Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Once the guard finished speaking, some moving noises finally came from the cave. The three stood for a long time before a huge dark shadow crawled out very slowly, and a huge figure appeared at the gate.
It was completely black, and thick, hard shells covered its whole body. In its lower body there were more than ten thin and long legs, and on its head there were more than ten compound eyes. The body was several dozen feet high, and it looked like a gigantic mutated bug.
It looked terrible, but it was shaking… trembling as severely as candlelight in the wind, making one worried that it might flit itself upright down at any moment due to the shaking. It even extended dozens of soft tentacles from its mouth, which wrapped around its own shell-covered body in a self-comforting manner.
The corner of Lonemoon’s mouth twitched. He felt that the monster in front of him looked somewhat familiar, and especially similar to one of those from the images Shen Ying had shown him after returning to Earth. So can’t this be…
“Bug?” Shen Ying was stunned, and she stepped forward directly.
In the next instant, the giant bug opposite them trembled, and even the tentacles around his body flipped like they were electrified. Instantly, it let out a scream that rang through the clouds.
It scrambled back through the iron gate through which it just came, hitting the guard next to it.
Shen Ying moved to chase over subconsciously, but Lonemoon caught her rapidly. “What are you doing?”
“Huh?” Shen Ying was stunned, finally able to react. “Psst, just a habit!” She felt uncomfortable with seeing bugs unless she gave them a beating.
Lonemoon: “…”
Yi Qing: “…”
The guard on the side actually got angry. He got on his feet and started scolding the bug inside. But this time, however hard he lured and threatened this time, even mentioning the queen of insect race, that bug was unwilling to come out any more. In a short while, some strange crying noises even came from the inside.
The confused guard complained, “So strange, what’s the matter? Aren’t insect race the most trustworthy? Even if it didn’t want to go out, it should at least change back to human form and give an explanation. What was the matter with suddenly refusing to work?”
Lonemoon and Yi Qing silently turned towards the person beside them, suddenly wondering what Shen Ying did to the buggies in the past.
“Cough. Brother, what about the test today?” Lonemoon looked towards the guard.
“Never mind, I’ll take you to a new test field.” The guard sighed and brought the three to another field.
But strangely, wherever the three went, the situation was the same. And it actually seemed to worsen. Insects who had already agreed to help with the test didn’t even come out into the field. Some even directly ran away from backstage.
The same thing happened across a whole ten venues. The guard looked completely confused. Could the queen of insect race have some dissatisfaction with the Academy? Why did bugs who had long been agreed to come and help with the test go on strike one after another? He unavoidably started thinking about conspiracy theories. Later on, he became too pestered with the changing, and had to give the three a pass.
But those traumatized insects still didn’t dare to come out. Buggies across ten test fields stayed inside, shivering, not daring to move a step, as though they had a previous agreement. They didn’t recover until the second day, and for that reason the time of the united tournament was dragged back one day.
Yet though these giant beetles were tall, strong and had high abilities, their intelligence was low. So even when changed into human form, nobody could get a proper explanation from them. It became a strange occurrence in the Academy.
Winning for doing nothing, one could get used to, thought Lonemoon.
╮(╯▽╰)╭
THe three finally got the qualification card to participate in the tournament under the name of Invincible Academy. The United Tournament would officially take place three days later. The specific way of competition would only be announced on the day itself.
Lonemoon had the spirit seed on his mind and didn’t care much about it at first. Yet when the day before the competition came, he heard bad news.
“What? Four people!” Yi Qing was stunned, looking at Shen Ying at the side. “But counting Master, we are only three.”
“I also just found out that the first round was a group contest.” Lonemoon was also somewhat irritated. “Only groups of four are allowed to take part. If the number is insufficient or exceeds, the group will be directly disqualified.” This competition was apparently unlike their own competition among the sects, as one could realize from its format. And it wasn’t strange for it to have group contest. Besides, it had been said before that it was a competition between Academies. Who could imagine that there were only three people in an academy?
Thinking back, the meaning of the earlier preliminary round was probably to eliminate those who wanted to join the excitement and see the world.
“What do we do then?” Yi Qing frowned. “If we don’t participate, we won’t be able to enter the Immortal Academy, much less find the spirit seed.”
“We can only look if someone would be willing to go with us. Only that…” They were new at the place and knew nobody. Seeing that the competition was right the next day, where could they go to get a person?
“Can we create a fake person with spells for the number?” He suddenly remembered those demons Tao Chu made from leaves back then.
“No!” Lonemoon shook his head. “This competition was held so formally, there must be special checks on the day. Besides, this is the end of void, and all these people are from various planes. We don’t know their situation. If we are exposed, it would be more troublesome. And there won’t be any more time.”
“…” Yi Qing’s face sank. Indeed, it was better not to get exposed too easily before they found the spirit seed.
“In the worst case, we can pay to hire someone when the time comes.” Lonemoon frowned. “Get past the first round first.” At any rate, they didn’t go for winning.
“That’ll have to do.” nodded Yi Qing.
Yet Shen Ying at the side suddenly spoke, “How about getting Buggy?”
The two froze, and then both turned back abruptly. They remembered instantly that advertising bug who was almost killed by Shen Ying that morning.
“Good idea!”
“Very suitable indeed!”
Lonemoon took out the name card from that morning immediately. Lucky that he didn’t throw it away. With the timid looks of that bug, there was indeed nobody more suited.
“Let’s go and find the person… no, the insect, right away!” Therefore, the three followed the address on the name card to a shop at the corner of a small lane. Before they entered, they already saw Buggy who smiled very brightly and was giving out name cards in a very dedicated manner. The two antennas on his head were tied into a very stylish bow knot.
“Hey!” Shen Ying waved in greeting.
Buggy’s smile froze instantly. His legs weakened right away and he knelt down, dropping the wooden name cards in his hand all over the ground. Couldn’t it be dreaming? An illusion, yes! This must be an illusion!
“Brother Bug, will you do us a favor?” Lonemoon smiled very brightly.
“…” No, please do me a favor and wake me up. Thank you!
