other academies arrived, some relatively familiar people also appeared here.
For instance, Aqier of the Holy Angel Academy, the apprentice Ai En Gailand of the Wizard Academy, Yao Beijuan and Mona of the Aphrodite Academy, and so on.
Including Kailin of the Blood Clan Academy... Yvette of the Sea Clan... Ai Ke of the Dwarves...
If anyone took the time to look into it, they would find that in these teams, a considerable portion were lower-grade students, specifically those few who had appeared on the exchange competition stage.
At this moment, they gathered here once again, crossing the differences between grades, arriving before this secret realm filled with danger.
These Children of Destiny were originally those who held fragments and were unwilling to give them up, or had obtained such qualifications to come here by chance.
Their arrival was more like a coincidence, as the main force for seizing these fragments was never these lower-grade students.
"Registration has been completed for you. I wish you can obtain what you want within the secret realm. Additionally... this is a signal generator provided by the club; it can call for help after you get lost in the blizzard."
Staff from the club side were very polite in greeting and issuing routine items to this group of elves from the Aphrodite Academy.
As for whether they were willing to carry this thing, that was another matter.
Although it was said this thing was for sending a signal to save lives after getting lost, they didn't think so.
They preferred to believe it was a tool to help these witches locate them to facilitate the seizing of their fragments.
"No need. It is merely some wind and snow; if such an environment alone blocks our steps, are you looking down on our strength?"
The elves rejected this item directly with their pride.
"Let's go, Beibei. We're about to enter."
A tall male elf shielded Yao Beijuan and left the place under the somewhat peculiar gazes of several other elves.
Subsequently, another guide led them toward the teleportation channel of the Ice Throne Secret Realm.
The teleportation method for the Ice Throne Secret Realm was fixed-point teleportation.
Actually, it was random at first, but after a large number of exploration teams explored it, the teleportation channel locked onto about 13 relatively safe peripheral starting points.
Therefore, to dispel concerns, teleportations of different teams would not be sent to the same place, naturally avoiding the vile situation of being blocked and slaughtered at the entrance of the secret realm.
The staff member whose signal generator was rejected did not feel embarrassed.
After all, they had anticipated this situation long ago.
The students willing to take these were mostly free explorers who did not hold fragments.
After seeing off this team from the Aphrodite Academy, the place fell into a brief period of leisure.
Nearby were booklets for registering detailed information on the fragments.
Of course, these booklets were just for show.
Before this secret realm officially opened, the club's high-level members had actually already prepared a registration booklet.
This booklet would register the holders of those fragments.
After all, many of those fragments were originally not held by students, but for this event, letting someone hold a fragment was just a matter of a single word.
To general onlookers, they only felt this was a game of unknowns, and no one knew who would hold a fragment and participate in this exploration the next moment.
But to those leading all of this, who would come, what fragments they held, the general combat power distribution of each academy, etc.—all of these were "open cards."
It could be said that this event, proactively led by the Witch Academy, achieved an ideal effect.
Because this gathered almost 90% of the [Transcendent Knowledge] fragment holders!
Except for that initial incident, never had this [Transcendent Knowledge] been so complete.
And the final missing 10%... this was actually unavoidable.
A total of 12 Hearts of Cold Tide, the one that was lost, plus the rumored... Frozen World in the hands of that Teaching Assistant Yang Yuehan.
The last time Frozen World appeared was in April's hands, and April was related to Teaching Assistant Yang Yuehan, so they reasonably guessed that it might be in that Teaching Assistant's hands.
Regarding this Teaching Assistant they understood very little, they were completely helpless.
They both hoped she would proactively seek them out—just like how she traded the Heart of Cold Tide with Soul Crystals last time—to continue trading the Frozen World with them, but were also afraid she would come to stir things up and add uncontrollable risks.
But the final result was... they waited for nothing.
In vain, they even restricted the hard condition that Teaching Assistants could not participate in this exploration so they could be in the right according to the rules, but the other party didn't give them a damn.
Instead, they learned from Tan Han that Little Han was not interested in this event and did not intend to participate.
As for the credibility... that was another matter.
They did not have the confidence to stop her the moment she suddenly acted to interfere in this exploration.
Not long after, several familiar figures arrived here once more.
"I am glad you could arrive as agreed, my sister."
"Since I accepted your invitation, I naturally will not go back on my word."
Facing Ming Xueming before her, Tan Han's tone didn't appear weak at all.
As the current president of the Wan Shi Wu club, Ming Xueming proactively coming forward to welcome her was indeed a sufficient show of face.
However, very quickly, she placed her gaze upon another person by Tan Han's side.
Tan Han was followed by two people.
One was named Xiao You, whom they understood well—that "lucky person" who inherited Tan Han's over-capacity spellbook, and also current Tan Han's most loyal helper.
Perhaps this girl was lacking in ability, but regarding her trust in Tan Han, she was absolutely one who could stay with Tan Han until the end.
As for the other one... when Ming Xueming looked at her, she recognized her very quickly.
Shi Ruizhi.
The central figure who previously caused Teaching Assistant Xiao Han to fall into the experimental accident controversy.
It was rumored that some self-proclaimed clever fellow framed her as a co-conspirator in that accident, but looking at it now... she had already defected to Teaching Assistant Xiao Han's side.
"This person is Senior Shi Ruizhi, right?"
"Correct. It looks like President Ming Xueming seems to recognize her?"
Tan Han responded.
"Naturally. However, little Tan regarding the matter we agreed upon, I wonder why you brought this person along?"
Ming Xueming looked at Shi Ruizhi with a hint of helplessness on her face.
Although this person had lost her memory and forgotten many things, which would certainly impact her combat power, but... Self-generating Magic Power plus a spellbook—did this brainless spell-turret-style firepower suppression truly require much of a brain?
"You joke. Bringing her along is naturally because she is also a participant in this secret realm exploration."
"Is that so? To be honest... you should have told me in advance."
Ming Xueming spoke with a look of a headache.
The reason so many people could be gathered to participate and cooperate in this secret realm exploration was that an agreement was reached at the family level, completing a balance of combat power among participants.
It could be said that in their eyes, this was a reasonable and fair inside operation, and after negotiations between various sides, a balance of combat power was achieved.
And now Tan Han pulls this move!
And the meddler is a high-year senior whose combat power cannot be scoffed at!
This would make the families on the Witch Academy side lose face, and might even trigger an imbalance in this exploration, thereby breaking the plan to gather the fragments.
It could be said that Ming Xueming greatly disliked this behavior of Tan Han.
"This matter is not a game. If Senior Shi Ruizhi wants to participate in this exploration..."
Before Ming Xueming could finish her refusal, her words were choked in her throat.
Because... she saw Shi Ruizhi currently playing with a crystal that radiated cold qi throughout.
Frozen World!
After recognizing this thing, her pupils shrank abruptly!
"If you do not welcome my coming, I can naturally leave."
Shi Ruizhi spoke quite casually at this moment, even showing a trend of turning to leave after speaking.
"Wait! Senior Shi Ruizhi! A misunderstanding!"
Ming Xueming spoke hurriedly, because she realized her error.
"It's a misunderstanding. I apologize for my rudeness just now. If you hold a fragment, we naturally welcome you very much!"
At this moment, Ming Xueming didn't dare to not welcome her.
After all, what she was holding was the Frozen World that had been missing until now!
If they let the other party go back and return the item to Teaching Assistant Xiao Han, their heads would simply explode from the trouble!
After all, in their view, it was completely logical and reasonable for Teaching Assistant Yang Yuehan to give this to Shi Ruizhi since she had defected to her.
Compared to an extra high-year senior with terrifying combat power appearing here, when compared with that person, any problem now... was not a problem!
After all, if combat power was imbalanced... then they would just supplement the numbers.
This Ice Throne Secret Realm was not something that could be finished exploring in a few days.
If they ultimately had to face that Teaching Assistant, it wouldn't just be as simple as combat power imbalance.
After stabilizing the other party, the quick-witted Ming Xueming was similarly thinking about other things.
Since Teaching Assistant Xiao Han gave this item to this person, it similarly meant she thought highly of her.
Then... to get the Frozen World from her hand, it could not be someone from the Witch Academy faction who acted.
Of course, she could also choose to sabotage the families of other academies.
After all... although everyone was in a united front of families, those families' exclusion of the families on the Witch Academy side was even a bit unconcealed at this stage.
Who knew if this seemingly harmless senior would hold some killing move and give everyone a big surprise in a moment of desperation?
One should know that during that auction back then, she was present on-site.
She had personally witnessed Tan Han summon that Teaching Assistant Xiao Han over, who split that so-called dungeon open with a single strike.
That kind of shock—if one wasn't on-site, one couldn't appreciate the unsolvability of that kind of power.
Shi Ruizhi didn't make things difficult for the other party either.
Creating trouble for people now was not a wise choice; at least for now, they were still people on the same "front."
After the misunderstanding was resolved, Ming Xueming arranged the three of them into the reception room.
Entering the secret realm a bit earlier or later didn't make much difference anyway.
As one of the earliest clubs to come into contact with the secret realm, they were very clear on the problems currently being faced.
After arranging Tan Han and the others, Ming Xueming let Xing Anlei, the vice president, take over temporarily.
She needed to inform the club and other families of this matter.
Now was not the time to sabotage others; after all, everyone had agreed to "open cards."
If you cheated, you would be attacked by everyone.
She needed to treat this matter as a sudden accident, analyze the pros and cons well, and make everyone accept it.
Even if they didn't accept it, the fact had already happened, and they had fulfilled their duty.
Only afterward would they think about how to use this knife to create a favorable situation for themselves.
After Ming Xueming left first, Tan Han and the others met another acquaintance in the reception room here.
Lucianne.
At this moment, Lucianne's gaze was somewhat gloomy.
As a Child of Destiny holding one Heart of Cold Tide, she had naturally and logically participated in this exploration.
But not long ago, she encountered the team from the Wizard Academy.
Actually, that was nothing; she had long since lost a sense of belonging to this academy that abandoned her.
But... she saw within that team... Ai En Gailand!
That Wizard apprentice she had a grudge with in the Bobapus Archipelago... she had sworn an oath to let this fellow experience the humiliating feeling of becoming a witch as well!
"I did not expect to meet you here. It has been a long time, Lucianne."
Upon seeing the other party, Tan Han proactively spoke up.