I am the Clone of a Death Row Inmate

Chapter 222: Chapter 193: Royal Hunting Ground

Su Ze had long heard about the Royal Hunting Ground from Pei Wuhua, but he had never been clear on what it was actually for.

From what Chen Xuejiao was implying, was it possible to obtain a 4th-rank S-grade extract in the Royal Hunting Ground?

He immediately followed up on her words, asking, ”Miss Chen, what exactly is inside this Royal Hunting Ground?”

”Since it’s called a Hunting Ground, it’s obviously for hunting. It’s filled with aberrant beasts, specifically high-level 4th-rank ones,” Chen Xuejiao replied.

”There are 4th-rank S-grade aberrant beasts?”

”Yes.”

”Can I bring people in with me? Or can I only go in to hunt by myself?”

”You’re the one who earned the right to hunt, so of course, only you can enter.”

”But... I can’t even defeat a 4th-rank aberrant beast.” Su Ze felt the reward was unreasonable.

Chen Xuejiao smiled and explained, ”The Royal Hunting Ground’s construction was completed within the last century, and it has only been open to outsiders for the past few decades. Only a very small number of geniuses from the Lin Hua Continent are granted a spot to hunt inside. The aberrant beasts within are all carefully selected. They were captured during their 3rd-rank stage and raised in the Hunting Ground until they evolved into 4th-rank beasts.”

”They can do that?” Su Ze was amazed.

’It’s the same method Mr. Ya used to raise those 3rd-rank beasts. They first capture 3rd-rank aberrant beasts with the potential to evolve into high-level 4th-rank ones, then harvest them after they evolve.’

’It sounds simple, but it must be incredibly difficult to do on a large scale.’

’First, you have to spend a vast amount of time capturing these potential-filled beasts alive. Then you need to spend more time raising them, with no guarantee that they’ll successfully evolve. Finally, you have to build an environment that can sustain 4th-rank aberrant beasts and also keep them contained.’

’The construction of the Royal Hunting Ground must have been a massive, time-consuming project. No wonder it took decades before it was opened.’

But this was also a measure born of necessity.

Hunting a 4th-rank S-grade aberrant beast directly might attract a 5th-rank one, but catching a few 3rd-rank beasts that could evolve into 4th-rank S-grade ones was far less problematic.

Chen Xuejiao continued, ”The aberrant beasts raised in the Royal Hunting Ground are at least 4th-rank A-grade, and there are quite a few S-grade ones as well. However, their strength has been restricted, so they can only exert the power of a 3rd-rank beast. As long as your combat power is strong enough, a successful hunt is still possible.”

Hearing this, Su Ze breathed a sigh of relief. If they only had the strength of a 3rd-rank, he was confident he had a fighting chance.

”But don’t underestimate them,” Chen Xuejiao reminded him. ”Although their strength is limited to the 3rd-rank level, they are still genuine 4th-rank aberrant beasts. Each one is incredibly formidable, much stronger than a normal 3rd-rank S-grade aberrant beast!”

”So I suggest you prepare thoroughly. It would be best to challenge the Royal Hunting Ground after you’ve reached the Butterfly Stage and absorbed two extracts. You only have one chance to enter. If your hunt fails, the opportunity will be wasted.”

’I probably can’t wait that long...’ Su Ze planned to absorb a 4th-rank S-grade extract immediately after completing his third evolution.

”If I’m ready, can I go to Lin Hua Country and enter the Royal Hunting Ground to hunt at any time?” Su Ze asked.

Chen Xuejiao nodded. ”In a couple of days, when the exchange tournament rewards are distributed, you’ll receive an entry pass for the Royal Hunting Ground. With that pass, you can enter the Hunting Ground whenever you want.

”Speaking of rewards, have you decided on your prize for first place in the individual competition? Will you choose a miraculous item or an extract?

”If you choose the extract, you’ll receive a vial of 4th-rank A-grade extract. If you choose the miraculous item, you’ll get a 4th-rank miraculous item of equivalent value.”

Su Ze didn’t rush to a decision. He first asked about the rewards for second and third place and learned that they both received either a 4th-rank B-grade extract or a miraculous item of equivalent value.

’An extract or a miraculous item?’

In fact, almost all previous individual champions had chosen the extract.

This was because high-level 4th-rank extracts were extremely rare and a necessity for reaching the Saint rank.

A 4th-rank A-grade extract was already of very high quality!

But for Su Ze, his goal was clear: a 4th-rank S-grade extract.

If not for his goal of absorbing a 4th-rank S-grade extract, he wouldn’t have needed to take the risk of absorbing the 4th-rank C-grade Iron-blooded Honey Badger Extract during his Cocoon Stage.

Besides, Su Ze had already handled two vials of 4th-rank A-grade extract—one from the Wind Tiger and another from the Abyss Shadow Lord. He had given both of them away to Mrs. Yun and Mr. Ya.

The reason he gave them away was simply that he didn’t think they were good enough for him.

So this time, Su Ze resolutely chose the 4th-rank miraculous item!

A 4th-rank miraculous item could greatly enhance his combat power, giving him a better chance of success when hunting in the Royal Hunting Ground.

”I choose the 4th-rank miraculous item!”

Hearing Su Ze’s choice, Chen Xuejiao was a little surprised but nodded. ”Within the scope of our authority, we can offer you some convenience. The awarded miraculous item isn’t selectable, so I can’t give you specific details about it. However, you can tell me what type of item you’re looking for, and I’ll try to get it for you.”

Chen Xuejiao wasn’t just saying that. 4th-rank miraculous items were precious and rare. The Sovereign Country had the final say on what the reward would be, and Su Ze could only accept their decision.

However, she was making this offer to get on the good side of a genius with a boundless future like Su Ze. She planned to use her connections to help him get the type of item he wanted.

Although it seemed that Chen Xuejiao and her group were a level above Su Ze in terms of both status and evolution rank, they all knew that as long as nothing unexpected happened, Su Ze was destined to become a Saint-rank powerhouse!

At that point, he would be an existence they would have to look up to.

So now that they had the chance to build a better relationship with Su Ze and do him a favor they’d be owed for, they certainly wouldn’t find it troublesome.

Su Ze expressed his gratitude to Chen Xuejiao.

Then, he fell into deep thought.

’What type of miraculous item do I lack?’

’I don’t really have any obvious weaknesses anymore. After shoring up my Spiritual Power defenses, I’ve already started to become a well-rounded fighter.’

’Right now, I can even defeat some 3rd-rank aberrant beasts and Butterfly Stage evolvers who are above my rank. Once I complete my third evolution, I’ll probably be considered a strong contender even among those in the Butterfly Stage.’

’I don’t seem to be lacking anything...’ Su Ze realized he was almost too strong. His damage output was off the charts, his physical body was tough, and his recovery ability was insane. It seemed like he had no weaknesses.

’So what kind of miraculous item should I choose?’

As Su Ze thought about the various miraculous items he had seen and heard of, his eyes suddenly lit up!

He remembered the 5th-rank miraculous item, the Eye of Dream Weaving, that Mrs. Yun had used against Feng Bqing.

Of course, he wasn’t looking for an item like the Eye of Dream Weaving.

It was just that the Eye of Dream Weaving made him realize what he was missing.

What he was missing was a trump card!

Mrs. Yun had managed to drive the Saint-rank Overlord Feng Bqing insane while she was only at the Butterfly Stage, precisely because she had the Eye of Dream Weaving as her trump card.

That was the kind of trump card Su Ze lacked.

He was strong, unrivaled within his rank, and could even fight those above him.

But his power was also consistent. When facing an enemy, if he could win, he would win. If he couldn’t, he had no other options. If Mr. Ya wasn’t around, he couldn’t even escape.

He had no ”burst” ability that would let him, like Mrs. Yun, drive an Overlord insane at the cost of his own lifespan.

Nor did he have any means of escape. Even detonating his Regeneration Core only gave him an extra life. If the enemy decided to camp his body, he’d still be dead.

Ultimately, he had no trump card.

No trump card to go all-out in a desperate fight, and no trump card to escape with his life.

”Miss Chen, could I trouble you to try and get me a miraculous item that allows me to unleash immense power for a short period? It doesn’t matter if the side effects are severe.” Having made up his mind, Su Ze stated his request.

Chen Xuejiao was surprised yet again. ”An item like that won’t be easy to find, but I’ll see what I can do.”

Su Ze added, ”If that’s not possible, please try to get me an escape-type miraculous item. Preferably one that could help me escape from a Saint-rank expert. Again, I don’t mind severe side effects.”

Su Ze didn’t care about side effects.

At worst, it would be severe injury or weakness. With his Self-Healing Ability, he could just cut off his own head and grow a new body if he had to.

Even if it meant losing some of his lifespan like Mrs. Yun, he was fearless.

He had drunk so much Tree Marrow, and he was still young. Who knew how much lifespan he had left? Losing a few decades wouldn’t matter to him at all.

”So you’re trying to find a trump card for yourself,” Chen Xuejiao discerned Su Ze’s intention.

Su Ze admitted it freely.

”Alright, I’ll see what I can do,” Chen Xuejiao agreed.

After settling the matter of the reward, Chen Xuejiao cleared her throat and brought up the second item on the agenda.

Su Ze knew the main topic was coming.

’They wouldn’t need to be so formal just to discuss the reward, having three people meet with him while the second and third place winners weren’t even invited.’

”The second matter is an invitation to join Lin Hua Country, on behalf of the nation,” Chen Xuejiao said directly.

”An invitation to join Lin Hua Country and become a citizen?” Su Ze was a little surprised, not expecting this. ”Does that mean I’ll have to leave the Dongli Kingdom and live in Lin Hua Country?”

Chen Xuejiao nodded.

Su Ze fell silent.

He was actually living quite well in the Dongli Kingdom. He had enjoyed a few rare months of stable life and was reluctant to move again.

But as his strength grew, Su Ze had to admit that a wider world would be more beneficial for his growth.

Take the 4th-rank S-grade extract, for example. It was completely unobtainable for him in the Dongli Kingdom, but in Lin Hua Country, he had a chance to get it.

Even if he was unwilling to leave Dongli now, he would most likely have to take that step in the future.

Unless he could somehow secure the resources needed for his future evolutions within Dongli.

Chen Xuejiao smiled. ”You don’t have to answer me right now. Even if you were to immigrate to Lin Hua Country, it would be after you become a Saint-rank Overlord.

”We’re just extending a routine invitation to the outstanding contestants from the individual competition. In truth, not every year’s champion receives our invitation. Only prodigies with exceptional potential, those who have a chance of becoming a Saint-rank Paragon, are qualified.

”After this, there’s still an approval process by the higher-ups in Lin Hua Country, as well as an observation period to monitor your future performance. Many geniuses who shine brightly for a moment end up fading into mediocrity. Those people will also lose their chance to join a Sovereign Country.”