I am the Clone of a Death Row Inmate

Chapter 223: Chapter 194: This Group Stage is Way Too Fast

Chen Xuejiao was being rather tactful, but her meaning was clear: the Sovereign Country was merely extending an invitation to Su Ze for now. Whether he could actually join would depend on his future performance.

If Su Ze’s performance slumped later on and he showed no potential to become a Saint-level Supreme, the Sovereign Country wouldn’t want him even if he begged to join.

A genius, after all, was still just a genius. There was no guarantee they would ever reach their full potential.

It was just like in cultivation novels: someone might have the makings of a Great Emperor, but not everyone with such potential actually becomes one. They might just end up as a stepping stone for someone else’s ascension.

Some geniuses gradually faded into obscurity, while others were cut down in their prime. Nothing was set in stone.

Chen Xuejiao and the others represented the Sovereign Country, selecting prodigious talents who excelled in the individual competition and offering them generous rewards as an investment. This was all to help these talents grow faster.

But if they failed to develop, it could only be written off as a failed investment. After all, investments inherently come with risk.

The Saint level was a major hurdle, one that countless geniuses failed to overcome in their entire lifetimes.

There were also peerless talents who dominated their generation, only to waste decades before this hurdle. They might eventually struggle their way to the Saint level, but by then they would be old and decrepit, their talent exhausted, with no potential left to push for the Supreme level.

That was why Chen Xuejiao said that if Su Ze wanted to join the Lin Hua Country, he had to at least reach the Saint level.

And the sooner he reached it, the better.

If Su Ze only became a Saint after turning sixty, he would probably spend the rest of his life like Gu Chengguang and Zhou Wenshan, content to be a ”Guardian God” in Dongli, protecting the safety of its people.

Su Ze was only seventeen, yet he was already at the Peak of Cocoon-Breaking Stage with a solid foundation and a powerful physique. Chen Xuejiao didn’t believe he would get stuck at the Saint-level hurdle, but there were still some things she needed to make clear to him.

Su Ze nodded. Since this was something to consider only after reaching the Saint level, there was no need for him to overthink it now.

In other words, once he actually became a Saint, his horizons would be broader and his options more plentiful. He wouldn’t necessarily have to join the Lin Hua Country.

Chen Xuejiao tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear and said, ”I don’t need to elaborate on the benefits of joining the Lin Hua Country. Once you become a Hegemon and want to advance toward the Supreme level, the Dongli Kingdom’s resources will definitely not be enough for you. Only a Sovereign Country has the resources to support your push to become a Supreme.

”Additionally, after you enter the Butterfly Stage, if your performance is outstanding enough, the Sovereign Country can provide you with even more resources for your growth. However, at that point, you will need to give me a definitive answer confirming your decision to join.”

Su Ze asked curiously, ”What’s the standard for ’outstanding enough performance’?”

Chen Xuejiao thought for a moment before replying, ”It’s not fixed, but I can give you a few examples. For instance, reaching the Peak of Butterfly Transformation before the age of thirty, surviving until the penultimate round in the Divine Dice, or fighting a Tier 4 variant beast to a standstill without relying on a Wonder. In short, as long as you can prove you’re more of a genius than most other geniuses, it’ll count.”

’Is that all?’

Su Ze didn’t think it sounded all that difficult.

Su Ze didn’t immediately declare his intention to join the Lin Hua Country. He decided to take it one step at a time and focus on the task at hand first.

After adding Chen Xuejiao as a friend, Su Ze left the office.

When he got outside, he was surprised to see Principal Zhou Wenshan was still waiting for him.

Principal Zhou Wenshan didn’t ask many questions. He just smiled and said, ”Don’t overthink it. Just make the decision that’s best for you.”

Of course, he hoped a talent like Su Ze would stay in Dongli and become one of its Guardian Gods.

But if Su Ze wanted to go further on the path of evolution, he would indeed need a bigger stage.

Even if Su Ze left Dongli, it would still be a good thing for the kingdom if he remembered it fondly and cherished their old ties after becoming a Supreme or even a Legend.

After the individual competition ended, the six teams were given a day to rest.

But no one was resting. Instead, they were all discussing their opponents for the team competition and formulating strategies.

Well, everyone except for the teams from the Luofan Country and the Mu Country. Those two had already given up.

This was especially true for the Luofan Academy team. Their number one and number two seeds had both been severely injured by Su Ze and couldn’t participate in the team competition at all. They had to bring in two substitutes, meaning the best they could hope for now was to fight Muguo Royal Academy for fifth or sixth place.

The Muguo Royal Academy team was in a slightly better situation. Their number two seed’s injuries weren’t serious, and he could just barely compete after treatment. Their number one seed, Tan Guang, however, had been cooked by Su Ze’s electricity and was still lying in the Island University infirmary on an IV drip.

They were basically guaranteed to finish in fifth or sixth place.

In the team competition, there wasn’t much difference between fourth, fifth, and sixth place—they all received only one slot for the Divine Dice. Because of this, both teams had already given up the struggle.

And naturally, they were gritting their teeth in hatred for Su Ze, the one who had caused all of this.

As for the teams from Island University and Great Desert Chief University, their goal was also clear: fight for third place!

Specifically, to fight each other for third place.

They could all see that first and second place would inevitably go to either Ancient University or Dongli University.

One had Yarlin, and the other had the even more outrageous Su Ze. There was no way to compete with them.

Therefore, the teams from Island University and Great Desert Chief University had spent the past two days exclusively studying each other. They both knew the other was their true opponent.

Defeating the other meant securing third place.

Losing meant fourth place, which was no different from Luofan Academy and Muguo Royal Academy.

Similarly, Dongli University and Ancient University both saw each other as their only rival and were busy studying one another.

Although Su Ze had defeated Yarlin, the other members of the Ancient University team were still stronger than Dongli University’s.

Among Dongli University’s team competition participants, Li Yongguan was very strong, and Gu Yue’Er was not weak either. However, the remaining three—Luo Kai, Li Zhi, and Yangyang—were significantly weaker compared to the members of Ancient University.

At that moment, the members of the Dongli University team, organized by Pei Wuhua, were in a heated discussion. They had laid out several strategies—Plan A, Plan B, Plan C, and so on—to counter any tactics Ancient University might use.

Su Ze yawned. Bored, he extended his hearing range again, trying to eavesdrop on Ancient University’s strategy session.

The result was the same as last time: he couldn’t hear a thing.

’Ancient University is really cautious...’ Su Ze grumbled internally. Looking at his teammates who were still arguing, he cleared his throat and said, ”Actually, I have a strategy too.”

”You do?”

The others were slightly surprised. Su Ze had shown little interest during this part of the preparations, so they didn’t expect him to speak up voluntarily.

Instantly, everyone quieted down, eager to hear what Su Ze had to say.

”My strategy is...” Su Ze explained his ”strategy” in just a few sentences.

The expressions on their faces changed. They looked awkward, and a little annoyed.

Su Ze had no choice but to explain a little more.

Only then did their brows smooth out, though they still expressed doubt.

”Can we really do that?”

”That seems a little risky.”

”There’d be no turning back.”

”Trust me!” Su Ze said. ”If you’re not confident, you can try your strategies first. If they don’t work, we can fall back on my plan.”

Seeing that Su Ze had put it that way, they had no choice but to nod in agreement.

Meanwhile, in the Ancient University team’s quarters on the sixth floor of the dormitory.

They had just finished discussing their strategy for the next day’s team competition.

Yarlin returned to his room and placed a conch shell on the table. This was the Wonder he used to prevent eavesdropping.

Then, he made a phone call.

”Teacher,” Yarlin said respectfully. ”I have failed to live up to your teachings.”

An old but powerful voice came from the other end of the line: ”I’ve seen the video of the match. That Su Ze must have mastered a Bloodline Crystal skill; otherwise, it would have been impossible for him to defeat you.”

Yarlin said in a low voice, ”But our investigation concluded that he isn’t Zhao Lingxiao. Why would he have a Bloodline Crystal skill?”

”Who he is doesn’t matter. What matters is that he has indeed mastered a Bloodline Crystal skill, and a powerful one at that—stronger than we imagined. The organization didn’t pay enough attention to him before and missed the best opportunity to kill him.”

”Then what do we do now? After this exchange competition, he’s already on the Sovereign Countries’ radar.”

”As long as he leaves the Lin Hua Continent and enters the wilds, the organization will dispatch a Hegemon-level elder to assassinate him.”

Amidst great anticipation, the team competition of the Six Nations’ Supreme Academies Exchange Tournament was finally about to begin.

The Sovereign Countries valued the individual competition, but the six nations themselves placed the most importance on the team competition, as it determined the allocation of slots for the Divine Dice.

The team competition would group the six teams based on their overall rankings from the individual competition, separating the two strongest teams to ensure they wouldn’t face each other in the early stages.

Group One: Dongli University, Great Desert Chief University, Muguo Royal Academy.

Group Two: Ancient University, Island University, Luofan Academy.

First, there would be a group stage to determine rankings within each group. Afterward, the first, second, and third-place teams from each group would face off against their counterparts to decide the final overall rankings.

It sounded complicated, but when the competition actually began, it proceeded with surprising speed.

The group stage, in particular, was so boring that it made the live audience and viewers at home doze off.

If this had been a ticketed event, a whole crowd of people would definitely be shouting for refunds by now.

First up was the group stage for Group One, where Dongli University was scheduled to face both Great Desert Chief University and Muguo Royal Academy.

As it turned out, both teams went on stage and immediately forfeited without even fighting.

From their perspective, it wasn’t the wrong move.

They couldn’t win anyway, so what was the point of fighting?

Great Desert Chief University wanted to conserve its strength to face Island University; there was no need to waste energy on a match they had no chance of winning.

Muguo Royal Academy was already firmly in the fifth-or-sixth-place bracket, so why would they volunteer for a beating? Su Ze was absolutely ruthless when he fought them!

Their number one seed, Tan Guang, was still lying in the infirmary. Even the bandages covering his entire body couldn’t hide the smell of cooked meat wafting from him.

Next, in the match between Muguo Royal Academy and Great Desert Chief University, Muguo Royal Academy surrendered without a fight once again.

Not a single skill was used among the three teams in Group One, and yet the rankings were decided.

Dongli University took first in the group, Great Desert Chief University second, and Muguo Royal Academy third.

The entire Group One stage was over in less than ten minutes.

It left the host completely speechless.