National Guardian's Gone and We're Done

”The Dean was right. You really need to check that attitude of yours.”

Nanting Snow spoke with a sigh. ”Ever since you fused with that divine power, your ego has gotten completely out of control.

Back when we were at the National Road Academy in the Great Xia Empire, you started looking down on pretty much all of our classmates, haven’t you?

You might not be obvious about it, but everyone around you has noticed.

An attitude like that is fatal.

Look at our Dean. Is his power not immense?

Yet everyone, even the Dean’s enemies, has to admit one fact: the Dean is the strongest person on Blue Star.

Even so, have you ever seen him get arrogant? That is the true heart of a powerhouse.”

”Nanting Snow is right. You really need to fix your attitude.

If you don’t get your head straight, it’ll be just as the Dean said. Your family might feel a moment of glory, but it will be followed by a lifetime of grief. Do you really want to die here?”

Lin Zuoguang asked.

”Alright, I get it. I’ll get my attitude in check from now on.”

Xiao Yu rubbed his nose and started to reflect on his behavior lately.

”I heard that Yang Haichao, the guy the Dean expelled from our National Road Academy, is also here on the Black Continent Grassland.

He’s going to represent Leland Academy in the upcoming Martial Arts Academy ranking tournament.

We should find a chance to teach that guy a lesson. He makes me sick.”

Seeing his friends Nanting Snow and Lin Zuoguang staring intently at him, Xiao Yu quickly changed the subject, bringing up something he knew would interest them both.

”For real?

How does he have the nerve to show up for the first-ever Martial Arts Academy ranking tournament?

Isn’t he afraid of running into the Dean and his old classmates from the National Road Academy?”

Nanting Snow was a little surprised.

’If it were me,’ she thought, ’after doing so many shameless things, I would never have the courage or the face to show myself in front of my old friends.’

”If he had any shame, he never would have done something so despicable in the first place. This isn’t surprising at all.”

Lin Zuoguang said with a chuckle, but a murderous glint was hidden beneath his smile.

”That kind of traitor...

If a large-scale conflict ever breaks out between the Lighthouse Empire and our Great Xia Empire, Yang Haichao will be the one who knows the most about us.

So while we’re here on the Black Continent Grassland, with everything so chaotic and uncertain, we should find an opportunity to eliminate him.

We need to nip this problem in the bud before it gets complicated.

If the Lighthouse Empire and the Great Xia Empire ever do go to war, that shameless bastard...

...will absolutely sell out every piece of intelligence the Great Xia Empire has.”

”You have a point. We have to make a move this time,” Nanting Snow said, agreeing completely with Lin Zuoguang.

”Alright, let’s get some rest for now. If we’re going to deal with this scourge, we need to be at our best.”

Lin Zuoguang stretched languidly, then yawned and headed for his room.

...

「The next morning」

At Xia Chengli’s behest, Nanting Snow, Xiao Yu, Lin Zuoguang, and a few other students from the National Road Academy left the luxury hotel.

They planned to explore the city, which was named Cateran City.

The city had every kind of facility imaginable. Along the wide, flat, and clean streets, were numerous dessert shops, cafes, and souvenir stores unique to the Black Continent Grassland.

Even Xia Chengli was shocked by such a bustling scene.

After all, the Black Continent Grassland was described by many netizens as a ”human forbidden zone,” fraught with danger.

Even so, a steady stream of people who believed in their own abilities poured into the Black Continent Grassland, hoping to strike it rich.

It couldn’t be helped. For many people, the Black Continent Grassland was like an undeveloped gold mine. They could go in, try their luck, and maybe find a treasure great enough to provide their entire family with a life of comfort and luxury.

Xia Chengli bought plenty of snacks and drinks along the way, acting as if he were genuinely on vacation in the Black Continent Grassland.

”Supposedly, the boss behind this city is a famous oil tycoon on Blue Star.

To him, money is just a string of numbers.

Even many experts at the King’s Realm and Emperor Realm can’t resist the temptation of his immense wealth and end up working for him.”

Lin Zuoguang had clearly done his homework before coming to the Black Continent Grassland.

”It must be nice to be rich. A huge, modern city like this must have cost a fortune,” one of the National Road Academy students marveled.

”Let me tell you another shocking fact. This city, Cateran City, made back its construction costs in less than a month. Can you believe that?”

Lin Zuoguang said with a sly chuckle.

”Broke even in less than a month? A city this massive could have easily cost tens of billions, maybe even hundreds of billions. How could it possibly make all that back in one month?” Nanting Snow asked in astonishment.

”Here, anything that’s actually useful to the fortune-seekers sells for an astronomical price.

For example, things that can actually fill your stomach, like compressed biscuits. A pack of biscuits that costs five yuan outside would cost at least several thousand here.

A bottle of water, or an energy drink that can quickly replenish you, would be three to five yuan outside. Here, the starting price is at least ten thousand.

Across this entire vast expanse of the Black Continent Grassland, this is the only city with living people and a full range of facilities. Plus, they have an outstanding medical team.

They have extensive experience treating injuries caused by bizarre Evil Spirits and other humans, even mortal wounds.”

Lin Zuoguang continued as they walked, ”You have to understand, whether it’s people who have fused with Evil Spirit Power or those who cultivate Martial Arts, their appetites are far beyond what ordinary people can imagine.

Just look at the students from our academy. Slaughtering ten or twenty sheep wouldn’t even be enough for one of you to get your fill, right?

And here, a single sheep can sell for hundreds of thousands.”

”Do people really pay that? That’s some serious price gouging,” another National Road Academy student asked, finding it hard to believe.

”These people risk their lives to make money. What’s the point?

Isn’t it so they can enjoy life?

Of course, compressed biscuits are relatively cheap compared to a whole roasted sheep,

but biscuits are just for staving off hunger. You can’t savor them.

And if you find a valuable treasure out on the Black Continent Grassland, Cateran City will buy it from you directly.

If you don’t want to sell, and you want to take it to an auction house or use other channels, you can hire experts from Cateran City to escort you all the way.”

Lin Zuoguang explained. As he spoke, he suddenly stopped and pointed ahead. ”Look, who’s that?”

Xiao Yu, Nanting Snow, and the other National Road Academy students all turned in unison to look where Lin Zuoguang was pointing.