The events that transpired in the shadowy corners of Mount Wangliang went unnoticed by anyone.
To the common eye, the disciples of Holy Grail Academy had no need to cheat. They were already exceptionally powerful, and the academy was not lacking in honor.
The title of Second Academy, which they disdained, was a coveted position for other academies.
Alas, one man's honey is another's poison.
The disciples of Holy Grail Academy disliked the second place ranking and had therefore poured all their efforts into this academy competition, vowing to seize first place and avenge their past shame.
After witnessing the capabilities of the Gonan Academy disciples, the other academies' faces relaxed considerably, displaying an unusual ease.
After all, the top three positions were never within their reach. Now that Gonan Academy was an additional contender for them to spectate, the others found it more meaningful to participate for the sake of witnessing a spectacular match.
Amidst everyone's anticipation, the third round of the team competition finally commenced.
"The venue for this team competition is the Wangliang Secret Realm. The competition will still adopt a point system. The point table has been uploaded into the transfer wood tokens. Please note, only items within the wood token can be exchanged for points."
"This wood token was crafted by a Cthulhu from within the Wangliang Secret Realm and possesses functions for transfer and storage. If you encounter a life-threatening danger within the Wangliang Secret Realm, you may immediately crush the wood token. The transfer array within the wood token will instantly send you out of the secret realm. Furthermore, Cthulhu can only store flora and fauna within the Wangliang Secret Realm. This means that it is impossible for anyone to cheat by bringing their own items into the wood token to claim points."
"This round of competition will continue to uphold our consistent standards of fairness and impartiality. Please take it seriously."
"Now, please check the point table."
As the referee's words fell, a blue light flashed across the transfer wood tokens in everyone's hands, and a table materialized in mid-air. It listed all the heavenly materials and earthly treasures within the secret realm, arranged in ascending order of points.
"There's actually Nine-Headed Auspicious Lotus in the Wangliang Secret Realm?"
A startled exclamation erupted from the crowd. Yan Jiaojiao, leading the Gonan Academy disciples in assigning tasks for their entry, heard this. Xu Changzong quickly pulled up his table and, indeed, found the introduction and illustration of the Nine-Headed Auspicious Lotus at the very bottom.
Quietly annotated on the far right was the point value for the Nine-Headed Auspicious Lotus: thirty million points.
Yan Jiaojiao glanced at it and couldn't help but widen her eyes. "Good heavens, thirty million?"
The lowest-point item in the Wangliang Secret Realm was the Carefree Grass. This grass was found everywhere and was used to treat diarrhea and abdominal pain, making it a very low-tier medicinal herb.
A single stalk of Carefree Grass was only worth ten points.
And the Nine-Headed Auspicious Lotus was worth a staggering thirty million points.
If Yan Jiaojiao remembered correctly, the treasures found in this Wangliang Secret Realm could be taken away completely, provided a certain amount was paid, essentially treating it like a procurement trip.
A Nine-Headed Auspicious Lotus worth thirty million points was, understandably, a treasure that would make one's eyes gleam.
"Thirty million points is actually an understatement."
As royalty, Xiao Su was well-traveled and knowledgeable. "I once read in the Medical Compendium that the Nine-Headed Auspicious Lotus is an unranked medicinal ingredient. When used in medicine, it can revive the dead and regenerate flesh and bone, as well as increase cultivation."
"Unranked medicinal ingredients are either like roadside weeds, so common that stepping on them feels bothersome, or they are top-tier ingredients like the Nine-Headed Auspicious Lotus. To this day, only three Nine-Headed Auspicious Lotuses have ever appeared in the world."
Yan Jiaojiao couldn't help but gasp.
A treasure that only existed in three specimens in the world was truly a magnificent prize.
It was likely on par with the God-Devouring Flower.
"Everyone, let's not dwell on this. Although there might be some in the secret realm, it's understood that such items go to those destined for them. There's no need for us to specifically search for them. Moreover, abandoning the entire secret realm for a single item worth thirty million is not worth it. Everyone, perk up your spirits and focus your attention on herbs that are easier to find but yield high points."
"Spiritual beasts are also acceptable. Leave the spiritual beasts to me. For spiritual medicines, Xu Changzong, you will work with me. The wood-element disciples will be distributed accordingly. We will divide into three groups, with one wood-element disciple in each group for easier identification of spiritual medicines."
Yan Jiaojiao methodically arranged the groups and their respective tasks. The members of other groups, initially noisy, gradually calmed down and began their final assignments.
Once the scene grew quiet, the referee announced the start of the team competition.
The team competition, lasting five days, was the most crucial event of this academy grand competition.
Currently, Holy Grail Academy had won the first round, and Gonan Academy had won the second. The outcome of the third team competition would directly influence the academy grand competition rankings.
Once the top three were finalized, the remaining academies would automatically be ranked according to their accumulated points. The academy in the last place would be disbanded on the spot.
Many academies had already begun forming alliances before this. Their aim wasn't to aspire for first place. They had accumulated points in the previous two rounds but no rankings. Even if they won the third round, they wouldn't achieve first place.
Everyone was fighting to avoid being last.
As the transfer array activated, everyone's eyes were filled with determination, having decided to give their all.
In contrast, the disciples of a few prominent academies, known for their abilities, appeared calm, even detached.
Gonan Academy, however, was the most conspicuous.
If not for the activation of the transfer array, preventing them from conversing, they would have certainly exchanged a few criticisms.
Why were others entering the competition with solemn expressions and cautious steps, while the Gonan Academy disciples looked excited, as if they were going shopping?
Did they think the Wangliang Secret Realm was their own academy's domain?
...
Wangliang Secret Realm.
Black mist permeated the entire entrance.
To enter the secret realm, one had to pass through the encroachment of the black mist.
This was a crucial step, as the black mist could detect any impurities. If anyone had anything unusual on them, the black mist would immediately transform into a black serpent and devour that disciple.
All those attempting to cheat in the academy grand competition would face a grim fate.
Disciples passed through the black mist one after another. Knowing the rules here, no one dared to court death.
The disciples of Holy Grail Academy looked uneasy. Everyone assumed they were just too nervous and didn't pay much attention.
Therefore, they did not notice a disciple, after passing through the black mist, wiping the sweat from his forehead with a nervous sheen, and reaching into his chest to secrete a small vial containing demon silk.
"How was it?"
Other disciples from Holy Grail Academy gathered around him, asking cautiously.
"The demon silk is fine. It was successfully brought in. That person didn't deceive the elders." The disciple's legs had gone weak with fear. Although the elders had repeatedly assured them, being devoured by the black mist was no trivial matter. No one was willing to gamble whether smuggling contraband would result in death.
Fortunately, it had been successful in the end.
"Good," the person said with a sinister grin, glancing in the direction Gonan Academy had departed. "Now let's see how Gonan Academy can still hinder us. Find an opportunity to plant the demon silk on the Gonan Academy disciples."