This was Su Zeās first time experiencing such a thrilling flight. The wind whipped across his face, feeling like two large hands slapping him over and over.
Fortunately, a thin layer of airflow protected him, or his face would have swollen up.
Neither Gu Chengguang nor Zhang Tai said a word the entire way, so Su Ze naturally didnāt dare to speak either.
With nothing better to do, he took out a ginseng rootlet. It was from the Child Ginseng, of which he had already eaten a third.
Su Ze popped it in his mouth, bit off half, and stored the last small piece away. He chewed a few times and swallowed the rootlet.
Though he couldnāt dance in mid-air, he could still use the power of the natural medicine to speed up his digestion of the extract.
Su Ze wasnāt one to waste a single moment. Every second was spent on the path of evolution.
His actions, of course, did not escape Gu Chengguang and Zhang Tai. The two exchanged a glance, and Zhang Tai couldnāt help but shake his head and chuckle. āThis kid is really something else,ā he thought, āmunching on a rootlet worth millions like itās a carrot.ā
Su Zeās face had gone numb from the wind. He had no idea how long theyād been flying before they finally reached their destination.
The moment he landed, he couldnāt help but sigh emotionally. "Seventeen years! Iāve finally returned to the motherland Iāve yearned for day and night. Ah, itās so hard to be away from oneās homeland!"
The corner of Zhang Taiās mouth twitched. āHow can this kid be so shameless?ā he thought.
āSo youāve been homesick for as many years as youāve been alive?ā
āHomeland? Youāve never even been here!ā
Su Ze surveyed his surroundings and found himself in a quiet, elegant courtyard.
Zhang Tai said, "This is where Mr. Gu usually rests. Youāll stay here for now. Iāll arrange a room for you shortly."
"So this is Uncle Guās home. No wonder it feels so familiar, like Iāve come home."
"You brat, show some respect." Zhang Tai glared at him. "Mr. Gu is old enough to be your grandfather."
"Itās quite all right." Gu Chengguang smiled. It had been many years since a young person had dared to be so unguarded in his presence.
He gestured toward the tea table in the courtyard. "Both of you, sit and have some tea with me."
Zhang Tai hurried forward to boil water and prepare the tea. Su Ze only sat after Gu Chengguang and Zhang Tai had taken their seats.
Before long, fragrant tea was poured into their cups. Su Ze took a sip and felt a delightful aroma fill his mouth. It even seemed to hasten his digestion of the extract.
Su Ze knew this was good stuff, undoubtedly picked from a Spirit Tea Tree. He didnāt stand on ceremony; after finishing his cup, he poured himself another.
Seeing that Gu Chengguang seemed to have something on his mind, Zhang Tai asked, "Mr. Gu, are you considering the Battle of Adjudication five days from now?"
Gu Chengguang nodded and sighed. "In the last century, just over territorial disputes, our Dongli Kingdom has fought twenty Battles of Adjudication with Luofan Country. Weāve only won six. The outlook for the battle in five days is not optimistic."
Zhang Tai said with a sense of helplessness, "Luofan Country is vast and populous. They surpass us in both resources and the sheer number of talented individuals. On top of that, they have the support of the Evolution Divine Teachings. Winning will indeed be very difficult for us."
Gu Chengguang rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Since the Holy Emissary has spoken, we have no choice but to accept this Battle of Adjudication. Right now, Iām trying to decide which level of battle to propose to give us the greatest chance of winning."
Zhang Tai thought for a moment before suggesting, "We should choose the Cocoon Stage. General Li Faās youngest son, Li Yongguan, is exceptionally powerful. Heās known as the strongest in the Cocoon Stage in our Dongli Kingdom, and he once fought above his rank to single-handedly defeat a Tier 3, Class-C beast."
"Also, while Miss Gu Yueāer hasnāt yet absorbed the third Cocoon Stage extract, she has already shown the makings of a peerless talent. Her strength cannot be underestimated either."
"With the two of them competing, our chances of winning are still quite high."
Gu Chengguang shook his head and sighed. "Li Faās boy and Yueāer are both rare talents, but Luofan Country is not without its own geniuses. Still, if there are no better options, I suppose that must be our choice."
Su Ze, who had been listening on the sidelines, finally asked, "Mr. Gu, Mr. Zhang, how exactly is this Battle of Adjudication contested?"
Zhang Tai answered, "First, both sides determine the evolution level for the competitors. This time, Luofan Country has given that right to us. If we choose the Cocoon Stage, then both nations must send three Cocoon Stage competitors."
"Next is the match format. Based on past experience, there are generally two types: a series of one-on-one matches, or a three-on-three team battle."
Su Ze understood. The one-on-one format was like the *King of Fighters* games heād played in his past life: each side would have a team of three, fighting in sequence. The loserās side would send in their next fighter, and this would continue until one team had all three members defeated.
After a moment of thought, Su Ze spoke up. "Mr. Gu, choose the Pupa Stage. I can fight."
This wasnāt an idea born from a moment of impulse. Heād been mulling it over ever since heād heard Zhang Taiās introduction to the Battle of Adjudication in front of Luofan Academy. That was why heād made a point to ask about the rules.
Even before absorbing the Mutated Giant Crocodile Extract, Su Ze had considered himself a powerhouse within the Pupa Stage. After absorbing it, mastering the incredibly powerful skill "Furious Waves," and shoring up his various weaknesses, Su Ze was confident his strength was at the absolute peak of his stage.
Of course, the stakes of this match were enormousāit concerned Liou Wenxinās fateāso Su Ze wouldnāt be complacent.
With five days to go, he planned to spare no expense to purchase the absolute best natural medicines. He would strive to completely digest the Mutated Giant Crocodile Extract within these five days!
After that, he would absorb the next extract!
If he could absorb another S-grade extract and gain another powerful skill, Su Ze was certain victory would be guaranteed.
He refused to believe that anyone in the Pupa Stage could possibly be his opponent at that point.
In truth, if the Dongli Kingdom had been confident about winning this Battle of Adjudication, he wouldnāt have put himself forward. But from what heād just heard from Gu Chengguang and Zhang Tai, they didnāt have much confidence at all.
Therefore, Su Ze decided it was better to take matters into his own hands.
He couldnāt bear to watch Liou Wenxin and Mrs. Yun be imprisoned for life by the Luofan Country.
Gu Chengguang and Zhang Tai both fixed their gazes on Su Zeās face. In his expression, they saw confidence and the determination to achieve victory.
"How many Tier 2 extracts have you absorbed during your Pupa Stage?" Zhang Tai asked.
"Two," Su Ze answered honestly.
Zhang Tai shook his head. He said no more, but his disapproval was obvious.
Su Ze lifted his chin. "You can give me a chance. Let me try. It wonāt be too late to turn me down then."
Zhang Tai hesitated for a moment, then said to Gu Chengguang, "When Dr. Liou called earlier, she mentioned that Su Ze is the most talented person sheās ever met."
Gu Chengguangās interest was piqued. He narrowed his eyes and asked, "And how would you like to be tested?"
Su Ze grinned, his face a mask of brazen arrogance. "The Pupa Stage evolvers of the Dongli Kingdomāarrange for anyone you like. If someone can manage to defeat me... then they must be a peerless genius!"