CHAPTER 35 — "THE CAPTAIN, THE ISLAND, AND THE LIST OF MONSTERS"
The moment hung in the air.
Vice-Dean Rui Jin's voice echoed across the training hall:
"And now…the Captain for the Azure Dragon Academy team will be—"
Instructor Meiying smirked.
"Chen Wulian."
Silence.
Then—
"HUH?!?!?!?!"
The entire Top 10 screamed in perfect synchronization.
Chen Wulian, still picking his nose, froze mid-action.
"…Me?"
Vice-Dean Rui Jin nearly fell backward.
"Wait— WHAT? Chen?!Not Ouyang Xue'er?!Not Ling Yifan?!Not Long Hao?!NOT EVEN BAI?!"
Meiying flicked her hair back elegantly.
"Yes. Chen Wulian."
Everyone stared at her like she had chosen a potato as emperor.
Chen pointed to himself."Are you sure??Because I also think you might be talking about another Chen—"
"No," Meiying said firmly."I'm talking about you."
Ouyang Xue'er blinked repeatedly."B-But why him?"
Bai Qianlan tilted her head."…Explain."
Even Long Hao looked mildly surprised."…Why."
Ling Yifan tried to remain calm but looked confused as hell.
Meiying stepped forward, hands behind her back.
"Because Chen Wulian is the core of your group."
Huh?
"He is the one person all of you listen to without ego or resistance."
Everyone blinked again.
She continued:
"Long Hao is too calm and unreadable.Ling Yifan is too competitive.Ouyang is too emotional.Bai is too cold.The other five are too inexperienced."
Chen blinked.
"So I'm… the glue?"
Meiying nodded.
"Yes. You bind them all.Your enthusiasm creates morale,your honesty breaks tension,and your loyalty stabilizes the strongest prodigies."
Chen stood straighter, chest puffing out.
"I AM THE GLUE!!"
Long Hao smirked."It suits you."
Ling Yifan nodded reluctantly."…He does calm us down."
Bai Qianlan sighed."He is… durable."
Ouyang Xue'er jumped on Chen's back."CAPTAIN MUSCLEHEAD!!"
Chen cried."I WILL NOT FAIL YOU!!"
Vice-Dean Rui Jin rubbed his temples.
"What is this team…?"
The Vice-Dean cleared his throat and stepped forward.
"Enough chaos.Now listen carefully.Stage 1 of the championship is the Survival Island Battle."
A large map floated behind him.
The island was enormous — forests, mountains, ruins, beaches.
"You will be dropped onto this island as a ten-person squad.Your objective is simple:Survive. Hunt. And score points."
He pointed at the map.
"Monsters roam freely.The more monsters you kill,the more survival points you gain."
Chen raised his hand.
"What if I punch the island itself?"
"Then you will die."
"…Noted."
Vice-Dean Rui Jin continued:
"You will compete alongside your reserve squad.All 10 of you must cooperate."
Long Hao nodded.
Ouyang pumped her fist."I'm ready!"
Ling Yifan sharpened his spear."The competition begins now."
Bai Qianlan adjusted her sleeves."Understood."
"Before we finish...."
The Vice-Dean's tone darkened.
"You need to understand WHO you're fighting."
Instructor Meiying suddenly smirked and clapped her hands.
The lights dimmed.
A glowing spirit projector descended from the ceiling.
She began tapping the crystal panel.
"Let me introduce the students you must be most careful of."
The team leaned forward.
THE DEADLY LIST —
FROM THE 15 OTHER ACADEMIES
1. Murong Yuer
Frostcloud Imperial Academy — Vice Captain — Epic High TierCold frost spirit.Deadly precision.Emotionally dangerous for Long Hao.
Everyone looked at Long Hao.
Ouyang Xue'er squinted.
Bai Qianlan narrowed her eyes.
Ling Yifan whispered to Chen:"There will be drama."
Chen whispered back:"BIG drama."
2. Jiang Tianshu
Thundercrash Battle Academy — Captain — Mystic Low TierLightning Body.Fastest movement speed among all freshmen.
3. He Lanyin
Silvermoon Arrow School — Captain — Mystic Mid TierSpirit archer.She once shot a target 9 kilometers away.
4. Zhou Fenrui
Crimson Saber Imperial School — Captain — Mystic PeakA violent saber cultivator with no regard for life.
Chen Wulian:"I like him."
Everyone else:"We do not."
5. Qi Yunhai
Windstream Lightfoot Academy — Captain — Epic High TierIncredible agility. Nearly impossible to catch.
6. Xu Mingyue
Mystic Plum Blossom Academy — Captain — Epic Peak TierIllusion cultivator rivaling Bai Qianlan in finesse.
Bai frowned.
"She copies my style."
Ouyang smirked."She's prettier than you."
Bai summoned a ripple of illusion petals instantly.
Ouyang screamed."IT WAS A JOKE!!"
Long Hao:"…Why."
7. Wei Longji
Primal Earth Titan Academy — Captain — Mystic Low TierEarth physique.Stronger than Chen Wulian in raw power.
Chen stood up."No one is stronger than me!"
Meiying:"Sit."
Chen sat.
8. Lin Rouyin
Heavenly Orchid Arts Academy — Epic Tier CaptainA spirit charm expert rumored to control hearts.
Ling Yifan's eyes widened.
Meiying looked at him.
"Oh? Interested?"
Ling Yifan turned RED.
Bai Qianlan's glare sharpened."…He is NOT."
Long Hao and Chen were laughing silently.
9–15. (Other notable captains)
Meiying scrolled the list quickly:
Sun Hanyu — Blazetide Berserker Academy — Mystic Mid Tier (berserker talent)
Gao Jiandi — Ironstar Martial Institute — Mystic Low Tier (iron body)
Suo Meiren — Shadowveil Spirit Academy — Mystic Peak (shadow puppetry)
Li Ziming — Golden Serpent Cultivation Hall — Mystic Mid Tier (serpent qi)
Tang Qiao — Cloudwhisper Formation Academy — Mystic Low (formation prodigy)
Wu Feiyan — Sapphire Dream Illusion Institute — Mystic High (dream weaving)
Bai Yucheng — Ninefold Storm Peak Academy — Epic Tier (storm brute)
The Top 10 nodded — the island would be crowded with dangerous opponents.
THE GREAT ACADEMIES
Instructor Meiying took a breath.
"Now for the two academies you should fear the most."
The team gulped.
DRAGON TURTLE ACADEMY
"Dragon Turtle Academy," Meiying said,"has one Divine talent…and two Mystic talents."
Everyone froze.
Ouyang Xue'er:"…Another DIVINE?!"
Ling Yifan inhaled sharply."So I'm not the only one."
Chen Wulian screamed."ANOTHER DIVINE?!!"
Bai Qianlan whispered:"This is… troublesome."
Vice-Dean Rui Jin snorted.
"What? Did you think YOU were the only good academy?"
The whole team looked embarrassed.
Dragon Turtle Academy's lineup:
Xing Yanlong — Divine-Tier "Abyssal Black Turtle Physique"
Fang Zhao — Mystic Peak Tiger Soul
Yue Hanran — Mystic Mid Water Serpent Talent
Chen pointed at the Divine."I WANT TO FIGHT HIM!"
Ouyang pushed him down."SIT DOWN, CAPTAIN!"
VERMILlION PHOENIX ACADEMY —
Instructor Meiying's expression turned grave as she tapped the projector again.
"This academy… is the most terrifying."
The image changed.
The entire Top 10 instinctively stepped back.
"They have three Divine talents."
Silence.
Then—
Everyone screamed.
"WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!"
Ling Yifan nearly dropped his spear.
Ouyang Xue'er panicked."Three Divines?! Even Azure Dragon only has two!"
Bai Qianlan muttered,"…We're in deep trouble."
Chen Wulian fainted for two seconds.
Long Hao blinked calmly.
Vice-Dean Rui Jin clapped mockingly.
"What's wrong? Did you think divines were RARE?This is war, children!"
Ouyang elbowed Long Hao."Why aren't you surprised?!"
Long Hao shrugged."I expected this."
Bai Qianlan stared at him."…How strong ARE you actually?"
Ling Yifan frowned suspiciously.
Chen pointed."YOU KNOW SOMETHING, DON'T YOU?!"
Long Hao:"…No."
Ouyang:"He DEFINITELY knows something."
Vermilion Phoenix Academy's lineup :
Rong Yueran — Divine Flame Immortal Talent
Shen Tianyi — Divine Skyfire Bloodline
Liang Huoyan — Divine Phoenixheart Sovereign
The implication hit like a tidal wave: Vermilion's roster was stacked with world-shaking bloodlines.
OTHER ACADEMIES WITH MYSTIC CAPTAINS
Meiying swiped again.
Several faces appeared.
"Cloudwhisper, Golden Serpent, Sapphire Dream, Ironstar, and Shadowveil all have Mystic-tier captains."
The Top 10 swallowed collectively.
"So basically…"Ouyang whispered,"…everyone is a monster."
Bai nodded."Yes."
Ling Yifan tightened his grip on his spear."It will be a real war."
Chen Wulian flexed."I'M READY!"
Long Hao sighed quietly.
"…Why."
[CHAPTER ENDS]