When Zhou Tie and Qiu Jiawen, looking utterly exhausted, delivered the Thousand Mechanisms Ring to Ling Zhan, there were only two days left until the Global Tournament.
"Mission accomplished!"
These two master craftsmen had worked tirelessly day and night to meet Ling Zhan's exacting requirements.
In response, Ling Zhan generously paid an additional 200,000 Tianyan Board points as a reward.
Tianyan Board points are highly valuable to these master craftsmen. They can be used to enjoy a luxurious lifestyle and purchase rare items that are otherwise unobtainable.
On this very day, the legendary prodigy Li Zhaoge returned to campus from her family estate.
Ling Zhan had heard much about this prodigy during his meals at the cafeteria and visits to the library. Even the renowned Zhu Yaoguang, who was famous across provinces in her senior year, was nicknamed "Little Zhaoge" by others.
For Ling Zhan, his curiosity about Li Zhaoge was purely about her strength. After all, if both he and Li Zhaoge reached the finals in the individual competition, a showdown would be inevitable.
With departure imminent, Ling Zhan allowed himself a rare moment of relaxation, taking a break from his usual rigorous training. The three divine beast girls also finally enjoyed a well-deserved rest after their grueling training.
Having completed the system's daily challenge, Ling Zhan packed his luggage and set up a one-month smart offline management system for his mansion. The advanced AI technology ensures that even if the owner is away for a long time, cleaning and maintenance robots will keep the house in perfect order.
With everything prepared, Ling Zhan settled down with a book, ready to drift into a peaceful sleep, awaiting the departure the next day.
Meanwhile, in the luxurious conference room of the student council at Tianyan Academy, a meeting was underway.
The long ten-meter table was surrounded by student council members, all wearing the academy's robes. However, they all sat with cautious and respectful silence, sneaking glances at the elegant figure sitting at the head of the table.
Their eyes were filled with awe and admiration, not just for her formidable strength but also for the illustrious family backing her.
Dressed in a simple white dress, Li Zhaoge exuded an air of absolute coldness. Even just sitting there, she commanded attention like an ice queen.
Beside her, a seductive woman in red, with fox ears and nine bushy tails, radiated a charm that stirred men's desires. This was Li Zhaoge's contracted divine beast, the Nine-tailed Heavenly Fox.
The contrast between the cold elegance of Li Zhaoge and the alluring charm of the fox made for a stunning sight.
However, none of the student council members dared to openly gaze at them. The Nine-tailed Heavenly Fox, despite her lazy and seductive demeanor, had a notoriously volatile temper. Any perceived disrespect could be met with lethal consequences.
Early in her freshman year, a senior who had been infatuated with her learned this the hard way. His advances led to him being severely maimed and subjected to a torturous death.
As a result, the student council members now sat in tense silence.
Li Zhaoge, with her refined makeup and icy beauty, calmly read the projected virtual information panel displaying Ling Zhan's profile.
"Do you type?" teased the Nine-tailed Heavenly Fox, laughing softly.
Li Zhaoge ignored her, instead turning to a student council member. "Did He Chuan lose to him?"
The member quickly nodded.
"Do you have the battle footage?" she asked.
"Yes, I will play it for you now," he replied.
Soon, a video screen projected the battle. The student council members, having seen it multiple times, remained composed. They still couldn't figure out how Ling Zhan had defeated He Chuan.
However, the Nine-tailed Heavenly Fox's demeanor changed from playful to serious, and even the usually cold Li Zhaoge appeared solemn.
Without hesitation, Li Zhaoge watched the battle footage five or six times.
Meanwhile, He Chuan, who was present, felt deeply embarrassed.
"My lady, this person also has contracts with three other divine beasts: the Azure Dragon, the Vermilion Bird, and the Jade Rabbit," reminded a bespectacled girl.
"Summon him to the student council immediately," ordered the Nine-tailed Heavenly Fox before Li Zhaoge could respond.
A council member hurried off, only to return two minutes later, looking uncomfortable.
"President, Ling Zhan refused your invitation. He said he’s preparing to sleep," he reported.
He Chuan, attempting to mask his embarrassment with a sip of tea, promptly spat it out in shock.
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