Chapter 556: Chapter 498: Breeding Tax and Bonds
At the moment when Mo Enting reminded everyone, he and Zhang Yu had already activated the Heavenly Kunlun Mountain Shifting Divine Power, lifting their companions into the air to avoid too much contact with the demon clan, heading towards the depths of Sky Demon University according to the navigation appearing in their eye sockets.
But even flying in mid-air, they still couldn’t avoid the continuous flashes of demon clan figures all around.
The skyscrapers of Sky Demon University were simply too dense, like an impenetrable jungle, leaving only slight gaps between buildings for passage.
And various strangely-shaped Worm Demons, Mouse Demons, and other small demon species occupied many gaps, making this jungle increasingly congested.
At this point, a blood fog exploded not far away, and Zhang Yu looked up to see the body of a Cow Demon torn apart, pieces snatched away by dozens of demon clan members.
Watching this scene, Zhang Yu exclaimed, "Murder in the street?"
Mo Enting said, "Not people, just animals."
He explained, "These demon species in the outer zone of Sky Demon University are not considered people, just animals raised outside the university."
"Do you think animal killings need to be managed?"
"Sky Demon University also can’t be bothered to continuously manage and register these animals, only ensuring general control."
"When the number is low, they increase the breeding quantity."
"When the number is high, they reduce the food supply."
"This is their laboratory, breeding ground, material production site, and reserve demon material library..."
While speaking, Zhang Yu and his companions had crossed the outer zone of Sky Demon University, arriving at the inner zone.
Honestly...Zhang Yu felt that aside from being quieter and more orderly, the environment here was not much different from outside.
At the boundary between the inner and outer zones, divine power swept back and forth, grinding any trespassing outer zone demon species into powder.
But Zhang Yu quickly frowned because he noticed many of the students here were pregnant.
Beside him, Mo Enting explained, "This is the breeding tax of Sky Demon University. Every student at Sky Demon University has a certain breeding quota each year, needing to submit their bloodline offspring to the school."
"I’m not clear on the specifics, but it’s said that except for Divinity Transformation, the higher the cultivation level, the more offspring need to be submitted. A Nascent Soul Stage True Monarch may need to have dozens of children a year."
"However, besides submitting offspring, paying money directly is also an option for the breeding tax."
Zhang Yu gasped, saying, "What about the male demon species?"
Mo Enting said casually, "Sky Demon University naturally solved these technical problems long ago..."
While speaking, they had already arrived outside a massive arena.
Before even approaching, Zhang Yu felt the clamor within, and from the outside, he saw a large number of demon clan students flowing like torrents, squeezing towards the inside of the venue.
"So many people?" Zhang Yu said in surprise, "Do the students at Sky Demon University really value this Civil Engineering competition final so much?"
Mo Enting seemed somewhat surprised too, "Though the Civil Engineering Department at Sky Demon University has always been a strong suit, the final shouldn’t have drawn this much attention."
"Maybe something we don’t know about happened."
...
As Zhang Yu and his companions headed to the arena.
In an underground space at Sky Demon University.
Xiang Shan walked step by step along the tunnel ahead.
A series of majestic pillars appeared before him, like giant towering figures, supporting the foundation of Sky Demon University.
Xiang Shan knew that the density of demon species and buildings at Sky Demon University was too high, requiring massive underground structures to support the ground.
The majestic pillars before him were one of the important supports beneath Sky Demon University.
And these pillars were formed by countless ancestors of the Elephant Demon clan.
After a lifetime of struggle and incurring massive debts, they ultimately contributed their meticulously tempered bodies, becoming the foundation after death, eternally supporting the entire Sky Demon University day after day.
"The entire Sky Demon University is upheld by us."
Gazing at the pillars and feeling the lingering unwilling intentions and astonishing fighting spirit in each, Xiang Shan murmured, "Now, it’s time for us to break through the ground and stand on the surface of Sky Demon University."
Xiang Shan turned his head and saw various Elephant Demon figures appearing in his eye sockets.
Among them was his brother.
As a local demon brother, he avoided the breeding tax during high school for three years to study, only to be reported in the third year and fined tenfold upon capture.
In that brief year of senior high, his brother gave birth to thirty offspring to pay the breeding fines, which severely weakened his energy and ultimately prevented him from getting into university.
Then Xiang Shan looked at his elementary school brother, middle school son, and high school sister...watching their swollen bellies, he firmly made up his mind.
"Breeding tax..."
His trunk curled up, and boundless fighting spirit surged in Xiang Shan’s eyes.
Within his eye sockets, more figures emerged.
They were the countless bloodline offspring of the Elephant Demon clan, figures flickering like stars in the sky before him.
"Ten thousand?"
"A hundred thousand?"
"Or even more?"
Xiang Shan murmured, "For all these years, our Elephant Demon clan has been continuously offering our bloodline offspring, constantly bearing the burden of breeding taxes. How many bloodline offspring have been sent to the school?"
"They... added together, how much are they worth in spirit coins!"
"We’ve lost so much money!"
Xiang Shan’s tusks suddenly grew, his entire body surged with energy and blood, and his figure seemed to swell slightly: "It’s time to change all of this."
"I will lead you to break through the construction site and walk out of the Civil Engineering Department!"
"I will ensure that neither race nor profession can restrain us anymore!"
Shadow figures around him charged towards Xiang Shan’s body. These demon-heritage Soul Cultivators melded into his Magic Remains, becoming a part of his body.
Simultaneously, Xiang Shan felt the power output of his Magic Remains continuously increasing, mobilizing a large amount of resources from the Spirit Realm Calculation Pool.
The next moment, he stomped forward with a ’thud’ and headed out.
...
Thud.
With Xiang Shan’s thundering step into the arena, a wave-like roar instantly erupted from the audience stands.
Mouse Demons, Insect Demons, Cat Demons, plant spirits... all the low-status demon descendants at Sky Demon University were now shouting and cheering enthusiastically for Xiang Shan.
The entire arena, the whole ground seemed to tremble intensely with the cries of the demon crowd.
A strong, foul stench soared to the sky, as if imbuing the entire sky with demon energy.
Zhang Yu even saw on the stands, some excited demon descendants defecating, urinating, even engaging in Dual Cultivation and breeding on the spot.
At the side, Shi Huaiyu asked puzzledly, "What are those demon descendants doing? Getting so excited over a match."
Mo Enting, flipping through the data in his eye sockets, said, "Hmm... we might be caught in an internal struggle at Sky Demon University."
"It seems someone at Sky Demon University is using this Civil Engineering Department competition as a reform to send Xiang Shan into the school team for the upcoming top ten leagues, hoping to change the entrenched issues of race and profession within the university."
"A lot of those demon descendants on the stands might have been paid to stir things up too."
Zhang Yu’s eyes moved, "Looks like Xiang Shan might be stronger than we initially expected?"
Mo Enting nodded solemnly, "Good thing you guys dragged it to this match, otherwise, if I had revived earlier, spending too much, missing any part of my Magic Remains, today would surely have been a loss."
Thinking it over, Mo Enting advised, "I’ll confront him head-on, while you assist from the side, try to attack his teammates and distract Xiang Shan."
Noticing the Seven Extremes Magic Remains on Mo Enting, Zhang Yu nodded in understanding.
At the same time, in Xiang Shan’s eye sockets on the other side, the figure of Heavenly Phenomenon True Monarch emerged.
This Heavenly Phenomenon True Monarch was the judge supporting Zhang Yu in obtaining his military certificate during the military exam of the Civil Engineering Department at Wanfa University, a well-known expert and professor in the Civil Engineering World.
Heavenly Phenomenon True Monarch said, "What a pity, who would have thought granting Zhang Yu the military certificate then would make him your strong opponent today."
Xiang Shan said calmly, "No worries, teacher."
"Without defeating true strong enemies, without demonstrating real power and wealth, how can I convince the public? How can I change the situation at Sky Demon University?"
"Defeating Zhang Yu and Mo Enting will precisely be the best achievements and cornerstones for me to break through Civil Engineering and step into the school team."
As he spoke, Xiang Shan, with his teammates, had already walked to the group from Wanfa University.
Looking at Zhang Yu and Mo Enting in front of him, Xiang Shan lowered his long trunk slightly, and his small eyes seemed tranquil and unfazed.
"Zhang Yu, Mo Enting," Xiang Shan said as he looked at the two, "To reach this stage, you must have invested countless efforts and spirit coins."
"If it weren’t for me, this year’s Civil Engineering competition champion would rightfully be yours."
"But I’m sorry, I must win this final match."
Xiang Shan exhaled, and the intense white breath, carrying his body heat, poured out vigorously, seemingly raising the surrounding temperature.
Then Xiang Shan continued, "Once the battle begins, I will go all out."
"If you don’t want to suffer severe losses, give your all, and after a desperate resistance, hurry up and surrender."
Having said that, Xiang Shan closed his eyes, seemingly ignoring any information from the outside world, merely patiently waiting for the start of the match.
As the two teams entered the arena, the competition officially began.
Mo Enting soared into the sky, the Seven Extremes Magic Remains suddenly activated, and the Heavenly Kunlun Mountain Shifting Divine Power swept across the field; with a resounding boom, the entire arena flipped.
Whether it was the competitors, dirt, building materials, or the ground, all seemed to plunge into an abyss, rapidly flying towards the sky.
Amidst the spinning sky and earth, a figure tore through the atmosphere, abruptly appearing in front of Mo Enting, then blasted out a punch.
The entire arena seemed to pause for a moment at that instance.
"Get down."
The next moment, with Xiang Shan’s bellow, as his fist extended, the flipped arena seemed to flip back once again, with a loud crash, all the earth, sand, materials, and ground fell back from mid-air.